Outside Black Spirit City, Mount Furong was the stronghold of the mid-tier sect, the White Pagoda Sect, so named for the nine-story white pagoda nestled in the mountain valley.

Beneath that pagoda lay the Underworld Source of the White Pagoda Sect.

"Rumble!"

The pagoda suddenly trembled slightly, causing the Black Spirit Masters cultivating on the top floor to open their eyes and exchange startled glances. But before they could grasp what was happening, the shaking intensified until, in a matter of moments, the tower began to tilt toward the valley entrance.

"The White Pagoda is collapsing, run!" Someone shouted, startling everyone awake. They burst through the windows onto the tower's exterior, pushing the power of their Body and circulating their Nether Force to its absolute peak, scrambling down the tower toward the valley floor. The White Pagoda fell faster and faster, and by the time they leaped to the ground, the tower crashed heavily onto the earth.

"CRASH!"

Instantly, the ground shook violently, and the entire tall structure shattered into pieces.

Freed from the pagoda's shroud and confinement, a colossal black hole manifested in the valley, its inky aura shooting straight up into the sky like a pillar of smoke. Witnessing this, the shaken disciples of the White Pagoda Sect were stunned. Why had the White Pagoda suddenly toppled?

"Hahaha..."

Amidst booming laughter, a massive white shadow shot out of the black hole, soaring dozens of meters into the air before plummeting like a meteor into the ruins of the White Pagoda. It was a giant clad in white robes, easily over five meters tall, his entire head concealed by the white fabric, exposing only his eyes. Standing barefoot in the dim valley, he resembled a demon god just emerged from the Nine Nethers, filling the onlookers with dread and awe.

"Monster! A monster..."

Muttering, one disciple of the White Pagoda Sect whispered.

Seemingly hearing the sound, the giant suddenly turned its gaze toward the disciple, who trembled so violently his legs gave way, his eyes rolling back as he fainted dead away. The remaining dozen or so disciples huddled together fearfully, silent as cicadas, daring not to make the slightest sound.

"Who dares cause trouble at my White Pagoda Sect—"

Abruptly, a tall black figure charged from the side of the mountain to the valley entrance, roaring with a ferocious expression. But before the words were fully out, he choked like a duck with its neck grasped, his face contorted with horror. His eyes stared blankly at the collapsed pagoda and the immense figure, his throat making a gurgling sound as he swallowed saliva with difficulty.

This man was Yu Biao, the Sect Master of the White Pagoda Sect. Though his frame was robust, compared to the giant before him, he seemed like a child next to an adult.

"It's nearly dawn!"

The giant didn't spare Yu Biao a glance, merely muttering under its breath. Then, with a flicker of black shadow, a colossal black eagle materialized beside him. Vaguely, a wisp of dark energy drifted from between the giant's brows and merged into the eagle's head, causing its wings to begin stirring.

"Peak Ninth Tier Flying Nether Beast, the Black Hawk. You are Nie Kong, the one who stole the incarnation of the Spirit Venerable?" A flash of realization struck Yu Biao, and he blurted out the question, immediately shaking his head. "No, no, how could Nie Kong suddenly grow so tall?"

"Hmm?"

Nie Kong raised his eyes in surprise toward the valley. He had just arrived from the Ghost Domain, surprised to be recognized the moment he appeared. Had the news of him stealing the incarnation of the Grand Evolution Spirit Venerable’s "Reverting Glance Grass" spread so quickly? Nie Kong, who had intended to depart immediately, changed his mind and shouted, "Phantom, seize him!"

"Screech!"

The Phantom Eagle King let out a piercing cry and its massive body soared into the air.

Seeing the black shadow dive toward him like lightning, Yu Biao nearly had his heart ripped from his chest. With a cry of "Ah!", he bolted out of the valley, filled with the deepest regret, wishing he could slap himself silly. Nie Kong clearly intended to leave, yet his own careless words had brought disaster upon him.

This man dared steal the incarnation of the Grand Evolution Spirit Venerable, escaped from her grasp, and possessed a peak Ninth Tier Nether Beast at his side. How could a minor mid-tier Sect Master like himself provoke such a terrifying figure?

Yu Biao had only one thought: escape!

Alas, no matter how fast he fled, he could not outmatch the Phantom Eagle King's wings. In less than two seconds, the Eagle King’s sharp talons seized Yu Biao by the shoulders, and with a powerful fold of its body, it instantly brought Yu Biao back before Nie Kong.

Dropping Yu Biao onto the ground, the Phantom Eagle King said obsequiously, "Big Brother, the man is captured."

"Tell me, how did you know me?"

Nie Kong bent down, grasping Yu Biao's neck and lifting his entire body.

Gazing into the bronze bell-like eyes mere inches away, Yu Biao's spirit trembled. Although he himself was a Seventh Tier Black Spirit Master, and the "Blood Kill Edict" stated Nie Kong was also only Seventh Tier, he felt no impulse to resist. He immediately poured out everything, praying that Nie Kong would ultimately show mercy and spare his life.

"Blood Kill Edict?"

Nie Kong frowned. He had long anticipated the Grand Evolution Spirit Venerable ordering the various sects of the Underworld to hunt him down, but he hadn't expected her speed to be this fast—able to instantly transmit the kill order across the entire Underworld via the statues revered by every sect! With the Edict issued, the whole Underworld likely knew of him now, and reaching God Extinguishing Cave safely amidst the pursuit of so many unranked powerhouses would not be easy. His mind flashed, and Nie Kong glanced at Yu Biao and the surrounding White Pagoda Sect disciples. A murderous intent flashed and vanished. Since the Grand Evolution Spirit Venerable had issued the "Blood Kill Edict," killing these small fry would serve no purpose; his movements would be exposed regardless.

"Not good!"

Suddenly, Nie Kong was startled again.

If Chi Lian knew of this passage, the Grand Evolution Spirit Venerable certainly must as well. Perhaps experts from the Spirit Venerable Hall or other sects were already rushing here!

"Phantom, let's go!"

Tossing Yu Biao aside carelessly, Nie Kong stepped up, and his massive body stood upon the Phantom Eagle King's back. With its peak Ninth Tier strength, not only could it carry the five-meter-tall Nie Kong, but even if Nie Kong were twice his current size, flying high in the sky would pose no strain.

"Whoosh!"

With a light flap of its wings, in the blink of an eye, the Phantom Eagle King shot up ten meters into the sky.

"Nie Kong, leave me my life!"

Just then, a great roar, like thunder splitting the clear sky, exploded through the valley. Immediately, a sword beam several feet long, black as pitch, tore through the void and slashed toward them from a hundred meters away. In an instant, the sharp sword energy reached the valley, enveloping Nie Kong within a radius of several tens of meters.

"They really came. I wonder if it's the Spirit Venerable Hall or another sect!" Nie Kong’s heart skipped a beat.

"Chirp!"

Without waiting for Nie Kong’s command, the Phantom Eagle King let out a sharp cry, its two wings raised side-by-side like a massive feather fan.

"Clang!"

With a sound like clashing metal, the inky black sword beam shattered into pieces, but the figures of Nie Kong and the Phantom Eagle King simultaneously dropped downward. As the Eagle King landed, a figure shot from the distance, stopping Nie Kong’s path at the valley mouth.

"I am Ye Xiantian, Sect Master of the Feathered Sword Sect!"

It was an old man with white hair and beard, smiling at Nie Kong as if Nie Kong were already a priceless treasure glittering with golden light. "Nie Kong, I didn't expect you would indeed use this exit. I arrived just in time. If I had been a step later, I fear I would have let you..."

"Thump!"

Before Ye Xiantian could finish speaking, Nie Kong had already leaped off the eagle's back. The instant his feet touched the ground, Nie Kong's heart skipped a beat. The Heart Drum War Chant sounded without warning, instantly unleashing an incredibly powerful wave of sound toward Ye Xiantian opposite him.

"Hmm?"

Ye Xiantian's expression changed slightly, and his words abruptly cut off. Nie Kong had now swallowed and fused with Pan Hu's heart; the power of the Heart Drum War Chant was countless times stronger than before. Even a peak Ninth Tier expert like Ye Xiantian could not avoid being affected.

"Thump!"

"Thump!"

"..."

Nie Kong quickened his pace, and the Heart Drum War Chant grew more rapid, one beat after another, each stronger than the last. In less than three seconds, Nie Kong's heart had beaten fifty-four times; the blood in his body boiled, his spiritual power surged, and the sound waves piled up one after another, washing over like furious tides.

Ye Xiantian was quite surprised. He had initially assumed Nie Kong was merely a Seventh Tier Black Spirit Master and, no matter how strong, couldn't be overwhelmingly so. He hadn't expected Nie Kong to unleash such a bizarre offensive move without a word. He felt that as Nie Kong approached, his own heart seemed ready to leap from his chest, and his Nether Force became somewhat chaotic.

"Hmph!"

Ye Xiantian was indeed a peak Ninth Tier expert and quickly regained his composure. He roared, wildly waving his hands as nine sword beams shot forth from between his fingers, instantly beginning to multiply.

When the sword beams pierced the void and reached Nie Kong, they had transformed into a massive net woven from seventy-two sword beams, enveloping Nie Kong from all sides. For a moment, sword energy crisscrossed everywhere, the void seemed ripped into countless fissures, and the sharp whistling sounds were incessant.

"Splash!"

Accompanied by the sound of water, a faint blood-red glow flickered, and Qing You suddenly burst out of Nie Kong's chest. Its body, like a transparent water bubble, rapidly expanded into a massive water sphere tens of meters wide.

"Plop! Plop..."

The seventy-two sword beams stabbed into Qing You’s body, causing ripples to spread outward. Meanwhile, Nie Kong's Heart Drum War Chant did not pause; instead, it grew ever stronger. The layered sound waves seemed to have solidified, causing the very void to fluctuate violently.

"Water Spirit!"

Ye Xiantian was momentarily stunned, only managing to shout out in excitement before his Nether Force became chaotic again, forcing him to retreat step by step.

"Chirp!"

Just then, the Phantom Eagle King flapped its wings, soaring up and plunging viciously toward Ye Xiantian with its beak, sharp as a hook.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Nie Kong did not halt his steps; three orbs of the War God Star Seal successively rushed out of his hidden apertures.

Ye Xiantian forcibly resisted the impact of the Heart Drum War Chant, his ten fingers moving like sharp swords as he lunged toward the Phantom Eagle King that had already reached him.

"Bang!"

The eagle's beak collided fiercely with his fingers, and Ye Xiantian could no longer withstand the war chant's sound. His body was sent flying back dozens of meters. The Phantom Eagle King flapped its wings dozens of times in rapid succession, its massive body pausing briefly in the air before shooting upward, while Nie Kong's War God Star Seals simultaneously appeared above Ye Xiantian's head...

For more novels, visit storyread.net.