Chapter 1249: Tianzun

Meanwhile, there lay a desolate place in the heart of Heavenly Pool Island

Deep underground within a secret chamber filled with a chilling bloody odor, a colossal skeletal frame rose ten meters high. Each of its long bone spikes skewered a human body from foot to skull.

The scene was ghastly. Blood still dripped from the wounds, forming small crimson trails along the spikes. From time to time, faint cries of pain escaped the victims' throats.

They were still alive, strung upon that monstrous frame, used as food for the creatures that lurked within!

At the heart of the skeletal ruin lay a creature clad in scales and bone spikes, crawling low across the ground with a few white bones scattered beside it. It held a bone from some unknown part and drew its red tongue along it, greedily sucking at the clotted blood.

The monster's body was bloated and massive, more than three meters tall. Its eyes bulged like bronze bells. Its shape resembled a reptilian beast more than a man.

Just then, a panicked figure burst through the door. Its face was twisted in terror as it cried out, "Island Master! Bad news! Hei Sha is dead!"

The one who stumbled in was Xuan Sha, the very monster who had fought Ling Feng and his group outside Heavenly Pool Island.

Its soul was still trembling. Its face had turned ashen. A deep dent scarred its shoulder, flesh torn and blood seeping. It was the mark left by Lou Qianzhong's final strike with his iron rod.

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Dead?"

The Heavenly Pool Island Master flung aside the bone in its grasp. Its eyes gleamed with cold light. "Hei Sha may not have been my favored one, yet he was still among the Twelve Shas of Heavenly Pool. Who has the strength to kill him, and to frighten you so badly? Could it be the Venerable of the Desolate Sea? Have they arrived already?"

"N-No, not the people of the Venerable of the Desolate Sea. It was another young man. H-His swordsmanship was terrifying!"

Xuan Sha drew a deep breath, remembering the strike with which Ling Feng had slain Hei Sha. The image still made its soul shudder.

"

Oh?

"

The Heavenly Pool Island Master narrowed its eyes. "Someone other than the Venerable's people entered from the outside world? Interesting."

"Island Master, shouldn't we go capture them?" Xuan Sha clenched its claws in anger.

"There is no need. The great moment is near. We must act only according to the orders of the Tianzun. Now is not the time to invite trouble."

As he spoke, excitement flickered in its eyes. Xuan Sha's expression changed. A realization struck him, and he asked in a low voice, "Island Master, could it be that the Tianzun is about to emerge from seclusion?"

At that instant, a blaze of fire shot up from the depths of Heavenly Pool Island and descended into the secret chamber.

The flame hovered in the air, then condensed into a hazy figure. It was a tall man with long crimson hair, his presence towering and imposing. The illusionary image spoke a single word. "Come!"

"

Oh?

Is it about to happen?"

The Heavenly Pool Island Master's lips twisted into a savage grin. The scales along its back rippled. A moment later, a pair of big fleshy wings unfolded. With one powerful beat, it soared upward. "Xuan Sha, gather everyone. The grand ritual is about to begin."

Xuan Sha's face turned cold. Then it nodded, unable to hide the joy that welled up within it. Hei Sha's death was already forgotten.

How many years had it been? Were they finally going to leave this cursed place?

Once they escaped the Sea of Miracles, the boundless world beyond would become an endless feast!

...

Soon after, the Island Master of Heavenly Pool Island descended upon a barren square at the island's center.

Unlike the other regions, this place bore the scar of a massive explosion that had blasted a crater through most of the square.

Even after so many years, the air still shimmered with heat. Every gust of wind stirred waves of sand and ash that never fully settled.

The Island Master drew in a long breath. Its cruel gaze softened slightly as it beat its wings with care and dived into the giant pit below.

The giant pit was filled with a field of white bones. It followed the trail of skeletons forward for nearly half an hour before reaching the end, where a sea wind rushed against its face. The air carried a heavy stench of death so thick it felt tangible.

The Island Master grinned, unbothered by the stench. It lifted its gaze and saw before it a towering "mountain."

That mountain was formed entirely of human bones.

At its peak sat a red-haired man in meditation. His long crimson hair whipped in the wind, and faint flames rippled around his body. Even sitting still, he exuded the majesty of a king wreathed in fire.

Before him rested an enormous eyeball that radiated a sinister light. The Island Master felt its soul tremble at a single glance.

It flapped its wings and landed behind the red-haired man, bowing low upon the pile of bones. "Lord Tianzun, your servant has arrived."

The red-haired man said nothing. The silence itself felt oppressive. Sweat trickled down the Island Master's head as its heart pounded. It dared not even breathe loudly.

Within Heavenly Pool Island, the Island Master ruled over countless lives. It was a nightmare to mortals, the master of this domain. Yet before this red-haired being, it was as weak as a newborn child.

If the man so much as lifted a finger, its existence would be erased without a trace.

After a long silence, the red-haired man finally spoke. His voice was lofty and resonant, carrying the weight of a god.

"Tomorrow at this hour, you will gather all of Heavenly Pool Island and hold the Heaven Offering Ceremony. You have done well these past ten years. It is time to fulfill my promise and allow you to leave this place."

"Yes, Lord Tianzun. It is my greatest honor to serve you!"

The Island Master's eyes shone with uncontrollable joy. It knelt repeatedly, striking its head against the ground.

"

Mhmm.

You may go!"

The red-haired man waved his sleeve lightly. The Island Master spread its wings at once and flew down the mountain of corpses, not daring to linger.

Only when it emerged from the pit did it exhale in relief. Even after ten years, every meeting with the red-haired man made it feel as if it were standing before a god whom no mortal could defy.

It soon returned to a ruined palace. Inside, the remaining members of the Twelve Shas were already gathered, all except the slain Hei Sha.

Every monster in the hall trembled with excitement. Xuan Sha had already spread the word. They knew the Island Master was about to reveal something that would change everything.

The Heavenly Pool Island Master drew in a deep breath and flared its wings. It rose to the throne at the front of the hall and shouted, "All of you who have been trapped here for centuries, our chance has finally come. We can leave at last!"