In the center of a vast, gaping chasm, starlight converged, shimmering like fireflies dancing around the void.
The pit was not formed of stone, but of a crimson crystal, dotted with specks that resembled distant stars, slowly moving across the inner walls of the abyss like the unpredictable paths of celestial bodies.
Suspended within the chasm was a crystal mass shaped like a heart, into which beams of dazzling light from the pit’s crystal walls poured forth.
The crystal was a stunning, translucent red, magnificent to behold, imbued with an arcane, mysterious power that gave the viewer the illusion of gazing upon the vast, vaulted heavens.
The heart-shaped crystal was merely the size of a fist, appearing as a modest speck of light within the colossal pit, yet it erupted with blinding starlight, continuously releasing astonishing energy.
On the crystal walls of the chasm, intense, dazzling rays injected into the crimson crystal mass, so dense they seemed like a natural barrier, enveloping the brilliantly glowing object.
At the perimeter of the pit, Bei Mingce stood with a cold expression, flanked by three warriors from the Dark Nether sect, all staring at the crystal mass with undisguised astonishment.
Above, a massive celestial map patterned the sky, and points of starlight descended like rain, swirling around the crystal shard as it drifted slowly.
Any warrior could sense the mysterious power emanating from the crystal; it seemed to possess the divine ability to gather stellar might, holding an incredible allure for every martial practitioner.
Whether it was Bei Mingce or the three Dark Nether warriors, avarice sparked in their eyes, fixed unblinkingly on the crystal.
“Why hasn’t the Young Master arrived? If this continues, Bei Mingce is likely to claim this mysterious crystal,” muttered one Dark Nether warrior, whose realm was the First Heaven of the Hundred Tribulations, his face frigid, his expression eerily lit by the crystal’s prismatic glow.
Two Dark Nether warriors, positioned at the Third Heaven of the Human Rank, stood beside him left and right, growing impatient, frequently glancing around as if Mu Hui might appear at any moment.
Bei Mingce, his face grim, extended his left hand again. Tufts of pale blue flames elegantly drifted out, slowly ascending to form a massive blue hand that lunged violently toward the crystal.
"Boom!"
The light barrier surrounding the crystal instantly radiated an immense repulsive force, intercepting the hand conjured by Bei Mingce’s ‘Extreme Cold Ice Flame’ Martial Soul.
The sapphire-blue hand suddenly shattered upon contact with the light barrier.
Clusters of pale blue flames dispersed into wisps of tiny fire, shooting above the light barrier before rapidly coalescing once more into the blue great hand.
Bei Mingce, undeterred, channeled his ‘Extreme Cold Ice Flame’ Martial Soul again, forcing another grasp.
"Boom!"
The light barrier unleashed its resistance once more, shattering Bei Mingce’s Extreme Cold Ice Flame Martial Soul into scattered blue flames.
Under Bei Mingce’s repeated assaults, the light barrier warped continuously, like a compressed balloon, suddenly contracting closer to the crystal.
Bei Mingce’s Extreme Cold Ice Flame Martial Soul carried an intense, bone-chilling cold capable of freezing anything; each time it struck the barrier, a fraction of that extreme cold would seep inside.
After several attempts, the backlash from the light barrier seemed to show subtle signs of weakening.
A veiled flicker of joy crossed Bei Mingce's eyes.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Under the watch of the three Dark Nether warriors, Bei Mingce repeatedly attacked the crystal with his Extreme Cold Ice Flame Martial Soul, gradually penetrating the barrier with cold energy, incrementally diminishing its defense.
"Not good!"
The Dark Nether warrior at the Hundred Tribulations realm gave a slight change of expression and muttered, “If this keeps up, Bei Mingce might obtain the crystal soon. If the Young Master doesn’t arrive, it might be too late. If Bei Mingce truly gets it, we cannot face the Dark Lord and the Nether Lord.” “What should we do?”
“Distract Bei Mingce!”
The warrior grunted and, without further hesitation, his thought crystallized the Nether God Ghost Claws, which materialized instantly.
Just as the blue hand formed by Bei Mingce’s Extreme Cold Ice Flame Martial Soul reached for the crystal again, the Ghost Claws suddenly appeared, lunging to seize Bei Mingce’s phantom hand.
"Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!"
Upon contact with the blue hand conjured by Bei Mingce’s extreme cold, the Nether Ghost Claws slowed down, the claws emanating wisps of blue light, seemingly suppressed firmly by the Extreme Cold Ice Flame.
The other two Dark Nether warriors, seeing the situation turn unfavorable, quickly acted, unleashing streaks of Nether Thorns that shot toward Bei Mingce, piercing the air.
Bei Mingce’s expression instantly turned icy. He spoke coolly, “You finally couldn’t hold back,” and with those words, his body vanished from its spot.
The next moment, Bei Mingce appeared right beside the three Dark Nether warriors, the Extreme Cold Ice Flames transforming into clusters of fire that rained down upon their heads.
The three were horrified and hastily joined forces to defend against Bei Mingce.
“Instant Shift!”
Bei Mingce hissed and vanished from his location once more.
“Bang!”
A Dark Nether warrior at the Third Heaven of the Human Rank suddenly fell backward, looking up at the sky.
Only after he fell did Bei Mingce reappear, sneering, “With just you lot, you dare fight me for scraps!”
Clusters of pale blue flames swept past the fallen warrior, instantly coating him in ice, the cold severing the vital energy within his body, causing instantaneous death.
“Teleport!”
Bei Mingce roared again and reappeared strangely behind the remaining Dark Nether warrior at the Third Heaven of the Human Rank, slamming a hand onto the man’s head.
“Crack!”
An explosive sound resonated from the man’s skull; blood streamed from his seven orifices, and he too died instantly.
The last warrior, the one at the Hundred Tribulations realm, looked utterly terrified and abruptly sat down, channeling the Nether Thorns with his entire being.
Spears of thorns, resembling green steel needles, violently burst from his body, shooting out in all directions.
“Although you are also at the Hundred Tribulations realm, it is unfortunate that Heaven did not favor you with a Martial Soul,” Bei Mingce’s mocking voice drifted over.
A wall of ice, condensed from the Extreme Cold Ice Flame, formed before him. The incoming Nether Thorns were all blocked by the ice wall; not a single one could harm him.
The Dark Nether warrior at the Hundred Tribulations realm’s expression shifted drastically. Without hesitation, he continued to activate the Nether Thorns, sending more needles flying out, still striking in every direction.
Knowing Bei Mingce possessed the Instant Shift Martial Soul, he dared not fire in only one direction. Although this method consumed massive amounts of energy, he had no choice but to proceed.
He intended to buy time, waiting for Mu Hui’s arrival.
Unfortunately, he was unaware that Mu Hui had already died by Shi Yan’s hand; the one he waited for would never come.
Bei Mingce stood leisurely behind the ice wall, showing no urgency, observing the man like a cat playing with a mouse, saying lightly, “I want to see how long you can last.” He knew the man couldn't last long.
Three minutes later, the Nether Thorns he released were becoming sparser, and their power significantly diminished.
The Nether Thorns technique was inherently one that drained essence severely; every deployment required refining essence into needles, and its activation demanded potent surges of vital essence.
Though the killing power of the thorns was immense, the essence consumption was terrifying.
Consequently, he soon realized his essence was about to be exhausted.
Why hasn’t the Young Master arrived?
The man grew increasingly frantic, his expression laced with mounting terror and unease.
“You won’t be waiting,” Bei Mingce stated coldly, seemingly aware he was waiting for Mu Hui. “Because you are about to die!”
As he finished speaking, Bei Mingce instantly shifted again.
This time, his body solidified into impenetrable ice, allowing him to charge directly through the Nether Thorns to stand beside the man.
Under the warrior’s horrified gaze, Bei Mingce’s body appeared to magnify, and a mass of Extreme Cold Ice Flame engulfed him entirely.
“Crack! Crack!”
His body rapidly froze into a corpse covered in a thick layer of ice, the look of terror on his face frozen solid, creating a grimacing, frost-covered figure.
Bei Mingce raised his foot and kicked the man with a venomous expression.
“Smash!”
The ice encasing the Dark Nether warrior shattered, sending his limbs and head flying amidst the fragments.
He was dismembered even in death.
Bei Mingce composed himself and slowly walked back toward the edge of the chasm, frowning at the suspended crimson crystal mass, muttering, “Finally, no one will disturb me now.” “Tap, tap!”
Just then, light footsteps suddenly echoed from the distance.
Bei Mingce knitted his brows, displaying annoyance. He mumbled, “So troublesome, these Dark Nether fellows, they never seem to run out.” He turned toward the direction of the sound, his gaze chilling.
“Oh!”
Bei Mingce gave a small cry, a trace of mockery touching his lips, “I didn’t expect this kid managed to stay alive. The Dark Nether people really are trash; they couldn’t even take care of him.” Shi Yan abruptly halted, staring darkly at the cold-faced Bei Mingce before him.
“Shi Yan, it hasn't been easy for you to survive this long,” Bei Mingce smiled thinly. “We both hail from the Merchant Alliance, and we are both from the Five Great Families of Tianyun City. In the future, we might even become friends. Therefore, I have no desire to kill you. Leave now, and I will pretend you never came.” “You don’t want to kill me?” Shi Yan suddenly laughed.
“Yes, leave immediately! Before I change my mind,” Bei Mingce nodded.
“But I want to kill you!” Shi Yan’s lips curled into a smile, though his eyes were cold and ruthless. He said calmly, “I have waited for this moment for a very long time.” Bei Mingce was initially taken aback, stunned for a beat, before his expression turned sharply cold. He shook his head and muttered, “Truly ignorant of what’s good for him. Forget it, killing you won’t take much time. Eliminating you means the Shi Family has no hope left; I imagine my grandfather will be pleased with my actions.” Saying this, Bei Mingce didn't even use Instant Shift, instead walking toward Shi Yan step by deliberate step.
“Step, step! Stride!”
At that precise moment, more footsteps sounded from afar.
Before long, Mu Yudie and Di Yalan rushed forward together, both looking disheveled.
Upon arriving, neither woman looked at Shi Yan; their attention was fixed entirely on Bei Mingce. Mu Yudie exclaimed with delight, “Young Master Bei Ming, you have arrived?”
Bei Mingce paused, nodding to them with a smile. “I have been here for a while and took the liberty of clearing out some of the Dark Nether trash, just to save some hassle later.” “You haven’t cleared out my hassle yet,” Shi Yan stated coldly, feeling an unprompted irritation.
“You? Heh heh, you call yourself a hassle?” Bei Mingce’s face was full of disdain. “Killing you is no different than crushing an ant.” “I’ve been waiting for you,”