Chapter 428: The Name Dong Yang (2)

The Redmoon Immortal Hall, the ruling power, towered high above the Redmoon Immortal Continent.

Several dozen first-rate sects with profoundly deep foundations each controlled vast and expansive territories.

Yet, in the eyes of countless generations of immortal cultivators on the Immortal Continent, the four great prince-rank families held a slight edge in power compared to many first-rate sects.

Zhuo Star City, a first-rate city, was the stronghold of the Zhuo Family.

Within the city was a mysterious place where trees flourished, creating an unending forest. Yet, it was devoid of any living beings, making for a truly eerie sight.

On a tall mountain in the South, a colossal tree stood, stretching for hundreds of li.

Beneath it, a middle-aged man clad in starry robes chuckled softly. "Old Zhuo, do you not find this Dong Yang lad a tad presumptuous?"

"Oh? Is that so?" The silver-robed elderly man referred to as 'Old Zhuo' smiled faintly, leisurely pouring tea. "Have a taste. It's a novel blend I've been cultivating for over a million years."

"Oh? Let me try it." The middle-aged man in starry robes raised the tea cup, his eyes lighting up. "Impressive! Truly delightful, it possesses a distinct flavor."

The pride in the elderly man's gaze amplified.

"Nevertheless, while the taste is exquisite, it strays too far from the essence of tea," the middle-aged man in starry robes remarked.

The smile on the elderly man's face faltered.

"Old Zhuo, planting tea leaves isn’t a strength of yours," the middle-aged man in starry robes set down the cup.

The countenance of the elderly man remained serene. With a flick of his hand, the tea set on the wooden table disappeared.

"Speak, what brings you here?" The silver-robed elderly man said lightly. "I know your character, you wouldn't visit without a reason."

"Old Zhuo, I'll be frank with you," the middle-aged man in starry robes said solemnly, "Dong Yang’s strength is already extraordinary. Once he becomes an Archimmortal, will there be any place left for us? I suggest we strike when he's attempting his Ninth Tribulation..."

"Stop!" The silver-robed elderly man suddenly interrupted, fixing his gaze on his companion. "Old friend, I will take it that you’re just here for tea today. I don't wish to hear anything else, and I haven't heard anything either. Now that you’ve finished your tea, it’s time for you to leave.”

The middle-aged man's eyes narrowed in surprise at Zhuo's direct dismissal.

"But Old Zhuo, I'm doing this for your..." the man in starry robes attempted to persuade him.

"I'm better off tending to my tea leaves here," the silver-robed elderly man responded indifferently. "While Dong Yang's strength is formidable, Redmoon doesn’t seem the least bit worried. There is no cause for concern on our part."

"This Redmoon Immortal Continent ultimately belongs to Redmoon, not us. Please go." The silver-robed elderly man closed his eyes, reclining leisurely in his lounge chair.

The man in starry robes frowned slightly, but with little choice, he rose to his feet. He warned softly, "You will regret this decision, Old Zhuo."

With that, he vanished beneath the towering tree.

"Regret?" The silver-robed elderly man opened his eyes, murmuring to himself. "After enduring the Nine Tribulations and gaining eternal freedom with much difficulty, I’m not about to hasten towards death now."

"Dong Yang? Hmph! If you're so capable, go kill him yourself. If Redmoon isn't in a hurry, why should I fret?" The silver-robed elderly man shook his head slightly. "The knowledge that his Ninth Tribulation presents a chance to kill him is one thing, but what if the attempt fails? Wouldn't I just be inviting trouble?"

"Instead of tea, I should plant some vegetables."

"Yes, I’ll plant a hundred thousand li of crops and harvest them ten thousand years later." A hoe appeared in the grasp of the silver-robed elderly man.

Lazily, he flew off into the distance.

...

Redmoon City, the heart of the vast Redmoon Immortal Continent, stretched nearly a hundred million li in radius. It was an immense and endlessly prosperous city, inhabited by countless beings.

The reason for its colossal territory was that Redmoon City was the core of the Redmoon Immortal Hall.

A Redmoon Star with a million-li diameter hung millions of li above Redmoon City, its presence appearing almost eternal. It emitted an invisible pressure that enveloped the entire Redmoon City.

At this moment, three figures were leisurely strolling in the skies above the Redmoon Star.

If Redmoon City was the heart of the Redmoon Immortal Continent, then this Redmoon Star was the core of the heart.

Without permission, neither Earth Immortals nor High Immortals could fly above this Redmoon Star.

In other words, those who could freely fly above the Redmoon Star were those who wielded the true power within the Redmoon Immortal Hall, the highest of echelons.

Among the three, the leader was a bald dwarf-like figure with a height of only one meter. He was clad in black armor, with short and stout limbs. At first glance, he seemed quite comical, except for his eyes which radiated a feeling of endless warmth. One would instinctively feel a sense of closeness to him.

Accompanying him were two others: a graceful woman clad in white robes, and a burly man in silver armor with four eyes.

"Fang Rong, have there been many inquiries regarding Dong Yang?" the bald dwarf-like man asked casually.

"Indeed." The woman in white robes nodded, "Many Archimmortals keeping a low profile within the immortal continent have come asking about him, seemingly hoping to understand where you stand on the matter, Hall Master."

"Hall Master." The burly man with four eyes spoke up, his voice deep and resonant, "This battle has caused a big stir. Many Astral Lords within the immortal nation have received word and are paying close attention."

The dwarf-like man nodded thoughtfully. "It is to be expected. Dong Yang's power has left a deep impression, no doubt causing unease among many."

"What shall we do, Master?" the white-robed woman inquired, her eyes reflecting concern.

"We shall do nothing," the dwarf-like man declared with a hint of finality. "We shall simply await Dong Yang's completion of his Ninth Immortal Tribulation."

The woman in white robes and the four-eyed man in silver armor shared a glance.

"Master," the man in silver armor broke the silence, unable to contain his curiosity, "Huo Gao's prowess is renowned even among the Archimmortals. To eliminate him with a single strike signifies Dong Yang's strength may rival that of many Astral Lords. After he undergoes his Immortal Tribulation and his mana transforms, his power will..."

"If he survives, his power will place him among the top ten Astral Lords within the immortal nation," the bald, dwarf-like man interjected casually. "He’ll be strong enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with me. Even that old True Dragon won't be his match."

Both the woman in white and the four-eyed man were taken aback by this revelation.

Top ten? The immortal nation was vast, with countless Archimmortals accumulated over the endless years. But those who held the title of Astral Lord were undoubtedly the cream of the crop.

To rank among the top ten of such elite beings marked Dong Yang as one of the most terrifying Archimmortals.

Archimmortal Redmoon, a top-tier being among the numerous Archimmortals of the Silvermist Immortal Nation, shook the immortal nation for endless ages with his power. Few dared to challenge him.

"I saw the sword strike he executed," the bald dwarf-like figure chuckled lightly. "Although I didn't see it entirely, I could tell his ambitions are grand. The Ninth Immortal Tribulation he's about to undergo will be the most terrifying sort. The last time I’ve seen such an extraordinary character was millions of years ago, from the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation."

"However, Dong Yang's chances of success are high," the bald dwarf sincerely said.

There seemed to be a hint of admiration in his voice.

"Hall Master, should we not intervene?" the woman in white asked.

"If you want to die, go by yourself. Don't drag me into it," the bald dwarf said flatly.

The woman recoiled at his words. As a regular Archimmortal, how could she dare intervene alone? In terms of power, she was far inferior to Huo Gao.

"Do you two know why over these years, despite Dong Yang recklessly traversing numerous spacetimes and planes, offending countless enemies, even killing the offspring of an Astral Monarch, no Astral Monarch-level entities have come forward to deal with him?" the bald dwarf asked softly.

"I do not know."

"I don't understand." The elegant woman in flowing white robes and the sturdy man clad in silver armor both admitted, shaking their heads in unison.

Their confusion mirrored the sentiments of countless Archimmortals within the Silvermist Immortal Nation.

Indeed! Sword Immortal Dong Yang's prowess was undeniable, his potential awe-inspiring as he rose in strength with a brilliance that outshone the stars. Furthermore, he was backed by a True Dragon of the Astral Lord level.

Yet, amidst the expanse of the immortal nation, the Astral Monarchs stood supreme, rulers of vast realms, capable of sending tremors through any immortal continent with a mere stamp of their feet.

Even the ruler of the Silvermist Nation respected these Astral Monarchs.

"If Dong Yang successfully overcomes the Tribulation, he would most likely be given the opportunity to meet with the great Immortal Sovereign," the bald dwarf-like man whispered. " It is rumored among us Astral Lords that he is a nominal disciple of an Immortal Sovereign."

This news struck the white-robed woman and the four-eyed man in silver armor like a thunderbolt. Leaving them in a daze.

Immortal Sovereign? How was that possible? They couldn't believe it.

An Immortal Sovereign was the ruler of an immortal world!

"No one knows if it's true, but all rumors hold a grain of truth, thus none of the Astral Monarchs dare cause trouble for him," the bald dwarf-like man murmured. "Yet whether he is a disciple of an Immortal Sovereign is inconsequential now."

"The Redmoon Immortal Continent is our territory, no one can wrest it away."

"If he emerges from the Immortal Tribulation alive, the odds of him ascending to the ranks of the Astral Monarchs after eons are exceedingly high."

"Should he truly reach that level, the tiny Redmoon Immortal Continent will not have room for such a great immortal. Why worry?" The bald dwarf man breathed, "It all hinges on whether he can survive the Ninth Immortal Tribulation."

...

The clash above the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, where Sword Immortal Dong Yang killed an Archimmortal’s mana body in one strike, sent shockwaves across the immortal continent and greater immortal nation.

Some restless factions and powerhouses paused their actions. The outcome of Dong Yang’s Ninth Immortal Tribulation weighed heavily on the minds of all top-tier factions.

Should Dong Yang overcome his Ninth Immortal Tribulation, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect stood to gain immeasurable power and prestige. However, failure meant not only his demise but also grave consequences for the sect, despite the protection of the True Dragon immortal ancestor.

Naturally, all of this was unrelated to the still feeble Wu Yuan.

Within the meditation chamber of his world residence, it took Wu Yuan nearly half a day to soothe his nerves and worries.

At last, his heart settled.

This sensation was unlike that of a fight to the death. In a battle, one could still exert some influence over their fate; even in death, one wouldn't feel as utterly helpless.

This sense of powerlessness, of despair, no one could take it with complete indifference.

What kind of entity could bypass the sect’s arrays, almost killing me with a glance?

Wu Yuan was still puzzled.

In this half a day, the sect was calm, with no movement at all. Any discussions in the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm about the resounding shouts had quickly subsided.

It was as if no one had come specifically to attack him, and it was all just an illusion of Wu Yuan's.

But Wu Yuan couldn't shake that feeling of unease.

Hm? My master is summoning me?

Wu Yuan was slightly surprised to receive a message from High Immortal Nan Yin.

It’s not yet time for our next tutorial session, why would he suddenly summon me?

Could it have something to do with the attack just now?

Wu Yuan wondered.

He dared not delay.

Quickly, Wu Yuan activated the teleportation array and arrived at High Immortal Nan Yin's residence.

A hall floated in the air amidst the lush, deserted mountains.

"Master." Wu Yuan flew into the hall, bowing respectfully.

High Immortal Nan Yin still had his usual unkempt appearance.

Through their numerous meetings over the years, Wu Yuan had grown accustomed to his master's attire.

"Mm, it seems you're fine. Oh?" High Immortal Nan Yin's eyes brightened suddenly, revealing his yellowish teeth. "No wonder the Archimmortal’s ambush didn't seem to affect you at all, you have cultivated Soul Will."

"Haha, well done! Very good." High Immortal Nan Yin seemed pleased that Wu Yuan had managed to reach the Soul Will level.

"Archimmortal attack?" Wu Yuan was shocked. It was indeed an Archimmortal?

"Don't tell me you didn't notice it at all." High Immortal Nan Yin laughed.

"I did sense it, but the mysterious entity appears to have been stopped before they could truly launch their attack," Wu Yuan replied respectfully, "Thank you for saving me, Master."

"Don't thank me." High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head like a rattle drum, "I'm not capable of saving you from an Archimmortal."

"It wasn’t Master?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.

In Wu Yuan's mind, the only one who could save him so quickly and had the strength to do so would be his master.

"It was Sword Immortal Dong Yang." said High Immortal Nan Yin.

"Sword Immortal Dong Yang?" Wu Yuan's pupils constricted.

It was him?