The Silent Prophet

"Senior, hold your hand, I'm on your side."

The person was dressed in a black cloak as a disguise, but had just approached with incredible speed.

The wind blowing toward her made the black cloak cling tightly to her body.

The proud contours of thunder and peach were fully revealed.

This was Nalan Shisan.

Only after hearing this did Hao Yang release Nalan Shisan's neck. "This bloodline power should be from the Tianyao and Jiuli clans. Kid, the friends you know—why aren't any of them human?"

"Am I not human?"

Tong Guo Guo wrinkled her nose and stared coldly at Hao Yang. This old man was really annoying.

"You don't count. Your bloodline is too mixed. When I say 'human,' I mean our human race."

Hao Yang glanced at Tong Guo Guo and said lightly.

"You—"

"Alright."

Xu Mu placed his hand on Tong Guo Guo's shoulder, not wanting her to clash with Hao Yang. "Guo Guo, right now we're still relying on this senior to keep us alive."

"I didn't expect you to know so many important figures."

Nalan Shisan didn't take off her black cloak yet. She still didn't know what was going on.

She had been hiding in the shadows earlier, afraid to reveal her identity.

"Nalan Shisan, what news did you receive?"

Xu Mu looked around. The place had descended into chaos, but most of it was caused by the audience who had escaped from the formation.

There was hardly any fighting happening—just people rushing around like headless flies, creating a sense of turmoil.

"You guessed right. There are more than a dozen people like me, and they've all headed to the Realm Within the Realm."

Nalan Shisan explained. "Right now, I don't know what's happening, but the sect masters and elders of the five great sects have all just gone to the Realm Within the Realm."

"Going to the Realm Within the Realm? Who's bold enough to go courting death against Water Flame?"

Hao Yang sneered upon hearing this.

"It's the Abyss Cathedral."

Xu Mu said from the side. "They've ordered some people to go to the Realm Within the Realm to rescue someone."

"The Abyss Cathedral?"

Hao Yang's expression suddenly turned serious when he heard this. "Who's come? Is the Silent Prophet here?"

"What Silent Prophet?"

Nalan Shisan's voice was full of confusion.

Not only her, but Fu Jinyu and Tong Guo Guo were also completely baffled.

As for Xu Mu, he knew even less—this wasn't a plot he had seen before.

"Given your current strength, it's normal for you not to know. The Abyss Cathedral has a powerful being called the Silent Prophet, known as the Immortal."

Hao Yang looked at the people around him. "The Immortal of the West corresponds to what we in China call a Celestial."

"You mean Water Flame Celestial?"

Xu Mu asked curiously.

"You could say that, but it's not exactly the same. I once met Water Flame when he was at the eighth stage of the Realm-Breaking level, and he was already called Water Flame Celestial. I've always believed that the current concentration of spiritual energy in the world isn't enough for anyone to truly break through the Realm-Breaking stage."

Hao Yang took a sip of wine and continued, "But the Silent Prophet has always been called a true Immortal—meaning a real Celestial. Anyway, I don't believe it."

The people around him were stunned when they heard this.

What had they just heard?

Eighth stage of Realm-Breaking?

Celestial?

Fu Jinyu was shocked. No wonder her father had always made the Tianyao clan hold steady and not openly attack Yan Huang.

If Yan Huang had a master at the eighth stage of Realm-Breaking, wiping them out would be as easy as stepping on an ant.

Compared to the others, Xu Mu's expression was much calmer.

He remembered that Hat Bro, who hadn't appeared yet, was a protagonist who returned from cultivation to be a stay-at-home dad.

So if that was the case, there must be Celestials in this world—or in other dimensions.

"Senior, you mean the Silent Prophet might be made up, or might not actually have the strength of a Celestial. Maybe his subordinates are just exaggerating?"

Xu Mu pondered aloud.

"Exactly. Because the Silent Prophet has never made a move. The Abyss Cathedral is led by the Four Archbishops of the Abyss, and they're the ones who show up often."

Hao Yang said lightly.

"I know this. The Four Archbishops of the Abyss are called Pain, Devouring, Sacrifice, and Chaos, corresponding to the four doctrines of the Abyss Cathedral."

Nalan Shisan spoke up.

"Just the four of them aren't enough to deal with Water Flame. That's why I asked earlier if the Silent Prophet had come."

Hao Yang observed the surroundings, then patted Xu Mu on the shoulder. "Don't just stand here. Let's head to the Realm Within the Realm and see what the commotion is about."

Xu Mu nodded. This was exactly his purpose for coming out here.

The group followed Duan Musong and Jiang Cishui in the distance, heading deeper into Kunlun Mountain.

This was an area he had never set foot in before—already considered the central part of Kunlun.

In the distance, at the center, stood a mountain peak that looked like an enormous stone pillar.

From afar, it appeared as if a mountain had been sliced off on all four sides, turning it into a square pillar that shot straight into the sky.

Of course, the width of this pillar was also enormous—almost two thousand meters across.

At the top of this pillar sat a palace-style building covered with glazed tiles.

Around the pillar, a spiral staircase made of vines wound its way up.

By now, quite a few people were already making their way up.

Hao Yang looked up at the height. "This is the Realm Within the Realm of Kunlun Mountain. Legend has it that many powerful criminals are imprisoned inside."

"If they're criminals, why not just kill them? Why lock them up?"

Fu Jinyu asked curiously.

"I asked that same question once, and Water Flame told me. The reason is sound, but I can't tell you."

Hao Yang looked up and laughed. "Kid, I'm going up first!"

With that, he stepped on the air and flew straight up.

Fu Jinyu also spread her Qì shock wings. "Xu Mu, let's follow."

She grabbed Xu Mu and Tong Guo Guo by the hand and flew upward.

Beside them, Nalan Shisan also unfurled her wings, staying close behind Fu Jinyu.

"Wait! Put me down!"

Xu Mu, who had just been carried to a height of over ten meters, called out immediately.

Although Fu Jinyu didn't know why, she descended back to the ground.

Nalan Shisan quickly retracted her power, afraid to be noticed by the other Abyss Cathedral experts around.

"What's wrong?"

Tong Guo Guo looked at Xu Mu and asked.

"What's that place over there?"

Xu Mu pointed deeper into the ruins.

The three women before him all shook their heads. Fu Jinyu had entered for the first time.

As for Nalan Shisan and Tong Guo Guo, they had only come earlier to watch the Martial Sealing Tournament.

The fighting formations were always set up in the front part of the ruins—they had never been able to enter this area.

"What's going on?"

Nalan Shisan asked in confusion.

"I just feel like something's off."

Xu Mu narrowed his eyes as he looked into the distance. Through his perception, he sensed Wu Tian over there.

Wasn't the entrance to the Realm Within the Realm on top of that stone pillar? Why was Wu Tian heading deeper?

Based on his current guesses, the entire Kunlun Mountain plot involved Wu Tian.

That meant he could infer one thing: the Realm Within the Realm was probably a trap.

"What's off?"

Fu Jinyu asked.

"Earlier, Senior said that even if the Four Archbishops of the Abyss came in person, they wouldn't be a match for Water Flame Celestial."

Xu Mu then looked at Nalan Shisan. "I guessed before that you were a pawn to be sacrificed. Do I need to say more?"