195: Awakening Alliance

Lu Shi Qi left.

He said he was going to find his own path to godhood.

Zhang Sheng watched the direction he disappeared, feeling emotional: "Talent is truly a mysterious and unpredictable thing... If only I could always have this kind of luck!"

He took out Hou Wu's communication jade slip and read the latest news from the Hua Residence.

The content of the Jade Slip showed that although the teams from the Hua Residence had suffered some losses while out recently, fortunately, they had not been targeted by other New Prefectures.

Especially after he, Zhang Sheng, had made it onto the fledgling tiger ranking and entered Qinglan Academy.

Next, Zhang Sheng opened the "omniscient guide" Jade Slip.

News of the disaster in Tianxing City of Luoxia Prefecture had already spread far and wide; the Song Kingdom officials did not block the news.

However, the official characterization of the disaster was quite "interesting":

"The rebels of the World Awakening Alliance are insane, colluding with Void Demons and setting up a bloody array with the intention of refining all living beings!

Fortunately, a Star God Realm Expert of the Song Kingdom Royal Family perceived it in time and defeated the rebel Star God leader with thunderous power, saving thousands of Cultivators from the fire!"

This was the official statement released by the "omniscient guide," and it was almost universally accepted.

For such a shocking case, all the blame was precisely pinned on the World Awakening Alliance.

A silent sneer played across the corner of Zhang Sheng's mouth.

"These waters are too deep... I must find a safe place to settle the people of the Hua Residence as soon as possible."

To his surprise, even though he had personally killed three Supernatural Power Realm Cultivators, his rank on the fledgling tiger ranking should have soared, but his name on the list remained unmoved!

Zhang Sheng subconsciously touched his face, a thought occurring to him:

"Could it be that this 'monkey face mask' has obscured the heavenly secrets?"

"Wonderful!"

"The people of the Eight Gods Sect in Tianxing City are all dead, and my rank on the fledgling tiger ranking hasn't changed... Now who would think that I was the one who killed Tiger, Lian Qiu, and those three guys?"

With his thoughts settled, Zhang Sheng transformed into a streak of rainbow light and flew straight toward the Hua Residence.

For now, it was safer to observe for a while before returning to Qinglan Academy.

When he left Tianxing City, his Divine Sense had scanned the ruins of the entire city and sensed that a dozen or so Qinglan Academy Cultivators had survived. He didn't choose to silence them at the time.

Because after he reported to the Qinglan base, he immediately applied to leave the city to "hunt wild beasts."

These survivors would serve as perfect ironclad proof of his absence.

Even if they were silenced later, he would have time to make new arrangements.

Returning to the Hua Residence, Zhang Sheng had another important goal—he wanted to undergo the Water-attribute Spiritual Power Tribulation!

Entering the secret room of the First Cultivation University villa, in less than half an hour, the Water-attribute Spiritual Power Tribulation was safely passed.

His Physical Body's affinity for water-attribute spiritual power had significantly increased.

The power of his two water-based Spells, "Water Binding" and "Breath of Frost," also surged.

The next Fire-attribute Spiritual Power Tribulation would have to wait for seven days.

For the Cultivators of the Hua Residence, Zhang Sheng's arrangement was for them not to casually join other forces.

Joining other forces for the method of condensing a True Embryo and god-connecting treasure medicine would certainly require a price; recalling this experience, that price might be the price of life.

Divine Breath Cultivators have a Lifespan of three hundred years, which is 150 years by Upper Realm time; there is still plenty of time. Zhang Sheng's advice to everyone was to temper their Spells and Cultivation Techniques more. During this time, Zhang Sheng believed the method for condensing a True Embryo and god-connecting treasure medicine could certainly be resolved.

In his leisure time after the tribulation, Zhang Sheng began to check the relics Huai Jiang had left in the mask.

He couldn't deal with that evil pill emitting an ominous aura for the time being, so he could only set it aside.

Scanning other miscellaneous things with his Divine Sense, Zhang Sheng frowned:

With the terrifying strength Huai Jiang displayed, he was definitely far superior to Tiger. Perhaps because of the mask's concealment, he didn't leave his name on the divine ability ranking.

So, why did Huai Jiang appear in Tianxing City? If he had sensed the trap immediately, he would have had every chance to escape, but he didn't... This was too abnormal!

Moreover, possessing such Divine Ability, he couldn't possibly be a Loose Cultivator; he must have a deep background!

In the mask's space, besides some scattered spirit crystals, he didn't find any decent cultivation resources.

This was unreasonable!

The assets of a Peak Divine Power Realm Cultivator shouldn't be so meager!

Unless... there was still a Storage Ring he hadn't picked up.

Another thought flashed through his mind: "Huai Jiang... could he have been a decoy specifically aimed at that royal Star God? Could it be... he's not dead at all?!"

Suddenly!

A bone-chilling cold rose from his spine!

Zhang Sheng turned around abruptly—

He saw a pitch-black spatial crack silently tear open, and a Man in Black stepped slowly out of it!

In the nick of time!

"Soul-Startling Thorn! Go!"

Dozens of condensed mental spikes shot out instantly, piercing straight toward the Man in Black!

At the same time, Zhang Sheng grabbed the teleportation pearl and activated it frantically!

"Eh?" The Man in Black let out a playful laugh, "A mere Divine Breath Realm with such means? Interesting, truly interesting!"

However, no matter how much Mental Energy Zhang Sheng poured in, the teleportation pearl was like a dead object, not moving at all.

"Zhang Sheng, save your strength." The Man in Black's tone was teasing, "Don't even think about using a teleportation pearl to escape in front of a true Star God. Every Cultivator who normally breaks through to the Star God Realm has mastered at least Spatial True Intent."

Zhang Sheng decisively put away the teleportation pearl. Life and death were already within the other's thought; he immediately bowed, his tone respectful: "Are you... Senior Huai Jiang?"

"Oh?" The Man in Black seemed a bit surprised, "Kid, you're quite clever. But to be precise, that was just an Incarnation of mine."

Zhang Sheng steadied his mind: "I didn't know Senior Huai Jiang was visiting. What are your instructions?"

His bigger doubt was: how did the other party know his name and location so accurately?

"Kid, don't be nervous," Huai Jiang said casually.

"Being able to get my mask is fate. I know you're a new Ascendant, but your knowledge isn't shallow.

I ask you, in your view, how are these two prefectures of Azure Mist and Luoxia under the rule of the Song Kingdom?"

Zhang Sheng's heart tightened, knowing that if he answered one word wrong, he might die instantly. He spoke after careful consideration:

"Junior has been in the Upper Realm for only a short time, but from what I've seen... taxes are too heavy, displaced people are everywhere, and slaves are countless. Most Cultivators only struggle to survive; it's hard to talk about progress."

Hearing this, Huai Jiang's voice lowered a bit:

"Then let me tell you, in the past thousand years, within the Song Kingdom, a 'Bloodthirsty Soul-Devouring Void-Locking Grand Array' of the scale of Tianxing City has broken out exactly eleven times!

And the Song Kingdom Royal Family... just happened to add eleven new Star God Realm Experts during these thousand years. Is this... a coincidence?"

Boom!

Zhang Sheng felt a chill rush straight to his crown, and the hair on his body stood on end!

He blurted out: "My Lord! Could it be... all for the sake of refining 'god-stealing pills'?

Could it be... that they can't normally break through to the Star God Realm?"

"Oh? You actually know about god-stealing pills?" Huai Jiang seemed even more interested.

"Normal Breakthrough? Of course they want to! Unfortunately... I'm afraid they haven't been able to do it for a long time!" He turned his back, his voice carrying a bone-chilling cold.

"All these years, for the sake of god-stealing pills, how many Ascendant Cultivators has the Song Kingdom Royal Family harmed! The sins they've committed go far beyond this."

Zhang Sheng suppressed his churning emotions and asked, "My Lord, is there... no power that can sanction the Song Kingdom?"

Huai Jiang gave a low, cold laugh:

"Am I not that power? If you don't believe my words today, you can verify them yourself in the future.

Originally, I was going to wipe you out conveniently... but someone mentioned you to me.

A mere Divine Breath Realm, yet with extraordinary combat power. Now, I officially invite you—join the World Awakening Alliance!"

"No need to rush to answer. I'll give you a year to consider."

Huai Jiang pointed his finger in the air, and an invisible mental imprint was pulled out of the mask on Zhang Sheng's face.

"This monkey face mask is yours now. It's... a good thing." Zhang Sheng suddenly felt the mask become lighter, as if some kind of restraint had been lifted.

The spatial crack behind Huai Jiang opened again.

He stepped into it, while tossing out an ancient communication jade slip.

"Zhang Sheng, if you decide to join the World Awakening Alliance within a year, contact me through this Jade Slip.

The person holding the other Jade Slip will naturally notify me. Of course..." Huai Jiang's figure faded rapidly in the crack, and his final voice came through.

"You can also use it to call for help. Only... at that time, you will have to pay a corresponding price."

As soon as he finished speaking, the spatial crack closed, and Huai Jiang's aura completely vanished.

Zhang Sheng took a long, silent breath, as if to suppress the shock in his chest.

He quickly put the Jade Slip into his storage ring, and his Divine Sense surged out like a tide, instantly covering a thousand miles!

After confirming that no abnormal aura remained, he slowly exhaled that turbid breath, and his tensed nerves finally relaxed a bit.