Three days later.
The curtain on the summit of Mount Everest had disappeared.
This meant no more extraterrestrial enemies would descend from Everest.
The Mount Everest War had officially ended, and the Dragon Country and Earth had won the war.
This hard-won victory was inspiring and greatly boosted the morale of the global martial arts world.
After all, the extraterrestrial enemies in this Mount Everest War, in terms of both scale and strength, far surpassed those in the divine war twelve years ago.
Even among the extraterrestrial enemies were true Heavenly God realm powerhouses!
In such circumstances, Earth's victory allowed global martial artists to shed their former despair and begin to be filled with confidence.
For global martial artists, the victory in the Mount Everest War was a joyous occasion, but for the Dragon Country, it was a mix of joy and sorrow.
This was because the Dragon Country had paid an extremely heavy price in this war!
Zhuge Lingjun, Zhou Hetu, Qin Yuanzheng, and others had died in battle. Qi Wufu had fallen into a vegetative state. Although Tianlong Daoist was not in mortal danger, it was said that all his cultivation was gone, and whether he could recover his martial arts cultivation was uncertain.
In addition to the victory in the Mount Everest War, three other events that occurred during the war continued to ferment in the global martial arts world.
The first event was that Jiang Wuming, hailed as the foremost figure of the younger generation in the global martial arts world and the direct disciple of Tianlong Daoist, along with other members of the Zhanlong Team, had been expelled by the Ministry of War, and their whereabouts were unknown.
Where would Jiang Wuming go?
The second event was that Saint Lun @ Roman, the Hall Master of the God of War Hall, had wreaked havoc in the western region of the Mount Everest battlefield. The God of War Hall and the Divine Network had extensively publicized this, greatly enhancing their influence and restoring his reputation.
The third event, and the most important one.
Tianlong Daoist, at the summit of Mount Everest, had joined forces with Zhuge Lingjun to kill a true Heavenly God realm extraterrestrial enemy and sweep away extraterrestrial powerhouses.
The foremost figure in the global martial arts world.
After this battle, almost every martial artist worldwide implicitly acknowledged Tianlong Daoist as invincible in this era!
The premise was that Tianlong Daoist would recover his martial arts strength.
Would Tianlong Daoist recover his martial arts strength?
This was a question that concerned every martial artist globally.
…
Longhu Mountain.
Zhu Yong arrived at the gate of the Taoist temple where Tianlong Daoist was in seclusion, panting heavily. "Master, Junior Brother is in trouble again!"
"What trouble?"
Tianlong Daoist's voice came from the dilapidated Taoist temple.
"Master, a few days ago, didn't I tell you that the Dragon Country's Ministry of War expelled Junior Brother but did not state that they would pursue responsibility for Junior Brother killing Gu Tianlong, a disciple of the Dragon Gate? They only said they would investigate. This means Junior Brother is allowed to stay in the Dragon Country. Originally, I thought Junior Brother would return to Longhu Mountain to cultivate, but I just received a call from him. He's gone to the City of Sin!"
As Zhu Yong spoke, his voice suddenly rose, and his plump face was filled with worry.
The Taoist temple was silent. Tianlong Daoist did not respond to Zhu Yong.
"Master, say something. You know, Jiang Zhan offended many forces back then, making him an enemy of the world, especially that dog thief Anthony @ Roman. When Junior Brother founded the Zhanlong Hall, no one knew he was Jiang Zhan's son, so his safety was guaranteed. But it's different now. Even if he stays in the City of Sin and Dawson protects him according to the city's rules, he's still in great danger!" Zhu Yong added.
"I know."
Tianlong Daoist's calm voice echoed.
"Master, do you want to personally call Junior Brother and ask him to return to the mountain? It's too dangerous outside!" Zhu Yong suggested.
There was no response.
After that, Zhu Yong waited for a full ten minutes, and the Taoist temple fell into complete silence.
If Zhu Yong hadn't been able to clearly sense Tianlong Daoist's presence, he would have suspected that Tianlong Daoist had passed away!
Ten minutes later, Zhu Yong turned and left.
Based on his understanding of Tianlong Daoist, if Tianlong Daoist did not reply for a long time, it meant that Tianlong Daoist had entered a state of seclusion.
However, even after leaving, Zhu Yong was still very worried. He took out his satellite phone and contacted Shen Zui.
"Senior Brother..."
The call connected. Zhu Yong first told him about Jiang Wuming going to the City of Sin, then about his visit to Tianlong Daoist who had no reaction, and finally, he suggested that Shen Zui persuade Jiang Wuming.
However—
Before he could voice his suggestion, Shen Zui impatiently interrupted, "Second Brother, guard the mountain properly."
"???"
Zhu Yong was dumbfounded.
Then, as he was about to say something else, he realized that Shen Zui had already hung up the phone.
…
Southwest Li Family Ancestral Land.
The Ministry of War sent a helicopter to transport Li Guyi and Li Lianyi back to the ancestral land from the Mount Everest battlefield.
Neither Li Guyi nor Li Lianyi could do anything about Qi Wufu's injuries. They could not awaken him through medical means, only ensure he remained alive.
Therefore, they did not continue treating Qi Wufu. Qi Wufu was sent to the best hospital in Yan Jing for observation.
Initially, Li Lianyi planned to return directly to work at the Hanghu God of War Pharmaceutical Research Institute, but Li Guyi stopped her, asking her to return to the Li Family Ancestral Land to rest and adjust for a few days.
This was because Li Guyi was worried that Jiang Wuming's expulsion from the Ministry of War and his departure from the Dragon Country would affect Li Lianyi.
However—
As it turned out, Li Guyi was wrong.
Li Lianyi had been calm throughout.
Even after returning to the Li Family Ancestral Land, she, as always, carefully inspected the various herbs in the medicinal garden every day and read various ancient medical books.
"Lianyi, why do you look like nothing's happened?"
Two days later, Li Guyi came to the medicinal garden in front of Li Lianyi's wooden house. Seeing Li Lianyi squatting on the ground, inspecting the growth of the herbs, he couldn't help but ask.
"Grandpa, how do you think I should look?" Li Lianyi asked.
"Don't you care at all about Jiang Wuming's situation?" Li Guyi retorted.
"Of course, I care."
Li Lianyi gave her answer.
"Then why didn't you persuade him to stay in the Dragon Country?"
Li Guyi was puzzled. He had already learned of Jiang Wuming's trip to the City of Sin.
"It's his decision. I won't dissuade him, only support him," Li Lianyi said.
"But... but you must know that it's very dangerous for him to be overseas..."
"I know."
"Then aren't you worried about his safety?"
"I am worried, but I believe in his promise more. He said he would continue to kill extraterrestrial enemies until they dared not descend. When the war is over, he will come to the Li Family Ancestral Land to find me."
Li Lianyi paused here, then corrected herself, "To marry me."
"—"
Li Guyi was speechless.
…
Europe.
In the ancient castle, known as the forbidden land for European martial artists, Anthony @ Roman sat in the hall as usual, enjoying two young girls massaging his mechanical legs.
Soon, a figure appeared at the entrance of the hall. Before Anthony @ Roman could speak, he strode into the hall.
"Dear father, welcome back from your great victory."
Anthony @ Roman smiled slightly as he saw Saint Lun @ Roman, his smile as sinister as ever.
"You seem to be in a slightly better mood than I expected..."
Saint Lun @ Roman said with a hint of doubt.
However—
Before he could finish his sentence, the sounds of two blood splattering occurred almost simultaneously.
"Puff!"
"Puff!"
The two young girls fell to the ground, lifeless.
"Have you investigated thoroughly?"
Anthony @ Roman spoke again, as if he had transformed into a different person, his tone low and his gaze terrifying.
"It has been thoroughly investigated. That idiot, the Ghost Rider, was indeed killed. On that day, he took the helicopter I sent, found those few insects, Jiang Wuming, and before he could make a move, he was killed by Shen Zui."
Saint Lun @ Roman stated his findings.
"Shen Zui is only a four-star God of War, tenth stage. Are you sure it was him?" Anthony @ Roman narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Yes. According to the information I investigated, Shen Zui was in that area during that time. As for Dawson, whom we suspected earlier, he was in the country of Ni at the time, and someone saw him with his disciple, Gade, at a hotel."
Saint Lun @ Roman spoke again.
He had been investigating ever since the Ghost Rider's assassination attempt on Jiang Wuming failed.
Initially, he and Anthony @ Roman, upon hearing the news of Jiang Wuming going to the City of Sin, had suspected that Dawson had rescued Jiang Wuming.
"The Daoist sect of the Dragon Country, this lineage is truly extraordinary," Anthony @ Roman said with a grim expression.
"Tianlong Old Dao, that insect Jiang Wuming, and Shen Zui, they can all fight across major realms, which is truly unbelievable,"
Saint Lun @ Roman agreed with Anthony @ Roman and then hesitated, saying, "We all underestimated the tenacity of that insect's vitality back then."
Anthony @ Roman remained silent.
As Saint Lun @ Roman had said, after he learned that Jiang Wuming was a descendant of Jiang Zhan, he had not taken Jiang Wuming seriously. Moreover, fearing offending the Dragon Country's Ministry of War, he had only sent minor figures to kill Jiang Wuming.
As a result, they failed time and time again. Especially Jiang Wuming's astonishing performance at the Global Martial Arts Tournament, which made him start to take Jiang Wuming seriously, but it was too late!
Jiang Wuming had joined the Dragon Country's Ministry of War, gaining a shield, which made Anthony @ Roman hesitant to act. He dared not make a move until he utilized the opportunity of the Mount Everest War. However, he never expected that even the Ghost Rider, who possessed the strength of a five-star God of War, third stage, would fail.
"That insect has gone to the City of Sin. Given Dawson's style of action, he will undoubtedly protect him. In that case, only someone at the Half-Step Heavenly God realm can kill him."
Seeing Anthony @ Roman's silence, Saint Lun @ Roman spoke again.
He knew that Anthony @ Roman had not sent him to act because he was too conspicuous. Every move he made was closely watched. Once exposed, it would have unimaginable consequences for the reputation of the Roman family and the God of War Hall.
"You don't need to act," Anthony @ Roman shook his head.
"Then what do you plan to do?"
Saint Lun @ Roman asked doubtfully, "If you let that insect continue to grow, or if you wait for Tianlong Old Dao to recover his martial arts strength, it will be difficult for you to act. On the contrary, with that insect's style of action, he might even actively seek us out for revenge!"
"I will not let that day come. An insect can never become a dragon!"
Anthony @ Roman said coldly, killing intent flashing in his eyes.
…