Qin Wentian Exits the Sky Connecting Immortal Rock . . .
In the world of challenges and battles, there was nothing more menacing than when your vulnerabilities were exposed, and your adversary remained cloaked in secrecy. It was a chilling dance with the unknown, and for Huang Shatian, the undisputed combat virtuoso of the sacred academy, this threat had morphed into an unsettling reality. It was almost laughable—threatening Huang Shatian seemed like a jest, yet here he stood, cornered by enigmatic experts hailing from the enigmatic Myriad Devil Islands. They came bearing an ultimatum: someone, shrouded in shadows, did not want him to partake in the impending war.
The simplicity of their threat carried an air of arrogance. However, the identity of this hidden adversary eluded Huang Shatian, as did their vulnerabilities. In their brief skirmish, he grasped the chilling truth—these four enigmatic experts held the power to obliterate his Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire entirely. His clan and subordinates would crumble, leaving only him to defy them.
If only he knew the true intent of these devil-cultivators' allegiance, he could counter their threats. Yet, their sole demand was that he withdraw from the impending war. They cared not if he dispatched whomever he pleased, but the consequences would be dire. These devil-cultivators appeared disinterested in the war itself, shrouding their intentions in even greater mystery. The enigma deepened, and no one could fathom whom these devils supported.
"What significance does this war hold without me?" Huang Shatian's countenance hardened. His prior actions had already wreaked havoc among the ranks of the Southern Phoenix Alliance, driving them to disarray. Now, the experts from the White Tiger Alliance relentlessly pursued them, ensuring an inevitable outcome.
As he watched their silhouettes fade into the distance, a cold determination gripped him. He had to uncover the identity of the audacious leader who dared to issue such a threat to Huang Shatian.
Soon enough, the four devil-experts from the Judiciary Hall sensed his pursuit. Their brows furrowed, and their sinister aura surged. These devil-cultivators were seasoned warriors, unperturbed by Huang Shatian's proximity to the gate of the immortal king realm. They followed the orders of their priestess with unwavering loyalty—why should they fear a battle?
A fierce confrontation erupted, the collision of human-emperor energy against devil judgment energy causing the earth itself to tremble. Neither side yielded an inch, and the clash endured for a protracted time. Yet, neither side chose to disengage, their icy gazes locked in a deadly standoff.
"Remarkable. I had hoped for a more rational response from you," one of the devil-experts declared icily. They were all judgment priests of the Judiciary Hall, disciples of the Myriad Devil Sovereign. In their world, there were only those who feared them and those who fell prey to their relentless pursuit. If Huang Shatian wished to play hardball, they were prepared to engage in a merciless game.
And so, the game began—a relentless pursuit that shadowed Huang Shatian's every move. They clashed repeatedly, but neither side gained the upper hand. Huang Shatian seethed with frustration, yet the four devil-experts remained indifferent to his emotions. Their unwavering persistence painted a vivid picture of the indomitable Myriad Devil Islands.
Time whisked by in the blink of an eye, leaving several months trailing in its wake since the tumultuous war in the Sky Connecting Realm. The White Tiger Alliance's formidable experts had relentlessly chased down their counterparts from the Southern Phoenix Alliance, deep into the remote corners of the sacred academy. Even at the risk of dividing their forces, they hoped to ensnare more of their adversaries.
Among the fleeing ranks, some bore the insignia of the Evergreen Immortal Empire, their bodies heavily battered and immortal-foundations cruelly crippled by the relentless pursuit. The White Tiger Alliance seemed incredulous that the Evergreen Immortal Emperor would wage war for the sake of noble descendants.
Amid this chaotic pursuit, a maiden from the Southern Phoenix Clan narrowly escaped the clutches of the pursuing white tigers. To avoid a fate too shameful to bear, she made the same choice as Nanfeng Chun, transforming into a droplet of nirvanic blood in her flight, ultimately reuniting with a fellow clansman.
In this moment, the holy maiden who met her convened with other Southern Phoenix Clan experts, including Nanfeng Yunxi. They gazed at the droplet of nirvanic blood, their hearts heavy with grief. This marked the second maiden to undergo such a transformation. Those admitted into the sacred academy were the elite of their generation, yet two of their number had been forced into this pitiable form, awaiting rebirth.
"What course of action should we take?" inquired a holy maiden.
"We were expelled from the Sky Connecting Realm due to our deaths there. Afterward, we scattered in different directions. Plus, with Huang Shatian in the mix, we had no choice but to flee," sighed the strongest holy maiden among them, cradling the nirvanic blood droplet with a helpless look in her eyes.
In another remote corner of the academy, nestled amidst towering mountains, a group of experts gathered. Jun Mengchen was among them, having narrowly eluded an ambush by their adversaries. Fortunately, a powerful ally from the Battle Saint Tribe arrived in the nick of time, allowing them to break free. Despite their escape, they remained in dire straits, continuously evading pursuit.
"We need to regroup and plan our next counterattack," Jun Mengchen declared with frustration.
"It won't be that easy. We should delay as much as possible. As time passes, it will become increasingly difficult for our pursuers to maintain their cooperation while neglecting their cultivation. They won't sacrifice precious time in the sacred academy," reasoned another member.
"Do we truly have to keep running? I refuse!" Jun Mengchen turned his gaze toward the heavens. "I wonder if Senior Brother Qin has exited the second level of the Sky Connecting Realm. If he has, knowing his temperament, he won't hesitate to confront the white tigers. But in doing so, he'll lose the academy's protection, and Huang Shatian will undoubtedly seize the opportunity…"
Worry for Qin Wentian weighed heavily on Jun Mengchen's mind. Their defeat meant that when Qin Wentian emerged from the second level of the Sky Connecting Realm, he would face numerous enemies on all sides.
In yet another secluded corner of the sacred academy, a thunderous battle had just unfolded. Over a dozen experts encircled a quartet, relentlessly pursuing them. Among the pursued, two belonged to the Battle Saint Tribe, while the other two were disciples of Matriarch Ji. Qing'er was one of the four.
"Madam Qin, you must flee," urged the two Battle Saint Tribe experts, their cultivation formidable. They stood firm, protecting Qing'er, who was the beloved of their Saint Lord, alongside Mo Qingcheng.
"Go!" Qing'er's senior apprentice sister added her voice to the plea. Although she wielded profound spatial energy, her gown was stained crimson from the relentless onslaught by their pursuers.
"Don't fret. Senior Sister will undoubtedly escape unscathed," the senior apprentice sister reassured them. Qing'er's visage remained icy-cold, her gaze locked on the distant silhouettes of their relentless pursuers. Attacks relentlessly bombarded them, only to be thwarted by her spatial barriers. As the attackers closed in, their expressions grew increasingly grim. They understood that with Qing'er's mastery of spatial energy, catching up to her was an improbable feat.
The violent clashes raged on relentlessly, a ceaseless tempest of combat, while Qing'er, her heart heavy with pain, navigated the chaos in solitary flight. A fleeting glimpse of hurt and sorrow flickered within her eyes, as if the weight of their recent defeat bore down on her soul.
In the depths of her gaze, the visage of a young man emerged—the image of Qin Wentian. Did he, who remained ensconced in the second level of the Sky Connecting Realm, harbor any inkling of their grievous downfall?
Yet another span of days drifted by like autumn leaves carried away by the wind. Today, Huang Shatian, a formidable figure, stood at the threshold of a hidden realm within the sacred academy's labyrinthine expanse. However, the specters of four powerful devil experts shadowed his every move, clinging to him like tenacious phantoms. Huang Shatian's countenance darkened as he ventured deeper into the secret realm, intent on pushing these relentless pursuers to their limits. They dared not offer him the slightest opportunity, for he harbored the resolve to eliminate them all.
In the heart of the Sky Connecting Realm, nestled amidst the sacred aura of the immortal rock, a congregation of experts had gathered. Over the years, the Supreme Might Rankings had seen little alteration. Today, ample time had elapsed since the cataclysmic clash between the two alliances in the Sky Connecting Realm, yet the memories of that fateful conflict remained vivid in the minds of those present. The war had not entirely subsided, as countless members of the Southern Phoenix Alliance continued to fall prey to the relentless pursuit by the White Tiger Alliance.
"Rumor has it that Huang Shatian is trapped and can no longer act. Four immensely powerful devil experts have threatened him, but the specifics remain shrouded in mystery," someone in the crowd murmured.
"After the war in the Sky Connecting Realm, a white tiger attempted to harm Mo Qingcheng but met its demise at the hands of an enigmatic and formidable woman from the Myriad Devil Islands. Perhaps these four potent devil experts are connected to her."
"Yes, during the White Tiger Race's conflict with the Southern Phoenix Clan, they provoked the ire of the academy. Two groups of devil cultivators from the Myriad Devil Islands were also involved, and the leader of one of those groups is believed to be that enigmatic woman."
The discussion flowed on, the voices of speculation filling the air. Suddenly, a surprised exclamation pierced the conversation, prompting the gathering to swivel their attention toward the Sky Connecting Immortal Rock. After a brief interval, a shimmering void gate materialized, disgorging a lone figure.
This figure exuded an aura of extraordinary charisma, his eyes as black as the abyss, bearing the uncanny ability to penetrate the veils of existence. His gaze swept over the surroundings, finding no familiar faces, and a gentle smile touched his lips. In a hushed murmur, he spoke to the emptiness, "Qing'er, Mengcheng, Little Rascal, and Purgatory, I hope you're all well."
The figure in question was none other than Qin Wentian, who had immersed himself in the profound cultivation of the second level of the Sky Connecting Realm for an extended period.
A soft voice drifted through the air, capturing Qin Wentian's attention. He turned to discover two remarkable figures approaching. The man's face bore a hint of familiarity, a distant recollection stirring within Qin Wentian's mind. This had to be the individual who once occupied a place on the Supreme Might Immortal Rankings but had been displaced by Qin Wentian's meteoric ascent.
"Li Yufeng?" Qin Wentian's voice carried a quiet curiosity.
"There's no need for you to concern yourself with my identity," Li Yufeng responded evenly. He proceeded to offer a succinct account of the events that had unfolded in the past few months, recounting the fiery clash between the Southern Phoenix Clan and the White Tiger Race, and how their transgressions had provoked the academy's fury. In response, the academy had withdrawn its protective mantle, allowing all participating factions to engage in merciless warfare.
As Li Yufeng continued, Qin Wentian's initial smile gradually congealed into a frigid expression. He inquired further, "Which opposing forces have joined this conflict?"
Li Yufeng listed the belligerents with a solemn tone, "The Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire, the Skymist Immortal Empire, the Violet Emperor Sect, the Paragon Sword Sect, the White Tiger Race, and the Thundergod Hall. These are the powers I have knowledge of."
Qin Wentian's gaze turned icy, his voice laced with resolve. "Sir, do you have any information on the whereabouts of my friends?" He had a sinking feeling, an unshakable dread gnawing at him. Was Qing'er and the others safe?
"I cannot say for certain," Li Yufeng responded, "but rumors suggest they fled toward remote corners of the sacred academy and have dispersed. Moreover, there are likely spies here, monitoring your every move. The moment you engage in any battle and exit the Sky Connecting Realm, they will seize the opportunity to eliminate you. You must take utmost care of yourself."
"Thank you for sharing this information," Qin Wentian replied with a respectful nod, his palms clasped in gratitude. Without further ado, he vanished from their midst, determination etched into every fiber of his being. His quest to locate his friends had begun.