Chapter 320: The Beginning of the Great Battle, Strange Events Unfold
Boom——！
A thunderous roar echoed, a heavy pressure descending upon Fengtai County. Dark clouds covered the sky, completely obscuring the midday sun, turning the world into a boundless night.
And within an old and simple mansion at the edge of the county, the chilling air of an impending storm could also be felt, a howling Yin wind blowing ceaselessly, piercing to the bone.
“…”
Water dripped from the water vat in the courtyard, the sound echoing in the silence.
The young girl in the black veil sat quietly in meditation, her posture upright, her gaze, hidden beneath the bamboo hat and veil, seemingly fixed on the dark and gloomy sky in the distance.
“—After resting for half a day, the Luo Xing and the ancient realm finally couldn’t hold back any longer.”
Tang Qianmen’s soft voice drifted over as the door opened slightly, and she stepped out.
She seemed to have just finished washing up, dressed in a thin gauze robe, her beautiful white legs moving gracefully. She brushed her hair and looked up at the cloud-covered sky, a slight frown appearing on her face: “Such strange weather, Savage Realm beings must have gathered here, a great battle is imminent.”
Although she hadn’t seen the confrontation between the various factions with her own eyes, the surging tide of Yin energy, clearly audible even from more than ten miles away, indicated how many terrifyingly powerful individuals had arrived.
“According to the rumors, the eight clans’ secret realm will open tonight at the hour of the Dog (around 8pm).”
Tang Qianmen looked sideways at the silent young girl in the black veil, who was sitting in meditation: “Miss Mo, although you haven’t spoken much, with the imminent battle in Fengtai County, it’s best for you to leave the city with me when the chaos begins, to avoid being targeted by other demons, ghosts, and practitioners.”
“…Why are you in this county?”
The young woman surnamed Mo suddenly spoke, her voice hoarse and low: “Since you brought me here, you haven’t left this mansion, but you’re not from Fengtai County, what is your purpose?”
She turned her head slightly, her cold gaze, hidden beneath the veil, piercing like a sword: “You have no intention of interacting with other factions, you’ve severed your ties with the Zhaoxiao Court, and you even have time to wash up, you don’t even want to compete for the eight clans’ secret realm… Can you tell me what you’re thinking?”
Tang Qianmen was speechless for a moment.
Then, she couldn’t help but chuckle: “You’re not as silent as I thought, Miss Mo, suddenly saying so much.”
“You…”
“I truly have no intention of competing for the treasures of the eight clans.” Tang Qianmen’s smile faded, and she sighed helplessly: “In my current state, if I were to fight, I would probably be the first sacrifice of this great battle. I’m not that reckless.”
The young woman surnamed Mo pressed her: “Who instructed you to come here?”
“…No one instructed me, I just wanted to see what this chaotic world would be like.”
Tang Qianmen crossed her arms and sighed softly: “But before I left, someone came to me.
She told me that ‘that man’ might come here. And that I might encounter him… I have some unresolved matters with him, I want to see him, but I don’t know how to face him anymore.”
The young woman surnamed Mo paused slightly, swallowing the words she had been about to say, her hands, hidden in her sleeves, gradually clenching into fists.
She knew who “that man” referred to.
“Why would you—”
“I don’t know what you’ve been through, but now it seems… we share a similar fate, there are some similarities between us.” Tang Qianmen lowered her eyes and smiled faintly: “It might not be a bad thing to travel with you for a while.”
“…”
The young woman surnamed Mo remained silent, only the faint, cold wind blowing through the courtyard.
“However, you should be wary of someone.”
“Who?”
“A very seductive and strange woman.”
A wary look flashed in Tang Qianmen’s eyes, and she pursed her lips: “I don’t know her identity or background, but her cultivation is extremely profound and unfathomable, and she’s incredibly cunning and resourceful, as if she already knew you would appear in this county. If you encounter such a strange woman in the future, be sure to stay away from her.”
The young woman surnamed Mo was silent for a moment and then whispered: “In my opinion, you’re already quite seductive and unpredictable, Incense Master Tang.”
Tang Qianmen couldn’t help but cover her mouth with a chuckle, her cold and melancholic expression softening slightly: “You won’t gain any benefits by flattering me like that, girl.”
The young woman surnamed Mo simply closed her mouth and remained silent.
“Well, now we should—”
Before she could finish speaking, an earth-shattering roar suddenly echoed from within the county. A surge of Yin energy erupted like a hurricane, scattering withered leaves and turning snowflakes into blades, making Tang Qianmen’s expression change drastically.
…
Thunder rumbled and roared, and a phantom-like palace gradually appeared in the dense fog, with rows of demonic soldiers, weapons, and war drums, all fully prepared.
This grand and imposing scene shocked and amazed the demons, ghosts, and practitioners gathered there. They hadn’t known that such a terrifying force was hidden in the shadows, and just a glimpse of it was enough to shake their hearts!
On a jade platform in the center of the county, numerous figures stood with their hands behind their backs, shrouded in Yin energy and mist, their expressions varied, their gazes becoming more serious and profound.
“Truly… suffocating.”
Below the jade platform, the younger generation of practitioners’ faces were slightly pale, their nerves tense, feeling the pressure of an impending storm.
The leaders of the various factions gathered on the jade platform, silent, as if a great battle was about to erupt, and this dark and gloomy county would instantly transform into a bloody and hellish battlefield.
And in an elegant pavilion not far away, the woman in white robes looked coldly at the figures on the jade platform and said coldly: “The ancient realm is truly putting on a show, such a large force, and so many powerful experts… perhaps only the Luo Xing can compete with them in the Fengchen Kingdom… But I wonder if the elders will be alright.”
“There’s no need to worry for now, the Sect Master gave us instructions before we left.”
A dignified middle-aged woman walked over slowly, her expression serious: “Your martial aunts know what they’re doing. Our Ci Hang Sect isn’t here to be the vanguard. If anything unexpected happens, we will retreat immediately and prioritize your safety, disciples.”
“It’s quite dangerous to enter this place and expect to leave unscathed, the risks are unpredictable.”
The woman in white robes glanced coldly through the screen and gauze curtains at the other buildings outside the pavilion, as if she could see the disciples of various factions silently lurking within.
Even without words, she could sense the undercurrents surging.
All the renowned factions in the Fengchen Kingdom had gathered here, wary of each other, and some treacherous villains were also lurking in the shadows, wanting to take advantage of the chaos and gain some benefits.
“Perhaps, there are already many Savage Realm great demons hiding in the shadows, waiting for the right moment.”
“That’s why I’m staying here to protect you.”
The middle-aged woman looked at the confrontation on the jade platform, her brows slightly furrowed: “But there are so many Savage Realm great demons in the ancient realm, it’s uncertain whether those three Luo Xing Soultakers can hold their own.”
The woman in white’s eyes flickered, and she clicked her tongue softly.
“Lian’er, you’ve never been afraid of Savage Realm great demons before, fearless and confident, as if everything was under your control.” The middle-aged woman smiled faintly: “But seeing you so distracted today, could it be that you’re finally feeling scared and uneasy in the face of such a situation?”
“N-Nothing.”
The woman in white, called Lian’er, quickly shook her head. She gritted her teeth and snorted softly: “I just happened to think of a hateful man, it disturbed my mind a bit.”
“A man?”
The middle-aged woman was stunned and asked in surprise: “Since when have you been involved with a man, Lian’er?”
“M-Master, please don’t misunderstand, it was just a conflict.”
“A deep grudge?”
“Not really… that important.”
The woman in white averted her gaze, murmuring as if feeling guilty: “That man’s cultivation is extraordinary, and he has a close relationship with the Azure Lady of Mount Min. If he hears about the eight clans’ secret realm and comes here, it might cause a great upheaval.”
She had participated in the Path of the Netherworld in Jianggai County and had naturally witnessed that incredible scene.
Or rather, she had been a part of it.
That world-altering scene, the collapse of the Path of the Netherworld, had been unforgettable, so much so that even after Lin Tianlu and his group had left Jianggai County, she hadn’t been able to bring herself to visit him again.
That feeling of uncertainty, was it unease, or fear?
“It seems something unexpected happened in Jianggai County.” The middle-aged woman’s gaze narrowed: “No wonder you didn’t gain much from the Path of the Netherworld, so it was that man named Lin Tianlu who interfered with the ritual.”
“…Yes.”
“Why didn’t you say anything before?”
“…I was probably a bit afraid of his methods.”
The woman in white exhaled softly: “And he didn’t harm me, so I didn’t think much of it afterward.”
“For you to suffer such a loss in silence, that man must truly possess extraordinary abilities.” The middle-aged woman chuckled and patted her shoulder: “But there’s no need to dwell on it now. The current situation is complex, even someone with heaven-defying abilities can’t easily change the outcome.”
Her gaze turned sharp again, and she looked at the young women standing behind her: “What did our spies report?”
“Reporting to you, Master, we haven’t found any traces of the eight clans’ secret realm in the county, nor are there any signs of the ancient realm taking action. Only spies from various factions are scattered everywhere, searching in secret, the situation is incredibly complex.”
“That’s strange.”
The middle-aged woman’s expression turned even more serious: “Could it be that only the people of the ancient realm know how to open the eight clans’ secret realm? What is the connection between the ancient realm and the eight ancient clans?”
This whole matter was full of suspicious points, and information about the ancient realm was scarce. If it weren’t for this, the elders of their Ci Hang Sect wouldn’t have mobilized together, to avoid any unexpected incidents.
But now, after personally searching Fengtai County, they had even more questions, as if all this—
“There are many factions plotting behind the scenes.”
The woman in white brushed her hair and murmured: “And it’s a grand scheme, large enough to involve almost all the factions in the Fengchen Kingdom. Perhaps… the great conflict will truly begin tonight, when the secret realm opens.”
The Luo Xing? The ancient realm? Or the Lingluo Valley, the Chiyu Sect, the Zhaoxiao Court?
Perhaps… all these factions were involved to varying degrees, openly or secretly.
Boom!
A loud explosion made the women in the pavilion jump in shock.
The middle-aged woman’s expression changed drastically, and she quickly formed hand seals, protecting the souls of the disciples behind her from the impact, looking towards the jade platform with shock and uncertainty: “What happened?!”
…
Wind and snow intertwined, Yin energy howling fiercely, a terrifying and chilling scene. Within a hundred feet, a dense black mist swirled, obscuring all figures.
But then, a cold voice suddenly echoed, breaking the silence.
“Bai Shiyi, you are truly audacious, daring to cause trouble and stir up chaos in the ancient realm. Now that you’ve appeared before us, are you seeking death?!”
“You’re mistaken, King Li, I just came to tell you the truth. Whether you listen or not is up to the Cleansing Hall.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the handsome white-haired young man emerged from the black mist, a gentle and refined smile on his face, cupping his hands from afar: “I’ve never used any mind-control techniques on them, how can you blame me for this? It’s truly a false accusation!”
“You still dare to make excuses!”
The deep voice from the ancient realm’s side became even colder, filled with killing intent: “Do you really want to die, Luo Xing Soultaker?”
“Your words are quite terrifying, King Li, I wouldn’t dare.” Bai Shiyi cupped his hands and chuckled: “I do admit some fault for inadvertently harming the disciples of your Cleansing Hall.
But now isn’t the time to assign blame. Please be discerning, King Li, and don’t delay the most important matter, the opening of the secret realm.”
He glanced around with interest and chuckled: “If we clash now, wouldn’t it be giving other factions an advantage?”
“Hmph!”
King Li snorted coldly, his voice hoarse and sinister: “The secrets of this secret realm have spread throughout the demon and ghost world, almost everyone knows about it. Who knows how much your Luo Xing contributed to this, and now you dare to make demands of our ancient realm?”
“—Things have come to this, King Li, you should be able to see the situation clearly.” Bai Shiyi tapped his folding fan and chuckled, his words vague and ambiguous: “There’s no need for more words, when the secret realm opens, you’ll naturally know who is friend and who is foe, King Li.”
“Hahahaha!”
But King Li suddenly burst into arrogant laughter.
“Truly foolish! Thinking you can control the situation, using these factions to fight against our ancient realm and gain some benefits. But you, Bai Shiyi, don’t realize that we kings have already decided… to take this opportunity and annihilate all the demons, ghosts, and practitioners gathered here!”
Hearing this, everyone was shocked and enraged.
“You, ancient realm, dare—”
“Attack!!”
A furious roar echoed like a thunderclap, and Yin energy surged and spread, silencing the words of caution that some were about to utter.
As they reacted, a massive black blade suddenly appeared from the clouds, carrying a world-shaking power, falling heavily in the shocked gazes of the demons, ghosts, and practitioners!
Boom!
The jade platform instantly crumbled and shattered under the impact of the giant sword. Dozens of figures were sent flying through the dust and smoke, retreating in all directions.
At the same time, a wizened old man in a golden robe appeared, walking out of the black mist with his hands behind his back, his sinister eyes scanning coldly: “Hmph! That Bai Shiyi truly escaped with a soul fragment, how cunning! Someone! Continue the pursuit! This Fengtai County is now our territory, we must find him and execute him!”
A mysterious and deep voice came from the crack: “King Li, are we really going to attack?”
“There’s no need to provoke other factions unnecessarily.” The old man sneered: “We all know why these demons and ghosts have come here. Now that the situation is chaotic, let them fight amongst themselves, there’s no need for us to intervene.”
“Hehe, although King Li is old and has a bad temper, it seems you’re still quite sharp.”
“If you truly want the ancient realm to be revived, then show your true strength and suppress all the factions gathered here, to display the might of our ancient realm!”
The old man sneered and looked back at the churning black mist in the crack: “Hiding in your own territory, showing off your aura, but not daring to truly step out of the ancient realm and fight, compared to this old man, you’re more like decaying rats hiding in their coffins.”
“We won’t act rashly until the Luo Xing makes their move. But if King Li wants to stir up chaos, we’re happy to see it… However, please be mindful of a mysterious man named Lin Tianlu in the county. His identity and abilities are worth noting.”
“Alright!”
The old man’s eyes narrowed coldly, and he laughed maniacally: “I’ve been trapped in the ancient realm for who knows how many years, my time is almost up. I naturally have to burn brightly before I die, causing chaos and bloodshed in this world, to spread the might of our ancient realm!”
As he roared, numerous figures emerged from behind him, their blood boiling, shouting excitedly, like divine soldiers descending from heaven, landing on the ruins of the jade platform and chasing after the scattered members of the various factions.
…
The previously quiet and still situation was now completely shattered.
The sudden collapse of the jade platform shocked everyone present, a chill running down their spines.
—The situation was out of control!
Instantly, several streaks of light flashed past the window, making the woman in white robes stumble backward, her face filled with shock: “How could this be? Weren’t the seniors negotiating with the people of the ancient realm…?”
“The situation has changed.” A cold wind blew through the room as four women wearing white jade masks quietly appeared. The woman in the lead said in a deep voice: “The ancient realm has no intention of communicating with us, only stalling and intimidating. As for the Luo Xing Soultaker… he seemed to have anticipated this chaos and has many schemes planned. This Fengtai County is a death trap, we can’t stay here any longer.”
The woman in white was speechless.
So, it seemed… that the Luo Xing and the ancient realm had colluded in secret?!
“You, the Ci Hang Sect, won’t be able to leave Fengtai County so easily. Why not stay and witness the grand opening of the secret realm?”
A slightly frivolous voice drifted into the room from outside, making the woman in white’s heart tremble as she looked warily towards the window.
—An ambush!
The next moment, the pavilion exploded and shattered!
…
Loud explosions echoed throughout the county, as if battles had suddenly erupted everywhere.
Tang Qianmen gritted her teeth, a sense of unease rising in her heart.
The battle here had started much earlier than she had expected. And the swirling Yin energy rising from various locations indicated that both sides were incredibly powerful.
Although she had cast a concealment spell on this remote old mansion, unless those Soultakers came here personally, no one would be able to detect anything unusual.
But…
She felt that this battle was strangely timed.
“If the ancient realm and the Luo Xing truly colluded, when did they establish their connection? Are they truly working together, or do they each have their own schemes?”
Click-clack!
But at this moment, a sudden noise beside her startled Tang Qianmen, and she quickly looked over to see that the young girl, who had been sitting silently in meditation in the courtyard, had stood up abruptly. She couldn’t help but ask in surprise: “Miss Mo, what are you—”
“Something’s wrong here.”
The young woman surnamed Mo adjusted her bamboo hat and said in a deep voice:
“I smell that aura… disaster is coming.”
