Chapter 1217: Returning Again
Takiyah Zakwe’s serene and beautiful visage remained composed and indifferent, void of any traces of fear.
“Takiyah, is what he said true?” Lekan Yiga inquired, turning his gaze toward her.
Takiyah nodded gently.
Her actions spoke for themselves; she acknowledged it without hesitation.
“You fool!”
Lekan erupted in anger, and a formidable mental power emanated from him.
His unleashed mental power transformed into a beam of light, piercing through Takiyah’s chest, causing blood to splatter across the sky.
With closed eyes, Takiyah drifted backward, making no attempt to resist.
Lekan’s power was undeniable, and the Oracle Palace’s stringent rules loomed over her.
Takiyah had defied the oracle, an act akin to treason, and Lekan intended to end her life with that forceful attack.
“Lord Lekan, what happened?” Zahran Cwele arrived promptly.
“Lord Zahran, Takiyah assisted Young Divine Lord in escaping and hindered me. She held me back for quite some time,” explained Hiuhu Yazbek.
Ferhat Lebeko also joined them, witnessing Takiyah lying on the grass, provoking shock and anger within him.
Another unforeseen event had unfolded today.
“The Oracle is inviting the Young Divine Lord back to the Oracle Palace!” Lekan declared vehemently.
“Even I dare not disobey the orders of the oracle. Where did you find the courage to defy it? The descendants of sinners are hard to reform!”
Takiyah, severely injured and on the brink of death, weakly questioned, “Descendant of sinners?”
“Just like your father!” Lekan’s eyes remained cold and emotionless.
In the end, he was a self-proclaimed god, a Divine Priest among the gods, second only to the Great Divine Priest Jabir Rambau.
Takiyah closed her eyes and softly stated, “Jabir Rambau insulted my mother and caused her death. My father, filled with hatred, questioned whether the Oracle Palace truly upheld the light of truth. Yet, you deemed him a traitor and dispatched five Divine Priests to end his life.”
This was the so-called descendant of the sinner the Oracle Palace spoke of.
As for guilt, opinions varied.
Lekan’s killing intent surged as he recalled the past.
He raised his hand, summoning a sharp earth spear that pierced through Takiyah’s abdomen, almost claiming her life.
Ferhat bowed and turned to Lekan.
“Lord Lekan, please calm down. Since the Young Divine Lord wishes to depart, I fear that Hiuhu and the others won’t be able to stop him.”
“If it weren’t for her, I would have easily detained the Young Divine Lord!” Hiuhu shifted the blame entirely onto Takiyah.
Zahran hesitated.
“Lord Lekan, Takiyah and the Young Divine Lord share a connection. She aided the Young Divine Lord out of kindness. Killing her would only deepen the grudge with the Young Divine Lord.”
“Lord Lekan, please consider what holds greater importance,” Zahran urged, his words carrying significant weight.
Takiyah had facilitated Braydon Neal’s escape.
Killing her meant revenge.
Had Lekan, in his anger, truly thought this through?
If Takiyah survived, he could still try to persuade Braydon in the future.
Killing her would only amplify the enmity!
Lekan’s anger waned, composure regained.
He glanced at Takiyah, speaking coldly, “The Oracle Palace has rules, passed down for millennia. Everyone must abide by them. The ancestral rules are even more sacred.
“The Young Divine Lord has a free and undisciplined personality. He’s young and can be persuaded. However, defying the oracle is courting death!
“Considering her connection with the Young Divine Lord, she may be spared the death penalty, but punishment awaits. Take her back to the Oracle Palace and confine her in the Forbidden Sea. She shall never be pardoned!”
…
Lekan snorted dismissively.
Ultimately, he refrained from taking her life.
Would he dare make an adversary out of someone skilled in martial arts and capable of summoning the martial arts banished immortal?
Takiyah was promptly rescued, with Ferhat administering a spirit pill to preserve her life.
The group then departed.
As for Braydon, his whereabouts remained unknown.
Continuing pursuit at this point would likely yield no results; they would have long vanished.
Meanwhile, 10,000 miles away, in the 14th ancient city, life carried on as usual.
Situated in the south of the ruins, encountering locals was a rare occurrence. However, an eighth-level phoenix steadily approached the ancient city, leaving all the martial artists in awe.
The potential threat of an eighth-level spirit beast attacking the ancient city couldn’t be ignored.
A fierce battle could wreak havoc, potentially destroying half the city.
Tens of thousands of royal guards gathered and scaled the city wall.
“Bastard!”
Tatum Munoz, the royal guard commander, released pinnacle-level pressure and shouted.
Sword in hand, he exuded a potent killing intent, ensuring the eighth-level spirit beast kept its distance.
The five-colored phoenix continued its chirping, visibly relieved upon seeing Tatum.
Despite Tatum’s strength, could he surpass Lekan and the others?
“Commander Munoz, do you need assistance?” Skylar Neal, wearing a ghost mask, swiftly ascended the city wall.
He frowned in concern.
“I can handle it,” Tatum replied.
Aware of Juneau Haines and the other supreme pinnacles, he knew they could intervene if necessary.
Spotting the distant five-colored phoenix, Tatum was astonished. “Someone’s on the phoenix!”
“It’s my brother!”
Skylar, recognizing the familiar aura even from a distance, confirmed Braydon’s presence.
“Stay your hand,” Tatum ordered quickly.
As the five-colored phoenix hovered above the city, two individuals and an ape descended from it.
Braydon stepped onto the air and descended, captivating the onlookers in the city.
More than 90% of the city’s martial artists were unfamiliar with Braydon, yet he returned on an eighth-level phoenix.
Riding such a majestic beast raised questions about his strength.
“Phoenix, return,” Braydon softly commanded.
The phoenix circled before finally flying away, recognizing its place was in the wilderness, not the city.
Luke Yates wore a look of disappointment, having planned to make soup from the eighth-level phoenix upon their return to the city.
It was odd that Braydon could command the beast in such a manner.
“Greetings, Young Master!” Tatum bowed respectfully.
“Brother, where have you and Luke been? It’s been half a year since I last heard from you,” Skylar inquired, striding over.
Before the little fool could speak, Braydon pressed his head down, signaling him to remain silent.
Certain matters were not meant for public knowledge.
“We’ll talk later,” Braydon said with a smile. “Have you reached the ascendant pinnacle realm?”
“Jonah and the others are getting there. Colton is about to reach the inimitable pinnacle realm,” Skylar replied.
Braydon accompanied his brother back to the Yanagi Residence in the ancient city.
The house wasn’t bustling today, with many occupants cultivating in the wilderness.
Colton Jansky and Luther Carden were at home, the latter reading in the pavilion, and the former expressing a desire to go out and play.
With Braydon’s absence, Luther took it upon herself to keep an eye on Colton, preventing any potential trouble.
As Braydon returned home, Colton joyfully threw himself into his arms.
“Braydon, Luke, you’re back! I missed you so much!”