After donning his clothes, Li Sheng felt the power of his enhanced physique. He threw a punch, and a loud crack echoed, scattering the life energy around him. "With just my physical strength, I can rival a seventh-tier warrior impressive..." His clone nodded and looked at his main body. "Greetings, friend!" Li Sheng smiled, "Congratulations on your rebirth!" They shared a knowing smile, finding the experience of talking to oneself rather fascinating. Noticing the sparse life energy around, Li Sheng decided to find another magic nest and consult his senior sister.
Sensing his intention, his clone said, "Wait, this place is valuable to me!" He approached a dark pool filled with ominous magic and negative energies. Li Sheng frowned, "You want to absorb that?" His clone's eyes gleamed with eagerness, "I was born here; my essence is closer to the abyss lineage. This magic source is very beneficial for me." Li Sheng nodded, understanding his clone's perspective.
Sitting cross-legged above the magic source, black mist rose from the pool and entered his clone's body. After about fifteen minutes, the pool was nearly depleted. The clone opened his eyes with satisfaction, feeling a surge of power. "I'm full; let's go!" Li Sheng agreed, surveying the area; they had exhausted this nest. As they left, the ground shook violently as the massive nest collapsed, causing quite a stir.
The clone couldn't fly yet, so Li Sheng carried him forward. A thousand feet away, his senior sister and the giant troll stood in front of another magic nest, seemingly deep in thought. "Senior sister!" Li Sheng called out from a distance, only to be met with a cold, disdainful glare. Approaching her, he awkwardly chuckled, "Uh... Your Majesty." She ignored him, her gaze shifting to the clone, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. "Your clone's talent is decent; planning to pursue the abyss lineage?"
Curious, Li Sheng asked, "Is my clone's talent among the top ranks of the abyss lineage?" She scoffed, "Decent means barely reaching the standard of a low-tier demon, just a step above cannon fodder."
"..." Li Sheng exchanged an awkward glance with his clone before changing the subject. "Is there any cultivation method available for my clone?" "Not really; we only unlock our inherited memories upon reaching a new stage," she replied.
"Alright." He nodded, realizing he'd have to gather some magic skills for further development later. "Why aren't you cultivating, Your Majesty? Is there something unusual here?" he inquired, aware that the peculiar creatures had previously avoided this place.
"I was just finishing my cultivation and contemplating some matters. The presence of so many magic nests here may be linked to that," she said, her brow furrowing.
"What matters?" Li Sheng pressed for details.
"World destruction!" she stated flatly.
"World destruction?" Li Sheng's heart sank.
"These nests may be the work of demon generals or kings..."
"That can't be right; if there were demon generals or kings about, we would have been wiped out by now. They wouldn't need these nests," Li Sheng said, puzzled.
"Due to the rules of the heavens, demon generals and kings can't cross realms freely. However, these nests might help open a cross-realm portal," she explained, her expression darkening. If such powerful demons crossed over, her identity would be exposed, and her bloodline would be sought after, leading to her demise.
"If it's just despair-level demons, I can handle it, but the demon generals and kings are beyond my capability," he thought, worried.
"How sure are you that it's world destruction and not merely the birth of demons?" Li Sheng asked seriously.
"Did your magic nest not produce demon larvae?" She surveyed him, her tone implying certainty.
Li Sheng nodded.
"During your cultivation, I scanned over a hundred nests in the vicinity, and none contained demon larvae. Clearly, these nests aren't for breeding, so the possibility of a cross-realm event is high," she said.
"It seems you also don't wish to see high-tier demons cross over. Shall we join forces to destroy these nests?" Li Sheng suggested, concern etched on his face.
"If they were just breeding demons and left undisturbed, that would be a viable plan. But with a hidden agenda at play, they surely have contingencies. Destroying one or two might be fine, but recklessly causing havoc could lead to big trouble. We shouldn't stay here long; follow me, let's leave this place," she instructed, conjuring a crimson symbol that opened a rift in the magic nest.
Li Sheng nodded, feeling the weight of the situation as he followed her inside. As they entered, the rift sealed shut behind them.
"Do you know how to leave this place?" Li Sheng asked.
"If I'm right, this barrier has been sealed, allowing entry but not exit... We'll need brute force to break through. The deepest part of the magic nest is the weakest point; with the giant troll's and my combined strength, we should be able to break the space," she explained, flying downward.
Li Sheng nodded, bringing his clone along. Suddenly, his senior sister paused, turning toward the left. Lost in thoughts about their future, he bumped into her.
Caught off guard, he was enveloped in her warmth. "Why are you so careless, Junior?" Her voice was a light reprimand, but she quickly regained her composure, gesturing to the left.
Li Sheng sighed in relief, grateful for her gentle demeanor. She flew toward the left, a crimson symbol glowing as it merged with the wall. The flesh-like layer became transparent, revealing seven figures rushing toward them. Some looked injured, missing limbs.
"Are those the seven strongest masters of the Seven Stars Alliance?" Li Sheng thought, recognizing familiar faces. "They seem to be fleeing; the two behind them must be Grand Masters!" he muttered, alarmed.
"Don't worry; the magic nest isolates us. They won't detect our presence," his senior sister assured him, smiling.
"That's good!" Li Sheng nodded, reassured.
In mid-air, Yan Shengjing's face turned pale as he looked back, saying, "Master Man, Master Yi, have we offended you in any way? Why do you persist in pursuing us?"
Anger surged within Yan Shengjing. The seven of them had finally found an empty Void Nest. Just as they were about to harvest the precious Void Liquid, Man Tianqing and Yi Feixue appeared, blocking their way.
In an attempt to escape, they threatened to destroy the Void Liquid, which led to a tense standoff. However, the commotion drew the attention of other Void creatures, forcing them to flee. In their haste to escape the relentless pursuit of the Void creatures, they had to use their long-held technique, the God Statue technique, resulting in serious injuries.
After flying for seven or eight hours, they had thought they would shake off their pursuers, only to find themselves chased down again.
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Now, the seven felt drained and weak, and under the oppressive presence of the two masters, they had to stop to confront them.
"Yan Shengjing, was that God Statue technique you used from the old devil, Mo Tian Shui?" A deep voice rumbled like thunder, sending chills down their spines.
Hearing Man Tianqing's inquiry, Yan Shengjing's heart sank. He remembered that this old man had always been at odds with Mo Tian Shui. Could this have something to do with it? He quickly replied, "This technique was purchased by me from the second elder of the Unborn Demon Gate. May I ask why you inquire, senior?"
"The God Statue technique contains seventy percent of a grand master's battle prowess; it's extremely difficult to condense. Even I would take months to refine it. Since when has that old fool Mo Tian Shui been so generous as to sell such a valuable item to outsiders?" Man Tianqing questioned, hovering a thousand feet away, his towering figure imposing.
Yan Shengjing's eyes darkened. He realized the old coot was clearly trying to steal their Void Liquid, twisting facts to suit his agenda.
"Senior Man, I have no connections to the Unborn Demon Gate and do not wish to involve myself in your feud. Though the God Statue technique is precious, it is a tradable item. I can afford the price, and the Unborn Demon Gate is willing to sell; it's merely a transaction," he explained.
Man Tianqing smiled, unperturbed. "I must have misunderstood. I also possess a God Statue technique and am willing to trade it for the treasures in your hands. What do you say?"
Yi Feixue raised an eyebrow, surprised.
The seven exchanged glances, their thoughts mirroring disdain. Although the God Statue technique was invaluable, it paled in comparison to their treasure. One portion of Void Liquid could easily be exchanged for at least twenty God Statues, and they had gathered four portions.
The lord of No Root City, wielding two shabby giant hammers, awkwardly said, "You two seniors must be joking... this Void Liquid is worth a fortune; how could it..."
"Do you refuse?" Yi Feixue narrowed her eyes, summoning a towering six-armed God Statue that illuminated the dim sky with a radiant glow.
A violent aura pressed down, turning the faces of the seven pale.
"Hey, look at Yan Shengjing and Zhou Tianyi in this predicament..." Li Sheng observed with satisfaction from within the demon nest.
"Were these two the ones who pursued me earlier?"
A voice filled with killing intent suddenly resonated beside him.
Accustomed to the situation, Li Sheng casually replied, "Yes, they were; they even tried to take my life in the Changyin Marsh."
"They deserve to die a thousand times!" His senior sister stepped forward, a crimson rune flickering to life.
Startled, Li Sheng felt warmth spread within him; his sister's willingness to defend him was heartening. However, he knew he couldn't let her act recklessly. He quickly tugged at her sleeve, saying, "Your Majesty, there's no need to be angry. I'll handle my own vengeance. There are two grand masters outside; we can't act impulsively!"
"Hmm?" His senior sister looked back in surprise. "Why would this Empress be angry? I painstakingly collected two portions of Void Liquid, and that foolish woman gifted you one. These foul humans gathered four portions; should they not pay with their lives?"
"......"
Li Sheng was momentarily speechless, feeling awkward as he retracted his hand, somewhat irritated. "Let it go, let it go."
"Not letting it go... another grand master has arrived, and their aura is significantly stronger than the other two," Liu Hongfeng replied, glancing at him incredulously.
"You didn't notice? Oh right, I forgot, you're rather dull..." she teased.
"......" Li Sheng took a deep breath, suppressing his irritation. "Just wait, one day I'll make you regret this!"
At that moment, the situation outside shifted. The seven seasoned warriors, nearing the end of their lives, were willing to risk everything for a chance at fortune.
They exchanged determined glances, each reflecting their resolve, and pulled out their God Statues, glaring coldly at Man Tianqing and Yi Feixue.
"Good courage!" Man Tianqing, known for his fiery temper, exploded with rage at the sight of the seven masters daring to resist.
As he prepared to unleash his own God Statue, a calm voice interjected, accompanied by a heavy aura of death.
"Please wait!"
Before them, a tall, elegant man in purple robes materialized.
Upon seeing this man, both Man Tianqing and Yi Feixue's expressions shifted, retracting their God Statues.
The faces of Yan Shengjing and the others paled, revealing bitter smiles. Faced with Man and Yi, they had held onto a flicker of hope, but the arrival of this figure snuffed it out completely.
"The first of the Divine Martial, Yu Jinsheng..."
"......"
"Forget it, forget it."
"Alas, it seems this treasure is destined to elude us."
The lord of No Root City stepped forward, cupping his fists in respect. "Lei Xing greets you, Elder Yu!"
"It's you, young one! I remember your deep friendship with my son. It's been two hundred years, and now you've aged so," Yu Jinsheng remarked, his gaze softening.
"Such a pity; if it weren't for my son being love-stricken, he wouldn't have left this world so early. Alas... If you desire this treasure, we are willing to yield it to you!"
Lei Xing stored away the God Statue, a touch of nostalgia in his eyes. "I wouldn't stoop to such lowly tactics. You can all rest easy!"
"Hmph!" Man Tianqing and Yi Feixue snorted but offered no rebuttal.
In the demon nest, hearing the commotion, Li Sheng recognized the figure's identity and murmured, "The world's greatest grandmaster... Yu Jinsheng!"
Although it was his first time seeing him, he had long memorized the name. Over seven hundred years old yet appearing youthful, Yu Jinsheng had a handsome face and tidy hair, exuding a somewhat refined air. His most striking feature was his pitch-black eyes, devoid of any white, giving him a peculiar appearance.
"The greatest in the world? Hardly impressive," his sister scoffed, though her eyes betrayed her wariness.
"Didn't expect you to take a leisurely trip here, Elder Yu," Yi Feixue smiled.
"You've become quite distant since ascending to grandmaster. You never come to visit the old man. How's your aunt doing? Has she made any progress?" Yu Jinsheng's demeanor was gentle, devoid of any imposing aura, resembling a courteous teacher.
"Thank you for your concern, Elder Yu. My aunt passed the threshold three years ago. It's been years since I last saw her," Yi Feixue replied.
"Transcending the chrysalis into a butterfly, what a spirit! Such luck, I envy you," Yu Jinsheng smiled, then turned to Man Tianqing.
Man Tianqing's expression soured. "Please don't call me by my childhood name!"
"You're still sensitive about that, little Man?" Yu Jinsheng teased. Despite being around four hundred years old, Man Tianqing had to humble himself before Yu Jinsheng, who was older and stronger.
Feeling frustrated about the lost Void Liquid, he could only endure the playful jabs.
"Having exchanged pleasantries, I need your help with something," Yu Jinsheng said, smiling at the group.
"Anything, Elder!"
"Just say the word, it's our honor to assist you!" The group, including Yan Shengjing, felt a heavy burden lift from their hearts, their voices filled with respect.
"Very well! I've been invited by Elder of the Heaven Machine Sect to investigate," Yu Jinsheng stated.
"What has that old man divined?"
"The Heaven Machine Elder?" The crowd stiffened, while only Man Tianqing seemed unfazed, internally cursing the old man for his interference.
"Have you all heard the two prophecies that circulated earlier?" Yu Jinsheng asked.
"The age of great conflict, the rise of Lingchuan?" Yan Shengjing exclaimed. He had pondered this prophecy but found no insights.
"Correct, but that was only the first half. Recently, the Heaven Machine Elder divined the second half," Yu Jinsheng continued.
"What were those lines?" Yi Feixue inquired, sensing their possible relevance.
"Countless demons pay homage, origins entwined and severed."
"Another cryptic riddle; how dull," Man Tianqing grumbled.
Unperturbed, Yu Jinsheng scanned the crowd. "Have any of you studied this place, especially those flesh mountains?"
Everyone shook their heads; they had only been here for a short while.
With a slight smile, Yu Jinsheng waved his hand. There was no visible energy fluctuation, yet the blood-colored ground suddenly cracked open, revealing a chasm hundreds of feet long filled with countless demonic creatures standing silently.
The group's expressions turned grave as they extended their spiritual senses, realizing the vast number of creatures below.
"This blood-soaked layer stretches seventy thousand miles, and it seems all the demons in Lingchuan have been drawn here, feeding energy to the surface flesh mountains," Yu Jinsheng explained calmly.
"The demons of Lingchuan have all disappeared?" Yi Feixue pondered, her heart heavy. Coupled with the earlier prophecy, it appeared the disturbance lay right here.
"There are over twenty thousand flesh mountains, seemingly nurturing something with a presence similar to that of a grandmaster," Yu Jinsheng added.
"Over twenty thousand... close to grandmasters?" The group's expressions changed drastically as they grasped the implications of what could emerge if allowed to develop.
"Elder Yu, you must have tried to destroy them," Yi Feixue asked, suspecting he had a plan since he sought their help.
"I have tried. The defenses of these flesh mountains are extremely strong, and they heal at a rapid pace," Yu Jinsheng admitted, his usually calm demeanor now showing rare seriousness.
"You couldn't break through?" Man Tianqing questioned, skepticism evident.
"I could break them, but they heal too quickly. To destroy them entirely would take at least two days..." Yu Jinsheng's expression was notably grim.
"Since these demons provide energy, why not just destroy them?" Man Tianqing queried, voicing the group's confusion.
"It's not that simple..." Yu Jinsheng shook his head.