He already had a psychological shadow.
If Qing Tian made a move at this moment, he and Ancestor Dragon would probably both be doomed.
"Do you think you can leave just like that?"
Suddenly, an indifferent voice rang out, causing Candle Dragon's body to stiffen.
It really happened whenever he feared something most.
He had already been careful enough, yet Qing Tian had still set his sights on him.
There was no other choice. He could only reveal himself and say through gritted teeth, "Dao Venerable Qing Tian, killing someone is only a matter of striking them down. We of the Dragon Clan admit that we were outmatched today. Do you truly intend to wipe us all out?"
Candle Dragon had already submitted. If he remained stubborn in this situation, dragons would die!
"Wipe you all out?" Qing Tian smiled noncommittally and asked indifferently, "Even if I did, what could you do to me?"
Candle Dragon was rendered speechless. He could only say, "Dao Venerable, our Dragon Clan is an innate race that rules over the aquatic creatures of the Primordial Wilderness. If you let us leave today, the Dragon Clan will owe you a great cause and effect. Should you have any request in the future, the Dragon Clan will do everything in its power to assist you. I wonder if that would satisfy you?"
He lowered his posture as much as possible, even going so far as to "cede territory and pay compensation," all for the sake of leaving this place.
"Not enough. If you want to exchange for your lives, bring me two Innate Spiritual Treasures. At the same time, establish a Daoist arena for me over the Eastern Sea, where I can cultivate."
Qing Tian spoke calmly, his words leaving no room for argument. He did not give Candle Dragon any chance to negotiate.
Candle Dragon's heart tightened when he heard this.
How precious were Innate Spiritual Treasures? Having to hand over two at once made his heart bleed.
More importantly, establishing a Daoist arena over the Eastern Sea—would that not be inviting a wolf into the house?
How could one allow another to sleep beside one's own bed?
But the problem was that Qing Tian was not negotiating with him at all. He was issuing a direct command.
Paying to buy his life was his only choice.
In the end, Candle Dragon could only bow his head and say, "Fellow Daoist, I agree."
As he spoke, he took out two treasures that radiated an intense innate aura.
One of them was a blood-red jade saber called the Blood-Slaying Saber. It had been formed from ancient jade in the chaos stained with the blood of a demon god. After being polished by chaotic qi, tempered by the heavenly astral winds, and refined in the tribulation of the Heaven-Opening, it had finally become an ultimate treasure.
Once the Blood-Slaying Saber appeared, even the slightest cut would turn an opponent's flesh and blood into pus.
The other item was a Jade Bottle. Its entire body radiated twelve-colored glazed light, and it contained an independent space more than a dozen times the size of a solar system, capable of holding all things within it.
Qing Tian took a casual glance at the two treasures and nodded slightly. With a wave of his hand, he accepted them and said, "You may get lost. If you dare to invade again in the future, you will have to exchange your lives for it!"
"Yes!"
Candle Dragon was drenched in cold sweat. How could he care about Qing Tian's threat?
At this moment, all he wanted was to leave this troublesome place as quickly as possible.
Grabbing Ancestor Dragon's two severed dragon bodies, Candle Dragon's body transformed into Yin-Yang Qi. He pierced through the void and flew directly toward the Eastern Sea.
The remaining defeated soldiers of the Dragon Clan also fled in panic, their arrogance from when they had first arrived nowhere to be seen.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Qing Tian, on your victory! You defeated the Dragon Clan's two Supreme Venerables in one battle and made your name known throughout the Primordial Wilderness!"
At this moment, Phoenix Ancestor and Shi Qilin came over and congratulated him together.
They were wary in their hearts. Judging by the strength Qing Tian had displayed, even if the two of them joined forces, they probably would not gain any advantage.
"You flatter me. It was merely a stroke of luck."
Qing Tian spoke calmly, not taking pride in it.
Seeing his attitude, Phoenix Ancestor and Shi Qilin became even more cautious.
After a few exchanges, Phoenix Ancestor smiled and said, "The Dragon Clan's defeat today is truly a joyous occasion. I have prepared some simple wine and immortal fruits. I hope Dao Venerable will do me the honor of moving over."
Qing Tian pondered for a moment before finally nodding in agreement.
Phoenix Ancestor clearly intended to win him over. He might as well see what medicine she had in her gourd and make plans afterward.
They soon arrived at the center of Undying Mountain, within a grove of parasol trees.
At the very center stood an ancient tree radiating dense chaotic qi. It stretched for tens of millions of miles, towering into the clouds with no end in sight.
Rather than a tree, it would be more accurate to call it a miniature Buzhou Mountain!
Terrifying waves of life force spread out, shaking the mind. Southern Bright Li Fire burned upon it, while the qi of Yimu and the qi of Li Fire intertwined, adding to its terrifying might.
"This is the spiritual root of my Phoenix Clan, the innate Chaos Wutong Wood."
Phoenix Ancestor spoke with a smile.
This parasol tree held the same significance for the Phoenix Clan as the Ancestor Dragon Pearl did for the Dragon Clan.
It was the foundation that suppressed their destiny.
Soon, a group of Phoenix Clan men and women brought spiritual fruits and fine wine, placing them before everyone.
Qing Tian, Phoenix Ancestor, Shi Qilin, and the others took their seats in order. They exchanged cups and chatted merrily.
After three rounds of wine and five courses of food,
Phoenix Ancestor subtly tested Qing Tian's intentions, hoping to bind him to the Phoenix Clan.
Qing Tian knew the fate of the Phoenix Clan. How could he be willing to wade into these muddy waters? He brushed her off with vague replies.
Phoenix Ancestor did not grow angry. Even if she could not recruit such a powerhouse, she could not afford to offend him and had to entertain him properly.
Half a month later, Qing Tian bid farewell to Phoenix Ancestor.
He had delayed here for too long. It was time to leave.
The Primordial Wilderness was vast and boundless. He ought to travel around, seek opportunities, and improve his strength.
Now was precisely the time when the Primordial Wilderness was richest in resources. How could he waste his years here?
Phoenix Ancestor tried repeatedly to persuade him to stay, but she could not stop Qing Tian from leaving. She could only take out a supreme Houtian Spiritual Treasure and give it to him as a gesture of goodwill.
Qing Tian accepted it without hesitation. Only then did he leave Undying Mountain together with Meng Wu.
In midair, Meng Wu revealed her Vermilion Bird true form. Her body was covered in striking vermilion feathers, and Qing Tian sat cross-legged at her neck.
"Master, where are we going?"
Remembering the Clan Leader's previous instructions, Meng Wu asked curiously.
"The Eastern Sea."
Qing Tian spoke indifferently.
The Wild Continent was vast and boundless. The distance from Undying Mountain to the Eastern Sea was simply impossible to calculate.
Even light-years could hardly describe how far away it was.
Qing Tian only knew that after setting out from Undying Mountain, they traveled intermittently, stopping and going along the way. They spent a full thirteen hundred years before finally reaching the shore of the Eastern Sea.
The distance was truly astonishing.
During those more than thirteen hundred years, Qing Tian completely refined the Blood-Slaying Saber and the Jade Bottle. He also gave the Blazing Fire Sky-Bird Fan gifted by Phoenix Ancestor to Meng Wu, allowing her to increase her strength.
No matter what, Meng Wu was his mount. Her strength being too low would ultimately be somewhat embarrassing.
Although the Blazing Fire Sky-Bird Fan was not an Innate Spiritual Treasure, it was still extraordinary.
Its frame had been made from branches of the Chaos Wutong Wood, its surface from Phoenix Ancestor's true feathers, and it had finally been successfully refined after being tempered for countless years with the power of Southern Bright Li Fire.
Once activated, the qi of Yimu and the qi of Li Fire would combine and transform into a sea of flames that scorched the heavens. Even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal at the peak would be intimidated and would not dare hope to gain an advantage.
"System, display the download progress."
Qing Tian issued the command in his heart.
"Ding!"
Download target: Pangu. Download Bloodline: 14% Download Art: 58% Download Cultivation: 2% (90%) Downloaded Pangu Axe: 11% Download speed: 800 KB ...
During this process, his strength also changed.
"Name: Qing Tian."
"Cultivation: Sub-Saint Sixth Heaven (downloading)."
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