The Calamity of the Mingyu Bird

Nine Yan Universe Kingdom, Mingyu Secret Realm.

This secret realm was about a hundred thousand light-years in diameter. Though it was not particularly large, it was extremely rich in resources.

Several days earlier, a World Lord under Marquis Xuanshi had brought news that traces of Mingyu Birds had been found in the Mingyu Secret Realm.

Mingyu Birds were a type of Special Lifeform unique to the Mingyu Secret Realm, with a Life Gene Level of up to eighty times.

More importantly, the Mingyu Crystals that accompanied the Mingyu Birds were something Lord of Nine Yan had personally declared he would buy at a high price. They could be exchanged for secret techniques or treasures.

As a result, people from all across the Nine Yan Universe Kingdom had been traveling to the Mingyu Secret Realm to explore, all in hopes of finding Mingyu Birds and Mingyu Crystals.

But Special Lifeforms were incredibly difficult to nurture. How many people could be lucky enough to find a newly born Mingyu Bird?

If someone else had told Marquis Xuanshi that they had found traces of a Mingyu Bird, he would never have believed them. But the World Lord was his junior disciple in name, so there was no reason for him to lie.

Besides, a super genius had emerged among his greatest enemies. Unless something unexpected happened, once that genius matured, it would mean his death.

That was why Marquis Xuanshi desperately hoped to find a lifeline. The Mingyu Crystals were his greatest hope. If he could find one and earn Lord of Nine Yan's protection, he would no longer need to fear being killed or hide inside his God Kingdom, afraid to come out.

As for going to the Outer-Region Battlefield?

Good heavens, wouldn't that just get him killed even faster?

Lord of Xuanshi Kingdom only wanted to bully the weak now and then and enjoy his quiet life. He had gone to the Outer-Region Battlefield once, and after that, he had never dared to return.

Mingyu Secret Realm, Flame Heart Lake. The lake was over a hundred million kilometers in diameter, its waters red and scorching hot, like liquid fire.

Flame Heart Lake was one of the breeding grounds of the Mingyu Bird and the place where the most Mingyu Birds were born. If there were traces of Mingyu Birds anywhere, this lake was the likeliest place to find them.

Above Flame Heart Lake, a black, pyramid-shaped spaceship hovered. Marquis Xuanshi was hiding inside it.

"Master, we've been searching for two days and haven't found any trace of a Mingyu Bird. Could there really be none here? How could we possibly come across such a legendary treasure so easily?" Marquis Xuanshi's Intelligent Life said.

"Haman, you're right. An existence like that won't be easy to find. We'll search for one more day. If we still find nothing, we'll leave." Marquis Xuanshi sighed. He had given himself three days. If he couldn't find one within that time, he would return to his God Kingdom.

At his master's words, Haman could only continue piloting the spaceship and its probes farther afield.

One light-year beyond Flame Heart Lake, Marquis Yanxing and the other two arrived through Divine Kingdom Teleportation. A moment later, an E9-class spaceship appeared in front of them. If Marquis Xuanshi had been there, he would have recognized it as the spaceship of his good disciple.

"Honored sirs, Marquis Xuanshi is at Flame Heart Lake. He probably hasn't left yet," Clark said respectfully. He had never imagined that the Yanxing Universe Kingdom would have gained two more marquises in addition to Marquis Yanxing. Were the resources brought by the Inspector's family really that formidable?

"Good. Here's what you asked for. If we successfully kill Xuanshi, I'll give you the rest." Marquis Yanxing waved his hand, and a World Ring flew out.

Then Marquis Yanxing and the other two set off for Flame Heart Lake.

After they were gone, Clark checked the contents of the World Ring, his face lighting up with delight. "No wonder he's from the Inspector's family. The old bastard Xuanshi wouldn't give me this even after tens of thousands of years, and now I've got half of it already. Once the old man's dead, I'll get the other half. Then my chances of becoming Immortal will be much higher. Teacher, don't blame me. I want eternal life too."

Half an hour later, above Flame Heart Lake.

Marquis Xuanshi was already growing restless. He had searched for two days and hadn't seen so much as a Mingyu Bird feather, let alone a Mingyu Crystal. Had that treacherous disciple deceived him?

"Wait a little longer. No one knows I came out this time except Clark. I'll search for one more day. Just one last day."

As Marquis Xuanshi continued his slow search, Marquis Yanxing and the other two arrived at Flame Heart Lake.

"We've found the spaceship. It's right there."

In an instant, all three shot toward Marquis Xuanshi.

Above Flame Heart Lake, the black Pyramid spaceship continued flying slowly.

Suddenly, a golden spear shot toward it.

"Who is it?" Marquis Xuanshi was startled. He guessed who his attackers were, but he had faith in his spaceship.

Unfortunately, events did not unfold as he had expected.

The golden spear pierced straight through the spaceship, leaving it nearly destroyed!

"Xuanshi, come out and meet your death!" Marquis Yanxing roared. He wore golden armor, and endless golden flames swirled around him.

Two other figures stood beside him. One also wore golden armor and held a black Divine Hammer, with endless purple flames swirling around him. Marquis Xuanshi recognized him as Qin Ming, also known as Marquis Yanming.

The final figure likewise wore golden armor. He held a long sword, and light surged around him. It was Qin Guang, the current Marquis Yanguang.

"I never thought the two of you would break through to the marquis level in just a few thousand years. You've even replaced your weapons, armor, spaceship, and probes with brand-new ones. I truly underestimated how much the Inspector values you." Marquis Xuanshi was alarmed. He hadn't sensed them at all before they got this close, which was enough to show that their probes were superior to his.

Even their weapons were vastly different from before. In the past, Marquis Yanxing's spear could never have damaged the spaceship like this. Now, a single thrust had nearly destroyed it. Perhaps the spear was made with G-Grade Metal; otherwise, it wouldn't be so powerful.

As for their armor, all three wore armor of the same type—or perhaps it was the very same model.

"Three of you, we all know what happened between us. What would it take for you to spare my life? I'm willing to pay any price," Marquis Xuanshi asked gravely, though he knew it was pointless.

"Spare your life? Sure. Kill the three of us, and we'll spare you," Marquis Yanxing said with narrowed eyes.

"Ancestor, why waste your breath on someone like him? Just kill him," Qin Guang said, swinging his sword.

Marquis Xuanshi said no more. He gripped his battle axe and immediately burned his divine power. He could only fight for his life. There was no other choice.

Unfortunately, even one-on-one, Marquis Xuanshi could barely hold his own against any of them. The Yan God Clan all had at least sixfold genes, giving them a far stronger foundation than his.

Against three at once, he had no chance of winning. And that was without even considering that their secret techniques and equipment were far superior to his.

The outcome of this battle was already decided.

Ten million kilometers away, Clark stood aboard the spaceship, listening to the violent explosions coming from Flame Heart Lake. His excitement grew with every one.

In the end, Marquis Xuanshi—a marquis who had long cultivated an undying body and had been famous for countless ages—self-destructed his Divine Body after taking a combined attack from all three. He perished in the Mingyu Secret Realm. Marquis Yanxing and the others had borne the full force of a marquis's self-destruction and were also seriously injured. They would have to return to the Yanxing Universe Kingdom to recover.

Marquis Xuanshi's death marked the beginning of the end for the Profound Stone Universe Kingdom he had ruled. Its more than seven thousand star systems were divided among various factions, a feast of plunder. Even though the kingdom still had an Immortal God, it was powerless to turn the tide.

The Yanxing Universe Kingdom ultimately claimed half the territory of the Profound Stone Universe Kingdom. From then on, it controlled more than ten thousand star systems, nearly the limit for a mid-tier Universe Country. It had no strength to expand any further in the short term.