As the Vermilion Bird Ancestor waved his hand, endless divine light radiated from his body.
His right palm, carrying immense might, pressed down toward Xu Zimo.
“Young man, no matter where you come from or how powerful your background is, you should understand that there’s always someone stronger out there.”
As that palm descended, Xu Zimo could clearly feel the pressure.
A Zenith Immortal was not someone he could currently contend with.
However, if he wanted to leave, the other party wouldn’t be able to stop him either.
Just as the palm was about to fall from the sky, a deafening beast roar suddenly echoed around them.
The roar was so intense it seemed like it would rupture everyone’s eardrums.
The Vermilion Bird Ancestor’s palm stopped mid-air, blocked by a massive claw.
The Ancestor frowned slightly and looked ahead of Xu Zimo.
He saw Chaos panting heavily, staring wide-eyed at him.
Chaos’s massive body almost filled half the space.
Its overwhelming beastly aura thickly filled the surroundings.
“What is that?” Zhao Changfeng beside him was stunned, staring at Chaos, completely frozen.
“A beast. A real beast from the Desolate Era,” the Vermilion Bird Ancestor said after some thought. “Strictly speaking, it should be a Meridian Beast.”
He looked deeply at Xu Zimo. For someone of this age to subdue a creature from the ancient wilderness, one that had even entered the Immortal Path, was shocking.
He understood the pride of such beasts. Even in death, they would never serve humans.
And yet, this one followed willingly. He didn’t know how Xu Zimo had managed it.
“So this is your confidence,” the Vermilion Bird Ancestor withdrew his palm and looked at Xu Zimo calmly. “You think that with just one Arcane Immortal Meridian Beast, you can break into our Vermilion Bird Academy?”
“I didn’t want to be your enemy. That’s why I tried to talk nicely,” Xu Zimo replied coolly. “But that’s as far as I’ll go. Otherwise, forget your academy, even the Heavenly Dao Academy, I’d challenge it all the same.”
With that, Xu Zimo walked step by step toward the platform.
He intended to take the Blazing-Vermillion God-Sparrow Physique.
Zhao Changfeng wanted to stop him, but the Vermilion Bird Ancestor stopped him.
The Ancestor stared solemnly ahead.
Zhao Changfeng was puzzled. He didn’t understand why the Ancestor would fear a newly ascended Immortal Meridian Beast.
Although beasts were naturally stronger than humans at the same level, Chaos was only at the Arcane Immortal Realm, still far from a Zenith Immortal.
But Zhao Changfeng didn’t notice, the Ancestor’s gaze wasn’t on Chaos.
It was on the black mist next to Xu Zimo.
Within it, he felt an overwhelming sense of threat.
A kind of danger he hadn’t experienced since entering the Zenith Immortal Realm.
The last time he felt something was when he met the Mortal Emperor.
He didn’t know what that black mist was, but he understood, it was warning him.
As long as Xu Zimo safely took the Blazing-Vermillion God-Sparrow Physique, all would be well.
Otherwise, something terrifying would happen.
The Ancestor took a deep breath, suppressing his urge to act.
This matter had to be reported to the Heavenly Dao Academy, it was beyond what Vermilion Bird Academy could handle.
Xu Zimo took the Blazing-Vermillion God-Sparrow Physique.
It was a fiery red orb, carved with the image of the Vermilion Bird God Beast.
The orb felt warm to the touch, and seemed to contain endless power.
“Still not going to thank the Vermilion Bird Ancestor?” Xu Zimo said with a smile to the dazed Yue Qingli.
“Ah?” Yue Qingli snapped out of it. Xu Zimo casually tossed the battle orb to him.
He caught it, momentarily lost on what to do.
Then quickly bowed toward the Ancestor and said, “Thank you, Ancestor, for the gift.”
The Vermilion Bird Ancestor narrowed his eyes and carefully studied Xu Zimo.
He knew how coveted the Hundred Battle Physiques were, even some Grand Emperors went out of their way to seek them.
Yet Xu Zimo had casually gifted it to a newly accepted disciple.
He took a deep breath and asked, “May I ask where you come from?”
“Isn’t your academy filled with students across the world? Go investigate yourself,” Xu Zimo replied casually.
“Since you’ve taken the Blazing-Vermillion God-Sparrow Physique, shouldn’t you leave now?” the Ancestor said seriously.
“Let’s go,” Xu Zimo smiled and said to the stunned Yue Qingli.
Yue Qingli had been in a daze the whole time.
To him, just entering the academy had once been a dream, let alone seeing the Vermilion Bird Ancestor.
Now, he had obtained one of the legendary Hundred Battle Physiques.
Watching them leave, the Vermilion Bird Ancestor’s expression darkened.
“Ancestor, we...” Zhao Changfeng hesitated beside him.
“It’s fine. Everything proceeds as usual. Don’t speak of the Blazing-Vermillion God-Sparrow Physique,” the Ancestor shook his head.
“I need to discuss this with the main academy.”
“I understand,” Zhao Changfeng quickly nodded.
“Also, find out his origins, as detailed as possible,” the Ancestor sighed.
He looked up at the sky outside the Black Tower.
The sky was a bit overcast. The earlier storm had just stopped.
He muttered to himself, “In this era of fate, more and more things are becoming impossible to understand.”
Xu Zimo and Yue Qingli left Vermilion Bird Academy.
“Teacher, where are we going?” Yue Qingli asked.
“To Slaughter City,” Xu Zimo replied.
“The capital of the Slaughter Empire,” Yue Qingli nodded quickly. “We’ll be passing by my Three-Eyed Race. Let me take you there. They’ll be happy to know I have a teacher now.”
Xu Zimo nodded, it was on the way, after all.
They left Vermilion Bird City and headed north.
Since Yue Qingli was only at the Meridian Forging Realm, Xu Zimo didn’t let him merge with the Blazing-Vermillion God-Sparrow Physique just yet.
He wanted him to reach peak condition first, to increase the success rate.
From Vermilion Bird City, they passed through dozens of cities.
They also crossed mountains and valleys.
According to Yue Qingli, the Three-Eyed Race was secluded deep in the mountains, having been shunned by the world for generations.
Xu Zimo rode the Darksky Tiger, while Yue Qingli ran behind him as training.
They moved steadily through rain and wind.
After nearly half a month, they finally reached Three-Eyed Mountain.
The home of the Three-Eyed Race.
The mountains weren’t tall, but they were steep.
The rocky cliffs were rugged, and when the wind blew, everything seemed especially quiet.