Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Deafening explosions rang out.

The doppelgangers behind the other five doors blew apart simultaneously, leaving the other cultivators utterly confused. After the doppelgangers vanished, everything else remained the same to them, as if nothing had happened, though they continued to hear a distant rumbling.

Li Guanqi sprinted through the hall, sharp blades of sword qi shooting past him. His skin had turned red from the surrounding sword qi.

Boom!

At the last possible moment, he pivoted and slashed his sword across Map Spirit’s chest. A near-fatal wound opened up, but no blood flowed. A blinding light flared, and the wound vanished.

Map Spirit looked down at its chest, clearly not having expected such a powerful strike. A knowing smirk crossed its face.

Standing three zhang away, it swung its sword lazily, cocked its head, and murmured, “You’re strong. Looks like replicating your abilities alone isn’t enough. Hehe. In that case…”

A complex, fierce aura surged from Map Spirit. In the blink of an eye, it surged to the half-step Illusory Refinement Realm.

Its features began to shift, and its body grew taller and slimmer. Sharp, prominent features emerged beneath long black hair that cascaded over his shoulders. Its clothes rippled and reformed into luxurious purple robes.

Blood vessels appeared in its previously ghost-like body, with flesh gradually taking shape. Waves of celestial light poured into Map Spirit, its aura strengthening with each second.Li Guanqi gripped his Red Lotus Sword tighter, eyes narrowing. Map Spirit was making him feel threatened, far more intensely than when he’d faced Ming Xiao.

He licked his drying lips. “He’s strong…”

***

Meanwhile, dense rows of black-armored soldiers appeared in the sky outside the ancient ruins.

The Hell King sat on his throne, expression dark. The woman behind him saw his expression and giggled, letting her clothes slowly slide off her body.

But then, the cold-faced Hell King threw a powerful punch at her.

Half of her body exploded. Blood splattered everywhere.

In that instant, the sky above the Hell Rivers region became engulfed in a terrifying pressure. For over ten thousand li, the heavens collapsed to reveal a pitch-black void that looked ready to swallow the region whole. The warped space hung over the entire region.

Every human, demon, and ghost was pressed to the ground, terrified and unable to move a single muscle. Cultivation level didn’t matter—the effect was absolute.

Then the Hell King’s eyes widened. He was about to stand up when—

His black throne exploded, blasting him into the air like a ragdoll before he crashed into the ground.

His nearly five hundred black-armored Nascent Soul Realm soldiers exploded without warning, utterly defenseless against the force that had descended.

A hundred-zhang-wide crater marked the place where the Hell King had landed. His limbs had been broken by a strange energy, leaving him face down with his arms and legs bent at unnatural angles. He was utterly consumed with fear.

“M-M-Mahayana Realm?! Who the hell is it?! Which ancient monster?!”

Yin hell force surged through him as he struggled to raise his head.

A large golden armored boot appeared before his face. He watched the foot lift—

Bam!

And descend.

Long Hou looked down coldly. Not a single living being remained within a hundred li.

He stomped the Hell King into the earth with such force that his head exploded.

Yin hell energy surged. The head reformed, good as new.

The Hell King felt death enveloping him. The golden-armored man existed on a completely different plane, and the Hell King had no idea when he’d ever offended someone like him. All he could do was hope for mercy.

The Hell King stuttered in terror, “M-my lord… W-what… did I do… Could you please… enlighten m—”

Before he could continue, his body exploded again. When he recovered, he resumed begging fervently. Faced with absolute power, he didn’t even have the courage to fight back.

“I have received orders to flatten the Hell Rivers,” Long Hou finally said.

He slowly opened his right palm. A golden spear with elaborate, dramatic designs materialized.

The Hell King’s eyes trembled. He recognized the spear.

That’s impossible… That’s impossible! How could he be related to that guy?!

Sensing Long Hou’s killing intent, the Hell King’s eyes flashed with vicious determination.

Boom!

His features contorted. “Myriad Souls Devouring The Heavens!”

His aura peaked. A hundred-zhang-tall figure materialized above him: the Yin Hell Ghost King. It brought its giant scythe down on Long Hou.

Long Hou looked up and murmured, “Seal.”

Boom!!

Countless rays of golden light shot out from the black void, transforming into millions of spears that pierced through the Ghost King.

The Hell King tried to flee. Long Hou swung his spear.

Boom!

A ray of golden light streaked across the sky, causing the entire Soaring Heavens Continent to tremble violently. A single strike carved a thousand-li gash through the earth, splitting the Hell Rivers region in half.

The yin hell qi hanging above the region vanished.

A thousand-zhang-wide canyon now scarred the landscape. No one knew how many innocent souls had perished.

Long Hou raised his hand, removing the seal on the secret realm’s exit with an amused smirk. He glanced around, and every cultivator who had been supplying the Hell King with energy instantly exploded. Even those watching from hiding met the same fate.

Then Long Hou pursed his lips and muttered, “Should I give the Daxia Territory Master a heads up?”

A warm voice rang in his ear. “What happened? What could possibly be serious enough for you to come here personally?”

Long Hou looked toward the void and shrugged. “Just here on orders from my higher-up.”

Brief silence.

“These are small matters,” the voice replied hurriedly. “Carry on!”

Long Hou gave a slight nod, stepped forward, and disappeared.

***

Li Guanqi was completely unaware of what was going on outside.

Before him, the doppelganger smiled brightly. “My name is… Tian Ji.”