Vast swathes of population and city towers were ferried into the abyssal black spaceships overhead. At the receiving channels, an irresistible magnetic force pulled streams of people, like black rivers, toward them, converging into long, thin black lines before vanishing into the portals.

Nearly two days passed before the entire population of the Heavenly Sovereign Divine Land—tens of trillions of souls—were finally carried away within the ships and the cosmic expanse of the God Emperor powerhouses, following Pangu and Fuxi and others, tearing through the distant sky, leaving behind nothing but desolate dust.

Ye Chen and Bai Yijun stood within the Heavenly Dao Divine Boat, following closely behind Pangu and Fuxi's vessel, heading toward a distant, mysterious realm in the heavens.

On the banks of the Tian Du River, before the gates of White Spirit Mountain.

The black-clad youth in the sable stood suspended in mid-air, his expression as cold and indifferent as ice and snow. His gaze paused momentarily, then lifted toward the distance, where several small, dark specks were piercing the void. Leading them was a tall, slender figure cloaked in white robes—an elder in his eighties whose facial skin, however, remained plump and smooth. His brow bone jutted slightly, and two snow-white eyebrows hung down to his waist. His silver-white hair billowed in the wind, his countenance benevolent yet grave, his robes puffed out by the gale, issuing a low, whistling roar.

“How dare you trespass upon my sacred grounds of White Spirit Mountain!” The narrow eyes of the white-robed elder flashed with a sharp, icy glint. His lips moved only slightly, yet the entire sky resonated with a voice like rolling thunder.

The black-clad youth in the sable slowly raised his eyelids and glanced at him, a faint, mocking curve playing on his lips. His form flickered suddenly, leaving behind an afterimage where he stood. His true self, however, had already arrived before the rapidly approaching white-robed elder, emerging slowly as if pushing through shimmering, rippling air. The soft light that struck his obsidian clothing seemed instantly devoured.

The white-robed elder’s pupils contracted violently. He slammed on the brakes mid-flight and instantly teleported back a thousand zhang. His previously furious expression morphed into sheer horror. He stared at the sable-clad youth with disbelief, for that sudden closing of distance had been too bizarre, as if the youth had been there all along; he hadn't sensed the slightest fluctuation of energy!

“Great Elder, look.” Beside him, two even older white-robed elders looked solemn. The one on the left suddenly glanced down toward the mountain gate beneath them. The sight made his expression twist with horror. The mountain gate, which had stood for ages, polished smooth by time and wind, was now splattered with blood. Lying askew beside it were more than a dozen corpses, including the twelve guards and Elder Han, as well as Elder Mo, who had just arrived to take his shift!

All were dead.

Furthermore, the manner of death for each was horrific: their chests pierced by a hole the size of a bowl, blood pouring out sluggishly and staining the ground. Since not much time had passed, the blood was still viscous, not yet fully dry.

“It took us only one minute from receiving the alarm until we arrived here!” The white-robed elder on the right spoke with a terrifying shock, as if he had seen a ghost. “In such a short span, twelve low-tier God Emperor powerhouses and two high-tier God Emperor powerhouses were instantly slain by the enemy using the same method, without even managing to mount a resistance!”

“How did this person cross the Tian Du River?” The white-robed elder on the left frowned.

The Great Elder in the center composed his features. “We must stall for time. This person’s strength far exceeds that of a God Emperor. He is likely a First Tier Epoch Realm expert. We cannot afford to be careless.”

“Impossible!” The elder on the right flinched, exclaiming in shock. “First Tier Epoch Realm! That is the strength equivalent to the Lords of the Ten Halls! Could this person be a hidden master from the continent? With my Bai family’s network, we shouldn't be ignorant of such a figure!”

“What are you whispering about over there?” The face of the sable-clad youth emitted a soft radiance, like a handsome god of slaughter, his blade-like eyebrows lifting slightly. “I do not wish to spill much blood. I only require you to leave this White Spirit Mountain immediately. Henceforth, this place shall be my private chamber!”

“What!”

“You wish to seize White Spirit Mountain?!”

The Great Elder and the two elders beside him were instantly enraged. Countless ages of their dedication had been poured into White Spirit Mountain and the Bai Family—it was the sum of their existence. Now, this youth before them intended to take it with such casual indifference, striking directly at their deepest core.

“Any objections?” The sable-clad youth arched an eyebrow.

“Die!” The silver-white hair of the elder on the left stood on end as he roared and raised his hand, grasping fiercely at the sky. The clouds and mist seemed pulled down by this single palm strike, drawing together boundless winds and air, rapidly condensing into a sharp, transparent conical light beam that shot viciously toward the sable-clad youth.

The expression of the sable-clad youth did not change; only his eyes gradually turned colder. The transparent conical light struck his forehead fiercely but was blocked by an invisible wall, unable to advance even a fraction. Then, under the gaze of the Great Elder and the other two, it shattered and dissipated.

Whoosh!

The sable-clad youth’s figure flashed and vanished instantaneously.

The Great Elder’s heart lurched suddenly. His face twisted in indescribable terror as he roared, “Quickly get…”

Before he could finish the word, the air before him warped violently, and a black silhouette materialized. A face as cold as ice and snow expanded in his pupils, a cruel curve etched on his lips, only a finger’s breadth from his own face, allowing him to see the minute hairs on the youth’s cheek.

The Great Elder stared down in a stupor; the motion felt impossibly heavy now. Then, he saw a hand covered in thick, viscous blood plunged into his chest. His sharp fingernails had ripped through his soft, satin-like silver robe, cutting deep into the flesh, and protruding out from his back.

If his eyes could see behind him, he would have seen that the hand piercing through his body was gripping a bloody, dripping red heart, still pulsing faintly, connected to a dozen crimson tubes.

“Chen… not tired…” The Great Elder’s throat convulsed, emitting a faint plea.

The sable-clad youth smiled sinisterly, then clenched his hand abruptly. The sound of the heart rupturing was like a balloon exploding, spraying fragments of bloody tissue that adhered to his pristine white robe. The Great Elder’s pupils constricted violently, the light in his eyes instantly dimming, his breathing growing shallow. He painfully twisted his neck, trying to call for help, his hoarse voice rattling in his throat like a broken bellows, a sound that chilled the scalp.

As he turned his head, the last glimmer of light in his eyes extinguished. He saw the two elders beside him, standing rigidly upright, but the upper half of their heads, from the nose upwards, had vanished. Thick, viscous blood seeped from the severed vessels, flowing down to paint their entire lower faces a vivid crimson.

Seeing the ashen look on the Great Elder’s face, the sable-clad youth curved his lips into a look of triumphant glee. He raised his other hand, shaping it into a blade, his sharp fingernails flashing menacingly, and thrust it toward the Great Elder’s skull.

Clang!

A sharp sound of clashing metal hummed fiercely before the sable-clad youth. Suddenly, a flash of golden light illuminated the entire expanse, then rapidly contracted into a single point of golden aurora, shooting directly toward the sable-clad youth’s eyes.

The sable-clad youth’s expression chilled. His body instantly retreated a thousand zhang, and he glared coldly at the golden light. He saw the wind roaring fiercely, whipping the robes of a tall, slender figure who descended gracefully and kindly beside the Great Elder, cloaked in a robe as soft as starlight. His thickly feathered black eyebrows framed thin, tightly pressed lips, and his nose was a steep ridge—a vision of impossible handsomeness and elegance.

His dense, long eyelashes fluttered slightly, as if dusted with snowflakes, and a faint aura of sorrow and loneliness permeated his being.

Bai Tian!

He reached out and placed his hand on the Great Elder’s shoulder. Energy transformed into a gentle white light, continuously flowing into the Great Elder’s body, causing his complexion to gradually regain color. However, his brow furrowed slightly as he examined the injuries; the Great Elder’s meridians and soul were largely destroyed. He couldn't fathom what technique this mysterious youth had used to so easily annihilate the soul and energy permeating every corner of the body.

After healing for a while and seeing the Great Elder regain mobility, he withdrew his hand and spoke softly, “You may retreat first.”

“Yes, Clan Leader.” The Great Elder bowed his head, pausing briefly before saying quietly, “Clan Leader, this person’s strength is terrifyingly high, certainly no less than the Lords of the Ten Halls.”

“Hmm, I see,” Bai Tian waved his hand, his expression serene.

After the Great Elder withdrew, Bai Tian looked up. Floating upon the silver-white robe across his chest was a sliver of golden aurora, subtle as minute dust motes suspended in the air, yet radiating an undeniable brilliance.

A spark flickered in the eyes of the sable-clad youth. He slightly lifted his chin, his coat flapping loudly in the cold wind. “You are the Clan Leader here?”

“Indeed,” Bai Tian replied with a gentle, refined smile.

“That makes things simpler,” the sable-clad youth moved his fingers slightly. “You will hand over this White Spirit Mountain, and along with it, the Golden Origin Void Artifact before you. Furthermore, you must evacuate the population within one day, and I shall let bygones be bygones.”

“Oh?” Bai Tian showed a hint of surprise, then chuckled softly. “If you leave now, I, too, can let bygones be bygones.”

The sable-clad youth frowned slightly, then slowly lowered his head, gazing at Bai Tian’s face with eyes sharp and cold. “I never repeat myself. I will only count to three!”

“Neither do I,” Bai Tian calmly extended his long fingers, flicking a speck of dust from his silver robe, saying lightly, “I only ever count to one. Therefore, you no longer have a chance to regret.”

“Oh?” The sable-clad youth watched him with keen interest.

At that moment, Bai Tian raised his hand and gently caressed the silver-white ring on his right hand. The ring was etched with fine, exquisite carvings. As he lightly rubbed it, the ring seemed to glow faintly. (To be continued)

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