Cornett and the tribesmen of the Tianmu clan watched in stunned silence as Jia Ni unleashed slaughter, wiping out Hong Fei and the entire contingent of the Blazing Phoenix clan in mere minutes!
Every member of the Tianmu clan gathered there held their breath, not daring to utter a single sound.
The Blazing Phoenix clan was one of the most powerful factions among the adherents of the Xuan Tian clan, dwarfing the Tianmu clan in might many times over.
Yet, such a formidable race, whose Ancestor-Domain level expert, Chang Xi, had been annihilated along with his kin in such a short span of time!
It sent a shockwave through every soul of the Tianmu clan!
Cornett and Evelyn, faces etched with terror, stared deep into the valley, their spirits trembling.
They had heard Zi Yao’s command, and then Jia Ni’s soft utterance of “Master.” Could Zi Yao actually be Jia Ni’s master?
Jia Ni, renowned throughout the Vast Sea of Nothingness as the strongest of the Secret Rune clan and a close confidante of Judy, such a powerful entity, even more esteemed and mightier than Chang Xi—and she had a master?
Who exactly was this master of hers?
Cornett glanced at Evelyn, seeking an explanation, but Evelyn only offered a wry smile and a subtle shake of the head, indicating he knew nothing either.
“Heavens above, Chang Xi and the entire Blazing Phoenix clan are dead here. What… what are we to do? If the strong ones from the Xuan Tian clan learn of this, they will surely not let us off,” groaned one of the Tianmu elders, wailing miserably, feeling as though the sky itself was collapsing upon them.
Cornett shot him a fierce glare, signaling him to shut up, then stood respectfully beside Jia Ni with Evelyn and the others, casting eager, watchful eyes upon her.
Beside Jia Ni, the corpses of the Blazing Phoenix tribesmen were barely cooling, yet her unnervingly beautiful face was alight with a cold, eerie smile. “You can tell Judy directly. Or even Han Tian himself. Just say that I killed Chang Xi and the Blazing Phoenix clan. It’s fine; Judy and Han Tian can come over personally to discuss the details with me.”
At these words, the Tianmu tribesmen erupted in massive shock.
Han Tian? Judy?
The two supreme Ancestor-Domains of the Xuan Tian clan, the figures at the apex of power. Since the Tianmu clan pledged allegiance to the Xuan Tian clan, they had never earned an audience with these two Ancestor-Domains; the highest-ranking Xuan Tian figure Cornett had ever met was merely Tu Shiqi or Ya Yun.
In their minds, Judy and Han Tian were beings atop the pyramid, figures of legend, not people they could casually encounter.
“My Master said they still need to remain here for some time. Ah, if you can contact the Xuan Tian clan, you may inform Judy and Han Tian of this matter and ask them to come over personally,” Jia Ni said, her expression chillingly faint. “If they know of this, they should come themselves and not trouble your Tianmu clan.”
With that, Jia Ni paid the Tianmu tribesmen no mind, passing through the barrier within the valley and vanishing from their sight.
“Evelyn, how—how do you know such powerful figures? Why didn't you tell us sooner?” Cornett ground out through clenched teeth.
The Tianmu elders immediately clustered around, bombarding Evelyn, Adams, and Mahisha with questions about the identities of Shi Yan and Zi Yao, desperate to understand the true situation.
That little girl, Ya, clutching the piece of flame crystal, also looked on with inexplicable excitement. She gazed deeply toward the valley, offering silent thanks in her heart.
She now understood the immeasurable value of this tiny flame crystal, a treasure that had driven Ancestor Chang Xi to such lengths, now resting in her hands—how could she not be overjoyed beyond measure?
“Clan Leader! The flame seal set by the Blazing Phoenix clan has broken on its own!”
A young Tianmu tribesman rushed over excitedly, reporting the latest development.
Cornett nodded, musing for a moment before speaking to Evelyn, “You personally contact the Xuan Tian clan members and report the situation here truthfully. Hopefully, hopefully, it will truly be as Senior Jia Ni said, and the Xuan Tian clan will not blame us.”
“It should be fine.”
Everyone felt an inexplicable sense of peace. A powerhouse like Jia Ni was sufficient to confront Han Tian and Judy directly, and coupled with her enigmatic “Master,” perhaps they could truly cause Han Tian and Judy to overlook Chang Xi’s demise and spare them from their wrath.
Within the valley.
Shi Yan remained with his eyes tightly shut, cultivating silently. Napton and the others were being refined, their divine power absorbed, their soul altars devoured.
Deep within his soul, the Origin Inscription Pagoda was spinning at an incredible speed, sending waves of intense energy outward.
Innumerable profound and convoluted Primordial Inscriptions glittered within the pagoda; using the power of Napton and the others as a foundation, he began forging an entirely new Origin Inscription.
Consequently, his current period of cultivation would be significantly longer.
Zi Yao, incomparably radiant, sat upon a seven-colored crystal throne, refining Chang Xi with divine power. She opened her eyes, glanced at Jia Ni, and spoke lightly, “Well done.”
Jia Ni inclined her body slightly, her expression tinged with bitterness. “Thank you for the praise, Master.”
Slightly narrowing her eyes, Zi Yao spoke coldly, “You are at the Ancestor-Domain realm. Do you feel slighted by attaching yourself to me? Hmph. Before my power waned, I was at the third heaven of the Ancestor-Domain realm, nearly touching the ultimate gate. Following me offers tremendous benefits to your insights into the profound. You should know, I could have simply handed you over to Shi Yan to refine you to death alongside Xiao Lie.”
Jia Ni’s face changed drastically. “Please forgive me, Master!”
“Serve me well, and I will not treat you unfairly. I will impart the true mysteries of profound insight to you, advancing your Secret Curse Arts,” Zi Yao stated calmly.
“Master also understands Secret Curse Arts?” Jia Ni’s eyes lit up.
“The profound secrets of heaven and earth share common threads; Secret Curse Arts are a form of spellcasting. Using your innate markings as a catalyst is remarkable?” Zi Yao sneered. “My true form possesses natural markings as well, markings far more esoteric than yours. Naturally, my understanding of Secret Curse Arts runs deeper than yours.”
Hearing Zi Yao say this, Jia Ni’s expression softened with reverence. She spoke respectfully, “Please bestow your guidance, Master.”
“That is more like it,” Zi Yao nodded. “The reason I spared you and Xiao Lie is because your bloodlines are suitable for me to imprint my soul thought, and you can withstand my power. This is your fortune; do not mistake it for disaster. Napton and the others faced the true catastrophe.”
“I understand,” Jia Ni said, utterly convinced.
...
The territory of the Xuan Tian clan.
Upon a mountain peak that pierced the clouds, the Lizard Ancestor rushed through and halted at the summit amidst several majestic palaces, calling out in a deep voice, “Lizard requests an audience with Ancestor Han Tian!”
“Boom!”
A massive roar echoed from within the mountain. The peak shuddered violently. After a moment, Han Tian emerged from one of the central palaces. His face was flushed, and he burst into hearty laughter as soon as he appeared. “Congratulations, you have also broken through to the Ancestor-Domain realm. It seems you have been diligent in your recent cultivation.”
As the words faded, Han Tian’s expression darkened. “You are injured?”
He noticed dried bloodstains on the Lizard Ancestor and sensed an abnormality within the Ancestor’s divine body.
“I was nearly killed by Yuan Zu,” the Lizard Ancestor replied, his eyes bleak. “It happened in the Lan Yi Star Domain. That Yuan Zu is the primordial life form ‘Yuan’—not only is his realm profound and his power immense, but he is also incredibly insidious and cunning...”
The Lizard Ancestor quickly recounted the events. “I realized staying would likely be worse, so I had to retreat first. I still don't know what happened afterward.”
“Yuan Zu…”
Han Tian’s expression turned solemn, and he took a deep breath. “He is the oldest among us. Many of us speculated he originated from the previous era, though we couldn't be entirely certain. So that is it, so that is it...”
Han Tian and the Lizard Ancestor discussed the secrets of that battle while Han Tian commanded his clansmen to gather intelligence to ascertain exactly what transpired in the Lan Yi Star Domain.
Not long after, Judy also returned from her external travels, her expression grave as she sought out Han Tian and the Lizard Ancestor.
“I have brought the latest intelligence,” Judy stated immediately upon arrival, finding Han Tian, the Lizard Ancestor, and several other key figures of the Xuan Tian clan. “Yuan Zu and Shi Yan fought in the Lan Yi Star Domain, nearly shattering the entire star domain, causing many of its barriers to crack. Afterward, Yuan Zu fled, and Shi Yan and her companion also vanished. Napton, Xiao Lie, Jia Ni, and the others have also lost their trail; no one knows their current whereabouts.”
“Shi Yan fought Yuan Zu?” Han Tian hadn't processed it fully. “He can contend with Yuan Zu? Yuan Zu is a third-heaven Ancestor-Domain expert!”
“The intelligence is accurate, and I am also perplexed as to why Shi Yan suddenly became so powerful,” Judy admitted with a wry smile.
“Strange, truly strange. This matter must have deeper implications, but sadly, all participants have disappeared. We don't know the specifics,” Han Tian admitted, rubbing his temples in frustration.
Just as they were questioning the situation, Tu Shiqi and Ya Yun rushed over anxiously. Tu Shiqi flew in frantically and, arriving, shouted from a distance, “Major news has arrived from the Tianmu clan!”
“The Tianmu clan?” Han Tian looked puzzled.
“A minor subordinate race; Tu Shiqi accepted them on Shi Yan’s behalf. They are temporarily overseen by the Blazing Phoenix clan, and we rarely inquire about their specific situation,” an elder explained appropriately, clarifying the context.
He understood that Han Tian would never pay attention to the trivialities of a small subordinate race like the Tianmu, much less their details.
“What exactly is the news?” Judy asked coolly.
“Shi Yan and Jia Ni are both in the Tianmu clan’s Lin Ming Star Domain, at the Tianmu clan’s sacred site! And that woman named Zi Yao—she killed Chang Xi, and Jia Ni killed the Blazing Phoenix clan members who went to the Tianmu clan. Jia Ni has sent word via the Tianmu clan, stating she wishes to meet Ancestor Han Tian and Ancestor Judy personally at the Tianmu clan’s location.”
Tu Shiqi’s breath was ragged as he carefully relayed the recently acquired information to Han Tian and Judy.
Han Tian and Judy exchanged a glance, then nodded in unison, speaking at the same time: “Good!”
They immediately decided to travel to the Tianmu clan personally.
“I will go see,” the Lizard Ancestor declared.
“Yes, let’s go together. Although crossing star domains via the teleportation array we established with the Tianmu clan will consume considerable energy, the urgency of the matter means we cannot afford to hold back too much,” Judy stated decisively, already leading the way toward the teleportation array as she spoke.
Both she and Han Tian were at the second heaven of the Ancestor-Domain realm; as long as they had a directional marker for teleportation, crossing stellar boundaries was not difficult for their cultivation level.
Han Tian, the Lizard Ancestor, and the Tu Shiqi couple followed, assembling a significant force of powerful clan members and heading toward the Tianmu clan’s designated teleportation point.