“Slow down, Daoist Friend.”
Inside the formation, the air was surprisingly filled with joyous laughter.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing. After all, he had once been a victim of that 'healing' himself! Sure enough, even a magnate as powerful as the Tianyuan Old Ancestor couldn't withstand the Master’s medical methods.
The Sect Master couldn't help but ask, “I wonder how this Senior’s Medical Attainment compares to Yuan Qingzi of the Supreme Profound Sect?”
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor offered only two words: “Crushing defeat!”
The Sect Master looked utterly reverent. “This White Robe Senior truly masters multiple domains—arrays, medicine, alchemy—it is terrifying.”
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor nodded. “It is truly the great fortune of our Grand Dao Sect that the White Robe Daoist Friend chose to reside on Azure Mystery Peak. His recent annihilation of the Heavenly Net General Hall with a flick of his finger was a service, removing a malignant tumor from the Southern Wilds.”
The Sect Master’s expression turned grave. “Old Ancestor, the Heavenly Net Hall’s backer is the Silent Destruction Sect. I fear they won’t let this rest!”
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor scoffed. “Heh. The Heaven and Earth Change has yet to begin. The Half-step Supremes of the Silent Destruction Sect cannot step out of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone. We need not worry in the short term.”
The Sect Master nodded. “Given the nature of those sealed within the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone, even though the Heavenly Net Hall has fallen, they will likely prop up a new puppet.”
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor’s gaze was profound. “It matters not. Be it the Heavenly Net Hall, the Earth Net Hall, or any other faction. As long as a Half-step Supreme does not emerge, the White Robe Daoist Friend is invincible!”
“That is certainly true,” the Sect Master agreed.
***
The Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone.
This was an utterly desolate wilderness, shrouded in layers of sinister mist. The earth was cracked and broken, and black rivers flowed through deep ravines. In the distance, strange, overlapping peaks stood shrouded in hazy fog. Here, the sun never shone. Ancient winds swept through, carrying fragments of broken Great Emperor Dao Patterns and faint traces of Eerie Power. The vast Dao Patterns surging across the land condensed into a terrifying Stance.
Hidden within the mist, one could faintly see figures Covered in Red Hair moving about. Their faces were ugly and hideous, as if they were enduring immense pain, groaning as they hurried along, exuding a chilling Ghostly Aura. This was the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone, one of the Southern Wilds’ most infamous forbidden lands.
In the far north of the Forbidden Zone lay a Twisted Jungle, home to countless massive tombs. These tombs lacked headstones, instead covered in interwoven Dao Patterns that faintly emitted black energy. At the entrance to the Twisted Jungle stood an Ancient Jade Slip inscribed with three ancient characters:
“Silent Destruction Sect!”
This ancient stone tablet suppressed the Stance of the land, preventing the rise of malevolent spirits.
Just then, a humanoid figure appeared atop a towering tomb. His body was hunched, and he wore what appeared to be a red robe. However, upon closer inspection, it was clear that this was not a robe at all, but sinister, Eerie Red Hair covering his entire body. With every step, the figure swayed, looking as if he might collapse at any moment. This was the Nine-star Emperor Realm clone of the Silent Destruction Old Man. His true body remained sealed in slumber within the tomb.
The Silent Destruction Old Man quickly rose into the air and arrived at an ancient palace deep within the Twisted Jungle. The massive palace was incredibly weathered, surrounded by twisted spiritual trees. The interior was pitch black, and faint, mournful cries echoed out like the wailing of ghosts.
The Old Man entered, and with every step, the ancient steps of the palace lit up. Moments later, he ascended the crumbling throne, activated an Ancient Jade Slip, and brilliant spiritual runes illuminated the hall, revealing numerous white bones scattered around. The Silent Destruction Old Man spoke slowly into the Ancient Jade Slip.
“All elders, send your clones forth. We have urgent matters to discuss!”
As his voice fell, withered hands stretched out from the many tombs in the Twisted Jungle, climbing out of the darkness. These were the clones of the Silent Destruction Sect’s elders!
Boom, boom, boom! Over a dozen figures flew toward the ancient palace, entering the hall and bowing respectfully to the Silent Destruction Old Man. “Old Ancestor!”
The Silent Destruction Old Man nodded faintly and spoke slowly. “The Heavenly Net Hall has been annihilated. A Person Transcending the Heavenly Dao has appeared in the Southern Wilds! They call him the White Robe Great Emperor!”
The elders exchanged shocked glances, flames of disbelief flickering in their dry eye sockets. “A Person Transcending the Heavenly Dao? How is that possible?”
The Silent Destruction Old Man’s gaze was chilling, flickering with dark light in the gloom. “Do you know what happened in Tianluo State? A wisp of my Nine-star Emperor Realm Divine Sense, derived through Duan Hunsheng’s body, activated the Nine Dragons Devouring Heaven Array spanning a thousand miles—yet it was no match for the White Robe Great Emperor! His attack absolutely surpassed the Nine-star Emperor Realm!”
The elders’ faces grew extremely solemn. This development completely overturned the Heavenly Dao rules that had governed the Southern Wilds for countless ages! Until the Heaven and Earth Change began, no power surpassing the Nine-star Emperor Realm should exist. Any such power that appeared would be instantly erased by the Heavenly Dao, the Dao returned to Heaven.
The Silent Destruction Old Man stated, “I have gathered you here because I intend to test the current strength of the Southern Wilds’ Heavenly Dao!”
Hearing this, the elders’ expressions turned ugly. Their true bodies were sealed and slumbering in their tombs; they would not emerge until the Supreme Path opened. But the Silent Destruction Old Man’s intent was clear: he meant to select a Half-step Supreme from among them to test the Heavenly Dao rules!
Everyone in the ancient palace was an ancient entity who had survived for countless ages, and they all cherished their lives immensely. Even if the Silent Destruction Old Man presented this possibility, who would willingly risk their life? Better safe than sorry! If the Heavenly Dao rules were still fully active, they would likely be annihilated the moment they stepped half a pace outside the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone!
Seeing their reluctance, the Silent Destruction Old Man sneered. “I am not consulting you on this matter; I am informing you. One of you must go. If this succeeds, it will usher in a Great Era of change, unseen in the Southern Wilds for countless ages!”
As his voice dropped, panic seized everyone in the hall. But facing the Old Ancestor, they had no choice. Soon, the weakest Half-step Supreme was pushed forward. This was Elder Qianduo of the Silent Destruction Sect, who had only barely managed to reach the Half-step Supreme realm a few hundred years prior.
The Silent Destruction Old Man’s eyes flashed as he looked toward Elder Qianduo’s tomb. “Come out now!”
Before long, dark light covered Elder Qianduo’s tomb, and obscure Dao Patterns surged like a dim whirlpool of thunder. Crack! Crack! The tomb tore open, resembling a gaping abyss. Inside, every tomb contained a small world. As Elder Qianduo’s tomb was ripped apart, the sealed aura leaked out, and a withered, old man slowly emerged. He wore a gray robe, his eyes dim, and he looked at the Silent Destruction Old Man. “Old Ancestor, if I succeed…”
The Silent Destruction Old Man assured him, “I will not treat you unfairly!”
Soon after, the Silent Destruction Old Man’s clone led Elder Qianduo and the other elders toward the exit of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone. The wind howled, carrying a chilling, ancient cold that sent shivers down their spines.
Along the way, powerful figures from other factions extended their Divine Sense toward the Silent Destruction Old Man. Several wisps of Divine Sense inquired, “Silent Destruction Daoist Friend, what are you doing?”
The Silent Destruction Old Man replied, “I perceive a shift in the Southern Wilds’ Heavenly Dao and have come specifically to test it.”
One Divine Sense questioned, “The Heaven and Earth Change has not begun; the Southern Wilds’ Heavenly Dao will annihilate any existence above the Nine-star Emperor Realm. Is it wise for Your Excellency to test the Heavenly Dao?”
Another Divine Sense frowned. “According to the pact we signed with the Xuanji Holy Lord and others, those tainted by Eerie Power and Ominous Power are forbidden from leaving the Forbidden Zone before the Heaven and Earth Change opens!”
The Silent Destruction Old Man sneered. “Heh. No one can stop me today. I must proceed with this test!”
Elder Qianduo’s face twitched, his expression utterly bitter. He muttered to himself, “Old Ancestor, am I truly destined to die today?”