Duan Yanzhuo was stunned. After a long pause, he murmured, "So Master asked us to cultivate Taishang Wangqing, and once we learned Taishang Wangqing, the lives and deaths of our disciples and grandchildren would no longer be so important."
"Heh, have you learned it? If you truly felt it wasn't important, why were you so furious when Duan Shikong died? Shouldn't your heart be as still as water?"
Ziwei Dao Shou questioned.
"I... then what exactly do you want me to do? Are you only satisfied if you force me to be an enemy of Master and the others?"
Duan Yanzhuo became anxious, like an enraged bull, panting heavily.
It was evident that he was struggling internally.
Compared to him, Yun Lan had always been very restrained.
However, restraint did not mean he wasn't struggling; his complex gaze had completely betrayed his true thoughts.
"I am not forcing you to be enemies with them; I just hope you can follow your heart... True men aren't just about showing off their muscles. True men always follow their hearts and fight!"
Ziwei Dao Shou spoke with profound wisdom.
Duan Yanzhuo sighed and fell silent. His thoughts had clearly softened considerably.
But he wasn't entirely convinced. Instead, he turned his gaze to Yun Lan, as if asking for his opinion.
"Junior Sister Ziwei, I've always known what you think. For five hundred years, you haven't changed at all. You've always resented and held grudges against Master and our ancestors, haven't you?"
Yun Lan asked.
Ziwei Dao Shou snorted lightly, her silence an admission.
"Actually, I don't have any objections to being enemies with Master and our ancestors, because honestly, I don't entirely agree with their actions. Moreover, I even feel that in this calamity, they might not necessarily absorb us into the Celestial Realm."
"Because, as far as I know, the competition for resources in the Celestial Realm is even more intense. Besides, in their eyes, we are merely a delicious meal!"
"Would a lion really let a rabbit join its pride? It's hard to say."
Yun Lan analyzed logically and coherently.
Compared to Duan Yanzhuo, he was clearly the more rational one.
And he believed so himself: "However, I still disagree with your approach. From a rational perspective, if we believe Master and the others will keep their promise, we face nine deaths with a sliver of hope. But if we oppose Master and them, we face certain death!"
"Master and the others have already joined the Heavenly Dao and become Celestial Immortals. You know how powerful those Celestial Immortals are, don't I need to say more?"
Yun Lan was indeed very rational, but also very cowardly, a resignation born from seeing through everything.
"Who says it's certain death? I believe that with Chen Xiao here, we still have a chance!"
Ziwei Dao Shou said earnestly, still quite confident in the man she had chosen.
However, upon hearing her words, Chen Xiao inwardly grumbled, "So you also think we only have a slim chance..."
"Heh, him?"
Yun Lan sneered, "He is indeed very strong. To be honest, the strength and abilities he just displayed have shocked me. He is already more powerful than all three of us Dao Shou."
"If he were given another five hundred years, I can't even imagine what heights he would reach. But... does he have another five hundred years?"
"He doesn't even have a year. The Heavenly Dao could descend upon Kyushu at any moment. At his current level, even if he collects all five sacred relics, what good would it do?"
"Perhaps he can deal with one Celestial Immortal, or two, or even ten. But what about a hundred? A thousand? Also, the Celestial Immortals we saw five hundred years ago were just ordinary ones. Those who were stronger didn't even get a chance to act because no one was worth their effort."
"Tell me, in such a situation, asking us to follow him is not sending us to our deaths, what else is it?"
Yun Lan's questioning was sonorous and earth-shattering.
As he reached the end, he suddenly thought of something and added with a sneer, "Moreover, he can't even unleash the true power of the God Slaying Sword now. How can he talk about killing Celestial Immortals?"
"Heh, your words only prove that you don't understand Chen Xiao at all!"
Ziwei said with a cold laugh.
"Yes, I really don't understand him. I'm not his Dao companion."
Yun Lan retorted sarcastically.
Ziwei didn't mind his remark. Instead, she seemed rather pleased. "Yes, I am his Dao companion. You never even had a chance. My man has no interest in men!"
"I'm talking business with you, stop interrupting. In my opinion, Chen Xiao's greatest strength lies in his ability to grow. He's like a blade of grass; as long as he's given a little space to survive, he can grow quickly and tenaciously."
Chen Xiao awkwardly touched his nose. Although Ziwei was praising him,
He was still present, and hearing such words made his toes curl inside his shoes!
He now wished he could emulate Yun Lan and turn his back to everyone, so he wouldn't feel so awkward.
Meanwhile, Ziwei Dao Shou continued, "The Earth Demon appeared in Houtu City a few days ago."
"What? That happened? How come I didn't know!"
Duan Yanzhuo's eyes widened, and he exclaimed excitedly. It seemed he harbored some animosity towards the Earth Demon.
"Of course, you wouldn't know. Because as soon as he appeared, Chen Xiao eliminated him, turning him directly into a soul crystal!"
Ziwei continued.
"Is this what you wanted to tell us? Although the Earth Demon is powerful, defeating him is not impossible even for the three of us. Let alone Chen Xiao! His strength has long surpassed ours."
Yun Lan said as a matter of course.
"No, you're mistaken."
Ziwei Dao Shou shook her head. "At that time, Chen Xiao unleashed the Seven Gods and almost risked his life to defeat the Earth Demon. His strength then was not as great as it is now!"
"And this only happened three days ago."
Upon hearing the last sentence, Yun Lan was utterly dumbfounded. "What? How is that possible? In three days, how could he have grown so much?"
"If your statement is true, his strength has at least doubled... more than doubled!"
"How did he do it?"
Yun Lan truly couldn't comprehend it, not at all.
He had lived for seven or eight hundred years, seen and heard much, and encountered countless so-called geniuses. But he had never heard of someone growing at Chen Xiao's pace.
After all, for cultivators who had reached their level, it was extremely difficult to increase their strength in a short period, let alone exponentially.
"It's very simple, because he refined the Earth Demon's soul crystal."
Ziwei Dao Shou said casually.
*Clink*—
Upon hearing this, Yun Lan froze completely.
Duan Yanzhuo exclaimed even more dramatically, "Junior Sister Ziwei, you must be joking, right? You must be joking with me!"
"That's the Earth Demon's soul crystal! That's the Earth Demon! How could it be refined in just three days, no, not even three days? It's impossible! Is he even human?"
Duan Yanzhuo spoke incoherently. The reason for his agitation was that, according to the normal cultivation speed of cultivators,
It would take anywhere from several years to decades, or even centuries, to consume a soul crystal of the Earth Demon's caliber.
How could anyone accomplish it in less than three days?
Yun Lan provided the answer to Duan Yanzhuo's question: "This kid isn't human, Senior Brother Duan. Don't you remember? He was created by Emperor Bai, and Emperor Bai said his origins are quite significant!"
After a brief shock, Yun Lan accepted the reality. Chen Xiao's growth rate was indeed hard to explain by conventional means.
Furthermore, he had made his decision.
"Ziwei, to be honest, you've convinced me!"
Hearing this, Ziwei's beautiful eyes flickered, and she felt a wave of relief.
Because once Yun Lan was convinced, Duan Yanzhuo would be even easier to persuade... not even needing further discussion.
However, before Ziwei could fully exhale, Yun Lan added a condition.
"But I have one condition. If he can achieve it, then from now on, I, Yun Lan, and the Heavenly Sect I lead, will pledge loyalty to him and serve him!"
"What condition?"
Ziwei's eyebrows furrowed. She knew Yun Lan's condition would not be simple.
Indeed, when Yun Lan stated his condition, Ziwei gasped in shock.
"My condition is that he must pass the God Slaying Sword Array!"
Upon hearing this, Duan Yanzhuo's eyes lit up, and he added, "That's a good idea, Junior Brother Yun. Your mind works fast! If that kid surnamed Chen can pass the God Slaying Sword Array, our Human Sect will also pledge loyalty to him from now on and obey whatever he says."
Ziwei frowned and asked, "When? Can we set the time for three days from now?"
"No, it's today, it's now!"
Yun Lan's attitude was resolute. "If he agrees, we will immediately activate the God Slaying Sword Array. Of course, if he refuses, we won't force him. We'll remain friends, after all, he is your Dao companion."
"This matter is of great importance. Allow me to discuss it with him."
Ziwei sighed and pulled Chen Xiao aside.
"Ziwei, what's there to discuss? Just agree to him."
Chen Xiao felt that if this was his only chance to contend for the Immortal Hidden Realm, he would do so without hesitation or shirking responsibility.
However, Ziwei was very conflicted. "Chen Xiao, you don't know how powerful the God Slaying Sword Array is. Frankly speaking, with your current strength, if you enter the God Slaying Sword Array, there's a high probability you won't come out alive..."
"Is it that exaggerated? What's the origin of this God Slaying Sword Array? Could it be related to my God Slaying Sword?"
Chen Xiao couldn't help but ask.
"It is indeed related somewhat."
Ziwei thought for a moment and said, "The God Slaying Sword is a sacred relic of the Eternal Immortal Emperor, and the God Slaying Sword Array was also created by the Immortal Emperor!"