True Martial World - Chapter 1225: Ancient Godly Monarchs

Yi Yun was surprised when he heard Huan Chenxue's words. What was different from what he imagined? Could it be that Huan Chenxue actually wasn't interested in the sword?

Huan Chenxue could read Yi Yun's apprehensions. She said with a smile, "I did not call you here to get anything from you. Instead, it's about the owner of this broken sword."

"Are you talking about… the Pure Yang Sword Palace owner?"

Huan Chenxue nodded slightly. "That's right. Too much time has passed. Of all the people of the present, if we are ignoring the Sinkhole, just the 12 Empyrean Heavens alone, there's probably none who can remember the eight Godly Monarchs of ancient times."

Eight Godly Monarchs?

Yi Yun held his breath. Huan Chenxue's words left him in awe. He did not know what sort of figures the eight Godly Monarchs were.

"The Pure Yang Sword Palace owner you just mentioned is one of the eight Godly Monarchs. Back then, all sentient beings fought with the Ancestor Gods, and the eight Godly Monarchs fought until they were bathed in blood. Some died in battle, some were heavily injured, and there were others whose outcomes are unknown. However, that history has been wiped away due to all sorts of reasons. Now, it's unknown to most people. It's very normal for you not to know!"

Huan Chenxue reflected over the matter. Her gaze seemed to penetrate the endless rivers of time, and saw the stunning ancient war at the source of that river.

Yi Yun found it unbelievable that a mortal girl could possess such a gaze.

He remained silent for a long while before asking, "Miss Huan, you said that the history has been wiped away. Then, how does Bai Yueyin know the value of the sword? And why was she willing to harm her lover that she had been together with for centuries? Does she know the history of the eight Godly Monarchs?"

Upon hearing Yi Yun's question, Huan Chenxue sighed. Her voice sounded somewhat pained and a little wistful. "That's right. She obviously knew about it because she is one of the eight Godly Monarchs…"

What!?

Yi Yun widened his eyes. He never expected Huan Chenxue to give him such an answer!

In Azure Yang Lord's memories, Bai Yueyin was a genius girl that grew up in a small sect. Now, he was being told that Bai Yueyin was a figure equal to the Pure Yang Sword Palace owner. How was it possible?

Even if Bai Yueyin was one of the eight Godly Monarchs, she could have just killed Jian Qingyang if she wanted the pure Yang broken sword. There was no need for her to stay by his side for centuries. With the standards of a Godly Monarch, Jian Qingyang would not matter highly to her even if he was excellent.

It was hard to imagine!

Huan Chenxue said, "I know what you are perplexed about. In fact, Bai Yueyin is not the complete body of a Godly Monarch. She is only one incarnation of a Godly Monarch…"

One incarnation?

Yi Yun's heart skipped a beat.

"I previously mentioned that there were eight Godly Monarchs in ancient times. After that massive war, some perished and some were heavily injured. There were others that disappeared…"

"Bai Yueyin was one that was heavily injured. As a last resort, she sealed herself in Divine Blood Crystal and slept for a hundred million years. Although this amount of time ensured her survival, it also caused her strength to recede. In order to recover to her past state, she used a mystic technique to reincarnate. She split her soul and reincarnated again and again, so as to nurture the strength of her soul and absorb Yuan Qi. All these incarnations would slowly fuse back into her body and her strength would gradually recover.

"The girl that Jian Qingyang met was one of Bai Yueyin's incarnations. She did not have any memories as a Godly Monarch. She was herself, as plain as paper. She met Jian Qingyang and fell in love with him. She stayed by his side for centuries until one day, when she awakened. She transformed back into the true Bai Yueyin and from that moment forth, the girl of the past was dead. The person that continued living was only a soul belonging to the Godly Monarch."

"Therefore, I said that… from the moment Jian Qingyang met that girl, he was destined to lead a life of tragedy."

Yi Yun was enlightened by Huan Chenxue's explanation. It was no wonder Bai Yueyin's eyes were filled with love when she was by Jian Qingyang's side. Back then, she was truly in love with him.

They could have toured the cosmos and been together to the end of days, but their fates were destined. With Jian Qingyang's strength, how could he withstand a Godly Monarch of primordial times?

From this point of view, wasn't the reincarnated Bai Yueyin also a tragic figure?

Unfortunately, Jian Qingyang did not know why his lover had betrayed him till his death. Even with the ancient Great Empress rehabilitating him, it was still regret, indignation, and endless hatred that Jian Qingyang brought with him to his death…

Yi Yun gently touched his interspatial ring and following that a faint dark gold beam flashed. The pure Yang broken sword appeared in his hand.

The golden beam was only the effect of the pure Yang Yuan Qi in Yi Yun's body. The broken sword itself was simple and dull. It had experienced the ruthless baptism of time and was covered in rust.

It was hard to imagine that it was a sword that could stir a Godly Monarch's heart.

"If this sword is so formidable, why would it break?"

Huan Chenxue said, "The value of this sword is not in its strength but the secret contained within it."

"Secret? What is it?"

Huan Chenxue shook her head. "Too many things happened back in the primordial times. Even the most astounding matters have been buried by history. Furthermore, it was already a secret unknown during the primordial era. After hundreds of millions of years, there is no way anyone would know the truth…"

"Miss Huan, even you do not know?" Yi Yun was surprised. He previously felt that there was nothing Huan Chenxue did not know.

Yi Yun continued, "Miss Huan, I believe that whatever secret this sword entails, Bai Yueyin will find me regardless, isn’t that right…"

Back when Yi Yun first arrived in the 12 Empyrean Heavens, he had hidden all his treasures because he lacked the strength to protect them.

Later on, when he gained strength that exceeded ordinary Supremacies, and an extremely high amount of status and prestige, Yi Yun felt that treasures like the pure Yang broken sword and the God Advent Tower did not need to be hidden any longer. Furthermore, no one would recognize the pure Yang broken sword. But from the looks of it, he had made a mistake.

Huan Chenxue said with a smile, "You do not need to worry about that. From the last reincarnation of her soul, Bai Yueyin has been in seclusion for tens of thousands of years. She will not be coming out into this world any time soon. And none of her followers have ever experienced the war of the primordial times. Therefore… you are temporarily safe. However, that might not be the case when she awakens. You brought the pure Yang broken sword from the sealed Tian Yuan world into the 12 Empyrean Heavens so, in time to come, Bai Yueyin will find you because the broken sword you have is linked to the part she has. She will find you."

Huan Chenxue's words left Yi Yun appalled. He was thankful that Bai Yueyin was still in seclusion and that Huan Chenxue had found him first.

Yi Yun pondered for a moment before suddenly asking, "Miss Huan, do you understand Bai Yueyin? Is she good or bad?"

Yi Yun knew that in the primordial battle, a hundred races, including humans, had fought the bronze giants. As one of the eight Godly Monarchs who took part in that battle, Bai Yueyin must have secured great achievements for the human race.

But later, in order to obtain the Pure Yang Sword Palace owner's broken sword, she ignored the feelings she had for Jian Qingyang in that life. She stabbed him in the chest, stopping at nothing in a ruthless manner.

Huan Chenxue said, "Whether she's good or bad isn't that easily determined. In that world battle of primordial times, who can judge the goodness or badness of both parties? Those hundred races had warred against each other without end. They only united to face a stronger enemy because they had no choice. However, who can truly determine if their hearts were aligned as one when battling the Ancestor Gods?"

"Even the eight Godly Monarchs, who fought alongside each other, were not extremely close. After hundreds of millions of years passed, it became even more complicated and confusing, with no one capable of distinguishing who did what back then. You asked me who is good or bad, that is something I cannot answer because there was never good or bad, to begin with. There was only foe and friend."

Huan Chenxue's voice was fluttery as she smiled and looked at Yi Yun. She countered with a teasing tone, "Do you think you are good or bad?"

Good or bad?

If one considered the number of kills, Yi Yun had killed numerous people. He fell silent for a moment and said, "Miss Huan, you are right. My battles are not fought for good but for myself. It is all for my own conscience."

Upon saying that, Yi Yun cupped his fists. "Miss Huan, thank you for saving my life. Had you not said what you said, I might have ended up dead without even knowing why."

True Martial World - Chapter 1224: Woman in the Portrait

The woman drawn in the portrait was dressed in a white dress. She seemed to stand aloof from the world, transcendent, as though she was a fairy from the nine heavens that landed in the mortal world.

When he first saw the woman, Yi Yun found her somewhat familiar. However, he was certain he had never seen her before.

Who was this woman? If he had ever seen such a peerless woman, she certainly would have left a lasting impression on him.

Yi Yun looked at it carefully for a long time. Although it was a portrait, the woman's bearing and looks far exceeded peerless women like Fairy Youqin and Princess White Fox.

Suddenly, a flash of brilliance streaked across Yi Yun's mind.

He recalled the image of a person.

Back in the Tian Yuan world, he had once seen Azure Yang Lord's past when he entered the Great Empress mystic realm.

Azure Yang Lord had a love of his life named Bai Yueyin!

Although Yi Yun had only seen dreamy visions of Azure Yang Lord's life, Bai Yueyin had left a deep impression on him. On careful comparison, she resembled the woman in the portrait!

Yi Yun remembered that, tens of millions of years ago, the Central State Divine Territory had an empire that united the area known as the Great Qian Dynasty!

And Azure Yang Lord was a prince of the Great Qian Dynasty. After he inherited the throne, he encountered an extremely beautiful woman—Bai Yueyin.

Bai Yueyin was exceedingly talented. She was extremely clever but she came from a tiny sect. Even so, she emitted light like the bright moon. She was a rare gem.

Her ordinary background gave her an inexplicable charm and affability. It made Azure Yang Lord fall deeply in love with her.

Later, the duo held a wedding and was supported by the Great Qian Dynasty. After having heritage and resources to make up for her disadvantages, Bai Yueyin's cultivation improved rapidly. Before long, she was almost as strong as Azure Yang Lord. Among their peers, they were invincible!

However, they came to suffer certain tribulations. Once, Azure Yang Lord and Bai Yueyin headed to the Sinkhole on an expedition. They encountered a perilous zone. Amid the distorted space in the Sinkhole, Azure Yang Lord was trapped and his outcome unknown.

Bai Yueyin returned alone and ruled the Great Qian Dynasty in his stead, conscientiously and earnestly.

She always waited for Azure Yang Lord, believing that he would return.

With that, twenty years passed and the outcome Bai Yueyin had been wishing for finally happened. Azure Yang Lord returned. Not only did he return alive, he returned with his cultivation level increased by leaps and bounds after receiving a huge opportunity in the Sinkhole!

The Great Qian Dynasty rejoiced and the two were given the titles of Sacred Emperor and Sacred Empress. Azure Yang Lord led an unbridled life. Bai Yueyin was modest and open-minded, a motherly model for the nation.

Immediately following that, Azure Yang Lord inherited the position of Great World's Divine Lord. He became a figure that carried weight in the Yang God Empyrean Heaven. That was the peak of his life.

And after the peak was a terrifying nadir!

Not long later, a Fey race expert named Sha Hongxue came to the Central State Divine Territory and issued a challenge.

He was an arrogant person with extraordinary strength.

However, Azure Yang Lord was extremely confident regarding the battle. The entire Yang God Empyrean Heaven was stirred as they rushed to the Central State Divine Territory to witness the battle.

Before the great battle, Azure Yang Lord made another breakthrough. He gained insights into the Ethereal state and, just as his cultivation level was about to be increased, Bai Yueyin appeared like a ghost at his most critical juncture. She stabbed him in the chest!

At that moment, Azure Yang Lord could not believe what was happening before his very eyes. He grabbed the ice-cold sword's blade and looked at Bai Yueyin. However, on her face, there was nothing but coldness.

When the sword was pulled out, it seemed to extract everything in Azure Yang Lord's life. If he were to die, he wanted to know the reason. However, Bai Yueyin left without saying a word…

At the battle with Sha Hongxue, Azure Yang Lord suffered an abject defeat!

Later on, Azure Yang Lord became disillusioned. He lost all meaning in his life. He returned to the Sinkhole, the spot where he had been trapped for two decades. He wanted to end his life, but instead, he reached the Tian Yuan world.

There, he encountered a woman that saved his soul—the ancient Great Empress.

As for the Great Empress mystic realm that Yi Yun would enter, those events happened tens of millions of years later.

This was Azure Yang Lord's history. It had been buried deep in Yi Yun's heard for a long time. Coincidentally, when Yi Yun was transported to the Yang God Empyrean Heaven from the Azure Wood Great World, he had arrived in the Central State Divine Territory, where the old Great Qian Dynasty once stood.

Furthermore, Yi Yun encountered the descendants of Azure Yang Lord in the Central State Divine Territory—Jian Wufeng.

Yi Yun also saw how the Clarity Pool Sword Sect became a mere shadow of its glorious past after tens of millions of years.

All of this seemed to be destined by karma.

"I know her… Her name is Bai Yueyin." Yi Yun looked at Huan Chenxue. "Is Miss Huan related to Seniors Bai Yueyin and Jian Qingyang?"

Huan Chenxue shook her head and said, "I do not know Jian Qingyang but I know of his story. He was a remarkable genius but he had an unlucky life. He was quite a pitiful man…"

"Oh? Because of Bai Yueyin?" Yi Yun was somewhat perplexed. Why would Huan Chenxue have Bai Yueyin's portrait? Furthermore, how did she know that he was related to Azure Yang Lord?

Huan Chenxue rolled up the portrait and said with a sigh, "Do you know why Bai Yueyin harmed Jian Qingyang?"

Yi Yun shook his head. This was something that left him puzzled as well. He had seen Azure Yang Lord's complete history. Before Bai Yueyin betrayed him, her relationship with Azure Yang Lord did not appear disingenuous in any way.

She had been loyal to him for centuries and had waited patiently for him for twenty years after Azure Yang Lord's disappearance. It was indelible and seemed like a love that could never be changed.

Later on, when the both of them were conferred the titles of Sacred Emperor and Sacred Empress, they were at their lives' peaks. Especially with Azure Yang Lord being so young, he had limitless potential. Breaking through to the realm above Divine Lord was just a matter of time. They could have soared together and traveled the cosmos.

Under such circumstances, why would she harm her husband?

Hundreds of years of loyalty were defeated by a day of betrayal. It was inexplicable!

"Do you know what Bai Yueyin took away after harming Jian Qingyang?"

Yi Yun recalled for a moment as a chill ran down his back. The item that Bai Yueyin took away was a broken sword!

To be precise, it was the pure Yang broken sword's sword tip!

Yi Yun drew a deep breath as he realized a possibility. Standing before him, Huan Chenxue had likely already known that he possessed the other half of the pure Yang broken sword!

This was the reason why she had invited him to the Mirage Sea Realm!

Yi Yun calmed down and said, "It's half a broken sword. Back then, Azure Yang Lord had countless treasures in his interspatial ring. There were even remnant pages of the Yang God Manual and the Nine Nether Sacred Manual. They were cultivation techniques formed naturally from the nomological Great Dao of the 12 Empyrean Heavens. Their worth was unimaginable, but Bai Yueyin did not take them away. All she took was the half of the broken sword!"

"That's right. It's half a broken sword. As for the remnant pages of the Yang God Manual and the Nine Nether Sacred Manual that you mentioned…" Huan Chenxue shook her head when she came to that. "They are probably not as valuable as you imagine them to be. They are not cultivation techniques naturally formed by the nomological Great Dao of the 12 Empyrean Heavens… Over the long rivers of time, many truths are buried in the ashes of history, unknown to people," Huan Chenxue said indifferently.

Her voice was calm, matching her long breaths. There was something indescribable about it.

A mortal girl was discussing a history that spanned billions of years. Even a legend formed at the beginning of the 12 Empyrean Heavens was spoken of casually and calmly. It left Yi Yun somewhat speechless.

Was she really a mortal girl?

Yi Yun found it unimaginable. However, he also found Huan Chenxue’s claim to be very probable—the Yang God Manual and the Nine Nether Sacred Manual remnant pages were not naturally formed from the nomological Great Dao of the 12 Empyrean Heavens.

On careful thought, although Yi Yun had never cultivated in the Yang God Manual and the Nine Nether Sacred Manual in the past, he had remnant pages of the Ten Thousand Fey Divine Canon that were their equal.

These pages were given to him by Felicitous Rain Lord before he left the Azure Wood Great World.

Yi Yun had secluded himself for twenty-five years and cultivated in the remnant pages of the Ten Thousand Fey Divine Canon. If the cultivation technique was said to be ingenious, it was indeed the case. However, if it were to be called a supreme Great Dao, there was this nagging feeling that it wasn't that amazing. It was on a completely different level from the 10000 Demon Wheel of Existence that Yi Yun had cultivated in.

Previously, Yi Yun guessed that perhaps the Ten Thousand Fey Divine Canon he had was incomplete, resulting in its lacking strength.

But upon careful thought, over all these years, there were a total of twelve mystic manuals in the 12 Empyrean Heavens. They had been obtained by numerous mighty figures, but did none of them ever receive a complete set of the mystic manual?

And yet, Yi Yun had never heard of anyone who cultivated the complete mystic manual to become a peerless figure like the Pure Yang Sword Palace owner.

There had been numerous people who had obtained the mystic manual but they were on the level of Felicitous Rain Lord or Elder Mo. If the value of the mystic manuals was inestimable, those remnant pages would have long been snatched away by figures above the Divine Lord level.

The reason why Bai Yueyin had abandoned the Yang God Manual and Nine Nether Sacred Manual remnant pages was not because she wanted to leave it for Azure Yang Lord, but because she thought nothing of them.

Yet, she had taken away the sword tip.

Upon realizing this, Yi Yun's expression turned heavy. He realized that the pure Yang broken sword's value was far greater than he imagined!

But now, the news of him possessing the pure Yang broken sword had been leaked. The reason for the oversight was that he had underestimated the value of the pure Yang broken sword.

Originally, Yi Yun believed that even if it were the Pure Yang Sword Palace owner's weapon, it was still a broken weapon. Furthermore, there was only half of it.

Yi Yun had also underestimated Bai Yueyin. He thought that she was only a heartless woman from a small sect, filled with ambition and greed. Now, from the looks of it, it was probably not that simple.

Since he had been exposed, Yi Yun could only live with fate. He knew Elder Mo's strength. He was far stronger than him.

If the girl in front of him had any designs on the pure Yang broken sword, he had no chance of putting up a struggle. He could only hand it to her.

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, the blue-dressed girl only looked at him. Her bright eyes seemed like spring water. Despite being pure and clean, it appeared unfathomable. noveltranslationweb.blogspot.com

"Your reaction is a lot calmer than I expected."

The girl smiled faintly. Yi Yun shook his head with a wry smile. This mortal girl had seemed to see through him. She knew what he was thinking.

"Does Miss Huan not have any interest in the broken sword?"

"I wouldn't call it interest. The broken sword is of great importance to me. However, it's completely different from what you are imagining."

True Martial World - Chapter 1223: Portrait

Horizon of the Sinkhole?

Yi Yun was taken aback. He knew that the 12 Empyrean Heavens were only a portion of the Universe. Yet he was still unsure as to what the Horizon of the Sinkhole was.

"In between the Sinkhole and the 12 Empyrean Heavens, there exists a chaotic region. If people from the 12 Empyrean Heavens want to venture into the Sinkhole, they must cross through this region of chaos. Therefore, that region is named the Horizon of the Sinkhole," explained Elder Mo.

So that was the reason… Yi Yun nodded. The Universe was expansive and what he knew was still too limited.

There was a sea of clouds wafting in Mirage Sea Realm. Across the clouds, there were lush green islands floating above blue and calm oceans. It was like a dream or a mirage. The Mirage Sea Realm lived up to its name.

The ocean here effused sufficient spiritual energy and the vegetation on the island was luxuriant. It was very refreshing to the body and mind.

Cultivating in such a place would certainly speed up the cultivation process.

Yi Yun was even more curious about Elder Mo's master. To possess such a world...the Mirage Sea Realm was bigger than any pocket world he had ever seen.

At that moment, figures began flying over from different islands.

These figures emanated powerful Yuan Qi fluctuations. Yi Yun realized that they were Dao Palace realm warriors when he glanced at them.

"Elder Mo."

"Elder Mo, you are back."

These people greeted Elder Mo.

They also looked curiously at Yi Yun for he was a fresh face.

"I'm bringing him to meet Master," said Elder Mo.

Everyone burst into a flurry of discussion as they watched Yi Yun and Elder Mo fly far away.

"Who is he? It has been very long since someone new came to our Mirage Sea Realm."

"He is allowed to meet our Mirage Sea Realm's owner? Who is this person?"

The warriors present were stunned. Although they lived in Mirage Sea Realm, the person that truly taught and managed them was Elder Mo.

As for Mirage Sea Realm's owner, they were an extremely mysterious figure, someone who they had never met.

As Yi Yun followed Elder Mo in flight, he could not help but turn back to take a glance.

"Those are citizens who live on the islands. Many of them were born in the Mirage Sea Realm. They have never gone to the outside world," explained Elder Mo.

Yi Yun was astonished. This appeared to be another paradise in the world of warriors.

"It's here." Elder Mo suddenly flew downwards.

Yi Yun looked at the island in front of him and knew that it was where the owner of the Mirage Sea Realm resided.

The island had a quiet mountain valley, which Elder Mo brought Yi Yun to. They followed a serene gravel path after landing.

The valley was filled with all sorts of spiritual flowers and grass but, strangely, there was a frost Qi that permeated the valley. The frost Qi was cold but it did not deprive one of their vibrancy. It seemed to stem from the same frost Qi that had been used to seal Dong Xiaowan and Fairy Youqin.

Inside the valley, there was an elegant bamboo lodge. It had a balcony covered in ice flowers that were crystalline and beautiful. They were like the most intricate pieces of art.

At that moment, the door to the bamboo lodge was pushed open. A blue-dressed woman slowly walked out.

She was tall and slender. Her skin was so fair that the blood vessels beneath her skin could be seen. Yi Yun was surprised to find that her body did not contain any Yuan Qi fluctuations. She appeared to be a mortal.

A mortal?

Yi Yun was stunned. Before he could react to the girl's identity, Elder Mo, who was beside him, went forward respectfully. He bowed at her and said, "Miss, your servant has brought Young Master Yi here."

Oh?

This was the master that Elder Mo was referring to? Was she also the owner of the Mirage Sea Realm?

Yi Yun originally assumed that Elder Mo's master had used her extraordinary strength to establish a mystical world in the Horizon of the Sinkhole, forming the Mirage Sea Realm. And as Mirage Sea Realm and Elder Mo's master, she would naturally be extraordinarily powerful, perhaps even stronger than a Divine Lord.

He never expected Elder Mo's master to be a mortal.

The blue-dressed girl looked at Yi Yun. Her eyes were bright and her facial features were intricate like they were carved from beautiful jade. It made the spiritual flowers and crystalline ice around her pale in comparison.

Yi Yun had never seen a mortal girl that possessed such bearing and looks. He first suspected that she was hiding her aura, but Yi Yun had the Purple Crystal in him. It was extremely sensitive to energy so he was certain that the girl had no means of concealing her aura. She was of mortal breed through and through.

It was unknown how long the Mirage Sea Realm had existed. With Elder Mo's cultivation, it would not be a surprise if it had existed for a million years. A mortal girl that looked about sixteen was the owner of the Mirage Sea Realm?

A mortal lived for less than a hundred years. Subtracting the childhood and elderly years, one's youth lasted less than two decades. The prime of one's youth left one sighing.

If the perfect girl in front of him was a warrior, her beauty could exist for extended periods of time. But if she were mortal, her beauty was ephemeral.

At that moment, the girl looked up. Using her aqueous eyes, she looked at Yi Yun. "Are you Young Master Yi?"

"I am," Yi Yun jolted out of his daze and replied.

The girl smiled slightly and said, "My name is Huan Chenxue. It must have been tough for Young Master Yi to come from so far away. After hearing of Young Master Yi's deeds, I troubled Elder Mo to invite you here."

Huan Chenxue's smile seemed to make the surroundings immediately lose their existence. Only her smile and voice remained in the valley. It was memorable, to say the least.

Yi Yun suppressed the questions on his mind and cupped his fists. He asked, "Miss Huan, might I know why you were looking for me?"

Huan Chenxue did not directly answer Yi Yun and instead asked him, "Young Master Yi, what do you think of my Mirage Sea Realm?"

Yi Yun honestly answered, "Excellent."

The place was quiet and harmonious. There was plenty of spiritual energy and the scenery was alluring. It was naturally a very nice place.

"In that case, why don't you stay here first? The island beside mine is empty. Young Master Yi, if you do not mind, you can stay there for as long as you like," Huan Chenxue said.

Yi Yun hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I'm honored by Miss Huan's invitation. However, I cannot be at ease until you tell me why you were looking for me."

Although his intuition told him that Huan Chenxue had no ill intent towards him, Yi Yun could not completely trust her. He could not think of a reason why she had invited him there.

Huan Chenxue nodded gently and said, "There are many reasons why I sought you. It's difficult to put them all into words. I was planning on inviting you to live here and discussing everything with you in detail, slowly. However, since you can't wait, I'll show you something right now."

After Huan Chenxue said that, she took off an interspatial ring from her hand. She handed it to Elder Mo.

Elder Mo gently swiped the interspatial ring his hand, making a portrait appear. He then returned it to Huan Chenxue.

Just this scene confirmed Yi Yun's guesses. Huan Chenxue was truly a mortal girl. If not, just the cultivation of a little Yuan Qi would be able to easily open an interspatial ring. Why would she need Elder Mo's help?

Huan Chenxue gradually unfurled the portrait. It was half the height of a person and in it, a woman was drawn. She was drawn in a way remarkably true to life. It made one feel that the person in the portrait was alive.

"Young Master Yi, you should know this person, right!?"

True Martial World - Chapter 1222: Horizon of the Sinkhole

Outside of Myriad City, on the southern facing slope of the Heaven Bestowing Mountain, there was an ordinary straw cottage. It sat behind a herbal field and looked like any ordinary house from a village of mortals. noveltranslationweb.blogspot.com

At this moment, an azure-clothed elder was sitting on a bamboo chair in front of the house, leisurely sampling some tea made of coarse leaves.

When Yi Yun arrived in front of the straw cottage, he looked at the elder drinking tea. As he watched, he felt that the tea-drinking elder, the herb field, the straw cottage, and the world around it seemed to be an independent world, yet everything came together so naturally. Every single brick and tile seemed to contain laws to form such an atmosphere. People without a discerning eye would have found the place ordinary.

"Elder Mo, may I share a cup of your tea?" Yi Yun requested with a faint smile.

Elder Mo looked up and glanced at him. His purple pupils seemed to contain limitless power.

"Of course." Elder Mo extended his hand out, causing the tea to fly out of the kettle and into a coarse porcelain cup, which flew towards Yi Yun.

Yi Yun caught it and downed it with a tip of his head. After the warm tea flowed down his throat and into his stomach, he felt a comfortable and refreshing feeling emanate through his limbs.

"Great tea!" Yi Yun marveled carefreely.

Yi Yun was well-read thanks to the divine alchemist's notes. He knew spirit tea was made of herbs, but despite his knowledge he could not discern the source of the tea leaves.

"What tea is this?" asked Yi Yun.

"This is one of the local products from where I'm from. It's called Rootless Tea," said Elder Mo.

"Rootless Tea?"

Tea without roots was an interesting concept.

When Yi Yun heard Elder Mo mention where he hailed from, he asked, "Elder Mo, might I ask who your master is? Why does your master want to meet me?"

"It is not my place to question my master's intentions. However, rest assured that my master has no intentions of harming you in any way. You will be informed as to why my master wants to meet you when the both of you meet." Elder Mo said with a smile.

Yi Yun nodded. He did not believe that Elder Mo's master had any ulterior motives towards him. If that were the case, Elder Mo's strength was sufficient to just attack him openly. There was no need to go through such great trouble.

He was curious. Why would Elder Mo's master be interested in him?

"If I stay any longer in Myriad City, it will only invite trouble. Elder Mo, I might as well go with you to meet your master," said Yi Yun.

"Is the trouble you mention referring to the mastermind behind Skyfire Sacred Hands?" asked Elder Mo.

"Yes," Yi Yun replied immediately. "Does Elder Mo know who the person is?"

Yi Yun had already formed a grudge with the mastermind, so he naturally wanted any details on them that he could get.

"I know a little but it's best you ask my master," replied Elder Mo.

"Do you have anyone else you would like to bid farewell to?"

A few figures appeared in Yi Yun's mind.

"There are a few."

Elder Mo stood up and gently swiped his hand. As though he was swiping across the landscape on a portrait, the straw cottage, herb fields, chair, and the tea vanished, transforming into a forest that merged with the surrounding grass and trees.

"Let's go!"

Yi Yun left and returned to Myriad City with Elder Mo.

Upon seeing Yi Yun and Elder Mo's figures simultaneously appear over City Lord Manor, City Lord Qin knew that Yi Yun was leaving.

Myriad City was, after all, too small. Furthermore, Yi Yun was destined for greater heights. Myriad City could not hold him back.

Princess White Fox, Fairy Youqin, as well as Dong Xiaowan and Ru'er were in Myriad City. At that moment, Yi Yun's voice sounded in their heads.

"I am here to bid all of you farewell."

Yi Yun was leaving?

The girls rushed over. Dong Xiaowan looked at him in a longing manner. Ru'er could not help but tug at Yi Yun's sleeve. "Sir…"

She deeply wished to follow Yi Yun but she was too weak. She could not help Yi Yun in any way.

Dong Xiaowan was the same. She held Ru'er's hand and said to Yi Yun softly, "Young Master, Ru'er and I will be here. We will continue tending to Yun Xin Loft. It will forever be waiting for you."

Perhaps Yi Yun would never return but Yun Xin Loft would silently stand in the city forever, handed down in Myriad City just like Yi Yun's legend.

Princess White Fox came in front of Yi Yun gingerly. Her long hair blew in the gentle wind as a faint smile seemed to be contained within her star-like eyes. "Yi Yun, I hope we will have a chance to meet again in the future."

She had obtained a fortuitous encounter before coming to Myriad City, meeting Yi Yun again. In the future, Yi Yun would head to even more lofty worlds. Princess White Fox made those worlds her goal as well.

Although she was not as talented as Yi Yun, she would always pursue him on the martial path.

Yi Yun looked into her eyes for a moment. "Alright!"

Turning back to take a glance, Yi Yun nodded and said to everyone, "I'm leaving."

He flew into the sky where Elder Mo was waiting for him. Elder Mo extended his hand and tore through space. Immediately a gigantic spatial rift appeared. Amid the rift were starry cosmos that were constantly in flux and howling storms. It seemed to lead to another world.

People with insufficient strength would not be able to step through the spatial rift.

Elder Mo took the first step in before Yi Yun followed closely behind.

Weng!

Space trembled as the rift closed. In a blink of an eye, the blue skies were restored. It was as though Yi Yun's body was never there.

"He's gone…" Fairy Youqin looked at the sky and as her expression effused melancholy.

Yi Yun and she were on completely different levels. After today's separation, perhaps, the gap would only widen…

Meanwhile, on the other end of the spatial rift.

The moment Yi Yun stepped through the spatial rift, he was embroiled in a spatial storm. A pale golden Yuan Qi suffused the surface of his body, isolating it from the terrifying powers of the storm.

Elder Mo's figure was ahead. He was strolling ahead like he was enjoying a nice breeze.

In a blink of an eye, they appeared in an empty cosmic space.

"Let's continue. It's still very far," said Elder Mo.

Elder Mo ripped with his hand, tearing open another spatial rift…

After this continued eight more times, Yi Yun's eyes suddenly lit up.

They had arrived in a space with thin mists. They were no longer in space but in a particular world.

Even Yi Yun could not stomach the experience of crossing space eight times.

However, when he entered this world, Yi Yun felt mentally refreshed. He relaxed instantly.

"This is…" Yi Yun sensed that it was an independent space. It was a huge pocket world.

From the looks of it, this was the world that Elder Mo's master resided in. There was no way to guess how many miles they had traversed to arrive in this world. They had long left the Yang God Empyrean Heaven.

"This is the Mirage Sea Realm," said Elder Mo.

"Which of the 12 Empyrean Heavens are we in?" asked Yi Yun.

Elder Mo smiled faintly and looked at the endless clouds in front of him. "This is not the 12 Empyrean Heavens, but the Horizon of the Sinkhole."

True Martial World - Chapter 1221: Seal

When the gray dot of light entered Yi Yun's body, the Yuan Qi within his dantian began to circulate violently. It instinctively tried to purge the gray dot of light; however, it remained like a maggot and rapidly tunneled into Yi Yun's dantian.

At that instant, Yi Yun felt a strong sense of danger.

And simultaneously, the Azure Wood Divine Tree's root network abruptly uprooted itself from the desolate mountain and rapidly swept back towards Yi Yun's body.

The Azure Wood Divine Tree seed had previously sprouted in Yi Yun's dantian, becoming one with him.

When it sensed the danger Yi Yun was facing, the Azure Wood Divine Tree automatically returned into Yi Yun's body.

In just a split second, the Azure Wood Divine Tree's leaves spread throughout Yi Yun's meridians and finally drew inwards to his dantian, wrapping it under thick layers.

"Peng!"

Yi Yun seemed to hear a dull thud from within his body. As he looked within his dantian, he saw that the leaves had formed a cage, and the gray dot of light was slamming about within.

Yi Yun immediately circulated all his Yuan Qi to surge towards the cage. He constantly fortified it, while at the same time the Azure Wood Divine Tree's massive vibrant strength inundated the gray dot of light, trapping it completely. The light it emitted also dimmed slightly.

The cadaveric aura finally vanished.

"What the heck is this thing?" Yi Yun sensed that the gray dot of light was only sealed and restrained. It seemed to contain a light heartbeat.

Through the Azure Wood Divine Tree's leaves, Yi Yun perceived the gray dot of light. From it, he sensed a stranger's aura.

The aura was extremely diabolical.

Simultaneously, Yi Yun sensed that the gray dot of light contained immense amounts of demonic aura that was of a higher grade than that of the demonic servants.

Yi Yun thought about it and came to the conclusion that the demonic aura belonged to Skyfire Sacred Hands's master. By planting the gray dot of light within Yi Yun's body, Skyfire Sacred Hands's master was able to instantly strike and kill him.

From the beginning, Skyfire Sacred Hands's master had not trusted him at all. He only saw Skyfire Sacred Hands as a tool.

However, the gray dot of light had been completely restrained by the Azure Wood Divine Tree. Not a single amount of aura leaked out. As such, the demonic aura could no longer be tracked as well. Not only was it unable to threaten his life, it also prevented Skyfire Sacred Hands's master from sensing it.

"I'll use the Azure Wood Divine Tree to seal it before absorbing it clean." Yi Yun thought to himself. Yi Yun felt unease leaving such a thing in his body even if Skyfire Sacred Hands's master could not find him. He needed to refine and digest it.

The demonic aura would provide large amounts of nutrients to the Azure Wood Divine Tree once it was absorbed. However, absorbing the demonic aura clean was not an easy task. It would probably take a period of time.

"Yi Yun, are you alright?" City Lord Qin asked after he and company flew over.

Yi Yun shook his head. "I'm fine."

City Lord Qin and company had not seen the gray dot of light. All they saw was Yi Yun suddenly halting. He had a heavy expression and, following that, the surrounding Yuan Qi was pulled into his body. They were puzzled as to what had happened.

Now that they knew Yi Yun was fine, City Lord Qin and company heaved a sigh of relief. They chalked it up to Yi Yun being a little exhausted. After all, it had been a huge battle.

Imagining the scene of the battle that had just ended, the warriors, and even the mortals, that witnessed the scene would speak about it, remembering it deep in their hearts.

"Let's return to Myriad City. I'll purge the plague for those people," said Yi Yun.

Upon hearing Yi Yun's offer, the Zhou family's patriarch was naturally the happiest. However, City Lord Qin was taken aback. "Why the rush?"

Yi Yun had just finished a battle and needed rest. There was no need to hurry.

However, Yi Yun gave a faint smile. "It's fine."

Curing the plague for the others did not enervate him in any way. On the contrary, it replenished his Azure Wood Divine Tree with some energy.

Despite having restrained the gray dot of light, Yi Yun knew that he could not stay in Myriad City for long, or trouble would quickly come knocking.

…

Billions of miles away from Myriad Divine Territory, in a silent and desolate desert, a red-haired man sat quietly amid the yellow sand. Strong winds howled, blowing through his red hair as though a red flame was flickering in the sand.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes. His eyes appeared to be two patches of darkness. They effused an endless chill as though he did not have the emotions that belonged to a living being.

"Skyfire Sacred Hands is dead."

The red-haired man was somewhat surprised. It wasn’t that he particularly cared about Skyfire Sacred Hands's survival. However, the ancient demonic aura he had planted had entered deep into the person that killed Skyfire Sacred Hands. But in the blink of an eye, the demonic aura seemed to be lost in the endless oceans. It vanished without a trace.

The red-haired man pricked up his brows and extended his hand, writing down a name on the yellow sand in front of him.

"Yi Yun."

Wu—!

A gust of wind blew. Despite being a name written in sand, it did not get blown away by the wind. It seemed to be engraved in the sand forever.

"Interesting." The red-haired man muttered to himself as the corners of his lips suffused a faint smile. "What secret does this youth have? It looks like I have underestimated him…"

…

The infected geniuses of Myriad City gathered in front of City Lord Manor were filled with anticipation and excitement. And aside from the geniuses, there were warriors that rushed to Myriad City after catching wind of the news.

All of Myriad City's streets were empty. Nearly everyone in the city had come out of the stores and houses. They swarmed towards City Lord Manor.

The turnout for such a grand occasion was even better than that of the Grand Alchemical-cum-Medical Meet years ago.

When Yi Yun's figure appeared in front of City Lord Manor's entrance, a cacophonous roar sounded.

"Young Master Yi! Young Master Yi!"

These geniuses and warriors gazed excitedly at Yi Yun. All of them exuded looks of immense reverence and admiration.

Yi Yun's present status made it so that no one had even the slightest thought of comparing themselves to him. There was only idolation.

Yi Yun looked at these people and raised his hand. The Azure Wood Divine Tree phantom appeared behind him as a warm vibrant energy immediately scattered towards the crowd like rain.

Sharp screams that came from the soul cried out. Yi Yun could hear them clearly but ordinary people did not hear them at all.

The demonic servants that were hiding within the young geniuses' dantians escaped as they scattered in mid-air, attempting to escape in every direction.

"Freeze!" Yi Yun was already prepared. He extended his finger and immediately, the space above the crowd was sealed. Golden threads formed a spatial cage.

These demonic servants were imprisoned within the space as they were helplessly absorbed by the Azure Wood Divine Tree.

In an instant, Yi Yun had treated all the infected geniuses.

"Young Master Yi, this is a little token to show my respect to you." Patriarch Zhou was delighted. The few genius of the younger generation of his Zhou family had been saved. He immediately produced an interspatial ring.

He was not the only one. The factions behind the geniuses that were saved each delivered all sorts of treasures.

Today, the formidable strength that Yi Yun had demonstrated made everyone see Yi Yun's future clearly. As long as he did not perish, his future was limitless.

They did not have lavish hopes of befriending Yi Yun. Simply being slightly acquainted with him brought immense benefits.

Yi Yun did not reject the gifts of gratitude. He entrusted City Lord Qin to collect all the gifts and left. He wanted to meet Elder Mo.

True Martial World - Chapter 1220: End

"What is that?" Skyfire Sacred Hands was taken aback.

Back when Yi Yun treated the plague, Skyfire Sacred Hands did not even notice the existence of the divine tree. He believed that Yi Yun was able to eliminate the evil spirits through the use of his mysterious fire seed.

But now that he was half demonic servant, Skyfire Sacred Hands could clearly see the towering tree behind Yi Yun. The tree's crown reached straight into the firmaments as though it was a god that stood high and mighty, looking down at him indifferently.

An immense sense of repression immediately made Skyfire Sacred Hands, who was in the form of a flaming demonic black ball, stagger. It felt as though he had fallen into a mire.

And in front of the tree's crown, Yi Yun stood straight with the broken sword in hand. He looked coldly at Skyfire Sacred Hands.

"You thought that after becoming stronger, you would be able to harm me by using a trap. However, in the end, all you did was expose your weakness." Yi Yun's voice stabbed into Skyfire Sacred Hands's mind like a sharp needle.

The divine tree had taken root in the desolate mountain as numerous demonic servants were constantly being absorbed by the Azure Wood Divine Tree amid wails. They transformed into stronger energy for the divine tree. Over the past twenty-five years, the Azure Wood Divine Tree had already grown into a lush and sturdy tree. It was why Yi Yun was so confident.

"Die!" Skyfire Sacred Hands roared. How could he be willing to suffer defeat in such a manner? He had nurtured the demonic servants for more than two decades. They should have become part of his strength, making Yi Yun face him in despair, unable to match him in any way.

Skyfire Sacred Hands suddenly let out a long howl as, beyond the massive black ball, demonic flames burned fiercely. Then, like a meteor falling from the heavens, a black bolt of lightning streaked across the void, heading straight for Yi Yun!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ground, mountains, and rivers beneath were afflicted by the black lightning as they began sinking! After this battle, the geological features here would undoubtedly change. The mountains would be flattened and the rivers would dry and change directions.

Skyfire Sacred Hands was fighting desperately for his life. He did not hold back at all. Even his intrinsic demon fire was burning. The flames that were burning beyond the black ball now suffused a fiendish redness amid the black.

He wanted to burn Yi Yun alive, boiling dry the blood and Qi within his body, as well as turn the huge tree phantom behind him to ash.

"Yi Yun, die!"

Faced with Skyfire Sacred Hands's attack, Yi Yun's eyes began to reveal killing intent.

"Kill!"

The sword strike seemed like a dazzling and resplendent galaxy that crossed over distant space. Wherever the sword beam passed, space would shatter and mend itself. It was as though it created a river filled with black vortices.

And that river was gushing towards the flaming demonic black ball.

One strike to dictate life and death!

After Yi Yun cultivated in the Ten Thousand Fey Divine Canon, he was able to fuse destruction and creation, as well as time and space, together. The might of his sword became even more devastating and its trajectory was even harder to grasp.

Different laws constantly composed themselves as they condensed into different sword beams.

Boom!

A terrifying explosion sounded that caused the distant Myriad City to quake violently.

At the moment the flaming demonic black ball clashed with the sword beam, it was as though a black sun had exploded in the sky.

In the bustling Myriad City, hundreds of miles away, millions of warriors, alchemists, mortals, and even people in a radius of thousands of miles away saw this scene.

They were momentarily stunned. What was happening over there?

They saw a mighty flame light up the sky as many warriors sensed the tumultuous Yuan Qi fluctuations. It was unknown how far away the terrifying aura was, but it still left their bodies feeling like they were being pricked by needles.

Inside Myriad City, Fairy Youqin and Dong Xiaowan had already awoken. As they were still feeling weak, they did not follow City Lord Qin and company out of the city.

In fact, they had just learned of the recent happenings from Princess White Fox, who had rushed over to take care of them.

"It was Young Master that saved me…" Dong Xiaowan whispered to herself.

"It can only be him," Fairy Youqin added. No one but Yi Yun had such abilities.

Just as she said that, the entire City Lord Manor suddenly quaked. As the rumbling continued incessantly, Fairy Youqin felt alarmed. They quickly walked out the building and looked up. The sky appeared to be dyed by the black demonic flames. The land was constantly quaking.

Boom!

A dazzling golden beam tore through the black clouds and instantly cleansed the flaring black flames.

The golden light obstreperously emanated an ancient and mysterious aura.

"This is…" Fairy Youqin was somewhat perplexed.

"It's Yi Yun." Amid the powerful aura, Princess White Fox, who was closest to Yi Yun relationship-wise, was the first to sense Yi Yun's aura.

"Yi Yun is battling Skyfire Sacred Hands. From the looks of it, he isn't at a total disadvantage. In fact, he holds the upper hand."

Princess White Fox had a mixed expression on her face. She believed that her strength had increased tremendously after being recruited by her master, allowing her to, at the very least, approach Yi Yun. But now, she realized that she could only watch Yi Yun from afar.

Skyfire Sacred Hands was originally a Supremacy. He later cultivated in demonic methods, becoming even stronger, but Yi Yun was able to resist him. Such cultivation techniques and sword techniques were truly terrifying.

…

At that moment, beneath the desolate mountain, the flaming demonic black ball was cracking under Yi Yun's sword beams. It was reduced to countless black shadows.

"Yi Yun!" Amid the black shadows thundered numerous voices that belonged to Skyfire Sacred Hands. He was still planning on gathering together and burning all his demonic flames and blood essence to kill Yi Yun at the cost of his life.

Yi Yun exhaled. Although it was taxing on him, he was feeling delighted. When he cleaved apart the flaming demonic black ball with his sword beams, he could feel every insight he gained over the past twenty-five years of seclusion refining themselves into those sword beams. noveltranslationweb.blogspot.com

Skyfire Sacred Hands was a testbed for him. Yi Yun fully understood his own strength.

If Skyfire Sacred Hands had cultivated normally to where he was, Yi Yun would not be his match. However, Skyfire Sacred Hands had taken the unorthodox path and bred thousands of demonic servants, all of which were perfectly countered by Yi Yun.

"It's time to end it." Yi Yun lifted the sword tip.

As the pure Yang broken sword trembled gently, the heaven and earth resonated immediately with a dull hum.

Golden beams of light surged outwards like a wave, and immediately following that, a sword beam plunged down from a high altitude like a radiant sun. It tore through the layer of clouds, space, and the black shadows that were frenetically trying to gather together.

Instantly, countless holes bored through the black shadows as huge rifts opened up in the ground.

Everyone, including Guiyuan Potian, City Lord Qin, and people from the distant Myriad City, witnessed this scene of fiery rain.

"Ahhhhh…" Skyfire Sacred Hands's voice sounded like it escaped from hell.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The tree veins thrust out, dispersing the black figures that were riddled with holes, enveloping and absorbing them.

The Azure Wood Divine Tree had absorbed large amounts of demonic servants, emanating an even stronger Yuan Qi fluctuation. All its leaves seemed to shake like they were dancing.

"He's dead…"

"Skyfire Sacred Hands was killed just like that. It was truly a clean death."

City Lord Qin looked wistfully at Yi Yun. After twenty-five years of not seeing him, Yi Yun had become a lot stronger. At that moment, he could not help but feel envious of Yi Yun.

Such talent insinuated that if Yi Yun were to successfully mature, he would be able to make contact with even higher martial paths, seeking the origins of life and the universe.

At that moment, Yi Yun was looking at the black shadows that were being absorbed by the Azure Wood Divine Tree. After it absorbed all the demonic servants, it grew taller once again. Its leaves turned lusher as the root network became more developed.

However, at that moment, amid the layers of black shadows, an inconspicuous gray dot of light flew out silently. Like a ghost, it flew towards Yi Yun's back.

The dot of light concealed all of its aura. Even a Divine Lord might not be able to detect it.

However, Yi Yun possessed the Purple Crystal. Even after killing Skyfire Sacred Hands, he remained vigilant of his surroundings.

He suddenly felt a sense of unease. Without a second thought, he flew forward.

But the gray dot of light behind him was too fast. It ignored his protective Yuan Qi and directly tunneled through it.

When the gray dot of light entered his body, Yi Yun suddenly felt an aura of biting coldness and death. It made his heart rapidly palpitate.

It was clearly a power that did not belong to Skyfire Sacred Hands.

Yi Yun's heart leaped. Could the gray dot of light have been left behind by Skyfire Sacred Hands's master? And did that mean it had been residing inside Skyfire Sacred Hands's body all along!?

True Martial World - Chapter 1219: Taking Root

Outside Myriad City were endless green mountains with lush forests. There were refreshing springs and intricate rocks, with countless critters shuttling through the woods. It looked like a thriving ecosystem.

However, amid the green mountains, Skyfire Sacred Hands stood atop a desolate mountain that had no signs of life.

An azure beam flashed as Yi Yun arrived in front of the mountain. He gradually landed, coming to a stop with the tip of his foot on the mountain peak. He faced Skyfire Sacred Hands across the void.

"Yi Yun, after twenty plus years of being a cowardly turtle, you have finally dared to appear." Skyfire Sacred Hands looked at Yi Yun as his eyes suffused mockery and killing intent.

He was forced to abandon his sect over the past twenty-five years, losing the status he once enjoyed. It was all thanks to Yi Yun.

Yi Yun looked at Skyfire Sacred Hands coldly. He could feel an extremely familiar aura from Skyfire Sacred Hands's body. Skyfire Sacred Hands was practically half demonic servant.

"When I take you down, I'll extract your flame seed and refine it for my use. I will resolve my mental demons and use your blood to forge my new path as a demonic emperor!" Skyfire Sacred Hands yelled as he pounced at Yi Yun.

Ever since his downfall, Skyfire Sacred Hands had been brewing with disgruntlement. He had waited for more than two decades for this chance. He would relish the experience of torturing Yi Yun, making him lead an insufferable life so as to ease his own hatred.

And if he crippled Yi Yun and handed him over to the Supreme Lord, he would definitely be handsomely rewarded.

Given the Supreme Lord's status, he naturally didn’t stick around in the puny Myriad Divine Territory for two decades. He had left Skyfire Sacred Hands in charge of Myriad City. Other than nurturing large numbers of demonic servants in the Myriad Divine Territory, he was given the task of helping the red-haired man search for Yi Yun.

Skyfire Sacred Hands abruptly pounced over, moving like a night owl. His black figure swooped down as terrifying power enveloped Yi Yun's surroundings from afar.

At that moment, City Lord Qin and company had arrived about five kilometers away. They happened to see Skyfire Sacred Hands turn into a black cloud that enveloped the entire mountaintop. The sky was dyed black. As for Skyfire Sacred Hands's figure, it had fused with the black clouds. There was no sight of his actual figure.

The strange aura left people shuddering from the cold as sharp shrieks seemed to strike straight into their souls.

City Lord Qin and company had seen Skyfire Sacred Hands turn into a black shadow before, but they never expected his attacks to be so diabolical.

Even Skyfire Sacred Hands's very figure became darkness, to the point where it could not be seen. As for Yi Yun, he was in the middle of the legion of black clouds.

Yi Yun slashed out a sword beam while facing the overwhelming black clouds, cleaving through the endless void.

Boom!

The sword hums were thunderous like an electric snake had split apart the dark clouds.

The blue sky appeared once again as Yi Yun stood hovering in mid-air. The broken sword in his hand resonated in response.

The Yuan Qi he emanated suffused a pale golden color. It was pure and ancient.

Following that, Yi Yun's aura seemed to transform into something faintly discernible. Despite visibly standing there, it felt as though he was only a shadow.

This feeling left City Lord Qin and company astonished.

The split black clouds rapidly closed the gap as they formed a gargantuan face within them. Its facial features were that of Skyfire Sacred Hands.

"Yi Yun, you have indeed grown a lot. Everyone says that you will definitely rise to Divine Lord and above. To kill an absolute genius like you is truly a pleasant feeling!" Skyfire Sacred Hands guffawed loudly.

The black clouds were extraordinary for they were formed by an amalgamation of demonic auras. Ignoring the outcome of ordinary warriors being enveloped by the black clouds, simply touching them would drain all of one’s lifeblood. However, Yi Yun had been able to cleave them apart.

Although his first attack failed, it was only the beginning for Skyfire Sacred Hands.

"Don't you have the means to counter the demonic servants? Shall I let you know what despair is today!?"

Skyfire Sacred Hands roared loudly, causing the desolate mountain beneath him to quake violently. Following that, shrill demonic sounds were heard. Demonic servant phantoms charged out of the mountain and straight into the sky!

This scene left everyone astonished. That's no mountain!

They had thought that the desolate mountain seemed out of place. It was devoid of life and gave off an unsettling feeling. It seemed so obviously a trap, but Yi Yun had still gone forward. Qin Zhengyang and company turned anxious. They had planned on watching the battle by casting their perception outside the city, but they couldn’t shake their unease so they decided to follow.

Now, their suspicions were confirmed. This mountain had been specifically prepared by Skyfire Sacred Hands. He had amassed a large amount of demonic servants within the mountain and nurtured them over the past twenty-plus years.

Although Yi Yun was powerful, charging straight into his opponent's trap was too risky. He would only suffer.

At that moment, Yi Yun saw the demonic servants flying into Skyfire Sacred Hands's body like phoenixes flying towards the sun. Skyfire Sacred Hands's body was rapidly burgeoning.

"Let's attack!"

Qin Zhengyang originally believed that if he were too close, he would scare Skyfire Sacred Hands into retreating. He was unable to prevent his escape or capture him. It would have been a waste of effort but now, seeing Skyfire Sacred Hands release thousands of demonic servants, he no longer had the luxury of taking his time to weigh options. They would join forces to collectively scare Skyfire Sacred Hands into a retreat. Ensuring Yi Yun's safety was of utmost priority!

Instantly, Qin Zhengyang, Guiyuan Potian, and Perfected Qianhua flew towards Skyfire Sacred Hands. They instantly traversed a distance of several miles!

Qin Zhengyang held his broadsword and charged ahead. A black sword beam cleaved apart the lands in an indomitable fashion!

Guiyuan Potian followed closely behind. He produced two black fists that would crush Skyfire Sacred Hands.

But at that moment, they saw that the thousands of demonic servants had gathered together, forming a massive black ball. Outside the ball, demonic flames were burning fiercely. Such immense power was approaching Yi Yun at an unbelievable speed.

Skyfire Sacred Hands was long prepared. He had laid a trap and began with a formidable strike, leaving no opportunities for Yi Yun.

He believed that even if this strike failed to kill Yi Yun, he would at least be severely injured!

However, at the instant the black energy began converging, Yi Yun forcefully stamped his foot onto the desolate mountain beneath him.

Boom!

With a loud explosion, an Azure Wood Divine Tree phantom blasted out from behind Yi Yun. The thick roots worked their way through the mountain like large azure-colored pythons. They bored straight into the soil of the desolate mountain.

Hu! Hu! Hu!

The divine tree's roots tunneled erratically through the mountain with the main root splitting into thousands of tiny root follicles. The thicker ones were as thick as a person's arm while the thin ones were thinner than a pinky finger. The roots quickly proliferated the entire desolate mountain.

Above the root network, there was a dense mist of billowing azure light. It was the natural phenomenon of condensation when the amount of Yuan Qi reached a maximum.

However, despite the roots appearing propitious, they were extremely terrifying. Wherever they passed, demonic servants would issue shrill screams that added to the rustling sounds of demonic servants dispersing into azure-colored smoke.

This scene resembled pouring molten metal onto snowflakes. The snowflakes would rapidly melt, without any hope of resisting.

Yi Yun had naturally noticed the trap within the desolate mountain. In that case, he decided to beat Skyfire Sacred Hands at his own game. He made the desolate mountain that was formed by the demonic servants into the soil for his divine tree to take root.