“If you have the guts, come down and fight!” Duan Hunsheng’s voice echoed across the heavens, ethereal and chilling, yet filled with tyrannical arrogance.
Ji Fuyao’s starry eyes flickered. She cautiously extended her Divine Sense toward the massive crater, but the area was choked with sinister black mist. Before her Divine Sense could penetrate even an inch, it was instantly annihilated. She moved closer to Lu Xuan. “Master, be careful, this is a trap.”
Lu Xuan nodded, completely unconcerned. He activated his Insight Eye, peering into the mist-shrouded abyss. A profound, mysterious energy instantly coalesced in his eyes, which shone like twin stars, projecting light that seemed capable of dissecting the very fabric of reality.
He quickly saw through the illusion. Beneath the endless black mist lay a vast, subterranean world, inscribed with countless Great Emperor Formation Pattern Fragments, radiating a brilliant divine splendor that condensed into an overwhelming Stance. Duan Hunsheng sat cross-legged on an altar, divine light surging around him, as endless Dao patterns rushed into his body.
His robes were shredded, and his body was drenched in blood—not red, but black. He was simultaneously swallowing several Healing Saint Medicine pills and channeling the altar’s power to mend his wounds, yet his expression remained savage and arrogant as he sneered the challenge: “White Robe Great Emperor! I’m waiting for you right here! If you have the guts, come!”
Lu Xuan simply laughed. This guy is still mouthy? If that mysterious power hadn't blocked my attack just now, he'd already be a corpse.
Lu Xuan noted that Duan Hunsheng still had a trump card: a colossal, Heaven-reaching array covering nearly a thousand miles, hidden within the underground world. The formation gathered the power of Heaven and Earth, continuously drawing upon fundamental Dao principles, making it undetectable from the outside.
Just then, Chen Changsheng sent a spiritual message to Lu Xuan: “Master, this array is quite profound. There are many concepts I can borrow from it.” As he spoke, Chen Changsheng pulled out an Ancient Jade Slip and began meticulously engraving the patterns.
The System’s voice abruptly chimed in Lu Xuan’s ear. [Ding! Host’s Third Disciple Chen Changsheng’s Array Dao attainment is increasing! Synchronization initiated!] As the sound faded, a profound, mystical comprehension surged into Lu Xuan’s mind, coalescing into a radiant sphere of light.
Lu Xuan’s face twitched. Seriously? Now is the time for homework? This guy, my Third Disciple, really does study everywhere he goes!
Meanwhile, the countless powerful spectators sent out wisps of Divine Sense toward the black mist. However, the mist devoured spiritual perception. Only a few supreme Great Emperors managed to glimpse a fraction of the truth: Duan Hunsheng was hiding in a miserable state within a subterranean world, a place clearly laced with hidden dangers that sent shivers down their spines. Even the Nine-star Great Emperors lurking in the shadows felt their scalps prickle. That underground world must be using the forbidden arts of the Silent Destruction Sect!
They turned their attention back to Lu Xuan. The White Robe Great Emperor nearly killed Duan Hunsheng—that feat alone is enough to dominate the Southern Wilds. They noted that Lu Xuan had fought Duan Hunsheng with only one hand, without relying on any Emperor Weapon. Internally, they all shared a cynical hope: Let the White Robe Great Emperor enter the underground world and perish alongside Duan Hunsheng! Duan Hunsheng would at least have served a purpose by taking out the other scourge. Duan Hunsheng had accumulated heinous karma over millennia across the Three Thousand States of the Southern Wilds, slaughtering countless major powers to create blood pools for the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone. As for the White Robe Great Emperor (Lu Xuan), his previous broadcast across the Three Thousand States of the Southern Wilds, forcibly waking them all, had already filled them with simmering resentment.
All eyes locked onto Lu Xuan, wondering if he would retreat or plunge into the subterranean world for the final battle. Ji Fuyao’s eyes were filled with concern. “Master, what should we do now?” The Ye Family members were equally worried; the methods displayed by both Lu Xuan and Duan Hunsheng had long exceeded their comprehension.
Lu Xuan, Calm and Collected, replied, “Mere Tricks.”
With that declaration, Lu Xuan simply lifted the entire Ye Family group and stepped directly into the underground world.
Instantly, the subterranean world was sealed by the Silent Destruction Power. The Divine Sense of the supreme Great Emperors watching from above could no longer penetrate the barrier; nobody knew what was happening inside. “Hahahaha! You have guts!” Duan Hunsheng’s ghostly voice echoed endlessly through the dark realm.
Boom! Lu Xuan stepped into the vast underground world. Black rivers surged, splashing sinister black liquid. In the distance, several spiritual peaks, derived from dazzling Dao patterns, stood tall, lending the place a desolate, chilling atmosphere. This was a small world carved out by Duan Hunsheng himself!
Duan Hunsheng slowly climbed off the altar. Countless bones were broken, yet a cold smile still twisted his lips. “I won't lose...”
Lu Xuan vanished instantly. When he reappeared, he was standing directly in front of Duan Hunsheng. He casually slapped him. “Whatever trump cards you have left, bring them out now!”
Smack! The force of that single slap was comparable to the killing power of a Nine-star Emperor Realm expert. It sent Duan Hunsheng flying thousands of feet, crashing heavily into the black river, splashing black water everywhere.
Duan Hunsheng was even more severely injured, black blood oozing from his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. Despite this, he still managed a mocking smile. “As you wish!”
In the next instant, Duan Hunsheng flicked his sleeve. Hiss! Crackle! The ground beneath Lu Xuan shattered. Sinister black mist erupted, and countless thick chains, inscribed with terrifying Dao patterns, shot down from the depths of the void, completely encircling Lu Xuan.
Ji Fuyao’s delicate body trembled, and she immediately moved closer to Lu Xuan. She felt a bone-chilling power awakening! The Ye Family members were equally terrified. Chen Changsheng’s expression finally changed, and he sent a hurried message: “Master, this is the Eerie Power!”
Lu Xuan remained utterly serene and unbothered. “Mere Tricks of the Eerie Power,” he replied.
Moments later, the thick chains shattered, and the suppressed Eerie Power surged outward, wrapping around Lu Xuan. This power was terrifying! Ji Fuyao felt her cultivation realm begin to destabilize and threaten to fall. The Ye Family members cried out in alarm: “So much Eerie Power! A single wisp of it crippled Chen’er for seven years! This much could cause even high-star Great Emperors to regress!” To be tainted by the Eerie Power was a great omen of doom—a problem even the magnates of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone couldn't fully solve.
Lu Xuan, without hurry, pulled out the Heaven-Swallowing Profound Jar. Boom! A Nine-star Emperor Weapon! The jar instantly erupted with terrifying, peerless power, swelling like a black hole. The Dao patterns on its surface illuminated, resembling a ghostly face—neither crying nor laughing—as the jar unleashed a monstrous suction force. Endless divine light transformed into invisible hands, snatching at the Eerie Power.
Duan Hunsheng, hidden in the black river, sneered coldly: “It’s useless! Useless! This Eerie Power cannot be suppressed by a mere Nine-star Emperor Weapon...” He didn't finish his sentence. Massive amounts of Eerie Power were being devoured, offering no resistance whatsoever to the Heaven-Swallowing Profound Jar. In just a few dozen breaths, all the Eerie Power in this small world was completely contained within the jar. Duan Hunsheng screamed in disbelief: “How is that possible?”