Upon hearing Tianhuang's words, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a bit taken aback. Back when he refined the Nine Nether Flame, he had received quite a bit of the Nine Nether Bird Clan's inherited memories and thus had a decent understanding of the race. That was why he hadn't worried about being exposed. But now, if he were to spar with others in the Nine Nether Bird Clan and couldn't use a beast form, wouldn't he be in trouble?
He couldn't help but recall the sacred avater that Huang Tian had used in their battle. Perhaps that so-called divine beast form was something like that. If so, maybe he could try to mimic it.
Unaware of Xiao Yan's thoughts, Tianhuang continued explaining to him and Qing Tan the basic knowledge of the Great Thousand World. From his explanations, Xiao Yan learned many new things about this world—divine arts, divine artifacts, spiritual arrays, and more.
He also learned from Tianhuang that the Great Thousand World had its own auxiliary professions, similar to the lower planes but much broader in scope. For example, there were Spiritual Pill Masters, similar to Alchemists; Spiritual Array Masters who set up powerful arrays; and Spiritual Tool Forgers who crafted powerful equipment.
With his expertise, Xiao Yan could certainly be considered a Spiritual Pill Master. He also had some knowledge of array setup—several of the arrays he used in the past could be categorized as spiritual arrays, though the method of inscription differed slightly. As for forging tools, he had dabbled but was clearly self-taught and not particularly skilled.
As a Greater Earth Sovereign-level powerhouse, Tianhuang's speed vastly surpassed Xiao Yan's. Under his guidance, they soon reached the Nine Nether Continent.
In terms of landmass, the Nine Nether Continent was considered small within the Great Thousand World. However, because it was inhabited by the Nine Nether Bird Clan, even some larger continents couldn't compare to its strength. At the heart of the continent lay the ancestral land of the Nine Nether Bird Clan—the Nine Nether Realm.
Interestingly, the Nine Nether Realm didn't actually reside within the Nine Nether Continent itself. According to Tianhuang, it was once a lower plane where the Nine Nether Bird Clan originally resided. After the clan rose to prominence in the Great Thousand World, they used unimaginable means to tether that lower plane to the higher realm, establishing it as their sanctuary and ancestral land.
Learning this, Xiao Yan silently made a note to himself. If he ever broke through to the Heavenly Sovereign Stage, he would establish a force of his own and try to link the Dou Qi Continent to it. That way, he could bring his family and friends from the continent to enjoy prosperity together.
High above the Nine Nether Realm floated a massive dome of light inscribed with countless mysterious spiritual patterns—clearly the spiritual array Tianhuang had mentioned earlier. Compared to the arrays Xiao Yan had used before, this one was thousands of times more intricate. And this was just the tip of the iceberg. If fully activated, it could likely obliterate them in an instant.
"Hehe, this is our Nine Nether Bird Clan's protective spiritual array. It was created by a Spiritual Array Grandmaster we invited long ago. Even a Heavenly Sovereign would struggle to break through it. If fully activated, it could wipe out an entire continent," Tianhuang explained with a smile.
"I see," Xiao Yan nodded, though he couldn't help but find Tianhuang's generosity a bit suspicious. Why was he so open with such guarded information? Was it truly due to the deep ties of bloodline among clansmen? Or… did he have some ulterior motive?
What Xiao Yan didn't know was that what Tianhuang truly valued was the potential of cultivators who had ascended from the lower planes. He intended to win them over and nurture them before they fully matured. If Xiao Yan truly broke through to the Heavenly Sovereign level one day, everything Tianhuang invested now would be worth it.
As Xiao Yan pondered Tianhuang's motivations, the clan leader retrieved a unique jade token and aimed it at the glowing dome. A beam of light shot from the token, striking the array and opening a spatial passage—a special entrance into the Nine Nether Realm.
"Let's go." With a sweep of his sleeve, Tianhuang led Xiao Yan and Qing Tan through the portal into the Nine Nether Realm.
Though the Nine Nether Realm originated from a lower plane, its spiritual density far exceeded that of the Dou Qi Continent, even if its size was smaller. Xiao Yan could sense numerous powerful auras within the realm.
Of course, those were just the surface-level ones. He understood clearly that the true depth of the Nine Nether Bird Clan couldn't be sensed so easily. Those hidden figures were undoubtedly the true backbone of the clan—the reason they could stand tall in the Great Thousand World.
Under Tianhuang's lead, the three flew up to a colossal mountain floating at the highest point. According to Tianhuang, this was the birthplace of the first Nine Nether Bird and thus regarded as a sacred mountain. At its summit stood a massive greenstone square, and surrounding cliffs were packed with figures—all radiating power not beneath Xiao Yan's.
Beyond the cliffs were enormous stone thrones. The individuals seated there exuded even more terrifying auras—likely elders or high-ranking figures in the clan. When they saw Tianhuang appear, they immediately rose and greeted him respectfully.
"Patriarch!"
"Mhm." Tianhuang landed on the central throne and said, "These two are Nine Nether Bird descendants who have returned from the lower planes. Both have stepped into the Sovereign Stage. According to clan rules, they are eligible to join the Nine Nether Enforcement Division. Tianque, I'll leave this matter to you."
"Understood," Elder Tianque replied with a bow. Just then, an elder in green robes suddenly stood up and said, "Wait! Patriarch, not just anyone can join the Enforcement Division. Only those who bear the Nine Nether bloodline are qualified. That boy might barely pass, but that girl carries not a trace of it. How can she join?"
"She's his wife, which makes her half a Nine Nether clanswoman," Tianhuang replied calmly. "Both of them ascended from a lower plane. You should all understand why I'm letting them join the Enforcement Division."
(End of Chapter)
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