"Are you talking about that kid who doesn't know his place?" The Chen family's early Soul-Split expert said with a playful smile.
"So it really is you! Ghost-God Sky Claw!"
With a furious roar, Yinyang Gale struck out. A giant bone claw wreathed in ghostly energy appeared out of thin air, shrieking with the cries of ghosts and wolves as it slashed down toward the Chen family's early Soul-Split expert.
Golden light exploded as the Chen family expert formed a seal and smashed out a punch.
The fist imprint swelled dramatically and collided with the ghost claw. With a sharp crack, the ghost claw shattered, but the golden fist imprint didn’t slow at all, heading straight for Yinyang Gale.
"A second-rate sect dares to challenge my Chen family? You must be tired of living!"
The Chen family Soul-Split expert strode through the air, his robes swirling as he crossed the sky straight toward the treasure ship.
"You’re going to pay for my son’s life!"
Yinyang Gale roared, now holding a short black blade in his hand. He swung it at the golden fist imprint with a sharp hiss, slicing the imprint cleanly in two.
Then, Yinyang Gale also stepped into the air, colliding with the Chen family's Soul-Split expert in midair.
Bang bang bang!
A series of explosions echoed through the sky. Yinyang Gale was forced back over a thousand meters, slashing nearly two thousand times before barely managing to block that punch.
Staring at the green-robed elder floating in midair, Yinyang Gale’s eyes narrowed sharply. He was sure the man was late Soul-Split, and his heart sank, a wave of intense unease rising within him.
The green-robed elder first tossed a pill to the maimed Chen family Soul-Split expert, then fixed his gaze on Yinyang Gale, instantly flooding him with overwhelming pressure.
"A mere Ghost-God Sect dares offend my Chen family? You deserve extermination!"
The next moment, the green-robed elder strode through the air and unleashed three consecutive punches at Yinyang Gale.
Thud thud thud!
Yinyang Gale’s aura surged as he frantically hacked out blade shadows, each one a streak of black. But the gap was too big—he barely deflected one punch before the other two slammed into him.
Boom!
An instant later, his body exploded in midair, turning into a rain of blood that showered the sky.
So ruthless!
Seeing this, countless rogue cultivators shivered and instantly wanted to retreat.
The Ghost-God Sect people were completely stunned—their Sect Master was dead!
Retreat!
The vice sect master shouted in panic.
Dozens of treasure ships immediately turned and tried to escape.
Not a single one of you will escape!
The green-robed elder snorted coldly and punched again. Instantly, all the Ghost-God Sect cultivators aboard the treasure ships felt a crushing pressure descend upon them.
Senior, please spare us! Our Ghost-God Sect is willing to make amends!
The Ghost-God Sect vice sect master shouted desperately.
Unfortunately, the green-robed elder had no intention of holding back. In an instant, dozens of treasure ships were smashed to pieces, and every cultivator aboard was blasted apart.
Go!
Seeing this, the surrounding rogue cultivators dared not linger for another second—they all fled at once. If a major sect like the Ghost-God Sect could be wiped out so easily, what chance did they have?
Elder Tong, I’ve shamed the family!
The maimed Chen family Soul-Split expert approached Elder Tong to admit his fault.
Hmph! Just guard this place well. If any rogue cultivator dares come near, kill them on the spot!
With a cold snort, Elder Tong turned into a rainbow and left.
Seeing this, the maimed Soul-Split expert breathed a sigh of relief. Elder Tong was a Chen family enshrined protector with extremely high status—if he were displeased, life would be hard. Thinking of this, murderous intent flickered in his eyes. He resolved that if any rogue cultivator dared approach within fifty li, he’d kill them all.
There were plenty of rules in the cultivation world, but they only applied to those of equal strength. If the gap was too wide, the only rule was: might makes right.
Meanwhile, at the other Qilian Mountain entrances, the three clans’ cultivators were also slaughtering rogue cultivators to establish dominance. In a short time, over two thousand rogues were killed, and no one dared approach the Qilian range again.
Ian watched all this unfold.
He’d felt a bit guilty about dragging the three clans into his scheme, but seeing their reckless slaughter, that guilt vanished instantly.
The four array masters Terry Xie brought had been investigating for a whole hour, but still couldn’t break the formation.
"Branchmaster, why don’t we just forcefully break this formation?"
Elder Feng proposed.
"Absolutely not!" The Chen Ancestor hurriedly stopped him, forgetting secrecy and explaining that the Immortal-dao classics inside would self-destruct if mishandled.
Immediately, Terry Xie fixed his gaze on Ian. "Are you sure?"
"That’s the information I received," Ian replied calmly.
"If you dare lie to us, I’ll blow your brains out!"
Terry Xie grinned at Ian, then half-closed his eyes and began to rest.
After another quarter-hour, two treasure ships appeared on the horizon.
Terry Xie’s half-closed eyes snapped open, shooting out golden light as he locked onto the two ships in the sky. His five Fusion subordinates flickered and surrounded the ships.
"Wait, Branchmaster Xie! They’re here to break the formation—we invited them!" the Jin Ancestor called out urgently.
"Stand down."
Terry Xie spoke indifferently, and the five Fusion experts returned to their positions.
Moments later, the two treasure ships descended and over a dozen people stepped out. Several were representatives of the Chen, Jin, and Ning clans who’d gone to invite Heaven-Array Sect’s experts; the remaining eight were array masters from Heaven-Array Sect.
Among the eight, the leader was actually a beautiful young woman.
She didn’t look very old, and her cultivation wasn’t high—only mid Out-of-Body.
After introductions, Ian learned her identity: Rain Gongsun, the Heaven-Array Sect Master’s personally taught disciple. Her cultivation wasn’t high, but her mastery of formations was extraordinary—already at earth-grade array master level. That was why she’d been sent.
Soon, Rain Gongsun led the Heaven-Array Sect’s array experts to survey the valley. About a quarter-hour later, she produced a compass-like artifact.
Black and white light flickered across the compass, forming a grid of interlaced lines. With a few incantation seals, Rain Gongsun caused hundreds of light-point nodes to appear within the grid.
A confident smile appeared on Rain Gongsun’s lips.
Ian, watching from the side, was slightly startled and a bit surprised.
He hadn’t expected her to read aspects of a formation he and his avatar had set up at earth-grade level.
This set the stage for the next phase of his scheme, as professional array masters from Heaven-Array Sect attempted to unravel the fake Immortal Estate’s Illusion Trial Formation while the three great clans, the Prime One Church, and the remnants of local forces hovered on the brink of all-out conflict over a trap entirely of Ian’s making.
Moments later, the two treasure ships descended and over a dozen people stepped out. Several were representatives of the Chen, Jin, and Ning clans who’d gone to invite Heaven-Array Sect’s experts; the remaining eight were array masters from Heaven-Array Sect.
Among the eight, the leader was actually a beautiful young woman.
She didn’t look very old, and her cultivation wasn’t high—only mid Out-of-Body.
After introductions, Ian learned her identity: Rain Gongsun, the Heaven-Array Sect Master’s personally taught disciple. Her cultivation wasn’t high, but her mastery of formations was extraordinary—already at earth-grade array master level. That was why she’d been sent.
Soon, Rain Gongsun led the Heaven-Array Sect’s array experts to survey the valley. About a quarter-hour later, she produced a compass-like artifact.
Black and white light flickered across the compass, forming a grid of interlaced lines. With a few incantation seals, Rain Gongsun caused hundreds of light-point nodes to appear within the grid.
A confident smile appeared on Rain Gongsun’s lips.
Ian, watching from the side, was slightly startled and a bit surprised.