Inside Holy City, on the dueling platform, Ye Tian was searching Zhang Yue's corpse.
He had just seen the Zhang Clan bring him quite a few good things.
On the principle that nothing should go to waste, he would put them to good use on Zhang Yue's behalf.
The Zhang Clan watched from below the platform, furious but not daring to speak.
Even the Zhang Clan's patriarch clenched both fists, the veins bulging on his forehead like centipedes, a terrifying sight.
But he dared not step forward, even though he was a Shattering Realm expert.
The person behind that youth was simply too terrifying. Their Saint Realm ancestor had actually been reduced to ashes beneath a single finger.
Holy City's city lord did not know what to do now, either.
He had thought that once he sent word to the Zhang Clan's ancestor, it would no longer be his concern. He had never expected even the Zhang Clan's ancestor to be lost in the process.
Naturally, he knew perfectly well how important a Saint Realm expert was to a holy land.
He looked at the youth on the platform, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.
This matter would not end well!
Then, as though sensing something, he turned toward the holy land, bowed slightly, and said, "Ancestor!"
At once, two figures suddenly appeared in the void.
A closer look revealed an old man with crane-white hair and a youthful face, and a Daoist whose hair and beard were entirely white.
They were the very two old men who had just been drinking tea on a spiritual mountain in a forbidden area of the holy land.
The one with crane-white hair and a youthful face was Heavenly Origin Holy Land's sole ancestor, Tian Yuanzi.
The old man with white hair and beard was Myriad Origins Holy Land's grand elder, Elder Wan.
Both were at the peak of the Great Saint Realm.
Seeing that Elder Wan was also present, Holy City's city lord hurriedly bowed. "Elder Wan!"
Among the holy lands of the Eastern Domain, Myriad Origins Holy Land counted among the stronger ones.
It was said that the holy land had a Saint King expert.
Heavenly Origin Holy Land, meanwhile, belonged to the middle tier.
It had only one Great Saint Realm ancestor presiding over it.
Thus, he afforded them equal courtesy.
Seeing that even Heavenly Origin Holy Land's ancestor had come, everyone's hearts trembled all the more.
It was said that Heavenly Origin Holy Land's ancestor, Tian Yuanzi, had spent over a thousand years cultivating in seclusion, seeking an opportunity to break through.
They had never expected this incident to draw him out.
Sneers spread across the faces of the Zhang Clan members.
Now that brat on the platform was dead beyond any doubt.
Whenever they thought of how even their ancestor had fallen because of this brat, they wished they could devour his flesh and drink his blood.
"What happened?"
Tian Yuanzi glanced at the platform and asked coolly.
Holy City's city lord recounted everything in full detail.
"What?"
Tian Yuanzi flew into a rage. "Are you saying Elder Zhang is dead?"
"Yes! A mere phantom of the expert behind that young man killed Elder Zhang!"
Holy City's city lord braced himself and answered.
Hearing this, Tian Yuanzi exchanged a glance with Elder Wan, both their eyes filled with gravity.
"A mere phantom of this person carried the presence of a Great Saint. Who knows what fraction of his strength that phantom could wield!"
Tian Yuanzi said.
"According to his description, that person looked quite young, probably only a few hundred years old."
Elder Wan pondered for a moment before continuing, "If that is the case, he should at most be at the peak of the Great Saint Realm!"
"And he most likely isn't from the Eastern Domain!"
At those words, Tian Yuanzi immediately looked at Elder Wan and said gravely, "You mean..."
"Yes, probably a monstrous genius from Central Province!"
"I've heard that those monstrous geniuses in Central Province are the true favored sons of heaven. The very finest divine sons can even reach the Saint King Realm within a thousand years!"
Elder Wan gazed into the distance and spoke with longing.
At this, a strange light flickered in Tian Yuanzi's eyes.
Since that great war, the human race had been weak. It was impossible for a monstrous genius capable of becoming a Saint King at a thousand years old to appear. Even those who entered the Great Saint Realm at a thousand were few and far between.
But those divine sons of Central Province were different. They possessed the bloodline of the divine race.
Whether in talent or strength, they surpassed humans a thousand or ten thousand times over.
Noticing the unusual look on Tian Yuanzi's face, Elder Wan asked curiously, "Little brother, what is it?"
Tian Yuanzi came back to his senses and hurriedly laughed. "Nothing. I lost my composure!"
Then he turned to Ye Tian and said, "Even if he comes from Central Province, this matter absolutely cannot end just like this!"
Elder Wan had not expected his little brother to be so unyielding and hurriedly urged, "Little brother, we mustn't act rashly in this matter!"
"Divine kingdoms abound in Central Province, their forces tangled in a complex web. We cannot afford to provoke them!"
Tian Yuanzi looked at Elder Wan, his gaze firm. "Brother Wan, you know how important a Saint Realm expert is to a holy land."
Hearing this, Elder Wan could hardly say anything more.
Heavenly Origin Holy Land had only five Saint Realm experts in total. Even counting the newly advanced one, there were only six. Losing one all at once was indeed a considerable loss.
Moreover, nurturing a Saint Realm expert consumed a vast sea of resources. Sometimes, not even tens of thousands of years could produce one.
Thus, across the Eastern Domain's three thousand provinces, there were only a little over a hundred holy lands, and most had only a single Saint presiding over them.
Still, there was one thing he could not understand.
Ever since Tian Yuanzi had met him in a secret realm in their youth, he had always been cautious and meticulous. He did not know why Tian Yuanzi was suddenly so forceful today.
"Very well. If you need any help, little brother, just say the word!"
Tian Yuanzi revealed a strange smile so fleeting it left no trace. "Brother Wan, there will be a time for your help!"
Then he looked at Ye Tian, his gaze like a blade, piercing through layer upon layer of space and slashing straight into Ye Tian.
In an instant, Ye Tian felt as though countless sharp blades were slicing his body, the excruciating pain spreading through him like venomous worms.
With trembling hands, he put away the things he had looted, then raised his head to look at Tian Yuanzi.
At this, Tian Yuanzi said angrily, "Brat, you caused trouble in Holy City and then brought about the death of an elder of our holy land. What punishment do you deserve?"
Ye Tian said nothing, only staring stubbornly at the old man.
He knew that, with his strength, he was no match for the old man no matter what he did.
But so what? At worst, he would die. He had already avenged his master.
Only, he had yet to save his junior sister or avenge his parents and the villagers.
He could only avenge them in his next life.
At that moment, he could not help thinking of that utterly mysterious, peerlessly powerful big brother.
If he had even half his strength, he would not be so helpless.
Seeing Ye Tian's refusal to yield, Tian Yuanzi's anger surged even higher.
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, he struck down with his palm.
Throughout this, he kept watching for any movement around him.
Huh! This isn't right! Is the person behind him still not coming out?
Indeed, the reason he attacked Ye Tian was to force the owner of that phantom to reveal himself.
As for why he did not simply find him directly...
He wanted to, but his strength did not permit it.
Just moments earlier, he had scanned all of Holy City with his divine sense, only to find nothing.
Seeing even the holy land's ancestor take action, the Zhang Clan members felt completely reassured.
Savage smiles appeared on their faces once more.
"Brat, die!"
Holy City's city lord also felt a little regretful.
"What a pity. Such a promising seedling!"
The surrounding spectators did not believe Ye Tian could survive this palm strike, either.
After all, this was a strike from a holy land's ancestor, a Great Saint Realm expert.
Does it end just like this?
Ye Tian closed his eyes, his heart filled with unwillingness.
He had finally reached the Origin Core Realm, and passing the holy land's assessment should have been a sure thing. He had never expected to end up dying at Heavenly Origin Holy Land's hands.
Life truly was ironic!
But just then, a sigh rang out from the void.
Here he comes!
Tian Yuanzi's eyes lit up.
His descending palm grew faster still.