Having activated Share the Same Robe, Qi Yuan stood nearly a hundred zhang tall with Xiao Jia's empowerment.
To Sovereigns, a giant roughly a thousand meters tall was nothing remarkable; they could suppress one with a flick of the hand.
Yet for some reason, when they locked eyes with the blood-red pupils brimming with murderous intent beneath the crimson armor, a sharp pang of terror suddenly seized their hearts.
Sovereign Lan Mei forcefully crushed down that dread, sneering at Qi Yuan. "We possess Dharma treasures crafted by Grand Sovereigns that combine offense and defense in one! Even if you add that flock of Sovereigns behind you, you cannot stop us!
"In the coming North-South Accord, the Southern Lands are doomed to fall, and every one of you will die without a doubt!"
Sovereign Lan Mei was already poised to flee.
The other Sovereigns present harbored the exact same thought.
After all, facing a hundred early-stage Sovereigns was simply too terrifying.
Gripping his broken sword, Qi Yuan looked like an enormous grim reaper risen from hell.
His cold, merciless gaze swept over the twenty-odd Sovereigns.
His voice grew ever more eerie, carrying the callousness of the Great Dao as he muttered like a lunatic, "Many people cannot see the future, yet in truth, they have already seen it."
The massive broken sword emanated a blood-red haze, bewitching and sinister.
Qi Yuan raised his blade and slashed out.
Virtual Realm Sovereign's Inner Demon Summons.
With that single swing, he roared, "This is your future!"
Endless blood rain cascaded from the blade like a torrential deluge, drenching the bodies of the twenty-seven Sovereigns.
Sovereign Yang Hun and Ning Tao were unaffected.
Greed, arrogance, gluttony, lust... all manner of emotions mingled within the rain of blood, plucking at the Sovereigns' heartstrings.
The Sovereigns on the field fell into dazed confusion first, followed swiftly by abject horror.
"You... what is this?!" Sovereign Lan Mei gasped, his face twisted in utter shock.
The Dharma treasures forged by Grand Sovereigns gave them total integration of offense and defense; not even the origin divine ability of a Grand Sovereign should have breached their ward.
And yet, that sword strike had fallen squarely upon their flesh.
His expression morphed into a contorted grimace. The instant the words left his mouth, a horrific sight unfolded.
A gruesome fleshy tumor abruptly bulged from his back, tearing through his robes.
The grotesque mass swelled rapidly until it was as large as a millstone.
Suddenly, as if pierced open by sharp talons, the tumor ruptured, spraying foul yellow fluid as a fiendish demonic monstrosity tore its way out.
Its eyes gleamed with raw greed and voracious hunger.
Perched upon Sovereign Lan Mei's shoulder, it began gnawing relentlessly at the mangled tumor.
This nightmare was not happening to Sovereign Lan Mei alone.
Every other Sovereign met the exact same fate.
Demonic monstrosities ripped through their bodies like parasites residing within their flesh, devouring their hosts alive.
Some Sovereigns bared their teeth and twisted in agony, thrashing and rolling upon the ground like wild beasts.
Others tore frantically at their own skin, ripping it away in shreds as though peeling their flesh off might bring a sliver of relief.
The scene was bizarre, horrifying, and mercilessly gruesome beyond measure!
"A devil... you are a devil!"
A mid-stage Sovereign who could still barely speak stared up at Qi Yuan's terrifying figure, his eyes filled with bewildered terror.
"Spare me... I am willing to be your dog!" another Sovereign wheezed through gritted teeth.
The towering crimson silhouette looked down upon the maddened Sovereigns.
He said placidly, "This is the end awaiting those who stand against me."
The hundred Sovereigns standing behind him looked on in stunned horror. Hearing Qi Yuan's words sent an even deeper chill running down their spines.
The spectacle before their eyes defied everything they knew.
All they had witnessed was that their revered, enigmatic Blood Lord had transformed into a blood-red giant.
He had drawn his sword against more than twenty Sovereigns, releasing a downpour of blood with a single stroke.
Then came the horror: the inner demons of those Sovereigns had been fully awakened, leaving beings of immense might as helpless as babes before the feast of the demonic monstrosities.
Such an origin divine ability had effortlessly slaughtered more than twenty Sovereigns without allowing them the slightest room to resist.
How could they not be struck with dread and shock?
How could this Blood Lord be born divine?
He was clearly an innate demon god!
Everyone swallowed hard, struck dumb with silence.
Among the crowd, Sovereign Yang Hun trembled violently.
Since ascending to become a Sovereign, he had never experienced such a sensation.
His spine tingled with numbness, but his face broke into ecstasy.
He stepped forward and bellowed, "The Blood Lord is mighty, sovereign over all under heaven!"
In that moment, he bore no resemblance to a Sovereign at all; he looked like the most shameless, fawning lackey.
Qi Yuan did not spare Sovereign Yang Hun a glance, his gaze remaining fixed on the twenty-odd dying Sovereigns.
One after another, the Sovereigns perished in torment.
Beings whose might could lay waste to entire cities died agonizing deaths.
Qi Yuan's experience bar shot upward at a frantic pace.
He could not help sighing in admiration.
Sovereigns truly lived up to their name.
The explosive rush of experience was vastly sweeter than that of those Terrestrial Myth monstrosities.
After a dozen breaths, the Sovereigns on the field were wiped out entirely.
The nightmarish scene of a hellish prison vanished, and Qi Yuan's level settled at 148.
The further along one cultivated, the wider the gap between minor realms became, requiring endless eras of painstaking refinement to bridge.
He was now merely two levels shy of the mid Sovereign realm.
Yet Qi Yuan had no need for tedious refinement. He needed only to slaughter, slaughter, and slaughter, and his experience would surge.
Of course, that was merely his level.
Mastery over origin divine abilities—advancing from Exhaustion to Subtle—still demanded his own effort.
Qi Yuan bared his teeth in a grin, his eyes sweeping over everyone present. "Understand now? That is how you kill someone."
The battles before had been far too fussy, dragging on and on in endless grinding.
They had traded blows for half a day without producing a single result.
None of it compared to Qi Yuan's clean, decisive stroke that executed them all in one fell swoop.
"We understand!" the Sovereigns behind him answered in haste.
Standing among the ranks, Wang Gai felt a tremor of dread in his heart.
Sovereign Yang Hun wore a sycophantic grin, flattering him to the utmost. "Compared to the Blood Lord executing twenty-seven Sovereigns with a single blade, our petty brawls among Sovereigns are as laughable as children squabbling."
Qi Yuan basked in the praise, his gaze finally drifting toward the solitary Ning Tao, a faint, playful smirk playing upon his lips. "You aren't leaving?"
Ning Tao gripped her chains tightly. Looking at the blood-red figure, the lingering shock in her eyes faded away. "If Your Excellency does not speak, how would I dare leave?"
"Had you fled just now, I likely would not have stopped you," Qi Yuan remarked evenly.
Ning Tao was notably stronger than Daoist Purple.
Of course, if Qi Yuan had truly committed to stopping her, he could have done so.
However, there was no need to pay such a steep price.
He harbored rather complicated feelings toward this NPC.
Ning Tao kept her hands clenched around the chains as she looked at Qi Yuan. Her expression appeared slightly stiff, as though suppressing something—perhaps fear, or perhaps something else entirely.
"Your Excellency's slaughter of these Sovereigns counts as saving my life. A humble woman such as I has nothing with which to repay..."
Qi Yuan cut her off, asking slowly, "Do you know of the Blood Palace?"
Ning Tao shook her head in bewilderment.
"Do you know of the Blood Lord?"
She shook her head once more.
"Do you know of a canary? She is a very proud, very vain girl. I have been looking for her." Qi Yuan gazed at Ning Tao, a gentle warmth flickering through his blood-red pupils.
[Ning Tao, Level 197, Master of Heavenly Heart Palace, one of the cursed Thirteen Northern Demon Fiends.]
Ning Tao shook her head. "I do not know of her. She... must be someone very important to you, yes?"
"Yes, I've been searching for her all along," Qi Yuan said. "Saving you was merely in passing; you need not repay me. If you cross paths with her in the future, tell her that I am in the City of No Return... waiting for her."
Qi Yuan's gaze grew profound.
Ning Tao looked back at him and replied, "Great kindness transcends words of thanks. I will keep watch and search for this person on Your Excellency's behalf!"
After a long pause, she suddenly asked, "Have you and I met somewhere before? Why do I feel such a sense of familiarity?"
"Perhaps we met in a dream," Qi Yuan chuckled heartily.
When his laughter subsided, he cast his gaze over all the Sovereigns present.
"Swear an inner demon oath concerning today's events. Not a word is to be leaked. Understood?"
Hearing this, the other Sovereigns swore the inner demon oath without the slightest hesitation.
Ning Tao did the same.
"Your inner demon oath is sworn. You may go," Qi Yuan told Ning Tao magnanimously.
Originally, remembering the "humiliation" he had suffered in the underground palace when he was nearly forced to call her "Mother," Qi Yuan had considered leaning on this Grand Sovereign and demanding she call him "Father" before letting her leave.
On second thought, playing that perversely didn't quite fit his persona as a cool, domineering Blood Lord.
Ning Tao gave Qi Yuan a lingering look, clutched her chains tightly, and vanished into a streak of light.
After an unknown amount of time, Ning Tao landed amidst the vast desert. Looking at the mass of flesh bound within the chains trailing behind her, she murmured softly, "Husband, the canary must be a very lovely woman."
As she spoke, her hand moved to cover the left side of her face.
"She must be far prettier than this hideous form of mine."
She cast a deep glance behind her, all attachment fading from her eyes, and dissolved into a streak of light once more, vanishing from sight.
***
Three years later.
Yun He finally arrived at Great Compassion City.
His white crane-embroidered robe was stained with blood, and his aura fluctuated unstably.
Over the past several years, he had been rushing toward the City of No Return.
Yet along the journey, he had run into the Demonic Crocodile, the foremost general serving beneath the Venerable.
When the two crossed paths, sparks flew instantly.
A fierce clash erupted. The two battled intensely for several years without a clear victor, both sustaining wounds before finally parting ways.
At present, Yun He's face was as pale as paper, his aura still unsteady.
Sitting within the palace hall, confusion crept onto his features.
"Where is my junior sister?" he asked.
At that moment, a Sovereign from Great Compassion City stepped forward with a respectful expression.
"To answer Grand Sovereign Yun He: your junior sister, Huang Mengling, departed Great Compassion City five years ago to attend to urgent business." This Sovereign possessed modest cultivation, merely at the early Sovereign realm.
"Where is the Guardian of Great Compassion City?" Yun He asked again.
"Certain matters arose in the City of No Return, and Lord Guardian set out for the City of No Return," the Sovereign replied deferentially.
A complex emotion flickered through Yun He's eyes as he continued, "How fares the City of No Return at present?"
The Sovereign hesitated briefly before answering, "I have remained in secluded cultivation and know little of the City of No Return's affairs. It is likely the same as it was several years ago, possessing a handful of Sovereigns."
Yun He's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this. He said slowly, "You may withdraw."
Bowing his head, the Sovereign took his leave of the hall.
Yun He was left alone in the cavernous, empty palace.
A flicker of worry surfaced in his eyes. "This matter is... peculiar.
"If memory serves me right, the Guardian of Great Compassion City is Sovereign Mi Luo, whose father is Grand Sovereign Mi Kong!"
Only after arriving at Great Compassion City had he gradually sensed that something was amiss.
He faintly detected several terrifying auras lying dormant within Great Compassion City.
Every one of them belonged to a Grand Sovereign!
These Grand Sovereigns concealed themselves within Great Compassion City yet chose not to come see him.
This was deeply suspicious.
"Could it be... the news regarding the City of No Return was all fabricated, a trap laid specifically for me?" Yun He's expression darkened considerably.
If that were true, it would mean Grand Sovereign Mi Kong had definitely betrayed the Southern Lands to join the Northern Lands.
The situation for the Southern Lands would become all the more desperate.
After all, among the Hundred and Eight Thousand Cities, more than half had already fallen.
Not one in ten remained intact.
The defection of a single Grand Sovereign was enough to rock the entire balance of power.
Should he be surrounded and slain, cutting off another arm of his master, the White Emperor, the Southern Lands would be plunged into even greater peril.
"I must... leave this place." Sensing grave danger lurking here, Yun He knew he had to depart immediately.
Yet how to leave presented another formidable problem.
After all, if they had plotted against him, escaping would hardly be simple.
Worry clouded his face.
Meanwhile, in the depths of Great Compassion City, several Grand Sovereigns were conversing in hushed tones.
"Grand Sovereign Yun He has arrived here. What of our plan?"
"Hmph, proceed as scheduled. If he interferes with our plan, let him remain in Great Compassion City forever!"
"He is merely a single Grand Sovereign; he cannot alter the grand scheme of things!"
***
At the same time, within the City of No Return, Qi Yuan reclined lazily in an armchair, the broken sword extending from his grip systematically harvesting the demonic monstrosities passing along the conveyor belt.
By the standards of the Liufeng Realm, he had now stepped into the mid Sovereign realm.
"Having plenty of subordinates truly is wonderful," Qi Yuan remarked with a sigh.
By now, the number of Sovereigns in the Blood Palace had drawn close to two thousand.
Every single day, vast ranks of Sovereigns ventured out to capture masses of demonic monstrosities for Qi Yuan to slaughter.
Qi Yuan's experience points soared at breakneck speed.
"A pity that although my level has risen, my comprehension of the origin... is a bit sluggish."
For native Sovereigns of this realm to step into the mid Sovereign realm, they needed to elevate their comprehension of their origin divine abilities.
Qi Yuan, on the other hand, needed only to level up.
However... his origin divine abilities could not be leveled up through gaining experience; he still had to comprehend them on his own.
Fortunately, with countless Monstrosity Origins piling up endlessly, Qi Yuan's first origin divine ability—Virtual Realm Sovereign's Inner Demon Summons—had reached a terrifying realm.
The sheer quantity... was simply too vast.
He could never use it all up; it was truly bottomless.
He had already pushed that divine ability to the Subtle level.
Yet the Great Oblivion Heart Scripture showed no progress whatsoever, remaining stuck at the Exhaustion realm.
"It seems my innate talent is still far too poor. Without this game, I'd be nothing more than a tiny shrimp in the Canglan Realm, probably unable to even step through the front gates of the Divine Light Sect."
Qi Yuan felt thoroughly disappointed.
He frequently sat in contemplation of the Great Oblivion Heart Scripture.
Yet whenever the next day rolled around, he had forgotten all of yesterday's progress.
How was he supposed to comprehend anything like that?
"Too hard, too hard. This game is way too hard to play!" Qi Yuan lamented.
The Great Oblivion Heart Scripture was simply not meant for mortals to learn.
If reaching Subtle was this difficult, what about Engraving?
If he were to engrave the Great Oblivion Heart Scripture upon his flesh and divine soul, Qi Yuan genuinely wondered whether he would end up turning into an idiot.
"Big Brother! Big Brother! Sovereign Mi Luo of Great Compassion City has arrived to seek an audience!" Chen Huan hurried into the underground palace, calling out anxiously to Qi Yuan.
"Can't you see I'm tightening screws? Not interested," Qi Yuan waved a hand dismissively.
He couldn't be bothered to entertain any Sovereign Mi Luo.
"Big Brother, Sovereign Mi Luo's father is Grand Sovereign Mi Kong—a genuine Grand Sovereign!" Chen Huan emphasized the title.
Hearing that, a faint smirk curled on Qi Yuan's lips. "Has a high-level NPC finally made an appearance?"
A sudden arrival of a high-level NPC could be a good thing or a bad thing.
Either way, to Qi Yuan, it was of little consequence.
It was just a game.
"Bring him in." Qi Yuan changed his mind; he might as well see what this Sovereign Mi Luo had up his sleeve.
And perhaps see... if the man would end up becoming an enemy.
If so, that would be fantastic.
After a few dozen breaths, footsteps echoed through the chamber.
The underground palace was dimly lit, candle flames flickering softly.
A man clad in green robes entered, his countenance carrying the innate haughtiness peculiar to those of great lineages.
Sovereign Mi Luo stepped forward. Catching sight of the blood-red robe within the underground palace, respect surfaced in his eyes. "Mi Luo pays respects to the Blood Lord."
Qi Yuan kept his eyes on his lovely demonic monstrosities, not bothering to look at Sovereign Mi Luo as he asked, "Speak quickly if you have something to say. I'm busy."
Receiving the cold shoulder did not ruffle Sovereign Mi Luo in the slightest. Instead, he said, "Mi Luo's visit today is to bring word of an immense opportunity to the Blood Lord."
"Oh?" Qi Yuan's interest was piqued at last, and he finally looked Sovereign Mi Luo up and down. "If it isn't immense enough, I won't be pleased."
At present, Qi Yuan was only interested in things that were immense.
He had continually pondered refining an enormous object into his Golden Core.
Only in that manner could he hope to turn the tables on the Palace of Light with a mere Golden Core body.
"The Blood Lord is born divine, having brought about thousands of Sovereigns—a feat that has truly shaken the world.
"My father, Grand Sovereign Mi Kong, is also one of the great magnates of the Southern Lands.
"He has long admired the Blood Lord, but alas, he is stationed to guard Dragon Snow City and cannot make the journey to the City of No Return," Sovereign Mi Luo spoke with eloquence.
"Get to the point." Qi Yuan was growing impatient.
"My father has gathered several fellow Daoists who are willing to acknowledge the Blood Lord as master and revere you as the common ruler of all under heaven!" Sovereign Mi Luo said, his face flushed with excitement. "The Blood Lord is capable of helping others break through to the Sovereign realm; you should rightfully be the sovereign of the world.
"Neither the White Emperor nor the Venerable is worthy of comparison with the Blood Lord."
Hearing this, Qi Yuan almost laughed.
Playing a game, was he about to have an NPC drape the yellow imperial robe over his shoulders?
Sovereign Mi Luo continued, "Though the Blood Palace possesses formidable strength, it lacks mid-stage Sovereigns and Grand Sovereigns.
"My father, Grand Sovereign Mi Kong, is willing to lead fellow Grand Sovereigns to enlist under the Blood Lord's banner and pledge our service to you."
Sovereign Mi Luo's demeanor was humble to the extreme.
"Anything else?" Qi Yuan asked.
"I have a younger sister, just three hundred years of age, young and extraordinarily beautiful.
"She has always held deep admiration for the Blood Lord, and my father intends to send her to the Blood Palace to be taken as an imperial consort by the Blood Lord."
Qi Yuan found this amusing.
This NPC really knew how to handle business, even offering up girls.
Even so, he replied, "At present, I have no interest in becoming any common ruler under heaven, nor do I care for what you've offered.
"As for your sister, I've never even laid eyes on her."
His words were laced with utter rejection.
Hearing this, a flash of disappointment crossed Sovereign Mi Luo's eyes.
It was as if the merit of aiding the founding of a new dynasty had slipped through his fingers.
Nevertheless, Sovereign Mi Luo pressed on, "In half a month, the Blood Lord will preach the Dao once more. Might I have the honor of observing the sermon in the City of No Return?"
Qi Yuan swept a glance over him and said flatly, "You may. Now leave."
"Many thanks, Blood Lord." Sovereign Mi Luo wasted no time and departed at once.
Within the cavernous palace hall, only Qi Yuan and the demonic monstrosities on the conveyor belt remained.
He muttered to himself, "We're all thousand-year-old foxes; who are you trying to play ghost stories with?"
Looking at the demonic monstrosities, a grin touched his lips as he uttered two entirely unrelated remarks: "The pig's fattened up; the wings have grown strong."
Chapter 124