It's the final day of the seven-day National Day holiday; I'll release an extra locked chapter as a token of appreciation for the support shown through monthly tickets by the "Kou Team." For those still holding onto monthly tickets in these last few hours, please lend your support.
The Great Sorcerer Wuyun’s face, usually deep and shadowed, broke into sheer ecstasy as he neared the Holy Temple. He stood firmly atop the head of the Sea Surge Leviathan, which cleaved the waves as it approached the ancient complex of halls nestled in the center of the lake.
Then, the Great Sorcerer Wuyun leaped down from the beast’s head, sprinting eagerly toward the bronze gates of the ancient structure. The high-ranking strongmen of the Four Major Tribes followed close behind, but a suffocating wave of majestic killing intent surged out from within the halls, so potent it nearly choked them. The few high-ranking strongmen who were weakest in power had legs trembling so badly they could barely stand, relying on others to keep them upright.
“What exactly is inside this Holy Temple? Why is the aura of malevolence so intensely strong?”
Jinghun was utterly aghast.
Even his mount, the ninth-rank Golden Core level Sea Demon Steed, was restless, snorting plumes of hot mist from its nostrils, clearly fearful of the ancient temple and hesitant to advance.
“This temple was originally reserved exclusively for the shamans of the Wu Tribe; no other tribes were permitted inside. However, with the opening of the Langya Secret Realm this time, a group of Immortals also forced their way in. This Great Sorcerer has made an exception to allow you to enter the ancient halls and join in slaying the invading enemies. As for what lies inside the hall, you will see soon enough when you enter.”
Great Sorcerer Wuyun refused to elaborate further and charged into the ancient hall.
Jinghun, Liang Gong, and Yan Xing, the three great leaders, exchanged glances. With no other choice, they had to steel themselves and lead their respective tribal strongmen inside the temple.
The ancient hall was vast inside. Hanging from the ceiling were rows of deep-sea spirit pearls, each the size of a human head, emitting various hues of light—gold, red, blue—illuminating the entire hall with resplendent glory.
The first thing to greet them upon entry were two colossal bluestone statues, each soaring several dozen feet high.
They depicted a man and a woman. One was an ancient Immortal, possessing an otherworldly grace and a distinctly unusual appearance, whose palm was immense, signifying transcendent power. The other was a woman of devastating beauty, clad in flowing robes.
“True Man Huangfeng.”
“Saintess Wu Qinghui.”
Great Sorcerer Wuyun strode into the hall, lowered his staff, and prostrated himself with utmost reverence before the two bluestone statues. Saintess Wu Yiqing and over ten other shamans hastily followed suit, bowing low to the ground.
The female statue represented an ancestor of the Wu Tribe, whom only those of the Wu Tribe would worship in such a manner. The strongmen from the Bone Bow Tribe, Sea Plunder Tribe, and Sky Rider Tribe merely bowed in respect and did not perform the full kowtow.
“This True Man Huangfeng—isn't he that cultivator who sat in final meditation on the broken bridge we crossed to enter the Langya Secret Realm? Your Wu Tribe has had close ties with the Immortals for a very long time.”
Liang Gong clicked his tongue in amazement, casting a peculiar look toward Great Sorcerer Wuyun and Saintess Wu Yiqing.
“Hmph, Liang Gong, what are you implying? There is no safe haven in the East Sea. Whether it’s the Immortals or the Demon Race, disaster capable of wiping out our tribes can strike at any moment. Only this secluded Langya Secret Realm can preserve the vitality of our East Sea tribes, saving us from extinction. If not for the sacrifice our Saintess made to win over True Man Huangfeng, the Ancient Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, our East Sea tribes would be in an even more perilous situation!”
“This Holy Temple was jointly constructed by Saintess Wu Qinghui and the Ancient Immortal Huangfeng. True Man Huangfeng not only helped the Saintess open the passage to the Langya Secret Realm, but he also established this top-secret Holy Temple for our tribe within the realm as a crucial base, preserving the precious qi of our East Sea tribes. Only the shamans of our Wu Tribe can enter this temple smoothly. However, it is extremely difficult and fraught with danger for Immortals or the Demon Race to enter.”
Great Sorcerer Wuyun, sensing the sarcasm in Liang Gong’s tone, knew exactly what the man was thinking. After completing his obeisance, he stood up, leaning on his staff, and said with dissatisfaction,
“There is no need for the Great Sorcerer to be nervous. I have never doubted the Wu Tribe’s loyalty to the East Sea tribes. As one of the ten great tribes of the East Sea, the Wu Tribe will certainly prioritize the interests of the East Sea.”
Liang Gong, the young patriarch of the Bone Bow Tribe, let out a cold smile, clearly harboring ill intent.
There were frequent conflicts among the ten major tribes of the East Sea, and their relations were far from amicable; such taunts were commonplace for him.
Great Sorcerer Wuyun glared fiercely at Liang Gong, about to engage in a verbal spar, when Yan Xing interjected solemnly,
“Enough, Great Sorcerer. What is our next step? Those Immortals have gathered by the lake shore and will soon approach the Holy Temple. How should we meet the enemy while inside the temple?”
“Pay them no mind. Let them enter the Holy Temple. There is an array formation within this hall that will automatically trap any Immortals who enter. This is merely the front hall. We need to proceed to the central main hall and the eight vice-halls; there are many items we must retrieve from those locations.”
The Great Sorcerer Wuyun huffed, dismissing Liang Gong, and hurried toward the main hall, explaining as he went.
The group of strongmen passed through the front hall and arrived at the temple’s main chamber.
Upon entering the main hall, all the tribal strongmen were sharply startled.
Stretching across the hall was the immense skeleton of a monstrous Flood Dragon, spanning one to two hundred zhang in length, coiled upon itself. The entire skeleton radiated a somber blue color, with blue mist constantly seeping out from the bones, forming a thick layer of blue miasma around the surface—the toxic gas naturally emitted from the Flood Dragon's remains.
“This is the skeleton of a Venomous Flood Dragon!? It’s this huge; it must be tenth-rank or higher?”
Jinghun exclaimed, looking toward Great Sorcerer Wuyun.
Even though the Flood Dragon skeleton was dead, it remained terrifyingly imposing, hinting at how formidable the creature must have been in life.
“This is the skeleton of a twelfth-rank Deep Sea Venomous Flood Dragon. Do not approach it. There is no known antidote for the poison of this Deep Sea Venomous Flood Dragon; it can kill even a ninth-rank Golden Core demon beast. One touch or inhalation of its venom and death is certain within a few breaths.”
Great Sorcerer Wuyun nodded and stated gravely, “Back then, the Ancient Immortal Huangfeng killed a twelfth-rank Venomous Flood Dragon cultivator near the Langya Secret Realm—a demon race member equivalent to a late Nascent Soul stage expert.”
“That Venomous Flood Dragon cultivator revealed its true form, leaving behind this skeleton, which Huangfeng had placed here in the hall. Although the time is ancient, the skeleton still emits potent toxins.”
Jinghun, Yan Xing, and the other strongmen gasped and exchanged looks of shock.
“A twelfth-rank Demon Race Venomous Flood Dragon cultivator was considered a top-tier existence among powerful demon races, yet it was actually killed by an Immortal. The power of True Man Huangfeng is truly terrifying to the extreme.”
“Now that is true might!”
Liang Gong’s eyes flashed with an unusual, fervent light, and he thought to himself, Only by becoming a Sacred Strongman can one contend with Nascent Soul Immortals and Demon Race experts. High-rank strongmen are simply no match for them. No matter what, I must become a Sacred Strongman and attain the power to challenge Nascent Soul Immortals.
However, Liang Gong vaguely sensed that something else in the main hall was amiss.
“What is that?”
Liang Gong’s pupils suddenly constricted as he pointed toward another object in the center of the main hall.
The gazes of the strongmen had been entirely captivated by the hundred-zhang long Flood Dragon skeleton, their minds shaken, causing them to initially overlook the other item in the chamber.
But Liang Gong noticed it immediately.
It was an ancient war drum, yellowish-brown in color. Surrounding the drum were nine massive ox skulls. The brown-yellow ox-hide skin covering the drum surface was already rent open, and it stood quietly in the center of the main hall.
As soon as this war drum was noticed, they realized that the majestic, intense killing intent, the furious, bloodthirsty aura emanating from it completely overshadowed the Flood Dragon skeleton, pervading the entire ancient hall.
Liang Gong had initially assumed this imposing killing intent originated from the skeleton of the twelfth-rank Venomous Flood Dragon, but he quickly realized it came from the drum.
Jinghun, Yan Xing, and the others then realized something was wrong. There was no trace of the Flood Dragon skeleton’s aura in the temple; it was entirely the aura of the war drum. That sheer killing intent was awe-inspiring and made the blood surge.
“Could this be the legendary Ox Drum of the Immortal-Demon War?”
“How could it be here?”
The strongmen of the various tribes cried out in dismay upon seeing the war drum, a deep, instinctual fear causing them to retreat hastily, their frightened eyes turning toward Great Sorcerer Wuyun.
This was an ancient Divine Artifact of the Immortals, an object that absolutely should not be present here.
Great Sorcerer Wuyun had long known of the drum’s existence; his face was somewhat pale, but he showed no fear.
“This is the Ox Drum, an ancient Divine Artifact of the Immortals. During the ancient Immortal-Demon War, the Immortals specially forged this grand artifact to conquer the Demon Race. It was used to assist in combat, slaying countless Demon Race cultivators and beasts, becoming stained with countless drops of demon blood. This war drum was deeply hated by the Demon Race cultivators, yet they were utterly helpless against it. Its killing aura is not something the skeleton of a mere twelfth-rank Flood Dragon could conceal.”
“But this Ox Drum is an Immortal ancient artifact, always held by the Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Alliance. How could such an important item to the Immortals end up in the Holy Temple of the Langya Secret Realm?” Yan Xing questioned.
“When the Immortals and the Demon Race fought fiercely in the Sea of Blood, the war drum was damaged, and the war between Immortals and demons was at a critical juncture. For a time, no one watched over this broken drum, and then it vanished. Needless to say, you all know it was quietly taken away by someone from our Wu Tribe.”
Great Sorcerer Wuyun explained, showing a hint of triumph regarding how his tribe managed to acquire the Ox Drum.
“Our Wu Tribe ancestors felt it was unsafe outside, so they brought it deep into the seabed of the Langya Secret Realm and hid it in this top-secret Holy Temple. Neither Immortals nor the Demon Race could locate it again, despite searching the entire Sea of Blood battlefield.
Great Sorcerer Wuyun’s eyes shone with boundless fanaticism. “This Divine Artifact has fallen into the hands of us indigenous people and has become the foremost sacred relic of our East Sea tribes. Once the Demon Race attacks, we can use this drum to threaten them.”
“The drum is broken; how can it threaten the Demon Race?”
Liang Gong observed the damage on the Ox Drum’s surface dismissively. The gash across the drum was easily several zhang long; there was no doubt the drum was useless and could never be struck again.
“Hmph, that’s simple. The Demon Race cultivators fear this Ox Drum greatly. We only need to tell them that we possess the Ox Drum, and if the Demon Race dares to attack, we will return the drum to the Immortals, allowing them to use the Ox Drum against them. Do you think the Demon Race will still dare attack our East Sea tribes lightly? The reason our ancestors took this drum and hid it in the safest place—the Holy Temple of the Langya Secret Realm—was precisely so we could use it one day to coerce the Demon Race and save our East Sea tribes,” Great Sorcerer Wuyun scoffed.
“But why don’t we repair it ourselves? With this powerful Ox War Drum, the strength of our East Sea tribes would surely increase immensely, deterring the Demon Race. Wouldn't that be far better than returning it to the Immortals?” Yan Xing asked thoughtfully.
“The Ox Drum cannot be repaired,” Great Sorcerer Wuyun shook his head.
“Why can’t it be repaired?”
The strongmen looked puzzled.
“Where would we find Ox hide to mend the broken Ox Drum? That Ox was a thirteenth-rank ferocious beast from ancient times, surpassing even Nascent Soul stage demon race members.”
“According to the ancient Immortal records, this Ox was a beast from the Demon Realm. In ancient times, an Ox from the Demon Realm once escaped and appeared in the Sea of Blood. It was eventually besieged and killed by Ancient Immortals possessing great divine powers, and its remains were made into this Divine Artifact—the Ox Drum—becoming a potent weapon against the Demon Race.”
“This Ox Drum requires several late Nascent Soul stage Immortals working together to strike it; ordinary Immortals cannot wield it. Later, the Ox never appeared in the East Sea again, making it impossible to find a second one. Furthermore, our tribal strongmen and shamans cannot use artifacts meant only for Immortals. Even if it were repaired, it would be useless to us, only benefiting the Immortals.” Great Sorcerer Wuyun expressed his frustration.
[To Readers: The current chapter has reached the final page of this book]