A Greater Crisis Is Coming

Venerable Red Ox’s eyes flashed with ferocity as he channeled his demonic energy and unleashed his divine sense!

But when he tried, he realized he couldn’t even accomplish this simple task—his entire body’s demonic power had been sealed, as if some force had imprisoned him within this valley.

Even more terrifying, upon closer inspection, he discovered his demonic energy and life force were steadily draining away.

Silently, unknowingly, he had fallen into the position of a lamb awaiting slaughter!

Thud!

His heart clenched as a foreboding sense of doom surged through his massive eyes.

Could it be… this person had planned to hunt them from the very beginning?!

He frantically scanned his surroundings, only to see the other demons in a similar state—each one staring back in horror, their fear spreading like wildfire.

“Why?! Why is my life force draining away?!”

“Damn it!”

“It must be that monk’s doing!”

“Coward! How dare you strike at us demons?! You’ll pay for this with your life!!!”

“Ugh…”

The demons roared in fury and terror, but they were already like fish trapped in a barrel.

Their curses grew weaker, their figures withering, their auras fading. Even the massive frame of the ox demon shrank, leaving behind nothing but skin draped over towering skeletal remains…

In mere moments, the once-ferocious horde of demons was on the brink of death, their powerful bodies barely clinging to feeble breaths, teetering on the edge of oblivion.

The valley was steeped in deathly silence.

Monk Chen Kunpeng’s voice finally ceased, a satisfied smile gracing his face as if pleased.

“Amitabha. You’ve finally quieted down, willing to listen. It seems you’ve developed a heart for the Buddha—truly commendable.”

“Since that’s the case, this humble monk shall send you to hear the wondrous teachings of the Buddha, so you may embrace enlightenment.”

Nodding in approval, Chen Kunpeng raised his right palm and pressed down.

A colossal golden palm descended once more, its might several times greater than before, crashing down upon the valley like a mountain. The screams that followed were harrowing beyond belief.

When the palm dissipated, all fell silent.

The tide of skeletal shadows lurking in the distant darkness had long since vanished without a trace.

The entire Black Domain was plunged into eerie stillness.

Finally at peace, Chen Kunpeng clasped his hands together and smiled.

“Amitabha. This humble monk has done another good deed. Spreading kindness is the root of joy, and aiding others in attaining Buddhahood is my greatest wish—truly immeasurable merit.”

As he spoke, the lavishly robed monk pulled out a book from his sleeve and immersed himself once more in the boundless sea of knowledge. With a step forward, he vanished into rippling space.

Not long after the spatial ripples faded…

Another rift tore open elsewhere in the Black Domain. The Seven Saints stepped through, their expressions grave, each wielding a supreme sacred artifact as they proceeded with utmost caution.

But when they spread their divine senses…

They detected no presence at all. The Black Domain was unnervingly silent!

Qingyunzi, leading the group, frowned and glanced back.

“Everyone, this place is strange. Stay vigilant! We’re here only to gather intelligence—do not engage recklessly. Split up for now, but if anything happens, support each other immediately!”

The saints solemnly acknowledged before dispersing quietly.

After a long while, they still found nothing. The Black Domain held not a single trace of life, nor any demons. Exchanging jade slip messages, the Seven Saints were baffled.

Then, one of them reached the valley and sent an urgent transmission.

When the Seven Saints arrived, they stood frozen in shock.

Before them lay the valley—strewn with shattered demon corpses, a terrifying crater carved into the earth as if a giant had struck down, leaving behind a monstrous palm imprint spanning hundreds of feet!

Even the massive skull fragments of the ox demon seemed insignificant within that dreadful pit. It was impossible to imagine what kind of existence could wield such power.

Bai Piaopiao gazed into the distance, her expression grave, feeling her own insignificance more than ever.

Against such a being, her cultivation was far too lacking. If they ever faced such an enemy, even Yi Feng might not stand a chance.

Even the undefeated Sword Saint, Su Jie, showed rare tension in his eyes.

“This… can’t be real…”

“Though these demons are dead, the faint remnants of their auras are still overwhelmingly powerful. Even I…”

Qingyunzi nodded solemnly, his eyes wary as he studied the crater and demon corpses.

“Indeed.”

“Judging by these residual energies, these shattered remains belong to demons—extremely powerful ones at that. If we had encountered them, even with all seven of us combined, we wouldn’t have stood a chance.”

“Yet, such a terrifying horde of demons was annihilated here. This is beyond horrifying.”

A monk beside him clasped his hands.

“Amitabha. The demons were crushed and slaughtered without mercy. Such ruthless methods… we cannot tell if this being is friend or foe.”

His words plunged the Seven Saints into silence.

They had entered the Black Domain with unwavering resolve, even staking their saintly souls on this mission—only to witness a scene far more terrifying than the demons themselves.

Everything had grown murkier. The once-great crisis had seemingly dissolved in an instant, only to be replaced by an even more dreadful shadow—looming over them like an eclipse, casting fear into the hearts of the saints.

Bai Piaopiao and Su Jie exchanged a quiet glance, tension evident in their eyes.

No words were needed. They both understood the unspoken worry—with the elite forces of Yunxing mobilized and now this horrifying discovery, they felt more powerless than ever.

It seemed as if a storm was brewing, a great calamity about to descend.

Even the sages were like solitary boats in a vast sea, unable to protect themselves.

The seven sages remained solemn and silent, then tore through the void and departed.

A message spread back to the Tianxia Hui, sending tremors through every domain. Panic spread among the people, and countless factions were struck with terror!

...

In the Nine Realms Alliance.

On the bustling streets, Yi Feng wandered aimlessly.

He had hoped to wait for some ancient clan—perhaps the Gu family—to come seeking revenge.

But after waiting so long he grew numb, not a single whisper of trouble reached his ears.

He had already given up much hope on the Gu family. After all this effort and still unable to die, Yi Feng simply sold the small courtyard he had been staying in and decided to find a place to settle down and rest for a while.

All those death-seeking schemes, all those damn system missions—to hell with them!

Stepping out of the city gates, Yi Feng summoned Slow Benwei.

Riding the snail along the way, he drew many pointing fingers and curious glances, but he paid them no mind. The world felt unbearably noisy to him; all he wanted was a quiet place to lie down and live a few lazy, carefree days.

He didn’t know how long he had traveled or where he had arrived.

Suddenly, a hearty laugh echoed from the sky.

"Haha, kid, where are you headed?"

Yi Feng lifted his lifeless eyes and saw an old man descending—none other than Fu Nantian, the brave soul who had once tested poison with him and nearly kicked the bucket.

He had to admit, he was a little envious of the old man.

Though his cultivation was weak, at least he could die easily. Back during the poison-testing, he had almost lost his life. Truly, comparisons were infuriating.

Since they were somewhat acquainted, Yi Feng responded half-heartedly.

"I don’t know."

Fu Nantian landed beside him, studied him for a moment, and chuckled at his listless demeanor.

“Kid, it hasn’t been that long since we last met. How’d you become so downcast? This isn’t like a young man. How about I join you for a drink?”

Yi Feng didn’t think much of it. Drinking sounded fine—might as well drown his sorrows.

"Sure."

The two hit it off and soon found an inn along the way.

Seated at the table, Fu Nantian was brimming with determination to reclaim his pride. He had been humiliated in their last chess match, and the incident at the Poison Island had further bruised his ego. This time, he would show this kid that experience trumped youth!

Lifting a large bowl, Fu Nantian grinned and raised it boldly.

"Come, today we drink till we drop!"

Yi Feng, too, had been stewing in frustration. He clinked his bowl without hesitation.

"Fine, till we drop!"

By the time the sun set, Fu Nantian was slumped under the table, waving his hands frantically and slurring his refusal.

"N-no more... I won’t drink another drop!"

Seeing the old man on the verge of collapse, clearly at his limit, Yi Feng didn’t press further. Sullen, he raised his bowl and downed the remaining liquor in one gulp!

The fiery warmth spread through his body—an indescribable relief!

His bold drinking stunned Fu Nantian, who had barely managed to sit up again. The old man smacked his lips, utterly speechless.

As Yi Feng polished off several more bowls, Fu Nantian’s spirit deflated completely.

This future disciple of his was downright monstrous! He couldn’t beat him in chess, couldn’t out-brag him, and now couldn’t even outdrink him. What kind of freak was this?!

If not for his formidable cultivation, Fu Nantian would’ve lost the will to stay. His sage-level strength was his last trump card, his sole remaining comfort...

Once Yi Feng learned of his true power, all his lost face would be restored. The past defeats wouldn’t matter, and his grand plan to take him as a disciple would surely succeed!

After all, when it came to disciples, strength was the ultimate currency, wasn’t it?

With that thought, Fu Nantian perked up, his beady eyes gleaming with calculation.

From what he knew of Yi Feng—and recalling how the kid had rejected him during their first chess match—this young man was proud.

Winning him over wouldn’t happen overnight.

To truly make Yi Feng his disciple, he needed a long-term strategy.

The best approach? Take him back and slowly wear him down.

Smirking, Fu Nantian spoke up. "Kid, you seem down, and you’ve got nothing better to do. Why not come with me to a marvelous place and rest for a few days?"

Yi Feng set down his bowl.

He had meant to refuse, but since he had nowhere else to go, he gave it some thought and agreed.

After a brief rest, the two set off toward this so-called marvelous destination...