Chapter 1557: Trip to the Southern Wasteland
Evidently, Dong Ziwan had experienced much in recent years. However, she had survived the toughest time of that period and was now feeling fine. She gave Xiang Shaoyun a simplified story of what she had experienced.
In her heart, Xiang Shaoyun was someone who had experienced a trial of life and death with her. For her, he was someone extremely close. Since he was also willing to listen, he would be the best person to share her story with. Apart from him, she wouldn’t be able to find anyone else to share her story with.
After listening to her story, Xiang Shaoyun had complicated emotions. What she had experienced might not be as intense as his experience, but they were still experiences on the edge of death. Her face had even been destroyed in the process. Any other woman in her position would have lost all hope in life. Fortunately, Dong Ziwan had survived and had even benefited considerably from her experience.
From Dong Ziwan’s story, it was clear her master was an extraordinary individual. However, Dong Ziwan was still unaware of her master’s actual affiliations. This time, Dong Ziwan had come looking for Xiang Shaoyun due to her longing for him. After this visit, she would accompany her master back to her master’s organization. At that time, she would finally know her master’s background.
Xiang Shaoyun had thought that Dong Ziwan had come for shelter. He was thus surprised to find that she was only here to visit. In fact, he was slightly disappointed to hear that she wasn’t staying.
Nevertheless, he was still happy that she was willing to visit him. At the very least, her visit had removed some of his gloominess caused by his clash with the Di Clan. After spending three days at the sect, Dong Ziwan left with her master.
Prior to leaving, Piao Ran transmitted to Xiang Shaoyun, “If you want to become Ziwan’s man, enter the Heaven Battling Ranking’s top 10. Only then would you be worthy of her.”
This was the second time Xiang Shaoyun had heard about the Heaven Battling Ranking. Previously, he had heard the term from his master. This time, it was from Piao Ran. It was said that the Heaven Battling Ranking Competition was held every 500 years. As for the venue and the method of competition, Xiang Shaoyun was completely clueless.
Fortunately, he still had eight years and wasn’t in that much of a rush. For now, he was still focused on his crusade against the Di Clan.
After numerous discussions with his father and Purple Lightning Marquis, they decided that it still wasn’t the time to act against the Di Clan. They needed more Gods and an expert capable of posing a threat to the Di Monarch. Only then would they be ready to face the Di Monarch. If they attacked immediately, there would be too many uncertainties, which was why Xiang Shaoyun decided to put his plan on hold.
It wouldn’t be too late to declare war on the Di Clan after he became a God. In any case, the Di Clan would probably not dare to provoke them anytime soon. Otherwise, they could also go and destroy Di Flame City.
With a plan in mind, Xiang Shaoyun decided to enter seclusion and fully refine the two strands of God Realm energy in his body. But then, he received the signal sent by the Four Night Saints. The jade slip he had given them had been crushed. Evidently, they had either encountered danger or found what he had sent them to find.
Without any hesitation, Xiang Shaoyun brought Scarlet Flame Monarch, Devouring Ghost, Liu Qingchen, Despair, and Despair’s people to the Southern Wasteland. As for Yu Caidie and Devil Concubine, they had gained a lot from tempering at the Devil domain’s entrance for a year. They needed some time in seclusion and would not be going with him.
Xiang Shaoyun hoped that the trip would bring him an unexpected surprise. The group tore through space and directly traveled through the void. Due to the distance between the Western Desert and Southern Wasteland, it would take Saints like them quite a while to make the journey. But with Scarlet Flame Monarch’s lead, they could greatly shorten the time.
On the way, Xiang Shaoyun randomly recalled a close female friend of his, Lu Xiaoqing. He wondered how she was doing. In the past, the two had been reunited at the flower fairy race’s place. At the time, she still wasn’t particularly strong, but she did show signs of having the Pale Lotus Moon Physique, causing the flower fairies to put a much higher importance on her. After these years, she must have grown considerably.
I ought to pay Xiaoqing a visit after I’m done with this matter, thought Xiang Shaoyun.
One ought to admit that he had quite a lot of close female acquaintances. He felt a sense of guilt toward every one of them because he hadn’t been able to spend enough time with them.
The Southern Wasteland was located at the south of the dominion. Filled with numerous desolate and wild mountains, it had preserved the primal form of nature. A large number of demonic beasts inhabited the region, making the Southern Wasteland a dangerous place no weakling would dare explore.
Tearing through layer upon layer of space, Xiang Shaoyun’s group took three days to reach the Southern Wasteland. Upon arriving, Xiang Shaoyun quickly sensed the Four Night Saints’ location. He pointed Scarlet Flame Monarch toward the location, and they started descending toward it. But after arriving in the sky just above the location, Despair and Bing Busi started emanating a unique baleful aura.
When Xiang Shaoyun sensed the change in them, he asked, “Despair, I remember that you came from the Southern Wasteland. Is this the place?”
Despair nodded and said, “This place is the Southern Mythic Province, ruled by the royal clan of Tiele. They are a self-proclaimed royal clan that does not dare to call themselves an imperial clan. Despite this, they are this territory’s absolute tyrant. I used to be a member of the clan, but I suffered under the schemes of villains and was forced to leave with my trusted aides. We had eventually arrived at the Desert of Despair and had started making a living out of banditry.”
“I see. After we’re done with this, shall we go and retake what is rightfully yours?” asked Xiang Shaoyun.
Despair turned emotional as he asked, “Can we really?”
“Of course. I will never mistreat a brother who fights alongside me,” said Xiang Shaoyun confidently.
“I’ll thank you in advance, overlord,” said Despair gratefully. “The Tiele Clan does not lack experts. They have at least two Gods in their ranks. If we’re going to move against them, we need to properly plan it out.”
“Um. We’ll act after gathering more information on the Tiele Clan,” said Xiang Shaoyun with a nod.
Soon, they arrived at an area at the edge of the Southern Mythic Province. In the area was a desolate mountain with messy underbrush and ancient trees growing everywhere. A large number of demonic beasts were also in the area, and the air was filled with poisonous miasma. A regular cultivator would have no way of approaching.
After landing on the ground, Xiang Shaoyun sensed the Four Night Saints nearby and summoned them.
The four flew over from four different directions. They bowed and said, “Greetings, overlord.”
The people with Xiang Shaoyun were shocked to see four Great Saints coming out of nowhere. None of them had expected that Xiang Shaoyun would have such powerful followers hidden in the Southern Wasteland. Nobody knew how he had gathered such powerful followers.
“Alright. Tell me, what did you find here?” asked Xiang Shaoyun with a nod.