Nascent Soul Appears

Qiongqi gave a cold snort, radiating an irresistible pressure.

Feng Yang and Lin Hong bore the brunt of it. The spiritual power throughout their bodies burned as they resisted with all their might, blood already spilling from the corners of their mouths. Though Shen Yi was protected by two Golden Core Cultivators, he was no better off, like a candle flickering in the wind, liable to go out at any moment.

Suddenly, the runes on the Rune Egg began to flow, releasing a gentle power that offset Qiongqi's pressure. Then golden light burst forth. A crack appeared on the eggshell, and the radiance grew ever brighter, illuminating heaven and earth.

Crack!

A golden silhouette broke free from the shell and appeared before Shen Yi.

"Yiya!"

A familiar cry rang out, echoing through heaven and earth. As the golden light gradually faded, a creature shaped like a black cat appeared. It was Little Black, its body emitting flecks of divine radiance, its form becoming more solid.

Qiongqi's eyes burned as he stared at Little Black's figure, his body trembling faintly with excitement.

"Yiya!"

Little Black leaped onto Shen Yi's shoulder, grabbed a piece of eggshell, and began crunching away at it. At the same time, his plump little paw beckoned Shen Yi to join him.

Qiongqi's face darkened when he saw this, and he was about to speak up and stop them, only for a single look from Little Black to halt him. He said no more, merely staring at Shen Yi as though he bore a deep and bitter grudge against him.

Shen Yi did not stand on ceremony either. He grabbed a piece of eggshell and stuffed it into his mouth, smiling at Qiongqi. Seeing Qiongqi's furious, frustrated expression, he felt something indescribable.

Feng Yang, Lin Hong, and the Nine Nether Sparrow were already shocked to see the King-level young beast so close to Shen Yi. Shen Yi's deliberate attempt to provoke Qiongqi left them utterly dumbfounded.

Qiongqi's face was full of black lines. Since his birth, no one had ever dared provoke him like this. At that moment, he truly wanted to slap this hateful brat to death, but when he considered the future Demon Emperor's relationship with him, he could only swallow his anger and glare at Shen Yi resentfully.

"Burp."

Shen Yi deliberately let out a satisfied burp. Seeing Qiongqi's expression as though he had swallowed bitter herbs but could not speak of it, Shen Yi secretly reveled in it. Still, he knew where to draw the line and did not continue fighting Little Black over the remaining eggshell.

At the sight before them, both sides on the battlefield had long since stopped fighting. Their jaws dropped as they stared at Shen Yi's back, all silently sighing, What a savage!

Shen Yi assessed the situation. With Little Black's connection to him, no further battle would break out. Thus, he returned to the city with Little Black and began refining the energy within his body. As for what came next, with Feng Yang around, they naturally would not suffer a loss. But sooner or later, he would avenge Dean Chen Chong.

Sure enough, Qiongqi and the three men, Feng Yang among them, all revealed smiles, though each smile carried a different meaning.

"Return the King beast, and my race is willing to cease hostilities. The two sides may reconcile."

Qiongqi spoke first, directly stating his demand: he wanted to take Little Black away. Feng Yang and Lin Hong exchanged looks and were just about to refuse when a deep, powerful voice beat them to it.

"The King beast was obtained by our Human Race. Naturally, it cannot be returned!"

"A Nascent Soul expert!"

Everyone was startled. The Human Race cultivators were especially invigorated. With a Nascent Soul expert presiding here, they naturally had no fear of Qiongqi's King-level power, and their spirits immediately rose.

In an instant, a figure appeared before everyone. His beard and hair were entirely white, yet his voice was vigorous. He wore a Taoist robe embroidered with the two words Azure Cloud across the chest.

"Azure Cloud Sect?"

Feng Yang was somewhat puzzled. Azure Cloud Sect was far from Ninghai City. Why had a Nascent Soul elder of Azure Cloud Sect appeared here? Was it coincidence, or had this been planned long ago?

"Greetings, Fellow Cultivator. This old man is Duan Chengtian, Seventh Elder of Azure Cloud Sect. Hearing that Ninghai City was in trouble, I came to offer aid."

"Hmph!"

Qiongqi gave a cold snort, clearly displeased by Duan Chengtian's refusal. Even Feng Yang and Lin Hong showed only outward respect, while harboring countless suspicions within.

"Fellow Cultivator just said that you wished to take the King beast away before you would cease hostilities. I do not think that is appropriate."

Duan Chengtian wore an arrogant expression. Even when speaking to Qiongqi, his tone was exceedingly haughty.

"Then what do you propose?"

Qiongqi countered coldly, the aura around his body concealed but ready to erupt.

"The King beast shall be raised by Azure Cloud Sect. You all shall withdraw now and never step beyond the Yunluo Mountain Range. Otherwise, I fear none of you will be able to leave safely!"

Duan Chengtian's words pressed forward step by step, bordering on a threat.

"Then let us fight!"

Qiongqi's incomparably tyrannical and vicious Killing Intent swept out. At his command, the beast horde let out thunderous roars and stood ready for battle.

"Is that all?"

Duan Chengtian sneered and waved his hand. More than a dozen flying vessels swiftly arrived through the void, each radiating a terrifying aura.

Feng Yang's face darkened at the sight. Azure Cloud Sect had not come merely to offer aid. This looked far more like a long-planned invasion.

"Martial Uncle Duan, all disciples have arrived."

Wang Shangren's appearance further confirmed Feng Yang's suspicions.

"Dean Feng Yang, it has been a while. Qingxuan Sect has only just arrived, and we will need to rely on Dean Feng's support in the future."

"Indeed. From now on, Dean Feng, please work wholeheartedly with Qingxuan Sect under Azure Cloud Sect and safeguard Ninghai City together."

Wang Shangren and Duan Chengtian traded lines back and forth, paying no attention whatsoever to Feng Yang and Lin Hong's expressions. Not the slightest hostility could be seen in Wang Shangren's eyes, and his tone was utterly sincere, as though he had already forgotten his hatred toward Feng Yang for severing his arm. Yet the more he acted this way, the more uneasy Feng Yang became.

"To dress up annexation in such grand and righteous words—perhaps only you two in this world could accomplish such a thing."

Qiongqi had originally intended to watch coldly from the sidelines, but even he could not resist mocking the faces of Duan Chengtian and Wang Shangren. The atmosphere immediately grew tense once more.

Just then, a wave came from within Ninghai City. Shen Yi had finally broken through to the Ninth Level of Qi Refining, only a single step away from Foundation Establishment. A sinister gleam flashed in Wang Shangren's eyes as he whispered something into Duan Chengtian's ear. Feng Yang's expression turned grave, and he moved closer toward Qiongqi, remaining fully on guard.

"The King beast is the future of my race. No one may profane him!"

Qiongqi had also noticed the movements of those two and had been prepared. Seeing Duan Chengtian make his move, intending to seize control of Shen Yi and Little Black within the city, he confidently acted as well and stopped him.

Spiritual power collided and shot into the sky, exploding amid the clouds. Cracks spread across that patch of sky as though it were about to split apart. Enraged, Duan Chengtian glared at Qiongqi before attacking him. Qiongqi let out a long howl and met him head-on without the slightest fear.

Feng Yang gazed thoughtfully at the cracks slowly fading in the sky. He swept his eyes around and saw Wang Shangren and the Nine Nether Sparrow locked in a standoff as well. He immediately made his decision.

He suddenly attacked, sending spiritual power into the sky and straight toward the cracks. His powerful strike finally shattered that spot, opening a black hole filled with faint, chaotic currents. Then he took a single step and appeared before Shen Yi, affection in his eyes as he threw Shen Yi and Little Black into the air.

Just as Shen Yi and Little Black were about to enter the black hole overhead, Qiongqi and Duan Chengtian both cried out in alarm. In the flash between lightning and flint, Duan Chengtian struck Feng Yang. Though Qiongqi saw that Feng Yang's chest had already been pierced through, Feng Yang still watched Shen Yi with a smile, his eyes filled with complex emotions. Qiongqi fired a stream of spiritual power toward Shen Yi.

"The road ahead is yours to walk alone."

The black hole vanished. Feng Yang looked in the direction where Shen Yi had disappeared, smiled, and fell.