Chapter 324: Submission
Ning Qi flicked his sleeve, and the smoke and dust rising from the ground below immediately dispersed.
Qi Baishou’s body, severed in two, lay among the dirt and stones. Even in his final moment, his wide eyes revealed an expression of utter disbelief.
He, as the commander of the Hundred Beasts Spirit Domain, had died so easily?
The two armies clashing not far away saw Ning Qi appear and instantly slay Peak Venerable Qi Baishou with a single strike. The vast majority of them couldn’t stop their hands from trembling.
Who exactly was this great god?
No Dao Integration Realm had emerged from the War Domain, yet such a fierce person existed?
Zhu Yanchuan, Qiu Dingbang, and Ma Shuangjue remained suspended in the high sky, staring dazedly at Ning Qi with expressions of complete astonishment.
When Qi Baishou had charged toward Ning Qi earlier, the three had felt some apprehension in their hearts, fearing that Ning Qi might not be as strong as they hoped.
But now, as their gazes fell on Qi Baishou’s corpse in the pit, utterly dead, their mouths twitched, unsure of what to say.
Ning Qi tossed the Node Bead he had seized from Qi Baishou, injecting power from his body into it.
Instantly, the Node Bead transformed into a purple star that shot straight into the sky, fixing itself onto the Realm Wall.
Soft purple light sprinkled down onto the ground, and the suppressed cultivation of all Mountain Sea Realm Cultivators present immediately recovered by thirty percent.
Everyone was shocked.
Meanwhile, the Hundred Beasts Spirit Domain army opposite them had their cultivation suppressed by thirty percent in reverse, panic appearing on every face.
“Qi Baishou ruined us!”
“That damned Qi Baishou—we were the ones who seized the Node Bead first, but now it’s been taken by the enemy Cultivators and activated. We’re all going to die here!”
“I curse his eighteen generations of ancestors…”
Rage surged in their hearts as they cursed Qi Baishou viciously!
But no matter how harshly they cursed, it changed nothing—Qi Baishou was dead, and under the Heavenly Star’s illumination, the strength of the two armies shifted dramatically. The previous gap had been completely evened out!
If the situation were merely this, the Hundred Beasts Spirit Domain Cultivators would still have the will to fight on.
But Ning Qi, hovering above their heads, could single-handedly block an entire domain’s army.
Ning Qi’s instant kill of Commander Qi Baishou had already planted the seed of invincibility in their hearts. His strength was unfathomable, filling them with despair.
Ning Qi looked down at the congregation below.
Purple light bathed his body, dyeing his white robes purple and adding a touch of mystery to him.
Zhu Yanchuan and the other two exchanged glances before immediately flying toward Ning Qi, stopping ten meters away.
Respect appeared on their faces as they bowed halfway at the waist, cupping their fists in a deep salute. “We juniors thank Senior for your assistance!”
Ning Qi nodded slightly. “Rise.”
Only then did the three stand up.
All three were renowned magnates of the Langya Domain, yet they didn’t dare look directly at Ning Qi, only stealing glances at him from the corners of their eyes.
Observing Ning Qi so closely, aside from his exceptionally handsome yet ordinary appearance, they sensed no aura fluctuations from him at all.
However, they discerned his age. After a quick calculation in their hearts, Ning Qi was absolutely no more than two hundred years old!
The three were utterly shocked by this calculated age!
They themselves averaged over ten thousand years of age, while Ning Qi was under two hundred—how could they not be astonished?
Yet in the path of cultivation, age didn’t matter—only strength did, with the stronger coming first.
Qiu Dingbang said, “May I ask, Senior, are you a Domain Lord?”
His mind was quick and knowledgeable. Combining all of Ning Qi’s information, he immediately asked.
Ning Qi smiled faintly. “Your knowledge is quite impressive.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yanchuan and Ma Shuangjue instantly understood— no wonder Ning Qi dared to act alone.
Ma Shuangjue said, “We wonder which domain’s Domain Lord Senior is?”
“I am the Xuanzhen Domain Lord.”
“Xuanzhen Domain?”
The three exchanged looks, seeing each other’s pupils trembling.
Though they were Langya Domain Cultivators, they knew much about the intelligence of nearby Spiritual Realms.
Earlier, they had guessed that Ning Qi was either from Fuyao Region or Baisha Domain, but they had never considered Xuanzhen Domain.
After all, Xuanzhen Domain had been split apart for hundreds of thousands of years. They had only heard rumors before the Spiritual Realm war began that Xuanzhen Domain had reemerged.
So upon hearing that Ning Qi came from Xuanzhen Domain, the three were extremely astonished.
Zhu Yanchuan also asked, “May we ask Senior’s name?”
“My name is Ning Qi, from the Boundless Sword Sect of Xuanzhen Domain!”
The three once again showed shock on their faces— Ning Qi wasn’t from an Immortal Sect?
Ning Qi paid no mind to their astonishment and said, “Though you don’t know me, I know all three of you.”
His gaze swept over them one by one, stating each person’s name.
Upon hearing this, their shock deepened, and they also felt quite embarrassed.
Compared to Ning Qi, whether in strength or intelligence, the gap was enormous, making them seem utterly incompetent.
Zhu Yanchuan said, “For we juniors to be known by Domain Lord Ning is truly our fortune of three lifetimes.”
Ma Shuangjue and Qiu Dingbang hurriedly echoed his words.
Ning Qi’s gaze dropped downward, where the two armies had resumed battle.
But now, the Langya Domain Army was pressing the Bai Shou Domain army.
The Bai Shou Domain Cultivators fought the enemy while occasionally glancing toward him, clearly afraid he would act.
Ning Qi’s demeanor fell into the eyes of Zhu Yanchuan and the other two. Seeing that Ning Qi seemed indifferent to them, the three didn’t take offense.
The three said in unison, “We three, representing the Langya Domain Army, make a Great Dao Oath: as long as Domain Lord Ning can save us, we will honor you as commander. Would Domain Lord Ning do us the honor of accepting the position of commander?”
Ning Qi’s gaze returned to their faces, teasing, “To make me act, you’re willing to swear an oath. But if I become commander, aren’t you afraid your sect’s seniors will blame you?”
The three shook their heads repeatedly.
Zhu Yanchuan said, “Currently, Mountain Sea Realm Cultivators have entered the War Domain to serve as the vanguard attacking Haoran Realm, seizing War Domain nodes first as a bridgehead for the main assault on Haoran Realm.”
“To be honest, our Spiritual Realms are relatively weak in the Mountain Sea Realm. Forget conquering territory— leading our own domain’s army to survive is already extremely difficult. So our goal is simply survival.”
“If Domain Lord Ning can lead us to survive, I think our sect seniors will accept it. Moreover, as a Domain Lord, Domain Lord Ning surpasses even ordinary Dao Integration Realm experts.”
His words were sincere, not feigned, and the other two nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, Ning Qi felt these three were more straightforward than Qi Ke Qing.
Their strategy was to survive first and foremost. As for the commander position, even if they wanted to reserve it for their Immortal Sect’s Dao Integration Realm Old Ancestors for autonomy, if the War Domain’s Dao Integration Realm experts hadn’t entered yet and they died, what use was the commander position then?
The three gazed at Ning Qi expectantly, truly wanting him to lead the Langya Domain Cultivators.
Moreover, the armies below were still battling. Though the Langya Domain Army had gained the upper hand, truly defeating the Bai Shou Domain Cultivators would take time and cost many lives.
If Ning Qi agreed to command the army and acted, they could win in an instant!
Faced with their expectant gazes, Ning Qi shook his head.
“Sorry, I’m not interested in commanding your army. I even gave the Xuanzhen Domain commander position to a sect senior.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yanchuan and the other two were stunned.
Only now did they realize that what they saw as a prestigious army commander position was nothing rare to Ning Qi.
The hearts they had just steadied plummeted like into a well, unsure how to keep Ning Qi.
Ning Qi said, “But rest assured— though I won’t be commander, I can point you to a clear path.”
The three immediately bowed their heads. “Please instruct us, Ning Senior!”
Ning Qi thought for a moment.
The Langya Domain Army wasn’t one he had personally led, so it couldn’t fully merge with the Xuanzhen Domain Army.
But now that Zhu Yanchuan and the other two were fully willing to follow his orders, Ning Qi was willing to take in the Langya Domain Army and have them do more for him.
With this in mind, Ning Qi said, “Here’s the plan: after taking down the Bai Shou Domain Army, first meet up with the Xuanzhen Domain Army, then go capture various nodes. Once you’ve taken all the nodes in this domain, I’ll lead you all to capture nodes in other War Domains!”
“What?”
Hearing Ning Qi’s ambitious words, the three’s hearts pounded wildly.
Their goal was merely survival—they hadn’t thought of capturing many nodes.
But Ning Qi told them not only to capture all nodes in this domain, but even to go capture those in other War Domains.
Such a goal was beyond their wildest dreams, leaving them shocked in place.
“Don’t you want to?” Ning Qi said calmly.
The three came back to their senses, bowing repeatedly with resolute tones. “We are willing!”
What a joke—if Ning Qi could truly achieve this, why wouldn’t they want to?
Everyone knew this War Domain was both extremely dangerous and an opportunity to grow stronger.
Relying on themselves, it would be immensely dangerous, with survival as the only goal.
But if there was a chance to grow stronger, the three would seize it desperately.
Ning Qi said, “Good. Then do as I say. I’ll first make the Mountain Sea Realm Will fully descend.”
“Yes!”
The three didn’t go help the army below. Now Ning Qi was to build an Altar, fully turning this place into territory under the Mountain Sea Realm Will’s command.
Then, the Langya Domain Army’s suppressed strength would fully recover, just like in the Mountain Sea Realm, and the scales of victory would tilt even more toward them.
So even if the three didn’t act, it was fine.
They stayed by Ning Qi’s side, wanting to see how he would do it.
Their Spiritual Realm, like Fuyao Region, had no Domain Lord like Ning Qi— only legends of them. So they still didn’t fully understand Ning Qi’s strength.
Moreover, this was a Large Node. By their cognition, even a full domain army would need to set formations and gather strength, taking considerable time, to fully summon the Mountain Sea Realm Will.
Ning Qi extended a giant hand of five-colored splendor and pressed it directly toward the ground below.
The ground immediately writhed, and in an instant, an Altar formed.
Everyone instantly felt the Boundary Sea Energy and Haoran Realm energy here rapidly surging toward the Altar.
In mere moments, a Star Beam descended from the Heavenly Star, connecting to the Earth Star. Energy yin-yang transformed within, and everyone felt a grand Will descend upon the scene!
“That’s it?”
Zhu Yanchuan and the other two looked at each other, their hearts filled with immense shock.
The situation of the battling armies below naturally shifted accordingly.
The Langya Domain Army’s strength increased further, their morale soaring like a rainbow.
The Bai Shou Domain Army’s strength was suppressed by another thirty percent, their faces turning ashen as retreat filled their hearts, fighting while fleeing.
The Mountain Sea Realm Will descended, delivering the reward for taking this node.
Similar to the previous Large Node Ning Qi had captured, he naturally accepted it with a smile.
Zhu Yanchuan and the other two didn’t mind— this node had been taken by Ning Qi, and their army’s reversal from defeat to victory was already thanks to him. Would they covet the Mountain Sea Realm Will’s reward?
That would be like an old man eating arsenic— tired of living!
Ning Qi accepted the Mountain Sea Realm reward, then took out an item and sent it toward the three.
“This is the Soul Seeking Node Disc, which can detect node positions. I’ve marked the Xuanzhen Domain Army’s location for you. After fully dealing with the Bai Shou Domain Cultivators, go find them first.”
The three responded, “Yes!”
Gazing at the small Compass floating before them, surprise appeared in their eyes.
They never expected Ning Qi not only to be powerful but also to have such a thing, giving them more confidence in his earlier mention of capturing other War Domains.
With this Compass in hand, they could surely swiftly take the nodes in this War Domain.
Of course, the Soul Seeking Node Disc Ning Qi gave them was the same basic version as Qi Ke Qing’s, able only to detect one node position.
The one given to Sword Ancestor could detect their two armies’ positions and the nodes they were heading to.
Afterward, Ning Qi gave the three some more instructions before crossing space and vanishing.
The three watched Ning Qi disappear without a trace. If not for the Langya Domain Army below sounding the victory horns, they would all feel it somewhat unreal.
Ning Qi was like a savior, arriving quietly and leaving gracefully, untouched by the mundane.
Qiu Dingbang held the Compass Ning Qi had given him. As a Formation Master, joy overflowed on his face, ecstatic.
“This Compass from Ning Senior is truly marvelous!”
Ning Qi had marked the Xuanzhen Domain Army’s position on it, but once they met the Xuanzhen Domain Army, that function would vanish.
This was also for the Xuanzhen Domain Army’s safety— Ning Qi would use the Langya Domain Army but not fully trust them.
Zhu Yanchuan and the other two examined it for a moment.
Zhu Yanchuan said, “I think we should quickly finish off the Bai Shou Domain Cultivators and go rendezvous with the Xuanzhen Domain Army first.”
Ma Shuangjue and Qiu Dingbang nodded, and the three then descended from the void to join the battle.
Having witnessed Ning Qi’s series of methods firsthand, they dared not disobey.
Even if they did, Qiu Dingbang would stop them. He hadn’t told the others that this Compass likely had a tracking function, allowing Domain Lord Ning to monitor their movements at all times.
What they didn’t know was that among their army, there were also quite a few True Martial Realm reincarnated Cultivators, absolutely loyal to Ning Qi— which was why he left with peace of mind.
…
Si Kong Lan led the Qingxuan Immortal Sect and armies from several other sects, stationed at that strange place.
Sima Fei, skilled in scouting terrain, became extremely excited upon arriving here.
The congregation also began planning based on his ideas: how to lure Ning Qi here, then how to slaughter him.
When talking excitedly, everyone gesticulated wildly, thrilled.
Si Kong Lan said, “If we can truly deal with Ning Qi here, Old Ancestor will surely be very pleased— it would resolve a worry for him!”
He looked toward the pondering Sima Fei and added, “But Mr. Sima, how exactly should we deal with Ning Qi? That kid’s strength is no joke, and he’s extremely skilled at Stealth— truly a headache!”
Sima Fei said, “Haha, the solution lies entirely in this terrain. The two Realm Wills can hardly invade here, and the baleful energy is astonishing. I’ve already transformed this place into a perfect killing formation.”
Si Kong Lan immediately said joyfully, “Then we’ll rely fully on Mr. Sima afterward!”
“Easy, easy!”
Sima Fei added, “But just dealing with Ning Qi would be too wasteful. If we can also take out Qi Ke Qing, then Fuyao Region will be ours from now on.”
Si Kong Lan said, “Of course it’s best if we can get both— just depends on who arrives first!”
Sima Fei nodded, then suddenly formed hand seals.
Instantly, energy scattered here, and the originally extremely hidden territory revealed itself in the War Domain. The Node Bead emitted soft white light.
At this moment, Qi Ke Qing and the others, who had just captured a node, saw this node appear on their Soul Seeking Node Disc and immediately led the army rushing in that direction.
