Chapter 276 - 276: Three Forces Arrived Together
“You mean the Golden Crow Clan and the Infinite Demon Sect?” Su Chen asked, expression shifting.
“It seems Brother Su is already aware.” the Yin Yang Holy Son nodded slightly. “The hatred between you is irreconcilable. 1 fear they may take advantage of the Prodigy Gathering to strike at you. Moreover…” Here the Yin Yang Holy Son trailed off without continuing. He glanced within the carriage where a graceful figure sat meditating, bathed in divine light. Her aura was as unfathomable as an abyss, with an ancient air that made one tremble. It was none other than Huo Xi!
She planned to attend the Prodigy Gathering and see the world, so Su Chen brought her along. Without Huo Xi, Su Chen would have far less trouble. But with her, things differed. Some who coveted the immortal gold might not dare touch Su Chen, yet would readily target Huo Xi. The lure of immortal gold was too great.
In the past two months, word of Huo Xi possessing the Eternal Forbidden Body and immortal gold had spread through the entire East Barrens. The speed was so frightening that it was hard not to suspect a manipulator behind the scenes. Right now, countless forces were ready to act. Relying solely on Su Chen would have difficulty handling what was to come. Other factions might lend aid, but distant water cannot quench an immediate thirst. Moreover, they could not shadow Su Chen indefinitely. If Su Chen was caught alone, it would spell danger.
“Brother Su, there’s no need to endanger yourself for another’s sake!” The Yin Yang Holy Son had hesitated multiple times before advising this.
“Haha…” Su Chen chuckled, shaking his head. Looking back at Huo Xi, he replied, “I understand your words, but since they want to deal with me, how could I be unprepared?”
With Su Chen’s current strength, he could practically act as he pleased as long as no saints intervened. Even if one did, so long as they were ordinary, they would not be his match. This Prodigy Gathering was the younger generation’s battlefield, and Su Chen was the most dazzling among them. Thus, there was no cause for concern.
“Oh?” Hearing this, the Yin Yang Holy Son’s eyes lit up as he quickly responded, “So you were prepared already. It was me who worried excessively!”
The Purple Clouds Holy Land was a profoundly ancient power. Its inheritance spanned eons, with countless saints emerging. At its peak, it even had a quasi-emperor guarding. Though never birthing a great emperor, after accumulating over countless years, it had leaped to a top-tier faction.
Today was the appointed date of the Prodigy Gathering. Beforehand, countless young cultivators had arrived from across the East Barrens, some even hailing from other domains. Most could not enter the Purple Clouds Holy Land itself, only coming to spectate. After all, this Prodigy Gathering concerned the very survival of the East Barrens.
It was said a similar gathering had occurred in the Central Plains years ago. The East Barrens’ version came relatively late. At the same time, outside the Purple Clouds Holy Land, the scene was mist-shrouded peaks and valleys.
Innumerable cultivators sat meditating in the void, discussing amongst themselves.
“With the Prodigy Gathering convening, the dark creatures invading the East Barrens will surely be wiped out,” a young prodigy leisurely said.
Frankly, he was unconcerned with the dark creatures. After all, the East Barrens’ past experts had defeated them once already. So, it could be done again now.
“Certainly!” came the immediate echo, “With the Black Blood Stones, dark creatures are hard to kill but live long. But their weakness is also clear. Their cultivation is too slow. Reaching the Saint Realm takes at least ten thousand years, let alone the Great Emperor Realm… In that immense time, anything could happen. For dark creatures, losing a saint requires tens of thousands of years to recover. Yet in our world, given decent aptitude and fortune, becoming a saint needs only a thousand years or so. Our cultivation advantage is impossible for dark creatures to match.”
“I heard Saint Realm dark creatures have appeared around the Purple Clouds Holy Land, all carrying copious Black Blood Stones.”
“Forget those, they’re beyond provoking. Even Nirvana Realm dark creatures cannot be easily provoked. Speaking of which, the Gathering nears, why haven’t some factions arrived yet?” someone asked, puzzled.
However, just as he finished speaking.
Clang!
A bell’s resonant drone swept out for thousands of miles. Countless gazes raised skyward. They understood that an esteemed guest had arrived at the Purple Clouds Holy Land.
Within, countless young prodigies and veteran experts emerged. “What a grand procession!”
“Who comes?”
“Could it be a Saint King Realm character?”
Speculation abounded. Their confusion quickly dispersed as a distant flying beast soared into view, wreathed in divine light, its beating wings stirring powerful gusts.
Atop it stood ten tremendously mighty figures, resembling mountains that breathed sacred radiance to press down heaven and earth. The surrounding void warped from their presence.
“Incredible!” someone exclaimed disbelievingly, “It’s…the Golden Crow Clan, the Inly Sea Island, and the Infinite Demon Sect together!”
“Rare indeed!”
This Prodigy Gathering had been jointly organized by quasi-emperors of the humans and the Demon Race. Many factions of both races were present, but with humans and demons being traditionally adversarial, today’s assembly was purely due to the foreign invasion. Under normal circumstances, human and demon experts rarely traveled together.
Yet now the Infinite Demon Sect and the Inky Sea Island accompanied the Golden Crow Clan, hard not to set imaginations aflutter. “I heard the Inky Sea Island and the Infinite Demon Sect have conflicts with the Great Mystery Holy Son. Could these two joining forces portend some plot?” someone remarked, staring fixedly at the approaching beast.
“Well… It’s hard to say. If just those two it would be one thing, but the Golden Crow Clan have never opposed the Great Mystery Sacred Sect! What are they up to by getting involved?” A prodigy knitted his brows perplexedly.
“Haha….” At this moment, an old man stroking his beard guffawed, “You’re unaware of this matter!”