Chapter 1275:
"Bang!" Ao Lang put down the stone saber on his back, causing the ground to tremble. The lightning saber intent still had not faded from the saber, crackling endlessly.
He said coldly, "Look after this stone saber. On the day of the ceremony, I will personally return it to that brat."
After thinking for a while, Ao Lang looked into the distance and said indifferently, "I think I will have to personally make a trip to some places."
Having seen Xiao Chen for himself, Ao Lang could not help the increased heaviness of his heart. The Azure Dragon King Xiao Chen was much more difficult to deal with than he imagined.
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At the same time, the envoys of the Western Sea Divine Dragon Palace arrived at the various Holy Lands of the Heavenly Starry Ocean.
When the Holy Masters heard what these envoys had to say, they all felt very happy. They had just been worrying about how to deal with Xiao Chen. Since the Western Sea Dragon King wanted to stand out and take the lead, that would be for the best.
Xiao Chen alone was not scary. What was scary were the Supreme Sky Prime and the Thunder Sovereign behind him. With someone willing to risk their potential revenge, taking the lead in spoiling the ceremony, the Holy Masters were, naturally, willing to sell this favor.
Three of the Immortal Holy Lands—the Heavenly Province Academy, the Five Poison Sect, and the Cyclic Astral Palace—did not even have to consider before agreeing to the Western Sea Dragon King's invitation.
Only the Yinyang Paradise, the Myriad Fiend Island, and the Lunar Palace hesitated. As for the ancient Noble Clans, most of them agreed.
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On Myriad Fiend Island, Di Xinhan, who once fought with Xiao Chen at the Four Seas Hero Gathering, did his best to caution the many Fiend Race cultivators against participating in the Western Sea Dragon King's plan.
Di Xinhan advised, "Martial Uncles, I fought with this Xiao Chen before. This person is nothing but capable. However, he will absolutely not be the second Azure Emperor. The Dragon's Gate's reestablishment ceremony is most likely just fulfilling the responsibility of being a Xiao Clan descendant, bringing back the Dragon's Gate and ensuring its inheritance does not end."
"Di`er, you are still young. You do not know what reestablishing the Dragon's Gate means. Regardless of his preferences, when he reestablishes the Dragon's Gate in the Heavenly Starry Ocean, the Luck of the various Holy Lands will flow uncontrollably towards him."
Di Xinhan shook his head and argued, "This is the excuse of the weak. The strong rely on themselves. If you think like that, even if the Myriad Fiend Island were to gain an astronomical amount of Luck, it still would not develop well."
As the endless debate went on, an aged voice suddenly rang out in the plain and simple palace hall. "Prepare a generous gift for the Dragon's Gate's reestablishment ceremony. Do not participate in the other matters!"
The moment this voice rang out, the expressions of all the people present changed. The one who spoke was the Myriad-Law Fiend Master, an old ancestor of the Myriad Fiend Island who held a supreme position in this place.
Like the Lunar Palace's Palace Master and the Cyclic Astral Palace's Palace Lord, he was one of the three Primes of the Heavenly Starry Ocean.
The moment the old ancestor spoke, the group of elders immediately stopped objecting. Di Xinhan heaved a sigh of relief. At the same time, he felt somewhat puzzled.
Di Xinhan wondered why the old ancestor, who had been in closed-door cultivation for a thousand years, suddenly showed concern over this matter.
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In the Yinyang Paradise, after a group of charming women discussed the matter for a long time, they also rejected the Western Sea Dragon King's envoy. However, they giggled as they tried to get the envoy to stay in the Yinyang Paradise as a guest for a few more days.
This invitation frightened the envoy. He smiled abashedly and ran off quickly. The women of the Yinyang Paradise were famous for eating others up without leaving anything behind. How could he dare to remain?
His retreat prompted the women to cover their mouths as they giggled endlessly.
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In the Lunar Palace, due to the envoy's persuasion, the Lunar Palace's Palace Master was already somewhat interested. However, Yue Bingyun suddenly rushed back and gave her input. Once the Lunar Palace's Palace Master learned that Xiao Chen once saved Yue Bingyun's life, her expression turned complicated, and she did not speak for a long time.
Yue Bingyun, who was at the side, felt very nervous. She did not know what kind of decision her master would make in the end.
"I'll just take it as a favor to him. The Lunar Palace will not participate in this matter. As for whether he can clear this hurdle, that will be up to him. The Lunar Palace will absolutely not help the Azure Emperor's descendant."
Yue Bingyun's heart sank. This was not the result that she wanted. However, when she noticed the firmness of her master's tone, she did not dare to say anything else.
Of the six Immortal Holy Lands, although three of them did not participate, the Western Sea Dragon King managed to rope in the other three. There were also most of the ancient Noble Clans.
Together, they would be a huge force that could get any faction to back off.
The Western Sea Dragon King Ao Lang personally made an appearance, gathering the leaders of these factions together. Then, he started discussing the countermeasure that he prepared long ago.
The plan was very simple. To use force to suppress Xiao Chen, using their power to put boundless pressure on him, to get him to take the initiative to give up on reestablishing the Dragon's Gate.
The storm stirred up by the Dragon's Gate's reestablishment ceremony had already accumulated a horrifying momentum. Once the time arrived, it would all be unleashed in one go.
The Western Sea Dragon King still did not seem satisfied. After gathering the factions of the Heavenly Starry Ocean, he personally made a trip to the Kunlun Continent.
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At a certain mysterious seabed of the Heavenly Starry Ocean, Yi Ling, whose arms were already reconnected, hurried towards a secret room within an underwater palace.
The most mysterious person in the entire oceanic world—the Treasure Master—sat in this secret room.
Yi Ling did not push open the door to this secret room. In reality, even a Sovereign Martial Emperor would not be able to push the door open. He said from outside the door, "Father, the Dragon's Gate's reestablishment ceremony will be held in half a month. At that time, Xiao Chen will reestablish the Dragon's Gate, formally hanging the banner of the Dragon's Gate."
However, not a single sound came from the secret room. It was like the person in there was not interested at all.
"Father, say something. He chopped off my arms, but you did not even help me take revenge. Now, he is going to reestablish the Dragon's Gate. Could it be that we have to just watch this happen?" Yi Ling asked with a quivering voice as he knelt on the ground. Now, he felt very anxious.
In the secret room, the Treasure Master, who was encased in black shadows, opened his eyes. Fourteen figures stood around him, keeping the place under heavy guard.
If one looked carefully, one would discover that these figures looked identical to the gigantic sculptures of Immortal Cultivators that the Treasure Master controlled in the Heavenly Starry Ocean; they were just significantly smaller.
"I have my own thoughts on this matter. You do not have to concern yourself with this. Cultivate hard and don't waste your time," the Treasure Master replied indifferently.
Yi Ling did not stand up. Feeling dissatisfied, he asked, "Father, then when can I take revenge for his cutting off my arms?"
"You can do so at any time. You just have to be stronger than him. Stop lingering on this. You are interrupting my closed-door cultivation." The Treasure Master waved his hand and sent out a wave of strong energy.
No matter whether Yi Ling was willing or not, he was pushed out of the heavily guarded place, unable to enter again.
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The undercurrents surged as the storm approached.
Xiao Chen, who stirred up this storm, did not feel anxious at all. He appeared to be leisurely comprehending, continuously cultivating at every free moment.
However, he did take time to look at some letters. The writers of these letters were all people whom he invited to the reestablishment ceremony, who confirmed their attendance.
As Xiao Chen looked at the similar contents in the various letters, he felt gratified.
He might not have a lot of friends; however, they did not hesitate to help without shrinking away at the crucial moment.
The Northern Sea Alliance's Alliance Chief, the thirteen Great Bandits of the Black Sea, the Geomaster Jiang Tian, the Merfolk Race's Queen Yao Yan, the White Bone Sovereign…the letters of these people all contained only some simple words. However, these words clearly expressed their stances.
Xiao Chen put away the letters and muttered, "Western Sea Dragon King, you want to use power to pressure me. Let's see who will end up getting pressured in the end."
After he put away the letters, a guest arrived in the courtyard. Mo Chen walked over in a hurry.
She appeared somewhat fatigued. Aside from fatigue, there was a sense of gravity in the depths of her eyes.
When Xiao Chen saw Mo Chen come in, he revealed a smile and invited her to take a seat. Then, he personally poured tea for her, properly receiving her.
"Big Brother Xiao Chen, there is no need to be so polite with me." Mo Chen picked up the teacup and took a sip, smiling faintly.
"It is a must. I owe you too much. All this is necessary," Xiao Chen said sincerely.
Mo Chen and Lan Shaobai busied themselves with the Dragon's Gate's reestablishment ceremony. They moved about frenetically, unable to stop and rest for a single moment.
On the other hand, the initiator of this event was unexpectedly idle. Aside from comprehending the Saber Domain, he did not need to do anything.
Even when Xiao Chen wanted to help, Mo Chen sternly rejected him, not letting him interfere.
In reality, Xiao Chen knew that this was Mo Chen showing concern for him. Of all the people, Mo Chen knew that the one under the most pressure in reestablishing the Dragon's Gate was no doubt Xiao Chen.
If she could help him in any way, she would definitely do it, so that he would not have any additional worries.
Mo Chen put down the teacup and went straight to the point, speaking of her intent in coming here. "Everything is ready. Three days from now, we will begin with paying respects to the ancestors. Shaobai got me to come here and inform you."
Paying respects to the ancestors, this was the first step in the Dragon's Gate's reestablishment. After paying respects were opening the gates, welcoming the guests, and receiving the congratulations of others.
What had to come would eventually come. However, now that it was truly here, Xiao Chen still could not help feeling moved. "It is going to start, huh? Time really flies."
Time did indeed go by very quickly. By Xiao Chen's calculations, he had already been in the Kunlun Realm for fourteen years. If he started from when he left the Mohe City's Xiao Clan, it would be even longer. When he looked back, it was just like an instant, the blink of an eye.
"Big Brother Xiao," Mo Chen called out when she noticed Xiao Chen appearing somewhat distracted.
Xiao Chen recovered his wits and smiled. "I got it. Three days from now. I will make my preparations. Paying respects to the ancestors is a big matter. Nothing can go wrong with it."
Mo Chen's eyes revealed a trace of melancholy. "There is no need to worry about paying respects to the ancestors. No matter how unruly those people are, they will not choose to cause trouble at this moment. After the segment of paying respects to the ancestors are the unveiling ceremony and the reception of the guests from the various places. That is the most crucial part."
No one would cause trouble during the paying respects to the ancestors. However, it would be hard to say for the segment of welcoming the various guests and celebrating.
Xiao Chen revealed a determined light in his eyes. "My heart is set on reestablishing the Dragon's Gate. No one can stop me."
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Three days later, the ceremony to pay respects to the ancestors began.
Xiao Chen stood in the middle with Mo Chen and Lan Shaobai on either side. Behind him were Yue Chenxi, Jin Lin, Xiao Yu, and the others.
Everyone in the group had solemn expressions as they arrived before the Azure Dragon Tomb right outside Heavenly Dragon City.
The remains of the Dragon's Gate's War Venerates, the heroic spirits who did not rest, even after their deaths, were buried under the Azure Dragon Tomb.
Many nameless tombstones stood upright, adding a sense of dignity to this solemn atmosphere.
Xiao Chen knelt on the ground, feeling touched and a sense of responsibility as he knelt before these Dragon's Gate's predecessors.
"In the past, the Dragon's Gate swept through everywhere, gaining plenty of military merits. However, Luck fluctuates. The Azure Emperor fell and the Dragon's Gate got destroyed. For ten thousand years, there was no inheritance…"