Their words astonished Nie Tian.
The sectmaster, vice sectmasters, and Sons of the Stars of the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace all had their subordinate domains, and cultivated their own forces.
For instance, the Domain of the Falling Stars, the Domain of Heaven’s Boundaries, and the Domain of Heaven Python were his subordinate domains.
All the sects, clans and forces in those three domains had sworn their loyalty to him. Technically, they had nothing to do with the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace.
However, there were also advanced domains that had sworn their loyalty to the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace.
They were usually powerful domains with strong Qi warrior forces that had intricate relationships with each other.
As a rule, they would have to pay tribute to the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace annually, and answer its summons whenever called upon.
In return, the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace would give priority to youngsters from those domains when it came to admitting new disciples. Many Sons of the Stars had come from those domains. Fang Yuan and Fang Zhe were good examples.
There were a total of thirteen domains that were subordinate domains of the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace.
Not long ago, due to Ji Cang’s prolonged disappearance and the fact that Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace had suffered major setbacks in their battles against the Demons in the Dead Star Sea, different voices had appeared in those domains.
Only after Nie Tian had won his duel against Ophelia and Mo Heng had survived his duel against Grand Monarch Primal Demon had those voices quieted down.
Who would have thought that Mo Heng’s sudden disappearance would give rise to turbulences in the thirteen domains once again so quickly?
However, unlike before, the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace wasn’t alone this time. The Five Elements Sect, the Void Spirit Society, and the Heaven Span Pavilion’s subordinate domains were also experiencing major instability.
It was as if the entire human world had been plunged into turmoil.
Furthermore, hybrids had been spotted in all of the rebellious domains. Some of them had earned their names long ago, but hadn’t awakened their bloodlines until recently.
All of a sudden, many talented youngsters that had been viewed as the chosen ones of the sects in those domains awakened their wondrous bloodlines at the same time.
The appearance of a large number of hybrids in all of those domains gave people a feeling, a feeling that a brand new era was at hand!
Nie Tian frowned. “If all thirteen subordinate domains of our sect are in trouble, have we sent people to put down the rebellions?”
“Dou Tianchen, Wang Meijia, and Fang Yuan have all left on counter-insurgency missions,” Wei Lai explained. “Even Sikong Cuo, who had been in secluded cultivation, was arranged to put down rebellions in one of the domains. A few other elders left to put down rebellions in other domains. However, the result doesn’t look good.”
“Why?” Nie Tian asked.
“Most of those thirteen domains are advanced domains protected by late Saint domain experts,” Yan Zhan answered with a bitter smile. “Some of them have multiple late Saint domain experts. Some have even produced God domain experts in their histories. Before, with the sectmaster, two middle God domain vice sectmasters, and Grand Elder Mo Heng around, they had to restrain themselves.
“However, with the sectmaster and the grand elder missing, and Vice Sectmaster Luo Wanxiang declaring that he’s going into secluded cultivation, Vice Sectmaster Chu Rui has become the only God domain senior we have left.
“Just a few days ago, Vice Sectmaster Chu Rui left for the Domain of Frigid Depths.
“But according to the latest news, his persuading and comforting work there isn’t going well. I’m afraid it won’t be long before a battle breaks out. For some reason, the local forces in the Domain of Frigid Depths don’t seem to be apprehensive about Vice Sectmaster Chu Rui, as if they have someone at their backs.
“If Vice Sectmaster Chu Rui’s operation in the Domain of Frigid Depths fails, I’m afraid the other domains…”
With these words, both Yan Zhan and Wei Lai frowned, looking deeply worried.
Ever since Sectmaster Ji Cang had vanished, the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace, as one of the four ancient great sects, had been troubled.
Finally, Mo Heng had broken through into the middle Saint domain and brought the whole starry river to awe with his extraordinary battle prowess.
However, who would have thought that he would disappear as Ji Cang had shortly after he had left for the Heavenly Thunder Sect in the Domain of Endless Thunder, and massive uprisings would strike so many human domains immediately after his vanishing?
In the meantime, after suffering a setback in his confrontation against Nie Tian in the Domain of Forbidden Heaven, Luo Wanxiang had suddenly declared that he would go into secluded cultivation and would therefore be unable to attend to sect affairs.
The last-remaining God domain senior, Chu Rui, had left for the Domain of Frigid Depths, but failed to put down the rebellions there within a short period of time.
The Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace was in such an unfavorable situation. What about the other major sects?
“The Five Elements Sect, the Void Spirit Sect, and the Heaven Span Pavilion are all having the same problems as us,” Wei Lai said. “Even though the uprisings in their subordinate domains occurred later than in ours, the rebellions have also broken out on a full scale. Like us, they’re also under great pressure, and have sent out all of their elders, Divine Sons and Daughters, and God domain seniors.”
“So what does our sect need me to do?” Nie Tian asked.
Wei Lai assumed a solemn face and said, “Even though you haven’t joined our sect for long, the power you possess is already every bit as strong as that of the other Sons of the Stars. Now that our sect is in peril, as a Son of the Stars, you need to step up and make your contribution. We don’t think it’s going to be helpful if you go join Vice Sectmaster Chu, so we’re thinking you can take a trip to the Domain of Primal Yang.”
“The Domain of Primal Yang?” Nie Tian asked curiously.
“Yes, it’s one of our sect’s thirteen subordinate domains, one of the three most powerful ones too,” Wei Lai explained. “The strongest sect in the Domain of Primal Yang is the Primal Yang Sect, which has produced God domain experts in its long history. Fang Yuan was given the task of putting down the Primal Yang Sect’s rebellions.
“However, according to our latest report, the Primal Yang Sect reacted radically, and imprisoned Fang Yuan.
“They have this chosen one, who like Fang Yuan, is also at the Void domain… However, his bloodline was suddenly awakened recently! With his Void domain cultivation base and mysterious bloodline, he actually defeated Fang Yuan!
“After his victory, he even spread word, claiming that the so-called Sons of the Stars aren’t to be feared, and that if they can’t even defeat him in battle, how do they dare to call the Primal Yang Sect their subordinate sect?
“It’s a humiliation for his sect!”
With these words, both Wei Lai and Yan Zhan grew indignant.
“That chosen one of the Primal Yang Sect is named Qi Jiaoyang,” Yan Zhan added. “When he was younger, he participated in our sect’s disciple admission event, and was very confident that he would become a Son of the Stars of this generation. However, since he was very young back then and his aura showed as fire-attributed, our sect deemed that he was more suited for flame power incantations than the Fragmentary Star Incantation.
“However, he had always dreamed about becoming a Son of the Stars, nothing less. Eventually, he refused our sect’s admission, and continued to practice cultivation as a member of the Primal Yang Sect.
“The most surprising of all is that he’s actually a hybrid! There weren’t any signs of him carrying a special bloodline before, but for some reason, his bloodline was suddenly awakened recently. He was only at the Soul realm before his bloodline awakening. However, after his bloodline was awakened, he somehow made a series of breakthroughs, and entered the Void domain within a very short time!
“Now, both he and Fang Yuan are at the middle Void domain. However, he fought Fang Yuan in the Domain of Primal Yang and won!
“His victory also greatly lifted the Primal Yang Sect’s spirits. Now, the Primal Yang Sect and the other local forces from the Domain of Primal Yang seem to have become full of confidence, and bent on getting rid of our sect’s control.”
Yan Zhan sighed as Wei Lai remained silent, both of their faces unusually grim.
Nie Tian nodded slightly. “Qi Jiaoyang, the Primal Yang Sect, the Domain of Primal Yang… I see. I’ll take a trip to the Domain of Primal Yang. What’s the fastest way to get there from our sect?”
Frustration filled Wei Lai’s face as he said, “Originally, we could teleport there directly through our teleportation portal. However, when the Domain of Primal Yang decided to become independent, they unilaterally cut off the connection between their teleportation portal and ours. Now, if we want to visit the Domain of Primal Yang, we’ll have to teleport to the Domain of Endless Thunder, and take a starship from there.
“That was how Fang Yuan and his men got to the Domain of Primal Yang.”
Nie Tian was taken aback. “The Domain of Primal Yang and the Domain of Endless Thunder are neighboring domains?”
Wei Lai nodded. “Yes, they are. The Domain of Endless Thunder borders the Domain of Nether Heaven on one side, and the Domain of Primal Yang on the other. As an advanced domain, the Domain of Endless Thunder has always been an independent domain. Due to the special relationship between the Mo Clan and the grand elder, our sect has never used force on the Domain of Endless Thunder, or in any way forced them to become our subordinate domain.”
“There won’t be a problem if I go to the Domain of Endless Thunder, right?” Nie Tian asked.
“Of course not,” Wei Lai answered.
“Good. I wanted to visit the Domain of Endless Thunder and ask about the grand elder’s disappearance anyway.” Nie Tian seemed to have a plan worked out. “Would you take me to the teleportation portal?”
Yan Zhan’s expression flickered with astonishment. “You’re not going to return to your domains and gather your strongest subordinates first?”
As strong as Nie Tian might be, he was only at the late Soul realm. How could he get Fang Yuan out if he was going to the Domain of Primal Yang by himself?
If he ended up imprisoned by the Primal Yang Sect as they had done with Fang Yuan, the sect would lose even more face.
Full of confidence, Nie Tian answered, “It’s gonna be fine. I’ll persuade the Heavenly Thunder Sect to go with me.”
Wei Lai was surprised. “Mo Qianfan from the Heavenly Thunder Sect wasn’t exactly close with the grand elder before. Even after the recent incident, he has remained silent, and didn’t have much communication with our sect. What makes you think you can persuade him?”
“Rest assured. I have a plan.”
