"Heart-grade Sacred Medicine! Haha, just what I needed!" Wu Tianjun muttered to himself as he stopped inside a mountain cave after two days of travel. Just moments ago, he had obtained two more of these sacred medicines inside this very cave! In total, he had gathered eight different types of Sacred Medicines, amounting to over forty stalks. If the outside world knew he had amassed such a bounty of Sacred Medicines, they would surely go mad with envy! After all, Sacred Medicines were exceedingly rare, requiring over five hundred thousand years to mature—and that was assuming they weren't picked prematurely.
"The ingredients for the Scarlet Heaven Pill are finally complete! Hehe, eight stalks of Scarlet Heaven Grass! That's enough to refine at least eighty Scarlet Heaven Pills, haha!" Wu Tianjun laughed, unable to hide his excitement. The primary ingredient he had been lacking was the Scarlet Heaven Grass, a Sacred Medicine that was notoriously difficult to find. He was confident that each batch he refined would yield a full dozen pills. Producing the Scarlet Heaven Pill was no longer a concern. Once he reached the level where he could refine Saint Ancestor-grade pills, concocting these would be child's play.
"Sigh, I still need to find items containing World Power. Hopefully, I can track down some clues about the World Stone," Wu Tianjun murmured with a soft sigh. Still, securing enough of the primary ingredients for the Scarlet Heaven Pill was already a massive success. As for the World Pill, he would have to leave that to fate.
"Hmph! Once I break through to the God-Venerate realm, our plan can finally begin," the Demonic Infant said coldly. Once he—or rather, the Demonic Vein—made the breakthrough to the God-Venerate realm, he would be able to harness World Power. From there, it wouldn't be long before he ascended to the rank of a Saint Ancestor-level Alchemist!
"Hehe! To have a host of late-stage Saint Ancestors at my beck and call... I truly want to see who was behind the conspiracy to wipe out my Wu family back then!" Wu Tianjun said, his voice dripping with malice. At this moment, he had two primary objectives: to exact his revenge and rescue his mother, and then to gather his surviving clansmen. Beyond that, he wanted the Wu family to establish a dominant foothold in the starry sky, rivaling the supreme powers of the current era, until the mere mention of the Wu family struck awe into the hearts of all across the cosmos!
*Boom!* Suddenly, a thunderous explosion shattered the silence. Tens of thousands of miles away, the earth split open, and a magnificent palace rose from the depths, radiating a dazzling light that instantly drew the attention of everyone in the region. Before long, figures began rushing toward the grand palace from all directions.
"Let's go have a look!" Wu Tianjun stepped into the air, transforming into a streak of light as he flew rapidly toward the grand palace.
It did not take long for Wu Tianjun to arrive. By the time he got there, over a hundred cultivators had already gathered outside, split into several distinct factions. The leaders of these groups all possessed the cultivation of a God-Lord! What was even more shocking was how young they all were. Suddenly, he spotted a familiar face—it was the youth clad in black.
"Ah, Brother Bird! We meet again!" Wu Tianjun called out with a grin.
Upon seeing Wu Tianjun, the black-clothed youth's face instantly darkened. He quickly turned to whisper to the leader of his faction, a young God-Lord. Hearing the youth's words, the God-Lord turned to look at Wu Tianjun, a flicker of surprise crossing his features.
"May I ask what this brother's name is...?" the God-Lord inquired.
"My surname is Wu," Wu Tianjun replied indifferently.
"Ah, Brother Wu! I wonder if you would be so kind as to return the items belonging to our Demonic Phoenix Sacred Palace?" the young God-Lord said.
"Oh? When did I ever take anything from your Demonic Phoenix Sacred Palace? Brother Bird, you shouldn't go around spreading nonsense!" Wu Tianjun chuckled.
“My surname is Feng!” the black-clothed youth said angrily.
“Hmph! You say I took things from your Demonic Phoenix Sacred Palace? Then you’re all birds, aren’t you!” Wu Tianjun changed his tone. “I haven’t eaten meat in a long time. I hear the meat of avian Demonic Beasts is incredibly delicious! I wonder about avian Demonic Beasts?” he said strangely.
“Oh? So you’re not going to hand them over, are you?” the young Divine Lord said coldly. “It seems you don’t know who I am, do you?”
“Hmph! You’re very famous, are you? Why should I know you?” Wu Tianjun was a little surprised! Could this guy really be that famous?
“You…” Enraged, the young Divine Lord immediately made his move. His palm transformed into a blade, slashing towards Wu Tianjun and manifesting as a black edge.
“Oh? Impressive!” Wu Tianjun also formed his hand into a blade, striking out with a crescent slash!
“…” There was no loud collision; the two attacks dissipated without a trace, making everyone present widen their eyes. This person was no ordinary individual.
“Oh? So you do have some power; no wonder you’re so arrogant!” Frowning, the young Divine Lord’s voice grew cold as he spoke.
“Hmph! You’re not simple either! I’ll remember your surname is Feng!” Wu Tianjun said with a hint of seriousness; after all, even he had to show respect to a powerful expert. “It’s just that I don’t understand this ‘Demonic Phoenix Sacred Palace’ business. Once it's in my hands, how could it possibly belong to you?” he said confidently.
“Hmm! Fellow Daoist Wu, I wonder where you hail from?” Suddenly, a female voice interjected. She also possessed the cultivation of a Divine Lord. These individuals likely had extraordinary backgrounds.
“Oh? And who are you? The Phoenix Clan? Or this Demonic Phoenix Clan?” Wu Tianjun looked between them as he spoke.
“We are different!” the woman replied.
“Oh? Is that so? One cultivates Demonic Qi, the other cultivates Spiritual Qi! But essentially, you’re still just the Phoenix Clan!” Wu Tianjun said indifferently.
“…” The woman had nothing more to say. That guy surnamed Wu was right; they truly shared the same essence.
“Hmph! Are you two done yet? It’s time we discussed this grand hall!” another Divine Lord spoke up. Wu Tianjun realized that all these individuals possessed Divine Lord cultivation, and what’s more, a mysterious power—an intent realm—faintly emanated from them!
“Let’s find a way to get inside first! Then we can talk about dividing the benefits,” another person said.
“Good! But I won’t agree to let that guy in!” The Divine Lord from the Demonic Phoenix Sacred Palace pointed at Wu Tianjun and said.
“Indeed, I also don't think we should let him in. His origins are unclear; he’s probably not from any major power!” a Divine Lord of the Human Clan said.
“What’s the problem with letting him in? This place isn’t your private property!” a Demon Clan expert said disdainfully.
“I think he has enough strength to cooperate with us,” the Phoenix Clan woman also said.
“Alright! Let’s take a vote!” Another Divine Lord stepped forward to mediate.
There were seven groups of people present. Soon, four Divine Lords voted against Wu Tianjun joining them.
“Hmph! Why aren’t you leaving already?” The Divine Lord from the Demonic Phoenix Sacred Palace looked at Wu Tianjun and said coldly. “After this, I will personally retrieve what belongs to my Sacred Palace!”
“Oh? Why should I leave?” Wu Tianjun looked at the several Divine Lords and retorted.
“Scram!” A peak sixth-level Divine Realm expert immediately swung a great saber, attacking Wu Tianjun!
“You court death!” Someone attacked him without provocation, and Wu Tianjun furiously threw a punch, meeting the great saber head-on.
“Clang!” The great saber struck the fist like two pieces of metal clashing; the peak sixth-level Divine Realm expert was instantly repelled, his pupils dilated in shock, and only after spitting out a mouthful of blood did he manage to regain his footing.
“Ah! Not bad, not worse than that little bird, huh!” Wu Tianjun said with a laugh, referring to the black-clad youth.
“You… How dare you injure someone from the Tai Cang family! Die!” The Human Clan God Lord’s face turned purple with rage as he drew a white sword, pointing it directly at Wu Tianjun and speaking coldly.
"Tai Cang Clan? Heh heh!" Wu Tianjun smiled. "This young master hates your Tai Cang Clan the most!" He immediately swung his fist and clashed with the sword-wielding God Lord.
"Boom!" After a single exchange, they immediately separated.
"Demon Race?! Who are you?" The Tai Cang Clan's God Lord's pupils contracted as he asked; that guy was no weaker than him!
"If this place operates by strength, then you all should leave!" Wu Tianjun coldly looked at him, then at the three other God Lords who clearly didn't want him to enter the grand hall.
"You're asking for death!"
"How presumptuous!"
The three, knowing Wu Tianjun was a tough opponent, immediately rushed in to attack him, their combined might terrifying!