AGM 393 - Gathering of the Divine Stele Remnants
Old Man Tianji and the leaders from the various transcendent powers didn’t intervene, as though this matter had nothing to do with them.
This made the contenders speculate, who in the world were these people exactly?
Wasn’t the ancient kingdom completely destroyed? Weren’t the surviving remnants from the ancient kingdom supposed to be extremely weak? It seemed like the story everyone had been told was cloaked in half-truths and half-lies.
The story stated that a few thousand years ago, the ancient kingdom in Grand Xia was overwhelmingly powerful, to an inconceivable extent that far exceeded the combined might of the transcendent powers of the present age. The rebellion cost the lives of countless powerhouses from both sides, and by its bitter end, the ones to emerge were the nine main powers. Each of them took control of one of the nine continents that used to be one united Grand Xia.
But there was no proof to all that had been recorded—history is written by the victorious.
Qin Wentian and the others had a strange glow flickering in their eyes. It was definitely not a shallow relationship between this group of unknowns and the transcendent powers. Earlier, Chen Wang and the others had agreed to the exchange offer, and when Mo Qingcheng was brought away by Luo He, they didn’t object as well.
Mo Qingcheng was also one of the contenders that acquired a legacy!
The ancient luck obtained by Qin Wentian, Qin Zheng, Mu Feng and Yun Mengyi, it all led them to their respectives legacies, and all were powerful secret arts of Ancient Grand Xia! Yet, none of them agreed to the exchange offer. Naturally, after the ranking battle had concluded, they would become the targets.
At this moment, Qin Zheng and Mu Feng both had extremely cold expressions on their faces. Obviously, they had no intention of accepting the invitation.
With their talent, it wouldn’t be difficult for them to join a major power, should they wish it. But for cultivators, they would naturally prefer a major power that closely matched the ideals in their hearts—a transcendent power that was truly to their liking.
But now, this middle-aged man’s invitation felt like a threat, a forceful show of dominance. How could anyone be happy when presented with such a choice?
Not to mention after joining them, their fates would all be under the control of this unknown power; who knew what would become of them then? These people were skilled in soul-searching techniques and might very well renege on their promises, turning them into bumbling idiots.
They could never stand for such a humiliation.
Hence, they were naturally unwilling. But the contenders were more worried over the fact that these people originated from a power that far exceeded anyone in Grand Xia. Even Old Man Tianji and the rest of the transcendent powers remained silent, watching as the scene played out.
Qin Wentian and Yun Mengyi, were of the same mind as Qin Zheng and Mu Feng. Both of them weren’t willing to join as well.
The Purgatory Vermilion Bird hovered above Qin Wentian’s head, emitting a baleful screech of intense rage. It could understand the scene happening before it and knew that this unknown party of people standing before them harboured ill intentions.
“Vile beast.”
The golden-robed man flicked out a finger as a resplendent beam of light shot off from it. The Purgatory Vermilion Bird tried evading the beam, but was unable to do so, resulting in a hole that had cleanly penetrated through its body, causing it to let out a miserable cry.
Its wings were still flapping furiously, as the look in its eyes remained as baleful as ever, showing an unwillingness to submit.
Coldness flashed past Qin Wentian’s eyes—he floated upwards and stood next to the Vermilion Bird, gently patting it.
The Vermilion Bird let out a low cry, using its wings to gently envelope Qin Wentian into an embrace as an intense expression appeared in its eyes, as though it desired nothing more than to leave this place immediately together with him.
That expression in its eyes made Qin Wentian’s heart clench. Lifting his head, embers of rage flickered in his eyes as he spoke, “Isn’t Senior someone who proclaims himself to be from the ancient kingdom? This Vermilion Bird formed from ancient luck is a symbol of Ancient Grand Xia, what do you mean by treating it like this?”
“I am indeed from the ancient kingdom. It’s just a spirit birthed from ancient luck that obtained a true body by devouring others. Merely a vile beast, yet it dares to be so brazen? Hence, I taught it a lesson.”
The golden-robed middle-aged man exuded an intense arrogance—his actions were also a warning to Qin Wentian and the rest. They controlled everything, and if the rankers dared to show anger or retaliate in any way, they had better be prepared to end up like the Purgatory Vermilion Bird.
Qin Wentian naturally understood the unspoken words, the light in his eyes grew colder and colder. The Purgatory Vermilion Bird was stroking Qin Wentian’s back gently with its wings. A look of extreme reluctance could be seen in its eyes, but also, one of unbreakable determination.
It was a true spirit born because of Qin Wentian and now similarly, it would die because of Qin Wentian.
It would have no regrets for this was its destiny.
“It intends to sacrifice itself to summon the true soul of the Vermilion Bird Formation.” Yun Mengyi’s voice directly transmitted into Qin Wentian’s ears—her words were unheard by any of the others.
“Stop.” Qin Wentian stared at the Purgatory Vermilion Bird, trembling. The Purgatory Vermilion Bird stared right back at him. Even though it was unwilling to leave Qin Wentian, it knew that it had to do so.
“I forbid you to do this.”
The will of Qin Wentian’s heart could clearly be felt by the Purgatory Vermilion Bird, its eyes glimmered with unshed tears, visibly moved. It leaned forward, emitting a strong sense of affection for Qin Wentian.
Qin Wentian’s eyes shifted onto Yun Mengyi.
Yun Mengyi understood Qin Wentian intentions and hence, she transmitted, “You can summon the Divine Stele, as they contain the ancient will and can be used to attack. But I can’t be sure as to how much strength the ancient will has remaining, and if you summoned the remnant pieces to fuse the Divine Stele back into one piece once more, who knows how many transcendent powers will end up hunting you down because of it.”
Qin Wentian mused, since he had already offended the transcendent powers, there was no harm if he offended them further. To hell with them all.
Qin Wentian’s eyes slowly shifted back to the Purgatory Vermilion Bird, his eyes flickering with a sharp glint of light.
How could he watch on impassively while one of his companions sacrificed itself for him?
“Do you know how beneficial it would be for you to summon the true soul of the Vermilion Bird Formation as it recreates the formation world?” Yun Mengyi spoke again, but Qin Wentian’s heart didn’t waver.
“To me, you are not just something born from ancient luck—you are alive, you are my companion.” Qin Wentian gently gazed at the Vermilion Bird, “I won’t allow you to sacrifice yourself.”
Qin Wentian’s gaze contained an unbending resoluteness as he stared up in the air, looking at the golden-robed man. “I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Qin Wentian’s voice resounded throughout the area, causing the crowd to freeze. Qin Wentian was truly audacious.
“Senior, are you really someone from the ancient kingdom? How can you prove that?” Qin Wentian quietly asked.
“Proof? Do I even need to prove myself to you?” that golden-robed man coldly replied.
“What if I can prove otherwise?” Qin Wentian’s eyes bore into the golden-robed man. An intense pressure exuded from him, pressing down on Qin Wentian as though the golden-robed man was losing his patience.
“How can you prove it?” Abruptly, a voice echoed out. Qin Wentian discovered that the owner of this voice was none other than Old Man Tianji.
A sharp gleam of light appeared in the eyes of the golden-robed man as he stared at Old Man Tianji. To which, Old Man Tianji merely replied, “Let’s see what he plans to do.”
That golden-robed man remained silent for a moment before shifting his eyes back onto Qin Wentian, a cold smile on his face. “Fine, I shall give you the opportunity. I’d like to see your proof.”
This place was the ancient kingdom of Grand Xia, it wasn’t his territory. Furthermore, Old Man Tianji was being exceedingly unfathomable—since he had requested it, the golden-robed man could only take a step back.
Qin Wentian gazed at Old Man Tianji with a look of gratitude in his eyes. He didn’t think that someone would come to his aid, how unexpected.
Turning his gaze back onto the golden-robed man, Qin Wentian’s countenance turned steel-like with resolution.
With but a thought, a total of four pieces of stele appeared instantly before him; the Yellow Springs Monument, as well as the three-sided Heavenly Stele he obtained from the Heavenly Stele Steps. They were all part of the Divine Stele.
The four pieces of stele floated in the air, causing thunderbolts to go off in the hearts of those who saw this.
“Aren’t these…?”
The golden-robed man’s expression faltered as he stared at the four pieces of floating stele.
“Divine Stele,” Old Man Tianji whispered, before gazing at Qin Wentian. This young man had actually obtained a total of four pieces of the Divine Stele.
Only to see Qin Wentian mumbling an incantation. The sound of his voice, was transformed by the incantation into a formless mass of energy, being channelled into the Divine Stele. Instantly, the four pieces of the Divine Stele started vibrating intensely, while a terrifying droning sound echoed from them.
An overwhelming ancient will pervaded the air.
“Bzzz!” The ancient will transformed into a beam of light shooting straight up to the Heavens before penetrating the void, scanning through the entirety of Grand Xia.
“What a powerful will.” The hearts of the spectators shuddered, they could clearly feel the intense might contained within. At this moment, a stone stele abruptly trembled with violent force within the Venerate Heavens Sect in the Ginkou Continent. It emitted a droning sound, forming a resonance with the ancient will, attempting to obey the summons.
“BOOOM!” An explosive sound thundered, the stele soared up into the skies and zoomed towards its place of summoning at a speed too fast for the naked eye to glimpse.
“What was that?” Those from the Venerate Heavens Sect only saw a blazing trail through the skies. The flying speed of that object was simply too fast, to an inconceivable extent.
A similar occurrence took place in the Great Solar Chen Clan, as well as the Shi Clan.
Not only that, even in the Moon Continent far away, from the Hua Clan and Pill Emperor Hall, two steles enacted the exact same scene and flew with blinding speed towards the summoning location.
In the ancient kingdom, countless spectators stared at the steles hovering above Qin Wentian’s head. The eyes of the golden-robed man glimmered with a terrifying light, yet he made no move to stop Qin Wentian, allowing him to proceed with the re-fusion of the Divine Stele.
“A gift from the Heavens.” The golden-robed man coldly laughed in his heart. He would snatch the Divine Stele away the instant it appeared.
“Bzzz…Bzzz…Bzzz…” Three beams of light mingled with Qin Wentian’s four original pieces, and commenced their fusion. A droning sound echoed, incomparably fearsome as it overwhelmingly permeated the entire atmosphere.
“Isn’t that remnant from my Venerate Heavens Sect? They’re all fusing together.” Old Man TIanji trembled.
Indeed, the remnants of the fragmented Divine Stele were fusing together yet again. Was this truly Heavenly Fate?
A short moment later, two more beams of light shot into the mix, as a blinding radiant light exploded outwards.
“How swift!”
Although those from the transcendent powers knew what was happening, even they were stunned by the speed in which the steles gathered.
“All the signs are lining up. Indeed, even destiny is congregating—all for the fusion of the Divine Stele. This young man will definitely influence Grand Xia’s future.” Old Man Tianji had no more doubts. Qin Wentian was whom the demon star represented. He was the one that caused the nine broken remnants of the Divine Stele to once again fuse together.
Back then when the ancient kingdom was destroyed, the Divine Stele was split into nine portions. But today, all nine had congregated in the ancient kingdom, currently fusing back into one. Wasn’t this also a sign? An omen of Heavenly Fate?
The nine remnants of the Divine Stele radiated an overwhelming might that pressed down on everyone on the scene. They fused together, gradually forming into one perfect whole.
The Divine Stele reappeared once more in Grand Xia!