Silence looms in the air of the building that had its rear wall punctured through by a tree's root.
"Ai…"
Having just finished explaining what a weapon spirit is to the others, Jiu Sheng shakes her head.
Both Jiu Sheng and Xu Tian Kun had figured that they would need to tell the others the truth one day, but due to Long Hua, the matter had been needlessly accelerated.
"Weapon spirits, Sinners, practitioners, Immortals…"
Muttering these four terms, Hui Sang—despite knowing a bit more than the others, is also in a state of shock.
"…We were practitioners in the past as well. I…"
Gripping his Relic tightly, Chang Ye seems to have finally figured out why he is so obsessed with sword arts.
"…A city lord."
Similarly, Shen Le has also realized why she had wanted to become a city lord.
Most likely during her practitioner life, she was one, and as a result of that, Shen Le figured that becoming one in this life as well would make her feel a sense of completion—allowing her to regain her memories from that period.
"…"
Looking between Chang Ye and Shen Le, Ling Yi is at a loss. Compared to the other two, he is slower in processing his thoughts on everything that's just been told to him.
"…Ancestor Xu, are we really just objects in human form?"
Towards Yang Hai's question—which was asked with a bitter look on his face, Xu Tian Kun shakes her head strongly.
"…"
Closing her red eyes, Xu Tian Kun begins to organize her thoughts.
As the Serpent Deity Village's ancestor, everyone tends to look to her for guidance. At a time like this, she has to be the one to step forward, and rouse the others.
Opening her eyes with a strong gleam, Xu Tian Kun says—
"I do not consider us tools. Who cares about what those practitioners think? We're as every bit of a human as they…- No, we're much more human than they could ever be!"
Drawing in a deep breath of air, Xu Tian Kun faces the others, and continues to state—
"That venomous snake wishes to use us as his stepping stones to glory, are we just going to let him?! At a time like this, we shouldn't just be casting our heads down in depression! We should be thinking of ways to make him think that he's bitten off more than he can possibly hope to chew—after he's performed his role! Remember, we're also using him as a stepping stone to glory, so that we can be better prepared to deal with the Ling Yuan family in the future!"
"…"
"…"
Towards these words, silence looms in the air, but different from before, this silence isn't one of depression, but one of quiet determination to prove to their common enemy that he shall be wrong.
Turning to Jiu Sheng, Xu Tian Kun says—
"Jiu Sheng, let's use the Ripper to teleport everyone here."
"…"
Blinking her eyes, Jiu Sheng contemplates for a brief instance, prior to nodding her head.
"I suppose, we really mustn't let that venomous snake have the last laugh."
"Un."
Nodding her head to this, Xu Tian Kun adds—
"Still, with just the village alone, it probably won't be enough…"
"Hmm, openly cooperating with the other factions would raise our odds, however…"
With a similar look of uncertainty on her face, Xu Tian Kun says—
"That would mean sharing everything that we've just said with the entire world as well."
Pressing her lips together with a look of conflict on her face, Jiu Sheng replies—
"…I'd rather not cause a worldwide panic just yet. Ai, if group cooperation isn't possible, individual cooperation should still be doable. Let's just talk to the key individuals of a few factions. And if they listen, they listen, and if they don't… Well, I'd rather hope things don't come to that. In any case, once everyone is gathered here, we'll head over to the tree ourselves."
"Very well."
...…
"…"
Standing at the mountain's base, Long Hua stares upwards towards the peak, while contemplating a certain matter.
"…"
Parting his lips, Long Hua momentarily forms a frown.
"…I suppose, I'll try it."
Having made his decision, Long Hua performs an incantation gesture, which requires him to sweep his right hand to the center of his chest.
Tapping the air five times with the same hand's index and middle finger straightened, Long Hua closes his eyes, and mutters—
"The emperor who sees no moon, the ruby-eyed ruler of Hong Xiao, the Apostle of Great Rebirth—who roams the mortal planes."
Maintaining his shut eyes, Long Hua waits for changes to occur.
(*-laoban, what are you doing?)
Ignoring the Tai Xuan Emperor's question, Long Hua continues to wait.
"...…"
Eventually—
"Ai…"
Opening his eyes with a heavy sigh, Long Hua remarks—
"Seems like it's nowhere near here, or maybe it's because… Hmm."
The incantation gesture that was performed, it stems from a star region known as the Forbidden Gates.
The denizens of that star region, they offered prayers to a single entity, and through this entity's blessings, they were able to advance their cultivation bases.
"…What's senior doing?"
"Hard to say…"
"…?"
Ignoring the odd looks that are being directed at him by Qing Ming Yang, Lin Yu Heng, and Yao Ying, Long Hua closes his eyes again, to perform the same incantation gesture, but this time, he mutters—
"The destiny bearer of the Abyssal Seas, the dominator of the Forbidden Gates, the apex of all dragon-kind."
Traditionally, these were the words spoken by the denizens of the Forbidden Gates when praying, and following Long Hua's utterance of them—
*......…!*
"…!"
Snapping his eyes open, Long Hua's expression shows a clear sign of extreme shock.
(…A response? But… This isn't right. That entity has long fallen…)
A response was something that Long Hua had wanted, but this wasn't the sort of response that he had expected—for he was simply using this method as a means to see if any objects related to the prayed-to-entity might be within the Everlasting Spirit Realm.
"…"
Performing the same incantation gesture, and repeating the first entity's description—
*...…!*
"…?"
Receiving a response from the first entity this time, Long Hua can't help but knit his brows together tightly.
Similarly to the response that he had received from the second entity, this response was also outside of his expectations.
(Just is happening? Bujian Yue was my 1,024th reincarnation, he's already dead; how is it possible for me to receive a response from a living entity—when I'm only using this method to search for his weapon? …Did someone assume that identity afterwards? ...…The extremely low odds of that happening aside—with how much time had passed between that life and this one, it shouldn't be possible… And this delayed response from the first entity, was it because the entity behind that description—had a hard time locating me, and was only able to succeed on my second calling?)
Just as Long Hua is thinking of whether or not to probe a third entity—
*Siiii…* emerging from a dark rift, Bai Wen points to it with his thumb, and says—
"Time for dinner. …Uh?"
Following his statement, Bai Wen blinks his eyes, and rather quickly, he turns his focus onto Long Hua's back.
"Lao Long, do you feel like there's something odd about the air here?"
"…"
Turning around momentarily, Long Hua didn't reply, but his expression was telling enough of an answer to Bai Wen.
Looking between the two, Yao Ying asks—
"Is something wrong?"
"…"
"…"
Glancing at Yao Ying, Bai Wen replies—
"…The aura of Divinity-like entities is present in the air."
"…?"
Raising a sigh, Long Hua says—
"Regardless of whether they are divinities or not, so long as we're under their eyes, it's best to not speak nonsense."
"Un."
Responding with a nod, Bai Wen places a finger to his lips—causing the others to maintain their silence, as the group waits for the Divinity-like entities' presence to fade.
"…"
"…"
Eventually, the presence fades completely, and with Bai Wen giving a clear signal with his hand, Qing Ming Yang asks—
"So, what would happen if we did speak nonsense in front of those entities?"
Glancing at Qing Ming Yang, Lin Yu Heng replies—
"This is a story from ages ago, but apparently, a certain someone felt the need to take a leak after committing blasphemy in front of a Divinity tribesman. However, when they were getting ready to unload, they suddenly realized that they didn't have to any more. Eventually, they found out that they won't ever need to use the restroom ever again."
"...…Ah?"
Chuckling aloud, Bai Wen adds—
"That certain someone was apparently from the Ling Yuan family, and due to that condition of theirs, it didn't take long for them to croak."
"…"
While Qing Ming Yang felt fearful of the Divinity-like entities continuing to have an eye over them, Long Hua thought—
(I should probably investigate this matter a bit more, but the risks…- Forget it for the time being. I'll wait till my memories recover a bit more. …This could be a card to play—for when the situation turns desperate.)