The ancient assassination organization, Stabbing Heaven Palace, had emerged from seclusion.
Its headquarters lay nestled within a Secluded Valley, shrouded by an endless, swirling black mist. While the outside world basked in daylight, perpetual night reigned within the valley, a labyrinth of winding, treacherous paths cloaked in oppressive gloom. Mysterious, abstruse Dao patterns covered the rock faces, so faded they seemed to merge with the very fabric of the valley. Numerous cave dwellings dotted the canyon walls, their auras completely concealed, making it impossible to discern any secrets within.
Deep within the Secluded Valley stood an ancient, weathered grand hall. Its entrance pillars bore a chilling couplet:
“Burying Heaven, Burying Earth, Burying All Living Beings!”
“Slaying Humans, Slaying Demons, Slaying All Other Races!”
Above the entrance plaque, four ancient characters, forged from Dao patterns, blazed with murderous intent: “Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!”
Inside the grand hall, over a dozen Stabbing Heaven Palace elders had already assembled. Their gazes fell upon an empty throne at the hall’s deepest point. Though it appeared vacant, the Lord of the Stabbing Heaven Palace was, in fact, seated there. Her concealment technique was so profound, not a single elder present could detect her presence.
A ethereal voice drifted from the throne. “The Silent Destruction Sect has contacted our Stabbing Heaven Palace, requesting us to eliminate a few individuals from the Grand Dao Sect. What are your thoughts?”
An elder, shrouded in black mist and wearing a dark bamboo hat, his true form obscured, spoke slowly. “My Lord, we accept this mission. The Bronze Ancient Palace won’t descend for some time, and our Stabbing Heaven Palace hasn’t taken action in countless eons. Our assassination techniques might have grown a little rusty! This is a perfect opportunity to hone our skills!”
The other elders nodded in agreement, their forms flickering like ghosts, each radiating a hint of excitement. “For countless ages, our Stabbing Heaven Palace’s name hasn’t echoed across the Southern Wilds. It’s time to remind the various states of the Southern Wilds of the terror we command!”
The next instant, a woman in a long gown materialized on the throne. Her figure was graceful, a hint of alluring beauty peeking from beneath her snow-white neck. A mysterious smile played on her lips. This woman was Xiao Ke, the Lord of the Stabbing Heaven Palace, a master assassin who had successfully eliminated several Nine-star Great Emperors.
She nodded faintly, her eyes dark and profound. “Very good. The Grand Dao Sect’s difficulty is perfectly suited for our Stabbing Heaven Palace to practice our skills! Next, await my command before you depart.”
The elders dispersed.
Half a day later, a message arrived from the Silent Destruction Sect: “Lady Xiao Ke, will your Stabbing Heaven Palace accept the task?”
Xiao Ke replied, “We accept the assassination, but we will not undertake the task of extracting Memory Images using Cangyuan Stone.”
They were assassins! Their pursuit was perfect timing: strike down the enemy, then vanish. To also extract a Memory Image might mean missing the optimal escape window.
The Silent Destruction Sect pressed: “The entire mission is indivisible! Will you accept it or not?”
A moment of silence. Xiao Ke responded, “We accept.”
“But the compensation must be increased!”
The Silent Destruction Sect’s voice replied, “Agreed. If Ji Fuyao or the White Robe Great Emperor is killed, we will add Nine-star Emperor-tier Life Force as a bonus!”
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Xiao Ke’s lips. “Deal.”
...
The Ghost Shadow Race. Their domain was an endless, pitch-black mountain range, utterly silent yet profoundly unsettling. Ancient, colossal tombs rose throughout the peaks, and the entire land was shrouded in an endless mist. Within the mist, eerie humanoid figures moved stealthily. These humanoid creatures were the Ghost Shadow Race. Their claws were like blades, black as ink, and massive wings sprouted from their backs. Their grotesque, ferocious faces sent shivers down one’s spine.
The Ghost Shadow Race Old Ancestor had already struck a deal with the Silent Destruction Sect.
Half a day later, several high-star Great Emperors of the Ghost Shadow Race, their forms like phantoms, departed their territory, heading directly for Ji Fuyao.
...
The Demon Hall. This faction belonged to the ancient Demon Court, a mere branch of the latter. With the Bronze Ancient Palace on the verge of opening, the Lord of the Demon Court had issued a decree, commanding the Demon Hall’s Great Demons to awaken early.
Boom! After several days of integration, the Demon Hall’s pocket dimension had fully merged with the Southern Wilds, now nestled between the territories of several other Demon Races, forming a protective constellation around it. A colossal, ancient stone hall rose from the earth, radiating immense majesty. The aura of Great Demons, vast as an abyss and deep as the sea, filled the air with primeval wildness.
Before the ancient stone hall stood a group sculpture: the Lord of the Demon Court sat high on his throne, while human and other-race powerhouses alike prostrated themselves, shouting the name of the Supreme Demon Lord.
At this moment, a trial was underway within the Demon Hall.
The Golden Crow Old Ancestor and the Fire Dragon Old Ancestor knelt on the ground, facing the statue of the Lord of the Demon Court. The Demon Hall Master, Red Serpent Old Ancestor, wore an incredibly grim expression. His gaze, sharp as blades, swept over the two kneeling figures. His voice was icy. “We, the supreme Demon Race, have never begged for mercy from humans! Your two races have utterly disgraced the Demon Lord!”
Around the Golden Crow Old Ancestor and Fire Dragon Old Ancestor, other Demon Race Great Emperors looked on with disdain. The Red Serpent Old Ancestor’s face twisted into a ferocious snarl, and in a flash, he transformed into his true form: a terrifying three-headed giant snake. Its body was as thick as a small mountain, its scales shimmering with a cold, azure light, tough as an Emperor Weapon.
Hiss! The three-headed giant snake suddenly descended from the throne, appearing before the Golden Crow Old Ancestor and Fire Dragon Old Ancestor. Its two side heads simultaneously spewed out twin streams of poisonous mist, which shot directly into the two Old Ancestors’ bodies. The Golden Crow Old Ancestor and Fire Dragon Old Ancestor’s faces instantly turned green! The poison, once inside them, was unbearable even for Nine-star Emperor Realm cultivators, and they roared in agony.
The Red Serpent Old Ancestor’s gaze was like a blade. “Both of you, kneel before the Demon Lord’s statue and reflect for two months!”
Hearing this, the Fire Dragon Old Ancestor and Golden Crow Old Ancestor immediately moved to the Demon Lord’s statue and knelt.
The Red Serpent Old Ancestor looked at the assembled Demon Race Great Emperors and declared coldly, “That White Robe Great Emperor has killed too many of our people; this grudge must be repaid! Recently, the Silent Destruction Sect has shown interest in cooperation and has issued a bounty. Our Demon Hall will dispatch Nine-star Great Emperors to eliminate Ji Fuyao and the White Robe Great Emperor!”
As his voice fell, several figures stepped out from the crowd. “We are willing to go!”
The Red Serpent Old Ancestor nodded. “Good! Eliminate these two before the Bronze Ancient Palace opens!”
...
Grand Dao Sect, Azure Mystery Peak. Lu Xuan was having a meal with Chen Changsheng and Ye Chen in front of the thatched hut.
Chen Changsheng recounted the recent commotions in the Southern Wilds to Lu Xuan. Numerous ancient major powers had emerged from seclusion, all preparing for the Bronze Ancient Palace! Within the Ancient Supreme Artifact, the Bronze Ancient Palace, lay hidden supreme opportunities. All those who had once attained the Supreme Fruit Position had gained their great opportunities from the Bronze Ancient Palace!
Chen Changsheng looked at Lu Xuan. “Master, perhaps we should bring Senior Sister back? The Stabbing Heaven Palace has emerged, and they might be cooperating with the Silent Destruction Sect.”
Lu Xuan said indifferently, “No worries. The Heavenly Net Hall Branch is almost annihilated; this matter will soon be concluded.”
Ye Chen asked with a hint of curiosity, “Third Junior Brother, what kind of force is the Stabbing Heaven Palace?”
Chen Changsheng’s eyes gleamed faintly as he spoke in a low voice, “The Stabbing Heaven Palace is an ancient assassination organization, originating from Dark Shadow Island, one of the Southern Wilds’ Fierce Lands! The people of Stabbing Heaven Palace are a bunch of lunatics; as long as the compensation is sufficient, they will assassinate Half-step Supremes and even Quasi-Dao Supremes!”
Ye Chen frowned slightly. “Then Senior Sister must be careful!”
Lu Xuan chuckled. “I’ve been keeping an eye on Fuyao; no worries.”
Chen Changsheng sighed inwardly. Master, can’t we be a bit more cautious?
Half a day later, Lu Xuan was lying on his profound ice bed, engrossed in a storybook, when Chen Changsheng’s voice suddenly reached him. “Master, if I’m not mistaken, two Great Emperors from the Stabbing Heaven Palace are approaching our Azure Mystery Peak.”
Lu Xuan activated his Insight Eye, scanning the surroundings of Azure Mystery Peak. Sure enough, he saw two Nine-star Great Emperors, clad in black hooded robes, their figures perfectly blended into the environment.
Lu Xuan said indifferently, “Just two Nine-star Great Emperors.” He currently possessed a Nine-star Great Emperor Experience Card, capable of instantly killing Half-step Supremes! The Heaven and Earth Change hadn’t even begun yet, and Half-step Supremes hadn’t emerged. No need to worry. Besides, didn’t Azure Mystery Peak have a formation? Even if the formation couldn’t hold, there was still Old Third. It wasn’t his turn to act. With that thought, Lu Xuan shifted into a more comfortable position.
Chen Changsheng was speechless.
At that moment, one of the Stabbing Heaven Palace Great Emperors remarked, “The Grand Dao Sect has indeed fallen into decline. We entered so easily.”
The other Great Emperor added, “It’s merely a decaying sect, its glory a thing of the past, like a river flowing downhill, impossible to restore its former splendor.”
The two stealthily approached Azure Mystery Peak. “After entering Azure Mystery Peak, don’t rush to act. Wait for the perfect moment to sever the heads of the White Robe Great Emperor, Ye Chen, and Chen Changsheng! As for Lu Xuan, let him fend for himself. Killing him would only disgrace our reputation as Gods of Assassination.”
Moments later, the two stepped onto Azure Mystery Peak. They saw a wooden sign. The Sect Master, from afar, received a notification from the peak’s formation:
“Azure Mystery Peak is a sacred place, no entry without permission. – Lu Xuan.”