Chapter 896: The Glory of Skytree City

This was directly related to Tang San’s killing of the Adamant Nymph Emperor. The Blue Gold Tree clan, and even the Soul Capturing Nymph Emperor, believed that it was the Ancestral Tree who had slain the Adamant Nymph Emperor, but as part of Tang San’s body, Crystalline knew better. She had witnessed firsthand how Tang San meticulously set up traps for the Adamant Nymph Emperor, using every resource and ability at his disposal to kill an Emperor with only eleventh-order strength almost without risk. This made her truly feel that he was worthy of being her master.

As the former strongest being on this plane, the Crystal Demon Emperor was undeniably proud. When she first chose to follow Tang San, her primary intention was to use him, nothing more. But now, by revealing her true innate ability to Tang San and expressing her intentions to fully support him, she also showed that, for the first time, she truly acknowledged him.

Tang San naturally figured this out in an instant and didn’t mind at all. Gaining the recognition of someone as powerful as the Crystal Demon Emperor was never going to be easy. But with her assistance, some things would be quite a bit easier, and his chances of becoming an Emperor were now even higher.

The subsequent cultivation became much easier. Tang San continued to absorb the life energy of the Ancestral Tree, stabilizing the newly fused Indestructible Lion-Tiger Transformation. As his third transcendent bloodline, it undoubtedly pushed his overall strength to a new level, greatly enhancing his physical resilience.

Tang San wasn’t in a hurry to end his meditation. Taking advantage of this honeymoon period with the Ancestral Tree, he absorbed as much high-level life energy as possible, accumulating life force and nourishing his body. Moreover, if he couldn’t absorb all the energy, Crystalline could help seal some of it for later. Tang San wasn’t sure if he would get another opportunity like this in the future.

While Tang San was enjoying his cultivation, the Solstice Empire was thrown into an uproar.

News of the Ancestral Tree’s full awakening quickly spread across the Daemon Continent, with the Emperors of the Solstice Empire reacting the most strongly. They were none too pleased; what blew the horn of the Ancestral Tree’s revival was the sacrifice of an Emperor's life, and with one Emperor gone, their hard-won advantage had vanished. Meanwhile, the Empyrean Dominion didn’t gloat over the Adamant Nymph Emperor’s death either. After all, the killer also hailed from the Solstice Empire, and the pressure they felt from the Ancestral Tree was far greater than that of the Adamant Nymph Emperor. Its reputation as one of the Three Ancestors was one thing, but the fact that it was capable of squashing an Emperor just like that was downright frightening.

As a result, the number of Ancestral Court meetings had increased tenfold, most of which were focused on the Blue Gold Tree clan.

On the third day after the death of the Adamant Nymph Emperor, the Ancestral Court officially released a statement. The message outlined the crimes of the Adamant Nymph Emperor, including his abduction and mistreatment of the Blue Gold Tree clan members. It also announced the awakening of the Ancestral Tree and invited Jin Miaolin to report to the Ancestral Court as soon as possible. Furthermore, they issued yet another decree—this time, a hard and clear-phrased order that left no room for interpretation—forbidding any clan from abducting or harming the Blue Gold Tree clan. Any such action would be considered an act of aggression against the Ancestral Court. All Blue Gold Tree clan members who had already been captured were to be returned to Skytree City immediately.

The Ancestral Court’s public announcement undoubtedly set the tone for its future policy. After all, confirming that the Ancestral Tree’s killing of the Adamant Nymph Emperor was an act of justice and officially declaring the Ancestral Tree’s awakening showed that they were fully ready to acknowledge things as they were.

Meanwhile, the death of the Adamant Nymph Emperor forced everyone to reevaluate the Blue Gold Tree clan. Once viewed as weak by the powerful, this clan had suddenly become a fearsome force. It had been thousands of years since an Emperor had been killed, and the Ancestral Tree had taken one down right after returning—just how much resentment had it been harboring?

As a result, whether it was nymphs or demons, all clans that had imprisoned members of the Blue Gold Tree clan quickly began to rectify the situation through their trading caravans. They scrambled to return the captives, fearing a repeat of what had happened in Adamant City.

Details of Tang San's visit to Adamant City had already spread far and wide. Under the Ancestral Tree's brilliant light, any captured members of the Blue Gold Tree clan would be discovered—they simply couldn’t be hidden. And if they were found, it would likely lead to a life-or-death feud with the Blue Gold Tree clan, which nobody wanted. After all, the Ancestral Tree had drained thirty percent of Adamant City’s life energy, and that was clearly being merciful. If it could take thirty percent, couldn’t it take everything? Such power was truly terrifying.

Some wise analysts speculated that the Ancestral Tree couldn’t truly awaken, as it was bound by the limitations of the plane. Even if the Blue Gold Tree clan could make use of the Ancestral Tree’s power, the range where this power could be used likely didn’t extend far beyond the proximity of the tree itself. But these were just speculations—who could prove them? No one would have believed the Ancestral Tree could kill the Adamant Nymph Emperor, and yet barely a few days ago, Adamant City was drenched in blood. No one dared take risks anymore. Faced with a Blue Gold Tree clan that had suddenly risen to power, most chose to observe from a distance or even extend friendly gestures.

The elders of the Blue Gold Tree clan felt this shift most acutely.

On the third day after Tang San's return, Skytree City began to grow lively, with various races starting to migrate there. Most of them were actually from... Adamant City. After Tang San issued his death threat, some of those who had fled Adamant City chose to return, but others, seeing that the rise of the Blue Gold Tree clan was unstoppable, decided to relocate instead. They liquidated their assets in Adamant City and moved directly to Skytree City.

What the elders never expected was that on the seventh day after Tang San entered seclusion, representatives from Adamant City arrived. Jin Chengwu personally led a delegation, bringing a hundred carts full of precious materials as compensation to the Blue Gold Tree clan. With the utmost sincerity, he apologized on behalf of the Adamant Nymph clan.

Tang San was in seclusion for his cultivation, so the elders naturally wouldn’t disturb him for such trivial matters. They assured Jin Chengwu that they would pass on the Adamant Nymph clan’s apology and accepted all the gifts, but they did not allow Jin Chengwu or the other representatives to enter the city.

Jin Chengwu didn’t press the matter and humbly left with the delegation.

The Grand Elder couldn’t have been more pleased at that moment. In the past, Jin Chengwu wouldn’t have even spared him a glance!

While Jin Chengwu came to offer compensation, gifts from other main cities arrived in an endless stream. These included representatives of major city lords and large trade caravans, all bearing extremely valuable gifts. The reason was simple: they were congratulating Jin Miaolin on becoming the leader of the Blue Gold Tree clan and the lord of Skytree City, and conveniently establishing a relationship with this new promising power.

For a while, Skytree City was the hottest topic in the entire Solstice Empire. However, all these gift-bearing envoys were destined to be disappointed, as none of them were able to meet the new leader of the Blue Gold Tree clan.

During Tang San's seclusion, the most exciting event for the Blue Gold Tree clan was the return of their lost kin. Those who had disappeared weeks, months, or even years before were coming back! Some were still alive and whole, some were missing limbs but still showed signs of life, while others were just dead fragments, but in any case, the important part was that they were all returning home. Those who could be healed would be healed, and those who couldn’t... would at least be buried in the land of their kin.

The caravans that brought them back did not know where they’d been before; the Blue Gold Trees had been delivered to their headquarters with instructions, and that was that. This gave them some measure of reassurance that the Blue Gold Tree clan wouldn’t come knocking on their doors.

Just as one of these caravans entered the boundaries of Skytree City, Tang San suddenly opened his eyes. In the next moment, before any of the elders could notice, he vanished into thin air.