Chapter 1053: Undercurrent

Inside a mansion within the Heavenly Sword Dao Hall.

A black-robed powerhouse sat cross-legged, his form entirely shrouded in mist, within which poisonous insects flitted about. His eyes, formed by clusters of red insects, remained eerily calm. “A single encounter and one of my ‘Soul-Guiding Venomous Insects’ was obliterated? Such power—he must have mastered *Piercing the Firmament*! If both secret techniques of the Twelve Sacred Forms of the South Cloud have been mastered, then his clone technique must be complete as well. Troublesome indeed. With clones, he becomes an opponent who cannot be truly killed.”

Take Gongliang Yi, for example—a renowned figure of the South Cloud Sacred Sect, whose sword once dominated the land, earning him great merit. Yet, he had fallen twice, both times when the South Cloud Monarch failed to arrive in time to save him. But even in death, his clones allowed him to swiftly return to the battlefield.

“The Force Demon Insect is dead too? So quickly? Has he also mastered the *Red Cloud Combat Art*?” The black-robed powerhouse’s pupils contracted. The Force Demon Insect, named for its overwhelming strength, was one of his most formidable creations—a top-tier venomous insect, accounting for nearly a third of his elite forces. These creatures possessed bodies of unparalleled toughness, capable of withstanding attacks even from tenth-level Chaos Realm experts, while their own assaults were devastatingly fierce.

Yet the *Red Cloud Combat Art* was ruthlessly effective. Even formidable physiques or powerful treasures often proved insufficient against it.

“He doesn’t possess the *Red Cloud Combat Art* as an inherited technique. He must have comprehended it purely through his spear.” The black-robed powerhouse shook his head slightly.

“The Void Wyrm Insect is dead too—an illusion?”

The faint strands of consciousness he had attached to the three insects dissipated, though such losses meant little to him.

“Both secret techniques mastered, the *Red Cloud Combat Art* nearly fully comprehended, and an illusion technique at least at the eighth level of the Chaos Realm?” The black-robed powerhouse pondered silently. Against a mere venomous insect, Dongbo Xueying had no need to exert his full strength—an eighth-level illusion was enough to extinguish its consciousness.

“I’ve done enough. Losing three powerful venomous insects has nearly revealed all of Ying Shan Xueying’s capabilities. Now, it’s their turn to act.” The black-robed powerhouse remained composed. Though the losses stung slightly, replenishing them with additional resources would not be difficult.

With the enemy’s strengths laid bare, the next step was to exploit Dongbo Xueying’s weaknesses and devise an assassination plan.

An easy opponent could be dealt with openly, further boosting the Heavenly Sword Dao’s prestige. But Ying Shan Xueying was too troublesome—better to eliminate him in the shadows. With the Heavenly Sword Dao’s advance into the Black Fiend Four Nations backed by two ancient kingdoms, their preparations were thorough.

—

“Eliminate him covertly.”

“The only concern is his illusion technique. But given his short cultivation span and the South Cloud Sacred Sect’s lack of profound illusionary techniques, it’s unlikely to be formidable. Moreover, since Ying Shan Xueying’s birth, not a single tenth-level illusionary treasure has been sold in the Heart Realm’s open market. His illusions probably haven’t even reached the ninth level. If they had, that old fox the South Cloud Monarch would have long procured an illusionary treasure for his disciple.”

“To defeat Chang Su Wang, his illusions must be at least at the peak of the eighth level.”

The Heavenly Sword Dao’s experts began covertly discussing their plans.

Though the *Red Cloud Combat Art* and the *Twelve Sacred Forms of the South Cloud* were formidable, they held no fear. Even the Red Cloud Venerable had been slain in the past. As one of the Ten Great Sects, the Heavenly Sword Dao could certainly handle a tenth-level Chaos Realm expert if they focused their efforts.

The only headache was the illusion technique.

If it reached the tenth level… that would be truly terrifying! Under such illusions, survival depended solely on resistance—those who failed would perish.

Fortunately, tenth-level illusion techniques were priceless and never shared beyond their lineages. Ying Shan Xueying would never have access to one. Only through treasures could one hope to reach such heights, and no tenth-level illusionary treasures had been sold in billions of years. Thus, they remained at ease.

Had such a treasure been sold, they would have needed to investigate further. If Dongbo Xueying truly possessed tenth-level illusions, their entire invasion plan might have been abandoned outright!

A master of tenth-level illusions could sweep aside nearly ninety-nine percent of tenth-level Chaos Realm experts—each one a figure capable of striking fear into any faction. The Heavenly Sword Dao and the South Cloud Sacred Sect might have been forced back to the negotiating table.

“The plan is set. Five tenth-level Chaos Realm experts will join forces.”

“All have arrived and are ready to act.”

“Ying Shan Xueying is secluded in the South Cloud Sacred Hall. We’ll wait until he leaves to strike. The hall’s layered formations make it unfavorable terrain for us.”

The Heavenly Sword Dao was patient.

The five experts included one from the Myriad Realms Ancient Kingdom, two from the Fan Clan, and two from the Heavenly Sword Dao—all carefully selected for the assassination. Whether for the Fan Clan or the Myriad Realms Ancient Kingdom, elite warriors were abundant, many of whom practiced terrifying secret techniques.

Such was the advantage of powerful backing.

The higher one’s strength, the greater the advantage of an ancient kingdom. Their profound techniques allowed their Cosmic Gods to outmatch several from lesser nations. This was why many from the Six Ancient Kingdoms looked down upon the outer realms.

—

Within a quiet chamber of the South Cloud Sacred Hall, Dongbo Xueying sat in meditation.

“According to records, this insect should be called the Void Wyrm Insect.” Dongbo Xueying examined the faintly shimmering silver corpse floating before him. To study it, he had accessed the South Cloud Sacred Sect’s intelligence network for information on insect beasts. While cultivation methods for venomous insects were rare, basic records on them were easily obtained.

Among void-type insect beasts, there were thirty-nine documented varieties—the Void Wyrm Insect was just one.

“Fascinating.”

“It can manipulate the particles of the Dark Mist Sphere, achieving a level of void transformation comparable to my own.” Dongbo Xueying marveled inwardly. His void transformation likely surpassed even his senior brother Gongliang Yi and senior sister Ghost Li.

This was partly due to his mastery of the tenth-level South Cloud Divine Body and partly his profound research into void transformation. The *Walker’s Secret Treasury* specialized in void techniques, and the Nine Clouds Emperor’s four diagrams contained teachings leading to its pinnacle. He had even studied General Mogo’s scales, striving to grasp the “ultimate void transformation” while still in the Chaos Realm. Though he had yet to succeed, his comprehension was profound—when combined with the South Cloud Divine Body, his void techniques rivaled the Void Wyrm Insect’s.

“However, my path involves merging with the essence of the void, becoming one with it,” Dongbo Xueying mused. “I’ve never attempted to manipulate or control it.”

“Manipulation? Control?”

He pondered this new direction.

He intended to explore all facets of the void, for all paths ultimately converged. His goal was not merely to become a Cosmic God but to one day slay the Sacred Master. Whether for vengeance for his master, for the countless cultivators of the Chaos Void who had suffered, or even for himself—had it not been for the *Heart Realm Token*, he too would have perished by the Sacred Master’s hand.

The Sacred Master sought to control all life, an ambition intolerable to any cultivator pursuing transcendence.

To live without autonomy, where even the Sacred Master’s command could turn one against their closest kin—Dongbo Xueying saw such an existence as little better than death.

For his own sake, the Sacred Master would doom all cultivators.

Many sought his demise, yet he remained the strongest in the Chaos Void.

“My arrival in the Heart Realm is an opportunity. I must advance steadily, step by step.” Dongbo Xueying pushed aside such thoughts. The Sacred Master’s power was beyond his current reach.

—

After half a month of studying the Void Wyrm Insect’s corpse, Dongbo Xueying had gained many insights.

“Not enough. A single Void Wyrm Insect isn’t sufficient.”

Feeling his understanding of the void’s essence deepen, he placed an order through the South Cloud Sacred Sect to a Fan Clan branch in the capital of the Firelight Nation.

“I require the corpses of the other thirty-eight void-type insect beasts, excluding the Void Wyrm Insect. One of each, all at the Chaos Realm’s peak.”

The Fan Clan—a faction with deeper reserves than even the Moonflower and Mighty Heaven Ancient Kingdoms—was divided into numerous factions, with countless agents. Some aided the Heavenly Sword Dao, extorting vast benefits from them. Others maintained ties with the South Cloud Monarch. There were assassins, merchants, and more. Even if one made enemies within the Fan Clan, alliances with other members were still possible.

After all, in a forest so vast, every kind of “bird” could be found.

The Fan Clan’s forest was immense, teeming with experts and factions far outnumbering even the Black Fiend Abyss’s forces. Were it not for the Abyss’s unique environment shielding its three cult leaders, the Fan Clan’s pursuit would have been far more relentless.

“Brother Xueying, I’ve inquired—the Fan Clan’s branch here lacks void-type Chaos Realm insect corpses. Such requests are rare here. They’ll need to be transported from the Summerflame Ancient Kingdom, requiring half a day. Thirty-eight peak Chaos Realm void-type insect corpses, one of each, will cost 130 million universe crystals.” Marquis Qu Ming transmitted.

“Agreed.” Dongbo Xueying nodded.

Trading insect corpses was common—many insects advanced by consuming others’ remains, making such transactions frequent.

Living peak Chaos Realm venomous insects were exorbitantly priced, while dead ones were far cheaper. Yet even so, thirty-eight corpses at 130 million crystals underscored the staggering resources required for the insect beast path.

Half a day later, Marquis Qu Ming arrived with a Fan Clan steward, delivering a pale green bottle.

“Lord Xueying.” The steward respectfully presented it.

Dongbo Xueying uncorked the bottle, sensing the thirty-eight distinct insect corpses within, all at the peak of the Chaos Realm. The Fan Clan’s reputation left no room for doubt.