John Fenix: ''Immortal Asura'
The Dao Name was seen by all on the massive stone stele, shocking those who did not know his identity, and causing those who did to either smirk with smugness as he was part of their alliance, or frown with displeasure, as he was a powerful enemy.
"What? Is he the 'Asura' everyone had been talking about?" many in the crowd asked, as the name was not exactly the same as the mythical 'Asura' that had recently taken the continent by storm. Despite the status of 'Asura' only existing for two years, the name had already become mythical, on par with the Jade Dragon Emperor.
Their questions were soon confirmed by those who knew John was 'Asura', and those confirmations swept through the entire millions strong crowd, which all learned the truth.
The youth they had looked down upon, mocked and ridiculed for his flashy entrance and stupidity to enter a realm with World Expansion experts was none other than 'Asura', the most talented youth to ever arise, at least according to the Talent Testing Steps.
The Talent Testing Steps had been in use throughout the world for hundreds of thousands of years, and were relics from even before the calamity. As such, none dared to doubt the veracity of those steps, which were now considered to be the best gauge of talent possible.
Those who had looked down on John and insulted him felt their faces turn red with embarrassment, and many hoped that John had not seen them insult him. Others felt excitement surge through them, as the gathering of geniuses was becoming far more exciting than they thought it would be.
"The only person to ever reach twenty steps! I actually saw the legendary 'Asura'!" many exclaimed, their faces turning red with excitement.
"To think we actually looked down on him! How blind we are!" another exclaimed, flashing a glance over to the Honorable Alliance group, which was hundreds of thousands of members strong.
Satisfied expressions lingered on the faces of many in the Honorable Alliance crowd, who felt pride from being from the same power as the legendary 'Asura'.
"I just hope he doesn't remember me shouting at him to leave!' another said with embarrassment.
"Still, despite him being 'Asura', he's still in the Heaven Tribulation realm, going against World Expansion experts. Will he really be alright in there?" a concerned Honorable Alliance member asked a nearby Elder.
"Only John himself knows," the Elder replied, gazing at the stone stele. "I'm sure someone who was able to obtain that level of talent is not stupid, and has some level of confidence in keeping himself safe."
"That's good," the nearby Honorable Alliance disciples breathed out in relief. Some of them had been part of the Jade Dragon Empire trial, and had been saved by John in that final battle. At this point he was a legendary figure in their lives, and none wished harm to come to him.
"Tch, lets hope he dies inside," a hateful sneer drifted out from an Elder in the Forbidden Alliance crowd.
"Rahze and Lua are within. Perhaps they can handle this matter directly. That would be the best outcome," another Elder said, to which many of the other elders nodded in agreement.
After the crowd discussed John, the discussion naturally shifted towards the other notable name.
Lilian Celestria: Goddess of Death
The Dao Name Goddess of Death was shocking enough, as Dao Names were directly bestowed by the Heavens itself. For someone to receive such a terrifying sounding name, it was as if the heavens were confirming she was worthy of such a name.
"And Lilian Celestria? Is she from the Astral Empire?" someone asked curiously.
"Celestria is the last name of the Astral Emperor. And with her talent level, age twenty-six and already at the Peak of the Dao Transformation Realm, she is most likely from the Astral Empire," another guessed.
"How come I haven't heard of her name?" a youth from a nearby power to the Astral Empire asked their Elder.
"There was mention of such a name around ten years ago, but I have not heard that name in nearly a decade," the Elder mused. "Perhaps the Astral Emperor hid her away for a time, and has decided to reveal her to the world once more."
"Oh, I see," the youth nodded in understanding.
Tens of thousands of similar discussions drifted amongst the crowd, while a certain group stationed within the neutral powers section stared at the stone stele with narrowed gazes. The group controlled a sectioned off piece of land closest to the stele, indicating their level of power and respect given by the other nearby powers.
"Send word to the Emperor," a man within the group summoned a nearby group of guards and instructed. "The princess has returned."
The group of guards nodded, and quickly left the Divine Source Monastery lands. They boarded a ship and sped off into the distance.
…
In the distance, at the mile-wide river that separated the Divine City and the lands of the Divine Source Monastery, Thunderzen and Thunderfist floated in the air. They had decided to return to Divine City after Lilian and John had safely entered within, but stopped as the emergence of the stone stele attracted their attention.
A ship sped right by them, piercing through the air like an arrow towards distant lands. They gazed at the ship and then back at the stone stele. Their narrowed gazes stared at the information on the stele, and Thunderzen sighed after a short moment of thought.
"It seems the truth is out now," Thunderzen said, his gaze narrowed. "The Astral Emperor will no doubt appear to reclaim Lilian."
"I'd like to see him try," Thunderfist growled as he smashed his fists together, the power shaking the land and rocking the water beneath them. "My fists have been itching for a good battle. Perhaps I can finally wet them with blood once more."
"Stay here and watch over the Monastery. I will go retrieve Raijen and make some preparations. We may need him for what's to come," Thunderzen said to his brother, who nodded with a fiery gaze and watched his brother shoot off into the distance, disappearing from sight.
