King of Creation Chapter 1706 - 1691: The Slumbering Qi of the Ancient Barbarian God
Previously on King of Creation...
"How dare you! In the Ancestor God Temple, is this a place for you to speak?" Ba’erlong and Ba’erhu, the second and third Deputy Hall Masters of the Barbarian Spirit Hall, sternly rebuked Ye Zhen.
In their perception, Ba’erlong was on the cusp of securing the Main Hall Master position, rendering Ye Zhen's appointment as Left Chief Priest utterly preposterous.
Lacking any official post, Ye Zhen's cultivation level would barely qualify him as a Star Priest, let alone a Sky Priest of any significant standing.
A mere Sky Priest wouldn't even possess the right to remain within the Barbarian Spirit Hall uninvited, much less engage in conversation with the Head Priest.
Ba’erlong, incensed, bellowed, "Someone, escort this Ye Zhen out immediately!"
Ba’erlong had introduced new Barbarian Clan Battle Spirits of a superior cultivation realm, visibly demonstrating his ambition to claim the Main Hall Master's seat.
Thus, the moment Ba’erlong commanded, four Star Priests advanced towards Ye Zhen with impassive faces, their intention to forcibly remove him unmistakable.
Princess Changle's delicate features hardened, and she prepared to intervene, but a single glance from Ye Zhen halted her movement.
"You intend to expel me? What if I choose not to depart today?" Ye Zhen's countenance was laced with defiance.
"Heh heh!"
Ba’erlong guffawed menacingly, "An audacious rabble-rouser causing a disturbance within my Ancestor God Temple—I have never encountered such insolence." His gaze sharpening, Ba’erlong thundered, "Are you not yet throwing him out for me?"
The four approaching Star Priests lunged like striking snakes, their hands reaching to grasp Ye Zhen's arms.
Yet, Ye Zhen made no move to evade, only lifting the edge of his robe slightly to reveal a crimson ornament dangling from his waist!
This was none other than the Purple Fish Bag, bestowed upon Ye Zhen over twenty days prior at the Qiankun Hall of Great Zhou, signifying the status of a high-ranking noble official!
Officials adorned with a Purple Fish Bag commanded considerable prestige and dominion. Even within Great Zhou, formidable organizations like the Heavenly Patrol Department and the Secret Overseer dared not apprehend them lightly.
More crucially, while the Ancestor God Temple served as Great Zhou’s bastion and maintained an intricate bond with the empire, their influence was reciprocal!
Upon witnessing the Purple Fish Bag, the four Star Priests poised to apprehend Ye Zhen faltered, their advance abruptly ceasing.
Officials bearing the Purple Fish Bag were not individuals they could arbitrarily detain.
Ba’erlong also noticed the Purple Fish Bag at Ye Zhen’s waist. As a Vice Hall Master, he understood that interfering with a high official thus adorned was not easily permissible.
However, should he ascend to the position of Main Hall Master of the Barbarian Spirit Hall, even affronting a Purple Fish Bag official might become tolerable.
Ba’erlong's expression twisted into a chilling malevolence, "Regardless of your identity, you are forbidden from breaching the Barbarian Spirit Hall without my consent! Someone, eject him; the repercussions will be entirely my responsibility!"
As the four Star Priests, emboldened by Ba’erlong's decree, prepared to act once more, Ye Zhen’s gaze shifted towards Head Priest Bai Xiang.
"Head Priest Bai, will you find satisfaction only in witnessing this humble one's expulsion? Or must you compel the Heavenly Patrol Department into opposition with the Barbarian Spirit Hall to satiate your desires?"
Ye Zhen offered a disarming smile, yet an icy profundity emanated from his eyes as he presented the Wind Patrol Envoy token of the Western Patrol's Second Route.
This revelation caused the four Star Priests about to make their move to hesitate, their complexions shifting drastically.
The Heavenly Patrol Department possessed the means to exert influence over them through their lineages and kin.
The formidable reputation of the Heavenly Patrol Department was no mere fabrication.
Yet, what truly stunned Ba’erlong was Ye Zhen’s audacious address to Head Priest Bai Xiang.
Truthfully, his three-year absence, dedicated to the pursuit of Barbarian Clan Battle Spirits, had kept him remote from Luoyi, leaving him oblivious to the recent shifts within the Great Zhou Imperial Court.
"You simply cannot refrain from causing a stir, can you! Even now, you persist in intimidating them,"
Chief Sun Priest Bai Xiang chided Ye Zhen with a semblance of playful exasperation, "Very well, all of you, withdraw. Commander Ye surely harbors no ill will towards you."
The four Star Priests quickly retreated as though liberated.
Bai Xiang’s gaze briefly flickered towards Ba’erlong before returning to Ye Zhen with a warm smile, "However, Ba’erlong's commendable efforts in discovering new Barbarian Clan Battle Spirits indicate his impending promotion to Main Hall Master of the Barbarian Spirit Hall. Consequently, your position as Left Chief Priest there is untenable.
But, if you are truly intent on assuming the mantle of Chief Priest, I have at my disposal at least seven Left or Right Chief Priest vacancies across the various branches of the Ancestor God Temple. Feel free to make your selection; be the Left Chief Priest of any branch that appeals to you."
Head Priest Bai Xiang’s words were delivered with both grace and generosity. Though Ye Zhen appeared unfazed, the Barbarian Spirit Hall Master, Ba’erlong, found himself absolutely drenched in a cold sweat.
The prospect of Ye Zhen freely selecting from at least seven Left or Right Chief Priest positions in various branch halls was, to Ba’erlong, an unfathomable concept.
Without exception, the Barbarian Spirit Hall stood as the most feeble branch within the entirety of the Ancestor God Temple. However, the positions of Left or Right Chief Priest within this hall were associated with considerable influence and considerable benefits.
This was without even considering the sheer magnitude of power vested in the Left or Right Chief Priests within those branches that boasted over a million priests each.
Yet, Head Priest Bai Xiang was extending Ye Zhen an offer of unfettered choice!
Ba’erlong’s heart gave a sudden lurch, a jolt of surprise coursing through him.
Who, precisely, was this Ye Zhen?
An immediate wave of regret washed over Ba’erlong, but the distinct gaze from the Second Grand Power Sacrifice, Tongna, offered a timely reassurance, helping to steady his nerves.
Despite Bai Xiang’s esteemed position, the Ancestor God Temple was an immense organization, rife with intricate internal politics. Bai Xiang, alone, could not unilaterally dictate every outcome.
It was important to remember that Ba’erlong was aligned with the faction led by the Second Grand Power Sacrifice, Tongna.
With the backing of the Second Grand Power Sacrifice, Tongna, even the Head Priest would find himself considerably limited in his actions against Ba’erlong.
"Choose freely?"
Ye Zhen offered Bai Xiang a slight smile, acknowledging the Head Priest’s kindness, yet he gently shook his head. "I appreciate your benevolent intentions, but truthfully, my sights are set solely on the Left Chief Priest position of the Barbarian Spirit Hall today.
This Left Chief Priest position within the Barbarian Spirit Hall, whether it is granted or not, is destined to be mine!
I am resolutely determined to secure the esteemed seat of Left Chief Priest of the Barbarian Spirit Hall this very day!"
These pronouncements caused even Head Priest Bai Xiang to show a flicker of surprise; Ye Zhen’s words carried an undeniable air of dominance.
The appointments for the Left or Right Chief Priest positions within the halls subordinate to the Ancestor God Temple were ultimately made by the Main Hall Master, and even he, as the Head Priest, possessed limited authority to intervene.
Upon hearing Ye Zhen’s declaration, Ba’erlong, poised to soon assume the role of Main Hall Master of the Barbarian Spirit Hall, erupted in indignation. "Hmph, I should very much like to witness firsthand how you intend to claim the Left Chief Priest position of the Barbarian Spirit Hall without my express consent!"
The eyes of the Second Grand Power Sacrifice, Tongna, narrowed, his voice cutting through the air with a frigid, icy tone. "Although Count Ye was recently bestowed the honor of a Purple Fish Bag, granting him the authority and responsibilities as the Western Patrol Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy under the Heavenly Patrol Department.
Nevertheless, the internal hierarchy and positions within our Ancestor God Temple have never been subject to interference from external parties.
Even if you held the rank of a mere third-class Earl, or if Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu himself, or even one of the eight Princes, were to appear, attempting to forcibly seize the Left Chief Priest position of the Barbarian Spirit Hall is an endeavor that is absolutely out of the question!"
Ye Zhen’s gaze met the chilling stare of the Second Grand Power Sacrifice, Tongna, unflinchingly. "It appears to present quite a significant challenge. However, what if I were to genuinely succeed in assuming the Left Chief Priest position of the Barbarian Spirit Hall today?"
"Should you manage to claim this Left Chief Priest position without my approval, I shall promptly twist off my own head and present it to you to be used as a plaything!" Ba’erlong declared, his tone dripping with utter disbelief.
The process for selecting Left or Right Chief Priests for the halls under the Ancestor God Temple was intricate; even Head Priest Bai Xiang lacked the direct authority to appoint individuals to these posts.
He simply could not fathom how Ye Zhen, without his explicit consent, could possibly secure the coveted position of Left Chief Priest.
Princess Changle regarded the scene with surprise, her mind beginning to speculate. She knew Ye Zhen intimately, recognizing that he never uttered baseless pronouncements. Yet, for a moment, she struggled to pinpoint the source of Ye Zhen’s unwavering confidence.
Under Ye Zhen’s steady gaze, the Second Grand Power Sacrifice, Tongna, let out a few cold, chuckling sounds. "If you truly manage to attain the position of Left Chief Priest of the Barbarian Spirit Hall, then I shall permit you to use my head as a ball, shall I not?"
This exchange starkly revealed the absolute conviction held by Tongna and Ba’erlong. However, a more discerning observer might recognize that the Second Grand Power Sacrifice, Tongna, was as cunning as a seasoned fox.
He had, in essence, made no binding commitment whatsoever.
Even if Ye Zhen were to ascend to that position, could he realistically compel Tongna and Ba’erlong to fulfill such an outlandish jest based solely on their casual remarks?
"Using your heads as balls? I hold no interest in such a gruesome prospect!"
Abruptly, Ye Zhen shifted his attention toward the Second Deputy Hall Master of the Barbarian Spirit Hall, Ba’erlong. "Vice Master Ba, if I indeed succeed in claiming the position of Left Chief Priest of the Barbarian Spirit Hall, do you possess the audacity to relinquish the Inherited Divine Messenger position of the Yutu Barbarian Guardian War Spirit to me?"
"The Inherited Divine Messenger position of the Yutu Barbarian Guardian War Spirit?" Ba’erlong faltered for a moment, a hint of hesitation coloring his response.
The Inherited Divine Messenger of a Barbarian Clan War Spirit possesses a distinct advantage due to the differing power levels that can be accessed. Consider the Yutu Barbarian Guardian War Spirit: if Ye Zhen were appointed as the Left Chief Priest and subsequently went through the process of communication, condensation, and summoning of its token, the summoned projected avatar would only manifest with fifty percent of its full power if no altar was present. However, attaining the role of Inherited Divine Messenger for this Yutu Barbarian Guardian War Spirit would allow Ye Zhen to summon its projected avatar with eighty percent of the Guardian Spirit’s strength, regardless of the time or location, and in the shortest possible time. Furthermore, the presence of an altar and sufficient offerings would enable the summoning of the Guardian War Spirit in its complete form to battle for Ye Zhen. This clearly illustrates the immense importance of the Inherited Divine Messenger position for all the Ancient Gods, War Souls, and War Spirits enshrined within the Ancestor God Temple. Priests who hold the status of Inherited Divine Messenger within the Ancestor God Temple occupy a position of great reverence. This is precisely the reason for Ba’erlong’s hesitation. Having painstakingly discovered the Yutu Barbarian Guardian War Spirit, Ba’erlong intended to become its Inherited Divine Messenger upon communicating with it using the acquired Inherited Secret Technique, thereby reinforcing his standing as the Main Hall Master. "What is it, Master Ba, are you perhaps feeling apprehensive?" "Does Master Ba truly believe that Ye Zhen is destined to secure the position of Left Chief Priest in the Barbarian Spirit Hall?" "Or perhaps Master Ba is contemplating acknowledging Ye Zhen’s dominance?" "Silence! How could this Hall Master possibly be afraid of you?" Ba’erlong, provoked by Ye Zhen’s taunts, bellowed in response. "An Inherited Divine Messenger is indeed an Inherited Divine Messenger! If you can genuinely enforce your claim to the Left Chief Priest position of the Barbarian Spirit Hall right before this Hall Master, then I shall gladly impart the communication secret technique for the Yutu Barbarian Guardian War Spirit’s Inherited Divine Messenger. What say you?" Ba’erlong readily agreed. The Second Grand Power Sacrifice, Tongna, his eyes glinting, considered intervening to stop Ba’erlong but ultimately chose to remain silent. Given the sharp intellect of the Second Grand Power Sacrifice, Tongna, it was impossible for him not to perceive Ye Zhen’s deliberate provocation, an attempt to cunningly acquire the Inherited Divine Messenger position of the Yutu Barbarian Guardian War Spirit that Ba’erlong had discovered. Yet, the crux of the matter was that he could not fathom the source of Ye Zhen’s confidence in his ability to forcefully seize the Left Chief Priest position of the Barbarian Spirit Hall. "Excellent! In that case, may I request Great Chief Priest Bai to serve as a witness? What are your thoughts?" Ye Zhen inquired with a smile, offering a cupped fist salute to Bai Xiang. Bai Xiang nodded, stating, "Very well, I have heard and officially noted your agreement." Upon hearing this, Ba’erlong’s expression shifted; he had not anticipated that Chief Priest Bai Xiang’s single word would so decisively solidify Ye Zhen’s claim. With Chief Priest Bai Xiang’s pronouncement, Ba’erlong found himself with no recourse for retracting his word. "Hmph, this Hall Master remains unconvinced. Without my assent, how can you possibly insist upon the position of Left Chief Priest of the Barbarian Spirit Hall?" Ba’erlong shrewdly tied the condition’s fulfillment to the present moment. Instantly, the gazes of Bai Xiang, the Second Grand Power Sacrifice Tongna, Princess Changle, the brothers Ba’erlong and Ba’erhu, and the assembled Moon and Star Priests from across the hall all turned towards Ye Zhen, filled with curiosity. "May I ask the Great Chief Priest, is the prior agreement, made when Palace Master Ji ascended to the First Deputy Hall Master position of the Barbarian Spirit Hall, still in effect?" Ye Zhen directed his question to Bai Xiang. "It remains valid, naturally! Among the deputy hall masters of the Barbarian Spirit Hall, any individual who successfully locates and offers a War Spirit Ancient God possessing a higher Cultivation Realm within the Barbarian Spirit Hall shall be granted the position of Hall Master of the Barbarian Spirit Hall," Chief Priest Bai Xiang affirmed. "That is satisfactory, then." Ye Zhen then turned towards Princess Changle, executing a small, respectful bow. "Your Highness, you previously commanded your subordinate to seek out Barbarian Clan Ancient God War Spirits for offering in the Barbarian Spirit Hall to bolster its strength. I have now come to report on my success!" Princess Changle was taken aback, fully aware that she had never given Ye Zhen such an instruction, nor had she ever discussed such a matter with him. Not to mention, Ye Zhen had not previously been affiliated with the Barbarian Spirit Hall. Nevertheless, Princess Changle, possessing exceptional astuteness, immediately recognized the opportunity to support Ye Zhen, even without fully grasping his intricate plan, and found it entirely appropriate to back his endeavor."Did you discover something, Princess?" Princess Changle inquired smoothly.
"Indeed, I have unearthed something. I have come to present my findings to Your Majesty!" Ye Zhen proclaimed, extending a storage ring.
"This is..."
Upon accepting the storage ring, Princess Changle delved into it with her Divine Sense, her expression morphing into one of complete astonishment and disbelief after a mere glimpse.
She turned to Ye Zhen, her eyes seeking confirmation, "Are you truly intending to reveal the treasures contained within?"
Ye Zhen offered a resolute nod, confirming his decision to Princess Changle.
After a brief contemplation, Princess Changle shifted her gaze towards Bai Xiang. "Chief Priest, I wish to report that during the search for new Barbarian Clan Ancient God War Spirits, I too have made a significant discovery."
"Present it then, let me ascertain its grade," Bai Xiang expressed, his curiosity piqued.
Not only Bai Xiang, but also the Second Grand Power Sacrifice Tongna and Ba’erhu displayed evident intrigue, eager to witness the Barbarian Clan Ancient God War Spirit that Ye Zhen had purportedly found.
As for Ba’erlong, his countenance had already darkened considerably, the gears of Ye Zhen’s machinations becoming clear to him.
The scheme was clear: to thwart his ascendancy to the Main Hall Master of the Barbarian Spirit Hall, thereby paving the way for Ye Zhen to claim the esteemed position of Left Chief Priest.
"Esteemed elders and ladies, pray, cast your attention hither!"
With an elegant sweep of Princess Changle’s hand, a cascade of shadows engulfed the entire Barbarian Spirit Hall. The hall's spatial formation activated, initiating an infinite expansion of space.
Within mere moments, the colossal Southern Barbarian Sacred Spirit Peak, radiating scores of profound auras, materialized within the Barbarian Spirit Hall.
The instant of its appearance sent shockwaves through Chief Priest Bai Xiang and Second Grand Power Sacrifice Tongna, both awestruck by the potent aura emanating from the Southern Barbarian Sacred Spirit Peak.
"This... this... could it be that this Spirit Peak harbors the essences of multiple Battle Spirits?" Tongna exclaimed, all previous disputes forgotten, his complete focus now riveted upon the Southern Barbarian Sacred Spirit Peak.
Chief Priest Bai Xiang’s gaze seemed to pierce the very heart of the Southern Barbarian Sacred Spirit Peak as he observed, shaking his head slowly. "Within this Spirit Peak resides not merely the aura of several Battle Spirits, but also the dormant presence of a Barbarian Clan Ancient God!"
"What?!"
"A Barbarian Clan Ancient God?"
Princess Changle and Second Grand Power Sacrifice Tongna were visibly stunned by the revelation. Concurrently, the Second Deputy Hall Master Ba’erlong and his brother found their faces paling instantly, their expressions turning exceedingly grim!