Chapter 217: A Brief Respite!
Gu Yuan naturally couldn't allow Jiang Yun to kill Yao Dan. But at the same time, he was unwilling to offend Jiang Yun over such a minor matter. He could only change the subject.
Glancing at Gu Yuan, Jiang Yun slowly spoke, "Do you all know of the Devouring Spirit Clan?"
Whoosh!
The moment those words left his mouth, numerous experts abruptly raised their heads, their gazes fixed intently on Jiang Yun. In their eyes, there was actually a hint of terror.
"The Devouring Spirit Clan are Extraterritorial Evil Clan members?!" Gu Yuan's face clearly twitched slightly the moment Jiang Yun uttered those three words. Immediately, he drew a deep breath and stared sharply at Jiang Yun, asking.
"They are a branch of them. I sensed their bloodline fluctuation within Nihility Devouring Flame's body!" Jiang Yun nodded and spoke with a solemn expression.
"So that's it!"
Upon hearing this, quite a few people changed color. Light flickered in Gu Yuan's eyes. With an unsightly expression, he said, "The last Clan Head of the Devouring Spirit Clan was killed by the Hun Clan. Since then, the Devouring Spirit Clan completely vanished from the world. Yet it seems the Hun Clan has continued to exist all the way until now..."
"So that's how it all was." Gu Yuan's expression was somewhat gloomy. His words made a chill suddenly surge from the bottom of everyone's hearts. "The Hun Clan... has been domesticating our ancient races..."
"So that's how we exposed our targets." Knowing the Devouring Spirit Clan was within the Hun Clan, everyone sighed in their hearts.
"Then when will they invade?"
The matter was already set in stone. Lei Ying looked at Jiang Yun and asked the question everyone was most concerned about.
Instantly, all gazes turned to Jiang Yun. The Extraterritorial Evil Clan was an opponent of the Great Thousand World. Their tiny Lower Plane was far too fragile; it couldn't withstand such turmoil!
Moreover, in the great war tens of thousands of years ago, it was only because top-tier figures from the Great Thousand World resisted them that the Dou Qi Continent hadn't fallen. Now, the Dou Qi Continent had no such experts.
Facing everyone's question, Xiao Yan spoke, "At the fastest, half a month. They will tear open the plane passage by then."
Hearing this, the crowd instantly fell silent. After half a month... could they come up with a way to resist the other side?
"Since the matter is now set, the most important thing right now is still to stop Hun Tiandi from finding the Ancient Emperor's Mansion and obtaining the Emperor-grade Prototype Pill. Otherwise, we won't even need to wait for the great tribulation of heaven and earth—Hun Tiandi alone won't let us off," Gu Yuan looked at the silent crowd and slowly spoke.
"Hun Tiandi's strength can only be checked by Uncle. Moreover, both Hun Tiandi and Nihility Devouring Flame possess Emperor Realm souls. Only Uncle can keep them under surveillance!" Xiao Yan pondered for a moment, then looked at Gu Yuan and said softly.
"I will personally take action to monitor them," Gu Yuan said in a deep voice. He understood the importance of this matter.
If they truly allowed the Hun Clan to smoothly open the mansion once again and obtain the secret of advancing to Dou Di, then forget the great tribulation of heaven and earth half a month later—once Hun Tiandi entered the Dou Di realm, they would truly have no further chance to turn the tables. In the eyes of a true Dou Di expert, the so-called allied forces were nothing more than mayflies trying to shake a tree.
Hearing this, everyone nodded.
"If it comes down to it, when we reach the location of Tuo She Ancient Emperor's Mansion, there will inevitably be another final great battle. This time, even if we must perish together, we absolutely cannot allow the Hun Clan to succeed again!" Gu Yuan said with a solemn expression.
Everyone nodded in unison. They also understood: if the battle at the mansion ended in failure again, their fate would be the same as the Ling Clan and the other two clans. To preserve their clan's bloodline, no matter the cost, they had to fight to the death!
Victory meant survival; defeat, extinction!
"During this period, we should deploy the various clans' eyes and ears. During our battle, the Pill Tower also launched a sweeping operation against all of the Soul Hall's strongholds in the Central Plains. Now, aside from the Soul Realm, the Hun Clan has become 'blind.' To find the Ancient Emperor's Mansion, they'll definitely have to make large-scale movements," Yao Chen also spoke up, seeing that a resolution had been reached.
"Then let the army stop at the Pill Tower. It's perfectly located for central command and convenient for monitoring the Hun Clan's every move."
With everyone's decisions made, the great army withdrew to the Pill Tower. As they returned, the entire Central Plains was undoubtedly shaken by the news.
The three great ancient races, plus numerous top-tier powers with formidable strength—such an allied force had not only failed to eliminate the Hun Clan but had nearly been completely wiped out themselves. Such shocking, unheard-of strength practically shattered the worldview of countless people.
Immediately following, people discovered that with the withdrawal of the allied forces, an even more tense atmosphere shrouded the skies above Holy Pill City.
Those with sharp senses had already perceived that the most terrifying storm in a thousand years would likely soon sweep across the Central Plains. The intensity of this storm would be several times more violent than any previous great war...
Under the shadow of this impending great storm, quite a few powers also felt somewhat uneasy.
A clash between such terrifying existences would cause extremely dreadful destruction, even for the Central Plains. For the powers that existed within the Central Plains, this was clearly no small crisis. In a war of that level, even if they were merely grazed by the edges, they would likely face the destruction of their sect and the death of its members.
Therefore, the powers around Holy Pill City were almost entirely evacuating in haste at this moment, terrified that if war broke out, they might be accidentally caught in the crossfire, leading to a miserable end.
The great army's arrival at Holy Pill City brought another round of busy activity. After the previous great battle, it could be said that almost every soldier in the army was wounded. Fortunately, with the Yao Clan and the Pill Tower—the two great alchemy groups of the Dou Qi Continent—operating at full capacity on both sides, everyone received methodical treatment.
The days following the great battle were unusually peaceful. The allied forces stationed at Holy Pill City didn't deploy overly frequently. However, the atmosphere of an impending storm not only didn't lessen because of this but instead grew increasingly intense. Everyone knew: this time, it would be the decisive battle between the two super factions...
Gu Yuan had vanished after arriving in Holy Pill City. Everyone knew he was personally taking action to monitor the Hun Clan. With his surveillance, as long as even the slightest movement came from within the Soul Realm, he would discover it...
Xiao Yan, after reuniting with his family, also went into seclusion. Jiang Yun knew that when he reappeared, his soul realm would have broken through to the Emperor Realm.
As the others went into seclusion one after another, Jiang Yun also left Holy Pill City. During this period, using intelligence from the Great Thousand World, he had exchanged for a child flame of a Heavenly Flame. Now, he had basically gathered the laws of all the Heavenly Flames on the Dou Qi Continent.
He could already glimpse a trace of the profound mystery of the Myriad Flame Immortal Body. He too was going to break through. The final moment had arrived. He needed to accumulate one last portion of strength and make final preparations for the ultimate harvest.
While the allied forces made their final preparations, within the Soul Realm, actions were also underway.
Atop a mountain peak, Hun Tiandi stood with his hands behind his back and spoke softly, "Nihility, now can you explain what exactly is the situation with that Yun Yi? And the spatial rift that tore open at the horizon—how much do you know about that as well? We share a friendship of over a thousand years. Now my clan's plans are nearing completion. For thousands of years, you have been an important member of my clan. I do not wish for any accidents to occur at the final juncture!"
Hun Tiandi seemed to speak with a sigh, but towards the end, his tone gradually became cold and icy.
A trace of coldness flickered through Nihility Devouring Flame's eyes. Immediately, he spoke with a hint of anger, "That brat played me... played me from the very beginning..."
It was a good while before Nihility Devouring Flame spoke again in a calm tone, "According to that brat, there is an even greater world beyond the Dou Qi Continent. He comes from there. He is also a Flame Spirit taking human form. I originally intended to raise him to maturity and then devour him to advance further. But it seems now... I was too careless..."
"As for that spatial rift, I'm not sure about it. Could it be that people from the higher realm are about to descend?"
Hearing this, Hun Tiandi slowly shook his head and sighed softly, "You should have told me earlier. Now it seems highly likely that the other party has a significant connection to that rift that appeared."
Hun Tiandi's heart was far from as calm as it appeared on the surface. He knew Nihility Devouring Flame had his own little schemes—wasn't it simply about wanting to see if Yun Yi possessed a method to break through to Dou Di?!
But he couldn't bring it into the open. Otherwise, their relationship would inevitably crack. With a great enemy before them, he wouldn't commit such a foolish act.
"Regardless of whether they are connected or not, the urgent matter now is to find the Ancient Emperor's Mansion and learn the secret of breaking through to Dou Di. As long as I break through to Dou Di, even if people from the higher realm come, all problems will be easily resolved!" Hun Tiandi chuckled lightly, his eyes somewhat heated as he spoke softly.
"It is indeed time. Delay brings change. The increases in Jiang Yun's and Xiao Yan's cultivations have both been somewhat abnormal. Let us hurry!" Nihility Devouring Flame licked his lips, then shifted his tone and laughed, "However, do not forget—within that mansion, there is also something I need. This was our agreement back then."
"Rest assured, you are intimately tied to my Hun Clan. I absolutely will not deceive you. If it is truly as you say, and within the mansion lies the object you need, I will help you obtain it," Hun Tiandi said with a smile.
Only then did Nihility Devouring Flame nod in satisfaction. Seeing this, Hun Tiandi waved his sleeve. Eight ancient jade pieces slowly drifted out from within his sleeve.
The ancient jade pieces hovered above Hun Tiandi's head, releasing a faint, hazy light. The eight jade pieces reflected off one another, appearing quite resplendent. Faintly, a peculiar fluctuation seemed to ripple outwards.
Hun Tiandi cast a heated glance at the eight jade pieces. Suddenly, he bit the tip of his tongue. A mouthful of blood essence sprayed out, landing upon the eight jade pieces.
"Buzz! Buzz!"
Stained with the blood essence, the eight jade pieces, which had originally only emitted a faint luster, actually began to emit a subtle humming sound. Moreover, the light grew increasingly stronger. On the surfaces of the ancient jade, strange patterns faintly flowed.
"Tuo She Ancient Emperor's Jade has been scattered for many years. Now, let me reassemble you!"
Looking at the strange phenomenon in the sky, Hun Tiandi laughed. Immediately, his palm fiercely clenched towards the ancient jade pieces.
"Rip!"
As Hun Tiandi's palm clenched, the eight ancient jade pieces were directly crushed together with force. A few crack sounds were heard, and the eight pieces of ancient jade actually directly merged into one piece. Instantly, light blossomed. A complete ancient jade piece, slightly larger than a palm, appeared in the sky.
As Tuo She Ancient Emperor's Jade was fully pieced together, an ancient, primeval aura suddenly and slowly spread from within the ancient jade.
Hun Tiandi reached out and took the ancient jade. On one face of the ancient jade, numerous fine lines were merged together, as if outlining a map. Simple and unadorned, yet it made the vastness of the map even more apparent.
At a certain spot on the map, a point of light flickered like a star. That was where the Ancient Emperor's Mansion was located.
"Where is this?" Hun Tiandi narrowed his eyes, looking at the map on the imperial jade. It was an extremely vast, unfamiliar region. He could tell at a glance that this region was probably not in the Central Plains.
"What do you think? This place is somewhat unfamiliar to me. I should have never been there before," Hun Tiandi looked at Nihility Devouring Flame and asked.
"It's unfamiliar to me as well," Nihility Devouring Flame slowly shook his head. At this moment, the memories of his escape from the Ancient Emperor's Mansion had already been basically forgotten. He had no idea where the Ancient Emperor's Mansion was located.
Hun Tiandi furrowed his brows. The Dou Qi Continent was not small. Although the image provided a considerably vast region, trying to pinpoint it on short notice was no easy task.
He pondered for a moment, then waved his palm. The Hun Clan's Four Demon Saints came flashing over. Hun Tiandi glanced at them, reached out, and drew in the void the map depicted on the imperial jade. He said flatly, "No matter what method you use, within seven days, I want to know where this place is. If you cannot accomplish this, tell them not to bother coming back..."
Hearing this, the Four Demon Saints hurriedly responded with respect, then quickly withdrew to give instructions.
Watching the four's departing figures, Hun Tiandi clasped his hands behind his back. His gaze fixed on the map in the void as he murmured to himself, "After scheming with such great effort to finally gather you, I refuse to believe I can't find the location of the mansion!"
The sky here was extremely dark and gloomy. Even the blazing sun hanging in the nine heavens was, at this moment, ringed with a black halo, emanating a sense of eeriness.
A day ago, this was still a continent permeated with Dou Qi energy. Now, the air was thick with dense evil qi, exuding a sense of brutality, violence, and madness... If absorbed by a person, it could even affect their temperament and sanity.
At this moment, Yun Yi, clad in a white robe, walked slowly across this land. The evil qi around him, enough to drive a person mad, seemed to have no effect on him whatsoever.
"Buzz—"
Suddenly, the massive demonic qi around him seemed to be drawn by something, converging from all directions towards a certain spot.
Swish!
A pair of enormous transmission gates appeared. Behind the transmission gates, a flame like blood drifted out, as if suddenly creating a blood-red sun in this sky. Its light blazed downwards.
In the next instant, a gigantic living being appeared within Yun Yi's line of sight. It looked like an enormous ant, except this ant was also covered with long, thin black hairs. Its head, moreover, was exactly the same as a human's.
Behind its back were a pair of wings condensed from flames, whipping up gusts of fiery storms.
"A human of a Lower Plane?" The moment that living being appeared, it saw Yun Yi's transcendent figure. A flicker of bewilderment, gone in an instant, flashed through its eyes. Immediately, it licked its blood-red tongue and grinned viciously, "What's the matter? Sensing my clan's descent, you couldn't wait to come seeking death?"
Hearing the other's murderous words, Yun Yi merely raised his head and glanced at him expressionlessly. A flash of black fiery light passed through his eyes.
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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