The leader, who was known as Metla Aflame, got shocked to the core upon the information he received.

He immediately get out of the tent he was in and look for the bees that was forming a small hive hidden in the dense leaves of a tree, but it can hide under the radar of Void Sensing-Stage like himself.

And after some quick and Covert inspection, he could tell that the bees do have a base cultivation of Peak Tier-4!

However, perhaps it can hide in the eyes of senses of his subordinate and planted spy inside but it can't be hidden by his powerful judgement—the body of the bees contains a strong scent and trace of [Concept]!

What does this means?

It means that the bee is not just a simple colony but a bee colony that already step in the realm of Tier-5 Beast!

As for the unknown reason why they were degraded to peak Tier-4, that wasn't important. What's important is it is not absurd for him to assume that the whole bee colony is once a Tier-5 beast tribe!

Although they were still Tier-4 now, with their foundation as former Tier-5 creatures, it only needs time and ample resources and the whole hive might be able to regain their strength!

Thousands or even tens of thousands bees with Tier-5 base cultivation...

Metla don't want to admit it but he could already picture the Heavenly Flame Empire falling from the top!

Melta return at their gathering point with pale face, anxiety could be seen clearly on the mighty Void Sensing-Stage expert.

"Master Melta, are you alright?" His subordinate ask, which snap him out of his trance.

"No! We can't give them enough time to develop and amass resources anymore!" Melta exclaimed with strong conviction.

He could see it. The empire is still wondering if they need to attack the not even budding but just sprouting, emerging faction, giving them the time they need while the so called Heavenly Tribulation Assistance is a perfect plan to amass resources...

They need to... Eliminate! Exterminate! As soon as possible!

Specially when he remember that the Void Sensing-Stage expert they send to infiltrate the city got caught so silently. This wasn't something that the newly promoted Void Sensing-Stage cultivator could achieve.

This conviction needs to be realize soon specially when he remember a certain fact about bee beasts hive—with the Queen as the core, the latter was the only one who needs to face the Heavenly Tribulation and she could use her status to promote the whole hive along with her!

Although not overcoming the Heavenly Tribulation means that it was forced like humans using Void Breaking Pill, individual strength is not the specialty of the beehive but its terrifying number! As well as their poison!

They were a perfect sample of suicide bomber!

"Tell everyone to prepare, we'll be going back to Imperial City!"

...

While the various important aspect of the territory start to take shape and the economy of the city started to recover and flourish, a massive change happen outside.

The chaotic current of the outside world doesn't greatly affect the Towering Tree City. After all, it was now a part of independent city.

The exchange between Rising Phoenix Spirit Tree Nation and Red Tree Kingdom already starts. Commoners with professional experience already starts on integrating with the work force of the whole city.

As for the spirit professionals like alchemist and forger, it was unfortunate but for the meantime, Cole could only ask for their opinion and build the workplace appropriate for them. It might take another weeks or even a month before the whole city could ask for their service.

Cole is not clear whether they were forced by the Red Tree Kingdom but before the foreign professionals start to work, he meet them personally and discuss about their well being in the time they'll stay in the city.

Well, not actually to discuss but to brief them about their payment and benefits while they grace them with their service since the professional commoners don't have the guts to open their mouths.

Commoners with professions were high in rank but that was only on the ranks of the commoners. Their status didn't even improve in the eyes of cultivators.

But in the end, everyone is smiling. Cole temporarily acquire the professionals he needs while the other side were happy because of rich payment and benefits, as well as a not so heavy workload.

As a matter of fact, what Cole emphasize with the professionals is their need of accepting appropriate students from the citizens of Towering Tree City and train them like they were their disciples. He promise that they'd receive a rich renumeration.

The whole nation need to cultivate its own talent and needs to be fully independent in this aspect.

And then, after signing the contracts, Cole assist the ancestor of Red Tree Kingdom to overcome his Heavenly Tribulation.

Without a hitch, the Red Tree Kingdom accept the very first Void Sensing-Stage expert in their ranks!

The overall strength of the whole Red Tree Kingdom rise and the friendship between two city deepens.

Diplomatic relations have been established and exchange channels naturally appear, boosting the economy of the two city.

With the situation of the territory starting to take shape and operations turning more complete, systematic and independent, Cole started to have a huge amount of free time which he already start to spend on improving his cultivation.

His effort was proved to be fruitful as after just a month, he manage to reach back the peak of Nascent Soul-Stage. He only need to spend some more effort and he'll be able to face his Heavenly Tribulation and breakthrough to Void Sensing-Stage.

Not only him but all of his contracted beast and spirits also reach the peak of Tier-4, like Hunter and Coal. All of them were eligible to make a breakthrough as even their [Concept] were already 0.99% completed.

For the meantime, this was where Cole focus. Except for Celia, he's already starting on making plans regarding the breakthrough all of his contracted companions.

There is many things Cole look forward to when he breakthrough to Void Sensing. What he look forward the most was the abilities he'll receive from his Martial Spirits and Special Physique. Of course, increasing his strength is one of the reason.

After the successful assistance with the ancestor of Red Tree Kingdom, Cole already start on making his contracted companions made their breakthrough, with their seniority as the order.

First was Groot who Cole believe that it already has enough foundation to overcome its tribulation. Not only he spend several dungeon dives with Groot's presence alone to devour the blood of mobs inside, he also gave majority of Skill Crystals he amass that increased its natural resistance to its extreme weakness like the element of lightning and fire, specially those with strong Yang properties since the Blood Ghost Locust Tree is creature of extreme yin element.

With Celia's words as inspiration, Cole decided that his contracted companions won't just rely on Blue's protection to overcome their Tribulation but use Blue's assistance to temper their body using the Heavenly Lightning. He also believe that Heavenly Tribulation is not just a trial but a rare opportunity to temper their physique.

Unlike the normal Heavenly Lightning that most creatures face on their Heavenly Tribulation, Groot's trial contains one of the rare lightning of the world; the lightning that wasn't yellow, orange or red in color but more like mixture of the three—Yang Sol Lightning!

It was one of the lightning that contain a powerful and extreme Yang properties!

It was a lightning that represent sure death for Blood Ghost Locust Tree!

Fortunately, albeit Blue spend a massive effort in the end, Groot have managed to overcome his own Heavenly Tribulation.

And its not like Blue didn't acquire his own benefit. In fact, he acquire a massive benefit because after the Heavenly Tribulation, he can now control three types of lightning!

First is the Heavenly Lightning that could deal a extreme amount of pure lightning damage, second is the silver Lightning of Salvation that could strike the life force and the third and newly acquired Yang Sol Lightning!

The addition of the third special lightning instant push Blue's [Lightning of Nine Heavens Concept] to 30% completion! It was already the peak of Tier-5!

Just one more and he'll have the needed requirement for the next stage which is Tier-6!

Cole smile. He believe that after his beasts and himself made a breakthrough and the contract restrictions increase, Blue will definitely belong to those that'll breakthrough immediately along with Virgo and Yggdrasil.

The Yang Sol Lightning is incredibly powerful. Although Blue is a powerful beast himself, he still acquire injuries from assisting on Groot's breakthrough.

Fortunately, along with him and Yggdrasil, the small injury he received healed after several days. Not to say that since the Yang Sol Lightning is a lightning itself, Blue's bloodline immediately fully adapt and detrimental effects vanish all after several days. It was a powerful effect of [Lightning of Nine Heavens Concept]'s special ability called the Heaven Core. It can harmonize upto nine different special lightning in Blue's beast core and body.

And then, after a week interval, it was then Coal's turn.

Unlike the others, his Fire Lizard don't have any hidden potential and bloodline. It was a true low rank beast. It was only because after being exposed to Messiah Tree's mysterious aura then it acquire an Arcane Potential and it didn't get restricted from its originally Earth-Rank bloodline.

However, Coal is his precious family and companion. Since he has an available solution, he didn't disregard the little lizard but instead give it an special bloodline that could contend with his other contracted beasts and spirits.

Only, since Cole intend to create a team or contract a creatures that could deal with all different, possible situations, he gave Coal a not so appreciated bloodline.

In fact, the bloodline he gave to Coal was on par or could even be considered as more evil and vile than Blood Ghost Locust Tree—a Devil Bloodline!

Yes, the bloodline of the same race as what the human cultivator of this world view as creatures of evil! The same bloodline like of the sealed Devourer Devil!

But it wasn't the Bloodline of the Devourer Devil but other bloodline of the Devil Beast Race.

Coal's breakthrough to Tier-5 is not just a simple breakthrough but also to initiate its bloodline evolution and racial metamorphosis!

And... As though the Heaven is aware of his plan, the might of the Heavenly Tribulation are more powerful than what Groot face!

It was apparent that the Heavenly Tribulation become extremely powerful as compare to those before him, the area of the tribulation cloud encompasses more than double than what Groot face, which was the most powerful and wider until now!

Rumble~~ Rumble~~

It was as though Coal's goal and existence is forbidden, the Heavenly Tribulation release a powerful pressure.

The sudden development of events alarm almost everyone. The phenomenon even reach and alarm the Towering Tree City, prompting the citizens to hide inside their home.

And not only the citizens. On the border of the territory, cultivators that were temporarily camping as they either wait for Towering Tree City to remove the restriction and enter the territory or those who where trying to gather information for their secret operation, get out of their tent and look at the heavenly phenomenon in the sky with apprehensive eyes.

"It is said that Heavenly Tribulation is a perfect tool and way to judge the potential of the creature or cultivator." A particularly scholar like cultivator mutter which didn't escape on the sharp hearing of nearby experts.

He then continue, "Ancestor Red said that the Rising Phoenix Spirit Tree Nation would only accept request and assist cultivators from external factions every once a month. It was only the second week and this was already the second time the Heavenly Tribulation appear after him. Just... What kind of monster this new faction is assisting..."

"It looks like the Heavenly Flame Empire won't be able to sit still anymore."

It looks like this scholarly man is aware on some matters of Azure Territory.