Chapter 1004 - A Grand Master Coming to Visit
Chapter 1004 A Grand Master Coming to Visit
“How could someone’s life be in dire danger after he became a Grand Master in the Yuan Ying Realm?” Dong Chen asked, puzzled.
“Grand Masters in the Yuan Ying Realm are still mortals.” Zhang Mu shook his head and illustrated, “Those in the Elixir Realm have a lifespan of more than 500 years. Grand Masters in the Yuan Ying Realm can live for more than 1,000 years. Of the Grand Masters I heard about in the story, one had lived for more than 1,500 years. Maybe he sensed that his life was coming to an end. If he stayed in the Kunlun Immortal World, he would definitely die. That was why he went to the Boundless Sea to explore the unknown world.”
“Maybe he’s found a way to extend his life there.” Zhang Han smiled.
There was definitely something unfathomable in the Boundless Sea. Likewise, the Northernmost Sea also had mysteries, which might be the secrets about how to lift the seal on the Saint Warrior Planet.
The only one who knew more information about that was Yue Wuwei. Zhang Han wondered when he would meet him again.
He did miss him a little.
What he didn’t know was that Yue Wuwei was still standing in front of the storm on the suspended continent in the remote Sea Dragon Star Area, showering abuse.
“Holy sh*t…
“Who the hell has provoked her again?
“How many strikes has she made now?
“Those guys must be blind, really blind! Her strength isn’t something that bunch of idiots can resist, okay? Why don’t they just drop dead?
“I’m so pissed off! D*mn those old guys from the Kunlun Immortal World! Wait for me to kill you all when I get back!
“Zhang Hanyang, you’re also a troublemaker. Why did you take her to the Kunlun Immortal World even though you knew her power has been awakened? I’ll teach you a lesson when I go back!
“Gosh, this is killing me. It just happened during my absence. Why does it have to be so coincidental? Who in the world can stand this?”
Yue Wuwei was so angry that the muscles on his face quivered. He spat heavily with every sentence. Just like that, he kept cursing at the huge storm in front of him.
No one knew about his spleen.
By contrast, Zhang Mu and the others were in a good mood. Now they had had their revenge, the future awaiting them was all rosy.
“They’re back!”
“Grand Master An, Grand Master Nan, and Grand Master Zong are all dead!”
“The three Grand Masters have been subdued by Zhang Hanyang’s wife single-handed. They’ve been sucked into the whirlpool in the Northernmost Sea. They have no chance of surviving. Oh my, even the three Grand Masters are no match for her. Isn’t she simply invincible?”
“How many years has it been? I figure this is the first time in thousands of years that someone has managed to kill Grand Masters in the Yuan Ying Realm.”
“Our Wind Snow Temple is over!”
“They are too horrific. I’m afraid that from now on, the entire Kunlun Immortal World will have to bow at their feet. We can’t afford to offend them. We just can’t.”
The murmurs grew louder and louder.
Some of the comments sounded exaggerated, but those were still indisputable facts.
“Oh? His cultivation is not bad.”
It was not until Zhang Han went back to the coast that he glanced at Shi Fenghou in the distance.
Sensing that Zhang Han was looking in his way, Shi Fenghou trembled from head to foot. The look in his eyes was hesitant. Eventually, he smiled bitterly and flew toward Zhang Han.
“I, Shi Fenghou, now pay my respect to Mr. Zhang and Mrs. Zhang. In this Space Ring are all the crystal stones I’ve earned in recent years, which are 230,000 pieces in total. By far, I’ve owed you 1,280,000 crystal stones. Today, I’ve paid 230,000 off. I’ll also give you these five fine gems. Let’s say the gems are worth 50,000 crystal stones. Therefore, now I still owe you a million crystal stones. Don’t worry. I’ll find a way to pay off the rest of my debt.”
“Sure.”
Zhang Han took the Space Ring with a smile.
He nodded to Shi Fenghou and said with a beam, “Work hard on cultivating.”
“Got it,” Shi Fenghou answered. After greeting him, he hurriedly took several paces back, for he did not dare to stand beside Zhang Han for long.
He still had to pay Zhang Han a million crystal stones.
“If I make a breakthrough again, the debt will become two million. When I reach the Yuan Ying Realm, I’ll easily lay hands on millions of low-grade crystal stones. Yes, I do have to work hard to cultivate.”
This scene happened to be witnessed by Yan Chen, Su Beimu, and the others who had rushed over.
“Hiss!”
“It’s already over?
“Shi Fenghou was paying back his debt just now, wasn’t he?”
“Whiz!”
Ye Longyuan hid behind Yan Chen, too mortified to show up.
“Haha.”
Mu Xue sneered and called out, “Ye Longyuan, long time no see. Why don’t you come and say hello to my master?”
Having been spotted, Ye Longyuan reluctantly stepped forward with a sullen face and glared at Mu Xue. “You are everywhere.”
Then, he put on a smile and said, “Zhang Hanyang, it’s been a long time. I heard that you’ve come to the Kunlun Immortal World. Thus, I’m here to pay my debt. I owe you a total of 640,000 crystal stones. At the present, I only have 140,000 pieces. Here you are.”
Instead of going nearer, Ye Longyuan just stood in the distance and hailed Zhang Han. Then, he directly threw a Space Bracelet to him, which contained 14,000 crystal stones.
“There are still 500,000 pieces short. I’ll pay you back next time.”
Ye Longyuan waved at Zhang Han before stepping aside.
This kind of scene rendered the more than 10,000 disciples of the Wind Snow Temple dumbfounded.
Shi Fenghou, Ye Longyuan, Yan Chen, Ding Jiuming, and Su Beimu were all famous cultivators. They were either already at the Elixir Realm Last-Stage or about to enter it. They all had an extraordinary aptitude and were also well known in the Kunlun Immortal World.
To everyone’s surprise, Shi Fenghou and Ye Longyuan actually owed Zhang Hanyang so many crystal stones.
Although several million crystal stones weren’t an exorbitant sum, it was still an overwhelming fortune for ordinary disciples like them.
“So this is it?”
Ye Longyuan approached a disciple of the Wind Snow Temple and asked with a condescending look, “What just happened here?”
“Er… Grand Master An, Grand Master Nan, and Grand Master Zong were suppressed by Zhang Hanyang’s wife and knocked into the whirlpool in the Northernmost Sea,” the disciple replied in a low voice.
In response to that, Shi Fenghou screamed in shock, “What did you say?”
Suddenly, his expression changed dramatically.
“Wait, are you sure you’ve got it right? It’s Zhang Hanyang’s w-wife who did it?”
“Yes.”
Hiss!
Yan Chen’s pupils shrank. His gaze quickly landed on Zi Yan. “So she is a more powerful figure?
“How is this possible?
“Isn’t Zhang Hanyang the strongest?
“Three Grand Masters have died in the battle?
“Oh my god, they can even vanquish Grand Masters!!”
The people who missed the fight all felt their scalps go numb and a chill run down their spines.
The news they had just heard was simply too appalling.
They couldn’t believe it. Even the 10,000 or so people who had witnessed the battle were a bit bemused. They didn’t dare believe what had happened even though they had personally watched how the battle ended.
“D*mn it. They’re cruel!”
Ye Longyuan scratched his head. He was blown away with admiration and respect for Zhang Hanyang.
When he heard about Zhang Han’s family and the woman he married, he thought that Merciless Zhang had just married Zi Yan for her beauty and she would just stay at home and be a housewife. But to his huge surprise, it turned out that Zhang Han had found himself a queen who could even suppress Grand Masters in the Yuan Ying Realm!
“So Zhang Han is actually the kept man riding on Zi Yan’s coattails?”
These words flashed across Ye Longyuan’s mind.
But he would never have the guts to say that out loud. He and Zhang Hanyang had been enemies for some time, so he knew a little about Zhang Hanyang’s temper. Zhang Hanyang was very kind to his people. But he was quite volatile to outsiders. He might kill them without any hesitation. Also, he had never followed any rules. He always overlooked the world and did whatever he wanted. He was certainly difficult to deal with.
If Ye Longyuan somehow upset him, Zhang Hanyang might kill him without giving him a chance to reason.
Thus, he stood aside and quietly watched Zhang Han and his companions fly to the east.
About 3,000 members of the Wind Snow Temple then left with dejected expressions, while the others followed Zhang Hanyang from afar.
Shi Fenghou, Ye Longyuan, Yan Chen, and the others also joined the majority because they wanted to see what Zhang Hanyang and his people would do next.
Half an hour later.
Several people quickly flew over from the side.
“Eldest Lady!”
It was Ding Jiuming, who had finally caught up with them. When he saw Mu Xue, he was both surprised and overjoyed. Excited, he came up to the group and greeted, “Sect Leader, Eldest Lady, Young Lord Zhang, and Immortal King Zhang…”
He cupped his hands and hailed all the people whose names he knew.
“Why are you here?” Mu Xue asked in bewilderment.
“I heard about the battle between Zhang Hanyang and the Wind Snow Temple, so I came to see how it was going,” Ding Jiuming continued, “it seems already over. Well, I… I’m late. I’m so sorry.”
He was implying that if he had come earlier, he would be able to help them. He was indeed thoughtful.
“It wouldn’t make a difference even if you were here in time. Thus, what are you sorry for?” Mu Xue curled her lips.
“Ding,” Sect Leader Mu, who had been watching the scene at the back, finally spoke to remind others of his presence. He glanced at Ding Jiuming and said, “Come and join us. I wanna have a word with you.”
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
Ding Jiuming was kind of embarrassed standing on the side. After Sect Leader Mu invited him over, he finally breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
After joining the team, Ding Jiuming gazed at Mu Xue’s profile. Hot desire began to surge in his heart. Even his throat became a little dry. His eyes were twinkling with obsession.
Five minutes later, Ding Jiuming finally couldn’t help but whisper to Sect Leader Mu, “Sect Leader, there’s something I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say.”
“Then don’t say it,” Sect Leader Mu replied flatly.
That rendered him speechless for quite a while.
But he couldn’t help it.
“Sect Leader!”
Ding Jiuming took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, “Two years ago, I already made it to the Elixir Realm Middle-Stage. Although I’m now in another sect, my heart still belongs to the Luo Fu Sword Sect. I am not far from the Elixir Realm Last-Stage. I figure… since Immortal King Zhang and the others are also there, I prepare to propose to Eldest Lady! And I hope you can approve of this!”
“What?”
Sect Leader Mu’s face darkened.
“How dare him!
“Turns out that he meant it when he made that remark before he entered the Kunlun Immortal World.”
“Propose to me?”
Mu Xue pursed her lips and said, “I’m a member of Mount New Moon now. My father’s opinion doesn’t matter.”
“Ahem…” Sect Leader Mu suddenly coughed violently.
“What do you mean by that? You think you’ve grown up and can no longer listen to me after you went to Mount New Moon?”
However, Sect Leader Mu was hesitating about how to answer that. Mu Xue’s words actually took the pressure off him.
As for whether he approved of this…
He would tell Ding Jiuming that he was a nice guy.
Women usually let their pursuers down by saying that they were nice guys. Sect Leader Mu would adopt the same strategy if being asked.
It was a sugar-coated rejection.
However, Ding Jiuming did not want to give up so soon. He then looked at Zhang Han and bowed.
“Young… Young Lord Zhang, I want to propose to Eldest Lady. May I know if you approve of it?”
Zi Yan couldn’t help laughing out loud at the sight of Ding Jiuming’s embarrassed look.
She found it very interesting.
Her reaction made Mu Xue’s heart skip a beat.
“Oh my! Ma’am can’t have thought this is a good idea, can she?”
“Huh?”
Mengmeng blinked her big bright eyes and stared at Mu Xue for a while. “Aunty Xue, someone is hitting on you, right?”
“As for this matter…”
Zhang Han turned around and looked at Ding Jiuming, saying, “You don’t have to ask me. When Mu Xue became my disciple, I said that if she wanted to get married, she could leave at once.”
“Master, I won’t leave. Nor will I get married!” Mu Xue snorted and patted Ding Jiuming’s arm. “Older Martial Brother Ding, there are many beautiful women in the world. You don’t have to stick with me. I’m not the woman for you. When I go to explore the world with my master in the future, you won’t even be able to catch my shadow.”
“No matter where you go, I’m willing to go with you,” Ding Jiuming said firmly.
Mu Xue couldn’t help but heave a sigh. Then, she added helplessly, “You are a good Older Martial Brother.”
“But not a good husband for me,” she thought to herself.
That was a rejection.
Ding Jiuming was silent for two seconds and then said, “I see.”
Mu Xue thought that he really understood what she meant.
But next, he said, “When I become a Grand Master in the Yuan Ying Realm, I’ll be able to take you on adventures with me.”
Mu Xue then said bluntly, “I am still young. I’m not seeking a romantic relationship for the time being.”
“Huh?”
Ding Jiuming was stunned. “But I can wait.”
“Don’t. Older Martial Brother, I’m just not into you, so don’t wait for me,” Mu Xue replied. Looking at Ding Jiuming’s hurt expression, she also felt distressed, but she had to follow her heart. Thus, she said, “We’re not right for each other.”
“Okay.”
Ding Jiuming immediately became dispirited. He didn’t know whether to follow them or leave.
At the sight of this, Sect Leader Mu sighed and said, “Ding, go back and cultivate. We’ll get back to the secular world in a day or two. If there is a chance, come back to our sect and visit us.”
“Yes, Sect Leader,” Ding Jiuming responded.
He cast a significant look at Mu Xue and then backed away.
Mu Xue rubbed her ear. She quickly pushed this matter aside.
However, Sect Leader Mu felt a little troubled.
“Is she into her master? But he is already a married man. Would she be willing to be a concubine?
“No, that shouldn’t be the case.”
Sect Leader Mu felt like on tenterhooks now.
When they returned to the Wind Snow Temple, Zhang Mu saw a figure hovering above the ruins of the temple.
“Deep Flame,” Zhang Mu greeted, “you’re finally back.”
“They trapped me on the coast of the Northernmost Sea. Thankfully, I still had you, Zhang Mu, guard our sect. Otherwise, the entire Deep Valley would have been destroyed. I didn’t expect that Elder Ma was actually a member of the Green Flame Sect. Well, seems that everything is predestined. Zhang Mu, you are really the benefactor of the Deep Valley.”
While speaking, Deep Flame slowly turned around. He looked at Zhang Mu, then scanned the crowd. Finally, he fixed his eyes on Zhang Han and Zi Yan. With a strange look fleeting across his eyes, he asked, “Did Nan Qinghai run away?”
“Grand Master Nan, Grand Master An, and Grand Master Zong have been thrown into the whirlpool in the Northernmost Sea,” replied Zhang Mu.
“What did you say?”
Deep Flame was stupefied. “What?”
He was very shocked. After repeatedly confirming the answer, he found that he was lost for words.
“Well, what should we do with the Wind Snow Temple…” Zhang Mu glanced at Zhang Han with an inquiring look.
Zhang Han shook his head slightly, indicating that it was up to him.
“Deep Flame.”
Zhang Mu cupped his hands at Deep Flame and said with a smile, “My granddaughter-in-law didn’t control her strength well. She smashed a large part of the Deep Valley. Although we can rebuild the sect, I think the location of the Wind Snow Temple is better. Deep Flame, you’ve taken care of me for many years. Now, as repayment, I’ll give this place to you.”
“Don’t mention it. We’re brothers. Of course, I should take care of you.” Deep Flame waved his hand and said casually, “The Deep Valley is not big, and I don’t have the intention to run a big sect. The place in the valley is already large enough. As for the location of the Wind Snow Temple… Don’t you have the Heavenly Knights Sect? With the strength of your granddaughter-in-law, you can let her set up a branch here. No one would dare to object.”
“Deep Flame, don’t stand on ceremony. The worldlet is already good enough for the Heavenly Knights Sect. If our members want to come here, they can just visit your Deep Valley, right?” Zhang Mu said with a smile.
“All right then.”
Deep Flame said with resignation, “It seems that you are determined to go to the inferior world. Yeah, it makes sense. The passages of the other three domains could be closed at any time. But Zhang Mu, although you are the head of the Heavenly Knights Sect, you are still an elder of my Deep Valley.”
“Haha, great.” Zhang Mu laughed heartily.
“I’ve sent people to the inferior world through the passage in the South Domain to summon the disciples of the Deep Valley. They probably will be back in the evening. There are already people cleaning the mess in the Deep Valley. Why don’t we have a banquet tonight to celebrate?” Deep Flame offered.
“Okay.” Zhang Mu nodded. “We plan to go back tomorrow. My great-granddaughter is about to start a new term.”
“Huh? Oh, okay. Then this will also be a farewell feast held for Elder Mu.” Deep Flame was stunned for a moment, but then he beamed.
Only a few disciples of the Deep Valley were left here. They were walking through every ruined hall, searching for any treasures left.
There must be some unspotted treasures. Zhang Han only looted the majority of the treasures. Except for Dong Chen, everyone else had handed the treasures they had found to Zhang Han.
As for how much each of them could get, they never bothered to think about that. When it came to sharing resources, Zhang Han had never been stingy.
After flying for several hours, they finally arrived at the Deep Valley at dusk. In the largest square of the main hall on the east side of the river, various dining tables had been set up. Those in the kitchen were preparing all kinds of delicious food.
It was not until now that Dahei and Tiny Tot climbed out of Mengmeng’s schoolbag for some fresh air. The two sat at the same table with Little Hei and the others.
Hundreds of people around kept casting glances at the three of them.
“It’s normal for a dog to eat meat. But how can a gorilla and a penguin also have meat?”
In the past few hours—
The Wind Snow Temple had been overthrown. The head of the Wind Snow Temple, Grand Master An, and Grand Master Zong had been defeated and driven into the whirlpool in the Northernmost Sea.
This piece of news boggled everyone’s mind.
“You said it was Zhang Hanyang’s wife who did that? She’s even more powerful than Grand Masters in the Yuan Ying Realm? The strikes she cast by waving her hand are almost impossibly to fend off? And she threw the three Grand Masters into the whirlpool in the Northernmost Sea? So they are all dead, aren’t they?”
“Is it true? Is there really someone who is strong enough to suppress Grand Masters in the Yuan Ying Realm?”
“I saw it with my own eyes. The energy waves generated by the great battle destroyed the plains and mountains within several thousand kilometers. Mountains collapsed and rivers flowed backward. That was only caused by the remaining energy waves. Despite their combined efforts, the three Grand Masters couldn’t fight off the attacks of the other side. With each blow they took, they had to retreat hundreds of meters.”
“Since they could retreat hundreds of meters, why didn’t they run away?”
“They wanted to. But every time they had a chance, Zhang Hanyang made his moves to trap them. Then, his wife attacked them again, so they couldn’t escape at all. Grand Master An even begged for mercy. But that didn’t work.”
“Could it be that… the power structure of our Kunlun Immortal World is going to change?”
Many cultivators, upon hearing the news, couldn’t help but doubt their outlook of life.
Even the remaining five Grand Masters in the Yuan Ying Realm in the East Domain felt a chill down their spines when they heard the news. They could not sit still anymore.
“An unrivaled lord has come to visit the Kunlun Immortal World?”
“I gotta go pay her a visit!”
Therefore, after Zhang Mu and the others drank for three rounds—
The following scene occurred.
“I, Xia Wenfu, am here to visit.”
“Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.”
A group of more than a dozen people appeared on the west side of the sky. They were led by a linen-clothed old man…
“Grand Master Xia?”
“Who would have thought that he would come?”
Many disciples of the Deep Valley were shocked. What was more, even some of the people who had secretly traveled here and stood on a mountain peak not far away also showed surprise on their faces.
“Grand Master Xia has come to visit in person? Good for him! He is really a smart Grand Master!”
This situation was completely reasonable, but it was a little unexpected because Grand Master Xia came too fast.
They instantly thought of many things when they saw Grand Master Xia.
In the beginning, Grand Master An and Grand Master Zong wanted to take down Zhang Hanyang, who had amazing potential to grow into someone that could threaten them. But now, he had already gathered enough strength. Even Grand Masters in the Yuan Ying Realm were no match for him. Thus, the other Grand Masters could only accept the reality. On second thought, if they got along well with Zhang Hanyang, this might turn out to be a good thing, right? Even if they couldn’t be close friends with him, they could at least be his acquaintances.
It was a pity that disciples like them didn’t even have the chance to be Zhang Hanyang’s acquaintances at all.
“I didn’t know Grand Master Xia was visiting. Sorry for not welcoming you in advance.”
Seeing this, Deep Flame immediately stood up, respectfully cupped his hands, and responded.
Zhang Mu also greeted, “Grand Master Xia, good to see you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Grand Master Xia smiled benignly. His eyes darted here and there and finally locked on Zhang Han and Zi Yan.
“I bet this handsome man is Zhang Hanyang, am I right?” Grand Master Xia said with a smile. “I haven’t seen you before, but I’ve heard of your name several times. I’ve long wanted to meet you. I didn’t expect that you stunned me today. Zhang Hanyang, you and your wife worked together and successfully suppressed Nan Qinghai and the other two Grand Masters. That was something. Your strength is already at the top of the world, and no one here can compete with you. I came here this time with two goals. For one thing, I want to get to know you. For another, I’d like to take a stance. Zhang Hanyang, you and your wife have come to the Kunlun Immortal World in person. I think it’s an honor for the entire Kunlun Immortal World. As one of the local hosts, of course, I need to extend my welcome to you. This is my gift. Please take it.”
As he spoke, Grand Master Xia handed over a Space Ring.
“Oh?”
Zhang Han laughed.
This was an aboveboard bribe in exchange for safety.
After taking the Space Ring, Zhang Han took a look and found that the items inside were quite valuable. There were a lot of gems and even some top-grade crystal stones. The things in this Space Ring were worth about 10 million low-grade crystal stones. The gift upon their first meeting was really generous.
Shi Fenghou and Ye Longyuan were still worried about how to pay back several million crystal stones. However, when the Grand Master came over, he directly offered more than 10 million as a gift.
This showed that strength meant wealth.
“Well, thanks,” Zhang Han said.
Zi Yan did not weigh in. She was totally obedient at this time. Zhang Han would call all the shots. Without pretending to be upright and uncorrupted, he immediately accepted the gift.
Grand Master Xia instantly smiled. And the smile didn’t fade for a good five seconds.
“Eh?
“Since you’ve accepted my gift, why haven’t you invited me to take a seat?”
Not knowing whether he should just stand there or sit down, Grand Master Xia began to look awkward.