The prisoners of Hunyuan are subjected to relentless torment and punishment, with occasional intensifications. Over time… those who endure the suffering are forced to “patrol”! Refusing to patrol would only invite even more horrific agony.
Only when they patrol do cultivators have the opportunity to slay them.
In their lairs, the Hunyuan prisoners are far too powerful—utterly unkillable. But when they patrol, leaving their nests, the farther they venture, the more their strength wanes.
“Today, the master of the Silent Ice Mountain is patrolling?” Dongbo Xueying’s eyes gleamed as he urged, “There’s no time to waste. Let’s move at once.”
“Brother Feixue, how is your current strength? How long can you maintain your peak condition?” the Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor pressed. “Though we don’t expect you to fight to the death, you’ll likely be the primary target of the Hunyuan prisoner, the master of the Silent Ice Mountain, when it comes to killing. I need to know your capabilities to make proper arrangements.”
“I can sustain my peak state for nearly half an hour,” Dongbo Xueying replied.
Hearing this, the Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor visibly relaxed.
Half an hour was more than enough!
From what he knew before, Dongbo Xueying could only maintain his peak physical form for a short time, making the task of protecting Emperor Feixue far more daunting. Now, things were much easier. Half an hour was ample time to accomplish a great deal.
“Truly impressive. In just three hundred billion years, Brother Feixue has made such tremendous progress,” the Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor remarked.
“Though I’ve yet to become a semi-Hunyuan lifeform,” Dongbo Xueying added.
“Such words would only stir envy among the late-stage Divine Emperors and Dao-seekers,” the Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor laughed. Dongbo Xueying himself knew his cultivation speed was indeed astonishingly fast—partly due to his formidable soul, which accelerated his comprehension, and partly because his soul’s advancement nourished his physical body, allowing him to clearly discern the path of bodily refinement.
Knowing the direction made his progress swift.
…
That same day.
Within the Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor’s abode.
“Everyone,” the Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor stood beside Wu Xiao and Dongbo Xueying, sweeping his gaze across the assembled cultivators in the hall.
Those gathered here were no ordinary figures.
Nearly half were top-tier experts! The rest, though only at the Divine Emperor Perfection level of combat prowess, excelled in specialized fields.
“Our team consists of fifty-six members, gathering the most skilled experts from across Redcloud City in various disciplines,” the Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor declared. “I deeply appreciate your willingness to aid me, Nine-Heads. Should we succeed, all my promises shall be fulfilled. And if I achieve the Ultimate Awakening, ascending to Hunyuan, I shall not forget your contributions.”
“Brother Nine-Heads, you’ve always supported us. This time, we’ll give our all.”
“With so many elites, including Emperor Feixue and City Lord Wu Xiao, those Hunyuan lifeforms won’t stand a chance. The master of the Silent Ice Mountain is doomed.”
Several Divine Emperor Perfection cultivators voiced their enthusiasm, while the top-tier experts remained more reserved.
The Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor’s charisma was undeniable. He smiled and nodded. “Indeed, with Brother Feixue and Wu Xiao here, my confidence is bolstered.”
Dongbo Xueying and Wu Xiao exchanged faint smiles.
They both understood that despite the Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor’s modesty, he and Fengyun Yiyi were the most formidable in combat. Wu Xiao, though equally powerful, relied more on raw physical strength.
“Is everyone prepared?” The Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor scanned the group. Seeing no objections, he commanded, “Then let us depart—now!”
With that, the fifty-six cultivators soared out of the Nine-Headed City Lord’s abode.
Dongbo Xueying noticed Liexi Emperor among the group and sent a mental message, “I didn’t expect Liexi Emperor to join. He wasn’t on the initial list you provided.”
“At first, I hesitated when Nine-Heads invited me. But since I’ve made a pact with Emperor Feixue, I must contribute more,” Liexi Emperor replied. Though strong, he was merely average among top-tier experts and had no claim to the Hunyuan prisoner’s corpse. Previously, he had no incentive to participate.
But now, with Dongbo Xueying set to obtain the remains, Liexi Emperor was eager to assist.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh…
They swiftly crossed the city walls, flying into the vast wilderness.
…
“They’ve set off.”
“Hunting a Hunyuan prisoner—and one as troublesome as the master of the Silent Ice Mountain.”
From their abodes in Redcloud City, many powerful figures watched the distant silhouettes of the departing team.
This expedition included two deputy city lords and Emperor Feixue, assembling an elite force rarely seen in the city’s history.
“Do you think they’ll succeed?”
“Without Emperor Feixue, their chances would be one or two in ten. With him, it’s at least fifty-fifty.”
“It’s been too long since a Hunyuan prisoner was slain.”
Discussions buzzed throughout the city.
Meanwhile, Fengyun Yiyi sat quietly in his garden, gazing at the departing team.
“Nine-Heads is off to hunt a Hunyuan prisoner,” he murmured, shaking his head. “A pity that such a rare friend has chosen the path of Ultimate Awakening.”
He understood his friend’s plight.
Breaking through by sheer force? Nearly impossible.
Mastering a source world? None could aid Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor in reincarnation.
Even the simplest path—Ultimate Awakening—had trapped countless Divine Emperor Perfection cultivators at the bottleneck.
“May he succeed,” Fengyun Yiyi whispered. “At least fortune favors him with Emperor Feixue’s aid. The master of the Silent Ice Mountain may yet fall.”
…
Beyond the city walls.
“Hum.”
Invisible to the naked eye, countless microscopic machines emerged from Wu Xiao’s skin—each smaller than a particle within an ordinary cultivator’s body. They scattered in all directions, innumerable yet indestructible. Even a Divine Emperor Perfection expert would struggle to destroy a single one.
These machines employed diverse detection methods, cross-verifying data to ensure no escape.
In large-scale reconnaissance, Wu Xiao was Redcloud City’s undisputed master.
“Tsk—tsk—tsk.” Another cultivator, his massive singular eye brimming with mysteries, scanned the surroundings with ease.
…
Alongside Wu Xiao, two other scouts deployed their unique techniques.
Layers of domains descended.
The entire team vanished, advancing stealthily through the wilderness.
“Here is the master of the Silent Ice Mountain’s current location, along with the approximate distribution of nearby Hunyuan lifeform tribes we’ve identified,” the Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor transmitted via communication treasures. “Our initial route follows this first path.”
“Agreed.”
“Estimated arrival: two days.”
Dongbo Xueying and the others approved of the Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor’s meticulous preparations.
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