Demonic Cultivator(297-303) (Patreon)

Chapter 297: Four Against One, The Advantage Is Ours!

On Feather Transformation Island, Zhao Kai held a communication jade, listening respectfully.

A deep, resolute voice emanated from the jade. "The Heaven Shaking Divine Sect has launched a disgraceful surprise attack on our monks. The great war between the two sects has begun. The ancestor places great importance on Mystic Azure Realm, and you are ordered to guard it at all costs."

Zhao Kai responded reverently, "Holy Son, rest assured, four-fifths of Mystic Azure is under our control, and those demon cultivators in Northern Cold can hardly make a difference. With our forces pressing forward, they will collapse without a fight!"

The voice from the jade belonged to Situ Kong, a Saint Son of the Reincarnation Divine Sect. Along with the now-deceased Leng Hanshuang, he was one of the Holy Sons. Now that Leng Hanshuang was dead, Situ Kong received all the resources of the sect.

Situ Kong spoke calmly, "Do not be complacent. The Nether Dao Sect once occupied Mystic Azure and surely left some tricks behind. How well have you mastered the puppet beast I bestowed upon you?"

Zhao Kai's face lit up with joy, "The puppet beast you gifted me has been completely refined and is in tune with my thoughts. This puppet beast is truly formidable! In life, it was a Nascent Soul level eight demonic beast, and even as a puppet, it retains the strength of a Nascent Soul level seven. Such strength will certainly be our trump card."

Situ Kong nodded slightly, "That is good. Be cautious of the Northern Cold's cultivators; the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect will surely involve them."

Zhao Kai assured him solemnly, "Holy Son, have no worries!"

Situ Kong smiled, "Mystic Azure Realm is in your hands. If you perform well and repel those demon cultivators, I will personally petition the ancestor to reward you."

Zhao Kai was thrilled, "Yes! Thank you, Holy Son!"

The voice in the communication jade then subsided.

Zhao Kai immediately sent messages to the Nascent Soul cultivators in the Southern Wilderness, Western Land, and Eastern Border, directing them to converge on the Northern Cold.

"Senior brother, are we starting the great war?" Two Nascent Soul cultivators came quickly outside the hall, their expressions excited.

Zhao Kai laughed heartily, "What great war? It's merely a pushover. Northern Cold is but one-fifth of the territory, while we control four-fifths of Mystic Azure, plus we have ten Nascent Soul cultivators! How could they possibly contend with us? Once everyone arrives, we'll march straight over!"

"Yes!" The two Nascent Soul cultivators were invigorated by his words.

Four against one, the advantage is ours!

...

In the Eastern Border, a secluded dark underground space was suddenly illuminated by the white light of an ancient teleportation array. A figure carefully stepped out, holding a defensive magic treasure, cautiously emerging from the array.

After surveying his surroundings and finding nothing but ruins and rubble, he breathed a sigh of relief and signaled those behind him. Soon, three Nascent Soul cultivators from the Heavenly Blood Alliance appeared through the teleportation array.

"Our task," the leading Nascent Soul cultivator whispered, "is to sow chaos in the Eastern Border, stretching Feather Transformation Heaven Palace thin, forcing them to dispatch forces. Do not engage with the main forces of Feather Transformation Heaven Palace unless victory is certain."

"Yes!" The other three responded vigorously.

...

Half a month later, five Nascent Soul cultivators gathered on the border of Northern Cold. Among them, two hailed from the Southern Wilderness Palace of Southern Wilderness, while the other three came from the Western Land's Heavenly Heart Temple.

"Is this venerable person the master of the Palace of Southern Wilderness, Duan Xiu?" The abbot of Heavenly Heart Temple, Jing Kong, greeted with hands clasped and a smile.

Duan Xiu nodded, "Indeed, it is I."

Jing Kong sighed lightly, "I hear that Master Duan came to Mystic Azure from an extraterritorial battlefield, not originally from Mystic Azure, correct?"

Duan Xiu gave a wry smile.

Yes, indeed. He was originally a Nascent Soul ancestor of the Duan family, firmly established in the Righteous Dao City. Unexpectedly, he encountered the collapse of an extraterritorial battlefield. Even as a formidable Nascent Soul cultivator, he couldn't withstand the terrifying spatial rifts.

He had no choice but to take Xiao Fengxian and other core disciples of the Duan family and rush into the nearest teleportation array to escape the extraterritorial battlefield. By a twist of fate, they arrived in the Southern Wilderness of Mystic Azure.

The Treasure Lotus Sect of the Southern Wilderness had once been slaughtered by Feather Transformation Heaven Palace and had already collapsed. The entire Southern Wilderness cultivation world was severely weakened. It wasn't just that there were few Nascent Soul cultivators left; even Golden Core cultivators were scarce.

It was akin to a situation where, in the absence of tigers in the mountains, the monkeys reigned supreme. The appearance of Duan Xiu, a powerful Nascent Soul cultivator, was like a crushing force from another dimension.

He simply gathered the Golden Core cultivators, established the Southern Wilderness Palace, and eventually unified the Southern Wilderness. The unification process was straightforward, merely a matter of pushing forward. No sect dared provoke a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Ultimately, he became the master of Southern Wilderness, and another Nascent Soul cultivator he recruited became the deputy master.

"Why haven't the Eastern Border cultivators arrived?" Duan Xiu scanned the group and frowned.

They had come at the invitation of Zhao Kai of Feather Transformation Heaven Palace, but no cultivators from the Eastern Border had shown up, which was quite peculiar.

The two Nascent Soul monks from Heavenly Heart Temple, Jinghui and Jingxuan, nodded in agreement. "Indeed, why haven't the Eastern Border cultivators arrived?"

"All from the Southern Wilderness, Western, and Central Continent have come, only the Eastern Border is missing. Could it be that the Eastern Border cultivators are afraid?"

They looked towards Jingkong, who shook his head helplessly, "I also do not know. We'll probably have to wait for Zhao Kai to appear to find out the answer."

At that moment, two figures approached together—it was Zhao Kai and another.

Zhao Kai, having overheard their conversation from afar, spoke calmly, "The Eastern Border has 'fires in the backyard', likely the work of demon cultivators from the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect. They are occupied with handling those demons and can't spare anyone. One of my junior brothers has gone to assist in the Eastern Border."

Hearing this, the other Nascent Soul cultivators nodded in understanding, "So that's what happened."

Jingkong expressed his concern, "But now, we only have seven Nascent Soul cultivators, not ten. Is this force sufficient to contend with the demon cultivators of Northern Cold?"

Zhao Kai laughed heartily, "Venerable Jingkong worries too much! I have thoroughly investigated the situation in Northern Cold."

He began counting on his fingers, "Northern Cold has only four Nascent Soul cultivators. They are Zheng Ji of the Corpse Yin Sect, Wan Hun of the Myriad Souls Sect, and Wei Ji and Liu Ruoshui, who fled from our Feather Transformation Heaven Palace. There might be one more hidden demon cultivator from the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect.

That makes only five in total. While we have seven. Moreover, I am at the sixth layer of Nascent Soul, and my junior brother is at the fifth layer."

Zhao Kai smiled confidently, "With such a force, do you think we can lose?"

Jingkong was momentarily speechless, finally responding, "It's always good to be cautious…"

Zhao Kai shook his head, smiling, "Venerable Jingkong, you worry too easily, and that's why your cultivation has stagnated!"

Jingkong's face soured, and he chose to remain silent.

Duan Xiu then spoke in a serious tone, "That demon cultivator from the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect must be formidable. Has the upper sect provided any trump cards?"

Zhao Kai smiled mysteriously, "Naturally, there are provisions. Rest assured. If that demon cultivator from the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect shows up, leave him to me!"

With these words, everyone felt a bit more settled.

With Zhao Kai so confident, what was there to fear?

Chapter 298: Show Themselves

Zhao Kai declared loudly, "Fellow Daoists, our target is to capture Goden Thunder Mountain and Flying Thunder Valley. These two locations are key points of the protective grand array. Securing these two points will allow the grand array to operate at full capacity. With this, even if the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect deploys two or even three Deity Transformation cultivators, they will not be able to breach our Mystic Azure!"

He pointed towards the sky, "There is already a Deity Transformation Elder from our upper sect positioned outside the star!"

Upon hearing this, Jingkong, Duan Xiu, and others felt a surge of reassurance. Having a Deity Transformation cultivator present calmed their nerves significantly.

"Venerable Jingkong, I will accompany you to Goden Thunder Mountain."

"Master Duan, my junior brother Cheng Qi will go with you to Flying Thunder Valley."

"Kill! Every demon cultivator in Northern Cold we encounter must be eliminated!"

Zhao Kai commanded robustly.

"Yes!" The group of Nascent Soul cultivators responded in unison.

The seven split into two groups, heading straight for Goden Thunder Mountain and Flying Thunder Valley.

...

Flying Thunder Valley.

Once a scenic valley, it was now littered with corpses.

Malicious and corpse energies rose from every inch of the ground.

Liu Ruoshui, holding her nose, reluctantly spoke, "Fellow Daoist Zheng, must it be this way?"

Zheng Ji responded calmly, "This Black Yin Demon Corpse Array of mine works best with more corpses—the more, the better. Otherwise, how could we possibly withstand the Nascent Soul cultivators from Feather Transformation Heaven Palace?"

Liu Ruoshui had no choice but to acquiesce.

She and Zheng Ji were in charge of defending this area, along with five Golden Core cultivators managing the array.

Ever since the outbreak of the war between the Reincarnation Divine Sect and the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect, Zheng Ji had left the Corpse Yin Sect to come to Flying Thunder Valley.

They were well aware. Should Feather Transformation Heaven Palace attack, their primary targets would undoubtedly be the two grand array footings.

"They're coming! Four people in total, led by Feather Transformation Heaven Palace's Deputy Palace Master Cheng Qi."

While Zhao Kai and his group were still a thousand miles from Flying Thunder Valley, Zheng Ji suddenly opened his eyes and alerted in a deep voice.

He had crafted numerous corpse puppets and scattered them around the valley for miles. Should anyone approach, he would know immediately.

Liu Ruoshui and Wei Ji, having defected from Feather Transformation Heaven Palace, had already informed them of Zhao Kai and his companions' appearances and tactics.

This allowed Zheng Ji to recognize Cheng Qi, Zhao Kai's junior brother, right away.

He slammed his hand on the array disc, and a thick malevolent energy rose from beneath Flying Thunder Valley, enveloping the entire area.

This was the mid-grade Nascent Soul level array he had prepared in advance—the Black Yin Demon Corpse Array.

Within this array, all corpses were transformed into corpse demons under his command. These corpse demons would self-destruct at the moment of their death.

A simultaneous explosion from thousands of corpse demons could severely injure Nascent Soul cultivators.

However, the corpse demons could not leave the range of the array.

To establish this array, Zheng Ji had slaughtered two mortal cities, throwing a total of three hundred thousand corpses into Flying Thunder Valley!

He also introduced several of his own corpse generals into the mix, serving as leaders of the corpse demons.

Liu Ruoshui declared, "I will immediately notify the others."

Meanwhile, at Golden Thunder Mountain.

Wei Ji and Wan Hun also received immediate news of Duan Xiu and others' approaches. They activated a pre-arranged array as well.

Instantly, Golden Thunder Mountain was shrouded in gloom, with specters weaving through the air, turning the mountain into a vision akin to the underworld.

The fact that Northern Cold had fewer Nascent Soul cultivators was undeniable, necessitating reliance on powerful arrays to fend off invaders.

Chu Xuan, along with Wan Wu Ying and other Golden Core cultivators from the Wan Hun Sect, were stationed at Golden Thunder Mountain, each positioned at an array foot, controlling the array.

Fu Peng appeared somewhat anxious, "Brother Cao, we are outnumbered... it's truly a case of the few against the many..."

Cao Mo sighed deeply, "What can be done? If someone comes to kill you, do you not resist and just wait for death? Or do you want to run?"

Fu Peng could only offer a wry smile.

Bai Jinkun and Wan Wu Ying glanced at Chu Xuan and, noticing his calm demeanor, felt slightly reassured.

Zhao Kai, Jingkong, Jinghui, and Jingxuan hovered midair, looking towards the ominously gloomy Golden Thunder Mountain.

Jingkong clasped his hands together, chanting a Buddhist mantra, "This place reeks of demonic energy, truly a den of filth and chaos, it must be cleansed."

With that, he unleashed a holy Buddhist palm strike.

However, the palm strike only momentarily dispelled the darkness, which was quickly replenished by more gloomy air.

Jingkong frowned, "This array is at least an upper-tier Nascent Soul formation."

Jinghui spoke in a serious tone, "Master Zhao, an upper-tier Nascent Soul formation's defenses are formidable. The demon cultivators must have prepared a substantial amount of spirit stones. We could forcefully break through, but it would consume a vast amount of time. Do you have any methods, Master Zhao?"

Zhao Kai smiled faintly, "If Feather Transformation Heaven Palace lacks anything, it is not depth of resources."

He casually slapped his hand down.

More than ten Breaking Restriction Talismans suddenly flew out, landing in their hands.

These talismans were specifically designed to break Nascent Soul-level formations.

Heavenly Heart Temple, being a fourth-tier cultivation sect, could at most possess one or two such talismans, treated like precious treasures.

But Feather Transformation Heaven Palace was different, being a fifth-tier cultivation sect.

When Zhao Kai and his group had attacked the Hundred Refinements Sect, they had used a large number of these talismans.

"Excellent! With these divine talismans, breaking the formation will be a breeze!" Jingxuan exclaimed with great joy.

"Please proceed without hesitation, I will cover you!" Zhao Kai declared loudly.

"Yes!" The three monks shouted in unison, channeling their spiritual qi into the Breaking Restriction Talismans and propelling them forward.

The talismans struck Golden Thunder Mountain like meteors.

Boom!

The mountain's ominous aura was instantly halved. The array was damaged, causing considerable discomfort to Golden Core cultivators like Fu Peng and Bai Jinkun, who were stationed at the array's base. They felt as though they were struck by a massive hammer, with their inner energies roiling uncontrollably.

"Damn! So many Breaking Restriction Talismans. Feather Transformation Heaven Palace is loaded!" Fu Peng couldn't help cursing.

Noticing that Chu Xuan showed no intention of intervening, Wei Ji and Wan Hun exchanged glances and immediately took out their magic treasures to confront the attackers, determined not to let the enemy break the formation easily.

Wei Ji, slightly stronger, took on Jinghui and Jingxuan, managing a two-on-one fight. Meanwhile, Wan Hun, controlling several ghost generals, encircled Jingkong.

Zhao Kai stood with his hands behind his back, opting not to join the fray but instead scanning the surroundings, as if searching for someone.

Chu Xuan shook his head. This Zhao Kai was indeed cautious. If Zhao had rushed into the melee, Chu Xuan could have taken the opportunity to launch a sneak attack, potentially inflicting severe damage. Unfortunately, Zhao was also on his guard, likely wary of a hidden strike from Shi Juntian.

The battle between Wei Ji and the others continued for a while. Wan Hun's ghost generals were slain, showing signs of defeat.

"In the name of Buddha, banish these demons!" Jingkong roared, forming seals with his hands and summoning two layers of merit wheels behind his head. A colossal hand descended rapidly, aiming for Wan Hun.

Wan Hun, visibly shocked, quickly pulled out his life-saving magic treasure in defense. Nevertheless, he was blown away, coughing up blood midair, his treasure visibly cracked.

Wan Hun managed a bitter smile. Despite appearing strong, he was internally drained. He had been fighting with all his might and was now at his limit.

"It's time to depart from this path, demon," Jingkong declared, ready to deliver the final blow to Wan Hun.

Just then, a powerful aura suddenly surged. A massive earth-colored spear thrust towards Jingkong.

Zhao Kai's eyes sparkled as he smirked, "All this hiding and finally showing yourself!"

Chapter 299: Concealing a Ghost King for a Stealth Attack!

Zhao Kai, prepared for such an encounter, reacted swiftly, summoning a flying dagger and a set of flying swords to strike at once. His body surged with spiritual qi, releasing a blinding burst of golden light. He had been waiting for this moment, ready to confront the hidden cultivator from the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect.

Just as Shi Juntian managed to break through Jingkong's spell, he was greeted by a barrage of flying daggers, flying swords, and the golden light. His expression soured, but he had no choice but to engage in battle with Zhao Kai. By initiating the attack, he knew he would be at a disadvantage, yet he was compelled to act. With only a few demonic cultivators in Northern Cold, losing even one would be a significant setback.

The air was filled with the sounds of clashing magic treasures as the two Nascent Soul Level Six cultivators, far surpassing any others present, battled. The fallout from their fight was intense, deterring anyone from coming close.

Chu Xuan remained composed, seated as if he were merely a Golden Core cultivator observing the chaos.

"Although Zhao Kai and his group have the upper hand, it's not an overwhelming advantage," he thought. "This person must have something up his sleeve. It's better to wait for him to reveal his trump cards before I make my move. If Shi Juntian can't force Zhao Kai's hand, it suggests the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect isn't much of a threat."

Chu Xuan continued to watch the battle intently. The outcome of the fight between Shi Juntian and Zhao Kai wasn't clear yet, but Wan Hun was steadily being overpowered by Jingkong. Wei Ji, fighting two against one, was also beginning to falter.

However, both managed to retreat back into the formation to consume medicinal pills and recuperate, allowing them to rejoin the fight after a brief recovery. This strategic use of the formation prevented any fatalities and demonstrated the strength and sophistication of their tactics. By relying on the formation, the disadvantaged side could continue to hold out for an opportunity.

Jingkong, Jinghui, and Jingxuan exchanged glances, seemingly reaching a silent agreement. When Wan Hun and Wei Ji, somewhat restored, charged out of the formation again, Jingkong and Jinghui met them head-on. Meanwhile, Jingxuan made a beeline for the formation itself.

Wei Ji, undeterred, immediately released two wooden puppets to block Jingxuan. The previous battle had shown that he could just manage to hold off Jingxuan using his array of wooden puppets, maintaining a precarious balance in the two-on-one fight.

As Jingxuan hurled a wooden fish into the air, it suspended mid-flight, emanating intense golden light. The surface of the wooden fish rapidly lost its luster as the light spread, shining down on the wooden puppets. Inside them, agonizing wails could be heard—sounds of the souls being damaged.

Wei Ji's expression shifted subtly. During the fight, the wooden fish had proven its worth repeatedly, clearly one of Jingxuan's powerful magical treasures. Now, to target his wooden puppets, Jingxuan was willing to sacrifice this potent item. Such use would inevitably degrade the treasure's power severely. After this encounter, the wooden fish might no longer be usable.

Wei Ji attempted to turn back and stop Jingxuan. However, Jinghui intervened, chanting a mantra, "Benefactor, focus on me. Do not be distracted."

"Cursed monk, you deserve death!" Wei Ji cursed under his breath, forced to watch as Jingxuan advanced towards the formation.

"Breaking Restriction Talismans, go!" Jingxuan activated the talismans, channeling his spiritual qi into them and launching a concentrated attack on a single point of the formation.

The three talismans, focusing their power, were meant to breach the formation decisively. Breaking the formation would prevent Wei Ji and Wan Hun from using it to recover, inevitably leading to their defeat.

Yet, just as the talismans were about to strike, a four-armed ghost king burst forth, grasping two of the talismans in its massive hands and crushing them with a crisp snap. Only one talisman managed to hit its target.

A breach appeared in the formation's dark energy, creating a large gap, but it was quickly replenished as the formation's energy flowed back to seal it.

The ghost king launched a sudden assault, swinging four ghostly weapons in rapid succession. Jingxuan, caught off guard by the unexpected appearance of the ghost king, was pummeled backward, struggling with the turmoil inside him.

"A ghost king?!" Jingxuan exclaimed furiously, "Well played, Wan Hun, hiding a ghost king for a stealth attack! Such demonic tactics are truly shameful!"

Wan Hun, bewildered, thought, "I hid a ghost king? News to me." He scanned Golden Thunder Mountain subtly, then chuckled coldly, "Heh, now you see what I'm capable of."

The battle reverted to a stalemate, with Jingkong, Jinghui, and Jingxuan unable to decisively defeat Wei Ji and Wan Hun.

As Wan Hun continually retreated into the formation for rapid healing after each heavy blow, Jingkong and his comrades were left depleted and deeply frustrated. Despite their superior skills, the enemy's tactics of hitting and running were infuriating. "Is there no honor in combat anymore?" they lamented.

Meanwhile, everyone occasionally glanced over at the intense duel between Shi Juntian and Zhao Kai. The outcome of that battle would undoubtedly influence the dynamics on their end.

Suddenly, the sky was lit with a ghastly crimson light. A burst of blood-red energy sent Zhao Kai flying dozens of yards. The blood turned into numerous skeletal hands that clung to him tightly, rendering even his Nascent Soul essence shift ineffective as if the hands were maggots gnawing at his bones.

Shi Juntian sneered, "Zhao Kai, you're still too inexperienced to challenge me. Prepare to meet your end!" He expelled a breath of Nascent Soul essence, which coalesced into a grotesque, massive axe, and swung it down furiously at Zhao Kai.

Cursing under his breath, Zhao Kai urgently slapped his puppet bag—a special storage designed solely for the colossal puppet beast it housed.

With a thunderous roar, a huge dark silhouette emerged. The terrifying blood-axe struck it, only to leave a shallow mark before shattering into countless fragments of blood light, dissipating into nothing. The shallow cut on the puppet quickly sprouted new flesh and healed within moments as if never wounded.

Shi Juntian's expression froze as he got a clear view of the massive creature. It was a fearsome Dryland Earth Dragon, a creature with a trace of true dragon lineage. Even a newly born Dryland Earth Dragon cub could be classified as a Foundation Establishment stage demonic beast.

These creatures faced almost no barriers in their cultivation; merely eating and sleeping could advance them to the Golden Core stage within three hundred years. Given a millennium, they could step into the Nascent Soul stage.

Dryland Earth Dragons boasted scales as hard as steel, capable of withstanding strikes from superior magic treasures without sustaining any damage. They could also breathe fire hot enough to melt mid-grade magic treasures and below. Additionally, these dragons were favored as mounts by many Deity Transformation cultivators due to their impressive speed.

However, the Dryland Earth Dragon before them had hollow, lifeless eyes and a somewhat rigid posture, revealing that it was not a living beast but a puppet crafted from the corpse of a Dryland Earth Dragon.

Chapter 300: Look Behind You

The Dryland Earth Dragon, thick-skinned and tough, is not easy to convert into a puppet using ordinary puppeteering methods. The concoction required for its transformation is both rare and extraordinarily potent, beyond the reach of most fifth-tier cultivation sects. With such valuable resources, one might typically prefer to use them for personal cultivation enhancements.

Shi Juntian could ascertain that Zhao Kai himself lacked the puppeteering skills necessary for such a feat; the puppet must have been a gift from the Reincarnation Divine Sect. "No wonder he's so confident; he had this up his sleeve," Shi Juntian thought darkly.

Zhao Kai, with a burst of spiritual qi, repelled the bloodied hands grasping at him and scoffed, "Shi Juntian, you are among the best of the Nascent Soul cultivators in the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect. I've heard your name long before today. But can you withstand this Dryland Earth Dragon puppet?"

With a grand gesture, Zhao Kai commanded the dragon puppet to open its maw and unleash a torrent of flames towards Shi Juntian. The next moment, rolling flames surged out.

Sensing immediate danger, Shi Juntian didn't dare to face it head-on and swiftly used a burst of Nascent Soul essence to teleport away. When he reappeared, he turned just in time to see the ground he had just vacated swallowed by the relentless fire, which burned without any sign of extinguishing.

Shi Juntian's heart raced as he saw the puppet dragon open its mouth again. He had no choice but to use another burst of Nascent Soul essence to teleport once more.

However, the flames spread too wide. Barely landing, he found his robes catching the fierce fire. Despite his frantic efforts to extinguish them, the flames clung stubbornly, leaving him in a dire and disheveled state.

Zhao Kai laughed heartily at the sight. The fire from the Dryland Earth Dragon was formidable; once it latched onto something, even Nascent Soul cultivators struggled to extinguish it promptly, especially given its extensive reach.

Many cultivators couldn't teleport out of its range fast enough, which was precisely why Zhao Kai was so confident.

He knew well that once he deployed the Dryland Earth Dragon puppet, it could decisively end the battle. "Shi Juntian, it's time for you to depart!" Zhao Kai sneered, commanding the puppet with a fierce command.

The Dryland Earth Dragon's speed was astonishing. In one breath, it remained stationary, and in the next, it was already before Shi Juntian. Its massive, fearsome claws swooped down. If the blow landed, it would surely deal a devastating blow to Shi Juntian!

Shi Juntian, overwhelmed, was forced to channel most of his spiritual qi into powering the four golden shields around him to ward off the relentless flames. His reserves drained rapidly, leaving him scrambling for additional protective magic treasures.

He activated a water-blue orb, which instantly enveloped him in layers of shimmering light just as the Dryland Earth Dragon's massive claw came crashing down. The impact shattered the outermost water-blue shield with a crisp crack, dimming the orb and flinging it away. The golden shields, too, cracked under the strike.

Shi Juntian's expression turned grave as he quickly summoned another defensive treasure, an ancient and heavy bell, which flew towards the attacking claw. With a resonant clang, the bell was smacked away, sending Shi Juntian tumbling through the air, blood spraying from his mouth as his energy rapidly declined.

Zhao Kai, sneering triumphantly, urged the Dryland Earth Dragon puppet forward for another attack. "Time to die!"

Desperate, Shi Juntian glanced towards Goden Thunder Mountain and yelled for help, "Fellow daoist, save me!"

Zhao Kai paused, briefly confused—were there still Nascent Soul cultivators hidden on Goden Thunder Mountain?

Just as he turned, a sense of danger surged. Not from behind or beside him but from below. A fist as large as a cauldron smashed upward, aimed viciously at an unsuspecting spot. Zhao Kai was shocked to his core, instinctively teleporting away.

Yet, no sooner had he landed than the hulking shadow lunged again. Fist after fist rained down, each blow like a hammer strike.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Caught off guard, Zhao Kai took four heavy hits, each accompanied by the sickening sound of breaking bones. Screaming in agony, he fell toward the ground. The dark figure, incredibly fast, pursued him relentlessly.

Gritting his teeth, Zhao Kai summoned the Dryland Earth Dragon puppet to shield himself. Only then did he manage to fend off the relentless assault. Finally getting a clear look, he realized his assailant was a massive, pitch-black corpse king. Its skin was like forged steel, its muscles sharply defined, and hard bone armor grew over its vulnerable joints—a veritable humanoid magic treasure!

The corpse king was swift and agile, exploiting every opening to strike ferocious blows on the Dryland Earth Dragon, leaving dents with each punch. The dragon, though large and cumbersome, seized a chance to retaliate, lashing its tail fiercely and sending the corpse king flying dozens of yards away.

"I had thought him some formidable Corpse King, yet he seems no more than a mere fourth level."

Zhao Kai's heart steadied a moment.

When this Corpse King had first appeared, he feared it was of the sixth level. Now, it appeared merely troublesome. Given time, his earthen dragon puppet would surely dispatch it. This thought had scarcely arisen when another blue figure burst forth, rushing toward him. This blue figure, though less robust than the Corpse King, moved with even greater swiftness.

Out of the corner of his eye, Zhao Kai barely caught sight of the blur. In the next moment, it was already before him.

Thud!

A fist smashed forward, striking directly at Zhao Kai's face. With a splatter, blood sprayed wildly as his nose was brutally broken. His brain seemed to turn to mush under the tremendous blow. He fell toward the ground, and only after a moment did he instinctively summon a shield, large as a gate, to guard himself.

But no sooner had this shield materialized than a mass of blue threads burst from within the figure, bypassing the shield and wrapping around him! Zhao Kai's eyes widened.

Was this not a Corpse King? How then did it possess such techniques?

Splurt!

In the blink of an eye, Zhao Kai's body was pierced by blue threads, which instantly drew forth copious amounts of blood. The blue threads turned almost red. Zhao Kai roared as his sword formation returned to his side and snapped the threads with a few crisp sounds.

However, the threads that remained inside him still retained their vitality. He could feel them burrowing deeper into his flesh, exploring new territories as if to make it their new home.

"Damn it! Gu insects!"

Zhao Kai roared again, without hesitation expelling the essence of his Nascent Soul, flames erupting from within him, encompassing even his eyes, nose, tongue, and viscera— a technique specifically designed to destroy poisons and Gu insects that invade the body, harming both enemy and self alike.

Squeaks!

He immediately heard the pitiful screams of numerous Gu insects within him, clearly perishing in the flames. It took a while before the flames subsided. Zhao Kai was charred all over, his vitality severely diminished.

"Who... who is controlling these two Corpse Kings?"

Zhao Kai instinctively swallowed several healing pills, his gaze fixated on the tumultuous dark qi of Mount Goden Thunder.

"Stop looking; I am right behind you."

A calm voice arose behind him.

Chapter 301: It's Time to Set Off

The moment the voice echoed in the air, Zhao Kai's eyes instantly widened in shock.

A sharp, pricking sensation surged within him, as though a thousand needles had suddenly pierced his heart.

When? When exactly had this happened?

The enemy had appeared behind him without his notice—how absurd!

Zhao Kai, with a deep breath, questioned himself. As a cultivator at the sixth stage of Nascent Soul, how had he allowed someone to get this close without detection?

Nevertheless, even in the face of such a shock, Zhao Kai reacted instinctively, immediately summoning his life-bound magic treasure.

A small tower shot into the air.

At once, a swarm of flying swords erupted from within, filling the sky like a rain of locusts.

The flying swords within the tower ranged in quality. Some were merely inferior-grade magic tools, while others reached the level of inferior magic treasures.

When such a massive number of swords were unleashed, they truly resembled a meteoric downpour, striking down like a thunderous storm.

This was his life-bound magic treasure—Divine Sword Tower!

Jingkong, Jinghui, and Jingxuan could not help but be astonished as they witnessed this spectacle.

They had long heard tales of the power of Zhao Kai's magic treasure. It was said to contain over a thousand flying swords, each one a weapon taken from defeated cultivators—magic tools and magic treasures alike.

The Divine Sword Tower itself was a unique magic treasure. The greater the number of flying swords it contained, the more formidable its power became.

The three had long desired to witness it in action but had never had the opportunity until now. Today, their wish had finally been fulfilled.

Jingxuan smiled, "Once this treasure appears, the suddenly appearing cultivator will surely be no match for Zhao Kai."

Jinghui nodded, "Fellow Daoist Zhao has slain countless cultivators of the same realm. That person, too, will not stand a chance."

Jingkong agreed, "The appearance of this person is merely a small interlude; it poses no real threat."

However, Zheng Ji and Wan Hun's expressions changed drastically as they watched this unfolding scene.

The sheer number of flying swords was terrifying!

If they had been the ones facing them, they would likely have been pierced through by a thousand swords.

Could Chu Xuan withstand this?

Chu Xuan smiled faintly as the vast barrage of swords shot toward him.

He raised a hand and, with a puff, expelled a mouthful of Nascent Soul essence. From the ground, a colossal ice pillar suddenly surged upward.

Seeing this, Shi Juntian's heart sank in alarm. He immediately accelerated and retreated at full speed.

Even he, with his cultivation, would need to avoid such a vast array of flying swords.

How could Chu Xuan dare to face it head-on with his magic, without evading?

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A series of deafening metallic clashes rang out in mid-air.

The flying swords collided with the ice pillar, their momentum halted as if they were drunken fools stumbling through the air.

Yet, after a brief pause, they regained enough strength to continue their assault.

As for the few magic treasure flying swords, they managed to pierce the ice pillar, but their speed was greatly slowed.

Seeing this, Chu Xuan reached out once more, and the ice pillar instantly shattered, transforming into a storm of ice shards.

The shards filled the entire area within a radius of twenty zhang, scattering across every inch of space.

As the flying swords shot toward him, they inevitably collided with the ice fragments in their path.

The moment they became laden with too many ice shards, their speed would plummet drastically.

Even the few strongest magic treasure swords were frozen in an instant, unable to advance or retreat, their movements completely halted.

Zhao Kai's expression changed drastically upon witnessing this.

His Divine Sword Tower, which could both attack and defend, had now been shattered by the enemy's spell!

What kind of magic was this?

Its power was beyond anything he had ever encountered!

The faces of Jingkong and the others also twisted in disbelief, as though they had just tasted something vile. They had expected a single strike to end the battle.

But now, they had been outwitted instead!

Shi Juntian's swift movement came to a sudden halt. He looked at Chu Xuan with an expression of disbelief.

How had he blocked it so easily?

Chu Xuan smiled faintly.

What Zhao Kai and the others did not know was that his Nascent Soul essence had merged with the Heavenly Dao Golden Lotus, greatly enhancing his power. Each breath of Nascent Soul essence he expelled amplified his spells immensely. Breaking through this Divine Sword Tower was no challenge at all.

Without hesitation, Chu Xuan activated his teleportation technique.

In the blink of an eye, his body shot forward, speeding directly toward Zhao Kai.

"To charge at me—you're seeking death!"

Zhao Kai sneered coldly, and with a sharp motion, he grabbed the air.

The flying swords, frozen by the ice shards, suddenly let out mournful wails from within. Then, with a violent explosion, they shattered!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In a matter of moments, the hundreds of flying swords were reduced to countless fragments. The ice shards, too, shattered into even finer pieces, scattering across every inch of space.

These shards of frost and broken flying swords swirled like a fog, obscuring all sight. Not only could Zhao Kai not see, but even Shi Juntian, Wan Hun, Zheng Ji, and the others were blinded by the haze.

Anxiety gripped the hearts of Shi Juntian and the others.

How had this happened? Zhao Kai still had the means to self-destruct the flying swords!

This person was truly capable of anything. These swords must have been accumulated over many years. And yet, he had been willing to destroy them all!

"Will he survive?"

Zheng Ji and Wan Hun exchanged uneasy glances. After all, their fates were tied to Chu Xuan's. If something were to happen to him, their own survival would be just as hopeless.

Zhao Kai, his gaze fixed on the mist, retrieved yet another magic treasure.

This was a set of small flags. Without hesitation, he threw them into the air. Thirty-six flags fell around the mist-covered area.

In an instant, the spiritual energy within the region grew chaotic and disordered.

Ice condensed into gas. Water liquefied into ice. Gas transformed back into water. The bizarre and erratic transformations dazzled the eyes.

This was precisely what struck fear into the hearts of cultivators.

Cultivators relied on spiritual energy as their foundation. When a Nascent Soul cultivator unleashed their spells, they connected to the world's spiritual energy, vastly amplifying their power.

But if the surrounding spiritual energy was in chaos, then the power of their spells would be significantly weakened. They would become like a beast trapped in a cage, at the mercy of their enemies.

Shi Juntian's expression shifted dramatically.

"The Inverted Chaos Formation! He actually possesses this kind of killing formation!"

The Inverted Chaos Formation was a top-tier killing array used by Nascent Soul cultivators. It could be carried at all times and activated whenever needed.

Though its coverage was limited, its lethality was immense. Once the enemy was trapped within, it became an inescapable death trap.

Shi Juntian immediately sought to channel his spiritual energy to break the formation Zhao Kai had set up.

However, Zhao Kai would not allow him to interfere. With a casual swipe, he summoned another set of flying swords and hurled them toward Shi Juntian.

Shi Juntian, already injured, found himself ensnared by the flying swords, unable to move any further. In his desperation, he spat out blood repeatedly.

"Hmph, an outsider daring to interfere—wait for death!"

Zhao Kai, expertly multitasking, manipulated the flying swords to entangle Shi Juntian while simultaneously urging the Inverted Chaos Formation to disrupt the spiritual energy within the mist.

However, before the formation could fully take shape, two sharp beams of cold light suddenly shot out. They struck and sent two of the small flags flying.

The Inverted Chaos Formation was destabilized and could not fully form. An overwhelming surge of cold energy poured from the mist, engulfing the entire area where Zhao Kai, Shi Juntian, and the others stood.

Within this icy domain, it was as though one's hand could not be seen in front of one's face!

"Such chilling cold…"

Zhao Kai's expression changed instantly.

This was undoubtedly the power of a top-grade magic treasure!

"Where is he… where?!"

Zhao Kai scanned the surroundings, reaching for his remaining magic treasures. But to his shock, he found none left to use.

"No magic treasures left? Then it's time to set off."

A cold, mocking laugh echoed from behind him.

In the next instant, two invisible, chilling hands smashed into his sea of consciousness!

Chapter 302: Mystic Azure Star Has Fallen Into the Hands of Our Divine Sect!

In that instant, Zhao Kai felt as though his skull was being torn apart, painfully and forcefully. Something massive and ice-cold was shoved into his head, filling every inch of his mind. The excruciating cold froze his thoughts, leaving him unable to think, his very mind paralyzed.

"Great Devouring Palm!"

Chu Xuan raised his hand once more. A massive spiritual palm descended, overwhelming Zhao Kai.

Zhao Kai's spiritual sense was immediately refined and absorbed by it. The Inner Furnace Refining Method continuously transformed them into Chu Xuan's own spiritual power, further strengthening his soul.

Zhao Kai struggled to maintain a sliver of clarity in his will, trying to escape with his Nascent Soul. But Chu Xuan had long been prepared. The Sky-Tearing Cold Palm grasped down with ferocity, easily seizing Zhao Kai's Nascent Soul.

With a casual flick of his wrist, Zhao Kai's physical body was thrown into the Myriad Realms Mirror and sent crashing to Blue Star.

Chu Xuan still planned to use the Soul Search technique to delve into Zhao Kai's memories, so he refrained from killing him—for the moment.

Whoosh.

In the blink of an eye, the winds roared. The mist dispersed.

Shi Juntian and the others focused, only to find that Zhao Kai had vanished completely, leaving Chu Xuan standing in his place.

Shi Juntian let out a long breath, and his gaze towards Chu Xuan softened, filled with awe. No wonder this person could suppress Wei Ji and the others at once. He was truly formidable!

If he could kill Zhao Kai, then eliminating him would be no more than a trifling task. He was glad he had been cautious and hadn't turned against this person. Otherwise, he would be the one lying dead.

Shi Juntian quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Fellow Daoist, your strength is truly impressive. I, Shi, am in awe!"

Chu Xuan smiled. "It was just a matter of luck in countering him."

Shi Juntian couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

"You defeated Zhao Kai by luck? What does that make me, then? Shouldn't I have been flattened under his fists?"

Jingkong, Jinghui, and Jingxuan had been watching the battle intently. When they realized that Zhao Kai had completely vanished, their faces turned ashen.

Zhao Kai, a Sixth Layer Nascent Soul powerhouse—just like that, he was gone?

The three of them were still at the early stages of Nascent Soul. If someone could kill Zhao Kai, how easily could he wipe them out?

Compared to the shock and fear of Jingkong and the others, Wei Ji and Wan Hun were filled with a sense of relief and excitement.

Good, good, good! They had indeed chosen the right side! Though controlled by the parasitic worms, it had been worth it!

With Zhao Kai's death, the Feather Transformation Heaven Palace would crumble like a mountain collapse! Victory was within reach!

In the future, they would undoubtedly receive the rewards of the Heaven-Shaking Divine Sect.

Jingkong, Jinghui, and Jingxuan exchanged a glance, and without hesitation, turned and fled.

"Leave it to you. Let's also go to Flying Thunder Valley."

Chu Xuan waved his hand, signaling the Four Arms, Hu, and Long to catch up and assist Wei Ji and Wan Hun.

If he had to personally deal with a Nascent Soul early-stage cultivator, then there would be no point in leaving anyone else alive. They might as well be dead.

...

At Golden Thunder Mountain, within the formation.

Bai Jinkun, Fu Peng, Cao Moren, and Wan Wuying had all witnessed the battle. Their hearts remained unsettled for a long time.

Fu Peng swallowed, his voice hoarse. "How... how could Lin Fan... possibly engage with the Deputy Palace Master of the Feather Transformation Heaven Palace? Could it be that he's actually a Nascent Soul cultivator?"

Cao Moren rolled his eyes. "After all this, you still don't understand? You should be addressing him as 'Senior,' not by name."

Fu Peng quickly covered his mouth, his face filled with horror.

Bai Jinkun, hearing their exchange, couldn't help but feel a sense of smug satisfaction.

What they had only just realized, he had known all along. It was the pride of one who had already discovered the secret.

Wan Wuying stared at the Four Arms soaring through the air, a look of astonishment in his eyes.

He remembered the day on the extraterritorial battlefield at the Great Chasm, when the cultivator who called himself Huikong from the Golden Dragon Temple had killed the genius Yun Zhongyu of the Reincarnation Divine Church.

On that day, he had watched from afar as Huikong deployed two Ghost Kings.

It was especially the Four Arms that left a deep impression on him—its appearance now was identical to the one he saw today!

However, Huikong had been a master at raising ghosts. This person, though, had a corpse king as well.

Generally speaking, devil cultivators would focus on one path alone. It was rare to find someone who excelled in raising ghosts, refining corpses, and breeding parasitic insects.

Such a genius, one who was proficient in all these aspects of the devil's path, was an incredibly rare find. But Wan Wuying knew very well—there was no such person as Huikong.

The Huikong of Golden Dragon Temple had been a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator and had long been killed by his former disciple, Chu Xuan.

This person's true identity was still a mystery, but he must be someone Wan Wuying knew.

Who could it be?

Wan Wuying vaguely had an answer.

....

At Flying Thunder Valley, Zheng Ji and Liu Ruoshui were under less pressure, and with the arrival of reinforcements from Golden Thunder Mountain, their victory was swift.

It didn't take long before Cheng Qi and the others were killed. Only Duan Xiu saw the situation turning unfavorable and made an early escape, fleeing without a trace.

Not long after, Four Arms, Hu, and Long returned, carrying the corpses of several Nascent Soul cultivators.

Chu Xuan nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad."

Shi Juntian smiled. "This victory is all thanks to Fellow Daoist Lin's intervention. Without it, we would have been in danger, and the Divine Sect's grand ambitions would have been at risk."

Chu Xuan waved his hand. "I am also part of the Sect. It was only right."

Wei Ji spoke seriously. "Now that Zhao Kai and the others are dead, only the Nascent Soul cultivators of our faction remain on Mystic Azure Star. If we take advantage of this opportunity to seize the heart and foot of the formation, we can fully control the Realm Protecting Formation. At that time, we will be able to welcome the Deity Transformation cultivators of the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect to occupy Mystic Azure!"

Shi Juntian nodded repeatedly. "That is my intention as well. Please, everyone, immediately go to different parts of Mystic Azure to secure the formation's positions."

Once everyone left, he turned to Chu Xuan. "Fellow Daoist Lin, would you be willing to assist me in securing the heart of the formation?"

Chu Xuan smiled. "That sounds great."

He was the strongest, so it would not make sense for him to travel far to control the various formation nodes.

Shi Juntian did not dare to issue such an order. Naturally, he would remain at the heart of the Realm Protecting Formation.

More than ten days later.

The Realm Protecting Formation on Mystic Azure Star had completely fallen under the control of Chu Xuan and his group.

Beyond Mystic Azure Star, in the vast expanse of space, two elderly figures were locked in confrontation. One of them was Tiancang, the True Master of the Reincarnation Divine Sect. The other was Blood Wine True Master of the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect. The two had been fighting for thousands of rounds, but there had been no clear victor.

Tiancang spoke indifferently, "Leave. I cannot kill you, and you cannot defeat me. On Mystic Azure Star, the Nascent Soul cultivators under my Reincarnation Divine Sect outnumber yours. The Realm Protecting Formation will inevitably activate, and you won't be able to enter Mystic Azure."

Blood Wine True Master's expression darkened.

The other Deity Transformation cultivators of the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect each had their own tasks. Some were battling fiercely in the extraterritorial battlefield for rare treasures, while others had been stationed on other cultivation stars to guard against a surprise attack from the Reincarnation Divine Sect into the Divine Sect's heartland.

Blood Wine True Master's objective was Mystic Azure Star.

However, Tiancang was notoriously difficult to deal with.

He had repeatedly tried to bypass Tiancang and enter Mystic Azure before the Realm Protecting Formation was fully activated. But Tiancang was an expert in the art of splitting his consciousness and creating avatars. Every time, at least one of his avatars would block Blood Wine True Master's path, preventing him from making any progress.

As the two continued to face off, Blood Wine True Master suddenly received a transmission. After listening to the message, he burst into loud, triumphant laughter.

"Tiancang, old ghost! Mystic Azure Star has already fallen into our Divine Sect's hands! Fighting back and forth here is meaningless!"

Chapter 303: The Biggest Contributor

Tiancang's brows furrowed deeply as he turned his gaze behind him. Sure enough, the Realm Protecting Formation had already been activated. And it was radiating a thick, ominous blood-red glow.

He immediately tried to contact Zhao Kai and the others through transmission. But every attempt seemed to sink into an abyss, with no response at all.

Tiancang's heart sank to the bottom.

What is this? I've been battling here, and now there's a fire burning in my own backyard? How is it that so many Nascent Soul cultivators can't deal with the demonic cultivators from Northern Cold? What have they been doing this whole time?!

Blood Wine True Master, grinning, taunted, "Look at what you've been protecting. Even now, you're still not leaving?"

Tiancang's face darkened, and with a final glance, he commanded a flying shuttle to swiftly disappear into the distance.

The Realm Protecting Formation had fallen into the hands of the enemy. With the formation fully activated, it was powerful enough to resist the combined efforts of two Deity Transformation cultivators. There was no need for him to stay any longer.

Blood Wine True Master laughed loudly, his figure heading toward Mystic Azure Star.

...

On Mystic Azure Star, in the Central Continent, on Spirit Feather Island.

Chu Xuan and his group were waiting in the grand hall. As the strongest cultivator, Chu Xuan held the highest position of honor, seated at the far left. Behind him were Wei Ji, Liu Ruoshui, Zheng Ji, and Wan Hun.

Seated at the far right were Shi Juntian and several Nascent Soul cultivators from the Heavenly Blood Alliance.

The cultivators of the Heavenly Blood Alliance had arrived via the ancient teleportation array provided by the Commercial Star. They had managed to delay many Nascent Soul cultivators from Northern Cold in the Eastern Border. Without their help, the pressure on Chu Xuan and the others would have been far greater.

In addition to the Nascent Soul cultivators, many Golden Core cultivators stood respectfully by.

Wan Wuying, Bai Jinkun, and others all stood quietly, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

However, Wan Wuying's gaze repeatedly drifted toward Chu Xuan. Because the current Chu Xuan had shed all his previous disguises, revealing his true identity. He was the same junior brother Wan Wuying had known—the one who had disappeared all those years ago!

At that time, during the chaos, Wan Wuying and Chu Xuan had seized the battle token and successfully made their way to the extraterritorial battlefield. But Chu Xuan had fallen in the western part of the battlefield, where he was swarmed by a horde of Nether Crocodiles and had vanished without a trace.

Wan Wuying had always believed that Chu Xuan had died.

But now...

After so many years, Chu Xuan had returned as a fully-fledged Nascent Soul cultivator. He had even slain Zhao Kai, the substitute palace master of the Feather Transformation Heaven Palace, and made a tremendous contribution to the victory in this battle.

Yet here was Wan Wuying, still a mere Golden Core cultivator, struggling to advance toward Nascent Soul. How many cruel jokes had fate played?

The rise and fall of life truly felt like an endless rollercoaster.

"Hahaha! Shi Juntian, you really did an outstanding job! I thought the cultivators from Northern Cold wouldn't be able to stop the Feather Transformation Heaven Palace, but not only did they hold their ground, they even turned the tables and took down the Realm Protecting Formation!

Such a brilliant achievement! If this is reported back to the sect, it will surely make the Sect Leader happy for a long time! Shi Juntian, you're going to rake in a huge amount of contribution points for the sect with this one!"

A loud, boisterous laugh rang out from outside the hall. Before the person even arrived, his voice had already filled the room.

Everyone in the hall turned to look at the entrance, and immediately saw a stout yet short figure walking in.

The man was wearing only a tiger skin vest slung over one shoulder, and his attire looked as if he had stepped out of an ancient era. Around his waist were four wine gourds and a storage pouch. His wrists and ankles jingled with blood-red bells, but despite the noise they would have made, not a single sound came from them as he walked.

It was Blood Wine True Master!

He laughed heartily as he walked into the hall, his gaze falling immediately on Shi Juntian. A satisfied smile spread across his face.

Shi Juntian quickly stood up and immediately said, "Blood Wine Uncle Master, it wasn't me..."

Blood Wine True Master burst into another round of hearty laughter. "If it wasn't you, then who was it? You're at the sixth level of Nascent Soul, and you're the personal disciple of Blood Wing True Master. Who else could have pulled off something like this?"

Shi Juntian's face showed signs of discomfort. "Blood Wine Uncle Master, really, it wasn't me, it was…"

Blood Wine True Master's smile faded into a displeased frown. "You brat, stop being so humble! It's boring! I rarely praise anyone, so just accept it! Keep on with your nonsense, and I'll tear your mouth off!"

Shi Juntian quickly fell silent. Because the Blood Wine True Master was exactly the type to carry out such threats.

The Blood Wine True Master strode to the highest point, cleared his throat, and adopted the dignified air of a senior expert.

"Everyone here has made great contributions in the Mystic Azure War. On behalf of the Divine Sect, I thank you all. However, even though the Mystic Azure star is now under our control, we must remain vigilant against the shameless sneak attacks from the Reincarnation Divine Sect. Starting today, we will be establishing a brand-new fifth-tier cultivation sect on Mystic Azure."

As for the few of you from the Heavenly Blood Alliance, you'll be heading back for now, and that is that. You, the juniors, will be the core figures of this new sect. As for the name of this new sect, feel free to choose, but Feather Transformation Heaven Palace is off the table. It's simply too ugly. Once the sect is established, it will be protected for five hundred years. Should any practitioner reach the Deity Transformation stage during this time, the Divine Sect will officially recognize it."

The Blood Wine True Master waved his hand dismissively.

"Alright, let me see the list of merits from this battle. I need to take it back to report to the Divine Sect. The rewards will be distributed to you soon enough."

Shi Juntian hastily stepped forward, handing over a jade slip imbued with spiritual sense. The Blood Wine True Master pressed it to his forehead. After a long pause, he suddenly jumped up.

"Those who killed Cheng Qi—Chu Xuan. Those who delayed the Dragon Puppet—Chu Xuan. Those who killed Zhao Kai—Chu Xuan. The greatest contributor to the Mystic Azure War… is still Chu Xuan? Who is Chu Xuan?"

The Blood Wine True Master’s gaze swept over the crowd, astonished.

Chu Xuan cupped his hands in salute. "Senior Blood Wine, I am Chu Xuan."

The Blood Wine True Master immediately furrowed his brows and extended his spiritual sense, scanning with intent. Chu Xuan made no attempt to block it, standing calmly in place. His Myriad Realm Mirror had long fused with his body.

As a Deity Transformation cultivator, the Blood Wine True Master might have some difficulty detecting the presence of the Myriad Realm Mirror.

As for the rest…

Chu Xuan had little to hide.

Most of his secrets were concealed within the Myriad Realm Mirror, in the Blue Star, the Soul Star, and the Cave World. And it was precisely because he knew the Blood Wine True Master would scrutinize him so thoroughly that he allowed his disguise to fall away completely. After all, the other party was a Deity Transformation cultivator.

To attempt any concealment, any change of appearance would only anger him. If he had offended a Deity Transformation cultivator from the very beginning, how could he expect to survive in the Shaking Heaven Divine Sect?

"Not bad, young man! From the moment I felt your Spiritual Qi, I could tell you're a proper cultivator of the demonic path! Tsk, tsk, and you even have impressive physical refinement!"

The Blood Wine True Master found nothing amiss and nodded in satisfaction.

"Thank you for the praise, Senior," Chu Xuan smiled.

Shi Juntian whispered, "Uncle Master, see? I told you it wasn’t me…"

"Ahem… my mistake, just pretend you didn't see it."

The Blood Wine True Master cleared his throat nonchalantly.

The others kept their eyes focused on their own matters.

Fine. You’re a Deity Transformation cultivator. If you say you didn’t see anything, then we won’t mention it.