Xu Fang looked at the Ling Jiū Lantern, the words lingering in his ears, and couldn't help but tremble all over.
If this scene of infatuated lovers had happened elsewhere, Xu Fang might have said something about deep affection and touching sincerity.
However, this ethical drama, originating from Daoist Ran Deng and his life-bound artifact, the Ling Jiū Lantern, left Xu Fang utterly speechless.
Still, the Liang Tian Ruler could not help but sigh with emotion.
“Indeed, a heart devoted to Ran Deng. It’s a pity you are of different paths, you and the treasure; there is no future for you!”
Xu Fang, hearing the Liang Tian Ruler’s earnest lament, couldn’t help but shake his head. He wondered who had directed this ethical drama in the first place, only to put on such a sentimental show now.
Ignoring the Liang Tian Ruler, Xu Fang spoke to the stunned Daoist Ran Deng.
“What, Daoist Ran Deng, your artifact has flown away, aren’t you going to chase after it?”
As he spoke, Xu Fang, right before Daoist Ran Deng’s eyes, took the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda into his hand and looked at Daoist Ran Deng with a smile.
Daoist Ran Deng glanced at the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda in Xu Fang’s hand, then at the Liang Tian Ruler hovering beside Xu Fang, appearing quite conflicted.
“As expected, looking at what’s in other people’s bowls while still holding yours. What a scumbag!”
Seeing this, Xu Fang cursed inwardly, If I were holding the Ling Jiū Lantern, I’d kill this great scumbag directly.
However, after a moment of observation, Daoist Ran Deng quickly averted his gaze.
“You wait for me. One day, I will make you pay double!”
Daoist Ran Deng said fiercely, then channeled his movement technique and pursued the direction in which the Ling Jiū Lantern had disappeared.
His life-bound artifact, for reasons unknown today, had suddenly exhibited such an anomaly just as he was about to succeed.
Although he still possessed treasures, they were no match for that supreme artifact of merit. Therefore, Daoist Ran Deng could only watch helplessly as Xu Fang took the treasure.
Of course, such a theft would not be let go. Daoist Ran Deng would surely make this person pay in the future and seize his treasures.
“I’ll be waiting!”
Xu Fang replied, waving his hand to bid Daoist Ran Deng farewell.
With Daoist Ran Deng’s own affairs in disarray, dealing with the Ling Jiū Lantern alone would be enough to trouble him. Where would he find the time to bother Xu Fang again?
“This!”
Seeing Daoist Ran Ran Deng’s artifact vanish and Daoist Ran Deng himself in pursuit, the Golden-Winged Great Peng and Ao Xue were both utterly shocked.
They could not understand why Daoist Ran Deng, who was calmly summoning the Underworld Passage, had suddenly found himself in such a predicament.
“Senior, what’s going on?”
The Golden-Winged Great Peng, unable to comprehend, quickly asked.
“Yes, Senior, please enlighten us. What has happened?”
Ao Xue also squeezed out from behind the Golden-Winged Great Peng and asked.
The Golden-Winged Great Peng suddenly trembled all over, about to push Ao Xue aside, but feeling the gentle fragrance against his back, he relented.
“I don’t know either. Perhaps his artifact is having a tantrum?”
Xu Fang shrugged. The situation was too complicated to explain to them, so he decided to brush it off casually.
“How is that possible!”
The Golden-Winged Great Peng’s eyes widened. Artifacts having tantrums? This was unheard of!
“Senior must have used some secret technique that we couldn’t see. As expected of Senior, we are in awe!”
The Golden-Winged Great Peng guessed, becoming increasingly convinced of Xu Fang’s mysterious power.
Seeing the inexplicably deified Golden-Winged Great Peng, Xu Fang felt helpless.
Although what he had said was a casual excuse, it was the absolute truth. Wasn't the Ling Jiū Lantern having a tantrum?
However, these were things he couldn’t tell the Golden-Winged Great Peng, so Xu Fang had no choice but to implicitly agree with the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s speculation.
“Alright, regardless of how it happened, it’s good that Ran Deng is gone. Let’s find a place, I need to refine this treasure.”
Xu Fang put away the Liang Tian Ruler and the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda and prepared to leave the area immediately.
“Senior, wait!”
Ao Xue, seeing this, quickly stepped out from behind the Golden-Winged Great Peng and called out.
The Golden-Winged Great Peng felt a lightness all over his body and couldn’t help but mutter to himself.
“What’s going on? Why do I feel a sense of loss?”
Meanwhile, Xu Fang heard Ao Xue’s words and turned to look at her.
“There, great kindness needs no thanks. It was merely a life-saving favor, don’t take it to heart.”
“Your father is the Dragon King of the East Sea, Ao Guang, right? I remember.”
Xu Fang waved his hand. Both Ao Guang and Ao Xue, father and daughter, had been saved by him.
Since they would be neighbors in the East Sea anyway, there was no harm in building goodwill. They would see each other often.
“It is you indeed!”
Ao Xue, upon hearing this, became even more certain and exclaimed.
“So you are the Guide of our Dragon Clan!”
“Guide of the Dragon Clan, on high, please accept Ao Xue’s bow!”
This title, “Guide of the Dragon Clan,” was not the first time Xu Fang had heard it. When Ao Guang and his three brothers had thanked him before, they had referred to him this way.
So, Xu Fang’s question was:
“How do you recognize me?”
“Of course I do! My father distributed the portrait of our benefactor among the dragons, asking us to remember our benefactor’s kindness. I would recognize you even if you turned to ashes!”
Ao Xue looked at Xu Fang with adoration in her eyes. This person was truly a great benefactor to the Dragon Clan. He had saved her father and uncles before, and now he had saved her!
“Oh, so that’s how it is!”
Xu Fang understood. He didn’t have much of an opinion on this matter. It was best that the Dragon Clan recognized him; after all, they were all neighbors now. It was like getting acquainted in advance.
However, while Xu Fang had no objections, the Golden-Winged Great Peng had plenty. He immediately shouted out.
“Senior, how could you do this!”
“Aren’t you the one who revitalized my Phoenix Clan? Why are you involved with the dragons too?”
The Golden-Winged Great Peng’s tone was incredibly resentful, and his flickering gaze conveyed a clear message of, “I never expected you to be like this, Senior.”
Xu Fang immediately rolled up his sleeves. With Kong Xuan absent, he didn’t mind helping Kong Xuan discipline a troublesome child!
However, before he could act, Ao Xue spoke first.
“Oh? So you’re from the Phoenix Clan, hehe!”
Ao Xue, upon learning of the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s origins, couldn’t help but shift aside, appearing quite disdainful.
“What? Who was it that clung to me earlier?”
“A grown man, and you’re arguing with a young girl about this? What kind of man are you!”
“I’m not a man, I’m male!”
“……”
The Golden-Winged Great Peng and Ao Xue quickly began to bicker back and forth.
Listening to their argument, Xu Fang felt a terrible headache and immediately soared into the sky.
He had just witnessed the drama of the Ling Jiū Lantern and Daoist Ran Deng being of different paths, and now he was watching the irreconcilable conflict between dragons and phoenixes. He couldn’t stand it any longer.
When did the Primordial Wilderness become so filled with infatuated lovers? It was not friendly at all to lonely individuals!