Big Yellow let out a growl, bared its sharp white teeth, and lunged forward, sinking its teeth into the drunk man’s thigh.

Drunkard inhaled sharply, but dared not move a muscle. He grimaced at Lin Xun. “Now you know how powerful Big Yellow is, right?”

The pain was so excruciating that his forehead beaded with cold sweat. Even Lin Xun felt pain from just looking at him.

The big yellow dog is clearly no regular dog—it's both proud and vicious!

The boat, carrying the two and the dog, soon disappeared into the depths of Uncertain Blood Sea.

On the coastline.

Skyborne Sword Emperor and Heavenly Buddha Emperor appeared.

Gazing at the depths of the sea, a stormy look clouded their faces.

“That dog has really gone too far!” Heavenly Buddha Emperor gnashed his teeth, rage boiling within him. Not long ago, he was chased by Big Yellow and left with bite marks all over his body.

He only managed to shake off Big Yellow when he ran into the old lair of Earth Treasury Realm.

“Copper Sparrow House has taken the remnant of Fangchun Mountain. Say, does the Lord of Copper Sparrow House really intend on going against Heavenly Emperor Shi?” asked Skyborne Sword Emperor.

Heavenly Buddha Emperor snorted coldly, “Go against? I really don’t see what the Lord of Copper Sparrow House has to go against Heavenly Emperor Shi. If he’s really crazy enough to do that, then it won’t be long before Copper Sparrow House is removed from the ranks of the Three Dark Giants!”

Skyborne Sword Emperor was silent for a moment before he said aloud, “Let’s not talk about this now. I heard that the origin of Fog Obscured Alms is the depths of Uncertain Blood Sea. Why would Heaven-Dooming Martial Emperor and the dog take that boy there?”

Only a handful of people were aware that Fog Obscured Alms was the core power of Copper Sparrow House, its reach extending throughout the entire Ancient Nebula Road!

“All I know is that as early as the primeval era, the Lord of the Copper Sparrow House attained the dao in the ancestral land of Fog Obscured Alms, embarking on the Supreme Emperor path in one fell swoop,” Heavenly Buddha Emperor said in a low voice.

Skyborne Sword Emperor furrowed his brow. “Are you suspecting that the Lord of Copper Sparrow House wants to give that boy an opportunity to realize the dao and become an Emperor?”

“Who knows? The world only knows that the Lord of Copper Sparrow House is the most prideful person in history. But in my opinion, his scheming mind is equally unparalleled!” Heavenly Buddha Emperor continued, “For countless years, no one knows his background, and no one knows how he managed to spread the power of Fog Obscured Alms into every world in the Ancient Nebula Road.

“No one knows what he…is scheming!

“But I am beginning to understand now.”

Heavenly Buddha Emperor’s eyes shone strangely. “Do you remember the epic chess game? Back then, Lin Xun appeared to be just a mere pawn, but in the end, he played a key role in the Combat Emperor’s defeat of the former Nameless Esteemed Emperor.” ʀÃƝꝋᛒЁꞨ

Skyborne Sword Emperor’s face lit up with understanding and he gasped in surprise, “Do you mean, the Lord of Copper Sparrow House also wants to use that kid as a chess piece, following Combat Emperor’s strategy, and compete with Heavenly Emperor Shi?”

If this was true, the mere thought of it was enough to make one tremble!

Heavenly Buddha Emperor drew a deep breath and said, “Whether it is true or not, when Heavenly Emperor Shi returns from Return Dominion, perhaps the answer will be revealed then.”

“Heavenly Emperor Shi is not the former Nameless Esteemed Emperor. If the Lord of the Copper Sparrow House indeed dares to do this, he will bring about his own destruction!” Skyborne Sword Emperor stated with unwavering certainty.

The two chatted some more before they turned and left.

Uncertain Blood Sea was a core area of Fog Obscured Alms, and they did not dare to trespass without permission.

……

On the same day, Skyborne Sword Emperor and Heavenly Buddha Emperor jointly announced to the outside world that Fanchun Mountain disciple Lin Xun, who was wanted by the world, had received protection from Copper Sparrow House, one of the Three Dark Giants!

All of a sudden, the Underworld was shaken to its core by the news, and Copper Sparrow House was thrown into the eye of the storm.

“Has Copper Sparrow House gone crazy? Are they not afraid of being regarded as an enemy of the world?”

Everyone could not believe it, because Fangchun Mountain disciple Lin Xun was the very person who Heavenly Emperor Shi had ordered to be hunted down. If Copper Sparrow House gave him protection, then that meant they were openly going against Heavenly Emperor Shi.

“Some time ago, Heavenly Emperor Shi descended upon the Underworld, but the Lord of Copper Sparrow House refused to meet him, thus angering him. And now, Copper Sparrow House dared to shelter Lin Xun. This is enough to show that the Lord of Copper Sparrow House is indeed gearing up for a showdown with Heavenly Emperor Shi.”

“Why would the Lord of Copper Sparrow House do that? Why would someone like him do such a stupid thing? There must be more to this.”

There was endless speculation and discussion, and everyone was shocked.

Copper Sparrow House was one of the Three Dark Giants, possessing immense power and a strong ancient foundation.

Unlike Holy Illumination Ancient Sect and Earth Treasury Realm, Copper Sparrow House had always adhered to the word ‘justice,’ earning great respect and reputation from the world.

Who would have thought that at such a critical moment, Copper Sparrow House would shelter Lin Xun? This was no different from seeking self-destruction.

At the Magnificent Lotus Event, the major forces from all over the world were deeply shocked by the news and could not stop discussing it.

“If the heavens want someone to die, they will first make them crazy. The Lord of Copper Sparrow House is too arrogant. If he thinks he can use Lin Xun as a chess piece and follow the footsteps of Combat Emperor, then he is very wrong.”

“Just wait and watch, it won’t be long till destruction falls on Copper Sparrow House!”

The bigshots of the ancient orthodoxies all made similar inferences. No one believed that the Lord of Copper Sparrow House had the foundation to challenge Heavenly Emperor Shi.

And the day when Heavenly Emperor Shi returns, would be the day of Copper Sparrow House’s destruction!

……

“Heavenly Emperor Shi won’t manage to escape from the Return Dominion before the third Calamity of Ruin.”

In a secret realm, the gaze of the Lord of Copper Sparrow House was filled with detached indifference.

He had already learned about the reactions of the outside world, but he did not care at all.

Everyone in the world said he had gone mad, while the major forces claimed he was bringing about his own downfall, but he knew exactly what he was doing.

“Why are you so certain?” Sitting opposite him, Xi asked in a cold voice.

The Lord of Copper Sparrow House’s voice was relaxed and he spoke nonchalantly, “Because I grew up in the Return Dominion, and I know better than Heavenly Emperor Shi what would happen to people like him once they enter there.”

He suddenly seemed to recall something. “A long time ago, a guy from the other side of the cosmos also entered the Return Dominion. That guy called himself Luo Tongtian and whether it was his foundation or his bold spirit, both were truly terrifying...”

He was unaware that when he mentioned Luo Tongtian, Xi felt a wave of emotions in her heart.

Luo Tongtian!

Of course, he was the Lord of the Omega Secret-Realm, an ancestor of Luo Qingxun, Lin Xun’s mother!

Xi never expected to hear the second disciple of Fangchun Mountain mention this name at such a time.

“At that time, I had just joined the sect and was still in my teenage years, but Luo Tongtian was already an extraordinary figure that even my master respected. Back then…he should have already broken through the Ancestor Stage and set foot into a more ultimate path.” The Lord of Copper Sparrow House looked at Xi. “But do you know what happened to him after he entered Return Dominion?”

Xi said indifferently, “Do you think I would be curious to know?”

The Lord of Copper Sparrow House chuckled, looking extremely conceited. “You might as well make a guess.”

A strange glint flashed in Xi’s eyes. “What if I guessed it right?”

The Lord of Copper Sparrow House laughed again. “If you guess correctly, I will answer the question you want to know most.”

Xi said without a second thought, “He was frightened away by the Master of Fangchun Mountain.”

“…”

The Lord of Copper Sparrow House went silent, his expression stunned. The man who was extremely conceited now had a rare expression of disbelief on his face.

This expression filled Xi’s heart with a sudden surge of satisfaction. The man in front of her was arrogant to the core and so proud that he considered everyone beneath him.

Now, he finally got a taste of defeat!

It was truly satisfying to see.

After a while, the Lord of Copper Sparrow House sighed, “I understand, you already knew this.”

Xi asked directly, “Now it’s your turn to answer my question. Lin Xun is your junior brother. What exactly are you planning to do?”

The Lord of Copper Sparrow House did not seem surprised by the question. He took a moment to think, then he answered, “Fangchun Mountain has been destroyed. Whether it is my First Senior Brother or my junior brothers and sisters, they all can stand independently, but the path they are destined to take has been determined by my master from the very start.

“It is the same for me.

“However, Little Junior Brother is different. Of the fifty daos, only forty-nine are derived from the heavens while one escaped. His path was destined to be different from ours from the very beginning, and it is full of variables.

“Back in the primeval era, Master paid a heavy price to understand the fundamental order and power of this heavenly dao, and in the end, he had to leave.

“Before leaving, Master left behind a daoist verse. You are also familiar with this daoist verse, which is related to the Eternal Supremacy Path.

“For countless years, I have been sitting in the Underworld, waiting for the lotus flower that blooms in solitude that Master mentioned.”

Hearing this, Xi couldn’t help but ask, “Do you mean Lin Xun is this lotus?”

The Lord of Copper Sparrow House shook his head. “I don’t know. Since the Eternal Supremacy Path has not appeared, I can’t be sure. Don’t forget, Master paid a huge price to find out more about this matter, but in the end, he could only leave behind a daoist verse.”

After a pause, he said seriously, “But I will give it a try and see.”

His eyes bore a look of determination.

“What if it turns out that he isn’t?” Xi asked.

The Lord of Copper Sparrow House was silent for a long while before he responded, “We’ll see then.”

Xi did not question him further.

She could tell that even the second disciple of Fangchun Mountain, who had been arrogant and conceited for countless years, was now troubled with a knot in his heart.

That was the lotus that may bloom in solitude on the Eternal Supremacy Path!

Xi didn’t say anything, but the Lord of Copper Sparrow House asked, “Don’t you want to know why Heavenly Emperor Shi left so urgently for the Return Dominion?”

Xi said indifferently, “If you wish to say it, you’ll say it. If not, with your arrogance and pride, who can make you?”

“Then I won’t say anything.” The Lord of Copper Sparrow House said without a second thought.

Xi frowned, looking obviously caught off guard. “Do you think this childish game is fun?”

“I just want to see if there will be a time when you are unable to guess.”

The Lord of Copper Sparrow House spoke with a serious tone, but soon couldn’t contain his laughter.

Only then did Xi realize that the Lord of Copper Sparrow House was retaliating for the earlier defeat.

“Childish.” She spat out.

The Lord of Copper Sparrow House laughed even more heartily, swaying back and forth, completely abandoning his usual composure.

It had been a long, long time since he had laughed so hard.