A Sudden Misfortune

"Whoosh!"

A streak of light flashed back to the small city, and Yi Feng stepped out of the tavern once more.

Following a familiar path straight to the top floor, he saw Gui Wanhai still sipping tea, who looked over with a smile upon seeing him.

"Brother Yi, have you finished your business so quickly?"

Yi Feng waved his hand dismissively with a wry smile and took a seat.

"Hey."

"Don't mention it. It was just some trivial matter, not worth talking about."

Hearing this, Gui Wanhai nodded slightly.

While personally pouring tea for Yi Feng, he spoke with a comforting smile.

"So it was a minor affair, no wonder Brother Yi didn't want me to accompany you."

"Since it's inconsequential, I shall say no more. Let us continue to enjoy our tea, and get thoroughly drunk again tonight. I will be departing in a few days, and who knows when I'll have the chance to reunite with Brother Yi."

Yi Feng's casual remark didn't raise any suspicion in Gui Wanhai's mind.

In his view.

For an ordinary cultivator like Yi Feng, matters would at most involve some personal grudges or friction. Even if there was something life-threatening, he had already gifted him protective soft armor, so there was absolutely no danger.

Even if some great calamity befell him, it would be insignificant in Gui Wanhai's eyes. As long as it didn't involve clashes between top-tier powers, if Yi Feng asked, he could resolve it with a mere wave of his hand.

Of course, it was utterly impossible for Yi Feng to ever come into contact with such a level.

If an opportunity arose in the future, it wouldn't hurt to show him a bit of that world.

This is how true friends are: offering help silently, aiding to the fullest in times of peril, regardless of status or background. This is genuine friendship.

Listening to Brother Turtle's sentiments, Yi Feng laughed heartily.

"Whenever Brother Turtle wishes to drink, I shall be here to keep you company."

"We clicked immediately upon meeting and are fellow travelers on the same path. Such a meeting is truly rare. Even if we end up worlds apart in the future, this friendship will remain etched in our hearts."

"As the saying goes, 'Over the sea, the moon shines bright; We gaze at it far apart, yet share this same night.' No matter when or where, we will always be friends. Let us toast with tea in place of wine, hoping that we may meet again someday to drink and converse merrily."

Seeing that his newly-made friend was about to journey far away, Yi Feng wouldn't spoil the mood by making excuses to avoid drinking. After all, Brother Turtle's alcohol tolerance wasn't great, and he himself couldn't get drunk. Loafing around here, drinking while waiting for that Elder Liu to appear was a pleasant way to pass the time.

Hearing these words, a gleam appeared in Gui Wanhai's eyes.

He murmured the phrase, savoring it for a few moments, his face showing appreciation.

"'Over the sea, the moon shines bright; We gaze at it far apart, yet share this same night.'"

"What a marvelous line, truly marvelous!"

"Brother Yi produces exquisite verses one after another; your literary talent is exceptional. May it be as you said, Brother Yi. When we meet again someday, we shall definitely drink and converse merrily!"

Clear tea passed his throat, leaving a sweet aftertaste.

Gui Wanhai was visibly moved, his heart filled with myriad emotions.

This Yi Feng, although a human cultivator and seemingly ordinary—insignificant in the Land of Fallen Gods—was, in his eyes, truly a remarkable person, already considered a dear friend and confidant.

This kind of ordinary friendship was even more precious.

If fate allowed them to meet again someday, he would definitely support his friend and grant him a great opportunity, letting Brother Yi witness the human race's strongest sect, the Fallen God Palace, and that peerlessly magnificent Star Lord.

By then, Brother Yi would probably be shocked beyond belief...

The two smiled at each other, their friendship deepening.

...

At the center of the Land of Fallen Gods, immortal mountains were scattered across the sky like clouds and platforms.

From afar, they resembled a gathering of stars.

A prosperous floating island, wreathed in mist and clouds, shone in the sky like a bright pearl, making the thousands of surrounding immortal mountains pale in comparison.

At the very center of the floating island.

Layers upon layers of palaces were too numerous to count, their ends impossible to see at a glance.

Even without any placard, the luxurious complex formed by countless palaces inspired awe like a divine palace. Compared to other places on the same floating island, they all seemed inferior; whether in terms of majesty or grandeur, none could hope to match it.

This was the legendary Fallen God Palace.

The core of the Land of Fallen Gods, the strongest and most mysterious sect on the entire Lan Star!

Deep within the endless palaces.

A side hall was the epitome of extravagance, with so-called treasures visible everywhere.

Any single piece of furniture, if it were to circulate in the outside world, would be enough to stir up storms of bloodshed, a treasure ordinary cultivators wouldn't dare dream of in their lifetime.

Behind a glazed immortal desk.

An elegant-looking middle-aged man had been sitting quietly for some time. His deep-set eyes showed neither joy nor anger, and his body was enveloped in a rich aura of the Great Dao. Even the natural energy unintentionally emanating from him was enough to make worldly cultivators revere him as a celestial being.

This was one of the Fallen God Palace's elders, Liu Changfeng.

For a human cultivator to reach his level was almost tantamount to ascending to the pinnacle of the Lan Star. Anyone who heard his name would hold him in awe and respect. He even had the qualification to pay homage to the legendary Star Lord.

Sitting quietly, reviewing various messages from jade slips, Liu Changfeng could decide the life and death of countless cultivators with a single word. What others called sect conflicts were, in his eyes, mere trivial matters.

Those deep-set eyes had never shown any fluctuation, as if everything in the world was already beneath his notice.

Until an elderly figure entered.

The figure stood quietly in the grand hall, paying respects, his face showing a hesitant expression.

Before the newcomer could speak.

Liu Changfeng finally showed a trace of displeasure, slightly raising his eyes to ask.

"Well?"

"Tian'er has been away for several full days now, and there hasn't been even a sliver of news?"

The old man bowed upon hearing this, his words very cautious.

"Reporting to the Elder."

"The young master went to the Northern Desert Barren Domain, and there has been no word from him since. Perhaps he is busy searching for Starfall Crystal Sand, which is why..."

Before he could finish.

Liu Changfeng narrowed his eyes slightly and slowly waved his hand to interrupt.

"Enough."

"No one knows a son better than his father."

"How much Starfall Crystal Sand could there be in a small place like the Northern Desert Barren Domain to keep him so busy? That unfilial wretch has most likely gotten lost in pleasure and forgotten his purpose again."

"Go and investigate which major powers are near the Northern Desert Barren Domain. Have them find out exactly where Tian'er has gone!"

The old steward bowed and took his leave, hurriedly walking towards a side chamber.

Once a treasure artifact was activated and he found the name "Black Dragon Divine Guard," he quickly located a jade slip and issued a command with imposing authority!

"I am the steward under Elder Liu of the Fallen God Palace."

"You are to immediately ascertain the whereabouts of Young Master Liu! If there is no news within half a day, the Black Dragon Divine Guard shall cease to exist in the Land of Fallen Gods!"

Far away, millions of miles distant.

Yao Qianji was originally leisurely enjoying some wine when he suddenly received the transmission. Listening carelessly at first, he was instantly startled into standing up in a panic, his face turning deathly pale.

"This..."

"Sir, please, sir, show some leniency!"

"We have never heard of Young Master Liu's arrival. Half a day is far too short a time; even if all the Black Dragon Divine Guards were mobilized to investigate, we might not necessarily get a result!"

As his words fell, all the Black Dragon Divine Guard disciples in the hall rose in alarm.

Everything was fine just a moment ago, how could such a calamity fall from the sky!