277: Chapter 271 Southern Wilderness

Deep within the imperial palace of the Great Yan Dynasty.

The night was like ink, thick as if it were an impenetrable black fog, pressing heavily down on the magnificent glazed tiles.

The royal Forbidden Ground, which should have been heavily guarded and filled with majestic Dragon Qi, was at this moment permeated with a nauseating, cold, and bloody aura.

The guards around the palace seemed to have had their Divine Soul extracted by some invisible force.

They stood there blankly, one by one, their eyes hollow and lifeless, like Puppets that had lost their lives.

Chen Zhiwen's figure, like a wisp of light smoke, landed silently on the eaves of the Yangxin Hall.

He restrained his entire aura, and even his breathing merged into the vast night.

Relying on his Nascent Soul Stage Divine Sense, which was sharp to the extreme, he clearly perceived that within the great hall, two extremely evil auras were surging crazily.

That was the unique Cultivation Technique fluctuation of the Blood Fiend Sect.

Carrying a stench that corroded the Divine Soul, it was completely out of place with the solemn imperial palace.

Chen Zhiwen narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing in their depths.

Without the slightest hesitation, he tapped his fingertip into the void, and his entire person transformed into an invisible phantom, piercing through the layers of Restriction and sneaking directly into the Yangxin Hall.

Inside the great hall, the candlelight flickered, dim and unclear.

On the Dragon Bed, which symbolized supreme power, the Emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty was lying there in great pain.

His eyes were wide open, and his eyeballs were covered with terrifying bloodshot veins.

His mouth was wide open, as if he wanted to let out a shrill scream, but he could not make a single sound.

His body was tightly entangled by a thick blood-colored mist, unable to move.

And before the Dragon Bed, two Elders wearing blood-red robes were grimly casting strange seals.

These two were exactly the Elders of the Blood Fiend Sect.

"Hehehe, Senior Brother, this Mortal Emperor has quite a strong will."

One of the thin Elders with a face full of wrinkles let out a harsh, owl-like laugh.

He looked at the struggling Emperor on the Dragon Bed, the greed in his eyes undisguised.

"What if he is strong?"

Another tall Elder, who had only one eye, snorted coldly.

The seal in his hand changed even more rapidly, and visible strands of black Soul Power were continuously pouring out from between his eyebrows, turning into ferocious poisonous snakes that drilled into the Emperor's seven orifices.

"As long as we complete the Possession, the essence blood of the billions of citizens of the Great Yan Dynasty will belong to my Blood Fiend Sect!"

The One-Eyed Elder's voice was filled with a crazy heat.

"With this essence blood, the Old Ancestor's injuries will surely heal, and our Sect has hope of revival!"

The thin Elder was also trembling with excitement upon hearing this.

"Senior Brother, hurry, lest there be changes. I will act as your Protector!"

"Rest assured, within half an incense stick of time, this shell will be mine!"

The One-Eyed Elder sneered and suddenly stepped forward.

His Divine Soul actually left his Physical Body, turning into a blood-red phantom, and with a shrill screech, it rushed fiercely toward the Emperor's Sea of Consciousness!

That was the art of Possession!

Just as the blood-colored phantom was about to drill into the Emperor's Sea of Consciousness and completely devour the Soul of this Mortal emperor.

At this critical moment!

"Stop."

A plain, yet supremely majestic voice suddenly rang out in the deathly silent hall.

The voice was not loud, but it sounded like a thunderclap from the Nine Heavens, instantly exploding in the ears of the two Blood Fiend Sect Elders!

The blood-colored phantom that was about to drill into the Emperor's forehead was, at this moment, as if it had been forcibly imprisoned by some terrifying power, stopping abruptly in mid-air!

"Who?!"

The thin Elder responsible for being the Protector had his expression change instantly.

He turned around abruptly, his blood Qi exploding, and his venomous eyes stared fixedly at the direction of the hall entrance.

He saw that in the originally empty shadow, at some point, an additional slender figure had appeared.

In a green shirt, spotless.

Chen Zhiwen walked slowly out of the darkness with his hands behind his back.

His expression was as calm as water, looking at the two Blood Fiend Sect Elders who were facing a formidable enemy, as if he were looking at two ants that could be crushed to death with a flick of his finger.

"The Blood Fiend Sect's hands reach too far."

Chen Zhiwen spoke indifferently, his tone carrying a hint of undisguised disgust.

"The cultivation world has its rules, do not interfere with Mortal imperial power. You have crossed the line."

"Where did this ignorant brat come from!"

After seeing Chen Zhiwen's face, the thin Elder's tense heartstrings relaxed slightly.

So young, and without the unique vicissitudes of an old monster, he must just be a Disciple out for training from some Sect.

"Dare to interfere in the Blood Fiend Sect's business? I think you are tired of living!"

The thin Elder's eyes were filled with murderous intent.

He didn't waste any words, raised his hand, and slapped out a palm!

Boom!

An extremely foul-smelling blood-colored palm print instantly condensed and formed, carrying a nauseating corrosive aura, covering Chen Zhiwen's head!

Wherever the palm print passed, even the air made a "sizzling" sound, as if it had been corroded by strong acid.

Late Golden Core Stage!

This palm was enough to slap an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator directly into blood water!

However, facing this aggressive palm, Chen Zhiwen did not even lift his eyelids.

He just gently raised a finger.

Without any fancy movements.

Just a simple point forward.

Swoosh!

A Chaos Sword Qi, subtle to the extreme but pure to the extreme, burst out from his fingertip!

The originally imposing blood-colored palm print, in front of this Sword Qi, was like paper, instantly pierced and disintegrated!

The Sword Qi did not lose its momentum, carrying an unrivaled sharpness, and instantly pierced through the thin Elder's shoulder!

"Ah!"

A shrill scream resounded through the hall.

The thin Elder flew backward like a kite with a broken string, slamming heavily into the coiled dragon pillar of the hall!

"Pfft!"

He opened his mouth and spat out a large mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with shock and horror.

"Nas... Nascent Soul Cultivator?!"

Just one finger!

It broke his strongest killing move and seriously injured him!

This kind of strength is definitely not something a Golden Core Stage could possess!

At this time, the One-Eyed Elder's Divine Soul was also forced back into his body.

He looked at his Junior Brother who had fallen to the ground, and then at the indifferent Chen Zhiwen, his face becoming extremely ugly.

"Who are you, Your Excellency?"

The One-Eyed Elder suppressed the fear in his heart and asked sternly.

"The Blood Fiend Sect has no enmity with you, why ruin our plans?"

Chen Zhiwen ignored his questioning.

He walked slowly to the center of the hall, his gaze sweeping over the two Elders, a cold arc hooking at the corners of his mouth.

"No enmity?"

He chuckled, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

"You people of the Blood Fiend Sect seem to have bad memories."

Before he finished speaking.

Chen Zhiwen's palm pressed down suddenly!

Boom!

A terrifying pressure, so huge that it was suffocating, instantly erupted from his body, covering the entire hall!

That was the absolute Domain belonging to a Nascent Soul Stage powerhouse!

Under this pressure, the two Golden Core Stage Elders felt as if a primordial sacred mountain was pressing on them, their knees softened, and with a "thump," they knelt on the ground together!

Even the slightest thought of resistance was completely crushed!

"Now, it is my turn to ask you."

Chen Zhiwen looked down at them from above, his voice ice-cold.

"Where is Daoist Tian Xuan?"

Hearing the four words "Daoist Tian Xuan," the bodies of the two Elders trembled violently.

That was the Old Ancestor of their Blood Fiend Sect, the highest secret of the Sect!

This person, was actually coming for the Old Ancestor?!

"Hmph! Don't expect to get a word out of me!"

Although the thin Elder was seriously injured, his bones were quite hard.

He gritted his teeth and stared at Chen Zhiwen with a face full of resentment.

"The Old Ancestor possesses peerless cultivation. If he knew what you did today, he would surely extract your Soul and refine your spirit, leaving you unable to live or die!"

Chen Zhiwen did not show any signs of anger upon hearing this.

He just tilted his head slightly and glanced at the thin Elder.

"Is that so?"

Two faint words were spat out.

The next moment.

Bang!

Without warning.

The thin Elder's head exploded like a ripe watermelon!

Red and white splashed all over the floor.

The headless corpse twitched twice and then became completely silent.

The entire hall instantly fell into a deathly silence.

Only the One-Eyed Elder's heavy, extremely fearful panting remained.

He widened his only eye, staring fixedly at his Junior Brother's headless corpse, trembling violently and uncontrollably.

Dead?

Just like that... dead?

No nonsense, no hesitation.

He raises his hand, and he kills!

This young man who looks gentle as jade, his methods are so ruthless and decisive!

"Now, it is your turn."

Chen Zhiwen turned his head, his gaze falling on the One-Eyed Elder.

His eyes were still calm, as if he hadn't just killed a person, but a bothersome fly.

"My patience is limited."

"Tell me, where is Daoist Tian Xuan hiding in the Southern Wilderness?"

"If you don't speak, your fate will be even worse than his."

Chen Zhiwen's voice was very soft and gentle.

But to the One-Eyed Elder, it sounded like a death warrant from the Nine Nether Hell!

His psychological defense line collapsed at this moment!

Cultivators, the longer they live, the more they fear death.

Having finally cultivated to the Golden Core Stage, who wants to die here for no reason?

"I will tell! I will tell!"

The One-Eyed Elder kowtowed desperately, his forehead hitting the floor with a "thump" sound.

"Don't kill me! Senior, spare me!"

"The Old Ancestor... no, that old thief Tian Xuan, he is hiding in the 'Netherworld Forbidden Zone' of the Southern Wilderness!"

"Netherworld Forbidden Zone?"

Chen Zhiwen raised his eyebrows slightly.

He had not seen this name in the Sect's records, so it must be a dangerous place unique to the Southern Wilderness.

"Specific location."

He asked coldly.

"It is deep in the 100,000 Mountains of the Southern Wilderness, a place covered in black fog all year round, infested with poisonous insects and fierce beasts; it is an ancient Forbidden Ground!"

The One-Eyed Elder did not dare to hide anything and told him everything like beans being poured out of a bamboo tube.

"To avoid enemies, he specifically opened an Immortal Cave in the deepest part of the Forbidden Ground and set up layers of blood arrays. Ordinary people cannot enter at all!"

Having obtained the exact location of Daoist Tian Xuan, the heavy stone in Chen Zhiwen's heart finally fell.

But the doubt in his eyes did not completely dissipate.

"Since he is hiding so deep, why suddenly make a move on the Great Yan Dynasty?"

Chen Zhiwen looked at the One-Eyed Elder and asked the confusion in his heart.

"Mortal dynasties have large populations, but for a Nascent Soul Cultivator, the essence blood of these Mortals is not very useful, and it is easy to incur Karma and attract the backlash of the Heavenly Dao."

"It is not worth taking the risk of exposing his whereabouts for a little bit of essence blood."

"Unless..."

A bright light flashed in Chen Zhiwen's eyes.

"You have reached the end of your rope."

Hearing Chen Zhiwen's words, a bitter smile appeared on the One-Eyed Elder's face.

"Senior has eyes like torches..."

He collapsed on the ground, looking as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

"Ever since the Old Ancestor was severely injured by that... by that rival three years ago, the situation of our Blood Fiend Sect has worsened day by day."

"The resources in the Sect were looted, the experts were killed or injured, and the forces that originally relied on us have rebelled."

"The current Blood Fiend Sect is already dead in name, and even maintaining daily cultivation has become extremely difficult."

Speaking of this, a trace of despair flashed in the One-Eyed Elder's eyes.

"The Old Ancestor's injuries are extremely severe and require a large amount of living Souls and essence blood to heal, but we dare not provoke other Cultivators in the cultivation world."

"In desperation, after asking the Old Ancestor, we thought of making a move on this remote Great Yan Dynasty."

"We wanted to control the Emperor and use the power of the entire nation to secretly collect blood food to support the Old Ancestor..."

Chen Zhiwen listened quietly, his expression without a ripple.

So that's how it is.

A dignified Nascent Soul Old Monster has actually fallen to the point of needing to rely on devouring Mortals to survive.

This Daoist Tian Xuan seems to have truly run out of luck.

"In that case."

Chen Zhiwen nodded, seeming to understand.

The One-Eyed Elder saw this, and a glimmer of hope rose in his heart.

"Senior, I have said everything I know, please..."

"You can go on your way."

Chen Zhiwen interrupted his words indifferently.

"What?!"

The One-Eyed Elder's pupils shrank suddenly.

However, before he could make any reaction.

A sword light had already crossed his neck.

"For evil Cultivators like you who view human life as grass, I never show mercy."

Chen Zhiwen withdrew his hand, watching the One-Eyed Elder's corpse, full of unwillingness, slowly fall, his tone indifferent.

With the two culprits executed, the suffocating blood aura in the hall also began to dissipate rapidly.

On the Dragon Bed.

The blood-colored Restriction on the Great Yan Emperor was finally lifted.

He gasped heavily, his body soaked with cold sweat, as if he had just walked through the gates of Hell.

After a long while, he finally caught his breath.

Supported by the attendant, the Emperor walked down the Dragon Bed tremblingly and came to Chen Zhiwen.

"Thump!"

This supreme ruler of billions of people actually knelt directly before Chen Zhiwen!

"Many thanks to the Immortal Master for saving my life!"

The Emperor's voice trembled, his eyes full of gratitude and awe for surviving the disaster.

"If not for the Immortal Master descending from the heavens, I... I would have become a Puppet of that monster today, and my Great Yan Dynasty would have been doomed!"

"Your Majesty, you are too kind."

Chen Zhiwen raised his hand, and a gentle force supported the Emperor up.

"Slaying demons and eliminating devils is the duty of our generation of Cultivators."

"Although these two are dead, the residual poison they laid down may still remain. The palace needs to be cleaned up and exposed to the sun in the coming days to disperse the Yin Qi."

Chen Zhiwen gave a few simple instructions.

The Emperor nodded repeatedly, treating every word as a golden rule.

"The Immortal Master's great kindness and virtue, I cannot repay!"

The Emperor looked at Chen Zhiwen, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes.

"If the Immortal Master does not mind, I am willing to appoint the Immortal Master as the State Preceptor of Great Yan and enjoy the offerings of the entire nation! The Heaven And Earth Treasure in the imperial treasury are yours to use!"

He really wanted to keep Chen Zhiwen.

Having experienced the terror tonight, he deeply realized how fragile imperial power was in front of these Immortals who possessed heaven-reaching means.

If such a powerhouse were to sit in the Great Yan Dynasty, why would he worry about it not flourishing?

However, Chen Zhiwen just shook his head gently.

"Your Majesty's kindness, I accept."

His gaze looked through the window of the hall toward the distant south.

There, there was a broader world, and there was a mission he had to complete.

This mundane wealth and glory were nothing more than passing clouds to him.

"I have no such ambitions."

After saying this, Chen Zhiwen did not stay any longer.

"We shall not meet again."

He nodded slightly to the Emperor, then turned and stepped out.

His figure instantly turned into a stream of light and disappeared into the vast night.

Leaving only the Great Yan Emperor standing alone at the door of the empty hall, looking at the distant figure, unable to recover for a long time.

...

Great Yan Dynasty Capital, Central Square.

Here, there was an ancient teleportation array, which the Great Yan Dynasty had spent hundreds of years of savings to invite experts to build, leading directly to the border of the Southern Wilderness.

At this time, the sky was just beginning to turn white.

Chen Zhiwen stood in the center of the teleportation array, watching the complex array patterns around him light up one by one.

Hum——

A strong spatial fluctuation instantly enveloped him.

Chen Zhiwen took one last look at the sky of the Northern Region.

The next moment.

The blinding white light shot into the sky, piercing the clouds!

When the light dissipated, the teleportation array was already empty.

Southern Wilderness.

I am coming.