Inside, he saw a magnificent hall with a throne at the end. On the throne sat a majestic-looking figure dressed in regal robes.
The man was tall and imposing, his face chiselled and angular. His hair was jet black, and his eyes shone with piercing intelligence. He had a strong, broad body that looked like it had been honed through years of training.
Dressed in rich golden robes, he looked every inch like the emperor of a vast kingdom. His hands rested on the armrests of the throne, and his gaze was fixed on Han Zhi as he approached. A sense of power and authority radiated from his entire being, making it clear that he was not someone to be trifled with.
"Greetings, Your Majesty, Realm Lord," Han Zhi bowed respectfully before the throne. "I have come to deliver the latest news."
The Realm Lord narrowed his eyes and looked at him for a moment before nodding in acknowledgement.
Han Zhi straightened up and took a deep breath. "The Black Lotus Forbidden Ground has disappeared."
The Realm Lord's expression darkened, and his hands clenched the armrests of the throne. "What? Disappeared?"
"The Towering Black Lotus has fallen, and the poison qi has faded away," Han Zhi explained.
He leaned back on his throne, deep in thought. "It seems like someone obtained the Primal Chaos Lotus."
He turned his attention back to Han Zhi and sighed. "I planned to get it once it fully matured, but that damned Tian Shang had inflicted severe wounds on my soul. Even after twenty thousand years, it hasn't healed yet. The realm's power I can control now is enough to only maintain this place."
Han Zhi nodded in understanding. "Although the Heavenly Conqueror was a vicious man, his power is worthy of respect."
The Realm Lord humphed. "Vicious is a small word to describe him. If I wasn't severely injured after fighting with the devil realm lord, he wouldn't even dare to think about attacking me, Ji Fang."
The Realm Lord extended his arm, and a translucent jade stone appeared on his hand. "This jade stone has some drops of my blood essence. It can amplify your power to the Dao Integration Realm and enable you to control the power of the realm to some extent. You can use it three times, and each use would last roughly one hour."
Han Zhi's eyes flashed with surprise as he received the jade stone.
The Realm Lord extended his other arm, and a black stone appeared on his hand. "This is a metal Dao element stone. I added a drop of my blood essence into it. It should help you in breaking through to the Spirit Severing Realm."
Han Zhi bowed again, deeply grateful for the Realm Lord's generosity. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will not disappoint your trust in me."
The Realm Lord nodded approvingly. "I know you won't. Now go and make use of these gifts wisely, and discover who took the Primal Chaos Lotus."
He suddenly remembered something and asked, "Oh right, have you found anything new about that thief?"
Han Zhi replied respectfully, "Yes, I am getting closer to discovering whether he really died or not. And if he is alive, I will make sure to retrieve what he stole from you back back ."
Ji Fang nodded in approval. "Very well. Keep me informed of your progress on both matters. The fate of the Primal Chaos Lotus and the that thief named Liang must be uncovered."
With that, Han Zhi took his leave, clutching the jade and metal element stones tightly in his hands. He had much work ahead of him.
***
After a long time, Liang opened his eyes and extended his right hand. Void Qi began to circulate around his hand. With a flick of his fingers, the Void began to bend, and a small oval hole began to appear above his hand, emitting a strong pulling force, but soon it disappeared immediately.
He chuckled upon seeing this. "Manipulating the Void is on a whole another level compared to the space. Even with the golden lotus seed, I barely reached the early stage of Void Manipulation Stage."
He stood up, and in the blink of an eye, he disappeared and reappeared in front of Yang Wu's office. He opened the door and walked calmly.
Yang stood up and greeted him. "Welcome back. How was it?"
Liang shrugged. "It was a fruitful journey."
Yang Wu's eyes flashed with surprise. From how Liang looked, it seemed like he gained a lot.
"We have found the girl that you ordered us to look for, but I couldn't find anything else as there's a powerful cultivator beside her. I had to be careful not to expose myself," said Yang Wu with a helpless smile.
Liang chuckled. "I warned You before. It is good that you weren't discovered."
Yang Wu laughed. "Someone with a great talent and fortune like me wouldn't be caught that easily."
"Good. We will head there after sunset. Now, get me some good wine," Liang replied.
***
Meanwhile, in a luxurious palace at the centre of the city, Su Ling looked at the old man beside her with concern. "You said that you discovered someone spying on us last night, but you couldn't find them."
The old man nodded. "Indeed, it seems like we underestimated them, but don't worry, I have already taken the necessary precautions. I have invited three of my old friends, and they should be arriving soon."
Su Ling nodded, feeling reassured by her master's words. "Thank you, Master. I trust that you will take care of everything."
The old man smiled kindly. "Of course, Su Ling. You are like a daughter to me, and I will do everything in my power to protect you."
Just then, a servant entered the room and bowed respectfully. "Master, your guests have arrived."
The old man stood up, signalling for Su Ling to follow him. They made their way to a large room, where three men were waiting for them. They were all dressed in luxurious robes and had a formidable aura about them. The old man introduced them to Su Ling.
The first cultivator was tall and muscular, with a rugged face and a fierce expression. He had a fierce aura that crackled like lightning, and his eyes shone like two blazing suns. He wore a long black robe that fluttered in the wind, and his hair was tied back in a long ponytail. He is known as Azura Lightning Ancestor.
The second is named Du Li. He was of medium height, with a lean and muscular build. He had sharp features and piercing eyes, and his aura was serene and calm like a still lake. He wore a simple white robe that contrasted with his dark hair, which was tied back in a neat bun.
The third one is a famous rogue cultivator he was short and pudgy, with a round and jolly face. He had a playful expression and twinkling eyes, and his aura was warm and friendly like a summer breeze. He wore a bright yellow robe that matched his sunny personality, and his hair was styled in a comical way, sticking out in different directions. People back then used to call him Four Seasons Ancestor.
Su Ling bowed respectfully to them, feeling a sense of awe in their presence. She could tell that they were all still powerful, despite their age.
The old man cleared his throat, addressing his friends. "Gentlemen, the reason I have invited you here is because my disciple and I are in great danger."
He proceeded to tell them about the Azure Sword Sect's destruction and how Su Ling was being targeted by a powerful enemy. The three men listened intently, their expressions serious.
Azura Lightning Ancestor spoke first, his voice booming like thunder. "It seems that this enemy is not to be underestimated. We must be careful and gather as much information as we can before making any moves."
Du Li nodded in agreement. "I suggest we split up and gather information in our ways. We can meet back here in a few days and compare our findings."
Four Seasons Ancestor added, "And in the meantime, we can also increase the security around this place. We don't want any unwanted guests coming in."
The old man smiled approvingly. "Excellent suggestions, my friends. I knew I could count on you."
Four Seasons Ancestor then laughed loudly. "Old Man Golden Wing, you don't need to worry that much. Even if the enemy's cultivation reached the Dao Integration Realm, they wouldn't be able to defeat us."
Old Man Golden Wing nodded in agreement as he looked at Su Ling.
Su Ling couldn't help but feel grateful for their help. She bowed again, expressing her gratitude. "Thank you for your help, esteemed ancestors. I will do whatever it takes to repay you in the future."
Azura Lightning Ancestor laughed. "Don't worry, little girl. Some good wine would be enough."
Su Ling nodded and just as she was about to pour the wine, she heard a mocking voice coming out of nowhere.
"Ah, that looked like a family reunion. How touching."