485: Turned away

Once this speculation was put forward, the other seven, who had been communicating secretly, immediately stopped their transmissions. They looked at the old man who had spoken in unison, their eyes filled with disbelief, as if they were looking at a whimsical fool.

Wan Hai sighed helplessly and began to explain: "What are you thinking? If a Supreme Treasure were so easily seized and used, would it still be called a Supreme Treasure? The conditions for a treasure of this level to acknowledge a master are extremely harsh; it has incredibly high requirements for a Cultivator's Realm, Heart-Nature, and even Opportunity."

He paused and continued, supporting his point with facts: "There must be a special reason why Bai Guang was able to successfully make that leaf acknowledge him as its master. Haven't you heard that the myriad things cauldron remained in his hands for many years without acknowledging him?"

After further elaborating on the difficulty of a Supreme Treasure acknowledging a master, Wan Hai returned to his initial judgment, his tone even more certain: "I believe the possibility that Xun Xiuyuan possesses a Supreme Treasure is very high. After all, to deal with a figure like Bai Guang, it would be absolutely impossible to succeed without the empowerment of a Supreme Treasure-level power."

Speaking of this, he couldn't help but recall the terrifying power brought by that mysterious leaf—sealing Laws, locking down space, making it difficult to even unleash World Power—that Soul-deep shock still left the eight of them with lingering fear.

The old man beside him felt deeply the same, whispering in agreement: "Indeed, the power of that leaf is truly terrifying. Laws were sealed, space was locked, and even my World Power could barely be mobilized. The power of a Supreme Treasure is truly well-deserved."

Just at this moment, the vast cosmic vortex suddenly transmitted a violent energy fluctuation. Space rippled like the surface of water, and the figure of Xie Nanqiao slowly emerged from within, her posture calm and mysterious.

Those eight experts, who had originally been indifferent, had not forcibly broken into the Yuan Ling Universe simply because they were following Star Swallower's dying wishes.

Of course, there was also fear of Xun Xiuyuan's strength, as well as the Supreme Treasure they secretly speculated might exist.

However, the moment Xie Nanqiao appeared, the expressions of the eight changed drastically; their previous calmness and indifference instantly vanished.

Although Xie Nanqiao had only just entered the Hongmeng Realm, she had perfectly integrated the ten main laws into her divine body. Her power was so strong that in the entire Universe, it was second only to that Xun Xiuyuan, who was like a cheat code.

Because of this, the pressure she released seemed to be able to override the heavens, majestic and awe-inspiring, making one's heart tremble.

Xie Nanqiao had long since sensed that eight Hongmeng Realm experts were waiting outside, intending to find Xiao Yuan's whereabouts.

To deter them, she did not hesitate to release all of her Aura, without holding anything back. The effect was clearly extremely significant—from the uncertain and shocked expressions of the eight, she immediately read their shock and wariness.

And at this moment, Xie Nanqiao had only used the Aura condensed from her own cultivation, without leaking a single trace of the three artifacts of time.

Although this set of treasures was not specifically forged for combat, as an extremely rare existence in the Universe, its exquisite control over World Power and terrifying amplification of Law power far exceeded the limits of ordinary experts' imagination.

Wan Hai couldn't help but furrow his brows. He stared at the woman before him with a solemn gaze, deliberated for a moment, and then slowly spoke: "This old man is Wan Hai, leader of the Neutral Alliance. May I ask your name, Fellow Daoist?"

Xie Nanqiao's lips curved slightly, revealing a faint smile. Her tone was calm but carried a hint of detachment: "I am indeed the wife of the Xun Xiuyuan you are looking for. My name is Xie Nanqiao, and I am a native born and raised in this Yuan Ling Universe."

Wan Hai and the others were even more shocked upon hearing this. They looked at each other, their faces filled with disbelief.

They had originally speculated that the person who came might be some reclusive powerful Cultivator, but they never imagined that it would actually be a native of the Yuan Ling Universe.

What was even more unexpected to them was that Wan Hai and the others were completely unaware that the Human Race of the Initial Domain actually originated from the Blue Star Universe and was of the same root and origin as the Dao Law Progenitor.

Wan Hai immediately straightened his robes and once again solemnly bowed, saying in a sincere tone: "Coming here today was presumptuous, and it has truly caused much disturbance. We eight are all close friends of Star Swallower. Before Star Swallower fell, he specifically instructed us to come and find Fellow Daoist Xun Xiuyuan."

He stopped speaking here because Xie Nanqiao had already interrupted him.

"Senior Wan," Xie Nanqiao asked straightforwardly, "How exactly did Senior Star Swallower fall?"

Even though Xie Nanqiao's cultivation Realm was no longer what it used to be, her straightforward personality remained the same; it had not changed at all.

Although Shadow King had already sensed the news of Star Swallower's death through the Soul tablet, no one knew exactly how he had fallen. Because of this, Xie Nanqiao asked this question.

Wan Hai was silent for a moment, then, with a solemn expression, narrated the whole story of the entire incident from beginning to end. His tone was plain, and he did not deliberately exaggerate or embellish the details, simply stating them as they were.

After listening, Xie Nanqiao frowned slightly, her tone carrying a hint of doubt: "Is that Bai Guang's strength really that strong? In that case, wouldn't we have no chance of winning?"

What she was thinking was actually very simple: Bai Guang was too powerful, and Xiao Yuan was still young. If they couldn't defeat him right now, it would be better to retreat for the time being and seek an Opportunity for revenge later.

Wan Hai sensed that Xie Nanqiao seemed to have the intention of retreating and immediately explained: "It is not that Bai Guang's own cultivation is Heaven-Defying, but that he holds an extremely powerful Supreme Treasure in his hands. As long as we can find a way to suppress that treasure, by combining the power of the eight of us, we will definitely have a chance to kill him completely."

Xie Nanqiao did not have a clear concept of the term "Supreme Treasure". Just as she was hesitating, a childish voice suddenly rang in her mind: "Mother, actually... I am also a Supreme Treasure."

She was slightly startled. She turned her gaze to the eight people in front of her, deliberated for a moment, and then said: "Xiao Yuan is currently still in seclusion, and I do not know when he will come out. Why don't... you all just wait here for a while?"

She was outspoken; whatever she thought, she said, without weighing her words.

Wan Hai's expression stiffened upon hearing this—for many years, no one had ever shut him out like this.

But looking into Xie Nanqiao's clear and sincere eyes, he eventually just nodded helplessly and replied: "We will follow Fellow Daoist Xie's wishes and wait here."

A bright smile immediately appeared on Xie Nanqiao's face.

She thought to herself that regardless of whether these people entering the Yuan Ling Universe would be a blessing or a curse, not letting them in for now was ultimately safer.

Thus, she said in a light tone: "Thank you for your understanding, Senior Wan. As soon as Xiao Yuan comes out of seclusion, I will inform him immediately."

Before her words had finished, she leaped and plunged back into the churning cosmic vortex, disappearing from sight.

Wan Hai and the others watched her departing figure, looked at each other for a moment, and then began to communicate enthusiastically through transmissions again:

"Old Wan, did you see that? Such a young Hongmeng Realm expert... I guess she's not even a thousand years old?"

"Why guess? Didn't you feel the pressure she was faintly emitting just now?"

"Indeed... That Aura is even a few points stronger than Bai Guang's. If Bai Guang didn't have the Supreme Treasure's empowerment, he might not necessarily be her match."

"Not necessarily. Aura is Aura; in a real life-and-death struggle, it depends on actual combat strength. The two cannot be equated."