The Squad Leader of the Immortal Clan!

"Wind and Thunder, converge!"

"Heads will roll beneath my staff!"

Shi Lei's Green Iron Spear struck like a bolt of lightning. Compared to a year ago, his technique had advanced leaps and bounds. Though he had yet to break through the first bottleneck of the Blood Refinement Realm, preventing him from unleashing its full potential, Xiao Yi could see that he had already grasped the essence of the technique. Once he comprehended the realm of effortless power and formed his own aura, he would soon be able to master the art completely.

Meanwhile, Yun Shan's staff techniques were wild and unrelenting. His white bone staff howled through the air, whipping up a sinister wind. This was no ordinary weapon technique—it was a third-tier battle art, the White Bone Staff Technique. It had been forged in the brutal wars against the Hundred Worlds Clans, designed purely for massacre.

Where the White Bone Staff falls, heads are crushed.

With a thunderous impact, the bone staff slammed into the python's midsection. A burst of battle energy erupted, momentarily halting the beast's movements. Shi Lei seized the opportunity, his spear thrusting forward like an unstoppable tide, piercing directly into the python's seven-inch vital point.

Blood sprayed.

The Azure-Scaled Horned Python let out a spine-chilling screech, its massive body writhing violently. The once-calm pool was now a sea of raging waves. Shi Lei and Yun Shan were flung backward by the force of its struggles, landing several meters away. Their faces paled from the impact, but in their eyes, excitement flickered like fire.

In the blink of an eye, Li Yue let loose three arrows in rapid succession. Each arrow burned like a streak of purple haze, cutting through wind and water, piercing straight toward the python.

Two arrows struck its scaled body, blasting open bowl-sized wounds, sending flesh and scales flying. The final arrow drove into the python's remaining eye, obliterating it completely.

Li Yue frowned slightly.

Xiao Yi, however, understood.

All three of her arrows had been aimed at the right eye, yet only the first two had landed on the body. This was the limitation of the Windbreaking Realm—it ensured precision against inanimate targets, but against a living, moving creature, it lacked the ability to lock on with unwavering accuracy. Only by reaching the Soundbreaking Realm, infusing her will into the arrows, could she truly strike a target with absolute certainty.

Blinded, the Azure-Scaled Horned Python finally felt true fear for the first time.

Its colossal form crashed into the depths of the pool, disappearing beneath the waves. Soon, the once-dark waters began turning red, staining the surface with its blood.

Shi Qian exhaled heavily. "A shame… it got away." His spiritual suppression on a pinnacle-tier lower-ranked desolate beast had taken a heavy toll on him.

On the green islet within the pool, Shi Yuan carefully unearthed the Silver Ginseng, shaking off the damp soil as he stepped lightly across the water, landing on the shore. A hint of satisfaction flickered across his face.

"This Silver Ginseng…" he examined it closely, "…has been growing for over eight hundred years, nearly nine hundred. Its medicinal potency is even stronger than we anticipated. If not for this hidden valley, there's no way that python would've had the privilege of claiming it."

Shi Lei nodded in agreement. "It's very likely that the Azure-Scaled Horned Python was waiting for it to reach a thousand years. If this Silver Ginseng had gained sentience and transformed into a spiritual ginseng, consuming it could've helped the beast form its first Desolate Star. Maybe even a second one. Too bad… we found it first."

Li Yue chuckled. "In any case, this valley is secluded, and the python won't dare show itself again while it's wounded. We should just consume the Silver Ginseng here, strengthen our cultivation, and increase our chances of survival on the way back."

"Agreed," Yun Shan said. Shi Qian hesitated for a moment before nodding as well.

Holding the Silver Ginseng, Shi Yuan pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Based on our agreement:

Shi Lei gets thirty percent. I take twenty-five percent. Li Yue gets twenty percent. Shi Qian takes fifteen percent. Yun Shan gets ten percent."

Even with only ten percent, the Silver Ginseng's medicinal power would be enough for Yun Shan to clear at least two Heavenly Meridians, saving him months of cultivation.

Shi Yuan then turned toward Xiao Yi, a faint smile on his lips.

"As for you, Xiao Yi…"

"When we return, we'll be hunting Desolate Beasts. If all goes as planned, you'll be given their lifeblood to refine. That should be enough for you to clear another Heavenly Meridian on the journey back."

Xiao Yi simply nodded.

He had already achieved his goal by coming this far.

More importantly, with the seventh Heavenly Meridian now unblocked, his strength had risen to the verge of the Squad Leader level.

Just as Shi Yuan was about to divide the Silver Ginseng, something unexpected happened—

A streak of blue lightning suddenly shot through the valley entrance, tearing through the air with an earsplitting roar.

In that instant, Xiao Yi and the others felt as if thunder itself had descended upon them. An overwhelming pressure, like the wrath of heaven, crashed down on their souls. Apart from Shi Qian and Shi Yuan, the other three—Shi Lei, Yun Shan, and Li Yue—turned pale, their chests tightening as if struck by a divine hammer. The sheer force of the presence made even breathing difficult.

The blue lightning struck the ground, causing the earth to crack and shatter. From within the blinding light, a spear emerged—an azure iron spear, its entire form radiating a subtle, ethereal energy. Unlike Shi Lei's Green Iron Spear, this weapon seemed to merge with the very space around it, its presence both unshakable and untouchable.

"An Immortal Spear!" Shi Qian's face darkened instantly.

"Indeed. And it's meant to take your heads."

A voice as cold as winter frost rang out.

From the valley entrance, four figures stepped forward. They were clad in blue armor, their entire beings exuding an undeniable aura of divinity—the presence of the Immortal Clan's power.

Unlike human battle energy, the energy coursing through these warriors was Immortal Qi, the fundamental force of the Immortal Clan. The distinction was clear at a glance—one belonged to the realm of men, the other to the divine.

Even Shi Yuan, usually composed, could not help but tense up, his eyes flickering with rare unease. After only a few breaths, that unease deepened into shock.

"Squad Leaders of the Immortal Army."

Shi Qian's voice was dry, heavy with the weight of realization.

The power emanating from these four Immortal Soldiers was not just formidable—it was seamless. The moment they arrived, their combined aura had sealed the space within dozens of meters. Shi Yuan and Shi Qian found their own energy forcibly suppressed, unable to expand beyond their bodies.

Four Immortal Squad Leaders.

An overwhelming force, far beyond what Shi Yuan and his group could handle.

Although Shi Yuan had only recently ascended in rank, he was still behind these squad leaders in both mastery and control of his power. As for Li Yue and the others, none of them had even entered the mid-stage of Blood Refinement. If a fight broke out, they would be helpless before the might of the Immortal warriors.

"You've been following us all this time!" Shi Lei snarled.

"And what of it?" One of the squad leaders stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the group before finally locking onto Shi Yuan.

His eyes gleamed with murderous intent.

"Six fledgling warriors… We'll send you off first."

"Your heads? Don't worry—we'll take good care of them."

With ghostly speed, the Immortal Squad Leader vanished from sight—only to reappear before Shi Yuan in an instant.

The very air around them exploded with surging Immortal Qi.

From a distance, the azure Immortal Spear hummed, responding to its master's will. It shot forward like a streak of divine judgment, landing in the warrior's grip just as he launched his attack.

The spear tip screamed through the air, tearing open the space between them. With it, dozens of four-foot-long wind blades materialized, born from the fusion of Immortal Qi and elemental forces. Each blade carried the weight of heaven's decree, an attack that borrowed strength from the natural laws themselves.

At the same time, the collective aura of the four squad leaders split in two—one half bearing down on Shi Yuan, the other crushing Li Yue and the rest.

Their limbs trembled under the immense pressure.

A deadly stillness overtook them—sweat dripped from their brows, yet they could not move.

"Black Clouds Over the City!"

With a roar, Shi Yuan's Green Iron Blade flew from its sheath.

This was the ninth form of the Wind and Cloud Blade Art—one of its two ultimate techniques. Having only fully mastered it upon reaching mid-stage Blood Refinement, Shi Yuan had no hesitation in unleashing it at full force.

Blade clashed with spear.

The raging wind blades shattered against the blade aura, their fragments scattering like shards of glass.

Shi Yuan's blade energy, extending a full three feet and six inches, carved a heavy arc through the air before colliding with the spear tip.

A powerful shockwave erupted from the impact, sending dust and debris flying.

Shi Yuan vomited blood.

His body was sent hurtling through the air, crashing onto the ground like a broken kite.

The tiger's mouth—the area between his thumb and forefinger—split open, a deep, jagged wound running across his palm. His hands trembled violently, the pain burning through his nerves.

This Immortal Squad Leader was no ordinary opponent.

His cultivation had clearly surpassed the realm of forty Immortal Meridians.

And worse—under the immense spiritual suppression, Shi Yuan's willpower had been forced to retreat inward, leaving him only able to unleash seventy percent of his full strength.

Even at full power, he would have struggled.

With his strength suppressed…

One strike had already left him wounded.

Not far away, Shi Lei and the others stared ahead, their eyes filled with despair.

This was a dead-end battle.

Four Immortal Squad Leaders working together—there was no chance of resisting, no chance of escape. Even the strongest among them, Shi Yuan, had been wounded in a single strike.

One of the Immortal Squad Leaders shifted his gaze to Xiao Yi, who stood there, his eyes half-closed, his expression eerily calm. His presence lacked any significant energy fluctuations, as if he were just an ordinary bystander.

The squad leader sneered.

"Not even daring to look anymore?"

Meanwhile, Shi Yuan's blood-red eyes remained locked onto the Immortal warriors before him. His murderous intent surged, wrapping around him like a deadly aura.

His grip on the Green Iron Blade tightened once more.

Blood trickled from his palm, running down the hilt, gathering at the tip, and finally dripping onto the battle-scarred earth below.

"You've got some backbone," the Immortal Squad Leader said, his lips curling in mock appreciation. "But it won't change anything."

He suddenly paused, then pointed at Li Yue and the others.

"I'll give you a chance to live."

A chill ran down their spines.

The squad leader's voice carried cruel amusement as he continued, "Kill them with your own hands. Bring us their heads as an offering of loyalty. Return to your Bloodstone Tribe as our eyes and ears. When the day comes that your tribe is destroyed, you'll be rewarded. You'll rebuild under our rule, and maybe—if you prove useful—you'll even become its new chief."

His words were casual, as if he were offering a promotion, rather than demanding betrayal.

This was not uncommon.

The Northern Desolation's Western Territory was vast, filled with countless human tribes. Many of them had already been subjugated and turned into puppet clans, providing sanctuary and resources for the Immortal Clan to recuperate in secret. This was an age-old strategy, not only of the Immortal Clan, but of many great races across the Hundred Worlds.

Shi Lei and the others stiffened. Their faces changed at Shi Yuan's next words.

"If you want me to work for you…" Shi Yuan's voice was strangely calm.

"That's not impossible."

What?!

Li Yue and the others whipped their heads around in disbelief.

The Immortal Squad Leader, however, laughed.

"Good! You know when to submit and when to advance. You're smarter than I thought." He waved his hand dismissively. "Say it. What do you want? If it's the Silver Ginseng, I'm afraid that's off the table. Anything else, feel free to ask."

Shi Yuan shook his head.

"I don't want the Silver Ginseng."

The Immortal Squad Leader's smile faltered, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Then what is it you want?"

Shi Yuan's lips curled into a fearsome grin.

"Your head."

With a roar, Shi Yuan exploded into motion.

His Green Iron Blade became a streak of azure light, a hurricane of momentum and fury.

Wind and clouds surged within him, and his suppressed aura threatened to break free.

At that moment—under the crushing pressure of the four Immortal Squad Leaders—Shi Yuan's willpower surged to a new height, his spirit ascending beyond its previous limits.

His blade strike was unstoppable.

The very air howled, a deep, mournful whistle cutting through the battlefield as the sword tore forward.

"You insolent fool! You court death!"

The Immortal Squad Leader's fury erupted.

All four Squad Leaders instantly unleashed their combined force, their aura crashing down like a tidal wave, forcing Shi Yuan's newly awakened power back into his body.

His movement stalled, his unleashed energy suppressed in an instant.

The Immortal Spear moved like a tempest, slicing through the air in a storm of wind blades.

The spear and blade collided—

CLANG!

Shi Yuan's blade was forced aside.

The spear tip, gleaming with deadly energy, pierced straight toward his forehead—

"Shi Yuan!"

Shi Lei and the others cried out in horror.