The Branch Martial Assembly Begins

Futu Yijing had spent the previous two hundred years dealing with the Outer Realm Evil Clan, slaughtering countless members of their kind. With that experience behind him, cultivating this divine ability came as naturally as breathing.

In just a few days, Futu Yijing had already attained initial mastery of the Demon-Slaying Spear, executing its three forms without the slightest flaw.

In that era, the divine abilities created by the Great Thousand World's experts had all targeted the Outer Realm Evil Clan, and Futu Yijing's two centuries of experience made him especially well suited to them.

His ancestor's legacy contained not a single divine ability focused on defense.

It perfectly embodied the saying: attack without defending, and stand unrivaled beneath the heavens.

After smoothly executing the Demon-Slaying Spear's three forms one last time, Futu Yijing left the Ancestral Pagoda.

During his time inside the Ancestral Pagoda, many more guests from the Great Thousand World's superpowers had arrived in the Futuo Realm.

The entire Futuo Realm bustled with extraordinary activity during this period.

With the arrival of these superpowers, the Futu Ancient Clan's Branch Martial Assembly drew near. As it happened, it fell on the very day Futu Yijing emerged from the Ancestral Pagoda.

The resonant tolling of an ancient bell echoed through the Futuo Realm, lingering without end.

The instant the bell's peals rang out in full force, countless sounds of rushing wind rose. Streaks of light shot into the sky, then sped toward the mountain ranges deep within the realm.

The entire Futuo Realm seethed with excitement at this movement. The Futu Ancient Clan's once-in-a-decade grand event, the Branch Martial Assembly, was now beginning.

Deep within the Futuo Realm stood a towering main peak. Across its four sides, enormous white jade platforms were arranged at distinct elevations in a harmonious pattern, faintly exuding a sharp, imposing aura.

Numerous peaks surrounded that main mountain. Seating had been set up on all of them, and streaks of light occasionally descended from the sky, landing among the seats.

In barely a few minutes, the layered mountain ranges grew lively and clamorous.

Magnificent stone pavilions and courtyards stood on the massive peaks closest to the main mountain. Clearly, the treatment there was far better than elsewhere.

Those viewing stands had been prepared for the Great Thousand World's foremost superpowers.

Futu Yijing flew over as a streak of light, finally landing on an inconspicuous peak.

Just as he landed, ancient, resonant bell chimes began ringing continuously from every peak in the mountain ranges, filling heaven and earth.

As the bells rang, every expert present sensed something and abruptly looked up. At the very summit of the towering main peak, hundreds of millions of rays of spiritual light suddenly blossomed.

Figures emerged within that spiritual radiance. Each emanated a heart-palpitating pressure of spiritual energy, making the various superpowers present inwardly tense.

The spiritual light dissipated, revealing twenty figures at the summit. Nineteen stood in clearly separated groups, respectfully positioned behind the person at the very front.

That figure was a white-haired old man with an aged appearance. Compared with the nineteen figures behind him, whose spiritual energy surged vast and mighty, he released no spiritual energy at all. He looked like an ordinary old man, utterly unremarkable.

Yet the moment the many superpowers present saw him, their gazes sharpened involuntarily, and respect appeared on their faces.

This utterly ordinary-looking old man, who seemed to have one foot in the grave, was actually a Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereign!

"We respectfully welcome the Grand Elder!"

When the white-haired elder appeared, countless members of the Futu Ancient Clan called out respectfully across the landscape. Even the elders wore expressions of reverence.

The clan leader held the highest authority in the Futu Ancient Clan, but that position had remained vacant for many years, with no suitable candidate ever emerging. Thus, throughout those years, the Grand Elder alone had safeguarded the Futu Ancient Clan, keeping its standing from declining. When it came to his seniority and service, not a soul in the clan disputed his authority.

Though he was somewhat stubborn and rigid, the members of the Futu Ancient Clan were filled with reverence and gratitude toward the Grand Elder who had protected their clan.

Under everyone's gaze, a slight smile appeared on Futuo Xuan's aged, stern face at the summit. He swept his gaze across the surroundings, his elderly voice echoing among the mountains. "Today marks a grand occasion for our Futu Ancient Clan. I am truly grateful that you have all honored us with your presence. I, Futuo Xuan, offer you my thanks."

Hearing Futuo Xuan's words, the leaders of the many superpowers returned his courtesy.

With his strength, Futuo Xuan undoubtedly ranked among the foremost figures in the Great Thousand World. He was someone who truly stood at its pinnacle.

After exchanging pleasantries, Futuo Xuan turned and sat on the elevated platform atop the main peak. Looking down at the nineteen figures below, he said solemnly, "The Branch Martial Assembly begins now. If you wish to retain your seats, show your abilities. Otherwise, you can only yield your positions to others who have cultivated diligently."

"Yes!"

At the Grand Elder's words, all nineteen figures of extraordinary bearing answered. In the next instant, they transformed into streaks of light and shot out, landing on the jade platforms across the main peak.

At the same time, nineteen seemingly boundless torrents of spiritual energy swept wildly through heaven and earth.

"The Branch Martial Assembly officially begins!"

Nineteen Heavenly Sovereigns stood high above. Watching this sight, most of the superpowers present could not help voicing their amazement, their eyes thick with envy. After all, in the Great Thousand World, gauging a superpower's depth of strength was actually simple: one only had to count its Heavenly Sovereigns.

Generally speaking, a superpower with just one Heavenly Sovereign barely qualified to cross the threshold into that rank. Only those with several could be considered outstanding among them.

Yet the Futu Ancient Clan before them had revealed as many as nineteen Heavenly Sovereigns at once, and these were clearly not all of them.

At the very least, when they arrived, they had heard of another figure in the Futu Ancient Clan: its young master, Futu Yijing.

He had already reached the complete Earthly Sovereign stage and was only a single step away from becoming a Heavenly Sovereign. The existence of someone like him further demonstrated the deep reserves of a foremost superpower like the Futu Ancient Clan.

The Heavenly Sovereigns on the nineteen white jade platforms above were divided into four factions: the three main branches and the subsidiary branches that had Heavenly Sovereigns of their own.

A closer look revealed that the Qing Lineage, once the strongest, had become the weakest of the three main branches after its previous lineage head passed away and the incident involving Qing Yanjing occurred.

As the Futu Ancient Clan's young master, Futu Yijing had clearly become the first in line for the position of clan leader after the incident involving Qing Yanjing. None of the three main branches had ever objected.

Precisely because of his presence, the members of the three main branches placed even greater importance on their seats in the Council of Elders.

Since the position of clan leader was beyond their reach, they would strengthen their own branch's standing in the Council of Elders and increase their influence within the clan.