Chapter 862: Flame City.
Shi Lang followed Kama, and on the way, he was scrutinized by a lot of people. Kama thought he would feel odd so she said, “You are the first human in this city after a very long time. So, they are just curious.”
Shi Lang nodded but did not comment, it did not harm him even if the people looked at him. He was too weak in their eyes. Even a teenager here was as strong as an Immortal Emperor. He did not have the right to say anything.
Kama bought him to the palace and said, “Her Excellency is waiting for you in her abode.”
Shi Lang and then they moved through the palace. They came to a grand garden pavilion at the back of the palace, and he found the Phoenix perched on a huge parasol tree.
Hou Bing was no longer the small and cute bird, but she was in her natural form, a huge phoenix but her her feathers were still cerulean in color. The bird opened her eyes elegantly and her voice echoed in his mind, “How was the trial?”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “I gained some insights about illusions and my foundation consolidated a lot. Thank you.”
The phoenix shook her head and said, “It was just a coincidence that we had to come here. It hasn’t been long since you crossed the tribulation so the left over of providence could be pushed further.”
Shi Lang nodded and asked, “Can I stay here?”
The phoenix nodded, and said, “For the coming days, I will need you to clean up as many void beasts as you can. The clans will help you. Train them so they can defend themselves against the void beasts. In the meantime, the rich spiritual energy of this place will be beneficial for you. The cultivation path is about to evolve so you’ll need to learn from someone. I will teach you.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “Call me when you need me.”
Then he went to the side and sat down under a tree with his eyes closed and began to cultivate. Kama was surprised to see how calm he was about everything. Hou Bing said, “Kama, ask the clans to send their young warriors over. Lang will choose one from each clan and they will form a team to hunt the void beasts.”
Kama hesitated a bit, she wanted to say something when Hou Bing said, “In terms of martial arts, Lang can compete with the strongest in the world. He is a cultivator with Lightning energy and I witnessed him cross the golden lightning tribulation. You saw him kill the void beasts with ease, didn’t you?”
Kama was shocked and then she bowed her head as she said, “I will send the message right away, Your Excellency.”
Hou Bing thought of something and her feathers trembled. A light shot out from them and Kama caught it. The holy bird said, “If the people doubt you show them this token. You are not a member of the golden crow clan anymore. You are the member of the Phoenix Palace and my messenger.”
Kama was shocked and then she bowed down to Hou Bing in thanks. The latter said, “Go, when you come back I will give you the opportunity to improve your strength.”
Kama thanked her once more before leaving the place. Hou Bing turned her gaze to look at Shi Lang and sighed before she went back to her previous state.
After some time, Kama returned and told Hou Bing that the people will be coming over in the morning next day.
Hou Bing nodded and dismissed her. The Phoenix looked at Shi Lang and said, “Lang.”
Her voice was very soft, and the Terran woke up a few moments later. He looked at her, and Hou Bing continued, “Tomorrow morning, there will be people over, and you can pick your team.”
Shi Lang thought of something and with a sigh he asked, “Can you tell me about the clans here? I would need to know about them before I do anything.”
Hou Bing nodded and said, “This place is called Flame city and it has seven regions all governed by seven different clans who maintain order in the city. They are called, Golden Crow, Flaming Sparrow, Sun Songbird, Burning Swallow, Amber Owls, Crimson Lark, and Inferno Falcons.
Their strengths are basically the same, but they excel in different aspects….”
She went on to describe the special powers of the seven clans and Shi Lang listened to her attentively. When Hou Bing was done, she asked, “Any more questions?”
Shi Lang shook his head and said, “None, I will test the candidates after I have picked them up.”
Hou Bing nodded and after some thought she said, “If they try to disobey you, bring them to me.”
Shi Lang shook his head and said, “I will make them understand things on my own.”
Hou Bing nodded with a glimmer of joy in her beautiful eyes. The night was a fleeting matter, in the morning, many people came over. Every Clan leader bought over ten talents with them.
Kama received them and looking at the expressions of the talents, she said, “Clan leaders, this is the Phoenix Palace, I hope you have told them not to offend Her Excellency.”
The people nodded and the leader of the Golden Crows said, “Kama, don’t worry, they won’t make a mess.”
The rest of the people nodded, if it was the past they would have gone at each other’s throat by insulting each other. However, Hou Bing had showed them their real place and they had been tamed, but that was not the truth for their descendants. They all wore haughty and arrogant expressions.
She sighed and said, “Follow me, please.”
…
Hou Bing did not care about any of the clan elders, the power radiating from her, was enough to make them sweat in her presence. Kama waited for a few minutes, when she saw the young talents looking pale, she said, “Your Excellency, the clan leaders are here for you.”
Hou Bing opened her eyes and said lightly, “Kama has already told you why I summoned you all. Lang, take it over.”
Shi Lang opened his eyes and stood up from the ground. The people were surprised and shocked to see a human inside the Phoenix Palace, a few of the young ones wanted to react but then they thought that this guy was a slave to the Holy Queen and so they looked at him arrogantly.
Shi Lang did not say anything and said, “Hou Bing, I will take two, the rest are useless.”
The people were shocked, they did not expect this human to talk to the Holy Queen with such indifference. The clan masters yelled, “How dare you talk to the Holy Queen in this manner? You uncouth human!!”
Hou Bing looked at them and Shi Lang said, “How I talk to her has nothing to do with you lot. Your Holy Queen isn’t angry but you dare to show your might before her. Do you think that you are above her?”
The five clan masters were shocked and their faces turned pale. One of them said, “Don’t spew nonsense. Your Excellency we have no such intention.”
Hou Bing asked, “Lang why do you say that apart from the two, the rest are useless?”
Shi Lang said, “The two people I selected do not fear you. There eyes are filled with respect and that is why your pressure does not harm them. Such people have the potential of becoming strong and break past their limits because they want to prove themselves and they compete with themselves.
Those who fear will only live in the shadows and so they are useless. Strength can be gained and talent can be developed but the desire to reach the peak is innate.”
Hou Bing nodded and said, “Whom have you selected?”
Shi Lang pointed at two people, and Kama said, “Miss Yalin from Amber Owl Clan, Master Talon from Inferno Falcon Clan.”
Hou Bing looked at the two people who walked forward as Kama called their names. She said, “Good, they are indeed good children. Lang, train them into fine warriors. As for the rest of the clans, I expect to see the talents from your family by the evening and this time it mustn’t be anyone from the main family only.”
The five clan masters sighed and bowed their heads. Hou Bing looked at the leader of Inferno Falcons and Amber Owls as she said, “They will stay in the Palace from now on and they will train under Shi Lang.”
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The two elders bowed to the Phoenix and then they greeted Shi Lang. The Terran returned the greeting and even called them senior. This left a good impression on them. Shi Lang did not care about the other five clans, he looked at the two young ones and said, “Take the rest today, tomorrow we being hell training.”
Then he returned to his spot and sat down under the tree. The Flame City was going to change now.