Kirk Beck was now a Fourth Step Edict Saint. Today, he wanted to see for himself just where his strength lay after reestablishing his Grand Law and stepping into the Fourth Step anew.
A Human Clan cultivator? The flames burning on Kirk Beck's forehead were instantly suppressed.
He was not some clueless task-bound recluse like Quentin Fan. Kirk Beck knew perfectly well what a Human Clan cultivator meant in Allclan Sanctuary these days. And for someone to brazenly smash his Feather Ring Tower—if this had nothing to do with Joe Di, he wouldn't believe it for a second.
Before he could ask, a voice transmitted to his ear: "Master, that man is Henry Yi, the outsider who always follows Joe Di. That woman is Rowena Meng, also a Human Clan cultivator. The Redlin Clan's Damien Redlin was killed by her—rumor has it her brother died from Damien's torture..."
Kirk Beck's heart trembled. An outsider meant someone who could use another's Dao insights to break into the Fifth Step. But even if he had a hundred times the courage, he wouldn't dare try it—not with Joe Di around.
"Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of this? The Grand Conclave of All Races is upon us, yet you have shattered my Feather Ring Tower's protection array and gate for no reason. Are you trying to provoke the Grand Conclave?" With Henry Yi and Rowena Meng's backgrounds revealed, Kirk Beck's anger vanished, replaced by a calm inquiry.
What a joke. Joe Di had even killed Peter Fan, a mid-stage Quintessence Saint of the Blood Clan. What right did a mere Fourth Step Edict Saint like Kirk Beck have to challenge Joe Di? Divine Clan? Ha! Even their ancestor James Wan hadn't touched a hair on Joe Di's head. So, when it came to accountability, Kirk Beck was exceedingly gentle, not daring to confront directly, and instead invoked the Grand Conclave as a shield.
On the side, Quentin Fan and several Human Clan cultivators stood frozen. When they saw Henry Yi smash the Feather Ring Tower's defenses and gate, they thought all was lost—never expecting to encounter someone so reckless. What surprised them even more was that, after the tower master appeared, he neither attacked nor called for help, but instead calmly asked Henry Yi why he had done it.
Henry Yi found Kirk Beck's lack of action dull. He patted Quentin Fan beside him and said, "This is Quentin Fan of my Human Clan. He just told me that the Feather Ring Tower captured Dean Yin, the Realm Lord of the Frontier Human Realm. So, tell me—should I come knocking? You have ten breaths. Bring out whoever captured Dean Yin, and Dean Yin himself, without a hair missing. Otherwise, breaking your gate and defenses will be the least of your worries."
Feather Ring Tower captured the Human Clan Realm Lord? Kirk Beck felt wronged. "Fellow Daoist, there must be some misunderstanding. I, Kirk Beck, assure you—I have never done such a thing. And right now, Feather Ring Tower is not holding any Human Clan cultivators."
Henry Yi frowned at these words, his gaze settling on Quentin Fan. "What's going on here?"
He believed Kirk Beck wouldn't lie—such an obvious falsehood served no purpose. What was the point of stalling for a few breaths?
Quentin Fan was also puzzled. He muttered, "Isn't Blake Kee the master of Feather Ring Tower?"
"Blake Kee?" Kirk Beck was taken aback. Could this be related to Blake Kee? In truth, Blake Kee was indeed the master of Feather Ring Tower—just an honorary titleholder with no real presence.
A voice transmitted to his ear once again: "It was indeed Blake Kee who took Dean Yin. Earlier, Senior Ye told him not to touch the Human Clan Realm Lord, but he ignored the warning and still captured Dean Yin."
Kirk Beck's heart sank. He regretted ever giving Blake Kee the honorary title of tower master. If he hadn't, none of this would be happening today.
Saint Henry Yi was not someone to be trifled with. One look at Kirk Beck's expression told him everything. With a cold snort, he said, "Fellow Daoist, are you saying Blake Kee has nothing to do with you?"
Kirk Beck knew he was now implicated. He immediately ordered, "Send an urgent message—summon Blake Kee to Feather Ring Tower at once."
"Yes, sir." With the reply, a flash of red light shot away.
Once the message was sent, Kirk Beck clasped his fists and said, "Fellow Daoist, I truly knew nothing of this. Blake Kee is merely an honorary tower master of Feather Ring Tower—he severed all ties with us millions of years ago."
Blake Kee ignored Quentin Fan and instead cupped his fists to Kirk Beck, saying respectfully, "Brother Kirk, is there something you require of me?"
Kirk Beck replied coolly, "Originally, there was nothing. But you used the reputation of my Feather Ring Tower to capture Dean Yin of the Human Clan. Now they've come knocking at my door, shattering our defensive array and gatehouse—what do you think should be done?"
"What?" Blake Kee was stunned. Human Clan cultivators had smashed the defenses and gatehouse of Feather Ring Tower, and as tower master, Kirk Beck had called him over. Was he to be handed over and forced to apologize?
Since when did a Fourth Step Saint of Cosmic Law from the Divine Clan become so weak? Since when did they become so reasonable?
The onlooking cultivators weren't surprised by Kirk Beck's reasonableness. With Di Jiu present, it would be strange if the Divine Clan didn't act reasonably.
"Did you capture Dean Yin?" Henry Yi's eyes lit up upon seeing that Blake Kee was also a Fourth Step Saint, and his domain instantly locked down the surrounding space.
There hadn't been a fight with Kirk Beck, but for Henry Yi, confronting Blake Kee would serve just as well.
Blake Kee ignored Henry Yi, his expression darkening as he glared at Kirk Beck. "Master Kirk, you're a Fourth Step Saint of Cosmic Law from the Divine Clan. Someone has smashed your defensive array and gatehouse, yet you want to apologize and even call me here to be handed over? Ha, you've ruined the Divine Clan's reputation."
Kirk Beck also ignored Blake Kee and instead cupped his fists to Henry Yi. "I've brought the person here. Whatever happens is up to you; this matter has nothing to do with me."
Saint Henry Yi's expression remained calm, offering no reply to Kirk Beck's words.
Kirk Beck felt stifled, but he knew that if he wanted to handle Henry Yi, he could only message James Wan. Yet Di Jiu had killed so many of the Redlin Clan's strongest, and even the Redlin Ancestor hadn't acted against him. The Divine Clan's top expert, James Wan, hadn't done anything to Di Jiu either. As for Kirk Beck, he didn't have the standing to ask James Wan to intervene on his behalf.
...
Blake Kee did not return to the Divine Domain via teleportation, but instead sat aboard his spaceship. Opposite him, Dean Yin's legs were gone, making it seem as though he was kneeling before him.
"Dean Yin, was it really necessary? You could have lived a few more years. If I forgot about you, maybe you wouldn't have to die. But you insisted on courting death and came to Allclan Sanctuary." Blake Kee's tone was utterly calm.
Dean Yin replied coolly, "Blake Kee, I didn't care when you schemed against me back then. Even if you hadn't used me as your tool, I would have led my Human Clan brothers out of Allclan Sanctuary. But you, a cultivator of the Human Clan, actually kneel before the Divine Clan. Ha, do you think your Divine Clan identity can change your origin? Someday, if anything happens, you'll still be the one sacrificed."
Blake Kee laughed, "Whatever happens to me, you won't see it. And there's no point in trying to win my favor. As for kneeling, where are your knees now? At least I still have knees to bend."
Hearing Blake Kee's words, Dean Yin simply closed his eyes. There was nothing left to say to someone so shameless.
"I'm not here just to silence you. There's something else I need your help with—the Dao Canon you cultivated back then..."
Blake Kee hadn't finished his sentence when a streak of red light pierced his spaceship, landing among his subordinates. The red glow split into three colors, and Blake Kee's expression changed instantly.
A three-color transmission—this was the most urgent kind of summons. Only a handful of people had the right to send it to him, apart from a few elders of the Divine Clan... and, of course, Kirk Beck, the master of Feather Ring Tower.
Blake Kee let his Dao rhythm flow in his hand, causing the three colors to explode. Sure enough, the message was from Kirk Beck, and it contained only one sentence: "Come to Feather Ring Tower immediately."
What did this mean? Blake Kee frowned. He had just left Allclan Sanctuary, and now he was being called back—specifically to Feather Ring Tower. He was only an honorary master there, and truly had no real connection to the place.
But since Kirk Beck had summoned him, he had no choice but to go, whether he wanted to or not.
At that moment, he suddenly felt that Dean Yin's words might have held some truth. He was a Fourth Step Saint of Cosmic Law, yet with a single word from another Fourth Step Saint, he was summoned—because he was always an outsider. In the Divine Clan, he was born inferior.
...
Henry Yi and Kirk Beck did not have to wait long—less than half an hour passed before Blake Kee hurried to Feather Ring Tower with two subordinates. When Blake Kee saw Quentin Fan, his heart sank; he sensed something bad was about to happen.
He had planned to wait until the Allclan Conference was over before eliminating Quentin Fan and the others, but before he could act, something unexpected had already occurred.