Lin Potian's brows raised slightly upon hearing this, seeming a little moved. He was inherently a battle-loving person.
If it was truly as the other party said, he could also use this large platform to gain a foothold, which would make it easier to search for Han Xuanji and others in the future.
Nangong Wenjian, however, still pressed his hand on his sword hilt, expressionless, as if weighing his options.
Just then, a clear voice, mixed with a hint of surprise and playfulness, came from outside the hall:
"Oh? The Nine Heavens Army's reach has extended even to our Lingxu Heavenly Palace's Reception Hall?"
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a young man dressed in a moon-white Daoist robe, with a tall and straight figure and handsome features, who had quietly appeared at the hall entrance at some unknown point.
A faint smile played on his lips, and his eyes were bright.
The newcomer was none other than Li Taiqing.
The leading Nine Heavens Army general's expression changed slightly. Realizing it was a Disciple from Lingxu Heavenly Palace, his tone involuntarily became a little more polite:
"So it's a Fellow Daoist from Lingxu Heavenly Palace.
We are not overstepping our bounds; we merely saw that this batch of Ascended Immortals had decent Aptitude and came to inquire about their intentions. If the Heavenly Palace is interested in recruiting them, we naturally..."
Before he could finish, he was interrupted by the joyful and surprised voices of Lu Fan and Lin Potian.
"Brother Li?!"
"Li Taiqing! Is it really you?!"
"Your... your cultivation Realm..."
The three almost exclaimed in unison, their faces filled with disbelief.
They could feel that Li Taiqing's aura at this moment was far stronger than theirs, even vaguely giving them a sense of pressure like facing a towering mountain.
How long had it been since they parted? Li Taiqing's progress speed was simply too astonishing!
Li Taiqing laughed heartily and strode forward, first casually waving his hand at the several Nine Heavens Army Cultivators:
"Gentlemen, I appreciate your good intentions, but these are my friends, so there's no need for the Nine Heavens Army to trouble yourselves."
His tone was casual, yet carried an undeniable authority.
The faces of those Nine Heavens Army Cultivators were somewhat unpleasant, but they were quite wary of Lingxu Heavenly Palace. They exchanged glances and ultimately said nothing more, cupping their hands and saying:
"Our Nine Heavens Army is eager for talent. If any of you are willing, you can go to our station three hundred li away, but we will only stay for seven days before marching."
After speaking, the group turned and left.
In any case, they hadn't lost anything on this trip, and it wasn't worth offending the overlord of the Lingxu Immortal Domain for a few Ascended Immortals.
After sending off the Nine Heavens Army, Li Taiqing turned around, a brilliant smile on his face, and looked at his three old friends, opening his arms:
"Brother Lu, Brother Lin, Brother Nangong, it's been a while!"
Lu Fan and the other two finally recovered from their shock and excitedly stepped forward to greet Li Taiqing.
"Brother Li, what... what Realm are you in now?"
Lin Potian, being the most straightforward, couldn't help but ask, his eyes filled with curiosity and shock.
Li Taiqing smiled faintly and did not answer directly, instead saying:
"I was fortunate enough to arrive in the Upper Realm a few years earlier than you all, and with my Master's careful guidance, I've made a slight advancement."
He spoke modestly, but the natural confidence he exuded made Lu Fan and the other two understand that this'slight advancement' was probably not small.
"I just had a Breakthrough to Heavenly Immortal."
Li Taiqing didn't keep them in suspense and couldn't help but show off.
Upon hearing this, Lin Potian was the first to react, striding forward and heavily punching Li Taiqing on the shoulder, excitedly saying:
"Good heavens! How long has it been since we last met, and you're already a Heavenly Immortal?"
"And a Disciple of a great Sect, you're doing well in the Upper Realm!"
Even the usually stern Nangong Wenjian's eyes burst forth with astonishing brilliance. He stared intently at Li Taiqing, feeling the unfathomable Sword Intent, and said in a deep voice:
"After all these years, your sword... has become even stronger!"
In the Lower Realm, the gap between them wasn't too large, but now, he couldn't even discern the other party's Realm.
Li Taiqing laughed heartily, quite pleased with the reactions of his three old friends, but he didn't forget the main business.
He then said to Lu Fan and the other two:
"This is not the place to talk. I am here by my Master's command to escort you three to the Sect. As for Xiaobai's matter, Master didn't say much, but there should be an arrangement, so there's no need to worry."
Upon hearing this, the three also breathed a sigh of relief.
Otherwise, it would have been difficult to explain to Han Xuanji.
After all, in the Lower Realm, Han Xuanji was quite fond of Xiaobai, leaving behind a large amount of resources that even made them envious.
"Does that mean you've already found Elder Han?"
Lu Fan couldn't help but ask.
"Of course, he was taken by Master right after his Ascension."
Li Taiqing said proudly.
Hearing this, Lu Fan mumbled:
"I knew I should have directly become his Disciple back then. You got lucky, kid."
Nangong Wenjian, however, suddenly asked:
"Is there anything strange about this Nine Heavens Army?"
Li Taiqing pondered for a moment before replying:
"There's nothing particularly strange, but Cultivators like you, who have just Ascended and are too weak, are easily ordered to explore dangerous places if they encounter them. The danger is too great, and they can easily be affected if they encounter strong enemies."
Although they are called talents, in reality, they are merely 'material'.
Compared to mining, joining an Upper Realm army is more dangerous.
This was also the current situation.
Various major forces began to recruit manpower, firstly to strengthen their forces to resist crises, and secondly to have them explore Opportunities.
Immortal Venerable Jiuxiao, as a newly appointed Elder of the Immortal Dao Alliance, was sent to the front-line Immortal Domain for support. His methods were not weak, aggressively recruiting soldiers and horses, and he never valued the lives of low-level Cultivators much.
However, many people also rose to prominence, so it was difficult to make a definitive judgment.
The surrounding Ascended Immortals watched this scene, even more dumbfounded.
They had originally been somewhat tempted by the Nine Heavens Army's recruitment, but now they had been splashed with a basin of cold water.
"Lingxu Heavenly Palace... that seems to be an even more powerful force than the Nine Heavens Army?"
"Those three are so lucky to have such an old friend in the Upper Realm!"
"It seems choosing a force requires caution..."
Whispers arose among the Ascended Immortals, and everyone looked at Lu Fan and the other two with envy.
Li Taiqing looked at the shocked expressions of his three old friends, and a sense of satisfaction overflowed in his heart.
Along the way, Li Taiqing also introduced Lingxu Heavenly Palace to them.
This left them deeply shocked.
After all, the entire Immortal Domain was named after Lingxu, which showed how powerful Lingxu Heavenly Palace was.
"However, there are also many powerful forces and races in the Lingxu Immortal Domain. Among them, the Jiang Family is a famous top Family with a strong foundation, and there are also some powerful races entrenched there, which are allies with Lingxu Heavenly Palace."
Li Taiqing explained.
Although all flying beasts, walking beasts, mountains, rocks, and plants could be called the Yao Race, it was clear that many races did not consider themselves part of the Yao Race.
And among these races, many were on good terms with the Human Race.
When the group arrived at Myriad Phenomena Garden, Han Xuanji also looked at them with a strange expression.
Lu Fan, Ascended Immortal Seventh Layer, a person of great Luck, favored by Humanitys Fortune, with the appearance of a hidden Dragon, who greatly admires you.