The Great Ruler

Millions of mountains ruled the land on the Mount Ocean continent. At a spot where numerous mountain ranges intersected sat an emerald lake that gleamed like a mirror. The lake was calm, reflecting the entire sky on its surface. It may have seemed ordinary, yet it exuded an extremely overbearing pressure for some unknown reason. Even a Heavenly Sovereign would feel slight stress from it.

The place had always been tranquil and quiet, but today, the peace was ruined by some commotion. As the land welcomed the break of dawn, countless streamers flashed across the sky like meteors. Eventually, they descended from the sky and landed on the mountain summits around that lake.

The arrival of these figures brought about uncountable shrieks across the land. The cries seemed to come from cranes and peacocks. It was like myriad birds had just gathered there…

The Deification Pool had an extraordinary status among the races of fowl and divine beasts. Hence, the number of people who could enter the pool was limited. Yet, it would still attract various people from the Divine Beast Clan to this place just to watch the ceremony each time the pool was opened.

As the various races and clans gathered, the clamor echoed through the woods on the mountain.

Shriek!

As the sun got stronger, and more and more races gathered, a loud phoenix cry was suddenly heard. Immediately after, a mighty, indescribable oppression loomed over the land. Many powerhouses from the Divine Beast Clan changed their expressions slightly as fear and respect swirled in their eyes.

They lifted their chins and looked into the distance. Rose-colored clouds filled the sky, and they seemed to have figures sitting on them. Eventually, the clouds touched down on a vast mountain summit closest to the emerald lake.

Two figures appeared after the clouds disappeared. The first person that showed up was Huang Jin, the Phoenix King of the Phoenix Clan, followed by Huang Xuan Zhi, who looked like an honorable noble from head to toe. He was upright and tall with slender eyebrows and eyes that twinkled like stars.

“Greetings to the Phoenix King!” When Huang Jin appeared, the rest of the powerhouses from the various races welcomed him.

The imposing Huang Jin smiled and nodded to everyone. He then looked into the distance as figures flitted over and landed on a nearby mountain.

With the appearance of these glowing figures, a tyrannical and mighty oppression pervaded the entire land. Spiritual light gathered behind them as it formed huge glowing shadows of Divine Fowl. Among them was a huge, golden, nine-headed condor, a creature that had the combined look of a dragon, a peacock, and a divine eagle with eyes as sharp as a razor…

The various powerhouses from the Divine Beast Clan regarded them with a serious look on their faces. They had envy in their eyes, as all these figures were Sovereign Divine Beasts. Although Sovereign Divine Beasts and Divine Beasts were just a word apart, that one word represented a huge difference.

“We have a total of 15 Sovereign Divine Beast clans from the Divine Fowl race in the Great Thousand World. Almost every one of them came…”

“I heard that all these clans sent their most top-notch talents for the Deification Pool. Looks like all of them wanted to make use of the pool to refine their blood to achieve greater heights in their strength…”

“But the Blood Essence condensed from the Deification pool is limited. In that case, I’m sure there will be fierce competitions…”

“Heh heh… With him around, who can outfight Huang Xuanzhi from the Phoenix Clan? I bet he will win this time.”

“It’s hard to say. Huang Xuanzhi might be strong, but there are also people like Lin Cang from the Nine-Headed Golden Condor Clan and Kong Ling’Er from the Nine Hues Peacock Clan. These people might not be willing to share…”

“Indeed. The talents from these Sovereign Divine Beasts clans have been building up their strength and power for centuries just for today. They all want to use the Deification Pool to lay their foundation for leveling up to Divine Grade in the future. Hence, fierce battles are inevitable…”

Low whispers continued to spread across the mountain ranges. Various gazes with eyes full of passion swept back and forth around those mountains ahead of them.

“Eh? The Nine Netherbird Clan is here for the Deification Pool, too?” Some of the people had observed numerous figures on one of the mountains. Immediately, they recognized who they were.

“A few hundred years ago, there was an old master from the Nine Netherbird Clan who passed away in the Deification Pool and got them an entry in it. Looks like they intend to use it now,” someone said sourly. After all, an entry to the Deification Pool was so rare that the life of a Heavenly Sovereign was needed in exchange for it.

“Looks like you guys know nothing. The Nine Netherbird Clan is in a bitter state now…” Someone with the most updated information immediately let out a sneer and said, “Nine Nether from the Nine Netherbird Clan was said to have evolved into someone with the Ancient Undying Bird Bloodline. But now, Huang Xuanzhi is eyeing her because he lacks the final ingredient for his Nine Rounds Toward Sanctification Technique… Hence, once Nine Nether enters the Deification Pool, Huang Xuanzhi will strike at her and take the bloodline from her…”

In the world of the Divine Beasts Clans, they worshipped the law of the jungle more than compared to the human world. Hence, when they heard about Huang Xuanzhi’s ruthless and tyrannical plan, most of the people felt it was justifiable.

It was said that an innocent man often got into trouble because of his wealth. A rare Sovereign Bloodline found in the Nine Netherbird Clan would definitely attract the green-eyed monsters. She could have been fine if she had kept silent about it, but she insisted on showing off. Since Huang Xuanzhi learned of it, he would not let her off that easily.

On a mountain not far away, Clan Leader Tianhuang from the Nine Netherbird Clan sensed the attention from different places. Hence, his expression darkened slightly.

Behind Tianhuang stood Nine Nether, who was wearing a tight-fitting black dress with a pair of leggings that outlined her slim, long legs. She had a huggable waist, and her busty chest was well-contoured. Her face was clean, yet cold-looking. Her pursing little red lips were portraying her determination and her stubbornness, as usual.

Compared to Tianhuang’s darkened expression, Nine Nether was much more composed. However, her clutched, jade-like hands revealed the slight fluctuation in her mood.

Tianhuang heaved a deep breath as he said to a gray-robed elder beside him, “Elder Lu, we can only trouble you this time.” This elder was the only Heavenly Sovereign from the Nine Netherbird Clan. He had been in secluded cultivation, and he was invited out because of Nine Nether. However, this elder only possessed the strength of the later stage of Spiritual Grade.

Upon hearing this, a bitter smile surfaced on his pale face, but he nodded and said, “Don’t worry, Clan Leader. I will do my best to protect Nine Nether, but… I may not be a match for Huang Xuanzhi.”

Clan Leader Tianhuang quivered slightly. How could he not be aware of it? Huang Xuanzi was already at the initial stage of God Grade. His combat capacity must have been extraordinary. It was said that some experts at the same level perished at his hands, too. Such achievements were incredible.

“We do not need Lu Hao to fight head-on with Huang Xuanzhi. All we need to do is to make sure he stays away from Nine Nether. It would be best to stall him and bring Nine Nether out.” Tianhuang Clan Leader consoled him.

“I will do my best.” Elder Lu nodded. His face showed determination as he took a deep breath. He was furious with how pushy the Phoenix Clan was. Hence, no matter what, he must protect Nine Nether, even if it cost him his life.

However, he suddenly thought of something. He threw Nine Nether a glance and asked hesitantly, “Is there any news from Heavenly Sparrow Elder? I heard Mu Chen is quite formidable now. If he could help, we may be able to counter that Huang Xuanzhi…”

Tianhuang knit his eyebrow slightly. “Not yet… there is no need for the Nine Netherbird Clan to depend on outsiders. Moreover, he will offend the Phoenix Clan if he shows up. That lad might have to weigh his pros and cons.”

He was not blaming Mu Chen when he said that, because it was perfectly understandable. In the Great Thousand World, no one would dare to offend the Phoenix Clan because of the Nine Netherbird Clan. Even all those Divine Beasts Clans who had initially been on good terms with them dared not help them out.

However, just as his voice faded, Nine Nether immediately glared at him with her pretty eyes. “Father!”

Tianhuang could only shake his head. With a bitter smile, he said, “Fine, I will not badmouth him.”

While they were talking, the imposing Huang Jin on the highest mountain suddenly lowered his chin. He looked in the direction where the Nine Netherbird Clan was with a pair of expressionless eyes. With a faint smile, he asked, “Have all of you given it some good thought?”

Countless gazes cast over. Clan Leader Tianhuang could only ask with much difficulty, “Phoenix King, can’t you just let our clan off?” He sounded like he was pleading and had completely let go of his dignity as a clan leader.

Huang Jin could only sigh softly when he saw this. “Why are you acting this way? If you can satisfy my son, I will definitely be grateful to you and repay your kindness in the future. But you have turned me down time and time again. I guess you don’t know your limit.” Without any emotion in his eyes, he looked at Tianhuang and said, “Since you insisted on having it your way, let’s settle it by force.”

Tianhuang’s face paled slightly as his expression became dejected.

Behind Huang Jin, Huang Xuanzhi stood up like a ruler as he swept his gaze across the three people before him. He peered at Elder Lu and smiled faintly. “I guess this is your protector?”

“Later stage of Spiritual Grade…” Huang Xuanzhi drew a vague smile at the corner of his lips. He shook his head and said, “With such strength, I guess you can simply give up.”

As his voice faded, Huang Xuanzhi took a step forward. Cries of the Phoenix instantly resounded as overwhelming oppression swept out. The entire land was vibrating under his oppression. This oppression was directed at Elder Lu. He immediately jerked his body as mixed expressions climbed up his face. The fearsome oppression was bending his knees, slowly forcing him to kneel on the ground. Apparently, Huang Xuanzhi intended to shatter Elder Lu’s courage before they entered the Deification Pool.

Elder Lu knew his intentions very well. He immediately gritted his teeth, and veins were popping out on his forehead. However, the fearsome pressure from the God Grade Heavenly Sovereign and the mightiness of the real phoenix from Huang Xuanzhi were pushing Elder Lu further onto the ground.

Clan Leader Tianhuang and Nine Nether were infuriated, but under Huang Xuanzhi’s oppression, they could only helplessly watch Elder Lu slowly bending his knees before them.

Clan Leader Tianhuang started seeing stars, and he almost spat out a mouthful of blood. Huang Xuanzhi was determined to humiliate the Nine Netherbird Clan.

Nine Nether held her fists tight with her fingernails eating into the flesh of her palms. Blood dripped from her hands. Despite her unbending character, tears could not help but roll down her cheek at this moment.

The helplessness was magnifying her self-reproach. Her eyes were staring at Huang Xuanzhi when she cried out bitterly, “Enough. If you want this bloodline, just take…”

Before she could finish her words, a sudden clap of thunder roared ferociously between Heaven and Earth. Countless experts jerked their heads up and stared at the sky warily. Boundless spiritual energy suddenly swept in like waves of the ocean.

Boom!

The vast spiritual energy impact burst Huang Xuanzhi’s spiritual energy oppression. Soon after, a low voice echoed throughout the land. “You’re not fit to take this bloodline yet!”

The thunder roared, ending Nine Nether’s sentence abruptly. She lifted her head and saw the young and slender figure walking in the air. The handsome face was like an awakening thunder striking fear into everyone.

Nine Nether gazed at the familiar figure, and tears could not stop rolling down from the corners of her eyes.