"Was this the strongest creature that originally existed here?"
Jiang Yun guessed that this fiend had spent countless years breathing in baleful qi and devouring other fiends before breaking through to the Daluo Realm!
At this moment, the fiend's aura soared to the heavens, its presence terrifying as it charged straight at Jiang Yun, the only living being here!
"Daluo Golden Immortal..."
Jiang Yun remained utterly calm at the sight, even letting out a faint laugh.
"If you still had your wits about you, I truly might not have a way to deal with you."
"But a Daluo Golden Immortal with nothing but the instinct to kill..."
"Perfect! I'll use you to test my Baleful Corpse Formation!"
As his words fell, Jiang Yun pointed forward!
"Rise!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Nine Taiyi Golden Immortal Baleful Corpses, each holding a Profound Yin Banner, formed the Lunar Dark-Baleful Grand Array!
Eighty-one Golden Immortal Baleful Corpses, each holding a Fire Cloud Banner, formed the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Fire Cloud Formation!
The two formations overlapped!
Rumble!
In an instant, the grand formations activated, and their power multiplied!
The nine palaces inverted, while the eight trigrams obscured the clouds!
Purple Sun True Fire filled the skies, burning wildly!
Rolling Lunar Dark Baleful qi corroded all things!
"Roar!"
The Daluo Golden Immortal fiend possessed only the instinct to kill, yet it charged headlong into the formation!
As the two sides clashed, the entire secret realm shook violently!
This terrifying battle lasted for three days and three nights!
Three days later.
Scorched by the Purple Sun True Fire and eroded by dark-baleful qi, the towering fiendish body finally collapsed with an unwilling howl!
Jiang Yun's eyes burned as he finally slaughtered this fiend!
"A... Daluo Golden Immortal-level corpse!"
Jiang Yun laughed loudly and stored it away!
This battle had brought him a bountiful harvest!
After putting away the Daluo Golden Immortal fiend's corpse, the Baleful Corpse army, and the two formations,
Jiang Yun identified the direction and flew toward the center of the secret realm.
Now that he had cleared all the baleful qi and blood-shadow fiends from the secret realm, his journey was naturally smooth and unobstructed.
Within only a few days, Jiang Yun arrived at the very center of the secret realm.
He saw a towering mountain reaching into the clouds, imposing and majestic.
Jiang Yun flew to the mountaintop and discovered a plain, ancient hall.
Yet this hall was shrouded in a golden barrier that appeared faint but was actually indestructible!
"This aura..."
Jiang Yun's expression tightened. He could sense that this golden barrier contained supreme majesty capable of ruling over all heavens!
"A restriction laid down by a quasi-saint expert!"
Jiang Yun immediately understood that this had undoubtedly been personally arranged by the Jade Emperor Haotian!
"This sort of restriction is not something a mere Mysterious Immortal like me can break."
Xiang Liu's earlier behavior instantly flashed through Jiang Yun's mind.
"So that's how it is..."
He had guessed something.
Xiang Liu had gone to such lengths, even offering Great Witch Blood Essence and Kuafu's Staff, likely not to have him "break" the restriction.
Rather, Xiang Liu had wanted him to "open" the restriction!
Having figured this out, Jiang Yun did not dare delay.
He straightened his robes, his expression solemn, then respectfully clasped his hands and bowed toward the ancient hall!
"This humble Daoist, Jiang Yun, pays respects to the Supreme Natural Wondrous Existence, Most Revered Jade Emperor and Heavenly Emperor of the Golden Palace, Haotian!"
"I have come at another's request to seek the head of the Great Witch Xingtian."
"This humble Daoist knows nothing of the rights and wrongs or Karma involved. I ask Your Majesty to decide for yourself!"
Jiang Yun's words were filled with respect for Haotian.
He referred to himself only as "this humble Daoist," never mentioning that he was a third-generation disciple of the Interception Sect!
This showed that he had not come to exert pressure by relying on his status as a disciple beneath a Saint, but merely as an intermediary delivering a message.
Sure enough!
A moment after Jiang Yun finished speaking.
Buzz—!
The indestructible golden barrier actually rippled like water before slowly dissipating!
At the same time.
Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, within the Heavenly Court's Jade Pool Mystic Realm.
Immortal maidens danced gracefully, divine music filled the air, and all was peaceful.
Yet the Jade Emperor Haotian, seated upon his dragon throne, seemed slightly distracted, his thoughts wandering beyond the heavens.
"Your Majesty?"
Seeing this, the Queen Mother of Yaochi gently asked what was wrong.
Haotian returned to his senses, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"It's nothing. I merely discovered a promising seedling."
"Hehe, I never expected the Interception Sect to have a disciple so versed in propriety and so aware of when to advance and retreat..."
Haotian's gaze seemed to pierce through endless space and time, seeing the scene within the Changyang Mountain Secret Realm.
"After cultivating for barely over a thousand years, he has already reached the Mysterious Immortal realm. His foundation is so solid that he can even suppress a Daluo with formations..."
"Queen Mother, tell me, should I establish a beneficial connection in advance?"
The Queen Mother was slightly surprised as well.
"Everything shall be done according to Your Majesty's wishes. If he is truly as Your Majesty says, then this child's talent is among the finest in the Three Realms."
"I simply wonder which outstanding disciple of the Interception Sect Your Majesty is referring to?"
"No matter. In time, Queen Mother, you will have a chance to meet him."
Haotian smiled faintly and pointed outward. A streak of spiritual light pierced through the void and descended directly into the lower realm!
After doing this, Haotian could not help sighing again.
"What a pity. Such excellent talent was claimed first by Senior Brother Tongtian."
"Otherwise, wouldn't it be wonderful to bring him into my Heavenly Court?"
Before the hall in the Changyang Mountain Secret Realm.
When Jiang Yun saw the golden light vanish, it undoubtedly confirmed the guess in his heart.
He understood everything clearly.
"This journey was dangerous, but looking across the entire Primordial World, there may not be many immortals capable of reaching this place, yet there certainly aren't few either."
"Why would the Great Witch Xiang Liu insist on inviting me in, even going so far as to offer a drop of Great Witch Blood Essence as payment?"
"In the end, it was still a matter of 'face'!"
Jiang Yun's gaze deepened as he thoroughly sorted out the Karma behind this.
Back then, the Great Witch Xingtian had charged into the Heavenly Court. This act had undoubtedly trampled the dignity of the newly established Heavenly Court beneath his feet!"
As the new Heavenly Emperor personally appointed by Dao Ancestor Hongjun, Haotian had no choice but to act and suppress Xingtian in order to defend the Heavenly Court's prestige!"
But the Witch Race had merely declined; it had not been exterminated!
Not to mention the several reclusive Great Witches still in the Northern Primordial Border!
There was also Lady Serenity, who guarded the Six Paths of Reincarnation in the Underworld... Her true form was none other than Houtu!
Within the Underworld, she could even wield strength comparable to that of a Saint!"
Haotian was no fool. He was unwilling to offend the Witch Race to the death!
Yet the Witch Race was fierce and unyielding, while the Heavenly Court cared about its dignity. Neither side could take the initiative to lower its head.
At a time like this, someone naturally had to step forward and serve as an intermediary!"
And Jiang Yun was the most suitable candidate!
Jiang Yun's strength might not amount to much when viewed across the entire Primordial World.
But among the Interception Sect's third-generation disciples, he was one of the few acknowledged by Tongtian, enjoying the Interception Sect's Fortune!
If Jiang Yun had brazenly demanded that Haotian release Xingtian for the Interception Sect's sake, that would have been utter nonsense!
It would have been a blessing if Haotian did not slap Jiang Yun to death.
But... if he merely acted as an intermediary and gave both sides a dignified step down, allowing each to yield a little, that would be enough!
To put it bluntly, neither the Witch Race nor Haotian was unwilling to ease their relationship.
In the end,
To understand worldly affairs was knowledge; to master human sentiments was wisdom!
Having figured all this out, Jiang Yun felt his Dao heart grow increasingly clear.
His cultivation advanced considerably once more!
He stepped into the great hall.
Before you continue