226: Plunder the Palace of Shadows

On a massive mountain peak in Tian Dou Province.

A tremendous roar, like a thunderstorm, resounded through the heavens and earth.

It could be clearly seen… the entire summit of the mountain peak was now engulfed in a spreading shockwave, causing the peak to appear as if it had been shorn off, exploding into smithereens as it fell.

Innumerable shattered rocks tumbled downwards.

Beneath the billowing dust.

Two figures hovered in mid-air, facing each other from a distance.

This level of battle… rarely occurred in Tian Dou Province.

After all, the strongest cultivators in Tian Dou Province previously were only at the Martial Soul Realm.

Yet, now, two Martial Demon Realm powerhouses were locked in a deadly struggle!

Boom!

Another colossal explosion ripped through the air.

The two figures crossed paths in the sky.

The impact they generated tore through the clouds, causing the heavens and earth to change color.

The blood-haired middle-aged man's lips curved upwards, revealing a sneer.

"Lin Yan, if this is all you've got… you won't be able to stop me!"

Lin Yan was not tall, with a 'chuan'-shaped frown, a middle-aged man with a face full of deep-seated grievances.

He carried a long, strip-shaped weapon on his back.

But it was wrapped in white cloth.

It was impossible to discern what kind of weapon it was.

Facing the other party's provocation.

Lin Yan's frown deepened.

"Since you want to fight with all your might…"

He grabbed the white cloth on his back.

Roar!!

A terrifying low growl suddenly echoed and exploded from within the weapon wrapped in white cloth. Streaks of black energy swirled around Lin Yan's body, causing his entire aura and demeanor to undergo a drastic reversal.

If the previous Lin Yan had given people a feeling of honesty and kindness.

Then the current Lin Yan.

Was like a violent and cruel demon.

He raised his head.

The 'chuan'-shaped wrinkles on his forehead transformed into three black stripes, exuding profundity and eeriness.

Swoosh!

The moment he tore off the white cloth.

The entire sky instantly turned black.

"Now this is interesting."

The blood-haired middle-aged man grinned… Not far from Rapid Shadow Palace.

A slender man, thin as a bamboo pole, was treading on a massive flying bird over ten meters long.

With his arms crossed over his chest, he gazed at the Rapid Shadow Palace in the distance.

He had been observing here for some time.

"Well then…"

"Let's begin!"

A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and a sinister smile appeared on his face.

Shriek!!

The massive flying bird beneath him let out a piercing cry.

Then it transformed into a black light.

Instantly traversing a great distance.

Entering the Five Shadow City territory of the Rapid Shadow Palace.

However, the moment he intruded into the Five Shadow City territory.

A pair of massive, invisible hands had already condensed around him.

These colossal hands were like shadows.

From left and right, they enveloped the intruding flying bird, then the two palms clapped together, striking it fiercely.

Boom!

A terrifying vibration emanated from the air.

A thunderous explosion spread to every corner of Five Shadow City, allowing everyone within Five Shadow City to hear it clearly.

Fortunately, this was an attack initiated by the Rapid Shadow Palace itself, so it did not cause harm to the people within the Rapid Shadow Palace.

Otherwise, this single loud noise.

Would be enough to kill all the ordinary people and the Martial Warrior of the Entrance to Martial Realm within the Rapid Shadow Palace!

Even Qi Martial Realm martial artists would inevitably suffer severe injuries.

"What happened!"

"What's going on!"

Many people looked bewildered.

The disciples within the Rapid Shadow Palace, however, had their expressions darken.

"Enemy attack?"

They all looked up.

Although they couldn't see the giant flying bird that had intruded into the Five Shadow City territory due to distance, they could see the extending giant shadow arms.

While ordinary people couldn't see the shadow arms, the Rapid Shadow Palace disciples could clearly perceive them.

At the same time.

The moment the giant flying bird intruded.

The Palace Lord of Shadow Flash Palace had already sensed it.

Whoosh!

His figure flashed from his original spot.

Appearing on the tallest building in Five Shadow City.

Five Shadow City was arranged as four cities surrounding the central Wind Shadow City.

And within Wind Shadow City, there was an extremely tall pavilion.

Standing on this pavilion, one could take in the entire Five Shadow City below.

Now… the Palace Lord of Shadow Flash Palace appeared at the top of the pavilion.

From there, he clearly saw the massive flying bird easily evading the strike of the giant shadow hands.

"To think… someone actually dared to covet our Rapid Shadow Palace!"

The Palace Lord of Shadow Flash Palace's expression was grim.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Several figures appeared behind him in succession.

They were the other five elders.

They stood at the top of the pavilion, their expressions solemn as they looked at the massive flying bird in the distance, all able to see the Gaunt Man standing on the flying bird, arms crossed over his chest.

The Palace Lord of Shadow Flash Palace took a step forward, walking out from the pavilion.

In the eyes of ordinary people, he seemed to be treading on air.

In reality, an invisible black shadow appeared beneath his feet.

Allowing him to walk in the air after stepping on the black shadow.

He quickly arrived not far from the other party.

His expression was icy cold.

"My Rapid Shadow Palace never welcomes Demonic Path forces! You'd best leave immediately, otherwise…"

The Gaunt Man sneered dismissively.

"Otherwise what?"

The Palace Lord of Shadow Flash Palace let out a cold snort.

From within Five Shadow City, numerous shadow hands suddenly extended. These hands appeared beneath many Rapid Shadow Palace disciples, lifting them all off the ground.

This also included the five elders behind the Palace Lord of Shadow Flash Palace.

They formed a siege.

Dense and numerous, they surrounded the Gaunt Man and the massive flying bird beneath him.

"You alone, you think you can plunder our Rapid Shadow Palace?"

The Palace Lord of Shadow Flash Palace's gaze was sharp.

He had already discerned that the other party was not a Martial Demon Realm, but a Martial Soul Realm.

This also made him breathe a sigh of relief.

If this person were a Martial Demon Realm, he would definitely just lie down and not resist.

Under an absolute disparity in strength.

Even if he sacrificed the entire Rapid Shadow Palace.

He wouldn't be able to stop a Martial Demon Realm.

But if this person was only a Martial Soul Realm, then it was different.

After all, the Palace Lord of Shadow Flash Palace himself was also a Martial Soul Realm.

Although there often existed a huge disparity in strength between Martial Soul Realm cultivators.

This was, after all, their Rapid Shadow Palace's territory!

Even if the opponent's strength was greater than his, he could still rely on the geographical advantage and the Rapid Shadow Palace's foundation to repel him.

"Alone? You're mistaken, I'm not alone."

The Gaunt Man smiled.

He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

Snap!

A sound like shattering glass suddenly echoed in everyone's ears.

Above their heads.

A dense swarm of various flying birds suddenly appeared.

These flying birds varied in size and type.

But every single flying bird was no ordinary bird.

Possessing power fluctuations ranging from Blood Martial Realm to Entering Martial Realm.

"Hiss…"

This terrifying scene made all who witnessed it gasp in cold air.

They hadn't expected such a vast flock of flying birds to be hidden above!

The most terrifying thing… was that the pupils of all these flying birds were identical.

Upon closer inspection, it would be discovered that these were precisely the pupils of the Gaunt Man.

"This… what kind of method is this!"

"Could it be that he, with his own power, controls all these flying birds?"

The minds of many who witnessed this scene were shaken.

They had never seen such a method.

Even the Palace Lord of Shadow Flash Palace, though his face showed no expression, felt a sense of awe in his heart.

"This person's Soul Consciousness is extremely strong! And he also possesses the ability to control fierce beasts with his Soul Consciousness. If he has already formed a Life Soul, then it will be troublesome…"

The Gaunt Man was very satisfied with the changes in everyone's expressions. He smiled sinisterly.

He licked his lips.

"Let me experience what kind of foundation your Rapid Shadow Palace possesses."

He raised his hand and waved it downwards.

Whoosh!

The dense swarm of flying birds above immediately let out sharp cries, shooting downwards towards the crowd below.

Bang!!

Flesh and shattered bones splattered as bodies exploded.

As the Blood Martial Realm martial artist in front of him fell.

Xiao Shi quickly picked up the items that dropped after the opponent's death.

On his way back to the Rapid Shadow Palace.

He continued to kill these outsiders who were plundering in Tian Dou Province.

Most of these outsiders were primarily Blood Martial Grade.

Therefore, Xiao Shi had no pressure in killing them.

However, two days ago.

He had encountered a powerful Martial Soul Realm.

This person was much stronger than the previous Martial Soul Realm he had encountered.

Xiao Shi clearly felt that he was not an opponent during their skirmish.

He decisively retreated.

Although he still didn't know the specific divisions within the Martial Soul Realm.

He knew that the Martial Soul Realm, like the Blood Martial Realm, had different levels of division within the same realm.

He was currently only able to kill the weakest type of Martial Soul Realm.

When encountering a slightly stronger Martial Soul Realm, he could only flee.

And with his current speed.

Even that powerful Martial Soul Realm couldn't catch him, and he easily escaped.

After placing the harvested Blood Martial Grade items into the [Purple Treasure Plate], the value of this [Purple Treasure Plate] in Xiao Shi's hand successfully reached 404!

This value was precisely the amount required to exchange for Martial Soul Realm treasures in the Myriad Treasure Pagoda.

According to Xiao Shi's observations in the Myriad Treasure Pagoda.

He had already clearly realized.

The value of Martial Soul Realm treasures typically ranged between 400-499.

Once it reached 500.

It would enter the value range of Martial Demon Realm treasures.

From this, Xiao Shi deduced.

500-599 was the value of all Martial Demon Realm treasures.

And the fragment of the celestial compass he had exchanged for back then.

Its value was 670.

This indicated that the value of the fragment of the celestial compass was equivalent to the value of a Saint Realm treasure.

Of course.

Xiao Shi did not put all the harvested Blood Martial Grade items into a single [Purple Treasure Plate].

He knew that one [Purple Treasure Plate] could only be exchanged for one treasure.

Therefore, once he increased the value of one [Purple Treasure Plate] to over 400, he would place items into another [Purple Treasure Plate].

Currently, he already had three [Purple Treasure Plate]s whose values had reached over 400.

This meant he could now exchange for three Martial Soul Realm treasures!

Whoosh!

Soon.

After Xiao Shi killed all the outsiders who were plundering in this area.

He continued towards the Rapid Shadow Palace.

Although the slaughter along the way greatly slowed down his return time.

However, six days later.

He was not far from the Rapid Shadow Palace.

"It's a pity I only took down one Martial Soul Realm on this journey."

Xiao Shi felt some regret about this.

On one hand, Martial Soul Realm cultivators were relatively rare.

On the other hand, the Martial Soul Realm cultivators he encountered later were all extremely powerful.

He was no match for them at all.

This also made him even more eager to break through his cultivation.

And step into the Martial Soul Realm as soon as possible.

"I hope that after returning this time, I can quickly find a way to break through to the Martial Soul Realm."

Xiao Shi thought to himself.

Currently, he was completely clueless about breaking through to the Martial Soul Realm.

He could only hope to gain enlightenment from the Rapid Shadow Palace.

When he broke through to the Blood Martial Realm, it was also through the Rapid Shadow Palace that he formed his first Natal Martial Blood in the Blood Sect Game.

This was also the benefit of relying on a force.

Although Xiao Shi had no sense of belonging to this force itself.

As Xiao Shi got closer and closer to the Rapid Shadow Palace.

The plundering in the surrounding areas gradually decreased.

However, just then.

Xiao Shi suddenly experienced a special sensation.

This sensation… originated from the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree!

"Something happened to the Rapid Shadow Palace?"

Xiao Shi's heart was startled.

"Could someone dare to plunder the Rapid Shadow Palace?"

In his opinion.

As a first-tier force in Tian Dou Province, the Rapid Shadow Palace.

Surely wouldn't be plundered like the small and medium-sized forces he encountered along the way.

But now, through his connection with the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree, he clearly deciphered the message conveyed by the Azure Calamity Ancient Tree.

This made his heart tighten.

He was not worried about the people of the Rapid Shadow Palace.

But he could not ignore the disciples of the Red Tiger Sect.

And Cheng Tianhao's servants.

Whoosh!

Xiao Shi immediately sped up.

Rushing back at his fastest speed.

Under his full-speed sprint.

Before long.

He had already vaguely seen Five Shadow City in the distance.

From a great distance.

He saw a huge black shadow condensed above Five Shadow City.

This black shadow was humanoid.

Its massive body covered the Five Shadow City below.

It had four incredibly thick arms.

At this moment, these four arms were simultaneously and continuously bombarding a tiny figure in the air.

Muffled thunder-like explosions continuously spread outwards.

Every punch thrown by the black shadow carried terrifying destructive power.

Due to the great distance.

Xiao Shi couldn't clearly see the tiny figure being bombarded.

But he could feel powerful aura fluctuations.

"This is a Martial Soul Realm battle!"

"And it's… an incredibly powerful Martial Soul Realm!"

Xiao Shi just felt it slightly.

A sense of irresistible awe arose in his heart.

This was completely different from the Martial Soul Realm cultivators he had encountered on the road.

It was almost like two completely different realms!

"It seems the disparity between Martial Soul Realm cultivators is even more astonishing than I imagined."

As Xiao Shi lamented.

Boom!

The tiny figure being bombarded by the black shadow above gradually began to falter.

"Pfft!"

The Gaunt Man spat blood.

At this moment, blood was flowing from all over his body, making him incredibly disheveled.

One of his eyes was already unable to open.

Blood continuously flowed from his eye socket.

"To think… a mere Rapid Shadow Palace actually possesses such a foundation!"

"I underestimated you all."

"In that case…"

He raised his hand.

Aiming at the black shadow giant in front of him.

His eyes were filled with ruthlessness and madness.