Chapter 1016: Chapter 1043: Only Hearing the Sound, Not Seeing the Trace! (Second Update) Chapter 1016: Chapter 1043: Only Hearing the Sound, Not Seeing the Trace! (Second Update) “I’m sorry, I mistook you!”

Yang Zhen spoke with such ease, as though he was joking around with old friends from thousands of years ago, entirely nonchalant.

“You!”

Bote’s face flushed with anger, but he knew that he had been rather presumptuous in staring at the Blue Bird Saintess, so he just huffed without saying another word. Still, he couldn’t help but want to sneak another few glances at her.

The Blue Bird Saintess’ aura was incredibly powerful; her presence almost instantly made her the center of attention, with nearly all eyes in the room falling on her.

Qi Yunling gave Yang Zhen, who seemed as unmoved as an old monk in meditation, a glance before saying, “The Blue Bird Saintess possesses a natural bloodline, the Blue Bird Sacred Blood, which is said to destine her to become a Saint Realm strongman. It’s just that her time of awakening was ill-timed, coinciding with great changes in the world, which caused her to fall into a deep sleep. Unexpectedly, upon awakening, she’s already on the verge of breaking through into the Saint Realm.”

Yang Zhen was taken aback and asked in surprise, “Does this world actually have such a thing as special bloodlines?”

Seizing any chance to belittle Yang Zhen, Bote scoffed upon hearing this and said, “What a wonder you are making of the commonplace. Legends of sacred blood have always existed. Just because you haven’t seen them doesn’t mean they’re not real. Besides, aren’t you a rogue practitioner with the heritage of the Great Desolation? How have you not heard of the Blue Bird Saintess?”

Yang Zhen grinned and replied, “I have been dwelling in the deep mountains for a long time and have not concerned myself with worldly affairs. Although there are still rumors about me in the world, I haven’t heard of the Blue Bird Saintess. Perhaps Sister Qingluan has heard of me.”

“Heard of you?” Bote burst into laughter and said, “Heard of the great name of Yang Tieniu, have they?”

At this point, Bote displayed a hint of disdain on his face, staring at Yang Zhen and saying, “Less talk will be better later on. Since Junior Sister Yunling has agreed to bring you along, I don’t want you to embarrass the Aurora Sanctuary. In fact, it’s best if you stand behind me.”

Yang Zhen nodded. He had no intention of stealing the spotlight in this situation anyway.

Qi Yunling was right – they were all here to find the Reincarnation Clock. Keeping a low profile was better than anything else.

Seeing how compliant Yang Zhen was, standing behind Bote, both Qi Yunling and Bote were somewhat surprised, but they said nothing and let him stay back, looking around curiously like a fascinated child.

As the group made their way through the crowd and drew close to Ming Luan, she suddenly turned around and looked straight at Yang Zhen.

Yang Zhen was startled and worried that Ming Luan had an issue with him; fearing an unprovoked attack, he quickly hid behind Bote.

Bote laughed heartily, turned around, and patted Yang Zhen on the shoulder, speaking with measured warmth like a senior brother of high virtue, “Don’t worry, Ming Luan is gentle by nature and won’t attack you.”

Too bad the Blue Bird Saintess saw none of it!

Yang Zhen was genuinely taken aback, thinking to himself that it was quite an effort to stay low-key, yet he had almost ended up slaughtering Ming Luan right at the start.

After all, a being that has lived tens of thousands of years is not easily dealt with. Yang Zhen figured that Ming Luan’s flesh certainly wouldn’t taste good – too old!

At the sight of Yang Zhen’s timid demeanor, everyone around burst into laughter, even Qi Yunling couldn’t help but giggle, her interest in Yang Zhen growing stronger.

Of those nearby, only the Blue Bird Saintess did not laugh out loud. Instead, she just pursed her lips in a smile, soothed Ming Luan with a hand, nodded to Yang Zhen, and then said to Qi Yunling, “Junior Sister Yunling, I didn’t expect you to arrive so soon.”

Qi Yunling immediately turned into a lively little girl, taking the Blue Bird Saintess’ hand and expressing her joy, “It’s Ling’er who didn’t expect Sister Qingluan to arrive so soon. Did you receive some reliable news?”

While Yang Zhen also wanted to grab the Blue Bird Saintess’ hand and introduce himself, seeing the countless pairs of eyes around him, he realized that doing so would contradict his intention to keep a low profile. Reluctantly, he held back and gave Ming Luan a glare.

Ming Luan rolled her eyes at Yang Zhen, no longer paying him any attention.

Following the conversation with Qi Yunling, the Blue Bird Saintess was clearly very pleased, shaking her head and saying, “We haven’t received any news about the Reincarnation Clock, but Martial Uncle Wang has disappeared nearby, so we had no choice but to come and investigate.”

“What?” Qi Yunling’s face flashed a look of astonishment, and she exclaimed, “Martial Uncle Wang has disappeared? How could a Saint Realm strongman just vanish without a trace?”

Hearing this, Yang Zhen’s expression shifted behind Bote, and for some reason, he suddenly thought of that old man who had whisked him into a vortex without a word.

Could that wretched old man be the Saint Realm strongman surnamed Wang?

At that thought, Yang Zhen almost burst into laughter. It served him right!

That wretched old man had slapped Yang Zhen for no reason and claimed he was blocking his path – as if anyone would actually block his way. Now, the same man had dragged the Sao Saint into the vortex and got sucked in himself; this was truly a delightful turn of events. Yang Zhen decided to celebrate by cracking open some melon seeds.

Sure enough, after Qi Yunling finished speaking, she suddenly uttered a low cry of surprise, “It’s said that above the Dust-free Summit, a Gate of Heavenly Emptiness appeared, into which two Saint Realm strongmen and Yang Zhen were drawn. One of the Saint Realm strongmen was the Nine Dragons Saint, and the other wouldn’t happen to be Martial Uncle Wang, would it?”

Very likely!

Yang Zhen spat out a melon seed shell and nodded, muttering to himself.

Blue Bird Saintess glanced at Yang Zhen and pondered, “Very likely. If the other Saint Realm powerhouse really is Martial Uncle Wang, then we have no way of starting our search.”

Qi Yunling tugged at Blue Bird Saintess’s hand and comforted her, “Sister Qingluan, don’t worry. I have heard people say they believe Yang Zhen won’t die inside the Gate of Heavenly Emptiness. If a little guy at the Celestial Phase in the Ninth Heavenly Layer like him won’t die in there, then Martial Uncle Wang and the Nine Dragons Saint certainly won’t die in there either.”

Hearing this, Yang Zhen almost choked on a melon seed and glared at Qi Yunling.

What did she mean by him not dying in there?

Just because this Sao Saint won’t die in there, does it mean that the Nine Dragons and that old coot definitely won’t die in there either?

What kind of logic is that?

Yang Zhen curled his lip, but he was also a bit curious. Who was it that had such blind trust in him, to believe he couldn’t be killed by the legendary Gate of Heavenly Emptiness?

A hint of curiosity flashed across Blue Bird Saintess’s face, and she asked, “Who have you heard saying that Yang Zhen won’t die in there?”

Qi Yunling giggled and said, “Many people have said so. They say that the legendary Yang Zhen is a major calamity, and that someone like him won’t easily perish within the Gate of Heavenly Emptiness. Hmm, I believe in him too.”

After hearing this, Yang Zhen, who had just hauled over a small stool, suddenly failed to sit down properly, plummeting to the ground, staring at Qi Yunling with his mouth agape.

Only then did Yang Zhen begin to understand why his reputation was so bad. This person was spreading word about him, but what did they mean by calling Yang Zhen a major calamity?

Do only good people die young, while calamities linger for a thousand years?

Yang Zhen smirked and thought that the person who spoke those words was either someone with an ulterior motive or that shameless brat Cheap Cat.

Blue Bird Saintess chuckled softly and said, “Along the way, I have also heard quite a few legends about Yang Zhen. Everyone says that Yang Zhen is a very unique individual. I just wonder whether I will have the fate to meet him in this life.”

Yang Zhen took pleasure in that and winked at Blue Bird Saintess’s retreating figure. What did she mean by wondering whether they would meet by fate? Wasn’t this a meeting right now?

Just then, Ming Luan suddenly let out a low roar and looked up into the sky.

A sound like that of a Dragon Bell came from the Ninth Heavenly Layer.

Dong!

The sound wave pierced through heavens and earth, resonating above the clouds, shaking the universe, and nearly all beings between heaven and earth were startled to the core.

This was the first time Yang Zhen had heard such a noise. His body shook, and his Spirit Soul almost dispersed. He hastily focused his mind and, with a blank face, looked up into the sky, cursing, “Damn, what the hell is that?”

Qi Yunling and the others were also startled but then their expressions turned joyful as they looked up and said, “The sound of the Reincarnation Clock, that’s the Reincarnation Clock ringing.”

A look of surprise appeared on Blue Bird Saintess’s face, and she asked curiously, “Why can we hear its sound but see no trace of it?”

Qi Yunling shook her head and said, “No one has ever seen the Reincarnation Clock. It seems that from a few days ago, we’ve only been able to hear this sound but can’t find any trace of the Reincarnation Clock.”

Blue Bird Saintess nodded and added, “Perhaps it’s not yet the time!”

While everyone was puzzled, a cold snort came from behind Yang Zhen, followed by a hand landing on Yang Zhen’s shoulder.

“Move aside!”

Yang Zhen was shoved and stumbled, his eyes widening, ready to turn around and strike back.

This bastard, trying to scare someone to death with his silent approach?

As he turned around, Yang Zhen broke into a smile–it was someone from the Black Lotus Sanctuary, no wonder they were so arrogant.