novelsite Chapter 2288 Old Friend
Chapter 2288 Old Friend
Chapter 2288 Old Friend
More than a hundred years had passed since they last met. Xiao Moshan's hair had turned gray, his body was hunched, and his face was full of wrinkles.
Only the faint trace of sharpness between his brows can vaguely remind one of the former Shadowless Blade's demeanor.
"Boss, Senior Jing, are you... Lao Ben?"
Bentley shook his head speechlessly. "How old are you? You're decades younger than me, what's wrong with you?"
"Sigh, don't even mention it," Xiao Moshan sighed softly, shaking his head helplessly, "Little Qin is gone!"
He stayed in the empire because he wanted to accompany Xiao Qin on his final journey.
Xiao Qin came from a garbage planet, but now that he lives in the central city, his status is quite high, second only to the canyon and the base.
Bentley and Xiao Qin were once imprisoned together, so it would be a lie to say they weren't familiar with each other.
When the team went to the void, Xiao Qin was already quite old, and the probability of him reaching the highest level was extremely low.
However, Xiao Moshan insisted on staying with her and helping the team guard the Black Horse Tower, and no one could dissuade him.
It's important to know that when Xiao Moshan left the garbage planet back then, he insisted on leaving the team and returning to the military. He's a man with strong convictions.
At that time, Bentley almost killed him to prevent future trouble, but in the end he gave him an escape pod.
These are all things of the past and need not be mentioned again. It is now clear that Xiao Qin failed to break through to the Golden Core stage and died of old age.
Two team members remained behind, and Xiangxue didn't hesitate to ask, "Where's my dad?"
"Lord Mu Guang... has naturally succeeded in forming his Nascent Soul," Xiao Moshan smiled, "and is on his way."
Unfortunately, Leonardo da Vinci also passed away—which was almost inevitable.
In Xiao Moshan's words, under his protection, Mu Guang successfully condensed his Nascent Soul and later took away the last remaining Black Steed Tower.
After Xiao Qin passed away, he had nothing left to miss, and coincidentally, the Empire was inquiring about the Digital Phantom.
He wasn't close to Mu Guang, and since the other party had already reached the Nascent Soul stage, it wasn't something he could criticize.
However, Mu Guang also knew his background—this was the team that built the boss's fortune, and they came from a garbage planet.
Mu Guang certainly wouldn't provoke him. Putting aside Boss Qu, Jing Yuexin is also a Nascent Soul cultivator, and his own daughter has gone with the team!
So he took the Black Steed Tower by relying on his cultivation level—it's safer for me to keep it safe. If you want to cultivate, come find me!
Strictly speaking, neither of them did anything wrong, and they both shared the same expectation: when could the team return?
However, after Xiao Moshan saw Xiao Qin off, he felt that he had no more pursuit in life, so he rejoined the army!
The so-called obsession is not just a casual saying.
The military was anxious about not knowing the whereabouts of the Digital Phantom, but was overjoyed after making contact with him.
In an effort to win him over, the military conducted another purge of its troops, thoroughly eliminating any previous loose ends.
Then the military hired him as the chief instructor to teach all the elite troops!
Mu Guang disapproved of Xiao Moshan's choice, and the two officially parted ways as a result.
Of course, although they separated, they maintained basic contact—only differing opinions, with no personal grudges.
Mu Guang even welcomed him, allowing him to enter the Black Steed Tower to cultivate at any time. Since he still had some spirit stones, he would definitely be given priority.
However, Xiao Moshan no longer wanted to cultivate and focused on teaching the elites in the army. People can really be so willful for the sake of their obsessions.
It was precisely because he became the chief instructor that the military and the Empire were able to confirm that the Digital Phantom team had gone on an expedition.
Therefore, the related information circulating among high-level awakened individuals in recent years is not based on mere speculation.
Unfortunately, due to information barriers, people in the lower and middle classes can only consider it a legend.
However, although Xiao Moshan became the chief instructor, he did not spread the training method of Digital Phantom.
He was a truly dedicated person, only teaching some combat techniques or offering guidance to those who were confused during their cultivation.
When pushed to the limit, his reply was, "You don't even have the conditions for cultivating the Digital Phantom, so what can I say?"
Later, Imperial Storm, which also belonged to the Imperial military, became somewhat unhappy, as mentioned earlier, he was the Supreme One.
This being, equivalent to a Nascent Soul cultivator, approached him, implying, "You better be respectable. The Empire thinks so highly of you, don't push your luck!"
Ultimately, it's because Digital Phantom has been gone for too long. Empire Storm had learned its lesson before, and now it's letting loose.
Xiao Moshan wasn't about to fall for that. "You're just a pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivator, while I'm a true Golden Core cultivator. How about we have a fight?"
They fought to a draw, and both sides were evenly matched. Xiao Moshan was slightly injured, and Imperial Storm also suffered some backlash.
However, when Mu Guang found out about this, he was furious: "Damn it, how dare you bully people from Digital Phantom?"
So Mu Guang went to find Imperial Storm again. After the battle, Imperial Storm disappeared without a trace.
These are extremely confidential details; even within the highest echelons of the empire, fewer than a dozen people know them.
The Federation and the Alliance were completely kept in the dark, only knowing that the Imperial Storm had disappeared, and they would inquire about its whereabouts from time to time.
However, the disappearance of the Imperial Storm also put some pressure on Xiao Moshan's side.
How could someone so high up, a pillar of the empire, just vanish like that? What did you do?
Xiao Moshan was not one to be trifled with. He immediately announced the name of the expeditionary fleet and declared that he was going to conquer the alien race!
The Imperial military naturally wouldn't allow him to go and tried their best to keep him, saying that he was a vital national asset—there were many good things that hadn't been left behind yet.
However, he said: "The digital phantom will come back sooner or later, so you'd better let me have my way!"
As it turned out, he did go to war, and after several fierce battles, his foundation was severely damaged!
Any one of these events could be written about at length, but he easily glossed over them.
So his current old age is not due to the end of his lifespan, but rather the result of his own self-destructive behavior. It's too late for him to regret it now.
But he has no regrets. "My life has been worthwhile. I have no regrets as I can see you all come back before I die."
People can really be this willful!
As for his title of marshal, it was actually just an honorary marshal with no real power.
He returned from the battlefield covered in wounds, and the empire, knowing he had gone there out of spite, was bound to show some appreciation.
It's just an honor, a little bit of treatment, nothing special.
When Qu Jianlei and the others returned, Xiao Moshan was already enjoying his retirement on the Imperial Capital Star. He temporarily requested a division-class ship to come over!
Of course, regardless of his rank, given the nature of the matter, no one dared to stop him, and no one even dared to try to use the starship.
After he finished speaking, everyone sighed with emotion. After a while, Xiangxue finally spoke up, "How is my father now?"
“He’s living a very happy life,” Xiao Moshan could only smile bitterly upon hearing this. “He’s found you several stepmothers at Yanyutai!”
It might seem a bit frivolous for an elderly man with white hair to speak like that, but they are all comrades who fought side by side, so it doesn't matter.
However, compared to him, Mu Guang truly understood life.
Prior to this, he had worked as a tomb raider and generally maintained a respectful distance from the imperial government.
He won't fight against the alien races—his previous battles were because he was with his team, and as for the government? They're nothing!
The Yanyutai base was not noticed by the government, unlike the Shuguang base, which has now become a memorial hall.
So Mu Guang lived a leisurely life here, indulging in sensual pleasures most of the time, and occasionally practicing cultivation.
However, Xiao Moshan did not look down on him for this, knowing that he was also waiting for news from Digital Phantom.
If the boss and the others don't return, Mu Guang will have no chance to improve himself. But he still has a long life ahead of him, so why not enjoy life?
It can only be said that everyone has different personalities and different circumstances, which leads to different lives.
Moreover, Mu Guang had even taught Imperial Storm a lesson for him. Was he someone who didn't remember old friendships?
However, Mu Guang was far from the government and lacked access to information, so it was normal for him to arrive a little late.
"It's good that you didn't say anything bad about me!" A figure flashed, and Mu Guang appeared, still looking like the refined and cultured middle-aged man he always was.
He said with a smile, "I've also acquired a legionary warship, thinking I can use it to escape if necessary!"
Then he looked at Xiangxue, "Oh, not at the Nascent Soul stage yet? You're only a little short of your old man's..."
He was halfway through his sentence when he finally noticed two unusual auras and turned around in surprise, "These two lords..."
"A Nascent Soul Immortal!" Qu Jianlei said calmly, "Old Mu, be polite."
"Greetings, two Immortal Venerables," Mu Guang said respectfully, raising his hand in a cupped-knee gesture. "Excuse my rudeness!"
Minning Zhenzun couldn't understand, but that didn't prevent him from comprehending, so he raised his hand and sent out a thought, "You may reminisce as you please!"
The next moment, Xiangxue's face darkened. "You found me several stepmothers?"
“I’ve always treated them with sincerity,” Mu Guang replied nonchalantly. “I’ve given them enough money, and they didn’t even give you a younger brother.”
"Huh?" Upon hearing this, Jin Ge Zhenxian became interested and sent out a thought, "How can one avoid having children?"
What he really wanted to ask was: How can I have a child?
“This… uh, Immortal Venerable,” Mu Guang felt his thoughts were a bit confused, “well, let’s take some measures.”
Is this the kind of question a Celestial Venerable should ask?
"Alright, you two, father and daughter, have a chat first," Qu Jianlei said, unable to bear it any longer.
Then he looked at Xiao Moshan and said, "Marshal Xiao, given your current condition, it's not appropriate for us to take you away."
"Alright then, we'll come back and resolve the issue of the alien races, you'll see... Is there anything else you wish for?"
Even though Han Li was a Nascent Soul cultivator, he didn't want to waste decades of his life, nor did he want to waste time engaging in pretense.
The path of cultivation is cruel; if you don't advance, you fall behind. Some people fall behind, and no one will stop and wait for them.
The three words "Marshal Xiao" said it all; the die was cast, and it was too late for him to turn back.
"Hehe," Xiao Moshan chuckled, a bittersweet smile mixed with relief, "That's just how I am..."
"But Xiao Qin and I have over a hundred children. How about... Boss, you pick a few that you find appealing?"
"What... more than a hundred?" Qu Jianlei was a little overwhelmed. More than a hundred children? How did you have that?
Then he realized, "Oh, external?"
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