The honor of ranking first on the Northern Region Youth Strongest Expert List for young experts struck like a thunderclap, making Xiao Yan's name resound throughout the region. Countless factions extended olive branches, offering him high positions and generous rewards, but he politely declined them all. For Xiao Yan, two things mattered most now: using the Sect Breaking Pill to break through to the Origin Ancestor realm, and helping the City Lord's Manor investigate the Blood Shadow Cult's strange activity at Soul-Severing Cliff.
After three days of rest, Xiao Yan had returned to peak condition. He was in no hurry to take the Sect Breaking Pill. Breaking through from Origin King to Origin Ancestor was no small matter, and he needed to find an absolutely safe place to prepare in peace. Before that, however, he had to make the trip to Soul-Severing Cliff.
At Tianbei City's City Lord's Manor, a team of fifty elites had already assembled. Li Xuantong led them, clad in silver battle armor and radiating a steady presence. There was no shortage of Peak Origin Kings among the team, and two Initial Origin Emperor retainers had even come to back them up, showing how seriously the manor regarded this operation.
"Xiao Yan, you're here." Li Xuantong smiled when he saw Xiao Yan approaching. "The journey to Soul-Severing Cliff is fraught with danger. Since the Blood Shadow Cult dared to gather there, they must have something to rely on. You must be careful."
"Don't worry, I know my limits." Xiao Yan nodded, sweeping his gaze over the elite team. He could sense the vast Origin Qi surging among them. "When do we leave?"
"Immediately." Zhou Xiaotian's voice came from ahead. He had come in person to see them off, his expression grave. "Xuantong, Xiao Yan, the Blood Shadow Cult's ritual is a matter of great importance. If they really repair the spatial passage, the consequences would be unthinkable. Your first priority is to find out exactly what they're after. If the task proves impossible, focus on keeping yourselves safe. Don't confront them head-on."
"Yes, City Lord!" everyone answered in unison.
The team wasted no time. Under Zhou Xiaotian's watchful gaze, they turned into streaks of light and sped toward Soul-Severing Cliff, on the border between the Northern and Western Regions.
Soul-Severing Cliff took its name from its treacherous terrain. Black miasma shrouded the depths below all year round. It was said that eight or nine out of ten who entered would lose their way and eventually be reduced to bare bones. Even Origin Kings dared not venture deep into it lightly. The Blood Shadow Cult had evidently chosen to gather here for its seclusion and peril.
After three days of traveling at speed, the group finally reached the edge of Soul-Severing Cliff.
Looking down from the rim, they saw miasma, thick as ink, churning beneath the bottomless cliff. Eerie roars could faintly be heard from within it, enough to send chills down their spines. The miasma was highly corrosive, capable of slowly eating away even Origin Qi. An ordinary Origin Master who fell into it would be reduced to a puddle of pus in moments.
"The Blood Shadow Cult is deep inside this miasma?" an Origin Emperor retainer asked with a frown, a trace of apprehension flashing in his eyes.
Li Xuantong took out a translucent jade talisman. Intricate runes were engraved upon it, emitting a faint white glow. "These miasma-warding talismans were specially made by the City Lord's Manor. They can withstand the miasma's corrosion. Keep them close to your bodies."
Everyone took a miasma-warding talisman as instructed and wore it close. The jade felt cool to the touch, and a gentle force spread out, keeping the surrounding miasma at bay and putting them considerably at ease.
"The Blood Shadow Cult's presence is a hundred li below us." Xiao Yan circulated his Dou Qi perception (which had been converted into Origin Qi perception in the Great Thousand World), frowning slightly. "The energy fluctuations there are strange, very chaotic, and... they carry a sense of space being torn apart."
"Space being torn apart?" Li Xuantong's expression sharpened. "It seems they really are repairing the spatial passage!"
"There's no time to lose. Let's go down and investigate," the other Origin Emperor retainer said gravely.
Without further hesitation, they used their movement techniques and flew carefully down the cliff. The glow of the miasma-warding talismans shone like guiding stars in the thick miasma, opening a safe path for them.
The farther down they went, the thicker and more corrosive the miasma became, until even the glow of the talismans began to flicker. The roars around them grew clearer. Listening closely, they sounded like countless wronged souls wailing in agony, leaving everyone on edge.
"This miasma seems to have been strengthened by the Blood Shadow Cult's evil arts. It contains immensely powerful resentment." Xiao Yan circulated his Heavenly Flames, forming a barrier of fire around himself that burned away every wisp of miasma that drew near. "Be careful, everyone. Don't let the resentment corrode your minds."
Hearing this, everyone circulated their Origin Qi to guard their minds, not daring to be careless.
Traveling at speed, they covered the hundred li in just half an hour.
They passed through the final layer of thick miasma, and the sight before them made everyone draw a sharp breath.
At the bottom of Soul-Severing Cliff lay an enormous valley. In its center stood an altar built from black bones. Dense blood-red runes covered the area around it, emitting an eerie, sinister glow.
Hundreds of black-clad Blood Shadow Cult followers surrounded the altar, chanting under their breath as they continuously poured their Origin Qi into it. Their faces were pale, and fervent light flickered in their eyes. They were evidently performing some evil ritual.
A palm-sized gray fragment floated above the altar. It was the Space Fragment stolen from the City Lord's Manor! Space warped around it, sending out waves of tearing force. Countless black threads of energy stretched from the fragment to the surrounding blood-red runes, seemingly absorbing the power generated by the ritual.
Before the altar stood an old man in blood-red robes. His face was gaunt, and a scarlet light flickered in his eyes. His cultivation had reached Intermediate Origin Emperor; he was evidently a high-ranking figure in the Blood Shadow Cult.
"The Blood Shadow Cult Master!" Li Xuantong exclaimed under his breath, his eyes full of gravity. "I didn't expect the Blood Shadow Cult's master to be here in person!"
Xiao Yan's heart tightened as well. The Blood Shadow Cult Master's presence was far stronger than Blood Butcher's, whom he had encountered before, and even surpassed that of Tianbei City's two Origin Emperor retainers. He was unquestionably the greatest threat on this mission.
"They really are using the Space Fragment to repair the spatial passage," an Origin Emperor retainer said gravely. "Judging by the look of it, they'll probably open the passage soon!"
"What should we do?" the other retainer asked, a trace of hesitation flashing in his eyes. The enemy had numbers on their side and an Intermediate Origin Emperor cult master holding the fort. A direct confrontation would clearly do them no good.
Li Xuantong looked at Xiao Yan with a questioning gaze. Over the time they had spent together, he had come to trust Xiao Yan's ingenuity and strength greatly.
Xiao Yan considered for a moment, then said quietly, "A direct fight isn't advisable. Our goal is to uncover their plot. Let's watch and wait for a chance to destroy the altar and take the Space Fragment."
Everyone nodded in agreement. They quietly concealed themselves behind rocks at the edge of the valley, holding their breaths as they watched the altar closely.
The Blood Shadow Cult Master slowly raised both hands, a low, eerie chant issuing from his mouth. As he chanted, the blood-red runes on the altar blazed with light, and countless waves of resentment and evil energy poured into the Space Fragment without end.
The Space Fragment trembled violently, and the space around it twisted even more fiercely. A thin black rift slowly appeared beneath the fragment, emanating a terrifying presence that made their hearts palpitate.
"Soon... soon..." A fanatical smile spread across the Blood Shadow Cult Master's face. "Once the passage to the Domain of Darkness is open, my Blood Shadow Cult will gain the blessing of dark power. Then the entire Great Thousand World will submit at our feet!"
"The Domain of Darkness?" Xiao Yan's heart stirred. The name itself sounded ominous.
"It's another realm filled with the power of darkness and destruction. The creatures inside are said to be terrifying, feeding on living beings," Li Xuantong explained quietly, his face growing graver. "If they open the passage, the consequences will be unthinkable!"
Just then, the black rift beneath the Space Fragment suddenly widened, and an even more terrifying dark presence burst from it, sweeping across the entire valley in an instant.
The Blood Shadow Cult followers around the altar let out agonized roars as the presence touched them. Their bodies shriveled at a speed visible to the naked eye, the Origin Qi and life force inside them drained in an instant, leaving them as dried corpses.
Yet eerie smiles remained on their faces, as though they were enduring both extreme pain and pleasure.
"Sacrifice! This is a sacrifice!" an Origin Emperor retainer cried out in shock. "They're using their followers' lives and Origin Qi to speed up the opening of the passage!"
The Blood Shadow Cult Master ignored it all and grew even more excited. "Be sacrificed! Offer your flesh and blood to the great Gate of Darkness!"
As more and more followers became dried corpses, the spatial rift widened faster, reaching over a zhang across. Countless twisted black shadows could faintly be seen writhing inside, radiating a bloodthirsty presence.
"We can't wait any longer!" Li Xuantong shouted under his breath. "If we don't act now, it'll be too late!"
Xiao Yan nodded, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes. "You two retainers hold the Blood Shadow Cult Master off. Brother Xuantong and I will lead the others to destroy the altar and take the Space Fragment!"
"All right!" The two Origin Emperor retainers exchanged a glance and hesitated no longer. They shot out of hiding like two streaks of light, unleashing their Origin Emperor presences without restraint.
"Blood Shadow, you old dog, don't even think about succeeding!"
The Blood Shadow Cult Master's face darkened at the sight, killing intent flashing in his eyes. "Fools who know nothing of life and death, how dare you interfere with my great undertaking! Die!"
He flashed forward to meet the two Origin Emperor retainers. As his blood-red robes swept through the air, countless black ribbons of energy shot out like venomous snakes, carrying a destructive force.
Boom!
The three Origin Emperors clashed in an instant. Terrifying energy fluctuations made the entire valley tremble violently, shaking the black miasma apart in all directions.
"Attack!" Li Xuantong shouted, leading the remaining elites toward the altar.
"Stop them!" The Blood Shadow Cult followers around the altar reacted, roaring as they rushed to meet them. The two sides were instantly locked in fierce combat.
Xiao Yan ignored the lesser enemies around him, his gaze fixed firmly on the Space Fragment above the altar. He flashed forward, evading several followers' attacks like a ghost. Green Lotus Core Flame erupted in his hand, forming a long whip of fire that lashed at the blood-red runes on the altar.
Sizzle!
The whip of fire struck the blood-red runes with a piercing sound. Their glow dimmed somewhat; they had clearly been damaged.
"You're courting death!" an Origin King protector of the Blood Shadow Cult roared, charging at Xiao Yan. His curved saber, wreathed in black energy, aimed straight for Xiao Yan's vital points.
Xiao Yan's gaze turned cold. Neither dodging nor retreating, he swept out his left hand. Fallen Heart Flame became a wall of fire that blocked the curved saber, while dense Origin Qi gathered in his right hand, and he drove out a punch!
Bang!
Caught off guard, the protector took the punch to the chest. He spat out a mouthful of black blood and flew backward into the altar, his fate unknown.
Having dealt with the protector, Xiao Yan sprang onto the altar and headed straight for the Space Fragment.
Just as his hand was about to touch it, the Space Fragment suddenly erupted with blinding black light. An enormous black shadow burst from the rift below, opening a bloody maw to bite at Xiao Yan!
The shadow resembled a giant python, but it had three heads. Black scales covered its body, and it radiated a suffocatingly terrifying presence. It was a vicious beast from the Domain of Darkness!
"Watch out!" Li Xuantong cried.
Xiao Yan's pupils contracted. He had not expected a vicious beast to burst out of the rift! With no time to think, he shot backward and unleashed both Heavenly Flames at once, forming an enormous barrier of fire.
Roar!
The three-headed black python struck the fire barrier with an agonized roar. Its black scales burned, sending up black smoke, but its strength was terrifying. The barrier shook violently and nearly collapsed.
The impact sent Xiao Yan's Qi and blood churning, and he was inwardly appalled. The rift has only just opened, and already such a terrifying beast has come through. If the passage opens completely, the consequences will be unthinkable!
He dared not be careless in the slightest. Resolve flashed in his eyes as he unleashed every bit of Origin Qi in his body, driving his Heavenly Flames to their limit. "Heavenly Flames: Emperor Flame Lotus!"
A three-colored flame lotus formed once more and smashed toward the three-headed black python with the might to burn the heavens and destroy the earth!
At the same time, the Blood Shadow Cult Master broke free of the two Origin Emperor retainers. Seeing that Xiao Yan was about to disrupt the ritual, he shouted, madness flashing in his eyes, "Stop!"
He slammed a palm onto the altar. All its blood-red runes lit up at once, and a terrifying surge of evil energy erupted from it, rushing toward the Space Fragment and the three-headed black python!
Empowered by the energy, the three-headed black python's presence soared. It forced its way through the fire barrier and lunged at Xiao Yan again!
With the vicious beast before him and the Blood Shadow Cult Master's attack behind him, Xiao Yan found himself in a crisis unlike any he had faced before!
He looked at the three-headed black python lunging toward him, then at the evil energy attacking from behind. A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.
With nowhere left to retreat, he would fight!
Rather than dodge, Xiao Yan charged at the three-headed black python. Just as it was about to swallow him, he hurled the Emperor Flame Lotus from his hand and forcibly twisted his body aside, evading its bloody maw. His right hand shot out like lightning and seized the floating Space Fragment!
Hum!
The Space Fragment was icy cold in his hand. A powerful spatial force tugged at him, as though it meant to tear his arm apart. But Xiao Yan gripped it tightly, refusing to let go.
Roar!
The Emperor Flame Lotus struck the three-headed black python squarely and erupted with destructive force, blasting its body to pieces. Black blood and chunks of flesh splattered everywhere.
But the python's dying counterattack struck Xiao Yan as well, sending him flying backward like a kite with its string cut. He crashed heavily at the edge of the valley, spitting out a large mouthful of blood, his presence weakening in an instant.
"Seize him!" The Blood Shadow Cult Master roared and gave chase.
Li Xuantong and the two Origin Emperor retainers turned pale with shock and hurried forward to stop him. But the Blood Shadow Cult Master was now blinded by killing intent, his strength soaring, and for a time the three of them could hardly hold him back.
Xiao Yan looked at the Blood Shadow Cult Master charging toward him, then at the Space Fragment in his hand. A look of determination flashed in his eyes.
He hastily put the Space Fragment into his Storage Ring, then forced himself to his feet and circulated the last of his Origin Qi. Green Lotus Core Flame erupted beneath his feet, and he turned into a streak of light, fleeing toward the top of the cliff.
"Trying to run? Leave the Space Fragment behind!" the Blood Shadow Cult Master roared. Breaking free of the three men, he pursued Xiao Yan relentlessly.
Seeing this, Li Xuantong and the others hurried after them, covering Xiao Yan while fending off the pursuing Blood Shadow Cult followers.
A heart-stopping chase unfolded amid the miasma of Soul-Severing Cliff.
Xiao Yan was gravely wounded and had exhausted his Origin Qi. He relied entirely on his Heavenly Flames to keep himself aloft, and his speed continued to fall. The Blood Shadow Cult Master pursued relentlessly, drawing closer and closer.
"Xiao Yan, go! We'll hold him off!" Li Xuantong shouted, once again blocking the Blood Shadow Cult Master alongside the two Origin Emperor retainers.
"You're courting death!" The Blood Shadow Cult Master was beside himself with rage. He unleashed his full strength, forcing the three men back again and again as danger closed in on them from every side.
Xiao Yan glanced back, gratitude flashing in his eyes. Then he gritted his teeth and flew faster toward the top of the cliff.
Just as he was about to burst out of the miasma, the Blood Shadow Cult Master broke through Li Xuantong and the other two. A black ribbon of energy containing all his strength shot like a venomous snake toward the center of Xiao Yan's back!
There was no avoiding this blow!
Xiao Yan could feel the presence of death approaching from behind, and an icy chill filled his heart. Was he going to die here today?
At that critical moment, the black jade piece in his Storage Ring suddenly erupted with a brilliant light, and a gentle yet immense spatial force enveloped him in an instant.
Hum!
The black ribbon of energy struck the light and was instantly reflected back. Caught off guard, the Blood Shadow Cult Master was struck by his own energy. He screamed and flew backward.