"Dad, are you alright?" Ao Haichao turned back to ask Ao Xingyun.
He looked quite disheveled at the moment, and Ao Xingyun, standing beside him, was no better off, appearing even more disheveled.
Ao Xingyun shook his head and gazed into the distance, a hint of doubt in his eyes.
Despite borrowing his second brother's strength, Ao Lieyang had been dead for many years, leaving behind only a wisp of soul. Thus, Ao Xingyun had ultimately failed and the opponent had escaped.
Unwilling to accept defeat, he had pursued them relentlessly, hoping to retrieve the stone tablet. However, after several battles, he had returned empty-handed.
"Sigh..."
Ao Xingyun let out a deep sigh. He was prepared to give up and return to make preparations for the impending great change in the world.
Just then, they suddenly felt a chilling sharpness that startled them.
The surrounding vegetation, the leaves on the trees, each became like a sharp sword, pointing straight towards the sky.
"Bùcháng Sword Skill?"
Both of them looked up at the sky in unison.
A beam of sword energy pierced through the sky and landed before them. Then, a short, stout old man with a smiling face appeared before them.
As soon as he landed, he said humbly, "Wrong, wrong, it's Cēncī Sword Skill, Cēncī Sword Skill."
"The Supreme President, you've finally shown yourself." Ao Xingyun did not answer his question but said with emotion, "With such a commotion, I couldn't possibly not come."
"This stout old man was Zhao Changsheng, the Supreme President of the Nine Bureaus."
His name sounded ordinary, and he looked ordinary, but he was a rare prodigy of the human race, especially in his mastery of the sword. Some evaluated him as being able to contend with Feng Zhirun from hundreds of years ago.
He began learning swordsmanship at the age of three and by fourteen, he had created the雏形 of the Bùcháng Sword Skill. The so-called Bùcháng Sword Skill meant compensating for heaven and earth. He believed that heaven and earth were flawed in swordsmanship, and he compensated for these flaws with his own sword dao, thus heaven and earth also compensated him. This was the Bùcháng Sword Skill, an act of extreme arrogance.
However, he indeed had the capital for his arrogance. By the age of twenty, his sword dao had reached great mastery, and he had achieved what Feng Zhirun had achieved back then – "pushing through the world."
Countless evil spirits and demons had fallen beneath his sword back then.
But after he turned forty, he suddenly changed the Bùcháng Sword Skill to Cēncī Sword Skill.
The Cēncī Sword Skill did not mean that the sword techniques were uneven or of varying lengths, but rather that they were similar.
There is a line in Liu Yong's poem "Wang Haichao," which reads, "Smoke-willow painted bridges, wind-curtained emerald screens, row upon row of over a hundred thousand homes."
Here, "cēncī" means similar.
Therefore, Cēncī Sword Skill meant "similar sword skill."
However, everyone believed he was merely being humble, for anyone who did not believe he was humble had died by his sword.
At times, the Old Dragon King couldn't help but envy the talent of the human race. Every generation produced several resplendent individuals of extraordinary talent. Honestly, he was truly jealous.
Fortunately, the human lifespan was short; otherwise, all the desolate beasts would have long been domesticated and slaughtered.
However, the Old Dragon King, with his status and long life, was naturally old and considered an elder by everyone. Although he respected Zhao Changsheng's strength, he could not bring himself to be overly deferential.
"Old Dragon King, what exactly happened here? Can you tell me?" Zhao Changsheng asked with a smile.
In fact, he already knew the general course of events. With the multitude of talented individuals in the Nine Bureaus, if they couldn't get such information quickly, they wouldn't be able to function. However, he still wanted to confirm it with Ao Xingyun.
Ao Xingyun also had no complaints about him and nothing to hide, so he explained the events one by one.
Then, he cupped his fists and said, "My father and I have done our best. Our strength is insufficient. Since the Supreme President has personally arrived, my son and I will take our leave."
Seeing their disheveled state, Zhao Changsheng couldn't say much more and nodded.
"Don't worry, I'll handle the rest. Not a single one of them will escape."
With that, he shot into the sky, and an incomparably sharp sword energy soared upwards. As he departed, the plants and trees that had been as if injected with stimulants instantly withered, becoming weak and listless.
Seeing that Zhao Changsheng would handle the aftermath, Ao Xingyun temporarily put his doubts aside. With him taking charge, if the opponents couldn't be apprehended, he wouldn't be able to do any better. Rather than that, it was better to return to the East Sea and make plans early. His East Sea had many aquatic creatures. If it weren't for the dissipation of spiritual energy in recent years, they would have produced at least two geniuses.
Therefore, when the spiritual energy tide arrived, his East Sea aquatic clan would undoubtedly produce two strong individuals.
With this thought, he no longer delayed and led Ao Haichao to flee.
Behind them, a roaring sound could be heard, indicating that Zhao Changsheng had begun his action.
However, Ao Xingyun did not look back. From this point on, the matter was no longer related to him. Good advice is not offered to a damned soul, and he had done what he could.
Now, he even felt a faint anticipation for the arrival of the great era.
Meanwhile, Liu Nanfeng finally met the little carp, whom he hadn't seen for many days.
Zhu Yin'e had finally compromised, just as Zhu Yuchan had said. One couldn't impose their emotions on their children. Since she liked it, let her have it.
Moreover, she had long accepted the reality and knew that no one was to blame. It was just that she was feeling upset. After coming to her senses, Jiangcheng, which had been gloomy for several days, finally cleared up.
"Let me tell you, I really, really missed you. Did you miss me?"
When the little carp saw Liu Nanfeng again, she couldn't help but express her feelings and then asked him back, looking at him expectantly. A child's thoughts are so simple and pure, and also honest.
Liu Nanfeng certainly wouldn't disappoint her. He smiled and nodded, "Of course, I missed you too."
Only then did the little carp retract her gaze and nod her little head with satisfaction.
Seeing her adorable little appearance, Liu Nanfeng bent down and picked her up.
"Actually, haven't we met many times in our dreams? Why do you still miss me like this?"
"That's different."
"How is it different?"
"Hmm..."
The little carp tilted her head and pondered, unable to explain.
"It's just different."
"Alright, let's go see Gugu. She's asked many times why you haven't come to play with her."
"Sigh, I miss her too."
The little carp pouted and sighed, her expression incredibly amusing.
The little carp then put her hands on her hips and said with full confidence, "And I miss Grandma too."
"I think you miss Grandma's delicious cooking?"
"Hehe..."
The little carp showed a rare expression of bashfulness.
"In that case, let's go see them."
With a wave of his hand, the [Guanshanhai] appeared in the air. With a mere flick, they both vanished from their spot.