Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

"Wasn’t that the Li Clan Patriarch? Did he die?!"

"The seven dressed in red, is that the uniform of the Blood Fiend Sect?!"

Many different forms of questions were being circulated through the crowd. When people heard the Blood Fiend Sect, they shivered as an icy chill slithered down their spines. In Presba, there were seven grand-tier powers that are local, homegrown, and under the Presba’s Imperial Family’s. However, that didn’t mean all the grand-tier powers that existed within the country were only those seven.

The Blood Fiend Sect was a grand-tier force without a specific loyalty and was based at the outskirts of Presba. They were considered a vile sect that cultivated in the profound arts relating to blood concepts. There were even rumors that they consumed the blood of their victims to enhance their body cultivation. They were renowned for their dual cultivation methods in both Qi and body, similar to how Earthly Titan Sect was defined by its body cultivation methods, or the Solitary Sword Sect was known for its profound comprehension into the Mortal Law of the Sword.

Amongst the seven was Yao Wuhen whose eyes were filled with a shimmering brilliance. The Li Clan Patriarch’s body lingered in mid-air, being held by the remnant energy of the deceased. When an expert at the True Essence Realm dies, their body exudes a profound aura that keeps the body afloat. This strange phenomenon was often a much-welcomed result to the cultivation world, especially high-ranking experts. This aura was often gathered to formulate pills, elixirs, or even help promote the Spirit Form of a sky-rank armament.

It was unbelievably valuable.

The other six who watched from afar deeply understood this, their eyes also displaying signs of greed and desire. However, none of them stepped forward, as if restrained by some decided agreement.

The half-step True Essence Blood Fiend Sectmaster, Xue Hanjie, had an exhausted look in his eyes, but there wasn’t any fear of the seven individuals who floated not far away, as if sure they wouldn’t take action. He approached the body amidst their gazes, grabbing the corpse of the Li Family Patriarch, and taking out a silver-talisman.

The silver talisman was a special spatial item that could store and preserve the aura of a True Essence expert. One could see he was well prepared, directly storing the corpse into the talisman with absolute caution. The only thing left behind was the flaming crimson fan that exuded faint traces of burning flames. As he was about to approach, a cerulean water-attributed true-essence rope shot out and wrapped around the sky-rank armament.

"You!" Xue Hanjie’s eyes turned colder than the harshest winter, turning towards Yao Wuhen whose finger had an extension of true-essence. She had a faint smile on her lips, her eyes suffused with disdain.

Xue Hanjie was livid! "What the meaning of this?! The plan-"

"The plan?" Yao Wuhen coldly interrupted, "The plan was for me to obtain the Incinerating Hell Fan, or do you have an objection?" With that, she took out a transmission talisman. The other six beside her looked at the talisman with complex emotions. Some were wary, some were suspicious, and others had furrowed brows of contemplation.

Xue Hanjie’s teeth had been clenched to the point that grinding noises were being produced. Earlier, the plan was to use Yao Wuhen’s talismans to help weaken the Li Family Patriarch, in return, they would pay her sufficiently for her effort, but all she did was formulate talismans, it simply wasn’t worth the sky-rank Incinerating Hell Fan of the Li Clan Patriarch. Its value was beyond description, and the cost was extraordinary.

However, the talisman had the spiritual sense of a half-step Perfect Aurora Soul expert. If you were to be under the assumption that this person was not Yan Zaizen, inexperienced in soul arts, but one who had millennia of training and experience, then someone at the Advanced Soul Realm could be considered, on average, at the peak initial-True Essence. If they were extraordinary in mastery, they could rival a mid-True Essence Realm!

This was a peak power in the Fallen Stars Continent. However, the meaning of a Perfect Aurora Soul Expert was far different by those standards. Even a weak one could rival a mid-True Essence expert, but a strong one? Dominating the entirety of Fallen Stars Continent was a thought. If it wasn’t for Yan Zaizen’s dao amplification, with his proficiency in arts, it would be nearly impossible for him to rival these standards.

Every last one of them saw this talisman as something worthy to feel apprehension towards. Especially a grand-tier power like the Blood Fiend Sect that had only one initial-True Essence expert at the helm. It would be suicide! One could see what could’ve happened to the Water Veil Sect if Yan Zaizen was truly enraged.

"Tch! Fine, however, don’t expect-" Just as Xue Hanjie wanted to express his desire to nullify any form of payment agreed upon before, he was coldly interrupted once more.

"I expect full payment. On. Time." Was all Yao Wuhen said, her eyes suffused with a cold light, and she directly stored away both the talisman and sky-rank fan, directly taking off towards the highest tower in Sky Night Royal City.

"Arrogant." One of the true-essence experts said, this person was a middle-aged man with black spots on his face, his eyes beady but held a vigorous aura. He watched as Yao Wuhen left, obviously discontent with her actions, and he wasn’t the only one. However, what could they do? The talisman indicated a willing favor of a half-step Perfect Aurora Soul Realm expert. The threat of that, to any force, could not be underestimated. All that expert required was resources and time before he could step into that profound realm that could keep them up with nightmares. Who would willingly offend someone like that?

Despite the others agreeing, they didn’t do anything to stop her from leaving. Each and every one of them were at the initial or half-step True Essence Realm, they didn’t have the qualifications or courage to do so. At least, not be the first to make a move.

Xue Hanjie clenched his fists in rage but did nothing as well. He turned towards the six remaining experts and coldly said, "Is it done?" The six were leaders of external forces, not related to the Presba Capital, only here for support of this venture and the Heavenly Fortune Auction. Surprisingly, the Imperial Family nor any of the allied powers of the Li Clan within the city took action or even shown up, leaving the Li Clan Patriarch alone to die.

"The Li Clan’s estate and properties are currently being claimed, all clan members are being exterminated, from elder to dog." The beady-eyed True Essence expert said, his expression filled with radiant happiness. The others silently nodded in their agreement with his statement.

"Good, then we’ll proceed as planned. From this day onwards, the Li Clan shall no longer exist beneath this sky!" Xue Hanjie said, his voice filled with tyrannical hatred. He and his experts were about to take off but were stopped by the beady-eyed expert.

"Li Baigang’s favored daughter is in the city." He mentioned casually, as if this information wasn’t very important. However, he pointed towards the Tian restaurant, obviously with malicious intentions.

"Oh?!" Xue Hanjie’s eyes lit up with a maliciously violent light filled to the brim with deep-seated hatred, his piercing gaze looked towards the Tian restaurant. "Good!"

Back in the Tian Restaurant, Yan Zaizen finished his cake, his eyes filled with enjoyment. His spiritual sense was observing the area ahead, his soul cultivation so profound that the others didn’t even notice his spying or perhaps didn’t care. "Oh? Seems like the Li Clan was schemed against by many grand-tier forces...I wonder what they did to receive such a fate." Silently musing in his thoughts, he couldn’t help but glance towards Li Ruogang. He suspected that she was a part of the Li Clan from her intense reaction earlier.

This beautiful and fiery woman will likely not live outside of today. It’s obvious this operation was agreed upon by the Xin Clan, Earthly Fortune Palace, and Imperial Family. Otherwise, how could they be so brazen to attack in the capital? In that case, these powers were likely bought off, or the Li Clan simply wasn’t very well liked.

Personally, he disliked this. He hated traitors, especially those who betray their allies, but he wasn’t very knowledgeable of the internal situation in the country to understand the undercurrents within. For all he knew, the Li Clan was a malicious clan that offended others to no end. Which is likely the case, considering the unified action of many different forces in agreement. This, by any means, was an exceptionally difficult task to pull off.

Yan Zaizen’s expression darkened, "Oh? Did she use my talisman as a threat?" He didn’t like this very much, but considering it could be used in this fashion, he felt his uncle and aunt were safer now. He felt comfort in the knowledge that grand-tier forces were apprehensive at the mere sight of his talisman. This reassured him that Tao and Bai Lufeng would be safer in their operations from now on.

"What’s happening outside?!" Sun Huan questioned, his eyes filled with wary. The girl from earlier, the one he was arguing with, had been from the Li Clan. She didn’t have an exceedingly high status, but he truly cared for her. In truth, he didn’t cheat on her but was trying to keep something away from her. A present for her birthday he intended to purchase, but she caught him red-handed trying to get information on the item.

As a sword cultivator, those they favored were exceptionally few, but every one of them held a piece of their heart.

"The Li Clan Patriarch was killed a few seconds ago. There are a few peak experts working in conjunction to cull the entire Li Clan." He explained, his tone still casual, but Sun Huan’s eyes revealed a profound fear. He urged his cultivation despite his turbulent blood flow and fiercely dashed towards the Tian’s entrance.

However, before he could reach the door, a figure burst into the Tian’s entrance.

Yan Zaizen looked at the figure and his eyes widened, "I see."