Yan Zhen’s promotion this time created a massive spectacle. Storm clouds roiled across the sky, thunder boomed and lightning cracked, and the entire heavens were bathed in a blood-red glow from the blazing extreme flames.
Disciples from the seven peaks all shot into the air, staring at the Quasi-Saint Son’s grand promotion ceremony with hearts gripped by shock.
In the Mystic King Realm, strength was measured by energy ripples—typically around ten zhang across, though the mightiest could span over a hundred. Each star advancement added another layer of ripples, but their size remained unchanged.
The Mystic Lord Realm worked similarly, but with energy vortexes as the benchmark—again, usually ten zhang wide at most, expanding to over a hundred zhang for the strongest. Every star gained brought an extra vortex, without altering their scale.
When Yan Zhen had advanced to the Mystic King Realm, his energy ripples had stretched to one hundred and eight zhang. Now, ascending to Mystic Lord, his energy vortexes followed the same path, slowly expanding from ten zhang to one hundred and eight. They resembled the monstrous maw of some heaven-spanning beast, greedily devouring the power of heaven and earth from every direction for a hundred li around.
Within the sacred land, every other Mystic King, Mystic Lord, and even Mystic Ancestor expert suddenly found themselves cut off from the power of heaven and earth. They couldn’t continue cultivating, and if they’d been in battle, they wouldn’t have been able to unleash Mystic arts at the king level or higher!
As Yan Zhen’s realm climbed higher, the Emperor Flame Technique revealed more of its domineering nature. Its capacity for absorbing Mystic qi alone far outstripped any other cultivation art!
The commotion lasted a full hour before finally dying down. In the end, Yan Zhen drew every last energy vortex into his body. His Mystic power surged wildly, shattering the barrier ahead and propelling him into the Mystic Lord Realm!
With the promotion complete, Yan Zhen threw his head back in a long howl. A shocking aura erupted from him, rippling outward.
The Gold-Silver Fire, Great Crimson Heaven Flame, Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire, Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame, and Rootless Earth Spirit Fire—all five extreme flames—manifested into form, coiling and circling around him. Even elders at the Mystic Venerable level felt a faint, intangible pressure bearing down on them.
In that moment, every disciple, attendant, and elder finally understood why the Holy Lord had taken Yan Zhen as her disciple.
Yan Zhen turned toward the Holy Lord Master not far away. Seeing her give him a slight nod, he rose to his feet and cupped his hands toward the seven peaks.
“As Jialan Peak’s chief disciple, Yan Zhen will challenge the chiefs of the seven peaks over the next seven consecutive days, starting tomorrow. I ask all of you to bear witness!”
His words sent an uproar through the crowd!
The Quasi-Saint Son was launching the Seven Peaks Consecutive Battle—he clearly aimed to claim the true Saint Son position!
Yet the last four of the seven peaks’ chiefs were Nine-Star Mystic Lords, while the top three were Mystic Ancestor powerhouses. For Yan Zhen, freshly promoted to Mystic Lord, to jump straight into the fray—didn’t that smack of looking down on them?
Sure, Yan Zhen had previously displayed power beyond his realm, even leaving the Spirit Mountain Ancestor helpless. But everyone knew he’d relied on external forces for that.
Battles among heaven’s proud sons forbade such methods. Otherwise, it would escalate into a clash between venerables.
The Quasi-Saint Son only got one shot at the Seven Peaks Consecutive Battle. Failure would make him a laughingstock.
However, the Jialan Fairy had already discussed this with the seven peaks’ lords ahead of time. None of them raised any objections now; instead, they signaled their own chief disciples to step forward.
The seven peaks’ chiefs rose into the air one after another, hovering beside their respective venerables or elders.
Wind King Peak’s chief: Feng Tuo, Nine-Star Mystic Lord.
Rain God Peak’s chief: Ye Qingtian, Nine-Star Mystic Lord.
Thunder God Peak’s chief: Lei Zhenyu, One-Star Mystic Ancestor.
Cloud Immortal Peak’s chief: Xiao Fang, Two-Star Mystic Ancestor.
Qingren Peak’s chief: Qingkong Hai, One-Star Mystic Ancestor.
Mist Lord Peak’s chief: Yin Sha, Nine-Star Mystic Lord.
Snow Spirit Peak’s chief: Bing Tang, Nine-Star Mystic Lord.
These seven most exceptional heaven’s proud sons of the sacred land were all under thirty years old. It was the first time they had all appeared together like this in public.
The seven of them cupped their fists toward Yan Zhen in unison.
“Our Wind King Peak/Rain God Peak/Thunder God Peak/Cloud Immortal Peak/Qingren Peak/Mist Lord Peak/Snow Spirit Peak stands ready at any time for Junior Brother Yan Zhen’s arrival!”
The other sacred land disciples watched with undisguised admiration and reverence.
Even Yan Zhen’s eyes narrowed slightly, not daring to underestimate them.
Purely in terms of talent, none of these prodigies fell short of him—they were all formidable rivals!
In the script—or rather, his previous life—at the Heavenly Selection Saint Canon two years from now, these seven peaks’ chiefs would all be Three- or Four-Star Mystic Ancestors. Only Yan Zhen would still be a Nine-Star Mystic Lord. He would first defeat Ye Qingtian to claim the Rain God Peak chieftainship, then vie with the remaining six for the Saint Son seat, ultimately edging out Cloud Immortal Peak’s chief Xiao Fang in their final clash.
But now, Yan Zhen had to face them as a mere One-Star Mystic Lord. He was confident he could handle the four Nine-Star Mystic Lords, but cleanly beating the three Mystic Ancestors? That would be far trickier.
Of course, that didn’t mean he was afraid.
Whether for his own sake or for those around him, he was determined to seize the Saint Son position!
Yan Zhen returned the gesture with cupped hands, then slowly descended. Cai Lian, Long Ying, Mentor Yu Xuan, and Aunt Shui Bailan promptly gathered around him.
“Yan Zhen Zhen, you’re finally out of seclusion! I was about to go looking for you myself!”
“Looking for me why? Have you been taking good care of Cai Lian?”
“Of course! I’ve been sticking by Sister Cai Lian’s side every day, protecting her with all my heart. I even chat with little Yan’er sometimes~”
“Oh ho, not bad, not bad at all.”
Yan Zhen laughed as he affectionately stroked Long Ying’s dragon head. She responded with a dopey heh-heh chuckle.
Cai Lian hurriedly tugged Long Ying back, shielding her behind herself to keep her naughty husband from teasing her little sister.
Yan Zhen took the opportunity to pull his snake-snake wife into his arms. His gaze fell on her round, pregnant belly, and his hand couldn’t resist reaching out to rub it.
“It was barely changed at all over the last two years, but after just one month, it’s already this big…”
Cai Lian’s pretty face flushed faintly as she explained, “God clans and human clans have pretty similar gestation periods. For the Snake God Clan, it’s three years—the first two are for building up energy, and only the last year does the fetus actually grow.”
Yan Zhen nodded, not entirely grasping it. “What about the Heavenly God Clan?”
“Theirs is closer to humans—usually around a year. But fetuses with exceptionally strong souls can take several years… In my previous life, little sister Zi Ji was the same as this lady; she carried for three years before giving birth to Ling’er.”
Hearing that jogged Yan Zhen’s memory. In the script—or his past life—Zi Ji really had been pregnant for three years before delivering Yan Lingji.
But in this life, to keep the Heavenly God Clan from noticing Zi Ji’s pregnancy, his beautiful master had used a secret technique to extend it.
Turning one year into five… That had to be grueling for her.
Cai Lian keenly sensed her husband’s shift in mood and gently took his hand.
Yan Zhen smiled and leaned in for a sneaky peck on his wife lady’s cheek. Then he turned to Mentor Yu Xuan and Aunt Shui Bailan. “Does Mentor want a child too? Mother-in-law already gave the word—no more refining for you.”
Mentor Yu Xuan’s face turned bright red in an instant, but she gently shook her head. “Let’s wait until Sister Cai Lian gives birth to little Yan’er first.”
Yan Zhen paused. “Mentor…”
Cai Lian looked touched. “Little Xuan’er, you really don’t have to—”
Mentor Yu Xuan shyly ducked her head. “If I got pregnant too, Yan Zhen wouldn’t be able to look after us all. So… let’s talk about it later.”
Aunt Shui Bailan adjusted her glasses but said nothing. Yan Zhen could guess what she was thinking: “Wait until Xuan’er gets pregnant first.”
“Anyway, enough of that,” Mentor Yu Xuan said, changing the subject. “Yan Zhen, which peak are you planning to challenge first tomorrow?”
Yan Zhen flashed a carefree grin. “Do I even need to say it? Rain God Peak, of course!”
