It wouldn't be wrong if one said that having the position of the young guild master of the Guardians Guild was a supreme glory for the younger generation. It was a position all the young Gods longed for, and those with the capability would definitely try to fight for it. All candidates would also receive the full support of the organizations behind them. Whatever the cost one needed to pay for the position, it would be worth it.
Xiang Shaoyun couldn't understand why Xie Feng, the Saintly Forest Courtyard's master, was telling him to give up on the position.
"Old Xie, why is that?" asked Huang Baiwu in confusion.
"Do you think I'm not capable enough, Lord Xie?" asked Xiang Shaoyun, who couldn't accept being looked down on.
"Haha. Kid, you're unhappy about this?" Xie Feng laughed. "If you were given a few hundred years, this position would definitely be yours. But for now, you stand no chance. Qin Hongyan and Gongsun Yingxiong will not give you any opportunity. Perhaps you will go missing before you can even reach the Guardians Guild."
"Old Xie, the Guardians Guild is publicly known as the fairest organization in existence. They wouldn't be so shady, right?" asked Huang Baiwu anxiously.
"Um, those two old farts have been fighting against each other for countless years, and they have always remained in an impasse. Now that an era of calamity is coming, they have no choice but to elect a young guild master. Thus, the position can only go to their successors. Nobody else stands a chance," said Xie Feng confidently.
Xiang Shaoyun sank into silence. He could see that Xie Feng was being earnest and wasn't exaggerating.
"Kid, you should just stay in the Saintly Forest Courtyard. I can even get someone to appoint you the new courtyard master. With your experience, after around 10,000 years, you will be able to reach my level. At that time, the young guild master position wouldn't matter anymore," said Xie Feng.
Xiang Shaoyun and Huang Baiwu instantly understood what the courtyard master was trying to do. It turned out that he was trying to poach Xiang Shaoyun. However, comparing the Saintly Forest Courtyard with the Guardians Guild was like comparing the light of a firefly with the light of the sun and the moon.
However, there was no doubting that the Saintly Forest Courtyard had its own unique side. For example, the courtyard master, Xie Feng, was strong enough to be considered a powerhouse. For someone like him to personally poach Xiang Shaoyun, it was obvious how highly he regarded Xiang Shaoyun.
If Xiang Shaoyun could obtain the Saintly Forest Courtyard's support, after his strength progressed to the level of a powerhouse as well, he would be able to lead the Saintly Forest Courtyard to glory. Even if he wouldn't be able to surpass the Guardians Guild, he would definitely be able to build the Saintly Forest Courtyard into something comparable with the other three superpowers.
Xiang Shaoyun said, "Thank you for the offer, Old Xie, but I must become the young guild master."
"Did you not understand me? Pursuing that position is extremely dangerous!" said Xie Feng unhappily.
"I know. However, I can not disobey my master's wishes. In any case, I'm not a greedy coward who fears death," said Xiang Shaoyun firmly.
"Sigh. Forget it. Since you're courting death, you can't blame anyone else for what's going to happen," said Xie Feng. He knew that further persuasion would be pointless. With a sigh, he vanished before the two.
Both Xiang Shaoyun and Huang Baiwu shook their heads before returning to the Saintly Forest Courtyard. There, they bid farewell to the emperor emeritus. The old man did not try to make them stay. After giving them some advice, he let them go.
Just as they were about to leave, Huang Xiaoyue mustered her courage and walked up to Xiang Shaoyun. "Xiang Shaoyun, I'm sorry for everything that had happened in the past. Please forget it all."
"Junior Xiaoyue, what happened? I don't remember anything," said Xiang Shaoyun with a smile.
Huang Xiaoyue blanked out slightly before a wide smile formed on her face. She gazed at Xiang Shaoyun's departing figure, and only when he was far away did tears drip down her eyes.
The emperor emeritus appeared beside her and said, "Xiaoyue, just cultivate by my side from now on. With your physique, even if you can't catch up to Young Master Xiang, you will be at least as good as your imperial uncle. Only then will you have the confidence to chase after Young Master Xiang."
"Ancestor, do I have any chance at all?" asked Huang Xiaoyue softly.
"As long as you work hard, you will always have a chance. If you don't work hard, you will have no chance," said the emperor emeritus.
"Ok. Xiaoyue will not disappoint you, ancestor!" promised Huang Xiaoyue as a thick battle intent lit up in her.
Xiang Shaoyun's devil clone had finally reached his main body. Also arriving with the devil clone were Scarlet Flame Monarch, Devouring Ghost, and Green Ghost. After absorbing the clone back into his body, Xiang Shaoyun resumed his journey with them.
Defeating the devils that had occupied the Dusk Dynasty couldn't be done in a short period of time. With an old monster like Xie Feng around, humanity would at least be able to stop the devils from progressing further.
Before heading to the Guardians Guild, Xiang Shaoyun decided to pay the eastern sea a visit. He was going to retrieve all his belongings from two lifetimes ago from the Celestial King's Palace.
The things left in the Celestial King's Palace were only saint-grade items, but the palace itself was an amazing god-grade palace. He planned to absorb the entire palace into his astral cosmos sea, turning it into his astral cosmos sea's number one palace. In the future, it would become an astral palace and serve to anchor the existence of the entire astral cosmos sea.
Lonesoul Island was a desolate and uninhabited island where the Celestial King's Palace could be found. Relying on his senses, Xiang Shaoyun tore the space above the island and entered the Celestial King's Palace alone.
The space containing the palace was anchored by his bloody war banner, which served as the formation eye of the formation around the palace. The moment he entered, he sensed a bloody aura in the air. Not even a regular Saint would be able to resist that aura, but it was nothing for Xiang Shaoyun.
With a wave of his hand, he grabbed the war banner. Inside it, he instantly sensed a surging battle intent that could lift one's morale. "If I can turn this into a god-grade banner, I will definitely be able to increase the strength of my companions."
At that thought, Xiang Shaoyun gathered all the bloody aura and condensed it into the war banner. Unfortunately, due to material limitations, the war banner could only be upgraded to the great saint grade. It was unable to be upgraded into a true god-grade banner.
"Let me try the profundity of creation here," muttered Xiang Shaoyun as he focused his God Realm energy on the war banner. A power of creation formed in the banner as his primal inception energy branded the banner's pole. Slowly but surely, the banner started to upgrade.
Finally, Xiang Shaoyun used a drop of his blood essence and merged it with the war banner. Instantly, the banner shone brilliantly and released the heroic spirits that were within it. "Battle!" "Battle!"
These were the souls of the heroic warriors who had perished on the battlefield. Their battle intent was powerful, and under the nourishment of Xiang Shaoyun's God Realm blood and energy, they were pushed to their limits, transforming the banner into a true god-grade banner.
Xiang Shaoyun then kept the banner away in satisfaction. He started heading toward the Celestial King's Palace. That was his true target.