419: Chapter 419 The Cicada is Hidden Behind

[Immediately after, figures soared into the air from all over the Imperial Capital.]

[Those were the Spirit Transformation Cultivators belonging to the various families and factions of the Immortal Dynasty.]

[There were exactly ten or so of them.]

[Behind them, each led their own Disciples, forming Formations that integrated offense and defense, confronting the spirit boats in the sky from a distance.]

[The voice from the palace belonged to the Emperor of the True Spirit Immortal Dynasty, a Soul Transformation Cultivator—Huangfu Haoyu.]

[As for the Elder Huangfu, he had long been in seclusion behind the scenes, and the affairs of the Immortal Dynasty had long been handed over to his descendants.]

[The Gu Family Old Ancestor took a deep breath, turned toward the palace, and solemnly cupped his hands:]

["Your Majesty is wise."]

["My Gu Family is willing to repay you with our lives!"]

[However, someone shouted—]

["Kill!"]

[Immediately after, the two torrents crashed into each other.]

[In an instant, the world changed color.]

[In the sky, Spiritual Qi surged, and thunder exploded.]

[Countless Spells trailed colorful exhaust flames as they streaked across the sky, like an inverted meteor shower.]

[Fireballs, ice spikes, lightning chains, sword light... dense and overwhelming, making one's skin crawl.]

["Boom—!"]

[A spirit boat was hit by concentrated fire, its hull instantly exploding into countless fragments.]

[Before the Disciples on the boat could even scream, they were torn into shreds by the violent Spiritual Qi, falling from the sky mixed with blood and wood chips.]

[One, two, ten, a hundred—more and more.]

[Cultivators fell from the sky in swathes, like a meteor shower.]

[Some were hit by Spells, their bodies exploding; others were pierced by Magic Treasures, blood spraying wildly.]

[Some were sliced in two by Sword Qi, their mangled remains tumbling down through the air.]

[Blood splattered across the sky, onto the streets, onto the eaves, and onto the faces and bodies of those Mortals who couldn't escape in time.]

[The Imperial Capital had turned into an asura field.]

[In the west of the city, a Golden Core Cultivator was hit by three Magic Treasures simultaneously; his body instantly exploded into a bloody mist without even a scream.]

[In the east of the city, a Nascent Soul Cultivator had just cut down two opponents when, before he could catch his breath, a sudden sword light from behind pierced through his Dantian—]

[His Nascent Soul had just escaped when it was struck by another lightning Spell, turning into a wisp of blue smoke and dissipating in the wind.]

[On the streets, a sea of fire spread.]

[Those exquisite pavilions, teahouses, and wine shops were set ablaze one after another.]

[In the ruins, some were moaning, some were crying out, and some were already silent.]

[In mid-air, the slaughter continued.]

[The Spirit Transformation Cultivators had already begun their battle.]

[Every collision felt like the sky was collapsing and the earth was rending.]

[As the violent aftershocks swept through, the surrounding Golden Core and Spirit Transformation Cultivators fell in swathes like moths scattered by the wind.]

[A Soul Transformation Cultivator of the True Spirit Immortal Dynasty was being besieged by three Soul Transformation Cultivators, retreating step by step.]

[He already had over a dozen wounds, and blood stained half his body, yet he was still fighting back desperately.]

["Die for me!"]

[He roared, sacrificing an Ancient Mirror.]

[The mirror's surface shone brilliantly, and a thick pillar of light swept out—]

[Two Soul Transformation Cultivators besieging him couldn't dodge in time and were hit head-on by the light pillar.]

[One of them exploded into a bloody mist on the spot, while half of the other's body vanished as he fell screaming.]

[But he also paid a price.]

[At the moment he sacrificed the Ancient Mirror, a Flying Sword arrived silently from behind, piercing through his heart from the back.]

[He looked down at the sword tip protruding from his chest, opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.]

[Then, his body began to fall.]

[Above the sky, blood rained down in torrents.]

[It wasn't real rain, but blood—the blood shed by countless Cultivators, mixing together into a crimson downpour that drenched the streets and alleys of the Imperial Capital.]

[Someone looked up at the sky.]

[Watching those figures still fighting, watching those falling limbs, watching those sky-blotting spirit boats explode into fireballs one by one.]

[Then, they lowered their heads and continued to flee for their lives.]

[The Imperial Capital had gone completely mad.]

[However,]

[At an even higher point in the sky—]

[Three figures were faintly visible, looking down at the burning Imperial Capital below.]

[The Elder Huangfu stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent.]

[The Shenlong Sect Master had his hands tucked in his sleeves, a faint smile playing on his lips.]

[True Lord Piaomiao's face was calm, his gaze piercing through layers of blood mist to land on the battling crowds.]

[Below, the battle was world-shaking, and blood flowed like a river.]

[But none of the three had any intention of intervening.]

[In fact—they wished even more of those people below would die.]

["Fellow Daoist Misty has a brilliant plan." The Shenlong Sect Master glanced at True Lord Piaomiao, his smile carrying a hint of admiration. "After this battle, our three factions will be worry-free for a thousand years."]

[The Elder Huangfu also nodded, his tone filled with emotion: "Fellow Daoist Misty is indeed ruthless enough, killing three birds with one stone."]

[True Lord Piaomiao's expression remained unchanged, his gaze still fixed below: "I only wonder if we can force out the person behind the scenes."]

[The Shenlong Sect Master gave a light snort: "Judging by this situation, that person won't show themselves."]

["If that person does act, the three of us together..."]

[Before he could finish, True Lord Piaomiao's expression suddenly changed!]

[For the first time, fear appeared on that face which had always been as calm as water.]

[Immediately after, his figure began to dissipate inch by inch—]

[Starting from the soles of his feet, as if consumed by invisible flames, it spread upward bit by bit...]

["This is bad..."]

[He opened his mouth to say something, but only had time to utter those three words.]

[The speed of dissipation was too fast.]

[In the blink of an eye, True Lord Piaomiao's Clone completely vanished, leaving only that "This is bad" filled with endless fear echoing in the wind.]

[The smile on the Shenlong Sect Master's face froze.]

[Before he could even speak—the same phenomenon appeared on his own body.]

["This..."]

[He looked down, seeing the soles of his feet starting to dissipate, and his face instantly turned pale.]

[He suddenly looked up, staring intently at the Elder Huangfu opposite him, his eyes filled with extreme rage: "Old Thief Huangfu! You actually sneakily..."]

[He wanted to do something, but the Clone dissipated too quickly; there was simply no time.]

[Before his last shred of consciousness vanished, he used all his strength to roar toward the ground: "Everyone, hear my command! Use all your power to destroy the True Spirit Immortal Dynasty..."]

[The voice stopped abruptly.]

[The Clone completely dissipated.]

[Above the clouds, only the Elder Huangfu remained.]

[He stood frozen on the spot.]

[His expression changed repeatedly.]

[From shock to bewilderment, to realization, and then to—a complex, unspeakable emotion.]

["This..."]

[He murmured, his voice somewhat dry.]

[The Clones of the two Void Refining ancestors dissipated at the same time; there was only one possibility—their original bodies were dead.]

[Who did it?]

[Who could simultaneously assassinate the original bodies of two Void Refining experts?]

[He thought of a possibility.]

[Base-snatching.]

[Someone took advantage of their Clones being here watching the show to directly wipe out their home bases.]