A succession of renowned powerhouses emerged from the passage, stirring excitement and anticipation among the assembled crowd. At that very moment, the contingent of over twenty people from the Spirit God Temple silently arrived at the edge of the Spirit-Sealing Marsh.
"The Spirit-Sealing Marsh is fully open," Lu Rong remarked, showing a hint of surprise.
"Not only is the marsh open, but the entrance to the Spirit Mansion has also been unsealed," Kou Xilai snorted, his breath cold. His pupils instantly contracted, and he frowned deeply. "That is…"
"The God-Devouring Flower!"
The black-robed man beside him interjected sharply, his tone utterly frigid.
"This Nie Kong truly has the audacity to place the God-Devouring Flower at the Spirit Mansion entrance—he is clearly provoking my Spirit God Temple! Move!" Killing intent flared in Kou Xilai's eyes as he shot forward.
"..."
Most of those following did not grasp the connection between the God-Devouring Flower and the Spirit God Temple; they paused in confusion before reacting and immediately entering the Spirit-Sealing Marsh.
...
"..."
"From the Shatu Royal Family, Tailan Xiang arrives—"
"From the Chengguo Royal Family, Cheng Feixing arrives—"
"From the Yin Ruins Wood Sect, Mu Qingying arrives—"
Hearing these announcements, the attention of the crowd, which had begun to drift, snapped back toward the passage exit.
Of the Five Great Spirit Clans, the Flower Spirit Clan was the most enigmatic; however, concerning the entire Heaven Spirit Continent, the most mysterious power was undoubtedly the Yin Ruins. While the Spirit God Temple maintained "Medicine Altars" across the continent, for ten thousand years, the Yin Ruins had left almost no trace of their activities outside.
Before Nie Kong began his contest with the Spirit God Temple over the "Spirit-Sealing Marsh," over ninety-nine percent of Spirit Masters didn't even know what the "Yin Ruins" were. It was only when the Wood Ancestor of the Yin Ruins appeared, shaking the world, that the relationship between Nie Kong and the Yin Ruins spread like a hurricane across the Heaven Spirit Continent.
Only then did everyone suddenly realize that the Heaven Spirit Continent they inhabited harbored a massive force that even the Spirit God Temple dared not easily provoke!
Today, at the founding ceremony of the Medicine King Palace, it was expected that Mu Qingying of the Yin Ruins Wood Sect, as Nie Kong’s fiancée, would attend to offer congratulations. The only thing that truly piqued everyone's curiosity was the identity of that woman—how could she possibly be the leader of the Yin Ruins at such a young age?
About half a minute later, a string of graceful and beautiful figures stepped into view.
"Veiled, I—"
A young man closest to the passage exit couldn't help but exclaim, but before the rest of his profanity could escape, an elderly man next to him slapped him across the mouth.
Almost simultaneously, sounds of disappointed sighs rose from both sides of the plaza. The woman at the forefront, clearly the leader of the Yin Ruins Wood Sect, had concealed her features with a veil. However, the eight women behind her possessed peerless beauty and exquisite grace, radiating a pleasing sense of allure.
Those with low cultivation focused solely on the beauty of the Yin Ruins women, but the Cave Spirit masters felt a secret tremor. Apart from the leading Yin Ruins Wood Sect figure, who seemed to be masking her aura with some artifact, making her depth impossible to gauge, the eight women behind her were very likely all powerful experts possessing Heaven Spirit strength.
Up to this point, among all the factions that had come to offer congratulations, the Yin Ruins boasted the largest number of formidable experts.
"From the Fish Spirit Clan, the Clan Leader, Fish King Yuting Lei, arrives—" Another sound, like a thunderclap, burst forth from the passage, echoing across the plaza.
"Yuting Lei?"
While the people on the tiered platforms on both sides hadn't fully reacted, the powerhouses seated at the edge of the plaza showed surprise upon hearing those three words.
"Isn't the Fish Spirit Clan Leader called Yu Longyue? When did she abdicate?"
"The Fish King has reportedly remained at Heaven Spirit Ninth Grade for several centuries; could it be... her limit has been reached?"
"..."
"She finally went to that place!" Hearing the surrounding whispers of doubt and speculation, Hua Caidie sighed softly, her murmur barely audible.
"Your Majesty need not worry. With the Fish King's strength, even if she reached that place, self-preservation would be more than sufficient," Hua Yanlian murmured quietly.
"Perhaps..."
Hua Caidie’s words were cut short by a loud shout: "From the Serpent Spirit Clan, the Clan Lord, Serpent Monarch She Qianbian, arrives—"
"That old snake actually came!"
Hua Caidie couldn't help but let out a cold snort. The expressions of Hua Yanlian, Hua Yaolin, Hua Qiongyu, and the others beside her also darkened, their beautiful eyes frosted over.
For the Serpent Spirit Clan, the blood of the Flower Spirit Clan women was a supreme tonic. Over thousands of years, several Flower Spirit Clan members had perished at the mouths of Serpent Spirit powerhouses, just as numerous Serpent Spirit members had been slain by Flower Spirit experts. The two great spirit clans were mortal enemies, and they would never pass up an opportunity for retribution against the other.
"Empress, Master..."
Suddenly, a crisp voice rang out. Hua Caidie and the others turned to see Hua Mei running over, beaming with joy. Seeing her, the grim expressions on Hua Yanlian's and Hua Yaolin's faces melted into smiles. They were all extremely fond of this young girl who was being groomed as the next Flower Empress. Only Hua Caidie showed a subtle, almost imperceptible fluctuation in the colorful aura surrounding her before nodding slightly.
Examining Hua Mei carefully for a moment and noting that she still retained her virginity, Hua Yanlian breathed a quiet sigh of relief and smiled. "Hua Mei, what did Nie Kong ask you to do when he called you over that time?"
"Master, Brother rescued my father and mother," Hua Mei chirped happily.
"Oh?"
Hua Yanlian and the others were all startled. After learning of Hua Mei's background, they had all assumed that Hua Chen and Jing Rong had long since perished in the Spirit God Temple. To learn they were not only alive but had been saved by Nie Kong explained why the young girl radiated such evident joy when they saw her now.
"It was in the Spirit God Temple..."
"..."
"See that? The one on this side is his nominal main wife, and the one over there is his actual main wife," Long Xuechan chuckled, nudging Long Meixian's arm a few dozen meters away. She pointed first to Mu Qingying on the same left side as them, then toward Hua Mei on the opposite side.
"Hmph!"
Long Meixian pouted, her right hand instinctively smoothing her slightly protruding abdomen. This unconscious gesture brought a secret smile to Long Xuechan's face.
"From the Spirit God Temple, the Temple Master Kou Xilai and the Grand Elder Lu Rong arrive—"
Just then, a loud announcement boomed.
At that instant, nearly everyone stopped their hushed conversations. Not just those on the tiers, but Long Tian Gong, Hua Caidie, and others all shifted their gaze.
In just over ten seconds, more than twenty figures filed out of the green passage.
"What an imposing display!"
"...Twenty-five, twenty-six—are all twenty-six of these individuals Heaven Spirit Masters?"
"The Spirit God Temple truly has arrived with ill intent."
"..."
The crowd gasped upon seeing the Spirit God Temple's formation. They thought the number of Heaven Spirit experts from the Yin Ruins was already considerable, but the Spirit God Temple outnumbered them by more than threefold.
Kou Xilai and Lu Rong completely ignored the guiding woman. Their eyes swept the area once before leading their group directly toward the right side of the plaza, radiating palpable malice.
"The Spirit God Temple is here!"
On the peak of Caimei Peak, Nie Kong swiftly passed his right palm over Yu Qinglan, retrieving nine golden needles. A faint smile touched his lips: "The real show is about to begin!"
...
...