Chapter Forty-Nine: Elder, Please Don't Go There and Cause Trouble

The group continued on their journey. After a month, an immense cluster of planets appeared before them. Fourteen planets in all orbited a small star, whose light nurtured countless billions of living beings.

The Qianluo Space was not vast; only when the spirit of space grew strong could its bounds expand further. At the sight, Old Bear Third’s spirits soared, and he shouted, “Even if we die, let us feast and drink to our fill! Come, the overlords of the Luohe planets under the jurisdiction of Southern Heaven are rich indeed!”

But as soon as he finished, Old Bear Third realized something was amiss and muttered, “Southern Heaven has perished because of us. Perhaps—it’s best we don’t go.”

“Look!” Long Yi pointed with a hand. At the fringe of the distant star, there was a tiny black dot, surrounded by shimmering light. He used his supernatural vision, then shook his head. “That’s a base of the Multi-Space Commerce Guild. Shall we go cause some trouble?”

“Cause trouble?” Wuyun’s mind buzzed in confusion. Surely they couldn’t bring war to the planets where so many beings lived?

When the Dao Treasure drew near, the golden palace-shaped supreme artifact instantly activated its defenses, unleashing more than a hundred God-Breaking experts to block Wuyun’s path.

“This is the headquarters of the Multi-Space Commerce Guild. I advise you not to provoke trouble, or else we shall summon immortal artifacts and slaughter you all!” The first to speak was an elder whose silken robe marked him as Xin Hao, the head of the Xin Family. He saw only a battered spear, atop which stood several figures, their faces veiled by the spear’s ancient surface, impossible to discern.

“Are you Er Gou Dan, one of Xin Family’s descendants?” Wuyun spoke harshly, and though Xin Hao nearly flew into a rage, something struck him. Angrily, he cried, “So it’s you—the culprit sword sect remnant who disrupted Qianluo Space! If you hadn’t lured away my father, how could the Commerce Guild suffer such disgrace, losing four stewards to that lower realm demon emperor? You—it’s all your fault...”

Recognizing Wuyun, Xin Hao poured out his grievances. Then, the palace opened a portal, and when Wuyun looked inside, fury boiled within him!

Within the palace’s formation cage, every familiar face from Luoshui Planet was imprisoned. Sword Mountain disciples, stewards and elders from various outer peaks, including Tonglu, Yue Luohua, Xiao Qi, and the child in Xiao Qi’s arms.

The master Dong Buyue of the Hidden Mountain Sect, the formidable Golden Blade Elder Jin Sandao who once oppressed Sword Mountain, Elder Ranhuo of Phoenix Fire Sect, and Wanyan Denglie, whom Wuyun had persuaded to retire and marry, were all there.

Was this to be the final reckoning?

---

A sudden clarity rose in Wuyun’s heart. This space sought to draw together all his memories, bidding him depart with nothing left unresolved. Yet anger still burned. He pulled out a token, a gift from Xin Qi.

Xin Qi had once said this token could command his family to accomplish several tasks.

But when Xin Hao received it, he discarded it, saying, “Father’s departure shattered the Guild. The Immortal Realm decreed that I must atone for my crimes!”

“To restore peace, I agreed to the Tiger-Faced Demon Emperor’s demand: deliver all who contacted Shengba to him, and he will depart. He promises their souls will remain whole. On behalf of the Guild, I urge you—go with the Demon Emperor.”

Old Bear Third and the others stood stunned. When he and Battle King revealed themselves, the hundreds of God-Breaking experts only hesitated briefly. As the little bug, Long Yi, Liu Ruyan, and Jiao Ying appeared, confusion spread among the besiegers.

There is a world of difference between ordinary God-Breaking experts and those at the peak, especially veteran peak experts. They did not fear Battle King or Old Bear Third, but the dragon Long Yi stirred terror in their hearts.

In that moment, Xin Hao fell silent, then spoke, “Elder, you were once a pioneer of the Seven Qi Dynasty. Will you shield them and let the world suffer the Demon Emperor’s destruction?”

Long Yi shook his head. Xin Hao rejoiced, but before he could speak, Long Yi continued, “Elder Wuyun’s powers are beyond your comprehension. I advise you to release these people and flee while you can. The Tiger-Faced Immortal is about to descend. If you do not escape, you will become his food!”

“No, we have a contract with the Tiger-Faced Immortal—an Immortal Realm covenant. He will not break it or harm us!” Xin Hao shook his head. Seeing Wuyun’s furious visage, fear gripped his heart. He hurriedly cast a spell, and the palace opened layer upon layer like a lotus blossom.

Wuyun snorted coldly and mocked, “Your Commerce Guild’s mysterious sphere is but Dao Treasure grade. You think it can subdue us? Not nearly enough.”

Xin Qi remained silent, continuing his incantations.

“I recall that the mysterious sphere has a most powerful move: when the Guild faces destruction, it can summon the Immortal Emperor’s consciousness, control the sphere, temporarily incarnate as his avatar, and devastate all. None can oppose it!”

“If you help me subdue the Tiger-Faced Immortal, I’ll let this matter pass. For Er Gou Dan’s sake, your family will prosper. But if you use it against me, bear the consequences yourself!”

---

Wuyun stood with hands behind his back, his expression grave as never before. Xin Hao continued to smile coldly, ceased his chanting, and shouted, “The survival of the Qianluo Commerce Guild hangs in the balance! To send off the Tiger-Faced Demon Emperor and the plague-bringer, we call upon the Immortal Realm Guild for judgment!”

As the palace artifact opened layer upon layer, it revealed a pitch-black bead, about a meter across. The bead slowly expanded, and within it, a faint teleportation array could be seen, linking the Immortal and mortal realms at every moment.

Wuyun remained silent, waiting for the descent of immortal consciousness. He knew that with the Tiger-Faced Immortal present, the other party must be an Immortal Emperor.

Indeed, as the passage widened to three meters, waves of imperial might surged forth. This was the limit of the passage—any wider would attract the attention of terrifying beings lurking in spatial fissures.

When the imperial might had finished probing, the Immortal Emperor’s consciousness descended upon the mysterious sphere, which quickly transformed into a humanoid figure.

But its pointed ears, towering nose, and oval-shaped head were not purely human.

The figure appeared extremely young. Before introductions could be made, Xin Hao bowed low and chanted, “Welcome, Immortal Emperor Luo of the Great Thousand Immortal Realm!”

The Great Thousand Immortal Realm was the name and headquarters of the Commerce Guild in the Immortal Realm, and the Immortal Emperor here was formidable indeed. He ignored Xin Hao’s worship and said bluntly, “I smell the scent of the Cat Demon. What a Demon Emperor—abandoning his cultivation to descend and wreak havoc. Truly pathetic and lamentable! If I capture him, I’ll earn substantial merit.”

“Heaven and earth are mine—my supremacy is absolute!” With these immortal words, Immortal Emperor Luo attacked Wuyun and the others. Wherever his voice fell, an invisible sword energy pierced the battered Dao Treasure spear.

The force was unstoppable. With a single strike, the defending Dao Treasure was punctured, losing part of its power. Battle King, who stepped forward to defend, suffered a grievous blow, coughing blood incessantly despite his formidable resistance.