Stranger Danger

"So, how should I take it away?"

Ye Qing rubbed his chin. Obviously, the easiest way was to grab the heart with his bare hands and carry it back openly, secrecy be damned.

However, he really didn't want another person to find out about the heart, at least not yet.

It was the heart of an ancient god demon. To call it a priceless treasure would be an understatement. He was almost certainly going to invite trouble to his doorsteps if he brought it back openly.

More specifically, he was worried about the six Sages of the Profound Alliance. These days, Sages were the only powerhouses he still needed to be wary of.

Sages might be sages, but they were also human, and no human was immune to their baser emotions and desires. Who was to say that the six Sages wouldn't covet the heart?

Not only that, there might be a treacherous piece of shit lurking among the six Sages as well. He had to be careful if only for that reason.

"Should I try and refine it then?"

The thought swelled uncontrollably as soon as it crossed his mind.

Of course, he was only thinking about refining it at a basic level. The power contained within the heart was way too powerful for him to refine it fully, not to mention that the wisp of spear intent. It would take him months or even a whole year to do that. No, he was just planning to refine it on a basic level so that he could store it inside his body's internal space. If he succeeded, then he would be able to hide its existence and refine it at his leisure.

Again, thought was useless. So, Ye Qing sat down, enveloped the heart with his demonic thought, and began the refining process.

......

There was a place called the Guest Welcoming Cliff on Gold Island. There, Jin Manshan, Ming Yueying, Yue Ling and more were gazing into the distance with hopeful and excited expressions. They seemed to be anticipating something.

A moment later, a lone boat appeared on the distant sea.

No one was piloting the boat. It was drifting on its own. Half-lying on the bow of the ship was an old man.

The old man was wearing a woven rush raincoat and a conical hat. A fishing rod was sitting next to his hand. He seemed to be asleep and fishing at the same time, relaxed and calm.

The boat did not have any sail and seemed to be moving slowly. In reality, it reached Gold Island in just the blink of an eye.

It was at this moment the seawater beneath the boat lifted it into the air as if it had a mind of its own. It delivered the boat onto the Guest Welcoming Cliff before falling back into the sea. Both ascent and descent did not elicit a single splash or ripple.

"Greetings, Elder Profound!"

Once that was done, Jin Manshan and everyone else waiting on the cliff rushed toward the boat and paid their respects to the old man.

"Here already?"

A few breaths later, the old man lying on the boat removed the conical hat he was using to cover his face, revealing a sleep expression and a pair of droopy eyes.

The old man looked to be in seventies or eighties. His hair and beard was completely white, and his face was so wrinkly it could trap a fly and kill it. His eyes looked murky and unfocused, his figure was slim and emaciated, and there were liver spots all over the back of his hand, his neck, and more. He looked old enough to have one foot in the grave.

"Rise, rise. No need to perform such ceremonies before an old man like me. If anything, I'm the one who should apologize for making all of you wait," said the old man while unsteadily climbing to his feet. Once he was standing, the boat, the fishing rod, the fishing net and everything else slowly flattened and turned white. In the end, they all became a part of a painting.

"So sorry for inconveniencing you all."

"Please, Elder Profound. It is Gold Island's and my honor to be able to welcome you on our shores. You are not inconveniencing us in any way," Jin Manshan replied with unusual meekness. Everyone else around him was echoing in agreement as well.

The old man might look old enough to pass away the next day, but no one in their right mind would dare to disrespect or look down on him. Forget them, even the heads of the Southern Sea Sword Sect, the Floating Light Celestial Island, the Sun Worship Divine Kingdom and more must treat him with the utmost respect.

After all, he was one of the six Sages of the Profound Alliance, Old Man Profound Firmament.

Old Man Profound Firmament was very ordinary. Why? Because he was a kind soul who spent all his years guarding the Profound Alliance. He did not put on airs, and he allowed anyone and everyone to visit him and ask him for advice. He was well-respected and adored by the people because he wasn't lofty and untouchable like other Sages.

However, Old Man Profound Firmament was also very mysterious. Why? Because no one knew how old he was, where he came from, or what his origins were. No one even knew how strong he was. For as long as everyone could remember, Old Man Profound Firmament was one of the Sages of the Profound Alliance.

Due to constant conflict with the Rakshasa Kingdom, the Sages of the Profound Alliance were often injured or killed in action. However, that cruel law of the jungle did not seem to apply to Old Man Profound Firmament. The evergreen tree of the Profound Alliance, even the other five Sages of the Profound Alliance were just his juniors.

In summary, Old Man Profound Firmament was the oldest, most senior, most well-respected, and most adored person in the entire Profound Alliance. Forget welcoming him in person, they were even willing to kneel before him.

"You're as fantastic a flatterer as ever, lad."

Old Man Profound Firmament joked before looking at Ming Yueying. "Yueying. Long time no see!"

"You still remember me, elder?" Ming Yueying looked stunned.

"How can I forget? You were the baby who pissed on me when I carried you!"

Old Man Profound Firmament said with a chuckle, and the woman who knew no shame for as long as people could remember turned as red as an apple.

"And you are Yue Ling, right?"

Old Man Profound Firmament looked at Yue Ling next.

"I am. Yue Ling greets you, senior!" Yue Ling clasped her hands together.

Old Man Profound Firmament praised her, "Mm, not bad. They all say that Feixia took in an excellent disciple, and I can see that the rumors are right."

"Please, you flatter me." Yue Ling hurriedly replied, "Master often told me about you, senior. Unfortunately, I was bedridden for most of my youth and could never find the time to visit you in person. I hope you can forgive me for the indiscretion."

Old Man Profound Firmament chuckled. "Why would I? Just visit me in the future, and this 'score' is as good as forgotten."

Yue Ling replied cordially, "I will take you up on your offer. I only hope that you don't find my frequent visits irksome."

"And the two of you are Jin and Ying's children, right? Not bad. Not bad at all."

Old Man Profound Firmament then checked out Jin Wanliang and Jin Qianshan and greeted them as well. He was extraordinarily friendly and did not carry himself with any sagely dignity or bearing whatsoever.

Jin Manshan offered after everyone was done with their greetings. "It must have been a cumbersome journey, elder. I have already prepared your meal and accommodation, so why don't you go catch some rest?"

"There's no hurry. Dao Friend Danxia is about to arrive. I will go after he appears," Old Man Profound Firmament replied.

"Celestial Danxia is arriving soon?" Jin Manshan exclaimed in pleasant surprise.

Before he could finish, Old Man Profound Firmament looked up at the sky and said lazily, "He's here."

As if on cue, a colorful hue appeared in the sky. The hue was extremely weak at the beginning, but it quickly spread out like ink and enveloped the entire sky in no time. The dark red sky was immediately repelled and replaced by the colorful hue, leaving behind only a fantastical sight.

That said, the colorful hue could not seem to cut off or expel the wisps of profound light surrounding Gold Island and its surrounding sea.

For a time, rainbow hue and profound light intermingled with each other. Gold Island looked like a celestial palace or a blessed land for a time.

Then, the rainbow hue descended like a waterfall and landed in front of everyone.

When the light faded, a man was revealed.