At the mountaintop.
An ancient hall stood there, bearing the weight of ages. Three large characters on its plaque read "Void-Step Hall."
"Demonic scum! You deserve to die!"
Senior Brother Ruan stared at his Dao companion's severed head, his eyes nearly splitting with rage.
After countless hardships, their group had finally found the Azure Sea Ancestor's remains through Junior Brother Linghu's bloodline-tracing art.
Years ago, for reasons unknown, the ancestor had found this secret realm, entered it, and died while seated in Void-Step Hall.
Or perhaps the hall's restrictions had struck back and gravely wounded him, leaving him no choice but to die there.
These were restrictions capable of gravely wounding even a cultivator at the peak of Core Formation!
Senior Brother Ruan and the others had therefore dared not make a commotion. They had only wanted to retrieve their ancestor's remains.
Never had they expected this demonic scoundrel to ambush them!
Worse, the scoundrel was terrifyingly strong, apparently a Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet he had shamelessly lain in wait to attack!
Caught off guard, their group had suffered terribly. Many junior brothers had died, and even his own Dao companion had perished on the spot!
In his fury, Senior Brother Ruan pulled out the Talisman Treasure his sect had bestowed on him before the journey—the Sea-Calming Ring!
But the demonic Foundation Establishment cultivator had a Talisman Treasure of his own.
"Haha! We're both using Talisman Treasures, but I'm at Foundation Establishment, while you're only at Qi Refinement. How long can your Spiritual Sense and magical power hold out?"
The demonic cultivator laughed and formed hand seals. Several strands of his hair instantly turned white.
Then wisps of pitch-black flame poured from his mouth and nose, becoming firebirds that swooped toward Senior Brother Ruan.
Senior Brother Ruan was only at