Chapter 386: Collaboration Established, Dragon Phoenix Heavens
"Since you saved my disciple, Zi Yan, I've decided to give you this Heaven Demon Puppet as a token of gratitude. Please, Headmaster Beicang, don't decline it."
In the guest hall of Beicang Spirit Academy, Xiao Tiance's words left the Beicang Headmaster utterly stunned.
His mind went blank for a moment as he tried to process the enormity of the gift.
On the Beicang Continent, his strength as a Nine Star Sovereign at the late stage was already the pinnacle of combat power. Yet, Xiao Tiance had nonchalantly presented him with a Heaven Demon Puppet comparable to an Upper Earth Sovereign.
Even though the term "Heaven Demon Puppet" was new to the Beicang Headmaster, it didn't diminish his astonishment. Given Xiao Tiance's demeanor and overwhelming presence, the headmaster had no doubt about the puppet's strength.
In fact, he suspected Xiao Tiance might even be a Celestial Sovereign, a level of power that stood among the most elite in the Great Thousand World.
**"Lord Tiance, this gift is far too valuable. We cannot accept it.
Beiming saved Zi Yan merely out of goodwill, not in anticipation of such a generous reward.
This Heaven Demon Puppet exceeds what we can bear to accept. Please, take it back. Our Beicang Spirit Academy cannot dare to keep it."**
After some hesitation, the Beicang Headmaster finally spoke, rejecting the gift. His heart felt heavy. This puppet was so precious that accepting it might disrupt the balance of his state of mind.
Xiao Tiance, however, was not surprised by this response. His impression of Beicang Spirit Academy had been positive thus far.
The puppet served dual purposes: as a gesture of gratitude for saving Zi Yan and as an investment in the academy. Knowing Beicang Spirit Academy's future role in shaping figures like Mu Chen in The Great Ruler, Xiao Tiance felt confident that this would be a worthwhile bet.
Even if he believed in his own ability to reach Mu Chen's potential and beyond, a little foresight and investment wouldn't hurt.
**"Haha, Headmaster Beicang, no need to decline.
This Heaven Demon Puppet isn't just a thank you for saving Zi Yan. I also wish to establish a foothold in the Great Thousand World by creating a new faction.
Your Beicang Spirit Academy, as the foremost of the Five Great Academies, surely excels in cultivating talent.
Consider this puppet an investment. In the future, if you come across talented individuals who show promise, I hope you'll recommend them to my faction."**
Xiao Tiance smiled warmly, his tone measured and sincere.
The reason might have sounded a bit superficial after all, the puppet's value was astronomical, and plenty of other institutions would jump at the chance to collaborate with a faction led by a Celestial Sovereign level powerhouse.
Still, Xiao Tiance's words carried weight, and his companions, including Xiao Xuan and Gu Xun'er, trusted his judgment.
The Beicang Headmaster paused, still hesitant, before asking cautiously, "Might I ask, Lord Tiance, what is your current level of cultivation?"
Before Xiao Tiance could answer, Xiao Tianming chuckled and interjected, "Headmaster, have you heard of the Western Battle Emperor or the Fire Spirit Clan Patriarch?"
The Beicang Headmaster blinked in confusion. **"Of course. Those two are renowned Celestial Sovereigns in the Great Thousand World.
The Western Battle Emperor commands the Western Battle Palace, one of the world's most prestigious factions.
The Fire Spirit Clan, though quieter in recent millennia, remains a recognized powerhouse in the Great Thousand World."**
Xiao Tianming laughed proudly. "My elder brother, Lord Tiance, has fought both of them."
"Hiss!"
The Beicang Headmaster and Beiming Longkun gasped audibly, their shock palpable.
While they had already guessed Xiao Tiance's strength far surpassed their own, they hadn't expected it to rival such legendary figures.
Noticing their astonishment, Xiao Tiance glanced at Xiao Tianming, his expression neutral. Xiao Tianming immediately shrank back, muttering to himself about overstepping.
Xiao Tiance then turned to the Beicang Headmaster and spoke modestly. **"Headmaster, my cousin tends to exaggerate.
I am merely at the early stage of Celestial Sovereign. While I have crossed paths with the Western Battle Emperor and the Fire Spirit Clan Patriarch, I am not their equal."**
This humble admission only deepened the Beicang Headmaster and Beiming Longkun's respect for Xiao Tiance.
Even though Xiao Tiance downplayed his strength, his ability to face off against late stage and peak Celestial Sovereigns while only being at the early stage was unheard of. The leap in strength required to bridge such a gap was staggering.
"Lord Tiance, your achievements are nothing short of incredible. To face such legendary figures with your current cultivation is awe inspiring," the Beicang Headmaster remarked, his admiration evident.
Xiao Tiance replied with a calm smile. **"Headmaster, you flatter me. I merely possess some means to defend myself.
If the day comes when I can defeat them outright, then I might have reason to be proud.
But enough about that. What do you say, Headmaster? Will you consider my offer?"**
After exchanging a glance with Beiming Longkun, the Beicang Headmaster rose to his feet. He bowed deeply to Xiao Tiance and declared, **"Lord Tiance, since you honor our humble academy with your investment, we shall accept it with gratitude.
Should any talented individuals from Beicang Spirit Academy wish to join your future faction, we will personally ensure their safe passage."**
"Don't worry, Lord Tiance. However, you shouldn't have overly high expectations. Students who graduate from our Beicang Spirit Academy typically reach only the Three Sovereign Stages at best. Whether they grow into more capable figures later is something we cannot guarantee."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Tiance's face lit up with joy. He burst into hearty laughter and said, **"Hahaha, that's more than enough. Thank you, Headmaster Beicang.
Since that's settled, this Heaven Demon Puppet is now yours. I'll remove my spiritual imprint from it so that you can infuse your own spirit energy and establish full control over it.
I trust Headmaster Beicang will greatly appreciate this little gift from me."**
"Thank you, Lord Tiance."
Having reached an agreement, Headmaster Beicang no longer hesitated. While the puppet was a great treasure, the benefits of maintaining good relations with someone of Xiao Tiance's stature far outweighed any risks.
Moreover, the puppet could serve as a legacy for Beicang Spirit Academy for generations to come.
The only concern was whether the academy would be able to sustain it, as puppets of such strength often came with great upkeep costs in the Great Thousand World.
However, as the Beicang Headmaster followed Xiao Tiance's instructions and gained control over the Heaven Demon Puppet, his expression quickly shifted to one of astonishment.
Beside him, Beiming Longkun grew nervous and asked, "Headmaster, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," the Beicang Headmaster replied, his voice tinged with excitement. Bowing deeply to Xiao Tiance, he exclaimed, "Lord Tiance, this Heaven Demon Puppet is remarkable! Not only can it increase its strength, but it doesn't require any external resources for maintenance. This is simply incredible!"
**"Haha, you're absolutely correct, Headmaster.
While the Heaven Demon Puppet's strength can improve further, this particular one has certain limitations and can only grow to the peak of the Upper Earth Sovereign Stage.
That said, it has a significant advantage it requires no additional resources to function.
As long as you control it with your spiritual energy, it will be entirely at your command. All things considered, it's a decent treasure,"** Xiao Tiance explained with a smile.
The Beicang Headmaster, overwhelmed with gratitude, bowed again and said, **"Thank you, Lord Tiance.
Such a generous gift is beyond anything we could repay. However, if you establish your faction in the future, please feel free to come to our academy during graduation ceremonies.
We will gladly send our most talented students your way."**
"Hahaha, excellent. Then here's to a fruitful partnership," Xiao Tiance said with a hearty laugh, his mood clearly lifted.
That evening, the group attended a banquet hosted by Beicang Spirit Academy. They spent three more days there, waiting to see if the forces of the Demon Dragon Palace, a known adversary of the academy, would make a move.
However, it seemed the commotion caused by Xiao Tiance's arrival had prompted spies within the academy to warn the Demon Dragon Palace.
As a result, despite their vigilance, the Demon Dragon Palace forces seemed to have vanished without a trace from Beicang Continent.
On the fourth day, Xiao Tiance and his party left Beicang Continent and set their sights on a location pinpointed by the positioning jade token provided by Tianluo Hall.
Approaching Dragon Phoenix Heaven
After several days of travel, the group arrived at a coastline where they encountered two Six Star Sovereigns stationed there. These were the same individuals who had once protected Tianluo Hall's young master.
"Lord Tiance, Vice Hall Master," the black and white robed Sovereigns greeted respectfully.
"No need for formalities. Share what you know," Xiao Tiance instructed.
The white robed Sovereign stepped forward and reported, **"Lord Tiance, just ahead lies Dragon Phoenix Heaven.
It's an expansive region teeming with divine beasts and spirit beasts, most of whom harbor a deep hostility toward humans.
Any humans who dare enter without ties to the divine beasts are almost guaranteed to be attacked.
Because of this, Dragon Phoenix Heaven, along with Serpent Heaven and the Origin of Divine Beasts, is considered one of the Three Forbidden Zones for humanity.
Forgive us, Lord Tiance. Our strength is limited, so we dared not venture too far into Dragon Phoenix Heaven.
However, we followed your instructions and discreetly placed the positioning jade token just inside its barrier. Once inside, the token begins to glow, confirming its location."**
After hearing the report, Xiao Tiance nodded thoughtfully. Turning to Xiao Xuan and the others, he said, **"Brother Xuan, Xun'er, Tianming, stay here with Chen Yunqiao and the others. I'll go in alone.
I used my spiritual sense to scan Dragon Phoenix Heaven briefly. There are numerous powerful divine beasts inside, some with strength on par with Earth Sovereigns.
If I bring you along, I might not be able to protect everyone. Wait here for me. Once I retrieve Min'er and Lingyun, I'll return."**
Xiao Xuan and the others exchanged concerned glances. Although they wanted to accompany him, they understood the risks.
"Be careful, Tiance. We'll wait for your return," Xiao Xuan said solemnly.
**"Uncle Tiance, please prioritize your safety. If the situation is too dangerous, Min'er and Lingyun, with their exceptional divine beast bloodlines, will likely be safe for now.
We can retrieve them later when our strength is greater,"** Xun'er advised.
Xiao Tiance smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry about me. Even if I encounter a Saint level Celestial Sovereign, I have the means to escape."
With that, he disappeared into Dragon Phoenix Heaven.
Inside Dragon Phoenix Heaven
Upon entering, Xiao Tiance unleashed his spiritual sense, which immediately detected several Earth Sovereign level beasts in the surrounding area.
"As expected of Dragon Phoenix Heaven. Even the outer regions are filled with such powerful beings. It's no wonder this place is called a human forbidden zone," Xiao Tiance remarked to himself.
Carefully avoiding disturbing the beasts, he checked the positioning jade token and sped off toward the southeast.
As he ventured deeper, Xiao Tiance's presence caused ripples in the spiritual senses of the divine beasts around him. Many of them opened their eyes, scanning their surroundings in confusion. Though they sensed something unusual, they couldn't pinpoint it.
After a day of travel, Xiao Tiance reached a secluded valley brimming with dense spiritual energy. His spiritual sense revealed at least six Celestial Sovereign level beasts within the valley.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Tiance's eyes hardened with determination. Consulting the jade token for Min'er and Lingyun's location, he fortified the surrounding area with spiritual formations before pressing onward.
Deep within the valley, Min'er and Lingyun were shackled with chains forged from refined iron. Their auras were dangerously weak, and they seemed on the brink of death.
Their wrists bore open wounds from which golden blood dripped into a groove that funneled it away.
"Lingyun, hang on. You must endure!"
(End of Chapter)
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