Chapter 492: Conditions and the Holy Spirit Water
"Shut up, you two old relics. One more word, and don't blame me for being rude."
In the meeting hall of the Grand Thousand Palace Division on the Sacred Abyss Continent, the Maha Ancestor's mood was already sour after losing to Xiao Tiance. Now, with the continued teasing from the Archaic Ancestor and the Tailing Ancestor, he was even more agitated.
"Hahaha, watching you lose face is just too entertaining. What, now we can't even talk about it?" The Archaic Ancestor laughed heartily, showing no mercy.
Before his match with Xiao Tiance, the Archaic Ancestor might have held back his mockery he knew he couldn't take on the Maha Ancestor himself. But now that the Maha Ancestor was injured and hadn't yet recovered, there was no reason to hold back.
"Hmph. I'll let it slide for now. But once I've fully recovered, we'll see if you still have the guts to say such things." The Maha Ancestor snorted coldly, giving off the aura of a once mighty tiger momentarily brought low.
Xiao Tiance's Entrance
At that moment, a figure flashed into the meeting hall it was Xiao Tiance. The atmosphere shifted instantly as everyone stood to greet him with respectful bows.
Even the True Dragon Emperor, sensing that Xiao Tiance was not only unscathed but had only slightly expended his spiritual energy, reevaluated the young powerhouse.
Previously, many doubted Qin Tian's claims about Xiao Tiance surviving a siege by over a hundred of the Outer Realm Demon Clan's top experts. Some thought Qin Tian exaggerated out of gratitude. But now, seeing Xiao Tiance's prowess firsthand, they had to accept the truth: Xiao Tiance was indeed as strong as the rumors suggested perhaps even stronger.
"Tiance, remarkable performance," the Archaic Ancestor said with a smile, offering a bow.
"Indeed. The Maha Old Ghost has always been arrogant, believing himself the strongest in the Grand Thousand World since the Immortal Emperor's fall. Today, it seems he's met his match," the Tailing Ancestor added with a chuckle, twisting the knife further.
"You're too kind, esteemed elders. Maha Ancestor was only going easy on me, giving me some guidance. He didn't use his full strength," Xiao Tiance said humbly, diffusing the situation.
Hearing this, the Maha Ancestor's expression softened slightly. Xiao Tiance had left him some face, even though the truth was clear to everyone.
The Maha Ancestor nodded, offering his acknowledgment. "Tiance, no need for modesty. Even if I had gone all out, it's unlikely I would have been able to defeat you."
Resolution
The crowd exchanged glances, surprised by the Maha Ancestor's candid admission. His tone turned serious as he addressed Ji Ping'an.
**"Old man, I'm true to my word. Our past grievances are now settled. But let me be clear: the demonic aura within your body is considerable. If you step outside the Sacred Abyss Continent, it will inevitably taint the Grand Thousand World's spiritual energy.
So, while our feud is over, if I see you outside this continent, don't blame me for taking action."**
Ji Ping'an smiled faintly and replied, "That's fair. I have no plans to leave the Sacred Abyss Continent for now. I give you my word."
Ji Ping'an had already resolved to stay put until his life reached its natural end. Before that day came, he planned to dissipate the power within his current body, ensuring it posed no threat. After his death, he intended to leave his body to Xiao Tiance for the creation of a Heavenly Demon Puppet.
Departures
Satisfied, the Maha Ancestor snorted and announced, "Very well. With this matter settled, I'll take my leave. The agreement Tiance made with the Outer Realm Demon Clan for a century without top tier Heavenly Demon Emperor invasions needs to be communicated to my clan so we can adjust our strategies."
With that, he turned to the Archaic and Tailing Ancestors, huffed one last time, and left the hall.
One by one, other key figures, such as the True Dragon Emperor, True Phoenix Empress, and Green Robed Sword Saint, also took their leave.
The Tailing Ancestor's Offer
Once the room had cleared, the Tailing Ancestor turned to Xiao Tiance with a smile. "Tiance, I heard you're interested in creating an imitation of our clan's sacred artifact, the Tailing Ancient Diagram. Is that true?"
"Yes, Tailing Elder. Would that be possible?" Xiao Tiance asked, nodding.
The Tailing Ancient Diagram had significantly enhanced his combat endurance, allowing him to defeat the Dark Sky Demon Emperor and suppress both the Holy Sky Demon Emperor and the Nine Heavens Corpse Demon Emperor. Without it, his stored spiritual energy might have sufficed for battle, but it wouldn't have given him the leverage to force the Outer Realm Demon Clan into submission.
The Tailing Ancestor laughed. "Of course, it's possible. However, as you know, the Tailing Ancient Diagram is the crown jewel of our clan's sacred artifacts, so…"
He trailed off, feigning hesitation.
Xiao Tiance smiled knowingly. Without waiting for the elder to finish, he raised two fingers. "Two Heavenly Demon Puppets, each at the early Saint Heavenly Sovereign level."
The Tailing Ancestor's eyes lit up with delight. "Deal! Tiance, you're a straightforward man. I'll personally oversee the process to ensure it goes smoothly."
The offer was too good to pass up. A single Saint Heavenly Sovereign level puppet could rival a mid tier Saint Heavenly Sovereign in combat power. Acquiring two was a boon beyond measure for the Tailing Clan's reserves.
A Generous Exchange
Nearby, the elder of the Futu Clan, Futu Xuan, couldn't help but feel envious. He wished Xiao Tiance would make a similar request regarding their clan's sacred Ancestral Pagoda. However, the Ancestral Pagoda had remained unused during Xiao Tiance's recent campaigns, leaving Futu Xuan without an opening to suggest such a deal.
Sensing Futu Xuan's disappointment, Xiao Tiance turned to him and smiled. "Elder Futu, while I didn't use the Ancestral Pagoda, I remain grateful for your assistance. To show my appreciation, I'd like to offer a trade: one Heavenly Demon Puppet at the early Saint Heavenly Sovereign level in exchange for three favors from the Futu Clan. Of course, these favors will not contradict your principles."
Futu Xuan's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Done!" he replied without hesitation. A Heavenly Demon Puppet was a priceless treasure, and three favors were a small price to pay.
Thus, another mutually beneficial deal was struck, further solidifying Xiao Tiance's alliances within the Grand Thousand World.
The Heavenly Demon Puppet, crafted from the body of the Futu Ancestor, was still cherished by the Futu Clan as a priceless treasure. After all, who could refuse a nearly indestructible puppet with no flaws, zero energy consumption, and the ability to fight endlessly as long as it wasn't completely destroyed?
"Hahaha, excellent. In that case, within ten years, I'll deliver the Heavenly Demon Puppet to you," Xiao Tiance promised with a smile upon seeing Futu Xuan agree so readily.
"Very well. I'll be eagerly awaiting it," Futu Xuan replied with a respectful bow.
Stability and Preparation
With everything resolved, the Tailing Ancestor and Futu Xuan took their leave. With the Grand Thousand World entering a century of relative stability due to the truce with the Outer Realm Demon Clan, both needed to return and make necessary adjustments redistributing defenses, organizing retreats, and enhancing their clans' overall strength.
Once everyone had left, Lu Tong excused himself to handle the affairs of the Grand Thousand Palace, leaving only Qin Tian, Ji Ping'an, and Xiao Tiance in the hall.
Gratitude
Turning to Ji Ping'an, Qin Tian respectfully bowed and said, "Many thanks to Senior Ji. If it weren't for your assistance back then, I might never have made it back to the Grand Thousand World safely."
Ji Ping'an waved his hand with a faint smile. "No need to thank me. I helped you because of your talent and unyielding character. I believed you had the potential to become one of the Grand Thousand World's top experts. It's clear I wasn't wrong soon after, I heard the news of you becoming the Grand Elder of the Grand Thousand Palace. That's enough for me."
Qin Tian bowed again, his gratitude unwavering. "Regardless, I owe you my life. If there's ever anything you need, Senior, please say the word. As long as it's within my power, I'll do it."
Seeing Qin Tian's sincerity, Ji Ping'an smiled. "Very well." He had come to understand that Qin Tian was a man of loyalty and integrity. Refusing him would only lead to more persistence.
Xiao Tiance's Next Steps
After expressing his thanks to Ji Ping'an, Qin Tian turned to Xiao Tiance. "Tiance, I assume your next step is to seek out the Artisan Clan to craft a replica of the Tailing Ancient Diagram?"
"Indeed. It'll greatly enhance my combat endurance, and keeping the original diagram with me for too long isn't ideal. The sooner the replica is completed, the sooner I can return the original to the Tailing Clan," Xiao Tiance explained.
Qin Tian nodded. "Understood. I'll personally contact the Artisan Clan and bring them to White Jade Capital. Once I've discussed the required materials with them, I'll send you a message."
"Thank you, Brother Qin," Xiao Tiance said with a smile.
Qin Tian laughed and waved it off. "No need for thanks between brothers. It's only right to help you. Speaking of which, there's something else. I informed the Undying Lord that you and Senior Ji returned safely, and he has requested you visit the Northern Wasteland Hill. He has an important matter to discuss with you."
A Grave Matter
Qin Tian's expression grew serious as he mentioned the Undying Lord's request.
Xiao Tiance immediately understood the matter likely involved the seal on the Heavenly Evil God.
In the original timeline, the Heavenly Evil God's origins were tied to the events of Yuan Zun. He was a remnant of the Sacred God, housed within a black egg that parasitized the flesh of the Sacred Race's Great Sage Tai Mi.
After the Sacred God was slain by Zhou Yuan, Tai Mi escaped with the egg into the endless void, intending to raise a second Sacred God and eventually return to conquer the Source Plane. During their wanderings, they discovered the Grand Thousand World, a promising new target.
The Heavenly Evil God's ambition was to conquer the Grand Thousand World, strengthen the Sacred Race, and later reclaim the Source Plane. Although his powers were suppressed by the world's laws, he managed to open four of his ten eyes.
To counter this threat, the Grand Thousand Palace led a coalition of top experts against him. In the end, the Immortal Emperor sacrificed himself to seal the Heavenly Evil God, who allowed himself to be sealed as part of a grander scheme he planned for the Outer Realm Demon Clan to rescue him after 49,000 years.
However, the seal had remained unbroken, and the timeline for his revival was drawing near. With Xiao Tiance's presence, the Heavenly Evil God's plans were bound to face even greater setbacks.
Setting Off
Resolving his thoughts, Xiao Tiance looked at Qin Tian and nodded. "Alright. I'll leave the Artisan Clan to you. As for the Northern Wasteland Hill, I'll head there now."
Qin Tian handed him a black jade pendant. "This will guide you into the depths of the Northern Wasteland Hill. Keep it safe."
Xiao Tiance examined the pendant briefly before storing it. Turning to Ji Ping'an, he said, "Senior Ji, I'll take my leave. Should you ever wish to visit White Jade Capital, just send word, and I'll personally escort you."
Ji Ping'an laughed heartily. "Very well. Before you leave, I have a gift for you."
The Holy Spirit Water
Ji Ping'an retrieved a small, tightly sealed bottle from his storage pouch and handed it to Xiao Tiance.
"What's this?" Xiao Tiance asked, noting the intricate seals on the bottle.
**"This is Holy Spirit Water, extracted from the birthplace of the Heavenly Evil God. It has the power to enhance spiritual energy and strengthen the body. I heard from Lu Tong that your two children were born with immense spiritual energy due to the infusion of heaven and earth's power. However, their bodies were too weak to support such strength, leading to their comatose state and your decision to seal them.
This Holy Spirit Water should be able to help them recover."**
Upon hearing this, Xiao Tiance was overjoyed and deeply grateful. "Thank you, Senior Ji. This gift is priceless. I will use it well."
Ji Ping'an waved it off with a laugh. "No need for thanks. Take it it's meant to be."
With this, Xiao Tiance departed, more determined than ever to protect his family and fulfill his duties.
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