Chapter Fifty-Three: Schemes in the Southern Range

Among them, Nanling held the highest rank, and was also the personal disciple of the Supreme Emperor, thus his status was foremost among the three. The man with the earrings, named Xue Han, was a member of the imperial family. His father had been a high-ranking official, and Xue Han was gifted from a young age. With ample resources and meticulous cultivation, he broke through to the Mystical Realm as he reached thirty, entering the ranks of the powerful.

The third person, Ming Feng, was likewise of royal blood, raised in the capital of Tianluo. In his youth, he was taken as a disciple by a master skilled in three disciplines, who imparted all his martial techniques. After Ming Feng ascended to the Mystical Realm, his master departed to wander the world.

Thus, these two Mystical Realm experts of the royal family were ordered by the Supreme Emperor to bear the title of National Guardian War God and to devote their lives to the protection of Tianluo.

In their hearts, the two felt helpless. Which expert who had reached the True Martial Stage did not yearn to roam the lands, make a name for themselves, and leave a legacy for future generations?

But as members of the royal family, duty bound them to serve their nation. With the Supreme Emperor’s command, they had no choice but to accept; otherwise, if they ever needed aid or faced formidable enemies, Tianluo would refuse them assistance.

Nanling’s true name was Feihong, but Nanling was his title, granted when the Tianluo Emperor named him Marquis of Nanling. Thus, others respectfully called him Marquis Nanling, and those close to him simply addressed him as Nanling.

“There’s someone below us. I just probed with my spiritual sense and found that this person’s cultivation is merely at the Heavenly Rank. How could someone of such meager strength appear in the Azure Sea and Jade Sky Domain? It’s truly baffling,” Nanling said, hands clasped behind his back, having detected the presence of Leng Tian within the mountain.

“It’s indeed a Heavenly Rank. Who’s this fool, thinking he can profit in the Ancient Realm with such paltry skills? He’s courting death,” Ming Feng sneered, his words dripping with sarcasm.

“What business is it of yours if he’s a fool? It shows he’s got courage, and I, Xue Han, admire him,” Xue Han retorted deliberately, intent on opposing Ming Feng out of sheer dislike.

“You believe I won’t slap you dead right here?” Ming Feng erupted, raising his hand to strike Xue Han.

“Or perhaps you’d like me to return and report your conduct to the Supreme Emperor, so the old man can give you a proper lesson?” Nanling’s face darkened, his tone deliberately drawn out for their benefit.

“Uh… Haha, Nanling, there’s no need. We’re all working for the country, and the Supreme Emperor is in seclusion, preparing to ascend to the highest Saintly Hall. Best not to disturb him,” Ming Feng withdrew his raised hand, plastering a smile onto his face.

“Hmph…” Xue Han shot Ming Feng a glare, snorted coldly, and turned his head away.

Nanling merely smiled in silence, thinking to himself that these two were quite the pair of troublemakers. Without the Supreme Emperor’s restraint, they would likely have thrown Tianluo into chaos.

“Brother below, come out! Don’t make us act. Do you wish to incur the wrath of upper realm experts?” Nanling’s smile was gentle, but his words were sharp as blades.

“Boss, what should we do? Should we play along? Maybe we should pretend to be weak and catch them off guard?” Judas sat atop a blood-red rune, rubbing his small hands together with a lewd grin.

“Pretend to be weak? Us? Do you think that’ll work?” Leng Tian lay leisurely within the mountain, his laughter tinged with amusement.

“Of course. With you and me working together, what’s there to fear from those three? They’re just Mystical Realm experts of the human race. I don’t even put them in my sights,” Judas boasted.

Leng Tian’s face showed surprise. “You mean you can handle all three?”

He glanced at the yellow earth around him and said with a relaxed air, “Then you go and deal with them. I’ll just take a nap and recharge.”

“Boss, don’t kid around. I could handle one, but three’s too much for me!”

Leng Tian’s eyes lit up with joy and he asked eagerly, “So you can stand against Mystical Realm experts now?”

“Hehe, don’t forget, boss, I’m a Shadow Demon—an evolved one at that. Mystical Realm experts are easy prey for me; their souls are ripe for the taking. But the laws of this world reject and punish me, so I can’t act too often. Otherwise, the penalty would be more than I could bear!”

“Oh, so if you came to my world, you wouldn’t be of any use to me?” Leng Tian rolled his eyes, his tone clearly threatening.

“Don’t misunderstand, boss. I’m still plenty useful. Though the world’s laws restrict me, I can still occasionally devour a few Mystical Realm warriors with ease!”

Leng Tian nodded. “Let’s go. Don’t keep the experts waiting!” His tri-colored aura instantly transformed into a golden blade, and his fists clenched as he launched himself forward.

“Nanling, it seems this friend hasn’t appreciated your kindness,” Ming Feng remarked, watching the unmoving low hill with growing impatience.

Boom!

No sooner had he spoken than a heavy rumble sounded from the earthen mound below.

A yellow earth dragon soared skyward, and a golden figure followed, bursting out of the mountain with force enough to shake the world.

Leng Tian, bathed in golden light, leapt several paces away from the landing site of the earth dragon.

The three—Nanling, Xue Han, and Ming Feng—narrowed their eyes, scrutinizing Leng Tian from head to toe, confirming he was indeed a Heavenly Rank warrior.

“Young Leng Tian greets the three elders!” Leng Tian, flustered yet respectful, bowed to them.

The three stared at him with peculiar expressions for a long while, none speaking.

Nanling played with the jade ring on his finger, his gaze shifting as he smiled. “Can you tell me how you entered the Ancient Realm? With your current cultivation, I truly can’t imagine how you managed it.”

“Well…” Leng Tian hesitated, crestfallen and helpless. “I was being pursued. The reason is that I once saved a Mystical Realm senior, who, before leaving, gave me a token and told me to keep it. If I ever ascended to the Mystical Realm, I could use it to gain endless benefits.”

“Is it this one?” Xue Han held up a jade token, shaking it for Leng Tian to see.

“Huh… How do you have the same token, elder?” Leng Tian was genuinely shocked, stunned that Xue Han possessed the same item.

“You haven’t answered how you entered this place,” Nanling reminded him, eyes fixed intently.

Leng Tian collected himself and replied, “You may not know, elder, but I was chased by more than ten Heavenly Rank experts all the way to the seaside. With nowhere left to run, I thought to hand over the token. If I was about to die, what use was it to me? But just as despair set in, a miracle happened—a mysterious expert appeared, also Mystical Realm, and whisked me away. He flew with me over the endless sea to an island, where a portal hung in the sky. He threw me in, telling me to keep the token, and that I’d reap rewards.”

Leng Tian recounted his story in one breath, and the three experts rolled their eyes, clearly skeptical.

“And then?” Xue Han pressed.

“After that, I followed the spatial corridor to its end, passed through the portal, and was inexplicably dropped here,” Leng Tian replied, cautious and deferential.

“Boss, I didn’t realize you were so good at making up stories!” Judas gave Leng Tian a mental thumbs up.

“Oh, so that’s how it is. You’ve had extraordinary luck, congratulations on reaching the Azure Sea and Jade Sky Domain—many treasures await you here!” Nanling offered his customary gentle smile, congratulating Leng Tian warmly.

“So this is the so-called Ancient Realm, the Azure Sea and Jade Sky Domain! It’s nothing special, barren compared to where I live,” Leng Tian’s expression shifted from excitement to disappointment and resignation, his mood changing swiftly, surprising the three experts.

“That’s right, this is the world every warrior dreams of—rare treasures everywhere, and many ancient artifacts left by powerful predecessors. If you’re lucky, you may even inherit a legacy. For someone of your cultivation to reach this place is a fortune indeed,” Nanling smiled at Leng Tian, continuing, “We have matters to attend to, so we’ll leave now. Take care of yourself.”

He signaled Ming Feng and Xue Han, then floated away. The other two, uncertain of Nanling’s intentions, had no choice but to follow.

Leng Tian stood watching the three fly off, blinking a few times and thinking with amusement, “Seems I’ve caught their attention.”

“Hehe, boss, that one who spoke just now looked friendly and didn’t trouble you, but he’s clearly a shrewd old fox. His plans may be clever, but we have our own tricks!” Judas sat in Leng Tian’s mind with a sly grin.

“Nanling, why did you leave so easily? That boy’s story was full of holes. He’s hiding something,” Xue Han asked, perplexed.

Nanling chuckled softly. “Of course I know he’s lying, but we have other matters. I’ve left a spiritual mark on him. After we finish our business, we can come back for him.”

Ming Feng grew impatient. “Why not capture him now? With our skills, we could force the truth out easily. Why waste time?”

“I know all that. But have you considered—he dares enter the Ancient Realm with just Heavenly Rank cultivation, and his calm demeanor when facing us suggests he’s not truly afraid. That means he’s got something backing him. Every warrior entering the Ancient Realm is searching for something, and he’s no exception. By leaving now, we let him find what he seeks, then we take it from him,” Nanling explained with serene confidence.

The two agreed wholeheartedly, realizing Nanling was more thorough than themselves.

Nanling graciously accepted their praise, showing no modesty, which made clear their standing in his eyes.

Martial Edge 53_Chapter Fifty-three: Nanling’s Calculations—end of update!