The Supreme Martial King Shocking All Realms Chapter 3225: 3220: Moving Forward Together_1

After pondering briefly, Yang Chen went on to inquire, “So, what exactly happened with the Nine Dragons Branch lately?”

“The roots of this problem stretch back several years. For ages, our Heavenly Melody Mountain has geared up to fend off invading foreign races. Deep within the Nine Dragons Branch, we erected the Lingtian Array, spanning the full interface. Thanks to this barrier, outsiders find it nearly impossible to launch a straightforward assault on the Nine Dragons Branch,” Broken River explained.

“But then, why did complications arise?” Yang Chen probed.

“It’s because the core Formation Eye of the Lingtian Array—the Ancient Dragon Pattern Flag—vanished out of nowhere,” Broken River replied, offering a wry grin.

Yang Chen froze in surprise, “Vanished?”

The absence of the Formation Eye carried massive consequences.

Without that vital component, the whole Formation lost all its power. Furthermore, the Ancient Dragon Pattern Flag appeared to be an extraordinary relic. Replacing it as the Formation Eye wouldn’t be a simple task.

“Exactly. The Ancient Dragon Pattern Flag is itself a peerless artifact, and locating an adequate substitute proves challenging. Once it went missing, Heavenly Melody Mountain couldn’t secure another one to fill the role, forcing us to dispatch elite cultivators for a thorough search. Roughly five years back, six powerhouses at the Heaven-separated Realm from our Heavenly Melody Mountain headed to the Nine Dragons Branch. Fairy Moon Fu was among their ranks,” Broken River detailed.

Yang Chen’s brows lifted a touch. That explained why Fairy Moon Fu’s message had reached the Divine Night Sect years prior.

Yet, Fairy Moon Fu’s situation didn’t weigh heavily on his mind. His priority lay in swiftly reclaiming the Slaughter God Spear once this crisis wrapped up.

“Sadly, Junior Sister Moon Fu hasn’t relayed any updates over these five years. We’re in the dark about her fate at the Nine Dragons Branch. With Brother Yang Chen and me heading there now, we might finally reunite with Junior Sister Moon Fu,” Broken River remarked, flashing a faint smile laced with a hint of pity toward Yang Chen.

Yang Chen couldn’t quite decipher Broken River’s look, yet he stayed composed and questioned, “Since Heavenly Melody Mountain is tangled in this affair, why did Elder Absolute Yi mention that Grand Abyss Palace has gotten involved too?”

“The situation’s rather intricate. The interface housing the Nine Dragons Branch lies close to the Taiyuan Star System. Heavenly Melody Mountain governs the inner realms, while Grand Abyss Palace oversees the outer ones. When the forebears laid down these boundaries, they left some wiggle room for claims. Take the oversight of the Nine Dragons Branch—it could fall under either Heavenly Melody Mountain or Grand Abyss Palace.”

Broken River furrowed his brow as he continued, “The Nine Dragons Branch boasts an ideal setting for nurturing Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, drawing Grand Abyss Palace’s greedy eyes for years. But with our Heavenly Melody Mountain holding firm, they’ve held back from bold moves. Now, amid the Nine Dragons Branch’s turmoil, Grand Abyss Palace has dispatched investigators. Should they uncover the Ancient Dragon Pattern Flag ahead of us, the Nine Dragons Branch would shift to shared control between Heavenly Melody Mountain and Grand Abyss Palace. That’s precisely why Elder Absolute Yi urged us to arrive ahead of Grand Abyss Palace’s forces.”

Yang Chen finally grasped the full picture.

Such disputes meant little to a figure like Absolute Yi Daozu. Still, he had no choice but to pour his efforts into fulfilling the mission. Failure would slam the door on recovering the Slaughter God Spear.

“It’s a relief that Brother Yang Chen joins us for this journey. I lacked solid assurance earlier, but your presence bolsters my spirits greatly,” Broken River stated, grinning warmly.

Yang Chen promptly clasped his hands in respect and replied, “Friend Gu flatters me too much. My fame is all hot air. For this venture, I’ll rely heavily on your guidance.”

Broken River relished Yang Chen’s deferential words and burst into hearty laughter, “Very well, we’ve reached our destination.”

“And where might this be?” Yang Chen wondered, scanning the surroundings with bewilderment.

This spot featured a towering pavilion encircled by blooming cherry trees, offering a serene and captivating view.

Numerous attendants bustled nearby, and upon spotting Broken River, they lowered their heads in salute, “Hail, Sir Gu, hail to the esteemed seniors.”

Brushing off the attendants, Broken River boomed with laughter, “Madame Autumn Plum, Brother Dao Guang, looks like the group’s assembled. Since I’m tagging along with you both to the Nine Dragons Branch this time, let’s hit the road.”

It was only then that Yang Chen spotted a woman and a man seated in meditation, locked in a chess match across from each other.

At Broken River’s voice, they rose to their feet and stepped into view before Broken River and Yang Chen.

“Friend Gu plans to join us for the Nine Dragons Branch? That’s welcome news. As for this fellow Daoist, may I learn his full name? Four of us heading out feels a tad sparse, wouldn’t you say?” Dao Guangwang expressed mild concern.

Madame Autumn Plum clasped her hands behind her, adding, “When Junior Sister Moon Fu and the other five ventured there last time, contact with them severed. The Nine Dragons Branch has surely transformed. Though Junior Sister Moon Fu’s life force endures unbroken, it’s clear they’ve run into serious peril. Sending just four this round to tackle what overwhelmed six— even with Friend Gu’s prowess, doesn’t that strike you as overly bold?”

Broken River serenely adjusted his beard and declared, “You two aren’t acquainted with my companion here. He goes by Yang, full name Chen.”

“What? Yang Chen?” The mention of the name prompted sharp shifts in Madame Autumn Plum and Dao Guangwang’s expressions.

“Could this be the Yang Chen who stirred up that massive uproar not long ago?”

“Word has it this youth alone slew twenty-eight Heavenly Leaving Realm masters. What brings him into our midst?”

“I’ll fill you in on Brother Yang Chen’s exploits en route. So, do you two feel ready now? I, Gu, won’t boast further—my power alone ought to handle a pair of Heavenly Leaving Realm foes with ease. Brother Yang Chen matches or exceeds my own abilities. Rest assured, this mission holds no dangers,” Broken River assured them.

Madame Autumn Plum and Dao Guangwang exchanged glances. Doubts lingered visibly in their eyes.

Dao Guangwang eyed Yang Chen briefly, “Brother Yang Chen’s fame certainly travels far, but tales of him felling twenty-eight Heavenly Leaving Realm experts—surely that’s inflated, isn’t it?”

Madame Autumn Plum nodded in agreement, deeming the report far too astonishing to hold water.

Broken River himself suspected the stories of Yang Chen rang with exaggeration. From his current assessment, Yang Chen’s cultivation hovered merely at the initial Heaven-separated Realm phase.

Claiming a cultivator at Yang Chen’s tier had soloed twenty-eight Heavenly Leaving Realm adversaries stretched credibility thin.

With a trace of uncertainty, he turned to ask, “Brother Yang Chen, your thoughts? Should we hold for additional fellow Daoists, or depart as the four of us?”

“Without certainty that our quartet can match the might of six Heaven-separated Realm powerhouses, I, Dao Guang, refuse to gamble like this,” Dao Guangwang declined with a subtle shake of his head, “This isn’t doubt in Brother Yang Chen’s skills. In mission travels, prioritizing safety comes first.”