Cloud Heaven Sect

"BOOM—!"

Amidst the earth-shattering explosion, the primordial energy giant palm collided with the dense fog, the violent shockwave tearing a gap in the wall of mist before them.

Before everyone could cheer, a sudden change occurred—

The dispersed dense fog churned violently, like an enraged primordial beast, instantly condensing into a solid wave that rolled and crashed towards them.

"Retreat! Quick, retreat!"

Feng Wuyai shouted sternly, his figure rapidly retreating.

The sect leaders and elders of the major sects witnessed this scene, their expressions changing drastically. They all unleashed their movement techniques, fleeing in a panic at the fastest speed possible.

"Ah... help..."

A third-rate sect elder in a gray robe was half a step too slow. Tentacles at the edge of the mist wave entangled his ankles, yanking him abruptly into the fog. His cries for help were cut short.

"This fog... it's alive?"

Liu Xinghe exclaimed in disbelief.

The mist wave continued to advance for another thirty feet before suddenly seeming to hit an invisible barrier. After churning violently for a moment, it began to retreat.

The retreating mist left behind viscous black liquid on the ground, which corroded the earth, leaving behind numerous black pits.

"I'm not sure. Nothing like this has ever happened before."

Zhang Zhidong's brow furrowed deeply; the changes in the dense fog were far beyond his understanding.

"It seems we can only wait again. I hope those youngsters are alright,"

Feng Wuyai sighed helplessly.

Two quarters of an hour later.

Wei Qing and the others emerged from the misty passage, all stunned by the dilapidated scene before them.

It was a land of ruins that had clearly experienced a brutal war.

On the scorched earth, countless broken weapons were embedded diagonally in the cracked soil.

Moss grew all over the bronze swords, and the Mysterious Iron spear shafts were half buried in the ground.

Several tattered banners flapped in the bleak wind, a blurry "Xiao" character visible on their surfaces.

Even more horrifying were the giant skeletons scattered everywhere. Some were as tall as ten zhang, with ferocious horns on their skulls that still gleamed coldly despite the passage of time.

"What kind of earth-shattering battle took place here?" Jun Wushang's throat bobbed, his voice dry.

Qin Shuang's brow furrowed: "With such a fierce battle, why is there no record of it in the history books of Jizhou?"

"It is said that the Black Mist Wasteland appeared during the early stages of the demons and monsters' descent. The records might have been lost due to the great war," Tantai Yue sighed softly, her tone tinged with speculation.

Nangong Ruyan, Liu Yulong, and the others nodded slightly in agreement upon hearing this.

"What do we do next?"

Song Yuanming voiced the question on everyone's minds.

They looked at each other.

Finally, their gazes fell on Wei Qing.

Waiting for his decision.

Wei Qing squatted before a peculiar skeleton.

It was a human skeleton, with three long swords of different designs embedded in its chest.

The skeleton, in a kneeling posture, was tightly clutching the skull of a demon and monster, its finger bones deeply embedded in the eye sockets.

"Since we're already here, what's wrong with taking a look inside?"

Wei Qing stood up. Having no clue at the moment, he could only order them to press onward, hoping to find clues to get out.

The others followed suit, trailing closely behind Wei Qing's footsteps, and stepped onto the path ahead.

Rounding the remains of a colossal creature, a broken stone tablet came into view.

The stone tablet was about three zhang tall, its surface covered in cracks.

As they approached, they could finally make out the inscription: "In the third year of the Heavenly Origin New Calendar, the Cloud Heaven Sect sacrificed themselves to seal the Heavenly Demons here."

Beneath the stone tablet were densely carved names, with the highest being "Sixth Generation Sect Master of Cloud Heaven Sect, Yun Tianheng."

Cloud Heaven Sect!

Upon seeing these three words, everyone's hearts trembled, and they collectively gasped.

The Cloud Heaven Sect was the strongest sect among the hundred sects of the Eastern Region before the descent of the demons and monsters!

With the conclusion of the Human-Demon War two hundred years ago, the Cloud Heaven Sect had since disappeared from the long river of history in the Heavenly Origin Realm.

"I truly never expected this place to be the site of Cloud Heaven Sect's final battle," Tantai Yue murmured softly.

"Indeed. If not for the Cloud Heaven Sect's intervention back then, the Eastern Region might have become a paradise for demons and monsters overnight," Qin Shuang said, his voice filled with deep respect for that past.

Even though two hundred years had passed.

The deeds of the Cloud Heaven Sect were still passed down within some sects.

The Four Nations of the Eastern Region had even incorporated the Cloud Heaven Sect's history into the martial arts study materials for their respective countries.

However, regarding the final battle of that year.

After a world-shattering explosion, the Cloud Heaven Sect, along with one of the Six Great Heavenly Demons, Silver Moon, and its subordinate demons and monsters, collectively vanished without a trace.

Afterward, human race powerhouses frequently dispatched, but still found no sign of either side.

Helplessly, they eventually had to give up the search.

Little did they expect that the final battlefield had actually appeared near an inconspicuous small county town within Great Zhou.

The inscription on the monument concluded with a line of small text.

"Disciples of later generations, if your cultivation has not reached the Martial King realm, you must not open the Heavenly Demon Seal!"

Boom...

Everyone was stunned, almost forgetting that a terrifying Heavenly Demon was imprisoned here.

Grandmasters, and even Innate realm powerhouses, were as weak as infants before it.

Upon thinking of this, everyone felt an inexplicable chill crawl up their backs.

"Wh-what do we do? A Heavenly Demon King... let alone us, even the Sect Master would die here in shame." Zhao Gao of the Blood Robe Gate's voice trembled, his expression filled with terror and helplessness.

Negative emotions were contagious.

As Zhao Gao's trembling words fell, it was like a massive stone being thrown into a calm lake.

Instantly, over a dozen disciples' faces changed drastically, their expressions of fear rapidly spreading.

"Senior Yun, the message clearly states that the Heavenly Demon is still sealed. What are you afraid of?" Jun Wushang looked unhappily at the person who was ruining the atmosphere before him.

For some reason, from the moment they met at the passage, he had felt a natural aversion to the disciples from the Blood Robe Gate.

"My junior brother is just a bit timid. I apologize on his behalf to all of you."

With that, Qin Yang cupped his hands lightly, his tone carrying a hint of sincerity and apology.

Seeing this, Zhang Xue gently tugged at Jun Wushang's sleeve and softly advised, "Alright, Wushang, we're all companions."

"Hmph."

Jun Wushang snorted coldly and stopped looking at Zhao Gao.

Zhang Xue nodded gently, indicating her apology.

Qin Yang saw this and waved his hand magnanimously, seemingly not taking it to heart.

However, after Zhang Xue turned away, he gazed at the backs of the two, a sinister and playful glint flashing deep within his eyes.

To show their respect for the Cloud Heaven Sect.

Everyone stepped forward in turn and bowed deeply to the stone monument.

The moment the last person stood up, the ground beneath their feet suddenly trembled slightly.

Everyone's expressions changed drastically, and they immediately used their movement techniques to retreat rapidly.

As everyone retreated.

A crisp "crack" sound came from the sky, and then the space behind the stone monument shattered like broken glass.

Ruined palaces began to materialize from within the space.