Chapter 285 285 Aftermath
Doubts regarding what happened inside the Divine Tomb Garden were not limited to the Ice Phoenix Clan. Many members of other races also expressed suspicion.
In particular, the Heavenly Ape Clan, the Heavenly Crane Clan, and the Nine Colored Peacock Clan that had suffered complete losses. Experts from the three clans directly went to the Phoenix Clan and the Heavenly Roc Clan to verify the information.
However, whether it was Bai Bin, Chi Hongwu, or Zong Qingfeng, the facts they recounted were largely the same. According to their statements, the main reason they had survived, aside from good luck, was also because of Liu Bai's assistance.
The team of the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan had also managed to survive safely because there was a Ninth-Grade Sovereign among them.
Because the matter was so significant, although it did not alarm the Super Divine Beasts of the main clans, every race still dispatched Earth Sovereign level experts to the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan.
This development startled the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan. Many elders believed that Liu Bai had provoked powerful enemies in the Divine Beast Plain and some even developed resentment toward him.
However, after the siblings Mo Feng and Mo Ling carefully narrated an adapted version of their experiences in the Divine Beast Plain, the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan was left with nothing but joy.
"This is wonderful. With the inheritance essence blood of the Undying Bird obtained, Jiu You will surely evolve into a true Undying Bird in the future."
All the elders of the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan were extremely excited. At this moment no one mentioned Liu Bai attracting powerful enemies to the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan anymore.
The Divine Beast Plain itself was meant as a training ground for the younger generation of the various races. During such trials anything could happen and deaths were considered normal. Otherwise they could simply be raised safely at home, so why send them out for training at all.
This principle was a consensus throughout the Great Thousand World. If someone could not even pass this kind of trial, then that so called prodigy would not truly deserve the title.
Facing the arriving experts, Clan Leader Tianhuang remained calm and composed. He summoned the Mo Feng siblings once again and had them recount the entire story in front of everyone.
After hearing the Mo Feng siblings' account of the events in the Divine Tomb Garden, the experts present from the Ice Phoenix Clan, Nine Colored Peacock Clan, Heavenly Roc Clan, Heavenly Crane Clan, and Heaven Connecting Ape Clan all frowned.
"You say the inheritance essence blood of the Undying Bird Beast Sovereign was obtained by you. Then where are Liu Bai and Jiu You now?" an expert from the Ice Phoenix Clan asked in a deep voice.
Their purpose for coming was also the inheritance essence blood of the Undying Bird. That meant the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan had won the struggle against Bai Ming to obtain it.
Mo Feng replied, "After Liu Bai helped the three Beast Sovereigns kill that fiendish creature, the Undying Bird Beast Sovereign promised him a great fortune. Afterwards the two of them were taken away by the three Beast Sovereigns. Since they have not returned yet, they should still be with the three Beast Sovereigns."
When these words were spoken, even the experts from the other top Divine Beast races present felt a trace of envy toward Liu Bai and Jiu You.
After all, it was a great fortune acknowledged by the three Beast Sovereigns. It was certainly extraordinary. If they themselves could obtain such an opportunity, advancing further in the future might not be impossible.
"Such an opportunity actually fell into the hands of a human brat."
Many people felt dissatisfied with Liu Bai. The opportunities left behind by their Beast Race predecessors had been obtained by a human junior. Why should that be allowed.
The Heaven Connecting Ape Clan had sent a thin old man with a stern face. His eyes were sharp and seemed capable of emitting dazzling light, making others afraid to look directly at him.
"What exactly was that fiendish creature? How did the members of my Heaven Connecting Ape Clan die? And how was the fiendish creature destroyed?"
Before Mo Feng could answer, Mo Ling beside him spoke first.
"That fiendish creature was formed from the fusion of the demonic will of a Fiend Clan kings that had fallen in the Divine Beast Plain during ancient times. It was extremely terrifying. The moment someone flew out of the altar it swallowed them in a single bite. If the three Beast Sovereigns had not appeared at that time to block it and guard the altar, all of us would have died."
Mo Ling looked innocent and adorable. Because of her appearance, people were more inclined to believe her words.
Mo Feng then continued.
"After devouring flesh and blood the fiendish creature kept growing stronger. The three Beast Sovereigns had to join forces to restrain it. In the end Liu Bai controlled the Heavenly Beast Army and delivered the decisive blow, giving the three Beast Sovereigns the chance to completely destroy the creature."
"At that time the three members of the Heaven Connecting Ape Clan had obtained the inheritance essence blood of an ancient desolate beast and were also the first to leave the range of the altar, so..."
There was no need to say more. They had naturally been swallowed by the fiendish creature.
"What about the inheritance essence blood of that ancient desolate beast?" the expert from the Heaven Connecting Ape Clan asked urgently.
Mo Feng shook his head.
"I do not know. In that situation we simply could not care about such things."
The thin old man fell silent for a moment, then shook his head and stopped speaking.
Instead, others stared coldly at Mo Feng.
"You said that human brat controlled the Heavenly Beast Army and severely injured the fiendish creature?"
Mo Feng nodded.
"You are lying. The Heavenly Beast Army was a powerful army that gained great fame in ancient times. Under the sweeping battle intent of that army countless Earth Sovereign experts fell. How could a mere human Ninth-Grade Sovereign possibly control the Heavenly Beast Army?" an expert from the Heavenly Crane Clan shouted sternly, releasing pressure that directly descended upon Mo Feng.
In an instant Mo Feng felt as though he were a small boat drifting within a violent storm.
Clan Leader Tianhuang's face flashed with anger. Spiritual energy erupted from his body and directly blocked the pressure of the Heavenly Crane Clan expert.
"Yun He, this is the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan. My clansmen are not people you can bully at will."
Allowing these people to come to the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan and question the Mo Feng siblings face to face was already Tianhuang's greatest concession. If he still allowed them to threaten Mo Feng and Mo Ling freely, where would the dignity of the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan remain.
The Heavenly Crane Clan expert named Yun He snorted coldly but did not continue.
After all this was still the territory of the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan. He had come alone. Even though Tianhuang might be wary of the Heavenly Crane Clan and would not act rashly, if Yun He went too far there was no guarantee Tianhuang would not truly make a move.
They were all Divine Beasts. If someone came to provoke them directly at their doorstep, they would naturally stop showing restraint.
At this moment an expert from the Nine Colored Peacock Clan spoke. She was a beautiful woman whose appearance was in no way inferior to Kong Ling from before.
"Even if Liu Bai is a Battle Formation Master, he should still be unable to control the Heavenly Beast Army, right?"
Although it was the same question, when spoken calmly by a beautiful woman it felt completely different from the aggressive pressure exerted earlier by the Heavenly Crane Clan expert.
Mo Feng honestly replied, "The Heavenly Beast Army was naturally not at its peak state. The three Beast Sovereigns only preserved a portion of it through special methods. In addition, Liu Bai was able to remain unharmed in the end because of certain protective methods bestowed by the Undying Bird Beast Sovereign."
Everyone stared at Mo Feng. If there was the slightest inconsistency in his words, it would not escape the eyes of the powerful experts present.
However Mo Feng showed no abnormal reaction, because everything he said was the truth.
After another round of questioning, the information everyone obtained was roughly the same as before and no flaws were discovered. In the end the matter could only be left unresolved.
The Nine Nether Sparrow Clan became the greatest winner of this event, and Liu Bai's name also began spreading among the various races.
However the Phoenix Clan and the Heavenly Roc Clan were still in a better situation compared to the other three clans. After all they both still had surviving members and all of them had experienced varying degrees of improvement.
Especially Zong Qingfeng. Because he awakened the true Heavenly Roc bloodline, his strength had advanced to the Eighth Grade and his status within the Heavenly Roc Clan greatly increased. This also made his teacher Elder Beiming extremely pleased.
At the same time that Liu Bai was fighting within the Divine Beast Plain, certain changes were also occurring in the Northern Region.
First of all, the news that the ruler of the Great Heavenlaw Domain, Mandala, had advanced to the level of Greater Earth Sovereign had the greatest impact on the Northern Region. This meant that the Northern Region had finally produced a super powerhouse capable of unifying the entire region.
However Mandala did not immediately use force to attack the remaining forces such as Myriad Saint Mountain and the Demon Gate. Instead she summoned the leaders of the major top forces to meet under her name. Using the Ancient Heavenly Palace as bait, she proposed forming an alliance.
Facing the doubtful expressions of the others, Mandala did not hide anything and directly raised her hand to release the Starlight Demon Suppressing Pyramid.
"The Starlight Demon Suppressing Pyramid? Domain Lord of the Great Heavenlaw Domain, what is the meaning of this?" Liu Tiandao asked first with a cautious expression.
Mandala glanced at him and said calmly, "Do not be nervous. I simply want to tell you something important, and it is also good news."
Liu Tiandao noticed the gazes from the others around him and felt slightly embarrassed. He quickly sat back down and pretended nothing had happened while quietly listening to Mandala's next words.
"This object was once one of the eight saint artifacts of the Ancient Heavenly Palace. Aside from its own power, it also has a special function. It can help me sense the location of the Ancient Heavenly Palace."
As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Tiandao and the others were stunned at first. Then expressions of shock appeared on their faces.
"Domain Lord of the Great Heavenlaw Domain, do you mean that you can rely on this object to sense the location of the Ancient Heavenly Palace?" Patriarch Myriad Saint asked in disbelief.
Mandala nodded with her small face tightened.
After receiving confirmation again, brilliant light burst from the eyes of the others. Their gazes turned blazing hot as they stared firmly at Mandala.
Mandala smiled slightly and continued speaking.
"So I want to reach an alliance agreement with the few of you. When I detect the ruins of the Ancient Heavenly Palace, we can work together. That way when the time comes we can all share the benefits obtained from the Ancient Heavenly Palace."
"I agree."
Before she could finish speaking, Patriarch Myriad Saint immediately expressed his position.
The Demon Emperor also nodded repeatedly to show his approval.
Only Liu Tiandao remained somewhat cautious.
"You would actually allow us to share in such a good opportunity?"
If what Mandala said was true, then compared to the Spiritual Divine Liquid or the division of the Divine Pavilion during the previous Great Hunt War, the Ancient Heavenly Palace was clearly the greatest prize.
With such a good opportunity, instead of secretly exploring it herself, she was inviting them to participate. Naturally someone as cautious as Liu Tiandao could not help feeling suspicious.
Mandala glanced at him again and curled her lips.
"Do you really think that if the Ancient Heavenly Palace appears, no one else will notice?"
These words caused Liu Tiandao and the other two to freeze momentarily.
"I can tell you clearly that once the Ancient Heavenly Palace reappears, it will be a major event not only in the Northern Region but even across the entire Skylaw Continent and the Great Thousand World. By that time the powerful forces attracted here will certainly be numerous. Even if we only consider the Skylaw Continent, how many powerful experts do you think will appear?"
"This..."
Patriarch Myriad Saint and the others were momentarily stunned, but they also recognized the truth in Mandala's words.
The Northern Region was only a corner of the Skylaw Continent. If the entire continent learned about it, countless powerful experts would inevitably be drawn to it. Mandala might dominate the Northern Region after advancing to Greater Earth Sovereign, but on the scale of the entire Skylaw Continent she would still be somewhat insufficient.
This allowed Patriarch Myriad Saint and the others to understand Mandala's intentions, and all of them began to feel tempted.
"As long as the Domain Lord of the Great Heavenlaw Domain allows us to share in the benefits, we will certainly assist with all our strength," Patriarch Myriad Saint once again spoke first.
The Demon Emperor and Liu Tiandao also nodded repeatedly in agreement.
As long as the benefits were great enough, even submitting under Mandala would be acceptable to them.
For them the most important thing now was an opportunity that could allow them to advance further.
After receiving their replies, Mandala was extremely pleased.
"Then please prepare yourselves. I will begin sensing the location of the Ancient Heavenly Palace. Once it appears we must immediately prepare to depart."
This time the three of them became even more enthusiastic. Especially Liu Tiandao, who had previously been the most cautious. He quickly spoke first.
"Alliance Leader, rest assured. Leave everything to us."
Patriarch Myriad Saint and the Demon Emperor looked at him speechlessly. Although they had long witnessed his thick skin, the thought of working together with him for a long time in the future still made them feel uncomfortable.
"By the way, how is little friend Liu Bai doing? Why has he not appeared this time?" Patriarch Myriad Saint suddenly asked.
In his heart Liu Bai's importance was not inferior to Mandala who had advanced to Greater Earth Sovereign. Moreover Liu Bai himself already possessed strength comparable to an Earth Sovereign. For such an important matter, it seemed strange that he had not appeared.
"As for him, he should be returning soon..."
At the same time, within the Divine Sea space.
A figure quietly sat cross legged above a blood colored ocean.
Streams of blood colored spiritual energy passed through the sea surface and spread across his entire body before seeping from his body into the Sovereign Sea.
At this moment within Liu Bai's Sovereign Sea space, purple crystal spiritual energy had already filled the entire sea. Compared to the previous purple ocean, it now gave a much more solid and refined feeling.
Blood colored spiritual rain fell from the sky above the Sovereign Sea space. Before it could reach the ocean below, it was blocked by a layer of purple crystal clouds. If one observed carefully, they would discover that these so called clouds were actually flames condensed together.
After passing through the purple crystal flames, the blood rain was purified into the purest spiritual energy before falling into the Sovereign Sea.
In this way, the spiritual energy of the outside world that contained the essence blood of countless Divine Beasts was absorbed by Liu Bai's body. After being refined by the high level Undying Flame, all energy beneficial to strengthening the body was absorbed by his physical form, while the remaining energy was purified into the purest spiritual energy.
After two years of cultivation, the spiritual energy within Liu Bai's Sovereign Sea had almost reached its limit. At this moment his cultivation had reached a level comparable to the Great Perfection of the Ninth-Grade Sovereign.