Chapter 1625: Huang Tian Watchtower
Huang Tian Watchtower, floating at the peak of the highest mountain in the Huang Tian Realm, is said to be the place closest to the Heavenly Watchtower.
It is a pilgrimage site for countless profound practitioners of the Northern Domain.
Today, Huang Tian Watchtower once again welcomes the most bustling and grandest day in a century.
Countless profound practitioners from the Northern Domain have gathered from all directions, each hailing from different star realms. Within the ever-spreading black clouds, over a hundred thousand figures have already taken their stand.
Though the number is not large, it encompasses the elites of most upper and middle star realms of the Northern Domain. Any one of them is either a ruler of a realm, a dominant force in their region, or of illustrious birth.
Because today, at Huang Tian Watchtower, the Northern Domain Heavenly Lord Assembly is being held!
The title "Heavenly Lord" is a special designation for a type of Divine Sovereign in the Northern Divine Region. This title belongs exclusively to Divine Sovereigns outside the King Realms whose lifespan has not yet reached ten jiazi. They are the youngest, the most radiant, and possess the most boundless futures and potential among the profound practitioners of the Northern Divine Region.
The Profound God Convention is a stage for young profound practitioners of a divine region, showcasing countless rising stars to the world.
But among so many bright stars, many will gradually dim, or even lose their light entirely.
A Heavenly Lord, however, is a true blazing sun in the sky of the Northern Domain!
To achieve the Divine Sovereign realm within ten jiazi of age is a testament to unquestionable talent and future. The future Divine Lords of the Northern Domain will almost all be born from among these individuals.
In every era of the Northern Divine Region, the number of Heavenly Lords on the Northern Domain Heavenly Lord Ranking is generally around a hundred. The names that have appeared on it will dominate an entire future era of the Northern Divine Region.
Thus, the Northern Domain Heavenly Lord Ranking has always been the most watched and the most revered profound ranking in the Northern Divine Region.
And today's Heavenly Lord Assembly at Huang Tian Watchtower is a grand gathering exclusively for these Northern Domain Heavenly Lords.
The current generation of Northern Domain Heavenly Lords will display their elegance here. In the moment of gaining fame, it may also change their fate and future.
Huang Tian Realm King Tian Muyi had long taken his seat at the head. As the ruler of the strongest star realm below the King Realms in the Northern Divine Region, his status and aura surpass those of other upper realm kings.
To occupy this position, his cultivation as an eighth-rank Divine Lord is like a dragon that overshadows the entire Northern Divine Region, looking down upon the entire Dark Divine Region.
On the auxiliary seats to his left and right sat two men of different dispositions.
The middle-aged man on the right was dressed in red, with a stiff, cold face and eyes full of malevolence. Anyone who looked at him would have no doubt that he was an extremely violent and irritable person.
On the left sat an old man in black, wearing a constant smile. His face was covered in wrinkles, his skin excessively dark, but what was most striking were his eyes—pale brown pupils with slitted, needle-thin irises, like those of a serpent.
His smile seemed gentle, but paired with his eyes, it gave a bone-chilling sense of dread.
These two were not from the Huang Tian Realm, but from two other star realms.
The Great Realm King of the Calamity Wasteland Realm—Huo Tianxing.
The Great Realm King of the Divine Python Realm—Viper Sacred Lord.
Huang Tian Realm, Calamity Wasteland Realm, and Divine Python Realm, with Huang Tian Realm at the lead, were the three strongest star realms below the King Realms in the Northern Divine Region.
They were also the only three star realms in the Northern Divine Region that held considerable sway before the King Realms.
Their status in the Northern Divine Region was equivalent to that of the Saint Universe Realm, Glazed Light Realm, and Overturning Heaven Realm in the Eastern Divine Region.
All three realm kings were present, highlighting the importance they placed on the Heavenly Lord Assembly.
Not to mention middle star realms; even the realm kings of other upper star realms were a level beneath them.
Currently, the Northern Domain Heavenly Lord Ranking listed one hundred and one names. Every name resounded far and wide, from realm kings down to common mortals—all remembered them.
At this moment, ninety-nine Heavenly Lords had already entered, drawing almost all gazes in the venue. The eyes of the three great realm kings—Huang Tian, Calamity Wasteland, and Divine Python—swept across these ninety-nine individuals repeatedly.
Divine Sovereigns who had not yet reached ten jiazi in age and those who had achieved the Divine Sovereign realm after ten thousand years of cultivation were both Divine Sovereigns, but the difference was like heaven and earth. Anyone, even the three great realm kings, could not afford to overlook any of them.
"I heard that Bei Hanchu, who newly entered the Heavenly Lord Ranking three years ago, was killed by someone and fell in the Five Wastelands of Phantom Ruins." Viper Sacred Lord narrowed his slit-like eyes and chuckled. "Now it seems it should be true without a doubt."
"Just some Nine Radiance Heavenly Palace. They had the luck of heaven to produce a Heavenly Lord-level genius, yet couldn't even protect him. What a joke." Huo Tianxing let out a most disdainful snort.
Tian Muyi, however, said in a deep voice, "This matter is not that simple. The Nine Radiance Heavenly Palace lost a Heavenly Lord who could change their sect's fate in the future. They should have been furious and spared no effort to get to the bottom of it."
"But instead, they have kept this matter hidden, showing no signs of investigation or pursuit, and are even tight-lipped about it. For this term's Heavenly Lord Assembly, they have no intention of attending. All signs indicate that Bei Hanchu's death is likely..."
Tian Muyi did not finish, but pointed upward.
"A King Realm?" Huo Tianxing said directly without any hesitation, an even more mocking expression appearing on his face. "To provoke a King Realm—calling them stupid is already an overstatement."
"A fleeting young man—pity, but gone is gone." Viper Sacred Lord remained smiling, whether out of habit or simply because his face was sculpted that way. "For this term's Heavenly Lord Assembly, is your esteemed son still participating?"
When this matter was brought up, a faint smile appeared on Tian Muyi's face. "Is the Sacred Lord perhaps offering some guidance to my foolish son?"
"Hehe, guidance would be presumptuous," Viper Sacred Lord said. "It's just that with your son present, what brilliance can the other Heavenly Lords possibly display?"
"Stars may be bright, but how can they shine before a blazing sun? In my humble opinion, as early as two hundred years ago, a separate ranking should have been created for your son, placing him alone above all the Heavenly Lords."
"Hmph." Huo Tianxing gave a light snort but had nothing to refute.
These words seemed like flattery, but no one who heard them would find them exaggerated.
Tian Guhu—after he entered the Northern Domain Heavenly Lord Ranking, within a mere hundred years, he shot ahead like a meteor, surpassing all other Heavenly Lords. As time passed, instead of being caught up, the gap only grew wider...
Now, on the Northern Domain Heavenly Lord Ranking, the second place was held by Huo Tianxing's daughter, Huo Lanji, a level five Divine Sovereign. But the first place, Tian Guhu, was a level seven Divine Sovereign... and rumor had it that if he went all out, he could match a level ten Divine Sovereign!
A single level difference was like heaven and earth.
Among the same Divine Sovereign realm, he shone like the sun, and all other stars dimmed.
"Hahaha!" Tian Muyi laughed heartily. "The Sacred Lord flatters me. Your grandson is also a Heavenly Lord, just still young. Otherwise, his achievements would certainly not be inferior to Guhu's."
"Hehehe," Viper Sacred Lord let out a strange laugh. "If that little brat were half as promising as your son, I'd be content to turn my old bones to ashes on the spot."
"Half of what Viper Old said is correct," Huo Tianxing suddenly remarked. "Your son is indeed no longer suitable to compete with other Heavenly Lords. Being too dazzling and overshadowing the light of others is not necessarily a good thing."
"You two speak the truth," Tian Muyi said with a calm smile, clearly confident. "I have already thought of this matter. Therefore, for this term's Heavenly Lord Assembly, Guhu will indeed not fully participate."
"But since his lifespan has not yet expired and he remains on the Northern Domain Heavenly Lord Ranking, it would not be appropriate to simply exclude him. Hence, for the core event of the assembly, the 'Heavenly Lord Battle,' Guhu will only observe. If the final victor wishes, they may challenge Guhu; if not, Guhu will not make a move throughout the entire event, naturally not overshadowing others' brilliance. What do you two think of this arrangement?"
Huo Tianxing and Viper Sacred Lord both pondered briefly, then Viper Sacred Lord chuckled, "As expected of the Heavenly Realm King, truly thoughtful. This way, your son's prestige is not diminished, and the other young people are given a complete stage. It is indeed the best possible arrangement."
"Very good." Huo Tianxing nodded as well, then turned his gaze to his proudest daughter and personally relayed the news to her via sound transmission to relieve her pressure.
"What of the three honored guests from the King Realm? Any news?" Viper Sacred Lord asked.
Before Tian Muyi could answer, Huo Tianxing gave a heavy snort. "The honored guests from the King Realm are of noble status; they will not arrive until the last moment. Hmph."
Tian Muyi said, "I have sent people far to welcome them; they should arrive soon."
"Speaking of which, why has your son not arrived yet?" Viper Sacred Lord said with a forced smile. "Among the young people here, I suspect ninety-nine percent have come just for your son."
Tian Muyi replied, "Guhu has been training outside for the past period of time and only set off to return yesterday. He sent word ahead that on the way, he rescued two guests from the Tianluo Realm who had been attacked by profound beasts. Since they were of distinguished status and bore injuries, he escorted them here, which delayed his speed somewhat."
"But given Guhu's nature, he will certainly not be late."
When speaking of his son, who was renowned throughout the Northern Domain, Tian Muyi's imposing face would always soften imperceptibly.
No sooner had Tian Muyi's voice fallen than a deliberately drawn-out announcement came from outside Huang Tian Watchtower: "Guhu Gongzi has arrived!"
Huang Tian Watchtower instantly fell silent, and all gazes turned in the same direction in the same moment. Especially the young profound practitioners who had come with their elders to Huang Tian Watchtower for the first time—their eyes shone with strange light, and their entire bodies trembled with excitement.
Tian Guhu entered through the main gate. Under the gaze of the crowd, he descended directly below the main seat and bowed respectfully to Tian Muyi: "Your son Guhu, greets Father King, and pays respects to all senior elders."
As a father and the foremost realm king, Tian Muyi nevertheless rose to face his own son directly and said with a chuckle, "Rise."
His gaze shifted to the siblings Luo who had arrived with Tian Guhu and were now too nervous to speak, and he asked, "Are they the ones?"
"Yes." Tian Guhu replied simply with a single word, offering no explanation.
At that moment, the excited voice of Tianluo Realm King rang out: "Ying'er, Yun'er, is it truly... truly Guhu Gongzi who saved you?"
"Yes! It was Guhu Gongzi who saved us and personally escorted us here." Luo Yun nodded vigorously. The half-day journey together had felt like a dream every moment.
Luo Ying said with great solemnity, "At the foot of Nine Firmament Mountain, we were suddenly attacked by five Kui Ya Behemoths. At the very moment of life and death, we were fortunate that Guhu Gongzi descended from the heavens and saved us from our desperate plight. If not for Guhu Gongzi, my sister and I would surely have long since..."
"Father King, we were wrong." Luo Yun lowered her head in shame. "We should have obeyed and traveled with you. From now on... we will never be willful again."
But Tianluo Realm King could not even be bothered with Luo Yun's confession. There was not a trace of lingering fear in his heart—only surging excitement and surprise. He whirled around and bowed heavily to Tian Guhu and Tian Muyi, saying, "Guhu Gongzi saved my son and daughter's lives. I am eternally grateful. My son and daughter will remember this kindness for life and will repay it with all their might!"
Wrong? What wrong! Even if they had not suffered serious injuries, even if they had lost half their lives, if it could forge even a slight connection with Tian Guhu, it would be a great fortune to last a lifetime.
Because Tian Guhu was extremely likely to become the number one figure of the Northern Domain in the future!
Tian Guhu turned around and returned the bow, saying, "Senior, you flatter me. Guhu merely did a small favor—it does not deserve such heavy thanks and promises. Brother Ying and Sister Yun are honored guests of my Huang Tian Realm, yet they encountered calamity here. The Huang Tian Realm cannot escape its responsibility. Senior does not blame me, and I am already grateful in my heart. I absolutely cannot accept such a great thanks from senior."
Tianluo Realm King was about to say more, but Tian Muyi's voice rang out: "Hehe, Tianluo Realm King, you need not take this to heart. Since childhood, Guhu has cherished compassion and abhorred evil. He can never stand the strong bullying the weak, much less watch someone die when he can help. He does not seek gratitude, only a clear conscience. Now that your son and daughter are safe and sound, that is already comfort and reward enough for Guhu."
Tianluo Realm King was momentarily speechless and bowed deeply once more.
Everyone present was moved.
The Northern Divine Region was an extremely cruel world where survival and profit were the laws. Every day, every moment, there was endless bloodshed, death, and sin.
Compassion was far too rare in the Northern Divine Region.
Yet, standing at the apex of the pyramid, Tian Guhu possessed not only supreme talent and overwhelming prestige, but also a boundless future. Still, he maintained a pure and unsullied heart.
In this eternal, dark Northern Divine Region, he was far too dazzling, far too precious.
At this moment, outside Huang Tian Watchtower, Yun Che and Qianye Ying’er arrived, following far behind Tian Guhu.
Stopping in his tracks, Yun Che gazed at the watchtower gate that pierced the clouds, and his brows sank deeply.
"This is a bit excessive." Sensing the aura emanating from Huang Tian Watchtower, Qianye Ying’er drawled, "The Northern Divine Region has fewer than two hundred upper star realms in total. With a show like this, it seems half the Divine Lords of the Northern Domain are gathered here."
"A fine place to court death." Qianye Ying’er cast a half-smiling glance at Yun Che.