Chapter 1288: The Star Lord What A Joke!

As night gradually fell, the city lit up with dazzling neon lights. The square-dancing aunties had already started heading home, and it was now the time for the younger generation to kick off their nightlife.

Qing Huanxiang and Gui Shoutian exchanged a few playful barbs as they packed up their fishing rods and began their journey home. Having known each other for tens of thousands of years, their banter had become a familiar and amusing routine. No matter how harsh their words might seem, it never affected their deep friendship.

Strolling leisurely along the road, the two old men gazed at the city's neon lights, filled with nostalgia. However, after walking a few dozen steps, they both suddenly paused, sensing something unusual.

Qing Huanxiang's expression darkened as he quietly turned his head. "Did you receive the message from Nan Gong Yifang too?"

Gui Shoutian nodded slightly, his eyes showing a hint of annoyance. "Yeah, I got it too. That old guy has been the Star Lord of Lan Star for tens of thousands of years, and he's always putting on airs. Now he suddenly sends us a message—probably nothing good."

Qing Huanxiang chuckled noncommittally. "Brother Gui, you're absolutely right. But he is the Star Lord after all. If he summons us, we have to show up, if only to give him some face. It's also for the sake of our countless descendants."

Hearing this, Gui Shoutian sighed reluctantly. "Sigh... Fine, fine. Let's just do it for the sake of our descendants. Honestly, I've never liked that Nan Gong Yifang. Just because he's from a higher-tier star, he always acts superior, looking down on us who come from ordinary stars. Who does he think he is? Let's just go see what he's up to this time. If it's nothing important, we'll just show our faces and leave."

Qing Huanxiang smiled faintly and waved his hand, opening a rift in the void. The two old men stepped into it, their fishing rods in hand, and disappeared in an instant.

When they reappeared, they were on a secluded mountain on Lan Star. The sky was filled with radiant light, and the air was filled with the melodious sounds of celestial music. At the peak of the mountain, in an elegant jade pavilion surrounded by clouds, a hazy figure sat quietly, exuding an air of tranquility. His long robe, adorned with intricate patterns, flowed to the ground, giving him an aura of profound mystery.

Seeing the same old pretentious demeanor that hadn't changed in tens of thousands of years, Gui Shoutian couldn't help but curse inwardly. "This old guy is still putting on a show! He summons us here, yet he sits there all mysterious, as if we haven't met before. What's the point of all this theatrics?"

Qing Huanxiang gave a subtle glance, signaling Gui Shoutian to hold his tongue, and then gestured for them to proceed. The two old men walked steadily across the cloud-covered path, passing through flower gardens, until they reached the pavilion. As soon as they stopped, a calm, emotionless voice greeted them.

"Gentlemen, it's been a while."

The voice was soft, neither warm nor cold, and seemed to resonate like a divine echo. The hazy celestial mist around the pavilion slowly dissipated, revealing a handsome middle-aged man who smiled faintly and gestured for them to sit.

"Please, take a seat."

The invitation was casual, almost dismissive. He didn't stand to greet them, nor did he offer any additional words. The teacups on the table had been upside down for some time, with no sign of tea being prepared. The lack of sincerity was palpable, and the whole situation felt perfunctory.

Qing Huanxiang stepped into the pavilion without a change in expression, and Gui Shoutian followed without a word. They both sat down opposite Nan Gong Yifang and gave a polite, tactical bow.

"Star Lord, what brings you to summon us so suddenly?"

Nan Gong Yifang's lips curled slightly as he began to speak in a leisurely tone. "No rush, no rush. I summoned you two here because there's an important matter at hand. This matter is of great significance, and only you two can resolve it."

The bureaucratic tone made Gui Shoutian's temper flare, and he couldn't help but press further. "Star Lord, if you have something to say, just say it directly."

Nan Gong Yifang's gaze shifted to Gui Shoutian, studying the old man for a moment before speaking with a more solemn tone. "Very well, I'll get straight to the point. Recently, an anomaly has appeared in the Godfall Land of Lan Star. A certain cultivator has proven to be quite troublesome, having slain several elders of the Godfall Palace and destroyed the temple. This individual's reckless actions have begun to threaten the stability of Lan Star..."

Before he could finish, Qing Huanxiang and Gui Shoutian already understood. So, this old guy had run into trouble and was now trying to rope them into dealing with a powerful enemy. What a clever plan!

As expected, Nan Gong Yifang's next words confirmed their suspicions. "This individual's cultivation is truly formidable, far beyond what ordinary beings can handle. After much consideration, I believe only the two of you can resolve this threat and restore peace to Lan Star."

The pavilion fell silent for several moments.

Qing Huanxiang smiled faintly and clasped his hands in a polite gesture. "Star Lord, please forgive me, but I have long since retired from worldly affairs. With you at the helm of Lan Star, everything has been running smoothly according to our previous agreements. As for this anomaly, I'm afraid I am no longer capable of handling such matters."

Seeing his old friend pass the buck, Gui Shoutian also understood the situation. He smiled and clasped his hands as well, offering his own excuse. "Hehe... Star Lord, you must be joking. This old man is frail and no longer as strong as he once was. I've been in seclusion for tens of thousands of years, as everyone knows. How could I possibly take on such a formidable enemy?"

These two were no pushovers, and they weren't about to be used as pawns. Nan Gong Yifang had enjoyed his glory for tens of thousands of years, but now that he faced a problem, he wanted them to clean up his mess? Only a fool would agree to that!

After both had declined, they didn't even need to exchange glances before standing up in unison.

"We regret that we are unable to assist. Please forgive us, Star Lord. We shall take our leave now."

As soon as the words left their mouths, Nan Gong Yifang's expression darkened noticeably. His cold gaze lingered on them for a few moments before he spoke again, his voice now carrying a palpable pressure.

"Wait!"

The single word carried an overwhelming force, and his tone was laced with clear anger. The previously calm and refined demeanor was gone, replaced by a more confrontational attitude.

Before the two could respond, he continued with a stern question. "Gentlemen... Although you are of equal status to me, and we have long maintained a balance of power among the three factions, you must not forget that I am the Star Lord appointed by the higher-tier stars. On Lan Star, my word is absolute. Even if you are the Demon Lord and the Sea Lord, you cannot simply ignore my authority. Now that Lan Star faces a crisis, I have summoned you here. Since you are aware of the situation, you should contribute to the greater good of Lan Star. If you refuse this responsibility, you must consider the consequences!"

His words were filled with arrogance and a sense of superiority, as if his position alone gave him the right to command them. Typical bureaucratic behavior!

Qing Huanxiang, no longer willing to play along, smiled and clasped his hands behind his back. "Hehe. Star Lord, you are indeed of noble birth, and your cultivation far surpasses ours. But as the Star Lord of Lan Star, shouldn't you be the one to handle this matter? With your background and the support of the higher-tier stars, dealing with a mere cultivator should be a trivial matter for you. Why would you need old relics like us to interfere?"

The sudden assertiveness caught Nan Gong Yifang off guard, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words. His expression grew even darker as he struggled to come up with a response.

"I... am currently unable to take action myself! I have my reasons, which I cannot disclose. If it weren't for this, I wouldn't have summoned you two. Regardless, you must eliminate this individual!"

Unable to take action? What a joke. It seemed that Nan Gong Yifang was so used to his high position that he expected others to do all the dirty work while he reaped the rewards. Why bother being his lackey when they could just go back to fishing on Shadow Island?

After all, on Shadow Island, the Star Lord was nothing but a joke!