Arrival

The western frontier is home to too many ferocious beasts. Everywhere one looks, there are dense, ancient forests devoid of human presence, teeming with vicious beasts and raptors—it is a truly terrifying primordial land.

Forget children; even a group of seasoned warriors traveling together would struggle to cross it, liable at any moment to be devoured by a sudden, primordial remnant, leaving not even their bones behind.

Little One possesses keen spiritual senses, allowing him to evade countless terrifying crises along the way. He faced many life-or-death trials and suffered grievous wounds, but in the end, he fought his way through.

He is only seven years old, yet he has accomplished such a feat!

If this were known, it would surely be explosive news, causing a sensation and spreading far and wide. If a major power like the Deer-Hunting Academy were to hear of it, they would immediately dispatch experts to find him and recruit him into their ranks.

As for Shi Lin, he practically bulldozed his way through the journey. The Undying Scripture provided more than just a slight boost to his strength; it was a leap in power. At the very least, he is now unrivaled beneath the Tenth Heavenly Passage.

Such is the formidable might of the Undying Scripture.

Finally, they caught sight of a village. Little One and his companion rode their Unicorn, galloping out of the Great Wilderness.

Once they broke out of the endless mountain ranges, the fierce birds and beasts became less frequent, and it was relatively much safer. Two days later, they arrived near a major town on the border of the Stone Kingdom.

The ancient kingdom is truly vast, governing billions of miles of territory. A single fiefdom belonging to a powerful prince can contain hundreds of millions, or even over a billion people; its borders are boundless.

With such a vast territory, it is naturally difficult to manage every part. They can only build a central megacity in each region to maintain order. Should a rebellion occur in that area, the experts stationed in the megacity move out swiftly, suppressing the unrest like a thunderbolt.

In truth, the Stone Kingdom is at its peak and is nowhere near an era requiring the suppression of rebellions. Especially in the last few hundred years, the Human Emperor's runes have reached the heavens, and his divine might is peerless, making the nation increasingly prosperous; no one dares to betray him.

Only in these frontier regions is it perhaps less stable, as foreign races occasionally come to raid the borders, plundering the human race and devouring living beings. However, to such a vast ancient kingdom, these minor skirmishes are nothing.

Chongyun Town could actually be called a city, as its population reaches eighty thousand. Its geographical location is vital, serving as a key stronghold in the west and a dangerous pass under the central megacity of this region.

For the past hundred years, experts from other races have occasionally come to invade, but those who have tried to pass through here and force their way in have never succeeded.

On the road, they saw people one after another, mostly merchants traveling in and out of the primordial forests to purchase animal hides and spirit herbs from distant tribes. Although a round trip is extremely dangerous, the profits are quite considerable.

"Hmm, let's head back early. I heard things haven't been peaceful lately; the Wood Clan in the Great Wilderness has been wanting to mobilize their troops. Furthermore, rumors say a primordial remnant has arrived deep in these mountains. Having just settled here, it will surely want to show off its power to intimidate others, and it will likely come to cause trouble in Chongyun Town."

Little One listened attentively, eager to learn more.

Shi Lin looked left and right along the way, as this was his first time seeing such an ancient city.

"Oh no, this looks like a small beast tide! Could that primordial remnant be acting early to establish its authority here?" "Probably not, it's likely just an ordinary beast king; there aren't that many beasts. Let's run!"

They had been traveling for a while and could already see Chongyun Town. The city walls were magnificent, blocking the path like a mountain ridge. They were built from "Adamantine Rock," a pitch-black stone that emitted a daunting, metallic luster.

In front of the city, a dense mass of fierce birds and beasts had gathered. They did not bypass the city, clearly intending to establish their dominance right there. Their roars shook the heavens, and they were actually preparing to attack the city, a sight that made one tremble.

"Hurry and hide! Let us hope Lord Chongyun can slaughter all these evil spirits!"

The group of people fled rapidly toward the distance, not daring to enter the city at such a time for fear of being targeted by the beast horde and meeting a tragic end.

Inside the city, right next to the gate, stood a small earthen hill. Growing upon it was a plant about four or five zhang tall, clearly visible even from outside the city. It was ink-green in color with massive leaves shaped like palm-leaf fans.

This is the Sacrificial Spirit of Chongyun Town, a plant whose name even the locals cannot definitively identify. It is referred to as Lord Sacrificial Spirit, or Lord Chongyun.

It emits waves of fragrance. Between its massive, ink-green leaves, three strange flowers bloom, each the size of a millstone. Their petals are gorgeous and shimmer with rosy light—one wreathed in red, one white as jade, and one shrouded in purple mist.

The beast horde clearly spotted the people outside the city, and a group immediately broke off and charged toward them, roaring as they approached at high speed.

"Lord Sacrificial Spirit, save us!" the group cried out.

Shi Lin and Little One prepared for battle, but just then, a flash of red light erupted. From the plant on the earthen hill, the flower shimmering with red light bloomed. Its petals stopped closing, and it emitted an astonishing fluctuation.

"Shhh."

A beam of red light shot out, circled once, and slashed toward the area. The dozens of fierce birds and beasts charging forward were thrown into chaos, howling as blood sprayed everywhere; the horde had suffered a heavy blow.

The two of them revealed looks of astonishment.

This so-called red light was actually a flying sword, entirely crimson and as crystalline as fire jade.

"A flower containing a flying sword?"

Before long, all dozens of these fierce beasts and exotic birds lay in pools of blood, either decapitated or severed in two—it was incredibly brutal!

"It's much stronger than the Divine Bei of Bei Village. Even Auntie Green-Scaled Eagle certainly couldn't compare to this before she ate the Suanni meat," Little One whispered. That red light was so swift; in just a moment, it had put these vicious creatures to death.

Shi Lin nodded in agreement.

With a flash of light, the red sword flew back into the city.

The merchants who had been collecting hides and herbs were all pale-faced. Once they regained their composure, they knelt toward Chongyun Town, thanking the great benefactor.

"Oh, it turns out it's the flower's stamen; it looks exactly like a flying sword," Little One exclaimed in surprise. The flying sword was merely a stamen, shaped like a sword. After flying back, it inserted itself between the petals, flowing with dazzling light before the entire flower closed once more.

"Lord Chongyun has been guarding this place for hundreds of years. From a small town with fewer than a thousand people, it has grown to a city with over eighty thousand today. Its contributions are immeasurable."

"In terms of strength, Lord Chongyun could easily guard a megacity. It is no weaker than the Sacrificial Spirits of those megacities; it simply refuses to leave."

As the people discussed this, Little One was amazed; this plant was truly powerful.

"This Lord Chongyun... its strength should be at the Array Formation Realm," Shi Lin muttered to himself.

"This Sacrificial Spirit is quite extraordinary," a slightly plump middle-aged man muttered to himself inside the city. He was clean-shaven, and his eyes flashed with sharp light.

"It is very strong. Such Sacrificial Spirits are rare. Perhaps you should step forward and extend an invitation, my lord? Maybe this Sacrificial Spirit would join our Rain Clan," a young man beside him suggested.

The slightly plump middle-aged man shook his head. "Forget it. It wouldn't look good if word got out, and we have more important matters. I wonder if Miss Xia Youyu has returned yet; we are here to request that token."

Outside the city, the beast horde did not disperse. Fierce birds circled in the sky, lingering there without retreating despite the loss of their kin. Inside the city, on the earthen hill, the four-to-five-zhang-tall Sacrificial Spirit remained ink-green. Its three millstone-sized flowers, shaped like peonies, shimmered with flowing light, looking magnificent and emitting waves of fresh fragrance.

The more the Sacrificial Spirit remained like this, without taking the initiative to attack, the more uneasy the beast horde outside became. They were terrified of this Sacrificial Spirit that had been rooted here for years. Though they did not retreat, they dared not attack for the time being.

Suddenly, a long cry echoed, like thunder, shaking the dense forest and causing leaves to rustle and fall. A massive black shadow appeared in the sky, a ferocious bird fifty to sixty meters long, its body shimmering with dark light, exuding potent energy. Its silver eyes were sharp as lightning, runes flashing, and an oppressive aura descended upon everything.

"Wow, the leader of the beast horde has appeared, it's actually a ferocious bird, such terrifying fluctuations!" people exclaimed in surprise.

This beast tide was led by this powerful ferocious bird. It let out a cry, and the various beasts on the ground immediately began to charge, fearing its might and daring not to disobey.

"Clang!"

In the city, on the earthen mound, the Sacrificial Spirit bloomed with crimson light once more. The red flower opened, and a bolt of crimson lightning shot up, slashing through the air, incredibly sharp.

"Puff," "Puff"...

The first few beasts charging at the front immediately fell, struck by the crimson flying sword. Their foreheads were uniformly split, spilling bright red blood, causing fear and chaos.

Despite being a plant, it could unleash such a domineering crimson sword. Its sword-shaped stamen could be called a world-shattering sharp weapon, invincible. The attacks of all the beasts and strange birds slowed down.

With such a Sacrificial Spirit guarding the city, it could withstand thousands of troops. Ordinary beast tides could not shake the foundation of Chongyun City, making it impregnable.

In the sky, the fifty to sixty-meter-long massive ferocious bird cried out, its dark light shimmering. Mysterious ripples emanated from its entire body. It opened its mouth and spat out a large expanse of fire, attacking the plant. It had personally intervened, otherwise, the beast tide would have scattered.

The crimson sword flew back, and the dark green plant trembled, glowing all over. A mist of emerald green rose and surged towards the sky, blocking the large expanse of fire. With a "sizzling" sound, the fire quickly diminished.

The black ferocious bird in the sky, its silver eyes blazing, shot out beams of light, like giant silver arrows, clanging as they flew, each tens of meters long, shooting towards the city.

"Pop," "Pop"...

In the city, the plant's dark green leaves trembled, and three flowers, as large as millstones, bloomed simultaneously. Crimson, white, and purple light erupted, with rolling mist and brilliant auspicious radiance, emitting astonishing fluctuations.

Crimson light flashed, and the sword hummed. The crimson sword was the first to charge into the sky, drawing a patch of bright red light like the evening glow. Then, a flash of pure white brilliance, and a white jade sword soared into the heavens. Following that, purple energy swirled and steamed upwards, and a purple sword let out a long cry.

Three flying swords rose together from the ground, like comets streaking across the sky, trailing long tails of light that illuminated the entire sky. Their radiance was astonishing, connecting heaven and earth!

In the sky, the ferocious bird circled like a dark cloud, its ferocity intimidating. From its silver pupils, beams of silver light shot out, only to be successively cut down.

The three swords clanged loudly, their hum shaking the heavens. Runes spread out, and finally, they dispersed the remaining firelight and reached close to the ferocious bird.

The ferocious bird flapped its wings, resisting with all its might. Brilliant runes erupted there, and they clashed fiercely.

Accompanied by bursts of clanging sounds, finally, with a "puff," the massive ferocious bird's body was split open. Large amounts of blood rained down from the sky. The giant bird's head was severed, and it fell to the ground.

The beast tide immediately collapsed. With its leader killed, they scattered and fled, rushing towards the distant mountains. "Kill!"

The city gates opened wide, and a group of powerful individuals rushed out, pursuing them from behind. Clusters of arrows were shot into the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, then rained down upon the ferocious birds and beasts, causing blood to splash and leaving behind one corpse after another.

In the distance, the Little One witnessed the battle and was quite moved. Sacrificial Spirits were truly strange and varied, with all sorts of species, and without exception, they were all extremely powerful.

It was merely a plant, with three flowers as large as millstones, yet it had nurtured sword stamens, which was truly astonishing.

This battle had a significant impact on him. Little Shi Hao murmured, "Runes can be used like this, nurturing a sharp weapon within the body to launch an attack, invincible."

He was contemplating whether to emulate it and condense a sharp weapon using runes.

In the city, the slightly plump middle-aged man muttered to himself after witnessing the battle, "This Sacrificial Spirit is truly extraordinary, having grown several flying swords. Its future achievements are limitless."

All three swords were rare treasures, priceless, making him tempted. However, he also knew that even with the Rain Clan's power, some things could not be touched.

"Hmm, right, is there any news from that dilapidated manor?" the middle-aged man asked a steward beside him after regaining his senses.

"No, that couple hasn't returned since they left," the steward replied. He was in his forties, had spent years in the Western Frontier, and usually held considerable authority, but now he was bowing and scraping, exactly as before.

"Shi Ziling is a very terrifying person. The clan is uneasy and strongly wishes he wouldn't reappear. Pay close attention, and report any news immediately," a fierce look appeared on the middle-aged man's face.

"Yes, as soon as there's any disturbance, I will report it immediately," the steward said, appearing loyal. He had stayed in this wilderness long enough and wished to earn merit and return to the imperial capital.

"By the way, is that child still alive?" the pale, beardless, slightly plump middle-aged man asked casually.

The steward quickly replied, "His body is very weak, he won't live much longer."

The middle-aged man grunted noncommittally.

The steward's face immediately turned pale, and he added, "Those old monsters have all passed away one after another, and the last one remaining won't live for many more days. That little beast probably won't live long either."

"Don't act rashly. No matter how dilapidated that place is, it holds unusual significance. If you really cause trouble... Hmph!" the middle-aged man warned.

"My lord, rest assured, this child might accidentally fall into a well, fall off a mountain, or be attacked by a raptor and die in the future. It will be an accident, without any trace or flaw."

"Stop trying to be clever!" the middle-aged man glared at him fiercely.

"Yes!" the steward quickly bowed, not daring to offer any rebuttal.