33: Chapter 33 Cherry Blossom Country, Blood Church, Resurrection Talisman!
Sakura Sun Country.
It was located 6,372 kilometers away from the Northern Region, spanning nearly half of the Tianxuan Continent.
This was an island nation bordering the Endless Sea Region, with essentially no neighboring countries. The nations closest to Sakura Sun were separated by a demonic beast Desolate Realm stretching hundreds of miles...
Consequently, Sakura Sun suffered continuous invasions from sea demons. Sakura Sun Country desperately wanted to relocate from this island nation, but there was no surplus territory available for them inland...
Ten years ago, a mysterious and unpredictable master arrived in Sakura Sun Country.
That person was immensely powerful, consecutively instant-killing five Eighth Revolution Sakura Sun experts...
He proclaimed himself a being from the Upper Realm, the chosen one sent to save Sakura Sun from peril!
Since his appearance, Sakura Sun had never again suffered from sea demon invasions. Instead, Storm Country, which was somewhat close to Sakura Sun, experienced frequent demonic beast incursions...
Meanwhile, a terrorist organization calling itself the Blood Cult emerged as a sudden force worldwide. After that, demonic beast vortices began to appear rampantly across the globe. Essentially all major countries on the Tianxuan Continent had suffered losses because of them...
Sakura Sun Celestial Court Palace.
Beneath the main hall, there was an underground palace. Its crimson decor exuded an eerie and terrifying aura...
"How could this happen!"
The Pope was furious, sweeping all the cups and vessels in his hands to the floor. The sound of shattering echoed incessantly.
"That good-for-nothing who ruins everything!"
Seated on the imperial throne, the Pope's face was filled with rage, his mind replaying the scene from Blood Ferocity's eyes moments ago.
He had meticulously planned for so long under the Divine Emissary's guidance, all to plunge the Northern Region back into a Desolate Realm!
Then they would occupy this area, using demonic beast vortices to teleport all the released beasts away, legitimizing their claim to this inland territory!
But all of this was ruined by the sudden appearance of a Beast Tamer!
Moreover, what was worse, Blood Ferocity had summoned Sakura Sun's undead corpse demon just before his death!
This would invisibly bring immense pressure upon Sakura Sun Country!
Previously, major nations always attributed the appearance of demonic beast vortices to premeditated invasions by demonic beasts. But now, with the incident in the Northern Region and the appearance of Sakura Sun's corpse demon, those major nations were likely to connect the demonic beast invasions to Sakura Sun...
Even though it was originally their doing...
But previously, they operated from the shadows with sneak attacks. Being exposed so openly this time would greatly restrict the Blood Cult's future actions and completely expose Cult members operating abroad!
Only an hour after the Dragon Country's warrant was issued, nearly one-fifth of the Blood Cult members abroad had already been eliminated!
Furthermore, apart from Dragon Country, other nations also swiftly launched purging operations!
"Your Holiness, Storm Country has also initiated a complete lockdown..."
"Nanxiu Country as well..."
"Your Holiness, I want to go home..."
...
Dire reports kept coming from outside. In a fit of anger, the Pope severed external communications.
A figure walked slowly towards him. The aura emanating from that person was incredibly gentle, yet carried a faint chill, making it difficult for others to approach.
The newcomer was precisely the one who proclaimed himself a being from the Upper Realm.
"Divine Emissary, is this what you called saving my Sakura Sun? Ten years have passed, and we still haven't managed to move inland. Now, instead, we've become rats that everyone wants to exterminate!" the Pope said angrily.
That person, however, remained calm and said lightly, "But hasn't Sakura Sun been free from demonic disasters for these ten years? Moreover, Sakura Sun was never well-regarded to begin with."
Hearing this, the Pope instantly felt choked.
What he said wasn't wrong...
"Let them make trouble. This place will eventually become a land of slaves anyway..."
"Continue launching demonic beast vortices using the treasures I bestowed upon you. Don't worry about them coming to your door. The demonic beasts around Sakura Sun aren't just for show. They wouldn't go through such great trouble to bother you..."
The person's tone was gentle, as if the Pope's worries were utterly meaningless in his eyes. Even the young man from Blood Ferocity's memories, who commanded three terrifying beasts and withstood a punch from a half-step Saint Spirit Grade corpse demon, didn't cause the slightest ripple in his perception.
He snorted coldly, as if looking at a dead man.
...
Central Region, Imperial Capital Professional Association.
The Central Region was the core of Dragon Country.
The Central Region alone occupied the majority of Dragon Country's territory. There was no Regional Lord here.
The highest authority was an organization.
Imperial Capital Professional Association. At the enormous round table, twelve individuals sat upright with solemn expressions.
Every single person seated here was at least an Eighth Revolution peak expert, or even a Ninth Revolution powerhouse.
They were either deans of major martial academies, or core figures within the Professional Alliance and top-tier guilds and clans...
As Dragon Country's highest combat force, any one of them alone was sufficient to sweep through any of the four regions, truly capable of shattering an army single-handedly...
These twelve elders watched the footage replaying continuously at the center of the round table.
The divine might of that three-headed monarch's terrifying beasts was fully witnessed by the group.
Even they couldn't help but show admiration in their eyes.
"Three such terrifying monarchs... a young lad..."
"Could the prophecy from a thousand years ago be true?"
A thousand years ago, a Ninth Revolution Astrologer in Dragon Country once prophesied that a millennium later, forces from beyond the continent would invade Tianxuan, and Dragon Country would produce a savior to protect the nation in its peril...
It was precisely because of this prophecy that Dragon Country, together with the other five major nations, launched the Starry Sky Project!
Each country dispatched Ninth-Turn Experts annually to guard the starry sky, preventing invasions from forces beyond the continent...
In recent years, the powerhouses guarding the starry sky had indeed slain several Saint Spirit Grade Demonic Beasts attempting to enter Tianxuan through spatial rifts, but they also suffered heavy losses...
Basically, every Ninth-Turn Expert from each country who had guarded the starry sky carried hidden injuries, big or small...
This world was far more dangerous than what people currently saw...
But these matters were unknown to the common folk beneath the continent. Only those who had stepped into the transcendent realm knew of these things...
"In recent years, apart from extra-stellar demonic beasts, those old beings in the Endless Sea Region and the Menghala Desert have also started to stir..."
"The millennium deadline approaches, and we are also getting old. Who knows how many more years we can protect this Dragon Country..."
Time is a merciless carving knife. Even Professionals who have reached the Ninth Revolution merely have a few more decades of lifespan than ordinary people. They are still mortal flesh in the end...
Who knows if the legendary path to divinity truly exists?
"Isn't the Genius Battle about to begin? Why not arrange this year's trial mission in the Menghala Desert," a withered elder said calmly.
"Menghala? Isn't that a bit dangerous?"
Previously, being able to arrange the Genius Battle trial within a Desolate Realm was already considered extremely difficult, enough to scare away a large number of geniuses...
If placed in Menghala, one of the Four Death Zones, who knows how many would withdraw from the competition because of it...
"They have to face it eventually..."
For a moment, no one at the table spoke. Even beings like them needed thorough preparation to enter a Death Zone...
Sending a group of young people there...
It was indeed somewhat risky...
"Fine. On behalf of the Chu Clan, I agree. Tianxiong is always pestering me to take him there once. This time, let's grant his wish," a robust elder with graying temples spoke up.
Chu Tianxiong was a pillar among the younger generation in the Central Region.
At only twenty-three, he had reached the Eighth Revolution and had single-handedly accumulated kills of three quasi-monarch demonic beasts.
The sole predetermined participant for this Genius Battle!
"You seize every chance to show off your precious grandson. I've really had enough," a beautiful woman at the table said helplessly.
"If you had one, I wouldn't stop you from boasting either..." Chu Tianba, Clan Head of the Chu Clan, said with a smug face.
"Since the Chu Clan is taking the lead, my Imperial Capital Martial Academy naturally has no objections either," another elder spoke.
"In that case, let's set the final round in Menghala. We old-timers will keep a discreet watch then."
"As for a prize worthy of the occasion, let's bring out that item."
The leading elder spoke calmly, and everyone's expression changed in surprise.
Of course, everyone knew what 'that item' referred to.
Dragon Country's sole national treasure, usable only once...
Legendary for reviving the dead, regenerating flesh and bone, seizing souls...
resurrection divine talisman!
...
Chu Ran sat atop the high tower of Lin Feng City, enjoying the gentle evening breeze.
He didn't participate in the mopping-up operations because his beasts were too conspicuous.
The remaining rats hiding in the gutters could sense the presence of his beasts from hundreds of miles away.
Moreover, those left now were just some small-fry garbage at the Third or Fourth Turn, not worth Chu Ran going to great lengths.
Instead, they were more suitable for others who had been suppressed for so long to practice on...
They could also earn some merit to enhance their strength.
Chu Ran's contribution in the Northern Region battle was significant. Various factions had given him considerable rewards, still somewhat intending to recruit him. Even Qi Lin offered to hand over the position of Northern Region Lord to him, but Chu Ran refused them all.
His beasts couldn't stand idleness. The Desolate Realm, Death Zones—his beasts couldn't wait to unleash carnage...
As Chu Ran pondered, a prompt suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Eliminated foreign remnants, obtained Dragon Country merit.]
[In this mission, you eliminated a total of 13 Blood Cult agents, including Sixth Turn...]
[Received bounty reward: 890,000 Dragon Country merit points.]
Chu Ran was somewhat shocked by the sudden notification. He hadn't expected thesesmoothly kills made before the bounty was officially issued to count...
Dragon Mom is truly generous!
[Ding, you have a new invitation.]
He suddenly received an invitation, signed by the Imperial Capital Professional Association.
Although Chu Ran had never been to the Imperial Capital, he had heard of the name of Dragon Country's highest administrative body...
"View."
[The registration period for the Dragon Country Genius Battle has ended. You did not register. However, due to your outstanding combat prowess, you are hereby exceptionally invited to proceed directly to the semi-finals in the Imperial Capital, skipping the preliminary rounds...]
Chu Ran wasn't initially keen on going, but upon seeing the reward listed below, his eyes widened instantly...
[Champion Reward: resurrection divine talisman.]
[Effect: Resurrection.]
...
These two short words had already stirred a thousand waves in Chu Ran's heart...
Who could resist the temptation of resurrection?
At least Chu Ran couldn't. He clicked 'Accept' without hesitation!
...