"Thank you for your help."
Qian Daoliu's voice held a trace of gratitude.
But as he looked around the empty space, he suddenly realized something and his expression turned horrified.
"Wait a minute, why are you here like me, but you don't have to fight your own phantom double?"
Qian Daoliu questioned.
Could it be that I was specifically targeted?
Shui Wuya smiled and replied, "Because I wasn't imprisoned here; I came to help you."
"You came here voluntarily?"
Qian Daoliu looked at Shui Wuya in disbelief.
He asked, confused, "Why would you help me?"
"Because you and I share a common goal."
Shui Wuya's voice echoed in Qian Daoliu's mind.
Qian Daoliu was stunned.
Could this mysterious strongman also be an enemy of the Haotian Sect? Here to prevent Tang Chen from becoming a god?
Instantly, he looked at Shui Wuya warily and demanded, "Tell me, who exactly are you!?"
Shui Wuya didn't answer.
With a gentle wave of his hand, he effortlessly broke the illusion they were in.
In an instant, Qian Daoliu felt his body lighten, as if freed from a binding force.
Next, he woke up from his nightmare.
Suddenly, he realized he was back where he had been before.
"So, I was under an illusion just now!?"
He finally understood.
With lingering fear, he felt a chill run down his spine.
He had actually been caught in an illusion, not drawn into some unknown space.
In other words, while he was fiercely battling his phantom double, his real self had been standing here defenseless.
Only now did he realize.
If it weren't for the timely intervention of that mysterious strongman, he might have fallen into endless peril!
"Qian Daoliu."
Shui Wuya's voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
Qian Daoliu quickly came to his senses and looked at Shui Wuya.
However, when he saw Shui Wuya standing beside another masked figure, Shui Bing'er, he was shocked, full of questions.
Who is this?
Where did she come from?
Judging by her mask, is she with this mysterious strongman?
There are two mysterious figures?
Qian Daoliu raised his eyebrows in alarm and loudly asked, "Who are you two, really?"
Shui Wuya's smile faded, his expression becoming deep and mysterious.
He gazed at Qian Daoliu, as if seeing directly into his soul.
"I am the Order of Elder of the Eternal Life Sect, a hidden organization."
"Thanks to our control, the world maintains its balance and does not fall into chaos."
"My duty is to uphold the world's order, preventing those who do not follow the rules from achieving divinity and disrupting the world's balance."
Shui Wuya's voice was low and authoritative, filled with mystery and solemnity.
It was as if he bore a great responsibility, guarding an ultimate secret.
"The Eternal Life Sect? World order?"
Qian Daoliu was stunned.
However, as the Elder of the Spirit Hall, he knew well the dangers of the world and the unpredictability of people's hearts.
He sneered, "The Eternal Life Sect? The Spirit Hall has dominated for thousands of years and has never heard of this name!"
"Are you trying to scare me with such tricks?"
Despite Qian Daoliu's rudeness, Shui Wuya remained unmoved.
He looked on coldly, as if observing an ignorant child.
"The secrets of heaven cannot be divulged.
A thousand years, ten thousand years, a million years—so what?
You are not qualified to touch divinity, so you cannot know of our existence."
Shui Wuya's voice was incredibly calm.
Then, with an air of disinterest, he said, "Enough, when your granddaughter successfully passes the divine trial and merges with her godhood, you will naturally learn about us."
"Xiao xue?"
Qian Daoliu was shocked.
How did this man know that his granddaughter Xiao xue had qualified for the divine trial?
The matter of Xiao xue's divine trial was of paramount importance, not only determining the fate of the Spirit Hall but also the survival of their entire clan. It had been kept strictly confidential.
Now, it was known to an outsider!
In an instant, a murderous intent flashed in Qian Daoliu's eyes.
But he quickly reined it in with his formidable self-control.
Eliminating the threat in the cradle seemed the wise choice.
However, the opponent's strength was extraordinary, making it difficult to handle, and now there were two of them.
He could barely handle one, let alone two. If he fought, he feared he would be the one obliterated.
At that moment, a crucial question suddenly occurred to Qian Daoliu.
He suppressed a smile and burst into laughter, "Fine, even if you have great powers and know my granddaughter's secret."
"But Tang Chen of the Haotian Sect isn't the only one who has become a god."
"Why didn't your so- Eternal Life Divine Sect stop the Sea God from becoming a god ten thousand years ago?"
Qian Daoliu believed his words hit the mark.
But he didn't know that Shui Wuya had already anticipated his question.
Hearing this, a hint of disdain flickered in Shui Wuya's eyes.
He looked at Qian Daoliu with a gaze as if staring at an idiot, a mocking smile playing at his lips, "The Sea God had already pledged allegiance to our Eternal Life Sect."
"He was already one of us; why would we stop him from becoming a god?"
"What!?"
Shui Wuya's words struck Qian Daoliu like a thunderbolt, shaking him to his core.
The esteemed Sea God was actually a member of the Eternal Life Sect?
"What!?"
Qian Daoliu stared dumbfounded at Shui Wuya before him.
The mysterious mask on Shui Wuya's face seemed to conceal endless mysteries, sending a chill through Qian Daoliu's heart.
If the Eternal Life Sect, this hidden, mysterious force, truly existed, its power and influence would far exceed any force he knew!
And the mysterious strongman before him was undoubtedly not someone he could easily offend.
Not only could he not afford to offend him, but he also needed to curry favor.
He might even have to beg for the Eternal LIfe Sect's acceptance for Xiaoxue's sake.
Qian Daoliu's mind raced, unsure whether to trust the man before him.
Suddenly, he recalled what the masked man had said earlier:
They shared the same goal!
His eyes lit up, and he bowed respectfully, "Forgive my ignorance. Since you are the Order Elder of the Eternal Life Sect, I, Qian Daoliu, naturally hold you in high esteem."
Although Qian Daoliu wasn't entirely convinced by Shui Wuya's words, he dared not show disrespect or question his identity further.
Seeing Qian Daoliu's change in attitude, Shui Wuya nodded slightly.
Qian Daoliu shifted his tone, respectfully asking, "Elder, since you oversee the world's order on behalf of the Eternal Life Sect, does that mean you are here at the Haotian Sect to stop Tang Chen from achieving divinity and disrupting the balance?"
Shui Wuya had anticipated Qian Daoliu's reaction.
His tone was calm, "Indeed. Any being aspiring to godhood must be reviewed by the Immortal Divine Sect. Tang Chen has not been granted permission."
"I am here to prevent Tang Chen from becoming a god and to maintain the world's balance."
Upon hearing this, Qian Daoliu was overjoyed; their goals aligned perfectly.
Regardless of whether the Eternal Life Sect truly existed, he had witnessed the masked man's strength firsthand.
Tang Chen's divine power was growing, and Qian Daoliu feared he wouldn't be able to match him.
With a sense of righteousness, Qian Daoliu declared, "In that case, I, Qian Daoliu, am willing to cooperate with you, Elder. Together, we will stop Tang Chen from becoming a god and uphold the world's order!"
"Good."
Shui Wuya nodded in satisfaction.
This old man had finally taken the bait.
Once they dealt with Tang Chen, perhaps they could even bring the Spirit Hall into their fold.
Thus, the three of them formally reached an agreement and ascended the mountain together.
(End of Chapter)