The sky turned black, dark clouds gathering ominously above Mount Buqi.
Almost as soon as the clouds appeared, Luo Luo, transford into her nine-tailed fox form, let out a piercing cry, a bright green light enveloping the growing fissure in the sky.
The green light shimred, illuminating the night, a beautiful yet fragile barrier against the encroaching darkness.
Qingying watched her nervously, her heart filled with a silent prayer.
But the fissure only trembled for a mont before pushing back, the green light flickering and fading.
Luo Luo groaned and fell from the sky, unable to maintain her transford state, her body reverting to its human form, her lips stained with blood.
Qingying rushed forward, catching her and wrapping her in a cloak.
“Luo Luo! Are you alright?!”
“I… I’m sorry…” Luo Luo whispered, her ears drooping, her face pale. “I… failed…”
“It’s okay, you did your best,” Qingying reassured her, gently adjusting the cloak around her. “It’s amazing that you were able to reach this level in such a short ti. Controlling the Void isn’t sothing you can learn overnight.”
“But…” Luo Luo shook her head weakly, “there’s sothing… inside… interfering with the Void.”
Qingying’s eyes widened slightly.
—
anwhile, within the dinsional passage…
Four armored generals, their weapons gleaming, stood guard at the entrance, the chaotic colors of the Void swirling around them.
“Bing Chou, do you sense it?” one of them asked.
“Indeed,” Bing Chou chuckled softly, “there’s soone in the Lower Realm who can manipulate the Void. Master Jiazi was right to be cautious. But I don’t know how they’re doing it.”
Another general snorted. “There are only two possibilities: soone who has comprehended the Dao of Space, or a mythical beast like a Qing Fox or a Shadow Dragon.”
“So, Ding Shen, what do you think it is?” Bing Chou asked.
“I suspect it’s the forr,” Ding Shen’s voice was deep and rumbling. “That Lower Realm must have produced a powerful Dao Comprehending cultivator. Otherwise, Master Jiazi wouldn’t have brought us here personally.”
“I think it’s the latter,” another general said.
Bing Chou chuckled. “Geng You, are you saying the Lower Realm isn’t capable of producing such a talent?”
“I’m not that arrogant,” Geng You sighed. “Even Ding Chen was killed there. I wouldn’t underestimate them. But just for revenge? Master Jiazi coming personally, and bringing four of us Silver Generals? It seems excessive. I think he’s after sothing else. Perhaps a mythical beast.”
“That’s a possibility…” Bing Chou pondered for a mont, then turned to the general standing at the front. “What do you think, Master Yi Mao?”
Yi Mao, his gaze fixed on the entrance, didn’t answer imdiately. After a long silence, he finally said, his voice cold and indifferent,
“Instead of speculating, let’s focus on completing Master Jiazi’s task. He’s watching us.”
The other three generals shrugged and fell silent.
The fissure was expanding slowly. They could only enter the dinsional passage once it was fully open.
“Do you think… the one who killed Ding Chen is still there?” Bing Chou whispered to Geng You.
“A year in the Upper Realm is a hundred years in the Lower Realm,” Geng You shook his head. “A thousand years must have passed down there. No cultivator can live that long. Even if they did, there would be nothing left but bones.”
“But Master Jiazi seed so… apprehensive before we left.”
“Are you an idiot? He’s one of the Dao Venerable’s most trusted subordinates! When has he ever been apprehensive?”
Bing Chou chuckled awkwardly. “I just thought…”
“No wonder your cultivation hasn’t improved,” Ding Shen glared at him. “Always thinking about useless things. How can you focus on your cultivation?”
Bing Chou shrunk back, silenced.
“It’s open,” Yi Mao suddenly said.
The fissure had fully expanded.
Bing Chou imdiately stepped through the portal, his voice filled with excitent. “This is our chance to earn Master Jiazi’s favor! Don’t get in my way! I’m going to have so fun!”
He was about to charge forward when two figures erged from the passage.
A man and a small girl,
Their hands clasped tightly.
The man’s gaze was calm as he looked at the four generals. “…Four Silver Generals. Not as impressive as I expected.”
“Don’t forget about the one hiding behind you,” the girl said, her voice filled with amusent. “He’s so scared he doesn’t even dare show his face.”
“Is he sending the four of you as cannon fodder, to test our strength?” Chen Yin chuckled.
“Four Silver Generals are more than enough to destroy the Lower Realm several tis over. Don’t underestimate them,” Yu Ling said.
They continued their conversation, as if the four generals weren’t even there.
Bing Chou’s face turned red with anger, and he was about to attack when Yi Mao stopped him.
“Wait. Don’t be careless. These might be the ‘variables’ Master Jiazi warned us about.” His expression was serious.
“But they’re so arrogant! Insulting Master Jiazi! Saying he’s hiding behind us?!” Bing Chou’s voice was filled with rage. “I’ll kill them!”
“Don’t bother. They’re not your opponents.”
A deep, ancient voice echoed from behind them.
The four generals turned around and bowed respectfully. “Master Jiazi.”
Even Yu Ling’s breath hitched as she saw the figure approaching, her hand tightening around Chen Yin’s.
Chen Yin’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the man in golden armor, his face hidden behind a fanged mask.
He rembered him.
From a thousand years ago.
“I thought you were too scared to show your face,” Chen Yin said, his voice laced with sarcasm. “You owe an explanation for what happened to Ding Chen.”
“I have to answer for my subordinate’s death,” Jiazi’s voice was deep and resonant, his gaze fixed on Chen Yin. “…It’s been a while, boy.”
“You too,” Chen Yin grinned, his eyes cold and hard.
“And I have a score to settle with you.”
Jiazi’s arrival boosted the morale of the four Silver Generals. They stood at attention, not daring to speak without his permission.
Within the dinsional passage, Jiazi and Chen Yin faced each other, the masked general’s eyes unreadable.
“A thousand years have passed in the Lower Realm. I didn’t expect to find you two still guarding this passage. How did you survive?”
“It wasn’t difficult,” Chen Yin said with a casual smile.
Jiazi snorted. “I underestimated you ants last ti, sending Ding Chen alone. I won’t make the sa mistake again.”
“So you ca personally to die?” Chen Yin grinned. “How thoughtful of you.”
“Two each. Let’s deal with the small fries first,” Yu Ling said casually.
Jiazi’s eyes narrowed, then he said, his voice low and nacing, “Yi Mao, Bing Chou, Ding Shen, Geng You. These two are the ones who killed Ding Chen. Their heads are worth ten Dao Foundation Pills each.”
The generals’ eyes lit up with greed.
“Yes, Master!”
They charged forward, their movents precise and coordinated.
Ding Shen and Geng You attacked Yu Ling, who simply raised her hand, a long scroll unfurling before her, a landscape painting of mountains and rivers.
“A formation?! When did she—?!”
Before they could react, Yu Ling and the two generals vanished into the painting.
Yi Mao glanced at them, then turned to Chen Yin, his voice serious. “Do you really think your companion can defeat two Silver Generals at once?”
“Shouldn’t you be more concerned about yourself?” Chen Yin drew the Eternal Light Sword, his smile fading, his eyes turning cold.
“Arrogant!”
Bing Chou, enraged by Chen Yin’s casual deanor, charged forward, his blade raised. “I’ll take your head as an offering to Brother Ding Chen!”
His attack was powerful, even within the Void, his blade creating ripples in the chaotic energy.
Chen Yin simply glanced at him, his gaze returning to Yi Mao, who stood there, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his eyes narrowed, waiting for an opportunity.
…This Bing Chou is stronger than Ding Chen.
So that’s how they rank themselves in the Upper Realm: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding…
Chen Yin chuckled. “So you, Jiazi, are the strongest among them? Then let’s not waste any ti. Co and fight yourself.”
His words were casual, but his sword was faster. Before he had even finished his sentence, his sword flashed, and Bing Chou’s arrogant charge was abruptly cut short.
Bing Chou’s eyes widened in disbelief as he saw his own torso flying through the air.
…What…?
What just happened?
It took him a mont to realize that his head had been severed from his body.
And what terrified him even more was that from the wound on his neck, countless shimring threads, his immortal energy and life force, were flowing towards Chen Yin’s sword.
…The Dao of Life and Death!
So that’s how he killed Ding Chen!
Panic surged through him as he realized he couldn’t reattach his head. He was going to die.
“Ugh…!”
He tried to call for help, but Yi Mao, his own face pale with shock, was too stunned to react, his gaze fixed on Chen Yin.
And Jiazi, his expression unreadable, just watched silently.
Despair filled Bing Chou’s eyes as Chen Yin grabbed his severed head.
“Does it hurt, brother?”
Chen Yin held the head like a ball, his voice filled with a mocking pity. “Your boss sent you to die, even though he knew you were no match for . What a waste. Just to… recharge my sword?”
Bing Chou’s immortal energy and life force flowed into the Eternal Light Sword, its dimd blade regaining so of its forr brilliance.
Bing Chou’s eyes, wide with rage and resentnt, stared at Yi Mao and Jiazi.
Yi Mao’s hand trembled on his sword hilt.
…How…?
He was ready to intervene, but he hadn’t even seen the attack.
It wasn’t a question of strength anymore.
He wasn’t even qualified to fight him.
He realized that Chen Yin had been right.
Jiazi had sent them here as cannon fodder, to test his strength.
A chilling realization. But he had no choice. He had to fight.
He took a deep breath, calming his nerves, and focused his immortal energy.
…Don’t panic. I’m a peak Immortal Realm cultivator. I can defeat him.
He searched his mories, trying to find a way to overco Chen Yin’s overwhelming power.
But as he was preparing to attack, Chen Yin sheathed his sword and turned to Jiazi, a casual smile on his lips.
“Let’s not waste any more lives. Co and fight yourself.”
“You’re not worthy of my attention,” Jiazi said dismissively, his gaze still fixed on Yu Ling.
But Yi Mao’s hand trembled.
Easy for you to say! You’re not the one risking your life!
He knew better than to disobey, so he took a deep breath and prepared to attack.
But then he realized Chen Yin was standing beside him.
He hadn’t even seen him move.
“So this is how you treat your subordinates in the Upper Realm. Cruelty is in your nature, isn’t it? Not just towards us, but towards your own kind as well.”
Chen Yin patted his shoulder, his voice filled with a mocking pity. “Too bad, brother. Better luck next ti. Don’t follow the wrong leader.”
An imnse force erupted from Chen Yin’s hand, and Yi Mao felt his life force draining away, his immortal energy turning into death Qi, flowing into Chen Yin’s body, then transforming into pure, vibrant life force.
His carefully constructed composure shattered, his mind filled with a single thought:
Run.
“Master Jiazi!”
He turned, his arm, now withered and skeletal, reaching out desperately. “Save !”
Jiazi looked at him, his eyes filled with a cold indifference.
Yi Mao’s screams echoed through the Void for what felt like an eternity.
Finally, Chen Yin casually sliced off his head and tossed it onto the pile with Bing Chou’s.
The Eternal Light Sword glowed brighter.
“I should have known your energy would nourish my sword. I should have co looking for you instead of waiting for you to co to ,” Chen Yin chuckled, wiping the blood from his blade.
Jiazi closed his eyes for a mont, then said, “You are indeed impressive. The Dao of Life and Death… few in the Upper Realm have mastered it. It’s a waste of your talent to remain in the Lower Realm. I serve the Solitary Dao Venerable. He values talent. Join us, and I’ll introduce you to him. Once you ascend, you’ll see how small and insignificant this world truly is.”
Chen Yin looked at him, his gaze cold and mocking.
“…That’s it?”
Jiazi was about to continue when Chen Yin interrupted him.
“Are those Heavenly Dao Fragnts your Dao Venerable’s doing?”
Jiazi was silent for a mont. “…They exist within the Heavenly Dao. He didn’t create them. He just… uses them… to gather… opportunities.”
Chen Yin’s eyes narrowed.
Uses the Heavenly Dao to gather opportunities…
That alone was enough to warrant his death a thousand tis over.
“Then tell your Dao Venerable this: the deaths of the Yu Alliance… he’s responsible. Tell him to wash his neck and wait for . I’m coming for him.”
Jiazi sighed. “You have no idea how powerful he is.”
“I don’t care.”
Chen Yin raised his sword. “I’ll find out when I kill you.”
The Void rippled, and Master erged, yawning lazily,
Two heads in her hand.
Ding Shen and Geng You.
“Any more small fries?” she asked casually, tossing the heads onto the pile. “Hurry up, I have a date with my disciple.”
“Really?” Chen Yin’s eyes lit up.
“…I was talking about Xiang’er. Not you.”
“Co on, let’s all have fun together.”
“Dream on. Xiang’er is soft and cuddly, with big breasts. What do you have to offer besides that rusty tal stick?”
“Are you saying you don’t like my ‘rusty tal stick’? Or is it Xiang’er who doesn’t like it?”
As they bickered, Jiazi looked at Yu Ling, his eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and apprehension.
He rembered her from a thousand years ago, a battered and bruised cultivator who had barely managed to defeat a bronze-armored soldier.
And now, she had easily defeated two Silver Generals.
This Lower Realm… it’s a dangerous place.
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