Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

"Lord Zai, I apologize for any inconvenience." Wu Jin respectfully said. Currently, Yan Zaizen resided in the Wu Clan with Bai Lufeng and Wu Yuanxu. After the incident with Guàn Yin, his face was now circulated across the entire continent and likely realm. It was truly shocking how fast news traveled.

There was even news circulating of his stay in the Wu Clan. He didn’t mind this, if anything, this was what he wanted. After being known as a powerhouse of the realm, he’ll have far more influence over events. Even the Anima Syndicate had sent him a transmission. They wished to promote him to an Anima Commander, but Yan Zaizen declined.

His main concern was the rule that disallowed him from creating his own force. Of course, he didn’t believe they could stop him, but he also didn’t want to spit in their faces by doing so. Therefore, he refused.

Waving his hands dismissively, "There was little inconvenience on your part. You tried, I appreciate the effort." Slowly, Yan Zaizen was gaining the air of an expert. His face was calm, his smile warm, but his aura and thoughts were unfathomable. He felt like he entered an entirely new world.

"My first step towards the heavens...I truly like this feeling." His thoughts circulated with ease, as there was little impeding his mental state. The only concern he had was Tao’s fate. However, after learning about the circumstances of his heavenly oath, it truly left him a little helpless.

To break an oath would cause one to face Heavenly Judgement, and the tribulations will determine if you live or die. The majority who breaks their oath, they die. Fortunately, the heavens will always leave open a path for survival. You just had to have the capabilities to walk it.

Suddenly, Yan Zaizen’s gaze turned as he felt the space being chaotically connected and ripped. Unlike spatial laws where you shift through, warp or merge with space, Heavenly Genesis experts crudely use their power to rip open a tunnel. This leaves a very distinctive signature.

"What?!" Wu Jin’s eyes widened as he felt space tremble slightly. His heart started to rapidly beat, as if he was about to face the heavens itself.

A spatial slit appeared within the room, and from this slit, Gu Yu arrived with calm and prideful eyes. He didn’t even glance at Wu Jin or noted the senses of the Wu Clan’s Heavenly Genesis expert who was peering through space. His gaze focused only on Yan Zaizen.

Yan Zaizen’s expression was calm, his eyes revealing interest at Gu Yu’ arrival. To be honest, he quite liked Gu Yu. Not just because he gave him a stupid amount of wealth for no reason, but because he’s decisive and to the point.

"I’m here to deliver a message." Gu Yu informed, sending a jade letter flying towards Yan Zaizen. Covering it with his qi-essence, Yan Zaizen drew it near and stored it within the Meteor Ring without a single word.

Witnessing this, Gu Yu nodded. He turned back towards the spatial slit and reentered. As it closed, his aura vanished from the surroundings. Arriving freely and departing as one wished, truly the air of a proud expert.

Despite the succinct exchange, Wu Jin’s heart nearly stopped beating. Gu Yu’s aura caused him to feel like he was before a god that he could only worship. He truly felt insignificant.

As for Yan Zaizen, his brows furrowed. The message he received was from the Xiantu Emperor himself, and he felt a slight headache over it.

"Let me get Tao." Yan Zaizen suddenly said, taking a step forward, space rippled as he shifted within. The surroundings rippled as if a rock was dropped in a pond. This method was far more efficient than ripping a slit in the fabric of space with brute force.

-----

Tao’s expression was the very picture of boredom. After the news of Yan Zaizen asserting absolute dominance over Guàn Yin spread, Tao felt a little frustrated that Yan Zaizen hadn’t already come to retrieve him. As for Yan Qiu, she kept him obediently by her side, ignorant of Tao’s relationship to Yan Zaizen.

Currently, she was within a luxurious room with a dozen other geniuses from Broad Creed Palace’s territory. They sat in a circle, exchanging thoughts on arts, people, or events while drinking flagrant wine. A few remained quiet, only observing with the occasional engagement, while others were enlivened by their topic.

"I knew Guàn Yao would bring down the White Crane Sect with her dirty deeds and arrogance that could topple the heavens." One young, handsome youth commented with a sneer. In the past, Guàn Yao rejected all of his advancements and even humiliated him before.

"I agree. To think she would offend a Heavenly Genesis level expert! Truly a calamity waiting to happen." Another young man chimed in, his expression was filled with disdain.

"It’s possible her renowned beauty lead to her downfall." A pretty young woman sharply said, her eyes traveling to Yan Qiu. When she said this, others followed with a glance as well. To be honest, they knew very little as to why Guàn Yao was disavowed of her status and disciple status. Very few believed it was because of her actions that angered men and gods alike.

As a heavenly-tier sect, how could there not be people who do far, far worse? Yet they had inferior statuses and still retained as a member of the sect.

Yan Qiu wasn’t bothered by their thoughts or words. Personally, she believed her status was far above a mere Guàn Yao. After all, she was actually related to her ancestor, treated like a princess, and her overall force was greater than the White Crane Sect could ever imagine. If anyone desired to take action against her, they would have to measure themselves nine times then think nine more times.

She decided to say a few words so others understood her thoughts, "Guàn Yao, she doe-" however, she was rudely interrupted. The surrounding space trembled slightly. All the young geniuses got up from their feet, their eyes filled with shock. Each one of them felt a heavy aura on their bodies, as if a mountain was approaching with unstoppable momentum.

Outside, Yan Zaizen stood above the Broad Creed Mountain’s Yan Clan Palace in mid-air with his arms behind his back. His short black hair and silver and sky-blue robe blew with the wind. His gaze were the physical representation of the calmness of a silent ocean, but his gaze caused everywhere he looked to feel heavy. His smile contained warmth and unyielding confidence to stand against the heavens.

He was like an immortal arriving in the mortal world. All that passed his gaze was but temporary and irrelevant. Only he, as he stood upright, would be the center the world.

Inwardly, his thoughts were very different, "how do I look? Heroic? Epic? Like an immortal?!" He was like a jubilant child as he urged Pinaka to critique his expression. For a while, since Yan Zaizen left Han Genji’s mountain, he has been practicing his expressions in private. All types, from lustful, heroic, angry, and even those filled with sadness.

Therefore, he was getting greater and greater at it.

"...You...look okay," was all Pinaka said, feeling quite awkward about this. She found it hilarious that someone would actually practice their stances and expressions. Shouldn’t they come naturally?

A spatial slit appeared in front of Yan Zaizen. A tall, slim middle-aged man with blonde hair, deep-blue eyes, and a neutral expression exited from the slit. He donned dark-grey light armor beneath his light-grey robe. It was like a mixture of a warrior and a feudal lord. It gave him an aura of profound power and honor.

The space around him trembled in obedience. "A Heavenly Genesis expert? Likely the Yan Clan’s Ancestor." Yan Zaizen thought, his eyes displaying nothing but unperturbed calmness.

"My name is Yan Shijin, Ancestor of the Yan Clan, and Grand Elder of the Broad Creed Palace. May I ask why you’ve come?" Despite his calm outward appearance, Yan Shijin was inwardly wary. Essentially every Heavenly Genesis expert in the entire realm saw Yan Zaizen fight against Guàn Yin. With their ability to pierce through the heavens in observation, their heavenly sense, how could they not?

Despite this, not a single person interfered. Not even the Xiantu Emperor. Either this person’s strength equaled the Xiantu Emperor or exceeded him. Regardless, he didn’t wish to offend someone of this caliber for no reason.

"Mhm. Yan Zaizen, Anima Syndicate’s Lieutenant." After replying with his identity, "I’m here for my brother." Inwardly, Yan Zaizen found it intriguing that they had the same clan name. However, if you compare the Yan Clan in the Fallen Stars Continent with the one here, it’s like a dirt particle to a planet. The difference...it could induce suicide.

"Your brother?" Hearing this, Yan Shijing felt his heart skip a beat. He was considering if Yan Zaizen was here for malicious intentions. If so, he should call the other members of Broad Creed Palace to handle this.

"Mhm. He’s a scholar by the name of Tao. He had a contest with a member of your clan: Yan Qiu. Afterward, he lost. I’m suspecting the circumstances and I wish to get his opinion on the matter." Yan Zaizen explained. However, his words only caused Yan Shijing to grow warier of him. After all, Yan Qiu was his great-granddaughter and his most doted on relative for the last thousand years.

She was also a top beauty and had the potential to ascend to the Heavenly Genesis Realm. He didn’t wish for anything to happen to her and knew of her mischievous ways. She may not be as bad as Guàn Yao, but as someone with her backing and arrogance, how could she keep her hands clean?

Not waiting for Yan Shijing’s response, he floated towards Tao’s location.

In the palace, all the geniuses heard the conversation outside clearly. Tao, who held a wine jug next to Yan Qiu, had the largest, most childish smile on his face. His pearly white teeth could blind like the sun.

Yan Qiu’s expression worsened the moment she heard Yan Zaizen’s words. She was unsure of the situation outside, but considering her great-grandfather was outside to meet this new arrival, the person must be of equal or greater status than him.

She glanced at Tao’s unbelievably bright smile and felt her heart grow cold.

As for Tao?

"Your time has come, you cheating witch!"