CHAPTER 482: CHAPTER 482: EXPOSED

Everyone was looking at Chen Pingping, observing his passionate and eloquent demeanor, his excitement so genuine it was as if the elderly man before them truly possessed the stature of a Great Emperor.

No! He was about to achieve Tao Verification and step into the Emperor Realm.

But did Yang Wuzong still have a chance?

To say he had the stature of a Great Emperor was pure nonsense.

However, these words took on an entirely different meaning when they reached Yang Wuzong’s ears.

In his youth, he too had been a brilliant, peerless genius. His cultivation had progressed triumphantly, allowing him to overpower his peers, and he had even held the title of Young Emperor. This was true. Later, during the struggle for supremacy with his contemporaries, a powerful enemy defeated him in a single move, shattering his Tao Heart.

For a long time during those lengthy years, he lived in a daze, stumbling forward, unable to accept the consequences of his failure. His cultivation began to stagnate; his entire being seemed to degenerate, and he was wracked by spasms...

It wasn’t until much later that he slowly recovered. By the time he looked toward his powerful enemies again, they were long gone, and he could only watch in silence. That feeling was undoubtedly painful for someone who had once been a genius with a firm Tao Heart and the ambition for Tao Verification. But Yang Wuzong was even more aware that the distance between them was growing ever wider. Tao Verification seemed hopeless.

Later, he became an Elder of the Star Sea, and then... now, Chen Pingping was telling him he possessed the stature of a Great Emperor.

Yang Wuzong suddenly became excited, his voice choking as he said, "You, you can actually see it?"

Ah? Chen Pingping was momentarily stunned.

The crowd hadn’t expected Yang Wuzong to suddenly utter such a thing either.

He believed it? Damn it! How could he believe something so absurd?

Could it be? Yang Wuzong then asked, "How did you discern it? The fact that I truly possess the stature of a Great Emperor."

He was incredibly excited. He took several steps forward and grasped Chen Pingping’s hands as if he had found a kindred spirit.

How many years had passed? Finally, someone had recognized his true aptitude.

A kindred spirit indeed!

Chen Pingping: "..."

"Good, very good! I never expected my potential to be recognized by a young man like you. Alas, alas! I suppose there’s no hiding the fact that I possess the stature of a Great Emperor any longer!" Yang Wuzong took a deep breath, his eyes resolute as he declared, "Young man, are you willing to follow me?"

"I am willing!" Chen Pingping snapped back to his senses. Has this old man’s brain gone soft? He believed such utter nonsense? And he said it with such conviction! Pah! Truly shameless.

After internally scoffing for a while, he added, "Actually, from the very first time I met you, Elder, I could see your great potential, akin to that of a Great Emperor. I simply dared not come forward and say so, fearing you might look down on me."

"How could that be?" Yang Wuzong stared at him. "You should have said so earlier."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Chen Pingping took a deep breath.

"Young man, follow me. After I achieve Tao Verification, you will be the follower of a Great Emperor. From then on, across the Nine Heavens and the earth, no one will dare to bully you." Yang Wuzong’s confidence returned, his eyes shining brightly.

The two of them continued to flatter each other, exchanging words back and forth for a full hour.

The cultivators watching this scene were all expressionless.

At this point, the scholar looked at Guang Xiaoyu and asked in a low voice, "Are you sure your Senior Brother’s mind is alright?"

Guang Xiaoyu’s face darkened. "Whether his mind has a problem or not, he is my Senior Brother, and I won’t allow you to speak of him that way."

Jiang Ni’er sighed, "He’s right."

The others: "???"

"Elder Yang Wuzong indeed possesses the stature of a Great Emperor." As she spoke, she picked up Hei and walked over. "Chen, I also want to leave the Wuji Sect. I choose to follow Elder Yang."

Chen Pingping nodded.

Elder Yang Wuzong was very pleased. "Little girl, you’ve made a very wise decision."

The remaining few exchanged silent glances, seemingly communicating something.

It’s understandable if one person has a problem with their thinking. But if two people have an issue, that’s a different matter altogether.

The scholar and He Yitian perhaps still didn’t understand Chen Pingping well enough. But Guang Xiaoyu had already realized. She said with annoyance, "Damn it, you two fools will regret this sooner or later! How dare you betray the Wuji Sect! Once I return to the Sect, I’ll make sure the Sect Master issues a kill order to take you down!"

Her Senior Brother wished to enter the Star Sea, although she didn’t know why. She had guessed the reason, but she couldn’t go. Because she was a demon cultivator, and the Star Sea was a superpower, with a foundation and strength far beyond Fairy Valley...

HA HA! Seeing her speak like this, Elder Yang Wuzong immediately laughed. "You should go back and see if Fairy Valley and the Wuji Sect still exist."

What? Guang Xiaoyu was startled. "Old scoundrel! You’ve been secretly plotting against my Sect?"

Elder Yang Wuzong chuckled. "You’re mistaken. Not in secret, but openly." He paused, then looked at Chen Pingping and Jiang Ni’er, adding, "They are smart, recognizing my talent, and therefore chose to follow me. If they had waited for me to reveal the truth, they would no longer have had that chance."

"You, you, you..." Guang Xiaoyu feigned a look of utter shock, her voice trembling as she responded, "How cruel."

But in reality, she wanted to laugh. With an eccentric like her Junior Sister there, Lao Huang the old ox guarding them, the strangeness of the City of Extinction, and Fairy Valley’s ancestor, Yu Changfeng... With such a powerful lineup, unless someone came brandishing an Emperor Weapon, or a true Great Emperor made a move, who could easily destroy them? Dream on.

However, seeing Elder Yang Wuzong so triumphant and brimming with confidence, she casually played along. It’s all just an act, isn’t it? Isn’t it always this way?

Chen Pingping and Jiang Ni’er exchanged a look and remained silent; they shared Guang Xiaoyu’s disbelief. However, considering various factors and what might happen, Chen Pingping gave Guang Xiaoyu a meaningful look, which she understood perfectly.

"Old scoundrel, you just wait!" Guang Xiaoyu delivered these last words, then grabbed the scholar and He Yitian, and left the area.

HA HA HA! Elder Yang Wuzong laughed heartily. "Little girl, the next time we meet will be your doom!"

The three of them departed into the distance.

Only Chen Pingping, Jiang Ni’er, and their three little pets—Hei, Mao Qiu, and Earth Chicken—remained.

Hei had been kept quiet, pinned down by Jiang Ni’er. Mao Qiu, as usual, was sleeping soundly on Chen Pingping’s shoulder. However, Earth Chicken, perched nearby, had an expressive face and frequently rolled her eyes. Yet, considering Chen Pingping was entering the Star Sea for her sake, she remained silent and didn’t challenge this ’guy’.

"Chen, my boy, let’s go back," Elder Yang Wuzong, in a great mood, smiled brightly.

After all, his ’stature of a Great Emperor’ had been recognized; anyone would be happy. Moreover, he had successfully poached from the Wuji Sect, acquiring Chen Pingping and Jiang Ni’er. It must be known that Chen Pingping was a rare young talent, possessing formidable combat abilities and exceptional wisdom. If utilized properly, he would surely become a sharp weapon for the Star Sea.

HEH HEH! Thinking of this, Elder Yang Wuzong couldn’t help but chuckle smugly. He wondered what expressions those people would have upon learning that he had poached Chen Pingping from the Wuji Sect. He could hardly wait.

Of course, Yang Wuzong wasn’t a fool. Everything that had happened today was too peculiar; Chen Pingping’s decision to betray the Wuji Sect had been far too direct. Therefore, as Guang Xiaoyu and her companions departed, he had secretly dispatched two Saint Realm powerhouses to follow them.

Firstly, to thoroughly investigate Guang Xiaoyu.

Secondly, to confirm whether Chen Pingping genuinely intended to betray the Wuji Sect. Ascertaining this would be simple: they only needed to observe the reactions of any Wuji Sect survivors. If there were no survivors, this point could be ignored.

Thirdly, to determine if Fairy Valley and the Wuji Sect had indeed been annihilated by them.

Several hours later, as they were about to return to the Star Sea, Elder Yang Wuzong suddenly spoke, "Chen, my boy, you wouldn’t mind waiting here for me for a bit, would you?"

Chen Pingping smiled slightly. "Of course, I don’t mind."

"That’s good. Rest assured, I will quickly come over to take you into the Star Sea. It won’t be a long wait," Elder Yang Wuzong chuckled lightly.