In the Eternal Sacred Realm, hidden within the vast expanse of the Lancang Mountain Range, stood a palace shrouded in mystical formations. Even those at the Unity Realm would struggle to detect its presence when approaching.
This palace was now the residence of the former second-in-command of the Kuimo Cliff—Qi Hujun.
“My luck has finally turned around after hitting rock bottom!” Inside a small courtyard within the palace, Qi Hujun dismissed his attendants and stood alone, holding a peculiar mirror in his hand. The back of the mirror appeared to be ordinary stone, while the front was smooth enough to faintly reflect his image.
It could barely be called a mirror, yet the ‘Stone Mirror’ possessed an unfathomable, miraculous power.
“Back then, I joined Kuimo Cliff because I saw potential in Hei Kuimo’s strength—his abilities complemented mine,” Qi Hujun mused, stroking the Stone Mirror. “Together, we were unstoppable. Even experts at the fifth level of the Star Tower couldn’t withstand our combined might. Those days of slaughter and plunder were exhilarating, and I amassed no small amount of resources.”
“But…”
“Who would have thought he was actually a member of the two great sects?” Qi Hujun’s eyes turned icy. “Because of him, I was implicated and captured by the forces under the World Ancestor!”
Captured, imprisoned, interrogated…
At the time, Qi Hujun had been terrified beyond measure.
The World Ancestor was a figure who stood at the very pinnacle of existence, surpassed only by the Sacred Master himself. Back then, Qi Hujun had despaired, certain he would be executed for his unwitting association. Fortunately, after thorough investigation, it was confirmed he had no ties to the two sects, and he was released, regaining his freedom.
“Damn that Hei Kuimo!” Qi Hujun seethed with growing fury. “If you wanted to join those sects, why drag me down with you?”
“But now that you’re dead… my luck has indeed improved!”
Unable to resist, Qi Hujun glanced down at the Stone Mirror in his hand, caressing it reverently.
After his release, he had ransacked Kuimo Cliff, reclaiming treasures like the defensive formations they had painstakingly acquired. Soon after, he departed, and Kuimo Cliff swiftly collapsed. “Dongbo Xueying, an Inner Hall Elder of the Sky Void Palace, actually came after Hei Kuimo and me. It seems our years of slaughter must have provoked some powerful figures, drawing his attention.”
“Enough. Though reducing my killings and plundering will slow my accumulation of resources, it’s better to lay low for now.”
Thus, Qi Hujun resolved to retreat into seclusion.
Yet, he still tracked down the ‘Windrider City Lord’ using a hidden mark. The unsuspecting lord never stood a chance—Qi Hujun’s mastery of void traversal and his meticulous planning ensured there was no escape. In the end, the lord was worn down to death, and the Stone Mirror fell into Qi Hujun’s hands.
“My fortunes have truly reversed. This Stone Mirror is even more miraculous than I imagined,” Qi Hujun exulted. “With it, I may forge an entirely new Ancient Cultivation path of my own! Reaching the sixth level of the Star Tower, or even breaking into the Chaos Realm, is no longer an impossible dream.”
For millions of years, he had studied the Stone Mirror, and with each passing moment, its wonders grew clearer. It was the most extraordinary treasure he had ever obtained.
From then on…
The once-reluctant recluse now embraced his seclusion wholeheartedly. He abandoned all thoughts of slaughter and plunder, dedicating himself entirely to deciphering the Stone Mirror. “Hmph, once I grow stronger—perhaps even reach the Chaos Realm—I’ll truly command respect! What does a mere Inner Hall Elder of the Sky Void Palace matter then?”
No matter how formidable an Inner Hall Elder might be, they were still only at the Unity Realm.
But stepping into the Chaos Realm would elevate him to an entirely different status—a true overlord, a hegemon in his own right.
Unity Realm experts who sought to join sacred factions were often turned away. The World Ancestor, lofty as he was, disdained recruiting such individuals.
But Chaos Realm overlords were a different story. Sacred factions would welcome them with open arms.
Yet many Chaos Realm experts were reluctant to submit, as allegiance came with responsibilities—such as being dispatched to the void’s edge to battle the Annihilation Demons. Moreover, the stronger one grew, the prouder they became. Thus, many Chaos Realm overlords preferred to establish their own factions.
Figures like the Black Emperor and the Sand Ancestor owed allegiance to no one.
At their level, only a Cosmic Deity in person could pose a threat—and even then, such beings would not lightly provoke them.
“Breaking into the Chaos Realm changes everything,” Qi Hujun murmured, his gaze fixed on the Stone Mirror.
Before, he had no confidence in reaching the Chaos Realm, lacking even a clear understanding of it. But now, with the Stone Mirror, after millions of years of study, he could faintly glimpse the path forward. His confidence had been kindled.
—
*Whoosh.*
Amidst wisps of cloud like silk, Dongbo Xueying emerged from the distorted void, standing atop the mist as he surveyed the sprawling mountains below.
“The Lancang Mountain Range,” he murmured. “Hiding deep indeed. For a fiend like Qi Hujun to suppress his bloodlust and lie low—how unusual. Did his interrogation by the World Ancestor’s forces truly frighten him so?”
He doubted it.
A demon of such caliber, with a heart tempered to the level of ‘Will as Sharp as a Blade,’ would not change so easily. Dongbo Xueying suspected Qi Hujun was merely biding his time—the longer he suppressed his nature, the more violently it would erupt.
But this time, he was wrong. Qi Hujun was not restraining himself—he was utterly consumed by his obsession with the Stone Mirror.
“According to the Sevenstar Sea Pavilion’s intelligence, Qi Hujun’s palace should be… there.” With a single step, Dongbo Xueying flashed through several spatial shifts, arriving deep within the Lancang Mountains.
Below him…
Nestled among the mountains was a jade-like lake, surrounded by lush flora. It was breathtakingly beautiful—and devoid of any human presence.
*Hum.*
A fiery vermilion mark appeared between Dongbo Xueying’s brows, and behind him materialized the vast, winged form of the Scarlet Phoenix, Zhu Yan. As its wings slowly fanned, crimson mist billowed outward, carrying with it the ripples of Dongbo Xueying’s soul energy.
The Zhu Yan Illusion Art.
Visible red mist intertwined with imperceptible soul fluctuations.
The soul waves effortlessly pierced the hidden formations below. Though the formations were formidable, they could not obstruct a soul attack—and illusions were precisely that.
Within the concealed palace, attendants and underlings alike fell into a daze, ensnared by the illusion. Dongbo Xueying had elevated the Zhu Yan Illusion Art to the sixth level of the Star Tower—enough to affect even Inner Hall Elders of the Sky Void Palace, let alone these mere servants.
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