Chapter 186: The Chaos Heavenly Emperor Scripture
"Ahem — everyone, that's enough. Disperse. And remember: not a single word about the Holy Son's circumstances leaves this sect!"
A wizened elder cleared his throat and swept a stern gaze over the surrounding elders.
He was Shi Feng, the Grand Elder of the Primordial Sect, a powerhouse at the Late Immortal King Realm.
And his caution was entirely warranted.
If word spread that a prodigy who had ascended at the age of twenty existed, countless factions would scramble to poach him. Some might even adopt the mentality of destroying what they couldn't obtain.
In the Immortal Realm, the strong devoured the weak. Plenty of powers had no desire to watch a prodigy rise and one day suppress them.
But beside him, Ye Wushuang coughed and spoke with some hesitation.
"Master, I don't think that's necessary."
Ye Wushuang's master was none other than the Primordial Sect's Grand Elder.
"Wushuang, you don't understand. I know the Holy Son's father is an Immortal King, but in the Immortal Realm, talent is an original sin. An Immortal King can't protect the Holy Son."
"But Master, Senior Lu is an Immortal Emperor."
"So what if he's an Immortal Emperor? An Immortal Emperor is... wait. Did you say Immortal Emperor?"
Shi Feng froze, but recovered quickly. Swallowing hard, he asked in disbelief.
"Yes. Senior Lu is indeed an Immortal Emperor. Even the Clan Chief of the Vermilion Bird Race treats him with the utmost deference."
Ye Wushuang's words landed like a boulder dropped into a still lake, sending towering waves crashing outward.
Every elder present lost their composure.
The Vermilion Bird Race. To put it bluntly, if the Vermilion Bird Race wanted to destroy the Primordial Sect, all it would take was a single word.
"Wushuang, you're not joking, are you?"
"Master, do you really think I'd joke about something like this?"
Ye Wushuang shook his head, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
Shi Feng fell silent. After a long pause, he exhaled deeply.
"I honestly have to wonder where our Primordial Sect's luck came from, to have landed a prodigy like this."
"Holy Son — if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to become sworn brothers with you. You'd be the elder brother, of course, and I the younger."
Shi Feng abruptly pivoted and fixed his gaze on Lu Xiaoyao, his tone dead serious — not a trace of humor in it.
If he could become brothers with the child of such a powerhouse, it would be a guaranteed win with zero downside.
But Lu Xiaoyao could only manage an awkward yet polite smile.
"You flatter me, Grand Elder."
Seeing Lu Xiaoyao decline, Shi Feng wasn't particularly surprised. He sighed.
"I suppose I simply don't have that kind of fortune."
"In any case, the Sect Master is still undergoing his tribulation and the sect is off-limits for now. I'm afraid I'll have to ask the Holy Son to wait here a while."
The Sect Master's Lightning Tribulation blanketed the entire sect. While it hadn't damaged anything, anyone who stepped into the tribulation's range would instantly be targeted by the lightning.
Lu Xiaoyao didn't mind in the slightest. He could use the time outside the sect to consolidate his foundation.
Seeing Lu Xiaoyao begin cultivating, Shi Feng dragged Ye Wushuang aside, eager to learn everything he could about Lu Xunxian.
Unfortunately, Ye Wushuang didn't know much.
"In short, Master — if we can secure Senior Lu's patronage, there's no reason our Primordial Sect can't become a hegemon of the Immortal Realm."
"Whew... I understand."
Shi Feng drew a deep breath, barely containing his excitement.
In the Immortal Realm, only one kind of force could be called a hegemon: one with an Immortal Emperor presiding over it.
As for a great race — that required a Peak Immortal Emperor.
The Primordial Sect didn't aspire to become a great race. Becoming a hegemon would be more than enough.
Over at the Ancient Wood Sect, the situation was much the same.
The Ancient Wood Sect's Sect Master, Gu Qingyuan, had begun undergoing his Immortal Monarch Tribulation.
And when the Ancient Wood Sect's elders learned that Lu Qingyun had ascended at the age of twenty — and had a Dao Spirit for a protector — every last one of them was ready to enshrine her as their living ancestor.
Lu Qingyun, however, was the picture of humility. After exchanging greetings with the elders, she too settled in to consolidate her foundation.
In the blink of an eye, another year passed.
As the Lightning Tribulation gradually dispersed, radiant golden light poured from Xu Long's body. He had successfully broken through to the Immortal Monarch Realm.
"Congratulations to the Sect Master on breaking through to the Immortal Monarch Realm."
The moment Xu Long succeeded, Shi Feng and the other elders rushed forward to offer their congratulations.
Xu Long merely waved them off, then immediately turned his gaze to Lu Xiaoyao.
Though he had been undergoing his tribulation, he had still been aware of what was happening outside. He naturally knew Lu Xiaoyao's identity.
"It seems our Primordial Sect has latched onto quite the towering tree."
"Lu Xiaoyao, of the younger generation, greets the Sect Master."
Lu Xiaoyao wasn't bothered by formalities. After a brief exchange, he got straight to the point.
"Sect Master, might I have a private word? There's something I need to discuss with you."
"By all means."
With a wave of his hand, Xu Long pulled Lu Xiaoyao into his personal domain.
After breaking through to the Immortal Monarch Realm, one's Power of Laws grew thick and refined. Combined with one's own formidable strength, most powerhouses at this level would carve out a Small World within their body. Xu Long was no exception.
"This is my personal domain. Unless someone's cultivation far exceeds my own, there is no way to spy on what happens here. Speak freely, Holy Son."
"It's nothing too important. My father simply asked me to hand this to you when I met you."
Lu Xiaoyao raised a hand, and a sphere of light flew from his fingertip into Xu Long's mind.
After refining its contents, Xu Long's expression changed dramatically.
It was a cultivation art — one far more suited to the Primordial Saint Body than even the Heavenly Emperor Scripture.
Its name was the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Scripture, a product of the Billionfold Repayment Lu Xunxian had received after delivering the Heavenly Emperor Scripture to Feng Qingyu.
"Holy Son, I cannot thank you enough. Our Primordial Sect now owes your father an enormous debt."
After refining the art, Xu Long's expression was deeply conflicted as he addressed Lu Xiaoyao.
He had a feeling that if he had cultivated the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Scripture from the very beginning, he would be at least an Immortal Venerable by now.
"Think nothing of it. My father also said that I'll be staying at the Primordial Sect for quite some time. He's given me a task — to build the Primordial Sect into a hegemon-class force of the Immortal Realm."
Lu Xiaoyao waved it off.
This was a task Lu Xunxian had set for him, a test of his capabilities.
And naturally, Lu Xiaoyao had no intention of refusing.
Hearing this, Xu Long's emotions grew even more complicated. He felt as though the Primordial Sect owed Lu Xiaoyao a debt they could never repay in a lifetime.
"Alright, Sect Master — let's save the rest for later. Why don't we head out? I still haven't seen what the Holy Son Peak looks like."
"Of course. Allow me to lead the way."
Xu Long smiled, and the two of them exited the Small World.
The surrounding elders, Shi Feng among them, were burning with curiosity about what had been discussed inside the Sect Master's Small World. But they also knew that if the Sect Master chose not to share, no one would ever find out.