"You!!!"
Sima Xiangtu's soul trembled and his scalp went numb. He clearly had so much he wanted to say, but now he couldn't even form a complete sentence.
And it was all because of Ox-Nose.
Right now, Ox-Nose wore a smile on his face. Even facing that god-like existence, not a trace of fear showed on his features—as if everything was well within his control.
This was not the first time Sima Xiangtu had seen Ox-Nose like this. In fact, he had witnessed it many times before.
Back in the day, he and Ox-Nose had been the closest of brothers, and the world believed they were evenly matched.
But the truth was, back in the Holy Light Heavenly River, he had always grown up under Ox-Nose's protection.
Whenever he encountered danger he believed he couldn't handle, it was Ox-Nose who stepped forward.
And every time Ox-Nose stepped forward, he resolved the crisis with ease, wearing just this same composed expression.
But... that was the Holy Light Heavenly River. The opponents they had faced back then were utterly insignificant when recalled now.
Not to mention comparing them to this god-like existence standing before him.
How could Ox-Nose still display such composure when facing an existence like this?
Sima Xiangtu was no fool. In an instant, he understood a great deal.
It was just that this truth caused the confidence he had painstakingly built to crumble in an instant.
So he had never surpassed Ox-Nose after all...
And the gap between them had only grown wider and wider...
"Why didn't you kill me?"
Sima Xiangtu still voiced his confusion.
"Xiangtu, we'll settle what's between us later."
"Let me deal with this person first."
As Ox-Nose spoke, he turned his palm, and the soldiers talisman in Sima Xiangtu's hand flew into Ox-Nose's grasp, where he began examining it.
"The Heavenly Master's Soldiers Talisman—one of the ten great guardian artifacts of the Heavenly Master Divine Sect."
"It is said that this artifact was personally forged by the founding ancestor of the Heavenly Master Divine Sect, using a Primordial Soul Storage Ring to gather the spiritual energy of all things and condense it into a Soul Command Array."
"This artifact can: deploy spirit arrays, forge spirit weapons—offensively, it can lay siege to cities and capture fortresses; defensively, it can protect an entire region in peace."
"According to legend, before the founding ancestor of the Heavenly Master Divine Sect passed away, he bestowed this artifact upon his seventeenth direct disciple, Shentu Haoting."
"When the Heavenly Master Divine Sect once fought the Seven Realms Holy Mansion for dominion over the Seven Realms Heavenly River, Shentu Haoting fell in battle, and the Heavenly Master's Soldiers Talisman vanished without a trace."
"Now it appears that Shentu Haoting did not die after all. Instead, he carried the Heavenly Master's Soldiers Talisman here to the Nine Souls Heavenly River."
At this, Ox-Nose turned his gaze toward that lord.
"I never expected that after so many years, a junior would still remember this old man."
"Even more surprising is that in this current era, a junior possesses such strength."
"Junior, could it be that you, too, are from the Nine Souls Heavenly River?"
That lord asked.
Far from being angered by Ox-Nose's attack, his demeanor showed nothing but admiration.
Of course, his words also amounted to an admission of his identity as Shentu Haoting.
"As for where I'm from, there's no need for you to ask."
"Tell me—after hiding here for so many years, why have you suddenly revealed yourself? What exactly are you after?"
"Don't tell me you've been waiting all this time for someone to help you complete your divine technique?"
"There's no way you'd wait this long without a reason."
"Don't tell me it's because of some bullshit prophecy?"
Ox-Nose the old Daoist asked with a grin, his smile and tone laced with a hint of mockery.
It was as if he were saying: you actually waited all these years because of some so-called prophecy? What an idiot.
"Junior, you want to protect this man's life?"
Shentu Haoting did not answer. Instead, he posed a counter-question.
But that single sentence already revealed his intentions.
"His life—only I can take it."
Ox-Nose the old Daoist replied.
"I, too, am one who values talent. If that is the case, then today I shall give you, junior, a small courtesy."
"Return the Heavenly Master's Soldiers Talisman to me, and I will let this man go," Shentu Haoting said.
"The Heavenly Master's Soldiers Talisman is a fine treasure. Returning it is out of the question."
As he spoke, Ox-Nose the old Daoist simply stuffed the Heavenly Master's Soldiers Talisman into his robes.
Seeing this, Sima Xiangtu's face turned green.
Ox-Nose was far too arrogant. Sima Xiangtu had heard of Shentu Haoting—he had been one of the Heavenly Master Divine Sect's most powerful fighters back in the day.
Put simply, this was a legendary figure from the past!!!
So many years had passed, and the mere fact that he was alive was a miracle. But if he was alive, then his cultivation must have grown enormously as well.
Appearing in this era, he would be a true old monster.
Facing such a figure, instead of quitting while ahead, Ox-Nose actually coveted the man's treasure?
Wasn't that just asking for death?
"Heh..."