The city of Tianshui now had its protective grand array fully activated, making it impossible for any living being inside to escape. This was far more formidable than the protective arrays of small nations like the Golden Wing Kingdom. It had been painstakingly crafted by Ancestor Tianyu himself—even a Chaos Realm expert would find it impossible to flee.
High in the sky.
The Lord of Tianshui Hall, clad in deep blue robes, stood side by side with the white-clad Dongbo Xueying, both hovering in the air.
“An assassination attempt?” The Lord of Tianshui Hall’s expression darkened. “You were targeted?”
“Yes, a highly skilled one. Fortunately, I had just broken through to the Unity Realm before this happened, or I might not have survived,” Dongbo Xueying replied solemnly. The assassin’s infiltration techniques were indeed extraordinary. It was only thanks to his newly reconstructed rule domain, modeled after the ‘Dark Bubble,’ that he had detected the enemy.
Had this happened before his breakthrough, relying solely on the rule domain constructed from the *Panbo Diagram*—which was only at the third level of the Star Tower—he might not have been able to sense the attacker at all.
If he hadn’t detected the enemy in time…
The assassin’s strike might have landed before he even realized it. With luck, he might have activated a life-saving treasure at the last moment. With bad luck, he could have been killed instantly!
“Who? Who dares to assassinate an Inner Hall Elder of our Voidsky Palace?” The Lord of Tianshui Hall glared down at the vast city below. “And in our very own Chaos City, no less!”
His gaze fixed on the location where the disturbance had occurred—the spot where Dongbo Xueying’s Dark Bubble had shattered.
*Whoosh—*
The surrounding scene began to reverse, as if time itself was flowing backward, revealing past events.
The Lord of Tianshui Hall saw the streets rewinding, the white-robed Dongbo Xueying reappearing, and the darkness enveloping the area once more. But then, the temporal reversal trembled violently before collapsing entirely.
“Unreadable?” The Lord of Tianshui Hall gritted his teeth. “How cautious. Even I can’t trace what happened.”
“Elder Dongbo, did you recognize him?” the Lord asked, though he already knew the answer was likely no.
“No. Among the Chaos Realm experts and even the Cosmic Gods I know, he doesn’t match anyone,” Dongbo Xueying replied. “He must have altered his appearance and aura.”
“A Cosmic God? Hah! Someone of that status wouldn’t stoop to ambushing you—far too disgraceful,” the Lord of Tianshui Hall scoffed. “It must be some bold Chaos Realm expert.”
This was an act that would enrage Voidsky Palace. Changing one’s appearance, form, and even aura was expected for such an assassination attempt.
“Return to Voidsky Palace immediately. I’ve already reported the incident. The Palace will investigate thoroughly—we won’t let this go unpunished!” the Lord declared. “Tracking methods go beyond mere appearance and aura. Whoever did this won’t escape so easily!”
“Understood.”
Dongbo Xueying nodded. Having just broken through to the Unity Realm, he had planned to return to Voidsky Palace anyway. This assassination attempt had also put him on high alert. *Who wants me dead?* He had no major enemies in the Five Great Sacred Worlds. His master, Gu Qi, had indeed stirred up trouble, but Dongbo Xueying had never revealed his connection to him.
…
Without delay, Dongbo Xueying departed from Tianshui City and returned to Voidsky Palace.
**Voidsky Hall.**
Ancestor Tianyu and the Swordmaster sat at the highest seats.
Below them, six Hall Masters were seated on either side, while the Inner Hall Elders stood in rows along the hall’s periphery—Dongbo Xueying among them.
“To dare assassinate an Inner Hall Elder of Voidsky Palace…” Ancestor Tianyu’s voice was icy. “Hall Master Wentian, we leave this to you.”
“Very well. Let’s see who has the audacity.”
One of the six Hall Masters rose—a man with silver hair and dark skin. This was Hall Master Wentian, a figure of unique status within Voidsky Palace. His abilities allowed him to effortlessly survey any location across the Five Great Sacred Worlds or the Chaos Void, should he so choose.
*Hum—*
Hall Master Wentian’s obsidian-black eyes fixed upon the void before him. A scene materialized—a street in Tianshui City, where Dongbo Xueying had been leisurely walking before the ambush struck.
Within a thousand-mile radius, everything fell into eerie stillness.
Countless people froze in place—only Dongbo Xueying and his assailant could move.
“Hmm?” Ancestor Tianyu, the Swordmaster, the Hall Masters, and the Inner Hall Elders all showed surprise. *What a formidable rule domain!*
Dongbo Xueying, however, was awed. Hall Master Wentian truly was extraordinary. The assassin had clearly scrambled time and space, making it impossible for even the Lord of Tianshui Hall to investigate. Yet Hall Master Wentian could effortlessly reconstruct the scene.
“This short, stout man doesn’t match any known expert. He must have altered his appearance and aura,” Hall Master Wentian said coldly. “But his techniques during the attack may reveal his identity.”
“He would likely be cautious, using moves he’s never revealed before,” another Hall Master remarked.
Across the Five Great Sacred Worlds, experts’ techniques varied widely.
Based on the methods employed, it was usually possible to narrow down the perpetrator’s identity.
“Eh?”
The expressions of everyone present shifted.
In the void-projected scene, Dongbo Xueying’s body radiated a protective golden light as a dark world manifested and rapidly shrank into a Dark Bubble, annihilating the stout man. However, Ancestor Tianyu, the Swordmaster, and the others—all possessing keen insight—could tell that the man had offered no resistance, willingly dispersing his avatar.
What truly shocked them was the sheer power of the Dark Bubble.
All eyes turned to Dongbo Xueying, filled with astonishment, admiration, and curiosity.
“Dongbo Xueying,” Ancestor Tianyu spoke. “You should now be capable of clearing the fifth level of the Star Tower, correct?”
“Reporting to the Ancestor,” Dongbo Xueying replied respectfully. “At the Sevenstar Sea Pavilion’s treasure auction, I acquired the sole surviving copy of the *Dark World* supreme art. This technique suited me well, aiding my breakthrough to the Unity Realm and allowing me to master its first form, ‘Dark Bubble.’ Of course, the Heartfruit of Fuling also played a role.”
“I recognized it immediately—one of the signature moves of the Dark World Sovereign,” chuckled a black-haired elder among the six Hall Masters. “Last time Elder Dongbo was still at the Nascent Realm. Yet after barely over a hundred thousand years in Tianshui City, he’s reached the Unity Realm and mastered such a supreme art. Seeing talents like you makes me feel old indeed.”
“You flatter me, Hall Master Hunyuan,” Dongbo Xueying said humbly.
This black-haired elder was none other than the most formidable figure in Voidsky Palace—Hall Master Hunyuan, whose depth was unfathomable.
“It took me a billion years of arduous cultivation after reaching the Unity Realm to clear the fifth level of the Star Tower. Compared to Elder Dongbo, I feel nothing but shame.”
“To possess such strength immediately upon entering the Unity Realm—truly impressive.”
The Inner Hall Elders all voiced their admiration, their praise genuine.
In this era, every Inner Hall Elder of Voidsky Palace was at least at the fifth level of the Star Tower. Yet Dongbo Xueying was a prodigy among prodigies, already matching that strength. His chances of reaching the sixth level were high, and with such comprehension, even the Chaos Realm seemed within his grasp. Given Voidsky Palace’s strict laws and internal unity, they were all genuinely pleased to witness his meteoric rise.
“Hall Master Wentian, can you identify the assassin?” Ancestor Tianyu asked.
“He willingly dissipated, leaving no trace. I cannot determine his identity,” Hall Master Wentian admitted, returning to his seat.
“Let me try.”
A voice spoke up—the Swordmaster.
His fathomless eyes gleamed as countless divine patterns swirled in the void before him, faintly outlining Dongbo Xueying’s figure before attempting to form another.
The blurred silhouette suddenly morphed into an old man, who grinned.
“Haha! The Myriad Worlds Pavilion conducts fair transactions. We beg your pardon.”
Then, the vision shattered.
Ancestor Tianyu and the Swordmaster’s expressions darkened.
“That old ghost from the Myriad Worlds!” the Swordmaster growled. Ancestor Tianyu, too, understood—vengeance was now impossible.
“The Myriad Worlds Pavilion?” Dongbo Xueying realized. *An enemy hired them to kill me… but who?*
**(End of Chapter.)**
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