Chapter 1288: Letdown
“That reckless kid!” Han Wanrong couldn’t help but mutter a curse.
Fixing him with an exasperated stare, she attempted to change his mind by sending him a wisp of her soul will.
POOPH!
However, as soon as that wisp of her soul will made contact with the glowing sphere, it was torn to shreds by its twisting power.
Han Wanrong let out a muffled groan, her eyes flickering slightly. Only now did she know why the Saint domain experts who had attempted to examine him with their soul awareness had seemed so frustrated afterwards.
Xin Qing sighed in frustration. “Our sect’s crisis would have ended if he had simply nodded yes!”
Han Wanrong fixed Nie Tian with an angry look from afar. “Exactly. Dozens of powerful sects and clans, a large number of Saint domain experts united as one... Even the Shadow Society and the Remote Beginning Heavenly Sect wouldn’t want to face them in battle! Not to mention that our Vice Sectmaster Chu Rui and Luo Wanxiang are still alive!”
Xin Qing chimed in. “Don’t forget there’s still Yu Suying, Yin Xingtian, and Mo Qianfan.”
After a quick assessment, they were convinced that the power that was currently at Nie Tian’s command, together with those Saint domain experts, would definitely bring the Shadow Society and the Remote Beginning Heavenly Sect to awe.
Unfortunately, Nie Tian refused to be flexible.
“Please return to your homes.” Nie Tian’s cold voice came from the depths of the glorious sphere. “We can take care of our own problems over time. As for your breakthroughs into the God domain, you’ll need to figure out other solutions. They’re not my concern.”
Like this, he coldly refused everyone who had played it by ear, instead of placing their bets on him before seeing favorable odds.
He even refused Zhang Qiling and Li Wanfa, without sugarcoating his refusals at all.
“Aihh...”
Zhang Qiling from the Heavenly Spirit Sect let out a deep sigh and started flying away from the glowing sphere in frustration.
As he flew past Yin Xingtian, he stopped to say with an envious tone, “Patriarch Yin, I’ve got say that you have an eye for true talent. I should have asked to follow Nie Tian like you did in the Domain of Primal Yang. That way, I’d have major assistance when I attempt to break through into the God domain.”
Face expressionless, Yin Xingtian said, “I told you so, but you didn’t listen.
At this moment, Li Wanfa flew over. He nodded and said, “That was shortsighted of us. We missed the best opportunity to befriend Nie Tian. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have to be refused by him now.”
“It’s good that you understand that,” Yin Xingtian said, his face still expressionless.
Many Saint domain experts from various domains went on to implore Nie Tian shamelessly, hoping he would change his mind.
“Would you reconsider my offer, Nie Tian?”
“My sect has three Saint domain experts! And our reserve power is rather profound! I’m sure we can provide you with the help you need.”
“Nie Tian, our domain is rich in Star Stones and Star Iron. You’re a Son of the Stars. They’ll be useful when you make future breakthroughs in your cultivation.”
“You’re a young man, Nie Tian. Our domain is known for our peerless, gorgeous women. Why don’t you come take a look with me...?”
“Shameless!” Dong Li spat.
“Please return to your homes,” Nie Tian said, starting to lose his patience. “I have yet to stabilize my domain. I don’t want to waste my breath with you anymore.”
With these words, before those people could say anything, he controlled his glorious energy sphere to slowly move away from the sun where Zu Guangyao had made his breakthrough.
As soon as he moved, the swarm of Saint domain experts hastily backed away, fearing that the violent magnetic field would touch them.
Before long, the glorious glowing sphere flew off to an empty area, where it resumed absorbing mixed energies from the dim starry river.
Due to the condensation of his star, flame, and wood domains, Nie Tian was now half way through to the Void domain.
However, he still needed to try to draw power from his domains with his true soul and further refine his powers.
The ability to release and withdraw one’s domain freely marked the stabilization of one’s cultivation base. He already knew how to release them now, but still had yet to learn to withdraw them.
After hesitating for quite a while, Han Wanrong from the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace flew over. Smiling, she appealed to the crowd of experts, “Time to leave, everyone. But you know, nothing is unchangeable. Even though Nie Tian turned you down this time, perhaps he’ll change his mind in the future. It’ll all depend on how you treat this.”
Xin Qing chimed in. “Everything in this world is negotiable, as long as you have enough to bargain with!”
After hearing these words, the disappointed sect and clan leaders pondered briefly, and their knitted brows relaxed.
Some quick-minded expert then made Dong Li their target. Full of smiles, they approached her and said, “Miss Dong, right?
“I heard that you practice dark power. There’s this unique place in my domain that has a rich dark power spirit stone reserve! If you’re interested, you’re most welcome to visit our domain.”
Dong Li was speechless.
Many Saint domain experts lingered to play up to Dong Li and the others, hoping that they could win Nie Tian’s favor through them.
Some even came up with other ideas.
They left in a haste only to teleport to the Realm of Flame Heaven and the Realm of Shattered Earth to work with Nie Donghai, Nie Qian and other members of the Nie Clan.
It wasn’t very long before the Domain of Heaven Python, the Domain of Heaven’s Boundaries, and the Domain of the Falling Stars became the busiest places throughout the human domains.
Members of the Nie Clan, the Dong Clan, and the Beast-controlling Sect became targets that numerous Saint domain experts made up to.
All those who had connections to Nie Tian, no matter how remote, were given great significance. The Saint domain experts sent their subordinates and disciples to cozy up to them.
Their strategy was to start with the little people and things, and slowly work their way up.
Naturally, word of Nie Tian defeating Song Chequan in the Domain of Jade Heaven, destroying the Realm of Jade Billows, and helping Zu Guangyao enter the God domain traveled through the human domains at a shockingly fast speed.
Even the Five Elements Sect, the Void Spirit Society, and the Heaven Span Pavilion were astounded by the news.
Godmaker!
This became another nickname of Nie Tian’s after Star of Calamities, attracting worldwide attention to him once again.
Disciples of the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace in the Realm of Fragmentary Star and its many subordinate realms were all thrilled to hear this.
At this moment of peril, it was Nie Tian’s heroic undertakings that ignited the flames of hope in their hearts, and fanned them fiercer and fiercer.
“The seventh Son of the Stars severely injured Song Chequan and helped Elder Zu Guangyao break through into the God domain!”
“Even Heaven didn’t want to see our sect wither and fall!”
“Nie Tian has achieved even more than our Lord of the Stars when he was his age! Ji Cang was far less impressive than Nie Tian when he was at the Void domain!”
“There’s no question as to who will be the next Lord of the Stars now!”
Almost every disciple of the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace acknowledged Nie Tian’s new status, and deemed that he was the only one that was fit to become the next Lord of the Stars!
...
In the Realm of Heavenly Scales.
A magnificent palace that was identical to that in the Realm of Split Void was channeling power from the stars in the heavens through its dome.
Star power streamed down into the palace like rivers of fragmentary diamonds.
SHEW!
A dazzling star suddenly shot through the dome of the palace to shine blindingly high in the sky.
Moments later, the star morphed into a streak of starlight that flew across the sky, weaving into a glorious and mysterious river of stars.
Many Qi warriors gathered from different parts of the Realm of Heavenly Scales, cheering as they did.
“It’s the Heavenly Stellar Stream, a level three Immortal grade divine tool!”
“Our master made the breakthrough!”
“Our master finally broke through into the Saint domain!”
WHOOSH!
The sixth Son of the Stars, Sikong Cuo slowly rose into the sky through the dome of the palace to bathe in the starlight that sprayed from the divine tool that looked like a river of stars.
His newly-forged domain magically merged with his divine tool, the Heavenly Stellar Stream. Like a nebula filled with countless stars, they emanated starlight that was both pure and fierce.
As an ethereal, ancient, and profound aura spread out from his domain, he seemed increasingly formidable.
Having just entered the Saint domain and holding a third level Immortal grade divine tool, Sikong Cuo seemed to be in high spirits and full of vigor as he channeled streaks of starlight with casual moves of his hands. In a loud voice, he asked, “What’s the situation with the sect? Anything major happen while I was in secluded cultivation?”
As soon as he asked the question, he discovered that everyone cooled down from their excitement and elation.
Everyone fell silent.
“Zou Qing!” Sikong Cuo shouted angrily. “Speak up!”
Zou Qing, who was at the late Saint domain and well-versed in lightning incantations, sagged his head and said in a low voice, “The sect went through many major changes while you were in secluded cultivation. We’re now in a perilous time. The sect could fall at any moment...”
Bit by bit, he explained the major incidents that had happened to the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace recently to Sikong Cuo.
After he mentioned that Nie Tian had dealt a heavy blow to the Remote Beginning Heavenly Sect, massacred enemies in the Domain of Spirit Sea and the Domain of Dark Marsh, severely injured Song Chequan in the Domain of Jade Heaven, destroyed the Realm of Jade Billows, and helped Zu Guangyao break through into the God domain, even Sikong Cuo fell silent.
Hearing Nie Tian’s unimaginable contributions, Zou Qing and his other subordinates rapidly cooled from the elation of Sikong Cuo breaking through into the Saint domain.
Deep down, all of these subordinates had realized that Sikong Cuo no longer stood a chance in the competition for the position of the Lord of the Stars.
“Even you don’t think I have a chance anymore?” Sikong Cuo bellowed. “No matter how impressive he seems, what cultivation base is he at? Void domain! He just entered the Void domain!
“And me? I’ve stepped into the Saint domain! And my Heavenly Stellar Stream, a level three Immortal grade divine tool, has completely merged with my domain!
“Plus, I still have Vice Sectmaster Luo Wanxiang’s resolute support!
“I can’t believe you actually think I’ll lose!”
As he ranted on like a madman, Zou Qing and the others remained silent. However, they contradicted him inwardly.
“Isn’t the Heavenly Stellar Stream a divine tool Nie Tian won back from the Demons by defeating Ophelia?”
“If Elder Mo Heng hadn’t proposed that deal with Luo Wanxiang, how would the Heavenly Stellar Stream have gone to you? Without it, how could you have entered the Saint domain so soon?”
“Times have changed. You’re no longer the brightest star of the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace.”
“Perhaps you need to wake up to the truth, and back out of the competition against Nie Tian for the position of Lord of the Stars. Only that way will you and we have a future.”
Numerous thoughts entered Zou Qing and the others’ minds. However, knowing Sikong Cuo’s hot temper, no one dared to give voice to them.
“Return to Fragmentary Star City with me!” Sikong Cuo shouted, sounding a bit hysterical. “The Shadow Society and the Remote Beginning Heavenly Sect have lain siege to our sect. A final battle can break out at any moment! I’ll prove myself in this battle that will determine the course of this war! The future of our sect lies with me, not Nie Tian, not anyone!”