Abyss of Despair, the territory of the North Sea Kun race…
There were massive deep abysses all over this area, completely untouched by any sunlight.
The Great Void Kun race lived there, commanding several tens of thousands of miles across this region.
In North Sea, the Great Void Kun race’s status was akin to Black Dragon Island’s. It would even be considered on par with a premium sacred ground in Eastern Wilderness.
“Father, I am in such pain!
“How did things end up like this? Just let me die!
“Kun Peng Dao, Kun Peng Dao. It was right before my eyes, but I…
“I was late. The power of that jade cliff was spent, and I could gain nothing from it. It’s too difficult. Just too difficult!”
A figure floated in a ten-feet tall fish tank.
It was the size of an adult human and covered in black fish scales. But instead of having a fish head, its head was that of a bird.
Tears were streaming down its face, which merged with the spirit liquid in the tank.
A majestic-looking middle-aged man in a black robe was standing before that fish tank. He exuded a faint glow all over.
He stood there nonchalantly as if he was one with the space around him but pristine and untouchable.
This person was the current leader of the Great Void Kun race—Kun Xu.
In the history of the leaders of the Great Void Kun race, Kun Xu was considered one of the most elite.
Otherwise, he would not have been able to become a Sage before the age of 2,000. He was also one of the top Sages.
He would not have been able to suppress the many other prodigies in the Kun race and take firm control of the throne. It should be pointed out that the Kun race was not an easy race to govern.
The Kun King gazed into the tank. His only son and the most powerful Kun race prodigy was inside—Kun Ming.
Kun Ming had entered the Chaotic Star Island domain several months earlier and discovered the legendary Kun Peng Temple and Kun Peng Dao.
This was supposed to be a good thing, but someone had gotten to the Kun Peng Jade Cliff first. This was the cliff that held the Kun Peng Dao. Its powers had been nearly spent.
What was left was not even enough to whet one’s appetite.
It wouldn’t have been such a big deal if it was someone else.
However, as the young master of the Great Void Kun race, Kun Ming was exceptionally keen on the Kun Peng Dao.
He had sat in front of Kun Peng Jade Cliff for several months, forcing himself to understand the Kun Peng Dao.
In the end, he had tried to force himself to transcend into a Peng but ended up deviating down the wrong path and turning into a fish-eagle.
Yeap, he could also be called a bird-Kun.
…
It would be unfair to say that Kun Ming’s transformation attempt had been an utter failure. After all, the transformation from a giant Kun into a Peng should indeed start from the head and then gradually spread across the entire body. Kun Ming’s first step was correct.
Unfortunately, his understanding of the Kun Peng Dao was just too crude. He had ended up only transforming the head.
Even worse was the fact that he could not turn back into a full Kun. He had to continue living in this half-fish, half-bird state.
This was the traumatizing part!
Kun Ming could use camouflage techniques to turn himself back into human form.
However, when fighting or when someone used a probing technique to look at him, his true form would be revealed.
A Kun with a large chicken head just didn’t make for good aesthetics.
I am the young master of the Great Void Kun race. I have an image to upkeep! Where to hide my face if news of this gets out?
“Father, what should I do? Am I going to look like this forever?”
The corners of the Kun King’s lips twitched as he watched the teary-eyed Kun Ming.
He had already taken out his precious spirit liquid to let his son soak inside it. He hoped to make use of its power to help Kun Ming break through that barrier and successfully transform into a full Peng.
It was now clear that it was not going to work.
Transforming from Kun to Peng was not just a matter of power.
Multiple other nuances had to be grasped before it would be successful. Only the Peng Transformation Chapter in the Kun Peng Dao explained those nuances.
And Kun Ming was now in dire straits because of his failure to comprehend the complete Kun Peng Dao.
At this moment, the fabrics of space vibrated, and several figures emerged.
They were the Kun elders that had been following Shen Tian previously. Failure was written all over their faces.
“Greetings, Leader. We have already found out who was the person who comprehended the entire Kun Peng Dao before Young Master.”
…
“Oh?” The Kun King turned around, his profound eyes sparkling. “Who?”
One of the elders said, “Outside the Chaotic Star Island domain, we witnessed the Divine Firmament Saint, Shen Tian, executing the Kun Peng Dao as he left.
“A pity this kid is very cunning. He performed some kind of aura-concealing technique and has stayed hidden under the sea bed for several days. He has yet to emerge.
“We waited to no avail and had no choice but to return and report to you first.”
Divine Firmament Sacred Ground, Divine Firmament Saint?
Kun Xu’s aura rippled. “Is that Chu Longhe’s and Zhang Longyuan’s disciple?”
Another elder nodded. “Yes. He is the disciple of the Divine Firmament Sacred Leader, Zhang Longyuan. He is just a Saint from Eastern Wilderness but dared to come to North Sea and steal our Kun Peng Dao. Leader, should we just go ahead and…”
The elder made a slashing motion across his neck.
The corners of the Kun King’s mouth twitched as his face darkened. “Fool, do you know just how powerful his backers are?”
The elder didn’t understand. “Doesn’t he just have that Zhang Longyuan and Chu Longhe?
“Chu Longhe’s powers have been nullified, and Zhang Longyuan is just a new Sage. We have so many Sages in our race. There’s no reason for us to be afraid of him.
“Leader, didn’t you once fight Zhang Longyuan over seven days and seven nights, with no one emerging the clear winner? If we can get back this Kun Peng Dao, your powers will be greatly enhanced, and you can—”
Before he could finish his sentence, the elder was interrupted by a cold snort.
“Shut up!”
The Kun King had his hands crossed behind his back, with a stern and regal expression on his face.
“The Kun race is one of the most powerful and respected races in North Sea. How can we stoop to such low and despicable actions?
“It would be fine if Kun Ming personally fought Shen Tian and defeated him to retrieve the Kun Peng Dao. That would be honorable.
“But if you bunch of Mighty Prowess elders intervened and ended up killing that kid to retrieve the Kun Peng Dao, we would become the entire five regions’ laughingstocks.”
The elder looked unconvinced. “But the Kun Peng Dao is of high importance. Exceptions can be made as long as we can get our hands on it.”
Kun Xu humphed. “Nothing is more important than the Kun race’s pride and dignity. Not even the Kun Peng Dao.”
With that, a massive giant Kun avatar flared up behind Kun Xu.
A surging mighty aura swept across the area for tens of thousands of miles. Countless ocean creatures shivered in fear.
He said calmly, “I hereby decree that the Kun race and the Divine Firmament Sacred Ground are to remain on friendly terms. The Divine Firmament Saint is a friend of mine, and he is to be treated as a valued guest in North Sea.
“Make it publicly known that I am officially inviting the Divine Firmament Saint to the Abyss of Despair as my guest. All North Sea races will bear witness to my good intentions.
“If we are going to retrieve the Kun Peng Dao, we must do it in the right and proper manner.”
…
It was clear that Kun Xu was young, but his words bore significant authority in the Great Void Kun race.
After he issued his decree, some of those elders remained unconvinced—even so, they had no choice but to take their leave and go make the necessary preparations.
After all the elders left, Kun Ming spoke up. “Father is wise. Are you planning an ambush in the Abyss of Despair?”
Kun Xu snorted. “What ambush? Why do you always get all sorts of silly ideas in your head?
“You have not even reached the Mighty Prowess realm, and you are already trying to vie with others. I just turned my back for a minute, and you ended up getting into a tiff with the Divine Firmament Saint.
“Do you know just how powerful the backers of this Divine Firmament Saint are?”
Kun Ming pursed his lips. “He’s a mere human Saint. He was able to get to the Kun Peng Dao just one step ahead of me by a stroke of luck. What’s so great about him?
“If not for the fact that I cannot show my face now because of my failed transformation, I can easily defeat him.”
The Kun King smirked. “You are such an unfortunate kid. Your head has turned into a bird, but your brains remain just as foolish.”
The Kun King took out a jade pendant. “I especially got our spies at the Silver Octopus race and Dragon race to get information about this Divine Firmament Saint. Take a look at it yourself.”
The Kun King’s face revealed a grave expression. “Look carefully. The Divine Firmament Saint, also called the number one most handsome man in Eastern Wilderness. He is 16 years old. He was born in some country in the mortal world.
“He had been a jinx since a young age, but several months ago, his luck suddenly turned. He is now like a son blessed and favored by the Heavenly Dao.
“Opened a Spirit Ore and found the Divine Firmament Sacred Ground’σ long-lost forbidden Decalamity chapter.
“Entered a Primordial Battlefield and retrieved the renowned God of War Pagoda.
“Do you know what this is? He is destined to rise to great heights. He is the true Son of Providence.”
The corners of Kun Ming’s lips twitched. He pouted. “Is he really that great? Father, you think too highly of this fellow!”
The Kun King snorted. “How in the world did I give birth such a brainless son like you?”
The Kun King continued. “Look carefully. After Shen Tian joined the Divine Firmament Sacred Ground, what happened to all those who opposed him?
“The Divine Firmament Sacred Ground’s First Senior Brother, Fang Chang, opposed him and ended up damaging his Golden Core.
“The Big Dipper Saint, Chen Zhongtian, opposed him and nearly destroyed his Nascent Soul.
“The Purple Mansion Saint, Qi Shaoxuan, also once opposed him. In the end, he was defeated by Shen Tian in just one move right in public. He cracked his core after arriving at North Sea, and his Nascent Soul was nearly suffocated to death by his own Golden Core.
“All these incidents. Now take another look at your current state. Do you see a pattern here?”
Gong!
The Kun King’s words were like a divine gong ringing right beside Kun Ming’s ears.
His face darkened. “Don’t tell me that my current state is a result of his devious plotting?”
The corners of the Kun King’s mouth twitched as he restrained himself from strangling his stupid son. “Please try to use that foolish brain of yours.
“You are the one who tried to force the transformation and ended up failing. He was nowhere near you. How could he have been behind it? This is due to a clash in providence!”
The Kun King held his forehead, feeling very exasperated. “Every golden era will have a number of significant characters who will be well-loved by the Heavenly Dao. They will possess extraordinary talent and providence.
“Qi Shaoxuan is one, and you are also one. But there are also different grades among this favored group.
“To give a simple analogy, if you and Qi Shaoxuan are like the Heavenly Dao’s godsons, Shen Tian is like the biological son.
“When a godson fights with the biological son, who do you think the Heavenly Dao will side with?”
Kun Ming, “…”
Kun Ming gasped and felt like his father had opened his eyes to a brand new outlook.
He stared at the Kun King in disbelief. “Don’t tell me I have no choice but to bow down my head before that human Saint?”
The Kun King stared at Kun Ming like he was a simpleton.
He smirked. “What’s wrong with that? The demon races refuse to admit it, but the human race is indeed the race the Heavenly Dao favors.
“The Kun race is powerful beyond comparison and can suppress many of the human race’s sacred grounds.
“But so what? Does this mean we can go against the entire human race?
“No. And not just for our Kun race. Even the ancient Dragons, Phoenixes, and the pure-blooded Kun Pengs are far from enough.
“We don’t know why, but the Heavenly Court collapsed in ancient times, and the human race split into their various sacred grounds.
“Nonetheless, the Heavenly Dao’s favoritism of the human race has always been there, and it has always surpassed that of the other races.
“Don’t forget that the most powerful race across the five regions now is the human race.
“Shen Tian has the rarest type of potential in the human race. He is destined for great things. It is perfectly normal for him to have powerful providence. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
As he observed the Kun King, Kun Ming felt like his father looked somewhat dejected.
He felt a little heavy himself. It was as if his long-held pride and arrogance were on the brink of collapse.
The Kun King noticed the change in his son’s emotional state. He smiled comfortingly. “I know you have always been a proud person. You feel that you are the most powerful prodigy in North Sea.
“But my child, you must understand that the five regions are a much bigger world than our North Sea alone.
“Why did the giant Kuns want to morph into Pengs? It was to escape the constraints of the ocean and enter the greater world. To explore the skies beyond.
“If you keep clinging onto your ‘Top Prodigy in North Sea’ status, you will just end up being a frog at the bottom of the well.
“Without the heart of a true Peng, even if you have the complete Kun Peng Dao, how will you be able to turn into a Peng?
“Only if you put down those things weighing you down, can you then seek to fly higher.”
…
Put down those things weighing me down? Do you mean pride?
Kun Ming gazed at his father. He suddenly felt like he was staring at a stranger.
Was this still the father who had impulsively cried out, “The reputation of our Great Void Kun race cannot be blasphemed in this manner” right in front of those humans?
The father who had dared to stand toe-to-toe with the Black Dragon King? He was now so fearful of a mere Divine Firmament Saint?
Even more puzzling was the fact that after listening to the Kun King’s description of Shen Tian and looking at the latter’s history, Kun Ming himself also felt a rising panic.
After all, the stories about Shen Tian were indeed rather hair-raising.
All those who were subservient to him managed to make extraordinary progress in their cultivation journey.
For the current Chaotic Star Island domain trial, Yu Pianxian and the four great princes had benefited greatly. Not to mention Ao Wu and Qi Shaoxuan.
He heard that they had returned to Black Dragon Island right after leaving the Chaotic Star Island domain and presented some earth-shattering treasure.
Meanwhile, all those who opposed him had fallen into some kind of misfortune or another.
Even the Evil Spirit Sect’s Sage had fallen in his hands and had been imprisoned in the Divine Firmament Sacred Ground.
This fellow was indeed something else.
…
Kun Ming seemed to have thought of something. “Father, why do you have so much information about Shen Tian?”
The Kun King looked a bit uncomfortable. “Ahem, I just randomly decided to do a simple background check.”
Haha, why do I have so much information about Shen Tian?
Don’t you remember who the masters of this fellow are? Those two punks caused such a major ruckus in North Sea in their time. You were not even born yet!
His masters were so fierce, so cunning, so malicious…
Haha, if only you knew!
