"Is this Feather Fire City?" The dean, Tower Master, Island Lord, and Redmond gazed ahead in awe. Xu Jingming had arrived early with his clone and was already acquainted with the city.
Xu Jingming smiled and looked into the distance, where an immense city with soaring walls stood, seemingly defying dimensions. These walls appeared infinitely tall, completely isolating all spatial layers and shielding the city from outside scrutiny.
"Feather Fire City was built by the third-realm being, Feather Fire Lord. The city is brimming with wonders, but there's one thing you must remember," Xu Jingming warned them gravely. "In Feather Fire City, only the central Feather Fire Mountain prohibits fighting. Feather Fire Lord turns a blind eye to battles elsewhere, so when we enter the city, stay close to me and be cautious."
"Don't worry. We're here to learn a legacy, not get involved in other matters," the dean reassured him. Tower Master, Island Lord, and Redmond nodded in agreement.
"Let's head in!" Xu Jingming led the way, intimately familiar with the city as he and the others flew through the massive gates.
Passing through the towering gates felt like entering another space-time altogether.
It was only upon entering the city that they could take in the full scope of its wonders, including the majestic central mountain.
"Countless high-dimensional beings and resources are gathered here," Xu Jingming informed them as they traversed the vast city. Over the years, Feather Fire City had established its own set of rules.
"The weak typically reside in the outer city, while the strong live closer to the central Feather Fire Mountain," Xu Jingming explained. "This is because terrifying beings often venture to the volcano, and living too close can lead to unintended encounters. Remember, fighting is allowed anywhere outside Feather Fire Mountain."
The dean and the others listened solemnly.
"I've heard there are over a thousand Abyss Sovereigns here. It would be disastrous if we provoked one of them," said Eternal Tower Master. As a cultivator of the Abyss lineage, he understood just how fearsome the Abyss-favored Sovereigns could be.
"Thus, you must keep your distance," Xu Jingming said with a grin. "We can explore the outer city together, but once we enter the inner city, you'll need to conceal yourself within the spatial artifact."
"We get it."
"Don't worry. We understand."
The dean and the others continued to explore the sprawling city with curiosity. At a glance, they could see countless high-dimensional beings flying in groups of three or four.
"It's hard to believe that tens of billions of high-dimensional beings reside here."
"Living alongside Abyss Sovereigns and other terrifying beings in the same city is inherently dangerous, and it's easy to get caught up in their affairs," the dean and the others mused.
Xu Jingming added, "But the resources and opportunities here are too vast to ignore. Many powerful beings are willing to leave a clone behind."
"Feather Fire City's suppression is incredibly potent," the Spacetime Island Lord noted, sensing the Mother Stream. "Spacetime has been completely stifled. I can't even draw on the power of the Mother Stream."
"I can't use the Heart Realm to teleport either. We're limited to flying slowly," Xu Jingming said. "The word of third-realm beings is law, allowing them to establish these rules! If they wished, they could strip all high-dimensional beings of their power."
Xu Jingming and the others chatted as they continued flying. The outer city was immense, and it took them half a month to transition from the outer city to the inner city. During this time, the dean and the others temporarily hid within their spatial treasures.
Half-step third-realm powerhouses and Abyss Overlords were a common sight within the inner city.
…
In an inner-city cave dwelling, Gumo suddenly experienced a karmic sensation. He quickly walked to the railing and peered into the distance with his long, narrow eyes. He spotted Xu Jingming flying alone in that direction.
Feather Fire City's suppression is truly remarkable. I can only sense Wu Ming when he's this close, Gumo mused. He had also stationed a clone permanently in Feather Fire City.
Wu Ming.
Gumo's eyes held a complex mixture of emotions.
He had long realized that Wu Ming's future was somewhat terrifying. Moreover, as time progressed, Wu Ming's future grew increasingly 'defined' and 'frightening.'
Regrettably, I bear an unshakable enmity towards the human race, Gumo thought, shaking his head slightly.
The Void Celestials and humans were once neighbors within the same universe! Over the years, countless battles had been fought between the two species. As the foremost leader of the Void Celestials, Gumo's hands were drenched in human blood!
The Void Celestials had plunged humanity into dark ages several times, creating gaps in their history.
This hatred could never be wiped away!
Thus, once Gumo knew of Xu Jingming's terrifying future, he rented the miniature universe to the human race at a low cost to facilitate their migration, after confirming he couldn't stop him.
There are too many old grudges, but disputes between neighboring species are inevitable. By helping them complete the species migration, I can at least alleviate some of the animosity, Gumo considered.
All he could do was maintain a safe distance from the humans, ensuring they weren't even in the same dominion.
They needed to keep their distance! As long as the humans didn't see them, both parties could coexist peacefully.
If frequent encounters led to friction, the combination of new and old grudges would spell disaster.
I knew he'd become a formidable being, but regrettably, we were never destined to be friends, Gumo reflected. Ancient Tree World Lord, North River Boat Master, and Thearch Dragon Island Lord of the South Pavilion 3609 Dominion are all fortunate. They've all presented gifts to Wu Ming. In truth… I was the first to recognize his potential.
A rare opportunity was within his reach, but it seemed Gumo was fated not to grasp it. Naturally, this left him feeling unsettled.
******
At the heart of Feather Fire City stood the towering Feather Fire Mountain, the residence of the formidable third-realm being, Feather Fire Lord. Numerous high-dimensional lifeforms sought to visit Feather Fire Mountain to learn the legacy.
"Brother Feather Snake, please assist me. I wish to meet Senior Feather Fire Lord," a tall, black-robed figure pleaded humbly. "I've been in Feather Fire City for three Abyssal Eras, yet I haven't met him even once."
"My master ceased accepting disciples and offering guidance to juniors long ago," a coiled snake replied gently. "Brother Yaming, don't put me in a difficult position."
"Brother Feather Snake, given our relationship, how can you not help me?" Sovereign Yaming implored anxiously. "I've demonstrated my utmost sincerity during these three Abyssal Eras. I just hope that Senior Feather Fire Lord can provide some guidance… I'm confident that with his help, I will undoubtedly make a breakthrough. I might even manage to take that step and reach the third realm."
"Hahaha."
The coiled snake chuckled, then said, "Over the years, my master has mentored countless disciples and taught innumerable high-dimensional lifeforms the legacies. Yet, not a single third-realm powerhouse has emerged from these efforts. What makes you so bold as to claim you can achieve that?"
"The future is uncertain. Who can say for sure that I won't reach the third realm?" Sovereign Yaming insisted anxiously. "Brother Feather Snake, I'll naturally reward you handsomely if you help me."
"I'm powerless to change the situation. My master has long abandoned offering guidance to others. I dare not persuade him," Feather Snake responded. "Now, you should leave. If you persist in causing trouble, I'll have no choice but to expel you."
Sovereign Yaming grew frantic. "Brother Feather Snake…"
"You've gone too far!" The coiled snake's eyes turned icy, and an unseen force enveloped Sovereign Yaming, forcibly ejecting him from the mountain's perimeter.
…
The void outside Feather Fire Mountain warped, and Sovereign Yaming materialized, looking worse for wear.
He actually banished me. Sovereign Yaming seethed with rage when considering his status as an Abyss Sovereign. I've always treated Brother Feather Snake with respect and friendship, but he… I've resided in Feather Fire City for three Abyssal Eras. I merely persisted in speaking a bit more, yet he showed me no respect and expelled me.
Furious as he was, there was nothing he could do.
Feather Snake, one of Feather Fire Lord's personal disciples, stood as an invincible presence at the half-step third realm. Sovereign Yaming knew he couldn't afford to provoke someone so formidable, both in power and connections.
All I desire is to progress further! Wasn't Feather Fire Lord compassionate toward the weak and eager to teach? Why won't he see me? Sovereign Yaming fumed, feeling wronged. As a mighty Abyss Sovereign, how could he not be incensed after being repeatedly rebuffed on Feather Fire Mountain?
His intense sense of injustice and anger fueled the dark flames in his heart, and his eyes grew colder.
Glancing around, he spotted over 10,000 high-dimensional lifeforms flying toward Feather Fire Mountain in the distance, preparing to ascend the mountain.
If three Abyssal Eras isn't enough, there's no need to wait any longer. Sovereign Yaming sneered, unleashing an invisible flame that spread rapidly in all directions and engulfed a vast area.
The nearby 10,000-plus high-dimensional lifeforms felt the invisible flames envelop them. Seeing this, flames spontaneously erupted from their bodies.
What is this? Among the high-dimensional lifeforms, Xu Jingming flew eagerly toward the towering Feather Fire Mountain in the distance.
Suddenly, he noticed the spreading black flames.
The instant he saw them, the flames breached the distance barrier and ignited within Xu Jingming's body.
"Ahhh!!!"
More than 10,000 high-dimensional lifeforms detected the terrifying black flames. As soon as they did, the flames ignited within their bodies as well.
"It's Black Abyss Fire."
"Black Abyssal flames."
"These flames are following karma and burning my other clones! He wants to eradicate us completely!"
"He wants us dead!"
Many of the high-dimensional lifeforms were in shock, anger, and despair. They glared hatefully at the distant Sovereign Yaming, but they were powerless to act. All of them were reduced to ashes by the Black Abyss Fire, and even their clones in far-off dominions met the same fate.
"Feather Fire City has already suppressed spacetime, karma, and other powers. If you end up incinerated across infinite dominions, you have only your own weakness to blame." Sovereign Yaming felt a sense of satisfaction as he watched the high-dimensional lifeforms perish in agony.
In the Abyssal domain he ruled, he slaughtered countless beings, whether he was in a good mood or a bad one.
Slaughter was his favorite form of entertainment.
Although Xu Jingming had long known the dangers of getting too close to Abyss Sovereigns, this was the first time he had faced such peril. He had no grudges or entanglements with them, and now, for no apparent reason, he had incurred the wrath of an Abyss Sovereign.
