"During the primordial era, no one in the Ancestral Lands knows why the Dragon and Phoenix clans left behind the seal. The only certainty is that it contains a vast amount of pure Ancestral Land energy. After countless ages, the seal has begun to loosen, and the power of the Ancestral Lands has been leaking out from it. We have personally gone to investigate and confirmed this to be the case," Azure Phoenix continued. "Based on our speculation, the seal was originally formed using the very power of the Ancestral Lands, which is why this phenomenon occurs."
Yang Kai furrowed his brow. "If it's a seal, then whatever's sealed inside can't be good. What consequences might come from rashly opening it?"
Azure Phoenix smiled bitterly. "The Sacred Spirits of the Ancestral Lands are well aware of that. But you have to understand — Sacred Spirits are supreme and overwhelmingly powerful. Even if something truly terrible had been sealed inside all those ages ago, after such an immense span of time, it likely no longer exists. And even if remnants remain, the Sacred Spirits of the Ancestral Lands would have nothing to fear. Breaking the seal may carry some risk for them, but compared to the potential gains, it's negligible."
With pure Ancestral Land energy leaking from the seal, opening it would improve the current state of the Ancestral Lands — a tremendous boon for the propagation and survival of every Sacred Spirit clan. If not for this, the Kun clan would not have spent all these years single-mindedly attempting to break it.
Yang Kai fell silent. With his Sixth-Order Open Heaven cultivation, in the current situation, he was completely powerless to resist.
"What is the attitude of the Four Phoenix Pavilion?" Yang Kai looked up and asked.
"We have always opposed breaking the seal," Azure Phoenix replied. "But the tide has turned, and whether we approve or not is no longer of consequence. To be honest, as of yesterday, no fewer than ten Sacred Spirits have been lingering outside the Four Phoenix Pavilion. Even if we wished to send you away now, we couldn't."
Yuan Ji added, "Moreover, the seal began loosening thousands of years ago. Even without anyone actively trying to break it, it will likely destroy itself within another few thousand to ten thousand years."
"I understand." Yang Kai took a deep breath. "What do you need me to do?"
Azure Phoenix said, "There's nothing you need to do. The seal was left behind using the Dragon and Phoenix clans' own bloodline power. To break it, you simply need to expend some of your essence blood. In two days, the Sacred Spirits of the Ancestral Lands will convene at the Four Phoenix Pavilion to discuss this matter. Once a decision is reached, I'll come to inform you, and then take you to the Demon Sealing Ground. In the meantime, rest well."
"The Demon Sealing Ground!" Yang Kai raised an eyebrow. "That's where the seal is located?"
Azure Phoenix nodded. "The conditions at the seal site have been passed down by word of mouth since the primordial era. The seal has loosened, but we haven't detected any demonic energy emanating from it. We don't know why it was called the Demon Sealing Ground. Perhaps whatever terrible thing inside the seal truly has been annihilated after all these ages."
Even if there were demonic energy, the Sacred Spirits of the Ancestral Lands would have nothing to fear. How could mere demonic energy hope to rival the power of Sacred Spirits?
Over the next two days, Yang Kai and Xia Linlang continued to recuperate.
Two days later, the gates of the Four Phoenix Pavilion swung open, and one fearsome aura after another arrived in succession. Each aura represented a powerful Sacred Spirit — their majesty overwhelming and unstoppable.
Inside the great hall, dozens of chairs slowly filled. The Sacred Spirits arrived at different times, but with tacit understanding, each found a seat befitting their standing. The four seats of honor at the very top were occupied by Azure Phoenix and her three sisters, seated in a row.
Yang Kai sat just below them on their left, ramrod straight, eyes fixed forward, his expression composed and meditative.
Every Sacred Spirit who entered regarded him with keen interest, occasionally showing traces of curiosity. For many Sacred Spirits who had lived in the Ancestral Lands since birth, Dragons were exceedingly rare — they had only ever heard of them, never seen one with their own eyes.
Seated directly across from Yang Kai was Kun Ao of the Kun clan. His gaze swept over occasionally, and the killing intent he harbored made no effort to hide itself.
The dragon bloodline within Yang Kai stirred restlessly in response. The enmity etched into their very bloodline was a legacy from the primordial era — even after tens of millions of years, as long as both bloodlines still existed, it could never be reconciled.
Of the Sacred Spirits who had arrived, a full half possessed power comparable to Eighth-Order Open Heaven cultivators. The rest, even if not quite at that level, had reached the Seventh-Order. All of them were clearly adult Sacred Spirits.
Mie Meng had also come. She was now a member of the Ancestral Lands after all, and the matter of the seal at the Demon Sealing Ground concerned the growth of her descendants. She could not stay away.
She didn't exchange words with Yang Kai. For one, the occasion was not appropriate. For another, with the Four Phoenix Pavilion's protection, the many Sacred Spirits gathered today would not dare cause him any harm.
In less than the time it took an incense stick to burn, every seat in the great hall was taken. Each Sacred Spirit clan had sent a representative.
Azure Phoenix swept her gaze across the assembly below and spoke. "Everyone is here. Let us begin our discussion."
Kun Ao grinned. "What is there to discuss about the seal? We've waited all these years, and the Ancestral Lands have finally produced a Dragon. If we miss this opportunity, who knows when the next chance will come? Why doesn't everyone simply state their position — the minority defers to the majority. What do you think, Azure Phoenix?"
Azure Phoenix lowered her eyelids but said little in response, offering only a slight nod. Things had reached this point, and she had long prepared herself for how the situation would unfold. At this stage, saying any more would accomplish nothing.
Kun Ao laughed. "Good. Everyone here knows the condition of the seal at the Demon Sealing Ground, so there's no need for further words. Whether to maintain the seal as it is or take a small risk to break it open and let the power of the Ancestral Lands flood this world once more, freeing our descendants from the hardship of propagation — the choice is yours. No one is forcing you. My Kun clan intends to break the seal, and we have been striving toward that goal all these years, as all of you have witnessed. Those who wish to stand with us, please make your position known!"
"I agree to unseal it!" Taowu, seated beside Kun Ao, chuckled.
"I agree as well!" Bian'an chimed in immediately.
"Agreed!"
"Agreed!"