"Who are you?"
At the foot of the Burning Heaven Mountain Range, a group of figures spotted Liu Xi and his companions, immediately shouting in warning.
Liu Xi had already sensed their presence long ago, but paid them no mind.
His gaze swept over the group — there were five in total. One was a 5th Grade Sovereign, while the remaining four ranged between 1st and 3rd Grade Sovereigns. Anyone capable of surviving in the Burning Heaven Continent could only belong to the so-called Flame Swallowing Clan.
They wore simple animal-hide robes that barely covered their bronzed, muscular frames. Each stood over two meters tall, their skin etched with strange flame patterns that radiated an intense, blazing Spiritual Power.
It was said the Flame Swallowing Clan were born with bodies of extreme toughness, able to temper themselves by devouring magma and fire, thus accelerating their cultivation.
The 5th Grade Sovereign leading them had a solemn expression. Compared to his subordinates, his perception was sharper — and the more he observed, the more he sensed the overwhelming power emanating from the three before him.
They were like three insurmountable mountains.
The Burning Heaven Continent was unbearably hot, and aside from the Flame Swallowing Clan, few cultivators dared to set foot here outside of wartime.
It was his duty to investigate strangers — after all, this was one of the frontiers of the Great Thousand World. The Extraterritorial Evil Race could attack at any time.
Liu Xi, who harbored goodwill toward those guarding the world's borders, smiled mildly and said, "You may call me Qing Lian. We bear no ill will. We merely wish to cultivate here, borrowing the dense fire-attribute Spiritual Power."
"I also heard that the border is rather unstable. If trouble arises, we can lend a hand."
Hearing Liu Xi's calm explanation, the leader's wariness lessened slightly, though he did not lower his guard entirely.
At least there was no open hostility.
After a brief pause, the leader said gravely, "The ten-year beast tide has coincided with the hundred-year demonic calamity — the border pressure is immense."
"If a senior like you is willing to aid us, the Flame Swallowing Clan would be deeply grateful. However, for the safety of all, we must still verify your identity. I hope you'll understand."
Liu Xi glanced at Xuan Pao, who appeared equally puzzled — clearly, even he didn't know much about such procedures.
"What exactly are these beast tides and demonic calamities?" Liu Xi asked with curiosity.
The leader looked somewhat troubled. For one, his strength was too low to know all the details, and for another, this was classified information. After hesitating a moment, he gave a rough explanation:
"Senior, I only know that the Burning Heaven Continent experiences a blood calamity once every millennium, a demonic calamity every hundred years, and a beast tide every ten years."
"The Blood Calamity — I've only heard stories. At that time, endless Extraterritorial Evil Races break through the world's barrier. When that happens, the entire continent becomes a slaughterhouse."
"The Demonic Calamity is smaller in scale — elite squads of the Evil Race enter the Great Thousand World to hunt and clash with us."
"The Beast Tide occurs when the Evil Race's demonic energy corrupts spiritual beasts, turning them violent and bloodthirsty. Once that happens, they attack anything in sight."
Liu Xi nodded slowly. The beast tide was of little concern, but the demonic calamity — that would surely be orchestrated by one of the Demon Emperors, the very opponents he sought.
"Xuan Pao, go with them and verify our identities. I need to cultivate and stabilize my realm. Do not disturb me unless a Demon Emperor appears."
"D-Demon Emperor?!" The five Flame Swallowing warriors looked at each other in disbelief. The Demon Emperor hierarchy — Abyss, Profound, and Heavenly — even the lowest Abyss Demon Emperor was equal to a High Heavenly Sovereign!
Just who were these three people?
"Yes!" Xuan Pao replied respectfully, before smirking. "Heh, take me along. My master's background is clean enough. If he bore ill intent, he could have killed you all with a single thought."
As he spoke, he drifted toward the Flame Swallowing Clan members, releasing a faint ripple of Spiritual Power. The aura of a Perfect Earth Sovereign spread out, making the five tremble in shock.
Even their clan had only a handful of experts of such level — clearly, this wasn't a group they could afford to offend.
Before leaving, the leader called out respectfully, "The Burning Heaven Volcano is our sacred mountain. Senior may cultivate freely, but please refrain from damaging it…"
With that said, they took Xuan Pao away toward their clan's stronghold to confirm his credentials.
Liu Xi had kept Xuan Pao precisely for such tasks — trivial matters he couldn't be bothered with. Now that his strength had recovered, Xuan Pao was finally fulfilling his role as a true attendant.
A glint flickered in Liu Xi's eyes. The man wasn't untalented; if he continued serving faithfully, Liu Xi might even grant him a chance to step into the Heavenly Sovereign realm someday — that would make him far more useful to exploit.
Turning, Liu Xi said softly, "Bodhisattva, I'm going to cultivate. You, on the other hand, should walk among living beings — experience life as they do."
He looked toward the rolling, smoke-filled Burning Heaven Volcano, speaking to the figure beside him.
He had never intended to restrain the Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva Tree of Wisdom and Reincarnation grew stronger through experience — to keep it by his side would only hinder its evolution.
"Mm."
Bodhisattva smiled gently, understanding Liu Xi's intent. What pleased him most was that Liu Xi treated him as an equal, not as some lifeless divine artifact.
Though reluctant, the Bodhisattva was indeed curious about the world of sentient beings.
"You'll always be my best friend. Take this — it'll let us stay connected."
A soft glow shimmered between his fingers as a jade-green Bodhisattva Seed materialized, radiating pure life energy and profound spirituality.
Liu Xi accepted it and infused a trace of perception into the seed, instantly sensing the Bodhisattva's vast ocean-like vitality. Through it, a faint connection was established — no matter the distance, they could communicate through this seed.
Such an artifact was extraordinary. If it fell into another's hands, it could expose Bodhisattva's condition completely. Yet he offered it without hesitation.
Liu Xi solemnly stored the Bodhisattva Seed away. "I'll treasure it."
"Mm."
Bodhisattva nodded with a warm smile. Then his form began to fade, his body wrapped in soft streams of azure light as he reverted to his true form — the Tree of Wisdom and Reincarnation — before slowly dissipating into heaven and earth.
He was going to experience the myriad joys and sorrows of the mortal world, for only by comprehending life's seven emotions could his wisdom reach perfection.
That was Bodhisattva's path of cultivation.
After watching him depart, Liu Xi took a deep breath and lightly tapped the ground. His figure rose into the air, soaring toward the summit of the Burning Heaven Volcano.
His Heavenly Sovereign Spiritual Body was already perfected — he now possessed the qualifications to challenge the Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereign realm.
All he needed was to stabilize his current strength, and once his power overflowed, he could ascend naturally into the ranks of the Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereigns!
(End of Chapter)
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