Lin Feng's heart hammered in his chest. He hadn't even been able to fully track the attack.
To kill three cultivators from miles away with a single thought… this was the terrifying power of a Body Integration expert.
It was a vivid, humbling demonstration of the gap between them.
The incident, though terrifying for the kingdom, solidified their deification of Jian Tian.
He was no longer just a powerful rescuer; he was a guardian deity, a celestial being whose presence guaranteed their safety.
Finally, the day of their departure arrived. It seemed the entire capital had turned out. The grand plaza before the palace gates was a sea of people.
Thousands of soldiers in polished armor stood in silent, disciplined rows, their spears and halberds gleaming.
The kingdom's generals, the court ministers, and the elders of every noble family were present, their expressions solemn and filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
A path was cleared for the royal procession. King Zhao Feng, dressed in his most formal ceremonial robes, led the way, with Princess Zhao Yue at his side.
Following them were the three great elders: Mo, Han, and Bi. They walked towards Lin Feng and Jian Tian, who stood waiting at the city gates.
The air was thick with emotion. The common people looked on with tears in their eyes.
These two figures, one a young prodigy in white, the other a god-like elder in black, were the saviors of their entire world.
They had faced down demigods and won, and now they were leaving. It was a departure that brought both sadness and an enduring sense of security.
King Zhao Feng reached them and, to the astonishment of all, performed a deep bow, not as a king to a guest, but as a junior to a senior.
"Venerable Elder Jian Tian, Young Master Lin," his voice was thick with emotion.
"Words are inadequate to express the gratitude of the Great Solaris Kingdom. We are a small, weak nation. "
"We have little to offer but our sincerest respect and eternal friendship. This kingdom… its very existence… we owe it to you."
He gestured, and a royal guard brought forth a lacquered box, presenting it to Jian Tian.
"This is a small token. A thousand-year-old Void Root. It is the greatest treasure of our royal house. We humbly ask the Elder to accept it."
Jian Tian looked at the box, then at the king's earnest face. He gave a slight nod.
"The King is too courteous. We acted as the principles of our sect dictate. However, to refuse your sincerity would be an insult."
He accepted the box. "King Zhao, the world is larger than you know. The Wild Barbarian Sect and the Ghost Bone Sanctuary are but just a mere 8th tier high level powers. "
"Your kingdom survived this time. Focus on building your strength from within. Nurture your young talent. That is the only true path to survival."
Princess Yue then stepped forward, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She looked at Lin Feng, a complex mix of admiration,
sadness, and friendship on her face. In her hands, she held a small, intricately woven pouch.
"Young Master Lin," she said softly, her voice barely a whisper above the hushed crowd.
"Thank you for your words of encouragement, and for fighting for us. I… we will not forget you." She held out the pouch.
"This is a storage pouch I embroidered myself. Inside is a Sunstone,worldly known as the solar jade, a specialty of our kingdom. "
"It can help in cultivating fire-attribute techniques. Please, take it as a memento of our friendship."
Lin Feng felt a warmth spread through his chest. He accepted the pouch, his fingers briefly brushing against hers.
"Thank you, Princess Yue. I will remember the Great Solaris Kingdom." He looked into her eyes and saw the future of her people reflected there. "Stay strong."
Finally, it was time. The crowd was utterly silent, a thousand gazes fixed on the two cultivators. Jian Tian placed a hand on Lin Feng's shoulder.
"Let's go," he said simply.
He didn't summon a flying beast or a celestial carriage. He simply took a step forward, and the space before him seemed to ripple, to fold in on itself.
A shimmering tear in reality appeared, a crackling doorway that led not to the street ahead, but to an entirely different vista a sky filled with swirling clouds far, far away.
Jian Tian stepped through the portal without a backward glance.
Lin Feng took one last look at the tear-streaked face of Princess Yue, at the bowing form of King Zhao Feng, at the thousands of grateful, awestruck faces.
He gave them a final, firm nod, a promise and a farewell in one, and then he too stepped into the portal.
The tear in space sealed itself as if it had never been there, leaving behind only the scent of ozone and the stunned silence of an entire kingdom.
For a long moment, nobody moved. Then, King Zhao Feng slowly straightened up, his face a mask of profound awe and renewed determination.
He looked at his people, his voice booming across the plaza.
"Did you see that?! That is the power we must aspire to! We will honor our saviors not with tears, but by building a kingdom worthy of their protection! We will grow strong!"
A thunderous roar erupted from the crowd, a cry of hope and resolve that shook the very walls of the city.
Meanwhile, miles above the earth, hurtling through the stratosphere at incomprehensible speed, Lin Feng stood on the back of Jian Tian's sword, which had now been unwrapped.
It was a simple, unadorned black blade, yet it cut through the air as if it were water, leaving the world a blur below them.
"That was quite the farewell," Jian Tian remarked, his voice easily audible over the howling wind. "They are good people. It was right to save them."
"Elder," Lin Feng began, still processing the spatial tear, "that power…"
"Spatial manipulation," Jian Tian answered casually. "A basic skill for Body Integration cultivators who practice the sword path.
It's the fastest way to travel. We will be back at the sect in two days." He glanced back at Lin Feng.
"Don't be too mesmerized by it. With your talent, you will reach this stage sooner than you think. For now, focus. Reflect on your battle. Absorb the experience. The Sect Master will want a full report. And I suspect,"
he added with another wry sigh, "he will have a new, even more 'secretive' training regimen for you, now that you've been noticed by the Federation."
Lin Feng looked ahead, the wind whipping his hair. He felt the Sunstone in the pouch from Princess Yue, a warm reminder of the lives he had helped protect.
He thought of the king's determination, the power of Jian Tian, and the looming shadow of the Federation.
The world was so much larger, more dangerous, and more magnificent than he had ever imagined. His journey was just beginning.
The air on the side of the Azure Mist Sect still hummed with a residual, divine energy, a faint echo of the being who had just departed.
Goddess Nexus was gone, vanished as mysteriously as she had appeared. For Chi Huang and Huo Ling'er, the silence that followed was a balm to their frayed nerves.
A shared sigh of relief, almost synchronous, escaped their lips.
The weight of a goddess's scrutiny, the sheer, overwhelming pressure of her presence, had been a burden neither had fully acknowledged until it was lifted.
They were now the holders of two 7th-tier citizenships, a boon from the Human Federation, bestowed upon them by the enigmatic Goddess Nexus for their "deeds."
The gravity of this reward, its implications for their future, was a thought too vast to be immediately processed.
For now, the simple fact of their survival, of having navigated the treacherous currents of divine intervention, was enough.
Sect Leader Lan Tianzheng and Elder Wei approached them, their faces a mixture of awe and profound respect.
The usual stoicism of the Sect Leader was replaced by a warm, almost paternal smile.
Elder Wei, his eyes twinkling with a sagely light, looked upon the young heroes with an expression of deep admiration.
"Young friends," Lan Tianzheng began, his voice resonating with a genuine warmth,
"your courage and prowess have brought great honor to our Azure Mist Sect. We are indebted to you. Please, allow us to express our gratitude by inviting you to a hearty meal. We have prepared the finest our sect has to offer."
Chi Huang and Huo Ling'er exchanged a glance. The invitation was more than just a gesture of hospitality; it was a symbol of their new status, a recognition of their power and importance.
They both agreed, but Huo Ling'er's condition was a pressing concern. She was pale, a fine sheen of sweat on her brow, and the subtle tremor in her hand did not escape the keen eyes of Elder Wei.
"Before the feast, we must attend to your injuries, young one," Elder Wei said, his gaze resting on Huo Ling'er with a gentle concern.
He led her to a quiet, incense-filled chamber, where the air itself seemed to thrum with a healing energy. He produced a small, jade-green pill, its surface shimmering with a faint, ethereal light.
"This is a 'Seven Treasures Vitality Pill.' It will not only heal your injuries but also fortify your meridians."
Huo Ling'er accepted the pill with a grateful nod and swallowed it.
A wave of warmth spread through her body, a gentle, soothing current that washed away the pain and fatigue.
Within moments, the color returned to her cheeks, and her breath, which had been shallow and ragged, deepened into a steady, rhythmic cadence.
She felt a surge of vitality, a renewed strength that was even more potent than before her injury.
With Huo Ling'er restored to health, they were led to a grand dining hall, a place usually reserved for the most esteemed guests.
The hall was a magnificent sight, with intricately carved pillars, silken banners depicting mythical beasts, and a long, polished table laden with an array of exquisite dishes.
The aroma of roasted meats, fragrant herbs, and delicate spices filled the air, a testament to the culinary artistry of the sect's chefs.
The meal was indeed hearty, a feast fit for kings. There were glistening platters of roasted spirit-beast meat, tender and succulent, each bite infused with a subtle, spiritual energy.
There were bowls of steaming, jade-green soup, brewed from a hundred rare herbs, its fragrance alone enough to rejuvenate the soul.
There were delicate, translucent dumplings, filled with a savory mixture of minced spirit-fish and rare fungi, their flavors bursting on the tongue like a symphony of taste.
As they ate, the conversation flowed freely, a current of camaraderie and mutual respect.
Lan Tianzheng and Elder Wei were eager to hear about their encounter with Goddess Nexus, their voices filled with a childlike curiosity as they listened to the tale.
Chi Huang, with his calm and measured demeanor, recounted the events, his words painting a vivid picture of the goddess's power and her cryptic pronouncements.
"To be granted a 7th-tier citizenship… it is a feat unheard of for ones so young," Lan Tianzheng mused, his eyes wide with wonder.
"You have a bright future ahead of you, a path that will surely lead to greatness."
Huo Ling'er, her earlier weariness completely gone, was more animated, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she chimed in with her own observations.
She spoke of the goddess's ethereal beauty, the sheer, overwhelming power that radiated from her, and the strange, almost whimsical way she had spoken to them.
Elder Wei, with his sagely wisdom, offered his own insights. "Goddess Nexus is a being of immense power and unpredictable nature. Her favor is a double-edged sword."
" It can bring great fortune, but it can also attract unwanted attention. You must be cautious, young ones. Your journey from this day forth will be fraught with both opportunity and peril."
The meal was not just a celebration of their victory; it was a council of war, a moment of quiet reflection before the storm.
The 7th-tier citizenship was a key, a key that could unlock countless doors, but it was also a beacon, a signal to the world that two new, formidable powers had emerged.