“Anybody else wants to leave? If you do, just go ahead. I will not stop you,” Chen Feng said with a smile.
The Ascendant Immortals did think about leaving, but when they saw the smile on Chen Feng"s face and the careless look of ridicule on Heavenly Premier Absolute"s team of three, they held back.
“Island Lord Chen, Green Lotus has that temper. Please don"t be offended by it.” Patriarch Carefree had the best temperament there, but his words immediately brought about the contempt from the others. They could not understand his actions. No matter how you cut it, Patriarch Carefree was still an Ascendant Immortal. To think that he would put on such a humble and submissive att.i.tude.
Seeing the way the others were looking at him, Patriarch Carefree lamented somewhat. However, he had a feeling that Chen Feng was no ordinary character. There must surely be a reason behind his actions today. All else aside, just this Great Heavenstealing Array was not something that the average Ascendant Immortal could come up with. Steal immortal energy from the Immortal Plane? Should the Immortal Plane find out about this, he can forget about ascending in the future. Chen Feng would likely be killed on the spot.
Due to that, Patriarch Carefree decided to listen to what Chen Feng had to say. Besides, he had already received some benefits here. So what if others wanted to mock him a little? While some may consider reputation as more important than their lives, there were also some who did not care about it.
“It"s fine. Having a temper is a good thing. Only, after Green Mountain Pavilion meets its destruction, I hope he still has a temper on him,” Chen Feng said smilingly.
“Chen Feng, you want to take action against Green Mountain Pavilion?” Ascendant Immortal Blackmalice said, his voice taking on a somewhat insidious tone.
Chen Feng ignored the question. Instead, he sent a secret vocal transmission to the others. Next, Heavenly Premier Eternal and the others released a portion of their auras. Although they did not appear in person, although there was a distance of half a million kilometres between them, all the cultivators there could sense it.
“Ascendant Immortals! So many Ascendant Immortals! No, they are mid-level Ascendant Immortals!” Patriarch Carefree and the others nearly jumped to their feet.
“There is also a yao power that"s even stronger than that. It feels as though this aura has surpa.s.sed the mid-level Ascendant Immortal stage.”
Everyone there exchanged glances, shocked to realize that East Dragon Island would possess such a formidable power.
Earlier, a total of 10 different auras had spread out. In addition to the nine Ascendant Immortals, there was also the Dark Kirin, whom Chen Feng had just recently rescued. He possessed the strongest cultivation base amongst those cultivators there.
After getting through their feelings of shock, the Ascendant Immortals then became more accommodating. That included those who had been feeling somewhat arrogant and displeased with Chen Feng.
At the end of it all, the world of cultivation respected power. Since East Dragon Island possessed such a powerful force, it was no wonder than Chen Feng would put on such a display of arrogance.
“In truth, if I want to take action against all of you, can you all – even if you are all united – do anything?” Chen Feng said nonchalantly.
“Ha ha ha! We"ve broadened our horizons today. I believe that Green Lotus will surely regret his decision to leave today.” Patriarch Carefree laughed.
“That"s right! Patriarch Carefree"s words make sense. Green Lotus had indeed gone overboard earlier.” This time, the one who spoke up was Patriarch Rocky, from Earthen Imperial Sect.
“Island Lord Chen, please continue.”
Seeing Heavenly Premier Absolute and the others simply standing beside Chen Feng and not speaking, they all knew that Chen Feng was the one in charge here.
“Earlier, I mentioned that the Immortal Plane is supporting Heavenly Firmaments Palace. Its objective is the unification of Eternal World. As for why, I have yet to figure that out,” Chen Feng then said.
“The support of the Immortal Plane and the unification of Eternal World. This is a problem.” Some of them began revealing grim looks. There were none who wished to be annexed by others, especially not these first-rate forces with legacies of over tens of thousands of years.
“In addition to the support of the Immortal Plane, Heavenly Firmaments Palace is also supported by other forces. One of them is a Demon Emperor from the Demon Plane.”
“A Demon Emperor? That"s a True Immortal!” Hearing that, everyone fell into a state of true panic.
Although there was the intervention of the Immortal Plane, it was a place with rules and restrictions, after all. Besides, in their opinion, the Immortal Plane was an orthodox power. Thus, if it really came down to it, there should be room for negotiation. But that was no longer the case. Even the Demon Plane had interfered. Not to mention, it was a Demon Emperor. This was a problem.
“How could a True Immortal come here? Even if this True Immortal did come, he should not be able to exert his full power, right?”
“Heavenly Firmaments Palace formed a relations.h.i.+p with both the Immortal Plane and the Demon Plane? Is that even possible?”
“Maybe Heavenly Firmaments Palace is openly forming a relations.h.i.+p with the Immortal Plane while secretly allying with the Demon Plane.”
The Ascendant Immortals began discussing the issue. Some believed it while some did not.
“Well then. That"s the situation. In order to deal with what"s coming next, I decided to risk utilizing a Heavenstealing Technique to extract immortal energy from the Immortal Plane to strengthen my forces. As for whether or not you fellows are willing to trust me on this, that is up to you all. If anyone here wants to leave, there is still time for you to do so. However, if you wait until you get all the benefits before cutting ties with East Dragon Island… Heh! All else aside, just the Ascendant Immortals on our side are enough to wipe out your sects,” Chen Feng said with a smile.
The 11 Ascendant Immortals there fell silent. They began to secretly discuss the issue.
“Ha ha ha! Naturally, I believe Island Lord Chen"s words. My Sima Family has been cultivating here in East Dragon Island for so long now. Quitting now is impossible for us.” Patriarch Carefree was the first to speak up.
“Quitting at this juncture? We"ll become a laughing stock!” Patriarch Heavenly Yang said.
“Ha ha ha! My Quicksand Pavilion will be in your care, Island Lord Chen.”
“My Profound Nether Sect will not be leaving.”
“I believe Island Lord Chen"s words.”
Chen Feng had a.s.sumed that at least one or two of the 11 Ascendant Immortals there would leave. Unexpectedly, all 11 decided to stay. Truth be told, it was only normal. East Dragon Island had already given a formidable show of might. Killing them all was a piece of cake for East Dragon Island. Besides, the Four Great Academies and Heavenly Sword Faction had already allied themselves with East Dragon Island. Thus, they were willing to believe Chen Feng"s words.
“Since all of you have decided to ally with East Dragon Island, I will not treat you all badly. Next up, I will once again utilize the magic array to steal some immortal dao laws from the Immortal Plane. What happens next will depend on your luck,” Chen Feng said smilingly.
Hearing that, they all grinned happily. At the very least, the immediate benefits were very real.
Another 10 days went by. By then, Chen Feng had sensed – through the Longevity Tower – that the Immortal Plane would be taking action. At the same time, the concentration of the immortal energy in East Dragon Island had reached an unbelievable level. In some places, the concentration was so high that they transformed into moist vapour. By Chen Feng"s estimate, even if he were to stop the magic array now, the immortal energy the magic array had extracted would be able to last them for 100 years, maybe longer. Additionally, due to the fact that it was immortal energy, some of the terrains there had transformed. The indirect effects of these transformations on the surrounding ocean region could last for up to 1,000 years.
It had become a true paradise. It would not be an exaggeration to say that East Dragon Island had become the best place for cultivation in all of Eternal World.
No one had dared attempt something like this before, after all. For the cultivators of Eternal World, this action was one that defied Heaven.
“It"s more or less enough,” Bi Qing finally said.
“If you stop now, I think the Immortal Plane will not take action. At any rate, the Immortal Plane is a very big place. It will not take action because of something so minor.”
“Not necessarily. I can already sense danger. It is likely that the Immortal Plane is gathering its strength.”
“Utilizing a Heavenstealing Technique is a dangerous act in itself. It is only normal to feel danger.”
“I"m not satisfied with just absorbing some immortal energy. Let me test the bottom line of the Immortal Plane.” After saying that, Chen Feng then gently pressed his hand against the Longevity Tower. Next, the 100,000 great arrays inside the Longevity Tower became fully operational. With so much immortal energy fuelling it, the amount of power that the Longevity Tower can exert rose.
The 36 Immortal artifacts thrummed and the pa.s.sageway connecting East Dragon Island with the Immortal Plane shrank by half. However, its power only grew stronger. Like an illusion, the cultivators there felt as though the Immortal Plane was shaking.
Following that, even more concentrated streams of immortal energy descended. There were even Heavenly Flower Talismans mixed within them. Some normal ocean creatures, upon obtaining the Heavenly Flower Talismans, instantly developed wisdom and began cultivating themselves right there in the ocean. Naturally, more of them helped the cultivators there make breakthroughs and their strength rose by leaps and bounds.
“You dare?!”
A thunderous shout came down from the Immortal Plane, giving everyone there a bout of dizziness. Even the pa.s.sageway shook somewhat from that.
“Finally, there is a reaction. However, it is a cultivator from the Lightning Plane. There is no need to pay any heed to it,” Chen Feng said. Even so, his face had turned grim. The majestic might within the thunderous shout earlier was clearly that of a True Immortal.
“Get ready.” Bi Qing brought out his sword and began gathering his power. Seeing that, Patriarch Heavenly Sword and Heavenly Premier Absolute had wanted to step forward as well, only for Bi Qing to persuade them back. The two of them then led the other Ascendant Immortals far away. This was the most dangerous moment. Any mistake could lead to them ascending to the Immortal Plane.
More Heavenly Flower Talismans descended. Losing the immortal energy could be considered as nothing for the Immortal Plane, but the Heavenly Flower Talismans descending and scattering away was the equivalent of having the Immortal Plane bleed. Any longer and immortal dao laws might descend as well. That was the equivalent of infringing upon the foundation of the Immortal Plane. It was the equivalent of extracting Eternal World"s essence power.
A mote of lightning radiance erupted, bringing with it a rumbling sound. Next, a mighty-looking cultivator stepped out from the lightning radiance. With a great halberd in hand, his entire being surged with power and he exuded a formidable and lofty demeanour. His eyes shone with lightning radiance and his figure brought about an extremely awe-inspiring presence. Everywhere his gaze went, s.p.a.ce would shake.
“The clone of a True Immortal. He is someone from the Lightning Plane. What a loyal minion of the Immortal Plane,” Bi Qing said, his figure flas.h.i.+ng forward. A sword beam then slashed through s.p.a.ce as it charged towards this newcomer.
“You dare challenge the might of the Immortal Plane? Die!” Lightning radiance shone with a dazzling quality while thunder rumbled as this newcomer fought Bi Qing.
“Why is it only some Heavenly Flower Talismans? Items like these can only strengthen low-level cultivators. I need the immortal dao laws.” Chen Feng was feeling anxious as well. An official intervention from the Immortal Plane meant that he would have to stop extracting immortal energy.
“Don"t rush me! I am locking down the objectives!” Seeing Chen Feng"s display of anxiousness, Tower could not stop himself from retorting.
Hearing those words, Chen Feng then grew somewhat relieved. The immortal energy and Heavenly Flower Talismans they had extracted were only helpful to those beneath the Human Immortal stage. In order to greatly strengthen Human Immortals and Earthen Immortals, they would have to get their hands on immortal dao laws.
“Done!”
Tower suddenly shouted and Chen Feng saw several streams of golden light flowing over from the void and into the Longevity Tower.
“Nine immortal dao laws!” Chen Feng grew delighted. Next, however, he said, “But isn"t this too little?”
1 li = 0.5 km