Inside the ancient cavern, the environment had devolved into a living hell. The azure lightning crackling from Yang Kai Long's eyes illuminated the pitch-black passage in rhythmic, violent flashes. His Thunder Dragon Veins pulsed with such intensity that the surrounding bedrock trembled, as if the mountain itself feared his wrath.
Hidden in the shadows, the spy from the Blood Coffin Sect realized his Demonic Qi had been exposed; concealment was no longer an option. As Yang Kai Long's voice—a harbinger of death—thundered through the canyon, the spy's terror reached its zenith. However, he was no novice. He had spent his entire life in brutal cultivation to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage; on this continent, he was considered a seasoned predator.
"If I must die... I shall not kneel so easily!" The demon within the spy awakened. He straightened his spine and, in one desperate burst, squeezed every ounce of energy from his Foundation Establishment core.
Deep, black, and crimson mist—resembling coagulated, poisoned blood—erupted from his meridians. Invoking the most guarded and ancient protective technique of his sect, he shrieked:
"Blood Coffin Shield... Awaken!"
In a heartbeat, not one, but three layers of massive, terrifying, iron-hard Blood Shields materialized before him. The surfaces of these shields were etched with the faces of thousands of tormented souls, screaming in eternal agony. Forged with the full power of a Foundation Establishment expert, these shields were capable of absorbing the mightiest strikes of any ordinary cultivator. The spy gritted his teeth, hoping this impenetrable carapace would grant him the singular opening needed to flee Yang Kai Long's wrath.
But in Yang Kai Long's eyes, this effort was a farce. To a warrior who had just shattered five Golden Core guardians like brittle glass, this Foundation Establishment defense was thinner than paper.
"Vermin... your pathetic tricks have no value before me," Yang Kai Long remarked, his tone ice-cold and utterly indifferent.
He did not even fully unsheathe his blade; he merely flicked his wrist. The White Dragon Martial Soul floating behind him emitted a deafening roar. In the next heartbeat, a concentrated bolt of azure and violet lightning, shaped like a miniature Thunder Dragon, erupted from the tip of his sword. It was small in size, but its energy density was so compressed that it tore through the air like a divine judgment.
The First Collision: As the lightning dragon struck the first Blood Shield, a shrill, shattering sound echoed through the cavern. The shield, the spy's ultimate pride, disintegrated into floating shards in a fraction of a second.
The Second and Third Destruction: The dragon's momentum did not falter. It pierced the second and third shields as if they were dry grass. The spy's Foundation Establishment defense, his pride, and his centuries of demonic cultivation collapsed like a house of cards before the Thunder Dragon.
"No! This power... it is not ordinary—!" The spy's final, terrified scream was cut short.
The azure thunder dragon pierced straight through his chest. Millions of volts of pure lightning energy incinerated his flesh, bones, meridians, and cultivation core within a millisecond. There was no grand explosion—only the sharp crackle of electricity. The ruthless spy was reduced to a small pile of ash, with nothing but the black smoke of charred bones lingering in the air.
Wang Ling narrowed her eyes at the ash. There was no surprise on her face, only a profound sense of satisfaction. For someone who could crush five Golden Core warriors like toys, sweeping away this Foundation Establishment trash was nothing more than a blink of an eye.
Meanwhile, in a completely different, darker, and labyrinthine section of the Secret Domain, a full unit of the Blood Coffin Sect lay in ambush. They had not come merely to plunder external treasures; they were on a grand, clandestine mission.
Leading this covert squad was the Blood Coffin Sect's Chief Elder—a man with a face like withered parchment, radiating a malevolence that curdled the air. Clutched in his dried, black hand was a small Soul Slip made of blood-essence. It belonged to the spy he had sent to trail Yang Kai Long and the Sanmiao City caravan.
Suddenly, the Soul Slip cracked with a sharp, piercing sound. Its crimson light vanished, transforming into black ash that trickled from the Elder's palm. This was the unmistakable sign that the spy's soul had been extinguished with absolute brutality.
The junior disciples standing around him turned pale, their bodies trembling as they fell to their knees. They feared that their cruel Elder, enraged by the death of his skilled spy, would sacrifice them on the spot. A horrifying silence gripped the squad.
But the Elder's reaction shattered their expectations.
He did not roar in anger, nor did he strike anyone. Instead, a twisted, terrifying, and deeply ecstatic smile spread across his withered lips. Then, his chilling, maniacal laughter echoed through the desolate corridor.
"Hahahaha! Marvelous! Truly, truly marvelous! That worm has finally been crushed!"
He began to dance with joy, slapping his knees in a fit of lunacy. The disciples stared, utterly bewildered. They could not comprehend why their cruel leader was rejoicing over the death of such an important asset.
The Elder's blood-red eyes flashed as he looked at his trembling disciples. His voice was laced with a strange, fervent greed. He spoke in a heavy, commanding tone:
"You fools think I mourn the death of a mere pawn? No! That spy was but bait, sent to gauge the boy's true strength and his immediate reactions! And look at the results... a Foundation Establishment cultivator, armed with the sect's strongest defensive shields, could not last a single second before that boy! His shields crumbled like autumn leaves!"
The Elder paced back and forth, his hunger to possess Yang Kai Long's body growing ravenous. He shouted to his subordinates:
"That boy, in his youth, has already pulverized five Golden Core guardians and turned my spy into ash without breaking a sweat. His Blue Dragon Body, those Thunder veins, and the White Dragon Martial Soul hovering behind him... this is the rarest treasure to appear on this Tianxia Continent in centuries!"
He clenched his fingers in the air, his tone becoming cruelly diplomatic:
"This is exactly why! It is solely for this limitlessly potential-filled physique that I must have him! I do not wish to destroy him; I want him captured alive within this Secret Domain. I will crush his consciousness, bind his soul with my most terrifying 'Demonic Seal,' and forge him into my most loyal, most powerful, and invincible slave! Just imagine—when a warrior with such majestic dragon powers dances as my Blood Puppet, who on this continent will dare to challenge the Blood Coffin Sect? We shall become immortal!"
When the disciples heard their Elder's grand, destructive ambition, they bowed in subservience to his genius. Their fear transmuted into fervent excitement. They chanted in unison, "The Elder's strategy is invincible! We shall not rest until we enslave that boy!"
The Elder silenced his laughter, a cold, lethal glint in his eyes. He understood that the game was now fully under his control, and soon, Yang Kai Long's divine body would be the most exquisite slave in his dark empire.
As Ye Fang and Wang Mei stepped through the massive golden doors, they were greeted by an unimaginable sight. This was no ordinary room, but an ancient, infinite, and magnificent Central Chamber. The ceiling was so high that crimson and golden clouds floated artificially beneath it. The walls were etched with carvings of ancient cultivators, all in postures of controlling fire elements. The Supreme Root within Ye Fang's body began to absorb the pure energy of the chamber, causing the golden-red luster of his Qi to deepen in intensity.
Wang Mei, her frost-sword lowered but held with absolute vigilance, moved forward. Her steps were silent, but her eyes swept over the boundless grandeur. Both were prepared for any potential ambush or ancient trap.
Suddenly, as they neared the massive Central Altar, the ancient mist floating in the center of the hall began to dissipate. As the mist cleared, Ye Fang and Wang Mei stopped dead in their tracks. On the massive stone dais before them, figures were already standing.
As Ye Fang's sharp gaze darted toward them, a flicker of surprise crossed his face. They were not enemies; it was the core members of their own caravan. There stood the Sanmiao City guards: Commander Zheng, Captain Luo, and the young geniuses Murong Yun and Shi Mao.
They stood completely unharmed. There was not a drop of blood on their garments, nor the fatigue of battle on their faces. Seeing them safe and sound, Ye Fang exhaled a deep breath and stepped forward, asking directly:
"Did you face any trouble reaching this point? Were there any traps or Flame Soldiers on your path?"
Ye Fang's voice echoed through the silent chamber. His eyes remained guarded, as he himself had just obliterated fifteen powerful soldiers to arrive here.
Hearing this, Commander Zheng immediately stepped forward and clasped his hands in profound respect. There was no fear of calamity on his face, only an eerie sense of peace and relief. He replied with a smile:
"No, Young Master Ye Fang! We did not face the slightest difficulty. To be honest, there were no obstacles on our path."
Ye Fang's brows furrowed. He scanned Captain Luo and the two youths. Commander Zheng proceeded to reveal the mystery:
"As soon as we moved forward from the split-path, a sacred and brilliant Flame Spirit appeared before us. It was a small, floating phantom composed entirely of pure fire energy. Instead of attacking us, it began to show us the way. It led us ahead, activating the safest routes through the entire labyrinth, and guided us directly to this Central Chamber without a single detour. As for Murong Yun and Shi Mao, they met up with us at the perfect time, also guided by the same Flame Spirit."
Murong Yun and Shi Mao nodded in agreement. Their faces radiated relief at finding such a massive, safe sanctuary within this dangerous Secret Domain without a struggle.
Ye Fang stood frozen, lost in deep contemplation. His sharp mind felt uneasy accepting the logic of this cultivation world. He scanned their physical states once more, top to bottom, and asked in a stern voice:
"Are you certain you did not get lost in any labyrinth? Did the ancient path not shift its structure to deceive you? For the history of this Secret Domain dictates that death lurks at every step."
Captain Luo stepped forward, speaking with absolute conviction: "Young Master Ye Fang, it may sound unbelievable, but it is one hundred percent true. We simply followed the Flame Spirit. The path cleared itself as if the entire place had been prepared for our arrival. We did not receive even a single scratch."
Ye Fang began to analyze internally: 'How is this possible? My path and Wang Mei's were guarded by fifteen powerful Flame Soldiers who exerted their full strength to stop us. If this trial was meant to be the same for everyone, why did they receive such an effortless path? Is the law of this Secret Domain shifting based on an individual's cultivation realm and inner potential? Or... is there another, hidden ancient consciousness at work behind all of this?'
Ye Fang calmed his thoughts, a faint smile gracing his lips as he addressed the group. "Well... if that is the case, it is excellent news. The gathering of our main force without loss only strengthens our expedition."
Before his words could even fade into the air, a chilling and unsettling aura surged from Wang Mei, who stood beside him. The color drained from her face, and her eyes darted across the chamber, counting the present members. Her voice, laced with frantic alarm, pierced the silence:
"Stop! Something is terribly wrong! My little sister, Wang Ling... she is not here! And Yang Kai Long has not arrived either!"
The atmosphere in the central chamber shifted instantly from relief to dread. Commander Zheng and Captain Luo's smiles vanished.
The frost-sword in Wang Mei's hand glowed with a sharper, erratic light, fueled by her internal panic. She knew her sister was talented, but against the limitless perils of this Secret Domain, she was still vulnerable. Even with Yang Kai Long—the Holy Son of the Long Tian Sect—by her side, their absence signaled a catastrophe.
Wang Mei's voice had barely echoed when the very fabric of the Secret Domain shuddered. A cataclysmic blast erupted, as if the heavens themselves had shattered and collapsed upon the earth. The ancient stone walls of the central chamber groaned and cracked, and the red and golden clouds floating on the ceiling spiraled into a violent vortex.
Following the explosion, a boundless, oppressive, and terrifying Spiritual Pressure flooded the area. It was so dense and heavy that the cultivation bases of even seasoned warriors like Commander Zheng and Captain Luo trembled. Their Qi reserves felt as if they were freezing over, and the air turned so thick that every breath felt like inhaling iron mountains.
Ye Fang recognized the nature of this pressure instantly. It wasn't that of a stranger; it carried the violent, electric bite of the Long Tian Sect's Holy Son—Yang Kai Long.
But this was not Yang Kai Long's usual aura. Ye Fang squinted toward the corridor from which the pressure originated, his mind racing. 'How is this possible? Yang Kai Long has never displayed such hidden, peak-tier power before. Even when we met, or when he stood before other top disciples, his aura was never this destructive. He is not just fighting; he is engaged in the most brutal, desperate battle of his life!'
Within that oppressive pressure, there was a convergence of a dragon's roar and Celestial Lightning, tearing at the very foundations of the Secret Domain.
Wang Mei's face turned deathly pale. She clutched her frost-sword, her fingers trembling. "This... this is Yang Kai Long's aura! But why is it so violent and destructive? Have they fallen into an ancient trap where they are forced to gamble with their lives? My little sister is with him... she cannot withstand this pressure! We must reach them at once!"
Commander Zheng stabilized his stance against the crushing weight, his eyes filled with the grim concern of a soldier. "Young Master Ye Fang, this pressure is abnormal. To force a Holy Son to unleash his full consciousness and Martial Soul with such violence... it implies an enemy beyond our imagination. Is Yang Kai Long in mortal danger?"
Murong Yun and Shi Mao unsheathed their blades, visibly shaken by their senior brother's energy. "Brother Yang Kai Long never activates his 'Blue Dragon Body' and 'White Dragon Martial Soul' to this extent without a dire reason," Murong Yun stated urgently. "We must abandon this place! Our comrades' lives are worth far more than the treasures of this chamber!"
Ye Fang's expression hardened; the playfulness was gone, replaced by the steely resolve of a true leader. His Supreme Root hummed, vibrating in resonance with the distant, crackling energy.
"Abandon the altar!" Ye Fang commanded. "We can seek the treasures of this domain later, but if our force breaks here, we will never stand against the other sects of this continent. Focus all your Qi into your feet. We are heading to the second path immediately. We must see who dares to attack Yang Kai Long!"
Without wasting a single breath, Ye Fang bolted from the central chamber like a bolt of lightning. Wang Mei, Commander Zheng, Captain Luo, Murong Yun, and Shi Mao followed in his wake, moving like shadows.
Abandoning the opulent chamber, they sprinted toward the thunderous, cataclysmic corridor where Yang Kai Long's infinite energy was crying out like a harbinger of death.
As they reached the edge of the corridor, the veterans immediately summoned their Flying Swords. Seeing Ye Fang had no sword of his own, he leaped onto Wang Mei's frost-cold blade, standing directly behind her. Wang Mei channeled her Qi into the core of her sword, and they streaked through the air, piercing the gloom.
The wind lashed against their faces as the pressure of Yang Kai Long's azure lightning grew heavier. Standing behind Wang Mei, Ye Fang stared into the darkness, sinking into a deep, confusing mire of thought: 'If they were in such grave danger, why haven't they used the 'God Demon Rebirth Pill' I gave them? That pill could grant any cultivator limitless power. Or is the situation different? Is it possible that Yang Kai Long's sudden power surge... is actually linked to that pill?'
Just as his mind struggled to untangle this diplomatic riddle, he saw Wang Mei's shoulders trembling. Her face was gaunt with worry for her sister, and the sword's flight became erratic. Seeing this, Ye Fang leaned in, his voice deep and grave: "We must reach them faster. Increase your speed."
Wang Mei gritted her teeth, pouring her icy-cold Qi into the sword. Their velocity doubled, and they arrived at the edge of the bloody battlefield in an instant.
They were stunned by the sight. Dozens of ruthless Blood Coffin Sect cultivators surrounded the clearing. Terrifying, black coffins floated in the air, opening one by one to release vicious, iron-hard Puppets whose nails glittered like poisoned daggers.
In the center of the trap, Yang Kai Long roared like an unconquerable war god. His White Dragon Martial Soul was at its zenith, and he tore through the puppets with his thunder-sword. Yet, the fight was relentless; Blood Coffin Sect cultivators attacked from the shadows, giving him no respite.
Watching from Wang Mei's sword, Ye Fang's body went numb. He focused his consciousness inward, calling out to his system in panic: "System! Tell me! Did he use the pill? Is this power the result of the pill I gave him?"
The Little System's familiar, digital, and grave voice echoed in his mind: "No, Host. He has not used the God Demon Rebirth Pill at all. What you are witnessing is not the effect of any medicine; it is his own latent power."
Ye Fang's soul trembled. "Is... is this truly Yang Kai Long's true power? When he fought me in the Martial Arena, he didn't use even a fraction of this! Did his cultivation level breakthrough within this domain? Did he jump from Golden Core to Spiritual Ring?"
The System replied: "No, Host. He is still at the Golden Core stage; there has been no breakthrough. And here is something you must know: he is so powerful that he didn't even use his real strength in the arena that day. The truth is, he has three power suppression seals on his body. During your duel, all the seals were active, and he still fought you at only 50% of his capacity. Seeing the danger in this Secret Domain, he removed only one of the seals. He is currently fighting at his fully awakened power. And remember, Host—he still has two seals he hasn't even touched."
Ye Fang went rigid. The color drained entirely from his face, and a cold shiver raced down his spine. 'My God! What was I thinking? I thought I was the most powerful, unique, and special physique on this entire continent. I was arrogant, believing my peak Qi Refining power could rival Golden Core experts! But he has hidden talent and destructive power far beyond mine! He is more terrifying than I could have imagined—a true incarnation of Calamity! If he ever finds out that I am not a disciple of some ancient, powerful master, but just an ordinary cultivator 'acting' my way through this with a system... he will crush me like an insect! I must be extremely careful around him.'
Just then, amidst his swirling dread, Ye Fang's sharp eyes caught a movement near some rubble. Wang Ling was kneeling alone. She was wounded, her clothes tattered, and her cultivation base was so depleted she couldn't move. Just as Ye Fang had feared, she hadn't taken the pill to save herself.
Three massive Blood Coffin Sect puppets were advancing, their bloodstained claws reaching for her neck. Wang Mei was too far away to intervene, her sword's speed insufficient to reach her in time.
Ye Fang knew that if he hesitated for even a second, Wang Ling would perish. He pushed his fear aside, invoked his supreme movement technique to its absolute limit, and channeled his raw physical strength.
In the next heartbeat, Ye Fang's speed was so transcendent that he vaulted off Wang Mei's flying sword. Leaving a streak of golden light in the air, he appeared directly in front of Wang Ling. With a single, concentrated wave of sheer force, he bisected all three puppets. In the blink of an eye, he scooped Wang Ling into his arms and, with speed so supernatural that none of the enemies could react, he deposited her safely back at the side of his team, where Wang Mei immediately rushed to embrace her weeping sister.