Chapter 279 - 167: Meeting Old Friends Again, Famous Throughout the World

Chapter 279: Chapter 167: Meeting Old Friends Again, Famous Throughout the World

Time seemed to freeze in that moment. Hundreds of thousands of Cultivators stared blankly at the scene, not daring to even breathe.

A full fifteen minutes passed.

"Heh heh heh."

Di Changqing’s laughter echoed once more. The chilling aura it exuded caused the temperature across the entire Celestial Universe to seemingly plummet. Finally, amidst that trembling laughter, the towering figure slowly retreated until he vanished from this world completely.

With Di Changqing’s departure, the oppressive auras of the other Saint Venerables also receded like the tide.

"Master Beardless, grasp this opportunity well. Let us hope this boy will not disappoint you in the future and can truly bring a turning point to the Beardless Sect."

As a Saint Venerable finished his well-meaning remark, Thousand Sects Island seemed to finally quiet down. However, the way everyone looked at the youth in white had forever changed.

In the boundless void.

Mu Wanli’s icy exterior was restored, and the emotions in her eyes completely vanished. She took one deep look at the youth before finally turning around and leaving in silence. Also gazing at him from afar before departing were countless terrifying young figures within the Holy Sect who were qualified to participate in the battle for the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top.

Suddenly.

"OHHH—!!!"

Bursts of ecstatic cheers abruptly erupted from the hundreds of thousands of Beardless Sect disciples. The youths jumped for joy. Countless Beardless Sect Elders also had eyes filled with excitement.

Di Changqing’s retreat meant that the youth was allowed to stay, thoroughly becoming the Senior Brother of their Beardless Sect.

"This is wonderful! It’s wonderful! Senior Brother is staying! Senior Brother is staying!"

Even Mu Yunshang and the other nine top disciples revealed their excitement and joy. No one understood better than them what this youth’s presence meant for the Beardless Sect. Particularly for Mu Yunshang and Jun Yichen, the moment Jiang Hao was allowed to stay, the smiles on their faces were visible to all. It meant that the previous agreement between the three of them could still proceed.

At the Holy Ladder Altar.

Watching Di Changqing disappear, Master Beardless felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He instinctively looked at Jiang Hao.

"Junior Brother Qin, aren’t you coming down yet?"

As Master Beardless finished speaking, a rare hint of a smile graced his aged face—a smile that was incredibly genuine.

Hearing the voice, Jiang Hao cast a faint glance at the four steps of the Holy Ladder he had yet to climb. Feeling a bit reluctant, he turned and leaped into the air, floating downward. In truth, by the time he reached the ninety-fifth step, he had already begun to struggle. Even driving his entire True Dragon Martial Soul felt somewhat overwhelming.

Of course, if he were to draw upon the Chaos Cyan Lotus, Jiang Hao had the confidence to reach the ninety-ninth step. However, merely reaching the ninety-fifth step had already caused such a massive uproar. If he continued to climb, he feared the situation would spiral out of control.

"I’ll come back again when I have the chance," Jiang Hao whispered in his heart as he flew downward.

The Holy Ladder was right here, and no one could move it. To him, it was temporarily an awe-inspiring legacy just crying out to be claimed; it simply wasn’t the time to take it yet. As for what would appear upon completing the entire Celestial Road, that was something he would only discover in the future.

The youth slowly landed on the Holy Ladder Altar and immediately bowed respectfully to Master Beardless and the other two.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Beardless, Senior Brother Wuchen, and Senior Wuwei."

"Heh heh, if you don’t mind, young friend, how about calling this old man ’Senior Brother Wuwei’ as well?" Master Wuwei was full of smiles as he gently stroked his beard. After speaking, he even turned to look at Master Beardless and said, "Old Ghost Beardless, I have an idea."

"That idea of yours is very dangerous. It’s better if you don’t say it," Master Beardless immediately interrupted.

Turning a deaf ear, Master Wuwei continued, "Since ancient times, there have been precedents in the Thousand Sects Island Realm of one person serving as the Senior Brother for two sects. What your old friend means is..."

"The karma involved in being the Senior Brother of two sects is far too great. Give up on that thought, old man."

It was obvious that Master Wuwei had the intention of having Jiang Hao serve as the Senior Brother of the Wuwei Sect as well. However, seeing Master Beardless so resolute, he could only shake his head with a bitter smile.

With the situation having developed to this point, the curtain had finally fallen on the event.

Amidst the envious, jealous gazes and congratulatory words from countless Holy Sect representatives, Master Beardless led the hundreds of thousands of Beardless Sect disciples away. The world seemed to quiet down all at once.

Yet, the entirety of Thousand Sects Island was thoroughly boiling with excitement.

Over the next few days.

The title of the Beardless Sect’s Senior Brother, along with everything that had transpired at the Holy Ladder Altar, swept across Thousand Sects Island like a hurricane, echoing throughout the realm.

A few days later, at dusk.

Right at the height of Thousand Sects Island’s uproar, a group of travel-worn Cultivators stepped into the Thousand Sects Island Realm. Among this group, several familiar figures stood frozen in place when they heard the stories that were spreading like wildfire.