Chapter 227: Expedition
Ning Qi calmly accepted this bow.
In today’s battle, he had indeed played a crucial role. If not for him fighting one against three and slaying Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint and the other two entirely, the Martial World would likely have already welcomed doomsday, and all the Martial Saints present would have perished.
Such a great kindness was a life-saving grace.
All Saints understood this very well in their hearts, so the looks they directed at Ning Qi were filled with gratitude.
As for Dragon Mountain Daoist and the others, the looks they directed at Ning Qi were entirely proud, especially Dragon Mountain Daoist. In a daze, it was as if he had returned to the sea of fire more than a decade ago. He dared not imagine what virtue or ability he possessed to have taken such a stunningly talented disciple.
“Fellow Daoists, please rise.” Ning Qi said calmly.
He scanned the congregation.
Compared to when they arrived, there were already more than thirty fewer, all of them traitors.
It was somewhat unimaginable that nearly thirty percent of the entire Martial World’s Martial Saints had chosen to defect to the Mountain Sea Realm, and even three at the peak of the Martial World, Half-step Divine Ability Realm experts, had chosen to betray them. If not for Ning Qi’s sudden rise, the Martial World’s fate would have been sealed.
Even so.
The Martial World had suffered heavy losses.
With many traitors slain, top-tier combat power had been decimated. If not for the battle ending quickly, with Gui Changqing and Great Yan Martial Saint rushing to provide support, there would have been few casualties among ordinary Martial Saints, only some heavily injured, but the losses would have been even more severe.
At this moment.
All Saints gradually withdrew from the joy of victory, bewilderment rising in their eyes.
Nearly half of the Martial World’s top-tier combat power was gone, and the Mountain Sea Realm had already begun its layout. They would likely invade soon. What would the future hold?
Great Yan Martial Saint was also filled with sorrow.
Sighs rose one after another, full of worry.
Especially the Ancient Saints, who felt utter frustration. They had schemed for ten thousand years, using various secret techniques to cling to life into the present, even changing into something unlike their former selves, yet they never expected to end up like this.
Today’s Martial World Will Baptism had only just proceeded halfway, meaning only some low-realm Martial Saints had broken through, while those Fourth Realm and Fifth Realm Martial Saints had yet to break through.
This was another heavy blow to everyone’s souls.
But Ning Qi’s emotions showed no great fluctuation.
He had long prepared himself mentally. Although the current situation was somewhat worse than he had imagined, it was still within his acceptable range.
He had never placed his hopes on others to begin with.
This early contact with the World Will was not entirely without benefits. At least, after receiving the World Will Baptism, Ning Qi had thoroughly perfected the Realm Lord Realm.
In other words.
He could now attempt to fuse with the World Will!
Seeing the congregation dejected.
Ning Qi said nothing more, merely swinging the sword in his hand. Sword lights flashed one after another, and the Spiritual Chains binding the World Will shattered with a boom.
The next moment.
The World Will blazed with light!
It had always been bound, unable even to break free upon sensing crisis. Now, freed at last, it immediately surged violently.
The Martial Saints’ attention was all drawn, followed by some horror.
Before, they had awakened the World Will together with the traitors for the baptism. Moments ago, the traitors had suddenly erupted, binding the World Will to heavily wound or destroy it. If the World Will now couldn’t distinguish friend from foe and acted on instinct, treating them as enemies.
That would be adding frost to snow.
With this thought, the Martial Saints grew even more panicked.
The World Will’s power surged, beams of domineering Spiritual Power lashing out in all directions amid its fury.
Fortunately.
A beam of Five-Colored Sword Qi slashed toward the sky, severing these beams mid-air. Blood-colored Thunder was drawn by Ning Qi, forming a barrier that separated the congregation from the World Will.
Seeing the World Will’s indiscriminate attacks, bitterness tugged at everyone’s lips.
Great Yan Martial Saint said with a heavy heart:
“The World Will only has instinct and probably can’t distinguish good from bad for a while. It’s afraid we can’t soothe it in the short term. For now, we can only withdraw temporarily and return once the World Will has calmed.”
All Saints nodded slowly, but all knew things would be even harder afterward.
With the Mountain Sea Realm invasion imminent, every minute and second was precious. No one knew when the World Will would fully calm, or if it would continue the baptism afterward. Everything was unknown.
All Saints felt dejected.
They subconsciously looked toward Ning Qi.
Ning Qi was now the strongest in the Martial World, naturally holding the highest authority. Moreover, some observant ones noticed that Ning Qi’s expression hadn’t changed much from beginning to end. Even Great Yan Martial Saint had lost much confidence, yet he remained steadfast.
Gradually, gazes all fell on Ning Qi.
Great Yan Martial Saint couldn’t help but say:
“Heavenly Sword Fellow Daoist, do you have any other methods?”
Ning Qi scanned the congregation and said faintly:
“I have a method that we can try.”
All Saints fell silent, hope gradually rising in their eyes.
…
Mountain Sea Realm.
Vast sky and endless land, boundless expanse, half mountains and half seas, hence its name.
Immortal Mountains stretched continuously, brimming with heavenly treasures, countless exotic beasts, vast Spirit Seas containing all things, and bottomless deep seas.
Black Demon Mountain.
Demonic aura like clouds stretched to the horizon, various anomalies rising, making it daunting even from afar, with powerful auras faintly appearing within.
This was the foundation site of the Black Demon Sect.
But at this moment.
A furious roar shot straight to the clouds. A massive Black Skeleton bellowed, spewing Black Flame. This aura made countless Black Demon Sect disciples tremble.
“Who has provoked Black Flame True Lord into such rage?”
Various guesses surged in their minds. Watching the massive Black Skeleton roar and recklessly unleash power, most disciples didn’t dare breathe, their eyes filled with longing.
What was a True Monarch?
In the Spirit Realm, only Nascent Soul Realm cultivators qualified as True Monarchs. Upon entering Nascent Soul Realm, one could enjoy a lifespan of thirty thousand years, and even send out the Nascent Soul to control Earth, Wind, Water, Fire and various supernatural powers. Even in the Spirit Realm, they were formidable cultivators.
Having stepped into the third of the Four Steps to Ascension, especially with a Nascent Soul, one could seize bodies to live a second life, not easily perishing.
Amid the disciples’ guesses.
At the back mountain’s Sky-Scraping Cliff.
Black Flame True Lord, in black robes, gazed coldly, still not recovered from the provocation by that lower realm ant.
” Mere lower realm native, an ant-like thing, yet daring to be so presumptuous. Once we breach your world, this seat will extract your spirit and suppress it at Sky-Scraping Cliff for ten thousand years, tormented by Black Flame daily!”
He felt his dignity greatly challenged.
A coquettish laugh sounded:
“Senior Brother Black Flame, why get so angry? Little Sister has long said that World Number Jiazi 1673 is not that simple. Back then, Golden Spirit Sect was so powerful, a major sect in the Northern Xuan Region.”
“But what was the result? They attacked, yet their entire force was lost there. Not only did they fail to receive rewards from the Mountain Sea Realm Will, they lost many Heavenly Prides and experts, their foundation greatly diminished. In just a few millennia, they declined, giving our Black Demon Sect the opportunity to swallow them in one go!”
“With this precedent, we must beware. Senior Brother, don’t rush these small moves for great merit. Better wait until Sect Leader Senior Brother completes the World Channel, then crush them openly!”
A voluptuous woman in purple robes approached gracefully, her attire somewhat revealing and seductive. Though her words advised, her eyes held schadenfreude.
“Purple Cloud, are you mocking me?” Black Flame True Lord stared coldly, a terrifying sense of oppression descending.
Purple Cloud True Lord patted her chest, saying coquettishly:
“What are you saying, Senior Brother? Little Sister is just kindly reminding you. After all, this information came from Golden Spirit Sect’s secret vault—we can’t fake it.”
“If I recall correctly, Golden Spirit Sect sent ten thousand Mana Realm Inner Disciples, plus many Purple Mansion Realm True Disciples who temporarily suppressed their cultivation using methods, and carried many secret treasures.”
“Golden Spirit Sect had destroyed several small worlds, yet they capsized here.”
Black Flame True Lord snorted coldly, then said gravely:
“This seat naturally knows. The reason was that World Number Jiazi 1673’s World Will awakened back then. Now we have countermeasures, so we won’t repeat Golden Spirit Sect’s mistake. That small World Will destroyed the World Channel back then and suffered heavy damage itself. After so many years, it might have perished entirely.”
“Moreover, Little Sister seems to have forgotten: Golden Spirit Sect was powerful, but is our Black Demon Sect weak? We fully absorbed their foundation—even peak Golden Spirit Sect is no match for us!”
“This time, Sect Leader Senior Brother said to go all out to take World Number Jiazi That way, the Mountain Sea Realm Will’s baptism can at least let our Black Demon Sect birth one or even two Void Dao Realm Great Powers! Then, our Black Demon Sect can become an Upper Sect in the Northern Xuan Region!”
His eyes burned with fervor and expectation.
Purple Cloud True Lord grinned:
“So that’s why Senior Brother laid out early—to use this to step into Void Dao Realm and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Sect Leader Senior Brother?”
Black Flame True Lord’s expression changed as he shouted:
“Purple Cloud, don’t spout nonsense! My loyalty to Sect Leader Senior Brother is witnessed by the Mountain Sea—absolutely no second thoughts. This layout was just to probe World Number Jiazi 1673 early, to avoid surprises later.”
“Besides, this seat didn’t come away empty-handed. With internal strife in World Number Jiazi 1673, half their top-tier combat power is gone. When we expedition, it will be effortless to suppress them!”
Purple Cloud True Lord toyed with her hem, smiling carelessly:
“I’m afraid Sect Leader Senior Brother won’t believe you. If you don’t explain clearly, Senior Brother, you might be in trouble~~”
Black Flame True Lord gave her a cold glance:
“For this expedition, I will send my Nascent Soul to join, proving my loyalty to Senior Brother!”
His words fell.
Purple Cloud True Lord, who had been smirking, paled dramatically. She looked at Black Flame True Lord incredulously, as if he had gone mad.
Though Nascent Soul Realm allowed leaving the body, it was rarely done due to the immense risk. Once inside a small world, power would be suppressed, at best allowing the Nascent Soul’s special traits to burst beyond Mana Realm combat power. One mishap in an emergency could mean instant death.
If the Nascent Soul perished, there would be no second chance, not even reincarnation.
This was tantamount to staking his life on the front lines.
She gazed deeply at Black Flame True Lord, then bowed respectfully:
“It was Purple Cloud who misunderstood Senior Brother—please forgive me!”
Black Flame True Lord merely waved coldly.
But deep in his heart, there was some excitement.
He wasn’t truly loyal to the so-called Sect Leader Senior Brother. In truth, he yearned to replace him. The reason for this risk was that, when summoned by Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint earlier, he had noticed something.
“That small World Will hasn’t perished—instead, it’s recovered even stronger!”
“Something’s wrong, definitely wrong! I’ve studied much intelligence on World Number Jiazi Back then, its World Will was on the brink of extinction. To recover to this extent in ten thousand years, relying solely on a small world’s foundation is impossible!”
“There must be some mystery, perhaps an opportunity hidden within. If I obtain it, I might step into Void Dao Realm even without Mountain Sea Realm Will baptism—maybe even higher!”
“Then, I can truly become the master of Black Demon Sect!”
His heart burned with thick ambition.
This was not impossible.
Among the many small worlds invaded by the Mountain Sea Realm, such cases, though rare, existed.
Perhaps a naturally nurtured exotic treasure of the small world, or strange matter from the Sea of Realms falling in to form something, or a fallen Spirit Realm magnate’s remnant… all possibilities.
Black Flame True Lord believed World Number Jiazi 1673 was such a world.
As thoughts turned.
A deep, majestic demonic sound suddenly rang over Black Demon Sect:
“Black Demon Sect disciples, come pay homage!”
Almost instantly.
Everyone stopped what they were doing, gazes reverent toward the core land of Black Demon Mountain. They knew whose voice it was—the Black Demon Sect Sect Leader, Black Demon True Lord!
Black Demon True Lord was no ordinary True Monarch, already half a foot into Void Dao Realm.
Rumors said that even without Mountain Sea Realm Will baptism, he could become a Void Dao Great Power on his own—it was just a matter of time.
In an instant.
Above Black Demon Mountain, powerful figures soared into the sky, densely packed, endless at a glance.
Before Black Demon Cliff.
Black Flame True Lord and Purple Cloud True Lord had arrived, not daring the slightest delay.
The other numerous Elders and disciples also stopped before the cliff, arrayed orderly by strength.
Mana Realm Inner Disciples, Purple Mansion Realm True Disciples, Nascent Soul Realm Elders—no one dared slack. As for weaker Outer Disciples and servant disciples, they didn’t come—not out of disrespect, but because they lacked the qualification to be Black Demon Sect disciples.
A supremely robust figure stepped forward slowly. Clad in black-gold robes, his aura domineering and fierce, his eyes seemed to unleash torrential demonic qi with each blink.
Gazes all bowed respectfully.
Black Demon True Lord, hands behind his back, overlooked all beings:
“One month from now, fifty thousand Inner Disciples, three thousand True Disciples—expedition to World Number Jiazi 1673!”
The numerous disciples grew excited, roaring in unison:
“We obey Sect Leader’s decree!”
