Chapter 396: Precautions and Unveiled Secrets
Inside the cave, the atmosphere was heavy with anticipation as Moyang respectfully handed over three jade slips to Xiao Tiance.
"Lord Tiance, it's time these jade slips are entrusted to you!"
Although Moyang and his companions didn't specify what the jade slips contained, Xiao Tiance immediately understood. These must record three of the legendary Thirty Six Supreme Divine Abilities that Moyang and his siblings possessed.
Without hesitation, Xiao Tiance accepted them. After all, this was part of their agreement one of the conditions for freeing them.
Activating his soul power, Xiao Tiance delved into the contents of the jade slips. Almost instantly, his expression shifted to one of astonishment. Among the abilities were Eternal Youth, Unrestrained Meteor, and Stellar Shift.
"Incredible!"
Even though he had anticipated their value, he hadn't expected such top tier abilities.
Eternal Youth, though initially dismissed as less useful, had profound applications. At its peak, it could control the flow of time not just for oneself but for external objects as well.
Unrestrained Meteor was an unparalleled speed technique. At its mastery, even Saint grade Heavenly Supremes would struggle to catch up. Fully perfected, it allowed the user to transcend spatial limitations, traveling almost instantaneously to any desired location.
Stellar Shift, on the other hand, was a game changer. Even at the entry level, it manipulated time and space. Perfected, it could turn the tide of battle, enabling Xiao Tiance to potentially single handedly dismantle the entire True Phoenix Clan.
Admiring the slips, Xiao Tiance couldn't help but voice his awe.
"These are truly extraordinary worthy of being among the greatest abilities of the Grand Thousand Worlds. Absolutely remarkable!"
Though he didn't obtain One Qi into Three Pure Ones, these three abilities were more than sufficient.
Moyang's Gratitude
Moyang smiled, bowing respectfully. "Lord Tiance, are you satisfied with these?"
Xiao Tiance laughed heartily. "More than satisfied! Moyang, Huang You, First Snow, I gratefully accept these incredible abilities. To abandon any one of them would feel like bleeding my heart dry."
Huang You chuckled. "As long as you're pleased, Lord Tiance. These abilities, while precious, pale in comparison to the freedom we've regained.
Moreover, your patience in waiting for us to recover fully before even mentioning the jade slips demonstrates a magnanimity we deeply admire."
First Snow nodded. "Indeed. Others might have demanded these abilities before helping us, but you waited without pressing us. That speaks volumes about your character."
Revealing Precautions
The trio's transformations were striking. Gone were their frail and haggard appearances, replaced by youthful vitality. Their energy brimmed with newfound vigor, and they appeared as imposing as Xiao Tiance and Xiao Xuan themselves.
Xiao Tiance, however, shook his head slightly, his smile tinged with a hint of self awareness.
"While I appreciate your trust, I must admit that I wasn't entirely without precautions. In the Grand Thousand Worlds, it's unwise to fully trust anyone at first."
With a flick of his hand, Xiao Tiance activated a hidden formation. Ancient, intricate arrays of spiritual energy emerged from the trio's bodies, hovering in the air.
"What... what is this?" Moyang and the others were visibly stunned.
Despite their overwhelming strength Moyang at the late Saint grade Heavenly Supreme level and the others at advanced Spirit grade Heavenly Supreme they hadn't detected these formations.
"These formations were embedded into us?" Huang You asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
First Snow's eyes widened. "How is that possible? Such a thing, without our knowledge?"
Xiao Tiance offered a polite bow. "Forgive me, seniors, but I had to be cautious. If you had regained your full strength and broken your promise, I would have had no way to stop you.
Thus, I employed these measures as insurance. I hope you can understand."
Though apologetic in tone, Xiao Tiance felt no real guilt. Precautions were essential when dealing with the unknown.
Reactions of the Trio
Moyang laughed heartily, clapping his hands. "Brilliant! Simply brilliant! Lord Tiance, there's no need for apologies. In fact, your foresight is admirable.
Had you shown no vigilance, we might not have respected you as much. A leader with both strength and cunning is far superior to one who is naive and trusting."
Huang You and First Snow nodded in agreement, their gazes filled with newfound admiration.
"Exactly," Huang You said. "We're actually relieved that you took such measures. It shows you're someone worth following."
Xiao Tiance couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm grateful for your understanding. However, there's one more matter I must address. Please, don't be angry."
"What do you mean?" Moyang asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
Xiao Tiance's expression grew solemn. With a surge of spiritual energy, he extended his left hand.
The Second Layer of Precaution
"Whoosh!"
Three wisps of golden flames shot out from the trio's bodies, floating in the air. Though tiny, the flames radiated an overwhelming heat.
Moyang's eyes narrowed, his voice sharp. "What are these flames? And how were they within us without our knowledge?"
"Golden flames?" Huang You muttered, her expression tense.
First Snow, normally calm, couldn't hide her shock. "Even at our level, we never noticed this?"
Xiao Tiance exhaled deeply. "These are the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flames, ranked fourth among the otherworldly fires. I planted them as a secondary safeguard.
As you can see, they're harmless unless I will it otherwise. I apologize for the intrusion, but in a world as vast and dangerous as this, I had to ensure your loyalty."
Mutual Respect
After a tense moment, Moyang burst into laughter. "Magnificent! Truly magnificent!
Lord Tiance, there's no need for such humility. Your actions prove your wisdom. Had you not taken these measures, it would've been harder to fully earn our trust. Now, we're even more convinced that following you was the right choice."
Huang You nodded. "Exactly. This isn't just about strength; it's about strategy. We're glad to have pledged our loyalty to someone as capable as you."
First Snow smiled warmly, her earlier shock replaced with admiration. "Well said, Brother Moyang. Lord Tiance, we're with you."
Relieved, Xiao Tiance dispelled the formations and flames, bowing once more. "I'm honored by your understanding. Let's move forward together as allies."
With trust solidified, Xiao Tiance and his new allies prepared for the battles to come.
"Lord Tiance, you're really something else..." Moyang and his siblings couldn't help but laugh wryly.
To be honest, this was the first time they'd encountered someone as cautious or downright "crafty" as Xiao Tiance. The fact that he had planted not one but two safeguards in their bodies was impressive and unnerving.
If they had been foolish enough to act against Xiao Tiance, they realized the consequences would have been dire. Even though their strength as Heavenly Supremes could easily overpower the golden flames in a direct confrontation, having those flames inside their bodies was a completely different story. A well timed detonation could have led to their demise, no matter how powerful they were.
Xiao Tiance's Explanation
"Apologies, apologies! I admit, I may have been overly cautious," Xiao Tiance said with a sheepish smile, bowing slightly. "I meant no harm to you three. These precautions were merely insurance. After all, with your immense strength restored, I wouldn't stand a chance in a direct confrontation. I had to prepare some contingencies please, I hope you understand."
First Snow smiled faintly, her every gesture exuding charm. "Lord Tiance, your caution is understandable, but your methods are... remarkably subtle. To think you managed this without us noticing even once."
Her beauty, while less overwhelming than Medusa's, carried a sophisticated allure that was hard to ignore.
Beside her, Moyang and Huang You also exchanged amused glances. Their curiosity was piqued. Even Saint grade Heavenly Supremes would struggle to place hidden measures in their bodies without detection, yet Xiao Tiance had succeeded effortlessly.
"Uh... Do you remember the pills I gave you back in the dungeon?" Xiao Tiance admitted, scratching his head. "Those were crafted by me. They weren't just for healing they contained hidden mechanisms. Thankfully, I never needed to activate them. You've honored your agreement, and there was no need for these safeguards to come into play."
First Snow chuckled. "If you had activated them, what would have happened?"
"That depends on the timing," Xiao Tiance replied with a slight grin. "If triggered now, without any ongoing conflict, you'd only sustain severe injuries. But if activated mid battle, they'd be lethal."
"Hiss "
The trio couldn't help but suck in a breath. They now felt a deep sense of relief, realizing how close they had been to potential disaster.
"This guy is really something else," Moyang thought. "If we'd gone against him, it wouldn't have just cost us the fight it would've cost us our lives."
"Still, I must say, Lord Tiance, your vigilance is commendable," Moyang said, laughing heartily. "It's always better to be cautious."
Huang You smirked and teased, "I just hope Lord Tiance doesn't have more precautions we don't know about."
Xiao Tiance raised his hands in mock surrender. "No, no, just those two!"
The laughter in the cave grew louder.
Planning for Revenge
After a while, Moyang's expression turned serious. "Lord Tiance, when do we set out to confront the True Phoenix Clan? That scoundrel Feng Mingtian imprisoned us for tens of thousands of years. We've waited too long for this day."
"That's right!" Huang You added, her eyes glinting with malice. "If we can't avenge this, living would feel worse than death."
Even First Snow, normally composed, revealed a chilling killing intent. No one could truly understand the torment they had endured during their imprisonment. For tens of thousands of years, they had been starved of freedom, sustenance, and hope.
Xiao Tiance nodded solemnly. "I understand how you feel, but we need to be patient. It won't be long now. Once everyone arrives, we'll move against the True Phoenix Clan together."
Reuniting with His Disciples
At that moment, Xiao Tiance remembered that Huang Min and Ling Yun were still recovering in the Heavenly Dao Tower.
"Fatty Wa, bring out my disciples. They should be fully healed by now," he said.
"Right away, little sir!" Fatty Wa chirped cheerfully, summoning the Heavenly Dao Tower from Xiao Tiance's hairband. A beam of white light shot out from the tower, revealing Huang Min and Ling Yun.
Huang Min appeared worried, while Ling Yun remained seated cross legged, his aura unstable.
"Master, Ling Yun " Huang Min began anxiously, but Xiao Tiance raised a hand to calm her.
"No need to worry, Min'er," he said reassuringly. "Ling Yun is breaking through. The Heavenly Dao Tower lacked sufficient spiritual energy to sustain his advancement. I'll take care of it now."
With that, he retrieved the Heavenly Dao Glazed Bottle from his waist and guided Ling Yun into it, providing the necessary energy to complete his breakthrough. After confirming Ling Yun's condition, Xiao Tiance sighed in relief.
A Tearful Reunion
Suddenly, Huang Min lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Xiao Tiance and bursting into tears.
"Master, I missed you so much!" she sobbed, her voice muffled against his chest.
Xiao Tiance gently patted her back, his voice soft and comforting. "I missed you too, Min'er."
After some time, Huang Min noticed Moyang and the others watching and pulled back, blushing slightly.
Xiao Tiance's expression turned stern. "Min'er, you and Ling Yun nearly got yourselves killed. If anything had happened to you, how could I face Elder Huang?
You've been with me for a thousand years how have you not learned to be more cautious? Do you have any idea what would have happened if I'd arrived even a moment later? At best, you'd both be crippled for life. At worst, you wouldn't have survived."
Huang Min's heart sank. Tears welled up again as she muttered, "Master, we never expected the True Phoenix Clan to betray us...
Especially that wretched Feng Ying. He promised to help us trace our lineage but attacked us instead. If I see him again, I'll crush his bones piece by piece!"
Her anger was palpable, and even Moyang, Huang You, and First Snow felt a surge of empathy for her.
Preparing for War
With his disciples safe and his allies ready, Xiao Tiance turned his focus to the upcoming battle.
The True Phoenix Clan's treachery had gone too far, and now they would face the consequences.
(End of Chapter)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1