Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

"..." Yao Wuhen's eyes slowly took a measure of each and every individual present. Despite being at the initial-True Essence Realm, she didn't feel too secure. The emanating pressure from some of these people was so subtly intense that it felt suffocating. There were even a few experts from afar who would shot glances at her, or some more brazen ones simply stared at her with hot gazes. It truly felt uncomfortable.

She subtly edged closer to her group; her aura repressed to not draw any further attention.

"Oh? Is this an advance?" A beady-eyed, middle-aged with black spots doting his face chuckled at Yao Wuhen's actions. If one were at Sky Night Royal City during the fall of the Li Clan Patriarch, they would remember this particular man. He had floated in the skies speculating the battle but took no action. Similar to Yao Wuhen, it seemed he was complicit in the attack.

Yao Wuhen coldly snorted, but she didn't take her step back. As someone who recently ascended to the True Essence Realm, how could she be accustomed to meeting so many powerful experts? There were even giants that could rival small hills in the background, and their every action caused the ground to tremble slightly. It truly was a little overwhelming.

"Fu Jing, who would ever make an advance towards you?" An elderly woman coldly retorted. This was Xin Xiaoyu! Earlier, she was in the bidding war for the True Essence Sublimation Pill. Unfortunately, she lost.

Fu Jing didn't say anything, obviously wanting to avoid arguing with this woman. Witnessing this, Xin Xiaoyu coldly smirked. If people saw these two, they would think they were enemies, but they weren't.

Fu Jing had a cultivation base at the initial-True Essence Realm, and Xin Miaoyu only had a half-step True Essence cultivation base. If they were enemies, it would be too easy to rectify. By their difference in age-like appearance, one wouldn't expect that they grew up together.

Not only that, they were married for three thousand years!

However, due to cultivation differences, one looked rather middle-aged while the other was wrinkly like an elderly woman. In truth, this Fu Jing was only here because of Xin Xiaoyu. They were hoping to gain something heaven-defying pill or elixir which could help Xin Xiaoyu increase your cultivation base or longevity. Yao Wuhen, Fu Jing, and Xin Xiaoyu were a part of the Xin Clan's exploration team.

At the center of their group was a handsome young man with a converged aura, his eyes sparkling with each glance about. Dressed in a green robe, the symbol of 'Xin' was etched on its back. Despite his youthful appearance, he was the Xin Clan's Patriarch! His cultivation profound, not only in qi, but body and soul. Regarded as a genius when younger, he had the highest potential within the entirety of the Fallen Stars Continent to reach the late-True Essence Realm or higher.

Within another group originating from Presba, there were three individuals at the head. They were surrounded by dozens of experts ranging from the late-Origin Core to half-step True Essence Realm. Each of those experts donned peak earth-rank armor, their eyes beneath their helmets were fiercely trained and honed with battle intent.

The Royal Elite Army!

Besides them were the Imperial Commander - Dong Sei, Imperial Prosecutor - Dong Lin and Ancient Emperor - Dong Long.

"This exploration will be harder than I originally thought." Dong Sei, the Imperial Prosecutor, said with a heavy frown. There were experts at the mid, late, and even peak-True Essence Realm amongst them, and they would all be fighting for resources and opportunities. With a single wrong step, they could very well leave their lives within this sub-realm.

However, the risk was worth it!

Dong Long had a calm expression, his gaze roaming about. "We have an ally here. We shouldn't fear any particular force." His words indicated many things. Despite this, Dong Sei didn't lose his frown but deepened it instead. Many forces have come to an agreement to ally themselves with others in an attempt to combat the stronger forces, but that only did so much. If their group had peak strength, they could obtain more opportunities.

However, while following the tail of another, it's unlikely they'll be able to obtain the highest benefits possible from this trip. That being said, it was still much safer. This was why the Ancient Emperor of their country had the courage to appear. The many imperial forces in the Xiantu Realm didn't send their greatest elites in fear of dying. Most only sent a few to garner benefits in this exploration, no matter how small.

Arriving next to the White Crane Sect, Yan Zaizen's eyes flickered. There were seven beautiful women with attires seemingly comprised of crane feathers. Their eyes shone with a unique pride that seemed overwhelming, for a split second, Yan Zaizen actually felt inferior. His dark-amber dao orb trembled slightly in response to this thought, but then his eyes lit up with a unyielding confidence in himself.

"A bestowed dao!" He silently thought, his eyes making a quick scan of their respective auras. They each had similar prideful appearances, obviously indicative of like-minded individuals. How could it be so consistent without a bestowed dao shared among them?

"The Dao of Unyielding Pride. Only a lower-tier Mortal Dao." Pinaka remarked with traces of disdain flashing within her silver-blue eyes. In comparison, Yan Zaizen had the Dao of Sovereign Ascension - a peak upper-tier Mortal Dao. How could they compare?

The one at the lead was a refined woman, her body lithe, possessing bountiful peaks that drew ones gave towards that proudly displayed deep valley between, and she had a white crown with a blood-red stone inlaid at its center. It wasn't particularly bedazzling to the eyes, but it was a sharp contrast in comparison to the other women.

Guàn Cui, the leader of the seven, calmly glanced at Yan Zaizen. Noticing his extraordinary physical features, his exquisite physique that paired well with his outfit and a youthfully brilliant pair of eyes, she was a little astonished. Her eyes flickered with suspicion watching him approach.

Yan Zaizen arrived before them, his expression containing a trace of a smile filled with confidence, "Greetings! I'm the one you hired, Yan Zaizen." Guàn Cui eyes flashed with fleeting shock, giving Yan Zaizen another glance. She expected an elderly expert, not some young boy. One must remember, soul cultivation relied heavily on one's life experiences and comprehensions towards self-enlightenment. Typically, to reach a high-level in soul cultivation required constant years of self-reflection and personal progression.

Anyone who could reach a high realm should, theoretically, be old with wisdom suffusing their every gaze. However, this boy contained faint traces of developing intelligent, youthful vibrancy, and a confident demeanor. He held none of the normally expected wizened light or traveled posture. Her brows furrowed. She was skeptical.

"Do you have proof?" She asked calmly.

Yan Zaizen wasn't surprised by her question. Taking out his Anima Syndicate's token, he sent his soul energy inside which projected the faint character that read: "Anima." Guàn Cui nodded, no longer doubting Yan Zaizen. From his soul energy fluctuation, she could see his cultivation was in the Aurora Soul Realm. She had hired someone experienced in spiritual sense arts, not someone who was old, so she couldn't complain as long as he could do his job.

It's not like he was the only one hired.

Yan Zaizen intended to have a conversation, but none of them were too keen on holding conversations with him. It seemed they didn't put much importance on his existence, but he hadn't taken offense. Their bestowed dao was of unyielding pride. Unless they truly believed someone deserved their respect, they'll definitely be arrogant to the heavens.

He didn't take offense. He was here to do a job after all, not pursue females.

Several hours later, more experts started to arrive. The number of several thousand quickly exceed ten thousand, but the majority were in the Origin Core Realm as support. As for their group, they had two more arrivals. The first, Ma Xiuren, was a cute young girl with a profound gleam in her eyes. Yan Zaizen was a little shocked, seeing a girl that looked about seven or eight years old arriving alone, but when he caught a glimpse of her cultivation he was aghast.

She was at the peak-Origin Core Realm in terms of qi, her body cultivation vital aura had faint traces of vastly exceeding that, and his soul perception could see a glimpse of her having condensed an aurora. What shocked him even more was her lifeforce signature! She was nearly three thousand years old! Despite that, she was outfitted in a light flower-dress and looked like a mortal child. However, the White Crane Members, even with their dao, didn't show the slightest bit of disrespect at her appearance.

The second was a man called Tang Li. He was middle-aged, ordinary-looking with a slightly chubby appearance, but on his hands were black gloves with intricate white inscriptions. Looking at them caused Yan Zaizen's mind to spin. He even gave off a faint medicinal scent that was commonly exuded by alchemists. His cultivation was at the initial-True Essence Realm, which was already extraordinary alone.

It seemed this force was well-prepared. A radar, an alchemist, and the little girl. Unfortunately, he wasn't actually sure what the little girl was. Whenever he tried to talk to her, she'd simply smile cutely at him in silence displaying a set of white teeth. It gave him a chill.

As for Tang Li, he directly avoided Yan Zaizen, talking directly with the White Crane members flirtatiously. Shockingly, these girls filled with pride didn't immediately send him off, but subtly accepted his advances.

This shocked him deeply, but after some thought, he realized the circumstances. This man must be an exceptional alchemist, but his advances could not be casually dismissed. With each of their cultivations being at the initial-True Essence Realm, and the leader being at the mid-True Essence Realm, it's highly likely they'll require alchemists of his caliber for further progression.

Who would willingly offend someone who could help them gain further power, status, and longevity? It would be a point of pride to be with a man who could offer such.

BOOM!!!

An explosive sound resounded in the surroundings, causing all forms of conversations to cease. A middle-aged man, dressed in a soft golden robe, shimmered into existence like a shadow. His appearance was as if a celestial shifted from the immortal realm to the mortal world. His appearance was extraordinarily handsome, filled with elegance and sovereignty with a gaze holding a deep-rooted confidence that attracted many. Yan Zaizen's pupils constricted slightly at this arrival.

Xiantu Emperor!

The Xiantu Emperor held a faint smile as he looked down from above, his long-flowing blonde hair and azure eyes revealed an unfathomable gleam. He waved his hand, sending talismans by the thousands outwards. They were sent like comets to each individual. As if expecting this, everyone reached out their hands to grab the golden pearl-shaped talisman before them.

"An escape talisman." Yan Zaizen recalled when he first came across one of these. In the Basilisk Forest, he saw a formation inscriptionist shatter a pearl-like object, causing his body to be sent away with blinding speed. This talisman was likely prepared for people to use in case their life was in jeopardy. It makes sense; it's not like the Xiantu Emperor wanted his realm to suffer a huge blow to its strength.

Xiantu Emperor didn't say a single word, turning around, and placing his palms together. Slowly, spatial reverberations were fluctuating all-around, causing everyone to look onwards with various emotions. Some had greed, some had hope, reverence, jealousy, or even unyielding ferocity. However, if all of these people were to have one thing in common, it would be their desire to pursue a greater power!

Spreading his palms apart slowly, a slit in space a mile long was segregated vertically. Within this spatial slit was another realm. It looked like a world of perpetual night with a crimson moon that hung in the sky like a sun.

"Thirty years." A voice filled with grace and authority resounded from the Xiantu Emperor. The eyes of many flickered, but they didn't say anything. The first person rushed towards the slit, his cultivation base slightly revealed itself. Peak-True Essence Realm! As he entered the slit, others started to follow in his path, and before long, many were dashing into the slit at rapid speeds.

It was like multi-colored meteors of various sizes were descending onto a new world.

Yan Zaizen's eyes lit up at all these events. "I wonder what awaits."

The White Crane Sect's group shot towards the slit like the rest. He followed quietly along with his heart pounding in anticipation.