Chapter 70: Ye Zhuxian takes action.

In the center of the clearing, the ten titans’ auras were like ten volcanoes on the verge of eruption.

Crimson radiance clashed with golden flames, sizzling harshly; earthy, mountain-heavy Dao charm ground against icy sword intent, shaking the ground with a low hum, dust swirling.

Terrifying phenomena flashed one after another, leaving the onlookers trembling, legs quaking. This wasn’t a negotiation—it was a meeting of demolition crew captains.

“Are… are they really going to fight?” Xie Qiyang instinctively sidled closer to Li Tianxing, a rare flicker of worry in her eyes.

When big shots brawl, small fries get crushed! With their meager cultivation, a stray shockwave could turn the gawking crowd into “melon pulp.”

She hurriedly sent a voice transmission to her “little wife”: “Tianxing, this looks bad! If this sparks…”

Li Tianxing gripped her cool hand tightly, his warm palm reassuring.

No fear crossed his face—only the calm of experience. He whispered soothingly, “Relax, they won’t fight. This isn’t the wild ancient era of ‘What you looking at? Keep looking and see what happens!’ followed by all-out brawls.”

“Those up there? Every one’s a cunning old fox, calculators rattling away. They’re all scared of being the first to charge and getting played, letting others snag the prize.”

Sure enough, both sides locked eyes, auras blazing, special effects maxed out, but no one struck first. The air crackled with silent taunts of “Move first, I dare you!” and “Try it!”—enough to spike anyone’s blood pressure.

Suddenly, the orange tabby’s back glowed with triple halos, its fur shimmering like a newborn sun, blindingly radiant.

A golden roc carrying an ethereal figure didn’t hesitate, striking instantly.

A jade hand rose lightly, summoning a seven-colored chakram blade.

With a single, understated slash, no words needed.

“Ha!” The tabby arched its back, ears flattening, ready to hiss.

It met the slicing rainbow blade.

“Yowl!” The cat wailed, its triple halos shattering, as if a piece of the sun had been cleaved by mortal hands.

As the crowd’s necks ached from craning, the towering figures vanished in a blink.

Swish!

A decree, glowing with soft gold and woven from pure Dao laws, floated down from the heavens, hovering lightly between the two camps.

The decree unfurled, revealing bold, ancient characters radiating supreme authority:

[Nether Ancient Realm Entry Rules]

1. Cultivators (including Otherkin) above Innate Realm are strictly forbidden! Entrants must submit to unified inspection!
2. Holy Lands and Imperial Clans may recruit unaffiliated rogue cultivators as “attendants” to enter early.
3. Those entering alone must surrender one-tenth of their gains as a “toll” upon exiting!

Whoa!

The crowd exploded!

“What?! They settled already?”

“So fast?! That’s unscientific!”

“These cake-dividing summits usually drag on for weeks! Did the sun rise in the west?”

“Humans alone fight like roosters, Imperial Clans sneer at Holy Lands, Holy Lands scorn noble families, rogue cultivators hate sect dogs… and with those quirky Otherkin stirring the pot, they reached an agreement this quick?”

The crowd buzzed, faces full of disbelief. But the “one-tenth toll” clause? No one minded—that was a steal.

For a Nether Ancient Heavenly Venerate’s realm, without imperial weapons blasting through, small fries like them wouldn’t get in for eight lifetimes. One-tenth for a ticket? A bargain.

Li Tianxing’s voice transmission hit Xie Qiyang’s mind, grave: “Seems a heavyweight stepped in to settle things—the rogue cultivator legend, ‘Battle Heaven Saint King’! He took on two Otherkin Saint Kings in a duel.”

“His combat power’s insane. At the Saint King level, even Imperial Clan or Holy Land prodigies rarely last a hundred moves against him.”

As his words landed—

A terrifying hurricane roared up, sand and stones flying, the world dimming!

An indescribable pressure, primal and crushing, slammed down like a mountain.

Everyone, regardless of cultivation, felt their hearts seized by an invisible grip, breathing labored, souls trembling.

Screee!

A piercing cry, sharp enough to rend the sky, echoed through the clouds.

High above, a massive golden roc, its wings blotting out the sun, descended, folding its colossal span.

Each flap unleashed wild gusts, its golden feathers gleaming like molten metal—the legendary Otherkin king, the Golden-Winged Roc!

“Get back!”

“Holy—!”

“Don’t block the way! Why’s this one coming down?!”

The crowd scattered like ants before a boulder, terrified of being clipped by the roc’s descent or claws.

Xie Qiyang’s scalp tingled under the terrifying aura, instinctively wanting to retreat with the crowd. But Li Tianxing held her hand firm.

“Don’t be scared, follow me!” He growled, not retreating but leaping upward against the tide, like moths to a flame, straight toward the diving roc.

“What the—?! Who are those two?!”

“Crazy?! Charging at a Golden-Winged Roc?!”

“Real warriors—or suicidal!”

Shocked, baffled, and mocking gazes locked onto them.

Xie Qiyang’s heart skipped, but seeing Li Tianxing’s resolute profile, she gritted her teeth and trusted him fully.

As the roc’s shadow loomed, nearly engulfing them, its mountain-shattering claws… gently caught them.

Scree! The roc let out a clear, friendly cry. With a mighty wingbeat, it unleashed a tidal wave of air, carrying them skyward.

After a dizzying whirl, Xie Qiyang forced her eyes open against the nausea.

Gale winds whipped her hair, the world below a patchwork of tiny rivers and mountains. She stood steady atop the roc’s vast, platform-like head.

On the roc’s crown stood a familiar figure in green, robes fluttering like an immortal descended—Ye Zhuxian, restored to her youthful, radiant beauty.

Ye Zhuxian turned, her all-seeing eyes scanning Xie Qiyang—changed in aura, appearance, even hair color—with a mix of amusement and surprise. “Oh? Little Ningshuang? Grandma’s gone less than a day, and you’ve… evolved? New form?”

Xie Qiyang’s heart clenched, like a kid caught misbehaving, unsure how to explain her drastic shift.

Then, Li Tianxing, as if finding a lifeline, darted to Ye Zhuxian’s side, his handsome face crumpled in grievance. “Grandma! You’ve got to back me up! Your precious disciple… she’s bullying your poor grandson, tormenting me inhumanely!”

“Oh?” Ye Zhuxian’s eyes curved into crescents, intrigued. “Tell me, how’s she ‘bullying’ you? Let Grandma have a laugh.”

“She… she…” Li Tianxing stammered, face reddening, unable to spill the shameful “morning activities” or being forced to call “Husband.” He ended with a bitter sigh, turning away.

Ye Zhuxian took in her grandson’s “wronged bride” look and Xie Qiyang’s transformed, domineering aura, nearly bursting into laughter.

She stopped teasing him, turning to Xie Qiyang with warm, earnest eyes. “By the way, Little Ningshuang,” she stepped forward, reaching to pat her head—only to realize Xie Qiyang was now… taller than her youthful form?

Ye Zhuxian: “…”

Tiptoeing to reach, she muttered, “Tch, even taller than me…”

Withdrawing her hand, her smile unwavering, she spoke with unshakable certainty: “Are you willing to formally become my last disciple?”

Xie Qiyang met her trusting, warm gaze, her unease dissolving. Without hesitation, she beamed, radiant as melting snow and blooming flowers: “I am! Disciple Jiang Ningshuang greets Master!”

“There we go!” Ye Zhuxian clapped her shoulder, grinning broadly. “We’re family now, no need for formalities. Little Ningshuang, remember: as long as you avoid evil, heaven-offending paths…”

Her eyes swept over Xie Qiyang’s potent, unique Dao charm, brimming with pride: “The stronger you get, the happier Grandma is. I’d love to see you grind those Imperial Clan and Holy Land geezers into the dirt tomorrow! Hahaha!”

Her hearty laugh echoed with the roc’s cloud-piercing flight, resounding through the heavens.