Chapter 1449 (Raw 1429):
Before coming here, Xiao Chen made inquiries about the Mirage Immortal Palace in many places. He learned that this illusionary realm would arrive in half a year, which would be its third appearance in the recent millennium. He did not know when it would reappear after that.
It might take one hundred years or maybe just twenty years; it was hard to say.
This was its third manifestation in the recent millennium. After this, no one knew when it would next show up. Hence, many Martial Emperors were likely to come to explore the Mirage Immortal Palace this time.
Xiao Chen saw many Martial Emperors from diverse factions on the surrounding islands. These Martial Emperors came from the Heavenly Starry Ocean, the Storm Sea, the Ice Sea, the Black Sea, the Human-Demon Sea, and other places in the oceanic world. Many of them were Greater Heavenly Martial Emperors from various Holy Lands, even Sovereign Martial Emperors.
The ones that Xiao Chen was familiar with were the elders of the Five Poison Sect, the Heavenly Province Academy, and the Yinyang Paradise. These Holy Land elders were grouped up together with the Martial Emperors of their sect.
"Might I ask if you are the Shadowless Saber Sovereign?"
Just as Xiao Chen observed the surroundings, a hemp-robed old man came over and greeted him. This person was ancient, at least a thousand years old. He possessed a high cultivation, an Eighth Heaven Martial Emperor.
The clothes this old man wore did not bear the mark of any sect, so he was probably an unaffiliated loose cultivator.
Normally, loose cultivators did not have a good reputation. However, after they advanced to Martial Emperor, they could be considered to have achieved success, breaking free of their troubles and hardship. Even so, they still would retain some of the bad habits from before advancing to Martial Emperors.
The throne turned around, and Xiao Chen replied, "I am precisely he. What's the matter?"
The hemp-robed old man smiled and said, "This old man is Mu Yong, a loose cultivator of the Ice Sea. This time, I gathered a few like-minded people and am preparing to break into the Mirage Immortal Palace. It seems like the Shadowless Saber Sovereign is alone. How about you join my team, and we can help look after each other?"
Xiao Chen thought for a while, in no rush to answer. It was definitely a good thing to have a few people to look out for each other. However, there were also downsides to having many people, especially loose cultivators. Their natures varied, and there were too many unknown variables.
Seeing Xiao Chen hesitate, the help-robed old man added, "We are just a small team. However, even though our numbers are few, we have a peak Geomaster taking charge. This old man is not talented, but I managed to come back safely the past two times."
When Xiao Chen heard this, he narrowed his eyes. This hemp-robed old man could not be underestimated.
After entering the Mirage Immortal Palace twice, this old man still managed to come out alive. His strength had to be at the peak of Eighth Heaven Martial Emperor.
If it were in the past, when Xiao Chen did not have the Divine Lightning Eye, he would be somewhat fearful. However, he had been cultivating the Divine Lightning Eye for half a month already and could use it familiarly.
Now, he was fully confident of safely retreating from a Holy Master, what more an Eighth Heaven Martial Emperor.
Since Xiao Chen did not have to worry about his own safety and the other party was so experienced, it was possible to travel with the other party.
"I'll join you, then. Senior Mu, just address me as Shadowless," Xiao Chen said after raising his head. His expression could not be seen under his mask.
The hemp-robed old man smiled happily. "Great. With the Shadowless Saber Sovereign joining us, we will be more confident. Come, I'll bring you over to meet the other members."
After speaking, Mu Yong led Xiao Chen to a nameless island.
Upon seeing this scene, the other factions and Holy Lands felt some regret. The Shadowless Saber Sovereign's arrival had attracted their attention long ago. Their eyes never left him.
However, there were too many rumors about the Shadowless Saber Sovereign, making others feel that he was hard to interact with. Unexpectedly, the hemp-robed old man managed to move Xiao Chen with just words.
This was somewhat surprising, to the regret of those people who wanted to recruit Xiao Chen.
After landing on the small island, five people immediately got up and welcomed Xiao Chen and Mu Yong. Two of them were a middle-aged couple with similar cultivations, both Seventh Heaven Martial Emperor. Of course, they just looked middle-aged. In reality, it was hard to tell exactly how old they were.
There was also a Fiend Race woman. Based on her aura, she should be of the Blood Shark Race. Having met the Blood Shark Sovereign of the thirteen Great Bandits, Xiao Chen was extremely familiar with the aura of the Blood Shark Race. Hence, he could tell with one look.
The remaining two were a swordsman and a bladesman.
These five people were extremely respectful to Xiao Chen, especially that bladesman Martial Emperor. After the bladesman Martial Emperor saw Xiao Chen, he was exceptionally excited.
Xiao Chen returned the greetings and did not put on airs, improving their impression of him.
The hemp-robed old man smiled faintly and performed the introductions, increasing the trust between each other. He should be the leader of this group.
However, just when Xiao Chen thought this, he saw Mu Yong respectfully saying to a sixth person, a black-clad old man, "Senior Jiang, this is the Shadowless Saber Sovereign. He is the most famous Saber Sovereign in recent years. Even when the three Holy Masters worked together, they could not kill him."
The story of Xiao Chen escaping the three Holy Masters' encirclement at the Savage Battlefield despite them working together had already spread wide, making him even more famous.
However, this black-clad old man did not seem to care. He did not even bother to turn around, merely saying indifferently, "It is just luck. What is there worthy of praise? You can ask him yourself whether he managed to defeat even one of the Holy Masters."
Xiao Chen found this voice somewhat familiar. Then, he recalled that the hemp-robed old man said there was a Geomaster in the group. Could this black-clad old man be the one?
The hemp-robed old man smiled abashedly and said, "This is Senior Jiang, a famous Geomaster of the oceanic world. The geography of the Mirage Immortal Palace is rather strange, and there are many ominous lands, so we need to ask a Geomaster to accompany us."
Could this Senior Jiang be the Jiang Tian who once gave me the maps of the Spirit Veins in the oceanic world?
As Xiao Chen thought this, he replied, "It's fine. I am indeed unable to defeat a Holy Master. Senior Jiang is right."
Xiao Chen's answer puzzled the calm hemp-robed old man. However, he was happy that Xiao Chen did not get angry.
"You are rather wise; otherwise, when you actually enter the Mirage Immortal Palace, you would not even know how you died," Senior Jiang said expressionlessly after he stood up and turned around.
When Xiao Chen saw the other party's appearance, his expression did not change. However, he smiled in his heart. It really is Jiang Tian, that Geomaster with overwhelming means.