Chapter 3485: Shocking News

The Heavenly Eagle Mountain Range stretches for hundreds of millions of miles, filled with countless dangerous mountains and unique peaks. This is the ancestral land of the Heavenly Eagle Clan.

In the southeastern corner of the mountain range stands a colossal, towering peak with steep slopes. At its base, a golden stone tablet, over a hundred zhang tall, bears the inscription "Heavenly Eagle Peak." This is a forbidden area for the Heavenly Eagle Clan, accessible only to a select few elders.

At the summit lies a vast estate. Inside a blue stone pavilion, a tall, green-robed old man and Hu Qing were seated, engaged in conversation.

The green-robed old man was Feng Tianya, the patriarch of the Heavenly Eagle Clan, who possessed a cultivation level of the mid-Great Ascension stage.

"What kind of ferocious insect has such power? Even Fellow Daoist Long and his companions couldn't deal with it, and now they need to gather us to discuss it?" Hu Qing asked, puzzled.

"I heard it's a mutated eighth-tier Adamantite Beetle. They even used a Heavenly Profound Relic, but it still escaped, and two fellow daoists were lost in the process," Feng Tianya said gravely.

"A mutated eighth-tier Adamantite Beetle? What kind of mutated divine ability does it possess?" Hu Qing was greatly perplexed. Adamantite Beetles thrive on metal; reaching the eighth tier was already incredibly fortunate, let alone being mutated.

"It can turn objects into gold. Many top-grade Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasures were destroyed by it. Only a Heavenly Profound Relic could injure it. Its escape speed is incredibly fast; otherwise, it wouldn't have been able to escape from Fellow Daoist Long's hands," Feng Tianya said with a frown, his expression solemn.

"Turning objects into gold! And its escape speed is incredibly fast! No wonder Fellow Daoist Long and his team couldn't capture it. Even so, if they were well-prepared, they should have been able to defeat it, right?" Hu Qing asked, full of confusion.

"The Adamantite Beetle's ability to turn objects into gold is already outlandish, but its incredibly fast escape speed, which even ordinary early-Great Ascension cultivators can't match, is problematic. Fellow Daoist Long is concerned that this Adamantite Beetle is similar to the Spirit Devouring Insects of the Skybend Realm. He suspects it has consumed some rare natural treasures, causing its divine abilities to greatly increase. We cannot allow it to grow stronger, or we will repeat the Skybend Realm's past mistakes. Back then, nearly half of the Sky Dome Realm was ravaged by Spirit Devouring Insects, resulting in the loss of over thirty Great Ascension cultivators. It was only when the Driller Clan utilized Heavenly Profound Treasures that they managed to eradicate all the eighth-tier Spirit Devouring Insects and seal their nests."

As Feng Tianya finished speaking, a look of fear appeared on his face.

The Sky Dome Realm is a major realm, teeming with experts, far stronger than the Heavenly Demon Realm. Over a hundred thousand years ago, a large number of Spirit Devouring Insects appeared in the Sky Dome Realm. They had a strong reproductive capacity and consumed anything from ore and spirit herbs to spiritual wood, similar to the Heavenly Blight Beasts, though their divine abilities were not particularly strong.

Initially, cultivators in the Sky Dome Realm simply thought the Spirit Devouring Insects were multiplying too quickly and didn't give it much thought, as their strength wasn't high; they just ate a lot. It wasn't until an eighth-tier Spirit Devouring Insect appeared, and two Great Ascension cultivators from the Skybend Realm intervened, only to be killed by it, that the situation gained serious attention. But it was already too late.

Soon after, four more eighth-tier Spirit Devouring Insects emerged. Wherever they passed, it was like a locust plague, leaving no living creature, spiritual wood, ore, or spirit herb behind.

The number of eighth-tier Spirit Devouring Insects rapidly increased. Their formidable divine abilities allowed them to directly wipe out a major clan, shaking the Heavenly Realm. Eventually, they swept through nearly half of the Skybend Realm, annihilating multiple races.

The Driller Clan, a major clan in the Sky Dome Realm, assembled over forty Great Ascension cultivators and utilized their Heavenly Profound Treasures, finally managing to slay all the eighth-tier Spirit Devouring Insects.

"Chased them into a dangerous area? Weren't they all annihilated?" Hu Qing asked, confused.

"What was eradicated were the eighth-tier Spirit Devouring Insects. Some of them escaped back to their old lair. The space there is unstable; it's said to be a battlefield left behind by a great battle between Heavenly Venerate Xuan Ling and a True Spirit. They pursued them into the lair, and a fierce battle ensued, causing the space to collapse, resulting in the deaths of three Great Ascension cultivators. Only then did they give up, sealing the lair and assigning Great Ascension cultivators to guard it," Feng Tianya explained.

"I see. However, unusual demon insects are already rare. The mutation of the Spirit Devouring Insects could be a coincidence, but can the Adamantite Beetle also mutate? Is there any connection between the two?" Hu Qing was full of confusion.

"Have you forgotten Heavenly Venerate Xuan Ling's Daoist temple in the Xuan Yang Realm? Even True Spirits appear there. I suspect the mutation of these two types of demon insects is related to that Daoist temple, perhaps brought out by someone from there."

Feng Tianya's expression was grave.

The Heavenly Eagle Clan was originally a small clan. Their Great Elder was fortunate enough to enter the Daoist temple to seek treasures, acquiring numerous cultivation resources. This allowed the Heavenly Eagle Clan to develop rapidly, giving rise to multiple Great Ascension cultivators and even acquiring a Heavenly Profound Relic, enabling them to overpower other races on the Heavenly Eagle Continent.

"Have you forgotten Heavenly Venerate Xuan Ling's Daoist temple in the Xuan Yang Realm? Even True Spirits appear there. I suspect the mutation of these two types of demon insects is related to that Daoist temple, perhaps brought out by someone from there."

"I'm not sure about that. In any case, the three major clans of the Xuan Yang Realm and the Ye Family all say it's a Daoist temple. Heavenly Venerate Xuan Ling once fought two True Spirits alone, slaying two and even subduing one as his spiritual pet. It's not surprising for True Spirits to appear in his Daoist temple."

As Feng Tianya finished speaking, his face was full of admiration.

Heavenly Venerate Xuan Ling's strength was extraordinary; even True Spirits couldn't gain an advantage against him. His name resonated throughout the cultivation world for hundreds of thousands of years. The three major clans claimed it was Heavenly Venerate Xuan Ling's Daoist temple, and other forces believed it without question.

"Calculating the time, the Daoist temple should be appearing again soon! Why don't you go to the Xuan Yang Realm, Fellow Daoist Feng, and try your luck? Perhaps you could catch its opening," Hu Qing said with a smile.

"No, I won't go. I've been to the Xuan Yang Realm so many times, and I've never managed to catch it once," Feng Tianya said, shaking his head.

After chatting for half an hour, Hu Qing returned to rest.

Early the next morning, numerous guests gathered at Welcoming Peak. The Heavenly Eagle Clan members were all smiling, and so were the Nine-Tailed Clan members.

"It's time. The bride and groom are here," a tall, golden-robed old man shouted loudly.

Feng Wuying, dressed in red celebratory robes, walked in with a graceful woman also in celebratory attire, her head covered by a red veil.

Feng Tianya and Hu Qing sat in the main seats, their faces beaming with smiles.

Feng Wuying and the woman approached them, ready to perform the ancestral bows.

"Having long heard of the illustrious Heavenly Eagle Clan, Wang Qingshan has specifically come to pay his respects."

A man's voice, resounding through heaven and earth, suddenly rang out.

The guests present stirred, looking at each other in confusion.

"Wang Qingshan? Who's that?"

"That name… it sounds like a human name."

"Indeed! Has the Heavenly Eagle Clan invited a human cultivator?"

The guests discussed animatedly, their faces full of curiosity.

A hint of surprise flickered in the depths of Hu Qing's eyes, while Feng Tianya's expression darkened.

"Ancestor, a Great Ascension cultivator named Wang Qingshan is outside, saying he's here to pay his respects to you!" the golden-robed elder said.

"Wang Qingshan! A Great Ascension cultivator! A guest is a guest. Today is a day of great joy, let him in," Feng Tianya pondered for a moment before instructing.

Hu Qing's pupils contracted. She had never imagined that Wang Qingshan had actually advanced to the Great Ascension stage.

Not long after, a tall, upright figure walked in. It was Wang Qingshan.

"May I ask if today is the Dual Cultivation Grand Ceremony for young friend Feng Wuying and young friend Bai Linger?"