Xu Zimo nodded firmly.
Xuanyuan Xuantian gave a bitter smile and said, "I can’t compare to you, Brother Xu. Now I'm like a setting sun, with a bleak future. I don’t know what path to take next."
"If even someone with one of the Hundred Battle Physiques feels unsatisfied, what about those fighters without one, still struggling to survive?"
Xu Zimo smiled. "Some things must be fought for. Contentment brings peace."
"You’re right, Brother Xu. But letting go of some things isn’t so easy for me," Xuanyuan Xuantian said with a faint laugh. "It’s been a few years since the Six Holy Lands Gathering, there’s been no news from you. These days, the Western Region is filled with emerging talents, it’s hard to keep track."
"Talents? Name a few," Xu Zimo replied with a smile.
"Let’s not talk about distant ones. Take our own Divine Sun Sacred Ground’s current Holy Son, Luo Changfeng. He broke through to the Empyrean Meridian realm six months ago. Combined with his Undying Battle Physique, he’s being called the strongest in the Western Region. Then there’s the Demonic Child from the Purgatory Sacred Ground, said to have inherited the legacy of an ancient demon, greatly increasing his strength and gaining quite a reputation. As for the Immortal Spirit Sect’s Xian Ling’er, she’s been confirmed as the reincarnation of the Peacock Ancestor. Her cultivation has skyrocketed in a short time, showing the brilliance of her former life. Also, the Myriad Beast Sect, rumor has it they skipped the Six Holy Lands Gathering because of a bloodline issue among their disciples and an incident with the Pure Moon Altar. But during that chaos, one disciple’s bloodline actually reverted to an ancestral state, reaching perfect level, giving them both human cultivation speed and the beast race’s combat strength."
After hearing this, Xu Zimo chuckled and shook his head.
"All just worthless chickens and dogs," he said.
“You hasn’t shown your face in the Western Region for years. Many people have already started to forget you," Xuanyuan Xuantian said. "You’d better be careful. A lot of people may want to challenge you."
"Challenge me?" Xu Zimo laughed.
"Yes. You were the champion of the Six Holy Lands Gathering, already hailed as the strongest in the Western Region. Beating you would earn that title. Also, you represent the True Martial Sacred Ground. Defeating the current Holy Son of a Sacred Ground is a quick way to become famous," Xuanyuan Xuantian said with a light laugh.
"That’s interesting," Xu Zimo smiled.
"Here’s some advice, if you truly feel lost about the future, travel more. The Western Region is still too small. There are five continents and countless domains. Maybe your opportunity is waiting for you elsewhere."
Xuanyuan Xuantian nodded seriously. He’d already been thinking the same.
The two chatted throughout the meal, covering many topics.
Though they weren’t that close before, martial cultivation was all about sharing and learning from one another.
Besides, Xu Zimo had been away for years, and the Western Region had changed drastically. Everyone was growing rapidly, preparing for the Heaven’s Will of this great era.
They talked from noon until dusk. Just then, a group of people walked into the restaurant.
All of them wore golden robes, the standard uniform of the Divine Sun Sacred Ground.
Xu Zimo glanced at them casually, but his attention quickly shifted to their leader.
It was a young man. His golden robe had a blazing sun design on the back.
On his chest was the sect’s emblem, and the color of his robe was noticeably deeper than the others.
Back during the Six Holy Lands Gathering, Xu Zimo had seen Xuanyuan Xuantian wear similar clothes.
It must be the unique robe of the Holy Son of the Divine Sun Sacred Ground.
"Your old friend is here," Xu Zimo said to Xuanyuan Xuantian.
Xuanyuan Xuantian glanced back. His expression immediately turned cold.
The group had four people, two men, two women.
Their leader, the current Holy Son Luo Changfeng, walked over to Xuanyuan Xuantian.
"I went to the City Lord’s estate. They said you were here, so I came," Luo Changfeng said calmly.
"What do you want?" Xuanyuan Xuantian asked without looking up.
"Senior Brother Xuanyuan, Senior Brother Luo is our Holy Son. Please mind your tone," said one of the female disciples, clearly upset by Xuanyuan Xuantian’s coldness.
"Junior Sister Qingliu, I’m your senior brother. You should watch your own tone too," Xuanyuan Xuantian replied coldly.
"Let it go, Qingliu," the other young woman smiled and shook her head.
"Senior Brother Xuanyuan has reason to feel upset. We’re just here to discuss some sect matters. We mean no harm."
Xu Zimo looked at the young woman. She wore a light golden robe. Her long hair was tied back in several loops. Her face was delicate, and her eyes were clear and pure, like they contained no impurities.
"Please speak, Junior Sister Qingxue," Xuanyuan Xuantian said with a faint smile.
"This isn’t really the place for this talk," Luo Qingxue said, glancing at Xu Zimo as if hinting at something.
"It’s fine. He’s a friend of mine," Xuanyuan Xuantian replied calmly. "It’s not like the sect trusts me with anything important anyway."
He wasn’t wrong. As the former Holy Son, his position was awkward now.
Because of Luo Changfeng’s rise, the sect members all avoided him.
He had no chance of regaining the Holy Son title, but he also couldn’t resign himself to mediocrity. It was a frustrating situation.
"Let’s talk," Luo Changfeng didn’t argue. He pulled up a chair and sat down.
"Have you heard of the Four Southern Demons?"
Xuanyuan Xuantian nodded slightly.
The Four Southern Demons were rogue cultivators from the Eastern Continent, more accurately, they were demonic cultivators. Their cultivation methods were cruel and violent, and many people had tried to eliminate them.
But their strength and secrecy made them hard to deal with.
"Not long ago, the Four Southern Demons entered our sect’s territory and slaughtered an entire village," Luo Changfeng said.
"The sect elders came out of seclusion to hunt them down. Three were killed, but one escaped. I was sent to pursue him. After tracking him for some time, I suspect he’s hiding near Chasing Sun City."
"Which one escaped?" Xuanyuan Xuantian asked.
Each of the four demons had their own specialty. He needed to know which one to be prepared.
"It was the Formation Demon, Gongsun Hong," Luo Changfeng replied.
"So I’m hoping you can help us catch Gongsun Hong and restore peace to Chasing Sun City."
"If he’s really hiding in the city, considering how big it is, it’ll be hard to find him," Xuanyuan Xuantian said after thinking for a moment.