Chapter 345: First Encounter with Lin Dong, Black Dragon Takes Action
"This humble one, Lin Dong, greets the two Holy Sons."
In the Ancient Secret Realm, Lin Dong respectfully cupped his hands in salute, his tone calm yet polite.
Upon hearing this, Ling Zhanzi and Ling Jianzi exchanged a glance, a flicker of surprise flashing in their eyes.
As Upper Earth Sovereigns, especially Ling Zhanzi, it was rare for them to feel any sense of oppression, even from other pinnacle Earth Sovereigns. Yet this seemingly ordinary young man wielding a thunder staff gave them an inexplicable sense of danger. It was as if, should Lin Dong choose to strike, escape might not even be an option.
"No wonder even Xiong Ba respects him so much," Ling Zhanzi and Ling Jianzi transmitted to each other mentally, both feeling the weight of Lin Dong's presence.
"Hahaha, no need for such formalities, Brother Lin Dong! It is an honor to have someone like you join us. Welcome!" Ling Zhanzi quickly returned the salute with a bright laugh. To meet someone who could evoke such a sense of suppression was rare, even in this vast secret realm. Lin Dong had already earned his respect.
"Indeed, Brother Lin Dong, it's a pleasure to have you among us in the West Heaven Battle Hall's ranks," Ling Jianzi added, his tone equally warm.
Lin Dong smiled faintly and replied, "You flatter me, Holy Sons. This humble one simply seeks refuge under a large tree to enjoy its shade."
**"Oh, Brother Lin Dong, there's no need to downplay yourself! With your strength, any major power would welcome you as a distinguished guest.
"I fought you before, and you defeated me so effortlessly. If you were to go all out, I doubt I'd have lasted even three moves,"** Xiong Ba interjected, his booming voice filled with admiration. He wanted to emphasize to the Holy Sons just how formidable Lin Dong was.
"Brother Xiong Ba, you give me too much credit," Lin Dong responded with a modest smile.
"Too much credit? Hah! I, Xiong Ba, have never been one to exaggerate or feign humility. You're a true powerhouse, Brother Lin Dong, and I wholeheartedly admire you!" Xiong Ba laughed heartily, showing his sincerity.
Ling Jianzi chuckled and added, **"Brother Lin Dong, you may not know this, but Xiong Ba rarely admires others. For him to speak so highly of you says volumes about your strength.
"With your talent, once we exit the secret realm, we'll recommend you to our master, the West Heaven Battle Emperor. With your power, you're more than qualified to hold the position of elder in our Battle Hall."**
Ling Zhanzi nodded in agreement. "That's right, Brother Lin Dong. Once we leave, we'll personally vouch for you to our master."
Lin Dong cupped his hands again. "Thank you both, Holy Sons, for your kindness. I am deeply honored."
"Hahaha, if only Winter Elder weren't busy breaking the seal! If he knew a powerhouse like you was joining us, he'd be overjoyed," Ling Jianzi said, laughing as he glanced toward Winter Elder and the others working to undo the seal in the distance.
After some polite conversation, Ling Zhanzi and Ling Jianzi inquired about Lin Dong's background. Other than learning that Lin Dong had come to the Great Thousand World from a smaller realm, they gleaned little useful information.
Still, it was enough. Having Lin Dong on their side gave them greater confidence in dealing with Xiao Tiance and his group.
After a while, Ling Zhanzi and Ling Jianzi left to oversee other recruits, while Xiong Ba also departed to attend to his duties.
As soon as they were gone, Shi Hao quickly approached Lin Dong and transmitted a message, "Lord Lin Dong, have you gained their trust?"
"It seems so," Lin Dong replied with a nod before adding coldly, "But are you certain your backer has the information I want? You understand, don't you? If you've lied to me, I'll make sure you wish you were dead."
Shi Hao's face paled, and he hastily transmitted back, "Please rest assured, Lord Lin Dong! I'm just a mere Grade Eight Sovereign. You defeated Xiong Ba, a Lower Earth Sovereign, in less than five moves. I wouldn't dare deceive you!"
Lin Dong's expression softened slightly. "Good. For your sake, I hope you're telling the truth. If not, I'll ensure both you and your backer pay the price."
With that, Lin Dong sat down cross legged and activated his Devouring Ancestral Symbol, drawing the surrounding spiritual energy toward him in a powerful vortex.
Watching the overwhelming flow of energy surging toward Lin Dong, Shi Hao was left dumbfounded. He had never seen someone absorb spiritual energy with such efficiency and ferocity.
**"What a monster! No wonder Lord Xiao Tiance instructed me to contact him. This kind of terrifying talent is on par with Lord Xiao Tiance himself.
"If only I could locate Xiao Yan as well... Then I'd finally complete Lord Xiao Tiance's task,"** Shi Hao thought to himself, a mixture of awe and frustration in his eyes.
Two Days Later
"Crack!"
A clear sound echoed as a fracture appeared in the seal that had stubbornly resisted all attempts to break it.
"It's working! The seal is about to break!" Winter Elder exclaimed in delight. After so much effort, they were finally seeing progress. If they could claim the Heavenly Dao Mirror, Xiao Tiance's demise would be assured.
"As expected of a seal left by a Saint Heavenly Sovereign. Even though the Heavenly Dao Sect's leader was gravely injured at the time, it still took us this much effort to weaken it," Black Dragon and Black Phoenix said, their voices tinged with awe.
Despite their mastery of dark attribute spiritual energy, which excelled at corroding seals, this particular one had proven exceptionally resilient.
"It's unimaginable how powerful the Heavenly Dao Sect's leader must have been at his peak," Black Phoenix added, her eyes flashing with respect.
"Boom!"
With a final, unified effort from Black Dragon, Black Phoenix, Winter Elder, Ling Zhanzi, Ling Jianzi, and the others, the seal shattered with a thunderous roar.
When the dust cleared, a broken mirror hovered in mid air, emanating a majestic pressure that caused all nearby Sovereign level experts to tremble.
Even a few newly advanced Lower Earth Sovereigns felt their spiritual energy stagnate under its overwhelming aura.
"The Heavenly Dao Mirror! Hahaha! So, this is the legendary Heavenly Dao Mirror, the treasure of the Heavenly Dao Sect. After all these years, I've finally found it!" Winter Elder exclaimed, his face alight with greed and triumph.
Elder Winter laughed heartily as he shot toward the Heavenly Dao Mirror at high speed.
At that moment, Black Dragon and Black Phoenix exchanged a glance but chose not to act. If the Heavenly Dao Mirror were intact, not even the most powerful figures of the Black Heaven Ancient Clan would have overlooked it. However, as a broken artifact, while still a treasure, it no longer lived up to its reputation as an unrivaled holy artifact.
At best, it was now a mid tier sacred artifact. Not worth turning on Elder Winter for.
Just as Elder Winter was about to grasp the Heavenly Dao Mirror, a deafening roar erupted. Thunder surged like a raging dragon, lashing out at everyone in the vicinity.
"What?"
Before Elder Winter could react, the Heavenly Dao Mirror was snatched away by a figure so fast that Elder Winter had no time to respond. A powerful kick sent him flying like a cannonball, hurtling backward.
"So, this is the Heavenly Dao Mirror? Its power is indeed impressive, but alas, it's a damaged treasure," Lin Dong remarked, holding the mirror in one hand and his thunder staff in the other. His sharp gaze swept over the crowd, exuding an aura of dominance.
"Brother Lin Dong, what are you doing?"
Xiong Ba's voice was filled with disbelief as he stared at Lin Dong. Just two days ago, he and Lin Dong had discussed leaving the secret realm together to enjoy a carefree life. Yet now, Lin Dong had turned on them, attacking Elder Winter and seizing the Heavenly Dao Mirror.
"Apologies, Brother Xiong Ba, but I need this Heavenly Dao Mirror," Lin Dong said, his tone carrying a trace of guilt as he glanced at Xiong Ba.
"Lin Dong, are you serious?" Ling Zhanzi's expression darkened as his spiritual energy began to surge, a clear sign that he was ready to fight at any moment.
Ling Jianzi didn't speak, but the three foot long sword on his back was already unsheathed, gleaming coldly in the light, ready to strike.
"Hahaha! Hunting prey for so long, only to be blindsided by the prey itself," Elder Winter's voice rang out in laughter as he steadied himself. His body exuded freezing spiritual energy, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet.
"Boy, do you realize the consequences of opposing the West Heaven Battle Hall?" Elder Winter's voice turned icy as he glared at Lin Dong.
Lin Dong, unfazed by the crowd's hostility, responded calmly, "I don't know the consequences, nor do I care. I only know that this mirror is mine."
His gaze was steady, his tone confident, and his posture showed neither fear nor hesitation.
"Good, good, good! If you're so eager to die, then I'll grant your wish!" Elder Winter snarled, no longer holding back. His spiritual energy surged as he unleashed his full power in a massive attack.
However, as powerful as Elder Winter's ice based spiritual energy was, Lin Dong merely swung his thunder staff. With a flash of the staff, countless bolts of lightning rained down from the heavens, engulfing Lin Dong in an aura of thunder.
In this form, Lin Dong resembled a thunder god incarnate. With a single wave of his staff, the lightning obliterated Elder Winter's attack with ease.
This effortless display of power shocked even Black Dragon and Black Phoenix, who had been watching quietly. Though they could have also countered Elder Winter's attack, doing so with such ease was another matter entirely.
"Interesting, very interesting. Phoenix, are you interested in making a move?" Black Dragon asked with a smile.
Black Phoenix shook her head, her gaze shifting to the space behind Lin Dong. "No, but what intrigues me more is the one hiding behind him."
As Black Phoenix spoke, the space behind Lin Dong rippled. A massive spatial vortex appeared, and moments later, Xiao Tiance and his companions emerged from it.
"Hahaha! Members of the West Heaven Battle Hall, we meet again," Xiao Tiance said with a hearty laugh as he stepped out of the vortex.
"Damn it! How did Xiao Tiance get here so quickly?" Elder Winter's expression darkened. He had planned to obtain the Heavenly Dao Mirror first and then seek out Xiao Tiance to eliminate him.
But Lin Dong had thrown his plans into chaos by stealing the mirror. And now, Xiao Tiance had arrived at the perfect moment.
A dreadful thought crossed Elder Winter's mind: Could Lin Dong be working with Xiao Tiance?
Turning to Black Dragon and Black Phoenix, Elder Winter bowed respectfully and said, "Ladies and gentlemen of the Black Heaven Ancient Clan, this man is Xiao Tiance. The method for crafting the Heavenly Puppets you desire is in his possession. Please, assist us!"
Black Dragon and Black Phoenix exchanged a glance before nodding. With a flash of their figures, they appeared at the forefront of the crowd.
Black Dragon observed Xiao Tiance and his group before turning to Lin Dong. Smiling, he asked, "So, you must be Xiao Tiance?"
"Indeed, I am. And you must be Black Dragon, the prodigy of the Black Heaven Ancient Clan. What business do you have with me?" Xiao Tiance replied casually, his tone relaxed, betraying no hint of fear.
Though Black Dragon and Black Phoenix were strong, they did not pose a significant threat to him. His interest, however, was piqued by Lin Dong. Without waiting for Black Dragon to reply, Xiao Tiance turned to Lin Dong and said, "Lin Dong, we finally meet."
Lin Dong returned the salute and said, **"I've long heard of your reputation, Senior Tiance. However, if I'm not mistaken, we've never met before.
You sent someone to tell me you know the person I've been searching for. Is that true?"**
Xiao Tiance smiled enigmatically. "Ying Huanhuan is that name sufficient?"
The moment those words left Xiao Tiance's lips, Lin Dong's eyes widened slightly. He nodded and said, "It's enough. Senior, here is the Heavenly Dao Mirror."
Without hesitation, Lin Dong tossed the mirror toward Xiao Tiance.
Taking the mirror, Xiao Tiance felt a twinge of disappointment. Despite its reputation, the Heavenly Dao Mirror was merely a mid tier sacred artifact in its current state.
Before Xiao Tiance could examine the mirror further, Black Dragon launched a sudden attack. A streak of black light surged toward Xiao Tiance, Black Dragon's hand reaching for the artifact.
However, Xiao Tiance's soul power was formidable. In his perception, Black Dragon's movements seemed to slow to a crawl. With a simple sidestep, Xiao Tiance dodged the attack effortlessly.
Smiling, Xiao Tiance taunted, "I hear you're quite eager to obtain my Heavenly Puppet refinement method. Why don't you test its power first?"
As he spoke, a golden figure materialized in front of him a Heavenly Puppet. With a single punch, it sent Black Dragon flying hundreds of meters.
Black Dragon steadied himself, a glint of excitement in his eyes. **"So, this is a Heavenly Puppet. It's as powerful as they say.
"Hahaha! The Heavenly Puppet refinement method I'll take it!"**
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