Chapter 6031 - 6040
The battle took a sharp turn for the worse!
In just over a hundred rounds, Venerable Xuanbing was already struggling to survive, facing imminent danger.
His ice crystal longsword was being eroded by the power of chaos, its spiritual light dimming, his protective law chains constantly shattering, and several deep, bone-revealing, and difficult-to-heal gray wounds appearing on his body!
If Kai hadn’t had to spare energy to maintain this chaotic mini-world, Venerable Xuanbing would likely have already been defeated!
“Impossible! This is impossible!”
Venerable Xuanbing’s Dao heart almost collapsed.
He, a dignified seventh-grade Venerable of the Upper Immortal Realm, one of the five rulers of the Divine Punishment Hall, was actually being suppressed and beaten by a mere Celestial Immortal Realm brat, utterly powerless to fight back?
“Xuanbing, seal!”
He gritted his teeth, burning a portion of his essence and soul, unleashing his trump card, a forbidden technique!
His entire body transformed into a dazzling beam of ice-blue light, carrying a resolute intent to seal, rushing towards Kai, intending to risk severe damage to his own life force to temporarily freeze Kai!
However, Kai merely smiled coldly: “Even a grain of rice can shine?”
He sheathed his Chaos Longsword, clasped his hands together in front of his chest, and then slowly opened them.
As he separated his hands, a tiny yet seemingly all-consuming and all-ending chaotic rift appeared between his palms!
“Return to the Void!”
The tiny chaotic rift suddenly expanded, like a void beast with its jaws wide open, meeting the oncoming icy blue beam of light!
There was no sound, no intense clash of light.
The icy blue beam of light, containing the Xuanbing Venerable’s desperate attack, melted away like ice and snow the moment it touched the Return to the Void rift.
Silently devoured and decomposed, it transformed into the most primordial chaotic energy, replenishing this small world and actually enhancing Kai’s power!
“Pfft!”
The forbidden technique was broken, and the backlash caused the Xuanbing Venerable to be struck as if by a heavy blow. He coughed up a mouthful of pale golden divine blood, his aura instantly weakened, and he staggered backward, his eyes filled with boundless fear and despair.
Kai took a step forward, instantly appearing before the heavily injured Xuanbing Venerable. One hand gripped his neck like an iron clamp, lifting him up.
The other hand pressed against his crown, and an incomparably powerful chaotic force instantly surged into his body, sealing all his divine power and suppressing his soul!
“Ugh… Heh heh…”
Xuanbing Venerable struggled weakly, his eyes filled with terror as he looked at the demon-like youth before him.
Kai’s eyes were icy cold, like millennia-old ice: “Now, I ask, you answer. If there’s a single lie, I’ll let you taste a pain ten thousand times greater than soul refining.”
Xuanbing Venerable trembled; he could feel the gray energy swirling around the edge of his soul, the annihilation and pain it brought causing his very soul to tremble.
“Who…who exactly are you?”
“Who I am is unimportant.”
Kai’s tone was chilling. “Tell me, why did the God Clan execute Mu Sha and Liu Qingyin, and refine them into Soul Crystals? Was it merely because they discovered some secrets and wanted to rebel?”
Venerable Xuanbing’s eyes flickered, but after Kai intensified the pressure of the Chaos Power, he finally collapsed, hissing, “Yes…and not entirely! They…they were indeed investigating the final destination of the Soul Crystals, touching upon a taboo!” ”But more importantly… they might be tainted with the aura of ‘Primordial Qi’! That’s… that’s a mark that the Great Venerable explicitly forbade and that had to be erased!”
“Primordial Qi?”
Kai’s gaze sharpened.
“Continue! Soul Crystals, what are you going to do with all these Soul Crystals?!” Kai pressed.
Venerable Xuanbing’s face showed extreme fear, as if mentioning this matter would bring about disaster: “Soul Crystals… Soul Crystals are ‘keys,’ and also ‘sacrifices’… They’re for… for maintaining the Path to Heaven, offered to… to those above…”
“Above? What above? What is the Path to Heaven?” Kai’s heart trembled.
“I… I can’t say… If I say it, I’ll be instantly annihilated, even my true spirit will be…”
Venerable Xuanbing shook his head in fear, his divine soul fluctuating violently, as if he had triggered some deeper restriction.
Kai knew that if he pressed further, the other party might really trigger the restriction and perish.
He changed the subject: “Besides the five of you, what other divine race strongholds are there in the Eastern Region? What is the true purpose of the divine race in the Thirteen Heavens? Where is the Great Venerable you speak of?”
Venerable Xuanbing gasped for breath, speaking haltingly: “The strongholds are distributed across five major regions, with the core in the Central Region’s Tianyuan Sacred Continent… The purpose… is to harvest… the Great Venerable, he…”
His words grew increasingly incoherent, his divine soul flickering erratically, clearly indicating that he had touched upon core secrets, and the restrictions were beginning to backfire.
Kai’s eyes turned cold: “One last question, regarding the soul crystal (Jiaxu 73) of the Musa couple, besides serving as a key or offering, is it possible to awaken or preserve their remnant souls?”
A strange glint flashed in Venerable Xuanbing’s unfocused eyes: “A soul crystal… once refined… becomes… becomes ‘pure’ resources… The remnant souls… have long… been obliterated… Unless… unless there is a ‘primordial’… reversal… but that is… forbidden… impossible…”
Before he finished speaking, a dazzling golden rune suddenly shone brightly deep within his divine soul, exploding with a deafening roar!
Kai was prepared and instantly released his grip, forming a protective shield of chaotic power.
However, the explosive power of the golden runes was extremely strange; it wasn’t a direct kill, but a complete purification and dissolution.
The Xuanbing Venerable’s physical body and remaining soul melted away rapidly in the golden light, like ice and snow under the sun, leaving not a trace, only a small amount of the purest ice-type divine power and a few unclaimed treasures.
Kai dispersed the golden light, his face grim.
The Xuanbing Venerable was dead; the restriction had been triggered, and both body and soul were destroyed.
The information he received was fragmented, but several keywords shook him to his core.
Primordial Qi, the Path to Heaven, above, harvest, Great Venerable…
and the Musa couple might have been targeted because they were tainted by Primordial Qi; the remnant soul in their soul crystal might have been obliterated unless Primordial power reversed it…
“Primordial…”
Kai murmured to himself, feeling the surging chaotic power within his body.
Was what he cultivated from the *Chaos Dao Scripture* some kind of Primordial power?
The terms “Path to Heaven,” “Above,” and “Harvest” suggest that the gods rule the thirteen heavens and collect soul crystals.
It seems to imply a continuous and brutal sacrifice to maintain some kind of passage or to offer as tribute to a higher being. That wasn’t ordinary flame; it was the Heaven-Burning Divine Fire, a culmination of his life’s cultivation and the very essence of his laws!
The flames were dark gold, their temperature high enough to melt stars, distorting and collapsing even space itself!
Despite his severe injuries, he had chosen the most brutal fighting style, burning his very essence to perish alongside his enemy!
“Whoever you are! Die! Heaven-Burning Annihilation!”
The Crimson Flame Venerable transformed into a dark gold fireball over ten zhang in diameter, carrying a terrifying, all-destroying power as it hurtled towards Kai!
Wherever it passed, the restrictions on the Star Gazing Platform instantly vaporized, and the ground turned to magma!
Kai’s eyes narrowed. He hadn’t expected the Crimson Flame Venerable to be so fierce, his final counterattack so terrifying. He
couldn’t take it head-on!
Nor could he let this commotion spread!
He moved his hands rapidly, unleashing a surge of chaotic power that created layers of gray barriers before him, while simultaneously retreating hastily.
Boom!
The dark gold fireball crashed into the chaotic barriers, producing a deafening roar. The chaotic barrier shattered layer by layer, but each shattered layer consumed a large amount of divine fire.
Kai was shaken by the immense impact, his blood churning and he staggered back dozens of steps.
Taking advantage of this opening, he forcefully summoned his chaotic power and once again unleashed his spatial divine ability!
“Chaotic Cage!”
With a low shout, the surrounding chaotic energy surged wildly, forming a massive gray cage that trapped the dark golden fireball transformed from the Crimson Flame Venerable within!
Countless tiny chaotic cracks opened and closed on the inner walls of the cage, constantly grinding away and devouring the divine fire like a millstone!
“Ahhh! Break for me!”
The Crimson Flame Venerable roared furiously within the fireball, relentlessly battering against the chaotic cage.
But this was Kai’s home turf; the chaotic cage was incredibly resilient and continuously drew chaotic energy from the void to replenish itself.
In just a few breaths, the dark golden fireball shrank by nearly half in size, its power greatly diminished.
Seizing the opportunity, Kai’s eyes flashed with a cold light. He formed hand seals and pointed towards the center of the cage:
“Return to Nothingness, Devour Heaven!”
At the center of the chaotic cage, a massive, seemingly all-consuming dark vortex suddenly appeared, radiating a terrifying suction force!
“No!!!”
The Crimson Flame Venerable roared in despair. His remaining divine fire, along with his soul and body, were mercilessly swallowed by the dark vortex, crushed, and decomposed, transforming into the purest fire-elemental divine power and fragments of laws.
A few breaths later, the vortex vanished, and the chaotic cage dissipated.
On the Star Gazing Platform, only a small amount of pure crimson divine power, a few treasures, and the lingering scorching heat remained.
The Crimson Flame Venerable was annihilated, body and soul!
Kai’s face paled slightly. The continuous creation of small worlds and the use of Return to Nothingness had taken a heavy toll. He quickly collected his spoils and rested for a moment.
“Three more…” His eyes were icy cold as he transformed back into the form of Venerable Xuanbing and headed towards his next target, Venerable Qingmu’s Qingmu Palace.
Having learned from his experience killing Chiyan, Kai was even more cautious.
Venerable Qingmu primarily cultivated wood-based laws, possessed a relatively gentle personality, and had a respectable relationship with Venerable Xuanbing.
Kai, using the pretext of discovering Chiyan’s suspicious movements and suspected collusion with external resistance forces, lured Venerable Qingmu to a secluded location behind the Divine Punishment Hall.
Here, Kai didn’t waste any more words and launched a surprise attack!
Venerable Qingmu excelled in vitality and restraint, possessing extremely strong survival abilities.
However, faced with the annihilating nature of chaotic power, his wood-based laws were completely suppressed.
After a fierce battle, Venerable Qingmu was utterly annihilated by Kai, his soul and spirit destroyed.
Next was Venerable Houtu.
Earth-based laws provided unparalleled defense, and his power was steady and substantial.
Under the guise of Xuanbing, Kai lured the Earth Venerable to a secret chamber beneath the Divine Punishment Hall under the pretense of discussing strengthening its defenses in preparation for a potential attack.
There, Kai used a wisp of the Demon-Suppressing Tower’s pressure, combined with the power of chaos, to forcefully suppress the Earth Venerable’s terrifying defenses, comparable to the stars and the earth, ultimately shattering and annihilating his physical body and soul.
Having consecutively killed three more Venerables, Kai’s mastery of chaotic power grew increasingly refined, and his combat experience expanded.
While his cultivation level didn’t break through, his combat strength rapidly increased.
Finally, only the strongest and most wary remained: the Gengjin Venerable.
The Gengjin Venerable primarily cultivated metal-based laws, possessing unparalleled attack power among the five Venerables, and was known for his resolute and decisive character, as well as exceptional wisdom.
His relationship with the Xuanbing Venerable was lukewarm, but they harbored mutual suspicion.
Kai knew that simple deception wouldn’t suffice against Gengjin.
He decided… to go directly to him!
Using Xuan Bing’s identity and the pretext that a major upheaval was brewing in the Eastern Region, requiring the five Venerables to discuss the matter, he went directly to the Gengjin Palace!
This was an open conspiracy.
Although Gengjin had his suspicions, he had no choice but to appear given the agreement of the other three Venerables.
The Gengjin Palace was entirely forged from a metal called Taibai Refined Gold, gleaming with a cold, silvery-white luster, exuding a sharp and intimidating aura.
Inside the palace, Venerable Gengjin sat high in the main seat.
He appeared to be around thirty years old, with a resolute face, sword-like eyebrows, and bright eyes. He wore silver-white armor, with two sheathed longswords crossed on his back.
He was like a peerless divine weapon drawn from its sheath, radiating an invincible and sharp aura.
Seeing Xuanbing arrive alone, a hint of doubt flashed in Gengjin Venerable’s eyes, but he remained calm on the surface: “Xuanbing, you sent a message saying that there has been a great change in the Eastern Region, and that the five of us need to discuss it together. Where are Chiyan, Qingmu, and Houtu?”
Kai’s expression was cold, and he said indifferently: “They will arrive shortly. I came first because I have something important to confirm with you privately.”
“What is it?”
Venerable Gengjin’s gaze was sharp as a sword, as if trying to pierce through Kai’s disguise.
Kai took a few steps closer and lowered his voice: “It’s about… the recent anomalies in the Path to Heaven. The Great Venerable has sent a secret order, instructing us to intensify the collection of Soul Crystals, especially… those containing special auras.”
He deliberately mentioned the Path to Heaven and the Great Venerable, core secrets known only to the five Venerables.
Venerable Gengjin’s eyes changed slightly, but his vigilance remained: “Where is the secret order? Why haven’t I received it?”
“The secret order is here.”
Kai stretched out his hand, and a jade slip emitting a faint golden light appeared in his palm. This was the unique fluctuation he had simulated from Xuan Bing’s memories when the Great Venerable sent the order.
Venerable Gengjin’s gaze fell on the jade slip, and his divine sense subconsciously probed out, wanting to examine it.
The moment his divine sense touched the jade slip!
Another anomaly occurred!
The jade slip exploded!
This was no ordinary explosion; instead, it transformed into countless fine, grayish-brown chaotic needles, raining down on Gengjin Venerable’s face like a storm!
Simultaneously, Kai leaped into the air, unleashing his full chaotic power. His hands transformed into a myriad of palm shadows, enveloping Gengjin Venerable’s vital points!
“A trap, as expected!”
Gengjin Venerable, though startled, remained calm, seemingly prepared.
His twin swords were drawn with a clang, transforming into two silver-white sword beams that tore through the heavens and earth. One slashed at the chaotic needles, the other aimed directly at Kai’s face!
At the same time, his body glowed with brilliant Gengjin divine armor, countless fine runes flowing around it, instantly boosting his defense to its peak!
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
A dense cacophony of collisions rang out.
Most of the chaotic needles were shattered by the sword beams, but some still penetrated the defense, striking the Gengjin divine armor and leaving tiny dents that eroded its spiritual light.
The sword energy that Gengjin Venerable unleashed at Kai was forcefully deflected by Kai’s gray palm, formed from chaotic power!
“You’re not Xuanbing! Who are you?!”
Gengjin Venerable roared, his eyes blazing with killing intent. He was now certain that the person before him was not Xuanbing!
That gray power, filled with an aura of annihilation, was completely different from Xuanbing’s ice-based laws!
“The one who will take your life!”
Kai no longer feigned defeat, his figure flashing like lightning as he clashed with Gengjin Venerable!
The Gengjin Palace was instantly filled with terrifying sword energy and chaotic power.
The silvery-white Gengjin sword energy was incomparably sharp, cutting through everything;
the hazy gray chaotic power annihilated everything, dissolving laws.
The two fought from inside the palace to outside, from the ground to the air, leaving behind a trail of destruction: palaces collapsed, the earth cracked, and formations shattered!
Gengjin Venerable truly lived up to his reputation as the strongest of the five Venerables; his attacks were incomparably fierce, his swordsmanship exquisite, each strike containing the terrifying power to sever laws.
Kai pushed the power of chaos to its limit, transforming it into gray barriers, palm prints, and fist energy, which constantly collided with and eroded the Gengjin sword energy.
This battle was more intense and dangerous than any before!
The Gengjin Venerable grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed.
His opponent, though only at the peak of the ninth rank of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, possessed an incredibly high level of gray power. His Gengjin sword aura was rapidly worn down, its sharpness diminished, and its power greatly reduced.
Moreover, the opponent’s combat awareness was terrifying; he always managed to neutralize his most ferocious attacks with minimal cost.
“This cannot drag on! This boy is strange; I must finish this quickly!”
A fierce glint flashed in the Gengjin Venerable’s eyes. He bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood essence onto his twin swords!
“Gengjin Great Dao, Slay Immortals and Gods!”
The twin swords suddenly merged into one, transforming into a towering, silver-white sword pillar!
Countless ancient runes appeared on the sword pillar, faintly revealing terrifying phenomena of immortals and gods falling and stars collapsing!
This sword strike, imbued with the Gengjin Venerable’s lifelong cultivation, essence, and understanding of the laws, was his strongest attack, possessing the terrifying power to kill even those of the same level and threaten those at the eighth rank of the Upper Immortal Realm!
The sword pillar locked onto Kai and crashed down!
Wherever it passed, space shattered like fragile glass, revealing dark void turbulence!
Faced with this world-destroying sword strike, a solemn expression appeared in Kai’s eyes.
He knew he could no longer hold back.
He took a deep breath, and the chaotic power within his body circulated wildly at an unprecedented speed. A hazy gray light shone brightly around him, as if he had transformed into a chaotic deity.
He slowly raised his hands, holding them in front of his chest, and a tiny gray sphere of light, seemingly containing the birth and death of the universe, rapidly condensed.
“Chaos… Return to Origin… Great Annihilation!”
With his deep voice, the gray sphere of light suddenly expanded, transforming into a gray vortex with a diameter of about ten feet, meeting the descending towering sword pillar!
There was no sound.
Or rather, all sound was swallowed up by the gray vortex.
The silver-white sword pillar plunged into the gray vortex, like a mud ox entering the sea, without stirring up the slightest ripple.
The terrifying power of the sword pillar, capable of slaying immortals and gods, was mercilessly decomposed, devoured, and annihilated by the gray vortex!
A few breaths later, the towering sword pillar completely vanished. The gray vortex only rippled slightly before slowly dissipating.
Gengjin Venerable’s face was ashen, his aura extremely weak, his eyes filled with unbelievable despair and fear.
His strongest attack… had been so easily neutralized?!
“No… impossible… what… what kind of power is this…”
he muttered to himself, his Dao heart completely shattered.
Kai’s face was also somewhat pale; his previous move, the Chaos Returning to Origin Great Annihilation, had consumed a great deal of energy.
But he didn’t give Gengjin Venerable any chance to catch his breath. In a flash, he appeared before him, pressing a palm against his crown.
Chaotic power surged in, instantly sealing all his power. ”Now, you can answer my questions properly.”
Kai’s eyes were icy. “Tell me everything you know about the Gods, Soul Crystals, the Path to Heaven, the Great Venerables, the Primordial Qi… everything.”
The Gengjin Venerable gave a bitter laugh: “You… you might as well kill me. Touching the core secrets will automatically trigger the restrictions in my soul, annihilating me body and soul… I won’t tell you anything.” ”
Is that so?”
Kai’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Then let’s see if my chaotic power dismantles your restrictions first, or if the restrictions trigger first.”
With that, he manipulated a wisp of subtle yet incredibly pure chaotic power, like the most agile probe, carefully probing into the depths of the Gengjin Venerable’s soul, towards the faintly visible golden restriction rune.
The moment the chaotic power touched the restriction rune, the rune suddenly lit up, about to explode!
But in that instant, a bright gray light shone in Kai’s eyes. The wisp of chaotic power suddenly split into countless finer threads, wrapping the entire restrictive rune layer by layer, like wrapping a rice dumpling! *
Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle! *
The gray light and golden light fiercely clashed and eroded each other. The restrictive rune struggled frantically, trying to self-destruct, but was firmly suppressed and eroded by the chaotic power.
The Gengjin Venerable let out a painful groan, pale golden blood seeping from his seven orifices.
A full incense stick’s time passed.
*Pop!*
A soft sound, like a bubble bursting, rang out.
Deep within the Gengjin Venerable’s soul, the golden restrictive rune… completely dimmed and shattered!
It had been forcibly obliterated by the chaotic power!
“The restriction… is broken?”
The Gengjin Venerable felt the changes in his soul in disbelief. The sharp sword that had been hanging above his head had disappeared, but what followed was a deeper fear.
This person before him could even break the soul restriction personally planted by the Great Venerable?!
Kai’s face grew even paler; breaking this restriction had consumed a tremendous amount of his mental and physical energy.
But his eyes remained sharp: “Now, you can speak.”
Gengjin Venerable collapsed to the ground, having lost all will to resist. He said bitterly, “You…what do you want to know?”
“Everything,” Kai replied succinctly.
After a moment of silence, Venerable Gengjin slowly spoke: “The Eastern Region’s Divine Punishment Hall is merely one of the five major strongholds established by the Divine Race in the Thirteen Heavens. Each of the five regions—East, South, West, North, and Central—has a Divine Punishment Hall, each overseen by a Grand Venerable.”
“We five are merely executors of the Eastern Region’s Divine Punishment Hall.”
“The Grand Venerable resides in the Divine Punishment Hall at the deepest part of the Central Region’s Tianyuan Sacred Continent. There lies the entrance to the Path to Heaven.”
“The Path to Heaven…”
A deep awe and fear flashed in Venerable Gengjin’s eyes. “It’s a mysterious passage connecting the upper realms to the Thirteen Heavens. The Divine Race rules the Thirteen Heavens, collecting Soul Crystals, but their fundamental purpose… is to maintain the stability of this passage and to periodically offer sacrifices to those above.”
“Sacrifices?”
Kai pressed. “What… is above? Is it the Divine Race’s patriarch? And why do you use this Path to Heaven to offer sacrifices? If those above need resources, they can simply bring them from the Thirteen Heavens!”
Venerable Gengjin shook his head: “I don’t know. That’s a secret only the Grand Venerable knows. We are only responsible for carrying out orders: suppressing all resistance and collecting a sufficient quantity and quality of Soul Crystals.”
“Soul crystals are refined from the divine souls of special beings. The stronger the divine soul and the more unique the spirit, the higher the quality of the refined soul crystal, and the better its effect on maintaining the passage and for sacrifices.” ”
Moreover, these things cannot be directly taken to higher worlds; this is the law. If anyone could plunder the resources of lower worlds at will, those lower worlds would not be able to survive.” ”
However, there are loopholes in the laws of heaven and earth, namely, the Path to Heaven can be used to circumvent the suppression and spying of the laws.”
After hearing Gengjin Venerable’s words, Kai was stunned. He hadn’t expected that the always self-righteous and aloof gods would actually be exploiting loopholes in the laws to do such underhanded things! They secretly transported resources from the Thirteenth Heaven upwards.
And to maintain the path to heaven, they even refined people into soul crystals!
How is this any different from the actions of demonic cultivators?
What kind of divine race are they?
“Primordial Qi… what is it?” Kai asked the most crucial question.
Venerable Gengjin shook his head again: “That’s forbidden. I’ve only vaguely heard that it’s the most primordial power from the beginning of heaven and earth, related to chaos.” ”
The higher-ups of the divine race seem extremely wary of this power; once discovered, it must be completely eradicated. The Musa couple may have accidentally come into contact with something containing Primordial Qi in the lower realm…”
Kai was shocked.
Chaos… Primordial… his own “Chaos Dao Scripture”…
Kai frowned. Could it be that because the Musa couple had contact with him, they were being targeted after returning to the Thirteenth Heaven?
Kai continued, “What is the strength of the Venerables of the Five Great Domains? Besides the Grand Venerable, how many experts does the Central Domain’s Divine Punishment Hall have?”
Venerable Gengjin replied, “The Venerables of the Five Great Domains are all at the seventh rank of the Upper Immortal Realm, the same level as us, but their strength varies.” ”
The Grand Venerable is at the peak of the eighth rank of the Upper Immortal Realm; he could easily suppress the five of us working together.”
“As for the Central Domain’s Divine Punishment Hall, I don’t know how many experts the Grand Venerable has around him. Perhaps he has divine envoys sent from above…”
His voice trailed off, his eyes filled with fear.
Kai digested this information.
The situation was more dire than he had imagined.
The Eastern Domain’s Divine Punishment Hall was merely an outer stronghold; the real enemy lay with the Grand Venerable of the Central Domain’s Tianyuan Sacred Continent.
If this Grand Venerable also had divine envoys sent from above, he feared he wouldn’t be able to handle it with his own abilities!
The previously confident Kai now doubted himself again!
“Has the Grand Venerable always been inside the Central Domain’s Divine Punishment Hall?” Kai asked.
Gengjin Venerable nodded: “The Great Venerable is stationed at the Divine Punishment Hall in the Central Region year-round, guarding the Path to Heaven. He doesn’t usually leave easily…”
“You…you killed four of us in succession. The Great Venerable may have already noticed something amiss. The life tablets of all the Venerables in our Divine Punishment Hall are with him…”
Before he could finish speaking, the entire Divine Punishment Hall suddenly trembled!
A magnificent, majestic, and seemingly ruthless voice, like the Dao of Heaven itself, resounded throughout the entire Divine Punishment Hall:
“Who dares to offend my Divine Punishment Hall and kill my Venerables?”
The terrifying pressure contained in the voice made all the members of the Divine Race tremble and prostrate themselves on the ground.
The Great Venerable…was alarmed!
Kai’s eyes narrowed, knowing that he could not delay any longer.
He glanced at the ashen-faced Gengjin Venerable, raised his hand, and struck him on the top of his head.
Chaotic power erupted, Gengjin Venerable’s body trembled, his eyes quickly dimmed, and his soul was annihilated.
Kai quickly put away the divine power and treasures he had left behind, then his figure blurred and transformed into a gray stream of light, rushing towards the outside of the Divine Punishment Hall!
Kai sped towards Jade Immortal City.
Behind him, a terrifying pressure emanating from the Eastern Region’s Divine Punishment Hall swept in like a tangible wave. The Great Venerable’s roar shook heaven and earth: “Traitor! Don’t run!”
The power of law contained in that voice made Kai’s blood surge, but he gritted his teeth, his chaotic power surging wildly within him to resist the impact of that pressure.
“I can’t turn back! Now is not the time to face the Great Venerable!”
Kai was clear-headed, knowing that with his current state and strength, his chances of winning against a Great Venerable from the Central Region, who was at least at the peak of the eighth rank of the Upper Immortal Realm, or perhaps even stronger, were extremely slim.
He used the Fire Control Step repeatedly, each flash covering a hundred miles, leaving the pursuers far behind.
Inside the Eastern Region’s Divine Punishment Hall, a golden phantom a hundred feet tall stood in the air.
The phantom’s face was blurred, but the pressure emanating from it made the entire space of the Divine Punishment Hall tremble.
It was a phantom projected by the Great Venerable from the Central Region through some secret technique!
The phantom’s gaze swept across the ravaged Divine Punishment Hall, over the ruins of the Crimson Flame Hall, the Azure Wood Hall, the Thick Earth Hall, and the Geng Metal Hall, finally settling on the battlefield before the Cold Silence Hall, where the lingering aura of chaos still lingered.
“Mysterious Ice, Crimson Flame, Azure Wood, Thick Earth, Geng Metal…”
The phantom’s voice was icy and merciless, yet contained a raging inferno, “The five Venerables, all perished on the same day…”
“Who?! Who possesses such power, capable of slaying five Venerables within my Divine Punishment Hall?!”
The phantom raised a hand, and five shattered fragments of life tablets flew from the depths of the Divine Punishment Hall, hovering in his palm.
The last trace of aura remaining on the life tablets pointed in the same direction: Jade Immortal City!
“Jade Immortal City… Yu Wuji…”
A cold light flashed in the illusory figure’s eyes. “Could it be him? No, although Yu Wuji has the cultivation of a seventh-grade Upper Immortal, it’s impossible for him to have simultaneously killed five Venerables, let alone possess that… strange gray power.”
From the fragments of the life tablet and the residual aura of the battlefield, he detected a trace of extremely special energy fluctuations filled with annihilation characteristics.
“This power… is unheard of. It’s not any of the known laws of the Thirteen Heavens. Could it be… the ‘Primordial Beginning’?”
The illusory figure muttered to himself, then a deep sense of apprehension and killing intent flashed in his eyes. “No matter who it is, anyone who dares to touch the foundation of my divine race will surely die!” The
illusory figure raised his hand, and a golden light shot into the sky, transforming into countless golden runes that flew in all directions!
“By my decree: All sects and forces in the Thirteen Heavens, immediately launch a full-scale manhunt for the culprits!”
“Anyone providing clues will be rewarded with one million high-grade Yuan Crystals and a Divine Clan cultivation technique!”
“Anyone capturing or killing the culprits will be rewarded with the rank of Divine General of the Divine Clan!”
“Anyone harboring or concealing the culprits… will have their entire family exterminated and their souls extracted and refined into crystals!”
The majestic and awe-inspiring voice, accompanied by golden runes, instantly resounded throughout the entire Thirteen Heavens!
The Thirteen Heavens trembled!
…
Jade Immortal City, the secret chamber of the Boundless Palace.
Yu Wuji, Yu Ranran, and Ming Li, who had just secretly returned, gathered together.
The atmosphere in the secret chamber was so heavy it was almost palpable.
Yu Wuji held a newly received communication jade slip in his hand, his face ashen.
Yu Ranran, on the other hand, was filled with worry and fidgeted restlessly.
Ming Li, clad in a black robe, exuded a chilling aura, but his eyes held a grave expression.
“Father, what happened? Kai… he really went to the Divine Punishment Hall?”
Yu Ranran finally couldn’t help but ask, her voice trembling.
Yu Wuji took a deep breath and handed the jade slip to his daughter, his voice dry: “See for yourself.”
Yu Ranran took the jade slip and probed it with her divine sense.
Instantly, her face turned deathly pale, her delicate body swaying, almost unable to stand.
The jade slip contained the wanted notice just issued by the Grand Venerable of the Central Region!
It detailed the characteristics of the criminal, as well as the stifling bounty and punishment!
“Kai… he killed the five Venerables of the Divine Punishment Hall?”
Yu Ranran’s voice trembled, her eyes filled with disbelief. “This… how is this possible? He’s only a ninth-grade Celestial Immortal!”
“But that’s the truth,”
Yu Wuji said in a deep voice, a complex light flashing in his eyes. “The simultaneous fall of the five Venerables of the Divine Punishment Hall, their life tablets shattered—this can’t be faked.”
“The Grand Venerable was enraged and issued this highest-level ‘Divine Punishment Wanted Order’… The Thirteen Heavens can no longer tolerate him.”
Ming Li’s cold voice rang out: “Mr. Chen’s strength far surpasses his apparent realm. That gray power… I’ve never seen such a bizarre and domineering energy. His ability to kill the five Venerables is shocking, but not entirely impossible.”
“But…but where is he now? Is he safe?”
Yu Ranran was on the verge of tears. “The Great Venerable has issued a warrant for his arrest, and the entire Thirteen Heavens are hunting him down! No matter how powerful he is, can he stand against the entire Divine Race?”
Yu Wuji was silent for a moment, then slowly said, “With his alertness and methods, he should have already escaped the Divine Punishment Hall area. I guess…he might return to Jade Immortal City.”
“Return to Jade Immortal City?”
Yu Ranran’s eyes lit up, then dimmed again. “But…the Divine Race has already issued a warrant for his arrest, and Jade Immortal City is no longer safe. Father, what…what should we do?”
She looked at Yu Wuji, her eyes filled with pleading.
She loved Kai, loved him so deeply that she would disregard everything.
But she also didn’t want her father and the entire Jade Immortal Palace to fall into eternal damnation because of her.
Yu Wuji looked at his daughter and sighed inwardly.
How could he not know what his daughter was thinking?
But as the lord of the palace, he had to be responsible for the millions of lives in the entire Jade Immortal Palace.
“Ranran, I understand your feelings,”
Yu Wuji said in a low voice. “But the Divine Clan has issued a warrant for our arrest. If the Jade Immortal Manor openly harbors Kai, it will face annihilation. At that time, not only you and I, but the entire Jade Immortal City will be reduced to ashes.”
Yu Ranran’s face turned pale, her lips trembled, but she could not speak.
She knew her father was telling the truth.
Ming Li suddenly spoke up: “Manor Lord, perhaps… you can secretly assist him. Mr. Chen possesses a shocking secret and potential; he may truly be the key to breaking the Divine Clan’s rule.”
“Cooperating with him is extremely risky, but if successful, the rewards will be unparalleled.” After leaving the Jade Immortal Mansion, Kai and Ming Li concealed their presence and sped towards the Northern Region’s Cold Abyss City.
Their speed was extremely fast, and within a few days, they returned to this massive, snow-covered city.
Cold Abyss City remained unchanged; its dark blue-black ice walls gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and the city gates were heavily guarded.
This time, however, Kai and Ming Li were not questioned; it was clear that True Person Cold Abyss had given prior instructions.
The two flew directly into the city, landing towards the City Lord’s Mansion.
The guards at the City Lord’s Mansion, upon seeing them, not only did not stop them but also bowed respectfully, indicating that True Person Cold Abyss had given prior orders.
Led by attendants, Kai and Ming Li arrived at a quiet chamber deep within the City Lord’s Mansion.
The quiet chamber was carved from a single piece of ten-thousand-year-old cold jade; the air inside was chilling, but for cultivators, it actually helped to calm the mind and concentrate.
True Person Cold Abyss was already waiting there. He was still dressed in an ice-blue Daoist robe, his face gaunt, but a hint of worry seemed to have appeared between his brows.
Upon seeing Kai and Ming Li, he rose to greet them, his expression complex.
“Fellow Daoist Chen, Fellow Daoist Ming Li, you… you’ve indeed returned.”
Han Yuan Zhenren’s voice carried a hint of weariness. “Please sit.”
The three took their seats as host and guest, and a maidservant served them spiritual tea before quietly withdrawing, leaving only the three of them in the quiet room.
Master Hanyuan set up several soundproof barriers before looking at Kai with a solemn expression: “Fellow Daoist Chen, what you did at the Eastern Region’s Divine Punishment Hall… has already spread throughout the Thirteen Heavens.”
Kai remained calm, taking a sip of his tea: “It seems the Great Venerable’s wanted notice has already reached the Northern Region.”
“More than that,”
Master Hanyuan smiled bitterly, “On the very day the wanted notice was issued, an envoy from the Divine Race came to Hanyuan City, ordering me to fully cooperate in apprehending the culprit and to thoroughly investigate all cultivators related to the Eastern Region.”
He paused, then looked at Kai: “The envoy also specifically mentioned that the culprit may possess a strange, gray power, unlike any known cultivation system. Fellow Daoist Chen, this time… you’ve gone too far.”
Ming Li said in a deep voice from the side: “City Lord Hanyuan, the Divine Race has acted perversely, oppressing all races since ruling the Thirteen Heavens, extracting the souls of living beings to refine soul crystals—their sins are heinous. Mr. Chen’s actions are to rid the people of this scourge.”
“I know, I know,”
Han Yuan Zhenren sighed. “I’ve heard about the actions of the Divine Race. But… they are powerful.” ”
The Grand Venerable of the Central Region is at the peak of the eighth rank of the Upper Immortal Realm, with countless powerful subordinates. There are even rumors that he has connections with higher worlds. To oppose them is like throwing an egg against a rock.”
Kai put down his teacup and looked directly at Han Yuan Zhenren. “City Lord, I’ve come not to drag Han Yuan City into this mess. On the contrary, I’ve come to inform you of something to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings between Han Yuan City and the Jade Immortal Mansion.”
“Oh? What is it?” Han Yuan Zhenren’s expression turned serious.
“The Jade Immortal Mansion’s Lord, Yu Wuji, is actually dissatisfied with the Divine Race’s rule,”
Kai said slowly. “I’ve reached an agreement with him that the Jade Immortal Mansion will secretly support any actions against the Divine Race. Although Yu Wuji didn’t directly participate in the Divine Punishment Hall incident, he did provide me with some convenience.”
A hint of surprise flashed in Han Yuan Zhenren’s eyes: “That old fox Yu Wuji… he actually has such audacity? Isn’t he afraid the Divine Race will raze Yu Xian Fu to the ground?”
“He is afraid, but he doesn’t want to be the Divine Race’s dog forever,”
Kai said calmly. “Yu Wuji is an ambitious man; he is unwilling to be subservient forever. The greater the oppression from the Divine Race, the deeper the seeds of resistance are sown.”
Han Yuan Zhenren was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: “I see… no wonder Yu Xian Fu’s attitude towards other forces in the Eastern Region has softened recently. I thought they were brewing some kind of conspiracy.”
“If what Fellow Daoist Chen says is true, and Yu Xian Fu is also secretly resisting the Divine Race, then I certainly don’t need to be overly wary of them anymore,”
Kai continued. “Not only that. Yu Wuji’s daughter, Yu Ranran, is now my Daoist partner. For both public and private reasons, I hope that Han Yuan City and Yu Xian Fu can coexist peacefully, and even… support each other when necessary.”
“A Daoist partner?!”
Master Hanyuan was genuinely astonished this time. He looked Kai up and down. “Fellow Daoist Chen, you…you even have Yu Wuji’s darling daughter…”
Ming Li added from the side, “Mr. Chen and Miss Yu are truly in love. This is absolutely true. Now Mr. Chen is practically half the master of the Jade Immortal Mansion.”
Master Hanyuan’s expression shifted, and after a long while, he sighed, “Fellow Daoist Chen, you really are…every time we meet, you bring me surprises, or rather, shocks.”
He stood up and paced around the quiet room. “If the Jade Immortal Mansion truly intends to resist the Divine Race, then the alliance between the Northern and Eastern Regions is indeed a force to be reckoned with.”
“However…the Divine Race is powerful, and we must be extremely cautious.”
He stopped and looked at Kai. “Fellow Daoist Chen, what are your plans now? The warrant has been issued, and although the Thirteen Heavens are vast, I’m afraid there will be no safe haven for you.”
Kai said, “We are preparing to head to the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains in the Western Regions.”
“The Ten Thousand Demon Mountains of the Western Regions?!”
Master Hanyuan’s expression changed drastically. “That place is now a den of dragons and tigers! The Divine Race is suppressing the Demon Race’s rebellion with bloody methods, and the entire Western Regions is engulfed in war!”
Ming Li explained, “Lord Hanyuan, I sensed the aura of the Ghost Race in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains of the Western Regions. There may still be some of my people active there. We must go there.”
“Ghost Race…”
Master Hanyuan frowned. “The situation in the Western Regions is complex now, with the Divine Race, the Demon Race, and various other races mixed together. There may indeed be traces of Ghost Race activity. But…”
He looked at Kai, his tone serious, “Fellow Daoist Chen, do you know how dangerous the situation in the Western Regions is right now?” ”
The Demon Suppression Hall, which the Divine Race has stationed in the Western Regions, is led by a Demon Suppression Venerable at the peak of the seventh rank of the Upper Immortal Realm. Five Demon Kings have joined its ranks, and tens of thousands of troops are besieging the Demon Race’s rebellious forces.”
“The Demon Race, led by the ‘Golden-Winged Roc King,’ the ‘Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox,’ and the ‘Mountain-Moving Giant Ape,’ once gathered a hundred thousand people to rebel, but now they are suffering repeated defeats and heavy casualties.”
“The Golden-Winged Roc King has fled severely injured, the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox is trapped, and the Mountain-Moving Giant Ape has been suppressed. The remnants of the demon race’s resistance are besieged in the vicinity of the Heavenly Demon Valley, barely clinging to life.”
Master Hanyuan walked to the wall, his finger tracing the surface of the jade wall, where icy energy condensed into a simplified map: “This is the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains, and this is the Heavenly Demon Valley. The divine army has surrounded it from five directions, setting up the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Demon-Sealing Array. The remnants of the demon race have no chance of escape.”
He turned to Kai: “Going there now is tantamount to walking into a trap. The divine race’s defenses in the Western Regions are even more stringent than in the Eastern Regions. Moreover, you are wanted; once discovered, you will surely die.” Kai laughed upon hearing this. The Eastern Region at least had five Venerables guarding the Divine Punishment Hall, but in the Western Region, there was only one Demon-Suppressing Venerable. Although he was at the peak of the seventh rank of the Upper Immortal Realm, he was still no match for the combined might of the five Venerables.
It seemed the demon race in the Western Region didn’t have any powerful figures; they were controlled by a mere Divine Race Venerable, and even the five Demon Kings had submitted to them—they were practically traitors.
“Senior, that’s precisely why we must go,” Kai said.
“Why?” Han Yuan Zhenren asked, puzzled.
“First, Ming Li needs to find his clansmen; this matter is crucial to him,”
Kai said slowly. “Second, the God Clan’s bloody suppression of the Demon Clan in the Western Regions precisely demonstrates the intensity of the Demon Clan’s resistance. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. If we can unite with the Demon Clan’s resistance army, it will greatly benefit our fight against the God Clan.”
“Third…” A cold glint flashed in Kai’s eyes, “With the God Clan’s attention focused on the Western Regions, their monitoring of other areas will be relatively relaxed. If we cause trouble in the Western Regions, it might actually buy time and space for the resistance forces in the Eastern and Northern Regions.”
Upon hearing this, True Person Han Yuan fell into deep thought.
After a long silence, he slowly said, “Fellow Daoist Chen, your considerations are thorough, I admire you. However… the journey to the Western Regions is extremely dangerous. The Demon Suppressor is at the peak of the seventh rank of the Upper Immortal Realm, his strength far surpassing that of the five Venerables of the Eastern Region.”
“The five Demon Kings are also at the sixth and seventh ranks of the Upper Immortal Realm, and their armies are strong and well-equipped. For you two to go is tantamount to lambs to the slaughter.”
Kai smiled slightly, “City Lord, there’s no need to worry. Since I dare to go, I have my own confidence.”
His smile was calm and confident, and a special aura originating from the power of chaos faintly emanated from him, causing Han Yuan Zhenren’s heart to tremble.
Han Yuan Zhenren recalled how Kai could reach the Thirteenth Heaven with the cultivation of a Heavenly Immortal Realm, how he could kill the five Venerables of the Divine Punishment Hall,
and the mysterious and unpredictable gray power emanating from him… Perhaps, this young man truly could create miracles.
“Very well.”
Master Hanyuan finally made up his mind. “Since Fellow Daoist Chen has made up his mind, I will no longer try to dissuade him. However, the journey to the Western Regions is long and fraught with danger, so you need to be fully prepared.”
He took out an ice-blue storage ring from his robes and handed it to Kai: “Inside are some Ice Soul Pills and Cold Jade Marrow, special products of the Northern Regions, which are remarkably effective for healing injuries and restoring spiritual power. The environment in the Western Regions is harsh, so these things may come in handy.”
Kai took the ring and scanned it with his divine sense. Inside, there were not only a large number of pills and materials, but also tens of thousands of high-grade Yuan Crystals, as well as several ice-attribute magic treasures of good quality.
“Thank you, City Lord.” Kai thanked him solemnly.
Master Hanyuan then took out a palm-sized, jet-black bone fragment: “This is a map I drew when I traveled the Western Regions in my youth. Although the terrain may have changed since then, the general area should be correct.”
“It marks some dangerous places and possible resource points; you can refer to it.”
Kai took the bone fragment and probed it with his divine sense. Sure enough, he saw a detailed map, including not only the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains but also most of the Western Regions, even marking the locations of several divine strongholds.
“The City Lord’s great kindness will be remembered by this junior,” Kai said, bowing again.
Master Hanyuan waved his hand: “No need to be so polite. Fellow Daoist Chen, you must be careful on your journey to the Western Regions.”
“If things don’t go well, you can always retreat to the Northern Regions. I will always leave you a way out.”
He paused, then added: “As for the Jade Immortal Mansion, I will send a message to a few old friends, telling them to stop targeting the people of the Eastern Regions. If Yu Wuji truly harbors any intention to rebel against the Divine Race, the Northern Regions are willing to secretly support him.”
Kai felt reassured, knowing that the purpose of this trip to Hanyuan City had been achieved.
“City Lord, we will not disturb you any longer.”
Kai stood up. “The journey to the Western Regions should be undertaken sooner rather than later.”
Master Hanyuan also stood up: “I will see you off.”
The three of them walked out of the meditation room and into the courtyard outside the City Lord’s Mansion.
Fine snowflakes drifted in the sky, and the cold wind was biting.
“Fellow Daoist Chen, Fellow Daoist Mingli, take care on your journey,” Master Hanyuan said solemnly.
Kai and Ming Li exchanged a glance, then simultaneously cupped their hands in greeting: “City Lord, take care. Farewell.”
With that, the two figures blurred, transforming into two streaks of light that soared into the sky, hurtling westward and quickly disappearing into the vast snowfield where the horizon met the sky.
Han Yuan Zhenren stood in the courtyard, gazing in the direction the two had vanished, silent for a long time.
Snowflakes fell on his shoulders, gradually accumulating into a thin layer.
“Kai… the Western Regions’ Ten Thousand Demon Mountains… the Divine Race…”
he murmured to himself, a complex light flashing in his eyes, “Is the fate of the Thirteen Heavens truly about to change?”
Behind him, a trusted elder quietly appeared, whispering, “City Lord, the Divine Race envoy has sent someone again to inquire whether the wanted criminal has been found.”
Han Yuan Zhenren turned around, his face regaining its usual coldness: “Tell them that Han Yuan City has searched with all its might, but has not yet found any trace of the villain. If there is any news, I will report it.”
“Yes.” The elder bowed and withdrew.
Han Yuan Zhenren looked westward again, a hint of expectation mixed with worry in his eyes.
“Kai, I hope you can really… come back alive.”
Kai and Ming Li left Hanyuan City and sped towards the Western Regions. The
journey from the Northern Regions to the Western Regions required traversing the northern edge of the entire Central Region, a distance of hundreds of thousands of miles.
To avoid potential spies and checkpoints set up by the gods, the two chose the most desolate route, heading west along the Burial God Mountains, which border the Northern and Central Regions. The
Burial God Mountains were rumored to be one of the battlefields of the ancient war between gods and demons. The mountains stretched endlessly, towering into the clouds, perpetually shrouded in a gray-black deathly mist.
Spiritual energy was scarce, the laws were chaotic, the environment harsh, teeming with poisonous insects and ferocious beasts, and many ancient remnants of broken restrictions and dangerous spatial rifts, making it unapproachable for ordinary cultivators.
But precisely because of this, it became an excellent route to evade pursuit.
“Mr. Chen, traversing the Burial God Mountains will take at least twenty days, and we may encounter many dangers along the way,”
Ming Li warned, his body shrouded in black mist, keeping the deathly fog at bay.
Kai nodded, and a faint gray light shield formed around his body from the power of chaos. The death mist, powerful enough to corrode the protective aura of even a cultivator at the Upper Immortal Realm, was assimilated and absorbed the moment it touched the chaotic light shield, becoming nourishment for the power of chaos.
“It’s alright, this is a good opportunity to consolidate my cultivation,” Kai said calmly.
He had just broken through to the ninth rank of the Heavenly Immortal Realm. Although his foundation was solid, he did need time to adapt to the power of the new realm.
The harsh environment of the Burial God Mountain Range had become the best place for him to hone his skills.
The two transformed into two streaks of light and plunged into the vast Burial God Mountain Range.
The mountain range was indeed fraught with danger.
There were remnants of ancient ferocious beasts lurking in the mist, suddenly launching attacks;
there were seemingly calm grounds that were actually spatial rifts that devoured everything; there were remnants of ancient killing formations that, once triggered, would unleash a barrage of arrows;
and there were even bizarre illusions of inner demons that could evoke the deepest fears in a cultivator’s heart.
But all of this seemed utterly insignificant in the face of Kai’s power of chaos.
Remnants of ferocious beasts? A surge of chaotic power was directly absorbed and refined, becoming nourishment for strengthening the divine soul.
Spatial rifts? Chaotic power could stabilize space, forcibly closing rifts.
Ancient killing formations? Chaotic power eroded the formation’s foundation, rendering the formation ineffective in moments.
Illusions of inner demons? Kai’s Dao heart was as firm as a rock, having experienced countless life-and-death experiences, and with the chaotic power protecting his divine soul, illusions could not shake him in the slightest.
Moreover, Kai himself possessed the Origin of Illusions, making illusions utterly vulnerable before him!
On the contrary, Ming Li had been in danger several times, and it was Kai who came to his rescue.
“Mr. Chen, your chaotic power… is far too domineering.”
Ming Li couldn’t help but sigh as he watched Kai easily dissolve a spatial storm powerful enough to annihilate a fifth-grade Upper Immortal.
Kai smiled slightly, saying nothing more.
He was also constantly exploring new uses for chaotic power.
After breaking through to the ninth rank of the Celestial Immortal Realm, his understanding of the Great Dao of Chaos deepened. The power of chaos was no longer merely about annihilation and devouring; it had also begun to take shape in creation and evolution.
For example, he could now use the power of chaos to simulate attacks of various attributes. Although its power was not as great as that of cultivators who specialized in that attribute, its advantage lay in its versatility, making it difficult to defend against.
The two traveled westward, hiding by day and moving by night, trying to avoid causing too much of a disturbance.
Ten days later, they had penetrated deep into the heart of the Burial God Mountains.
The death fog here was so dense it was almost tangible, reducing visibility to no more than ten feet.
The air was filled with an aura of decay and decay, and even time seemed to slow down.
“Mr. Chen, there’s an unusual energy fluctuation ahead.”
Ming Li suddenly stopped, looking warily into the depths of the dense fog ahead.
Kai also sensed it. It was a cold, eerie energy fluctuation, carrying a strong aura of death, completely out of place with the overall atmosphere of the Burial God Mountains, yet seemingly from the same source.
“Let’s go take a look.” Kai, skilled and daring, took the lead and flew towards the source of the fluctuation.
After passing through a hill made of piled bones, the view suddenly opened up.
The dense fog had dispersed here
, creating an open space about a hundred feet in diameter. In the center of the open space stood a dilapidated black stone palace.
The stone palace was ancient and grotesque in style, with countless patterns of ghosts and demons carved on the walls. Many parts had collapsed, but from the remaining outlines, it was clear that this stone palace had once been extremely magnificent.
The chilling, deathly energy fluctuations emanated from the depths of the stone hall.
“This is… an ancient Ghost Clan sacrificial temple?”
A flicker of excitement crossed Ming Li’s eyes. “I’ve seen similar records in our clan’s ancient texts! In ancient times, the Ghost Clan was scattered throughout the heavens, establishing countless sacrificial temples to worship the Lord of the Underworld.
I never expected to see ruins here!”
Kai surveyed the stone hall, his brow furrowing slightly. “Be careful, there’s something inside.”
He sensed a powerful aura emanating from the depths of the stone hall, at least equivalent to a fourth-grade Upper Immortal, filled with violence and chaos.
The two concealed their auras and quietly entered the stone hall.
The interior space was much larger than it appeared from the outside, clearly the result of spatial expansion techniques.
The floor was covered with a thick layer of dust and bone fragments, and most of the murals on the walls were peeling and faded, but one could still vaguely discern scenes depicting Ghost Clan sacrifices, battles, and cultivation.
Deep within the hall, a ferocious statue ten zhang tall stood.
The statue, with three heads and six arms, a blue face and fangs, held a knife, sword, halberd, shield, rope, and seal in its six hands—the very image of the “Lord of the Underworld” worshipped by the Ghost Clan.
However, the statue was now broken; two of its three heads were missing, and four of its six arms were severed.
At the statue’s feet lay a monster.
Resembling a giant lizard, it was over five zhang long, covered in dark red scales, with three rows of sharp bone spikes growing from its back, and a massive bone hammer at the end of its tail.
Its head was dragon-like yet not quite, dripping corrosive saliva that eroded the ground, creating numerous pits.
Most bizarrely, this monster was surrounded by a dense aura of death and resentment, originating from the same source as the Burial God Mountain Range, yet far more refined and ferocious.