The Sacred Domain Appears

The night was deep.

Steller stood upon the ruins of the battlefield, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings like a hawk. Under the moonlight, the bloodstains on the ground had dried into a dark brown, and the traces of the struggle were clearly visible—the ground was cracked, rubble was scattered everywhere, and several thick trees had been snapped in half, their broken ends still bearing signs of scorching.

"They didn't leave long ago." He stood up, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

He looked toward the northwest. There lay a range of continuous mountains, steep and rugged, shrouded in mist year-round and rarely visited by humans. Based on his years of tracking experience, fugitives often chose such places to hide—easy to defend and hard to attack, convenient for concealment, yet also easy to get trapped in.

A cold sneer curled the corner of Steller's mouth.

As a Saint-level powerhouse of the Radiant Church, he had hunted down no fewer than eighty fugitives; no matter how cunning the prey, they could not escape his grasp. Those people should not have rescued the Church's prisoner, and they certainly should not have killed the Church's men. Since they had done so, they would have to pay the price.

His figure flickered and vanished into the night.

The night wind howled, the moonlight was obscured by clouds, and the earth plunged into darkness.

Yunfeng Town.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, as the sky began to brighten, Akes was in the courtyard loosening his limbs. This was a habit he had kept since childhood; even though he was already a high-and-mighty ninth-rank powerhouse in the eyes of the secular world, he had not abandoned it. After finishing a set of boxing techniques, his breath was long and steady, his muscles and bones were stretched, and he felt much more refreshed.

The five Barker brothers were up even earlier. When Akes stepped out of his room, the five were already huddled in a corner of the courtyard, whispering to each other. Their five bald heads were pressed together, looking like five large mushrooms from a distance.

Seeing Akes emerge, Barker quickly stood up to greet him: "Brother Akes, morning!"

The other four followed suit, their faces wearing honest, simple smiles. After two days of rest, their complexions had improved significantly, and their wounds had mostly healed. Akes swept his gaze over them and nodded inwardly. He had to admit that these five were indeed thick-skinned and sturdy, with astonishing recovery powers. If an ordinary person had suffered those injuries, they wouldn't be out of bed for ten days or half a month, yet these five were already lively after only three days.

"Where is Linley?" Akes asked.

"Brother Linley is still in his room." Barker pointed toward Linley's room and lowered his voice, "He kept watch until the second half of the night, so he must still be resting. We brothers wanted to take over for him, but he said it wasn't necessary."

Akes nodded. That kid Linley, though young, was steady and mature in his actions; it was no wonder that old fellow Doehring valued him so much.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Linley's door opened.

Linley walked out, his expression calm, showing no signs of fatigue. Bebe was perched on his shoulder, his little eyes darting around as he sized up the people in the courtyard, his tiny claws occasionally tugging at Linley's ear.

"Everyone up?" Linley walked over and flexed his wrists, "What's the plan for today?"

Sessler happened to emerge from the room at that moment. Hearing this, he stroked his graying beard and said: "This old man believes we must stay here for a while." He walked into the courtyard and looked at the surrounding environment, "The Church's people are surely searching everywhere; running out now would be dangerous. Yunfeng Town is remote, and they won't find us here for a while. Let's lay low for now and figure out a plan once the search eases up."

Linley looked at Akes.

Akes pondered for a moment and nodded: "Agreed. It's a good time to rest, and I also need to consolidate my cultivation realm." He spoke the truth; ever since breaking through to the ninth rank, he hadn't had the chance to properly settle his power.

"Then it's settled." Linley said, turning to the five Barker brothers, "Barker, you five should also focus on recovering; we'll discuss future matters after some time."

Barker quickly agreed: "We'll listen to Brother Linley! We brothers are tough; we'll be back to our lively selves in a few more days!"

Gates grinned from the side: "Whenever Brother Linley has any tasks, just give the word! We brothers might not be good for much else, but we have plenty of strength!"

Just then, Halu, who had been dozing in the corner, suddenly lifted its head and let out a low growl from its throat. Its fur stood on end, it bared its teeth, and its gaze remained fixed on the entrance of the town, its front paws scraping the ground as if facing a formidable enemy.

Linley's expression changed: "Someone's coming!"

At almost the same moment, a figure descended from the sky and landed outside the courtyard.

It was a middle-aged man, tall and burly, with short golden hair standing on end and a cold, chiseled face. He wore a dark robe with golden patterns embroidered on the hem and the emblem of the Radiant Church on his chest. Most terrifyingly, despite being a warrior, he could fly through the air—this was the mark of a Saint-level powerhouse.

A Saint-level expert.

Steller's gaze swept over the people in the courtyard like a physical force, finally landing on Linley. He narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold arc forming at the corner of his mouth.

"Linley Baruch." His voice was not loud, but every word struck like a heavy hammer against their hearts, "You have great courage to kill my Church's men and rescue the Church's prisoner."

Linley did not speak.

The dragon blood within him surged rapidly; dark green dragon scales sprouted from beneath his skin, quickly covering his entire body. Two short horns emerged from his forehead, and his hands transformed into sharp dragon claws. His aura climbed from the eighth rank all the way to the peak of the ninth.

Akes's Fallen Heart Flame had already condensed into leaping flames in his palms, and as he channeled his internal energy to protect his body, a golden light shield appeared around him. He squinted as he sized up Steller.

Sessler was also chanting an incantation, his aged voice low and rapid. The surrounding temperature plummeted, white frost appeared on the ground, and death energy began to gather from all directions. Necromancers were at a disadvantage in direct combat, but if given enough time to summon a legion of the undead, they were not necessarily unable to fight.

Although the five Barker brothers didn't know what was happening, they could see that the situation was dire. The five instinctively formed a circle, clenched their fists, and tensed their muscles, ready for battle. Even though their strength was low, they had never had the habit of abandoning their companions to flee.

Steller watched their reactions, a look of disdain appearing on his face.

"A bunch of ants."

He raised his hand, and holy light condensed in his palm into a dazzling beam of light, so blinding that one dared not look directly at it. Then, with a casual wave, the beam swept across; wherever it passed, the ground exploded, rubble flew, and scorched marks were left in the air.

Linley was the first to charge forward.

His dragon-transformed body erupted with astonishing speed as he swung his dragon claws against the beam of light. With a thunderous boom, Linley was sent flying backward, crashing into the courtyard wall. The wall collapsed instantly, burying him under bricks and stones. The next moment, he crawled out from the ruins, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth and his arms trembling slightly, but his gaze remained firm.

"Is that all?" he gritted out.

Akes's flame spears had already been launched.

Three spears condensed from the Fallen Heart Flame shot toward Steller in a triangular formation, moving with extreme speed and arriving in the blink of an eye. The flames tore through the air, emitting a sharp whistling sound. Steller raised an eyebrow slightly and lifted a hand to conjure a shield of holy light.

The flame spears struck the shield, emitting a hissing sound as sparks flew everywhere. The shield vibrated violently, countless fine cracks appearing on its surface, but it did not shatter.

A flash of surprise crossed Steller's eyes: "Impressive power."

He looked at Akes, his gaze holding a bit more interest. For a ninth-rank attack to shake his shield, this person was not simple.

He raised his hand again, and holy light coalesced into a massive palm, slamming down toward Akes. The giant palm blotted out the sky, shrouding a radius of several zhang and leaving no room for escape.

Akes immediately activated Teleportation, his figure flickering as he reappeared ten zhang away. The giant palm struck the ground with a thunderous explosion, carving a pit a zhang deep into the earth as soil churned and stone fragments sprayed outward.

Sessler's undead legion finally finished their summoning.

Countless skeletons and zombies surged from the ground, a dense, tidal wave rushing toward Steller. The skeletons brandished rusted blades, while the zombies dragged their rotting bodies, charging forward without fear of death. Steller let out a cold snort, and holy light erupted violently; wherever the radiance touched, those undead creatures melted like snow, instantly turning to ash.

"Necromancer?" Steller looked at Sessler, a flash of disgust in his eyes. "Desecrating the dead, staining the dignity of life. Perfect. I shall deal with you all at once."

He took a single step, appearing instantly before Sessler, and brought his palm down.

Sessler's expression shifted wildly, too slow to dodge.

Just then, Linley charged up once more. His dragon-transformed body unleashed its full power, a punch slamming toward the center of Steller's back. The wind of the blow whistled, the very air distorting under the force of the strike. Steller was forced to turn and defend; the two traded a blow, and while Linley was sent flying again, Sessler seized the chance to escape, stumbling backward and gasping for air.

Bebe lunged from the side, his small claws swiping at Steller's eyes. His speed was like lightning, leaving a trail of afterimages in the air. Steller tilted his head slightly, and though Bebe's sharp claws raked across his face, they left behind only a few shallow white marks.

"Seeking death."

Steller swiped backhand, sending Bebe flying into a tree. The trunk snapped on impact, and Bebe tumbled to the ground, only to scramble back up, baring his teeth and letting out a low growl.

Halu roared and lunged, jaws wide as he bit at Steller's leg. Steller didn't even look, kicking out once. Halu's massive body was sent flying, crashing through a courtyard wall and landing in the ruins, struggling to rise.

The five Barker brothers wanted to rush in to help, but with their strength, they couldn't even get close. The shockwaves of a Saint-level battle alone could claim their lives. They could only stand on the periphery, pacing frantically, their knuckles white as they gripped their fists.

Akes gritted his teeth, pushing the Fallen Heart Flame to its limit.

This time, he held nothing back, all his magic power surging madly into the flames. The Fallen Heart Flame danced violently in his palm, its color shifting from crimson to golden-red, then to a blinding, incandescent white. He condensed the energy into a massive spear of fire.

"Go!"

The fire spear tore through the air, leaving a molten trench in the ground in its wake. It struck straight at Steller, moving with a speed the naked eye could not track.

Steller finally turned serious.

He pressed his palms together, and holy light condensed before him into a thick shield of radiance. Intricate patterns emerged on its surface—a solidified defense that only a Saint-level powerhouse could manifest. The fire spear slammed into the shield, erupting in a blinding light as if a miniature sun had detonated in the courtyard. The shield trembled violently, emitting a groan of unbearable strain as countless fine cracks spiderwebbed across its surface, but in the end, it held.

Steller's expression shifted slightly.

The power of that spear had exceeded the scope of the ninth rank, touching the threshold of the Saint level.

But it was only enough to make his expression shift slightly.

He raised his hand, and holy light condensed once more, this time forming countless blades of light. They hung suspended in the air, dense and numerous, their tips aimed at everyone present. The light blades flickered, radiating an aura of destruction.

"It is over."

He waved his hand, and the blades of light fell like rain.

Linley gritted his teeth, blocking the front. Dragon scales covered his entire body, and he crossed his arms to protect his vitals, preparing to take the hit head-on. Akes raised a protective barrier of true essence while channeling his magic, ready to activate Ice Block—his final life-saving measure, though he had no confidence it could stop these blades. Sessler's face was deathly pale, his magic exhausted, leaving him unable to fight. The five Barker brothers closed their eyes, waiting for death.

Just then.

A black shadow descended from the sky, landing before them.

It was a lean man in a simple grey robe, his long black hair draped loosely over his shoulders.

Steller's pupils contracted violently.

"Who goes there?"

The man turned, revealing a slightly pale face with ordinary features that nonetheless held an indescribable charm. He looked at Steller, a faint, mocking curve to his lips—a smile filled with playfulness, disdain, and the amusement of a spectator watching a show.

"The Radiant Church is becoming increasingly arrogant." His voice was casual, as if he were commenting on the pleasant weather.

Steller's expression changed drastically.

He recognized this man—the King of Assassins, Hise. A God-level powerhouse. One of the most pinnacle existences in the entire Yulan Continent. How could he be here?

Hise ignored Steller's expression, turning instead to look at Linley with a slight nod. "Linley, long time no see."

Linley reverted from his dragon-transformed state and cupped his hands. "Master Hise." His tone was respectful.

Hise waved a hand, then looked toward the five Barker brothers. His gaze swept over the five of them, from top to bottom and back again, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.

"You five, what are your names?"

Barker was stunned, not understanding why this great figure would be interested in them. He answered honestly, "I am Barker, and these are my brothers—Gates, Ankh, Bullen, and Welin."

Hise was silent for a moment, then sighed softly.

"The descendants of Amanda, reduced to such a state."

Barker looked blank. "Amanda? Who?"

Hise did not answer, turning back to Steller. His tone remained flat, yet carried an unquestionable majesty. "Go back and tell your Pope: I am protecting these five. From now on, no one from the Radiant Church is to touch a single hair on their heads."

Steller's face turned livid. "Hise, you would do well to stay out of the Radiant Church's affairs. This is official business of my Church, and you, an outsider—"

"And what if I insist on interfering?" Hise interrupted, laughing as if he had just heard a joke.

He raised his hand and gave a light wave.

Without any warning, Steller was struck by an invisible mountain, sent flying backward through several walls and tumbling through the ruins for over a dozen zhang before finally landing on an open patch of ground. He scrambled up, vomiting blood, his face as pale as paper. His robe was shredded, revealing the inner armor beneath—it was buckled inward and covered in cracks.

Steller gritted his teeth, looking at Hise and then at Linley and the others, before finally turning and stumbling away into the night.

He knew that with Hise present, he could not kill anyone today. If he did not leave now, he would be the one to die.

Hise did not pursue.

He turned around and looked at the five Barker brothers.

"The five of you, come with me."

The five Barker brothers were at a loss and looked toward Linley. Linley nodded, signaling for them to follow. The five exchanged glances and obediently trailed behind Hise.

Hise led the five brothers to the other side of the courtyard and cast a sound-insulation barrier. The barrier rippled like water, enveloping the six of them. Those outside could only see them speaking, but could not hear what was being said.

Sessler struggled to stand up, watching Hise's back with eyes full of awe.

After a long while, the sound-insulation barrier dissipated.

The five Barker brothers walked back with complex expressions on their faces—shock, bewilderment, excitement, and a trace of an indescribable emotion. Barker's eyes were even slightly red, yet he fought to keep the tears from falling. Gates kept his head down, Ankh pressed his lips together, Bullen clenched his fists, and Welin looked up at the sky.

Hise followed behind, looked at Linley, and said, "These five lads are descendants of the Immortal Warriors, one of the Four Ultimate Warriors. Their ancestor, Amanda, was a life-and-death friend of mine back in the day."

Linley was slightly startled, but quickly regained his composure. No wonder their recovery was so strong, and no wonder they possessed such powerful bodies without practicing battle qi—it turned out they were descendants of the Immortal Warriors.

Hise continued, "Immortal Warriors are quite unique; they can only practice their clan's battle qi manual, the Necropolis of the Gods Manual. Other techniques are useless. Without the Necropolis of the Gods Manual, they cannot cultivate battle qi and can only rely on brute force for their entire lives." He paused and said, "The Necropolis of the Gods Manual is at the Saber headquarters. I will go retrieve it tomorrow and bring it to them."

Upon hearing this, the five Barker brothers knelt in unison, their foreheads touching the ground.

"Many thanks, Senior!"

Hise waved his hand, his tone uncharacteristically filled with emotion: "No need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank your ancestor, Amanda." He paused, his voice dropping a notch, "He saved my life back then; without him, there would be no me today. Looking after his descendants now is only right."

He looked at Linley: "These five lads will follow you for the time being. Help me keep an eye on them; don't let them die."

Linley nodded: "Rest assured, Mr. Hise, I will."

Hise grunted, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, before his figure flashed and vanished.

The night wind blew, leaving the courtyard in a state of disarray.

Akes stood where he was, watching the direction in which Hise had disappeared, sighing inwardly.

He turned his head to look at the five Barker brothers.

The five men were still kneeling on the ground, not having risen. Barker's shoulders trembled slightly, whether from excitement or something else, it was unclear.

Akes withdrew his gaze and looked toward the night sky in the distance.

After this night, their destinies would all be different.