The morning light from the All-Heavens Hub shone through the glazed dome onto the white jade plaza, refracting into seven-colored spots of light. Xiao Yan, dressed in the black outfit of the All-Heavens Guard, with the "Guard" token on his chest gleaming matte, followed behind the Grand Elder toward the core headquarters of the All-Heavens Guard.
"This is the ' Stargazing Platform '," the Grand Elder said, pointing to a towering, cloud-piercing structure. "At the top of the tower is a ' All-Heavens Mirror,' which can observe abnormal fluctuations in various small worlds. You will need to come here three times a day to record them, and report any traces of demons immediately."
Xiao Yan looked up and saw faint streams of light swirling at the top of the Stargazing Platform, as if they could truly penetrate the barriers of space and time to see distant worlds. He nodded and replied, "Yes, this junior understands."
After crossing the plaza, the two arrived at a huge martial arts arena. There were already many cultivators dressed in the same style of tight-fitting clothes sparring in the arena. The lowest level of their aura was the Early Realm Lord Realm. The sounds of fists and feet colliding and the roar of laws filled the air.
" The All-Heavens Guard currently has three thousand members, divided into three camps: Heaven, Earth, and Human," the Grand Elder explained. " The Heaven Battalion is responsible for reconnaissance and raids, the Earth Battalion for defense and garrisoning, and the Human Battalion is the reserve force. You will temporarily serve as the Deputy Commander of the Heaven Battalion Heaven Battalion, assisting the Commander in handling affairs."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a hearty laugh rang out, "Elder, this must be our young friend Xiao Yan, who has made such a great contribution!"
A burly man with red hair and red armor strode over, a giant hammer hanging at his waist, his body radiating a violent fire aura. He was none other than the Heaven Battalion Commander, the Blazing Sun Realm Lord.
" Xiao Yan greets Commander Blazing Sun." Xiao Yan bowed respectfully.
"Haha, no need for formalities!" The Blazing Sun Realm Lord patted his shoulder with considerable force. "I've long heard that you, at the Middle Realm Lord Realm, slew the Beast King's avatar. You're a promising talent! In the future, please take care of things at the Heaven Battalion. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me!"
Over the next few days, Xiao Yan gradually became familiar with the operation of the All-Heavens Guard. The All-Heavens Mirror at the Stargazing Platform was indeed miraculous; he could clearly see the scenes of various small worlds: some worlds were being harassed by remnants of evil spirits, some worlds had disordered laws, and some worlds were peaceful and the people lived in peace and contentment. Whenever he discovered something unusual, he would immediately record it and hand it over to Commander Blazing Sun for task assignment.
On this day, Xiao Yan was recording on the Stargazing Platform when the All-Heavens Mirror suddenly trembled violently, and a world shrouded in blood appeared in the mirror. That was the " Netherworld Realm," a small world dominated by Yin attribute laws, but at this moment it was shrouded in a viscous black mist, within which countless twisted figures could be vaguely seen roaring.
"It's ' Soul-Eroding Mist '!" The old guard who was recording the events exclaimed, his expression changing drastically. "This mist can erode the soul; once it spreads, all living beings in the Netherworld Realm will become walking corpses!"
Xiao Yan immediately reported the situation. Upon learning of this, the Blazing Sun Realm Lord immediately summoned thirty elite Heaven Battalion from the Heavenly Camp: " Xiao Yan, you lead a team to the Netherworld Realm to clear the Soul-Eroding Mist. I will bring reinforcements later! Remember, the source of the Soul-Eroding Mist is in the ' Ten Thousand Souls Cavern ' in the Netherworld Realm. Find the source and suppress it with the ' Soul-Suppressing Nail '!"
"Yes!" Xiao Yan accepted the order and led thirty people through the teleportation array directly to the Netherworld Realm.
As soon as they stepped into the Netherworld Realm, a pungent, fishy stench assaulted their senses. The sky was dark red, the earth was cracked, and the wandering spirits were now shrouded in black mist, transformed into blood-red monsters that lunged at them.
"Form a defensive formation!" Xiao Yan commanded, and the thirty people immediately formed a defensive formation. Various colored laws shone brightly, slaying the attacking monsters.
"Deputy Commander, the Soul-Eroding Mist is having too much of an impact on the soul. If this continues, the brothers' souls will be damaged!" a Realm Lord whispered.
Xiao Yan frowned slightly, then drew his Heaven Burning Sword: "I'll lead the way, you all follow!"
Golden flames erupted from the sword, forming a fiery barrier that burned a path through the Soul-Eroding Mist. He could feel the intense resentment within the Soul-Eroding Mist, constantly assaulting his consciousness. Had his soul not been tempered by the Heavenly Flames, it would likely have already crumbled.
The group struggled onward, slaying countless corrupted ghostly monsters along the way, and finally arrived at the Ten Thousand Souls Cavern.
The black mist was thickest at the cave entrance, where a huge black shadow could be vaguely seen writhing. Xiao Yan summoned the Soul-Suppressing Nail —a long black nail engraved with runes, capable of suppressing evil spirits.
"Now!" He channeled his spiritual power into the Soul-Suppressing Nail and hurled it out.
The long nail transformed into a beam of black light and shot into the cave, but was bounced back by a tremendous force just before it hit the shadowy figure. Immediately afterward, a giant claw covered in black scales emerged from the cave, and the black mist dripping from its tip fell to the ground, instantly corroding a large pit.
"It's the Soul-Eroding Monarch!" a team member exclaimed. "Legend has it that it is the origin of the Soul-Eroding Mist and has already devoured the souls of countless worlds!"
The Soul-Eroding Monarch slowly crawled out of the cave, its body resembling a giant scorpion, but with three heads. Each head had no eyes, only a mouth full of fangs, constantly spewing out Soul-Eroding Mist.
"How dare you, insignificant humans, disturb my meal?" the middle head spoke, its voice like the wailing of countless souls.
Xiao Yan gripped the Heaven Burning Sword tightly, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit. "Today I will annihilate you, body and soul!"
He charged forward first, his Heaven Burning Sword drawing a golden arc as it slashed at the Soul-Eroding Monarch's giant claw. With a clang, sparks flew, leaving only a shallow sword mark on the giant claw.
"It's no use!" The left head of the Soul-Eroding Monarch roared, and countless corrupted Yin Souls surged out of the black mist, rushing towards Xiao Yan and the others like a tide.
"Hold on!" Xiao Yan shouted, simultaneously unleashing his Heavenly Flame Origin. The golden flames transformed into a large net, trapping the Yin spirits. The other team members seized the opportunity to attack, their law-based light continuously descending to clear away the Yin spirits.
But the Soul-Eroding Monarch's power far exceeded expectations. Its giant tail lashed out, whipping towards Xiao Yan with a dense Soul-Eroding Mist. Xiao Yan hurriedly dodged, the tail grazing his shoulder. Instantly, a chilling power seeped into his body through his shoulder, attempting to corrode his soul.
"Hmph!" Xiao Yan snorted coldly, circulating his Heavenly Flames to burn away that power, and at the same time seized the opportunity to stab the Heaven Burning Sword into the mouth of the Soul-Eroding Monarch on the right side of his head.
"Agh--!" The Soul-Eroding Monarch let out a shrill scream, and golden flames instantly ignited on the right side of his head, while black mist churned violently.
"Use the Soul-Suppressing Nail now!" Xiao Yan shouted.
The two team members immediately threw out the Soul-Suppressing Nail, which accurately pierced the foreheads of the other two heads of the Soul-Eroding Monarch. The runes lit up, Soul-Eroding Monarch's movements instantly froze, while the black mist dissipated at a visible speed.
Finally, with three mournful howls, the Soul-Eroding Monarch's body transformed into countless black specks of light, absorbed by the Soul-Suppressing Nail -Suppressing Nails. The blood-red sky of the Netherworld Realm gradually faded, revealing its original dark purple hue, and the stench in the air dissipated.
When the Blazing Sun Realm Lord arrived with reinforcements, he saw Xiao Yan and the others cleaning up the battlefield.
"Well done!" the Blazing Sun Realm Lord laughed. " Xiao Yan, you've got your deputy commander position firmly in place!"
Xiao Yan wiped the grime from his face and gazed at the Netherworld Realm gradually regaining its clarity, a sense of accomplishment welling up within him. This was his first mission after joining the All-Heavens Guard, and although it was arduous, it strengthened his resolve to protect the heavens.
Upon returning to the All-Heavens Hub, the Grand Elder personally summoned him. "You handled the battle in the Netherworld Realm very well. But this is only the beginning. Behind the Soul-Eroding Monarch, there is likely an even more powerful being."
He handed Xiao Yan a jade slip. "This is the ' Spirit Refining Technique,' which can enhance the defense of your soul. Take it and cultivate it. Three days later, come with me to the ' Hall of Ten Thousand Laws,' where you'll find the accumulated insights into the laws of the All-Heavens Guard throughout the ages, which will greatly benefit your breakthrough to the Late Realm Lord Realm."
Xiao Yan took the jade slip, feeling a warm touch on his fingertips. He could sense that it contained pure divine soul power.
"Thank you, Elder!"
Stepping out of the main hall, Xiao Yan looked up at the sky, where the light of the All-Heavens Hub shone even brighter than before. He knew that the new trials had just begun, but he was prepared. No matter how many thorns lay ahead, he would grip his sword tightly and protect the All Heavens and Myriad Realms he cherished.