Nine Heavens Death Land

"Big Brother!" Ghost Lizard Lu Qianmo instantly revealed his true form and charged at Shangguan Ye, trying to save Lu Qiansha.

The Ghost Lizard was too fast; Nie Li and Yu Yan failed to stop him.

"Die!" The Ghost Lizard swung his massive tail at Shangguan Ye, its surface covered in blue-violet poisonous spikes.

"I'm done playing." Shangguan Ye suddenly lost interest and clapped his hands together.

Wood Style: Wood Dragon Technique

Two Wood Dragons suddenly burst from the snowfield, instantly binding the Red Shark and the Ghost Lizard as they began crazily absorbing their Soul Power.

"So strong..." Yu Yan murmured as she watched Shangguan Ye subdue the two demons in an instant.

The two Wood Dragons drained every last bit of Soul Power from the Red Shark and Ghost Lizard, killing both demons.

"Boring." Shangguan Ye shook his head in disappointment.

"Haha, once we reach the Nether Realm, there'll be as many powerful experts as hairs on an ox. You'll have plenty to fight," Nie Li said with a laugh, patting Shangguan Ye on the shoulder.

"Let's keep moving," Yu Yan reminded them.

"Don't rush. Let me pick up some spoils first." Nie Li ran over to the two demons' corpses and retrieved their Spatial Rings.

"They were Legendary experts, so they should be pretty rich, right?" Nie Li began inspecting the Spatial Rings.

"There's a Legendary weapon—give that to Du Ze first. And a black dragon scale for Duan Jian. There's nothing else worthwhile. They're really poor." Even after distributing the more valuable items, Nie Li did not forget to complain.

At that moment, within an iceberg in the Extreme Northern Icefield, the eyelids of a silver-haired man in white robes twitched slightly.

"Two pieces of trash. It would have been one thing if you failed to keep an eye on Yu Yan, but you even got yourselves killed. Still, Yu Yan, is the Nether Realm your destination? Though I'm no match for the Nether Realm Controller yet, when the Seven Lotuses bloom, all of you will die!" Seven white lotuses slowly appeared beside the man, one of which had yet to bloom.

Shangguan Ye and the others finally reached the edge of the Nine Heavens Death Land. Families had long since gathered here in great numbers, and a casual sweep of their senses revealed the auras of powerful experts everywhere.

Nie Li led everyone to where the Jade Seal Family was camped.

"Hahaha, Nephew Nie Li, you're back!" Luo Xiao, the Patriarch of the Jade Seal Family, walked out of a tent with a laugh.

"Uncle Luo, it's been a long time. These are all my friends." Nie Li pointed at Shangguan Ye and the others.

Luo Xiao merely glanced at them, yet he was already utterly shocked.

"The cultivation of these children is all at the Legendary realm?" But when his gaze fell upon Shangguan Ye, he was so stunned that he could not speak.

"Sub-God Peak..." Luo Xiao looked at Nie Li in disbelief.

"Uncle Luo, you'll get used to it." Nie Li scratched his head.

"They truly are young heroes," Luo Xiao sighed.

Shangguan Ye seemed to sense something. He kept craning his head to inspect his surroundings, but after finding nothing, he lowered his guard again.

"So this guy came after all. My Nether Realm isn't enough for you to chop up," a Man in Black muttered as he stood before a Crystal Ball.

"Nephew, the seventh level of the Nine Heavens Death Land will open in a few days. That place is extremely dangerous, so you must be careful. Stay in our camp for the next few days," Luo Xiao said with concern.

"Alright, we'll be careful." Nie Li readily agreed.

Yet as Luo Xiao looked at Nie Li's innocent expression, a trace of unease rose in his heart. Still, he did not dwell on it.

Night fell, and Lu Piao suddenly came to find Shangguan Ye and Nie Li.

"Shangguan, Nie Li, I heard that lots of people have gone to the first level of the Nine Heavens Death Land to look for some Spirit Origin Fruit. Let's go too." Lu Piao's eyes were full of excitement.

"Spirit Origin Fruit?" Nie Li thought about it but could not recall any information about it. Yu Yan, however, poked her head out from Nie Li's chest.

"The Spirit Origin Fruit is quite useful for you. It can directly raise your cultivation by one or two minor realms."

"There's something that good? Then let's go." Nie Li made his decision at once, and the group set off in high spirits.

Along the way, the fog grew increasingly thick, severely obstructing their vision.

"Everyone, be careful. This is Maze Mist. It's very easy to get separated in it," Nie Li warned.

Upon hearing that, Shangguan Ye immediately grabbed Xiao Ning'er's hand.

"Ning'er, hold on tight to my hand."

"Mhm." Xiao Ning'er tightened her grip around Shangguan Ye's hand as well.

"Lu Piao, you too. Hold each other's hands so you won't get lost," Shangguan Ye called out, but no one answered him.

"So it's started already." Shangguan Ye shook his head. Yet when he turned around, Xiao Ning'er, whose hand he had clearly been holding, had vanished too.

"WTF? She can get lost even like this? Why is it that Nie Li can hold Ye Ziyun's hand without losing her?" Shangguan Ye was completely speechless.

"Forget it. I'll look for them after the mist clears." Shangguan Ye could not even be bothered to activate his Rinnegan or Reincarnation Eye. He wandered aimlessly for two hours until the fog began to disperse. Several red lights appeared not far ahead of him, and Shangguan Ye slowly walked toward them.

Beside a lake, many people stood watching. The red light was coming from within the water.

"Who's going to fish that thing out for me?" a man in red shouted.

"Who's that? He's so arrogant," someone asked.

"Shh. That's Cang Ming of the Blood Feather Clan, the number one genius of the Nether Realm."

Cang Ming casually grabbed a servant and threw him into the lake. Before long, the water began to boil, and blood bubbled up from beneath the surface, staining a large portion of the lake crimson. Clearly, that person had already met his end.

"A Black Gold-ranked person just died like that?"

"What kind of terrifying thing is under the water?"

The crowd began discussing it animatedly.

"Huh? I thought Nie Li and the others should have come back here. Why can't I find them?" Shangguan Ye kept weaving through the crowd, and Cang Ming happened to spot him. Since Shangguan Ye was visiting the Nether Realm for the first time, Cang Ming had never seen him before. Moreover, Shangguan Ye was still young, and Cang Ming wanted someone to scout the way for him.

"You! Get over here!" Cang Ming roared.

"You mean me?" Shangguan Ye pointed at himself.

"Go investigate what's at the bottom of the lake for me." Cang Ming crossed his arms, looking utterly condescending.

Upon hearing that, Shangguan Ye's gaze gradually turned sharp.

"What if I refuse?" Shangguan Ye retorted.

"Either go, or die!" Cang Ming immediately unleashed his Legendary Three Stars strength, forcing many people around him back.

"So strong. He really is the number one genius," the surrounding spectators exclaimed.

Faced with Cang Ming's aggressive attitude, Shangguan Ye showed him no courtesy. The strength of Sub-God Peak erupted from him in an instant.

Boom!

The overwhelming pressure instantly crushed Cang Ming to the ground, leaving him unable to move.

"A Demigod!" The surrounding crowd was shocked beyond belief.

"Why would a Demigod-level expert come here?"

"And he's so young. Which family's genius is he?"

"Never seen him before. He looks unfamiliar." Everyone shook their heads.

"Damn it, I'm from the Blood Feather Clan. Aren't you afraid—" Before Cang Ming could finish, Shangguan Ye stomped him into the dirt.

"Mmgh, mmgh..."

"My, my, this little brother is quite skilled." A handsome man stepped out from the crowd.

"Little brother, why not give me some fa—" Before Mu Ye could finish speaking, he was pressed flat on the ground just like Cang Ming.

"Face? Where is it? Why's it hiding so I can't see it?" Shangguan Ye crouched down and asked.

Damn it, I'd love to show my face, but did you give me the chance?! Mu Ye cursed inwardly.

"Now then, who's going into the water?" Shangguan Ye asked coldly.

"Of course we'll scout the way for you." Having witnessed Shangguan Ye's strength, Cang Ming immediately caved.

"And you?" Shangguan Ye looked at Mu Ye.

"Same here."

"Now that's more like it."