“Li Jue Tian, it is I who shall slay you!” The black-robed figure hovered motionless in the air, his voice deep and resonant. Then, extending one foot, he began to descend from dozens of feet above as if walking down stairs, hands clasped behind his back, his head tilted slightly, taking step after measured step!
The assembled crowd gasped in profound astonishment!
Floating effortlessly in the void, as if traversing solid ground!
Even the Heavenly Punishment Beast King, He Chong Xiao, that soaring sovereign of beasts, possessed no such miraculous ability! This man's profound cultivation had clearly reached an ineffable zenith.
Li Jue Tian’s gaze dimmed, and he collapsed heavily onto the ground. He had only managed this final burst of energy on the precipice of death; now, witnessing this world-shattering, peerless divine technique, he knew that even at his own peak, he stood no chance against this adversary! This person before him… he suspected was far more terrifying than Venerable Mei of Heavenly Punishment! Far, far more!
Li Jue Tian completely lost the will to fight! Head bowed, he merely whispered, "Why?"
"Why? You demand a reason? Haven’t you always preached that might makes right? The mysterious black-robed figure scoffed. “Some people are not to be offended. You cannot afford to provoke them! If you incite their anger, you must pay the corresponding price! Do you understand?”
“I understand.” Li Jue Tian lifted his head with bleak resignation, his voice low. “I don’t expect to live, but I wish to know whom I have offended.”
“Whom you have offended?” The mysterious black-robed figure let out a cold laugh. “Do you know why the Xuan Beasts of Heavenly Punishment sabotaged your schemes and avoided attacking the very people you sought to frame? Have all the recent illogical occurrences failed to strike you as strange?”
“It was you! So, it was you preventing the Xuan Beast tide from attacking Jun Wu Yi!” A flash of realization illuminated Li Jue Tian’s mind, and he instantly guessed the truth, though he could scarcely believe it himself, stammering, “The Jun Family? You actually did this for the Jun Family?!”
This declaration instantly caused an uproar among the entire assembly! This included even Jun Wu Yi of the Jun Family, whose jaw dropped just as wide: When did our family acquire such a formidable backer? How come I never knew?
But the gazes of others turning toward Jun Wu Yi held only one emotion: Envy!
Such jealousy! To think that behind the usually low-profile Jun Family lurked such a world-altering figure! It seemed best never to provoke the Jun Family lightly in the future; they were untouchable!
“The Jun Family, hah, indeed not someone as insignificant as you, Li Jue Tian, could possibly offend! I have been hidden from the world for twenty years, yet I have inadvertently caused much misfortune, and created many like you—blind frogs in a well, utterly presumptuous and ignorant.”
After speaking, the mysterious black-robed figure’s gaze sharpened as he flicked his eyes toward the contingent from Fengxue Silver City. Xiao Bu Yu and the others suddenly felt a chill creep over them, and their expressions drastically changed.
The black-robed figure smiled coldly twice. “As for the rest of you… do not panic. As long as you do not displease me further, I have little interest in troubling you. Justice follows the debt; hah!” With a sinister, chilling laugh, the masked man in black shot a meaningful glance at Xiao Bu Yu and his group, a clear warning implicit in his eyes!
Xiao Bu Yu managed a strained smile. “Your sense of grievance and reward is clear, Sir. Xiao admires that…”
The black-robed figure snorted. “Clear sense of grievance? Not necessarily. Heh heh, watch me play a little trick.”
He remained motionless in the void. A ball of pitch-black flame erupted from his body, suddenly engulfing Li Jue Tian’s form.
The black-robed figure chuckled lightly, as if nothing were amiss. “Li Jue Tian, as a Supreme, you were a failure. But as a disgrace among Supremes, you have been undeniably successful.”
Through the hazy shadows, the crowd seemed to hear a brief, terrified shriek from the once incomparably glorious Second Supreme.
Then, the black-robed figure seemed to summon something with a gesture, and with a flash of golden light, two flying knives settled into his hand. At that very moment, Venerable Mei suddenly cried out, “Wait!” She had recognized what the black-robed man held: the Leopard King Xuan Pill!
But upon shouting, she suddenly realized: That Xuan Pill had been inside Li Jue Tian’s body; why was it now in the black-robed man’s hand? Could it be…?
The black-robed figure let out a disdainful "Hmph," completely ignoring her, his sharp eyes sweeping around the surroundings—a look that seemed to be a warning, a farewell, or perhaps something profound and weighty!
Then he turned, took a single step, and with that step, his entire body suddenly vanished!
Simply vanished!
It was as if an invisible door had opened before him in the air, and he stepped through it, only for the door to disappear again, leaving him unseen by anyone in the world!
But… how was this possible?
The tens of thousands of humans and beasts gathered were collectively struck dumb! Silence descended, so deep a pin drop could be heard!
Lei Bao Yu and Bu Kuang Feng exchanged glances, both registering the sheer terror in the other’s eyes. After a long pause, someone finally shouted, “Li Jue Tian, he…”
The crowd startled and rushed forward. Where Li Jue Tian had been standing, there was nothing left but a small pile of ash-gray powder.
Supreme Jue Tian, Li Jue Tian, had been incinerated by those bizarre black flames in the blink of an eye, reduced to this tiny mound of ashes!
What kind of technique was this…?
Even Venerable Mei stared wide-eyed in shock, failing to notice the Snake King approaching her side.
“Boss…” The Snake King glanced at her bashfully. “That person just now, his… his backside was really big.”
Venerable Mei started, asking, “What?” “Big backside?” Venerable Mei shook her head with a wry smile. “Snake King, that was a man; why are you focusing on his backside?”
The Snake King instantly flushed crimson, let out a soft protest, and turned away. Venerable Mei seemed to chuckle, then dismissed the thought, intensely perplexed about the identity of this mysterious black-robed man.
In her memory, there was no trace of such a powerful expert. If this person possessed such earth-shattering divine skill, how could he be unknown? She racked her brain fruitlessly, sinking into momentary confusion.
Yet, she could never have imagined that this sudden, awe-inspiring figure who had stunned the entire assembly was none other than Jun Mo Xie, who had just moments ago been severely spanked by her!
And the reason the Snake King, Qian Xun, noticed the abnormality of his backside was precisely because Venerable Mei herself had administered the punishment, swelling it to more than double its normal size—how could it not be abnormal?
Once Venerable Mei engaged in battle, the Heaven and Earth Prison Cage restraining Jun Mo Xie dissipated. Jun Mo Xie finally regained mobility. Taking advantage of the focus on the battle between the Four Supremes and Venerable Mei, he eagerly stretched and quietly slipped into the Hongjun Tower.
His first act was to frantically rub his own backside.
It hurt terribly, especially in such an undignified area…
Jun Mo Xie hadn’t expected things to proceed so swiftly even after Li Jue Tian and the other four were defeated and he had activated his Heaven and Earth Creation Technique; the swelling on his rear couldn’t disappear in such a short time. Helpless, he limped out with his aching rear end, swiftly dispatched Li Jue Tian with a few hurried words, and then beat a hasty retreat.
But this haste was why the sharp-eyed young girl, the Snake King, had noticed the peculiarity of his backside.
Jun Mo Xie had not anticipated that his forceful reappearance would leave such an indelible impression on the assembled masters. For most people present, excluding the handful of Supremes and Divine Profound Experts, the Heaven Profound and Earth Profound realms were already rare. The majority were at the Gold Profound or Jade Profound levels.
At their respective levels, they could be considered masters in the ordinary world; but today, they had truly been reduced to ants! Veritable ants!
Every powerful figure who emerged—one after another—was a legend, a being they could only look up to! Upon first arriving at Tian Nan City and seeing the Supremes, they already felt they were impossibly high above them; the trip was worthwhile, they thought.
But now, the combined force of the Four Supremes had been defeated by this single individual!
And two former Supremes appeared—the world-shocking Sword Duo, Storm and Gale, the Dual Supremes! What resonant names they possessed, yet it turned out they were merely serving as protectors for the Hermit Immortal Palace!
At this point, the concept of the Hermit Immortal Palace suddenly materialized before the crowd, a name most of them heard for the very first time! Before this, there had never been any legend circulating about it. This only deepened their confusion.
This mystery made everyone feel enveloped in a thick fog. Though they didn't understand, everyone knew that this Hermit Immortal Palace absolutely represented the pinnacle power in the world! Li Jue Tian’s attitude alone demonstrated this. Furthermore, if the two former Supremes were merely protectors of the Hermit Immortal Palace, what did that imply?
Of course, Venerable Mei, who could fight the Four Supremes to a standstill and emerge victorious, was now viewed by the crowd as the embodiment of the world's foremost expert!
But unexpectedly, at this critical juncture, an even more mysterious black-robed man emerged, someone who appeared even more powerful than Venerable Mei, and who obliterated Supreme Jue Tian, Li Jue Tian, with the flick of a finger!
These events unfolded in rapid succession, repeatedly assaulting the limits of the crowd's psychological endurance, leaving them dizzy and breathless.
There is always a higher mountain to climb!
Almost simultaneously, this single thought arose in everyone’s mind: whether they had previously roamed the martial world, lived in seclusion in the mountains, or belonged to great aristocratic families, all they felt now was shock, mingled with shame over their previous complacency and pride in their own status.
Compared to these figures, what were they? They barely qualified as a joke.
They truly were… frogs in a well. There was one other major factor: among the members of the great families present, before today, most—with only a small exception—had participated, either openly or covertly, in the scheme by Li Jue Tian and his son Li Teng Yun of the Blood Soul Manor to frame Jun Wu Yi. At most, they had chosen to ignore it.
But now, the Jun Family had turned the tables; not only had they suffered no casualties, but this newly emerged mysterious figure was clearly the Jun Family’s backing! What did that signify?
The person whom even Lei Bao Yu and Bu Kuang Feng dared not provoke, the one whom even Venerable Mei treated with caution, was the backer of the Jun Family they had all conspired against!
As this thought dawned, panic gripped everyone.
What if the Jun Family sought revenge?
Instantly, one thought surfaced in every mind: We must become close allies with the Jun Family! Upon returning, we will immediately report this matter, devise a plan swiftly, and rush to Tian Xiang City to secure the Jun Family’s goodwill at the earliest possible moment.
Please, do not seek revenge upon us; with your level of strength, we cannot afford to offend you!
Naturally, there were also many with thicker skin who immediately began trying to curry favor with Jun Wu Yi. After a moment of hurried consideration, a swarm of people instantly surrounded Third Master Jun like flies.
Words of flattery and praise, like the ceaseless, mighty torrent of the Yangtze River, poured relentlessly into Jun Wu Yi’s ears. The straightforward Third Master Jun felt his head swell, yet he had to deal with them carefully.
It had to be said that news this earth-shattering, once spread, would cause a massive upheaval! The status and security of the Jun Family could now be considered unshakable!
No one wished to risk provoking this supreme powerhouse against the Jun Family! It was true for everyone, without exception!
The most terrified, however, were the people from the Xiao Family of Fengxue Silver City. Xiao Bu Yu’s face turned ashen; he suddenly felt immense pressure! Could the power of Fengxue Silver City withstand the retaliation of that mysterious figure? That was uncertain.
Although that person stated that justice followed the debt, the tone of warning and the flavor of deep-seated enmity were unmistakable to Xiao Bu Yu, with his decades of experience! The current situation implied that the mysterious figure expected Jun Wu Yi to seek redress himself—a sentiment everyone understood.
But the problem remained: if Jun Wu Yi pursued vengeance, what course of action should the Xiao Family take? If they accidentally killed Jun Wu Yi, then the principle of "justice follows the debt" would immediately apply to the mysterious figure himself…
But facing such a deep-seated enemy as Jun Wu Yi, did they have to treat him like a baby, pampering him so that he wouldn't be hurt?
What kind of situation was this?!
Xiao Han looked at Jun Wu Yi, who was being mobbed, and suddenly felt a suffocating anguish in his chest! This nemesis, the person he wished to kill with grinding teeth, the one he had always viewed as a mere toy to be destroyed—now he was basking in such glory!
Even if Xiao Han wished to move against him now, the family would inevitably reconsider repeatedly. Even without the City Lord's strict orders, the family would likely refuse to offend that mysterious black-robed man for Xiao Han’s sake!
So, what should he do? Yao Xin… she belongs to me! Mine!
A frenzied desperation flared in Xiao Han’s eyes. Suddenly, his body swayed precariously, and with a loud gasp, he spewed out a mouthful of blood. He stood stubbornly, his gaze locked on Jun Wu Yi, growing increasingly cold and increasingly insane!
Jun Wu Yi, I don’t care who your backer is, I will kill you! I must kill you!
A long cry echoed in the mid-air. He Chong Xiao released his grip, and Li Teng Yun’s broken body tumbled down amidst gasps of alarm, falling from over a hundred meters high!
The people below scattered instantly as the body plummeted, clearing a wide area of stone ground.
If Li Teng Yun had fallen like this before, perhaps a thousand people would have rushed forward to catch him. But now, Li Teng Yun was clearly a hot potato—who dared touch him? Who would dare?
Smack!
Li Teng Yun’s body slammed heavily onto the stone ground, splattering blood everywhere. His entire form was mashed meat, and one arm was shattered, bone protruding from the broken joint, fingers still attached… This tragic sight made everyone’s hearts pound.
Venerable Mei swept her large sleeve, turned, and called out, “The terms agreed upon today, remember them well. We depart now; we shall meet again!”
Although she did not name names or address anyone specifically, Lei Bao Yu and Bu Kuang Feng knew these words were meant for them. They replied solemnly, “Venerable, rest assured. A gentleman’s word is his bond. Since we have lost, we accept the consequences of defeat and will not go back on our word!”
Venerable Mei let out a cold chuckle. “And who would dare go back on their word?!” The threat was clear.
Lei Bao Yu and the other exchanged wry smiles.
Venerable Mei turned her gaze back and realized that Jun Mo Xie’s silhouette was indeed gone from the spot where she had been standing. It seemed that once she lifted the power of the Heaven and Earth Prison Cage, the brat had slipped away like a rat.
Pondering this, she suddenly turned directly toward Jun Wu Yi. The crowd surrounding Jun Wu Yi saw her black robes flowing as she approached, parting like ghosts, and they quickly retreated far away.
Jun Wu Yi finally let out a breath, realizing he was sweating. He, who never flinched before mountains of blades or seas of blood, felt almost suffocated by the tidal wave of flattery directed his way.
Dealing with these people who had previously dismissed him had felt more exhausting than fighting an actual battle in such a short span!
Seeing Venerable Mei approach, Jun Wu Yi smiled, cupped his hands, and asked, “Venerable, what counsel do you bring?”
“Your nephew has exceptional bone structure and remarkable talent.” Venerable Mei cut straight to the chase. “This Venerable wishes to take him as a disciple. What say you, General Jun?”
Although Jun Wu Yi had prepared for this possibility and guessed her intention, he couldn't help but feel a jolt of surprise followed by delight when he heard the request. But remembering Jun Mo Xie’s strange temperament, he smiled: “It is the nephew’s fortune that the Venerable favors this lad. I, Jun Mou, naturally have no objection; however, my Jun Family has always been open-minded, and Mo Xie has always been quite self-disciplined and possesses a strong will of his own. If the Venerable truly intends this, as long as Mo Xie himself agrees, the Jun Family will have no issue!”
“Quite self-disciplined…” Venerable Mei seemed to pause, appearing slightly bewildered, her tone clearly conveying disbelief. Then, seemingly grinding her teeth, she chuckled, “Yes, yes, very good. Hmm, quite self-disciplined… that is excellent…”
In her mind, however, she was cursing. How could the actions of that despicable, shameless brat be described as 'self-disciplined'? Where did that description even come from!
“If that is the case, I have my methods.” Venerable Mei felt a measure of contempt. This great military general was actually looking her in the eye and speaking falsehoods… To heap such praise on that nephew of his!
“But may I inquire as to your nephew’s whereabouts?” Venerable Mei was solemn and dignified, perhaps only because she was barely suppressing the urge to curse the legendary ‘honest and decisive’ Blood-Clothed General before her. Otherwise, the outburst would surely have escaped her lips.
“Mo Xie is… Hmm?” Jun Wu Yi began to speak, only then realizing: “Wasn’t Mo Xie just beside you?”
“Indeed, when I went out to fight, and when I returned, your nephew was no longer there,” Venerable Mei said calmly, her face unblushing. “We had a most pleasant conversation, your nephew and I…”
As the two spoke, Lei Bao Yu and Bu Kuang Feng had already concluded the evacuation of all their personnel. Seeing Venerable Mei, the great terror, engaged in “pleasant conversation” with Jun Wu Yi, everyone felt utterly silenced, and their envy toward the Jun Family deepened. Fearing to disturb them, they quietly dispersed. By now, the mountaintop was largely cleared.
On the side of the Heavenly Punishment Forest, the Xuan Beasts had also completely withdrawn, leaving only a few Beast Kings watching Venerable Mei’s group with palpable concern.
The sounds of departure faded, and the mountainside returned to its serene quiet. Lei Bao Yu chuckled lightly, cupped his hands, and said, “Venerable Mei, esteemed Beast Kings, we have a long road ahead. We bid you farewell and return to our palace to report! My brother and I take our leave now.” Venerable Mei gave a slight nod and was about to speak when a powerful physique suddenly charged out from behind her with a roar: “The Purple Gold Guardian of the Hermit Immortal Palace! How mighty! Take this punch before you leave!”
Simultaneously, the sound of wind swept through the sky, coalescing into a storm cloud that descended rapidly. A sharp voice, carrying a piercing, fierce aura of battle, roared, “I too wish to sample the prowess of the Hermit Immortal Palace’s Purple Gold Guardian!”
The Bear King, Xiong Kai Shan, and the Crane King, He Chong Xiao!
Everyone present knew that the two Kings did not intend to detain or kill Lei Bao Yu and Bu Kuang Feng; they merely sought a challenge. They wanted to compare their own Xuan cultivation against that of the legendary Purple Gold Guardian of the Hermit Immortal Palace.
Or, how did the subordinate forces of the Heavenly Punishment Forest measure up against the Hermit Immortal Palace?
After hearing Lei Bao Yu’s cryptic words, both Lei Bao Yu and Bu Kuang Feng had entertained this very thought. Now, seeing the pair preparing to depart, they would not miss the opportunity!
A clear whistle sounded, and a graceful, lithe figure spun forth. The Snake King, Qian Xun, attacked simultaneously.
Thunderstorm and Mad Wind exchanged a knowing smile. Neither of them seemed to move a muscle, and the purple-gold longswords at their waists remained still, yet after two dazzling streaks of light flashed, the sky abruptly shattered as if a torrential downpour had begun; simultaneously, a strange, sharp whoosh sounded, as though a sudden, violent gale had whipped up—kicking up sand and stones, churning the rivers and seas!
Though the three Beast Kings’ attacks were fierce, they were instantly trapped within this sudden storm and raging wind, struggling just to maintain their footing!
The Earth-Shattering Twin Swordsmen, the Supreme Duo of Torrential Rain and Gale! Thunderstorm and Mad Wind truly lived up to their reputations as supreme figures of the previous generation; their profound techniques were unparalleled, and their coordination was seamless, magnifying their power tenfold!
With a crisp sound, Crane Soaring rose high into the air, roaring with laughter. "Indeed worthy of the title 'Torrential Rain and Gale'! I am deeply impressed!"
A sharp whistle followed, seemingly from Mad Wind’s lips. "Tianfa Forest certainly lives up to its renown. Five years hence, we shall meet again! Farewell."
By the time he uttered that final word, "Farewell," his voice was already a full li away.
The five had exchanged only a single move before retreating. On the surface, five individuals—two against three—appeared to have fought to a draw; yet, the three Beast Kings knew clearly that the initiative remained firmly in the hands of their opponents.
The Hidden World Immortal Palace was, indeed, formidable!
The three on the left were somewhat astonished, but Venerable Mei had long anticipated the outcome of this brief clash and remained unconcerned. Frowning, she paced back and forth, her thoughts consumed by one nagging question: Where in the blazes had that little bastard Jun Moxie fled to? Why could her divine sense not locate him, no matter how she searched? What was the reason for this?