Two illusory spirits departed the guard post, one carefree and the other dejected.
The old demigod, who had lived for six to seven thousand years, still couldn't comprehend how things had come to this.
They had finally found their lost kin;
And this younger kin possessed power and talent beyond imagination;
Yet when both were present, the statement, "Only in the Elemental Spirit Court can illusory spirits be truly nurtured," sounded like a joke.
He also couldn't understand...
"The laws were like threads, like a curtain of rain, encircling her. They were like elves awaiting commands... I couldn't be mistaken, her mastery of laws far surpassed mine."
"But how could a young, exiled illusory spirit possess such power?"
"And if I saw correctly, she was only a demigod in her mid-stage, not yet at her peak."
His previous thoughts came from the heart.
While their illusory spirits could easily ascend to the mythic realm and even become demigods, this was based on the cultivation systems established and passed down by generations of great beings.
Without these, it would take considerable time for an illusory spirit to mature.
Ascending to demigod status would be extremely difficult.
"I've heard that the 'Xin Huo' organization possesses very potent nurturing methods and inherited techniques. But could a human force be more accomplished in nurturing illusory spirits than our main lineage?"
He wanted to say, "Impossible."
But the facts lay before him.
Demigod Hong Yuan was dazed, his worldview shattered.
They settled temporarily in the City of Burning Flames.
Even though he had arrived with ill intentions, the Xin Huo organization did not expel him, and Demigod Hong Yuan could only offer a bitter smile. However, from that day on, the young, outrageously powerful junior never gave him a pleasant look.
He no longer had the face to visit.
His traveling companion, the junior 'Xi Lin,' who was merely there to broaden her horizons, often visited the guard post and found herself chatting amicably with that fellow tribeswoman, seemingly establishing a good relationship.
"This isn't bad either..."
"Wait!"
Could his own little cabbage be snatched away?
Logically, this was impossible, but ever since entering the City of Burning Flames, he had encountered one abnormal event after another.
Demigod Hong Yuan had lost his confidence.
He quickly sent a message to the Spirit Court, seeking help from higher authorities.
...
Fang You was examining Little Huan's body.
In a cultivation sense.
The old demigod from the Elemental Spirit Court was not wrong in saying that only in their realm was there a cultivation path most suitable for illusory spirits.
Little Huan's power surpassing that of the old demigod was due to her advantage in laws.
Her mastery of laws was not low, undoubtedly exceeding expectations for a demigod.
However, within the Xin Huo organization, Little Huan's mastery of laws was entirely normal; among the many powerhouses, she wouldn't even rank in the top ten.
"Besides this, Little Huan's spatial power and innate talent also seem to far surpass those of these two fellow tribesmen."
He had initially thought that casually traversing space, teleporting from the Eastern Guijie to the Western Guijie with a mere thought, would be effortless for a legendary life form like an illusory spirit.
But after Little Huan's extensive conversations with the illusory spirit maiden Xi Lin, he realized that was entirely not the case.
Illusory spirits had a limit on the maximum distance they could traverse space.
Their consciousness and computing power also had limitations.
Little Huan was an absolutely over-spec existence among illusory spirits.
Young maiden Xi Lin had been questioning her existence lately—"As fellow illusory spirits, is our talent gap really this vast?"
"Is it because Little Huan is inherently special, or because she resided within the panel, constantly operating and maintained, thus receiving a baptism and nourishment?"
The latter possibility was more likely.
However, Little Huan herself was likely a leader among her kind. After all, his contract with Little Huan came from a fateful lottery draw.
Little Huan was born powerful.
After mastering laws and possessing legendary skills, she became unreasonably formidable.
However, in terms of spatial power application, spatial ability inheritance, and techniques for illusory spirits to transform their bodies, their Xin Huo organization was indeed far inferior to the Elemental Spirit Court.
Fang You also pondered if there was a way to acquire these inheritances from the Elemental Spirit Court.
He remained inactive.
Little Huan was also not in a hurry.
Demigod Hong Yuan, however, grew increasingly anxious, as his little cabbage showed signs of being snatched away.
Several days later,
Glimmers of light converged in the villa where Demigod Hong Yuan was temporarily residing, forming a majestic figure.
A semi-transparent, humanoid figure, resembling a phantom at first glance.
This was a high-ranking member of the illusory spirit race.
His true form had descended.
"So, this junior has the potential to become a high-ranking existence. This is good news for us illusory spirits."
The old demigod hesitated to speak further.
The high-ranking existence 'Kong You' said, "Since this junior can receive training from a human force, let her be. Everyone has their own fortunate encounters."
"Don't forget, we illusory spirits are beings of freedom."
"It's precisely because you fail to grasp this that you've been unable to find your path to becoming a high-ranking existence."
Demigod Hong Yuan: "..."
You're the big shot, you're amazing, you're right.
Only he worried incessantly about his tribe.
"There's one more thing..." he said.
High-ranking existence Kong You pondered slightly, "I see. Young Xi Lin wishes to stay in the City of Burning Flames and play with peers. There's nothing wrong with that. She's still a child."
"!!!"
This was not about playing! She would be stolen away!
"It's alright."
"Do you think young Xi Lin would be so easily lured away? I don't think so. Then do you think Xi Lin can learn some true skills from Xin Huo? That's possible too, right? Since that's the case, it's fine for her to stay."
The high-ranking existence said, "I've long heard that Xin Huo Academy has no sectarian prejudices and has nurtured strong individuals for many forces. In this process, these forces only need to pay some price. Do you think our lineage of illusory spirits lacks that price?"
Clearly, they did not.
Money was the last thing they lacked.
Demigod Hong Yuan understood. Was this the realm of high-ranking figures!
Fang You hadn't expected the high-ranking existence from the Elemental Spirit Court to be so accommodating, especially since their demigod seemed rather incompetent.
He signed a contract with this high-ranking existence, Kong You.
Xin Huo Academy would nurture Mythic Xi Lin with the highest specifications for exchange students. The tuition would be some inherited knowledge related to spatial power.
In essence, Xin Huo had the better end of the deal.
These inheritances, even if they didn't pertain to the core of the illusory spirit lineage, were extremely rare and advanced knowledge that Xin Huo had difficulty acquiring.
Perhaps it was Kong You, the high-ranking existence, atoning for Demigod Hong Yuan's rudeness.
Perhaps, this being wanted to use this opportunity to nurture Little Huan. After all, the majority of these inheritances were unsuitable for humans and could only be learned by illusory spirits.
Instructor Fang was not one to solely take advantage.
Perhaps he could give Mythic Xi Lin a few skill fruits related to space.
As a form of reciprocation.
It might even serve as advertising, spreading the name of Xin Huo Academy to the Elemental Spirit Court.
Plan successful.
...
High-ranking existence Kong You came and went as quickly as he arrived, freely roaming the river of space.
It was said that he rarely returned to the Spirit Court.
If not for the influence of the calamity, most of the over a hundred illusory spirits would rarely stay in the Spirit Court.
"Are elemental beings so free and unrestrained?"
Compared to them, humans were truly diligent.
No wonder humans, with their frail bodies, could be found throughout the Guijie.
In contrast, the Elemental Spirit Court, with more high-ranking powerhouses, was confined to a corner.
Yes, the high-end combat power of the Elemental Spirit Court even surpassed that of humanity.
From a narrow perspective, the illusory spirit lineage had three high-ranking beings, all of whom cultivated their way up from the mythic realm.
High-ranking existence Kong You was one of them.
However, from a broad perspective, the number of high-ranking illusory spirit powerhouses far exceeded three.
This was because a very small minority among them were beings of the ninth realm from the moment of their birth. They were ancient gods.
Illusory spirits were legendary beings.
A very small minority among them were ancient god beings born at the beginning of the world.
There were differences between the two, but they could be considered the same race for all intents and purposes.
In simple terms, the Elemental Spirit Court was slightly weaker than human forces in terms of 'narrow' power, but their backing was much more stable than humanity's.
Among the illusory spirits, there was an ancient, mysterious, and great primordial being.
Its honored name was—Kong Huan Ying Die.
...
"Kong Huan, you've arrived as well."
Above the gray mist, in a hidden, ethereal, and ancient mysterious land.
On a circular stone table, a cryptic symbol slowly lit up.
A blurry figure, not tall, with thin wings, appeared before the symbol.
Another great being had descended.
Around the stone table sat several other great beings.
Some had human-like forms, wearing magnificent robes and accessories, while others were as massive as mountains, with eyes like stars, immensely majestic.
But by the ancient stone table, regardless of their small stature or towering presence, they occupied equal ground.
Seated at the head was a being as radiant as the scorching sun, immensely dazzling.
It was the Great Sun Divine Venerable.
The Great Sun Divine Venerable, the Moon Lord, and the Lord of Stars were great beings of the same faction. This time, they had also invited several beings from other factions to discuss.
"Counterattacking the evil god faction, I have no objections. Having been beaten for so long, I've long been fed up!"
A being whose body resembled diamond, radiating brilliance, spoke.
"I agree too."
Another great being seconded.
"...However, for such a campaign, why bring along the frail and weak humans?"
One great being held a negative opinion. "How many high-ranking beings are there among humans? They will only hinder us."
The Lord of Stars shook his head, "You can't say that. While humans are not strong, their influence and eyes are spread across the Guijie. Moreover, humans have invented many powerful weapons. With their assistance, our chances of penetrating the central Guijie are greater... It is precisely because of the numerous humans that many old friends have been able to recover their status.
"Besides, we beings are already at a disadvantage, so we should utilize all our strength."
"Hmph, we are sufficient!"
The being within the storm snorted. He did not explicitly object further, "But if the human powerhouses are unbearable then, I will not participate."
At this moment, the clear and cold Moon Lord spoke, "Humans... are not without their strong individuals. Humans have developed rapidly in recent years, and several new high-ranking beings have emerged. They may even wield powers we are unaware of."
The being within the storm seemed surprised.
He was surprised by the Moon Lord's familiarity with human forces.
As for high-ranking beings? While they were supreme powerhouses for humans, for those present, high-ranking beings were merely beings that had just entered their notice.
Today's meeting was merely a preliminary discussion.
Soon, one by one, the great beings departed.
The Moon Lord's mysterious figure also disappeared into the cold moonlight.
Her consciousness roamed, sweeping across the vast land.
There was something she had not said earlier: several new high-ranking beings had emerged among humans, and all these high-ranking beings originated from the same human force.
And the development speed of this organization named Xin Huo was beyond imagination.
The promotion and breakthrough speed of their core personnel was enough to shock any great being.
After all,
She had noticed it years ago~
The Moon Lord's lips curved into a faint smile, her gaze traversing through countless domains, slowly settling on the land of fallen stars.