Dongbo Xueying could sense that this team was clearly far more formidable than the one previously assembled by the Daoist Youya. After traveling for a full day, they were finally discovered by a group of Hunyuan lifeforms, marking their first battle since leaving Chiyun City.
In truth, this battle was the result of a deliberate decision by the Nine-Headed Snake Ancestor and the others. After discussion, they deemed that “detouring” wasn’t the best strategy—instead, they chose to crush their way forward head-on!
“Kill!”
The team clashed with a massive swarm of dark-feathered flying creatures. The Nine-Headed Snake Ancestor roared coldly as nine colossal serpent phantoms manifested behind him. Each serpent swayed, radiating a distinct power, and in an instant, the nine forces coalesced into a vast nine-colored domain, suppressing everything in all directions.
“Hahaha, let’s slaughter to our heart’s content!” Wu Xiao laughed heartily as his body transformed into a towering silver-white giant, three thousand meters tall. With a single outstretched hand, he effortlessly seized a Divine Emperor-level Hunyuan flying beast. The black avian struggled desperately to escape, but Wu Xiao’s palm descended with an eerie, overlapping force that bound it completely. The massive hand clenched, and the creature was swallowed into a black hole-like void at the center of his palm.
A Divine Emperor-level Hunyuan lifeform—captured alive in a single move! Such power made even Dongbo Xueying glance sideways in astonishment.
Among Chiyun City’s top-tier experts, some could slay a Divine Emperor-level Hunyuan lifeform one-on-one. But the three city lords were on another level entirely. Wu Xiao, the most physically terrifying of them, possessed fewer techniques than the other two lords, Fengyun Yiyi and the Nine-Headed Snake Ancestor, but his methods were far purer—his body alone was enough to rival them.
This effortless capture was proof of his might.
“Celestial River!” Emperor Liexi also unleashed his technique. A bizarre river materialized around them, its waters layered with eight illusory reflections, each existing in a different spatial dimension. Any Hunyuan lifeform that entered its range became disoriented, unable to locate allies or enemies.
The cultivators, however, could pick them off with ease.
…
Leaving aside the Nine-Headed Snake Ancestor and Wu Xiao, every other elite present had their own unique skills. Even ten or twenty Divine Emperor-level Hunyuan lifeforms would be manageable for any one of them—let alone when they fought together. Even the Divine Emperor-level warriors in the team had been chosen for their exceptional talents, making their coordination devastatingly effective.
This was a one-sided slaughter.
“Brother Feixue, you must refrain from using soul-based techniques on this journey,” the Nine-Headed Snake Ancestor transmitted mentally. “If the Lord of Silent Ice Mountain learns of your soul arts, he will likely flee immediately. I will inform you when the time is right.”
“Rest assured, Lord Nine-Headed,” Dongbo Xueying replied with a faint smile. “However, I did use soul techniques during my last expedition with Daoist Youya, as well as in several hunts outside the city. Could the Lord of Silent Ice Mountain have learned of them?”
“Don’t worry.”
The Nine-Headed Snake Ancestor’s voice brimmed with confidence. “In the Sacred Realm, the countless born-Hunyuan lifeforms are divided into numerous factions, and different factions rarely communicate. From our observations, they only act within their own kind. Minor skirmishes like these are insignificant to us—that’s why I asked you to conceal your soul techniques.”
“But remember, if we encounter the ‘Silent Annihilation Hounds,’ the Lord’s personal faction, be extra cautious. If we alert him prematurely, he may never give us another chance.”
“Understood.”
…
Their journey continued smoothly. With such overwhelming strength, as long as they avoided provoking major enemies, there was no real danger.
Torrential rain poured as massive fish leaped from the lake’s surface, attacking Dongbo Xueying and the others.
“Boom—”
Another battle erupted.
Dongbo Xueying wielded his spear with restrained force, while the Nine-Headed Snake Ancestor stayed close, ensuring he faced no real peril.
“Emperor Feixue?” A sudden transmission reached him through a communication treasure.
Dongbo Xueying diverted a sliver of his focus to respond.
“I am Xun Yi, deputy city lord of Tianwu City, contacting you through the artifact spirits of Tianwu Hall and Chiyun Hall.”
“City Lord Xun Yi?” Dongbo Xueying was surprised. “What brings you to me?”
Xun Yi was the only Void Path cultivator among the city lords and deputy lords across the Sacred Realm’s five gathering points.
“I heard you’ve joined forces with the Nine-Headed Snake Ancestor to target the Lord of Silent Ice Mountain?” Xun Yi’s voice carried amusement.
“Your intelligence network is impressive,” Dongbo Xueying replied. Given the communication between the five cities, it was no surprise Xun Yi knew.
“Forgive my bluntness, but the Nine-Headed Snake Ancestor covets the Lord’s heart and blood for his ultimate awakening. He’s attempted this multiple times, and the Lord is already on high alert. Among the three imprisoned Void Path Hunyuns, the Lord of Silent Ice Mountain is the strongest—and the most cautious.”
“His caution and power make your chances of success slim. Even with your transcendent soul techniques to clear his guards, I’d estimate your odds at less than half.”
Dongbo Xueying acknowledged the logic. The Lord of Silent Ice Mountain was indeed the most troublesome of the three.
“Emperor Feixue, as a Dao-seeker, any of the three Void Path prisoners’ corpses would serve your purpose. After this, I invite you to Tianwu City. I’ll assemble a team to target the ‘Golden River Lord’—a far easier prey. Once we succeed, you may study the corpse alongside me for a billion years before taking it entirely. What say you?”
Unlike Dongbo Xueying, who still needed accumulation, Xun Yi, already a semi-Hunyuan lifeform, sought only a breakthrough trigger. If ten billion years yielded nothing, the corpse would be useless to him.
“We’ll discuss it afterward,” Dongbo Xueying replied.
“One more thing—you’re the most vulnerable in this mission. If cornered, the Lord will prioritize killing you. Without you, his escape becomes trivial, and he might even counterattack. Dying in his desperation would be a waste.”
“Thank you for the warning.” Dongbo Xueying grew warier. Being forced to activate his escape mark would be a bitter outcome.
…
The Lord of Silent Ice Mountain’s patrol altered his position, forcing Dongbo Xueying’s team to adjust their route. After two and a half days, they arrived smoothly at their destination—a point along the Lord’s return path.
“We’ve cut off his retreat. If he wishes to return to his lair, he must face us,” the Nine-Headed Snake Ancestor declared, scanning the surroundings. “This is my best chance. I ask for your full support.”
“Of course.”
“Lord Nine-Headed, we’re with you to the end.”
The Nine-Headed Snake Ancestor nodded. “Good. Now, let’s close in on this Hunyuan prisoner.”
Whoosh!
The team advanced again.
Having circled ahead and outpacing the heavily burdened Lord, escape was impossible for their target.
…
Proceeding cautiously, the distance between them shrank.
But the Lord, having survived multiple assaults, was vigilant. The closer they got, the denser his scout network became.
“Intruders!”
“Kill them!”
Finally, Dongbo Xueying’s team was spotted by a pack of Silent Annihilation Hounds.
With such tight surveillance, exposure was inevitable.
“No more hiding!”
“Full speed ahead!”
The Nine-Headed Snake Ancestor and the others abandoned restraint, charging forward at maximum speed.
…
The Lord of Silent Ice Mountain, clad in dark gold robes with flowing hair, exuded majesty despite the shackles binding his wrists and ankles. Chains extended into the void, their golden runes flaring with torment.
“One day, we born-Hunyuan will repay the lords a thousandfold for this enslavement!” His heart seethed with hatred. Every high-level Hunyuan imprisoned in the Sacred Realm endured agony, reduced to whetstones for weak cultivators.
The despair, pain, and humiliation were unbearable.
Yet, the mere thought of those lords—weaklings who had ascended to the pinnacle of existence—filled him with dread. Their power was absolute, shielding vast realms and countless source worlds.
“They will die. Those weaklings, those worlds—they belong to us!”
“My Lord!”
“Intruders detected!”
“Lord, it’s the Nine-Headed Snake Ancestor!”
Reports flooded his mind.
The Lord’s expression darkened.
“Again?” His eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
…
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