Just as Lu Fan and Han Xuanji were conversing, on the other side, Xuanyuan Po naturally also saw Han Xuanji.
His brow subtly furrowed, and a hint of complexity flashed in his eyes.
He now regarded Han Xuanji with some disappointment.
During their last joint exploration of the ancient ruins, this person's performance was too mediocre, failing to display any value that warranted his strong recruitment, so his subsequent enthusiasm naturally waned considerably.
Even if Han Xuanji represented Lingxu Heavenly Palace, what of it?
Lin Feng, in his eyes, was equally unfathomable, with at least a Peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal standing behind him.
Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Xuanyuan Po's face, and he cupped his hands, saying:
"Fellow Daoist Han, I trust you have been well."
His tone was calm, and his attitude was decent, but the fervor he once held was now completely gone.
The several Cultivators behind him even felt a hint of displeasure.
Han Xuanji heard the voice and slowly turned around.
"Fellow Daoist Xuanyuan, your demeanor remains as before."
He nodded slightly, his voice flat and devoid of emotion.
This overly calm reaction, however, made Xuanyuan Po's heart skip a beat.
He had anticipated that the other party might feel a little awkward, or perhaps try to rekindle their relationship.
But Han Xuanji's reaction made his prepared pleasantries seem somewhat superfluous.
Lu Fan, standing by, observed their brief interaction, understanding it perfectly.
He knew Xuanyuan Po must have looked down on his Master because of the previous incident, but he did not expose it, merely shaking his head inwardly.
Xuanyuan Po, oh Xuanyuan Po, do you know what kind of Opportunity you have missed?
Thinking of this, Lu Fan chuckled inwardly.
Han Xuanji did not notice Xuanyuan Po's subtle change in attitude; after a brief ponder, as if merely mentioning it casually, he said to Xuanyuan Po:
"Fellow Daoist Xuanyuan, in this Ancient Trial Path competition, powerful enemies surround us. Fighting alone might prove insufficient. How about you and Lu Fan temporarily join forces to explore the Ancient Trial Path together?"
Upon hearing this, not only was Xuanyuan Po stunned, but even Lu Fan was a little surprised, though he quickly thought it was a good suggestion.
The one currently in the limelight was none other than Di Lingxiao. This person had many strong individuals under his command and was also good friends with the top Prodigy on the current immortal dao prodigy ranking list, having invited him to assist this time.
Indeed, a hint of intention flashed in Xuanyuan Po's eyes.
The other candidates had profound backgrounds and faced immense pressure.
If he could gain an ally like Lu Fan, even if his strength wasn't particularly great, it could alleviate some pressure, especially during the Early Stage of exploration.
However, before Xuanyuan Po could speak, a Cultivator beside him, clad in black armor and exuding a fierce Aura, couldn't help but step forward and say in a deep voice:
"Your Highness, no! The Ancient Trial Path's Opportunities are limited. While forming an alliance can reduce resistance, it also means sharing the gains.
Fellow Daoist Han... with all due respect, your strength might not be able to provide assistance in crucial contests. If our main force fights valiantly, but then has to split the spoils equally, it would be unfair to us!"
Another white-robed Cultivator also frowned slightly and echoed:
"An alliance requires equal strength to last, but if you are willing to make concessions, it is not impossible."
Although these individuals did not explicitly state it, their contempt was evident, clearly believing that Lu Fan and Han Xuanji were not worthy of an equal alliance with Xuanyuan Po.
Lu Fan's brows furrowed tightly upon hearing this, feeling indignant. Just as he was about to retort, a cold sneer came from the side.
"Heh."
Lin Feng, who had been observing with his arms crossed, as if detached from the situation, now slowly lowered his arms and took a step forward.
No powerful Aura erupted from him, but the inherent majesty from deep within his Soul instantly made the several followers beside Xuanyuan Po feel an invisible pressure.
Lin Feng's gaze, like a cold bolt of lightning, swept over the two who had objected, finally landing on Xuanyuan Po. His voice was calm yet carried an undeniable power:
"Short-sighted."
These four words, like drops of ice, instantly made the faces of those few individuals flush red.
Lin Feng ignored them and continued:
"If Brother Xuanyuan also thinks this way, then I must decline to participate."
He said this to Xuanyuan Po, but his gaze meaningfully swept over Han Xuanji, with a hint of determination in his eyes.
What a joke?
Lin Feng wished he could directly side with Lu Fan.
These words were truly impolite, almost slapping Xuanyuan Po and his followers in the face in front of everyone.
"Hiss..."
Xuanyuan Po was somewhat bewildered by Lin Feng's reaction.
Lin Feng's origin was mysterious, and his strength was unfathomable. Xuanyuan Po had tried everything but failed to make him truly submit, only managing to maintain a cooperative relationship.
And all of this seemed to be related to this seemingly ordinary Han Xuanji?
Lin Feng didn't say much more; he had already moved to stand beside Han Xuanji, trying his best to control his expression and not to laugh.
Xuanyuan Po suddenly came to his senses. He looked at Han Xuanji again, only to see that the latter still maintained a calm and composed demeanor, showing neither surprise nor smugness at Lin Feng's strong support, as if it were only natural.
This unfathomable calmness, combined with Lin Feng's astonishing words, caused a turbulent storm in Xuanyuan Po's heart.
Thinking of this, Xuanyuan Po took a deep breath, suppressed the shock in his heart, glared fiercely at the followers behind him who still wanted to speak, and then, facing Han Xuanji, solemnly cupped his hands in a bow, his tone completely different from before:
"Fellow Daoist Han, I, Xuanyuan Po, would be honored to form an alliance. Let us explore the Ancient Trial Path together!"
He was indeed capable of picking up and letting go.
Han Xuanji thought Xuanyuan Po would put on airs, but he didn't expect him to concede so quickly?
"Alas... a face-slapping plot is indeed hard to come by."
Han Xuanji thought to himself.
Since Xuanyuan Po had personally apologized, Lu Fan naturally wouldn't hold a grudge. After the two established an equal alliance, Lu Fan began to introduce the secrets behind the Human Race Trial Ancient Road to Han Xuanji:
"This Ancient Trial Path leads to an ancient great world called the Xuanhuang Realm. To this day, there are still many descendants of Human Race powerhouses there, and it is also a refuge to avoid the Heavenly Dao's tribulation."
A place of refuge?
Han Xuanji pondered thoughtfully.
It seems this place is probably outside the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Dao, a lawless land.
There are likely many Human Race Grand Unity Golden Immortals, and even Chaos Realm powerhouses, who do not wish to participate in the Immortal Realm's conflicts, nor do they want to venture into the dangerous outer Chaos, so they come here to avoid tribulation. If the Human Race were to suffer disaster, seeds could also be preserved by going to the Xuanhuang Realm... As various forces arrived, conversations were inevitable.
The topic quickly turned to those who had long been famous throughout the star-filled sky, considered the hottest contenders in this Ancient Trial Path competition.
"I heard that with the opening of this Ancient Trial Path, that 'Number One Celestial Prodigy' has also arrived!"
A young Cultivator from the Xuanyuan Family said with a tone of reverence.
"Number One Celestial Prodigy? You mean... Yun Wuji?"
Someone nearby immediately reacted, their voice rising a few octaves.
"Besides him, who else could claim that title?"
The previous person sighed with emotion,
"Although this person only emerged ten years ago, his past achievements have overturned our imaginations. He attained the Taiyi Golden Immortal Dao in a thousand years and is now at the Peak of the Taiyi Golden Immortal Realm, hailed as... the closest among the younger generation to a Grand Unity Golden Immortal!"