The Chaos Realm overlords were all burning with envy, and even Dongbo Xueying, an inner hall elder of the Tai Void Heavenly Palace, felt his heart racing. As for the other four cultivators, their reactions were even more intense.
“Three thousand Source World Stones! It’s worth three thousand Source World Stones!” The Tianjian Sect Master’s eyes were nearly bloodshot. Though Dongbo Xueying had saved his life, he couldn’t suppress the overwhelming urge to kill and seize the treasure. The sheer value was enough to drive him to madness. However, he had his principles—he refused to turn on his savior, no matter how strong the temptation. Moreover, even if he tried, he knew he stood no chance. He was self-aware enough to recognize that.
Three thousand Source World Stones—this thought sent tremors through the hearts of the Tianjian Sect Master and the other three cultivators.
What did this mean?
A treasure like the Black Gourd, a guardian artifact, was only worth five hundred Source World Stones! With three thousand, one could purchase something far superior, whether in terms of power or survivability. If the Tianjian Sect Master or the others acquired such a treasure, they would be virtually invincible below the Chaos Realm.
Even if one were to splurge on a puppet creature, three thousand Source World Stones could buy a puppet with strength equivalent to the fifth level of the Star Tower. And puppets had significant advantages over cultivators—near-indestructible bodies, absolute loyalty, tireless service, and the ability to choose from various types. Some excelled in escape, others in offense…
The burly man, the shadowy black mist figure, and the gray-robed woman all fixed their gazes on Dongbo Xueying, watching him like prey.
“Hmph… What luck. To find such a treasure in the first layer of the vault,” the burly man muttered, his eyes narrowing with a cold glint. “I underestimated the first layer, thinking it insignificant compared to the second. Who knew I’d miss out on such a prize? Now, if I want it, I’ll have to take it from him.”
The gray-robed woman watched but didn’t act immediately.
Instead, the black mist figure suddenly dashed down the void staircase. With the spatial barrier shattered, it took only an instant for the figure to reach the ground before swiftly ascending the staircase where Dongbo Xueying stood.
“He’s making his move.”
The atmosphere in the first layer of the vault grew tense. The Tianjian Sect Master, the burly man, and the gray-robed woman silently observed, unsurprised. They knew treasures within the Vault Divine Tower weren’t easily obtained. Normally, the third layer was inaccessible—only Chaos Realm overlords could enter.
Merely acquiring a treasure worth three thousand Source World Stones in the first two layers was already incredibly fortunate.
Even if Dongbo Xueying took the Golden Whisker Heavenly Thunderwood and left immediately, this trip to the Ninecloud Divine Emperor’s vault would be more than worth it.
—
Dongbo Xueying stowed the Golden Whisker Heavenly Thunderwood, sensing the gazes of the other cultivators. Only the Tianjian Sect Master’s eyes held no hostility, though they couldn’t hide envy and jealousy. The other three radiated clear hostility.
“Hmph. I came to this vault hoping to gather over ten thousand Source World Stones to purchase two portions of Crimson Cloud Pomegranate Heart,” Dongbo Xueying thought silently. “Before, I wasn’t confident, but now, right after entering, I’ve obtained the precious Golden Whisker Heavenly Thunderwood. If I reach the second layer, with my strength and a bit more luck, I might actually gather enough.”
“Trying to steal from me?”
Dongbo Xueying looked down the void staircase where the black mist figure was rapidly approaching.
“Hand over the Golden Whisker Heavenly Thunderwood, and I’ll spare your life!” The black mist figure’s shrill voice echoed through the first layer, piercing the air and causing faint spatial tremors.
“This is my void staircase. You’ve taken the wrong path,” Dongbo Xueying replied calmly. “Turn back now, and you might live. If you foolishly attack, death is your only fate.”
The black mist figure suddenly halted.
Its form flickered, splitting into multiple bodies—
Dongbo Xueying watched as the single figure instantly multiplied into nineteen identical copies, each exuding the same aura, as if all were the true original.
“Undying City Lord?!” The Tianjian Sect Master, the burly man, and the gray-robed woman were all stunned.
“Him? The Undying City Lord?” Dongbo Xueying quickly deduced the figure’s identity.
In the entire Ninecloud Continent, Unity Realm cultivators with fifth-level Star Tower combat power were exceedingly rare—and the Undying City Lord was one of them. A practitioner of the Ancient Cultivator path, his innate talent, “Myriad Selves,” allowed him to replicate his true body. The Undying City Lord could instantly create eighteen duplicates, totaling nineteen bodies.
Each of these nineteen bodies was identical to the original, down to the soul.
After reaching the Void God stage, cultivators typically couldn’t create avatars. Even supreme beings like the Sacred Master and the Primordial Matriarch had no avatars—only the Myriad Realms Tower Master possessed multiple, though his were fundamentally different from the Undying City Lord’s.
The Myriad Realms Tower Master had more avatars, but each was weaker.
The Undying City Lord, however, relied entirely on his Ancient Cultivator talent to replicate his true body. If he ever became a Cosmic God, he could still duplicate his original form—a terrifying prospect.
A single one of his bodies was only at the fourth level of Star Tower combat power. But with nineteen working in perfect unison, their combined strength soared to the fifth level.
“He actually came…” The burly man frowned. “This complicates things.”
“If it’s the Undying City Lord, we should prioritize survival and give up,” the Tianjian Sect Master called out, concerned for Dongbo Xueying.
“With him here, the Golden Whisker Heavenly Thunderwood is out of reach,” the gray-robed woman muttered, shaking her head. The Undying City Lord was a renowned powerhouse in the Ninecloud Continent, his reputation alone carrying immense deterrence. Though he could only maintain nineteen bodies for a short time—a day or two—that was more than enough for battle.
And as long as one body survived, the others could quickly regenerate.
Hence his title—Undying.
“I wasn’t planning to reveal myself so soon,” the nineteen figures spoke in unison, their voices overlapping eerily. “But I didn’t expect such a treasure in the first layer. Hmph. I gave you a chance, and you refused. Now, even if you beg on your knees, it’s too late. Die.”
The nineteen Undying City Lords stood in a row on the void staircase as a massive octagonal black formation materialized above them—a terrifying array requiring all nineteen bodies to maintain. The moment it appeared, its oppressive aura made the other cultivators pale.
“To think the Undying City Lord is here. That white-haired swordsman is doomed,” the burly man sighed, summoning a black iron greataxe and slamming it against the stone door before him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Chunks of stone flew as he hacked away.
“Brother Feixue, surrender and flee now! There might still be a sliver of hope!” the Tianjian Sect Master urgently transmitted. “He’s too strong, and as long as one of his bodies survives, the rest will regenerate. If you can’t kill him, he’ll kill you.”
“Can’t kill him?”
Dongbo Xueying gazed at the nineteen black mist figures. “Then I’ll just destroy all nineteen at once.”
Within his storage treasure lay rows upon rows of flying daggers—a complete set he had purchased in the Tai Void Heavenly Palace: “Frostshadow.” Three thousand six hundred blades in total. However, given his mastery of the “Fish-Dragon Slaughter” technique, he could only wield twelve hundred at full power.
But that was more than enough.
To the Undying City Lord and the distant spectators—the Tianjian Sect Master and the gray-robed woman—the void staircase suddenly shimmered with countless weapons wreathed in purple light: blade force. Three hundred daggers circled Dongbo Xueying defensively as he stood at the staircase’s peak, looking down at the nineteen figures below.
“Go.”
Nine hundred daggers shot forth like a storm, each leaving a streak of purple in the air—countless trails weaving a breathtaking tapestry across the void.
Dongbo Xueying ignored the descending black formation, focusing solely on his attack.
“Exchanging blows? Is he that confident?” The Tianjian Sect Master and the others were baffled. Though Dongbo Xueying’s technique was dazzling, that didn’t guarantee its power. This white-robed, white-haired man was clearly at the Unity Realm. How could a Unity cultivator hope to match the Undying City Lord head-on?
Only the Undying City Lord, facing the onslaught of blades, felt true dread.
“Damn it… I’ve met my match.” The realization struck him instantly.
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