"What do you mean?" Lu Zheng asked quizzically. First's soul that was originally filled with vitality suddenly aged that it seemed like the clutches of death were already wrapped around him.
"It is because of the lifespan longevity technique we split souls used to preserve ourselves" First explained slowly. "Whenever I carry out strenuous exercises, my lifespan will whittle down when I'm done. That is why I spent my time in seclusion at the bottom of the Sea of Nirvana"
"Oh" Lu Zheng nodded in understanding. He already knew that there would be a good reason why someone as old as First was still alive.
"I will return your body now. I left my true inheritance in your aperture. It is within the fragmented Qi fruit and when the time is right, you will receive it. Later, someone will give you some artifacts that I have kept for you. They will help explain everything" First's tone grew bitter by every word. "I wish you the very best on the path of the Heavenly Dao, Lu Zheng"
White lights shimmered within Lu Zheng's Soul Lake, enveloping First entirely. When the lights were gone, First's soul was already gone.
Lu Zheng felt a knot in his abdomen as he regained control of his body. Immediately, an unimaginable amount of pain caused him to pass out cold.
"Feng'er, catch him" Third commanded.
"Hmm" Lin Feng nodded. Blood mist blew and in three short seconds, he returned with the unconscious Lu Zheng.
"Lin Feng, when this junior regains his consciousness, give him those artifacts. Do not attempt to steal them, First has put a strong restriction on them and only this junior can use them. If you test my words, a grave calamity even I can't save you from will befall you" Third said softly.
"I understand" Lin Feng replied.
"Good" Third opened his right palm to reveal a small cauldron the size of a fingernail.
The cauldron was made of azure metal and golden divine runes were littered all over its body. Under Third's manipulation, the cauldron floated as its size gradually increased.
When it was large enough to fit three adult men comfortably, the azure cauldron stopped enlarging.
Formation arrays formed around the cauldron as Third used his left hand to inscribe runes mid-air. Slowly, the ambient Qi around them thickened.
If Lu Zheng was awake, he would be shocked to the core because Third was a Supreme Grandmaster artificer!
It was common knowledge that artificers were classified into four main classes, Master, Grandmaster, Great Grandmaster and Supreme Grandmaster.
The classes were also separated by the quasi-Grandmaster, quasi-Great Grandmaster and quasi-Supreme Grandmaster classes.
In the main world, Master artificers were the most popular and they could refine Simple Grade artifacts. The best artificer in all of Western Plains was only a Great Grandmaster artificer.
This showed how rare Supreme Grandmasters were. After all, they could refine Divine Grade artifacts as easily as breathing.
Moreover, only Supreme Grandmasters could inscribe runes mid-air without the use of talisman papers or artifacts. They could directly affect the rules of the world.
All in all, a character like Third was as rare as they came.
Third's fingers moved swiftly, leaving afterimages in their wake. Runes numbering in the thousands appeared in the air around the cauldron.
"Go" The runes bound the cauldron like chains like chains before engraving themselves in it.
The cauldron shrunk once more before turning into a streak of light that flew into one of the trenches that were formed when Thunder Soul Monarch fought Devil Lord Edu Shashou.
Turning to face Lin Feng who was carrying Lu Zheng, Third said: "I've activated the Nine Apertures Refining Formation, you two should leave this place already. The many powerhouses over there will become energy for your avatar"
"Many thanks, senior" Lin Feng nodded before leaving through a spatial passage.
Meanwhile, over a million metres away, the martial practitioners that had come to watch the fight numbered in hundreds. In the main world, such a sight was extremely rare.
"Is it over?"
"Hmm, Devil Lord Edu Shashou seems to have lost"
"Who is that man that beat him so easily?"
"I don't know but it seems trouble will only keep brewing in the undercurrents of Western Plains"
At their cultivation bases, spotting a fly tens of thousands of kilometres was an easy task not to mention Devil Lord Edu Shashou's colossal figure. However, First had shrouded Lu Zheng's body that no one could decipher his appearance. They could only see his silhouette.
As they conversed amongst themselves, Burning Ash Demonness tapped the man beside her: "Ethan, let's leave this place"
"Leave?" Ethan was surprised. Devil Lord Edu Shashou had just been beaten back by a mysterious person without the slightest chance to fight back.
From what he could sense, both the mysterious man and Devil Lord Edu Shashou were no more. It was possible that the mysterious man had even died after the fight.
Ethan's gaze burned with greed. Chang Court was a super force, the treasures it hid were beyond his comprehension. It was possible that the mysterious man also had some unique treasures.
Just thinking about it made Ethan salivate.
Burning Ash Demonness felt her hair stand on their ends: "Let's just go. I am sensing a nasty aura from the centre of that place"
Ethan followed Burning Ash Demonness' gaze. It was focused at the very centre of Chang Court.
He knew that Burning Ash Demonness' senses were far keener than his and her response to life threatening situations far surpassed his.
"If you say so" Ethan sighed ruefully. Faint energies surrounded his body as he flew after Burning Ash Demonness. For the last time, he stole a glance at the ruined Chang Court.
"This…!" Ethan's body shook vigorously as fright discoloured his face. It was obvious that what he had seen was extremely dangerous.