The Qinling Mountains.
The training ground.
Thick rolling mist drifted across the field, carrying the faint, metallic tang of blood.
Outside the training ground stood Tantai Xuan, the many generals of Great Xuan, Mo Beike, Mo Ju, and others, all staring intently into the churning fog.
Eight jade talismans hovered in the air, sustaining the formation.
The sharp clank of armor rang out as a squad of Xuanwu Guards marched forward in perfect formation, fully armed.
From within the array, a figure emerged, dragging bloodstained shrouds behind him. Each wrapped corpse left long streaks of red across the ground.
The breathing of those watching from outside grew heavier in an instant.
Tantai Xuan clenched his fists tightly.
Mo Ju let out a soft sigh, while the heavy bags under Mo Beike’s eyes trembled faintly.
It was Jiang Li.
He looked utterly exhausted. His silver armor was dented and scarred, with a massive gash torn across one shoulder.
He had personally dragged the shrouds, bringing out the bodies of the Xuanwu Guards who had fallen in the blood-colored battlefield.
“Your Majesty…”
Jiang Li’s face was smeared with blood and grime. He looked at Tantai Xuan and spoke in a hoarse voice.
His heart was heavy. He had felt the overwhelming power of the enemy—that towering man fused into the blood-colored battlefield, so terrifying that it crushed any thought of resistance.
What kind of monster was that?
For a fleeting moment, Jiang Li had almost lost all hope.
But as the commander, he quickly steadied himself, rallied his troops, and reignited their morale.
Still, the appearance of that giant had dealt a heavy blow to the Xuanwu Guards’ spirits.
Casualties had risen sharply.
Jiang Li brought the bodies out but said nothing more. He turned to the fresh squad of Xuanwu Guards, his eyes glinting with sharp determination.
“Are you afraid of death?”
The guards looked at the shrouded remains of their fallen comrades. Their faces paled for a moment, but soon their eyes burned with fierce resolve.
“No fear!”
One by one, they roared.
In the distance, students from the Great Xuan Academy also stepped forward, requesting to join the fight. For those at the Body Concealment Realm, entering the battlefield and being baptized in blood might bring unexpected breakthroughs.
Jiang Li did not refuse. Leading the new squad, he stepped into the formation once more.
The mist surged, swallowing Jiang Li and the group of Xuanwu Guards marching toward almost certain death.
Tantai Xuan’s lips trembled faintly.
Watching the shrouds wrapped around his guards, an inexplicable tremor ran through his heart.
“Your Majesty…”
Mo Beike glanced at Tantai Xuan and sighed.
“I know,” Tantai Xuan said quietly. “War always claims lives.”
“But now… I truly understand just how weak we still are.”
He let out a long breath.
“Time. We need time. If we had enough time to grow and strengthen ourselves, we wouldn’t be struggling this badly.”
His words weighed heavily on everyone gathered around the training ground.
The collapse of the ancient cultivation civilization had filled them all with unparalleled dread.
If they failed to withstand the pressure, the tragedy of the ancients might repeat itself on them.
…
On the Xiliang side, the atmosphere was equally grim.
The Overlord watched as body after body was carried out, demonic energy roiling around him.
Yet the Xiang Clan Army showed no fear. They charged fearlessly into the passage once more, throwing themselves into the slaughter of the blood-colored battlefield.
Xu Chu’s eyes were bloodshot as he watched his soldiers die one after another.
The shrouds were soaked through with dried blood.
The Overlord left. He entered the Nine Hells Secret Realm, carrying a chest full of rage, determined to break through his limits.
He wanted to become stronger—strong enough to turn the tide of this war.
Xie Yunling returned to Heavenly Swing Mountain.
He had learned that Li Three Years had entered the blood-colored battlefield—Li Three Thoughts had told him personally.
In that moment, Xie Yunling’s body shuddered as if he might faint.
To him, Li Three Years was like a daughter.
Entering such a deadly place, a nine-deaths-and-one-life situation, filled Xie Yunling with terror.
He regretted his decision to replicate Lu Shaozhu’s jade talisman.
He had personally sent Li Three Years into a battlefield of death.
In Xiliang, Xie Yunling had watched as one Xiang soldier after another was dragged out wrapped in shrouds.
He was truly afraid that one day he would see Li Three Years’ body among them.
Xie Yunling returned to Heavenly Swing Mountain and sat dazed on Stargazing Peak for an entire day.
Gazing at the starry sky, he had to admit—he was old.
All he hoped was that Li Three Years, Li Three Thoughts, and the other children could grow up safe and sound.
But one day later.
More white hairs appeared on his head. He returned to the bamboo tower and began replicating the jade talisman array once more.
In Nanjun.
Tang Xiansheng, back bent with age, personally climbed Heavenly Swing Mountain.
He arrived at the door of Xie Yunling’s bamboo tower.
The white-haired Xie Yunling, who seemed to have aged ten years, stepped out. The two old men looked at each other in silence.
Tang Xiansheng had come to request the array.
This was a calamity for the entire world—Nanjun could not afford to stand aside.
Xie Yunling did not refuse. He handed over one set of the jade talisman array and summoned every Body Concealment Realm disciple of the Dao Pavilion.
He ordered them to follow Tang Xiansheng into the blood-colored battlefield.
When Tang Xiansheng heard the order, he was stunned.
Xie Yunling’s decision was bold to the extreme.
If all the Dao Pavilion disciples died in the blood-colored battlefield, the Dao Pavilion would be finished!
Yet Xie Yunling merely waved his hand and said nothing.
“The chaos of the age has begun. No one can remain untouched.”
“If they cannot grow stronger, in the future they will only face death. Rather than waiting slowly for the end, it is better to fight for that slim chance of survival. If they can break through on the battlefield, their odds of living grow greater.”
Tang Xiansheng cupped his hands in respect, then took the array and departed.
The Dao Pavilion disciples bid farewell to Xie Yunling and descended the mountain.
In an instant, Heavenly Swing Mountain felt empty and desolate.
On Stargazing Peak, the first light of dawn bathed the white-haired Xie Yunling.
He sat silently atop the peak, watching his disciples descend.
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Quietly awaiting their return.
The other set of jade talisman arrays was sent to Dongyang Commandery.
The Nascent Soul Realm elders of the Four Great Sacred Grounds received it.
Having survived the apocalyptic calamity, they did not hesitate. They activated the array and sent their Foundation Establishment disciples into it.
Outside the Nine Hells Secret Realm.
Bai Qingniao arrived, holding her five little chicks, her expression serious and resolute as she stepped through the prison gate.
She had learned Jiang Li entered the blood-colored battlefield and had rushed to the Qinling Mountains, just in time to see him walk out covered in blood, dragging shrouds behind him.
The sight struck her heart like a hammer.
She wanted to enter the battlefield, but she could not. Though her personal combat strength was not strong, she had reached the Third Transformation of the Nine Phoenix Change and did not qualify.
So she chose to enter the Nine Hells Secret Realm to become stronger.
Third Prison Gate: Song Emperor City.
Kong Nanfei finally reached this city. His Confucian robe was disheveled, and beside him, Mo Tianyu lounged with his chest bared, a faint smile on his face.
“You’re really going?”
Mo Tianyu held three copper coins in his hand and glanced at Kong Nanfei.
Kong Nanfei took a swig from his gourd. His stubble was even stained with wine.
“That kid Haoran entered the blood-colored battlefield. His life or death is unknown. As his master, I failed him—I couldn’t give him a safe place to cultivate.”
“So I have to become stronger.”
Kong Nanfei drank again. The stench of alcohol clung to him.
Mo Tianyu chuckled. “Everyone wants to be stronger, but you… you’re a little crazy.”
“Crazy? How else do you get stronger? The Master dared to resist Body Concealment with a mortal body—why shouldn’t I, Kong Nanfei, challenge the lord of the undead city with my Golden Core cultivation?”
Kong Nanfei laughed freely.
He sighed. “The world is changing too fast. A blade hangs over our heads from beyond the sky, ready to fall and cut us to pieces at any moment. The time left for us to grow stronger is running out.”
Mo Tianyu fell silent.
He knew all too well about the three continents beyond the sky and the evil beings watching them hungrily.
“Old Mo, I’m going.”
Kong Nanfei took a deep swig, tucked the gourd at his waist, and rose, his Confucian robe fluttering, full of heroic spirit.
After a long moment, he turned back, brows furrowed.
“Old Mo, give me a divination anyway—so I have some peace of mind.”
Mo Tianyu laughed helplessly.
In the end, Kong Nanfei threw his head back and roared with laughter. With the auspicious hexagram Mo Tianyu gave him and righteous qi surging, he charged toward Song Emperor City.
On the city tower, the Yin Messenger erupted with aura.
Kong Nanfei recited poetry and classics aloud. Righteous qi rolled across the sky.
His Golden Core Seven Revolutions cultivation was fully revealed.
He cursed loudly, hurling insults at the lord of the undead city—the Song Emperor.
His voice echoed through the entire city.
Many cultivators turned to look.
Feng Yilou, Xiao Yue’er, and other cultivators from the Tianyuan Domain stared in astonishment at the mad Kong Nanfei.
Nie Changqing, Jing Yue, and others opened their eyes, frowning as they watched Kong Nanfei wrapped in righteous qi, laughing and cursing atop the city wall.
BOOM!
A terrifying pressure descended.
Within Song Emperor City.
A throne hung high. A colossal figure emerged, wrapped in an aura of dread—the lord of the undead city, the Song Emperor.
Kong Nanfei roared. Righteous qi surged, condensing into a righteous sword that slashed toward the Song Emperor.
He was provoking himself, breaking his limits.
The Song Emperor watched coldly. Then he let out an angry shout.
Kong Nanfei’s righteous sword shattered instantly.
The terrifying pressure seemed intent on crushing him to death.
Blood streamed from his seven orifices, yet Kong Nanfei laughed wildly. Enduring the pressure, his Golden Core advanced another revolution—to Eight Revolutions.
Outside the city.
Mo Tianyu’s hair floated like dandelion seeds. His face was pale.
Using Reverse Fate Intent, he forcibly pulled Kong Nanfei from the Song Emperor’s grasp—at great cost.
Mo Tianyu shot forward, grabbed Kong Nanfei as he flew backward out of the city, and ran.
Kong Nanfei’s act of challenging the undead city lord and breaking through seemed to open a new door for many cultivators.
The next day.
Song Emperor City.
The Overlord swung Qi Axe furiously, challenging the Song Emperor.
The result was, of course, disastrous. The Overlord nearly died, but with Unyielding Intent protecting him, not only did he survive—his cultivation even advanced slightly.
Afterward.
Nie Changqing, Feng Yilou, and others followed suit, each challenging the Song Emperor in turn.
The Nine Hells Secret Realm descended into chaos.
The atmosphere of cultivation grew increasingly tense.
And it wasn’t just the Nine Hells—across the entire world, the tension was rising. Everyone was desperately pushing themselves to break through.
It was as if a great wheel had begun to turn, grinding forward with deafening noise, forcing everyone to grow stronger, to keep moving forward.
…
BOOM!
With the sound of a piece landing on the board, a massive wave exploded outward, as if a tsunami had swept across the sky.
The sea sank inward, as though pressed down by an invisible giant bowl.
Moments later, the surrounding water rushed back in with furious force, sending towering white waves crashing.
Lu sat atop the White Jade Pavilion, white robes fluttering.
The Spirit Pressure Chessboard floated before him, glowing softly.
Leaning against the Thousand Blade Chair, Lu wore a faint, almost mocking smile.
A thunderous sound.
Tu Lang’s figure shot out from the depths of the vast sea. Blood boiled across his body, distorting the air around him.
“You…”
Tu Lang was somewhat stunned.
The irritation he felt from being repeatedly provoked by Du Longyang, Zhu Long, and others had gradually faded.
He looked at Lu—this white-robed youth in a wheelchair, with the Covering Heaven Sword hovering beside him, looking calm and serene.
He seemed different from those natives who struck once and fled.
All around, golden beams of qi and blood pierced the void, sealing the surroundings.
This time, Tu Lang had struck with full force, expecting the youth to flee like the others after landing a hit.
But now… it seemed the youth had no intention of running.
Tu Lang hovered in the air. His burly body erupted with powerful energy.
Above his head, the “Lin” (Proximity) Formation Word radiated strange fluctuations.
Tu Lang cracked his neck. The earlier attacks from Du Longyang and the others hadn’t really affected him.
But this youth had actually driven him into the depths of the sea.
“It must have been because I underestimated him.”
Tu Lang thought to himself.
Hum…
His divine sense surged outward in a radial wave, sweeping over Lu’s body.
The next moment, Tu Lang froze.
His divine sense felt as though it had brushed across nothingness and chaos.
“Qi Condensation Realm?”
Tu Lang almost thought he had sensed wrong.
Qi Condensation?
This white-robed youth was only at Qi Condensation?
But Tu Lang remained wary. He refused to believe it.
Who had ever seen a Qi Condensation cultivator remain so calm and composed in front of a Spirit Severing Realm expert? Who could leisurely roll up their sleeves and play chess with such ease?
He narrowed his eyes at Lu.
Suddenly, Tu Lang laughed.
On second thought—this was only a newly ascended top-tier medium martial world. What kind of powerhouse could it possibly produce?
Du Longyang and the others at early Spirit Severing had already surprised him.
This youth couldn’t possibly be too strong.
“Trying to act mysterious!”
“Hand over that sword, and I’ll spare your life!”
Tu Lang barked.
He took a step forward.
The raging sea instantly calmed. His Golden Body activated. Golden light blazed for ten thousand feet. He looked like an ancient god or demon, his aura growing ever more imposing.
“ROAR!”
Tu Lang opened his mouth and bellowed.
The roar turned into a shockwave, triggering a colossal tsunami. Walls of water dozens of meters high surged toward the island carried by the giant whale.
On the White Jade Pavilion, the Origin Lake hovered calmly.
Lu frowned.
His slender fingers held a chess piece.
“You’re still yelling?”
Lu placed the piece on the board—stacking it atop another.
The spirit pressure doubled instantly.
BOOM!
The giant wave exploded into mist.
Tu Lang, with his Golden Body active, suddenly felt an overwhelming force slam into him again—as if an entire continent had smashed into his face.
Blood burst from his sturdy golden cheeks. Shattered teeth flew.
BANG!
Even his Golden Body was beginning to falter. Qi and blood churned violently beneath his skin. Golden veins bulged.
He stood on the sea surface, legs bent, blood streaming down his face, as though he were shouldering the sky.
What terrifying power!
Tu Lang’s heart jolted.
“I remember you insulted me before.”
Suddenly.
The calm voice of the white-robed youth rang in Tu Lang’s ear.
Tu Lang’s pupils shrank.
He turned his head—and saw the youth, somehow already beside him in his wheelchair, silent as a ghost.
Lu looked at Tu Lang and spoke earnestly.
“Everyone who insulted me in the past is dead. They died very peacefully.”
“Don’t be afraid. I’ve grown more magnanimous now. I forgive you. You don’t have to die.”
Lu continued.
“I’ll build you an ice tower, find you a companion, and you can live happily and peacefully inside.”
Tu Lang was completely dumbfounded.
Happy and peaceful, my ass!
With a furious roar, Tu Lang’s Golden Body swelled. His Spirit Severing aura erupted to its peak.
He transformed into a streak of golden light, flashing past and launching three punches from below.
Each punch carried unmatched force.
They arrived before Lu.
“To hell with your ice tower—keep it as your own tomb!”
Tu Lang roared.
Terrifying fist light smashed toward Lu’s face.
The punch seemed to shatter the air itself, black cracks spreading outward.
At this moment, Tu Lang understood: to obtain the Covering Heaven Sword, he had to kill this white-robed youth.
BOOM!
A deafening sound.
Tu Lang’s heart lurched.
His full-power punch with ten-tenths Golden Body strength… had been blocked.
Eight Phoenix Plume Swords stacked in front of Lu, forming a shield.
Tu Lang’s punch landed on them without raising even a ripple.
Behind the Phoenix Plume Swords.
Lu’s white robes fluttered. Leaning against the Thousand Blade Chair, he gently rubbed his thumb ring.
His gaze fell on Tu Lang, growing colder and colder.
Tu Lang took a deep breath.
This youth… was unfathomable!
He was Spirit Severing Realm. Even suppressed by the world’s protective force, a full-strength punch from his Golden Body should be enough to crush any ordinary Spirit Severing cultivator.
Yet the youth blocked it effortlessly, completely unharmed…
Could the youth be above Spirit Severing?
Above Spirit Severing? Impossible!
How could a newly ascended top-tier medium martial world possibly produce an Out-of-Body Realm monster above Spirit Severing?
Suddenly.
Tu Lang thought of Fu Tianluo.
Fu Tianluo’s strength was considerable, yet there had been no word from him.
Could he have met disaster?
Suppressed by this youth?
This world was indeed strange!
A chill suddenly crept up from Tu Lang’s feet.
He began to regret stepping into this world.
Fortunately, even if he died, his three souls and seven spirits could return, and the Six Jia Array Sect would forge him a new body.
Lu looked at Tu Lang.
His gaze was cold.
“Don’t bully me just because I have a good temper.”
As the words fell.
Lu flicked his finger on the wheelchair armrest.
The Phoenix Plume Swords stacked and merged into one. Eight swords became one, as if a fire phoenix cried out, its screech tearing through the void.
A single sword struck.
Tu Lang felt his whole body turn ice-cold.
“Sacred-grade artifact?!”
Shock and fear filled Tu Lang’s cry.
This youth actually possessed a Sacred-grade artifact!
No wonder he could block the attacks!
What the hell kind of place was this!
Tu Lang pushed his Golden Body to the limit. He lacked a half-sacred artifact like Fu Tianluo, but his own flesh was his strongest weapon.
He raised both arms to block.
But—
SHHHK!
A crisp sound.
The Phoenix Plume Sword slashed down.
Tu Lang felt his proud Golden Body… cleaved cleanly in two.
Pale golden blood sprayed across the sky.
He felt his body collapsing. His eyes widened, staring at Lu.
Lu’s white robes were pristine. On his cold face was a trace of stubbornness and grievance.
Being too kind always gets you bullied.
“Indeed… it’s much more comfortable to just cut them down.”
Lu murmured.
The moment Tu Lang’s Golden Body shattered.
The “Lin” Formation Word above his head began to tremble violently, emitting a wail.
Carrying Tu Lang’s three souls and seven spirits, it shot toward the sky at extreme speed.
…
Outside the Five Phoenix Continent.
Mist shrouded everything.
Wu Xing and the Giant sat cross-legged in the void.
The Giant formed hand seals, manipulating eighteen stone tablets to form an array that continuously ground away at the Covering Heaven Formation.
Suddenly.
The Giant opened his eyes.
“It’s back.”
Wu Xing opened his eyes as well, sharp light flashing within them.
Below.
The mist enveloping the Five Phoenix Continent parted to either side.
A streak of golden light burst forth.
The “Lin” Formation Word transformed into a golden bolt of lightning, streaking out, carrying a blurry soul.
The Giant and Wu Xing froze.
“Save me!!!”
Suddenly.
A shrill, desperate scream erupted from the soul carried by the “Lin” Formation Word.
But the scream had barely sounded.
The vast mist of the Covering Heaven Formation surged, forming a gigantic hand.
It reached out abruptly.
Seizing both the soul and the “Lin” Formation Word in an iron grip.
And dragged them back inside.
Wu Xing felt his scalp go numb. He stood up, pupils contracting.
On the other side.
After a moment of stunned silence, the Giant’s face twisted in rage.
“Damn it!”
“Thief! Return my ‘Lin’ Formation Word!”
