With the arrival of the two Earth Fiend Lords, Hei Fo and Heishui, the atmosphere within the scene instantly grew tense.
The over eight hundred Ancient Earth Immortals under Zhou Taihe’s command were all on edge, as were the more than one hundred Scattered Immortals; even the expressions of the Nine-Tribulation Scattered Immortals became particularly wary.
They were all people from the Ancient Era, so naturally they knew the formidable reputations of Lords Hei Fo and Heishui, the two Earth Fiends. They were even clearer that during the Ancient Era, these two Earth Fiend Lords were already Nine-Tribulation Scattered Immortals. Relying on the Bloodfiend Dragon-Elephant, slaying True Immortals was nothing difficult for them.
Although the Nine-Tribulation Scattered Immortals under Zhou Taihe were also Nine-Tribulation Scattered Immortals, they could only match the strength of a True Immortal at best. As for actually killing one, none of them had that capability. Moreover, Lords Heishui and Hei Fo were Nine-Tribulation Scattered Immortals in the Ancient Era. Now, over a hundred years later, who knew how many Immortal Tribulations they had crossed, or how terrifyingly their strength had advanced.
Of course.
Wariness was wariness.
Wariness did not mean fear.
They believed that as long as Lord Blackheart was present, no matter how powerful Lords Hei Fo and Heishui were, it would be useless. Furthermore, they had the backing of the Immortal Dynasty behind them. With that, what was there to fear?
In contrast, the over one hundred Chixiao followers who had sided with Zhou Taihe, upon seeing the two Earth Fiend Lords Heishui and Hei Fo, each looked like mice spotting a cat. Their expressions shifted repeatedly, some showing panic, all appearing very afraid.
Only Zhou Taihe himself remained standing halfway up the mountain slope, his expression appearing quite calm. However, his brows were tightly furrowed, seeming rather cautious and faintly carrying some worry.
However.
What made him cautious and worried was not Lord Hei Fo, nor Lord Heishui.
How powerful these two Earth Fiend Lords were, others might not know, but as a fellow Earth Fiend Lord, he knew perfectly clearly.
He did not fear them, nor was he afraid, and there was nothing to worry about.
What truly made him feel uneasy was an elder who had come together with Lords Hei Fo and Heishui.
That elder wore gray robes, his beard and hair were grayish-white. Though he appeared utterly ordinary, in Zhou Taihe’s eyes, he was unfathomably profound.
Among the cultivators present, including the Ancient Earth Immortals and even the Scattered Immortals, few recognized this elder.
Only Zhou Taihe and these Chixiao people recognized him.
The elder’s surname was Mei, addressed as Old Mei, a recluse master of profound skill.
He was also half a Chixiao person.
The reason he was considered half was that back then, Old Mei lived within the Chixiao Sect, but he did not integrate with the Bloodfiend Dragon-Elephant like the other Chixiao people.
Old Mei was a Yaoxian—a demon immortal.
Moreover, he was an old demon immortal whose years of cultivation were unknown; his exact strength was equally unknown to anyone.
Because no one had ever seen Old Mei make a move, not even once.
This was also a reason for Zhou Taihe’s concern.
But not the entire reason.
What truly worried him was that Old Mei was proficient in certain unorthodox arts.
The so-called unorthodox arts—divination, curses, and all sorts of eerie secret techniques—could be called unorthodox.
Do not underestimate unorthodox arts. Once mastered, they could seize destiny, determine the universe—there was nothing they couldn’t do.
Back then, when Lord Heishui held the position of Earth Fiend, the Chixiao Monarch knew that Lord Heishui had a fiery temper and was stubborn in his ways, so he worried he might cause trouble and sent Old Mei to look after him.
Relying on unorthodox arts, Old Mei planned strategies within a command tent, determining victory a thousand miles away. With Old Mei’s guidance, Lord Heishui was practically invincible, slaying gods when he met them, killing Buddhas when he encountered them. Not only could he slay enemies in a short time, but after killing them, he could also retreat completely unscathed.
At that time, the other Earth Fiend Lords were extremely envious that Heishui had such a Yaoxian proficient in unorthodox arts assisting him.
And Zhou Taihe had personally witnessed back then how Old Mei merely tampered a bit with a magic treasure refined by an Immortal Dynasty immortal. That Immortal Dynasty immortal, located ten thousand miles away, went mad—yes, mad…
He became mentally deranged, as if suffering a qi deviation.
How exactly Old Mei accomplished this, no one knew.
They only knew it was terrifying.
Just think, the other party was an Immortal Dynasty immortal. Just because his magic treasure was seized by Lord Heishui, and after Lord Heishui handed that immortal’s treasure to Old Mei, Old Mei merely tampered with it a bit, and that immortal went mad without any warning.
Even now, remembering it sent shivers down Zhou Taihe’s spine.
Now, seeing Old Mei here again.
How could he not worry!
He also hadn’t expected that Dong Laohu would be able to invite Old Mei here today.
“Blackheart, long time no see.”
The speaker was Lord Heishui. He was tall and powerfully built, imposing and radiating fierce aura. His voice was like a great bell, vibrating and making people’s eardrums hum.
Though Zhou Taihe felt some inner worry, he did not show it. He nodded and asked calmly, “I trust you’ve been well.”
“Well?
Can’t say that. In recent years, a fraud impersonating the Monarch’s successor appeared in our Great Northwest, swindling the entire region clean. I, your father, nearly ran all over the world to catch her.”
Lord Heishui looked at Zhou Taihe and said, “I’ve always known you were living comfortably in Yanluo. If I hadn’t run into Hei Fo this time, I wouldn’t have known you were living so lavishly in Yanluo—so lavishly you’ve almost forgotten what kind of person you are.”
Zhou Taihe knew what he meant, but replied very calmly, “I’ve said it before: no matter what kind of person I, Zhou Taihe, become, I will never forget the Monarch’s great kindness and virtue.”
“Fine. With those words, it means the Monarch didn’t cultivate you in vain back then.”
Changing the subject, Lord Heishui asked again, “I heard you’ve been getting quite close to the Immortal Dynasty these years.”
Zhou Taihe did not explain, nor did he hide it. Instead, he nodded very directly and clearly.
“I also heard you’re planning to publicly accept a title from the Immortal Dynasty today?”
“I came here solely to pay respects to the Monarch.”
Lord Heishui retorted, “Solely to pay respects to the Monarch?”
Zhou Taihe met his gaze and responded with certainty, “Solely to pay respects to the Monarch.”
“Zhou Taihe, we’re all old acquaintances. There’s no need to hide things. Since you’ve done it, why not dare to admit it?”
Beside them, Lord Hei Fo, who had remained silent until now, spoke up, “Do you think I don’t know that among the edicts brought by the Immortal Dynasty people descending upon Yanluo this time, there is a conferment edict for you, Zhou Taihe?”
“That is a matter for the Immortal Dynasty. It has nothing to do with me.”
Zhou Taihe remained consistently calm. “I’ll say it again: I came here solely to pay respects to the Monarch.”
“Good!
If that’s truly the case, then nothing could be better.”
Lord Hei Fo narrowed his eyes, staring at Zhou Taihe. “But if today you dare to accept a title from the Immortal Dynasty, then it’s time for us Chixiao brothers to settle accounts.”
Zhou Taihe nodded and prepared to lead his people up the mountain to the Imperial Mausoleum to pay respects to the Monarch when a voice came from behind.
“Lord Blackheart, might this old man bore you with a few words?”
The speaker was Old Mei. His voice made Zhou Taihe’s heart tremble slightly. He stopped, turned, looked at Old Mei, and said, “I am willing to listen attentively.”