Cloud Firmament Sect

"Boom--!"

Amidst a world-shattering explosion, the giant palm of primal energy collided with the thick fog, and the violent shockwave tore a gap in the wall of mist before them.

Before everyone could cheer, a sudden change occurred--

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

"Retreat! Quick, retreat!"

Feng Wuya shouted sternly and retreated rapidly.

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

"Ah... help..."

An elder from a third-rate sect, clad in a gray robe, was half a step too slow. His ankle was entangled by a tentacle at the edge of the mist wave, and he was abruptly pulled into the fog. His cries for help stopped abruptly.

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

Liu Xinghe exclaimed in disbelief.

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

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

"I'm not sure. This kind of situation has never happened before."

Zhang Zhidong frowned deeply. The change in the dense fog far exceeded his scope of knowledge.

"It seems we can only wait again. I hope those little guys are alright."

Feng Wuya 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 experienced a fierce battle.

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

Green moss had grown all over the bronze swords, and the black iron spear shafts were half-buried in the ground.

Several tattered banners fluttered in the bleak wind, a blurred character "Azure" visible on their surfaces.

Even more terrifying were the giant skeletons scattered everywhere. Some were as tall as thirty feet, their skulls bearing ferocious horns that still gleamed coldly despite the passage of time.

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

Qin Shuang frowned, "With such a fierce battle, why is there no record of it in the historical annals of Jizhou?"

"It is said that the Black Mist Wasteland appeared during the early stages of the demon invasion. The records might have been lost due to the great battle," Tantai Yue sighed softly, her tone carrying some speculation.

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

"What do we do next?"

Song Yuanming voiced the doubt in everyone's heart.

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 plunged into its chest.

The skeleton, in a kneeling posture, tightly clutched a demon's skull, its finger bones deeply embedded in its eye sockets.

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

Wei Qing stood up. He had no clue what to do at the moment, so he ordered them to continue forward, searching for clues on how to leave.

The others followed suit, trailing closely behind Wei Qing's footsteps, embarking on their path forward.

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

The stone tablet was about ten feet high, its surface covered in cracks.

As they approached, they could finally see the inscription: In the third year of the New Tianyuan Calendar, the Cloud Firmament Sect sacrificed themselves to seal the Heavenly Demon here.

Beneath the stone tablet were carved countless names, with "Cloud Firmament Sect's Sixth Generation Sect Master, Yun Tianheng" at the very top.

Cloud Firmament Sect!

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

The Cloud Firmament Sect was the strongest sect among the hundred sects of the Eastern Domain before the descent of the demons!

Following the conclusion of the human-demon war two hundred years ago, the Cloud Firmament Sect disappeared from the long river of history in the Tianyuan Realm.

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

"Yes, if the Cloud Firmament Sect hadn't acted back then, the Eastern Domain might have become a paradise for demons overnight," Qin Shuang said, his tone filled with deep respect for that past event.

Even though two hundred years have passed.

The deeds of the Cloud Firmament Sect are still passed down within some sects.

The four nations of the Eastern Domain have even incorporated the deeds of the Cloud Firmament Sect into the martial arts learning materials of their respective countries.

Only the final battle of that year.

After a world-shattering explosion, the Cloud Firmament Sect, along with one of the six Heavenly Demons of the demon race, Silver Moon, and their subordinate demons, collectively disappeared without a trace.

Afterward, human powerhouses were dispatched frequently, but they still couldn't find any trace of either side.

Helplessly, they eventually had to give up the search.

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

The inscription also had a line of small characters at the end.

"Descendants of later generations, if your cultivation has not reached the Martial King Realm, do 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.

Thinking of this, everyone felt an inexplicable chill run down their spines.

"This... this, what can we do? A Heavenly Demon King, let alone us, even the Sect Master would die here in regret," Zhao Gao of the Blood Robe Sect said, his voice trembling, his expression filled with terror and helplessness.

Negative emotions are contagious.

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

On the spot, more than a dozen disciples' faces changed drastically, and terror quickly spread across their faces.

"Senior Yun, the message is very clear, the Heavenly Demon is still sealed, what are you afraid of?" Jun Wushang looked unhappily at the guy who was ruining the atmosphere in front of him.

For some reason, from the moment they met at the passage, he had a kind of instinctive aversion to the disciples of the Blood Robe Sect.

"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 collar and softly advised, "Alright, Wushang, we're all companions."

"Hmph."

Jun Wushang snorted coldly and stopped looking at Zhao Gao.

Zhang Xue nodded slightly, indicating her apology.

Seeing this, Qin Yang waved his hand magnanimously, as if he hadn't taken it to heart.

However, after Zhang Xue turned around, he gazed at their retreating backs, a hint of sinister and playful expression flashing deep within his eyes.

To show respect for the Cloud Firmament Sect.

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

The moment the last person stood up, the ground beneath everyone's feet suddenly trembled slightly.

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

As everyone retreated.

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

Ruined palaces began to manifest from within the space.