"Did you complete them all, Tian Taizong?"
Seven words. A single question. One man and one beast. All of it accompanied by a world-halting phenomenon left the Endless Voyage Realm and Ancient Sealed Region's cultivators silent, their emotions varied, their hearts pounding, and their breaths heavy.
Wei Wuyin's arrival was unexpected. The conflict between the Aeternal Sky Starfield and the Endless Voyage Realm's World Emperors, Rune Kings, Highlords, Venerables, and Exalteds was unprecedentedly brutal, laced with rampant greed, grim desperation, and all sorts of twists and turns, yet no one expected Wei Wuyin to arrive at this moment!
Tian Taizong, the Aeternal Sky Divine Emperor, had seized absolute supremacy, overturning the disastrous fates of his citizens, and forcefully making those responsible exhaust themselves to compensate for their wanton destruction. He was incredible. Those watching were besieged by waves of utmost reverence and heartfelt awe.
Moreover, his arrival coincided perfectly with the halting of the Temporal Reversion forcefully executed by Peng Yue. It forced every last ounce of attention anyone could muster towards him.
Yang Chaoyue was beside herself with deeply felt emotions. While she didn't like the Imperial Clan, she was still a Sky Monarch, raised and born in the Aeternal Sky Starfield, a member who idolized various elite members as a child and felt incredibly attached to her home. Seeing it destroyed left her wanting to scream from the soul. Seeing Tian Taizong dominate made her want to cheer from the heart. Seeing Peng Yue being forced to reverse the situation at the cost of her life made her feel incredible satisfaction at these invaders getting their much-deserved comeuppance.
Tian Lingyu, Tian Muyang, Tian Weilong, the female Sky Monarch, the surviving crew, the surviving members of outposts, those protecting their planets, lunar satellites, and realms which they've long since referred to as 'home' felt similar things. Regardless of how astonishing the last few decades had been or the formation of the Neo-Dawn Starfield, the Aeternal Sky Starfield had over twenty thousand years of history and emotions built into it, enough to establish a long-standing era.
But when Wei Wuyin appeared, Yang Chaoyue and Tian Lingyu breathed breaths of relief, feeling as if the tension in their bodies was swept away by his voice. It was an instinctive thing as if now that he was present, there was no need to be concerned or worried.
Su Nianzu and Jia Yang reacted slightly differently. The former's eyes glittered with brilliant light while the latter was grim-faced. They both recognized the legendary Fire Phoenix and mortal youth known by all as Wei Wuyin! They were left shocked by the gravity of Wei Wuyin's presence, the transcendental looks that could affect men and women in unfathomable ways, and the serene aura of the Fire Phoenix.
Those radiantly golden eyes of that phoenix contained undisguised disdain and contempt, arrogant to an extreme. However, they both felt a heat permeate across their skin upon seeing it. Jia Yang gulped softly. The muscular giant wielding a baleful weapon meant to disdain planets and shatter worlds was feeling an intense sensation of danger! This backed with their advanced knowledge of Genesis Beasts, especially the former phoenixes and vermillion birds of the Ancient Sealed Region left him with a strong urge to fight or flight.
Bai Lin's gaze, however, was dismissive to an extreme. It was as if none present was worthy enough to take her gaze. She had called them weak earlier-her opinion had not changed in the slightest.
The duo's flight wasn't too fast or slow. They moved where even Venerables could see them clearly, yet it felt disproportionately swift due to the feeling of temporal dissonance caused by the halting movement of regressing Sky Destroyers, incomplete bodies, and a stifled, silent air.
Tian Taizong, the Aeternal Sky Divine Emperor, was the only one with the calmest reaction, almost as if he had expected this to occur from the very beginning. Even Wei Wuyin's question was within his expectations. Holding Zhen Yang aloft by the neck, giving him the similar treatment as the Imperial Advisor suffered earlier, fingers embedded deeply into his throat, Tian Taizong calmly replied: "We can talk after I've settled these invaders. Unless, World-Saint Neo-Dawn, you wish to involve yourself in these affairs?"
His words were serenely said, neither servile nor overbearing, but carried an imperialistic tone strongly infused with implications. The fearlessness in his starry eyes was as undisguised as Bai Lin's disdain.
Bai Lin flew into the Aeternal Sky Starfield with Wei Wuyin on her back. She didn't like Tian Taizong's attitude at all. Her golden eyes ignited with scarlet-gold flames! Nirvanic Flames! Her feathers birthed wisps of these scarlet-gold flames as if on the verge of transforming.
"Not yet," Wei Wuyin gently caressed Bai Lin's feathers. His action caused her emotions to settle down immediately, her wisps of rising flames and blazing eyes were extinguished. Eventually, she stopped just a few thousand miles away from the five World Emperors. Moreover, Wei Wuyin's words were not hidden at all! The 'Not Yet' was said openly through his spiritual strength-expelled voice!
Su Nianzu glanced at Tian Taizong, shaken by his calm disposition at this moment. Perhaps Tian Taizong truly didn't care about the weight of a legendary, Worldly Saint Alchemist that was younger than a hundred years old and possessed a force of eighty-odd Earthly Saints-a genuine Saintmaker. Maybe Tian Taizong was ignorant of Bai Lin's physical markers that indicated her level! Regardless of which, Su Nianzu couldn't help but wonder if Tian Taizong had some trump card yet to play.
Subtly, Tian Taizong retracted his Imperial Seed of Law from Peng Yue's body, returning it to its resting place within him. The imperial edict had already been etched on Peng Yue's soul, and there was no longer a way to save her by ordinary means. She would unleash Temporal Reversion until given a different order, halted by Tian Taizong, or died in body and soul.
"I'll accompany you after then for as long as you want," Tian Taizong said. He was quite curious about the halting of the flow of time here. Was Wei Wuyin relying on a temporal treasure or something he'd obtained from The Spirit of the Endless Void Mirror? Its blood, perhaps?
Wei Wuyin smiled, his body slightly rising.
"World-Saint Neo-Dawn," Su Nianzu called out. Wei Wuyin looked over, curious. The armored man's tone was respectful despite his cultivation base. Few would believe it knowing that he was a City Lord of the City of Guardians! However, the Endless Voyage Realm understood the immense weight of the title: "World-Saint." This was perfectly responsible! Moreover, there was undeniable proof of his authenticity status due to the Neo-Dawn Alchemic Expo!
While there was a tinge of skepticism even in Su Nianzu's heart, when Tian Taizong referred to Wei Wuyin by World-Saint, all those doubts faded away. Moreover, a cultivator who conceived and nurtured a law to the Sprouting Phase was not lashing out at being interrupted or threatened by a beast, completely ignoring it. This only reinforced Wei Wuyin's status in his mind!
"Is there anything that I, Su Nianzu, can assist you with?" The City Lord said ambitiously. It was as if Wei Wuyin asked him to deal with Tian Taizong, he wouldn't hesitate. Scenes like these often unfolded among lower-stage cultivators and were described as 'seeking favor using favor.'
Wei Wuyin gave Su Nianzu a second look. "No need," he responded. Those words he said to Trueborn's leader all those years ago felt far more substantial now, unfolding directly before the eyes of everyone.
Wei Wuyin rose another few inches, but then he stopped. "Actually," he started while looking at Su Nianzu with his silver eyes, causing the City Lord's eyes to glimmer with expectation, "take your parasitic people from here, and fuck off back to the Twin Beacon Stellar Region."
"..." Aeternal Sky Starfield's denizens.
"..." Endless Voyage Realm's denizens.
"..." Observers across the eighteen stellar regions!
Wei Wuyin's smile deepened, "Then stay there until I say otherwise. Okay?"
"I..." Su Nianzu was tongue-tied.
Wei Wuyin ignored him, turning his gaze to Tian Taizong, his body already floating a few feet above Bai Lin. "I'll ask one last time: Did you complete my list of given demands, Tian Taizong?" There was no illustrious title used to address Tian Taizong, only his name!
Tian Taizong's eyes glinted with a starry, imposing light. Despite Wei Wuyin's rising reputation and talents, he was not the slightest bit fearful. After developing his Seed of Law to the Sprouting Phase, grasping Law aura, his cultivation was invincible throughout the Ancient Sealed Region. He didn't fear the Spirit either nor any cards made from that being. That was the power of the Sprouting Stage of Laws!
"I've severed the oaths," Tian Taizong faintly smiled. This was beneficial to him as well, so he didn't mind agreeing to this part. He no longer had to hold back when dealing with those unruly Noble Clans and World Sects that were disobedient to his orders. Why wouldn't he agree? Moreover, the other side also agreed due to his tremendous might!
"I've told your Alchemic Knight all he wanted to know and more." Tian Taizong had informed Wu Yu about the game board that was the Ancient Sealed Region and the history of its origins, including various hints of the truths of this world and their purpose in it.
Wei Wuyin nodded while walking toward Tian Taizong. Each step brought him tens of miles forward. This wasn't much or fast for a Star Core Phase cultivator.
However, Jia Yang's eyes widened slightly. Wei Wuyin wasn't using any Worldly Domain to sustain himself in the Dark Void! Moreover, the Chill of the Dark Void, the Chaos Mana of the world, was flowing about him obediently, subtly being breathed into his lungs like oxygen. This was a feat only Star Beasts could accomplish!
Tian Taizong seemed unbothered by Wei Wuyin's approach, directly explaining: "As for your last request, she has no intention of doing so, and neither do I." Those words were flat yet strongly and firmly said. There was no negotiating here. He had no intentions of divorcing Tian Xiaocheng!
"She has no intention of doing so?" Wei Wuyin stopped about a hundred or so miles away, his eyebrows lifted upwards with a sign of surprise. But after a moment, he shook his head. "It wasn't a request-It was a demand. And I wasn't seeking any approval, from either of you."
Domineering!
This was domineering!
BOOSH! The world shook and the stars all over the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region trembled! A fearsome, heart-palpitating Law aura permeated throughout the world, all originating from a single entity-the Aeternal Sky Divine Emperor!
Tian Taizong's Seed of Imperial Law responded vigorously! Given a demand! The majesty of the Imperial Law wasn't something that could be so casually insulted and stepped on! The only reason why Tian Taizong agreed to the other two requests was to repay favor with gratitude and benefits! He was not on the losing end of either!
Suddenly, Tian Xiaocheng's aura revealed itself. She flew toward Tian Taizong from a planet that was on the edge of the starfield's border, safely hidden away there. This was likely the case for many of the Imperial Clan's royal members! When she appeared, the sight of her left Su Nianzu and Jia Yang breathless.
Jia Yang especially. His eyes glowed with a lascivious light.
She was so beautiful! FAR TOO BEAUTIFUL!
When she arrived, she stole the spotlight. "I have no intention of agreeing to your demand!" Her tone was forthright and firm, unyielding and strong-willed. She refused to divorce Tian Taizong! She didn't know whether he wanted to do so to take her for himself or to humiliate both of them for their earlier attempts to instigate conflict and leverage it so that Tian Taizong could break free from his shackles, but neither was enough for her to make that decision!
Wei Wuyin was taken aback. "You?"
"Oh!" Then and only then did Wei Wuyin realize that Wu Yu hadn't been clear enough. It seemed he was so busy with the Chosen King Competition that he hadn't made it overtly clear to Wu Yu to be clear of who he was talking about when regarding divorce. After seeing this, Wei Wuyin felt a little tired. But after thinking about it, it didn't matter. Tian Taizong didn't agree, and this was enough.
"Fine. Will that be your choice?" Wei Wuyin asked.
Tian Xiaocheng's expression changed slightly. For a moment, her firmness shook slightly. Should she...
Tian Taizong's gaze was no longer serene, a wisp of imperialistic anger enough to shake stars and crush entire worlds emanated from his body. "Leave." A single command! His Aeternal Sky Imperial Aura was reinforced by Imperial Law aura, granting it that undefiable power! A single word and Wei Wuyin, a mere mortal, would be sent barreling out of his starfield!
Wei Wuyin felt the aura and his eyes grew dazed, his body shook slightly, and his fingers quivered. The others immediately thought that Tian Taizong had made a move on this absurdly talented mortal!
Suddenly, all those thoughts collapsed after Wei Wuyin returned to normal, a faint grin on his face.
"Then, today is the last day of the Aeternal Sky Era."
Whoosh!
Wei Wuyin's body flickered like a ghost, vanishing from all senses in an instant, and when he reappeared, he appeared before Tian Taizong, the illustrious Aeternal Sky Divine Emperor who reigned for tens of thousands of years, regarded as incredibly talented and invincible throughout the heaven and earth.
-PAH!
A single resounding, thunderous, soul-pounding slap echoed out across the eighteen stellar regions! Before the gaze of heaven and earth and the denizens of two worlds, the Aeternal Sky Divine Emperor was slapped!
But it wasn't over!
Tian Taizong's eyes were incomparably wide as he saw his saliva flying out of his mouth. What was happening?!
"Today's the end of the Tian Clan-"
-PAH!
AGAIN!
"Today's the end of your legend."
PAH!!!
"And today marks the beginning of the Neo-Dawn Defiance Era."
