Rules

A brilliant seven-colored rainbow blossomed once more in the skies above Beihai Star. Spatial ripples pushed against the surrounding spiritual energy, forming a spiritual energy tide that rippled continuously in all directions. Before long, it would trigger a violent meteorological upheaval. When that time came, all manner of lightning, thunder, howling gales, and torrential rain would inevitably wreak terrible havoc upon the living beings residing in this region. This was precisely why everyone on Beihai Star fought to pull ahead, unwilling to fall behind. Many believed they could quietly hide away somewhere and cultivate in peace, staying aloof from conflicts—content even if their cultivation progressed slowly, so long as they remained safe. Yet on Beihai Star, where battles erupted with such relentless frequency, even if a cultivator hid in the deepest ancient forests or at the ends of the earth, disaster could still descend from the heavens without warning one day, wiping out him, his loved ones, his family, and his entire clan in a single stroke. *** *Whoosh!* Amidst the spatial ripples, the Swimming Dragon Sword in Yaoguang's hand cleaved through the turbulence. Sharp sword light swept aside the void, shielding him as he traversed thousands of li and evading the violent shockwave from the collapse of a Void Piercing Battle Immortal's primal cavern. "A Void Piercing Battle Immortal." He cast a glance behind him. "Relying on my realm advantage, dealing with a Void Piercing Battle Immortal is indeed easier than dealing with an Azure Blue Golden Core. However... every Void Piercing Battle Immortal meets their end through the collapse of their primal cavern. Unless they carry quasi-Dao artifacts or Dao artifact-grade materials capable of withstanding that collapse, not a single scrap of spoils is left behind." If only there had been spoils to claim, considering the net worth of a Void Piercing Battle Immortal... Well, then again... Battle Immortals were all paupers. Once they realized they had no future as cultivators, these Battle Immortals would either drown themselves in revelry, squandering every resource and pill the moment they got their hands on it, or choose to nurture their clan's most outstanding juniors. None of them ever kept "money" on their persons. "The Battle Immortals may be poor, but... the Xi family is not." Yaoguang turned, and the Longxiang Flying Boat materialized in his hand. As the treasure accelerated, ripples spread through the void before him. In less than ten breaths, having reached sufficient speed, the Longxiang Flying Boat parted the void and executed a short-range spatial traverse. When Yaoguang emerged from the spatial traverse, the provincial capital of Haizhou was already close at hand. He stowed away the Longxiang Flying Boat and took flight directly upon his sword, transforming into a streak of golden sword light that shot straight toward the city. Because the battle between Yaoguang and Xi Lie had erupted ten thousand li outside the provincial capital, the collapse of a Void Piercing Battle Immortal's cavern ten thousand li away had produced an anomaly that was clearly visible from within the city. Brilliant rainbow radiance illuminated the horizon, and the celestial phenomena triggered by the fall of a Void Piercing cultivator were already rippling toward the capital. One could foresee that very soon, tens of thousands of square li would be engulfed by howling gales, torrential downpours, and other harsh weather wrought by the cavern's collapse. The fall of such a powerful figure just outside the provincial capital naturally drew numerous high-level cultivators into the sky. They gazed toward the horizon, their expressions filled with astonishment. "This anomaly... Has a Void Piercing Battle Immortal fallen!?" "Who could it be!? Within the city, there are the three great families and the City Lord's Estate—four major factions in total, each backed by a Void Piercing Battle Immortal. Which family's Void Piercing Battle Immortal has fallen!?" "Could it be a passing Void Piercing Battle Immortal? Perhaps their lifespan reached its limit and they failed to stabilize their primal cavern, leading to its collapse?" These cultivators engaged in rampant speculation, yet not a single one dared venture over to pry into the matter. After all, a Void Piercing Battle Immortal had perished. If the Battle Immortal had fallen because they failed to stabilize their own primal cavern, that was one thing. But if they had been slain by someone else... Rushing over now would be nothing short of offering oneself up to be silenced by whichever almighty figure—or figures—capable of slaying a Void Piercing Battle Immortal. While the others were merely astonished, the upper echelons of the Xi family harbored an extra measure of dread. A select few knew that one of the family's Void Piercing Battle Immortals had departed not long ago to deal with an adversary. *** "Contact Xi Lie!" At this moment, Xi Hong, the family head of the Xi clan, spoke to Xi Hai while watching the distant horizon. Xi Hai nodded. Not daring to waste any time, he quickly sent out a message. However... There was no response. In an instant, Xi Hong's expression darkened. A trace of panic flashed across Xi Hai's face, but he forced himself to remain calm. "Sixteenth Brother merely went at my request to deal with an Incandescent White Golden Core cultivator—and one who isn't even a true disciple. Though his strength might not be negligible, even I would have had some measure of confidence in taking him on. I only asked Sixteenth Brother to intervene to ensure nothing went wrong... Nothing could have happened to him." "An Incandescent White Golden Core cultivator who isn't even a true disciple? Have you forgotten the principle of knowing yourself and your enemy to win every battle!? I had people investigate him this afternoon! The only reason he isn't a true disciple is that he just entered the sect in this recruitment cohort and hasn't yet reached the time for the true disciple assessment! With his strength capable of repelling even a ninth-rank great demon, the odds of him passing the assessment in three years are exceptionally high!" Xi Hong spoke in an unfriendly tone. Even so, he was well aware that this clan uncle of his was inherently greedy. Under those circumstances, faced with the temptation of four hundred and sixty thousand Pure Yang Great Pills, it was hardly surprising that he had made such a move. "Even if he possesses the strength to become a true disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect, that only barely puts him on par with an Azure Blue Golden Core. Sixteenth Brother would have had no trouble dealing with him," Xi Hai said emphatically. It seemed as though this was the only way he could bolster his own confidence and convince himself that Xi Lie was fine. *Whoosh!* Right then, both Azure Blue Golden Core cultivators sensed something. A streak of golden sword light, swift as a startled swan, instantly slammed into the Xi family compound. Catching the family's defensive formation before it could fully activate, it struck directly through a crucial formation node. "Insolence!" "Who dares attack our Xi family compound!" Xi Hai and Xi Hong shouted in unison as they soared into the air. Yet they were a beat too late. Amidst a deafening roar and violent tremors, an ancient tree heavily guarded by the formation was pulverized into wood splinters by the sword light of the Swimming Dragon Sword, exploding across the surroundings. After obliterating this crucial node, the golden sword light arced through the air and swiftly returned to the hand of the figure following closely behind. Upon seeing the figure clearly, Xi Hai's eyes widened in shock. "It's you!?" Xi Hong also saw the newcomer, and fury erupted within him. "What insolence! What utter insolence! You are a mere inner disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect—how dare you... how dare you act with such reckless audacity!?" Naturally, the figure arriving on the sword was Yaoguang. "It seems you already know why I have come," Yaoguang said. As he spoke, over a dozen more sword lights shot into the sky. "What happened!?" "Someone actually dared attack our Xi family!? They must have a death wish!" "Who comes to court death at our Xi family!" These sword lights belonged to Radiant Sun Golden Core and Incandescent White Golden Core experts. Even though most of the Xi family's top experts had been taken to the imperial capital, the provincial capital branch still possessed a formidable gathering of talent, fully proving the family's profound power. Further away, many cultivators noticed the commotion and began watching from afar. Yet not a single powerful cultivator stepped forward to meddle. The intruder clearly possessed the audacity to challenge the Xi family; anyone wishing to intervene would have to weigh their own strength first, rather than gambling away their lives so lightly. "Xi Hai, as the Hall Master of the Demon Subduing Hall, you embezzled the bounty of four hundred and sixty thousand Pure Yang Great Pills that I earned by eliminating the Black Dragon Pirates. Such abuse of office for personal gain is despicable. Now, hand over the four hundred and sixty thousand Pure Yang Great Pills that belong to me, and I shall turn and leave! Otherwise..." Yaoguang's divine mind echoed through the night sky. Before he could finish, Xi Hai angrily cut him off: "Vile creature! Who gave you the audacity to attack our Xi family!?" The terrifying aura of an Azure Blue Golden Core surged from his body. "Never mind that you are not yet a true disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect—even if you were, our Xi family is not someone you can provoke lightly! Since you have chosen death..." "Stubborn and incorrigible! In that case... we shall follow the rules of Beihai Star." Yaoguang shook his head. He looked at Xi Hai, the Hall Master of the Demon Subduing Hall. "Xi Hai, your reputation for greed is known throughout the Demon Subduing Halls of a dozen surrounding provinces. Do you know why I still chose to redeem my bounty at your hall?" Without waiting for an answer, Yaoguang broke into hearty laughter. "For two reasons. First, compared to the forces of the Xi family stationed in this provincial capital, I am confident enough in my own strength! Second..." The Swimming Dragon Sword in his hand struck out violently, tearing open the void and sending out a visible ring of ripples. And the sword light was aimed directly at... The secluded cultivation ground of the Xi family's other Void Piercing Battle Immortal. "Because... Haizhou's Defense Envoy is away seeking pills and is not present in Haizhou!" "Insolence!" "Strike together!" Xi Hai and Xi Hong, the two Azure Blue Golden Core cultivators, hesitated not a moment. They simultaneously shook their divine minds, unleashing divine abilities aimed at seizing and slaying Yaoguang. Yet just as they reached for him, the radiant light of the Two Realms Ruler flashed across his body. He executed the Nine Transformations of Heavenly Walk in an instant. Like a void walker, he slipped straight through the spatial locks of their divine abilities and charged directly toward the secluded cultivation ground of the other Void Piercing Battle Immortal, Xi Guang. Only upon reaching this Battle Immortal's retreat did Yaoguang realize the truth. *No wonder he didn't come out to investigate when such a massive commotion occurred outside. His primal cavern is unstable? So he was in seclusion consolidating its state!* Yaoguang swung the Swimming Dragon Sword, and ripples of void energy surged along its edge. "Hahahaha! It seems I arrived at the perfect time!" In the next instant, the billowing spatial ripples condensed, transforming directly into the supreme divine ability, the Sky-Cleaving Strike, which crashed down toward this Void Piercing Battle Immortal. Although the Void Piercing Battle Immortal, Xi Guang, was in secluded cultivation stabilizing his primal cavern, he was neither crippled nor dead. For a Void Piercing Battle Immortal, having an unstable cavern every few years was a routine occurrence to which he and all other Battle Immortals were well accustomed. With the Xi family compound under attack, he had naturally reacted long ago and terminated his cultivation. Seeing Yaoguang attempting a surprise attack, the Battle Immortal sneered coldly, "Overestimating your strength!" He forcibly activated his primal cavern. As ripples distorted the void, he reached out and clenched his fist violently in Yaoguang's direction. The void around him seemed to collapse rapidly upon itself. "The Great Qiankun Hand? Is this the only presentable great divine ability your Xi family possesses?" Yaoguang recognized the Battle Immortal's technique at a glance. The spatial ripples churned by the Sky-Cleaving Strike crashed forward violently. Before the great divine ability could finish crushing the void around him, he traversed outward, carrying the full might of a supreme divine ability as it slammed ruthlessly toward the space where the Void Piercing Battle Immortal stood.