"I'm heading back to Myriad Flower Valley."
Vivian Ouyang lifted her head slightly, looking at Young Master Chu, her eyes carrying a hint of inexplicable emotion.
The battle was already over. The remaining cleanup no longer required the warriors who had come to help fight, so most of the martial artists in Blackrock City had already left. The rest would be gone in the next few days.
Most of the squads had also left. Just yesterday, the Xingtian Squad and Immortal Sword Squad both departed one after another, each sending someone to bid farewell to Young Master Chu.
"When are you leaving?"
Young Master Chu poured a cup of fresh tea and handed it to Vivian Ouyang.
"In about an hour. Elder May Wu asked me to represent Myriad Flower Valley and say goodbye to you," Vivian Ouyang replied.
"Alright, safe travels." Young Master Chu nodded.
"Okay." Vivian Ouyang also nodded lightly, a trace of disappointment flashing in her eyes. Then she put down her teacup, stood up, and said, "Then I'll be going now."
"Take care on the road." Song Yan added.
An hour later.
The disciples of Myriad Flower Valley, led by Elder May Wu, left Blackrock City. On the city wall, a slim figure silently watched them go.
In the departing group, Vivian Ouyang seemed to sense something and looked back, only to see a flash of white disappearing atop the city wall.
She paused for a moment, a faint smile curling at her lips...
Back in the small courtyard.
Song Yan sat alone, deep in thought about his cultivation.
In the end, he decided to cultivate both Immortal-Dao and Martial-Dao together.
His Immortal-Dao cultivation was already at late Fusion, while his Martial-Dao cultivation was at late Sigilforge.
Relatively speaking, his Martial-Dao cultivation was weaker.
He lacked neither techniques nor resources for Immortal-Dao, but for Martial-Dao, he still needed four Emperor-Grade techniques. Yes, he planned to replace the four King-Grade techniques he was cultivating with Emperor-Grade ones.
But what troubled him was that Emperor-Grade techniques were extremely difficult to collect.
In the Mystic Sun Domain, there were twenty-nine superpowers, including Immortal-Dao and Divine-Dao factions. About eighteen were martial sects, and each of these likely possessed Emperor-Grade techniques.
But these powers valued their Emperor-Grade techniques more than life itself. Trying to get one from them was nearly impossible for someone like Young Master Chu.
Impossible or not, Song Yan still planned to give it a try.
With a casual wave, a map appeared, floating before him.
It was a map of the Mystic Sun Domain, marked with the locations of seven great nations, thirteen super sects, and nine major clans.
The closest to Blackrock City was Valeguard, followed by the super sect—Starfield Martial Sect.
That afternoon.
Zhuge Junjie, Yan Ru, and other close teammates from Vermin Squad came to ask Song Yan when he planned to return to Dragonfang City.
"You guys go back first. I still have things to do, so I won't be returning to Dragonfang City for now," Song Yan replied after some thought.
He decided to head straight to Starfield Martial Sect to request Emperor-Grade techniques.
With the Art of Great Teleportation, his travel was effortless. In less than half a quarter-hour, Song Yan arrived in the skies above Starfield Martial Sect.
Starfield Martial Sect was built on a massive lake island.
Surrounding it were more than ten thousand smaller islands, along with countless sparkling lakes. The sight from afar was truly breathtaking.
Even more impressive, the main island and its ten thousand satellite isles formed a super grand formation. Even Song Yan, with his mastery of formations, was impressed by the skill of its creator.
He was here to request techniques, not to provoke anyone.
So, instead of entering the main island directly, he went to the outskirts of Starfield Martial Sect and presented his visiting card.
"You want to see our sect master?"
The disciple in charge of reception spoke with exaggerated emphasis, his eyes showing a hint of disdain.
"That's right."
"Heh." The gatekeeper laughed dismissively. "What's your name? And why do you want to see our sect master?"
Compared to nations, sects had more concentrated power. Take Valeguard, for example—their overall strength was no less than Starfield Martial Sect, but their royal palace couldn't compare to Starfield's headquarters.
"My name is Young Master Chu. Just deliver my card—your sect master will see me." Young Master Chu replied calmly.
The gatekeeper sneered, blurting out, "Who do you think you are? Want to see our sect master—wait, what did you say your name was?"
Young Master Chu!
Song Yan answered again.
On hearing this, the gatekeeper's face went blank, then quickly turned respectful. He stammered in disbelief, "Are you the Young Master Chu who fought fifty Sun-Soul experts and defeated Emperor Abyss?"
He didn't mention the Soaring Dragon Ranking; after Song Yan defeated Wei Yuan, the rankings had become a joke.
Even the top genius on the Soaring Dragon Ranking couldn't beat Emperor Abyss.
"That's me."
Song Yan nodded calmly.
"Ch—Young Master Chu!" When Young Master Chu admitted it, the gatekeeper's face flushed red, realizing he'd just mocked a peer of the sect master. "Young Master Chu, I'm sorry—I didn't know..."
Song Yan waved a hand. "It's fine. Go ahead and report."
"Yes, Young Master Chu, please wait a moment!"
Relieved, the gatekeeper bowed gratefully to Song Yan, then respectfully invited him into the reception hall and had tea brought over before hurrying off to make his report.
Less than half a quarter-hour later.
The gatekeeper returned, leading a thin old man in black robes.
"This old man is Chen Sihai, outer steward of Starfield Martial Sect. Greetings, Young Master Chu."
The thin elder's tone and demeanor were extremely respectful.
"No need for such formality, Elder Chen. Please, rise." Young Master Chu helped him up.
"Thank you, Young Master Chu." Chen Sihai rose even more respectfully, knowing that the young man before him was a peerless genius he could never hope to match. So young, already standing at the peak of the Mystic Sun Domain—one day, he would surely shine across all ten human domains.
As the gatekeeper had said, meeting Starfield Martial Sect's master was no easy task.
It took a full hour before Song Yan set foot on the main island.
Of course, that hour wasn't boring—Chen Sihai personally piloted the boat, introducing Song Yan to the wonders of each island along the way.
"Young Master Chu, please wait here for a moment while I go report."
After settling Song Yan in a guest hall on the main island, Chen Sihai hurried off.
Song Yan wasn't impatient; he calmly sipped the tea brought by a Starfield Martial Sect attendant.
Just then—
Another steward from Starfield Martial Sect arrived, leading a group of young men and women into the hall.
The sect's headquarters was so massive that there were over a dozen reception areas. This group must have come from another reception point.
The steward glanced at Song Yan but ignored him—after all, countless people visited Starfield Martial Sect every day, and Song Yan looked so young he didn't attract much attention.
"Everyone, please rest here for a while while I go report."
"No rush, Steward Zhou. We don't mind waiting a bit longer," the leading youth replied flatteringly.
"Alright, just remember not to wander around—don't disturb anyone!"
With that, Steward Zhou left the guest hall. As soon as he was gone, the smile on the lead youth's face vanished, replaced by arrogance. He glanced at Song Yan and asked, "Are you here to become a disciple too?"
"No." Song Yan shook his head lightly.
"Then what are you here for?"
"I have business to discuss with the sect master of Starfield Martial Sect," Song Yan replied.
"Hahaha!"
Hearing Song Yan's words, the youth in fine clothes couldn't help but burst out laughing. The others joined in, looking at Song Yan with mockery and amusement.