Shi Lang stood in the void, looking at the young lady before him with a faint smile. Shi Tao was observing every inch of the man in front of her. Shi Lang asked, "You have yet to answer me, Tao."

Shi Tao could hear the doting tone, and she said, "General Lang, if you pull back from the war, we will not fight you."

Shi Lang smiled and said, "It was never going to be a war but a death match between him and me."

Shi Tao felt cold and said, "Then we have nothing to discuss. The Guardian spears will now take action."

Shi Lang's smile did not falter as he kept looking at the lady. In the blink of an eye, twelve people stood surrounding the man. The terran general looked at the people and said, "Hmmm, a good team you have here. Twelve Mahayana, shall I feel honored."

Lili sighed and asked, "Sir, will you not take a step back?"

Shi Lang shook his head and said, "I cannot back down is more likely to define my circumstance."

Shi Tao clenched her fists and said, "There is no need to talk to him. Beat him up."

Manx was the first one to charge at Shi Lang. This guy appeared right next to Shi Lang, and his fists, glazed with red wisps of mist, were aimed at the former's liver. The general had not put up any guards to deal with this blow.

The fist made contact, but the desired impact did not come. Shi Lang gazed at Manx and said calmly, "I hope you do not come at me to kill, young man."

To Shi Lang, all these people were young. Anyhow, just one sentence from Shi Lang made Manx back away. When Shi Lang spoke, his voice channeled some condensed spiritual energy inside Manx's mind, and the simple words sounded like nuclear explosions to the latter.

However, this did not stop the others from attacking Shi Lang. Shi Tao watched everything from the side but could not find a single loophole. Even if Shi Lang was standing there like a dummy, his gaze was enough to make half the squad shiver and back away in fear.

Shi Tao has traveled the galaxy in these few decades, and her skills have reached the level where her gaze can kill people. However, Shi Lang was in a realm of his own. He was gazing at them with precise intensity. This intensity will trigger the amount of fear hidden inside people's hearts.

After almost the complete squad was pushed back, Shi Tao vanished from her spot and appeared near Shi Lang. She did not hold back and said, "Mountain Breaking Fists."

Her punches landed on Shi Lang's chest. Even though it made no difference, the lady kept on hitting him. The impact sent out visible shockwaves. After a hundred punches, Shi Lang took hold of Shi Tao and said, "I apologize for being gone."

Shi Tao did not seem to hear it all and kept hitting Shi Lang with all the frustration inside her. This was a venting session. Shi Lang sighed and let her vent on his chest. The attacks began to harm, but the one who suffered was Shi Tao. Her knuckles were scraped, but she was keeping at it.

Suddenly, Shi Lang hugged the lady before him. Then he said, "I am sorry..."

After seven minutes, the struggle calmed down,, and Shi Tao asked, "How strong are you?"

Shi Lang did not reply,, and his body began to squirm down. Shi Tao was surprised and realized that it was a clone. They had been them. She turned her head to look behind her and was shocked. It was not only her, but the entire squad was frozen. They were all surrounded by at least a hundred clones.

They all gave a similar spiritual pressure and the people gulped. Shi Tao looked around to locate the real one but the clones were identical. From breathing pattern to heartbeats. Everything was in sync as if they were all part of a big machine.

Manx looked around and wanted to say something when they heard a voice. This voice did not echo inside their minds, but from the surroundings. However, it did not come from the clones. This was why the people were shocked even more.

Shi Tao sighed and said, "We admit defeat."

The clones all flickered and vanished. The real Shi Lang appeared in front of them and said, "Can we talk now?"

Shi Lang smiled at Shi Tao, who looked at her team and said, "Go, we cannot defeat him."

Manx grunted and said, "He did not even use a move against us. We were defeated by an illusion."

Shi Lang was able to hear all this, but he did not comment. He was not going to give them any advice. These past few years he has been dwelling all over the world and his skills improved through sleeps and bounds, but all this came at a constant gamble of life and death.

He did not tell anyone what he has been through but if he had to sum it all up. He would say, that this galaxy was filled with things and places that did not have spirit energy but the degree of danger was no less of a threat to even a cultivator.

His realm has now just one minor level away from the peak of ascended mortal. After that he would be able to create the bridge of immortality and move ahead on the path of cultivation and ascend to the heavens.

The team under Shi Tao dispersed and she moved to float next to the man. She said, "You did not change much."

Shi Lang smiled and said, "You grew up, Tao."

Shi Tao did not reply and asked, "Where have you been all this while?"

Shi Lang sighed and said, "Exploring the sea of stars, looking for something that will give me an edge in the upcoming battle."This chapter's initial release occurred on the N0v3l-B1n site.

The lady asked, "Why did you not take me with you?"

The general sighed and said, "I could not have put you in danger."

Shi Tao glared at him but did not say anything, because she was aware that her strength at the time was nothing but a burden for him. She could not make him talk and asked, "Then can you tell me where is mom?"

Shi Lang smiled and said, "She has gone to meet your grandparents first."

Shi Tao sighed and the man beside her said, "If only you were little. My princess gave up pouting for sighs. I wronged you."

Shi Tao shook her head and said, "No, you did not. Just that you missed out so many of my ceremonies."

Shi Lang smiled and placed one of his hand around her shoulder and said, "I apologize."

Shi Tao did not resist and leaned her head over his shoulder as she said, "I missed you baba."

Shi Lang pecked her hairline and said, "I miss you too, Tao."

Thetwo people chatted for a bit and Shi Lang said, "I would like to test all the people who can take part in a massive mission."

Shi Tao was surprised and asked, "What do you mean by that? Are we taking a big force to deal with the demon?"

Shi Lang shook his head and said, "I will only tell you when you have the forces gathered."

The girl nodded and said, "Let's go home first."

The two people vanished from their spot and then appeared back at their home. Shi Tao called Lili over and made introductions. Shi Lang called in Jane and Lucas. The two people had been busy in research and Lili basically grew up here with Luna and Shi John.

...

The following day, the entire news media was covering the return of their hero. Shi Tao had taken to the press and disclosed the details of their battle last night. The guardian division was commended to pick up a fight against the strongest person in the world. Then she made her way to the parliament and went straight to the chairman of the general council office.

In the chair of the chairman sat a man with some gray hair and smiled when Shi Tao walked in. He asked, "Teacher came back?"

Shi Tao nodded and said, "Big brother Theseus, he wants to test the entire federal forces on his own. I can smell it, he has something up his sleeve."

Theseus smiled and said, "I had tasted what he is up to and I tell you until the test is confirmed, you need to wait. After things are settled you will know what is going on."

Shi Tao raised her brows and sighed, she understood that her father must have visited this place last night. She asked, "Any news from the Citadel?"

Theseus nodded and said, "The high council will be coming over soon. Teacher invited them They are going to stake everything they have on it."

Shi Tao began to walk around in the office and said, "I have no idea what does he intend to do."