Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Adorable Flower Fairies!

“What’s your plan?” asked General Yu Gu of the Northern Frontier, clad in bone armor forged from the remains of unknown beasts. Golden rays streaked across his imposing figure, renowned as the steadfast guardian of the northern reaches of the Tianqin Empire.

“What plan? Battle, of course! How could we let such a succulent prize slip away?” General Wei Yan of the Southern Frontier replied. Unlike most, two blood-red fangs protruded from his mouth, fierce as crimson blades. He guarded the southern border with a ferocious temper to match.

“Battle? You make it sound easy. That world rivals any of the ancient Nine Provinces, and with the home-field advantage, it’s far from simple,” retorted General Wu Jian of the Northern Frontier, his voice cold. Dressed in a plain blue robe, he lacked the aura of a killer; he was a strategist, renowned for his thoroughness and wisdom.

“Not fight? Are we just going to let that prize go?” Wei Yan shot a cold glance at Wu Jian.

“How intense are the world fluctuations emanating from that super-sized world?” The Duke of Wei opened his eyes and asked quietly.

Zhou Quan surveyed the room before speaking in a grave tone. “This is precisely what I wanted to address next. The fluctuations from that super-sized world have reached the level of ‘Cataclysm’!”

“Cataclysm!” Yu Gu’s bone armor shone with a fierce light. Beastly shadows appeared beside him, each a king among ferocious creatures, roaring endlessly.

Wei Yan laughed heartily. “A ‘Cataclysm’! The perfect opportunity to strike!” His blood-red fangs seemed so saturated they might drip crimson.

“Then it is time to act,” Wu Jian sighed. This was a once-in-ten-thousand-years opportunity; there would not be another.

“What do you say, Your Majesty?” The Imperial Advisor lowered his aura and turned to the Emperor of Qin. Though they debated, the final decision lay with the Emperor.

The Emperor tapped his jade fingers on the purple-gold dragon throne. After a moment, he looked up and asked, “What do the Ancestors think?”

“The Great Ancestor says you are the true head of the Zhou family, and they will follow your lead.”

“Fine. In that case, we will act. Negotiate with the other major powers—surely we’re not the only ones moving this time. Until we have secured that force, there must be no internal strife!” A golden gleam flashed in the Emperor’s eyes. He was never indecisive; this was indeed a heaven-sent opportunity. ‘Cataclysm’—a disaster capable of shaking the source of the world!

“The spatial fluctuations in the Western Frontier are rather peculiar—we must not neglect the defense at home,” said General Gu Feng of the Western Frontier, who had been silent until now.

All eyes turned to him.

“Is it those things?” Wu Jian asked, frowning.

“Not certain yet, but the fluctuations are real. It would be best to investigate,” Gu Feng replied, unsure.

“After the Youth Tournament, go and take a look—we must prevent any mishaps,” the Emperor decreed.

“Yes!” the group replied.

……

A sacred place. Light orbs descended from the sky, the ground polished like a mirror, reflecting everything with pristine clarity. As the rain of light fell, it stirred layers of ripples.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A muffled sound echoed through the space, ripples spreading endlessly. Following the direction of the waves, two figures in black robes could be seen, bowing their heads as they moved swiftly, making no attempt to shield their foreheads.

Yet as their heads neared the mirrored surface, a gentle force lifted them, as if to prevent injury.

Before these two stood a white-robed, white-haired youth—the Holy Demon. From the posture, it was clear the Sage was in control.

The Sage regarded the two on the ground with a hint of pity. “You needn’t do this; this isn’t your fault. Who could have predicted Zhou Tian’s oddity—his soul vanished for a day, yet he returned to life.”

The two heard this but showed no relief. Their movements did not falter, trembling as they pleaded, “Holy One, spare us! No one else will ever know of this!”

“What are you saying? I am not the Demon, not one to take lives so casually,” the Sage sighed.

At these words, the two shuddered in fear, biting their lips.

“Ah!” Two sharp cries rang out. Emerald runes surged forth; a ghostly skull appeared between them, shrouded in black mist and screaming souls, lashing out at the Sage.

They sought not escape, only death.

The Sage sighed, compassion heavy in his voice. With a wave of his jade hand, a white light enveloped the pair.

The ghostly skull vanished, replaced by two delightful pink flower sprites, each the size of a thumb, with tiny wings fluttering on their backs. They bounced onto the Sage’s body, nuzzling his palm affectionately and emitting strange sounds.

Through their sparkling eyes, one could glimpse a shadow bound in dark chains deep within. As they watched their bodies transform into these bizarre forms, they could neither cry out nor flee, condemned to eternal torment.

Having dealt with the pair, the Sage’s serene face froze momentarily. He drew a golden scroll from the void; it glimmered faintly.

The scroll unfurled of its own accord, floating in midair, growing enormous. Complex runes flashed across its surface, and a figure shrouded in radiant light appeared: the aura was vast and ancient, face obscured, voice booming like a grand bell.

“Holy Demon, how goes the task?”

The Sage glanced at the two adorable flower sprites in his hand, then looked up. “What kind of array did you give me? Useless! Your subordinates have been dealt with—utter failures!”

He spoke with unshaken composure and confidence.

The figure in the scroll showed no emotion, remaining still. After a moment, he replied, “I understand. The array was incomplete; I was unsure if it would work on the Zhou family. Since it was useless, let it be.”

“There is another task for you—the Destiny of the Ninth Province is about to emerge. Fetch it for me!”

The figure’s words caused the light near him to burn even brighter at the mention of the Ninth Province’s Destiny.

“The Destiny of the Ninth Province?” The Sage was momentarily surprised, but quickly caught on.

“Understood. I will obtain it. However, the Zhou family seems to be sending someone to hunt me down—I am so frightened!”

“They have just discovered a new world and are occupied for now. Rest assured,” the figure replied, seeming to understand the Zhou family’s moves thoroughly.

“That’s good. And what about my reward? Regardless of whether your array worked, it’s not my fault—I’ve served you diligently, so you owe me compensation!” The Sage extended his hand toward the figure in the scroll.

After a brief silence, the scroll radiated golden light. Runes surged forth, a chant of gods and demons resounded, and a gate of light opened. A piece of luminous golden bone floated out.