Chapter 125: Sovereign!
"Had not the Great Thousand World, by a stroke of luck, produced an Undying Emperor back then, it would have long since fallen and become our clan's territory!" Xin Kui swept his gaze over the crowd, his face full of disdain. He looked down upon the Great Thousand World immensely.
"The Undying Emperor of the Great Thousand World cultivated the Myriad Ancient Imperishable Body, one of their Ten Great Original Dharma Bodies. In that battle back then, five of the Ten Great Original Dharma Bodies were already destroyed. The five remaining have yet to find suitable inheritors."
"The Myriad Flames Imperishable Body that fell here back then was shattered by our clan's ancestor. Now, an inheritance has actually appeared. This kind of inheritance—it would be best if it sank into eternal silence!"
The Flame Demon Clan's commander watched the slaughtering crowd coldly, his tone filled with arrogance. Of the mere ten Original Dharma Bodies the Great Thousand World possessed, they had already destroyed five. One of them had been shattered by the Flame Demon Clan's own ancestor leading the charge. This battle record was indeed worthy of pride.
"As it should be," Xin Kui also nodded. Though they didn't fear trouble, wouldn't fewer troubles be even better?
Threats should be strangled in the cradle.
"Hm?"
Abruptly, Xin Kui's gaze fell upon a secluded corner in the distance. That spot was filled with shadows. The surrounding space bore a faint sense of distortion.
Had anyone else looked there, they would have unconsciously ignored it. But what the Heart Demon Clan excelled at most was the power of the soul. That even he would subconsciously overlook this place was clearly abnormal.
A profound, strange power swept over. Instantly, Xin Kui felt the world brighten considerably. Looking in that direction once more, his expression froze in shock.
There was a pair of equally startled eyes. Those pitch-black eyes were as brilliant as stars, making one involuntarily want to sink into them. Yet Xin Kui felt his hairs stand on end. Someone had actually been hiding right under their very noses.
"Someone's there—"
Before that sharp screech could even leave his lips, a purple, illusory chain from the distance lashed out, quick as lightning. The chain seemed to traverse space itself, slamming viciously toward the center of Xin Kui's brow.
"Insolence—"
Seeing the other so brazenly attack Xin Kui, the Flame Demon Clan commander's gaze also sharpened. He immediately let out a furious roar. Lifting his palm, black flames coalesced within his hand. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a black flame orb.
Upon that flame orb, infinite, searing heat erupted. Moreover, that scorching heat seemed capable of stirring the wicked fire deep within one's heart. Staying long under its temperature would cause even the mind to lose itself.
In the next instant, countless black flame serpents shot out violently from the flame orb. Within the serpents' giant maws, black flame, like condensed magma, gathered. With ferocious, matchless force, they howled straight toward Jiang Yun's trio.
"Triple Divine Soul Tribulation?!"
Sensing the aura erupting from the opponent, Jiang Yun felt a flicker of confusion. Though this aura was only at the triple Divine Soul Tribulation, Jiang Yun's intuition told him this wasn't the opponent's full power.
But now was not the time to dwell on this. Facing the opponent's terrifying attack, Jiang Yun pointed with a single finger. In the next instant, surging black-and-white spiritual energy gushed forth like a tide.
Behind him, an exceedingly shocking spiritual energy fluctuation shot skyward.
The spiritual energy coalesced, instantly forming a massive Four Symbols Great Seal!
The light seal, radiating a fearsome, oppressive might, descended abruptly to suppress just as the opponent's flame serpents were about to close in.
Boom!
The instant they collided, a deep, low sound suddenly rang out.
"Mind Heart Boundary!"
Simultaneously, facing the descending purple chain, Xin Kui let out a long howl. A transparent barrier abruptly appeared above his head.
"Tch!"
"How is this possible—"
Soundlessly, the purple chain instantly pierced through the opponent's barrier, shooting straight toward Xin Kui.
Bang! An almost imperceptible sound rang out. The purple chain, as if illusory, passed straight through Xin Kui's body.
"Ah—"
A blood-curdling scream rang out then. Xin Kui clutched his forehead, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at Jiang Yun. Within his spiritual sea, the unendurable, soul-tearing agony made him wish he could devour the other alive.
"What's going on?!"
"Wu Ming, have you gone insane?! Even me, you dare strike?! My Chen Family won't let this go!"
"Huo Du, you butcher! Even if you're from the Flame Spirit Clan, after killing so many people from our Yang Yan Continent, your Flame Spirit Clan better not think this can just be brushed aside!"
Right at that moment, furious roars rang out one after another. The people of the Great Thousand World, who had been locked in mutual slaughter moments before, now all stared at those around them in disbelief, expressions like those of mad demons.
Even figures like Huo Du and Wu Ming, staring at the corpses strewn around their feet, wore dazed, bewildered looks. They had absolutely no memory of killing these people. Yet the familiar fluctuations on the corpses were unmistakably the effects of their own cultivation arts. This realization sent chills and shudders through everyone's hearts.
"Jie jie, what a fine show this has been!"
Suddenly, a bizarre, cackling laugh rang out. The crowd, their nerves stretched taut, abruptly looked over, their eyes instantly constricting.
"Extraterritorial Evil Clans!"
Upon seeing the Flame Demon clansmen, quite a few people's faces filled with sheer terror. Although these people looked just like humans, that intensely uncomfortable, even repulsive aura—who else could it be but the Extraterritorial Evil Clans?!
"No, no!" Seeing the crowd's horrified expressions, the Flame Demon Clan commander shook his head with a strange cackle. Under everyone's confused stares, he said, "It's the Flame Demon Clan. 'Extraterritorial Evil Clans' is something you native beings of the Great Thousand World fabricated for us."
"It was you who did this!"
At this moment, Huo Du seemed to suddenly understand everything. His eyes bloodshot, he stared at the group, gnashing his teeth.
"Heh heh, Brother Xin Kui merely amplified the darkness within your hearts. You brought all this upon yourselves!"
The Flame Demon Clan commander shook his head again, then bared his teeth in a grin. The look in his eyes as he watched the crowd grew increasingly amused and mocking.
Hearing the other's words, everyone shifted their gazes to that man who seemed somewhat different, their eyes filled with intense wariness. It was he who had caused all this.
Yet at this moment, Xin Kui paid the crowd no mind. Instead, he stared at Jiang Yun's trio to the side—especially Jiang Yun. In an icy tone, he asked, "Who are you? To actually be able to break my clan's Mind Heart Boundary!"
Hearing Xin Kui's words, the crowd's gazes fell upon Jiang Yun's trio nearby. Upon seeing the three's Heaven-Connecting Realm and Fleshly Tribulation strength, they were inwardly shocked.
"It's him!" Seeing that familiar figure, the few who had encountered Jiang Yun before felt a jolt of surprise in their hearts. They never imagined they would be saved by a Heaven-Connecting Realm 'ant'!
Facing the crowd's stares, Jiang Yun's expression remained entirely composed. "Was that supposed to be difficult?"
Hearing Jiang Yun's words, coupled with the dismissive look in his eyes, the coldness in Xin Kui's gaze grew ever more sinister and cruel. Finally, in a chilling, sinister tone, he said,
"Very well. Very well. Once I pull out your soul later, I'll properly entertain you. Then we'll see if your mouth is still this tough."
"Extraterritorial Evil Clans, trespassing into my Great Thousand's territory—you truly don't know the meaning of death!"
Li Yan looked at the dead Li Family members around him, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at the Flame Demon Clan members. An enraged roar burst from him—clearly, his hatred had reached its peak.
Boom!
Vast spiritual energy erupted from within him. That degree of spiritual energy actually broke past the double Divine Soul Tribulation, reaching toward the triple Divine Soul Tribulation. Even after breaking through the triple Divine Soul Tribulation, it showed no signs of stopping. Strand after strand of Sovereign pressure emanated from within him.
"So that's how it is!"
In the distance, Jiang Yun's eyes flickered. He sensed that Sovereign pressure. Simultaneously, with his sharp perception, he felt the omnipresent oppressive force around him suddenly intensify drastically just as Li Yan's strength was about to enter the Sovereign level.
At this moment, looking at the crowd, he suddenly understood. These few were all experts at the Sovereign realm. They had only forcibly suppressed their strength in order to enter this hidden realm.
"Pfft—"
Suddenly, the surrounding oppressive force increased sharply. Li Yan violently coughed out a mouthful of blood. Yet he paid it no heed whatsoever. His figure moved, directly appearing in front of Xin Kui. His spear shot out like a dragon. On his arm, veins bulged and writhed like horned dragons, unleashing a terrifying power.
"Sovereign, is it?" Sensing the erupting aura within the opponent, the Flame Demon Clan commander murmured flatly. Then, with a cold, sinister laugh: "But still not enough!"
Seeing the opponent's spear pierce through the air, the Flame Demon commander fiercely threw a punch. Black flames transformed into a colossal fire fist, hurtling straight toward Li Yan.
"Boom—"
Terrifying force transmitted back. Li Yan was sent reeling back several hundred meters by that single punch. His arm was numb and tingling. His entire body was flushed red, smoke rising from him as if he'd been roasted alive.
"Li Yan, how are you?!" Seeing even Li Yan—one of the top three in strength present—sent reeling by a single blow, everyone was shocked. Huo Du swiftly arrived at Li Yan's side. Crimson flames blazed, purging the black flames within the other's body.
"I didn't expect there'd be a little whelp of the Flame Spirit Clan here too!" The instant Huo Du's flame appeared, the Flame Demon commander glanced at him with some surprise. A strange smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Little whelps, slaughter every last one of these Great Thousand wastes!"
The Flame Demon commander laughed savagely. He stomped his foot fiercely. It was as if the entire sky shook at that moment. Black flames swept out from within him. The temperature between heaven and earth instantly skyrocketed. Even the very air itself ignited and burned in response.
An overwhelmingly powerful, suffocating pressure erupted from within the Flame Demon commander.
Feeling this pressure from the opponent, everyone paled. Although the opponent's strength was the same as Li Yan's—suppressed at the triple Divine Soul Tribulation—the oppressive feeling he gave off was on an entirely different level.
"Jie jie jie! Fresh Great Thousand blood—it's been a long time since we've had a taste!"
"Heh heh heh, though this was unexpected, this little unexpected harvest isn't bad at all, is it?"
"Let these Great Thousand whelps once again feel the terror of our Sacred Clan!"
Watching the hundreds of demonic shadows charging murderously toward them, the Great Thousand crowd's faces all drained of color. This was many people's first time facing an Extraterritorial Evil Clan. Feeling that incessant, oppressive dread, fear inevitably sprouted in their hearts.
"Everyone! The Great Thousand World has no cowards! Let these evil clansmen know that our Great Thousand World is not to be trifled with!"
Huo Du watched the charging demonic shadows. Slowly, he inhaled a breath of air, chilled as if by the tension-soaked atmosphere here. His gaze swept across every face in the crowd.
A crimson longsword materialized. Simultaneously, a massive fire lotus rose from his palm into the air, slowly revolving above the crowd.
"Kill!"
Accompanied by a long battle cry, Huo Du, this prodigy from an ancient clan, finally erupted.
With the cultivation of the triple Divine Soul Tribulation, wielding two middle-grade Divine Artifacts, he charged in like a tiger among sheep. With each sword stroke, a Flame Demon clansman was cleaved in two. Where the flaming, iridescent light in the sky swept down, a demonic shadow was burned to nothingness.
"Kill!"
Witnessing Huo Du's divine, awe-inspiring might, the crowd's eyes finally surged with a frenzied, burning heat at that moment. An unusually deep, low roar rang out in unison.
As the two torrents began colliding at this moment, a life-and-death struggle commenced. Instantly, an exceptionally tragic, brutal air diffused outward with explosive force.
"Xiao Yun, let's join in too!" Watching the fiercely clashing masses, Zi Yan spoke with a grave expression.
Medusa gripped her sharp sword; Xiao Jiu coiled on Medusa's shoulder. Both wore serious expressions as they watched the distant battle.
They had already learned of the relationship between the Extraterritorial Evil Clans and the Great Thousand World. At this moment, they had a duty that could not be shirked.
Moreover, if the Great Thousand people were defeated, they didn't believe the other side would spare the three of them.
"Good, then we—" Just as Jiang Yun was about to agree to the two women's proposal, in the next moment, the three abruptly turned their heads in unison, looking not far away. There, a demonic shadow with a dark, sinister expression slowly approached.
"Trouble's arrived."
Watching the newcomer, Jiang Yun murmured. Beside him, Medusa and Zi Yan now also stared at Xin Kui with guarded expressions.
None of them had forgotten: just moments ago, it was this very person who, with a single divine ability, had made the entire crowd slaughter one another. This was an exceedingly dangerous opponent.
"Just now, I wasn't paying attention. But now, thinking back... your attack seems somewhat familiar to me. As if I've seen it somewhere before. Divine abilities that leave an impression on me are few and far between. Which Great Thousand clan do you hail from?"
Xin Kui slowly drew closer, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on Jiang Yun, a trace of doubt within his gaze.
On either side, Medusa and Zi Yan guarded against the opponent vigilantly while also pricking up their ears. Matters concerning Jiang Yun's origins—they were rather intensely curious about that too!
Jiang Yun's heart stirred, but his face remained impassive. Calmly, he said, "Soul attacks in this world are mostly similar in approach. Finding something familiar is not so strange."
"Fine," Xin Kui nodded noncommittally at Jiang Yun's reply. A second later, in a chilling, sinister tone, he said, "Even if you won't speak now, once I extract your soul, everything will naturally become clear."
"Boom—"
A sword aura nearly a hundred zhang wide grazed past Xin Kui's cheek.
"If you want to kill him, ask me first!"
Medusa's jade hand gripped a serpentine longsword. Vast spiritual energy erupted violently from within her. The longsword, too, rippled with wave after wave at that moment. An indescribably sharp, fierce sword intent radiated outward, causing space itself to undulate with ripple after ripple.
Hearing Medusa's incomparably domineering words, Zi Yan curled her lip at the side, secretly vexed. How did she end up being a step slower? And this woman sure knew how to talk!
"Hahaha!" Facing Medusa's threat, Xin Kui immediately burst into maniacal laughter. Abruptly, the laughter stopped. His eyes, cold and icy like the abyss, locked onto the three. A sinister, chilling voice rang out.
"Then all of you can die together!"