With the death of Xue Yebai, the Empyrean Dragon Realm expedition and all the unexpected events that took place around it finally came to a conclusion.
The event wasn't private by any means. Countless major powers and rogue cultivators from all over the Cloud Plane had come to participate in it. As such, news about what happened couldn't be hidden for long.
The Xue Clan and the Wang Clan were both annihilated, traitors of the human race had appeared on the Cloud Plane, and new geniuses emerged in waves as if in response to the tumultuous times ahead.
Of course, news about Damien didn't escape this effect.
Whether it be the Central Continent where he resided or any of the four surrounding continents, the name Damien Void became a heated subject for all those in the Cloud Plane.
His feats in the secret realm weren't mentioned anywhere, as nobody had seen him within, but that didn't matter much in the grand scheme of things. After all, he made his grand entrance on the scene by destroying a major clan before entering the secret realm, and as if that wasn't enough, he did it once more after he exited.
Nobody could tell whether the advent of such a genius was a signal for prosperity or calamity. But anyone with a little bit of strength could tell. A storm was brewing not only in the Cloud Plane, but in the universe as a whole.
And just like that, a week passed swiftly.
The Celestial Star Palace had been in an uproar for the past week. An unknown genius in their sect had become a rising star in an instant, while the more famous Long Chen became the inheritor of the Empyrean Dragon Sword. From the looks of it, their sect would surpass the Jade Heavenly Palace with just a bit more time and effort.
Actually, many people were rushing around the Celestial Star Palace in hopes of catching a glimpse of the renowned geniuses of their sect, but both of them seemed to have vanished into thin air after returning from the secret realm.
The frenzied disciples even bombarded Elder Xiao Xun, Long Chen's master, to the point where she was forced to move from her residence to a higher location on Celestial Mountain which normal disciples couldn't easily reach.
The pandemonium continued on, but with the lack of response from the people in question, the commotion soon died down, allowing those involved to finally find a bit of peace.
***
In a certain courtyard near Tian Yang's residence at the peak of the Celestial Mountain, two men sat across from each other at a table.
"Fuck, this is why I always try to keep a low profile. Being famous is such a difficult thing for a poor man like me to handle." A man in black robes lamented. But betraying his tone of voice, his eyes carried a barely hidden twinkle of pleasure.
"You? Low profile? If a shameless bastard like you can be called low profile, then I might as well be a Demigod in disguise." The man across from him rolled his eyes and replied.
Naturally, these two were Damien and Long Chen. With the fame they had within the sect at the moment, hiding in Tian Yang's residence was the only course of action they could take.
Not that either of them minded. With how much they had been through in recent times, it was nice to take a short break before delving into the chaos once more.
"Say, what happened with Xiao Xun? I heard she was forced to move?"
"Don't mention it. Xun'er has been pestering me to move in here with us for a while now, but due to her status, that kind of thing has become impossible." Long Chen sighed. Having a so-called forbidden relationship like this one was truly troublesome.
Damien scoffed at his words. "How sad for you. If only you didn't seduce a Sect Elder, how easy would life be?"
"Shut up." Long Chen growled in annoyance. "Do you think I was actively trying to seduce her? How was I supposed to know that my Master would be so cute?"
Damien rolled his eyes. "Stop bragging. If you want to see cuteness, I can bring Ruyue over here and show you what real cuteness is."
"Tch, the Xue Clan princess? I heard that she's a block of ice, how can you call that cute?"
"Oi, don't be insulting my Ruyue. Let me give you some sage advice as a man with far more experience than you. The fact that she's a block of ice to others makes her cute moments infinitely cuter when they happen."
Long Chen squinted his eyes in suspicion. "Since when did you have more experience than me? Last I checked, you only lost your innocence—"
Long Chen's words were suddenly cut off as he was forced to abruptly dodge to the right. A boulder appeared in the space above where he was seated, crushing his chair to bits.
"Brat, don't get cheeky with me. If you really wish for it, I'll beat some sense into you again." Damien growled, hiding his reddened cheeks.
In fact, Long Chen had "become a man" far earlier than Damien had. In the romantic department, at least, Long Chen had a clear advantage.
Long Chen shuddered lightly at Damien's threat. Remembering their spar from a few days ago, he shut his mouth instead of trying to provoke the latter further.
Even if his mind didn't want to admit defeat, his body remembered the pain. The fact that he was forced to call this bastard "Boss" from now on was still too infuriating.
Seeing Long Chen's frustrated expression, Damien grinned. He took a new chair out of his subspace and placed it down for Long Chen to sit.
"Well, it's whatever. As for that Xiao Xun, if you want to bring her just do it. It's not like the old man doesn't know about your relationship already."
"Hm?!" Long Chen's eyes widened in surprise.
Damien looked at him with a dumb expression on his face. "Don't tell me you actually thought you were hiding it well? Bro, the old man is probably at the peak of 4th class and uses Divination Techniques frequently. If he couldn't even guess your relationship with his qualifications, I'd be too disappointed in him to call him my master."
"You don't call him your master even now, though."
"Shut up. You get the point."
Long Chen smiled. The peaceful days had indeed been a good stress relief for him, but he always felt something was missing. If his Xun'er was allowed to accompany him in his retreat, there'd be nothing better in the world.
"Thank you, Boss." Long Chen said sincerely. Even if it annoyed him that Damien got to be the oldest brother, he was still grateful to have a considerate friend like him.
It wasn't something Long Chen was used to, being a child from a major clan where betrayal was the norm.
But when he looked up, he saw Damien looking at him with disgust.
Long Chen's brow twitched endlessly. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Damien didn't answer. Instead, he glared at Long Chen suspiciously for many moments before speaking.
"You know, it's kind of gross when you act so sincere. Since when were you like that?"
Long Chen's face turned red with shame. "Fuck! I was going to be nice just this once, but a bastard like you doesn't deserve my gratitude."
"Yeah, yeah. You're Long Chen, the classic cultivation novel protagonist! You clearly delineate gratitude and grudge! Hearing words of sincerity from you should be my utmost honor!" Damien replied sarcastically.
Long Chen gritted his teeth. "This isn't the first time you've said something about these cultivation novels. Although I don't know what they are, I feel like you're insulting me."
"Very much so."
"At least pretend like you aren't!"
Long Chen stood up and flared his aura. "Come to the training area right now. I want a rematch."
Damien raised his brow. "Oho? Are you sure you want to do that? Aren't you afraid of getting beaten…little Chen Chen?"
"Fuck! I don't care anymore!"
Long Chen thrust his hand to the side, the Empyrean Dragon Sword manifested in his grasp.
As he did so, Damien stood up as well. Mirage appeared as if responding to Long Chen's provocation.
But just as it looked like a fight would break out, a man appeared between them.
"You two, do you ever stop fighting? Put the swords down for now. Brother Damien, your master is calling for you."
