The Nine-Colored Peacock Big Shot Is Still Alive—Everyone, Bow Quickly!

Two days later, nine-colored rosy clouds poured down from the horizon onto the grand, ancient Heavenly Ladder, awakening this time-weathered structure that had endured through the ages and forming curtains of light.

Ye Kong led the Four Great Vajras and the others into the sky, arriving first at the entrance to the Nine-Story Heavenly Ladder to examine the strange phenomenon upon it.

Countless rosy hues intertwined in the air, forming a faint, indistinct figure shaped like a peacock gracefully spreading its tail. Its narrow, exquisite eyes brimmed with spirit;

It radiated a pressure similar to when Lu Shengjun had undergone his tribulation, as though that ancient powerhouse had never fallen and was still bestowing auspiciousness.

"This state... the Nine-Colored Peacock Heavenly Venerate might really still be clinging to life."

Ye Kong used Heavenly Eye to inspect every part of the figure's body and actually discovered a faint trace of life within it.

Though even if she was alive, she appeared to be at the end of her rope, since she was not dead, she could not be treated lightly. He had to remain fully alert.

Perhaps he could draw on his years of professional demon-exorcising experience to obtain some precious ancient secrets from her.

"Judging by the Three Beast Venerates of the Divine Beast Plains, this one likely has inherited blood essence preserving her consciousness as well. I just wonder what happened to the other two..."

As Ye Kong pondered, the sounds of rushing wind continued to arrive. Zong Qingfeng and the others successively reached the Heavenly Ladder that had undergone this change and began observing the situation.

All the Flying Bird Tribe spirit beasts present had long looked forward to this famous Heavenly Ladder. It was a trial set down by the Peacock Heavenly Venerate in ancient times and held tremendous significance for them.

"Officer Ye, will you be going up first?"

Seeing everyone present brimming with anticipation but not daring to move, Zong Qingfeng was the first to break the silence. He cupped his fists toward Ye Kong and the others as he asked.

"Most of us aren't from the Flying Bird Tribe. How could we go first? Brother Zong, you should go ahead."

Ye Kong smiled and waved his hand.

What a joke. This was a trial, not a race. Whoever went up first was an idiot.

"Fine, then." Zong Qingfeng nodded, turned, and patted his top lackey on the shoulder, encouraging him.

"I've decided. Little Teng, you'll go first and set an example for all the spirit beast friends here!

You fought your way out of the bloody competition within your clan, so don't embarrass us!"

"Big Brother, I..."

Zong Teng's expression changed. Just as he was about to refuse, his teammate Zong Huo behind him began excitedly egging him on, cutting him off.

"That's right! Boss, you're the number one genius of our generation in the Sky Peng Tribe. You have to keep your spirits up! Set an example they'll never be able to surpass!"

Example, example. Just wait, you little bastard Zong Huo. When we get home, I'll beat you into a model example!

Forced into a corner, Zong Teng shot his treacherous teammate a vicious glare. He had no choice but to steel himself and fly onto the Heavenly Ladder like a warrior heading into a tragic battle. Before entering the trial space, he vaguely heard the spirit beasts behind him praising him with cries such as, "Good! Well done!"

The facts proved that Zong Qingfeng had good judgment.

Less than half an hour later, Zong Teng was blasted down as though he had suffered a heavy blow.

A radiant six-colored feather fell from the peacock figure and flew before him. Upon it was a cursive-like character: "Token."

Six-Colored Feather God Token!

Knowing that this was not Zong Teng's fault, Zong Qingfeng patted him on the shoulder in encouragement, then leapt into the air with vigorous strides and disappeared into the Heavenly Ladder's curtain of light.

Seeing Zong Qingfeng take the lead, the spirit beasts no longer held themselves back and charged upward in a frenzy.

"Looks like there's no need to wait any longer. This thing's fine. Let's go up and give it a try too."

Watching spirit beast after spirit beast get blasted back down, Ye Kong no longer wanted to merely stand by. He led the others into the air.

After stepping onto the Heavenly Ladder, Ye Kong found himself transported to a place resembling an arena.

Opposite him was a large bird covered in white feathers. It flapped its wings and tried to intimidate him, but its aura was far weaker than any spirit beast genius he had encountered.

"This level of strength isn't worth taking seriously at all."

Sensing the other party's pitifully weak power, Ye Kong formed a sword with his fingers and slashed out a crescent-shaped sword qi, splitting it directly in two.

The defeated bird turned into a cluster of white light spots. Then, a cold and emotionless mechanical voice sounded from above the arena.

"Warning! Warning! A dangerous entity has entered the Heavenly Ladder. The first six levels of trials will be skipped, and it will proceed directly to the seventh level!"

"This Peacock Heavenly Venerate was quite good at design. Pretty intelligent."

Without changing expression, Ye Kong praised a certain big shot who might still be alive, then watched as a bird identical to the previous one, except with blue feathers, appeared.

This time, the creature possessed extraordinary bearing. It was already comparable to the Kunpeng Tribe experts under Zong Qingfeng and emanated the Divine Beast pressure of one innately superior to spirit beasts.

"No wonder Zong Teng couldn't defeat it. Before they shed their spirit nature and ascend to become Divine Beasts, they have no chance at all against Divine Beast geniuses of the same level."

Ye Kong slashed out once more and annihilated it.

Finding this rather unsatisfying, Ye Kong raised his head and shouted.

"How about you just send me directly to the ninth level? It'll save everyone some trouble!"

There was a period of silence overhead. Then a nine-colored feather encompassing the seven colors of the rainbow as well as black and white descended, along with a scroll surrounded by rosy light.

"An extremely dangerous entity has entered the Heavenly Ladder. To conserve spiritual energy, this entity is directly awarded the Nine-Colored Feather God Token! Expel it immediately!"

"Huh? You can do that?"

Ye Kong's eyes widened at the other party's decisiveness. Then he felt an immense force shove him flying away.

The force made Ye Kong feel utterly unable to resist, yet it carried not a trace of harmful intent, as though it simply wanted to throw him out.

"Amitabha meow Buddha. Shouldn't a creature with bloodline as high-end as the Nine-Colored Peacock act gracefully and generously? Why does she seem even more scheming than me? Which damned bastard did she learn this from?"

After repeatedly using Supernatural Footwork in midair to leap through space and barely dispel most of the force, Officer Ye finally stabilized himself and preserved his lofty image before the spirit beasts. Looking at the feather and scroll in his hands, he felt like cursing his mother.

Revenge! This was definitely revenge! That peacock must not have been a particularly refined person when she was alive!

Ignoring the tremendous stir he had caused among the beasts by casually drifting back down with the Nine-Colored Feather God Token, Officer Ye waved his hand and set up dozens of barriers. He viciously spread open the scroll, wanting to see what piece of junk that fellow had given him.

Ancient words appeared on the scroll. Once it was unfurled, the words actually detached themselves and transformed into a stream of information that entered Ye Kong's brow, revealing five large characters.

"Peacock King Sutra? Why does it share a name with a lost ancient scripture I saw recorded in the Sutra Library? It can't be such a coincidence, can it?"

Ye Kong carefully examined it and discovered that it required the blood essence of a Nine-Colored Peacock as a catalyst to cultivate. Furthermore, it had a prerequisite: one had to cultivate the "Bodhi No Tree Art"!

"Looks like the connection really runs deep. But I snuck into the Sutra Library so many times and never saw any record of a Spiritual Mountain powerhouse having a close relationship with the Nine-Colored Peacock. Could that fellow have been kicked out of the mountain gate like me?"

After reviewing the information, Ye Kong found the Peacock King Sutra filled with countless profound mysteries, many of which he could not grasp.

When he saw Lu Hou descend with the Three Great Vajras after obtaining a Nine-Colored Feather God Token as well, Officer Ye gritted his teeth and summoned the four of them. In a space hidden from the outside world, they set up a simple mourning hall.

Then Ye Kong began reciting the Diamond Sutra. Buddha light flowed around his body, and the phantom of a Bodhi Tree appeared behind him. He lit an incense stick in the direction of the peacock figure and bowed devoutly.

"Ye Kong, a present-day Great Spiritual Mountain Apostate, brings four good brothers to offer our most sincere greetings to Senior Nine-Colored Peacock. May you enjoy ten thousand years of peace and well-being!"

Behind him, the Four Great Vajras transformed into a band of musicians, playing a solemn tune while shouting.

"We, the younger generation of the Beast Tribe, respectfully wish Senior peace and well-being. May you remain safe year after year, may your glory never fade, and may your great name be passed down forever!"

Thanks to "Meteor Streaks Across Life,"

"Book Friend 20230934204647516,"

"Jiangcun Remnant Night,"

"Jiaqi Zhouhui Ru Zichen,"

and "A Book's Remaining Pages, Half a Scroll"

for the recommendation votes from these five esteemed readers. Little Meng Xin once again offers his daily thanks for everyone's support.