Chapter 395: Feng Mingtian's Wrath and the Looming Storm
"As for going to the Heavenly Snake Continent, I'm certain Lord Tiance will agree!"
Aboard the Void Shuttle Ship, Tian Luo's words brought a glimmer of hope to Medusa's eyes.
She had complete faith in Xiao Tiance. Over the years they had spent together, he had never officially declared her as his woman, but he had never denied her position either.
Still, her heart longed to see Xiao Tiance as soon as possible and to share her experiences during their time apart.
"I trust he won't refuse," Medusa said with a gentle smile, her usual cold demeanor softened by warmth.
Medusa was often seen as a figure of icy beauty, merciless and deadly. Yet few knew that once a man won her heart, she would follow him with unwavering loyalty.
As the conversation flowed, Medusa learned about the others' recent experiences, including the fierce battle against the Western Sky War Hall. She couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for Xiao Tiance.
Thankfully, everything had turned out well. Not only had Xiao Tiance successfully ascended to the Heavenly Supreme realm, but he had also gathered a formidable group of allies.
As the days passed, the Void Shuttle Ship drew closer to Longfeng Tian.
In the True Phoenix Clan's Ancestral Grounds
"Boom!"
Feng Lin and Feng Ying were sent flying through the air, landing hard outside the hall. As they hit the ground, blood spurted from their mouths.
"Clan leader, please calm your anger! We beg for mercy!"
The two elders quickly dropped to their knees, trembling as they pleaded.
"Calm my anger? How do you expect me to calm my anger? Decades of effort ruined by your incompetence! You deserve death! Both of you!"
The voice, cold as ice, belonged to a young man with a strikingly handsome appearance and an aura of bone chilling killing intent. His tall, elegant figure radiated power, and his half step Saint grade Heavenly Supreme aura made the surrounding True Phoenix Clan members too fearful to even breathe.
This was none other than Feng Mingtian, the current clan leader of the True Phoenix Clan and its strongest member for the past 30,000 years.
As Feng Mingtian's rage simmered, an elder nearby stepped forward, bowing deeply.
"Clan leader, while Feng Lin and Feng Ying were negligent, the true culprit here is Xiao Tiance. He dared to infiltrate our ancestral grounds to rescue prisoners.
I believe our priority should be to find and retrieve those three individuals. What they carry is far too important, and if word spreads, the consequences will be catastrophic."
"Hmph!"
Feng Mingtian snorted coldly, fixing the elder with a frosty gaze.
"Do you think retrieving Moyang and the others is easy? The Grand Thousand Worlds may not be infinite, but it's vast enough.
If Moyang and the others escape Longfeng Tian, finding them will be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Besides, Xiao Tiance is no ordinary opponent. Despite being only at the early Spirit grade Heavenly Supreme realm, he fought the Western Sky War Emperor to a standstill a veteran powerhouse known across the Grand Thousand Worlds.
Not only that, but Xiao Tiance has joined the Great Thousand Palace. Even if we find Moyang and the others, what can we do? Don't forget: the Great Thousand Palace strictly forbids Heavenly Supremes from engaging in bloodshed. Violators face severe consequences."
Feng Mingtian's voice was laced with barely restrained fury, his gaze shifting back to Feng Lin and Feng Ying.
"Tell me, what do you think we can do?"
His tone made it clear he wanted nothing more than to rip them apart for their failure.
Moyang and his companions were once peers in talent to Feng Mingtian himself. The only reason they had been imprisoned for tens of thousands of years was the suppression of their spiritual energy by sealing their pipa bones and the spirit arrays constantly draining their power.
Now that they were free, they would recover to their peak within half a month. Each possessed one of the legendary Thirty Six Supreme Divine Abilities, making them nearly invincible.
Even if the True Phoenix Clan managed to subdue them, it would likely be a pyrrhic victory.
And this disaster all stemmed from the foolish actions of Feng Lin and Feng Ying.
To make matters worse, Xiao Tiance's disciples, Huang Min and Ling Yun, had exceptional potential. They might have become Heavenly Supremes in the future, further strengthening the True Phoenix Clan.
But now, because of these two idiots, the clan had lost two promising talents and provoked a powerful enemy.
Xiao Tiance was known for his fierce loyalty to his own. His two disciples had been pushed to the brink of death because of the True Phoenix Clan. The consequences of this feud could only grow worse.
Feng Mingtian's killing intent surged like a storm, terrifying everyone around him.
Voices of Discontent
"Clan leader, please don't be too hasty. What's done is done. Perhaps we can find a way to turn hostility into friendship," the Second Elder suggested cautiously.
Feng Mingtian glanced at him, frustration evident in his expression. "Turn hostility into friendship? Do you not understand how Moyang and his companions came to be our prisoners?
After tens of thousands of years in captivity, do you think they'll simply let this go?
And Xiao Tiance his personality is no secret. His disciples nearly died because of Feng Lin and Feng Ying. Do you really believe he'll forgive us?
Let's stop fooling ourselves. The only thing we can do now is recall all our clan members scattered across the world and prepare for the battle to come."
The Second Elder sighed, unable to refute Feng Mingtian's logic.
At that moment, another elder, who had remained silent until now, let out a cold snort.
"If reconciliation is impossible, then why waste time trying?
The True Phoenix Clan has nine Heavenly Supremes. Should we be afraid of Xiao Tiance and his allies?
If they dare challenge us, we'll defy the Great Thousand Palace's prohibitions and eliminate them. Let the palace do as it pleases afterward!
In short, the True Phoenix Clan will not allow anyone to trample on our dignity!"
His words were firm, inspiring many other elders to voice their agreement.
The True Phoenix Clan was one of the most prominent forces in the Grand Thousand Worlds. Even the five ancient clans rarely provoked them. Among divine beast clans, only the True Dragon Clan surpassed them.
For many, the idea of backing down was unthinkable. If challenged, they were ready to fight, regardless of the consequences.
Despite the Great Thousand Palace's ban on Heavenly Supremes engaging in bloodshed, Feng Mingtian knew that if the True Phoenix Clan were pushed to the brink, such rules would be the least of their concerns.
Watching several elders support the Grand Elder's decision, Feng Mingtian sighed inwardly. Though he had ruled the True Phoenix Clan for 30,000 years with unparalleled authority, he still paled in comparison to the Grand Elder, the former clan leader.
"Since the Grand Elder has spoken, I have no objections," Feng Mingtian said after a pause. "However, Feng Lin and Feng Ying must face proper punishment. Their actions were not only selfish but also invited a powerful enemy to our door. Leaving them unpunished would be unjust."
The Grand Elder nodded calmly. "Send them to the Forbidden Grounds."
"The Forbidden Grounds?"
Gasps filled the hall. Even Feng Mingtian was visibly surprised. Everyone knew the Forbidden Grounds were perilous, a place where even Heavenly Supremes risked death. For Feng Lin and Feng Ying, neither of whom had reached the Heavenly Supreme level, entering the Forbidden Grounds was akin to a death sentence.
"Clan leader! Grand Elder! Have mercy! Don't send me to the Forbidden Grounds! I'll surely die there!" Feng Ying wailed, his voice trembling with fear. His body shook uncontrollably as he kowtowed repeatedly, begging for his life.
"Hmph!"
Feng Mingtian's cold snort silenced Feng Ying. An oppressive aura bore down on him, rendering him immobile and forcing him into submission. Feng Mingtian turned to Feng Yuanhe, Feng Ying's ancestor, and asked gravely, "Elder Yuanhe, what is your stance?"
Feng Yuanhe, despite being a Saint grade Heavenly Supreme, lowered his head respectfully. "I dare not question the decisions of the clan leader and Grand Elder. I will abide by your ruling."
Hearing this, Feng Ying and Feng Lin both collapsed to the ground, their faces ashen. Their hope extinguished, their bodies trembled with despair.
One fiery tempered elder spoke up. "Clan leader, Grand Elder, there's no need to go to such lengths. Feng Lin and Feng Ying harmed Xiao Tiance's disciples; why not hand them over to him directly?
This way, we can avoid deepening the conflict with Xiao Tiance. His potential is immense, and if he continues to grow, he may join the ranks of the Grand Thousand World's top powerhouses within a century.
As for Moyang and the others, even if Xiao Tiance doesn't act, those three alone won't be enough to threaten the True Phoenix Clan."
The suggestion sparked consideration among several elders. However, the Grand Elder dismissed it decisively, insisting on sending Feng Lin and Feng Ying to the Forbidden Grounds.
Little did they know, this decision would nearly bring the True Phoenix Clan to ruin.
Preparing for War
Days passed. Inside a secluded cave, Xiao Tiance refined pills, his spirit arrays isolating the cave from the outside world and containing the thunderous energy generated during the process.
As his soul power controlled the escaping medicinal energy, Xiao Tiance flicked his hand, guiding the completed pills into a jade bottle.
"Whew!"
Exhaling deeply, Xiao Tiance's composed demeanor returned as he finished his work.
"Impressive, Tiance. I didn't expect you to be capable of refining Emperor grade pills already," Xiao Xuan said with a grin, giving him a thumbs up.
Xiao Tiance shook his head modestly. "You're exaggerating, Brother Xuan. These are pseudo Emperor grade pills at best. If we weren't on the brink of war with the True Phoenix Clan, I would have aimed higher.
By the way, Brother Xuan, how have things been outside while I've been refining pills?"
Xiao Xuan chuckled. "We've been playing hide and seek with the True Phoenix Clan. For the first half month, they were frantic, sending their experts everywhere to search for us. But in the past two weeks, they seem to have given up and retreated entirely."
"Retreated?" Xiao Tiance frowned. He didn't believe for a second that the True Phoenix Clan had genuinely abandoned their search.
After pondering for a moment, he decided it didn't matter. The upcoming confrontation with the True Phoenix Clan would soon bring everything into the open. Whatever schemes they had wouldn't change the outcome.
"How soon will our reinforcements arrive?" Xiao Tiance asked.
"Mu Ling says they'll be here in three days at most," Xiao Xuan replied. Then, with a grin, he added, "By the way, I've got good news for you."
"What good news?" Xiao Tiance asked, curious.
"Medusa has arrived, brought here by Jiu Yuan. She's advanced to the Lower Earthly Supreme realm," Xiao Xuan said, his tone cheerful.
"Really?"
For a moment, Xiao Tiance's calm facade broke, replaced by genuine joy. Ever since he learned that Medusa had been taken by the Nine Colored Swallowing Python Clan, he had worried for her safety.
After what had happened to Huang Min and Ling Yun, he feared Medusa might also be in danger. Knowing she was safe, stronger than before, and now here with Jiu Yuan, filled him with relief.
"It's indeed good news," Xiao Tiance said with a smile. Memories of his time with Medusa flooded his mind.
Moyang and His Companions Return
Remembering Moyang and the others still recovering inside the Heavenly Dao Glazed Bottle, Xiao Tiance retrieved the artifact from his waist. Following Fatty Wa's instructions, he activated the bottle, releasing a flash of white light.
Three powerful auras appeared instantly as Moyang and his companions emerged.
"Greetings, Lord Tiance!"
Xiao Tiance quickly helped the three up, smiling warmly. "No need for such formalities. Congratulations on your recovery and it seems you're even stronger now."
At that moment, Fatty Wa burst out from the Heavenly Dao Tower and landed on Moyang's shoulder, wrapping his tiny arms around Moyang while crying and laughing.
"Moyang Elder, I missed you so much!"
"Hahaha! Fatty Wa, I've missed you too. It's been tens of thousands of years, and you haven't changed a bit!" Moyang laughed heartily, his robust aura drawing Xiao Tiance's attention.
After a brief reunion, Moyang took out three jade slips and handed them to Xiao Tiance with a respectful bow.
"Lord Tiance, it's time these were entrusted to you."
(End of Chapter)
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