With a tenfold disparity in numbers and a clear superiority in average cultivation level, coupled with the fact that many of the Demon Path Ancestral Court’s disciples were already injured and at an unprecedented low in combat strength, they were unable to mount a decent counterattack against the sudden fierce assault from the female cultivators of Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. The result was a complete annihilation.
In the end, aside from three individuals who begrudgingly fled with their life-saving jade talismans, none were spared. Not even their divine souls were preserved; all were thoroughly eradicated.
“Those three must have recognized us. Once they get out, it’ll inevitably lead to a heap of trouble.”
Qing Muling frowned as he spoke, for the first time finding the function of the life-saving jade talisman somewhat irksome. Without it, he was confident he could have completely wiped out those key figures from the enemy forces. If they fell into his hands, there would be no evidence left after their deaths.
Yu Lingzhou chuckled, “What does it matter? If it comes to it, we’ll just openly go to war with the Demon Path Ancestral Court. It’s a common occurrence, nothing to fuss over.”
The two sides had always been at odds, and with the inherent conflict between good and evil, starting a sect war required no justification.
Of course, as one of the roots of the demonic path, the Demon Path Ancestral Court had a profound foundation and was terrifyingly powerful. Even among the Supreme Dao Lineages, they were among the elite few. The Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace of the past would not have been a match, but now things were different.
Qing Muling nodded, then turned to Fengxia and asked, “How many people are left in this ruin? I mean the living; don’t bother with the dead.”
“Excluding you all, there are currently 3,786 people from dozens of different forces. Over two thousand cultivators have perished. Mainly because more people have entered recently, so the total number has increased from before,” the little phoenix replied in a soft voice.
She hadn’t expected Qing Muling to possess a special method that allowed him to bring nearly two thousand people, all brimming with vitality and well-supplied, in one go. Sealing the cultivation of a bunch of elder-level powerhouses and bringing them to this palace ruin to seek opportunities or deal with people from other forces was an enormous advantage.
Xuebing Xuan instructed a group of core disciples to clean up the battlefield. There were still many valuable items on those corpses, which were all collected and handed over to the Junior Brother for safekeeping until they could decide on distribution after getting out.
Qing Muling took out a jade turtle shell to continue calculating a safe path forward. Since these fellow sisters had entrusted their lives to him, he was determined to bring them all back safely.
Fengxia glanced at him and couldn’t help but suggest again, “Thirty miles away is the Divine Fire Hall, where the Dao Venerable once forged artifacts. There should be plenty of treasures inside. Shall I lead you there?”
Cheng Yulan replied indifferently, “We can’t trust your words.”
Although Qi Yalan remained silent, she stayed close to Fengxia, her flying sword ready to strike at any sign of treachery.
To this day, the sisters still didn’t trust this mysterious little phoenix. Without Qing Muling’s approval, they would never allow her to move freely.
Fengxia sighed helplessly. She understood the female cultivators’ thoughts, but words alone were not enough. She had no choice but to let time prove everything.
After silently calculating for a moment, Qing Muling finally said, “You’re right, the Divine Fire Hall is indeed in that location. However, there are too many traps and restrictions along the way. We can’t just teleport there directly; we must take a big detour to ensure safety. Moreover, someone has already entered that place.”
Fengxia quickly said, “I know a quicker and safer route. We can get there in two teleports and beat them to it.”
“Let’s forget it. I’d rather trust my own deductions.”
Qing Muling shook his head, refusing her offer. Even if others had gotten there first, the treasures inside weren’t so easily obtained. By the time he arrived, those people might still be fumbling around.
Xuebing Xuan asked, “Junior Brother, should we let them…”
She meant to suggest that if the dangers along the way were significant and casualties might occur, it would be better to have the sisters hide back inside the starship. Then the Junior Brother could take them into his inner space, ensuring their utmost safety.
Qing Muling nodded, “Yes, let’s do that.”
So, in front of Fengxia, most of the female cultivators entered the starship and disappeared in a flash of light, leaving only Xuebing Xuan and the other women, along with twelve Supreme Elders, to accompany and protect Qing Muling. They all had life-saving jade talismans, so even in the face of accidents, they wouldn’t perish.
Unless Qing Muling himself was killed, it was impossible to threaten the safety of those female cultivators. Of course, he also had a life-saving jade talisman. Even if he were truly killed, he would soon revive on the ritual platform at the entrance to the secret realm. Thus, for the enemies of Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, this was an unsolvable problem.
The only way might be to capture Qing Muling alive without giving him a chance to fight to the death, but the difficulty of that was even more exaggerated, essentially impossible.
…
On the large ritual platform at the entrance to the secret realm.
As a magnificent rain of light ascended, three disheveled figures appeared on the platform, soon solidifying. They were the three unfortunate souls from the Demon Path Ancestral Court.
Aside from looking somewhat dispirited, they seemed unharmed, not even a scratch on their bodies. The reliability of the life-saving jade talismans refined by the higher-ups of the Dao Court was assured.
“Damn it! Those wretched women from Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, I, Luo Feiyang, will not let this go—uh…”
A man in a deep blue robe cursed through gritted teeth, but suddenly realizing he was surrounded by the Dao Court’s elders, he quickly controlled his emotions and left without a word.
He was a prodigy of the Demon Path Ancestral Court, a figure of high status and power, eligible to contend for the position of the next Supreme Sect Master. He had never expected to suffer such humiliation in this secret realm. However, he still needed to maintain his image.
The two grey-robed elders silently followed. They were Luo Feiyang’s protectors, Supreme Elders of the Demon Path Ancestral Court, and also had life-saving jade talismans. But the more than three hundred disciples who had followed Luo Feiyang were all wiped out, dealing him a significant blow.
In the Demon Path Ancestral Court’s camp.
As soon as Luo Feiyang entered with a cold face, he bumped into a group of people coming out. The leader, a seductive woman in a black palace dress, brightened when she saw him and greeted him with a teasing smile:
“Oh my, isn’t that Brother Luo? You always like to make a grand entrance, so why are you returning alone today? Don’t tell me you’ve been humiliated in the secret realm and chased back like a dog?”
This was exactly the wrong thing to say. Luo Feiyang’s veins throbbed with anger, and he coldly snorted, “Su Qingchan, spare me your sarcastic remarks! It was just a moment of carelessness, a minor setback. As for you, be careful when you enter the secret realm. Don’t get caught and become a slave, bringing shame to our sect!”
The two were rivals of equal status, and naturally, they didn’t show each other any kindness, exchanging barbed comments.
“Heh, I certainly won’t be as presumptuous as someone,”
Su Qingchan smiled charmingly, “Having lost so many loyal followers, all of whom were elites of the sect, I wonder how Brother Luo will explain this to the Master? I’m afraid your position as the Holy Son might not be so secure in the next sect assessment.”
Luo Feiyang angrily flung his sleeve, his voice as cold as ice: “You needn’t worry about that, Sister. When I see the Sect Master, I will have my explanation!”
With that, he left, no longer paying attention to the gloating Su Qingchan.
Su Qingchan watched his angry departure, her smile fading as she mused, “What exactly did this arrogant fool encounter in the secret realm? I’ve never seen him so disheveled before. Who could have caused him such a loss? I’m somewhat curious now!”
“Sister, I heard he went to the Star Peng Plain. Our people secretly sent back a message a few days ago,” a pretty red-robed female cultivator communicated quietly with her divine sense.
“And now? What’s the situation?”
Su Qingchan asked. It was not surprising for one or two spies from other factions to infiltrate Luo Feiyang’s numerous followers.
“That’s unclear. Our spy has been out of contact for two days. It could be that…”
The female cultivator hesitated, seeing Luo Feiyang return alone while his followers were nowhere to be seen, fearing the worst.
Su Qingchan sighed, “Let’s not worry about this until after the assembly of immortals is over. Let’s enter the secret realm first and hope we don’t come back empty-handed.”
…
On the edge of the palace ruins in the heart of Star Peng Plain.
“Is this all the people left?”
Lan Qiyao looked at the eight hundred or so elite assassins in front of her, nearly half of whom were injured, with an unmistakable hint of disappointment in her expression.
“Your Highness, all the surviving disciples have made it out,” one of the protectors reported.
Despite the strategy of splitting forces and breaking through, the relentless pursuit of the Thunder Feather Star Peng was no joke. After a harrowing escape, Lan Qiyao’s subordinates were reduced to this number.
The five thousand elites who had entered hadn’t even seen a shadow of their target before suffering heavy losses. The difficulty of the mission was enough to frustrate Lan Qiyao to the extreme.
Still, the task at hand had to be completed. Even if she were the only one left, she couldn’t abandon her mission. Only by completing the task could she have something to report to her Master.
“Enough, let’s find a place to rest and recover. We’ll go back in once the injuries are healed,”
Lan Qiyao finally instructed.
…
“This is the Divine Fire Hall, truly magnificent and imposing…”
Mei Qingfeng, the Holy Maiden of Calamity Fate Palace, looked at the giant palace in front of her, glowing bright red like fire. The upper half was shrouded in a hazy mist, with only the lower part visible to the cultivators. The rich Dao Rhyme flowed thickly, and faint, mysterious chanting echoed at the level of the divine soul, yet nothing could be clearly heard when one listened closely.
Ascending the steps, intense heat hit them in the face. At the end of the tens of thousands of azure crystal steps was an incredibly grand hall.
Sensing carefully, there seemed to be countless towering and mighty flame-formed divine generals and soldiers at the entrance of the hall, standing silently in a majestic military formation.
Beside her, an elder remarked, “Your Highness, it is said that the Mysterious Dao Venerable once forged artifacts here for millions of years, leaving behind many rare materials and Postnatal Spirit Treasure embryos, as well as numerous Daoist scriptures and manuals. There are even some complete Postnatal Spirit Treasures. If we are fortunate enough to obtain a few, this trip will not be in vain.”
Mei Qingfeng nodded lightly, “Let’s go in. The test at the entrance is nothing to worry about. The key is the treasure-refining pool inside. It’s said that the most valuable opportunities are there. Other forces will soon arrive, so it’s best if we get there first.”
“Against the Gods”
Thus, dozens of Calamity Fate Palace cultivators followed the Holy Maiden up the steps, penetrating deeply, with the flame-formed divine generals and soldiers offering no resistance as they entered the grand hall.
Moments later, another group of nearly a hundred cultivators hurried over from afar, all enchantingly beautiful female cultivators from the Goddess Sect.
They arrived at the steps and entered without delay.
Shortly after, cultivators from the Bright Moon Sword Sect, Secret Demon Palace, Ancient Phoenix Clan, Dragon and Tiger Cauldron Sect, and other sects appeared one after another, with varying numbers of members, totaling dozens of forces.
Then, bright purple-golden Buddha light pierced through the mist, and the disciples of the Great Brahma Temple also appeared, led by a serene and beautiful woman in a deep blue dress that accentuated her voluptuous and undulating figure.
Her delicate and graceful features were as beautiful as a peach blossom in February, yet she exuded a holy and untainted aura, untouched by the mundane world. Her bright eyes and straight nose complemented her full and lustrous lips, while her long neck led to a pair of full and prominent breasts. Her hair was elegantly coiffed, with golden ornaments shining brightly.
It was Miao Xin, the second-in-command of the Great Brahma Temple, a prominent figure in the Great Void Starry Sky, rumored to be only a step away from the Quasi Holy Emperor Realm.
“It seems it won’t be long before it gets quite lively inside!”
Miao Xin slightly raised her head, surveying her surroundings, already aware of the recent events.
“Master, should we go in now or wait outside for them to come out?” a lively and beautiful celestial maiden asked.
Miao Xin smiled and replied, “This place is fated with our Buddhist sect. Of course, we should go in and take a look. Who knows, we might even recruit a few more external protectors!”
With that, nearly two hundred disciples followed her up the steps and entered the main door.
By the time Qing Muling and his sisters arrived at the foot of the steps, two hours had passed.
“It seems we’re the last ones to arrive?”
Fengxia looked around and spoke to Qing Muling with a hint of regret.
Qing Muling was unfazed, “A good meal is worth waiting for. The ownership of those opportunities doesn’t follow a first-come, first-served rule. Let’s go in! I want to see what makes them so different.”
At the end of the ten thousand steps was a gateway towering a thousand feet high, behind which was a constantly changing, multicolored light screen that no one could see through.
After sensing briefly, Qing Muling called his sisters to join him as they stepped through.