Chapter 1814: Collecting the Bodies
On the peak of the towering ancient castle of Qi Tian Fortress, a group of figures stood. Qi Yuchen's injuries had been healed, but it would be some time before he could use his full strength. His expression was especially grim; even now, he could not forget the humiliating defeat of that day.
A direct descendant of Qi Tian Fortress, a martial cultivator of Qing Di Mountain—such a dazzling identity. Yet, a Martial Emperor casually stepping out from the opponent's palace had easily crushed him. That battle had been a devastating loss.
"Eastern Emperor, Heavenly Terrace—it was a force from the former Small World. There shouldn't be any problem, right?" At this moment, a middle-aged man asked the Eastern Emperor coldly. The Eastern Emperor now had only one arm left. Back when they had besieged Lin Feng, Lin Feng had fought back wildly, using Array Talismans to destroy one of his arms. Even now, it had not been restored. He understood that Qi Tian Fortress was unwilling to pay a great price to help him reattach it.
The Eastern Emperor naturally held resentment in his heart, but he hated Lin Feng even more. Unfortunately, Lin Feng had escaped back then. Moreover, the subsequent arrival of the people from Yao Ye Island had nearly brought catastrophe to Qi Tian Fortress. Qi Yunsheng and Qi Yunlei, two formidable figures, had died at the hands of Yao Ye Island. Even now, the memory of that disaster remained fresh: better to offend Qing Di Mountain than to provoke Yao Ye Island.
On that day when the demons descended upon the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortress Region, the Nine Great Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses had been silent with fear. Even the Fortress Master dared not show his face. The Martial Emperor Chen Chen had been forced to leave in fury, and Lin Feng, backed by the ancient demons of Yao Ye Island, had forcefully taken away Yuan Fei and the others from Qi Tian Fortress.
Now, a palace named Heavenly Terrace had risen in the central buffer zone of the Nine Great Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses. This struck the Eastern Emperor as strange.
"In the Small World, there was indeed a Heavenly Terrace back then—the force where that Lin Feng belonged. However, when the remnants of Heavenly Terrace fled, they were only at the Venerable Martial Realm. Even the Twin Emperors of Heavenly Terrace were just one Low-rank Emperor and one Mid-rank Emperor. With such strength, even after some years, they couldn't possibly stir up much trouble, let alone produce Emperor Scriptures to bestow upon core disciples of Heavenly Terrace. Therefore, I suspect it might be another force."
The Eastern Emperor spoke slowly. The middle-aged man's eyes flickered as he looked at Qi Yuchen and asked, "Yuchen, you're the only one who has fought against someone from that 'Heavenly Terrace.' What do you think of their cultivation techniques and divine abilities?"
"Very strong. A single roar shook heaven and earth; a single punch sent thousands of ancient lions sweeping across the sky. Whether it's the ancient scriptures or the techniques they cultivate, they are absolutely formidable. Even Qing Di Mountain probably couldn't produce many of them. And even if they could, only the core figures of Qing Di Mountain would have access to them. I also believe this is definitely not the former Heavenly Terrace—perhaps it's just a coincidence." Qi Yuchen analyzed.
"But they built the Heavenly Terrace palace in the central buffer zone of the nine main cities. Their intentions are sinister and cannot be ignored." The middle-aged man felt troubled. The other party's origins were mysterious. The Heavenly Terrace palace had risen overnight, and they didn't even know who lived inside. This sense of complete ignorance made it hard to feel at ease.
"Should we inform the Fortress Master?" the Eastern Emperor asked in a low voice.
Hearing this, the middle-aged man's cold, sharp gaze swept over him, causing the Eastern Emperor's heart to tremble. He lowered his head and said nothing.
"If we have to trouble the Fortress Master with every little thing, are we all a bunch of useless trash at Qi Tian Fortress?" the middle-aged man said coldly. The Eastern Emperor kept his head down, his expression unpleasant. He knew the man was clearly insulting him indirectly.
"Find a few Martial Emperors to infiltrate Heavenly Terrace and probe their background," the middle-aged man said indifferently. The others nodded slightly. This was indeed the most urgent matter.
Qi Tian Fortress was not the only one deciding to do this. Because of Heavenly Terrace's sudden appearance, all Nine Great Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses wanted to probe its background. Since Heavenly Terrace was recruiting now, they would send people to infiltrate it and be accepted.
Suddenly, in the central buffer zone of the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortress Region, the crowd around the nine main cities began to grow over the next few days. They had all come upon hearing the news. At the same time, a steady stream of people sought to join the Heavenly Terrace palace. Heavenly Terrace accepted everyone without exception, housing them in a cluster of courtyards.
As for those handling the reception, they were Qin Wu, Wu, and Tantai. All three were unfamiliar faces in the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortress Region.
"Several of you, since Heavenly Terrace is recruiting disciples, why are you keeping us waiting here?" At this moment, in an open square, someone asked Qin Wu impatiently. This person was also a Martial Emperor. He had come for the ancient scriptures. As for the so-called Heavenly Terrace, he had little interest—unless its strength truly impressed him.
"Heavenly Terrace will arrange that. Since you have decided to join Heavenly Terrace, please be patient," Qin Wu said calmly.
"We've already waited half a day. How much longer? Shouldn't you give us a definite time?" a cold voice came from the crowd. Qin Wu's brow furrowed slightly, and a hint of mockery appeared in his eyes. He had known there would be troublemakers when recruiting disciples.
"Heavenly Terrace is recruiting disciples, not masters. If you don't want to wait, you're free to leave," Qin Wu said coldly, drawing several snorts of disdain.
"Since we've come, how can we just leave? Shouldn't you at least give us some explanation? At the very least, you should show us the promised ancient scriptures," someone said icily.
"Exactly. Saying 'free to leave' is just brushing us off. Aren't you being a bit too arrogant?" voices of agreement followed, and murmurs spread through the crowd.
"This is the first time I've seen disciples act so arrogantly," Tantai's booming voice rang out. Beside him, Wu's eyes flickered with the light of the sun, cold and sharp. He hadn't wanted to bother with this trivial matter, but since he had lost to Lin Feng, he had to follow Lin Feng's orders.
But Lin Feng was one thing. These people dared to be so arrogant and noisy—what were they?
"I'll say this once. If you don't want to join Heavenly Terrace, you're free to come and go as you please. I won't force you to stay. But if anyone deliberately causes trouble, they will be killed without mercy." Wu's arrogant, cold voice carried a murderous intent, causing the crowd's pupils to contract. Those at the Venerable Martial Realm naturally said nothing. And those who truly wanted the ancient scriptures—if Heavenly Terrace was strong, they wouldn't mind sincerely joining it to form a force capable of contending with the Nine Great Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses. So they kept quiet. What was waiting a few days for a martial artist?
"Quite the big talk," a Martial Emperor said coldly.
"Whoosh!" Suddenly, Wu's body shot forward like a meteor of fire. The Martial Emperor's expression changed instantly, and he retreated. But his speed was no match for Wu's. In the void, a sharp sun claw descended, grabbing him alive. A sharp cry rang out, followed by a rain of fire. The crowd watched as the man's body was torn apart, laws spreading everywhere.
This scene stunned the crowd. A Martial Emperor—killed on the spot.
"How terrifying their combat power is. Both are Low-rank Emperors, but their fighting strength is on a completely different level. Instant kill." The Martial Emperors present had light flashing in their eyes. It seemed Heavenly Terrace might indeed be extraordinary. Otherwise, how could these Low-rank Emperors be so powerful? The Low-rank Emperors here seemed utterly helpless against them—just like the Qing Di Mountain cultivators and Qi Tian Fortress's genius, Qi Yuchen.
Even more frightening was how ruthless these people were. They seemed to have no scruples—killing a Martial Emperor, humiliating Qi Yuchen—none of it mattered to them.
In the void, Wu was bathed in solar flames, his cold eyes sweeping over the crowd. "Anyone else dissatisfied? Come out and die."
The crowd fell silent. Even those who had been provoking earlier shut their mouths. This guy was too vicious. A Martial Emperor, killed just like that.
They didn't know that in the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortress Region, a Martial Emperor was already a formidable figure. But in the Sky-Gazing Ancient Capital, in the eyes of Wu, a descendant of a demon realm giant, Martial Emperors were merely mortals.
"I also want to warn you all. If any of you are joining Heavenly Terrace with ulterior motives, I advise you to leave now. Otherwise, it will be too late later." Qin Wu's cold voice rang out as well, causing the spies from the Nine Great Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses to tremble inwardly. They had a bad feeling. But since they had been ordered to come, they couldn't leave. They wanted to see what kind of people were in Heavenly Terrace.
At this moment, a figure approached from afar. It was a beautiful young woman—Qing Feng.
"Wu, bring them. Qin Wu and Tantai, stay here and receive those who come later," Qing Feng said. Qin Wu nodded slightly and said to the crowd, "Follow me."
The crowd followed Qing Feng and Wu, wondering how Heavenly Terrace would test them.
At this moment, outside the long corridor of Heavenly Terrace, many people were still watching and waiting, wondering if those who entered Heavenly Terrace to join would truly receive the Emperor Scriptures.
They waited for a long time. Night fell, and they didn't leave. Not until the morning sun poured down did their eyes remain fixed ahead.
"Someone's coming." Suddenly, many figures rushed over. But the crowd saw that each of them was carrying a body. This sight made everyone's expressions freeze. What was going on?
"It seems they have no breath. Are those people all dead?" The crowd's pupils contracted. Soon, the people reached the outside of Heavenly Terrace and threw the bodies heavily onto the ground.
"Second Senior Brother asked us to tell the Nine Great Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses: stop trying to send spies into our Heavenly Terrace. Otherwise, as many as you send, that many will be killed." These people left behind a cold voice, then turned and left, leaving the stunned crowd behind. Among them, the faces of the people from the Nine Great Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses turned ashen. These bodies indeed included their people!
Heavenly Terrace had killed them without any hesitation!