When Liu Xi heard the words "Great Thousand Palace," the sharp glint in his eyes softened. He did not make things difficult for the old man before him—for the Great Thousand Palace was no ordinary force.
It was the foremost power of the entire Great Thousand Worlds, standing above even the Ancient Clans and countless other superpowers.
The previous Palace Master of the Great Thousand Palace, the Immortal Emperor himself, had sacrificed his life to seal the Heavenly Evil Monarch, earning the respect of all living beings.
According to the rules passed down since ancient times, nearly every Heavenly Sovereign in the Great Thousand Worlds had their name recorded within the Great Thousand Palace. Once their strength was verified, they would be recognized as a guest elder.
Those who broke through to the Saint Grade would become true Elders of the Palace. Unless the Great Thousand Worlds faced annihilation, neither the guest elders nor the elders were ever obligated to take action.
Thus, during times of peace, the Great Thousand Palace was merely a symbol. But when a great calamity arose, it had the power to unite the entire Great Thousand Worlds under one banner—becoming the undisputed first force of the realm.
Every being in the Great Thousand Worlds carried deep reverence for the organization that had always stood at the frontlines against the Extraterrestrial Evil Race.
Liu Xi stood in midair with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression calm and warm. "I wonder what business Senior Mo has with me?"
Relieved that Liu Xi's tone was no longer cold, Mo Feng finally let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. The pressure Liu Xi exuded earlier had made him feel as though his very existence could be erased at any moment.
Mo Feng had once been a peerless genius himself, but after countless battles against the outerworld races, his comrades had fallen one after another. Broken in spirit, he had turned to the bottle, never again making progress beyond the Spiritual Grade Heavenly Sovereign.
Looking at the young man before him—radiant, confident, and immeasurably powerful—Mo Feng sighed, touching the wine gourd at his waist. "Congratulations, Mister Qing Lian, on breaking through to the Immortal Grade. With such talent and youth, the Saint Grade is surely within reach."
His tone grew serious as he continued, "The Burning Heaven Continent is facing a new demonic calamity. The Great Thousand Palace cannot stand idly by. I and my fellow Demon Slayers have come to purge the fiends. Encountering you here and witnessing your breakthrough was… quite the surprise."
Liu Xi nodded slightly. The Great Thousand Palace always appeared wherever the demonic scourge emerged. Because of their constant vigilance, the Great Thousand Worlds had enjoyed peace for countless ages.
"The Great Thousand Palace truly lives up to its name," Liu Xi said with a faint smile.
Encouraged by Liu Xi's cordial attitude, Mo Feng cautiously broached the true purpose of his visit.
"Every Heavenly Sovereign within the Great Thousand Worlds leaves their record in the Great Thousand Palace," he said. "With your strength and clear background, would you be willing to join us as a guest elder?"
Liu Xi pondered silently.
Mo Feng went on, "Joining is not without benefits. Every guest elder receives a Demon Slayer Token. By slaying the Extraterrestrial Fiends, you may collect Demon Slayer Points. These can be exchanged for treasures within the Palace—divine arts, supreme artifacts, even one of the top twenty Sovereign Bodies can be redeemed, should you gather enough points."
"Moreover, a guest elder's status commands respect throughout the Great Thousand Worlds."
Liu Xi listened quietly. The rewards themselves meant little to him, but standing openly on the side of justice would make it easier to establish his footing in this world.
After a moment, he smiled. "Very well, I'll join."
Mo Feng's face brightened. "Splendid! Then please, offer a drop of blood. I will forge your Demon Slayer Token. Not every Demon Slayer is a guest elder, but every guest elder bears the name of a true Demon Slayer."
Liu Xi raised his finger. A tiny wound opened, and a droplet of gem-like blood floated forth, glowing softly as it drifted toward Mo Feng.
Mo Feng flicked his sleeve, releasing a ray of runic light that merged with the blood midair. In a flash of brilliance, a black token condensed, then shot toward Liu Xi's hand.
Mo Feng sighed in relief. The token was not only the Demon Slayer Order but also proof of one's rightful identity in the Great Thousand Worlds—those bearing it were guaranteed to be pure, free of outerworld corruption.
Liu Xi studied the token, noticing the crimson characters for "Demon Slayer" engraved upon it, and below them the words Low-Level Demon Slayer.
As he examined it, Mo Feng explained, "After killing an extraterrestrial fiend, crush a fragment of its demonic soul and inject it into the token. You will receive the corresponding points. The token is refined from your own blood—it recognizes only you. None else can use it."
Liu Xi nodded and stored it away in his spatial ring.
Mo Feng smiled. "Naturally, a man of your caliber is no ordinary Demon Slayer. Once this calamity ends, I will update your records at the Great Thousand Palace. You may also choose to keep certain details hidden for privacy."
"Understood," Liu Xi replied.
Mo Feng hesitated, then added, "One more matter. The Fire Spirit Clan that offended you—they've already paid the price. But... would you consider releasing their ancestor?"
The tale of the Fire Spirit Clan's fall had already spread across the Great Thousand Worlds. Countless cultivators had tried to free their sealed ancestor, only to discover that no one could destroy the ethereal azure lotus binding him.
Such power could only belong to Liu Xi.
With the Fire Spirit Clan now leaderless and divided, chaos brewed within their ranks.
Liu Xi raised an eyebrow. "I said ten years of sealing, and ten years it shall be. The time hasn't come—why should I release him?"
Mo Feng could only chuckle bitterly. It was true—the Fire Spirit Clan had brought this upon themselves. At least Liu Xi hadn't killed the old ancestor; he had merely sealed him.
Still, the clan's decline was irreversible. Even if their ancestor returned one day, he'd no longer be able to face Liu Xi.
"Then I shall not press further," Mo Feng said, then added with a grave expression, "But Mister Qing Lian should remain cautious of the Ancient Maha Clan. The Fire Spirit Clan was their vassal, and their leader, Maha Tian, seems intent on recruiting you..."
Liu Xi's eyes flickered with surprise, then amusement. "Maha Tian, is it? Ambitious indeed... but I am not someone the Maha Clan can bind."
"Understood." Mo Feng nodded, his respect deepening. "Now that you are a guest elder of the Great Thousand Palace, we can handle any negotiations on your behalf. The demonic calamity is near—let us talk as we travel."
"Very well," Liu Xi replied with a smile.
(End of Chapter)
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