frёewebηovel.cѳm
The stone pillar rose into the heavens, and it was covered with the marks of countless years.
A run-down Daoist altar stood in front of it. It was shaped like a lotus, but half of it had collapsed. The stones were pitch black and smeared with chunks of dried blood.
Several dozen figures stood not far away, split into different camps.
The leaders of these camps were the unrivaled Immortal Lords, the most eye-catching figures of this Divine Hunt, like Gong Nanfeng and Cen Baili of the Church of the Pure One, or Weng Changfeng and Fei Zhen of the Church of Supreme Oneness.
Zhuo Yun of Lotus Temple was there, too.
The groups were scattered throughout the surrounding area. All of them stared each other down, and the air was rife with tension.
“Everyone, frittering away time like this isn’t a solution. Why not work together to investigate the altar’s secrets and open the entrance to the hidden realm from the Primeval Era? We can hunt for good fortune inside together. Wouldn’t that be much better?” Zhuo Yun said with the countenance of a Buddhist statue and a warm, friendly voice.
“Cooperate? Hah! You’re dreaming,” Weng Changfeng said with a cold laugh. “If we cooperate, we’ll still have to determine a victor after we enter the hidden realm. Given that that’s the case, we might as well just duke it out now!”
He was tall and stalwart, dressed in imperial robes, with cold, handsome features. He gripped a glittering golden battle axe, and his aura connected heaven and earth.
Weng Changfeng was unquestionably the most dazzling Immortal Lord of the Church of Supreme Oneness. There was no one else like him!
“We don’t even know what’s inside the hidden realm from the Primeval Era,” Gong Nanfeng said calmly. “Wouldn’t fighting and killing now be a bit counterproductive?”
He was dressed in Daoist robes, with a face like cut jade. He had a sword case on his back and an extraordinary air about him.
Before the Divine Hunt even began, numerous Immortal Kings thought highly of him. They thought he was the most likely candidate to take first in the Divine Hunt!
“Gong Nanfeng, if you’re afraid, you’re welcome to just leave,” said Weng Changfeng.
“Afraid?” Gong Nanfeng’s gaze was bright and clear. An overflowing, forceful aura silently surged around him. “If we fight amongst ourselves, I can say with certainty that I won’t be the one disqualified!”
The atmosphere was stifled and tense. The air itself seemed like it was about to freeze solid.
Each unrivaled Immortal Lord was more prideful than the last. They were elites among elites. Who among them didn’t know that a chaotic battle would only hurt them all?
But no one planned to back down, either. All of them wanted to be the first to enter the hidden realm from the Primeval Era.
And all of them knew that no matter who attempted to be the first to investigate the altar’s secrets, everyone else would attack en masse!
After Gong Nanfeng and the others made their positions clear, who’d be reckless enough to risk it?
This was what led to the current stalemate.
“So are we just going to stare each other down until time runs out?” Zhuo Yun said with exasperation.
“As I said, we have to set a rule first, then determine a victor,” said Wen Changfeng. “That way, we can avoid unnecessary bloodshed, and this problem will resolve itself with ease.”
Here, he laughed with cold disdain, “But it’s obvious that many of you hope to go fishing in troubled waters. You’re too afraid to accept such a duel!”
Several of the Immortal Lords looked ill at ease, but it was indeed just as Wen Changfeng said. They knew they’d be no match for Weng Changfeng in a one-on-one duel. How could they possibly agree to his terms?
Never mind the others. Zhuo Yun was staunchly opposed to the idea.
He was from Lotus Temple, but he was their only representative in the Divine Hunt. He wasn’t like the other top Immortal Lords, who’d all brought several assistants.
It would be best for him if everyone set aside their biases and agreed to work together.
Alas, all of them had their own considerations. This made it difficult to break the stalemate.
“It’d be great if someone showed up to break this stalemate,” sighed Zhuo Yun.
Why were they at an impasse? The fundamental issue was that the difference in strength was minimal, so no one dared to recklessly break their stalemate. If they did, the others were sure to surround them.
The crowd heard Zhuo Yun’s sigh, but they ignored it. No one would act unless they had the confidence and ability to do so. Even Gong Nanfeng, an unrivaled Immortal Lord, had no choice but to step back, let alone the others!
Suddenly, a calm voice suddenly resounded from afar. “What a coincidence! I came here with exactly that intention. Allow me.”
The gathered Immortal Lords looked over in astonishment and saw two figures approaching from afar, a man and a woman.
These were none other than Su Yi and Tang Yuyan.
“Shen Mu! You really did show up!” someone exclaimed.
Fei Zhen stood next to Weng Changfeng and hurriedly explained, “Daoist Brother, that’s the Shen Mu who crushed six unrivaled Immortal Lords at Torn Space Mountain and seized a beast skin we suspect is a Great Realm treasure!”
The crowd was in uproar, and their gazes silently shifted.
It had been two days since the showdown at Torn Space Mountain. Word of the incident had long since reached their ears. All of them knew that an extraordinary, ruthless hidden expert had appeared in this Divine Hunt!
“Amitabha! So, it’s you, Daoist Brother Shen.” Zhuo Yun lit up with delight, inclined his head, and took the initiative to clasp his palms in greeting. “Daoist Brother Shen, if you can resolve the situation here, the whole world will share tales of your glorious feat!”
“That so?” Weng Changfeng said icily. “He’s just one person. I refuse to believe he can overcome all of us!”
He’d just proclaimed everyone here a part of his camp to threaten Su Yi. Fortunately for him, many of them had long since planned to do just that.
“That’s right. Anyone who wants to enter the hidden realm from the Primeval Era first must first see if we agree!”
“Overpowering six unrivaled Immortal Lords was indeed an impressive accomplishment, but if you think that means you can turn the tables here, you’re dreaming!”
…It was obvious that these unrivaled Immortal Lords were cautious of Su Yi. But no matter how cautious they were, they wouldn’t back down. Instead, they chose to join forces and point their spears at Su Yi.
Su Yi just smiled. He couldn’t be bothered to argue. He just walked on over and told Tang Yuyan to wait off to the side.
His gaze swept across the group. “I have no time for nonsense. If you aren’t convinced, you’re welcome to fight me.”
His tone was casual yet domineering.
Some of the unrivaled Immortal Lords furrowed their brows. Where does Shen Mu get the confidence to declare war against so many of us?
Gong Nanfeng suddenly asked, “Did you really get your hands on a Great Realm treasure?”
This question immediately piqued the others’ curiosity.
Su Yi glanced at Gong Nanfeng and said, “Defeat me, and I’ll tell you.”
Gong Nanfeng’s brow furrowed as he realized that Shen Mu was far more overbearing than he’d expected! But this only made the Immortal Lords increasingly cautious of him. After all, this was someone who’d defeated six unrivaled Immortal Lords at once. Who’d dare to underestimate him?
Tang Yuyan saw it all. She couldn’t help but be impressed by Su Yi’s courage and bearing. She sighed to herself, In the outside world, who here isn’t a dazzling genius even Immortal Kings think highly of?
People like Gong Nanfeng and Weng Changfeng are even favorites to take first place in this Divine Hunt.
But now, Shen Mu has completely outshone them all!
“My, so there’s no one here up to the task?” asked Su Yi. His voice was tinged with disappointment.
Much of the crowd felt uncomfortable, and before long, one of the unrivaled Immortal Lords barked, “Shen Mu, don’t act like we’re not even here! Do you really think we’re just here for decoration?”
This was Yu Linfeng, the unrivaled Immortal Lord of Yellow Court Demon Mountain. His status was beneath the unrivaled Immortal Lords of top factions, but he was still incredibly strong.
Otherwise, the others would never have taken him for a fellow unrivaled Immortal Lord.
Whoosh!
Su Yi disappeared on the spot, only to appear before Yu Linfeng a moment later, palm swinging.
His movements were casual and understated. Yu Linfeng didn’t panic. He’d been prepared before he even spoke, so when Su Yi attacked, he was ready to strike back with his full strength.
Boom!
Layer after layer of dazzling, blood-red ring surged around him. There were nine in total, and they formed nine overlapping blood-red barriers, each like a world in its own right.
The Nine Domains Magic Barrier!
This was the supreme secret art Yu Linfeng kept in reserve. When used, it could defend against any Immortal-Lord-level attack. It was all but indestructible.
At the same time, he readied a punch. His vital energy rumbled and boomed as he launched a ruthless attack.
He was attacking and defending at the same time!
But his reaction speed was the most impressive of all. He attacked with great skill. Many of those around him couldn’t help but see him in a new light.
But a moment later, their expressions froze in place.
Su Yi’s casual, understated palm strike hit its mark with a bang, shattering a ringlike blood-red barrier as if it were made of paper window paneling.
His palm continued, breaking barrier after barrier with a rapid-fire series of explosions, like the beating of a drum. Blood-red light scattered.
In the end, Yu Linfeng had only just barely thrown his punch when his supreme defensive art, the Nine Domains Magic Barrier, was crushed to pulp.
The palm strike sent him flying on impact.
Bang!
The defensive treasure covering his chest caved in, and blood spurted from his mouth and nose. He flew several hundred feet away before crashing into the dirt, looking utterly wretched.
One strike, and “Shen Mu” defeated the unrivaled Immortal Lord Yu Linfeng!
And with such ease that it seemed little different from swatting a fly.
This scene stunned everyone present. Everyone was stunned, and everyone looked stricken.
So strong!
He attacked without a word, and it took but an instant. He crushed Yu Linfeng’s strongest defensive technique and defeated him with ease!
This was simply far too terrifying!
Earlier, they were somewhat suspicious of tales that Su Yi single-handedly defeated six top Immortal Lords, but now, all their doubts vanished in a puff of smoke. When they looked at Su Yi, all of them were solemn.
Even Gong Nanfeng, Wen Changfeng, and the other top contenders’ hearts shook!
Su Yi clapped his hands. “If anyone still isn’t convinced, you’re welcome to step forth now.”
A moment later he surveyed the group and said, “By the way, in order to avoid wasting any more time, I strongly suggest that you attack together.”