In a secret realm in central state.
Darkness enveloped the entire space, and nothing beyond the darkness could be seen with a single glance.
Tada tada tada.
Echoes of footsteps filled the space, as if walking along a corridor, but there stood the Spider Network's leader in a black robe, holding an oil lamp and walking slowly through the darkness.
Suddenly, the Spider Network's leader stopped, lifted the oil lamp high, illuminating the path ahead, revealing a shimmering, translucent shadow of a huge stone in the darkness.
Suddenly, a human was enshrined within the huge stone.
He was clad in a long black and gold robe, his wild, tousled long hair casually falling over, with a face carved like a blade, and sharp edges.
His eyes were slightly closed, as if he were asleep, yet no matter what happened outside, he never opened them the slightest bit.
The Spider Network's leader lifted the oil lamp in his hand and shone it on the giant stone, taking a close look at the man in front of him, who couldn't help but exclaim in admiration: "Truly worthy of being a supreme power from over ten thousand years ago. He hasn't even awakened yet and has already filled me with dread. If he were to wake up, the oppressive feeling he exudes would not be weaker than that of our master...".
As he spoke, the Spider Network's leader suddenly produced a rhombus-shaped short sword from his hand, lightly piercing the giant stone with it. Instantly, the stone, which had been standing steady, began to shake.
Like an earthquake, the shaking spread in all directions.
The darkness swept away, revealing the grey space around, devoid of vitality, only a desolate and lifeless atmosphere remained.
Immediately following, the giant stone cracked open, and the man who had been sealed within it leaped out, his slightly closed eyes fluttering open slightly. His eyes moved around, and he gently stretched his limbs.
"Huh, how long has it been? My body has become stiff."
As the words fell, the man gently lifted his hand, causing the secret realm to shake, space to warp, and the ground to split open. This terrifying sight was like an end of the world.
The leader of the Spider Network suddenly felt the terrifying pressure, feeling a stuffiness in his chest, and a mouthful of blood mist surged up from his thorax before spewing out violently.
"When did an ant even come here?"
The man looked up, coldly glancing at the Spider Network's leader, his expression darkening as he lightly lifted his hand. A terrifying killing intent surged forth abruptly.
The leader of the Spider Network could clearly perceive the other's terror. If that palm landed, there was no doubt he would die.
"Officer Shen, spare me. I am merely carrying out orders, it was my master who sent me to rescue you. If it weren't for me, you would still be sealed."
The Spider Network's leader hurriedly spoke to explain.
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Tianhong paused his actions, gently glancing over his shoulder at the shattered stone behind him and the rhombus-shaped short sword that had fallen to the ground due to his awakening.
He finally understood something.
"Haha, truly I almost killed the wrong person. You little guy is quite clever..."
Shangguan Tianhong lightly patted the Spider Network's leader on the shoulder, the force being extremely gentle. Yet for a master of such a level, even a slight touch could have nearly killed the Spider Network's leader instantly.
For a few moments, the Spider Network's leader almost used all his strength to bear it, before slightly managing to hold on. After that, he quickly retreated, frightened: "Officer Shangguan, please spare me. I can't bear your strength... If Officer Shangguan continues like this, I may not even be able to meet our master again."
"The master?"
Shangguan Tianhong slightly hesitated, "So, you've been saying all along that it was your master who sent you. Who is your master?"
"You also know him, Zhang Tianling, the first generation of the Heavenly Master of Tianshi Pavilion."
"Big Brother?"
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Tianhong immediately beamed with joy, laughing heartily, "I never thought that Big Brother would still remember me. Good, very good! Now I can meet Big Brother again. This time, I must make great achievements with him."
"By the way, what year is it now..."
Shangguan Tianhong pondered for a moment and suddenly asked with some curiosity.
The Spider Network's leader answered without hesitation, "It has been ten thousand years since your time."
"One hundred thousand years?"
Shangguan Tianhong was astonished at once, "No, that can't be right. One hundred thousand years? How could Brother still be alive?"
The lifespan of a first-grade warrior is much longer than that of an ordinary person, but it's impossible to reach one hundred thousand years. And Zhang Tianling was not young at the time, so his lifespan was at most a thousand years.
That's impossible for him to still be alive today.
Unless he was sealed like himself, his life could be preserved.
However, according to Shangguan Tianhong's understanding of Zhang Tianling, he would never do such a thing. Firstly, if Zhang were sealed, his enemies would certainly not let him off easily. Secondly, he was unsure whether he would be able to awaken after being sealed.
"Because the master used a secret technique."
The Spider Network's leader spoke.
At this, Shangguan Tianhong seemed to recall something, and his eyes lit up with realization. "Brother used reincarnation?"
The concept of reincarnation was also mentioned by Zhang Tianling to Shangguan Tianhong, whom he had heard of, and he found it hard to believe at first. However, anything Zhang Tianling said, he would believe without question.
In his eyes, Zhang Tianling was a god-like figure who could do anything.
"Has Brother gained immortality as described in the legends..."
Shangguan Tianhong suddenly seemed to recall something and asked urgently.
The lifespan of a first-grade warrior is limited, but if one reaches immortality as described in legend, they can have nearly endless lifespan.
Shangguan Tianhong had also heard Zhang Tianling mention this. To gain immortality, one must first obtain the power of immortality, and then forge an immortal body.
To achieve both, one must first go through the cycle of reincarnation.
Since Zhang Tianling has entered the cycle of reincarnation, it's possible that during these ten thousand years, he may have succeeded.
If that were the case, they would undoubtedly be the rulers of the Nine States Continent, and even break through the forbidden areas…
"This... The master has not achieved..."
The Spider Network's leader hesitated for a moment before revealing the truth, "The master's plan has always been very successful, but in this lifetime, he encountered an extremely difficult opponent who ruined his plan for reincarnation, leading to the failure of his immortality project..."
"What are you saying?"
Shangguan Tianhong raised an eyebrow, and his expression darkened instantly. The temperature of the surrounding space dropped abruptly, as if winter had descended in a moment.
The Spider Network's leader trembled, not daring to say anything more.
"Who did it? Who is the bastard who did it?"
"Chen Mo."
"Chen Mo? Who is this person? I've never heard of him before."
Shangguan Tianhong frowned slightly.
"Officer Shangguan wouldn't know him. He is from this era. You are separated by ten thousand years of time."
"So, it seems like this youngster has such strength and is able to break his brother's plan. How is that possible?"
Shangguan Tianhong's expression turned cold, and he asked sternly.
"Chen Mo's strength is indeed not strong, but he has those who opposed you behind him, or more accurately, behind him. With 'him' there, the master's plan has repeatedly failed."
"Detestable, it's always that guy again."
Shangguan Tianhong clenched his fists angrily, "Where is Chen Mo now? I want to kill him and ease Brother's troubles."
The Spider Network's leader gently shook his head, "He is currently in Miaozhou, but I have lost contact with the spies in Miaozhou now. Neither I nor the master know where he is in Miaozhou."
"However, if Officer Shangguan really wants to ease the master's worries, he might consider going to You Province..."
