Grand Xia Empire

Grand Xia Empire...

Qin Wentian sprinted at full throttle through the rugged terrain of the mountainous region, utterly alone. His attempts to approach the other cultivators from earlier had been met with cold indifference; they clearly had no intention of sharing information.

However, Qin Wentian knew that the Azure Emperor had granted him access to this place for a reason. There had to be a deeper purpose to his mission of collecting warbeast spirits.

Suddenly, a shiver ran down his spine. He swung his gaze around and came face to face with a colossal python. The creature had wings sprouting from its sides and a menacing horn protruding from its head.

"A Double Winged Horned Python. Ranked 360th in the Warbeast Index," Qin Wentian muttered under his breath. The creature before him was undoubtedly the Double Winged Horned Python documented in the index. Could the Spirit Beast Testing Grounds be a realm of wonders?

The python hovered menacingly in the air, its eyes brimming with seething hatred that was palpable even to Qin Wentian.

In the Nine Astral Heavenly Layers, countless beast-type constellations existed. Whether these constellations came first, or the actual demonic beasts, remained a mystery known perhaps only to those at the pinnacle of cultivation.

With a flicker of its wings, the Double Winged Horned Python lunged at Qin Wentian with startling speed, transforming into a fearsome dragon-like creature. Its hiss was like a cacophony of thunderbolts.

Qin Wentian's expression darkened as he unleashed his aura. The Forgotten Imprint from the Thousand Hands technique met the python's horn head-on. To his surprise, his palm strike shattered upon impact.

The sheer force of the collision sent Qin Wentian stumbling backward. The Double Winged Horned Python, as a peak 6th-grade demonic beast, was akin to a peak Arterial Circulation cultivator.

Yet, it showed no signs of relenting. Its massive tail lashed out at Qin Wentian with lightning speed.

Qin Wentian pushed his Garuda Movement Technique to its limits, narrowly evading the snake's tail with a lightning-fast dash.

The Winged Python's malevolent jaws parted, spewing forth a barrage of earth lances aimed at Qin Wentian. In response, an ethereal Garuda image materialized behind him. He soared into the skies, dodging the concealed earth lances while closing in on the python.

"Meet your end!" Qin Wentian barked, releasing a razor-sharp Sword Qi that streaked toward the Winged Python. Unfazed, the python unleashed another volley of earth lances, while its massive body bore down on Qin Wentian. With its razor-sharp horn and immense power, a single blow from the python could inflict grievous harm.

Qin Wentian summoned his Astral Souls, materializing a Heavenly Hammer that danced gracefully in the air. He channeled the Mountain-type Divine Energy within him, causing the Astral Heavenly Hammer to descend with formidable force.

The python roared in anger, and the Astral Heavenly Hammer shattered upon impact, disintegrating into starlight. Although the python was dazed by the strike, it quickly retaliated. Qin Wentian unleashed a flurry of palm strikes toward the python's head, summoning a colossal mountain peak that crushed the creature's skull. Thunderous crashes filled the air as the Double Winged Horned Python's immense body slumped to the ground, its form flickering between reality and illusion.

"Is this the spirit of a warbeast?" Qin Wentian wondered aloud. He observed in awe as the python's body gradually transitioned from reality to illusion. A spiral pattern manifested on his palm, which he placed atop the python's horn, absorbing the warbeast's spirit. In that moment, an overwhelming Demonic Qi surged from within Qin Wentian, his eyes flickering with a sinister light.

"Could this be... Spiritual Consciousness?" As he completed the absorption, Qin Wentian sensed a profound connection with the warbeast's spirit, an unmistakable enhancement coursing through his body.

"The Double Winged Horned Python, even at its lowest rank in the Warbeast Index, is this formidable. I wonder how powerful those in the top ten ranks are," Qin Wentian mused aloud. He considered that the Double Winged Horned Python's Astral Soul hailed from the 4th Heavenly Layer, and was likely conjured by a summoning-type Stellar Martial Cultivator with a cultivation base at the Heavenly Dipper Realm. Despite this, its power had been suppressed to the peak of Arterial Circulation.

As Qin Wentian surveyed his surroundings, he noticed a distant figure, the same woman he had spoken with earlier.

"Are you truly a member of the Nine Mystical Palace?" The woman approached, her sky-blue attire and cape billowing in the wind.

"No," Qin Wentian replied. "And where do you come from?"

The woman's countenance chilled. "You must be joking. You're aware that we're in the Spirit Beast Testing Grounds, but you have no knowledge of who we are? The first group to have access to the Spirit Beast Testing Grounds in the Grand Xia Empire were the 36 Heavenly Starlords of the past. Only the clans and sects they belonged to retained access. Since then, many of the keys were destroyed or taken by others. Now, only nine great powers have access. And you genuinely have no idea who we are?"

"I'm not familiar with the Grand Xia Empire," Qin Wentian replied, realizing how small the Chu Country truly was.

"Where does the Nine Mystical Palace stand within the Grand Xia Empire?" Qin Wentian inquired.

"The Grand Xia Empire is vast, comprising over ten million countries. Among these countries, there are nine major states, each with its own transcendent powers," the woman explained. "The Nine Mystical Palace is one such transcendent power in the Qingzhou State, holding sway over several small countries."

Qin Wentian listened intently, drawing mental connections from the information Mustang had previously provided. He began to grasp the scale of the Grand Xia Empire, understanding that the Chu Country was a mere satellite state under a much larger dominion.

Qin Wentian realized the necessity of broadening his horizons; the Chu Country was indeed too small.

"The power she belongs to, the Greencloud Pavilion, is also a transcendent force in the Qingzhou State. Moreover, they are far more potent compared to the Nine Mystical Palace," a voice chimed in from a distance. Qin Wentian turned his head to find a silhouette approaching.

"Yue Qingfeng, what brings you here?" The girl greeted him with a smile. They were all from the Azure Emperor Palace.

Yue Qingfeng chuckled. "Why can't I be here? I know where our friend here hails from."

Qin Wentian looked at Yue Qingfeng, intrigue dancing in his eyes, awaiting more information.

"I come from a place known as the Emperor Star Academy," Yue Qingfeng continued, causing Qin Wentian to be taken aback.

"You are?"

"My name is Yue Qingfeng, and I'm from the Azure Emperor Palace. Surely, you've heard of the Azure Emperor, right? He single-handedly founded the magnificent Azure Emperor Palace thousands of years ago and was the foremost among the 36 Heavenly Starlords."

Yue Qingfeng's words resonated deeply with Qin Wentian. The Azure Emperor, the premier among the 36 Heavenly Starlords, was also the founding figure of the Emperor Star Academy.

"I am indeed a student of the Emperor Star Academy. My name is Qin Wentian."

The realization that he had encountered someone with ties to a branch of his own institution in such a place filled Qin Wentian with a sense of camaraderie. It was clear that the roots of the Azure Emperor Palace and the Emperor Star Academy stemmed from the same source.

"Brother Qin, the Spirit Beast Testing Ground is incredibly perilous. Would you like to join forces? At least we can assist each other when needed. How about it?" Yue Qingfeng made the proposal without hesitation.

Qin Wentian agreed with a nod; he wanted a companion who could help him understand the intricacies of the Spirit Beast Testing Ground.

"Qian Mengyu, would you like to join us?" Yue Qingfeng turned to the girl, who declined.

"No, thank you," she replied coolly, before departing.

Yue Qingfeng then inquired, "Have you already obtained a beast spirit, Brother Qin?"

"Yeah, but what's the practical use of these beast spirits?" Qin Wentian asked, his confusion evident in his tone.

"In ancient times, legendary figures sealed the spirits of 360 warbeasts within the Spirit Beast Testing Grounds. Here, the demonic beasts aren't their actual physical forms but projections of their spiritual consciousness. It's said that these demonic beasts are summoned from the Nine Astral Heavenly Layers. Those who obtain a warbeast's spirit can communicate with the consciousness of the Astral Warbeasts. This makes it easier for them to sense the presence of the corresponding beast-type constellation, significantly increasing their chances of forming an Astral Soul from it," Yue Qingfeng explained.

"You see, when Arterial Circulation Realm cultivators break into the Yuanfu Realm, they can condense their 3rd Astral Soul. Typically, they can only form one from the 3rd Heavenly Layer. Those with extraordinary talent might manage one from the 4th Heavenly Layer. However, finding and connecting with the constellations representing the demonic beasts listed in the Warbeast Index isn't easy."

"Oh, so it's like the principle behind using a Yuan Meteor Stone?" Qin Wentian ventured.

"This effect is much more potent than Yuan Meteor Stones. With the aid of the Astral Warbeasts' spirits, a cultivator who would usually form a 3rd Heavenly Layer Astral Soul can temporarily venture into the 4th Heavenly Layer. The innate connection formed with the constellation representing the astral warbeast allows them to successfully condense a much stronger Astral Soul than they could on their own," Yue Qingfeng clarified.

Qin Wentian nodded in understanding. "Got it."

"Brother Qin, you've already experienced the power of those warbeasts. They harbor immense animosity toward us and aim to consume us to enhance their own strength. So, the danger increases significantly when facing stronger astral warbeasts. Those ranked in the top ten are practically invincible," Yue Qingfeng warned. "That's why we want to join forces to confront these warbeasts together."

"I see." Qin Wentian nodded, and the group of cultivators pressed on, delving deeper into the Spirit Beast Testing Grounds.

Yue Qingfeng added, "So, we're hoping to pool our strengths to face these warbeasts together."

"I'm on board," Qin Wentian affirmed. The group of cultivators pressed forward, venturing deeper into the Spirit Beast Testing Grounds.

Meanwhile, back in Chu, a momentous piece of news sent shockwaves throughout the country. It was the astounding escape of Qin Wu from the infamous Black Stronghold. The guards at the Black Stronghold lay dead or gravely injured, leaving the Royal Capital bewildered and terrified.

The Black Stronghold had long been regarded as an impenetrable fortress, but Qin Wu had managed to break free, sparking rumors of covert forces at work behind the scenes.

Not only that, but around the same time, two renowned martial academies in Chu, the Royal Academy and the Godly General Martial Palace, had made a surprising announcement—they were planning to merge. This merger would undoubtedly grant them the power to challenge the Emperor Star Academy directly, which was precisely their intention. They aimed to engage in a head-to-head showdown with the Emperor Star Academy.