Faceless Mask

The might of a single cleave from the colossal blood-red sword was not something even the Divine Domain could take lightly. Not to mention that, boosted by Share the Same Robe, Qi Yuan was now Level 95. By the classifications of Wangyue Continent, this was already late Divine Domain; one step further, and he would be a regional hegemon. A colossal blast of air uprooted trees, and hundreds of robe monsters were scared out of their wits before being consumed as fuel for Dying Radiance. Under the world-cleaving strike, the experience within Qi Yuan surged wildly, while the Ugly Robe Monster Sovereign's form grew ragged. Several pitch-black claws on its massive talons snapped off, exposing pale, raw flesh. As if devoid of sentience, the Ugly Robe Monster Sovereign didn't care about the agony of its injuries at all, continuing to charge toward Qi Yuan. "Looks like today we'll decide both superiority and survival!" Great sword in hand, Qi Yuan swung it without the slightest instability. Right now, he felt as though a single sword strike could cleave a mountain in two. Of course, not a mountain inside the forbidden ground. The terrain and mountains here were rather unusual. A strike unleashed, stirring the winds and clouds. And the minor skill he had activated, Robe Rend, granted bonuses against the Ugly Robe Monster Sovereign and the robe monsters. Robe Rend granted an armor-shredding bonus against clothing and armor. And the Ugly Robe Monster Sovereign and its kind were clothes by nature—taking a bath was equivalent to doing laundry for them. What Robe Rend breached wasn't magical garments, but their actual bodies. The mask on the Ugly Robe Monster Sovereign's face was half black and half white, completely devoid of other color. The razor-sharp sword clashed against the ghastly talons. Claws shattered, flesh rolled back, exposing stark white bone. "You've got bones?" Qi Yuan was slightly surprised. The Ugly Robe Monster Sovereign uttered no sound, its terrifying mask staring fixedly at him. In the silent Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground, the scene was somewhat chilling. The two clashed again. Countless robe monsters across the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground were shaken to death by the shockwaves of their battle. The injuries on the Ugly Robe Monster Sovereign grew more and more severe, leaving it looking utterly wretched. Qi Yuan, on the other hand, fought with growing vigor. Looking at the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground that had been reduced almost entirely to ruins, the great sword in his hands shrank. "This place is about to be mine; I can't wreck it any further." Sword in hand, he prepared to end this pointless battle. Tyrannical Strength! Heaven-Cleaving Sword-Drawing Technique! Unleashing both skills at once produced his strongest strike under normal conditions. *Boom!* The blood-red sword thrust toward the Ugly Robe Monster Sovereign. To Qi Yuan's slight surprise, whether unable to dodge in time or choosing not to dodge at all, the Ugly Robe Monster Sovereign allowed this horrifying strike to pierce straight into its chest cavity. Looking at Qi Yuan, the expressionless black-and-white clown mask seemed to flash with a faint smile of relief. This single blow snuffed out all its vitality. Then, its body went limp. In midair floated a layer of human skin. A faceless mask fell to the ground. Looking at that layer of human skin, Qi Yuan felt an inexplicable sorrow well up inside his heart for some reason. He picked up the faceless mask, and several scenes flashed into his mind. "You are the most talented person in our clan, with the potential to reach the peak of the Heavenly Domain!" "However, the demonic fiend patrols the Wangyue Continent. You must conceal your identity and never reveal your talent!" "This is the Faceless Mask. From now on, you will wear it and leave the Feng clan." "When the day comes that you step into the realm of Supreme Sovereign, enter the Four Great Forbidden Grounds!" "Remember, above all else, do not step into the Heavenly Domain out in the open!" Qi Yuan saw the youth—ordinary-looking, merely fair-featured—put on the faceless mask, abandon his name, and forget his past. Yet when he arrived at the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground and broke through into the Heavenly Domain realm, what awaited him was a fishing line descending from the heavens. His vitality and blood were drained dry in an instant. Leaving behind only a sheet of human skin, which possessed a garment demon. Qi Yuan couldn't help but look up at the firmament. "A fishing line?" "A celestial demon?" He recalled the invitation to the Demon Slaying Assembly. "The big boss of this world has some pretty impressive tricks." He looked at the human skin. "NPCs... have their human side too." "Killing him pushed me to Level 91, and I'm close to Level 92 now." He picked up the Faceless Mask and kept it on his person. Just then, a notification chimed in Qi Yuan's ear. [Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground dungeon cleared. Rewards acquired.] [Reward 1: Corrupted Heavenly Dao Fragment x10.] [Reward 2: Control over the Robe Division Imperial Guard.] "Corrupted Heavenly Dao fragments?" Qi Yuan froze. In the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground, he hadn't encountered this issue. The Heavenly Dao fragments back then had been intact. Qi Yuan immediately thought of the fishing line descending from the firmament, sucking dry the Ugly Robe Monster Sovereign's previous incarnation. "So this forbidden ground... was corrupted by the so-called celestial demon?" "I'll have to kill the demon to get intact Heavenly Dao fragments." "Still, according to the invitation, the demon is in Dijue. To get complete Heavenly Dao fragments, I'll have to take a trip there." "Actually, it doesn't make much difference, except that I can't fully control the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground." Which meant he couldn't establish rules for the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground, like allowing entry to those carrying ladders. "No, my mental energy took quite a hit today. I need to log off right away." Qi Yuan hadn't been injured in today's battle, but the mental exhaustion was immense. The mana regeneration from Dying Radiance couldn't restore the mental stamina drained from playing the game. Staying in the game for too long would cause considerable harm to his body in reality. Qi Yuan put his arm around Xiao Jia. This time, instead of digging a pit, the two of them just lay flat on the boards together. ... Within the imperial palace, lanterns shone bright. The Imperial Guard guarded the exterior, and a tense, chilling aura permeated the entire palace. What surprised Jin Li was that earlier today, after she summoned Kong Qi, the Duke of Yu had also requested an audience. In his words, he was quite dissatisfied with Sima Ting. Between the lines, he had repeatedly hinted that Jin Li should slip away in secret if she could. Jin Li understood the reasoning. Yet she could not leave. The night grew deep, yet she still tossed and turned. Now, the only thing that could lift her spirits was talking with Qi Yuan. Unfortunately, it was already very late, and Qi Yuan still hadn't sent a message. How was he doing in the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground? And would she be able to survive this ordeal? The Ancient Qi Toon Tree was within sight, yet beyond reach. Just then, a faint glimmer flickered across the Exquisite Jade Tide. Jin Li's tightly gripping hand relaxed, and she looked at the message inside. "Got some good news for you: I took down the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground!" "The Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground is mine now!" "I've got to log off; used up too much today. I'll hit the other forbidden grounds tomorrow." Reading this, a small weight lifted from Jin Li's heart. In the end, Qi Yuan really had conquered the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground. "Be careful," Jin Li sent, feeling her cheeks grow slightly warm. She remembered seeing the Women's Imperial Guard under her command whisper like this to their husbands in the past. Thinking of her recent predicament, she had originally wanted to tell Qi Yuan herself. Seeing how exhausted he seemed, however, she figured she would tell him after he had rested. Just then, the Exquisite Jade Tide pulsed once more. "Little Jin Li, I've got a brilliant plan that can help you stabilize Southern Qian. Care to hear it?"