Chapter 107: The Four Saint-Rank Guardians
–Storm Realm
Howling winds swept across the desolate landscape, barren and devoid of life.
Especially in this area, so close to the Tyrant Demon Seed’s territory, no one would dare to approach, let alone live here.
Hidden within a cave beneath a cliff, a hundred miles from the entrance to the Wind Realm, the blue-haired girl with six teardrop beauty marks rested.
Leaning against the wall, her eyes closed, a small fire burning in the center of the cave, its flickering light illuminating her serene face.
Although, like the Sea Region, the Storm Realm had no sun or moon, no day or night, Gong Lianyue could easily tell the time and date from the clock on the back of her irises. 3:00 AM. She needed to rest.
Not only to rest, but also because, after entering the cave, the Frost Snow Woman had finally responded, transmitting a long and complex wave of information into her mind, which required time to process.
Two of the Legendary Hibernating Sun’s four direct guardians had awakened—
The Saint-rank Windchaser Emperor.
The Saint-rank Sleepless Sparrow.
Both were high-ranking, wind-type Saint-rank creatures.
According to the Frost Snow Woman, the Windchaser Emperor always awakened first and thus routinely received numerous benefits from the Storm Realm factions, practically becoming their lapdog. It wouldn’t hesitate to attack even a Saintess from the Sea Region.
However, no matter how provocative its actions, she mustn’t retaliate. Doing so would be defying the will of the legendary being, leading to serious consequences.
Such a shameless creature, abusing its power because of its legendary backer!!!
Gong Lianyue didn’t know where the Frost Snow Woman had obtained this information, but she had no time to ask.
She had to be cautious when dealing with the Windchaser Emperor. Angering a legendary being would be disastrous, although it wouldn’t actually enter the Sea Region to attack them. Spirit beasts had a strong aversion to spirit energy of opposing attributes, an aversion that intensified with their rank.
Just look at the Frost Snow Woman, playing dead the moment they entered the Wind Realm. For a legendary being to invade another realm would be like a human diving into a cesspool to kill a fly—disgusting and pointless.
Therefore, the legendary Hibernating Sun, the Wind Realm Overlord, wouldn’t enter the Sea Region and taint itself with its impure energy. But with a single breath from the entrance to the Wind Valley, it could annihilate both the valley and the Ice Shield Palace.
Thud!
The bound, black-haired girl suddenly appeared, falling to the floor of the cave. She looked around in confusion, then stared at the blue-haired girl in disbelief.
“You defeated the Tyrant Demon Seed?”
“No, but everyone else is dead,” Gong Lianyue blinked, tears shimmering in her eyes, a sorrowful expression on her face. Then she suddenly remembered the Blissful Saintess, still in the Wind Valley.
Boohoo, poor Blissful Saintess, with her delicate Sea Region skin, she must have been… enjoyed… by the Tyrant Demon Seed. And the Wrathful Saintess… she hoped she was alright.jpg
“Do you know anything about the Windchaser Emperor?” Gong Lianyue asked casually, studying the black-haired girl’s face, trying to discern her thoughts.
To her surprise, He Daoqi replied without hesitation, a nonchalant expression on her face, “Just a lapdog of the Shadowcandle Temple, our sworn enemies at Gray Citadel.”
“So you’re not allies?” Gong Lianyue asked, slightly surprised.
“Of course not! In fact, the ones you need to be most wary of on this trip are the Shadowcandle Temple. They don’t want me to return to the Gray Citadel. They will definitely try something!”
“Are you trying to get us killed?! Why didn’t you say so earlier?! If we incur the wrath of a legendary being, we’re all doomed!!”
“I forgot, okay? Why are you so angry?”
He Daoqi said, sounding slightly aggrieved. “And you escaped from the Dead Sea Stage Tyrant Demon Seed. Why would you be afraid of the Windchaser Emperor?”
Gong Lianyue remained silent for a moment. The information from the Frost Snow Woman did mention something relevant.
The Hibernating Sun’s four Saint-rank guardians, having recently awakened or about to awaken, would be in a prolonged recovery period.
Due to the massive energy required to break through to the Samsara Stage, they usually remained at the Dead Sea Stage for three to five years. This meant she wouldn’t be facing a Saint-rank at its peak strength.
“Wait, why did you mention the Tyrant Demon Seed? Is it stronger than the legendary being’s four Saint-rank guardians?”
“The Tyrant Demon Seed…” He Daoqi fell silent, seemingly recalling something.
The Hibernating Sun’s four Saint-rank guardians had gradually awakened from their century-long slumber, starting with the weakest, the Windchaser Emperor, followed by the Sleepless Sparrow, the Nether Bell Maiden, and the Six-Faced God.
Hundreds of years ago, the Six-Faced God had clashed with the wild Saint-rank Tyrant Demon Seed, their battle so devastating it caused the deaths of millions of innocent lives, a conflict that raged from one end of the Wind Realm to the other, ultimately incurring the wrath of the legendary being.
Both their ranks were suppressed from the Sun and Moon Realm to the Dead Sea Stage by the Wind Realm Overlord, transforming them from invincible beings into… newborns.
The Tyrant Demon Seed was sentenced to guard the Wind Valley for a thousand years as penance, its Sun and Moon Realm power to be restored after its sentence.
And although the leader of the four guardians, the Six-Faced God, had also suffered greatly, its punishment was no less severe than the Tyrant Demon Seed’s.
Provoking a legendary being had consequences, regardless of one’s status.
Since it could fight the Six-Faced God, the leader of the four guardians, to a standstill, the Tyrant Demon Seed’s power was self-evident.
In comparison, the Windchaser Emperor was a mere child, weaker than not only the Tyrant Demon Seed and the Six-Faced God, but even the Sleepless Sparrow and the Nether Bell Maiden.
The difference in strength among the four guardians was vast.
“I see…”
After listening to He Daoqi’s long, rambling explanation, dawn was approaching. Gong Lianyue nodded thoughtfully.
So the Tyrant Demon Seed had once been an invincible being of the Sun and Moon Realm. No wonder its clone had so easily defeated the Iron Jade Ice Scorpion, a fellow Saint-rank. The little fox and the Water Element hadn’t even stood a chance.
Even suppressed to the Dead Sea Stage, a Sun and Moon Realm being’s power was still terrifying, far beyond her current capabilities…
Chapter 108: Talent Test
–Storm Realm, Gray Shadow Mountain
The wind howled, and the sea of clouds churned.
A towering mountain peak pierced the sky, surrounded by a range of lesser peaks, like stars orbiting the moon.
The entire mountain range was shrouded in a thick fog and swirling winds, obscuring all paths, a treacherous climb where a single misstep could mean death.
A group of young women, their clothes and hair whipped by the wind, slowly ascended this perilous path, their figures weary, their expressions determined, their eyes shining with excitement.
This was Gray Shadow Mountain, one of the Ten Citadels, a place of supreme honor and status for the mortals of this region.
In their minds, Gray Shadow Mountain was the highest point in the world.
Although many of their companions had already fallen to their deaths from exhaustion, it only meant they were getting closer to the legendary Spirit Master faction!
They were the most talented girls, selected from the surrounding towns and villages, all vying for a chance, however slim, to become Spirit Masters.
According to tradition, reaching the summit of Gray Shadow Mountain meant becoming a Gray Shadow Mountain Spirit Master.
In the harsh environment of the Storm Realm, becoming a Spirit Master meant rising above the masses, free from humiliation and oppression.
Moreover, it was said that beyond Gray Shadow Mountain lay an unimaginably powerful entity, the dominant force of the Storm Realm…
After a long and arduous climb, their minds and bodies nearing their limits, they finally caught sight of the summit.
They had finally reached the top of Gray Shadow Mountain!
The girl at the front scrambled up excitedly, but before she could even take in the view—
Swish—
A dark shadow enveloped her, her vision turning black, as if she had suddenly gone blind.
A few seconds later, when she opened her eyes in shock, the world around her had transformed.
Instead of a breathtaking vista, there was no wind, no view, only a dark, enclosed hall, like a tomb.
One by one, the other girls arrived, their expressions filled with anxiety as they looked around.
“Um, where are we?”
“Is anyone there?”
“We climbed Gray Shadow Mountain. What’s going on?”
“Don’t worry, it must be part of the Spirit Masters’ arrangements.”
The girls’ nervous chatter echoed in the oppressive silence of the hall.
Then, a woman in a gray robe emerged from the shadows, and they fell silent, trying to appear obedient.
The gray-robed woman, her eyes sharp and hawk-like, scanned the girls, her gaze settling on an unremarkable silver-haired girl.
Despite having just endured a grueling climb, her breathing was even, her delicate face showing no signs of fatigue.
And her eyes were vacant, dull, lifeless, a disturbingly empty gray.
A jolt of recognition went through the gray-robed woman, and she couldn’t help but ask,
“What… what is your name?”
“Shui Qingyue,” the silver-haired girl replied calmly, her expression unchanged.
Seeing the silver-haired girl being addressed by the Spirit Master, the other girls’ eyes flashed with jealousy. What was so special about her unusual eyes?
The surname Shui…?
The gray-robed woman nodded thoughtfully. She must be a descendant of the Sea Region women captured and brought here, her aura indeed… unique.
Gray Shadow Mountain was close to the Wind Valley, so it wasn’t unusual to find people with the surname Shui here.
Having learned the girl’s name, the gray-robed Spirit Master, ignoring the others, began her explanation.
“This is Gray Shadow Mountain, one of the Ten Citadels. According to tradition, since you have reached this hall, you are now members of Gray Shadow Mountain.”
“New recruits have a one-month probationary period. After one month, your performance will determine whether you stay or leave.”
“Now, follow me for the basic aptitude test.”
Storm Realm, Gray Shadow Mountain, Inner Hall
Walking through a dark corridor, the young girls excitedly followed the gray-robed woman.
They were about to become Spirit Masters, to have their own little companions. It was an exciting prospect.
However, among them, only the silver-haired girl, Shui Qingyue, remained expressionless, her face as still as death.
Having climbed a freezing, ten-thousand-meter ice mountain and witnessed the boundless sky from the clouds, this Gray Shadow Mountain was… boring.
Gray Shadow Mountain, one of the Ten Citadels, a subsidiary force of the Gray Citadel.
“Even a faction like Gray Shadow Mountain can participate in the Hibernating Sun’s birthday celebration, but the number of attendees is probably limited to two.”
“The Gray Citadel is too far. I can’t return there yet. So, you must infiltrate Gray Shadow Mountain, surpass their Saintess, and attend the celebration. During the ceremony, we will perform a handover, and I can safely return to the Gray Citadel.”
“Don’t forget, one strand of my hair is worth one of your Life Fruits. You better not let me get hurt!!!”
He Daoqi, the Swallow God’s, words echoed in her ears. Gong Lianyue clenched her fists, her eye twitching slightly.
A mere hostage, a captured prisoner, and yet so demanding.
If she truly angered the Sorrowful Saintess, she would kill her, regardless of her value as a Saint-rank Spirit Master. Her life gone, a billion Life Fruits would be meaningless.
“Alright, we’re here. We’ll start with Shui Qingyue, then proceed in order.”
The gray-robed Spirit Master’s voice interrupted her thoughts. Gong Lianyue looked at the numerous transparent spirit crystals piled up in the testing hall.
Low-quality, blank spirit crystals, capable of withstanding the spirit energy of Illumination Stage Spirit Masters.
She had taken this test when she entered the Sea Concubine Palace, but they had used high-grade crystals capable of withstanding Dead Sea Stage spirit energy.
Gray Shadow Mountain, a mere subsidiary force of the Gray Citadel, naturally couldn’t compare to the Sea Concubine Palace.
Under the gazes of the other girls, the silver-haired girl walked towards a spirit crystal and gently grasped it.
Less than a month remained until the legendary being awakened. And she, disguised as a mere village girl, had to surpass Gray Shadow Mountain’s Saintess and secure a spot at the celebration within this short time frame.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t reveal her true identity, but it would cause unnecessary complications. Unless absolutely necessary, it was best to remain discreet.
Her spirit energy, calm and steady like the surface of a tranquil sea, flowed gently, reaching the tip of her mental iceberg, a place adorned with strange, icy flower patterns.
[Frost Snow Woman]
Still dormant, but Gong Lianyue wasn’t trying to summon it.
After reaching the Dead Sea Stage, she could at least borrow a fraction of its aura.
Although she knew it was best to avoid drawing attention, but…
It was just Gray Shadow Mountain. A little showboating wouldn’t hurt.
The next second, the Frost Snow Woman’s spirit energy surged, a wave of icy air erupting from Gong Lianyue’s soul core.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
Saint-rank aura, descending upon Gray Shadow Mountain.
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