A graceful figure, clutching a person, streaked through the void to the east of the Dead Silence Marsh. Below, two hulking figures, like enraged black bears, also charged forward rapidly, each leap propelling them over ten meters in mid-air.

In the vast surrounding marshland, a monstrous figure covered in scales moved quickly through the mire, half his body submerged, resembling a giant loach. His savage eyes gleamed with cold light, constantly fixed on the sky above the marsh, gazing up at the graceful silhouette flying overhead.

From farther away, frantic roars echoed, someone raging and shouting, spreading their divine sense far out to cover the area. The anomaly in the east of the Dead Silence Marsh shocked many martial artists active in the region.

Those who had been encircling a demon beast stopped abruptly, staring up at the sky in astonishment, utterly unaware of what was transpiring. Many demon beasts within the marsh seemed to answer a summons from their master, leaping out from the mire and surging toward the east as well.

In an instant, the eastern reaches of the Dead Silence Marsh descended into chaos, with everyone fearing for their own safety. At the same time.

Chi Xiao, Zuo Shi, Wu Yunlian, and their party emerged from the Absolute Yin Valley and proceeded across the exposed flatlands beneath the sunlight. The flatlands of Absolute Yin were long since devoid of the Yin energy that once perpetually shrouded them.

Under the scorching sun, every plant that managed to survive on the Absolute Yin plains had withered and died. No demon beasts remained active on these plains either; those that survived had either perished or fled.

The vast expanse of the Absolute Yin plains resembled a desolate, silent land, utterly lacking any trace of life, not a single leaf or branch visible. “Master, will Shi Yan be alright?” Zuo Shi asked fretfully.

“I don’t know,” Chi Xiao shook his head, a faint sigh escaping him, tinged with a slight sense of guilt. He knew Shi Yan’s venture this time was likely to end in dire misfortune.

Though the Dead Silence Marsh was immense, Bei Ming Shang, Zhua Qi, and the others possessed cultivation at the Heaven Rank, allowing them not only to soar through the heavens but also to wield vast, overwhelming divine senses. Unless an expert of equal caliber intervened, escaping their pursuit would be nearly impossible.

Back at the Shi family residence, Chi Xiao had promised Shi Jian that he would do everything in his power to protect Shi Yan. Yet now, with Shi Yan facing his greatest peril, Chi Xiao could only stand by helplessly.

This fact brought a wave of guilt, and whenever Zuo Shi asked about Shi Yan’s prospects, Chi Xiao could only offer a bashful, slightly flushed smile, utterly powerless to change the situation. “Why are those two women still following us?” Wu Yunlian frowned, glancing back cautiously.

“They seemed to arrive with the Bei Ming family.” “Pay them no mind,” Chi Xiao glanced behind him briefly before stating flatly. Mu Yudie and Di Yalan followed slowly behind Chi Xiao’s group, their expressions melancholic, shadowed by a deep, inescapable gloom.

Though Zou Zihe had not revealed his identity, the two women had already surmised he was the Dark Lord of the Shadow Nether. While he was absent now, they were certain that once he dealt with Shi Yan’s affairs, he would return to capture Mu Yudie.

His current indifference stemmed from his confidence that Mu Yudie could never escape his grasp. Both Mu Yudie and Di Yalan understood this reality implicitly.

The impact Shi Yan had inflicted upon them in that strange space had already been profound. Recalling the even more tragic fate that awaited them, the two women felt restless, unsure of where to turn or what to do next.

“Xiao Die, will Ding Yan be okay?” Di Yalan sighed mournfully, her head lowered. Mu Yudie’s beautiful face turned cold, and she let out a sharp snort.

“He’s finished. Bei Ming Shang is attacking personally; unless he can fly, he absolutely cannot escape Bei Ming Shang’s grasp.

Not only will he die, but the entire Shi family will suffer for it. Bei Ming Shang is furious this time; he will certainly not let this rest.” “I don’t know why, but I feel like he won’t be harmed.

He always manages to bring surprises,” Di Yalan murmured softly, shaking her head. “Surprises?” Mu Yudie’s expression was icy.

“There won’t be any surprises this time!” “Eh!” Just then, Chi Xiao suddenly looked up at the sky, his expression instantly changing, and he cried out in alarm, “Azure Blood Demon Bats!” “Azure Blood Demon Bats?” Zuo Shi blinked in confusion, also looking up. “Oh, it really is a giant bat, Master.

What’s wrong? Are the Azure Blood Demon Bats something to fear?” “The Azure Blood Demon Bats are a species of demon beast capable of constant evolution, possessing iron-hard skeletons and immense strength.

They have a fondness for devouring human flesh, particularly the blood and muscle of martial artists—they are exceedingly cruel beasts. A third-tier Azure Blood Demon Bat is already formidable.

The lowest-ranked ones we see in the sky are at least third-tier, and there are nearly fifty of them appearing at once—something is seriously amiss,” Wu Yunlian murmured, looking up at the sky. “There are people riding those Azure Blood Demon Bats, and those individuals are even more powerful.

The weakest among them are at the Hundred Calamity Realm! Most of them are at the Status or Nirvana Nest Realm!” Chi Xiao took a deep breath, his face extremely grave.

“The one leading them has unfathomable cultivation; I cannot even sense his true strength. I cannot think of any faction in this region capable of deploying so many masters at once—even the royal families of the Blazing Fire Empire or the Divine Protection Empire couldn't field this many experts in a single deployment!” This statement caused Wu Yunlian’s expression to turn horrified.

“Not good, they are descending!” Chi Xiao’s heart sank, and he urged them urgently, “Xiao Shi, stand by my side, and do not move!” Mu Yudie and Di Yalan also noticed the abnormality in the sky, both looking up to watch the massive Azure Blood Demon Bats, seven or eight meters long, their eyes flashing with cruel ferocity, slowly descending. The two women felt a rising sense of panic, unsure of what was unfolding.

Seated imperiously upon the leading Azure Blood Demon Bat was the Asura King, Xiao Hanyi. Looking down upon the group below, he spoke in a hoarse voice, “Which one of you knows Shi Yan?” “Shi Yan!” “Shi Yan!” “Shi Yan!” Chi Xiao, Zuo Shi, and Mu Yudie exclaimed in unison, the entire party looking utterly bewildered as to why these people were seeking Shi Yan.

“Hmph, Shi Yan truly has offended quite a few people,” Mu Yudie scoffed, naturally assuming Xiao Hanyi’s group was another powerful enemy Shi Yan had provoked. Chi Xiao’s expression shifted slightly.

Without answering immediately, he cupped his hands in salute first. “May I ask, Senior, what business you have with Shi Yan?” Chi Xiao could perceive Xiao Hanyi’s immeasurable cultivation and recognized that the Yang Family’s Asura Blood Guards on the bats were mostly at the Status or Nirvana Nest Realm.

He was profoundly shocked and dared not show any disrespect, his tone being more deferential than ever before. “Sen–ior?” Zuo Shi, Wu Yunlian, Guo Yalan, and Mu Yudie all froze, stunned and somewhat vacant.

Chi Xiao was a Heaven Rank expert from the Misty Cloud Mountain Range, one of the preeminent masters in both the Divine Protection Empire and the Blazing Fire Empire, as well as the Merchant Alliance. Reputed to be nearly a hundred years old, he was a renowned senior figure across the Three Kingdoms.

Yet here he was, addressing someone else as ‘Senior’! Everyone was dumbfounded.

“Shi Yan is the great-grandson of Emperor Yang Qing, the family head of the Yang Family of the Endless Sea. We have come to escort him back to the Endless Sea.

Do you know where he is?” Xiao Hanyi saw that Chi Xiao’s attitude was favorable and his expression softened slightly, not revealing any of his inherent rage or madness. The Endless Sea?

The Yang Family? The family head’s great-grandson?

Xiao Hanyi’s simple statement left the crowd rooted to the spot like wooden statues. Especially Mu Yudie and Di Yalan; their expressions were indescribably strange.

They could never have imagined that Shi Yan possessed such an astonishing hidden identity. “So, you are experts from the Endless Sea,” Chi Xiao nodded, gazing up at Xiao Hanyi.

Noticing the latter’s growing impatience, he continued, “Shi Yan obtained a treasure from the Heavenly Gate and suddenly vanished from within it. He should currently be on the outskirts of the Dead Silence Marsh.

Several Heaven Rank experts are already searching the perimeter for him. If you intend to find him, you must be swift; otherwise, things may turn out poorly for him.” “Poorly for him!” An incredibly potent, oppressive aura of bloodlust suddenly erupted from Xiao Hanyi’s body.

This bloody stench enveloped everything like a canopy, making breathing difficult and nearly causing people to faint. “If anything happens to Shi Yan, the nations whose participants were involved will accompany him in burial!” With that declaration, Xiao Hanyi slapped the Azure Blood Demon Bat and commanded, “Disperse!

Search the entire Dead Silence Marsh. Send a message immediately upon finding him!” The contingent of Yang Family Asura Blood Guards, riding the Azure Blood Demon Bats, vanished without a trace in moments.

“Master, is that man very powerful?” Zuo Shi asked in astonishment. “Three Bei Ming Shangs combined probably wouldn't be a match for him,” Chi Xiao replied, his expression grave.

He swept a meaningful glance towards Mu Yudie and Di Yalan, his voice neither too loud nor too soft. “The Bei Ming Family is certainly doomed.

Those riding the Azure Blood Demon Bats possess enough strength to sweep away the Five Great Families of the Merchant Alliance. Bei Ming Shang’s demise is now certain.” Mu Yudie’s face turned deathly pale, and her body went weak; she slumped onto the ground.

“Xiao Die!” Di Yalan cried out in alarm. “What’s wrong with you?” Mu Yudie’s features contorted through a myriad of expressions; complex emotions flashed in her eyes—a mixture of wanting to weep and laugh—leaving her appearing foolish.

After a long, long moment, Mu Yudie’s expression gradually hardened. She suddenly stood up.

“Let’s go. We need to find Shi Yan!” “Why look for him now?” “I must find every possible way to become his woman!

No matter what he asks of me, I will agree!” “Ah!” Di Yalan gasped, covering her mouth, her face a mask of disbelief. Xia Xinyan, still clutching Shi Yan, continued her breakneck flight eastward across the Dead Silence Marsh.

Suddenly, a dense, ineffable darkness began slowly coalescing beneath the clouds ahead. An overwhelming tide of dark energy suddenly washed out from the darkness, enveloping Xia Xinyan’s body and causing her rapid flight speed to abruptly halt.

“Stop,” a cold, clear voice drifted from the dense shadows. “I am the Dark Lord of the Shadow Nether.

I have no wish to become an enemy of your Endless Sea contingent. Release the young man, and you may leave now.” Xia Xinyan hovered in the void, her expression chilling slightly.

She spoke calmly, “I advise you not to meddle in affairs that don’t concern you. Our reinforcements will arrive shortly.

I know you also possess cultivation at the first heaven of the Heaven Rank, but if you wish to oppose us, you are still far too weak. In the Endless Sea, a martial artist of your strength would, at best, be a mere retainer in a major family—and certainly not a core retainer!

If you intend to continue acting like a tyrant here, then do not interfere in this matter.” Xia Xinyan showed no fear; instead, she dared to issue a threat. “It is precisely because I wish to escape this fate that I need what that young man possesses,” the voice from the deep darkness continued.

“Do not force my hand! To obtain that item, I am willing to abandon the Shadow Nether.

I can rebuild it anywhere, including the Endless Sea, once I step into the Divine Realm in the future!” Xia Xinyan’s face changed, and she suddenly realized that convincing this person through words might be impossible.