Rift Realm Descends

"Grandfather, what's going on?"

Meng Hongchen clutched Xu Tianming's sleeve, her voice full of panic.

"This is a Rift Realm."

Jing Hongchen did not turn around, keeping his eyes fixed ahead.

"None of you leave the shield."

Xiao Hongchen also put away his usual arrogance, pressing close to the edge of the shield as his gaze swept across the constantly twisting space around them.

Xu Tianming stood in the center of the shield with a blank expression, silently cursing.

That damned Star Core.

He had merely wished for a suitable first Soul Ring. Who would have thought that the moment the wish left his mouth, a Rift Realm would descend and drag all four of them inside?

This commotion was far too great.

Xu Tianming glanced at Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen beside him, unable to keep a trace of guilt from rising in his heart. If the two of them were hurt because of his wish, that would be bad. He should have Karna keep a closer eye on them later.

The Rift Realm's devouring force grew stronger and stronger, and the silver-white shield groaned under the strain of the tearing space.

Jing Hongchen gritted his teeth. The phantom of a dark-gold giant toad appeared behind him, Soul Rings lighting up one after another as powerful Soul Power poured into the Soul Guidance Shield, forcibly stabilizing the surrounding space.

"Hold on tight!"

Jing Hongchen let out a low roar. The silver-white protective shield suddenly dropped, and the four of them were swallowed by the Rift Realm. The sensation of weightlessness lasted only a brief moment.

When Xu Tianming regained his footing, the surroundings had completely changed, and the Jingyang Mountain Range had vanished.

The sky was dark purple, with heavy clouds slowly turning overhead. Countless shattered fragments of space floated between the clouds, each holding distorted mountains, forests, and lakes. Every fragment seemed to contain an incomplete world.

The land beneath their feet retained the shape of the Jingyang Mountain Range, but it had already been polluted by the Star Core's power.

The rocks were grayish-black and covered in diamond-shaped Star Crystals. Every tree had withered, their branches twisted and tangled together as their treetops stretched toward the sky. A fine buzzing filled the air, and even the circulation of Soul Power began to slow.

Jing Hongchen put away the Soul Guidance Shield and surveyed the surroundings with a grave expression.

"A Medium Rift Realm."

He had made his judgment after only one glance.

"The space here has already taken shape. It will be difficult to find an exit anytime soon."

Meng Hongchen's face went pale.

"Grandfather, are we unable to get out?"

"With me here, we will."

Jing Hongchen answered in a deep voice. His words were firm, but inwardly, he did not relax in the slightest.

The lord of a Medium Rift Realm was at least a Titled Douluo. This Rift Realm had only just been born, so its lord might not have fully matured yet, but this was the Jingyang Mountain Range after all.

Once the Soul Beast environment of reality had been replicated by the Rift Realm, it was very likely to produce a large number of Soul Beast-type Rift Realm Creations.

What they had to face would definitely not be just one Rift Realm Lord.

Xu Tianming looked into the distance.

Low roars echoed from the darkness.

A group of shadows emerged from behind the crystallized dead trees. They still resembled Soul Beasts, but dark-purple crystals covered their bodies, with faint red light flowing between the crystals. Every step they took produced a series of soft clattering sounds.

Jing Hongchen raised a hand, gathering Soul Power in his palm.

"Stay by my side."

"Got it."

Xiao Hongchen nodded and stepped in front of Meng Hongchen. Meng Hongchen also summoned her Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad martial soul, icy-blue Soul Power winding around her body.

Xu Tianming did not release his martial soul. He was still waiting for the Star Core to react further to his wish.

Meanwhile, by a lake several kilometers away, two more unlucky people had been caught up in Xu Tianming's wish.

Ye Guyi had just finished absorbing her Soul Ring.

She was eight years old, with light-gold hair that fell to her waist. Her smooth golden hair was half tied back with only a white ribbon, while several wisps of loose bangs rested across her forehead.

Her skin was pale and delicate, her features exquisitely defined, and her pale emerald eyes clear and bright. Although she appeared quiet, her gaze was sharp.

She wore a fitted pale ice-blue dress embroidered with delicate silver patterns, a white belt around her waist, a pair of light-blue Soul Guidance bracers on her forearms, and white ankle boots on her feet.

Her temperament was cool and holy.

At that moment, the phantom of a Holy Angel floated behind her. Its pure-white wings were fully spread, pale-gold holy light flowing along their edges.

Beside her, Shangguan Weier smiled as she watched the girl she had newly adopted.

She looked to be only around thirty years old. Her long red curls were fluffy and soft, and a translucent exotic veil draped down from the top of her head, its edges adorned with turquoise and gold beads. The thin gauze covered half her cheek, swaying gently in the lakeside breeze.

Her features were exquisite and glamorous, her eyes long and narrow. Purple eye makeup made her peach-blossom eyes even more alluring, while her wine-red lips lent her an air of mature nobility.

Compared to the young Ye Guyi, she was rather tall, with a slender waist and graceful curves. She wore a gilded red-copper exotic bodice beneath a wine-red gown, whose hem consisted of many layers of gauze embroidered with intricate golden patterns.

Long gemstone earrings hung from her earlobes, while an enormous peacock-green gemstone rested at her neck. It swayed gently with her movements, its deep luster flickering across the front of her dress.

That allure was only what she showed outsiders.

As the leader of the Ordinary Alliance, Shangguan Weier was skilled at reading people and concealing her emotions. She always wore a smile when facing strangers, yet when facing enemies, she could immediately put away every trace of gentleness.

"Has your Soul Power stabilized?"

"Mm."

Ye Guyi nodded. The Soul Beast she had killed earlier had been a Radiantwing Deer that was around seven hundred years old.

This Soul Beast had a light attribute, was extremely fast, and could briefly create Light-Shadow Phantom Bodies. It was perfectly suited to Ye Guyi's Holy Angel martial soul.

To find it, Shangguan Weier had searched the Jingyang Mountain Range for nearly two hours. Using the spiritual power of a Titled Douluo, she had investigated the Soul Beast auras within dozens of li before finally locating the Radiantwing Deer in a valley.

Radiantwing Deer did not like fighting.

After discovering Shangguan Weier and Ye Guyi, it immediately released Light-Shadow Phantom Bodies, creating several false images and fleeing in different directions.

Shangguan Weier did not kill it directly. Instead, she released Soul Power to seal off the surrounding space, forcing the real Radiantwing Deer out from among the phantoms.

With her help, Ye Guyi personally killed the Soul Beast. After absorbing its Soul Ring, Ye Guyi's Soul Power had already reached level twenty-one.

"Try out your second soul skill."

Shangguan Weier said with a smile.

Ye Guyi raised her right hand, and her second Soul Ring lit up as well.

Holy light gathered in her hand, quickly forming into a translucent golden shortsword. The blade was only three feet long, but its edges were exceptionally sharp, and even the surrounding lake water turned pale gold.