Outside the Heavenly Cloud Divine Temple, in a secluded courtyard.
Lord Wuyan sat alone, drinking in sullen misery, his face dark with frustration.
Just then, a handsome young man strolled over and said with a smile, "Brother Wuyan seems to have run into something quite unpleasant?"
This was none other than the first-in-line heir of the Dragon Seal Family —
"Brother Long, since you're here, keep me company for a drink!" Lord Wuyan waved him over upon seeing Long Tianming.
Long Tianming sat down, poured himself a cup of wine, and asked casually, "I wonder what's got Brother Wuyan so vexed?"
Lord Wuyan grumbled dejectedly, "Ugh, don't get me started. I've been following that old man in cultivation for thirty years now. Thirty years of absolute loyalty, yet I can't shake the feeling he's been keeping me at arm's length. He's never taught me the most critical incantation of the Heavenly Cloud Divine Art. I've asked to learn it countless times, and every single time he puts me off with some excuse about it not being the right moment."
"Lord Heavenly Cloud is selfless and devoted — a true role model for all of us. Brother Wuyan, perhaps you're overthinking this?" Long Tianming said calmly from the side.
"Selfless? Ha! I've given him nothing but dedication, so why hasn't he been selfless toward me? Afraid that once the student masters the craft, the teacher will starve? He doesn't even stop to consider — if my father hadn't saved his life all those years ago, would he even be where he is today?" Lord Wuyan scoffed.
"If that were all there was to it, Brother Wuyan needn't trouble himself over it. Among all his disciples, you are the most valued. If Lord Heavenly Cloud truly intends to choose a successor for the Heavenly Cloud Divine Art, I'd wager it can only be you!" Long Tianming said.
"I used to think so too. But now that old man has taken in a new disciple — someone named
Upon hearing those words, a flicker of something unreadable passed through Long Tianming's eyes. "A new disciple of Lord Heavenly Cloud… named Nie Li?"
"That's right. You know him?"
"I've heard of him. This Nie Li came from the Small Complete World — one of the more outstanding newcomers this cycle." Long Tianming raised an eyebrow slightly. Nie Li really was something — in barely any time at all, he had managed to become Lord Heavenly Cloud's disciple. On top of that,
"Hmph! A mere child at the Heavenly Fate Realm who only knows how to curry favor with the old man! What ability could he possibly have?" Lord Wuyan said with utter disdain.
"If Lord Wuyan completely disregards him, he'll be making a grave mistake. From what I can see, this person is far from simple. If we don't deal with him early, he could become a serious threat down the road. Who knows — Lord Heavenly Cloud might end up deceived and pass on the Heavenly Cloud Divine Art to him!" Long Tianming said, furrowing his brow.
"Then what does Brother Long suggest I do?" Lord Wuyan looked toward Long Tianming, surprised that even he was taking this Nie Li so seriously.
"Why don't we try this…" Long Tianming leaned in and whispered continuously into Lord Wuyan's ear.
As he listened, the furrow between Lord Wuyan's brows gradually smoothed out.
Having emerged from the Heavenly Cloud Divine Temple, Nie Li was in excellent spirits. Becoming Lord Heavenly Cloud's disciple would certainly prove invaluable for his larger plans. In the Feathered God Sect, one of the conditions for becoming Sect Master was securing the backing of at least one of the five great powerhouses — without that, one wasn't even qualified.
Though he had only been Lord Heavenly Cloud's disciple for a short time and couldn't yet expect the latter's full-throated support, Nie Li was confident he could gradually earn his trust.
When Nie Li returned to
"How did it go?" Nie Li looked at the three of them and asked with a smile.
"We raided two Blood Moon Alliance strongholds, wiped out a little over a thousand of their people, and only lost sixty of our own! Sure, the ones we killed weren't that strong — not many Heavenly Spin Heavenly Star experts — but it's enough to hurt the Blood Moon Alliance!" Lu Piao said eagerly.
"Not a bad haul. We've already mapped out the Blood Moon Alliance's situation. Once your Life Soul stabilizes, we'll find an opportunity to take out their Divine Pools — leave them so broke they can't keep the lights on!" Li Xingyun said with a grin.