The Descent of the Five Emperors

The boundary wall between the Seventh and Eighth Heavens shimmered with a dark blue halo, like the surface of a crumpled glazed mirror.

Zhou Henxiao carried the Mystic Iron Heavy Sword on his back. His knuckles struck the boundary wall with a crisp clang of metal against stone. The four behind him spread out in a fan formation. Silver-thread-like runes coiled around Wu Xundao's fingertips, three Dharma pearls wreathed in circulating lightning floated above Zheng Hao's palm, half a bronze banner tip protruded from Wang Dongxu's sleeve, and the jade gourd at Song Qinghe's waist steadily belched white mist.

"Immortal Emperor Xing Ming has issued an order. A powerful enemy has trespassed into Medicine King Valley in the Seventh Heaven, slaughtering Valley Master Yao Lenchen and numerous elders and disciples."

Zhou Henxiao's blade-sharp gaze swept over the others as he slowly said, "For this mission, show no mercy. Kill without pardon."

Before his words had faded, the Mystic Iron Heavy Sword had already carved a half-moon arc of bloody light. The boundary wall cracked in response, web-like fissures spreading across it.

The five figures shot into the rift like lightning, wrapped in their respective Dao auras. Behind them, the shattered boundary wall rapidly healed like a living thing.

The skies of the Seventh Heaven were an eerie dark purple, while fierce winds howled past, carrying sand and gravel.

Song Qinghe raised a hand to catch a grain of sand. The jade gourd suddenly shook violently. "Something's wrong. This sand contains the aura of pill poison."

Wang Dongxu shook open his bronze banner. Dense patterns of corpses surfaced upon it, and amid its humming, dozens of ghostly shadows burst from the earth and lunged at the five.

"Petty tricks."

Wu Xundao flicked his fingers lightly, and the silver threads turned into