Nine Star Hegemon Body Arts

Chapter 5526 Endless Heavenly Geniuses

Seeing this woman recover her arrogance so quickly after being shaken, Tang Wan-er asked frostily, “What exactly do you mean by that?”

The arrogant woman sneered, “What do I mean? If the head pavilion doesn’t arrive, do you really think your pitiful branch pavilion’s power is enough? Against the experts of the various races within the Heaven Vein Mystic Realm, you’d just be marching to your deaths. You might not like hearing this, but it’s a fact.

“Even the head pavilion master said so: we have thirty million sealed heavenly geniuses, so once we add this era’s geniuses, we number in the trillions. Yet, even with that many people, if half of us return alive from the Heaven Vein Mystic Realm, it would be thanks to the blessing of the Wind God. So, If your disciples enter alone, the only possible outcome is complete annihilation. Your only chance of survival lies in joining forces with the head pavilion. I know the truth hurts, but it’s reality.”

Tang Wan-er was originally angry with her words, but her expression quickly turned to shock. Even with so many powerful experts, if half returning alive was considered a blessing, then the danger level of the Heaven Vein Mystic Realm was beyond imagination.

“Qing’e, if you have something to say, say it nicely. Don’t bring emotions into it!” shouted Jin Ke.

Turning back to Long Chen, Jin Ke said, “Qing’e was sealed early, so she hasn’t experienced the world and still struggles to control her emotions. However, her intentions are good. I hope you won’t take offense. After all, the head pavilion and branch pavilions are one family, don’t you think?”

Jin Ke was very polite to Long Chen now. The more he observed, the more he realized how little he could see of Long Chen’s true depths.

What unsettled him even more were Long Chen’s and Yue Zifeng’s gazes—flat, calm, and terrifyingly indifferent. It felt as though they could peer through everything.

Jin Ke felt like something was off. His cautious nature was one of the main reasons he had survived for so long, and it urged him to tread carefully. That’s why he remained so polite, trying to defuse any potential trouble. With a few well-chosen words, he praised Qing’e’s intentions while also making it so Long Chen and the others couldn’t quibble with her without sounding immature.

Qing’e continued, “Don’t think we’re the cream of the thirty million heavenly geniuses. To tell the truth, we’re the lowest tier. We were the easiest to awaken because we’re the weakest, and we just happened to come out for a stroll with the commander.”

Several of the other disciples’ expressions stiffened. Being labeled as the bottom tier stung their pride, but they couldn’t deny the truth in her words.

“Thank you for your warning and your good intentions. But as I said, I cannot agree to any of this yet,” said Long Chen calmly.

“You...” Qing’e fumed, frustrated by his refusal. She felt like all her talking had been for nothing.

Long Chen waved his hand. “Lady Qing’e, I understand where you are coming from, but I have my own principles. If the head pavilion is truly powerful and we of the branch pavilion are weaker, then following its leadership is natural. However, the branch pavilion’s disciples place their trust in me. I have a responsibility to them.

“If the head pavilion’s leader is competent and fair, we’ll have no problem working together. But what if they are arrogant? What if they look down on us and decide we’re nothing but cannon fodder to be sacrificed as pawns? How can we trust that won’t happen?”

“That’s impossible!” retorted Qing’e.

“Impossible? In this world, there is nothing impossible. What if something like that really happens? What are you going to use as a guarantee?” countered Long Chen.

“I...” Qing’e froze. Words failed her. After all, she was just a disciple, and her earlier outburst had already overstepped her bounds. She realized she’d spoken too much without thinking it through.

“In truth—” Jin Ke started, attempting to mediate, but Long Chen cut him off sharply.

“I’ve already said my piece: I’ll make my decision once the head pavilion’s forces arrive. Until then, I won’t commit to anything. That’s final. I’m sure you’ve had a long and tiring journey, so please, take some time to rest. The branch pavilion may look like a wasteland to you, but the scenery isn’t half bad,” Long Chen declared.

Long Chen’s gaze then turned to Ye Lingkong, a sly smile curving his lips. “Left Emissary Ye will be your guide and show you around the Wind God Sea Pavilion. Left Emissary Ye, the job’s yours. Good luck.”

Without waiting for a reply, Long Chen turned and strode out of the palace with Yue Zifeng and Tang Wan-er, leaving a stunned Ye Lingkong behind.

The forced smile on Ye Lingkong’s face looked even uglier than a cry.

...

Once the three of them were out of the palace, Yue Zifeng remarked, “Thirty million? That’s terrifying.”

Every disciple who had come here today was a powerful existence. If their Blood Qi fully recovered, they’d be even stronger. However, these powerful disciples were the bottom tier existences? That truly was frightening.

How could it not be frightening? Even the Primal Chaos Dragon Sovereign’s Emperor reverse scale was located in it. Furthermore, the treasures within the Heaven Vein Mystic Realm didn’t end there, though a fragment of the divine sword and a reverse scale were already enough to make anyone go mad for them. Even Long Chen and Yue Zifeng would go all out for them.

“Curious,” Tang Wan-er murmured. “Master never mentioned anything about a head pavilion. How could they suddenly appear? And to have such overwhelming power? It doesn’t make sense.”

Long Chen narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “Is it possible the Wind God Sea Pavilion is a decoy? Maybe its weak reputation is a front to draw attention away. Meanwhile, the head pavilion has been hiding its true strength all along. Now that the time is ripe, they don’t care about hiding anymore.”

Tang Wan-er’s eyes lit up. “That does make sense! My master, Left Emissary Ye, and the mysterious pavilion master I’ve never even met—none of them seem to care much about the Wind God Sea Pavilion. They’re always so hands-off.”

Tang Wan-er also felt that things were off. Was the Wind God Sea Pavilion’s weak front an act to cover up their true prowess?

“Well, those matters have nothing to do with us for now,” Long Chen said. He then grinned mischievously. “Wan-er, summon the Hidden Dragon Legion.”

“What, are we going out?” asked Tang Wan-er, surprised.

“Going out? No, now that Yue Zifeng has come, are you planning on letting him off so easily?” Long Chen winked.

Tang Wan-er instantly understood, vanishing like a gust of wind.

Yue Zifeng sighed, already knowing what was coming. Long Chen patted his shoulder with a grin.

“Let’s go. Many of them might become your future sisters-in-law. Work a bit harder,” said Long Chen.

The two headed straight for Hidden Dragon Island.