Chapter 227: Chapter 163: Soul Condensing Realm Perfection, Star Capturing Heaven
Chapter 227: Chapter 163: Soul Condensing Realm Perfection, Star Capturing Heaven
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The Demon Race had broken their alliance, and the Northern Region had been thoroughly cleansed in this period, transforming into a land without masters, fertile and unclaimed. Aside from the carcass of magical beasts, vast Spirit Veins, and treasures of the earth and sky, there was nothing else.
The gaze of many Sects landed on this region.
This leaderless land, even the Holy Lands coveted earnestly. However, their main focus still laid upon the Cangyun Secret Realm for the time being.
After all, when it came to the quality of the Spirit Veins, the Cangyun Secret Realm was far superior to the lands of the four regions as they were now.
But with the upheaval caused by the outsiders yet unresolved, and with the True Immortals of the Immortal Alliance still present, no one dared to openly discuss the division of this land.
At the main peak of the Primordial Spirit Holy Land, feasts had been unending in recent days, with a constant flow of guests like clouds.
Upon his throne, the Primordial Spirit Saint Lord Shang Tianshu, dressed in splendid attire with hair black as ink, appeared to be in his forties, at the prime of his life.
At this moment, as he looked upon the guests in the hall, his eyes were full of smiles.
Having stepped into the Immortal Tribulation, his lifespan was greatly extended; he might even have the opportunity to touch the True Immortal Realm.
After Shang Zuling's actions, no one in the Cangyun Realm would ever again question the status of the Primordial Spirit Holy Land.
Although the Shang Family, as descendants of the Immortal King, needn't worry about their survival like ordinary Sects or Holy Lands, it would be a dishonor to their ancestors if they were not recognized publicly.
Ji Yuyan stepped slowly into the main hall. He had been severely injured in the battle of the outer realm, and had been recovering quietly during this time.
"Immortal Ji."
Shang Tianshu did not dare to neglect him and rose to greet him.
When they had set out for the outer realm battlefield, he had not intended to take Shang Zuling with them. Now it seemed, had it not been for Ji Yuyan's insistence, they might have all met their end there.
The cultivators within the hall rose to their feet and bowed, their expressions filled with gratitude and respect.
As an outsider, Ji Yuyan had done the utmost that anyone could have done for the Cangyun.
"No need for such formalities."
Ji Yuyan swept his gaze around the hall, not finding Shang Zuling, he felt puzzled.
"Where is Shang Zuling?"
"Ancestral Spirit suffered great exhaustion in the outer realm and has been in closed-door cultivation these days to restore his depleted Yuan Qi."
Hearing this, Shang Tianshu immediately spoke and headed towards the outside of the hall:
"Please follow me, Immortal Ji."
The two left the main peak together, heading straight for a Spirit Peak.
...
...
In an instant, they reached the summit of a ten-thousand-zhang Spirit Peak.
Giant ancient trees stretching up to the heavens, nearly a thousand zhang tall with canopies extending for dozens of miles, obscured the sky and blotted out the sun.
Shang Zuling was seated at the base of a tree, her complexion pale, with earthy Spirit Crystals beneath her, pulsing with profound spiritual energy.
Moments later, Shang Zuling slowly ended her cultivation and opened her eyes, standing up to bow:
"I have seen Immortal Ji."
Her expression was devoid of much fluctuation, seemingly unsurprised by Ji Yuyan's arrival.
"I have come to express my thanks and also to bid farewell," Ji Yuyan spoke in a calm voice, "The Immortal Alliance considers my role in this battle significant, and taking into account my severe injuries, they have granted me leave to return to my homeland to recuperate."
With those words, he took out a set of Battle Armor and handed it to Shang Zuling:
"A Semi-Immortal Treasure might not catch your eye, but it is a token of my regard. Please accept it without refusal."
Upon hearing this, Shang Zuling hesitated slightly, then bowed and accepted it with both hands:
"I am underserving, but gratefully receive it."
To refuse further would be impolite.
"Should you have the opportunity, come visit me in the Heavenly Guardian Star Domain, and allow me to entertain you, fulfilling my duties as a host."
Talking about his native home brought waves of emotion into Ji Yuyan's eyes as he realized the value of things once lost and regained.
"Thank you for your assistance this time. I wish you a safe journey," Shang Zuling thanked him quietly.
"With your talents, you will surely enter the Minor Immortal Realm soon, and Chu Zheng as well. The future is long, and you both have plenty of time," Ji Yuyan said, not lingering long before turning to leave, eager to return home.
Watching Ji Yuyan depart, Shang Zuling put away the Immortal Armor, her brow furrowed.
"Ancestral Spirit, ever since you returned from the outer realm, you've seemed heavily preoccupied. Why is that?"
Seeing this, Shang Tianshu was somewhat puzzled. It would seem that with the Cangyun Immortal King's intervention, bringing order to the Myriad Realm's invasion, it should be a joyous matter. Yet, Shang Zuling did not seem very happy about it.
"It's nothing, just that my Blood Qi is depleted, leaving my complexion poor," Shang Zuling said with a slight shake of her head, lowering her eyelids to hide the turmoil within.
They had prevailed in the battle amidst the stars of the outer realm, but something felt amiss to her.
This Cangyun Immortal King, it seemed he had not come specifically for her.
The moment her bloodline was activated, she became like a coordinate in time and space, pointing the way for Shang Cangyun's projection.
Those cultivators from the Myriad Realms did not seem to be a concern for Shang Cangyun. After arriving, he only mentioned the name of Zhao Tingxian and did not speak a single word to her.
With his status as a Heavenly Judge, such behavior was not surprising, but Shang Zuling still felt an eerie strangeness about the whole affair.
After the Immortal King's projection vanished, she faintly felt that something inside her had disappeared completely. The voice that had once been at the bottom of her heart was also gone without a trace.
Now, she was no longer able to make any connection with that ancestor, as if her value to Shang Cangyun was only to provide that one-time coordinate, nothing more.
As she pondered this, Shang Zuling couldn't help feeling inexplicably lost.
Although she had always considered seeking help from an ancestor shameful, she held immense aspiration for this youngest Heavenly Judge in the Immortal Alliance, whom she aimed to catch up to.
Seeing Shang Zuling's hesitant expression, Shang Tianshu knew she wasn't speaking the truth. However, given her special status, he couldn't press further and pretended not to notice:
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