Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

Xiantu Empire, Xiantu City.

The city was far smaller than Clear Divine City, comparable to Xuanwu City, yet it possessed a hundred times the elegance and feeling of an immortal location. There were no forces headquarter within this city besides the Xiantu Empire's. There were only a few liaisons of select forces that housed themselves here.

Despite being claimed as a city, it was more so a large immortal palace that stood high to the point the highest tower within caressed the sky itself. This tower was the location of the Xiantu Emperor's throne. It represented the sovereign symbol of an entire realm. No other building in the entire realm could reach such heights! If done, it was the same as attempting to supplant the Xiantu Regime!

Within this very tower was a man that emanated the aura of the heavens. He had a face that could be deemed the definition of extraordinary looks with long-flowing blonde hair and azure eyes. If one looked closely, he had traits similar to Yan Qiu and many other Yan Clan members. The very reason was that the Broad Creed Palace was related to him by blood!

Indeed, not only did all the Heavenly Genesis Experts within the Palace had his Mortal Dao, but they had some relation to him by blood. This was speculated by many, but others weren't truly sure of this matter. However, the Xiantu Emperor doesn't consider them to be his subordinates, and that was because of this.

A man that seemed to be in his 50's arrived silently within the tower, he kneeled in front of the Xiantu Emperor with practiced movements. He didn't speak, only waited patiently for the Emperor to do so first.

The Xiantu Emperor silently gazed at this man, his azure eyes filled with a rare wariness, as if he was worried about the news being brought. "Speak."

"Your Majesty, The Infernal Forger soul is dead. The Hell Altar, which has two-floors, is completely drained of essence and its materials are useless. It seemed that, as you calculated, the Infernal Forger was dead. You were right, as always, Your Majesty." The man spoke reverently.

"..." The Xiantu Emperor didn't smile, but deep within his eyes was relief. It may seem that a second-floor Hell Altar and second-floor Heavenly Shrine could be considered equal, but that's not the case. Currently, comprehension of his conceptual law reached the major-success of the Manifestation-level, but Infernal Forgers of the Hell Path needed the Sovereign-level of their concept, and it's the always the upper-tier World Law of the Soul.

Unfortunately, the Xiantu Emperor had only mastered a lower-tier World Law. If one compared, his strength would be vastly inferior to an Infernal Forger of the same level. Therefore, he had massive fears that the Asura Phantom Realm was a plot to revive the remnant soul of an Infernal Forger. If so, then his actions and incompetence had threatened the entirety of his realm. Even the neighboring realms.

However, it seems that wasn't the case.

"Salvage whatever you can from the altar. You may go," he ordered. The old man vanished from his sight as if he was never there.

Looking out of an opening in his tower that revealed the view of the clouds and vast lands that he held sovereignty over, his eyes flickered. "Just a little more...I'll be able to construct my third floor."

If one reached the minor-success stage of their conceptual law, they could use it to build the base for their first-floor. Major-success for the second-floor and Perfection stage for the third-floor. For the Xiantu Emperor, he felt like he was on the cusp of finally reaching the Perfection stage, if so, his status within this heaven will undergo a high shift.

-----

Clear Divine City, Outskirts.

A piercing sound resounded with a faint trace of silver light. The surrounding space rippled as if someone pierced into the ocean with a spear and from the center of this ripple, two men phased into existence from empty space.

One was an extraordinary young man with amber-gold eyes, a perfect physique that wasn't too slim or muscular, an aura that seemed calm and warm. He was dressed in a silver and sky-blue Anima Syndicate's Lieutenant uniform.

Beside him was a middle-aged man with a somewhat empty aura. His eyes were suffused with heavy surprise and shock. Looking about, he was completely stunned. Just a few minutes ago, they were within the Dead Soul Desert, but now, after several minutes of being bathed in blinding silver light, they were in an empty area filled with lush life, trees, and actual mountains in the background.

These two were Yan Zaizen and Wu Yuanxu.

Earlier, Yan Zaizen had executed an art within the Violet Way of Spatial Shifting, piercing into the spatial void and traveling towards Tao and Bai Lufeng's signature. Now that he was in the Origin Core Realm with a manifestation-level spatial concept, and a bloodline that contained the Heavenly Law of Mimicry, he can easily do vast and quick long distance travels, no longer needing a skyship.

Typically, due to him not having pure spatial attributed qi-essence, his spatial arts would be weakened to a third of its true strength. However, thanks to his mimicry bloodline, his qi-essence can mimic any attribute and perfectly perform any qi-art to its maximum.

Before, his laws had bathed his essence in its glory, but that only turned a ten percent of total strength to thirty percent, but now it was far different. Not to mention, his Regalia-infused brain was far better at mastering arts. The Spatial Piercing Art was the first art that he reached the major-success stage in regards to spatial arts, and it was a superior-grade art!

Yan Zaizen frowned slightly. "Tao and Bai Lufeng's location...I can't find it." He softly muttered, his brows furrowing deeper. Taking out their life talismans, he knew they were both still alive, but it seemed his spiritual sense had long since depleted. The only reason he stopped here was due to losing Bai Lufeng's and Tao's trail nearby.

"Sigh...to use up my spiritual sense, what did you guys get yourselves into?" With his spiritual sense, any initial-True Essence Expert would be little issue, but it'll still drain the energy by half. It could even kill a mid-True Essence Expert, but after it runs out of soul energy, the spiritual sense could no longer sustain itself.

In truth, separation of spiritual sense was painful and many wouldn't do so. However, it acts as an independent sentry with limited energy. If the spiritual sense was still on their person, the originator could locate it, connect with it to view the immediate surroundings or kill whoever it was on.

However, when it's separated, it was like an autonomous consciousness that acted in accordance with pre-given orders. He couldn't see anything or act from afar, without taking action to do so. However, if the individual who had their spiritual sense died, the leftover energy would transmit a message so that the originator would know certain things.

The stronger one's soul cultivation base, the greater the information, the longer the spiritual sense can last, and more capabilities it'll possess.

"Is this where your two comrades are?" Wu Yuanxu finally broke out of his stupor, asking Yan Zaizen curiously. In truth, since Yan Zaizen revived him and could be declared an Anima Syndicate's Lieutenant, he had an unseen but reverent belief in his abilities.

"Well, I feel that they were here several months ago...this should be...Clear Divine City Outskirts?" He explained, his spiritual sense searching the area to get an idea of their location. Luckily, Yan Zaizen had perused the records of the Xiantu Realm and many maps detailing characteristics of its geography so he recognized his location.

"Clear Divine City?" Wu Yuanxu was slightly shocked but only nodded slightly.

"Well, if they were here, it's likely they went in deep. Since I can't send my spiritual sense outwards without offending thousands of powers, I'll go to someone who may be able to help us locate them." He commented, remembering the rules of etiquette in the myriad realms. By outrageously sending out your senses, it was like an open level of disrespect and sometimes, a heavy threat. Imagine being scanned deeply by a stranger or your home being spied on, it's something no one would like.

He didn't wish to offend peak imperial-tier forces or heavenly-tier forces for no true reason. It's not like Tao or Bai Lufeng was dead. Therefore, he'll tread the side of caution.