Strongest War Emperor

”The formation of the Nine-Star Linked Pearls is almost complete. The Supreme Yin Qi between heaven and earth will flourish, causing yin to prosper and yang to decline. Evil will run rampant, and Demonic Cultivators will surely seize this opportunity to stir up trouble. So, it’s only normal for the people from Blood Evil Island to show up and make a scene.”

This statement from Shen Lang unintentionally revealed a glimpse of his secrets, causing the Three Sect Ancestors to watch him even more intently.

The Three Sect Ancestors’ desperation to curry favor with Shen Lang wasn’t just because they had seen how extraordinary and mysterious he was.

Nor was it just because he had revealed the Xue Family’s secrets and then dispelled Xue Hongluan’s Killing Intent with a single sentence.

The most important reason was that one casual remark from Shen Lang.

From his death match with Yuwen Huaji, to Nalan Ziyun’s ”death,” to his Cultivation within the Death Realm, and then his separation from Xue Dangdang...

In such a short time, Shen Lang had experienced the full spectrum of joy, anger, sorrow, and grief—the vicissitudes of life.

Once the dust had settled, even a person with his mental fortitude felt his guard drop for a moment, and he had spoken those words subconsciously.

Strictly speaking, the rumors about the Nine-Star Linked Pearls were not a major secret.

Many Sects and powerful factions had already heard of it and had dispatched experts to investigate.

But for these words to come from a member of a minor family in a small city like Celestial Phoenix City was nothing short of shocking.

But that wasn’t even the most important part.

It was the very first phrase he’d said!

”The formation of the Nine-Star Linked Pearls is almost complete.”

It was this sentence that not only made Nangong Yan and the other two jump in shock, but even stunned Master Kong Jing and Master Chaos!

The Nine-Star Linked Pearls was just a rumor. No one knew the details, nor had anyone ever seen which celestial bodies comprised the so-called Nine-Star.

So where did this claim of it being ”almost complete” come from?

This was an event that could shake the heavens and earth and affect the entire world—it was no small matter!

After arranging for people to clean up the battlefield and pacify the citizens, Shangguan Feiyue, Nangong Yan, and the others followed Shen Lang back to the Shen Family residence.

The group sat on the floor around a tea table, from which light steam wafted. Five pairs of eyes were fixed on Shen Lang, staring so intently that he couldn’t help but roll his own.

As Shen Lang prepared the tea, he was organizing his words in his mind.

’Now that I’ve said it, trying to brush it off is going to be difficult.’

’After all, the people in front of me are all old monsters.’

’But I can’t just tell them the War God Hall has been investigating the Nine-Star Linked Pearls for ages, and that I know so much because I have the War Emperor’s memories, can I?’

’And I can’t possibly tell them I have the Silver Eyes of Truth, which let me see through illusions and perceive the reality hidden by powerful forces, can I?’

”I know what you want to ask,” Shen Lang said, pouring himself a cup of tea.

”But I have my reasons... I can reveal a few things to you, but you can’t ask why, you can’t ask how I know, and you can’t let anyone know this information came from me. If you agree to these conditions, I can tell you some of what I know.”

After speaking, Shen Lang took a sip of tea, his gaze slowly sweeping across Nangong Yan and the other two ancestors.

He wasn’t particularly worried about Master Kong Jing and Master Chaos.

Members of the Buddhist Sect had always remained aloof from worldly affairs, and the Ruyi Buddha Sect enjoyed an excellent reputation across the entire Star Continent, earning widespread praise.

Seeing how gravely Shen Lang spoke, Nangong Yan and the others exchanged a look before slowly nodding.

Then, they worked together to cast multiple layers of Barriers around them, isolating the room from the outside world.

The incident with Black Impermanence had made them all much more cautious.

”Please speak, young friend,” Shark’s Kiss said frankly. ”Rest assured, we agree to your conditions. Even if the world is turned upside down, no one will come looking for trouble with you.” He was the most forthright of the three.

Shen Lang tapped his right index finger lightly on the table. After a moment, he looked at Shangguan Feiyue and asked, ”Has the Imperial Dragon Sect recently been searching the Phoenix Mountain Range for a young woman of the Blood Race?”

Shangguan Feiyue was startled, then nodded. ”You truly know a great deal, young friend... It’s a long story, so I’ll keep it brief. To be honest with you, just over three months ago, Nangong Yan sent me a Sound Transmission Talisman from the Flower Sect. She told me she had discovered traces of the Blood Race in the Purple Chu Country. The individual in question seemed to hold a high status and was accompanied by a Blood Race woman. They were searching for something in the Purple Chu Country. Nangong Yan suspected the woman was the Blood Race Saintess, so she contacted Shark’s Kiss, and they both came to the Imperial Dragon Sect.”

”At first, it was only a suspicion, so we old-timers didn’t make any major moves. We wanted to see what that Blood Race member was looking for. If the woman with him was truly the Blood Race Saintess, then it was almost certainly related to the legendary Blood Ancestor Tomb!”

”But we underestimated that Blood Race expert. We only sent two King Martial Realm powerhouses and several Xuanwu Realm Martial Artists to tail them.”

”Unexpectedly, even when besieged by several cultivators at the King Martial Realm, that Blood Race member still managed to escape with ease. When we received the report, we were utterly shocked and became certain that this person’s origins were extraordinary.”

”Because we old-timers all know the Blood Race has fallen into decline. They can barely muster a few experts, and it’s said they don’t even have a single powerhouse equivalent to the Emperor Martial Realm. That’s why they can only hole up in some forgotten corner, barely surviving.”

”During a fierce battle, our pursuers managed to obtain a sample of the woman’s blood. From that, they confirmed her identity—she had to be the Blood Race Saintess!”

”However, we still haven’t found her. It’s as if she vanished into thin air... and the place she disappeared was right in the Phoenix Mountain Range, not far from Celestial Phoenix City.”

”The two of them and I were just preparing to head to the Phoenix Mountain Range personally when, at that very time, two strange celestial phenomena occurred there!”

”Master Kong Jing and Master Chaos arrived at the Imperial Dragon Sect right when these celestial phenomena were occurring.”

”A massive Energy vortex appeared out of thin air above the Phoenix Mountain Range. Wind howled and clouds churned, throwing the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi into chaos. The sight was absolutely terrifying...”

”So you suspected the celestial phenomena were related to the Blood Race Saintess? And that’s why you all rushed over to Celestial Phoenix City?” Shen Lang cut in, interrupting Shangguan Feiyue.

Shangguan Feiyue paused, slightly taken aback. ”We can’t be certain. It’s just that these events are too coincidental. It’s hard to believe they aren’t related. The three of us will have to investigate personally to find out.”

As he spoke, he stared intently into Shen Lang’s eyes, but he found that Shen Lang’s expression never wavered. He couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

Shaking his head gently, Shen Lang said in a low voice, ”The celestial phenomena were just a coincidence. They have nothing to do with the Blood Race, so you don’t need to worry about them. However, that young woman from the Blood Race is indeed the Blood Race Saintess.”

”Is the Blood Race Saintess in your custody, young friend?” Shark’s Kiss asked, unable to hold back.

Shen Lang rolled his eyes. ”She’s a living person, what do you mean ’in my custody’? What I’m trying to say is that I don’t know where she is right now either. If you find her in the future, I hope you won’t harm her. She’s my friend. Besides, capturing her would likely bring you nothing but disaster...”

”’A friend... bring disaster?’” Shark’s Kiss and the other two exchanged baffled looks.

”The reason is simple. She is indeed connected to the Blood Ancestor Tomb, but the Tomb isn’t as simple as you think. And the current situation isn’t as favorable as you imagine, either. Once word gets out, Secret Silver Level Influences, Dark Gold Level Influences, and even Legendary Powers will mobilize. Can the three Sects you represent stand against the might of the entire world?”

Nangong Yan and the other two fell silent.

The Imperial Dragon Sect, the Li Hen Sect, and the Flower Sect were merely Spirit Copper Level Influences.

Forget withstanding the world’s strongest; even an expert from a Secret Silver Level Influence could annihilate them in minutes.

Shen Lang glanced at them calmly and added, ”You are all my seniors, with lofty statuses and heaven-shaking Cultivation. I normally have no right to speak so presumptuously before you, but this time... I hope you will listen to my advice and give up the search for the Blood Ancestor Tomb.”

”’You’re implying something, young friend. Please, explain your reasoning. We are all ears.’ Nangong Yan and the other two exchanged a look, each seeing the astonishment in the others’ eyes.”

Meanwhile, Master Kong Jing and Master Chaos sat with their palms pressed together, as still as stone statues, showing no reaction.

Shen Lang’s expression grew solemn. ”You all know that the Nine-Star Linked Pearls and the appearance of the Blood Ancestor Tomb are likely intertwined. But stories of the Blood Ancestor Tomb have been circulating for tens of thousands of years. Many people know it exists, and many want to find it to obtain the Blood Ancestor’s secrets. The rumors of the Nine-Star Linked Pearls, however, only began to circulate a little over three hundred years ago.”

”Based on what I know, the rumors about the Nine-Star Linked Pearls were likely spread by the Blood Race three hundred years ago, simply to muddy the waters. Although the Blood Race desires to enter the Blood Ancestor Tomb and receive the Blood Ancestor’s inheritance more than any other race or Sect, they are keenly aware of their own weakness. Forget about finding the Tomb; even if they did, they likely wouldn’t be able to get inside.”

”The Human Race, the Demon Race, and the thousands of other races and countless powers on this continent are all staring at the Blood Ancestor Tomb. How could it possibly be easy for them to succeed?”

”So they simply released the information to have the entire world search for the Blood Ancestor Tomb on their behalf?” Nangong Yan said in a flash of understanding.

Shen Lang nodded. ”Once the Blood Ancestor Tomb appears, it will inevitably draw in the most powerful experts in the world. At that point, not only will the powerhouses from Legendary Powers take action, but I fear some reclusive races and mysterious factions will also emerge. Only in a situation where all sides are checking and balancing each other will the Blood Race have an opportunity.”

”This world is vast. Supreme experts aren’t found only within Legendary Powers. Were the long-vanished Thirty-Six Great Cave Heavens and Seventy-Two Small Blessed Lands any weaker than the Legendary Powers? Since the Blood Race wants to muddy the waters, they will surely announce the appearance of the Blood Ancestor Tomb to the world, inviting all factions to come and fight over it.”

Nangong Yan asked, slightly confused, ”The experts of the entire continent are currently searching for the Blood Ancestor Tomb. Are you suggesting, young friend, that the Blood Race will be the first to learn of its appearance?”

”Of course. And that leads to my next point... If I’m not mistaken, the Blood Race will absolutely be the first to know. The reason they’re so certain is that the key to opening the Blood Ancestor Tomb is in their possession! When all the other powers are fighting to the death and everything is in chaos, that’s when their opportunity will arise.”

”I still don’t quite understand.” Nangong Yan shook her head. ”If the Blood Race knew the location of the Blood Ancestor Tomb all along, why haven’t they found and entered it in all the time from the ancient era until now? Why wait until the Blood Race is on the verge of being wiped out before making a move? Is it solely because of the Nine-Star Linked Pearls? But even now, we still don’t understand what the Nine-Star Linked Pearls has to do with the appearance of the Blood Ancestor Tomb...”

Shen Lang took a light sip of tea and said slowly, ”The reason is simple. In truth, the Blood Race has also been kept in the dark. Like everyone else, they are merely pawns of the Blood Ancestor. This is all just a grand scheme the Blood Ancestor set in motion during the great war in ancient times!”

”That old monster, the Blood Ancestor, never actually died!” Shen Lang’s words were forceful and decisive, ringing with conviction.