Chapter 1049: Tremor

After giving his orders, Dongbo Xueying headed toward the main gate of the Nanyun Sacred Hall with his demon dragon attendant in tow.

“Open the gates at once!” Qu Minghou shouted loudly.

Rumble—

The towering double doors swung open with a thunderous boom. In truth, the experts inside the Nanyun Sacred Hall, located in the capital of the Huozhao Kingdom, had witnessed everything that had transpired outside. However, they were utterly stunned by the sight of ‘Changsuk King, a ninth-layer Chaos Realm expert, and his entire entourage being transformed into a painting.’ Changsuk King had mastered the Ten-Layer Perfection of the Indestructible Heavenly Sword Body—even a Cosmic God would need considerable effort to kill him.

Yet in a single move?

In an instant? Reduced to a mere painting?

As the gates swung open, a group of experts from the Nanyun Sacred Hall stood in formation at the entrance, led by two Chaos Realm masters. Hundreds of disciples bowed in unison, their voices respectful: “Senior Brother Xueying!”

Such was the rule of the Nanyun Sacred Sect.

All outer disciples must address inner disciples as “Senior Brother” or “Senior Sister.” Likewise, inner disciples must defer to personal disciples with the same honorific.

“Hmm.” Dongbo Xueying acknowledged with a nod before proceeding inside with his attendant.

“Brother Chunqi, shouldn’t you arrange accommodations for Brother Xueying at once?” Qu Minghou called out.

“Of course, of course.”

A dark-skinned, stern-faced Chaos Realm man at the forefront quickly responded, “Senior Brother Xueying, please follow me.”

Every disciple present—and even the countless distant cultivators observing the scene, whether mere spectators, scheming royal experts of the Huozhao Kingdom eager to witness the clash between the two great sects, or the infamous fiends of the Black Devil Abyss—felt a chill run down their spines as they watched the white-robed youth being reverently escorted by the Nanyun Sacred Sect disciples.

“What a terrifying Ying Shan Xueying. Truly worthy of being a tenth-layer Chaos Realm expert in just 1.5 billion years, one who can contend with the White Cloud Demon Lord. After all these years under the tutelage of the Nanyun Monarch, he has grown even more fearsome.”

In a tavern millions of miles away, an elderly Chaos Realm demon sat alone, sipping wine as he observed the distant spectacle.

He had known the Heavenly Sword Dao would provoke a response from the Nanyun Sacred Sect, so he had come to watch. When Dongbo Xueying appeared, he was merely surprised. But witnessing the single move—’Beautiful as a Painting’—that reduced Changsuk King and his men to a mere artwork, now hanging on the outer wall, left him deeply unsettled.

“‘Beautiful as a Painting’—one of the two secret techniques of the Nanyun Sacred Twelve Styles, a tenth-layer Chaos Realm move. But it shouldn’t be enough to suppress Changsuk King so effortlessly.” The old demon shuddered inwardly. “Without even a ripple of disturbance, Changsuk King was finished before I could perceive it? Terrifying. Far more terrifying than during the Blood Sacrifice.”

—

“Ying Shan Xueying is this powerful?” The royal experts of the Huozhao Kingdom trembled in fear. Though the Huozhao Kingdom was the most chaotic of the Black Devil Four Kingdoms, its brutal environment bred only the most ruthless and battle-hardened experts.

The Heavenly Sword Dao and the Nanyun Sacred Sect, two of the Ten Great Sects, were now clashing—a spectacle they were all too eager to witness.

But Ying Shan Xueying’s brutality was beyond expectation.

His techniques appeared effortless, almost serene—yet this very subtlety only amplified the dread of those watching from the shadows.

—

“Hang it prominently—yes, right there!” Qu Minghou spent an excessive amount of time fussing over the placement of the painting. Though a simple task, he deliberately prolonged it, even embellishing the frame with an enchantment that made the artwork glow brilliantly, ensuring it stood out unmistakably.

“You two, guard this spot. Keep watch.” Qu Minghou assigned two subordinates to stand sentinel.

In truth, the outer walls of the Nanyun Sacred Hall were already protected by formations, rendering additional guards unnecessary. But Qu Minghou’s theatrics were meant to humiliate the Heavenly Sword Dao.

The feud between the two sects was vicious.

Openly, they dared to blockade gates and execute each other’s outer disciples. Behind the scenes, their methods were even darker. For the lofty Nanyun Monarch and the Heavenly Sword Monarch, these sects were vital sources of Cosmic Crystals—resources neither could afford to lose.

“Wow.”

“Turned into a painting?”

“Seriously? That was a Chaos Realm expert!”

As Qu Minghou finished hanging the painting and returned inside, swarms of onlookers rushed forward, some even teleporting in just to marvel at the spectacle.

Word spread swiftly.

Noble scions from across the Huozhao Kingdom arrived in luxurious carriages, gazing from a distance with awed murmurs. Changsuk King had been a notable figure in the Heavenly Sword Dao, instrumental in its expansion. Yet now, he was nothing more than a painting on display.

“That Ying Shan Xueying?”

“The secret technique ‘Beautiful as a Painting’ from the Nanyun Sacred Twelve Styles isn’t supposed to be this overpowering, is it? To annihilate Changsuk King so easily?”

Debates erupted everywhere.

Even in pleasure houses, noble youths boasted and speculated. Many had heard legends of the two secret techniques—’Shatter the Firmament’ and ‘Beautiful as a Painting’—though most were mere Unity Realm cultivators, some even just ordinary Void Gods.

The weaker they were, the more they reveled in grandiose discussions about legendary figures.

And to them, Dongbo Xueying was precisely that—a mythic, peerless expert.

—

Hundreds of millions of miles from the Nanyun Sacred Hall, two figures stood mid-air, gazing toward the distant structure.

One was a cold-faced man in purple robes, his expression frosty. Beside him, a seductive red-haired woman whispered, “Master.”

“What a formidable Ying Shan Xueying,” the purple-clad man muttered, his eyes glinting with icy light. “No wonder even Patriarch Fan sought to take him as a disciple. His methods are extraordinary.”

He was Mo Chao, the ‘Thunder King,’ the Heavenly Sword Dao’s appointed leader for their invasion of the Black Devil Four Kingdoms.

Though only an inner disciple of the Heavenly Sword Dao, his status surpassed even that of personal disciples—for he was one of the sect’s two ‘Guardian Envoys.’ His lineage was shrouded in mystery, though the Nanyun Sacred Sect had deduced that his master was likely a terrifying figure from the Allworlds Ancient Nation.

“Master, what shall we do?” the red-haired woman asked softly. “Should we request aid from the two envoys?”

This campaign against the Black Devil Four Kingdoms was crucial for the Heavenly Sword Dao.

Thus, both the Allworlds Ancient Nation and the Summerflame Ancient Nation had each dispatched a supreme expert to assist covertly. After all, these ancient nations reaped vast profits from the Heavenly Sword Dao—it was only fair they contributed in times of need.

“Those two? Ying Shan Xueying obliterated Changsuk King in an instant. Even I couldn’t discern his exact method.” Mo Chao smirked coldly. “Without understanding Xueying’s capabilities, the ancient nations won’t commit significant resources.”

Though backed by two ancient powers, Heavenly Sword Dao experts harbored resentment. They fought tooth and nail to expand their sect, only for the lion’s share of Cosmic Crystals to be taken by the ancient nations—who then acted high and mighty. The indignation was inevitable, yet resistance was futile.

“The Nanyun Monarch strikes rarely, but when he does, it’s devastating. We’ll need to exert far more effort from now on.” Mo Chao frowned.

What he didn’t know was that even the Nanyun Monarch had been taken aback by his disciple’s prowess. When news of the events in Huozhao reached him, the monarch himself was stunned.

—

In the secluded meditation grounds of the Nanyun royal palace:

“Xueying, this boy… is actually this powerful?” The Nanyun Monarch was visibly astonished. Beside him stood three black-robed figures, one of whom spoke in a low voice:

“Your Majesty, shall the three of us still depart?”

“The Heavenly Sword Dao’s offensive is fierce, not easily countered. I had intended to temper Xueying through this trial, but it seems I underestimated my disciple.” The Nanyun Monarch smiled faintly. “Since he’s handling Huozhao so effectively, let him continue. You three may rest for now. If the situation worsens, you’ll set out then. Dismissed.”

“As you command.” The three black-robed figures vanished into mist.

The Nanyun Monarch’s deep, enigmatic eyes gleamed with intrigue.

His wealth was vast, and the forces at his disposal far exceeded what was publicly known. For countless years, he had withstood the encroachments of the Six Ancient Nations—proof enough of his formidable foundations.