From the Metropolis to the Strongest in the Cosmos

”Big Brother? Li Yang called Shen Xuan ’Big Brother’?”

”Are Shen Xuan and Li Yang that close?”

”How is that possible? I’ve never heard Shen Xuan mention it.”

Everyone present was stunned when they heard Li Yang’s words, especially Shi Lu.

He had been hoping the newcomer would be from his family. He never imagined that not only was it not, but it was Li Yang—who, like Shen Xuan, was also from Earth.

And on top of that, Li Yang and Shen Xuan’s relationship was incredibly close.

Shi Lu’s expression shifted rapidly, his gaze dark and uncertain.

’Shen Xuan is Li Yang’s Big Brother... Li Yang must have come to rescue him. There’s no way Shen Xuan will save me...’

’I was just antagonizing him so much. Shen Xuan must be furious with me. Now that Li Yang is here to rescue him, there’s no way he’ll agree to take me with them.’

Honestly, Shi Lu desperately wanted to get out right now.

The toxins in the Black Water Pool were constantly eroding his flesh, and he was enduring endless agony. The feeling was unbearable.

Furthermore, although his family was a power backed by Tri-System Deities, there was no telling how long it would take them to find out he was here. And even if they did, they might not be able to rescue him immediately.

He knew something of the Beast Origin Sect’s tyrannical ways. Once they sealed their gates, they wouldn’t necessarily show deference even to Four-Element Deities, making it extremely difficult for Tri-System Deities to get in.

Deep down, Shi Lu wasn’t actually sure he could get out.

Even if he could get out eventually, he would have to wait for some time. That would be at least a few months.

It was the same for Shi Lu and the few people around him. Hearing Li Yang call Shen Xuan ”Big Brother” made their hearts ache with regret.

’I shouldn’t have antagonized Senior Brother Shen Xuan.’

’Yeah, if we hadn’t antagonized him, we could be getting out right now, too.’

These people were filled with regret. They never expected that Shen Xuan, who seemed to have such a simple background, had such a powerful connection!

He was Li Yang’s Big Brother!

There were many rumors that Li Yang could even become the second Emperor of their Yangyuan Empire!

An Emperor! A being who could slay Deities with a mere wave of the hand!

While those few were full of regret, the brother-and-sister pair beside Shen Xuan, Hao Yuan and Hao Rou, were utterly ecstatic.

Having identified Li Yang’s Big Brother, Sect Master Leng Wu of the Beast Origin Sect acted swiftly. With a wave of his right hand, he lifted Shen Xuan from the Black Water Pool and placed him on the bank.

”Li Yang, we handled this matter poorly. I apologize to you...” Leng Wu said, turning to Li Yang to offer his apology.

Li Yang shook his head. To be honest, Celestial Road Star was a planet under the Beast Origin Sect’s control. He had no real grounds to object to them capturing people who entered their territory.

He looked at Shen Xuan and asked, ”Big Brother, are you alright?”

”I’m fine.” Shen Xuan smiled at Li Yang.

He circulated his Spiritual Power, and the dark specks on his legs quickly vanished.

”Since you’re alright, Big Brother, let’s get out of here,” Li Yang said.

There were many people here, but he had come only to save Shen Xuan; the others had nothing to do with him.

Although he felt the Black Water Pool was a bit inhumane, Li Yang certainly couldn’t voice his disapproval. This was the Beast Origin Sect’s internal affair.

”Mm.” Shen Xuan nodded. ”I have other fellow disciples here as well.”

Hearing this, Sect Master Leng Wu of the Beast Origin Sect immediately smiled and said, ”Shen Xuan, just point out your fellow disciples, and I’ll let them leave as well.”

He was being very generous now.

Shen Xuan pointed to Hao Yuan and Hao Rou in the Black Water Pool. The siblings, who had been standing with him earlier, now wore looks of fervent hope. ”Those two are from my sect,” he said.

”Alright.” With a wave of his right hand, Leng Wu lifted the siblings, Hao Yuan and Hao Rou, right out of the Black Water Pool and back onto the shore.

’Hao Yuan and Hao Rou are saved! They can leave the Black Water Pool and get out of the Beast Origin Sect!’

Watching the pair leave the Black Water Pool, the other disciples from the Profound Origin Sect were incredibly envious, their hearts filling with even deeper regret.

’If only we had continued to side with Shen Xuan, we would’ve been saved by now, too.’

This didn’t just apply to these few disciples; it included Shi Lu as well.

Shi Lu clenched his fists. He despised Shen Xuan, yet now his fate was completely in Shen Xuan’s hands.

He was seething with frustration and didn’t expect Shen Xuan to save him.

As for the disciples next to Shi Lu, they watched with longing eyes, desperately hoping Shen Xuan would speak up and get them out too.

”Shen Xuan, any other fellow disciples?” Leng Wu asked with a smile when he saw Shen Xuan still looking. His tone was remarkably polite toward this incredibly weak Longevity Realm cultivator.

Under the eager gazes of the Profound Origin Sect disciples, Shen Xuan nodded, pointed to them, and said, ”Him, him, and him... they are all my senior brothers.”

The Profound Origin Sect disciples Shen Xuan had pointed to felt as if they had ascended to the heavens. His words were like a divine melody, and their faces instantly lit up with excitement.

’Junior Brother Shen Xuan is getting us out of here!’

’We can finally leave this damned Black Water Pool!’

Amid their excitement, they also cursed themselves inwardly.

’I’m such an idiot! I was just siding with Shi Lu a moment ago.’

’Me too, I’m an idiot.’

They were filled with self-reproach. They had joined Shi Lu in opposing Shen Xuan, yet now Shen Xuan was the one saving them.

Leng Wu waved his right hand, and those disciples were also lifted from the Black Water Pool. Now, of all the disciples from Shen Xuan’s sect, only Shi Lu remained.

Shi Lu’s face was now a ghastly mix of pale and green. He lowered his head, his eyes filled with resentment and helplessness.

In that moment, he felt utterly crushed by Shen Xuan.

He knew Shen Xuan wouldn’t save him. Since that was the case, he wouldn’t beg for it. He prepared to turn away, unwilling to see the smug look on Shen Xuan’s face.

But before he could move, Shen Xuan’s finger suddenly pointed at him. ”And him.”

Then, Shen Xuan looked at Leng Wu and said respectfully, ”These are all the people from my sect. There are no others.”

Leng Wu nodded. With a wave of his right hand, Shi Lu was also lifted straight out of the Black Water Pool.

Back on the shore, Shi Lu still had a look of disbelief in his eyes. He stared at Shen Xuan, completely unable to understand his actions.

’Shen Xuan chose to save me?’

’But I antagonized him just now...’ For a moment, Shi Lu didn’t know what to feel. Disbelief? Scorn? Self-reproach? Regret?

A whirlwind of emotions churned within him.

”Junior Brother Shen Xuan even helped Senior Brother Shi Lu.”

”Unbelievable.”

The others were also surprised. But looking at Shen Xuan’s calm expression and Shi Lu’s ever-shifting one, there was no need for comparison. The difference between them was starkly clear.

”Li Yang, we made a terrible mistake capturing your Big Brother and putting him in the Black Water Pool. It was our fault entirely. You must stay at our Beast Origin Sect for a while, so we can make proper amends,” Leng Wu said with a warm and enthusiastic smile.

Li Yang was about to refuse when Soul Ink’s voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

’Li Yang, accept his offer,’ Soul Ink said abruptly.