In the Secluded Valley of the Stabbing Heaven Palace, dense mist swirled between heaven and earth, shrouding the endless spiritual forests. It looked like a gaping maw had opened in the earth, appearing incredibly eerie and mysterious. In the ancient hall deep within the Secluded Valley, Xiao Ke, the Master of the Stabbing Heaven Palace, reclined languidly on her Imperial Throne. Her robes draped casually over her body, barely containing her ample bosom. She gazed at the two bloody heads before her, a faint smile playing on her lips.
“How… interesting,” she murmured. Three Nine-star Great Emperors and several High-star Great Emperors, all dispatched on this mission, had fallen! Two of those Nine-star Great Emperors had infiltrated the Grand Dao Sect, only to have their heads severed and sent back to the Stabbing Heaven Palace.
“Is the Grand Dao Sect… provoking my Stabbing Heaven Palace?” Xiao Ke asked, her voice deceptively calm. As her words echoed, a Grey-robed Elder in the hall erupted with murderous intent. “Master! Our Stabbing Heaven Palace has flourished for endless ages! When have we ever suffered such an insult?”
Another elder added, “Back in the Ancient Era, an Overlord-level Power dared to offend us. We relentlessly assassinated their members until their supreme Old Ancestor personally came to beg for mercy from our Master. Only then did we spare them. Otherwise, that entire Overlord-level Power would have been annihilated!”
The other elders nodded in agreement. A saying circulated throughout the Southern Wilds: “Never, ever, offend the Stabbing Heaven Palace!” Beyond the Stabbing Heaven Palace’s elusive and mysterious assassinations, there was another reason. The Stabbing Heaven Palace was backed by Dark Shadow Island, one of the Southern Wilds’ most perilous Fierce Lands. Dark Shadow Island’s power rivaled that of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone, with Half-step Supremes and Quasi-Dao Supremes from several eras slumbering within its depths. Its strength was truly terrifying. Thus, in the eyes of the Stabbing Heaven Palace, as long as the reward was sufficient, there was no target in the Southern Wilds they dared not assassinate!
This recent failure was one of the very few they had suffered in countless eras! And in those previous instances, their subsequent, endless assassinations had led to the downfall of several Overlord-level Powers, cementing the Stabbing Heaven Palace’s supreme and fearsome reputation.
Xiao Ke, her expression still languid, surveyed the elders. “Very well. My Stabbing Heaven Palace has just re-emerged, and already we face such a provocation. We accept the challenge! What follows will be the Grand Dao Sect’s nightmare!”
A Grey-robed Elder stepped forward. “Master, Ji Fuyao is holding the Fuyao Dynasty Founding Ceremony in the Blackflame Mountain Range soon! Should we make a move?”
Xiao Ke’s lips curved upwards slightly, her long, elegant legs crossing. “Naturally, we must present the Fuyao Dynasty with a grand gift! The world has forgotten the fearsome reputation of my Stabbing Heaven Palace. Let this battle be the one to re-establish it!”
Before long, the elders withdrew from the hall to make their preparations.
***
The Ghost Shadow Race.
Within the boundless, pitch-black mountain range, an oppressive silence reigned. A crescent moon hung like a cold hook in the sky, casting a chilling pallor. Ancient tombs rose like ominous mounds, and dense mist enveloped this corner of the world. Mysterious humanoid creatures moved ceaselessly through it all, exuding a Ghostly Aura, utterly terrifying. The countless tombs stretched on, their foundations forming a hidden world beneath the earth.
In this underground realm, the Ghost Shadow Race Old Ancestor sat cross-legged on a raised platform, his face contorted in a ferocious grimace. Swirling black mist enveloped his body, and as his hands shifted through spirit seals, rings of Great Emperor Dao patterns pulsed around him.
“My Ghost Shadow Divine Art is nearing Great Accomplishment!” he hissed, his voice echoing eerily. “When it does, White Robe Great Emperor, you will not escape!”
With a thunderous roar, layers of mist billowed around him. The Ghost Shadow Race Old Ancestor’s form flickered, appearing both tangible and ethereal, his profound aura deeply shocking the surrounding Ghost Shadow Race members. This time, their Nine-star Emperor Realm Old Ancestors had been brutally slaughtered, not even leaving behind corpses. This grudge must be repaid!
A Ghostly Aura-shrouded elder spoke, “Old Ancestor, we’ve heard that Ji Fuyao is holding her Fuyao Dynasty Founding Ceremony in the Blackflame Mountain Range, very soon!”
The Ghost Shadow Race Old Ancestor’s voice, cold and sinister, drifted through the underground world. “Then we shall present the Fuyao Dynasty with a grand gift! However, this White Robe Great Emperor does possess some skill. I will personally eliminate him once my divine art reaches Great Accomplishment!” As his words faded, the Ghost Shadow Race Old Ancestor resumed his cultivation.
***
The Blackflame Mountain Range.
After annihilating the last Heavenly Net Hall Branch, Ji Fuyao led the Imperial Dragon Guard Army directly back. Preparations for the Fuyao Dynasty Founding Ceremony had begun! This was a monumental event for the rise of an imperial dynasty! Inside the grand hall, Ji Fuyao, clad in a fiery red gown, sat regally upon the Imperial Throne. Divine Radiance swirled in her eyes, and a faint Quasi-Emperor Pressure subtly emanated outwards. Her lips parted slightly as she spoke.
“In half a month, my Fuyao Dynasty Founding Ceremony will commence!” she declared. “Wang Man, Qing Yan, spread this news through the merchant guilds. Let all the provinces of the Southern Wilds know of this event!”
Hearing this, Wang Man and Qing Yan bowed respectfully. “As you command, Your Majesty the Empress!” Everyone understood the immense significance of this ceremony! The Fuyao Dynasty was destined to rise and become an Overlord-level Power in the Southern Wilds – this had become the Willpower of all its loyalists!
The Lin Family Old Ancestor reported, “Your Majesty the Empress, some merchant guilds have sent word that the Demon Hall appears to be planning a major move!”
Ji Fuyao’s expression remained cold and serene, her heart unperturbed. “No matter! The Founding Ceremony is bound to attract petty troublemakers. With my Master present, he can Suppress all enemies in the world!” As her words settled, everyone present revealed expressions of profound awe and reverence. “Peak Master Lu is invincible!”
“Hahahaha!”
Just then, within the grand hall, the profound Power of Spatial Array Patterns surged. From a spatial rift, Lu Xuan, clad in his white robes, slowly stepped forth. In the hall, everyone immediately knelt before Lu Xuan. “Thud!” “Thud!” Like a surging tide! Lu Xuan waved a casual hand. “Rise, all of you.”
Ji Fuyao smiled radiantly, rising from the Imperial Throne and quickly moving to Lu Xuan’s side. “Master.”
Lu Xuan smiled faintly. “Fuyao, you’ve done well! All the Heavenly Net Hall Branches have been annihilated! For the next half-month, let Wang Man and Qing Yan handle the ceremony preparations. You should return to Azure Mystery Peak and rest for a while.”
Ji Fuyao’s eyes widened in surprise and delight. She hadn’t expected Master to come for her! Her eyes shimmered slightly. It had been so long since she’d returned to Azure Mystery Peak, and a wave of emotion washed over her. “Master, once we’re back on Azure Mystery Peak, I’ll cook for you.”
Lu Xuan nodded, a chuckle in his voice. “Sounds good. It’s been a while since I’ve tasted your cooking.” As he spoke, Lu Xuan activated the Supreme Great Emperor Dao Patterns. A profound aura of Spatial Array Patterns surged around him, enveloping Ji Fuyao. Boom! The two vanished instantly from their spot, as if dissolving into a wisp of wind.
The next instant, Lu Xuan and Ji Fuyao reappeared on Azure Mystery Peak. He immediately sent a telepathic message to Ye Chen and Chen Changsheng. Ji Fuyao looked around, taking in her surroundings. It had been three months since she’d last been on Azure Mystery Peak. The familiar feeling! The feeling of home.
Ye Chen and Chen Changsheng quickly emerged from their cave dwellings. “Senior Sister!” “Senior Sister!” Ye Chen, thrilled by their reunion with Ji Fuyao, smiled. “Senior Sister, congratulations on breaking through to the Quasi-Emperor Realm!”
Ji Fuyao gave a brilliant smile, starlight flickering in her eyes. “You’re not bad yourself! You’re already an Eight-star Profound Saint!” Then, she turned her gaze to Chen Changsheng. “Junior Brother Changsheng, you’ve broken through to Triple Profound Venerate. Well done!”
Chen Changsheng offered his usual honest smile. “Thank you, Senior Sister!”
Ji Fuyao produced several Storage Rings and handed them to Ye Chen and Chen Changsheng. “Don’t be stingy with these cultivation resources!” Ye Chen and Chen Changsheng nodded. “Understood, Senior Sister!”
Next, Ji Fuyao, her long, elegant legs moving gracefully, stepped directly into the thatched hut and began to cook. Lu Xuan, meanwhile, reclined on a lounge chair with Chen Changsheng, leisurely watching the clouds drift by.
Ye Chen quietly warned Chen Changsheng, “Third Junior Brother, don’t let Senior Sister see you like this, or she’ll suppress you!”
Chen Changsheng gave a simple, earnest smile. “No worries. Master will explain for me.”
Ye Chen chuckled, then sat cross-legged and began to cultivate. Just then, the System’s voice echoed in Lu Xuan’s mind. “Ding! Congratulations, Host, on completing the quest to assist Ji Fuyao in annihilating the Heavenly Net Hall Branches! Rewards are now being distributed!”