Ten years passed like the flick of a shuttle.

  Yet for those inside the Immortal Relic, a decade slipped by almost unnoticed; their minds had been wholly consumed by the pursuit of power.

  BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

  Waves surged across the vast sea, ripples spreading in every direction.

  The Origin Waterfall ceased its endless cascade; the deafening roar that had thundered for a decade finally fell silent.

  Seven-colored rainbow light blossomed where the waterfall once fell—auspicious, yet ominous.

  Outside the relic, countless seated cultivators felt their hearts tremble.

  They rose as one, staring toward the waterfall.

  “The Origin Waterfall has stopped! They’re coming out!”

  A Martial Emperor City Nascent Soul elder cried out, voice shaking with excitement and sorrow.

  The tragic death of Elder Zhao Qian on the Bloody Battlefield had reached the holy land; many still mourned.

  An Infant Transformation survivor of the Tian Yuan Cataclysm—close to Du Longyang and the others—slain so brutally.

  BOOM!

  Inside the relic, a beam of light flared.

  A figure stepped forth unhurriedly, purple robes fluttering, long hair unbound and flowing freely.

  “Feng Yilou!”

  The Martial Emperor City elder’s eyes lit up.

  The once-young genius had entered the relic to seek fortune; now he emerged.

  Feng Yilou raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sudden glare, hair cascading through his fingers.

  “Coming out is coming out—what’s with the dramatic pose?”

  Beside him, Xiao Yue’er in her crimson dress rolled her eyes.

  Not some delicate maiden—shielding the sun and letting hair fall through his fingers on purpose?

  Feng Yilou glanced at her and said nothing.

  This woman had grown even more sharp-tongued.

  Zhong Nan strode out next.

  After his defeat to Overlord, he had reflected deeply in seclusion. Ten years had transformed him—his arrogance tempered, his presence steadier.

  A black blade rested on his back, its hilt wrapped in red cloth.

  “Demons from beyond the heavens have invaded. We emerge to fight. Stop bickering.”

  “You’ve argued for ten years—isn’t that enough?”

  Zhong Nan said sternly.

  Feng Yilou chuckled. The three shot skyward as streaks of light.

  The Martial Emperor City elder greeted them.

  The trio felt dazed—ten years inside, yet only one year outside.

  “Yilou… Elder Zhao Qian has fallen.”

  The elder’s voice was heavy with grief.

  Feng Yilou froze. Elder Zhao had been close to him. He had reached Infant Transformation—how could he die?

  The situation on the Bloody Battlefield was explained.

  Elder Zhao had been obliterated—body and soul—by an invader.

  Killing intent exploded from Feng Yilou.

  Demons from beyond the heavens?

  Xiao Yue’er and Zhong Nan exchanged glances, eyes sharpening.

  BOOM!

  The three unleashed terrifying auras.

  Lotuses of spiritual energy bloomed across the sea.

  They tore through the clouds, vanishing into the Bloody Battlefield.

  The onlookers stood stunned, gasping.

  “Yin Spirit Realm!”

  All three prodigies had stepped into the Yin Spirit Realm!

  The former Human List geniuses were now Heavenly List prodigies!

  The silent waterfall grew lively.

  Someone sauntered out humming a tune, swaggering with splayed legs.

  That unrestrained gait reminded many of a certain person.

  “Mo Tianyu! That poisonous fortune-teller!”

  Gasps rang out.

  Next came a sword-browed youth with a sword on his back.

  Another with bandaged arms, striding like a god or demon, evaporating seawater with each step.

  Another cloaked in black, trailing vines.

  A daoist nun, each step blooming with lotuses.

  All radiated auras that crushed the Nascent Soul onlookers.

  They spared little time for greetings.

  They looked toward the Bloody Battlefield, eyes burning with eagerness.

  Then shot skyward, afraid of missing even the dregs of battle.

  …

  Inside the relic, silence reigned once more.

  DONG… DONG… DONG…

  An ancient bell tolled, sound waves rippling through the air.

  In the long-quiet dao field,

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  Three figures opened their eyes.

  Empress Ni Chunqiu withdrew the bell fragment, exhaling slowly.

  Her spiritual energy surged—her entire being transformed.

  Du Longyang and Ye Shoudao opened their eyes too.

  They exchanged smiles.

  “This immortal bell is extraordinary. Every fragment contains profound immortal arts.”

  Du Longyang marveled.

  The relic truly was a land of great fortune.

  Ten years of cultivation using immortal arts had allowed all three to complete their Yin Spirit Dao Lotuses and take the first step into the Yang God Nine Transformations.

  Only the first step, but still.

  “The relic is rich with origin qi and heavenly spiritual energy—a perfect place for secluded cultivation.”

  They rose, terrifying auras rumbling around them.

  “But who awakened us? Without that, we could have cultivated indefinitely…”

  “Those arts were too profound.”

  Du Longyang said.

  “It must be Brother Lu.”

  Ni Chunqiu’s eyes gleamed, licking her red lips as she scanned around.

  “Only Brother Lu could wake us.”

  Ye Shoudao nodded.

  “But don’t forget—the crisis hanging over our heads. Perhaps… Young Master Lu can no longer hold it alone.”

  The mood darkened.

  They exchanged glances, then shot out of the plaza, bell fragments in hand.

  Hm?

  They paused.

  An old acquaintance leaned against a pillar, waiting with a resentful gaze that gave them goosebumps.

  “Tianxu?”

  “Young Master Tianxu…”

  It was indeed Young Master Tianxu, face full of grievance.

  “We agreed to struggle together like dogs—yet you all secretly soared ahead…”

  He sounded like a resentful wife.

  Ten years in the relic—he had barely reached Yin Spirit Realm.

  Yet sensing the overwhelming auras from Du Longyang and the others…

  He knew he had been left behind again.

  Young Master Tianxu pursed his lips, on the verge of tears.

  He… was so pitiful悔.

  Why was heaven so unfair?

  The three could only console him.

  Tianxu hadn’t slacked either—he had reached late-stage Yin Spirit.

  Not bad.

  The four emerged from the relic.

  The Holy Lords’ emergence sent shockwaves across the sea.

  But Du Longyang and the others wasted no time on pleasantries.

  Faces grim, they looked skyward.

  At Yang God Realm, they sensed it—

  Terrifying auras clashing beyond the heavens!

  “Enemies!”

  Their auras exploded.

  BOOM!

  The sea split as they shot into the Bloody Battlefield.

  …

  Immortal Palace.

  The great array hummed quietly.

  The golden lion yawned.

  Ten years as guardian—ten years of watching little humans cultivate.

  Boring beyond words.

  Though the past few days had been interesting.

  Many had tried to break out and challenge him.

  He didn’t stop them maliciously—anyone who lasted ten moves against him, he let go.

  Hm?

  Suddenly, the lion looked up.

  Golden mane flared.

  Heavy footsteps echoed from within the array.

  A towering figure emerged, axe and shield on his back.

  Each step shook the formation.

  Overlord calmly faced the lion.

  He raised a hand—and removed his own head.

  The lion’s fur stood on end.

  Malice!

  Pure malice!

  …

  Golden Body Continent.

  Atop the majestic peak,

  Lu Fan sat in white, smiling brightly.

  Watching figures emerge one after another from the relic, he felt a fatherly pride.

  His little chicks had grown up.

  “Ten years of training—let these holy sons and maidens be your whetstones.”

  Lu Fan smiled.

  He rolled up his sleeves, picked up a piece, and placed it on the board.

  The yin-yang chess game neared completion.

  With each piece, his spiritual sense grew stronger.

  The Five Phoenixes origin—fused with three supreme mid-martial origins—was on the verge of high martial.

  One push to spin the vortex into a stellar spiral…

  And the Five Phoenixes would leap into high martial.

  Then…

  The greatest transformation in history would begin.

  From mid to high martial—the leap would dwarf all before.

  As the ancients said: when one ascends, even chickens and dogs rise.

  When the Five Phoenixes became high martial, everyone would undergo a qualitative leap.

  The accumulated energy of three supreme origins would feed back into every being.

  Lu Fan continued placing pieces.

  Unhurried.

  …

  “A mere native dares point his blade at us holy sons and maidens?”

  “Once Holy Son Qingling breaks the array, I will personally end him!”

  “He has reason to be arrogant—he killed the Heavenly Dragon Holy Son. But he picked the wrong opponents.”

  Voices rang out.

  Qi Liujia’s array did not stop them.

  Nor did they provoke him.

  On the verdant spirit boat, Holy Son Qingling smiled faintly.

  He sailed straight into the Overturning Sky Array.

  His special physique was born to break formations—he could twist and seize array runes.

  Mist swirled.

  Outside, the holy sons and maidens smiled relaxedly.

  They waited for the array to fall, then to storm the Bloody Battlefield and kill the arrogant native.

  Yet…

  Time passed.

  Someone frowned.

  “Why hasn’t Holy Son Qingling broken it yet?”

  Just as the words left their mouth—

  A muffled groan.

  A streak of green shot backward from the mist.

  Holy Son Qingling coughed blood, his spirit boat dimmed.

  “This array is strange. I cannot find the core runes. It cannot be broken easily!”

  He still felt lingering fear.

  Thankfully it was only defensive—if it had been a killing array, he would be dead.

  The others were shocked.

  Even Qingling failed?

  “Of course, you may enter with treasures to protect your minds and descend to the Bloody Battlefield.”

  “But… this array is odd. Be careful.”

  Qingling warned.

  He, for one, would not try again.

  Many recalled the Heavenly Dragon Holy Son’s cold corpse.

  They hesitated.

  On the Bloody Battlefield, Nie Changqing—blade raised to the heavens—laughed in disdain.

  “What holy sons and maidens? Just a bunch of cowards.”

  His laughter echoed into the void, ringing in every ear.

  “Arrogant!”

  Killing intent flared.

  “If you have guts, come in!”

  Nie Changqing stepped on the Heavenly Dragon Holy Son’s corpse.

  On the battlefield,

  Xuanwu Guards, Southern Prefecture troops—all roared with excitement.

  Jiang Li, wounds healed, gazed at the heavens in blood-stained silver armor.

  Tantai Xuan clapped and laughed.

  “What high martial holy sons and maidens…”

  “Just a pack of rats!”

  His arrogance further enraged them.

  “A mere mortal dares act so bold!”

  The golden boy and jade girl on the immortal crane said coldly.

  BOOM!

  But before they finished—

  Nie Changqing moved.

  Lotuses of blade qi bloomed beneath his feet.

  “King of Northern Xuan is right—you’re all just rats!”

  “If you won’t come in, I’ll come out!”

  Nie Changqing charged out of the Overturning Sky Array, blade at his waist.

  “Who dares fight me?!”

  “Think killing the Heavenly Dragon makes you invincible?”

  A holy son sneered.

  Seeing Nie Changqing emerge, killing intent surged.

  They feared the array.

  But outside it?

  BOOM!

  A holy son wreathed in crimson flames stepped forward, punching toward Nie Changqing.

  A fist of sky-blotting fire!

  On the bronze warship, the golden-robed youth smiled.

  Nie Changqing was decent—but not worth his effort.

  Among those vying for the high martial origin, only the twins on the immortal crane, the bronze-skinned giant on the ferocious bird, and Qingling truly concerned him.

  They came from Seventh Derivative high martial worlds—far beyond the likes of the Heavenly Dragon Holy Son.

  Nie Changqing’s blood boiled.

  This was crisis—and opportunity!

  Pressure was there, but turning pressure into power was his path.

  He believed the all-knowing Young Master watched from every corner.

  The Young Master did not act because he wanted Nie Changqing to temper himself against these foes.

  “KILL!”

  Nie Changqing strode forward.

  Unsheathe stance.

  “Unsheathe Dao Intent!”

  “Dragon Slayer!”

  “Dao Intent?!”

  “I have it too!”

  The flaming holy son’s eyes blazed.

  His own Dao Intent erupted.

  Twin flaming fists pushed forward, incinerating the void!

  Blade met flame—sparks exploded.

  The holy son staggered back in the void.

  “What power! What tier is that Dao Intent?!”

  He was horrified.

  His Dao Intent-enhanced strike had been cleaved apart—deep, bone-revealing gashes across his body!

  “Fourth-tier Sequence Dao Intent!”

  The golden-robed youth’s eyes flashed.

  “What a pity… you stand alone. One man cannot save this world.”

  Many were shaken by Nie Changqing’s dominance.

  But most sneered.

  He was alone—and only early-stage Spirit Severing.

  Three holy sons attacked simultaneously.

  Three Spirit Severing strikes!

  Nie Changqing’s hairs stood on end.

  He popped a pill into his mouth.

  Power surged endlessly.

  He charged fearlessly, blade flashing.

  “Hahaha… outnumbering me?”

  “What kind of trash holy sons and maidens bully the few with the many?”

  Laughter exploded from the Bloody Battlefield.

  Three streaks of light shot out.

  Feng Yilou in purple robes.

  Zhong Nan with sharp eyes.

  Xiao Yue’er solemn.

  Three Yin Spirit Realm auras made the holy sons and maidens narrow their eyes.

  But the terrifying presences that followed…

  Sent shock through the void.

  On the barren continent, Qi Liujia opened his eyes in surprise.

  The bronze-skinned giant on the ferocious bird opened his eyes for the first time.

  The twins on the immortal crane showed emotion.

  BOOM!

  A sky-blotting palm descended.

  The flaming holy son who had clashed with Nie Changqing looked up in horror.

  His desperate strike was useless.

  Pfft!

  The palm passed.

  The holy son didn’t even have time to activate his saint-tier treasure.

  His body exploded into blood mist.

  Only his treasure-wrapped soul fled.

  The holy sons and maidens paled.

  This world… was not as simple as they thought?

  Nie Changqing was not the strongest!

  The palm dispersed.

  The Empress stood in flowing red robes, long white legs flashing beneath.

  Her peerless face tilted upward, lips curled in cold arrogance.

  “Anyone who bullies Brother Lu’s disciple bullies me, Ni Chunqiu!”

  “Kill them all!”

  Her domineering declaration echoed through the void.

  Her unrestrained aura made the holy sons and maidens on the warship, crane, ferocious bird, and spirit boat—all tense.

  “This world… has a Soul Projection expert?!”