Immortal of the Nine Realms

Upon witnessing the look of contempt in Saint Long's eyes, the God Dao Sect Master fell silent for a few breaths. Then, he calmly stated, "Rumor has it you are the strongest within the Shenwang Realm. I wish to learn from you. Please."

He slowly raised his short staff and placed it horizontally right across his chest.

Everyone's expressions shifted, astonishment flickering in their eyes. The God Dao Sect Master was actually courageous enough to challenge the Dragon God to a fight!

Saint Long nodded. "Very well, I shall accompany you for a while."

He nodded and swam straight out from among the dragons, separating himself from the Dragon God Formation.

The dragon cultivators of the Ancient Dragon God Palace said nothing.

Saint Long and the God Dao Sect Master exchanged a glance. Then, as though by tacit agreement, they transformed into two streaks of light and shot into the heavens.

Within the dense clouds beyond everyone's sight, violent, thunderous explosions instantly began to resound unceasingly.

This specific wave of disturbance persisted for a full hour, yet a victor had still not been decided.

One of the nine-transformation immortals from the Moonlight Immortal Palace looked toward the others with a strange expression. "Given the Dragon God's strength, he shouldn't suffer defeat at the hands of the God Dao Sect Master, right?"

The ninth transformation experts shook their heads slightly.

"Unlikely."

"They have already started fighting? It seems we didn't arrive too late."

An Immortal Boat sailed over slowly. Lang Daochun and Shao Mengyuan stood at its bow, lifting their heads to cast a glance toward the residual shockwaves of the battle within the void.

"You are not late. It has only just begun. However, the core members of the God Dao Sect have already been evacuated," a ninth transformation expert replied.

Lang Daochun smiled faintly. "As expected. How could an ancient inheritance like this be completely wiped out in one go?"

The moment his words fell, torrential blood rain suddenly cascaded straight down from the heavens!

Everyone was stunned by the sheer vitality contained within the bloody rain. Every single drop of blood seemed to inherently harbor a primordial ferocious beast.

Immediately afterward, Saint Long and the God Dao Sect Master appeared at the same time in their original positions, as though they had never left at all.

The God Dao Sect Master's breathing was completely calm. He bore absolutely no trace of injury upon his body; even his hair was not a single bit disheveled. His clothes weren't even wrinkled. Only the short staff held within his hand was actively dripping fresh blood down toward his feet, drop by drop.

Conversely, when looking back at Saint Long, an exceptionally deep, gaping wound had appeared on his body. Blood continuously gushed from it. Some force seemed to be preventing his wound from closing up, resulting in a continuous, unceasing flow of blood.

Everyone exchanged glances and saw the horror deep within each other's eyes.

When they looked at the God Dao Sect Master this time, there was less disdain in their gazes and considerably more solemnity.

The title of the number one of the Shenwang Realm is about to change hands.

The God Dao Sect Master's methods are actually this terrifying? Even the Dragon God is not his match?

Could it be that he has already stepped into the half-step Heavenly Dao Realm?

Such thoughts flashed through everyone's minds, and the atmosphere fell silent.

Saint Long stared fixedly at the God Dao Sect Master. "Impressive. Just now, there was a surge of power that did not belong to you. You are capable of utilizing the strength of an Inner Domain, yet you have never refined one yourself, nor have you broken through the limits."

There was no anger in Saint Long's eyes, only curiosity and scrutiny.

"My clan has produced countless powerful experts throughout the generations. My ancestor was none other than the first Immortal Emperor of the Demonic Beasts Race. As his direct descendant, I am capable of borrowing a fraction of the power resting within the Demonic Beasts Ruins." The God Dao Sect Master nodded subtly. "The one who defeated you was not truly me. I am ashamed."

The power of the Demonic Beasts Ruins?

The core of the Immortal Realm?

At this moment, the God Dao Sect Master's gaze landed on Shao Mengyuan and Lang Daochun. He scrutinized the two for a moment before finally speaking to Lang Daochun. "Daoist Lang, the rightful duty of the True Immortal Ancient Mirror is to blockade the path of the Fallen Immortals descending to the Lower Realms. We have made use of the Fallen Immortals in the past, but we weren't willing to let them set foot in the Nine Realms. I request that you return this mirror to the Minor Immortal Realm."

Lang Daochun smiled. "We share the same view on that matter, which is exactly why I have already commanded people to escort the True Immortal Ancient Mirror over to the Minor Immortal Realm. Its spiritual consciousness has already been completely erased by me; this is a point you do not need to worry over."

The God Dao Sect Master fell silent for a while. Then, measuring up the surrounding crowd, he said, "Since Monarch Fang has still not arrived, I imagine all of you will find simply standing around and waiting rather boring. How about... you all step forward and attack together."

"Attack together?"

"He is this arrogant?"

Shao Mengyuan's expression turned thoroughly sour. The God Slaying Sword appeared in his hand. With the sword's amplification, his aura rose to the peak of the ninth transformation.

"Do not be in a rush to fight," said Saint Long.

Shao Mengyuan immediately let out a smile. "You're right."

The crowd, who had been itching to make a move, quickly realized something was amiss. The God Dao Sect Master had another objective.

Saint Long stared intently at the God Dao Sect Master, attempting to discern something from his expression. "You said you're waiting for Monarch Fang. What exactly are you waiting for him for?"

The God Dao Sect Master offered an honest, simple smile. "I merely wish to see what is so special about the person whom a group of Yang Gods pushed to the forefront, and who personally took the lead in ruining the plans of my God Dao Sect."

Saint Long stated indifferently, "Monarch Fang's personal cultivation level is by no means high; he is merely a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal. His identity is what's special, and he commands the Eighteen Heavens Prison Tower that was capable of driving away the Ancient Demon and stabilizing the situation. Do not bother waiting for him. Whatever hidden trump cards you possess, feel free to display them fully. Didn't you say there are a few old fellows who refused to leave the God Dao Sect? Have them come down."

"You want us old fellows to come down the mountain. Are you worthy?"

A vast, majestic voice echoed from the depths of the God Dao Sect.

Everyone immediately felt dizzy and disoriented. Even the ninth-transformation experts were entirely unable to avoid its effects.

"It is Limit Breaking power once again. Could it be that they are exactly like the God Dao Sect Master who is capable of borrowing the power within the Demonic Beasts Ruins?"

Shao Mengyuan looked toward Lang Daochun, inquiry in his eyes. "You've got a good brain. Tell me, if the God Dao Sect possessed this kind of power all along, why didn't they reveal themselves in the Underworld? They had a chance to reverse the entire battle."

"There is only one single explanation." Lang Daochun's face was exceptionally grave. "Only by being here could they borrow the power of the Demonic Beasts Ruins. If placed within the Divine Realm, the Demonic Beasts Ruins would likely qualify as a top-tier Inner Domain. You ought to be able to imagine how terrifyingly strong such an Inner Domain truly is."

Shao Mengyuan's face shifted slightly. An Inner Domain was a Saint's source of power. It was also the crystallization of the methods recorded within the Saint Canon and the true core of the path of cultivation.

Having resided within the Nine Realms for so many years, even if Shao Mengyuan didn't understand exactly how powerful the Demonic Beasts Ruins were, he was at least aware of how vast the Major Immortal Realm truly was. For a Saint to have developed an Inner Domain to this extent, they had to be at least a Realm Lord.

"You want to compare ages with me?" Saint Long looked toward the depths of the God Dao Sect with absolute, icy coldness. "You rats hiding your heads and tucking away your tails. Roll your way down the mountain, every single one of you. Let me witness exactly how strong your methods truly are."

Lang Daochun transmitted, "Saint Long, if those few old fellows are exactly like this one, and if they choose to strike together, we are highly likely to not be their match."

Saint Long cast a sidelong glance at Lang Daochun. "Are they the only ones allowed to wield the power of an Inner Domain? You think I can't?"

Lang Daochun was stunned.

"Regardless of what happens today, only by driving this group of fellows out of this place will the Nine Realms truly attain complete peace and stability. If they stubbornly refuse to leave, it is no different from a sword hanging over your head while you're asleep. Is that something you want to live with?"

"You must have guessed it by now. The ones who didn't leave the God Dao Sect are all descendants of the first Immortal Emperor of the Demonic Beast Race. All of them can use the power of the Demonic Beasts Ruins. Their goal in remaining here must be to deplete the number of Yin Soldiers within the Eighteen Heavens Prison Tower so that we will lose the vast majority of our combat power when we confront the impending arrival of the outsiders next."

"If that's the case..." murmured Lang Daochun softly to himself, "then it seems today's battle is unavoidable after all..."