Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Three: Met Your Highness
Wang Tianzong didn’t hide anything.
His palm appeared on the huge screen in front of the stands.
A few green leaves, still green but no longer sharp, fell from his hands.
He stared down at the drop of blood on his palm.
His hands were covered with sunlight, and the sunlight shimmered and flowed in the blood, with a dreamy crystal quality.
Through the screen, everyone saw the blood in the Sword Emperor's hands.
Everyone found it incredible, were in an uproar, and were filled with shock.
But if you think about it carefully, no one knows what they are shocked about.
Mountains and rivers are forever silent.
That sword covered the world, all light turned into darkness, and the world was silent and void. Only a few green leaves floated with the sword's intention, and finally hit Wang Tianzong's palm, bringing up a drop of blood.
This is undoubtedly the most powerful sword among the younger generation.
So what's the shock?
Looking at Wang Tianzong's palm, everyone didn't know whether they were shocked that Li Tianlan was too strong, or they were sighing that Wang Tianzong was too strong.
That unprecedented sword brought out a drop of blood from Wang Tianzong's palm.
It seems like glory, but also like humiliation.
Everyone's inner shock turned into complicated.
A flash of sword intent surged in Wang Tianzong's hand.
Blood drops wrapped in sword intent dripped from his fingers and landed on the green leaves at his feet.
The small, invisible wound on his palm had begun to heal.
Wang Tianzong lowered his head and was silent for a long time.
The entire exercise area completely froze with his silence.
Li Tianlan and Wang Tianzong stood face to face.
Wang Shengxiao and Song Ci lay together.
Guhanshan and Jiangshangyu lie together.
Both fell into coma.
Li Tianlan said nothing.
It wasn't that he didn't want to move, but he couldn't move.
Wang Tianzong's sword intent was condensed and undissipated, but it was invisible and qualityless, locking him firmly in place. It was indescribable, irresistible, and could easily tear him apart.
Li Tianlan stood quietly, restrained his sharpness, and even completely restrained the calmness and indifference he had always maintained.
His body was like a lifeless dead tree, looking a little fake.
Wang Tianzong raised his head and looked at Li Tianlan with a playful look in his eyes.
"I have met His Majesty."
Li Tianlan bowed slightly.
The invisible sword intent restrained everything around him. Even when he bent down, Li Tianlan did not dare to bend too much.
His eyes were looking at the ground as his body bent.
Under the absolute force, his talent and swordsmanship were unprecedentedly powerless, and even the most respectful salute was not free.
There is no freedom in saluting.
The muscles at the corner of Li Tianlan's mouth twitched hard.
He didn't show any anger, but his eyes looking at the ground became extremely obscure.
"interesting."
Wang Tianzong looked at Li Tianlan. His eyes were as deep as the sea. Even though they were calm and gentle, they were still awe-inspiring.
"But it's still not enough."
he continued.
Li Tianlan straightened up and looked into Wang Tianzong's eyes.
The two looked at each other for a moment.
He moved his eyes away and looked at the four unconscious opponents who were protected by Wang Tianzong behind him.
"That's enough for them."
Li Tianlan said.
"Not enough for me."
Wang Tianzong's voice was indifferent and clear.
What is clear is the attitude.
Li Tianlan's body tightened little by little.
The air was filled with sword intent but no killing intent.
But Wang Tianzong's words to me are not enough to explain everything.
There was a sound of cracking in the woods behind him.
The three figures passed through the passage in the woods that was blasted out by Li Tianlan's punch at the fastest speed, and finally stood between Wang Tianzong and Li Tianlan.
Zhuang Huayang.
Dongcheng is invincible.
As well as Qingfeng, the director of the political department of Sky Academy and the top assassin in Sigh City.
From a martial arts perspective, these are just three masters who have yet to reach the invincible realm.
But speaking from the general trend, these three people respectively represent the academic school, the wealthy group, and the City of Sighs on such an occasion.
The three of them rushed over as soon as Wang Tianzong disappeared, and they didn't arrive at the scene until now.
Seeing Li Tianlan standing there safe and sound, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief almost at the same time.
Wang Tianzong's eyebrows suddenly raised, like a sword being drawn out of its sheath.
He had always been calm before, but at this moment, with his eyebrows raised, Wang Tianzong suddenly became extremely powerful and fierce.
"Step aside!"
Wang Tianzong said calmly.
"Why did your Majesty have to go to this point? The exercise between the two houses is a stage for young people. Now that the results are clear, please respect the rules of the exercise between the two houses."
Zhuang Huayang said seriously.
After Li Tianlan's sword intent was torn apart.
Before the attack by Wang Shengxiao and others fell into the realm.
In that short period of time, Zhuang Huayang had already received a call from the chief.
seeing is believing.
Li Tianlan's combat power and potential are now seen by everyone in front of everyone.
For academics who have high hopes for Li Tianlan, they must show clear support at this time.
"You can't stop me."
Wang Tianzong took a step forward.
The sword energy surrounding Li Tianlan slowly shrunk, but the three masters standing in front of Li Tianlan simultaneously felt an overwhelming sense of oppression and rushed towards them.
Dongcheng Wudi took a step forward.
His face was expressionless, but his eyes seemed to be burning with fire, fierce and determined.
"war?"
he asked bluntly.
In the stands, in front of everyone, he mobilized 40,000 troops and at the same time used the power of Wang Wantian, the new commander of the Eastern Theater Command, to restrain the top brass of the Eastern Theater Command.
He had long said the consequences of Wang Tianzong's daring to take action.
Wang Tianzong dares to break the rules, Dongcheng Wudi dares to do whatever it takes.
As long as he touches Li Tianlan, the next step will be an endless war between the military and the Beihai Wang family!
This is the overall situation of Dongcheng Invincible.
"I won't kill him."
Wang Tianzong took a deep look at Dongcheng Wudi and said slowly: "I just think he is more suitable to be an ordinary person. This is good for everyone."
Dongcheng Wudi moved forward again, it was still the same question, with exactly the same tone and content.
"war?"
Facing the strongest sword emperor in the dark world, Dongcheng Wudi's attitude became more and more tough and aggressive.
Wang Tianzong looked at his face.
He observed it for half a minute before suddenly laughing.
Listen to the sea trembling gently in his hands.
Wang Tianzong's thumb pushed the hilt of the sword.
The sharp blade was unsheathed inch by inch.
"It's war."
He said, no matter his eyes or expression, there was no room for rejection.
Not killing Li Tianlan was his biggest compromise and concession.
But Wang Tianzong didn't think it was necessary to preserve his fighting prowess.
Li Tianlan is still alive.
In such a war, how much justice can the Dongcheng family hold?
...
The pupils of the Dongcheng family suddenly shrank.
He saw the unchangeable determination in Wang Tianzong's eyes.
But he also had reasons why he couldn't compromise.
Li Tianlan must live, and his martial arts must not be damaged at all.
Otherwise, what's the point of the wealthy group's years of planning?
"Your Majesty, the City of Sighs is only a few hundred miles away from the Wang family in Beihai. This location is very close."
Qingfeng's voice was soft, like a reminder, but his expression was also extremely determined.
Clear wind and flowing clouds.
The two top assassins known as the Twin Walls of the City of Sighs.
Their ability to reach their current position depends not only on force.
And ability.
At least in such an occasion, Qingfeng is standing here, and he is qualified to express his position on behalf of the entire City of Sighs.
The City of Sighs is only a few hundred miles away from Beihai Province.
This distance is within the shooting range of medium-range missiles.
The top assassins in the City of Sighs can cross this distance in a day.
Qingfeng's words were very brief, but their meaning was profound and extremely rich.
Wang Tianzong is still laughing.
The most impressive impression left by the Sword Emperor to Zhongzhou and the Dark World is that calm and silent face that makes one not even know what he is thinking.
He smiled handsomely, with a charm unique to an old man, and looked very warm.
But when this smile fell in Qingfeng's eyes, it carried an unspeakable danger.
His whole body was tense and he was about to move.
Wang Tianzong has already taken a step forward.
The sword energy surrounding Li Tianlan suddenly expanded, forming a straight line between several people.
In an instant, Qingfeng felt like a mountain was pressing on him.
As far as the eye can see, for thousands of meters, the forests on the earth are rising continuously, and the sky and the scorching sun are suddenly far away.
Messy smoke and dust rose up and drifted.
Qingfeng's vision was in a violent trance, and he noticed the severe pain in his body. The endless pressure squeezed him from all directions, making it extremely difficult for him to even move a little finger.
Qingfeng suddenly woke up.
Heaven and earth are still heaven and earth.
It never rises, never moves away.
It was his body that collapsed.
The sword intent surges.
The heavy sword energy pressed on him, Wang Tianzong's footsteps fell, and Qingfeng's entire body was directly pressed into the ground.
His bones and muscles were intact, but most of his body was pressed into the ground, leaving only his head on the ground.
Qingfeng opened her eyes in shock.
He couldn't raise his head.
In his sight, he could only see Wang Tianzong's shoes.
"I don't accept threats."
Wang Tianzong looked down at Qingfeng, this was truly condescending.
Qingfeng's face turned red instantly.
He wanted to get angry, but Wang Tianzong's eyes had already fallen directly on Li Tianlan.
His eyes were deep, dangerous, and indifferent, like a goshawk watching a hare.
"His Majesty!"
Zhuang Huayang gritted his teeth.
"roll."
Wang Tianzong said calmly.
He walked past Qingfeng without even looking at Zhuang Huayang.
Zhuang Huayang's eyes narrowed tightly.
Anger? Humiliation?
These are not the most important.
He is over seventy years old and has experienced too many ups and downs in his life, and a single word will not make him lose his composure.
What he felt most intuitively was Wang Tianzong's determination.
This exercise made the Beihai Wang family and Kunlun City truly aware of Li Tianlan's infinite possibilities and huge threats in the future.
Wang Tianzong trampled on the rules, trampled on everything, ignored the general trend, and made it clear that he wanted to completely destroy Li Tianlan.
Dongcheng Wudi's face, which had always been extremely calm, gradually became distorted, became ferocious, and became crazy.
The big screen in front of the stands is still on.
Dongcheng Wudi raised his hand.
His palms are steady and resolute.
Today in Huating, he was ready to bear all the consequences.
So now he dares to do anything.
Wang Tianzong was the best in the world. He dared to trample on the rules and abolish Li Tianlan, but Dongcheng Wudi didn't believe that he dared to completely ignore Zhongzhou and hurt a director of the decision-making bureau.
Wang Tianzong has made up his mind.
He wants war.
If Dongcheng is invincible, give him a war!
Under the sun, in the shadow of the woods, Dongcheng Wudi's palms suddenly closed together, and he clenched his fist and waved hard!
In front of the stands, 40,000 elite soldiers of the Frontier Corps saw this scene clearly.
This gesture only means a military order in the Border Guards Corps.
Attack on all fronts! Do whatever it takes!
Major General Li Zonghu of the Border Guards Army suddenly roared at the top of his lungs.
At the moment when the 40,000-strong army stood at attention, a roar that was so violent that it hurt the throat suddenly sounded, and the sound shook the sky.
"Border Guard Corps! March!!!"
Li Zonghu of the Bloody Legion.
Pegasus Legion Sun Mengran.
Kuangsha Legion Guan Zhengjie.
Wu Junyu of the Black Dragon Legion.
The four top generals present in the 40,000-strong army sprinted at full speed.
Take the lead.
The officer is in front.
Soldiers behind.
The nearly endless army began to charge at the same time without hesitation.
The heavy footsteps were like muffled thunder that shook Sky Academy one after another.
Irritated and fanatical.
Forty thousand troops surged towards the exercise area at the fastest speed, and the sea of people turned into a huge wave in an instant.
The entire Sky Academy was trembling and shaking under the charge of 40,000 troops.
Dust is flying all over the sky.
The high platform kept shaking.
Everyone looked at the scene in front of them with pale faces.
Seeing the most elite army in Central Continent, they rushed towards the strongest Sword King in Central Continent without any hesitation or hesitation.
Forget about life and death!
The fighter planes and helicopters taking off from the Sky Academy began to dive.
One tank after another rushed out of the arsenal.
The momentum is huge.
Don't compromise, don't give in.
Fight until death!
...
Wang Tianzong clearly heard the charge and roar of the 40,000-strong army at the Sky Academy, clearly felt the earth shaking violently, and clearly saw the fighter planes starting to swoop towards here in the sky.
Wang Tianzong suddenly felt grateful to the Palace of Reincarnation.
Thank you for the deep sea near the Palace of Reincarnation.
If it were him a few days ago, even if he could escape unscathed today, it would be extremely difficult to cope with today's situation.
In the silent and heavy deep sea, he brought up a sword with a sword energy that was ten thousand meters long and shot straight into the sky.
That sword is enough to overthrow the entire world.
Naturally, he took another half step forward in his peak state.
So for him.
Li Tianlan's sword power is not enough.
Forty thousand troops are not enough.
There are not enough fighter planes in the sky.
Tinghai Sword was slowly unsheathed in his hand.
The strands of sword energy are as heavy as mountains, as surging as the sea, and as high as the sky.
This sword energy is not strong.
But it's extremely perfect.
Completely natural.
Li Tianlan stood at the center of the sword energy, seeming to be cut off from the entire world.
There was no sound, no scenery, and no human figures around.
All is light.
pure.
Endless light.
The light wavered slightly.
Li Tianlan, who almost won the team exercise with a complete victory, suddenly burst out with large amounts of blood.
His face turned pale instantly.
His upright body seemed to be under tremendous pressure, and all the bones in his body were shrinking.
Li Tianlan's eyes were quiet and plain.
The great pain is getting stronger and stronger.
The heavy sword intent seemed to crush everything in him.
He used all his strength to stand where he was.
Don't retreat.
Don't bend down either.
If today is destined to be the end of his life, he will always maintain the most proud posture, give the world an impressive victory, and also give the world the most wonderful ending.
Wang Tianzong felt Li Tianlan's pride and tenacity.
He smiled softly.
No ridicule, no teasing, no emotion, no melancholy.
Just a pure smile.
"it's useless."
He said: "If I want to touch you, no one can stop me."
"I can stop it."
Li Tianlan said softly.
His voice was stable, but under the severe pain, his voice was a little weak and hoarse.
Blood gushed out from his open mouth.
Li Tianlan looked at Wang Tianzong calmly: "How old are you this year?"
Wang Tianzong was stunned for a moment.
"More than fifty years old...it's really half a lifetime."
Li Tianlan said something to himself.
Amidst the crazy scrolling sword intent, Li Tianlan raised his hand with difficulty.
Countless blood spilled down as he raised his hand, and a bone-deep wound suddenly appeared on his arm.
Li Tianlan's expression was so peaceful that it was almost numb.
His fingers flicked in the sprinkles of donated blood.
"puff!"
A dull and thin voice sounded directly behind Wang Tianzong, accompanied by several extremely suppressed hums.
Wang Tianzong turned around without any scruples.
His pupils condensed instantly.
In sight, Wang Shengxiao, Song Ci, Jiang Shangyu, and Gu Hanshan have woken up from their coma.
With the snap of Li Tianlan's fingers.
The void sword energy rushed out from various parts of the bodies of the people in an instant, bringing with them blood sprays that reached the sky.
Arms, legs, abdomen, eyes, nose, mouth.
There was blood gushing out everywhere.
The most seriously injured Wang Shengxiao's aura dropped to the bottom the moment his sword intent exploded, and his eyes became dim.
Wang Tianzong's eyes flashed with hesitation, and he turned back to look at Li Tianlan.
Li Tianlan's expression was still calm, but his eyes were flashing with a ferocious, crazy and somewhat hysterical smile.
He saw the hesitation in Wang Tianzong's eyes.
But he had no intention of negotiating.
If these chips can't stop Wang Tianzong from taking action.
Wang Tianzong also could not stop the destructive sword energy that Li Tianlan had left in the bodies of Wang Shengxiao and the others.
His body is getting closer and closer.
The four people who woke up were twitching all over, the sword energy was surging faster and faster, and the four people were all covered in blood.
Wang Shengxiao gritted his teeth and persisted with a dazed and dim look in his eyes.
Among the four of them, Gu Hanshan, who was supposed to be the most determined, was the first to couldn't help but scream.
"Save me! Save me! Come on, save me!"
He threw his head back and fell to the ground helplessly, howling desperately.
Fountains of blood rose up one after another in his eyes.
It's all his own blood.
"good."
Wang Tianzong's eyes calmed down again.
"Is it enough?"
Li Tianlan said coldly.
"not enough."
Wang Tianzong lowered his eyelids and said indifferently.
Li Tianlan laughed.
He had never thought about Wang Tianzong's attitude, so Li Tianlan would not be surprised by any of his attitudes.
"I will perish."
Li Tianlan said calmly: "But one of the four of them will go on the road with me today. Wang Shengxiao is very good. Your Majesty, after he leaves, if I give you more than twenty years, can you still train a new one?"
Such an excellent son?"
"You seem to have forgotten something."
Wang Tianzong looked at Li Tianlan and smiled: "The thing that saved your life three years ago came from the Wang family in Beihai. Have you forgotten?"
three years ago...
Li Tianlan's eyes flashed with light.
The thing that saved his life three years ago was the Dragon Vein of Zhongzhou.
But that's not what Wang Tianzong said.
If we go further...
eternal life!
Potion of Immortality!
Li Tianlan glanced at the four young people behind Wang Tianzong and sneered slightly: "Four copies of eternal life? Your Majesty is really grand."
"One serving is enough."
Wang Tianzong said in an indifferent tone.
With such an injury, Song Ci will not die. He may lose his martial arts skills, but the probability of death is low.
He now has a copy of eternal life, and it is given to Wang Shengxiao.
As for the rain on the ancient cold mountains and rivers...
What does it have to do with him?
"You can't stop me."
Wang Tianzong took another step forward.
Amidst the increasingly fierce sword energy, Li Tianlan burst out laughing: "Come here!"
...
Until you walk down the Imperial Soldier Mountain.
Qin Weibai never told Lin Fengting the content of her conversation with Xia Zhi.
But this is not what Lin Fengting is more interested in. He is more concerned about the results of Zhongzhou's exercises.
"Won?"
Lin Fengting asked.
"Won."
Qin Weibai nodded: "Tianlan is very strong now, but I didn't see the end."
Lin Fengting paused and looked at Qin Weibai: "Aren't you worried?"
"Of course I'm worried."
Qin Weibai smiled: "I also want to see the end. But I'm afraid that Xia Zhi's temper will get worse and she won't compromise in front of me. Wang Tianzong will give in, but women are often unreasonable. I won't stay
Only then did she have the idea of compromising. In this case, I will take a step back."
Lin Fengting vaguely guessed what the information in Qin Weibai's hand was.
Therefore, Wang Tianzong's compromise was almost certain in his opinion.
He was just a little regretful, but also a little lucky. He was so complicated that he didn't even know what he was thinking.
"That information..."
Lin Fengting shook his head with regret: "I didn't expect it to be used here."
"I didn't expect that either."
Qin Weibai's eyes were full of thought: "But it's okay, just in case, it's just right to use it here."
She paused and said softly: "I can't help him with everything."
"But such a piece of information can only buy you a few months, or half a year at most."
Lin Fengting looked at Qin Weibai: "Don't you think it's a pity? What about half a year later?"
"Half a year later..."
Qin Weibai stretched out. Her absolutely perfect body proportions seemed to carry a divine light in the sunlight: "Everything will be different then."
Lin Fengting didn't speak. He just turned around calmly and looked at the Emperor's Palace on the top of the mountain.
Xia Zhi appeared at the top of the Emperor's Palace and looked quietly at the direction Qin Weibai left.
Her eyes were confused, helpless, and a little relaxed, which was extremely complicated.
After thinking about it, she sighed and took out her mobile phone and dialed Wang Tianzong's number.
...
Wang Tianzong had already walked up to Li Tianlan.
The sword energy that filled all the nearby spaces under the tiles completely condensed as he advanced.
The sword intent condensed into a bunch was suspended above Li Tianlan's head, with an obvious smell of destruction.
"I gave you a chance."
Wang Tianzong looked into Li Tianlan's eyes: "Don't you regret it later?"
Li Tianlan looked up at the sword energy above his head.
Wang Shengxiao and others were still covered in blood.
Li Tianlan's eyes were a little regretful and unwilling, but they eventually turned calm.
"If I don't die, I'll have to start all over again."
He looked into Wang Tianzong's eyes and said calmly: "Even if you die, there will definitely be someone accompanying you on the road to hell. Let's do it."
Wang Tianzong looked at Li Tianlan.
In the silence, the sword on Li Tianlan's head began to spin crazily.
A phone rang suddenly.
Wang Tianzong was stunned for a moment, and his eyes softened subconsciously.
In his mobile phone, only this phone has a special ringtone set.
So he knew who it was without even looking.
He knew that the other party was also watching the exercise at this time, so if she could call at this time, it meant that Wang Tianzong had to answer the call.
Wang Tianzong took out his mobile phone.
The note on the screen only has one word.
"to."
Wang Tianzong pressed the answer button and gave a soft feed.
"Tian Zong, Li Tianlan cannot move."
Xia Zhi's voice came over the other end of the phone.
"Um?"
Wang Tianzong uttered a short syllable.
"Fengting just brought Qin Weibai to Emperor's Armed Forces Mountain."
Xia Zhi lowered his voice: "Qin Weibai left something behind, which concerns the entire Beihai. Li Tianlan really can't touch it. Otherwise, the consequences will be disastrous. Tianzong, please come back first."
The consequences could be disastrous.
This is the second time Wang Tianzong has heard this sentence since he met Xia Zhi.
Not long after he heard these words for the first time, a treason case occurred in Central Continent that has affected the Central Continent to this day.
Wang Tianzong silently hung up the phone.
He didn't know what Qin Weibai left behind.
But it concerns the entire Beihai, and the consequences are unimaginable. This has given him a reason to suppress his murderous intention.
"enough."
Wang Tianzong said calmly.
The sword intent that filled the sky disappeared in an instant.
Li Tianlan retracted his fingers.
The four young masters behind Wang Tianzong stopped bleeding immediately and became extremely weak.
"Remember this sword first."
Wang Tianzong said something.
The wind started blowing in the training ground.
Wang Tianzong's figure gradually became transparent and faded in the sudden wind, and then disappeared completely.
The figures of Wang Shengxiao, Song Ci, Jiang Shangyu, and Gu Hanshan also disappeared along with Wang Tianzong.
Everything only takes a few seconds.
The bodies of Gu Hanshan and Jiang Shangyu fell in the air and landed in front of Gu Xingyun.
Wang Tianzong did not show up.
The majestic sword intent in the sky spread across the sky and went away.
...
The 40,000-strong army that was about to rush into the exercise area stopped in front of the big screen.
On the big screen, Wang Tianzong's figure disappeared.
Li Tianlan still stood quietly.
Without that sword, there would be no more war.
Li Tianlan was silent for a long time before slowly moving his body.
He walked forward for a while and pulled Qingfeng out of the ground after his whole body was pressed into the earth.
"It's okay."
After Dongcheng Wudi and Zhuang Huayang got rid of the sword intention and moved freely, they immediately came to Li Tianlan's side.
Li Tianlan nodded, thoughtfully.
"Let's talk after we get out."
Dongcheng Wudi said.
Several people walked along the passage created by Li Tianlan's punch, passing blood and corpses all over the place, and finally walked out of the forest.
The big screen is still standing.
Countless people looked at Li Tianlan on the screen with complicated eyes.
Forty thousand troops were already lined up neatly outside the forest.
The fighter planes in the sky began to disperse.
But the iron-blooded killing intent that filled the sky still remained.
Li Tianlan looked at them quietly, looking at these elite troops who were most loyal to the Dongcheng family.
They obeyed Dongcheng Wudi's military orders.
They are willing to die for the commander in their hearts, and they are also willing to die for him.
The corners of Li Tianlan's mouth moved.
He took a deep breath, raised his hand, and saluted.
The 40,000 troops looked solemn and returned the greeting at the same time.
Li Tianlan, who was covered in blood, looked pale, but was extremely energetic.
Facing the vast and endless military formation in front of him, he bent down deeply, and his soft but gentle voice echoed throughout the audience, echoing in everyone's ears.
"Thank you everyone."
Major General Li Zonghu of the Bloody Legion was stunned and subconsciously wanted to dodge.
He looked up at Dongcheng Wudi.
Dongcheng Wudi smiled and nodded slowly but firmly.
Li Zonghu, who was still maintaining a saluting posture, lowered his arms.
The next second, in the horrified eyes of countless people.
Forty thousand troops.
A total of 40,000 people stood in front of Li Tianlan and knelt down on one knee at the same time, facing the young man who bowed deeply in front of him.
The scene was completely frozen.
So restless, so solemn, so solemn.
It's like taking an oath.
The uniform voices of 40,000 people resounded through the sky, echoing in the Sky Academy and lingering for a long time.