Friendship Among the Great

Seeing even his old father looking puzzled, Liu Changfeng was already filled with despair.

"Why..."

"Why was he able to escape the Heaven-Sealing Grand Array? The Primal Realm cultivation that was within my grasp just flew away like that. Could it truly be that Heaven does not aid me? Am I doomed to live out my life in this wretched state!"

"Heavens, why treat me this way!"

Hearing this dispirited talk, Liu Runan narrowed his eyes and turned his head.

Seeing his son's soul flame utterly listless, his eyes held deep disappointment. At the same time, reminded by these words, he began to reprimand once more.

"Worthless!"

"A mere minor setback and you're already blaming Heaven and others. Is the mental fortitude you've tempered over a lifetime so fragile?"

The scolding startled Liu Changfeng, making him rein in his emotions somewhat. He quickly lowered his head in apology.

"Father's lesson is correct. Your child knows he is wrong."

"But that man only possessed Primal Realm cultivation, yet he could escape the Heaven-Sealing Grand Array. Isn't that evidence of Heaven's assistance? Your child truly finds it hard to accept such a thing..."

Hearing this, Liu Runan's expression darkened further, his tone becoming even more solemn.

"You are foolish beyond comprehension!"

"If he could escape the Heaven-Sealing Grand Array, could he truly possess only the simple cultivation of the Primal Realm's Nirvana stage? You yourself were slain in your original body, yet you still carry an air of looking down on others. You have truly lived these tens of thousands of years in vain."

These words were like a wake-up call.

Liu Changfeng's eyes suddenly widened, filled with a light of utter disbelief!

"He is not merely at the simple Primal Realm Nirvana stage..."

"This!"

Even though this speculation was quite logical, Liu Changfeng found it incredibly hard to believe. For an outsider cultivator to have stepped into the Primal Realm was terrifying enough, and now it seemed he was even beyond that?

He himself didn't know how many precious materials he had consumed, relying on the vast resources of the Fallen God Palace, just to pile up a cultivation at the Half-Step Primal Realm. The resources available to an outsider cultivator couldn't compare to one ten-thousandth of his own, yet that person's cultivation was stronger, even more formidable than imagined...

What a terrifyingly monstrous aptitude!

This defied the heavens!

Under Liu Changfeng's stunned gaze, his old father, with a grave expression, continued speaking.

"This person's ability to escape the Heaven-Sealing Grand Array makes it highly likely he has already reached the Great Completion stage of Primal Realm Nirvana, with half a foot already stepped into the second major realm, the Heaven Transformation period. If not that, then he possesses some terrifying magical treasure or cultivation technique protecting him..."

"Whichever possibility it is, it is extremely unfavorable."

"It seems this old man has underestimated this youngster. Never did I imagine his hidden cards would be so formidable. He is no longer someone I can handle alone. We will need to seek assistance!"

Liu Changfeng listened, growing increasingly tense. Gritting his teeth, he lowered his head and spoke.

"Father, since this person is so formidable... perhaps we should simply give up? Your child is willing to admit defeat!"

As soon as the words fell, Liu Runan harshly reprimanded him.

"Nonsense!"

"Having come this far, is there any room to back down now? A real man must be ruthless. Unless we capture this person and make his cultivation and hidden cards serve us father and son, this old man will never rest!"

Though old, his viciousness far surpassed that of the younger generation.

Liu Changfeng felt his heart tremble upon hearing this, his body bowing even lower. Yet, he couldn't help but nervously advise.

"But..."

"But if this person is so capable, ordinary experts will likely be of little use. Would we have to seek help from an Inner Sect elder? That would require paying a considerable price!"

"What if... what if there's another mishap? We cannot bear the consequences!"

Hearing this, a colder glint appeared in Liu Runan's eyes, and even his gaze at the soul flame held a trace of contempt.

"You truly are a hopeless case!"

"Now that several Outer Sect elders have perished, how can we possibly alarm the Inner Sect again? You have not yet set foot into the Primal Realm. If this matter were rashly known by the Inner Sect, wouldn't that just add to our crimes?"

"Moreover, the act of possession is not an orthodox practice. If it were to spread, it would damage our reputation. This matter absolutely must not be known by outsiders. Are you suggesting we silence an Inner Sect elder as well?"

"What a foolish suggestion, I can't believe you uttered it!"

Liu Changfeng was scolded until he felt drenched, and at the same time, his heart turned cold with shock.

So it was.

His old father had made up his mind from the very beginning to have these Outer Sect elders perish here. Beneath the surface of courteous words lay a premeditated plan for silencing them!

For one general to achieve his aim, ten thousand soldiers must die. Such a horrifying method was truly terrifying.

Even though it was his own birth father, Liu Changfeng felt a sliver of fear.

When he spoke again, his tone had become extremely cautious.

"Y-your child knows he is wrong..."

"But if we do not invite an Inner Sect expert, who else could possibly deal with this fearsome cultivator? Your child is dull-witted, and humbly listens for Father's instruction..."

His nervous soul flame appearance was just like that of a young child from long ago.

Unconsciously.

Liu Runan watched, a touch of emotion surfacing in his eyes, as if recalling the scene from tens of thousands of years ago when he sternly instructed his son. It seemed that even after tens of millennia, this son who had become an Outer Sect elder was, in his eyes, still just a child.

Amidst his emotion, a trace of gentleness flowed into Liu Runan's gaze.

"Changfeng, you need not be so overly tense. After all, you carry my bloodline. I would never bring harm upon you."

"As for this matter, this old man has already made a decision."

"Given the current situation, we must invite a major figure to assist us. But we absolutely must not alert anyone within the Fallen God Palace. After much thought, the most suitable candidate is none other than Gui Shounian."

Hearing this somewhat unfamiliar name, Liu Changfeng wore a puzzled expression.

"Gui Shounian..."

"Father, your child's knowledge is shallow. I truly cannot recall a mighty expert by this name on the Floating Islands. May I ask about the origins of this major figure?"

Liu Runan gazed far into the distance towards the southern coast, his expression turning serious.

"He does not hail from the center of the Divine Land, nor is he a human cultivator."

Liu Changfeng's eyes widened, somewhat in disbelief.

Following his father's gaze, he seemed to be looking towards the distant vast sea.

Suddenly!

Liu Changfeng jolted awake with a start, his face a mask of shock!

"Could it be?!"

"Could it be that Father intends to enlist the aid of the Sea Clan!?"

It was no wonder he was so shocked. Humans and the Sea Clan had always been mortal enemies. It was truly hard to believe that his father, an Inner Sect elder of the Fallen God Palace, actually had some private connection with them!

No matter how shaken he was, Liu Runan merely continued his distant gaze calmly.

Speaking in a deep voice, his entire body exuded a cold aura that made him seem like a different person.

"Correct. It is indeed the Sea Clan."

"In the vast sea, the Ancient Sea Clan has occupied the boundless depths for endless eons. Gui Shounian is the chieftain of this Ancient Sea Clan. His cultivation is not beneath this old man's, and he even shares distant kinship with the true Sea Lord. That is why he dares to proclaim himself a Sea Lord over a portion of the ocean even in the current era of the Sea Clan's decline!"

"This old creature is quite formidable. If we can persuade him to join forces with me, capturing a Nirvana Great Completion cultivator will be as easy as taking something from a bag!"

Shock!

Once again, shock!

Liu Changfeng was stunned speechless by these words. When he spoke, his voice was already trembling slightly!

"You..."

"You actually have a connection with the chieftain of the Ancient Sea Clan?!"

He simply could not believe that his own father had a private relationship with such a titan. This matter not only defied common sense but also shattered his worldview!