Retirement begins with summoning Yuan Tiangang

With his newly acquired underling—the remnant soul of the True Dragon, Long Ao—Lin Tian insisted on calling him Little Black. Long Ao was reluctant in his heart, but his body was honest. Lin Tian and Yuan Tiangang followed the path they had come from and walked out of the deep cave.

Breathing again in the fresh, grassy air of the mountains and forests, and seeing the last rays of the setting sun about to sink into the mountains, Lin Tian felt as if he had just returned from a long business trip, and his body and mind were much more relaxed.

Although there was no real danger inside the cave, the eerie and deathly atmosphere made it a place no human being should stay.

Xiao Hei was even more excited, greedily inhaling. Although the remnant soul state did not require breathing, it was a symbol, a symbol of freedom!

After so many years, he has finally seen the light of day again!

"Freedom! This is the taste of freedom!"

He spread his arms and let out a silent howl, afraid of disturbing others, so he only dared to make a show of it. His illusory figure rippled slightly in the setting sun, appearing somewhat comical.

"Shut up, keep a low profile!"

Lin Tian reprimanded him in a low voice, clearly annoyed.

"Remember your identity. You are now my shadow, a secret weapon, understand?"

"I understand!"

Xiao Hei quickly composed himself, trying to shrink into a blurry black shadow, following closely behind Lin Tian. However, his constantly looking around with curiosity about everything betrayed his inner turmoil.

Yuan Tiangang remained silent, following at the very back, like the most reliable rock.

The three of them, or rather, two people and one soul, walked towards the town. They were about to leave the back mountain area and step into the familiar oak forest on the edge of the town.

Just then, four figures appeared silently in the clearing in the woods ahead.

It was none other than the four reclusive masters of Hexi Town: the elegant Master Lin in his blue robe, the disheveled and drunken Yao Lao, the amiable Monk Ku Hui, and the muscular and deep-set Wang Tiebi.

The four people stood side by side, blocking the way.

They didn't release any imposing aura, but simply standing there, they seemed to merge with the surrounding mountains and forests, the earth beneath their feet, and the invisible oppression of heaven and earth, forming an invisible barrier.

Their gazes all fell on Lin Tian, ​​their eyes filled with complex emotions: inquiry, seriousness, confusion, and even a hint of... indescribable helplessness.

Lin Tian's heart skipped a beat.

Oh no, we've been found out!

It seems they are very sensitive to the commotion in the cave, or rather, to the "things" that came out of the cave!

He subconsciously glanced at Xiao Hei, who was trying to hide behind him, and then at Yuan Tiangang beside him, and calmed down a little.

With the commander-in-chief here, there shouldn't be any major problems... right?

The two sides stood in silent confrontation, the air in the forest seemingly frozen.

The setting sun's rays filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows between the two sides and adding to the tense atmosphere.

The smile on the monk Ku Hui's face disappeared, and his fingers, which were moving the prayer beads, stopped.

Wang Tiebi crossed his arms, his bronze muscles slightly taut.

Master Lin frowned slightly, and the scroll in his hand moved on its own without any wind.

Even the usually drunken old doctor had a sharp glint in his cloudy eyes.

Their gazes eventually passed over Lin Tian and landed on the figure behind him wearing a bamboo hat, whose aura was as unfathomable as an abyss.

Clearly, what they truly feared was Yuan Tiangang.

Lin Tian felt a chill run down his spine as he pondered how to break the awkward and dangerous silence. Should he try to explain that they had simply gone in for a trip, or should he directly reveal that this was his newly recruited underling...?

Just then, Yuan Tiangang, who had been silent like a statue, took a small half-step forward.

Just half a step.

He didn't even glance at the four people; his gaze seemed to pierce through them, landing on the distant void.

His voice, hoarse yet magnetic, carried a chilling and majestic quality that seemed to emanate from the deepest depths of hell, rippling slowly through the silent forest like tangible waves.

"Gentlemen, do you have any objections?"

There were no questions, no threats, just a simple inquiry.

But the moment those words were spoken, an indescribable, terrifying pressure, seemingly capable of freezing souls and crushing eternity, spread out silently like a tide, centered on Yuan Tiangang!

This pressure wasn't directed at Lin Tian, ​​nor was it deliberately released; it was more like a natural aura that belonged to an absolute superior!

It didn't damage a single blade of grass or tree, yet it instantly silenced all the chirping of insects and birds in the forest!

The invisible oppressive force field of heaven and earth seemed to be forcibly pushed aside and distorted by this pressure at this moment!

"Thump!"

The monk Ku Hui, who was standing at the very front, was the first to be unable to bear it. His face turned pale, and he knelt down on one knee, almost crushing the prayer beads in his hand!

His bald forehead was instantly covered in cold sweat, and his eyes were filled with unprecedented horror!

Wang Tiebi groaned, his feet stomping into the hard ground, creating two shallow pits. His muscles bulged and veins stood out, as if he was resisting immense pressure, barely managing to keep from kneeling, though his face was already flushed red.

With a "snap," Master Lin snapped the scroll shut in his hands. His body swayed slightly, and his righteous aura spontaneously activated, forming a faint protective light around him. However, under Yuan Tiangang's oppressive aura, that light flickered like a candle in the wind.

His expression was extremely solemn, and the way he looked at Yuan Tiangang was as if he were looking at an ancient god or demon who had just awakened!

Even the unfathomable Elder Yao straightened his hunched body slightly, and his cloudy eyes opened wide. They were no longer filled with drunkenness, but with utmost solemnity and... a hint of disbelief!

He stared intently at Yuan Tiangang, as if trying to see through the iron mask to understand his true nature.

At this moment, a storm was brewing in the hearts of the four people!

They knew that the masked guard beside Lin Tian was not simple, but they never expected him to be this extraordinary!

This is an indescribable pressure!

In Hexi Town, which is being suppressed by the Dragon Soul, how could he possibly exude such a terrifying aura!

Who exactly is he?

Lin Tian, ​​who was standing to the side and behind Yuan Tiangang, was not targeted by the pressure, but he still felt a tightness in his chest, as if the surrounding air had become thick and heavy.

He was equally shocked: "Holy crap! The commander is awesome!"

He only knew that the commander was very strong, and that he had the strength of a late-stage terrestrial immortal approaching the peak after unlocking 10% of his power. But he did not expect that under the abnormal suppression in Hexi Town, the commander could produce such an effect by only revealing a trace of his aura!

If they unleash their full power, what would happen?

Yuan Tiangang's calm words, coupled with his silent yet terrifying pressure, were more intimidating than any harsh words.

The four men, including Master Lin, exchanged glances and saw deep helplessness and apprehension in each other's eyes.

Struggle? Take action?

joke!

Even if the four of them joined forces, they probably wouldn't last more than three moves against him!

Moreover, the other party didn't seem to have any ill intentions; they were just... protecting that restless Lin boy.

Finally, Master Lin took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging blood and qi, and with difficulty cupped his hands in a respectful bow to Yuan Tiangang and Lin Tian, ​​his voice hoarse:

"I wouldn't dare... Please, senior."

After saying that, he turned around first and walked away with a slightly unsteady gait, his back view carrying a sense of desolation.

With Wang Tiebi's help, the monk Ku Hui stood up, bowed to Yuan Tiangang and Lin Tian, ​​and then left in silence.

Wang Tiebi gave Yuan Tiangang a deep look, his gaze complex, before finally turning around and following.

The old apothecary was the last to leave. He stared at Yuan Tiangang for several seconds, then looked at Lin Tian and the "shadow" behind him that was trying to shrink back but whose aura was clearly not human. He shook his head, sighed, and returned to his drunken state, swaying as he walked away.

The four masters arrived suddenly and left just as abruptly.

The oppressive atmosphere in the forest dissipated instantly, and the chirping of insects and birds resumed, as if everything just now had been an illusion.

Lin Tian let out a long sigh of relief, wiped non-existent cold sweat from his forehead, and gave Yuan Tiangang a thumbs-up: "General, you're awesome!"

Yuan Tiangang nodded slightly without saying anything more, as if he had just done a trivial matter.

Meanwhile, Xiao Hei, who had been hiding behind Lin Tian as a shadow, now admired Yuan Tiangang to the point of utter devotion, his illusory figure trembling with excitement.

"Boss! From now on, you're my idol! So awesome! A single cold snort subdued the crippled dragon, a single question sent four immortals packing! Awesome!"

Lin Tian slapped him irritably (his hand passed right through the afterimage): "Sycophant! Let's go home!"

After this experience, Lin Tian understood.

In this town of Hexi, hiding things only makes it easier to arouse suspicion and trouble.

Now that these four bigwigs have tacitly accepted, or rather been forced to accept, his special status, some things can be relaxed a little.

Looking at the excited little black dog beside him, he had an idea.