The Great Ruler

Outside the Body-refining Tower, violent spiritual energy windstorms swirled out from the Escort Platforms. The area quaked, due to the fierce fights that were taking place among the top powers in order to secure their place among the Escort Platforms.

The Escort Platform that Mu Chen was standing on, was the first one to calm down, while the other platforms were still surrounded by chaos. Ever since he had defeated Zong Ho, no one had tried to challenge him.

This was not because the top powers were fearful of Mu Chen, but rather that there were spiritual symbols around his Escort Platform. These spiritual symbols seemed to have merged with the area, causing them to glitter like stars.

As the top powers looked at the spiritual symbols, they were fearful. They wondered how many spiritual arrays Mu Chen had set up on his Escort Platform. At the moment, the Escort Platform was like a Spiritual Fortress, making it seem impossible to defeat Mu Chen.

This was the power of a Spiritual Array Master. Given enough time, he would be able to set up a fortress, which could thwart the attack efforts of any invader.

Mu Chen flicked his fingers, and a spiritual light shot out, merging with the void. He then clapped his hands and set up another Heaven’s Divine Seal Array, which encompassed several other Earth Grade Spiritual Arrays. As they had been combined together, their collective power was astounding! Now, if Zong Huo had the courage to barge in again, Mu Chen had absolute confidence that Zong Hup would not walk out alive!

Mu Chen was finally able to relaxed after he had set up the arrays. He was not afraid of anyone now, as he had absolute confidence that no Grade Seven Sovereign could possibly snatch away the Escort Platform.

After everything was in place, Mu Chen looked at the other nine Escort Platforms. Fierce fights were taking place on each, and spiritual energy burst forth crazily. Different Divine Beasts roared on the platforms, quaking the heavens.

He looked at the Escort Platform that Ink Blade stood upon, then immediately froze. He saw that Ink Blade’s opponent was a pretty lady, who had a pair of red wings on her back. A sharp sword aura whizzed around her, scarring the space with holes.

She was the genius of the Flaming Crane Clan, and her strength had reached the Grade Seven Sovereign level. The sharp sword aura around her was more powerful than even Zong Huo’s. It was apparent that she was a tough opponent!

However, Ink Blade remained calm, even in the face of her powerful attack. Yet, he kept moving backwards, as though he was unable to fight back.

When Mu Chen saw this, he squinted his eyes to watch more carefully. He could clearly feel that the spiritual energy around Ink Blade was surging. He was garnering his spiritual energy.

As Mu Chen stared at Ink Blade, he was suddenly taken aback. Ink Blade had moved toward the edge of the Escort Platform, then suddenly stopped to look nonchalantly at the genius of the Flaming Crane Clan. He then formed a seal with one hand, while the cries of a phoenix resounded from his body.

Boom!

Large red phoenix wings then spread out from his back. As he flapped the wings, dark red flames gathered together to form a sea of fire, then swirled out. As the dark red flames whizzed out, they looked like a phoenix. An indescribable oppression then spread out.

The lady from the Flaming Crane Clan turned pale when she saw this. She then cried out, “Are you not from the Nine Netherbird Clan? How is it that you possess the Phoenix Flame?”

Only the cream of the crop among the Phoenix Clan could cultivate the Phoenix Flame. Its power was so overbearing, it could burn the heavens and heat up the sea! It could even suppress Divine Beasts, including the lady from the Flaming Crane Clan.

Crackle! Crackle!

Dark red flames swirled out, then consumed the sharp sword feathers. The Phoenix Flame then switch directions to target the lady from the Flaming Crane Clan.

As it swirled toward her, the lady turned pale and immediately fled the Escort Platform. As she left, she gave Ink Blade a sharp look.

This lady was decisive. She knew that Ink Blade had the upper-hand, as he had tapped into the power of the Phoenix Flame. With this in mind, she had immediately stopped the fight, not wanting to waste her energy.

Ink Blade remained calm, while watching her leave. He waved his sleeve, causing the dark red Phoenix Flame to swirl back into his mouth.

Those who had planned to challenge Ink Blade froze upon seeing it. They became instantly wary of him.

They saw that he was with the Nine Netherbird Clan, but they were curious as to how he had managed to cultivate the Phoenix Flame.

How is he related to the Phoenix Clan?

“The Phoenix Flame?”

Mu Chen was not surprised when he saw it, even though his tone of voice may have sounded that way. He had seen Mo Ling display the Phoenix Flame in the past. Hence, the two siblings must be related to the Phoenix Clan.

Mu Chen brushed the thought aside. After all, everyone had little secrets, and he was not interested in poking his nose into any of them!

He smiled at Ink Blade, thinking that now, Ink Blade should be able to secure a place in the Escort Platform. In this case, they would have secured two platforms.

Ink Blade noticed that Mu Chen was looking at him, so he nodded to acknowledge him. He was shocked, however, when he looked at Mu Chen’s Escort Platform, as he had just now noticed that the spiritual arrays were lethal! Mu Chen’s spiritual arrays were beyond his expectations!

Boom!

When the results of Mu Chen’s and Ink Blade’s performance on the Escort Platforms were out, the rest of the platforms started to brighten up. Han Shan from the Demonic Rhino Clan was the first to take everyone by surprise. His opponent was Xu Kun, who was from the Demonic Elephant Clan.

Both of them possessed amazing powers. Every time they attacked each other, it was as though an ancient ferocious rhinoceros and a huge elephant were clashing, causing the entire area to quake.

After they had exchanged blows for several rounds, it was apparent that Han Shan had the upper-hand. The final blow came, however, when Han Shang sent Xu Kun straight out of the Escort Platform!

When Xu Kun landed on the ground, he did not say a word. He immediately went to another Escort Platform to take on a less powerful opponent.

The next to take down another Platform was Zong Teng from the Heavenly Roc Clan. His strength was extraordinary, and he was considered to be one of the top performers. Not many people could contend with him, so he took over the Escort Platform without expending much effort.

After many more fierce fights, the results of the rest of the Escort Platform face-offs were out as well, including Lu Jia, the genius from Sky-devouring Alligator Clan, Chen Zhan from the Dragon-Ape Clan, Xu Kun from the Heavenly Elephant Clan, who had lost to Han Shan by a whisker, and many more.

As Mu Chen looked around, he suddenly stopped his gaze at the last Escort Platform. The figure who had secured the last Platform was from the Lightning Crow Clan. He was a familiar face to Mu Chen, as he had met him in the Meteorfall region.

However, Mu Chen had never expected to see him here, much less imagined that he would have been able to secure one of the Escort Platforms! The man noticed that someone was looking at him, so he lifted up his head. Upon seeing Mu Chen, he frowned. Then, he was even more shocked when he saw the spiritual arrays around Mu Chen’s Escort Platform.

Mu Chen ignored him and looked away. After the fierce fights, everything had calmed down. The 10 remaining people on the platforms had proven themselves to be the cream of the crop. However, out of these 10 people, it was still unknown as to who would be able to obtain the greatest opportunity in the ancient Body-refining Tower.

Mu Chen shifted his thoughts, looking at the ancient mottled stone tower and becoming excited. The opportunity for him to break through to the second level of the Dragon-Phoenix Scripture might be found in the tower!

Meanwhile, the spiritual energy windstorms in this area had finally calmed down. The 10 people stood tall on the Escort Platforms, each exuding astounding vigor.

Boom! Boom!

Suddenly, ancient buzzing sounds traveled out from the Body-refining Tower, as light circled around it. The light then turned into 10 rays, which whizzed toward the 10 people on the Escort Platforms, immediately covering them.

Mu Chen felt a great suction, which seem to be trying to pull his body away. He tried in vain to resist it, then gave in, as it was too strong!

Swoosh!

The beams whizzed back, now carrying the 10 people. The beams then transported them into the ancient Body-refining Tower.

Nine Nether looked at Mu Chen, who had been snacthed into the Body-refining Tower, and grasped her fists together. She could no longer extend any help to Mu Chen.

He would have to get himself out of this mess…