Chapter 123: Can the Young Master Be Followed by You?

"Is this a Vermilion Bird or a phoenix?" The Third Young Master's usually indifferent face was now filled with solemnity. In the ancient cataclysm that shook heaven and earth, these divine beasts were almost wiped out; now only a few primordial relics survived by luck. Yet the overwhelming pressure bearing down on him forced him to believe that the creature before him was very likely a Vermilion Bird, or perhaps a phoenix!

Each flame radiating from it contained energy that shocked the heart. The bloodline power of the Heavenly Feather clan was already considered upper-middle among the myriad races; otherwise they could not have risen to the top tier. Yet facing the pressure of this unknown divine beast, the Third Young Master's heart was stirred by tumultuous waves.

"Even if it is immensely strong, according to the rules of this place it can only display the power of a Spirit Transformation peak, and besides, this divine beast is burning its own essence blood!" A flash of greed crossed the Third Young Master's eyes, "Send word! Immediately send word back to the clan, tell them that in this Heavenly God Forbidden Zone there is not only a passage to the human cultivation world, but possibly even an ancient divine beast!"

The Heavenly Feather clan to which the Third Young Master belongs has the innate talent of devouring. Tracing its origin, the Heavenly Feather clan was originally a branch of the ancient human race; its ancestors, by fortunate coincidence, formed a bond with Qiongqi, thereby gaining the ability to devour. Later they devoured a great ferocious bird clan, after which their descendants grew double wings, their strength astonishing, and they declared independence from the ancient human race, establishing the Heavenly Feather clan as one of the myriad races. Early on, being unknown, they secretly developed and grew stronger, devouring the essence blood of many other clans, enhancing their own bloodline, once becoming one of the hegemons among the myriad races. But later they provoked the entire human race; the Human Emperor personally led a punitive expedition, and the Heavenly Feather clan nearly collapsed. After endless ages of rest and recuperation since the ancient cataclysm, they have been secretly preparing, hoping to raise the entire human race as livestock to achieve their own leapfrog advancement, awaiting the great era to open, to ascend to the summit of the myriad races and dominate all heavens and worlds!

"If I could devour this divine beast, my bloodline… would probably become among the strongest few in the entire Heavenly Feather clan!" The Third Young Master grew more excited the more he thought, "Moreover, since one can appear here, their cultivation world likely still holds many more!" At this moment the Third Young Master's inner agitation could no longer be restrained; he knew this was an excellent opportunity to change his fate.

"These human cultivators are nothing but spent arrows; strike… take down this phoenix, absolutely cannot let these blood spirits get it!" The Third Young Master's face darkened, he spoke coldly, "If this succeeds, in the future controlling a realm, you will all become my retinue; the future world will be yours to divide!"

Over thirty heavenly pride of the Heavenly Feather clan had their eyes blaze with brilliance. They were outstanding talents, upper-middle among their peers, and all were top true transmissions of various major powers and sects. This time they followed the Third Young Master of the Heavenly Feather lineage into the Heavenly God Forbidden Zone to forge a brilliant future.

"We are willing to serve the Young Master!"

"Such divine beasts should belong to the Young Master!"

"Attack, suppress these blood spirits and humans altogether!"

Previously they hesitated to act rashly, fearing the blood spirits' great numbers and heavy casualties on their side. But now, faced with the temptation of the divine beast, the conflict of interests exploded instantly.

"Boom—!" Streams of flowing light suddenly shot from their hands, terrifying spirit qi shaking the void. Over thirty powerful combat forces violently joined the battlefield, targeting the blood spirit clan directly, they sought to seize the Little Phoenix!

The Third Young Master clearly knew they could never ally with the blood spirit clan, for the benefits brought by the divine beast were too huge to be reasonably divided. Whoever could master the phoenix, devour its essence blood, could change fate and even gain its innate talent—whether the power of rebirth or that terrifying True Fire, none are not supreme treasures of the world.

In ancient times the phoenix clan stood supreme above the heavens, dominating one side. Any phoenix that fell outside would have its corpse reclaimed by the phoenix clan. Any faction daring to covet its essence blood, to take its corpse, would surely suffer the phoenix clan's full retaliation. Those who dared to covet the phoenix were nearly all exterminated, none escaping the phoenix clan's pursuit.

On the side of Bi Xue Mu, his face was full of anger: "Heavenly Feather clan… what are you trying to do?" "Earlier you still had thoughts of retreat; why now dare to join this conquest?" At this moment Bi Xue Mu only wanted to contain this divine beast, not wanting any variables.

"Drive all blood-contracted living beings into it, enslave the Heavenly Feather clan entirely as blood slaves!" Bi Xue Mu roared, his qi and blood surging, countless pressures spreading. He stretched out his right hand, seized the head of a Heavenly Feather cultivator, and squeezed hard, red and white matter spraying everywhere.

On the battlefield the fighting was extremely fierce. At this moment dozens to over a hundred human cultivators also arrived. The Third Young Master's combat power was astonishing; the peak physical strength of a Spirit Transformation cultivator is roughly 200,000 catties, while he basically reached 300,000 catties. Moreover his grasp of Dao intent had also reached the peak of great accomplishment; each strike could reap lives or inflict heavy blows on enemies.

For a time the two sides were locked in a stalemate. Although the Heavenly Feather clan was temporarily at a disadvantage, they deployed formations and spiritual treasures, barely holding back the blood spirit clan's assault.

The Little Phoenix was now somewhat dazed. On the battlefield it moved with ease, those blood spirit clans actually all resisted the Heavenly Feather clan, not letting them approach it. Each strike of the Little Phoenix could reap a blood spirit's life; relying on bloodline pressure, these blood spirits before it were like weeds, unable to exert even half their strength. Yet even so, the Little Phoenix gradually felt fatigue. It had nearly slain over ten blood spirits, but as the human geniuses bound by blood contracts took over, they began to continuously attack it, over ten people joining forces, the Little Phoenix forcibly boosting its power, inevitably limited by time. Thus it fought while retreating, heading toward Qin Yu's side.

"Attack, shield the Young Master's bird!" Qing Xuan Zi saw this, immediately shouted angrily. He swept his Qingfeng sword, a silver-white blade aura surged out, sharp beyond compare, overwhelmingly mighty. The two Nine Yang Holy Sons and the Qi Hong brothers of the Heavenly God Academy also followed closely, wanting to show off before Qin Yu.

Especially those two Nine Yang Holy Sons from several hundred years ago, now feeling ashamed. They had once claimed invincibility among peers in the Western Divine Prefecture, yet were crushed by a sixteen-odd-year-old girl Xiao Xiao, making them lose face; now they redoubled their efforts, wanting to regain face. They directly unleashed their killing trump, two great suns hanging behind them, roaring forth, exploding in midair, raising terrifying air waves spreading in all directions, driving back those pursuing the Little Phoenix.

At this moment the barbarian prince Tuoba Gouzi scratched his head, a glint of wisdom flashing in his eyes: "Young Master… look, these blood spirits have already fallen over ten." "And both sides are fighting fiercely; already a batch of human cultivators bound by blood contracts have become ineffective, for other blood spirits can at most control one-tenth of their power, at most only able to manipulate a little." "But the actual master of the blood contract has already fallen; then… could Young Master use this little red bird to lift their blood contracts and take them in?" "I will go talk to them; if they are willing, I will bring them secretly to have their blood contracts undone and become followers of the Young Master!" "What do you think?"

At this moment Tuoba Gouzi felt his wisdom had reached its peak, even surpassing his ancestors. Since meeting Qin Yu, he felt his fate completely overturned; surpassing his ancestors seemed only a matter of time. He glanced at Qing Xuan Zi and others, disdain rising in his heart; in his view these people were pure brutes, the era had changed, actions need more brains.

Qin Yu had also been observing the battlefield earlier. When those blood spirits died, the human cultivators still fought, puzzling him; hearing Tuoba Gouzi's analysis, he finally understood that other blood spirits could still control them somewhat. If truly able to recruit a batch of people… fighting on, his side's strength might actually become the strongest in the field!

【You obtained an ordinary suggestion, as the blood spirits fall, the blood contract becomes ownerless; try to dissolve it, those willing to submit will gain the Loyalty trait, forever faithful!】

Qin Yu slightly nodded, directly said: "Done! I will go meet the Little Phoenix, you go negotiate!" Their situation here was dire; although the Heavenly Feather clan and blood spirit clan were fighting, both sides regarded them as prey on a platter; whichever side won could at any moment come to pluck the fruit of victory. Moreover, if they dared to show any sign of leaving, both sides might even join forces to suppress them here. In the eyes of the two clans, Qin Yu's side, fewer than ten Spirit Transformation peak cultivators, were merely essence blood to be devoured—just food.

"Good!" Tuoba Gouzi's sturdy figure flashed a few times, agile and vigorous, instantly appearing beside those few ineffective young men on the battlefield.

"Brother, I am the barbarian prince Tuoba Gouzi; a hundred years ago I saw you when digging spirit fields; our Young Master is the heavenly mandate returning, the barbarian sage king." "Guest elder of the Sword Sect and Nine Yang Holy Land, and also closely related to the ancient great teaching." "This time entering the Heavenly God Forbidden Zone was at the request of these several houses, to come rescue us and bring us out of this death land." "Our blood contracts are now all dissolved!" "And our Young Master, out of great compassion, wishes to rescue you from suffering." Tuoba Gouzi opened his palm; demonic blood blossoms had already withered, the mark faint, indicating he had successfully dissolved his blood contract.

Three or four youths emitting a deathly aura heard this, their faces showed vigilance. They knew well that if the blood contract dissolution failed, they would attract the attention of these blood spirits, which would directly activate the blood contract, draining their essence blood, so they thought the other side was deceiving them.

"Tuoba brother… your Young Master is also stuck in a mire, right?" "How can you talk about rescuing us?" Their divine sense swept toward Qin Yu and company below, seeing Qin Yu only at Foundation Establishment seventh layer, they were full of doubt. In their view, following these blood spirits at least they could live a bit longer, still have a chance; following a Foundation Establishment seventh layer person is nothing but seeking death. Moreover, both sides regard these human living beings as food on a platter; this is not a gamble but a march to death!

Tuoba Gouzi snorted coldly: "If you don't believe, then I have nothing more to say." "Have you seen a Foundation Establishment cultivator who can master the divine beast phoenix?" "The phoenix clan already fell in ancient times!" "Do you know what a true ancient great teaching is? Pfft, holy lands, pfft, great teachings, are merely ancient legacies." "The power behind my Young Master is beyond your imagination." "The previous one who became our human sage king was a Holy One, brother to the ancient human kings." "My father once said he had been to the great teaching where my Young Master resides; the rear courtyard is not just phoenixes, but also Vermilion Birds, White Tigers—all so‑called exterminated great fiend divine beasts." "If you wish to wait for death, then do as you please."

His words fell, Tuoba Gouzi made a motion to prepare to leave. The current standoff between the two sides was like practicing Tai Chi, your soft punch, my soft punch. At this moment Tuoba Gouzi directly stepped back, preparing to withdraw from the battlefield.

Meanwhile those four exchanged glances, quickly grabbed Tuoba Gouzi. Yes, a Foundation Establishment seventh layer cultivator actually mastering a phoenix—unthinkable now, let alone in ancient times—this child must have a great background. Besides, Tuoba Gouzi had indeed dissolved his blood contract; how could they not be moved?

"Tuoba brother… please help us!" "As long as the Young Master does not abandon us, we are willing to follow!" Their eyes shone with hope; this was the glimmer of life they saw in desperation. Anyway it's a gamble, at worst one death. On the blood spirit clan side they truly found no hope, originally thinking they could just drag things out for a while; but now, if they could really get this Young Master's help, they might actually have a chance to live a second life!

Tuoba Gouzi slightly nodded, gave a low cold chuckle: "Follow? Are you even qualified to follow?" "Do you know what kind of people follow my Young Master?" "I, barbarian prince, bloodline pure, nearly atavistic; as long as I don't die, I have a chance to activate a strand of Pangu's legacy." "But now, you merely have the qualification to stay by my Young Master's side; my barbarian clan chief, that is my father, is a Dao stage powerhouse—this is why I asked him to come rescue me, and you must know… he is of the new generation, only twenty years old." "Furthermore, this is only a small pawn; my barbarian king father mainly seeks to forge a bond, letting the other side become our barbarian sage king, while I am just along for the ride—if I can save, I will save, understand?" "All this was told to me by my father himself via voice transmission a few days ago." "At the very least, one needs middle‑grade Heavenly stage talent or above; you… are too weak." "Also, rescuing you is my Young Master's deliberate plan, pitying all beings, he proactively set this trap so that you blood‑contracted humans would come here." "After all, individually rescuing you would be too troublesome." "You haven't noticed that in the field, only we humans sit on the fishing terrace?" "Everything is under the Young Master's deliberate plan." "Also, after dissolving the blood contract, you should quickly leave, find the exit; this is a dead land, tread carefully."

Several faces turned pale with fright, yet their hearts grew more resolute. They were not direct descendants of a Dao stage powerhouse, unsure if they could receive voice transmission. But before them was a genuine barbarian prince, the real deal. He so exalted his Young Master that this Young Master could not be fake! Moreover, the other side outright told them to leave—how could that be false!

"Beseech Tuoba brother, save us from water and fire!" "Even if we leave on our own, we would hardly escape the Heavenly God Forbidden Zone; our vitality is already nearly exhausted." "Without blood contract, we would perish in a few days." "As long as Tuoba brother can let us become followers of the Young Master, when we return to our sects, if the Young Master waves his arm, we will help him ascend to the lord of the Cangyuan Jie!" The crowd, excited, even began to make random vows.

"Although you are useless, the powers behind you are still decent; combined they could match half my barbarian clan." "I will reluctantly mention this to the Young Master." "Now I must go find others, first gather you all, then settle together, to avoid accidents leaving others still under control." Tuoba Gouzi's figure vanished instantly, reappearing elsewhere.

Those few firmly believed Tuoba Gouzi's words, full of anticipation, waiting for the signal.

Hope the ancestors and master won't blame us... having given away the sect's promise; if we can really follow this young master, who knows, we might still prosper in the future! The sect will also, thanks to us, enjoy a second spring!