The esteemed Lan, who came from the Star-Moon Empire and was responsible for investigating the murderer of the princess, immediately left without looking back after obtaining the desired intelligence.
From prior investigations, she had already gained a rough understanding of the suspect’s character—reckless, meticulous, and utterly fearless!
To deal with such a villain, threatening his family would be a poor strategy, likely to alert him prematurely.
Most importantly… Lan herself was merely a Master-level Spirit Tamer, and confronting a family that governed an entire city would be beyond her capabilities, especially here, far from the Star-Moon Empire!
“The empire’s astrologers are all useless…”
She summoned a tricolored twin-tailed bird, soaring into the sky, her beautiful eyes still brimming with anger. “All previous predictions were muddled, and now they can’t even provide a shred of information…”
After her rage subsided, a hidden sense of worry stirred within Lan.
As she knew, the empire’s situation was dire, and at this crucial moment, the astrologers—the pride of the Star-Moon Empire—had all encountered disruptions, with many prophecies conflicting. This was deeply unsettling.
In fact, if not for her heavy responsibility, she would have returned long ago amidst such instability.
“The criminal who killed the princess…”
At this thought, Lan’s eyes seemed ready to ignite…
…
“Milady! Milady!”
In the Forest Alliance, Giant Tree City, the approaching enemy was oblivious to Wu Ming.
Since entering Giant Tree City, Wu Ming had kept a low profile daily, puzzling Zuo Linling and Hou Yong.
At this moment, Hou Yong excitedly knocked on his door.
“What’s going on?”
Wu Ming looked at Hou Yong, whose face was aglow, sensing something.
“I broke through… I’ve reached the Soldier level…”
Hou Yong reported the news, his expression ecstatic.
“Hmm… This pace isn’t slow, especially considering your age—you’re a prodigy…”
Wu Ming nodded slowly.
Seeing this, Hou Yong’s smile faltered slightly, and he awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
After all, he had merely reached the Soldier level, while standing before him was a sixteen-year-old Master-level Spirit Tamer who had even contracted a Silver-species Lava Tyrant!
“However… since you’ve broken through, there should be a reward…”
Wu Ming suddenly smiled. “How about this… Giant Tree City rivals Zhongzhou in commerce; go find some rare items that assist Spirit Tamers in changing their spirits, and perhaps replace that big-bellied fish hawk of yours…”
“Thank you, milord!”
Watching Hou Yong, who was now scratching his head and clearly thrilled, Wu Ming silently sighed.
Hou Yong would one day be known as the “Chaos Monkey King,” a King-level Spirit Tamer! Since his destined opportunity had been snatched by Wu Ming, his advancement had been somewhat unsatisfactory.
“Perhaps…”
Wu Ming stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming. “Hou Yong’s growth depended on both the Stone Ape and the Star-Fruit. Once he earns more merit and proves his loyalty, I shall grant him the Star-Fruit…”
This fruit was famed for enhancing spiritual power and aiding breakthroughs, but it held no value for Wu Ming now, so he had no qualms about using it to strengthen his subordinates.
Creak!
After closing the door, Wu Ming sat cross-legged, lost in thought.
“The Assassin King Bu Bu Jue! The Chaos Monkey King Hou Yong… Unknowingly, I’ve already altered the destinies of these two future rulers. Combined with the series of events that occurred earlier, the fate of the Flame Continent should also be undergoing a reversal, shouldn’t it?”
“It’s just not very obvious yet… So it seems that to truly obscure the divine plan, we’ll have to rely on that Divine Spirit Tamer…”
Even though Hou Yong and Bao Bujue are destined to be kings in the future, they are merely supporting characters, with limited deviation.
But the Divine Spirit Tamer is different!
He is the true protagonist. Even the slightest influence he exerts can cause a massive deviation in the future!
Future deviations and the confusion of heavenly secrets present the perfect opportunity for the Divine Hall to seize the essence of the world!
Wu Ming was well aware that his greatest trump card was not in any earthly immortal spirit or foreknowledge of the future, but in the Main God Temple itself!
“Since advancing to Master level, I often feel drained, as if my body’s potential has reached its limit. Even though my soul far exceeds it, there’s still a bottleneck…”
“This is the limit imposed by the world’s essence! In the original timeline, Dongfang Shuo Ming was merely an ordinary talent, reaching Master level being his peak! Now, breaking through to Lord level immediately hits a wall, or rather… he lacks the ‘fate’!”
“This ‘fate’ can be understood as one’s destiny, the world’s essence’s attention, or one’s position in future fate!”
The Divine Fate Star could obscure fate but couldn’t create this ‘position’ from nothing for Wu Ming.
“Therefore, even though I possess the Lava Tyrant, theoretically, once it regains its Lord-level strength, it could elevate me, but in reality, it’s still fraught with difficulties… This is where the Main God Temple’s power comes in…”
To truly reverse the tide of a world, was it so easy?
Without the Main God Temple’s support, Wu Ming wouldn’t dare stir such murky waters.
“However… for the Main God Temple to transcend world limitations… more rule analysis is needed… Ancient Immortal Arts above Ancient Martial Arts would be an excellent path…”
Wu Ming’s eyes gleamed with an unusual light: “I hope Zuo Linling brings good news…”
…
“Family expectations and the inheritance of Immortal Arts… I must obtain it!”
Outside Giant Tree City, Zuo Linling, dressed in black, darted through the dense ancient forest, climbed a steep cliff, and gazed into the distance: “According to the records, one of Jia Kongming’s secret laboratories should be nearby…”
“Roar!”
Suddenly, a black shadow pounced down at lightning speed, claws gleaming sharply.
“Hmph!”
A burst of astonishing power erupted from Zuo Linling’s slender waist, folding into a remarkable arc, dodging the fatal strike, then delivering a palm strike: “Shatter-the-Table Palm!”
Crack!
The palm swept through, first encountering smooth fur, then thick, hard skin, and beneath it, muscles like steel bars and bones like iron.
“Woof!”
The black shadow landed, transforming into a Golden-Striped Cloud Leopard, lightly spinning as if confirming the enemy’s strength, then quickly fled.
As a hunter, it had plenty of other choices and wouldn’t waste time on prey that posed a threat, let alone risk injury.
“General-level Spirit…”
Zuo Linling watched it leave, sighing in relief yet feeling helpless: “This is still the outskirts; dangerous Spirits have increased significantly, and they’re highly aggressive… If we go deeper, we might need the master to intervene personally…”
Whoosh!
Suddenly, an astonishing scene unfolded.
Zuo Linling watched in shock as the Golden-Striped Cloud Leopard returned, practically fleeing in panic, not even glancing at her, dashing past in an instant and disappearing quickly.
“Yowl!”
“Roar!”
“Wail!”
The forest erupted with beast cries, the earth trembling faintly, various Spirits emerging, forming a massive beast tide fleeing in the same direction as the leopard, an extremely spectacular sight, as if… some ferocious beast was chasing behind!
“Roar!”
She gazed far into the distance and saw a black dot appear in the blue sky.
With a roar akin to lion and tiger, a heavy mental pressure suddenly struck, as if facing a king!
A King-level Spirit, destined to rule!
“This… this is the pressure of a King-level Spirit!”
Zuo Linling immediately hid in a rock crevice, eyes wide with shock.
Previously, she wouldn’t have recognized it, but Wu Ming had subdued the Lava Tyrant, once a King-level Spirit, though severely injured, its residual pressure left a deep impression.
Only now, seeing a truly peak King-level Spirit, did she realize that the Lava Tyrant’s King-level pressure was merely a remnant from its injury, incomparable to a real peak King-level Spirit!
“Wild Spirit or controlled?”
Zuo Linling focused intently on the sky, heart uneasy.
Naturally, she now hoped it was a wild Spirit; otherwise, it meant a King-level Spirit Tamer had already set his sights here, and what else could there be here besides Jia Kongming’s possible laboratory?
“Roar!!!”
With a dragon-like roar, the Spirit suddenly flew over the cliff, allowing Zuo Linling a clear view of its entire form and the two figures on its back!
This Spirit resembled a lizard but had four fleshy wings, its back a bluish-gray, amber eyes filled with ferocity and ruthlessness, like a tyrant surveying the world.
“It’s a Silver-species, Four-Winged Azure-Back Dragon!”
Zuo Linling’s pupils narrowed to pinpricks: “Only a Spirit Tamer above Lord level can control it!”
“Hmm? Someone is spying on me?”
On the dragon’s back, a teenage Spirit Tamer, looking no older than fourteen or fifteen, frowned: “What audacity!”
With a wave of his hand, a white tiger with wings emerged, diving down, unleashing a terrifying white shockwave from its mouth.
Silver-species! Warlord Peak! Golden-Eyed Sky Tiger!
“Not good…”
Zuo Linling quickly dodged, and the entire cliff exploded, the sound deafening.
“Roar!”
The golden-striped white tiger flapped its wings over the ruins, roaring, its voice rolling like thunder.
“Hmm? Still alive!”
The youth’s face darkened with anger, ready to strike again.
“Enough! Xuan Ming, merely a small insect, why bother with it? The major upheaval in Giant Tree City is imminent, that is our priority…”
The Lord-level Spirit Tamer controlling the Four-Winged Azure-Back Dragon waved a hand, advising.
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