The black-robed master of the demonic forces gnashed his teeth, his gaze icy. Seeing the anxious demeanor of the Flame Marquis’s avatar, he knew that if they succeeded in killing that little brat Dongbo Xueying, the Flame Marquis would surely go mad with rage.
“To silently neutralize the venom… Is the expert protecting Dongbo Xueying truly powerful, or did they just happen to counter this poison?” Countless thoughts flashed through the black-robed master’s mind. “No matter. Proceed as planned.”
“Ah Da, strike.”
“Yes.”
The black-robed master issued the command without a sound.
His cold eyes watched from afar. Though he had sent Zhe Qu Yong to assassinate, he had never placed all his hopes on him. He himself had prepared the final killing blow.
“Let me see who exactly is protecting him in the shadows,” the black-robed master sneered inwardly. “In all of Flame City, with the Flame Marquis’s true body too far to intervene, who can stop my demonic servant?”
—
Meanwhile, aboard the carriage in midair, Dongbo Liehu trembled in panic, while Tian Yizhi, who had retreated to the side, urgently transmitted a message to Dongbo Xueying: “Young master, this venom is deadly. If the hidden guards fail to stop it, I will immediately store you in a pocket dimension for escape. We must hold out until the expert summoned by the Matriarch arrives. Do not resist—”
Even as he spoke, Tian Yizhi suddenly froze, staring in shock at the distance.
He wasn’t the only one.
Many of the hidden guards and protectors present had long steeled themselves for a desperate battle to defend their young master. Though they had loved ones they cared for, and though none truly wished to face death, they had chosen to serve the Flame Marquis. In exchange for resources and protection during peaceful times, they knew they had to stand firm when danger came. Those who fled would face the wrath of the Ying Shan Clan.
The atmosphere grew tense, almost desperate, as they watched the pale-green venomous soundwaves surge from the black flute.
“Come then!”
“Fight to the death!”
“My dear daughter, I won’t be able to accompany you anymore…” The hidden guards continued battling Nian Jiu the Demon while keeping an eye on the venom—only to see it suddenly appear beside Zhe Qu Yong, killing him instantly.
“This… this…”
“How…?”
Relief and disbelief warred among them.
Even the Flame Marquis’s avatar was stunned. The subtle spatial distortion Dongbo Xueying had manipulated was confined to the venom’s path, leaving the avatar unaware of the true cause.
“Hahaha! My son, there’s another expert protecting you in secret! Our Ying Shan Clan truly has no shortage of powerhouses!” Dongbo Liehu laughed in delight.
“Yes, a mysterious master!” Tian Yizhi exclaimed excitedly.
“We still have reinforcements!” The morale of all the hidden guards and protectors soared.
Dongbo Xueying sat there, feigning surprise. “Such a formidable expert! I wonder who it is.”
He had no choice.
A mere five million years old, yet displaying strength at the Eighth Level of the Divine Palace? Even his domain techniques alone were at that level—far beyond what could be called “genius.” If exposed, Dongbo Xueying feared attracting the attention of terrifying old monsters across the Heart Realm Continent. After all, he suspected he wasn’t the only one who had “reincarnated.”
Caution was necessary.
The spatial distortion technique was like bending a straight street to connect with another. The venom, traveling along this altered path, was redirected elsewhere.
Similarly, the surrounding void was twisted and rearranged by Dongbo Xueying’s will. Movement in one direction now led to another. It resembled teleportation but was fundamentally different—teleportation relied on spatial fluctuations, while this altered the very structure of space itself. This technique was profound, and even at its nascent stage, it was a move befitting the Chaos Realm.
Of course, this was only possible due to his deep foundation in the Rules-Oblivion system, his mastery of the Void Path at the Chaos Realm, and his keen insight. Others, even those who reached the Chaos Realm through bloodline cultivation, would find it nearly impossible to comprehend such a technique from the fragmented spear shaft.
Yet Dongbo Xueying felt no pride—only admiration for the weapon’s original creator.
“What I’ve grasped is but the tip of the iceberg,” he mused. “And this spear shaft isn’t even complete. Who was its true wielder?”
—
Though his thoughts raced, time barely passed.
Amid the guards’ relief and the Flame Marquis’s joy, disaster struck again.
**BOOM!**
A nearby pavilion exploded as a humanoid figure shot forth like a streak of light. Previously undetectable, it now unleashed its full aura—instantly surpassing even the combined might of the hundred hidden guards and Nian Jiu the Demon.
It had reverse-jointed legs, long ape-like arms, scaly skin, and a single deep-green eye.
“Nian Jiu, join forces with my demonic servant and kill that Xueying brat. Upon success, I’ll pay the remaining twelve million cosmos crystals,” a voice transmitted to the demon.
“Hahaha!” Nian Jiu laughed wildly, now realizing the true mastermind behind Zhe Qu Yong.
“Rest assured, Palace Master!” Nian Jiu’s battle intent surged. As a notorious assassin of the Black Marsh, he recognized this greater demonic lord. Though their statuses differed vastly, Nian Jiu, with his clone techniques, feared little.
Meanwhile, the Flame Marquis’s avatar paled.
“Demonic Servant Chao Qing?!”
**BOOM!**
The demonic servant’s brute force surpassed even Nian Jiu’s. Together, they shattered the hidden guards’ formation in an instant, sending bodies flying. Neither pursued the scattered guards—their sole target was the young Xueying.
“Demonic Servant Chao Qing… How ruthless!” The Flame Marquis’s avatar charged madly.
“Scram!”
The demonic servant swiped its claw, tearing the void apart. The avatar shattered, its final expression one of fury, regret, and apology toward the defenseless Dongbo Xueying.
“Xueying… I have failed you,” the Flame Marquis lamented.
**WHOOSH!**
Chao Qing and Nian Jiu’s six clones lunged forward.
Dongbo Xueying sat calmly, spear in hand. “A demonic servant? From the records, this must be Chao Qing.”
The Heart Realm Continent’s puppet-crafting was advanced.
Chao Qing was a flesh-and-blood puppet, utterly loyal. Even if ordered to die, it would comply without hesitation. Among Chaos Realm puppets, it was a mass-produced, lower-tier model. Some mighty Cosmic Deities specialized in crafting and selling them.
Normally, Chao Qing wielded strength at the Sixth Level of the Divine Palace. By burning its essence, it could reach the Seventh Level—though this left it weakened, requiring rare treasures to recover. It could even self-destruct, multiplying its power severalfold.
But as a puppet, it lacked true comprehension of the Dao. Its strength lay in brute force. With Nian Jiu’s aid, it easily breached the guards’ defenses.
“Young master, flee! I’ll hold them off!” Tian Yizhi and his nine personal guards formed a battle formation.
“My son, run! I’ll fight them to the death!” Dongbo Liehu’s eyes blazed with fury.
Dongbo Xueying stared at his father in shock.
He had never held any affection for this man—yet now, he was genuinely taken aback.
What he didn’t know was Dongbo Liehu’s inner turmoil.
The second son of the Flame Marquis, born when his father was still weak, Dongbo Liehu had struggled to rise above his mediocre bloodline. After years of futile effort, he had given up, drowning in indulgence.
When the Flame Marquis arranged his marriage, he accepted without protest. Even as his wife, Chan Yu Yanzhen, gradually seized control of his resources, he turned a blind eye.
He cared for nothing but pleasure. Though he sired over three hundred children, he paid them little mind—except for the rare few with talent, whom he secretly hoped would achieve greatness.
For years, he had been scorned by noble scions for his weakness—a mere True God, barely more than a commoner without his father’s name.
Then came Dongbo Xueying.
Born with a brilliance that shook the world, earning the attention of the Flame Marquis and even the Matriarch.
Suddenly, respect followed Dongbo Liehu wherever he went. Though his son showed him no affection, even withholding cosmos crystals, he didn’t care.
“I, Dongbo Liehu, have a son named Dongbo Xueying! I can die—but he must not!” Madness filled his eyes.
Dongbo Xueying remained seated.
Watching Nian Jiu and Chao Qing close in like streaks of light, his gaze turned cold.
**BOOM—**
The void within a million miles twisted violently, a scene of apocalyptic upheaval. The distortion enveloped everyone present—including the demonic servant and Nian Jiu’s six clones.
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