Although this was the first time Ling Xiao had come to the Heavenly Region Fortress, he did not know that he was already on the list.
This was because the owner of the Ghost Mother Demon Array that was set up under Wind Cloud City was in the Heavenly Region Fortress.
Back then, when the demon array was broken by Ling Xiao, the owner of this place flew into a rage and posted Ling Xiao's appearance in the Heavenly Region Fortress. If anyone discovered that Ling Xiao was here, whoever caught him would be rewarded handsomely.
Back then, the owner of the Ghost Mother Demon Array had issued this mission out of anger. One had to know that Ling Xiao was only a Heavenly Venerable at that time. If he wanted to come to the Heavenly Region Fortress from a place where spirit energy was scarce, it would undoubtedly be as difficult as ascending to the heavens. Perhaps it would take thousands of years.
However, the mission had already been issued, and it was not good to take it back. Thus, it was left there. In any case, no one could complete the mission, and there was no need to pay the reward.
Of course, Ling Xiao did not know about this situation. He brought the three of them along the spacious official road, planning to look around and find someone to understand the situation here.
However, before they had the chance to understand the situation, they immediately realized that they were being followed by someone.
"We're being watched!" Yurou Fei transmitted a message to Ling Xiao to remind him.
Ling Xiao had long sensed it and nodded. "En, let's see what they want first!"
"They dare to come and find trouble with this little strength?
Truly reckless! "Feng Qingyuan was extremely disdainful.
They all sensed that the person following them was not particularly strong. He was only at the Mystic Thearch Realm.
This kind of strength would be considered a super expert in the Middle Region. However, in their eyes, it was not even worth mentioning.
Those people were obviously unable to see through Ling Xiao and company's strength. They only saw that they were so young and did not have much to worry about.
There were more than ten people on the other side. They quickly surrounded Ling Xiao and company. The leader, the high-level Mystic Thearch, said, "I have something to say to you. Please follow us!"
His words were polite, but it was filled with killing intent and did not allow anyone to refuse!
Sha Tian wanted to immediately deal with these people, but Ling Xiao stopped him with a hand gesture.
"Yes, you do have something to say to us!"
Ling Xiao gently nodded. His eyes shone brightly as he forcefully sent his mental energy into the man's sea of knowledge.
After the Mystic Thearch's expression became slightly sluggish, he respectfully led Ling Xiao and the others in a certain direction.
They arrived at a decent manor. The rest of the people were left outside by the Mystic Thearch. Ling Xiao and company swaggered into the hall and sat down.
"You can tell us now. Why did you look for us?" Ling Xiao asked the Xuan Thearch.
The man replied honestly, "It's because the Mercenary Alliance has issued a mission related to you. Capturing you will give you a pot of Spring Water of Life and fifty million high-grade profound crystals."
"Oh? Just who would be so generous to actually want this consort's life?" Ling Xiao asked in surprise.
He had only just arrived at the Empyrean Stronghold, but he was already being targeted by an imaginary enemy. This was not good news at all.
"It's a mission from the Ghastly Puppet Sect, one of the four great forces!" Emperor Xuan replied.
"Ghastly Puppet Sect?
Tell me everything you know in detail! "Ling Xiao asked doubtfully.
Immediately after, Emperor Xuan roughly explained the distribution of the Ghastly Puppet Sect and the other forces.
The Ghastly Puppet Sect was only the weakest of the four great forces in the Empyrean Stronghold. However, its sect was mysterious and evil, and it specialized in refining puppets and corpse demons to survive.
The other three great forces were the Myriad Sword Sect, the Yang family, and the Hundred Alliance Race. There were also many other small and large forces scattered all over the place.
Based on his understanding, the area of the Empyrean Stronghold was actually two to three times larger than the Profound Spirit Sect, and the strength of the various great powers was also extremely strong. For example, the Holy Emperor, who was the first person to be abandoned in the Heaven Realm, was present in these four great powers.
After tens of thousands of years of development, they were already at the top, and no one dared to challenge their position.
The Myriad Sword Sect lived up to its name, and everyone in the sect used swords. It was the strongest of the four great powers, and the Yang family was a member of a branch of a super power in the Heaven Realm. They had a noble bloodline, and even though they were abandoned, they were still doing well here. As for the Hundred Alliance Race, it was a large force formed by dozens of families. When facing a foreign enemy, they would form an alliance, and normally, they would have nothing to do with each other.
"Then is there a force called the Lotus Sect among so many forces?
It's the person with a lotus flower between his eyebrows! "Ling Xiao asked the Emperor Xuan after listening.
This was related to Yun Mengqi's whereabouts, so Ling Xiao had no choice but to keep it in mind.
When the Emperor Xuan heard this, he revealed a look of respect and said, "The people from the Lotus Sect in our Empyrean Stronghold are long gone. They have all returned to the Heaven Realm. If they didn't leave, they wouldn't be any weaker than the four great powers."
"What? They returned to the Heaven Realm?
What's going on? "Ling Xiao asked nervously.
"I'm not too sure about the specifics. I just heard that a Divine Body was born in their generation. After that, their bishop found out and brought them all back to the Heaven Realm!" The Emperor Xuan said.
"So that's how it is!" Ling Xiao muttered, and then asked a lot of related questions.
In the end, he only knew that there were countless big powers in the Heaven Realm, and the space there was hundreds of times more than here. There were even real gods.
Hearing this, Ling Xiao and the others were all in a daze!
However, the Mystic Thearch added that he had only read about it in some ancient records and had never actually been to the Heaven Region. The truth had yet to be verified.
However, the valuable information that Ling Xiao received was that in about half a year, the annual opening of the Heavenly Array would only allow a hundred people to enter.
Every year, the competition for the slots for the Heaven Connecting Formation was extremely intense. Saints and even Saint Kings from various forces would participate. Many young prodigies would head to the Heaven Region to improve themselves. There were also many people who were unwilling to stay in the Heaven Region Strongholds and would fight for the slots.
Therefore, every year, at that time, the Heavenly Array would be filled with rivers of blood and corpses. Without a certain level of strength, anyone who went would only die!
"With so few spots, it seems like we have to be fully prepared!" Ling Xiao pondered.
If the Holy Emperor were to join the Heavenly Array, then everything would be different.
With their combined strength, it would be difficult for them to be a match for any of the Holy Emperor!
"Then what do you think we should do?" Yurou Fei asked Ling Xiao.
She was already his woman, and now she would listen to this enemy's arrangements.
"Increase your strength. Only the Holy Emperor can firmly take the top 100 spots!" Ling Xiao's dragon eyes revealed a bright light.
"With Rou Fei and Sha Tian's strength, they both have a chance to advance to the Holy Emperor. However, I'm afraid it won't be easy to break through in just half a year!" Feng Qingyuan said from the side.
"Master's wife, don't worry. With me here, they will definitely succeed. I will refine a Saint Pellet for you so that you can advance further!" Ling Xiao said with certainty.
"Don't worry about me. With the Wind Stabilizing Stone, I am confident that I can advance further in half a year. Back then, your master left me some things, which will be of great use now!" Feng Qingyuan replied.
"Master is truly biased. Back then, he didn't leave anything for me!" Ling Xiao said gloomily.
"Your master is also doing this for your own good. He is afraid that you will rely too much on external forces and shake your foundation!" Feng Qingyuan said.
"How do we deal with the Yin Puppet Sect?" Yurou Fei asked.
"Ignore it for now. I still don't know what's going on. No matter how many of them come, I will kill them all. As long as the Holy Emperor doesn't make a move!" Ling Xiao said.
In the following days, Ling Xiao and the rest did not leave the city for the time being.
He instructed Sha Tian and the Emperor Xuan to purchase all sorts of high level spirit herbs and Tier 8 Beast Cores.
Ling Xiao had to be completely prepared before he planned to rush to the Heaven Connecting Formation.
Yurou Fei and Feng Qingyuan, on the other hand, were focused on cultivation. The two girls had obtained Saint Treasures of the corresponding attributes when they passed through the nine checkpoints, which would allow their strength to increase once again.
Ling Xiao took the opportunity to call Xuan Yao out. He had to know what to do next in order to be safe.
Right now, Xuan Yao had already successfully broken through to the low level Emperor Xuan cultivation. With the help of Ling Xiao's supreme grade Emperor Xuan Pellet, his strength had increased by another level.
"Fraud, quickly make a few divination and see if this trip will be good or bad." Ling Xiao said to Xuan Yao.
"Palace Mistress, when did you believe in this? Didn't you say that my little skill was a lie?" Xuan Yao smiled faintly.
"Enough with the nonsense. This is the first time I've come to the Empyrean Fortress, and I've already been targeted. There's a Saint Emperor there. I just want to know when I've gotten myself into such trouble. Could it be that there's someone here who looks like me and I've fallen into the wrong trap?"
"Palace Mistress, don't be anxious. Whether it's a blessing or a curse, we can't avoid it. Let me take a look!"
Xuan Yao comforted him and took out something that looked like a turtle shell. He took it out and shook it a few times before opening it.
Xuan Yao muttered to himself as he looked at the direction of the divination. His brows gradually furrowed.
Ling Xiao asked worriedly, "How is it?"
"The main danger is the Yin Demon, located in the Big Dipper, and there's a Heavenly Demon acting violently. The Star Blood is opened. This is a sign of great misfortune!" Xuan Yao said very seriously.
"Yin Demon, Heavenly Demon?
What's that? "Ling Xiao asked confusedly. He didn't know why, but he had a bad feeling in his heart.
Ever since he started cultivating, he had faced countless life and death battles. This was the first time he felt uneasy.
"I might know who this Yin Demon is. This Heavenly Demon is a malefic star that descended from the heavens. Wherever he appears, blood will flow like a river. His baleful aura is very heavy. I don't know who he is, but I'm sure he's with the Yin Demon. However, according to the divination, the Heavenly Demon is still under the Yin Demon. Maybe he hasn't fully grown yet!" Xuan Yao said.
"Then tell me who this Yin Demon is first." Ling Xiao asked.
He had made many enemies in the Central Region, but he really couldn't think of anyone he had offended in the Heavenly Region Stronghold.
"If I'm not wrong, this Yin Demon should be the owner of the Ghost Mother Demon Child Formation!" Xuan Yao said with certainty.
"The Demon Child Formation that was broken under Wind Cloud City?" Ling Xiao suddenly thought of the terrifying demon that had appeared twice.