Xu Xinlan examined the jade slip. "So, additional materials are required for its activation," she remarked.
"It appears to be a secret art connected with the healing discipline," her companion added.
Together, they nodded in agreement, signifying there were no issues.
"Then, our transaction is finalized," Ji Mingxiu stated, a grin spreading across his face as he took possession of all the storage artifacts.
It's important to note: one storage artifact cannot be kept inside another.
The sheer number, totaling over twenty thousand storage artifacts, was impressive. Yet, for individuals like Ji Mingxiu, who stood as prominent powerhouses of the Dao Palace realm, accumulating these artifacts was hardly a challenge.
'Once Jiang Chen gets his hands on these, and with the guidance of the two Void Tribulation realm great experts, his progress will surely skyrocket. What fantastic news!' Ji Mingxiu thought.
His smile remained, growing brighter as he carefully gathered all the divine storage artifacts.
In that fleeting moment, Xu Xinlan turned to Dong Yuanzheng, her face devoid of any discernible emotion. "So, what's your strategy for investigating the Bottomless Abyss?" she inquired with a detached tone.
Dong Yuanzheng, holding a storage ring, responded, "Naturally, we plan to employ the formation that blocks the Nether Demon Spiritual Qi, methodically probing our way down."
"The formation is already set up; there's no better time than now. Please proceed." He directed them towards a massive pit nearby that resembled a dark abyss, affirming his intent.
Ji Mingxiu thought, 'They're scheming to lead us into the Bottomless Abyss before making their move!'
'Of course! It's all crystal clear. They must be in league with the Nether Demon Clan. That abyss is their domain.'
'Hmph! If not for Jiang Chen's warning, we might have walked right into their trap.'
Externally, they remained stoic. But deep inside, Ji Mingxiu and his comrades shared an understanding, their faces subtly reflecting their consensus.
"Where is the formation located?" Xu Xinlan inquired, scanning the surroundings.
Dong Yuanzheng held up his storage ring. "Right here," he replied, indicating that the enormous formation disc was contained within.
Xu Xinlan studied the formation, her gaze devoid of emotion. "Ah, it's the same type of formation that I've seen before," she remarked.
"I didn't anticipate that the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace would possess such a unique ancestral treasure," she continued. "I'm curious as to why there were no historical accounts or gossip about this before. Also, why wasn't it utilized earlier?"
Dong Yuanzheng, maintaining his stoic expression, began, "Previously, there were no activities coming from the Bottomless Abyss. We didn't see the need to exhaust efforts exploring it, considering it's a perilous territory that even our forebears couldn't comprehend despite their countless attempts."
He paused momentarily, his gaze intensifying. "However, the circumstances have changed. With the anomalous demonic beast tides occurring one after another, and the extensive diffusion of the Bottomless Abyss Spiritual Qi—or rather, the Nether Demon Spiritual Qi—we're compelled to attempt to unearth the source of the issue."
"That seems reasonable," Ji Mingxiu acknowledged, nodding. "In that case, our friends from the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace should take the lead in setting up the formation."
Dong Yuanzheng, his expression grave, countered, "This formation isn't trivial. We'll need the assistance of Ji Mingxiu, Xu Xinlan, and all our daoist colleagues to successfully deploy it."
Hearing this, Ji Mingxiu and the others held back their derision. It was clear to them: Dong Yuanzheng's plan was not just to lead them into the Bottomless Abyss, but also to preoccupy and bind them with the formation setup, paving the way for his intended ambush.
Without giving away their insights, Ji Mingxiu shared a brief, knowing look with Xu Xinlan.
"Very well," he addressed Dong Yuanzheng, "Lead on. We guarantee our full cooperation." Saying this, he gracefully rose into the air, seemingly directing himself towards the Bottomless Abyss.
Seeing this, Si Zhangjian and the rest swiftly followed suit.
"Very well!" Dong Yuanzheng responded with a smile. He gestured to Ruan Tianzong and the rest, then launched himself towards the Bottomless Abyss.
But just as the four of them were barely off the ground...
Boom!!
A surge of potent sword light erupted suddenly from Ji Mingxiu, aimed straight for Dong Yuanzheng's exposed back.
In perfect sync, Si Zhangjian, Yao Zong, and Sha An made their moves, all converging on Dong Yuanzheng.
Yao Zong mirrored Ji Mingxiu's technique, wielding the Dark Star Sky Splitting Sword Secrets.
Contrastingly, Si Zhangjian and Sha An unleashed the power of thunder, employing the Purple Heaven Heavenly Thunder True Canon.
In a split second, the serene atmosphere of the Verdant Leaf Giant Peak was shattered. Sword lights blazed like shooting stars, while thunderbolts danced menacingly like serpentine dragons through the air.
With the furious onslaught of the four attacks, the peak of the Verdant Leaf Giant Peak vanished, as if consumed by an insatiable void.
Caught off guard, Dong Yuanzheng gasped in astonishment, "What?!"
His thoughts raced, 'How could they strike back at me? Did they uncover some clue?'
'What could've given us away?'
His heart pounded with rising panic. "Ahhh! Damn it!" The once composed figure was now a picture of raw terror, his eyes aflame with both fear and rage.
Dong Yuanzheng's plan had been to ensnare Ji Mingxiu and his team, but in a twist of fate, he was the one ensnared!
If anyone asked what a real shock felt like, this was it. A stinging, brutal surprise!
Unprepared for Ji Mingxiu and the onslaught from the other Dao Palace realm experts, Dong Yuanzheng struggled to counter their ferocity.
But just when all seemed lost, dense streams of inky mist erupted from him, solidifying into a formidable, jet-black barrier.
The atmosphere thickened with a wild, almost maniacal bloodlust. An aura so fierce, so cold, it sent shivers down the spines of all who sensed it.
Boom, boom, boom!
Ji Mingxiu's team rained down their blows on Dong Yuanzheng, enveloping him in a storm of power!
Like an unending celestial cascade, thunderbolts plummeted without mercy. Sword lights flitted across the scene, slicing the very fabric of the landscape countless times in mere moments!
This was no ordinary retaliation; it was Ji Mingxiu and his comrades unleashing their full might.
Among the fury of strikes, Ji Mingxiu's sword Qi radiated an aura reminiscent of the legendary Purple Heaven Immortal Martial Sword's power.
Dong Yuanzheng, having metamorphosed into a demonic cultivator with blessings from the Nether Demon Clan, possessed extraordinary abilities. Yet, even he struggled to summon a protective barrier against this onslaught.
The intensity of the attack was so overpowering that blood spurted wildly, cries pierced the air, and within seconds, Dong Yuanzheng was left grievously wounded, teetering on the edge of life and death.
The drama played out with the breathtaking speed of a lightning flash!
The Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace's remaining members stood dumbfounded.
It was only after witnessing Dong Yuanzheng's grievous injuries that they snapped back to reality, launching their counteroffensive with fervor.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A chilling demonic aura burst forth from the Deputy Palace Lords, including Wei Pengcheng of the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace.
Almost instantly, they unleashed a barrage of ruthless attacks on Ji Mingxiu and his allies.
Within mere moments, a pervasive dark Qi enveloped the Verdant Leaf Giant Peak, casting an immense shadow that stretched for hundreds of thousands of kilometers!
Simultaneously, Xu Xinlan and her comrades from the Jade Lake Heavenly Temple stared in stunned disbelief, but soon, realization took root. They wholeheartedly accepted the revelations shared by Ji Mingxiu's team.
It was the sheer release of demonic Qi from Dong Yuanzheng and his companions that bore irrefutable testament to their allegiance to the Demon Race.
"Dong Yuanzheng!" Xu Xinlan's voice was laced with anger. "Who would've thought? The Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace, which paraded itself as the beacon of righteousness, now in league with the Demon Race! You've sealed your fate!"
"Exterminate these foul traitors!"
Such intense wrath was uncommon on the faces of the Jade Lake Heavenly Temple's great powerhouses. But now, without a moment's hesitation, they sprang into action.
Had it not been for Ji Mingxiu's timely alert, they might have been unsuspecting lambs walking into a slaughter within the depths of the Bottomless Abyss, vulnerable with no defenses up.
This betrayal had carved a chasm of animosity that could never be bridged.
"Ha! You think revealing my scheme grants you the advantage? Foolish!"
Dong Yuanzheng laughed, blood staining his lips, a maniacal glint in his eyes. "With Lord Long Tianlu by our side, your end is imminent. Pledge your allegiance to him, and perhaps you can stave off the inevitable!"
"Surrender now, and when the Immortal Martial Continent morphs into the Demonic Martial Continent, there may yet be a place for you amidst the new order."
"Fail to do so, and every being of your Holy Land and Heavenly Temple will be obliterated — their very souls wiped from existence!"
His taunts were punctuated by a chilling smile, his face contorted in wicked glee despite the blood he coughed up.
Moments later, a thunderous boom resonated!
The very fabric of earth and sky spanning hundreds of thousands of kilometers around Dong Yuanzheng trembled. From the depths of the Bottomless Abyss, a colossal pillar of black and red light surged upwards, piercing the heavens!
A note from AlphaWIA:
Chapters 214-215 (Public):
[https://twitter.com/DaoistAlphaWIA]
Chapters 216-296 (Membership):
Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/AlphaWIA]
Ko-fi (One time support) [https://ko-fi.com/alphawia]
Xu Xinlan examined the jade slip. "So, additional materials are required for its activation," she remarked.
"It appears to be a secret art connected with the healing discipline," her companion added.
Together, they nodded in agreement, signifying there were no issues.
"Then, our transaction is finalized," Ji Mingxiu stated, a grin spreading across his face as he took possession of all the storage artifacts.
It's important to note: one storage artifact cannot be kept inside another.
The sheer number, totaling over twenty thousand storage artifacts, was impressive. Yet, for individuals like Ji Mingxiu, who stood as prominent powerhouses of the Dao Palace realm, accumulating these artifacts was hardly a challenge.
'Once Jiang Chen gets his hands on these, and with the guidance of the two Void Tribulation realm great experts, his progress will surely skyrocket. What fantastic news!' Ji Mingxiu thought.
His smile remained, growing brighter as he carefully gathered all the divine storage artifacts.
In that fleeting moment, Xu Xinlan turned to Dong Yuanzheng, her face devoid of any discernible emotion. "So, what's your strategy for investigating the Bottomless Abyss?" she inquired with a detached tone.
Dong Yuanzheng, holding a storage ring, responded, "Naturally, we plan to employ the formation that blocks the Nether Demon Spiritual Qi, methodically probing our way down."
"The formation is already set up; there's no better time than now. Please proceed." He directed them towards a massive pit nearby that resembled a dark abyss, affirming his intent.
Ji Mingxiu thought, 'They're scheming to lead us into the Bottomless Abyss before making their move!'
'Of course! It's all crystal clear. They must be in league with the Nether Demon Clan. That abyss is their domain.'
'Hmph! If not for Jiang Chen's warning, we might have walked right into their trap.'
Externally, they remained stoic. But deep inside, Ji Mingxiu and his comrades shared an understanding, their faces subtly reflecting their consensus.
"Where is the formation located?" Xu Xinlan inquired, scanning the surroundings.
Dong Yuanzheng held up his storage ring. "Right here," he replied, indicating that the enormous formation disc was contained within.
Xu Xinlan studied the formation, her gaze devoid of emotion. "Ah, it's the same type of formation that I've seen before," she remarked.
"I didn't anticipate that the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace would possess such a unique ancestral treasure," she continued. "I'm curious as to why there were no historical accounts or gossip about this before. Also, why wasn't it utilized earlier?"
Dong Yuanzheng, maintaining his stoic expression, began, "Previously, there were no activities coming from the Bottomless Abyss. We didn't see the need to exhaust efforts exploring it, considering it's a perilous territory that even our forebears couldn't comprehend despite their countless attempts."
He paused momentarily, his gaze intensifying. "However, the circumstances have changed. With the anomalous demonic beast tides occurring one after another, and the extensive diffusion of the Bottomless Abyss Spiritual Qi—or rather, the Nether Demon Spiritual Qi—we're compelled to attempt to unearth the source of the issue."
"That seems reasonable," Ji Mingxiu acknowledged, nodding. "In that case, our friends from the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace should take the lead in setting up the formation."
Dong Yuanzheng, his expression grave, countered, "This formation isn't trivial. We'll need the assistance of Ji Mingxiu, Xu Xinlan, and all our daoist colleagues to successfully deploy it."
Hearing this, Ji Mingxiu and the others held back their derision. It was clear to them: Dong Yuanzheng's plan was not just to lead them into the Bottomless Abyss, but also to preoccupy and bind them with the formation setup, paving the way for his intended ambush.
Without giving away their insights, Ji Mingxiu shared a brief, knowing look with Xu Xinlan.
"Very well," he addressed Dong Yuanzheng, "Lead on. We guarantee our full cooperation." Saying this, he gracefully rose into the air, seemingly directing himself towards the Bottomless Abyss.
Seeing this, Si Zhangjian and the rest swiftly followed suit.
"Very well!" Dong Yuanzheng responded with a smile. He gestured to Ruan Tianzong and the rest, then launched himself towards the Bottomless Abyss.
But just as the four of them were barely off the ground...
Boom!!
A surge of potent sword light erupted suddenly from Ji Mingxiu, aimed straight for Dong Yuanzheng's exposed back.
In perfect sync, Si Zhangjian, Yao Zong, and Sha An made their moves, all converging on Dong Yuanzheng.
Yao Zong mirrored Ji Mingxiu's technique, wielding the Dark Star Sky Splitting Sword Secrets.
Contrastingly, Si Zhangjian and Sha An unleashed the power of thunder, employing the Purple Heaven Heavenly Thunder True Canon.
In a split second, the serene atmosphere of the Verdant Leaf Giant Peak was shattered. Sword lights blazed like shooting stars, while thunderbolts danced menacingly like serpentine dragons through the air.
With the furious onslaught of the four attacks, the peak of the Verdant Leaf Giant Peak vanished, as if consumed by an insatiable void.
Caught off guard, Dong Yuanzheng gasped in astonishment, "What?!"
His thoughts raced, 'How could they strike back at me? Did they uncover some clue?'
'What could've given us away?'
His heart pounded with rising panic. "Ahhh! Damn it!" The once composed figure was now a picture of raw terror, his eyes aflame with both fear and rage.
Dong Yuanzheng's plan had been to ensnare Ji Mingxiu and his team, but in a twist of fate, he was the one ensnared!
If anyone asked what a real shock felt like, this was it. A stinging, brutal surprise!
Unprepared for Ji Mingxiu and the onslaught from the other Dao Palace realm experts, Dong Yuanzheng struggled to counter their ferocity.
But just when all seemed lost, dense streams of inky mist erupted from him, solidifying into a formidable, jet-black barrier.
The atmosphere thickened with a wild, almost maniacal bloodlust. An aura so fierce, so cold, it sent shivers down the spines of all who sensed it.
Boom, boom, boom!
Ji Mingxiu's team rained down their blows on Dong Yuanzheng, enveloping him in a storm of power!
Like an unending celestial cascade, thunderbolts plummeted without mercy. Sword lights flitted across the scene, slicing the very fabric of the landscape countless times in mere moments!
This was no ordinary retaliation; it was Ji Mingxiu and his comrades unleashing their full might.
Among the fury of strikes, Ji Mingxiu's sword Qi radiated an aura reminiscent of the legendary Purple Heaven Immortal Martial Sword's power.
Dong Yuanzheng, having metamorphosed into a demonic cultivator with blessings from the Nether Demon Clan, possessed extraordinary abilities. Yet, even he struggled to summon a protective barrier against this onslaught.
The intensity of the attack was so overpowering that blood spurted wildly, cries pierced the air, and within seconds, Dong Yuanzheng was left grievously wounded, teetering on the edge of life and death.
The drama played out with the breathtaking speed of a lightning flash!
The Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace's remaining members stood dumbfounded.
It was only after witnessing Dong Yuanzheng's grievous injuries that they snapped back to reality, launching their counteroffensive with fervor.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A chilling demonic aura burst forth from the Deputy Palace Lords, including Wei Pengcheng of the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace.
Almost instantly, they unleashed a barrage of ruthless attacks on Ji Mingxiu and his allies.
Within mere moments, a pervasive dark Qi enveloped the Verdant Leaf Giant Peak, casting an immense shadow that stretched for hundreds of thousands of kilometers!
Simultaneously, Xu Xinlan and her comrades from the Jade Lake Heavenly Temple stared in stunned disbelief, but soon, realization took root. They wholeheartedly accepted the revelations shared by Ji Mingxiu's team.
It was the sheer release of demonic Qi from Dong Yuanzheng and his companions that bore irrefutable testament to their allegiance to the Demon Race.
"Dong Yuanzheng!" Xu Xinlan's voice was laced with anger. "Who would've thought? The Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace, which paraded itself as the beacon of righteousness, now in league with the Demon Race! You've sealed your fate!"
"Exterminate these foul traitors!"
Such intense wrath was uncommon on the faces of the Jade Lake Heavenly Temple's great powerhouses. But now, without a moment's hesitation, they sprang into action.
Had it not been for Ji Mingxiu's timely alert, they might have been unsuspecting lambs walking into a slaughter within the depths of the Bottomless Abyss, vulnerable with no defenses up.
This betrayal had carved a chasm of animosity that could never be bridged.
"Ha! You think revealing my scheme grants you the advantage? Foolish!"
Dong Yuanzheng laughed, blood staining his lips, a maniacal glint in his eyes. "With Lord Long Tianlu by our side, your end is imminent. Pledge your allegiance to him, and perhaps you can stave off the inevitable!"
"Surrender now, and when the Immortal Martial Continent morphs into the Demonic Martial Continent, there may yet be a place for you amidst the new order."
"Fail to do so, and every being of your Holy Land and Heavenly Temple will be obliterated — their very souls wiped from existence!"
His taunts were punctuated by a chilling smile, his face contorted in wicked glee despite the blood he coughed up.
Moments later, a thunderous boom resonated!
The very fabric of earth and sky spanning hundreds of thousands of kilometers around Dong Yuanzheng trembled. From the depths of the Bottomless Abyss, a colossal pillar of black and red light surged upwards, piercing the heavens!
A note from AlphaWIA:
Chapters 214-215 (Public):
[https://twitter.com/DaoistAlphaWIA]
Chapters 216-296 (Membership):
Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/AlphaWIA]
Ko-fi (One time support) [https://ko-fi.com/alphawia]
