Chapter 2412: Heaven's Secret Shattered

Without a second thought, Six-Wing flicked his wide sleeve, and a surge of cold light immediately shot out, pulling Ice Phoenix to his side. A white mist appeared, and a crystalline orb shot forth, then rolled on the ground. It transformed into an eight-winged giant centipede, which pierced through the mountain’s belly and vanished like a white streak.

A short while later, a sound of air breaking echoed from the horizon, and the black-robed youth appeared, stepping on seven-colored clouds.

Though his wide sleeves billowed and his movements seemed unhurried, his escape speed was far from slow. After a few blinks, he had mysteriously arrived atop the small mountain.

The black-robed youth first cast an expressionless glance at the small mountain below, then a cold sneer suddenly crept onto his face. With a slight tap of one foot, the seven-colored clouds beneath him instantly shot off into the sky again.

The direction he pursued was precisely where Six-Wing and the others had fled earlier.

This true immortal from the Immortal Realm truly seemed to possess a method to track Six-Wing and Ice Phoenix, able to pinpoint their whereabouts with perfect accuracy even after such a long period.

And so, the black-robed youth pursued while Six-Wing and Ice Phoenix fled.

Even with Six-Wing employing his life-saving escape technique, and despite the vast difference in their speeds, no matter how much distance the two fugitives put between them, the black-robed youth would always unhurriedly catch up again after a few days, like a maggot on a bone or a cat toying with a mouse.

Six-Wing was naturally filled with both alarm and fury. Yet, no matter how thoroughly he examined himself and Ice Phoenix, inside and out, he found no trace of abnormality. It was then that he realized he had ultimately underestimated the divine powers of those from the Immortal Realm.

In his helplessness, he could only push forward, constantly depleting the recently refined Pure Yin Astral Qi, as he continued his desperate flight with Ice Phoenix.

Three months later, just as Six-Wing was finally on the verge of collapsing under the relentless pursuit, the black-robed youth suddenly vanished silently from behind them and did not reappear for several days.

Six-Wing and Ice Phoenix were naturally overjoyed, both believing they had finally escaped their pursuer. They hastily found a secluded spot and slowly began to restore their true essence.

However, half a month later, when the black-robed youth reappeared in the vicinity, Six-Wing and Ice Phoenix were greatly alarmed. They could only inwardly groan as they once again embarked on their desperate flight.

On the Blood Sky Continent, within a hidden grand hall at the headquarters of the Helian Merchant Alliance, Bi Ying, the Blood Sky Administrator, sat behind a purple wooden table, his face grim as he gazed at a jade slip he had just received.

A moment later, he finished reading the entire jade slip. He placed it on the table with a soft thud and then gently clapped his hands.

Immediately, a gentle breeze swirled before the wooden table, and a blurry figure flickered into existence, instantly bowing deeply to Bi Ying.

"What happened? Daoist Yanyu has perished, yet it has taken you this long to report it to me," Bi Ying asked nonchalantly.

"Reporting, My Lord. On that day, Senior Yanyu had met with two other Grand Ascension cultivators before proceeding deep into the Qiyun Mountain Range to investigate the disappearances of people from the Eight Nations and Nineteen Sects. After several months, a message finally arrived stating that they had located the suspected culprit's hiding place, but no further news followed. Later, the Ming Snake Tribe and our alliance dispatched individuals, carrying the life tokens of the three seniors, to re-enter the Qiyun Mountain Range to search. However, shortly after they ventured inside, all three life tokens simultaneously shattered. It was then that we learned of the three seniors' demise, though we do not know by what means it was concealed."

"The investigators then spent about another month. Only then did they discover some lingering aura of the three seniors in a hidden location. Judging by the traces left nearby, it appears all three seniors perished simultaneously after a fierce battle, and their opponent was likely a single individual. This matter is extremely grave, and the investigators dared not be negligent. Only after thoroughly verifying all the information by going back and forth did they finally dare to transmit the news back to you, My Lord," the blurry shadow explained in a deep voice, seemingly privy to all the details.

"To conceal the heavenly secrets of life tokens, even if only for a limited time, is quite unbelievable. In all my years, I have never heard of such a thing. Although Daoist Yanyu and the other two were merely average Grand Ascension cultivators, to be able to slay all three of them simultaneously, single-handedly, there are perhaps fewer than ten individuals among all the renowned old monsters of Blood Sky capable of such a feat. Even the other elders of our alliance, apart from myself, could not achieve this. It seems the one who performed the blood sacrifice on the Eight Nations and Nineteen Sects is truly an unparalleled fiend," Bi Ying said, stroking his chin, a cold glint in his eyes.

"If this fiend had merely blood-sacrificed the sects and nations of the Qiyun Mountain Range, it might have been tolerable. With such terrifying cultivation, even having committed such a monstrous act, other ordinary forces would likely not dare to seek revenge. However, we just received another report: this fiend brazenly reappeared in the Great Dragon Kingdom half a month ago. Manifesting an boundless river of blood, he once again swept up all the inhabitants of that nation, along with dozens of medium and small sects, into it, turning all living beings into blood that was absorbed into the river. As a result, major powers like the Blood Bone Sect can no longer stand idly by. I hear that in recent days, these forces have been frequently contacting each other, seemingly planning to dispatch some Grand Ascension elders to form a 'Demon Slaying Alliance' specifically to encircle and annihilate this fiend. I have also received letters from relevant forces, requesting our merchant alliance to join," the blurry shadow narrated meticulously.

"A Demon Slaying Alliance? So the Blood Bone Sect and these other super sects are finally getting involved. It seems this matter has truly escalated. This is good; our alliance doesn't need to get too deeply entangled in this mess for now, but we also can't appear entirely passive. Here's what we'll do: have Elder Jun make a trip and join this Demon Slaying Alliance, but ensure he absolutely does not directly confront that fiend. His priority must be preserving his own life. Our alliance has already suffered a significant loss with the demise of Daoist Yanyu." Bi Ying considered this for a moment before finally reaching a decision.

"Yes, your subordinate will inform Elder Jun Yimeng at once." The blurry shadow voiced no objection to Bi Ying's command, bowing in assent.

"Furthermore, the time for the War of the Strong is approaching. You may begin gathering personnel and making all necessary preparations. Hmph, if it weren't for the fact that I must personally oversee the alliance, and that the War of the Strong directly involves such significant interests tied to a minor realm, I would actually like to personally confront this fiend who has blood-sacrificed so many living beings," Bi Ying mused for a moment before adding with a cold sneer.

"Your subordinate will arrange everything. However, regarding the participants for the War of the Strong, besides you, My Lord, and Elder Wen Xinfeng who are currently present here, Lord Lei has already entered Blood Sky and is temporarily in seclusion at a branch location. Senior Han Li and his group, according to reports from our alliance members along the way, appear to be lingering near the Low Tide Grasslands, still searching for several ancient altars in that vicinity. The only concern is Senior Bloodfiend; since he broke through the realm and entered the rumored Thousand-Stair Labyrinth a year ago, he has not yet returned. He hasn't gotten trapped like others, has he?" The blurry shadow assented, then spoke with some hesitation.

"Don't worry. Bloodfiend's divine abilities are no less than mine, and given his temperament, he would never rashly enter that labyrinth unless he was absolutely confident of being able to enter and exit. When the appointed time truly arrives, he will certainly appear on time," Bi Ying replied without hesitation.

"Since My Lord says so, then Senior Bloodfiend will indeed appear on time. In that case, I will now send messages to Lord Lei and Senior Han, instructing the branch personnel to arrange for them to be directly teleported to the stronghold in the minor realm," the shadow stated.

"Very well, proceed as you've said." Bi Ying naturally had no reason to disagree and nodded slightly.

With another ripple appearing before the wooden table, the blurry shadow gave a slight bow and vanished.

At this moment, Bi Ying casually raised a hand and reached for a pile of jade slips placed at one end of the table.

But just then, a soft thud suddenly emanated from his body.

Bi Ying's expression instantly shifted dramatically, his outstretched hand freezing mid-air as if solidified.

After a good while, he finally took a deep breath, swiftly retracted his outstretched hand, and pressed it against his waist.

A swirl of green light, and a verdant jade box flew forth, instantly hovering before Bi Ying.

The surface of this jade box was intricately inscribed with dense spiritual patterns and adorned with several pale golden runes that shimmered with a faint spiritual glow.

With a grim expression, Bi Ying moved his arm, and his hands rapidly formed seals like turning wheels. After a tremor of his ten fingers, he simultaneously pointed at the jade box.

The jade box trembled, and several golden runes floated off on their own.

The lid of the box then flashed open on its own, revealing a strangely shaped, flat circular disk inside.

The disk was as white as jade, with a faintly inscribed blood-red pattern array in its middle. At its very center, a black-and-white Tai Chi symbol was vaguely visible, creating a strange sensation upon sight, as if one's mind was inexplicably drawn in and unable to extricate itself.

Bi Ying stared at the disk for a good while before gritting his teeth, extending five fingers, and snatching it from the jade box.

With a muffled thump.

The instant his fingers made contact, the blood-red pattern array on the disk fractured into several delicate fissures with incredible fragility, and the black-and-white Tai Chi symbol at its center simultaneously shattered completely.

"The Heavenly Secret is shattered, it truly is shattered. I didn't expect that rumor to be true. Since my initial enlightenment of the Grand Dao, I have been refining this artifact with my vital blood, as a contingency. I never imagined such a premonition would actually appear. Is there some unexpected event in this upcoming War of the Strong, or is my fated great calamity truly about to begin?" Bi Ying stared grimly at the shattered disk for a long moment, then murmured to himself.

"Hmph, my fate is mine to control, not heaven's. Even if this artifact is truly as potent as the rumors claim, there is still a sliver of hope to be found. However, my previous preparations are definitely insufficient; I must prepare more contingencies," Bi Ying muttered with a cold snort, his expression fluctuating erratically. He then flicked his sleeve, and a wave of green mist instantly swept over the jade box.

With a soft boom, the jade box remained unharmed, but the white array disk inside instantly disintegrated into dust and vanished completely.