232: Chapter 232 Imperial City! The Spirit Hall Established!

Three days later, on the main peak of the Burning Heaven Mountain Range. Crimson clouds surged forth from over three hundred active volcanic craters, dyeing the entire firmament a burning blood-red. Imperial City—this former Shitian City—was officially renamed today. The Blood Flame emblem on the city walls shimmered with a faint dark golden luster in the morning light; that was the Spirit Hall insignia carved personally by Hun Feng using the Heaven-Slaying Flame. From this day forward, there would be no more Shitian City in the Burning Heaven Mountain Range, only Imperial City.

In the central plaza, three hundred thousand clansmen gathered. The black and red battle flags of the Spirit Hall fluttered in the hot volcanic winds, each embroidered with the pattern of overlapping blood flames, swords, and shields. A nine-zhang-high viewing platform was erected on the north side of the plaza. In the center of the platform stood a massive pillar cast from volcanic obsidian, and embedded at its peak was a Blood Flame Soul Crystal that had been tempered for an entire year with the Heaven-Slaying Flame—this was the Sacred Fire of the Spirit Hall, which would burn day and night atop Imperial City from this day forward.

On both sides of the viewing platform, sixteen Heavenly Supremes stood in order. Hun Feng sat in the center, his profound black robes embroidered with the Spirit Hall Master insignia in dark golden thread. To his left were the three Supreme Elders: Hun Tiandi, Gu Yuan, and Zi Yan; to his right were the six Deputy Hall Master wives. Further out on both sides were the four Branch Hall Masters—Azure Dragon Hall's Soul Mie Sheng, White Tiger Hall's Hun You, Vermilion Bird Hall's Hun Jing, and Black Tortoise Hall's Hun Qian. Hun Muxiao and Outer Perimeter Commander Lei Meng stood side by side beneath the Law Enforcement Hall's flag position. Mu Chen and Luo Li stood in front of the viewing platform, and the seven daughters had also changed into their formal Spirit Hall attire today, standing neatly behind Yao Yao.

"The auspicious time has arrived!" Hun Qian's voice echoed across the plaza.

Hun Feng stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the three hundred thousand clansmen in the plaza. Everyone looked up at him, their eyes filled with awe, fanaticism, trust, and expectation. He had not prepared a long-winded speech; he simply raised his right hand, and the Heaven-Slaying Flame silently ignited in his palm, that blood-colored flame containing all nine origin powers of the Heaven-Slaying Flame. He gently pressed the flame onto the Blood Flame Soul Crystal at the top of the massive pillar, and the entire soul crystal suddenly lit up. A pillar of blood-colored light shot into the sky, tearing a massive hole through the churning crimson clouds above. Three hundred thousand clansmen in the plaza simultaneously knelt on one knee, the sound of armor and weapons clashing rolling through the entire Imperial City like muffled thunder. The Sacred Fire of the Spirit Hall was officially ignited.

"From this day forth, the Spirit Hall is officially established." Hun Feng's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present. "With this as our banner, we shall conquer the Great Thousand World. Let us strive together."

A heaven-shaking cheer erupted from the plaza. The three words "Spirit Hall" were shouted simultaneously by thirty thousand people, the sound waves surging straight into the clouds. Standing on the viewing platform watching this scene, Hun Qian's old eyes welled up with uncontrollable moisture. He had served as the steward in the Soul Realm for most of his life and had never imagined that one day he would stand on such a plaza, watching three hundred thousand people shout the same name in unison.

Just then, three spatial rifts suddenly tore open in the sky. Three figures walked slowly out of the rifts; the leader was none other than the First Sect Master of the Three Saints Sect, Li Zhantian, followed by the Second Sect Master, Liu Hongying, and the Third Sect Master, Yin Jiuzhong. The three of them had changed into relatively formal attire today. Li Zhantian remained his usual burly and steady self, Liu Hongying's purple-red dress fluttered in the wind, and Yin Jiuzhong kept his usual pale and cold appearance, but all three wore expressions of rare solemnity.

"The Three Saints Sect has come to observe the ceremony and congratulate the Spirit Hall on its establishment." Li Zhantian landed in front of the viewing platform and cupped his hands in a salute to Hun Feng. His posture was very humble, and his tone carried a touch of genuine respect. Over the past year, the Spirit Hall's expansion speed had far exceeded the Three Saints Sect's expectations, and now that it was officially established, it had gathered sixteen Heavenly Supremes and three hundred thousand elites. Looking at the entire Great Thousand World, this strength was enough to make the Three Saints Sect willingly treat them with the courtesy of an ally.

Hun Feng returned the salute and signaled for Yan Ling to set seats for the three. As Liu Hongying sat down, her slightly upturned, beautiful eyes swept across the viewing platform, resting on the various Hall Masters for a few moments, and she sighed in secret admiration. When she came to Shitian City a year ago, there were only twelve Heavenly Supremes; now, after just one short year, the Spirit Hall had gained four more Spirit Grade Heavenly Supremes. A lineup of sixteen Heavenly Supremes could be considered top-tier even among the Five Ancient Clans.

Li Zhantian, however, was not as relaxed as Liu Hongying. After sitting down, he pondered for a moment, turned to Hun Feng, and said in a solemn tone, "Hall Master, besides observing the ceremony, I have another matter to discuss. The Three Saints Sect wishes to formally form an alliance with the Spirit Hall, to advance and retreat together, to share honor and disgrace. The situation in the Chaotic Demon Sea has been stagnant for thousands of years. Now that the Spirit Hall has emerged, if the Three Saints Sect does not show some sincerity, I fear we won't even have the qualifications to sit on this viewing platform in the future."

Upon hearing this, a faint smile appeared on the corner of Hun Feng's mouth. This was the sentence he had been waiting for. The Three Saints Sect was an established hegemon of the Chaotic Demon Sea, having controlled this sea area for thousands of years, and possessed a complete intelligence network and commercial channels. Although the Spirit Hall's strength crushed them, relying solely on fists was not enough to gain a firm foothold in the Chaotic Demon Sea. Having such an ally could save a lot of unnecessary trouble. He raised his hand and struck his palm against Li Zhantian's to cement the alliance. There was no long-winded covenant ceremony; the two just looked at each other and said simultaneously, "It's a deal." Liu Hongying and Yin Jiuzhong stood up simultaneously and cupped their hands in a salute to Hun Feng.

Just as the hall was full of celebration, a black shadow streaked in from outside Imperial City and landed beneath the viewing platform. The visitor was a secret agent from the Vermilion Bird Hall, his uniform still covered in the dust of a long journey. He knelt on one knee, his voice urgent and low: "Report—traces of an Extraterritorial Evil Clan scout group have been discovered on the periphery of the South Sea defense line, with a force of about one thousand. Among them are eighteen Spirit Grade Heavenly Supremes, over fifty Earth Supremes, and the rest are all in the Sovereign Realm. They have already crossed the Endless South Sea and are approaching the Burning Heaven Mountain Range!"

The atmosphere on the viewing platform instantly became a bit heavy. Li Zhantian and Liu Hongying frowned at the same time, and Yin Jiuzhong's narrow eyes narrowed slightly. Eighteen Spirit Grade Heavenly Supremes—this lineup was enough to crush any single force in the Chaotic Demon Sea. Although the Evil Race frequently infiltrated the South Sea defense line on a small scale, this was the first time they had dispatched a scout group of this size.

Hun Feng, however, did not frown. He looked at the secret agent, remained silent for a few moments, and then a curve only he understood appeared at the corner of his mouth. A scout group composed of eighteen Spirit Grade Heavenly Supremes, fifty Earth Supremes, and nearly a thousand Sovereign Realm experts—this could be considered a not insignificant fighting force anywhere, but in front of the Spirit Hall, it was nothing more than a whetstone delivered to their door.

"I was just worrying about lacking an opportunity to make a name for ourselves. Everyone, there is no need to be nervous. These Evil Race scouts shall serve as the first battle merit after the Spirit Hall's establishment. If we fight well, we might even receive official recognition and rewards from the Great Thousand Palace. After this battle, the name of the Spirit Hall will spread throughout the Great Thousand World." Hun Feng turned around, his gaze sweeping over all the Hall Masters and wives on the viewing platform, his tone calm but every word clear. "Hun You, the White Tiger Hall is to prepare for battle. Hun Jing, the Vermilion Bird Hall is to immediately spread the intelligence network and lock onto the exact location and marching route of the scout group. Soul Mie Sheng, the Azure Dragon Hall is responsible for logistics and deployment. Hun Qian, the Black Tortoise Hall is to activate the defensive array. All wives, accompany this Hall Master on the expedition. Sect Master Li, if you three are interested, you may come along to observe the battle." He tilted his head to look at Li Zhantian.

Li Zhantian laughed heartily: "Since the Hall Master has said we are to make a name for ourselves, how could I, Li, miss such a good show? The Three Saints Sect is willing to fight side by side with the Spirit Hall." Liu Hongying smiled charmingly, saying that they also wanted to see the strength of the Spirit Hall with their own eyes. Yin Jiuzhong still did not say much, only nodding slightly.

"Set off." Hun Feng raised his hand and tore through space. A stable and wide rift bloomed silently above the viewing platform; on the other side of the passage was that sea area outside the South Sea defense line, charred black by the erosion of evil energy. The first battle of the Spirit Hall's establishment officially began.