Chapter 167 - Xiao Mang Celestial Temple (2/2)

Countless buildings were built on the mountain, enormous celestial palaces, sky-high temples, and ancient statues — they had transformed the mountain itself into a mountainous city!

The Xiao Mang Celestial Race took the form of the Pan Ao, or the Tian Gou. Hence, all over the mountain, one could see statues of the three-headed Pan Ao celestial beings – dog-headed, human-bodied, and with a long spear in their hands. Even the art that adorned the mountain slopes were engraved with the totem patterns that depicted the worshipping ceremony of a large group of Pan Ao. It was a scene that trembled the heart!

The humans measured the statues with their eyes — the Pan Ao were creatures covered in dragon scales all over their bodies, except for their heads which were covered with furs instead.

"The Xiao Mang celestial temple."

Rays flashed in Feng Shouzhu's eyes as the ship gradually landed. He lowered his voice, "Be cautious, there will be provocations from the celestials to probe our prowesses. Keep my words in mind — never show your true prowess. Endure and bear the humiliation that would come, all for the safety of our dear homeland, Great Wilderness!"

They all nodded.

Feng Shouzhu then turned to Zhong Yue as he transmitted his voice over, "How is the sword eye going?"

Zhong Yue nodded and replied, "Replying to the elder, it's done!"

His old and tensed face visibly eased as he said happily, "Good, good! Once we've entered the celestial temple, I'll come and watch over you when you opening the Dao Yi Realm. Remember, you are the secret weapon of Swords Gate, your mission is to duel with the Awakening Xiao Mang celestial — never try to reverse open the Dao Yi Realm on your own. Also, if any Xiao Mang celestial provok…."

"Hahahaha! Feng Shouzhu, Brother Shouzhu, finally, you've all arrived!"

An deafening laughter resounded through the air, quivering their blood essences. Zhong Yue and the others quickly looked over to see a few white-robed priests walking down from the celestial temple on the top of the mountain. One of them had three heads and six eyes with an icon of the moon crescent sewn on the front of his white robe. He would be the priest from the Xiao Mang Celestial Race; while another one had one head with only one eye and a mouth and without a nose.

And there was one with four arms extending out in all directions, one head and a face with no eyes, his eyes were in the palms of his hands!

The appearance of the last priest was a peculiar looking bird-headed human wearing a white robe with a sun totem pattern sew on it. In the sun totem pattern, there was a fire crow.

"They are invited over by Elder Shui Zian as moderators. The one-eyed priest is from the Wei Celestial Race, also known as the ghost celestial race. The one and only eye they have is their divine eye, it is very strong. The one with four arms is from the mountain celestial race, the eyes in their palms watch over in all directions. The bird-headed human is from the crow celestial race, they are born with the ability to command fire. These three celestial races are as strong as the Xiao Mang Celestial Race, ones who can contend against the Xiao Mang Celestial Race over the title of the strongest celestial race in West Barren. Elder Shui Zian has invited them over so they could suppress the Xiao Mang Celestial Race, leveraging their prowess to our advantage! However, they also have their eyes on the Great Wilderness, they cannot be completely trusted!"

Rays flashed in Feng Shouzhu's eyes, he transmitted a message into the disciples' ears. The ship landed on a huge platform on the middle of the mountain slopes, Feng Shouzhu strode forward and walked down from the ship, whispering to them, "Come down, the formalities and manners must not be taken lightly!"

Zuo Xiangsheng, Tian Yanzhong, Zhong Yue and the others all walked down from the ship, they greeted the white-robed priests who completely ignored them, walking forward with a smile plastered on their faces and said, "Brother Shouzhu, I was too busy the last time we met, it's a regret we did not have the chance to have a chat with you, today will be just the right day to drink until we are all drunk!

Feng Shouzhu's startled and smiled, "Those brats of the Swords Gate aren't settled down yet, I'll make a toast the fellow junior martial brothers after they have settled down…."

"Let them be handled by the people in the Xiao Mang Temple. The Xiao Mang celestial race won't pull any tricks with our presence. If they did, their reputation in the West Barren will be gone!"

The few white-robed worshippers grabbed him by the arm and laughed, "Let's go, let the kid's matter be settled by kids!"

Feng Shouzhu frowned and felt something was not right. These three worshippers were helpers employed by Shui Zian, if he offended them, they wouldn't stand a chance. Zhong Yue had already cultivated the sword eye and he needed to stand guard when he reverse opens the secret realm; if he is taken away by the worshippers, who will protect Zhong Yue?

Without the presence of a magnate-level cultivator to protect Zhong Yue, the reverse opening of the secret realm would be very dangerous!

"Disciple of the Zhong Shan Clan, do not open the secret realm until it is necessary, wait for my return!", Feng Shouzhu said, while escorted by three white-robed worshippers.

Zhong Yue frowned slightly. A Xiao Mang Celestial Race worshipper came forward, watching them as if they were merely a slab of walking flesh. His face was blank as he said, "Humans… follow me!"

He lead the crowd into the Xiao Mang Temple, until they walked into the temple, only Zhong Yue and the others knew how wealthy and luxurious the Xiap Mang Celestial Race was. The place was magnificent, gold and silver tiled the floor, carved with mysterious totem patterns, and glittering jewels all colors and sizes to be seen everywhere!

The Xiao Mang Celestial Race decorated the palace with treasures, cultivating them into soul weapons with the help of all types of totem carvings. No doubt that the palace would be sparkling during the night, illuminating the saint mountain as if it were daytime!

When they walked past a wide plaza, there were the sounds of intense battle. Zhong Yue and the others looked down from the walkway above and saw dozens of Xiao Mang Celestial Race Qi Practitioners sitting and watching the battle on the stage, while a Xiao Mang Qi Practitioner was engaged in a battle against more than ten human Qi Practitioners on the plaza.

Tian Yanzhong, Zuo Xiangsheng and the other hall masters halted their footsteps. The ragged and shabby clothes of the humans gave a strong hint that suggested that they were the Qi Practitioners chosen among the human slaves and trained by the Xiao Mang Celestial Race. They were all well talented, cultivating to the level of Rebirth; flickering and moving around as if they were flying, manipulating all sorts of soul weapons, and their attacks were strong and daunting!

The Xiao Mang Celestial Race had enslaved more humans than any other celestial race. They had raised the human Qi Practitioners not to nurture them, but simply to raise them as training targets for their celestial disciples.