Back in the Phoenix Palace, the Phoenix Queen settled comfortably into her ice throne, by her side stood both Kirin and Lady Feng.
Besides them, in the hall, there were about fifteen other Mature Phoenix women.
Except for Lady Feng and Kirin, everyone was fairly calm as they contemplated the projection of the Raging Cloud zone from a bird's eye view.
A young woman with an emerald dress noticed their uncertain expressions and couldn't help but sneer, why would they be considerate over mere humans.
"My Queen, Arima is awakening, the sensors state that he had successfully broken through to the Celestial Realm." A young phoenix female said.
The Queen simply nodded before eyeing the screen.
Arima has the body of the Purgatory Python, he has been in deep hibernation for over five centuries by now striving to purify his bloodline to the next level.
He was successful, and knowing his character, he will want a few toys to shake the dust off his muscle.
His python body is over 200 meters in length, and after his breakthrough, it should estimate about 300 meters.
'Arima will most likely emerge from the soil in a humanoid form because it's more convenient' The Queen thought, but there was no need to worry as the motion from a breakthrough is too eye-catching, he will surely relive his boredom on Noire and company.
"Hm?" The Queen raised her eyebrow in surprise, seemingly Noire was able to sense Arima's awakening.
But how can that be? If he had noticed Arima after his fluctuations erupted, she would accept it.
But he moved almost before any fluctuations erupted, the only explanation would be the sensation through vitality.
But that requires a bestial instinct, a superb one at that.
Suddenly, The Queen has a bad premonition, but she already rode the tiger.
Suddenly, Kirin's warning echoed through her mind.
Not only the Queen, but the remaining Phoenix Maidens also noticed this abnormality.
The anxiousness in Kirin's heart began to well up, even more, it's too late for regret now.
...
Meanwhile, Noire was still inundated in his predicament. Should he abandon Tianshi and the others and take chances of comprehending the mechanisms of Heaven and Earth, even if the cost was one of their lives if not all?
Or, should he skip this opportunity and entertain the unknown guest. Still, he was also curious about why didn't anyone inform him or the girls about this beast in a slumber, could it be that the Phoenix Household plotted against him?
Too many thoughts whizzed around in Noire's mind in tandem.
Giving a dismal sigh, Noire decided that keeping the girls is more important at the moment. He doesn't know why, but his heart has told him he should protect them while he still can.
'Was this the heart of Martial Dao?' Noire thought as he took a step off the plateau.
It is said that the Will Of Heaven has the means to evaluate one's heart of Martial Arts, and it'll be easier to comprehend the mechanisms of Heaven and Earth after obtaining the recognition of its will.
Of course, that also means that one must have a righteous heart, and can a Dragonborn have such a heart?
Dragons are arrogant, proud, and selfish creatures.
Noire speculates that if it wasn't for that one-third of his being that already assimilated Qi Essence, which is partially derived from Heaven and Earth Essence, he wouldn't have such cheesy thoughts about saving the lives of his companions.
The next action of Noire has shocked the Phoenix Clan Maidens as they observed from the palace.
...
Hundreds of meters underneath the soil, Arima has finally awakened thoroughly.
With another rumbling noise, his body that extended for approximately half a kilometer began to contract and deform.
His ashen scales discharged somewhat acidic moisture that wilted the soil confinement, allowing his body to shrink at a steady yet quick pace without erupting an earthquake.
In no time, a humanoid male with skin as pale as ash began to tread carefully through the hollowed tunnel his body has formed.
He was about two meters tall, lean physique, clad in robes of hardened scales that oozed out a dreadful substance.
He also had amber iris and a pair of vertical life-like pupils. After re-familiarizing himself with his humanoid build, checking his agility and flexibility, something odd abruptly caught his senses.
With a scowl, he slid out a thin tongue past his dry lips, allowing it to wiggle spontaneously as it soaked into the ambient energies.
It didn't take much, just a moment.
With a grin, his aura began to erupt like a tide as it reached the threshold of Peak Eclipse before breaking through to the Celestial, and thus he muttered to himself in a low voice.
"Yum, humans. That Phoenix is surely a fine hostess." Arima remarked, his long crimson hair fluttering at his wake as he dashed out towards the surface, the dense soil having little means to hinder him.
Currently, Noire had already estimated the location of Arima's intrusion.
His senses were sharp and keen, it wouldn't be difficult to discern his extraction point, something even the Phoenix Queen is powerless to pinpoint.
Hence the shocking expressions displayed by the Phoenix Maidens as they watched with disbelief.
The sole reason that the Queen didn't allow her kin near Noire's group is that Arima adheres to the law of jungle.
Furthermore, he doesn't discriminate between living beings, he simply roams around like a vicious predator.
However, his favorite nutrition is human flesh and the exquisite taste of Qi Essence flooding their dantian, so she decided to throw Noire's party under the bus to pave way for discussing peace terms with Arima.
It wasn't out of goodwill that she allowed Noire and company to linger around, as goodwill doesn't exist in the jungle.
...
Meanwhile, under the rustling of a massive canopy, Noire and Arima stood face to face.
Arima had a weird expression as if he was eyeing an idiot.
Does a mere 9th Ether Realm dare to make an audience with him?
And this guy dares look so relaxed as if it's a casual meeting?
'No, something is off about this person,' Arima thought as he furrowed his eyebrow in contemplation.
He could feel something obscure and mysterious from Noire's body.
Noire stood there with his mask, hands folded onto his broad chest without a care in the world.
From his observations, this unexpected guest has the bloodline of a serpent... To be precise, a Python. Though his bloodline is incredibly thin, it can be considered a species that doesn't emerge from a lower plane, most likely a medium plane.
Originally Noire thought that only the Phoenix can climb up to the Celestial Realm if placed outside the core continent, but it seems he was mistaken.
Noire could also notice that this guest was constantly tempering his tongue into the ambient energy, probably trying to assess the density of Heaven and Earth energy brought by the Heavenly Tribulation.
Noire didn't care much, every breath of time is valuable as he planned to buy time, if this person is stuck in reflection, that's for the best.
Arima's eyes brightened a moment later as he muttered...
"Two Peak Ether, one Peak Twilight... Tempting." With a peal of hollow laughter, Arima turned towards the plateau. Since he couldn't infer the odd sensation he felt from Noire, he didn't plan to entangle with him unless necessary.
Feeling no hostile intent or any antagonistic feelings from Noire's scent, Arima decided to ignore it.
Swoosh~
"Hm?" Arima was somewhat incensed, a little irritated.
Noire kept appearing out of nowhere to obstruct his path, maintaining the same aloof air around himself.
"Hey... I don't know from which hole you crawled from, insect. You better fade off while I'm still in a good mood or things will get ugly." Arima remarked, making his stance clear.
Set back or die.
- - - -
In the distance, Anastasia finally arrived in a somewhat decent location providing her a vantage point to peek into the heart of the Heavenly Tribulation.
After some observation, she determined that at least three people are attempting a breakthrough.
'Must be Noire and his two beggers,' Anastasia thought, suddenly a mischievous smile flourished on her face.
She brought forth her right palm before transforming it into a thick dark wolevn palm, she then channeled the essence of her dark energy into a concentration point center of the palm.
A black whirlpool suddenly submerged into an orb of negative spiritual essence at the palm of her hand. This was a concept of substalizing one's killing intent with their darkest form of energy.
'Let's see if you can survive this gift from your mother in law~'
With a thought, Anastasia's Monster Qi exploded and began to flood into the orb, and with a powerful swing of her right arm, she plunged the orb into the heart of the Heavenly Tribulation's vacuum of World Energy.
The density of World Energy will serve as a perfect camouflage, in a few moments, Monster Qi will strike at Noire and his company, causing a turbulent disorder that would potentially shatter their dantians.
Of course, Anastasia isn't a bad mother in law, she wouldn't mind sheltering the crippled Noire and his two beggers once that happens.
With wholehearted laughter, Anastasia proceeded forth at a slower pace than earlier, just to avoid unnecessary detection.