Chapter 1816: Conversation
The Heavenly Terrace was mysterious and powerful, shrouded in mist. Although it had risen among the nine main cities for some time, no one yet knew its true nature. Even the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses had refrained from rash action.
However, on this day, the people of the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses finally arrived. This time, all nine major powers came together: several Mid-rank Emperor level experts, dozens of Low-rank Emperor level experts, and a group of Venerable Lord level attendants. The appearance of this lineup instantly caused the hearts of the crowd around the Heavenly Terrace to tremble slightly. They understood that the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses could no longer hold back and were about to make a move.
One does not tolerate others snoring beside one's bed. This was the territory of the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses. They were the absolute rulers of this region, and this buffer zone was where their nine forces intersected. But now, it had been occupied by a new power that was continuously rising. Their action was only a matter of time. In fact, although their move came later than expected, the lineup was formidable, showing how seriously they regarded this rising force of the Heavenly Terrace.
At this moment, at the entrance of the Heavenly Terrace, looking along the long corridor, one could only see a phantom city, as if shrouded in mist.
"What a powerful formation," Zhou Tianxiao said at this moment, staring at the illusory city ahead.
"Fortunately, it's only an illusion formation. If they were skilled in killing formations, a formation of this level could probably threaten Mid-rank Emperors," said a Mid-rank Emperor from the Summer Heavenly Fortress, his expression quite solemn. Although formation masters each had their specialties—some excelled at illusion formations, others at void formations—it was hard to guarantee that an even more formidable formation master, skilled in all types of formations, wouldn't appear.
"Wasn't Lin Feng skilled in formations back then? And this place is called the Heavenly Terrace," said an expert from the Question Heavenly Fortress with a faint smile. This caused the brows of several forces, including the Qi Heavenly Fortress, to twitch slightly. Could it really be related to Lin Feng? Hadn't Lin Feng left only a few years ago? When he left, he hadn't even become an Emperor. If he returned now, could he have such resources?
Precious and rare ores, ancient scriptures, even Emperor scriptures—could Lin Feng produce them? That seemed somewhat impossible.
"We'll know once we go in and see," Zhou Tianxiao of the Great Zhou Immortal Palace said coldly. Then he shouted toward the corridor, "The Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses have come to pay respects to the Lord of the Heavenly Terrace."
The terrifying sound waves pierced through the void, roaring into the Heavenly Terrace. Inside, it was silent. But then, a group of figures walked out. These people glanced at the members of the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses but said nothing, merely standing calmly at both ends of the corridor.
"May we enter now?" asked an expert from the Qi Heavenly Fortress, looking at the people standing at both ends of the corridor who didn't respond. He felt slightly displeased. These fellows were merely at the Venerable Martial Realm. Normally, when they saw him, they should be bowing and scraping. Now, they were ignoring him completely.
"If our senior brother gives the order, he will inform you," one of them said indifferently, his gaze sweeping over them. This made the expert from the Qi Heavenly Fortress's expression freeze, a cold light flickering in his eyes.
"What arrogance. The Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses have all arrived, and this is how the Heavenly Terrace receives us?" the expert from the Qi Heavenly Fortress shouted along the corridor, his voice riding the wind into the Heavenly Terrace.
"The Heavenly Terrace didn't invite you. If you're unhappy, you can leave," the same person said again, his tone unyielding. This made the expert from the Qi Heavenly Fortress's expression turn icy cold. Sharp glints shot toward that person, killing intent spreading. "Who are you talking to?"
"Bullying a disciple of the Heavenly Terrace? Anyone from the Qi Heavenly Fortress who sets foot inside the Heavenly Terrace will be killed without mercy."
At this moment, a ethereal voice drifted from within the Heavenly Terrace along the corridor, clearly reaching everyone's ears. The hearts of the crowd outside trembled. Such arrogant words! Anyone from the Qi Heavenly Fortress who steps inside the Heavenly Terrace will be killed without mercy.
In the region of the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses, the Qi Heavenly Fortress being threatened like this—where was their dignity? This caused the faces of the Qi Heavenly Fortress members to change, turning dark and terrifying.
"Summer Heavenly Fortress, Ancient Heavenly Fortress, and the Ten Thousand Transformations Immortal Palace, please enter," another ethereal voice came, causing the crowd's expressions to flicker uncertainly. The Heavenly Terrace had invited three forces—the Summer Heavenly Fortress, the Ancient Heavenly Fortress, and the Ten Thousand Transformations Immortal Palace—but not the Great Zhou Immortal Palace, the Medicine King Immortal Palace, or the Question Heavenly Fortress. As for the Qi Heavenly Fortress, there was no need to mention them.
"Our senior brother of the Heavenly Terrace invites you," the Heavenly Terrace disciples said, gesturing. The three forces exchanged glances, then stepped forward. They wanted to see what kind of divine beings were behind the Heavenly Terrace.
As for the uninvited forces, their brows were tightly furrowed, their expressions quite unpleasant.
"I didn't expect to be humiliated like this when we came to pay our respects," said the expert from the Qi Heavenly Fortress, his voice cold, anger faintly radiating from him.
"Calm down. Let's wait until they come out and ask carefully before making plans," said the expert from the Question Heavenly Fortress, quite composed, his voice calm and without joy or sorrow. What harm was there in waiting a while?
The three forces—Summer Heavenly Fortress, Ancient Heavenly Fortress, and others—were led to a spacious courtyard in front of a hall. A banquet had already been set up there. Their gazes immediately fell on the young man at the head of the table. His eyes were sharp and cold, as if his entire being exuded a piercing aura. On either side of him sat two other young men of equally extraordinary bearing. One of them was burly, sitting like an iron tower, as if his whole body radiated immense power.
"Although they are all at the Low-rank Emperor level, they give off a terrifying sharpness. These three must come from renowned families," the members of the three forces thought to themselves. Who was behind the Heavenly Terrace, controlling everything? Why were the young men here so extraordinary?
"Please, take a seat," Qin Wu stood up, gesturing to the crowd. The three forces then took their seats.
"You've all come to the Heavenly Terrace. I assume there's something you want to discuss. Feel free to speak your mind," Qin Wu said as he sat down, smiling at the crowd and speaking directly.
"Forgive my bluntness, but why was the Heavenly Terrace established in the central area of our Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses region?" someone from the Summer Heavenly Fortress asked. Since the other party was direct, there was no need to beat around the bush.
"Let me speak," Wu raised his eyes, his sun-like sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd. He said, "I don't want to know why you've come. But the Heavenly Terrace invited you here for a talk to make a few things clear. First: from now on, the Heavenly Terrace will be permanently established here and will grow and develop for generations. Second: the Heavenly Terrace may clash with some forces among the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses, but it doesn't have to be with you. Third: the Heavenly Terrace will set some rules—rules for this entire region, including the small worlds."
Wu's words made the hearts of the crowd beat faster, sharp glints flashing in their eyes. These three demands were nothing short of arrogant. They were essentially overturning their rule over this region.
"Don't be in a hurry to speak," Wu waved his hand and continued, "I'm just informing you of these three matters. How you choose is up to you. Whether we are friends or enemies is entirely your decision. Of course, you don't need to tell me. Just knowing about it is enough."
"Arrogant," the thought flashed through everyone's minds. Such an arrogant person—they had definitely never met one before.
"Alright, now for this banquet, you may enjoy it as you wish. You can leave whenever you want. But you should understand that those outside don't even have the fortune to enjoy this banquet," Wu stood up, left these words, and walked away. His sharp, unruly pupils left a deep impression on them.
"Everyone, he has a bit of a temper. Please forgive him. But he speaks the truth. Those outside don't even have the chance to come in for a drink," Tantai said with a hearty laugh. "Everyone, come, let's drink."
The crowd had their own thoughts, but none refused Tantai's offer. What Wu had said earlier—they had no authority to decide, nor did they need to make an immediate decision. They would report back and decide later.
"May I ask, who exactly is the Lord of the Heavenly Terrace?" someone asked after putting down their cup. Tantai and Qin Wu both smiled. Then Tantai said, "The Heavenly Terrace has no master. Those who enter the Heavenly Terrace are all brothers. And I can tell you very clearly: the Heavenly Terrace has no high-realm experts, but it is enough to establish a new order here. Whether you listen or not is up to you. I've said my piece."
"I can also tell you one thing: the person behind the creation of the Heavenly Terrace this time is someone you are all familiar with. You definitely know him. He bears no ill will toward you. But whether you are friends or enemies is still your choice," Qin Wu said with a smile. Then both of them stood up and said, "Please make yourselves at home."
With that, Tantai and Qin Wu left. But their words made the hearts of those present pound. The person behind this—they were familiar with him.
"It's Lin Feng. He's back," Xia Tianfan, who was among the Summer Heavenly Fortress group, was the first to break the silence. His words made the corners of everyone's eyes twitch. Lin Feng—the guy who had nearly turned the Qi Heavenly Fortress upside down—was back. And he wanted to establish a new order in the region of the Nine Immortal Palaces and Heavenly Fortresses.
When the Summer Heavenly Fortress, the Ancient Heavenly Fortress, and the Ten Thousand Transformations Immortal Palace walked out of the Heavenly Terrace, the other forces immediately surrounded them. But those people just smiled, glanced at the crowd, and left without saying a word, leaving the others exchanging bewildered looks. At that moment, another voice came from within the Heavenly Terrace.
"Question Heavenly Fortress, Sikong Heavenly Fortress, Great Zhou Immortal Palace, and Thunder Punishment Immortal Palace—if you want to enter the Heavenly Terrace, have your Fortress Lords and Immortal Palace Masters come in person. As for the Qi Heavenly Fortress and the Medicine King Immortal Palace—your people can get lost."