Seeing Lan Xingyu nod, Haoyang grinned. "For nine years, I've been hearing about how formidable the Lesser Heavenly Destiny is. I wonder just how powerful that fellow Mu Dongsheng has become after obtaining it. I've always wanted to see for myself!"
"Heh."
Lan Xingyu merely offered a faint smile, saying nothing. Instead, it was Li Juncai beside him who sneered contemptuously. "Hmph! Even before obtaining the Lesser Heavenly Destiny, my Eldest Senior Brother was the number one among the younger generation within Yanluo Kingdom. Now that he has the Lesser Heavenly Destiny, he is peerless under heaven. How dare you, with your measly strength, dream of contending with my Eldest Senior Brother? You overestimate yourself!"
"You little brat! Looks like I need to slap some sense into you today so you know what pain feels like."
Haoyang stood up, intending to intimidate Li Juncai. But then, as if sensing something, he turned his head to look. He saw a group of seven or eight people walking towards them, led by a handsome, elegant-looking young master.
Seeing this young master, both Haoyang and Lan Xingyu frowned slightly.
They recognized these people. They were disciples of the Nandou Sect.
The Nandou Sect.
It was also one of Yanluo Kingdom's Seven Great Sects, and besides the Taiji Sect, it was hailed as the second greatest sect in Yanluo.
The Nandou Sect might not have the Taiji Sect's profound heritage or as long a Legacy, but by now, whether in terms of powerful experts within the sect, its disciples, or even prodigious talents, it was not inferior to the Taiji Sect in the slightest. Not only that, since the transition to the Present Era, the Nandou Sect had seen talents emerging in great numbers, showing a faint trend of surpassing the Taiji Sect, especially after the Heavenly Destiny descended nine years ago.
The Taiji Sect's Chief Disciple, Mu Dongsheng, had obtained a Lesser Heavenly Destiny.
The Nandou Sect also had a disciple who had obtained a Lesser Heavenly Destiny.
Not only did they have a Lesser Heavenly Destiny, but the Nandou Sect had also produced an Edict-Bearer.
And whether it was the Lesser Heavenly Destiny or the Edict-Bearer, both could potentially become supreme figures dominating the world in the future.
Most crucially, the Nandou Sect was particularly close to the Immortal Dynasty, having almost submitted to it. Although the Nandou Sect had never publicly announced or admitted this, it was an open secret. If not for this, the Immortal Dynasty wouldn't have vigorously supported the Nandou Sect. It was said the Immortal Dynasty intended to support the Nandou Sect into becoming Yanluo Kingdom's number one great sect. With the Immortal Dynasty's backing on top of its already abundant talent, the Nandou Sect truly rose like the midday sun. By now, it already possessed the qualifications to rival the Taiji Sect.
The handsome young master approaching was named Qiao Yu.
He was a Direct Disciple of the Nandou Sect.
He was neither a Lesser Heavenly Destiny holder nor an Edict-Bearer, yet his appearance still caused Haoyang and Lan Xingyu some slight surprise.
Because according to rumors, this Qiao Yu had obtained an Aberration when the Heavenly Destiny descended nine years ago.
So-called Aberrations referred to bizarre Fortunes.
When the Heavenly Destiny descended nine years ago, nature bloomed with strange colors and also gave birth to many bizarre Fortunes.
These bizarre Fortunes were sometimes born in response to destiny, while others were Fortunes from the Ancient Times that had revived.
There were many bizarre Fortunes, too many to count, and they were extremely chaotic and varied.
Some who obtained bizarre Fortunes would inexplicably turn to dust and vanish. Others, after obtaining such Fortune, would see their cultivation advance by leaps and bounds, with their strength increasing explosively.
Qiao Yu belonged to the latter category.
It was said that when the Heavenly Destiny descended nine years ago, he obtained a very sinister Fortune that allowed him to transform into a monstrous creature of immense and terrifying strength. Relying on this bizarre Fortune, it was rumored that two years ago, Qiao Yu had annihilated an Ancient Earth Immortal.
That was an Earth Immortal who had achieved their status in the Ancient Era, absolutely incomparable to those fake Earth Immortals of the Present Era. The existence of an Ancient Earth Immortal was one forged step by step, cultivated through blood and sweat. Whether in the Ten Immortal Arts or Immortal Divine Abilities, they made the fake Earth Immortals of the Present Era pale in comparison.
At the very least.
Neither Haoyang nor Lan Xingyu, with their respective strengths, dared claim they could annihilate an Ancient Earth Immortal.
Especially Haoyang. As the commander of Yanluo Kingdom's Imperial Guard, he had once crossed hands with an Ancient Earth Immortal and knew full well how terrifying their strength was. If Qiao Yu had truly annihilated an Ancient Earth Immortal, well, it did make Haoyang somewhat wary.
"Heh, Brother Haoyang, Brother Lan, it's been a while."
Qiao Yu walked over, a sinister smile on his face. "I thought the mausoleum would be quite deserted since the temple fair is still over a month away. I never expected it to be so lively. Quite rare indeed."
Just as Lan Xingyu was about to respond, he noticed another group of over ten people approaching. Seeing the newcomers, even the usually composed him couldn't help but sigh. "It seems today really isn't just ordinarily lively."
"Oh?"
Qiao Yu also noticed the approaching dozen or so people. Seeing them, he too couldn't help but feel surprised.
They were not the only ones; Haoyang was no exception. However, when he saw that group of over ten people walking towards them, besides surprise, he felt mostly displeasure, as if meeting an enemy.
Indeed.
These newcomers were his enemies.
To be precise, they were enemies of the Meishan Branch Hall, enemies of the Black Buddha Master, and enemies of all Crimson-Letter factions.
To tell the truth.
These dozen or so people were also from a Crimson-Letter faction, specifically the Juexin Branch Hall.
The Juexin Branch Hall was one of the top two major Branch Halls among the dozens within Yanluo Kingdom, arguably the largest Crimson-Letter Branch Hall in the country.
Because the Juexin Branch Hall was personally established by the Black-Hearted Master, Zhou Taihe.
Back then, most of the Black-Hearted Master's Left and Right Envoys, the various Banner Lords, and Hall Masters were in this Branch Hall. It was said to be garrisoned by over a hundred Crimson-Letter veterans, all of them renowned figures with illustrious battle achievements.
If that were all, it still wouldn't be enough to call it the number one Crimson-Letter Branch Hall in Yanluo Kingdom.
The reality was that the Juexin Branch Hall also had many Ancient Earth Immortals stationed there. Some of these Ancient Earth Immortals had joined the Crimson-Letter to quell demonic disturbances back in the day, while others had been recruited by the Black-Hearted Master in the Present Era. Their numbers were rumored to be no less than a hundred.
No less than a hundred Ancient Earth Immortals—that was absolutely a terrifying number. One had to remember that even the Taiji Sect, hailed as Yanluo's number one sect, might not necessarily have a hundred Ancient Earth Immortals.
Moreover, besides the hundred Ancient Earth Immortals, the Juexin Branch Hall also had over a hundred Crimson-Letter veterans stationed there, all of them former Banner Lords and Hall Masters of the Crimson-Letter Sect, each a fierce and terrifyingly powerful figure. Such a lineup was not the least bit inferior compared to Yanluo Kingdom's Four Great Families and Seven Great Sects.
What's more.
The Juexin Branch Hall's prodigious talents blessed by Fortune were no fewer than those of the Seven Great Sects. Not only were they not fewer, they were actually more numerous.
They had holders of the Lesser Heavenly Destiny.
They had Edict-Bearers.
They had Destiny-Responders.
Even more frightening, they had peerless prodigies who possessed both the Lesser Heavenly Destiny and an Edict.
There were also quite a few with bizarre Fortunes.
As for various other Fortune-blessed geniuses, they were too many to count.