Lieyin Patriarch was acquainted with Changfeng Great Emperor, so upon meeting, it was only natural for them to converse for a while.
They didn't waste time on idle pleasantries; most of their talk revolved around the Primordial Black Hole.
At that moment.
Suddenly, someone spoke up: "It seems the Desolate Ancient ruins truly are extraordinary, to have even drawn the presence of Changfeng Great Emperor, who hasn't shown himself for so long."
The speaker was none other than Tian Kui. He stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "I have long heard of Changfeng Great Emperor's illustrious name. Seeing you today, the reputation is indeed well-deserved."
"Oh?"
Changfeng Great Emperor slightly furrowed his brow, glanced at Tian Kui, and asked with puzzlement, "And you are...?"
Before Lieyin Patriarch could speak, Tian Kui stepped forward on his own, cupping his hands again. "I am Tian Kui. Greetings, Changfeng Great Emperor."
"Tian Kui?"
Hearing this name, Changfeng Great Emperor's expression froze for a moment. "You are Tian Kui?"
This not only stunned Tian Kui but also Lieyin Patriarch. Judging by Changfeng Great Emperor's tone, it seemed he had heard of Tian Kui?
That shouldn't be possible, should it?
Tian Kui was a Child of Original Sin secretly nurtured by the Purple Cloud Immortal Realm. Not only did outsiders not know about him, even within the Purple Cloud Immortal Realm, few were aware. How did Changfeng Great Emperor know?
Of course.
Lieyin Patriarch wasn't afraid of Changfeng Great Emperor knowing.
Whether it was the Great Wasteland Magnates or the Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands secretly nurturing Children of Original Sin, it was no longer a secret. They all knew about each other's efforts. Not only did they know, but they also had a fairly clear understanding of which magnate or which Grotto-Heaven/Blessed Land nurtured how many Children of Original Sin, and even to what extent those children had been cultivated.
What truly puzzled Lieyin Patriarch was why Changfeng Great Emperor had such a strong reaction upon hearing the name 'Tian Kui'?
Before he could inquire, Changfeng Great Emperor offered an apologetic smile and said, "My apologies, I almost forgot something important."
Changfeng Great Emperor suddenly uttered this inexplicable statement, further baffling Lieyin Patriarch and the others.
"The matter is this: while in another Immortal Realm, I encountered several of your Purple Cloud Immortal Realm's Supreme Elders. They said they had become separated from a disciple named Tian Kui and were all searching for him."
Hearing this.
Lieyin Patriarch hurriedly asked, "Oh?
Great Emperor, you've met other elders from our Purple Cloud Immortal Realm? Where are they now?
Are they in any danger?"
"They are not in any danger. As for their location..." Changfeng Great Emperor shook his head. "I can only say they are in a Desolate Ancient ruin. As for where that ruin is located, it's truly hard to describe clearly."
"As long as they are safe, that's good..." "So, this young man is the Tian Kui who was separated from you?"
"That's right."
Changfeng Great Emperor looked at Tian Kui, nodded, and praised, "Good, very good. The younger generation shows great promise."
"Hey, so you're that Tian Kui who got separated."
Standing beside Changfeng Great Emperor was a woman as tender as water. She was Changfeng Great Emperor's Dao Companion, also the renowned Qianye Immortal King. And beside Qianye Immortal King was a young girl with an impish, clever look.
As for who the girl was.
Lieyin Patriarch didn't know. At first, he thought she might be the daughter of Changfeng Great Emperor and Qianye Immortal King, but later realized she wasn't, because he could tell this girl was not human but a demon.
The girl blinked her big eyes and asked, "How could you be so careless? This Primordial Black Hole is very dangerous. Since you came with your sect elders, you should listen to them and not run off on your own."
"You talk too much!"
Qianye Immortal King beside her explained helplessly, "Her name is Lian'er. She's a little disciple I took in not long ago."
"I see."
Lieyin Patriarch originally wanted to chat more with Changfeng Great Emperor. However, he was in a hurry to search for the other Ancestral Patriarchs of the Purple Cloud Immortal Realm. Just as he was about to bid farewell and leave, Changfeng Great Emperor said, "Senior Lieyin, if you are only going to search for the other Ancestral Patriarchs of the Purple Cloud Immortal Realm, in my opinion, it might be better to wait for them here."
"Hmm?"
Lieyin Patriarch was somewhat confused. "Great Emperor, you mean...
Our Purple Cloud Immortal Realm's Ancestral Patriarchs have also come to this Desolate Ancient ruin?"
"For now, they probably haven't arrived yet."
This left Lieyin Patriarch even more perplexed.
"The Primordial Black Hole is currently very chaotic and far too perilous. Just now, when I came from within the black hole, I nearly encountered an accident..." Before Changfeng Great Emperor could finish, Lieyin Patriarch urgently said, "No matter how dangerous the Primordial Black Hole is, we must find the other elders."
"Hear me out fully before making a decision; it won't be too late."
"Please speak, Great Emperor."
"The reason I suggest you wait here is because the ruins within the Primordial Black Hole are currently merging with each other. If my guess is correct, it won't be long before all the ruins within the Primordial Black Hole fuse together, forming a single, complete Desolate Ancient ruin."
"This...
Is...
that true?"
Before coming, Lieyin Patriarch had also noticed that the ruins within the Primordial Black Hole were merging. He just wasn't sure what would happen after they fused—would they collide, devour each other, or truly merge into a larger Desolate Ancient ruin?
"Based on my observations, it should be true. But I cannot be one hundred percent certain. This can only be considered a suggestion. You should weigh it carefully before deciding."
After saying this, Changfeng Great Emperor didn't elaborate further. He bid farewell and left with Qianye Immortal King and his little disciple Lian'er.
Their group numbered seven or eight people, including old and young, men and women, even bringing family along. They didn't look like they had come to the Desolate Ancient ruins for adventure, but more like they were on a sightseeing trip. This was especially true for Qianye Immortal King's disciple Lian'er, who chatted and laughed along the way, skipping and hopping, truly lively and adorable.
Walking backwards, Lian'er tilted her little head up and asked, "Master, didn't you say that Tian Kui is a Child of Original Sin the Purple Cloud Immortal Realm has been nurturing all along?"
Qianye Immortal King nodded and asked in return, "What about it? Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. Lian'er just thinks that Tian Kui isn't all that impressive. He looks quite ordinary, just about what Lian'er imagined."
Hearing this.
Qianye Immortal King and Changfeng Great Emperor exchanged a glance, then both shook their heads with a helpless smile. Qianye Immortal King said with mild exasperation, "Lian'er, you're not old, but your tone is quite big. To call a Child of Original Sin nurtured all along by a major power 'ordinary'—if the Ancestral Patriarchs of the Purple Cloud Immortal Realm heard that, they'd be furious to death."
"But he really is ordinary."
Changfeng Great Emperor asked curiously, "Lian'er, do you know what great fortunes that Tian Kui possesses?"
"Of course I know."
"Tell us."
"Nothing more than the Divine Movement Extreme Body, the Celestial Lion Star Lord, and the Embodiment of Original Sin. Oh! Right, and the Purple Cloud Immortal Realm's 'Purple Qi from the East'."