Chapter 250 - Fencing Stolen Goods!

When his eyes opened, they seemed to flash with a thunderous light. A booming sound echoed between heaven and earth, and an indescribable pressure of spiritual energy gathered from Zhu Kun's body, spreading out like a tidal wave.

Feeling the power within him, Zhu Kun extended his hand through the void. Even without actively summoning any spiritual energy, the space in his palm left pitch-black spatial traces.

Bang!

With a casual punch, the space in front of him shattered like a mirror.

"Is this Earth Sovereign?" Zhu Kun mused, observing the scene before him. Although his current state still wasn't at his peak, he felt that he could defeat his former self.

This was the difference between Dou Qi and spiritual energy. The power that the spiritual energy system could exert at the same level was more formidable.

Rumble!

Before Zhu Kun could reflect further, an extremely low buzzing sound suddenly arose in the sky. The whole world started to darken, and even the spiritual energy between heaven and earth began to boil crazily.

"Is this the Spiritual Calamity?" With a changed expression, Zhu Kun looked solemnly towards the sky. The space there distorted intensively as endless spiritual energy gathered, showing signs of forming cloud-like masses.

A terrifying pressure emanated from it—this was the spiritual calamity that Earth Sovereigns in the Great Thousand World had to endure. Earth Sovereigns were too powerful, and every time one was born, it would incur heaven's jealousy, resulting in disaster. This disaster was known as the Supreme Spiritual Calamity or simply Spiritual Calamity.

As for why Jiang Yun didn't face this calamity when he broke through, it was likely because he advanced too quickly, facing both the Earth and Heaven Sovereign calamities simultaneously. Compared to the more intense Heaven Sovereign calamity, the Earth Sovereign calamity seemed 'weak,' leaving him unaffected. However, Jiang Yun was an exception.

The Spiritual Calamity was immensely powerful, and under its wrath, countless talented geniuses attempting to reach Earth Sovereign turned to ashes. It was also the most feared obstacle for many experts lingering at the peak of the nine ranks.

For ordinary Earth Sovereigns, this calamity was terrifying, but for Zhu Kun, it posed no fatal threat. He was already a quasi-Heaven Sovereign with an Emperor-level soul; if even he couldn't pass this calamity, the number of Earth Sovereigns in the Great Thousand World would decrease by at least 99.99%.

Rumble!

In the sky above, the vast, terrifying spiritual energy had gathered to a frightening extent. Layers upon layers of spiritual clouds formed, with colorful lightning flashing within them.

Thunderous booms echoed through the world, causing all beings to fall silent, seemingly unwilling to challenge this heavenly might.

"Let me face this Spiritual Calamity then!" Zhu Kun looked at the tribulation clouds in the sky, took a deep breath, and made a solemn expression. His hands swiftly formed seals, and golden-purple light surged from behind him, eventually transforming into a massive golden-purple dragon.

"Ancient Dragon Sky Rend Claw!"

Meanwhile, far away, Jiang Yun, who was sitting cross-legged, shifted his attention from the flame-condensed cauldron before him to Zhu Kun undergoing the tribulation. He smiled faintly, "Father-in-law has come out of seclusion. This Spiritual Calamity won't be too challenging for him. I need to speed up as well!"

With that in mind, Jiang Yun looked at the energy cluster being roasted by the Reincarnation Devil Flame inside the cauldron, smiled in satisfaction, and lightly patted the cauldron, murmuring, "Form the pill!"

Boom!

A pillar of light shot up from the cauldron in front of Jiang Yun, spreading the fragrance of the pill to all corners. Under the influence of this aroma, the nearby grassland seemed to receive a massive boost, growing vigorously.

Rumble...

Thunderclouds continued to gather in the sky, and one by one, thunderbolts began flashing, followed by loud rumblings of thunder.

As the lightning energy accumulated to its peak, a thunderbolt finally struck down towards the pill cauldron in front of Jiang Yun.

Seeing this, Jiang Yun smiled lightly, raised his hand, and made a slicing motion towards the sky.

Buzz...

Immediately, rippling waves appeared in the high sky, and a massive spatial vortex swallowed the entire thunderbolt. The vortex then expanded, eventually engulfing all the thunderclouds.

After finishing all this, Jiang Yun didn't stop. He looked to the side, where another cauldron formed from flames also housed a forming pill.

The moment the dissipating pill thunder reappeared, Jiang Yun dealt with it the same way, watching with a mysterious smile. Surrounding him were more than a dozen flying cauldrons, each nurturing a pill.

Jiang Yun was simultaneously refining over a dozen pills—this required incredible control, almost reaching an artful level.

Three days passed. Finally, the wind in the sky weakened, and with the last trace of thunder dissipating, the tribulations summoned by Jiang Yun and Zhu Kun respectively came to an end.

"Father-in-law, take these pills. While the Great Thousand World is vast and full of opportunities, it is also fraught with dangers. Keep some pills handy just in case." Jiang Yun handed several jade bottles to Zhu Kun, who had walked over, and spoke softly.

Their decision to act separately was mutual. Zhu Kun didn't want to hinder Jiang Yun's progress; he planned to head to the Divine Beast Continent. Even though it split into three after the great war fifty thousand years ago, the Divine Beast Continent remained the most vast and powerful supercontinent. Even other supercontinents like the Tianluo Continent or the ones where the five ancient clans resided couldn't compare. It was an independent entity that even the Great Thousand Palace couldn't interfere with.

Zhu Kun intended to seek opportunities there, determined to establish a legacy for the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan. He didn't want to rely on his son-in-law forever.

"You be careful too. Even though you're now a Heaven Sovereign and incredibly powerful, always be on guard. You're not yet invincible. Remember, Ziyan is still waiting for you on the Dou Qi continent. If she gets hurt because of you, I won't forgive you!" Receiving the pills, Zhu Kun took on the stern demeanor of a father-in-law, lecturing Jiang Yun.

Listening to Zhu Kun's 'harsh' tone, Jiang Yun felt a warm sensation in his heart. After repeatedly assuring Zhu Kun, the latter finally felt at ease. Zhu Kun looked at Jiang Yun, pondered for a moment, and then said two words, "I'm off!"

With that, he tore open a space rift and disappeared into the distance.

Having broken through to Earth Sovereign, Zhu Kun had regained mastery over space. The Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan was adept at manipulating space. Even in the Great Thousand World, Zhu Kun could effortlessly traverse the void, greatly enhancing his safety during his ventures.

Watching Zhu Kun leave, Jiang Yun remained at his spot for a moment, then chuckled, "Nagging old man!"

Though he complained, there was no impatience on Jiang Yun's face. Soon, he also tore open a spatial passage and vanished from the spot.

The Great Thousand World—a realm of thousands of races and heroic gatherings. There were continents like the Northern Wilderness Continent, Sacred Abyss Continent, Mountain and Sea Continent, Ten Thousand Islands Continent, Commerce Continent, Sky Python Continent, Tianluo Continent, and Western Sky Continent—all vast and home to powerful beings.

In ancient times, the Heavenly Evil God led the Outer Evil Clan in an invasion that caused half of the Great Thousand World to fall. The remaining half was divided among various races.

In the Great Thousand World, many continents existed. Each was nearly as vast as lower realms. Most continents weren't well-known in the great world, unlike the Northern Wilderness Continent, home to the Five Great Academies and thus fairly recognized.

The continent where Mu Chen originated, Hundred Spirit Continent, was just a remote corner in the northwestern part of the Great Thousand World, but the Northern Profound Sect behind it was well-known. Any force with a Heaven Sovereign had a notable reputation in the Great Thousand World.

Such was the status of Heaven Sovereigns in the Great Thousand World, unmatched by Earth Sovereigns.

Commerce Continent—a trade-focused continent known for its numerous reputable auction houses. Although not vast, its fame resonated widely in the Great Thousand World.

On this continent stood the most majestic auction houses in the surrounding dozens of continents. Rich in resources, various heavenly treasures and divine items flowed here, making it a hub akin to a 'Black-Corner Region' of the Great Thousand World.

A famous phrase circulated widely here: "With enough Sovereign Spiritual Liquid, you can buy anything you desire."

A place with such a bold claim, while not necessarily offering everything, indicated substantial influence. At least, resources needed by Earth Sovereigns were abundant, as long as one had the money to buy them.

"This is the Commerce Continent. Compared to the small West Heaven Realm, it's much more bustling!" Dressed in dark robes, Jiang Yun floated in the air, looking at the thriving continent ahead with a soft smile.

Though not vast, this continent was a melting pot of various forces, countless in number. Most auction houses were backed by significant powers, ensuring no one recklessly created trouble despite the abundant treasures.

A few hundred years ago, a top-tier power's leader had once forcibly seized a divine item from an auction, killing the organizer and his competitors. This caused an uproar in the Commerce Continent, and immediate action was taken. Within a short span of days, that top-tier power suffered a siege by numerous formidable forces, resulting in heavy casualties. Even the leader was critically wounded and had to return the divine item with immense compensation to settle the matter.

Since this incident, the Commerce Continent established strict rules, nearly eradicating the practice of seizing items by force in auction houses.

Thanks to these rules, the Commerce Continent's fame grew over the years, attracting countless treasure hunters seeking desired items.

Jiang Yun held substantial amounts of Sovereign Spiritual Liquid from three clans and numerous divine skills and treasures, things he no longer valued.

Given his high standards, only supreme divine skills and sacred items caught his eye now. Unfortunately, none of the three clans possessed such treasures. Instead of letting them waste space, he preferred exchanging them for what he needed. The Commerce Continent seemed a suitable choice.

"The Luoshen Clan might be renowned, but its later generations have declined, nowhere near forces backed by Heaven Sovereigns." A soft laugh echoed in Jiang Yun's mind. It was Qing Ming, who had lain dormant for a while.

Since Jiang Yun broke through to Heaven Sovereign, Qing Ming Tower became less useful. Wary of revealing its true self in the diverse Great Thousand World, Qing Ming feared ancient monsters could discover it, causing significant trouble.

"In the end, it's all about strength." Jiang Yun sighed inwardly, adjusted his emotions, smiled faintly, and swiftly flew towards the distance.

Soon, a grand city appeared before Jiang Yun, likely the central hub of this continent.

Trade City!

Trade City's walls rose hundreds of feet high, gleaming darkly. Extending out of sight, the walls bore large, glowing symbols. Intense spiritual energy fluctuations spread quietly, and massive light beams converged above, forming a canopy covering the entire city.

Trade City could only be entered through its gates. Any descent from the sky would trigger the city's defenses, treating the person as an intruder to be attacked.

"A fine array, capable of defending against anything below Heaven Sovereign!" With a cursory inspection, Jiang Yun concluded that Trade City's great array made it impregnable against Earth Sovereigns.

As for Heaven Sovereigns, that was another matter entirely. (End of chapter)