Zhang Longhu ignored his junior brother's sigh of emotion, put the five hundred thousand spirit stones into his storage artifact, and personally delivered them to Chen Xiao.
"Immortal Master, here are the five hundred thousand spirit stones you requested. Please accept them."
Returning to Chen Xiao's presence, Zhang Longhu said with a respectful expression.
Chen Xiao was stunned for a moment, thinking in surprise, "They gathered them so quickly? Damn it, did I ask for too little?"
However, words once spoken are like water spilled, and a gentleman's promise is as good as gold. It was too late to go back on his word now.
One should be honest!
"Mm, very good. I accept the goodwill of your True Martial Sect. From now on, we are friends. If you encounter any trouble in the future, just mention my name."
Chen Xiao took the spirit stones and casually wrote Zhang Longhu a 'bounced check.'
"Heh, certainly, certainly. Immortal Master, you are too kind..."
Zhang Longhu thought to himself, "I don't even know your name. If I really run into trouble, whose name should I mention? Besides, if I mention your name then, I might die even faster. Don't you know your own status in the Immortal Hidden Realm?"
Of course, Zhang Longhu wouldn't say these words to his own death. He wore a smile of insincere affection, only hoping that Chen Xiao would leave quickly.
However, Chen Xiao had no intention of leaving. He leisurely drank his tea, saying nothing, and not moving.
Zhang Longhu could only serve him carefully from the side, not daring to urge him.
Finally, Chen Xiao finished the tea in his cup and shifted his backside... Zhang Longhu immediately breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that this distinguished guest was finally leaving.
However, Chen Xiao merely changed his posture, facing Zhang Longhu more directly.
"Sect Leader Zhang, I know you can't wait for me to leave, but I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. I can't leave yet because I still have a few questions to ask you."
Chen Xiao had too many questions about the Immortal Hidden Realm, but with so many things on his mind, he didn't know where to start.
Zhang Longhu's expression tightened, and he quickly said, "Immortal Master, you jest. How could I think that? If Immortal Master likes it here, you are welcome to stay for a few more days. Of course, if Immortal Master has any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. This humble Taoist will answer them all without reservation."
Regardless of what others thought in their hearts, their words were impeccable.
Chen Xiao thought for a moment and asked his first question: "When I arrived earlier, I inadvertently overheard your junior brother Lin chatting with the Holy Son about the 'Heavenly Pride Battle.' They said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. What exactly is this Heavenly Pride Battle?"
Zhang Longhu said "Oh," and then began to explain, "Replying to the Immortal Master, the Heavenly Pride Battle is a grand event held once every fifty years in the Immortal Hidden Realm. In principle, any sect in the Immortal Hidden Realm is eligible to participate in this event."
"Each sect will send out its most promising disciples, who are revered as Holy Sons or Holy Daughters, to participate in the Heavenly Pride Battle. If they can achieve a ranking in the Heavenly Pride Battle, even if it's just the top ten, they will benefit for life!"
"Of course, even if they don't achieve a ranking, being able to spar with the prodigies of other sects is also a good form of tempering."
"Li Beiwu, as the Holy Son of our True Martial Sect, was supposed to head to Houtu City in the Earth Sect for the preliminary rounds in these few days, but fate has played a cruel trick..."
Hearing this, Chen Xiao's face turned dark. What cruel trick of fate? It was clearly me who played a trick!
Chen Xiao felt no guilt for killing the True Martial Sect's Holy Son. The law of the jungle, the strong prey on the weak, was the rule here.
Since you, Li Beiwu, used force to annex the Su family, you should have expected to be annexed by someone else sooner or later.
"Then tell me, what are the benefits of achieving a ranking in the Heavenly Pride Battle?"
Chen Xiao asked indifferently.
"As for the benefits, as long as a ranking is achieved, there will be corresponding rewards such as spirit stones, elixirs, and magical artifacts,"
Zhang Longhu said vaguely.
Chen Xiao frowned, "Just these? Is there nothing special?"
If it was just like this, then this Heavenly Pride Battle wasn't that special. It was held once every fifty years, and he thought the rewards would be much better!
"Of course, there are special rewards!"
Zhang Longhu said with a smile, "Speaking of which, there is actually something on Immortal Master that is related to the Heavenly Pride Battle."
"Hmm? You mean..."
Chen Xiao had already guessed something, but he wasn't sure yet.
Until Zhang Longhu gave a definitive answer: "Immortal Master must have already guessed it. That's right, I'm talking about the sacred relic of the Eternal Immortal Emperor, the Yin-Yang Jade!"
The fact that the Yin-Yang Jade was on Chen Xiao was almost an open secret. Almost everyone in the Immortal Hidden Realm knew about it.
"Explain to me in detail, what is the relationship between this Yin-Yang Jade and the Heavenly Pride Battle?"
Chen Xiao changed his posture again, staring intently at Zhang Longhu.
Zhang Longhu explained, "This matter goes back to the beginning. Earlier, Immortal Master asked me if there were any special rewards for the Heavenly Pride Battle. The answer is yes, but the conditions for the reward are very harsh. Not only must one achieve first place in the Heavenly Pride Battle, but one must also gain the recognition of the Three Books of Heaven, Earth, and Man to open the Sacred Treasure Platform and obtain special rewards."
"Wait a minute, what are the Three Books of Heaven, Earth, and Man?"
Chen Xiao asked.
"The Three Books of Heaven, Earth, and Man are the Heavenly Book, the Earthly Book, and the Human Book..."
Zhang Longhu first stated the obvious, and then continued, "These three books are the supreme treasures of the Three Sects of Heaven, Earth, and Man. The Heavenly Pride Battle is jointly organized by the Three Sects of Heaven, Earth, and Man, and to open the Sacred Treasure Platform, one must gain the recognition of these Three Books of Heaven, Earth, and Man!"
"For hundreds of years, the Sacred Treasure Platform has only been opened once. After the Sacred Treasure Platform was opened, the treasure that appeared from it was the sacred relic, the Yin-Yang Jade!"
Hearing this, Chen Xiao was suddenly stunned and murmured, "According to your explanation, the Yin-Yang Jade appeared fifty years ago. Who was the person who won first place in the Heavenly Pride Battle at that time and gained the recognition of the Three Books of Heaven, Earth, and Man?"
In fact, Chen Xiao already had an answer in his mind, but he still wanted to hear Zhang Longhu say it.
However, Zhang Longhu's answer was beyond his expectations: "The champion of that Heavenly Pride Battle was a very mysterious person. He came from an organization called the White Robed Sorcerers. This organization is very mysterious and has never appeared in the martial world. There are almost no records about it. Before that Heavenly Pride Battle, no one had heard of this organization, and after that Heavenly Pride Battle, this organization disappeared and never reappeared in the public eye."
Chen Xiao had expected Zhang Longhu to say that the champion of that Heavenly Pride Battle was Chen Sihai.
Of course, his current explanation did not rule out the possibility that Chen Sihai was the one who won the championship.
"Sect Leader Zhang, have you heard the name Chen Sihai?"
Chen Xiao asked.
"Uh, this name sounds a bit familiar... but I'm not sure. I don't think I've heard it..."
Zhang Longhu said hesitantly.
Chen Xiao could tell from his expression that the other party had never heard of Chen Sihai. The reason he said it sounded familiar was simply to avoid offending Chen Xiao.
"It is said that he can travel freely between the Immortal Hidden Realm and the mortal world, and there is a high probability that the Yin-Yang Jade on me was given to me by him. Have you really never heard of him?"
Chen Xiao added.
Zhang Longhu shook his head and smiled wryly, "This humble Taoist is certain that he has never heard of the benefactor Chen Sihai. I cultivate the 'Taishang Wangqing' (Supreme Forgetfulness) in the Immortal Hidden Realm and do not pay much attention to the world around me. Even the sacred relic, the Yin-Yang Jade, only caused some sensation when it first appeared. Few people have mentioned it since then."
What he meant by this was that the Yin-Yang Jade did not hold a particularly special status in the Immortal Hidden Realm.
Zhang Longhu could remember it more because it was a special reward for the Heavenly Pride Battle. As for how it changed hands later and was brought out of the Immortal Hidden Realm, Zhang Longhu did not pay much attention.
Chen Xiao recalled that according to Tu Junhou's account, their sect wanted to snatch the Yin-Yang Jade from Chen Sihai, but in the end, Chen Sihai wiped out their entire sect.
At that time, the top combat power of that sect was only eight Nascent Soul stage cultivators.
This meant that it was a super small sect, the weakest of the weak.
Only such a sect would covet the Yin-Yang Jade...
And Chen Sihai was severely injured by eight Nascent Soul stage cultivators, which indicated that his strength was not top-tier.
Amidst the tangled threads, Chen Xiao seemed to have grasped something, but it wasn't very clear.
However, he had now found a very important clue, which was the White Robed Sorcerers.
And the members of the White Robed Sorcerers participated in the previous Heavenly Pride Battle fifty years ago and won the championship.
So, would they return this time?
The answer was not a hundred percent, but there was a high probability.
Therefore, Chen Xiao made a decision. He suddenly showed a look of shame and said with great remorse, "It seems that the Heavenly Pride Battle is very important to every sect. Sect Leader Zhang, I am truly sorry for killing your True Martial Sect's Holy Son."
Zhang Longhu was slightly taken aback, thinking, "What is this sudden apology about?"
And can your acting be any more exaggerated?
Although he didn't know what Chen Xiao was planning, Zhang Longhu could only smile and say, "Immortal Master, you are too kind. This is all fate. Our True Martial Sect dares not blame Immortal Master."
"No! You must blame me!"
Chen Xiao waved his hand and said boldly, "Not only must you blame me, but you must also let me participate in the Heavenly Pride Battle on behalf of your True Martial Sect!"
Chen Xiao revealed his true intentions, finally stating his purpose.
Zhang Longhu was stunned. Only then did he understand what Chen Xiao was planning.
This great deity actually wanted to represent the True Martial Sect in the Heavenly Pride Battle!
However, whether this was a good thing or a bad thing, Zhang Longhu couldn't be sure for a moment.
Seeing Zhang Longhu's hesitation, Chen Xiao's voice deepened, "Sect Leader Zhang, are you dissatisfied with my proposal? Do you think I am not qualified to fight on behalf of your True Martial Sect?"
"No, no!"
Zhang Longhu flinched and quickly said, "If Immortal Master is willing to represent our True Martial Sect in the Heavenly Pride Battle, this humble Taoist couldn't ask for more, couldn't ask for more!"
His two exclamations of "couldn't ask for more" sounded as if he were about to cry.