It was the home of all crane type beasts and many other bird type beasts. Those who were a.s.similated through the years, after the establishment of the tribe, joined by succ.u.mbing to the influence and prestige of the ruler of all beasts in New Earth, who also happens to be a bird type beast.
His Valor Ozeyn had all of Valgarel under his control, but the actual sphere of influence of the Red Rose Beaks tribe stretched across only several tens of caves. The caves were aligned like a st.u.r.dy chain, each of whom was abundant with mountain ranges and green ravines. They even had formations, similar to those in Kingdom Earth, creating a panoramic view of night and day.
Cave Of Long Beaks, the core cave of Red Rose Beaks tribe.
Nests by the thousands adorned each mountain from the base to the summit. A cacophony of flapping wings and bird cries rung in the air. Flocks of birds roamed the illusionary sky of the cave, only when they arrived to their destination, settled down and lowered their wings did they transform to either a humanoid or human form, depending on their ability. Such was the law in this cave, to fly as a beast, to land as a human. Those who had yet to achieve these results, trapped in their animalistic form, so long as they were members of this tribe, were bound to their nests, taken care of by their elders.
A castle was erected on a flat ground, surrounded by humanlike structures of stone and steel with a minute technological design, yet no electricity, only glamorous formations charged by Sun Stones. There were streets, but no vehicles, only pedestrians.
If one looked closely, inspected every man and woman, for there were no children, he or she would have discovered that every person was actually a beast in human form, actually speaking the tongue of Ercas Mir, Netherling, while donning garments of feathers and satin in a style very similar to the human villages above the ground.
This settlement of a castle, surrounded by short and vast buildings, and beasts in human form, Shenghuo and Zhihui alike, was the Long Beak Palace, home of His Valor Ozeyn. In it were welcomed all bird type beasts that attained a complete human form, regardless of type and cultivation. There they could get guidance, cultivation materials and opportunities nowhere presentable anywhere else in New Earth. As for non bird type beasts, unless they were invited by someone of status within the tribe or were of particular type and cultivation level, they could only hear in envy, for even to watch they were not permitted.
'Amazing!' Zax spectated at the Long Beak Palace from above. 'Horn Kikon treats Ozeyn and his tribe very kindly. I guess, as a Chaoyue that surmounted other Chaoyues he is worth the investment of roping him in'.
The formations guarding the Long Beak Palace from being probed were easily bypa.s.sed by the new level of attainment of Zax's Soul Sense. Even those that fourth level Martial Mortal could not see through without exploiting a bit of effort while eventually still get detected, did not react to Zax. Only one formation was a tad problematic, that of the castle.
'There are no less than twenty three third realm experts, all Scarlet Cranes'. His Valor Ozeyn was the sole Demonic Scarlet Crane. 'The highest being at the third level'. Zax was not that much surprised by the discovery.
When he first learned about the third realm from his Master, he was told that altogether there were about ten Martial Mortals in New Earth. At the time it might have been true, but since then he was taught about the existence of Deformed Beings and Pure Cores and even shared such resources with his Martial family, which benefited greatly.
'Well… that's enough sightseeing. The third Black Core is my priority and I can sense its direction and that it's close but not detect it with my Soul Sense'. Obviously it was within the parameter of the formation guarding the castle. He took a step and intruded the airs.p.a.ce of the castle.
BANG!
Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.
The sound of shattering gla.s.s resonated. The castle, which looked like a seven storeys paG.o.da with turrets at the four corners of the highest level, had another layer of protective formation that now broke. As this was the home of the king of beasts, Zax briefly wondered why it needed to be protected. Would there be any one stupid enough to break into this place? Apart from him, there were a handful of other cultivators stronger than His Valor Ozeyn.
'The northern turret!' The seventh storey of the paG.o.da and its four turrets appeared to be a place a selected few should have the right to enter.
The northern turret had small windows. Its, and the other three turrets, entrance was at the seventh storey of the paG.o.da and to get there, one could either squeeze through its windows, climb from the first storey or hope the doors of the top terrace are not locked.
'They are locked'. Zax sighed. 'If built like this, to use force would be offending Ozeyn'. Although he was firmed with taking the Black Core, he preferred to give His Valor Ozeyn as much respect as he could afford for the backing he gave the Martial family. 'Too late now…' He sighed again.
If he wanted to give His Valor Ozeyn face, he should not have broken the protective formation. Furthermore, the Red Rose Beaks tribe was in cahoots with the Violet Scaled Troops and now that Zax took New Earth as part of his domain, he intended to uproot the influence of the five powers, a process that inevitable will also undermine His Valor Ozeyn's eminence in Valgarel.
As he made up his mind, Zax noticed that the experts lying in the castle had begun to react to his burgling, yet they were too slow and by the time the strongest of them, the five at the third level of the Martial Mortal realm, traversed a centimeter, he already slammed through the northern turret.
A human shape hole formed in the disintegrated wall. Inside was a nest of large pillows, coated by green fabric of glowing herbs that induced windy attribute fluctuation. Two men, a middle aged short red haired and a twenty looking short red haired, sat cross legged. The middle aged had his eyes open and was in a posture as if he was about to get up. The younger one was only quarter of the way of opening his eyes.
Zax waited.
"Who-"
"Who?!" Before the middle aged man could finish, a figure of a man, a head shorter than Zax, with light brown skin glistening in red s.h.i.+ne and slightly muscular physique, showed up outside the turret wearing a sleeveless scarlet coat and pants made from the exact same tiny feathers that were a waist long hair to his head.
The powerful aura of a Peak fourth level Martial Mortal erupted from him, catching Zax's interest. 'His Valor Ozeyn!' Their eyes met.
"Let me introduce", Zax replied with a smile. "I am Zax Zel, a human. My Master is Kartius the Black Stag".
"Kartius's apprentice?" His Valor Ozeyn repeated in confusion. The fellow before him, whom he did not recognize, gave him the same impression as Horn Kikon when he turned to greet him. At that moment he thought that this perhaps is some other leader from the five powers he had yet to meet, but upon hearing his presentation he wondered if he heard correctly.
"Yes. Maybe this will help prove my ident.i.ty". Zax exuded the power of his body and certain areas were highlighted in black light, plainly displaying the structure of the Three Stages Of Hyper Physique he cultivated, in addition to his attainment at the second stage.
"This!" His Valor Ozeyn was shocked. Every now and then he would check with Grandmaster Kartion on the situation of the best bodily refinement technique, to date, and as far as he knew, the second stage of the Three Stages Of Hyper Physique was still incomplete.
Regarding the setback Grandmaster Kartion a.s.sumed His Valor Ozeyn would have in cultivation the second realm of his bodily refinement technique, after realizing the proper formulation to the Three Stages Of Hyper Physique he wrote off this a.s.sessment.
"Doesn't matter!" A sudden s.h.i.+ft in temperament emerged from His Valor Ozeyn as his bewilderment was put aside, replaced by undisputable majesty. "I am Ozeyn, ruler of Valgarel, invader-"
"Hush now". Zax pushed his left palm and a black imprint, two times his size, burst and smashed Ozeyn, stripping him from his Valor and sending him flying.
At the instant of impact, apprehension filled Ozeyn. The momentum of the seemingly casual a.s.sault was unshakable. Nevertheless, he was the ruler of beasts in New Earth and a Youyue beast at that. His muscles bulged and his skin was set aflame. Gnas.h.i.+ng, he clasped the giant, black hand imprint and squeezed.
BANG!
The imprint exploded and Ozeyn spun couple of meters before reaching to halt midair. A ferocious, blazing light with a hint of gold and silver s.h.i.+mmered in his pupils. He was incensed and was not afraid to let the opponent know, for even if he was a fifth level Martial Mortal, it would not necessarily be enough to kill him once in his animalistic form!
"I had yet to experiment, but I don't believe any other fourth level Martial Mortal could withstand this simple attack. Furthermore, you dispersed it in a human form and there isn't even a trickle of blood. Youyue…"
Before Ozeyn could catch his breath, Zax and the two men from the turret appeared in front of him.
Feeling Ozeyn's killing intent, Zax frowned. "I really don't want to fight with my Martial family's benefactor, so I only made a point. If, however, you insist… beware, I already declared to Horn Kikon and via him to the other leaders of the five powers, New Earth is Mine!" His voice was not loud, making it to Ozeyn and the two men's ears and not farther, but the manner of the tone carried an irrefutable dominance. "All may stay as is, Kingdom Earth and Valgarel shall be unchanged, but for caging us with an imposed set of rules, I won't permit the presence of the five powers in my home below the ground and the periphery of the pathway in Selivereb".
Ozeyn kept quiet until Zax finished saying his piece. Since he acknowledged himself as not an enemy, Ozeyn, too, decided to avoid battle. He was a Youyue type beast, but his ego was more manageable than Horn Kikon's. Also, to fight an existence at the fifth Martial Mortal level he had to transform to his animalistic from, in which he was not yet capable to urge the gold and silver energies as Horn Kikon. Besides, Martial Mortal at his caliber would bring about certain devastation to their field of battle and this was his cramped territory.
"Are you really Kartius's apprentice?" His voice was deep and unyielding, but no longer battle driven.
"I am. Go ahead and seek my Master. He will elaborate things for you". Zax replied and turned to the two men. "Now you are aware that even your ruler cannot overpower me. Handover the Black Core!"
