Mist Island

The long howl of the Mysterious Elder echoed over the desert. Surrounded by brilliant light, he appeared like a star fallen into the mortal realm, displaying the formidable strength of a peak Planetary Stage Three powerhouse. Facing the pincer attack of the Tyrant Dragon King and the Tiger King, he showed not a shred of fear; instead, his eyes flickered with an even more intense fighting spirit.

"Mere beasts, how dare you act so insolently before me!" The Mysterious Elder roared. His figure instantly blurred into an afterimage, weaving between the Tyrant Dragon King and the Tiger King. Every strike he landed was accompanied by a deafening boom, as if the very air were being torn asunder.

The Tyrant Dragon King bellowed, its massive body twisting in the air as it unleashed the Dragon Emperor Dimension once more. Bolts of dragon breath, imbued with terrifying energy, slammed toward the Mysterious Elder like meteors. However, the Mysterious Elder moved with agility, like a ghost wandering through a storm, easily evading every attack while seizing opportunities to counter.

"Liu Yun, just hand over all the medicinal formulas that enhance strength, and I can pretend I saw nothing!"

Amidst the confrontation, the elder remained focused on his original goal, keeping his mission in mind. He wanted to seize Liu Yun's medicinal formulas because he had discovered that those medicines were of some use to him as well; thus, he was determined to obtain the truly correct recipes at any cost.

"Formulas? No medicine can save your blackened heart. Rest in peace!"

Liu Yun commanded the Tiger King to increase the intensity. It flashed and appeared behind the Mysterious Elder, its sharp claws slicing through the air, aimed directly at the elder's vitals. But the Mysterious Elder seemed to have eyes in the back of his head; he anticipated the Tiger King's move, striking back with a palm that carried a fierce wind, forcing the Tiger King to retreat several steps.

The first rays of the morning sun pierced through the clouds, spilling onto the raging battlefield and adding a touch of tragic grandeur to the thrilling combat. Liu Yun stood to the side, watching the scene with a complex gaze; his heart held both shock at the strength of the three beast kings and admiration for the Mysterious Elder's tenacious resistance.

"It seems it is time for me to make my move!"

As the sunlight shone upon the crystal on Liu Yun's chest, the Machine Race Clone had recovered its energy and began to assist Liu Yun once again.

Liu Yun possessed no martial arts cultivation capable of manipulating Planetary Stage power. From the moment he recovered his strength to his breakthrough to the Planetary Stage, barely a year had passed. Without computer assistance, it would have been a miracle if he hadn't suffered a cultivation deviation.

However, with the addition of computing power, things were different. Liu Yun could even trade blows with Hong and the Thunder God, and he had even managed to cultivate the Nine-Fold Thunder Blade to the eighth level in one go. Throughout Huaxia, Liu Yun was hard-pressed to find an opponent.

He looked at the elder and stretched his body. As if reborn, he radiated an indescribable majesty and aura. He took a deep breath, his gaze like a torch, locking onto the Mysterious Elder, ready to deliver a fatal blow to this peak Planetary Stage Three powerhouse.

"Tyrant Dragon King, Tiger King, lend me a hand!" Liu Yun shouted in a low voice, his tone filled with irresistible authority. He knew he couldn't win without a gang-up.

Hearing this, the two beast kings seemed to understand Liu Yun's command. They let out a deafening roar in unison and surged forward, launching a fierce assault on the Mysterious Elder once again. The Tyrant Dragon King opened its massive maw, spewing an even more violent Dragon Emperor Dimension, while the Tiger King transformed into a bolt of lightning, flanking from the side with claws flashing cold light, aiming straight for the Mysterious Elder's openings.

Seeing this, the Mysterious Elder's expression shifted. He had not expected Liu Yun to be able to command the beast kings, nor had he anticipated such an astonishing increase in Liu Yun's strength at this critical moment. He hurriedly shifted his stance, attempting to deal with the pincer attack from the three beast kings and Liu Yun simultaneously.

However, it was already too late. Aided by the Machine Race Clone, Liu Yun moved through the battlefield like a phantom. The Straight Blade in his hand traced a brilliant arc in the morning light, striking straight at the Mysterious Elder's chest. This strike condensed all of Liu Yun's strength and will; it was his steadfast defense of justice and conviction.

"Nine-Fold Thunder Blade, Thunder Moves Through the Nine Heavens!"

Liu Yun let out a low shout, and the Straight Blade pierced through the Mysterious Elder's chest like a dragon emerging from the sea, unstoppable. A look of disbelief flashed in the Mysterious Elder's eyes before his body stiffened and he slowly collapsed. A generation of powerhouses had fallen.

"My brother will not let you off..."

The elder cursed before he died. It seemed he had his own family, which might create a formidable enemy for Liu Yun in the future.

At this very moment, Yang Xiaolong, Ruby, Xueni, and Blacka all drew their weapons and took a slash at the mysterious and treacherous old man.

"Alright, everyone has drawn blood. Now that we are in the same boat, let's discuss what to do next!"

Yang Xiaolong was the initiator of this operation, and she had gone to great lengths to build trust within the team.

Ruby, with her silver eyes, glanced at Liu Yun, unable to hide her confusion.

"War God Liu Yun, or should I say... Councilor? Just tell us, what level of martial artist are you exactly, and what secrets do you hold?"

This was the shared question of the four women. They never imagined that Liu Yun could not only manipulate beast kings but also kill an extremely powerful councilor with a single strike. Such combat power had reached a level they could not comprehend; surely, even the Speaker could be no more than this, right?

"That is exactly what I intended to say. You have passed my test, and next, you will learn the greatest 'truth' in this world!"

As Liu Yun spoke, a dazzling light erupted from the crystal on his chest. The sky above the desert seemed to light up, and then, a warship descended upon the rolling sands.

On the horizon, a streak of silver-white gradually became clear, like the purest light of dawn, cutting through the sky and pointing directly at the center of the battlefield. It was not a simple aircraft, but a magnificent warship—the Excalibur Brave. Its appearance instantly adorned the vast, boundless desert like a scene from a science fiction painting, leaving everyone breathless.

The Excalibur Brave, with its five-kilometer-long hull, resembled a silver dragon lying across the sky. Its massive body, three kilometers in width and height, was covered in intricate mechanical structures and shimmering energy circuits. The bow was as sharp as a sword, as if it could split all obstacles as it pointed toward the depths of the universe; at the stern, a pair of massive energy wings slowly unfolded, gently flapping against the air to maintain the warship's balance and stability. Under the sunlight, the surface of the warship reflected a dazzling glow, echoing the morning sun—it was breathtakingly beautiful.

On the deck of the warship, various advanced weapon systems were arranged in an orderly fashion, from high-energy laser cannons to particle beam emitters, each showcasing its formidable combat power and technological sophistication.

As the Excalibur Brave fully manifested, a powerful aura enveloped the entire battlefield. Even powerful creatures like the Tyrant Dragon King and the Tiger King could not help but feel the shock and awe of unknown technology. Liu Yun stood in the shadow of the warship, appearing exceptionally small, and he soared into the air, bringing the four of them into the vessel.

Inside the warship, the shock of the four women was nearly boundless. The massive ship, several kilometers in size, hovered in the air without the slightest tremor, as steady as a continent. Furthermore, the furnishings within were things they could never tire of looking at, which they considered the greatest miracle in the world.

"My god! I understand now, Liu Yun, you must have been kidnapped by aliens, which is why you have such powerful strength!"

Xueni suddenly realized, as if she had understood everything. Unfortunately, she was completely wrong. Instead, it was Ruby, who had been silent all along, who possessed the unique intuition of a girl and guessed quite accurately.

"Captain, I want to touch the Crystal Ball on your chest..."

She was simply curious about how powerful that Crystal Ball really was, but Liu Yun would certainly not let this sharp little girl truly grasp his secret.

"Don't be impatient, I will distribute a Crystal Ball to each of you, I promise!"

Liu Yun sat in the cockpit, first manipulating the robots inside the warship to recover the strength of Liu Yao and the others, then piloted the warship to slowly descend onto an island filled with mist. This island was his ultimate destination.