Chapter 1046: Chapter 445: Divinity Transformation Deal; Heaven-Suppressing Sect Patriarch (Part 2)

The Escape Light dispersed, revealing a middle-aged man in a black-and-white Daoist robe, handsome of face, with eyes sharp as a raptor’s.

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, naturally exuding the authority of one long accustomed to high position.

"This man is the Divinity Transformation patriarch of the Heaven-Suppressing Sect in the Nanchuan Realm—Cloud Thunder Celestial Venerable."

The hoarse divine sense of Nine Nether Elder rang in Xu Ping’s mind at just the right moment, carrying a faint, elusive tone of reminder.

"Oh?"

Xu Ping’s heart stirred, and his gaze instantly locked onto that middle-aged man.

He had long since anticipated this and was not overly surprised, but seeing with his own eyes this future, potential obstacle he must surpass, he still could not help but size him up a few extra times.

After carefully sensing him, Xu Ping felt slightly reassured.

Although this Cloud Thunder Celestial Venerable’s aura was fierce, compared to either one of the Star Palace Saints taken alone, it seemed still inferior by half a notch.

As for his cultivation and Mana, he was probably only just barely stronger than the Pleasure Demon Old Monster who had been possessed by an Ancient Demon and whose state had yet to recover.

If it was one-on-one, Xu Ping believed that even if he was not a match, relying on his many methods, he should have no problem maneuvering to preserve his life.

Cloud Thunder Celestial Venerable seemed to sharply sense Xu Ping’s unabashed, appraising gaze; his brows furrowed, and a cold glance swept over in an instant.

When he discovered that the one peeping at him was merely a blurry-faced, seemingly ordinary Late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, a trace of displeasure flashed through his eyes.

But in the next instant, when his gaze fell upon Ao Guang Dragon King and Nine Nether Elder beside Xu Ping, that displeasure was immediately replaced by solemnity.

Ao Guang Dragon King went without saying: a fifth-rank true dragon, bloodline noble, his strength was absolutely top-tier among Early-Stage Divinity Transformation, and his renown shook the entire known Mortal World.

As for that elder shrouded in morbid Ghost Qi, he gave him an even more dangerous feeling—that eerie aura unique to a Divinity Transformation Ghost Cultivator, one not completely restrained by the yang-based laws of living beings.

"A top-tier True Dragon, and a nigh-unheard-of Divinity Transformation Ghost Cultivator... what is the background of this Nascent Soul junior, that he can travel together with these two?"

Cloud Thunder Celestial Venerable’s thoughts raced, his wariness of Nine Nether Elder in particular growing deeper.

Ghost Cultivators do not enter reincarnation and are less suppressed by the laws of Heaven and Earth; the difficulty of crossing between realms is far lower for them than for ordinary Divinity Transformation cultivators.

This meant that the other party’s range of activity, and his potential threat to all realms, might be even greater.

He gave Xu Ping a deep look, as if to carve this blurry figure into his memory, but in the end he did not erupt on the spot. With a cold snort, he turned and walked toward the interior of the floating island.

Xu Ping’s trio also descended after him, and the crystalline white barrier silently closed once more.

Stepping onto the floating island.

The island was vast in area and simply arranged, with only a few jade platforms and meditation cushions scattered about at random.

At this moment, there were already seven or eight Divinity Transformation Cultivators of various forms and races on the island—some wreathed in Demonic Qi, some radiating Buddha light, some with Demon Qi soaring skyward.

In addition, there were a few others like Xu Ping, whose auras were powerful and were clearly Late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivators accompanying them.

At a glance, the presences gathered here likely already represented most of the known Divinity Transformation battle power from the eight surrounding realms.

And the Star Palace Saints were indeed, as expected, already seated at the very core of the floating island.

The Star King’s body was shrouded in hazy starlight, while the Moon God was cold and clear as the moon. Their auras were linked, forming a domain of their own, not to be underestimated.

Ao Guang Dragon King’s draconic eyes swept once around, and his gaze instantly locked onto the Star Palace Saints. He did not rush to find a place to sit, but instead struck out directly, his voice like rolling thunder, resounding across the entire floating island:

"Star King, Moon God, you two have openly colluded with the Ancient Demons, the ancestral enemy of the Human Race, intending to overturn the Wind Origin Realm and the Mortal World. Such hearts deserve to be punished."

"Today, before all our fellow Daoists, should you not give a clear explanation?"

As soon as these words fell.

In an instant, the gaze of every Divinity Transformation Cultivator on the floating island focused in unison on the Star Palace Saints.

Even some beings who had been sitting with their eyes closed in meditation suddenly opened them, divine light flashing in their pupils.

The Ancient Demons indeed counted as a great enemy of the Human Race; virtually every realm had been invaded by Ancient Demons at some point.

Several Divinity Transformation Cultivators whose realms neighbored the Wind Origin Realm or who had entangled interests with it could not help but furrow their brows deeply, their gazes toward the Dual Saints tinged with scrutiny and coldness.

Cloud Thunder Celestial Venerable of the Heaven-Suppressing Sect, who had long held old grudges against the Star Palace Saints, seized the opportunity at once and spoke in support, his voice icy:

"Fellow Daoist Ao Guang speaks most truly. Star King, Moon God, you two collude with Ancient Demons and act in such a perverse manner—what exactly is it that you seek?"

"Do you truly intend to rely on the power of demonic creatures to throw all realms into chaos and recreate the Ancient Demon Calamity of antiquity?"

This big hat was slammed down both viciously and precisely.

In an instant, the Star Palace Saints seemed to become the target of all, pushed to the very peak of the storm.

Yet the Star King and Moon God, standing at the center of this storm of public opinion, remained utterly calm, as if they had long foreseen such a questioning.

Shrouded in starlight, the Star King’s expression could not be seen; he only said coldly, "Ao Guang, Yun Ting, why must you two indulge in such alarmist talk?"

"Is the word ’use’ not far more appropriate than ’collude’?"

"A mere Ancient Demon, who has only just barely touched the threshold of the Divinity Transformation Sect and even needs to seize others’ bodies to have a physical shell—under my Star Palace’s control, he is nothing more than a temporarily useful blade. How could that overturn anything?"

"And how could that endanger the Mortal World?"

His tone suddenly shifted, and his sharp gaze swept toward Nine Nether Elder and Xu Ping behind Ao Guang Dragon King. His voice abruptly rose, carrying a powerful note of accusation:

"On the contrary, you, Ao Guang—aren’t you, as the lord of the outer seas’ Demon Race, similarly surrounded by a Divinity Transformation Ghost Cultivator cultivating an unknown, heaven-defying ghost path?"

"And a certain... heh, mere Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, yet already touching the threshold of ’Sword Intent coalescing into Force,’ with battle power pressing close upon Divinity Transformation, a Human Race Cultivator?"