Meanwhile, at the Golden Family's ancestral grounds.
The mighty figures who had just returned had not dispersed. Instead, they respectfully bowed to the young woman. "We were incompetent and allowed Your Highness to suffer such a fright!"
The shame and indignation once lingering on the young woman's face had somehow been replaced by calm. She lacked the dazzling purity of an ordinary fairy maiden; instead, her eyes held the pride of one who reigned supreme over all. "Forget it. You cannot be blamed for this."
The mighty figures felt as though they had been granted amnesty. Though their status was lofty, compared to the young woman before them, they were as far apart as clouds and mud!
She was the Golden Ancient Emperor's most beloved daughter, a true daughter of heaven!
During the ancient era, even the immortal birds and exotic beasts that pulled her carriage would have been at least Dao Severing Kings!
Yet they were merely the result of a royal branch of the Golden Family intermarrying with humans, their bloodline diluted generation after generation!
It was precisely because of this that they had been so sensitive upon "learning" of the trap, and so quick to pay the ransom!
Golden Celestial Maiden's golden eyes shone brilliantly, carrying an indescribable majesty. "Though I occupied this shell with only a strand of my primordial spirit, if I had not been suppressed by an Extreme Dao Weapon, they could not have done anything to me!"
The mighty figures knew that Her Highness was not making excuses for herself; it was simply the truth. As the ancient emperor's daughter, she possessed the strongest bloodline in the world. Even with limited cultivation, even without her true body, she still had countless mysterious methods. Not even a Great Accomplishment King could necessarily keep her behind.
It was impossible to say whether Her Highness had been terribly unlucky or Tu Tian had been incredibly fortunate, for she had happened to be captured by Tu Tian, who possessed half an Extreme Dao Emperor Armament!
Seeing Golden Celestial Maiden's displeased expression, the mighty figures loudly cursed, scrambling to declare their resolve.
"Those damned Thirteen Great Bandits must be taught the might of our Golden Family!"
"We will immediately join forces with the Eastern Wasteland's sacred lands to launch the harshest extermination campaign against the Thirteen Great Bandits and present Tu Tian's head to Your Highness!"
"And that demon king as well! He dared disrespect Your Highness. Even if he is a Dao Severing King, he must fall!"
Yet when they turned their anger toward Crow King, Golden Celestial Maiden unusually waved a hand.
"Forget it. Since he spared me once, I will give him some face as well!"
The Golden Family's mighty figures froze for a moment, then swiftly changed their tune.
"That demon race king is broad-minded, entirely unlike ordinary demons!"
"To successfully sever the Dao in this era, he must be a man blessed with Great Destiny. We should find a way to win him over and befriend him!"
Golden Celestial Maiden's phoenix eyes narrowed as she sneered. "You think the person I meant was that crow?"
The mighty figures looked at one another. "We are slow-witted and do not understand Your Highness's deeper meaning."
"Your vision goes only that far!" Golden Celestial Maiden said indifferently. "That crow's ability to sever the Dao in this era does indeed make him an outstanding talent. But the youth at his side is the true dragon!"
"That youth?" The mighty figures were utterly bewildered. All their attention had been focused on the Dao Severing King. As for the youth beside him, their sole impression was that he was handsome as jade and exceptionally refined.
But they had long passed the stage of judging people by their looks, so they naturally had not paid him much attention.
Seeing that they still did not understand, Golden Celestial Maiden said solemnly, "When you begged for forgiveness, I noticed that crow transmitting with Divine Sense. Only after receiving a reply from the youth beside him did he say those things. If he had not been seeking the youth's instructions, there would have been no need for such an unnecessary gesture!"
"What? How could that be possible?"
All the mighty figures erupted in uproar. It was not that they doubted the Celestial Maiden's words. Perceiving fluctuations in Divine Sense was difficult, but it was not strange for Her Highness, the ancient emperor's daughter, to possess such an ability.
What truly horrified them was how a Dao Severing King could possibly seek instructions from a youth.
With the hidden foundations absent and heaven and earth unchanged, Dao Severing Kings were the rulers of this land. Who could make them bow their heads?
"Is that so strange?" the Celestial Maiden asked calmly. "Aren't all of you mighty figures as well? Yet do you not still serve me as your master?"
One mighty figure cried out, "Could he be the descendant of some Primordial Royal Family?"
Golden Celestial Maiden neither confirmed nor denied it, continuing, "Even that demon king failed to notice anything unusual about me, yet that youth's gaze kept falling upon me!"
One mighty figure fawned, "Perhaps that youth was captivated beyond escape by Your Highness's immortal beauty!"
Golden Celestial Maiden's voice turned slightly cold. "Immortal beauty? Are you referring to the unsightly state in which I was held upside down in someone's hand?"
"This subordinate is terrified!" The mighty figure who had flattered her in the wrong place retreated in panic.
Golden Celestial Maiden did not pursue the matter. "There was no lust in that gaze, no admiration, not even mockery or ridicule. It was merely a calm look, yet I could sense the superiority hidden in its deepest depths, a disregard for all living beings!"
"Because... I have seen such a gaze before!" Golden Celestial Maiden frowned slightly, clearly unhappy with that memory. "On the people of the Primeval Ancient Mine!"
"The Primeval Ancient Mine!" The mighty figures cried out, even their divine power fluctuating.
It was not that their resolve was weak. The name simply held too much power. One of the seven Life Restricted Zones, it had buried countless prodigies and heroes since ancient times. Even among the Life Restricted Zones, it was the most mysterious and ancient!
After calming the turmoil in his heart, one mighty figure asked curiously, "No matter how arrogant the people of a Life Restricted Zone are, they would not dare be disrespectful before an ancient emperor, would they?"
Ancient emperors suppressed the universe and swept across the eight wastelands. Even the Life Restricted Zones should have maintained the proper respect!
Golden Celestial Maiden spoke in a low voice. "My father was already in his later years then. An envoy from the Primeval Ancient Mine came to visit, and they spoke for a long time. I do not know what they discussed... but the Forbidden Zone Descendant left outside was most unpleasant!"
The mighty figures marveled, feeling as if they had glimpsed the ancient past.
"Then could that youth be the will of a Life Restricted Zone walking the human world?"
"If that is the case, then the demon race king's attitude toward him makes sense!"
Golden Celestial Maiden's eyes flickered uncertainly. She had not revealed her most important reason: while sleeping in the Golden Cave of the Northern Region, she had been awakened by a suddenly erupting aura of the immortal path, which was why she had revived ahead of time.
But her true body was trapped within the Ten Absolutes Emperor Array her father had established for her. She could only send out a strand of primordial spirit, find the bloodline passed down through intermarriage between the Golden royal line and humans, and thus the later events occurred.
And Crow King carried the aura she had sensed upon awakening. Yet Crow King's aura felt exceedingly ordinary to her, far removed from the immortal path. That was why she had noticed the youth beside him.
Golden Celestial Maiden said sternly, "Whether that youth is a Forbidden Zone Descendant remains uncertain, but one thing is certain: he is absolutely no ordinary human! Once you leave, investigate his background for me. Within three days, I want all his information!"
"Yes!"
Northern Region of Eastern Barrens.
The five traveled beneath the stars, racing day and night, and finally rushed back to the Northern Region at the fastest possible speed!
This was also thanks to the one million nine hundred thousand jin of source they had extorted from those Golden Family mighty figures. With that source supporting them, they could travel at full speed without worrying about depleting their divine power.
Above a desert, Tu Tian formed several hand seals in succession.
With a flash of light, the group appeared in another world.
"A Small World created by ancient sages!" Crow King exclaimed in amazement.
"For people in our line of work, if we didn't have a secret stronghold, someone else would have raided our nest long ago!" Tu Tian said carelessly.
Sensing the disturbance here, a group of fierce-looking bandits flew over from afar. Only after recognizing the newcomers did they shout excitedly.
"Wonderful, the chief is back!"
"Chief, did you capture a Saintess?"
Tu Tian's face darkened. "What are you making such a racket for? Can't you see that this old man is entertaining guests?"
At that moment, someone who looked like a Dog-headed Strategist flew forward and lowered his voice. "Boss, someone from the Jiang Family has sent word!"