Chapter 729: The Chaotic Continent
After the annexation of the Blood Spirit Sect, an endless stream of cultivation resources was delivered to Xiao Ze. Now that he had achieved Earth Sovereign status, his position was on par with Mandala's.
The resources she once exclusively enjoyed as the domain's ruler were now equally accessible to him.
Over a month after the Grand Hunt, Xiao Ze stretched lazily as he stepped out of his secluded hall. With a casual flick, he tossed two pills radiating a potent aura of spiritual energy toward Mandala.
Mandala caught the pills, and as she sensed the powerful fluctuations within them, her expression turned to one of astonishment.
Though Xiao Ze had repeatedly claimed he could refine divine pills, Mandala had harbored some doubts. Now, holding these tangible results, she was finally convinced of his capabilities.
Refiners of Xiao Ze's caliber would be highly sought after by even the greatest superpowers in the Great Thousand World. Such an alchemist could craft pills effective even for Heavenly Sovereigns, especially those of the Spirit Tier.
Pills of this magnitude would make Xiao Ze a prized guest elder for any superpower, with many willing to pay exorbitant tributes for his talents.
After all, the Heavenly Sovereign realm was divided into Spirit Tier, Celestial Tier, and Saint Tier. Those at the Saint Tier were among the most powerful beings in the Great Thousand World, presiding over the strongest superpowers. Such powers often housed their own formidable alchemists, making it a rarity to find someone of Xiao Ze's expertise outside their ranks.
Even so, if Xiao Ze desired, any major superpower would eagerly welcome him into their fold, offering him abundant resources and status.
"With your alchemy skills, even the largest superpowers would treat you like royalty," Mandala remarked with a touch of admiration.
"Living like royalty is tempting, but breaking free later wouldn't be so easy," Xiao Ze replied nonchalantly.
Joining a superpower certainly had its advantages for his current growth, but it came with strings attached. Should he later wish to carve out his own path, the very forces he relied on might become his greatest obstacles.
If the power he joined was led by only Spirit Tier Heavenly Sovereigns, compensation perhaps in the form of divine pills might resolve any conflicts. However, if the power was governed by Celestial or Saint Tier Heavenly Sovereigns, escaping their influence to establish his own domain would be exponentially more challenging.
He recalled how even the Endless Flame Alliance, despite its vast wealth and elite alchemists, had drawn the covetous gaze of the Maha Ancient Clan, one of the Five Ancient Clans. The clan had sought to subjugate the alliance as a subordinate force.
It had only been Xiao Yan's strength as a Saint Tier Heavenly Sovereign that thwarted the Maha Clan's ambitions, forcing their patriarch, Maha Tian, to act personally. Even then, the Maha Clan had resorted to unleashing their ancestral treasure, the Maha Yin Yang Bottle, to drive Xiao Yan away.
Such incidents underscored the dangers of relying on powerful factions. Xiao Ze himself planned to reconnect with the Dou Qi Continent and build his own domain, but such ambitions would have to wait until he reached the Heavenly Sovereign level.
Otherwise, any attempt to resist the influence of the superpowers would likely result in a devastating conflict, given the vast resources and potential they represented.
Mandala observed Xiao Ze's thoughtful expression and smiled faintly. It was clear that his aspirations were no small matter. Yet, with his talent, she thought, such ambitions weren't out of reach.
Her own thoughts briefly wandered. Would she ever achieve a level where she could rival the greatest powers?
"By the way, how's the Great Luo Domain faring?" Xiao Ze asked, breaking the silence.
Mandala raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh? You still remember you're part of the Great Luo Domain?"
Her tone held a hint of teasing, but there was no real malice behind it. After all, the past weeks had been busy for her as the domain expanded its influence, absorbing the remnants of the Blood Spirit Sect.
Xiao Ze chuckled sheepishly. "Hey, I've been busy refining divine pills for you!"
Mandala shook her head with a small smile. "The annexation has paused, but it'll take quite some time to fully digest the Blood Spirit Sect's forces. Most of the newcomers are of questionable loyalty, so they haven't been entrusted with significant positions. For now, the core roles remain in the hands of the original Three Kings and the Lords."
With a wave of her hand, Mandala produced a bronze scroll and handed it to Xiao Ze.
"This is a fragment of a Grandmaster level formation blueprint we happened upon. See if it's of any use to you."
Xiao Ze accepted the scroll and extended his spiritual sense into it, nodding after a brief inspection. "The Mountain and River Demon Suppression Diagram. It should prove useful."
Mandala nodded, then added, "Speaking of opportunities, there's a significant one on the horizon. The Chaotic Continent, located in the eastern regions of the Great Thousand World, will soon open. It's a place teeming with countless inheritances worth exploring."
"The Chaotic Continent?" Xiao Ze frowned. He hadn't heard of it before.
Mandala wasn't surprised. "The Chaotic Continent is ancient predating even the invasion of the extraterritorial races. It was once a vast and thriving land, though not as large as the Ten Super Continents."
She continued, "Legend has it that this continent became the battleground for several peak Heavenly Sovereigns, shattering its lands and disrupting its spiritual energies. The details of their conflict remain unknown, but the aftermath left the continent a chaotic wasteland, earning its current name."
Xiao Ze raised an eyebrow. "A battlefield for peak Heavenly Sovereigns? Wouldn't that make it a deathtrap? How could it possibly hold any opportunities?"
Mandala smiled. "Originally, that was the case. But in ancient times, a peak force known as the Chaos Temple established itself there. Later, during the extraterritorial invasion, the Chaos Temple's master slew countless demon emperors, including their strongest, before falling in battle."
Xiao Ze's eyes lit up. "So, the continent contains remnants of this ancient power?"
Mandala nodded. "Yes. Due to the chaotic nature of the continent's space and time, exploration is incredibly dangerous. Even Heavenly Sovereigns risk destabilizing the land further. That's why the expedition is led by several superpowers and is limited to Earth Sovereign participants."
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