The feathered serpent had certainly been a creature possessed of higher-tier power in the past. Chen Chuan estimated that it had very likely reached the legendary Fifth Limit.
It was just that its fate had become bound to the rise and fall of Kawatua; it had not remained living across the fissure, and thus had degenerated over time.
After all, limit-breaking for such creatures differed fundamentally from that of martial artists. Originating from the Melded Lands, they either relied on the energy from the other side to survive and evolve, or depended entirely on human faith and conviction to sustain their spiritual cohesion, rather than achieving a fundamental metamorphosis through self-cultivation.
The feathered serpent might well have relied on both. Having lingered in the material world for so long without adequate replenishment, while the First People had long since declined and their faith had completely collapsed, the very foundation of its support had ceased to exist. Hence, it had been reduced to its present state.
Even so, the assimilative power of such beings remained exceedingly potent. If Chaoming used its life essence to break into the beyond-limit realm, the bird would very likely transform into a feathered serpent kindred or become its direct descendant. That would hardly be suitable.
Not that there was anything wrong with feathered serpents as a species, but becoming Ikus's scion or becoming entangled in its bloodline meant Chaoming might be subjected to its constraints—something Chen Chuan had no wish to see.
Unless this issue could be resolved, he had no intention of rushing to use it. Of course, if Chaoming ever faced a dire emergency or mortal peril, he would still be willing to try it, as the item was more than potent enough to serve as a life-saving medicine. Any complications could be sorted out afterward.
For now, he would wait until he found an appropriate person or someone versed in such lore to consult before deciding what to do.
With these thoughts settled, he put the essence away, then turned his gaze to the crystalline object on the other side.
He already had a rough idea of what it was. Reaching out to press his palm against it, a wisp of spiritual fire seeped into the surface from between his fingers. Almost in the blink of an eye, the object dissolved into a rising wisp of mist.
Yet though it drifted and swirled, it seemed bound by some invisible force, rising toward the ceiling while remaining gathered and cohesive without dissipating.
He sensed it for a moment, and with a mere thought, the cloud of smoke instantly transformed into a crystalline whip. Grasping the tail of the whip, he lashed forward; instantly, spiritual fire surged across it, flinging out a slender streak of spiritual flame.
From what he could sense, it could extend over a dozen meters, its flexibility and rigidity shifting entirely at his whim. In truth, its potential went far beyond that; this item could grow and temper itself alongside his training, and for now, its upper limit remained unseen.
Another commendable quality was that it could shift between substance and incorporeality at the wielder's will, wielding power no less formidable than a mutated weapon developed to its peak.
In an instant, countless applications came to mind.
He nodded. His judgment had been correct: this item was likely the "Life-Bound Gold" recorded in ancient Xuan scriptures. In modern terms, it would be a "Life-Bound Weapon."
According to the Xuan scriptures, if a high-tier martial artist willingly consecrated their spirit, qi, will, and vital essence, condensing them into one to forge a golden blade, it could bear this name.
Yet this required the martial artist's willing sacrifice, making such weapons exceedingly scarce, almost unseen in the world. The scriptures noted that with the aid of certain medicines and materials, a Fourth Limit martial artist could yield roughly one or two pieces of Life-Bound Gold.
Even degenerated, the Feathered Serpent God possessed vast reserves of life energy and spirit that martial artists of the same tier could hardly match. Given its foundation, it could likely produce more than one or two, though not many.
Bestowing this upon him was truly a costly investment, undoubtedly an expression of gratitude for how he had handled the recent crisis.
With a flick of his wrist, the slender whip contracted and, amidst the churning mist, transformed into a long mace. The form of this long mace bore an uncanny resemblance to the weapon of the Xuan Ancestor depicted in the *Xuan Spirits Battling Demons Chart*, and it felt exceptionally suited to his use. With this item in hand, unleashing the might of the Demon-Subduing Form secret technique would be far more natural and effective.
Of course, the Xuejun Saber remained more familiar in hand, and its function in tearing open fissures and slaying entities from the other side was irreplaceable. Thus, this new weapon could serve as a secondary arm in the future.
Drawing his thoughts back, the object slowly dissolved into a wisp of vapor and sank into his field.
With it safely stowed, he took out the long feather. The plumage was an overall verdant teal, roughly the length of a forearm. A gentle shake sent shimmering luminescence rippling across it, the fine down swaying to produce shifting gradients of radiant color.
He stroked it lightly, letting his intent permeate within, then gave a soft wave toward the open space. After a moment, a bright orb of light appeared before him—a fissure entrance torn open leading to the sacred sanctuary of the First People.
This appeared somewhat similar to the Xuejun Saber's ability, but in reality, the feather itself held no such power; it merely acted as a medium of connection. So long as he remained in Kawatua, whenever he wished to visit the Sacred Tree or other locations, he needed only use this feather, and Ikus could tear open a fissure from any place to let him cross through.
For now... He glanced into the fissure. Since it was already open, he would not let Ikus's goodwill go to waste, and stepped directly inside.
Stepping through the fissure, the light sealed shut behind him. Looking around, he found himself once again in the place he had departed not long ago. The scattered remains of Fantner had long since vanished, likely swallowed by this domain of space. Under ordinary circumstances, not even the High Priestess would enter here; presently, he was the sole person present.
Chen Chuan promptly sat down cross-legged, his spiritual visage slowly manifesting behind him. There was nothing urgent demanding his attention right now, making this an ideal opportunity to cultivate here for a time.
His progress in cultivation had never been slow, but breaking through boundaries required not only accumulation, but also clashes against more formidable opponents to spur the metamorphosis of his mutated tissue. Unfortunately, though the adversaries he had faced were skilled, their power had all been incomplete. Fantner was a worthy opponent, but had Fantner arrived with his full power, the gains would undoubtedly have been far greater. Chen Chuan needed opponents like that. Still, his current strength was sufficient to accomplish certain things.
He had already made up his mind: he would linger in Kawatua for a few more days, then adjust his schedule based on circumstances. If the delegation had no urgent duties for him, he planned to head to the Progenitor Company branch to settle a few matters.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye. Chen Chuan traveled back and forth between the fissure and the manor, while Deputy Delegation Leader Lu kept him briefed on the latest developments at all times.
The situation outside had gradually stabilized, and Kawatua's upper echelon had directly expelled the Federation delegates. Having committed to their path, they had to see it through with unwavering resolve; wavering between two sides would please no one.
News also arrived from the Federation Capital that the invitation tournament had ultimately concluded in a draw, with the Federation and Great Shun reportedly sharing first place. On the surface, this was a compromise where both sides took a step back for an amicable resolution. He did not inquire deeply into the specifics, but knew well that extensive politicking had to have been involved.
Meanwhile, Delegation Leader Xie sent a telegram congratulating them. Chen Chuan and Deputy Delegation Leader Lu had achieved immense merit this time, resolving a series of problems that had plagued Kawatua for ages and thoroughly binding it to Great Shun's chariot.
This was a brilliant outcome far beyond what the delegation had dared imagine upon arrival. As delegation leader, Xie would naturally share in the glory, and every member of the delegation stood to benefit in their future careers from this impressive record.
Over the past few days, Chen Chuan had gradually noticed that the purple qi swirling within his body was growing denser and stronger. This was something he had rarely encountered before; at one point, he had even assumed that this purple qi would hardly grow through regular cultivation.
Now he understood: it was not that it could not grow, but that it required energy of a far higher quality, especially extended stays in domains like the Sacred Tree's airspace. Because the energy here had been refined by the Sacred Tree, the efficiency was exceptional.
Unfortunately, he could not linger here indefinitely, but he could seek out similar environments in the future. He wondered if such places existed at the Ring of the World, though going there would inevitably entail many restrictions. He pondered briefly; that was a matter for another day.
Several days later, Xin Hongtu came to visit of his own accord. He spoke with Chen Chuan on several subjects, but his primary purpose was to plead that the delegation not depart in haste.
There was good reason for this: Kawatua had now thoroughly offended the Federation, and it was hard to say whether the Federation would retaliate. Previously, they had relied on Amaru, a Divine Guard; now that Amaru was gone, only a cadre of Sacred Land Warriors remained. If even a single expert at the Divine Guard level came after them, catastrophic damage could ensue. Thus, he had no choice but to rely on the delegation's strength.
Chen Chuan said, "Advisor Xin, the delegation has its own mission. We cannot remain here for long. However, we can consult our home government, and I believe the homeland will make appropriate arrangements."
Xin Hongtu replied, "I believe that as well, but..." He looked at Chen Chuan. "Pardon my bluntness, but if someone else is sent, neither the Grand Chieftain nor the priesthood will likely trust them the way they trust you, Mr. Chen."
After all, Chen Chuan had truly exerted himself on their behalf and accepted their gifts, making the cooperation deeply pleasant for both sides. Moreover, Chen Chuan's strength had been demonstrated before the majority of the First People's upper echelon. If another person were dispatched, not only would mutual trust have to be built from scratch, but their strength might not even match his.
Chen Chuan said, "Mr. Xin, my advice is that you must establish strength of your own as soon as possible."
Xin Hongtu made no attempt to conceal their plight. Shaking his head, he sighed, "I think so as well, but there may not be time. The strength of our First People has dwindled to so little; we can only turn to others for help."
Chen Chuan said, "Not necessarily."
Xin Hongtu looked at him in surprise.
Chen Chuan looked at him and said, "There is a person I could mention whom you surely know, Mr. Xin." He paused briefly, then said, "Akhtawa."
Chapter 1238