Chapter 328: Tiger's Tooth Extraction

Xuan You, the last ancient Human Emperor, once unified Wanggu and conquered all directions, suppressing the myriad races until they dared not resist and could only submit. This marked humanity's final glorious era, preceding the arrival of the divine remnant.

During that period, any race that dared to defy humanity would be crushed by the Five Superior Xuan Divisions. Innumerable races and rogue cultivators perished at the hands of these five divisions. Any single one of these five divisions could awe the heavens and make all races tremble. The Sword-Wielding Division was one of them.

However, all of this crumbled instantly with the appearance of the divine remnant. With the deity's arrival, everything was permeated by its aura, and heaven and earth underwent cataclysmic changes. Even a figure as powerful as Ancient Emperor Xuan You could only wane. Many ancient emperors and rulers who had long slumbered on the Wanggu Continent were roused, yet they could only sigh, powerless to resist. Ultimately, their only choice was to abandon the Wanggu Continent and leave with their suitable kin.

Some clans departed independently, establishing their own sacred lands beyond the Wanggu Continent. However, a greater number of clans converged, collectively establishing the legendary holy land spoken of on the Wanggu Continent today. These sacred lands, situated beyond the firmament, appeared distant, but were not infinitely far from the Wanggu Continent. By drawing the divine remnant's attention to the Wanggu Continent, they themselves have remained safe and continued to develop over the years. Yet, all this came at the cost of the remaining races on the Wanggu Continent, who bore the suffering that all races should have endured collectively.

As for the myriad races remaining on the Wanggu Continent, after generations of death and rebuilding over time, while still intricately connected to the races of old, their fundamental essence had changed considerably. Deviant essence was the most significant indicator. Though Xu Qing had observed that deviant essence seemed to have less impact on cultivators, this was due to his sect; larger and more powerful sects possessed more refined methods for handling it. For smaller sects and ordinary people outside, deviant essence was a crucial factor determining their survival.

Even major sects and powers, however, could not entirely eliminate the deviant essence within cultivators. They could only temporarily suppress it through continuous cultivation, but it persistently remained, never fully eradicated. It was like a formidable hidden danger: even a slight lapse in vigilance could one day lead to an eruption, causing a cultivator to become mutated. Nevertheless, over the years, various methods for combating deviant essence had emerged, proving somewhat effective. While it couldn't be expelled, mutations in major sects and powers significantly decreased.

Yet, every cultivator understood that this remained a latent threat. Should someone gain the ability to detonate another's deviant essence, cultivators would become extremely vulnerable in their presence. This was also why the "Candle Illumination" ability had shaken Yinghuang Prefecture. For among the deity's powers, there surely existed a method to instantly push a cultivator's internal deviant essence past its critical point, causing them to mutate, lose themselves, and transform into monsters. There was no alternative; such was the path of cultivation in this era, and one had no choice but to press forward.

Only within the Holy Land, or perhaps in the legendary Imperial Capital Region, existed methods for complete self-purification. Additionally, certain special techniques could temporarily purify the body for a limited duration. Yet, as long as one remained in this world, even if temporarily purified, breathing the air and absorbing the spiritual energy would inevitably lead to re-contamination. Thus, being accepted into the Holy Land was the most fervent dream for cultivators of countless races.

However, the Holy Land remained aloof, and only the great clans within Wanggu seemed to maintain some connection to it. These very connections prevented the collapse of order and systems within those clans. Such as humanity, and humanity's Five Superior Xuan Divisions.

Now, in the lingering glow of dusk, as this sorrowful human realm was revealed by the light, the Sword-Wielding Court took action. "Humanity still exists!" As the middle-aged figure's voice resonated from the sky, the suppression battle abruptly commenced. Figures flashed from all directions, brimming with murderous intent, charging directly towards the Three Spirits Suppressing Dao Mountain.

To become a Sword-Wielder, one had to be exceptionally talented. Now, with their overwhelming killing intent, the cities on the ground where the Three Spirits disciples resided plunged into immediate chaos. The Three Spirits' side responded in kind: sword light swept across the first mountain, giants roared on the second, and three swords were unleashed simultaneously on the third. Heaven and earth quaked, and all directions boomed. Roars, shrill cries, and the sounds of spells echoed through the clouds, causing the dark clouds in the sky to dissipate and the lingering twilight to intensify.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged man, head of the Yinghuang Prefecture's Sword-Wielding Court, advanced towards the first mountain in mid-air. The three fiends formed from the Ghost Emperor's three souls: the third and second were merely at the first stage of Guixu, but the eldest, Tai Guang Lingzun, had already reached the second stage many years prior. Now, amidst the sword light, the black mist that was Tai Guang Lingzun seemed unstoppable. Yet, in the next instant, as the middle-aged cultivator stepped in, a powerful aura, as if surging through the stars, erupted and instantly suppressed it.

The sky was embroiled in battle. The earth was embroiled in battle. Everything visible was engaged in battle!

"The time has come!" The Captain suddenly leapt up, his eyes gleaming as he spoke urgently. As he spoke, he abruptly dashed forward, heading down the mountain towards the third peak where the Ghost Spirit Venerable resided. Even as he charged, he didn't forget to glance back and motion to Xu Qing and Yan Yan, urging them to follow. "Let's go."

Yan Yan was about to rise, but Xu Qing turned, walking unhurriedly towards a withered tree a short distance behind them. Standing before it, he spoke calmly. "Senior Brother, it's time to go."

The moment Xu Qing spoke, the Captain in the distance paused, his expression peculiar, feigning surprise. "Little A-Qing, I'm right here."

Xu Qing ignored him. After a glance at the tree, he turned to Yan Yan. "I have some interesting jade slip recordings. Would you like to see them?"

Before Yan Yan could reply, the tree beside Xu Qing immediately resounded with laughter. The Captain's figure materialized next to them, his face beaming with an eager smile, utterly devoid of embarrassment. "Haha, Junior Brother, your Senior Brother was just having a bit of fun with you! Why are you taking it so seriously, kid? Come on, come on, we don't have time to chat. Let's go grab the treasure quickly!" As the Captain spoke, he swiftly dashed forward. Upon reaching his clone, he casually patted it, and the clone instantly dissipated.

Yan Yan's eyes widened, and she shot an unfriendly glare at the Captain. She had naturally realized that he had intended for her and Brother Xu Qing to scout ahead. Xu Qing said nothing, but with a flick of his body, he shot towards the Captain. Yan Yan gave the Captain a fierce look, huffed inwardly, and quickly followed behind Xu Qing.

And so, the three sped rapidly along. After abruptly descending from their mountain, they took advantage of the surrounding chaos, where Sword-Wielders were battling Three Spirits disciples, to conceal themselves and traverse the battlefield. Along the way, Xu Qing's eyes frequently glinted with coldness. He witnessed the horrific scenes revealed within the crumbling cities amidst the surrounding warfare. There were massive cauldrons for cooking humans, hanging dried meat, and the ground was awash with purplish-black blood, its foul stench far surpassing anything outside. Bones stripped of their flesh were piled high in many areas, vast quantities of them, alongside countless cages holding ordinary folk from various races, prepared to become food.

Xu Qing rarely witnessed such atrocities committed against cultivators, but here they were ubiquitous. "Kill them if you wish," the Captain said in a low voice, glancing at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing remained silent, but his body instantly appeared before a Three Spirits Golden Core Second Palace cultivator. The moment the cultivator retreated while fighting a Sword-Wielder, Xu Qing abruptly closed in, his right hand's dagger flashing coldly as it sliced directly across the person's neck. Amidst shrill screams, a head flew off. Xu Qing, expressionless, pressed on, and in a blink, he was behind another Three Spirits cultivator, grabbing their head and fiercely slitting their throat.

As blood spurted, Yan Yan also struck, her intense ferocity erupting. Though not a Golden Core cultivator, she sought out opponents she could slay, often approaching and savagely tearing them open. Seeing this, the Captain said nothing, but swiftly moved through the battlefield. Every Three Spirits disciple he encountered instantly trembled and turned to ice.

Concealed, the three were like assassins on the battlefield, leaving a trail of death in their wake. This was partly because there were many Sword-Wielders present, and Xu Qing was hesitant to unleash his poisons, risking misunderstanding. Otherwise, compared to simple slaughter, if Xu Qing had fully unleashed his poison arts, the scene would have been far more gruesome. Had their actions occurred before the Sword-Wielders arrived, they would undoubtedly have caused chaos and made a safe retreat impossible. However, the battlefield was now utterly chaotic, filled with the sounds of slaughter and explosions, and littered with corpses, so their presence went largely unnoticed.

Moreover, Xu Qing's rationality, a constant throughout most of his life, ensured that despite the killing, his direction remained unchanged as he steadily approached the third mountain. Half an hour later, they drew closer to the third mountain, and the battle raging in the sky became increasingly clear. The first mountain exhibited the greatest fluctuations, the second reverberated with the most intense roars, and the third, their primary focus, saw the most figures appearing.

They watched as the towering figure of the Ghost Spirit Venerable flickered, splitting into three distinct forms that battled fiercely against the three approaching Sword-Wielder elders. The spreading fluctuations caused the wind and clouds to shift dramatically, and cracks appeared between heaven and earth, as if the world itself were tearing apart. Amidst these fluctuations, Xu Qing and his two companions found their approach involuntarily slowing, as if they were moving against a heavy burden. Furthermore, as they neared the three mountains, the battlefield's turmoil grew, with clashes erupting all around. Consequently, the Captain would occasionally suddenly drop down to hide, evading detection. Xu Qing's reactions mirrored the Captain's almost perfectly; no prompting was needed, as if everything had become instinctive. Realizing the pervasive chaos, he simply crawled along the ground, occasionally pausing, then accelerating, and sometimes, if the opportunity arose, directly slaying any cultivator he encountered. Only Yan Yan found this method unfamiliar, reacting a bit slowly. However, her learning ability was strong, and she began to imitate.

Thus, the three gradually traversed the battlefield, utilizing various methods. During this time, they also encountered Sword-Wielders. While not all of them could detect their presence, some eventually noticed something amiss. However, the Captain was well-prepared; he swiftly produced a token and placed it on himself. The Sword-Wielders who detected them, upon seeing the token, displayed peculiar expressions but largely ignored them.

"How about that? I told you I was thoroughly prepared. Do you know what this is? It's a Sword-Wielder informant's identity token. I spent a fortune on it! It might not be very useful normally, but on the battlefield, when the Sword-Wielders have too many targets, this token comes in handy." The Captain, crawling ahead, proudly glanced back at Xu Qing as he spoke. Xu Qing blinked, offering a suitably impressed expression, which pleased the Captain. Nevertheless, they encountered several dangers during this time, but Xu Qing and the Captain's caution allowed them to carefully avoid them.

After another half an hour, amidst the violent sounds and cries of battle, they finally crawled out of the battlefield, reaching the foot of the third mountain. In the sky above the third mountain, the Ghost Spirit Venerable's three transformed bodies were locked in combat. As her aura surged, the lingering twilight illuminated her, revealing that the clothes worn by her three forms were not the same as the one she had worn that day in the air above Seven Blood Eyes.

"This woman really does have a lot of clothes!" "Little A-Qing, it's time to get rich!" The Captain's eyes gleamed with avarice. He leaped up, abandoning concealment, and charged fiercely towards the mountain ahead. Xu Qing did the same, charging out almost simultaneously with the Captain. Yan Yan followed behind. At this moment, all three unleashed their full speed. Though Yan Yan was slower, she possessed numerous treasures and diligently tried to keep pace, refusing to stop even if she couldn't match them.

From the sky, the ground appeared chaotic, and the heavens were a battleground. On the third great black mountain, three figures charged in with all their might, rapidly approaching the cave dwelling above. Madness shone in the Captain's eyes. Light flickered in Xu Qing's. "They're crazy, crazy," murmured Yan Yan from behind. She hadn't spoken the whole way, but her heart pounded as never before. Watching Xu Qing and the other figure ahead, she felt that what they were doing—like pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth—was something no normal person would ever attempt!

"But it's so exciting!" Yan Yan's breath quickened, her eyes glazed over, and her body trembled with the intense thrill.