Chapter 216: Identity Exposed!
"Do you know what's happening right now?" Hun Tiandi looked at Nihility Devouring Flame's unsightly expression, his heart forming some conjectures. He spoke in a deep voice, "What have you been hiding from me?"
"This matter is rather complicated. We'll discuss it when we return," Nihility Devouring Flame's eyes instinctively darted away. He looked at Gu Yuan and replied in a low, deep voice.
"I hope you give me a reasonable explanation!" Hun Tiandi, seeing this, cast a profound glance at Nihility Devouring Flame. Ultimately, with a powerful enemy before them, he still had to consider the bigger picture and spoke slowly.
"Gu Yuan, just wait. The next time we meet, you will surely tremble and grovel beneath my feet..." Hun Tiandi once again looked towards Gu Yuan and the others. His cold, sinister laughter curled at the corner of his mouth, echoing across this stretch of heaven and earth, lingering for a long time without dispersing...
"Hun Tiandi, do you think you can leave..." Gu Yuan looked at Hun Tiandi with an unsightly expression. His words were interrupted by Hun Tiandi again before he could finish.
"You'd better figure out the situation here first—that's more important!" As he spoke, Hun Tiandi's gaze drifted towards the distant, ever-present pair of blood-red eyes, a light laugh escaping him.
Immediately after, Hun Tiandi and Nihility Devouring Flame slowly retreated. Finally, with one last step, they entered that black hole. The black hole wavered, then rapidly dispersed. As the black hole dispersed, the black flames that had filled heaven and earth also quickly faded away...
"Detestable... they still escaped..."
The crowd gazed at the spot where the black hole had vanished, their faces icy cold, their fists involuntarily clenching tightly. No one had expected that even with the three clans, the Pill Tower, and others joining forces, they still couldn't keep the Hun Clan here. The latter's strength was simply too great...
"The power the Hun Clan displayed this time has far exceeded our previous understanding," Lei Ying said with a grave expression. In a certain respect, the current Hun Clan was no longer a force any single faction could contend against.
Even the Gu Clan couldn't do it. And it was precisely because of this that the sense of crisis in his heart had grown larger and larger. If the three clans didn't join forces quickly, they would likely be picked off one by one by the Hun Clan sooner or later. Their fate would then be much the same as that of the Yan, Ling, and Shi Clans.
"Over these years, the Hun Clan has hidden themselves far too deeply..." Gu Yuan, his long hair disheveled, was similarly exceptionally grave at this moment. The Gu Clan's high-ranking members beside him also wore troubled expressions.
All along, they had believed the Gu Clan's strength, even if incapable of defeating the Hun Clan, should at least be on par with them. Yet today's cruel reality told them that their Gu Clan was truly no match for the Hun Clan.
"Hun Tiandi was right. Back when the Xiao Clan fell, there was no longer any force on this continent that could contend against them. It's a pity we only realize this fact now," Gu Yuan sighed, a trace of regret in his heart. Had the Xiao Clan still existed, even if the Hun Clan were given several times the courage, they probably wouldn't dare to start this great war.
Hearing his words, Lei Ying and the others could only smile wryly. It was far too late to say this now.
"This is probably not the time to discuss these matters. It seems something heaven-shaking has occurred on the Dou Qi Continent," Yao Chen stepped forward at that moment, gazing at the pitch-black rift spanning the horizon and speaking in a deep voice.
Hearing this, everyone's gazes turned towards the sky permeated with demonic qi. After pondering for a moment, Gu Yuan said solemnly, "This situation has no records whatsoever in ancient texts. The circumstances are still unclear. Nevertheless, we should send people to investigate first. The feeling those eyes give me... is not good."
"Indeed. That evil aura—not even the Hun Clan has ever given me such a feeling. Something major has definitely happened there," Lei Ying followed closely behind.
"I know what's going on!" Just as everyone was speculating, a grave voice rang out from within the crowd. The crowd followed the sound. Xiao Yan had appeared atop a distant mountain peak at some unknown time, his face somber as water as he looked at the enormous rift on the horizon.
Everyone looked at Xiao Yan strangely, curiosity in their hearts. Even Gu Yuan didn't have this intelligence—how could Xiao Yan know?
But some astute individuals recalled Xiao Yan's abnormal skyrocketing strength during this battle and immediately formed their own conjectures. One after another, they moved to land beside Xiao Yan.
"Xiao Yan, what exactly is going on?" Lei Ying was impatient. The moment he landed, he hurriedly looked at Xiao Yan's back and asked curiously.
"Whew—" Exhaling deeply, Xiao Yan's expression was unprecedentedly grave. Sweeping his gaze over everyone's faces, he spoke solemnly, "Uncle Gu Yuan, Teacher, Clan Head Lei Ying, and all seniors here... the Dou Qi Continent's true life-or-death crisis... has arrived!"
Everyone's bodies violently jolted. In their minds instantly flashed that pair of blood-red pupils from moments ago. The mountains of corpses and seas of blood contained within them made everyone shiver uncontrollably.
"Do all you seniors know about the world outside the Dou Qi Continent?" Before anyone could recover, Xiao Yan tossed out another heavy bombshell.
"What do you mean? There is a world outside the Dou Qi Continent?" Gu Yuan's expression changed drastically. He asked urgently.
At that moment, many thoughts raced through his mind. Why had no Dou Di appeared on the Dou Qi Continent for nearly ten thousand years? It was because heaven and earth lacked a certain something. In the past, he had thought that only within the Ancient Emperor's Mansion did one final portion of that thing still exist.
Now Xiao Yan was saying there was a world beyond the Dou Qi Continent. Did that mean that outside, that source of Origin Qi might still exist?
In that case, even if Hun Tiandi gathered all the ancient jade pieces and retrieved the Emperor-grade Prototype Pill, as long as he, Gu Yuan, obtained that source of Origin Qi through another path and broke through to Dou Di, then there would be no difference at all.
"What I know is also vague and unclear. I only know bits and pieces. Outside, there exists an even more vast world. And this crisis is also related to entities from beyond this world," Xiao Yan shook his head and slowly explained.
Just as everyone was somewhat disappointed, Xiao Yan shifted the topic. He looked at Jiang Yun beside him and asked softly, "However, I believe Brother Jiang should know something about this, right?"
"Swoosh—"
Hearing Xiao Yan's words, everyone's gazes instantly shifted to Jiang Yun beside them. Their eyes all carried a hint of inquiry.
On both sides, the Little Medical Fairy and Qing Lin tensed up completely. Their wary gazes swept over the crowd. The moment they sensed the slightest ill intent towards Jiang Yun from anyone, they would absolutely start a massacre.
Jiang Yun glanced at Xiao Yan, paying absolutely no heed to the crowd's stares. He spoke in a deep voice, "I come from beyond the heavens!"
"Boom—"
This single sentence instantly caused an uproar among the crowd. Everyone stared at Jiang Yun in disbelief. None could have imagined that this would be the final answer.
But figures like Yao Chen, the Pill Tower Ancestor, and Shen Nong the Old Man of Agriculture—after their initial shock, found it only logical. Jiang Yun's terrifying talent seemed utterly unlike that of an ordinary person in any respect.
But if he came from a higher realm, everything was perfectly explained.
A trace of surprise also flickered in Xiao Yan's eyes. Immediately, he reacted in an instant and asked, "Then Yun Yi..."
"Correct. He also comes from the same place as I do. However, we are not of the same faction," Jiang Yun nodded, giving Xiao Yan an affirmative answer.
"In my childhood, I encountered a rare spacetime storm. By a twist of fate, I descended from the Great Thousand World onto the Dou Qi Continent and was taken in by Jia Nan Academy..."
"Jia Nan Academy!!!"
"Isn't that the academy founded by Mang Tian Chi?!" Before Jiang Yun could finish, a puzzled voice came from within the Lei Clan.
Everyone's gazes immediately shifted to the elder who had spoken. Under the sudden attention of so many experts, the elder shivered subconsciously and hurriedly said, "Mang Tian Chi is a Half-Saint elder of our clan. He founded an academy in the Black-Corner Region. It's called Jia Nan Academy."
"So that's it!" Hearing his words, everyone suddenly understood. No one had expected such an origin behind this!
Those outside the Lei Clan looked at the Lei Clan with a trace of envy. By this logic, Jiang Yun was naturally somewhat "closer" to the Lei Clan. Perhaps in the future, there might be some opportunities from the higher realm?
The members of the Lei Clan also thought of this layer. Their gazes towards Jiang Yun instantly grew fervent.
As if not noticing the Lei Clan members' gazes, Jiang Yun continued his explanation, "The universe we live in is called the Great Thousand World. The Great Thousand World is extremely vast, connecting to three thousand Lower Planes. The Dou Qi Continent, for example, is a Lower Plane. Of course, 'three thousand' is just a general term; the specific number is absolutely more than three thousand..."
"When prodigies of the Lower Planes cultivate to a certain level, they can pass through plane passages and ascend to the Great Thousand World, continuing to cultivate to even higher realms."
As Jiang Yun narrated, he gradually unveiled the mysterious veil shrouding this world. Everyone seemed to behold a grand spectacle of countless prodigies gathering and clashing against one another.
Heroic ardor surged in countless hearts, a feeling rising that a true man should be just so.
"Is this the reason the ancient Dou Di disappeared?" Gu Yuan, however, was thinking further. He asked curiously.
Hearing this, everyone's hearts stirred. In the ancient era, the Dou Qi Continent had been extremely prosperous. Yet overnight, the Dou Di had collectively vanished. This had become one of history's great mysteries. Now, as Jiang Yun explained it, wasn't the answer to the Dou Di's disappearance suddenly found?
"Yes and no," Jiang Yun slowly shook his head. Under the somewhat disappointed gazes of the crowd, he continued, "Speaking of this, I must bring up the Great Thousand World's enemy..."
"Is it him?" Xiao Yan's heart stirred. He extended a hand and pointed at the pitch-black rift on the distant horizon, his expression grave.
"Indeed. That is the Great Thousand World's common enemy—the Extraterritorial Evil Clan."
"The Extraterritorial Evil Clan?"
"The Extraterritorial Evil Clan has always sought to devour the Great Thousand World. Fifty thousand years ago, an earth-shattering great war erupted between the two sides. In that war, countless experts fell, and the Great Thousand World consequently lost over half its territory. Fortunately, an unparalleled hero emerged in the Great Thousand World who blocked their advance. Now, the two sides have been locked in a standoff for tens of thousands of years."
"Fifty thousand years ago? Could it be that our Dou Qi Continent was also part of resisting the Extraterritorial Evil Clan back then? And that's what led to the mass disappearance of Dou Di?" Yao Chen looked at Jiang Yun curiously and asked.
"Back then, the Dou Qi Continent was also exceptionally powerful. According to the information I've gathered, there was once a figure who stood at the absolute peak even within the Great Thousand World, who once led countless experts here to face the enemy."
"I'm not sure exactly how many Dou Di were on the Dou Qi Continent, but in that great war back then, the two sides definitely had close to a hundred super-experts battling to the death here. Among them were very likely experts of the Dou Qi Continent," Jiang Yun glanced at Yao Chen and spoke with solemnity.
"The war in the Great Thousand World ended fifty thousand years ago. Only skirmishes still remain at the borders between the two sides..."
"During this period, the Dou Qi Continent also suffered invasions from the other side. The Dou Di of the various clans likely all participated in those battles, because to the enemy, Lower Planes are the best targets for invasion..."
"According to the inheritance I obtained from the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint, he himself was heavily injured from clashing with the Extraterritorial Evil Clan, and ultimately was backlashed and killed by the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame," Jiang Yun's expression gradually became serious.
"Since the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint engaged them in battle, it means they've been continuously invading our Dou Qi Continent. Why is it that for ten thousand years, none of us clans have known this information? Or are you lying to us?" Gu Dao looked at Jiang Yun at that moment, his gaze burning as he questioned.
The moment these words were spoken, the atmosphere instantly became somewhat subtle. The crowd also turned doubtful gazes towards Jiang Yun.
Gu Dao's words instantly made the Little Medical Fairy and Qing Lin glare furiously. Had Jiang Yun not stopped the two, they would likely have already lashed out.
"That's because the Dou Qi Continent has been sealed, cutting off the passage to the Great Thousand World. Originally, a Dou Sheng could traverse the void and travel beyond the continent. With some luck, one might even find a place to land in the vast cosmos. But now, only a Dou Di can do so," Xiao Yan preemptively gave the answer before Jiang Yun could explain.
"Since it was sealed, it must have been when you first descended upon the Dou Qi Continent that you drew them here, leading to today's perilous situation!" Yao Dan suddenly pointed at Jiang Yun and shouted sternly.
"What nonsense are you spouting... How dare you slander Jiang Yun ge-ge..."
"You old, death-deserving bastard..."
Yao Dan's words instantly ignited the fury in the hearts of the Little Medical Fairy and Qing Lin. But before the two could act, an indifferent voice echoed in everyone's ears:
"Where's this fly coming from?"
Boom!
Before the crowd could react, Jiang Yun slightly raised his palm and swatted it down as if shooing a fly.
Thud!
In the blink of an eye, a figure shot out backwards in a wretched state, its body scraping a long trail across the ground.
Within the crowd, the atmosphere suddenly turned eerily silent.
Gaze after gaze of disbelief shot towards Jiang Yun's direction, only to see him still maintaining the posture of a light palm strike, his feet standing firm in place, not having moved a single inch.
Yao Dan, a seven-star Dou Sheng, had actually been repelled by the other party with just a casual wave of his hand?! The other's strength was no less than a nine-star Dou Sheng's...
Ptooey!
Yao Dan's figure finally stabilized. He immediately spewed a mouthful of blood. His expression was utterly horrified as he looked at Jiang Yun. In that earlier moment, he had clearly sensed an extremely terrifying force assaulting him from all directions—it was spatial force.
Only, that vast, mighty spatial force had actually made even him, a seven-star Dou Sheng, feel terror.
"Clan Head—"
The Yao Clan members, belatedly realizing what had happened, rushed towards Yao Dan in panic, their expressions wary and terrified as they looked at Jiang Yun, who remained completely unruffled.
"The principle that disaster comes from the mouth—surely you, old man, aren't unaware of it? And who told you there were no forces of theirs already on your Dou Qi Continent?" Jiang Yun's gaze was icy as he looked at Yao Dan, giving off the feeling that he might erupt and kill at any moment.
"Jiang Yun, you say there are Extraterritorial Evil Clan members on the Dou Qi Continent? Who? Is it Yun Yi?" Gu Yuan stepped forward into Jiang Yun's line of sight at that moment and asked deeply.
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Thanks for reading the chapter!
I started a new translation and I would be very happy if you decided to check out my new translation for a rather rare fandom. It's a fic based on Honkai: Star Rail.
Honkai Star Rail: Herta's Assistant Wants to Blow Up Nous
https://www.webnovel.com/book/36823191000494605