67: Undercurrents and Breakthroughs

Tagor Desert, the royal city of the Snake-People Clan.

Half a month passed quietly amidst tense preparations and silent Cultivation.

An invisible pressure seemed to shroud the royal city, and all the Snake People knew that a storm concerning the fate of their clan was about to descend once more.

Deep within the sleeping palace, on the cold jade bed, Queen Medusa was surrounded by a faint seven-colored halo.

Her aura was several times stronger than it had been half a month ago!

Although the damage to her Soul Origin had not fully healed, the injuries to her Physical Body were mostly recovered, and her strength had stabilized at the level of a Seven-Star Dou Huang.

She slowly opened her eyes.

A sharp light flowed within her seven-colored pupils, and the majesty and sense of power belonging to the Queen returned.

She looked at Li Ao, who was also sitting nearby, adjusting his breathing with his eyes closed.

For the past half month, he had barely left her side, acting as her Protector on one hand, and entering a deep state of Cultivation himself on the other.

At this moment, Li Ao's aura was completely restrained, like a dormant volcano.

But if one sensed carefully, they would find the dark golden luster beneath his skin growing deeper, as if every inch of his flesh and blood had been tempered countless times, containing explosive power.

The dark, heavy long saber rested horizontally on his lap.

The blade occasionally flashed with a faint silver-gray stream of light, emitting a heart-palpitating sense of Annihilation.

He was currently attempting to Breakthrough the Bottleneck of the Late Stage of the second level of the Black Iron Hegemon Body!

A large amount of rare medicinal materials and Demonic Beast essence blood were consumed, with the resources provided by the Mittel Family playing a crucial role.

The Qi and blood within him surged like a great river, constantly scouring and tempering his Physical Body and Meridians, deeply imprinting that wisp of Annihilation Rule into every bit of his power.

[Ding! Detected that the host's Physical Body strength has reached the critical point, Black Iron Hegemon Body proficiency 99%... Energy infusion... Rule resonance... Breakthrough in progress...]

The System's notification echoed in his mind.

Li Ao's consciousness completely sank into his body, guiding the massive Qi and blood and the Annihilation Rule to launch the final charge against that invisible barrier!

“Buzz—!”

A deep hum emanated from within him, as if some kind of shackles had been broken!

The dark golden light of Qi and blood around him suddenly erupted, illuminating the entire sleeping palace brilliantly!

On the surface of his skin, increasingly complex and ancient dark golden patterns flashed momentarily, and a Physical Body imposing pressure, far heavier and more overbearing than before, spread out!

Black Iron Hegemon Body, Late Stage of the second level, achieved!

Li Ao suddenly opened his eyes.

In his dark iron-colored pupils, the silver-gray Annihilation flames seemed to materialize, burning fiercely!

He slowly clenched his fist, feeling the terrifying power within his body that seemed capable of smashing mountains with one punch, as well as the more condensed Annihilation Rule that obeyed his every command.

At this moment, relying solely on his Physical Body, he was powerful enough to contend with a Five-Star Dou Huang!

If he combined that with Dou Qi and the Annihilation Rule, his actual strength had reached an entirely new Peak!

“Congratulations,” Medusa’s cool voice came, carrying a subtle ripple.

She could clearly feel that Li Ao was stronger than he had been half a month ago!

Li Ao stood up, stretched his limbs, and a series of cracking sounds erupted from his body.

He looked at Medusa and nodded, “Your recovery speed is faster than expected.”

“It is thanks to the resources and the Protector you provided.”

Medusa stepped off the cold jade bed, her pale moonlight dress trailing on the ground, her figure proud.

“I have now recovered seventy percent of my fighting strength, enough to wage war.”

“Very good.”

Li Ao’s gaze turned towards the direction of the Jia Ma Holy City, his eyes cold.

“It is time to go collect some interest.”

...At the same time, Jia Ma Holy City, Cloud Mist Sect.

Half a month had passed, and most of the scars left by the great battle that day had been cleaned up, but the hideous spatial rift above Yun Lan Mountain still existed, like a scar on the firmament, emitting an ominous aura.

Yun Shan used a secret technique combined with the treasure given by the Hall of Souls to barely stabilize it, preventing it from expanding further, but he could not close it.

In a newly opened secret chamber in the Forbidden Ground behind the mountain, shrouded in thick black mist.

Yun Shan sat cross-legged in the center of a complex Formation.

His aura was more obscure and profound than half a month ago, faintly touching the boundary of a Five-Star Dou Zong.

However, a hint of distortion and pain flashed occasionally in his gray pupils.

Opposite him, a phantom figure completely condensed from black mist, whose face could not be seen, floated, emitting a hoarse, cold voice: “Yun Shan, the Venerable Envoy is very dissatisfied with the progress.

The stability of the ‘Gate’ can only be maintained for three months.

You must gather three void-luminous seven-colored crystals during this time to completely open the passage!

The one in Medusa’s hand must be retrieved!

And the one lost near the Soul Burial Ravine must also be traced as soon as possible!”

Yun Shan’s facial muscles twitched.

He said in a deep voice, “Protector, that Li Ao’s strength is strange, and Medusa has also recovered.

Rushing into the desert might not succeed.

Moreover, the Jiama Royal Family and other Families have recently been stirring...”

“Trash!”

The black mist phantom interrupted sharply.

“If you can’t even control a mere Jia Ma Empire, how can you serve the Venerable Envoy?

Don’t forget, everything you have today is granted by the Venerable Envoy!

You should be clear about the consequences if you mess up this important matter!”

A trace of fear flashed in Yun Shan’s eyes, and he quickly lowered his head: “Yes!

This subordinate understands!

I have already sent more men to search for the traces of Li Ao and Medusa.

At the same time, I have planned to take advantage of the Empire’s Royal Family’s decade-long ‘Heaven Worship Ceremony’ to force the Royal Family into submission, integrating the Empire’s strength to be utilized by the Venerable Envoy!”

“Heaven Worship Ceremony? Hmph, at least you have some small cleverness.”

The black mist phantom’s tone softened slightly.

“Remember, this is your last chance.

The Venerable Envoy’s patience is limited.”

Having spoken, the black mist phantom slowly dissipated in the secret chamber.

Yun Shan raised his head, his face covered in gloom and ruthlessness.

He clenched his fist, and gray Dou Qi condensed in his palm: “Li Ao... Medusa... and those ignorant ants... When the Venerable Envoy descends, I will ensure all of you are Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!”

...Jia Ma Holy City, the top-floor secret room of the Mittel Auction House.

Elder Teng Shan and Ya Fei looked at the latest intelligence in their hands, their expressions solemn.

“The Cloud Mist Sect has been acting frequently recently.

A large number of elite Disciples have been recalled, and the mountain gate lockdown is tighter.

Furthermore, they seem to be secretly investigating the security arrangements for the Royal Family’s ‘Heaven Worship Ceremony’...” Ya Fei said, frowning.

Elder Teng Shan tapped his finger on the table: “That old dog Yun Shan seems unable to resist tearing off his mask.

The Heaven Worship Ceremony, where all core members of the Royal Family will attend, is the perfect time for him to act.”

“Elder, how should we respond?

Should we warn the Royal Family?”

Teng Shan pondered for a moment and shook his head: “That old fox Jia Xingtian at the Royal Family may not be unaware.

We should not expose ourselves too early now.

Everything depends on the return of Mr. Li Ao and Her Majesty the Queen.

Ya Fei, how is ‘that great gift’ we prepared?”

Ya Fei showed a confident smile: “It is ready, we just await the timing.”

...Black-Corner Region, Black Seal City.

Xiao Yan stood by the window of the rented stone house, looking at the perpetually gray sky outside.

After half a month of rest and preparation, his condition had reached its Peak, and through some special channels, he had acquired a detailed map of the Black Storm Canyon and several beast-hide cloaks capable of briefly resisting the black storm.

It was time to set off.

He strapped the xuan heavy ruler onto his back, pushed open the door, and merged into the chaotic flow of people in Black Seal City, walking resolutely towards the Black Storm Canyon outside the city, an area known as the Forbidden Ground of Death.

What he did not know was that shortly after he left, several figures quietly appeared outside the stone house he had rented.

The leader was none other than Xue Tu, whom he had severely injured in the tavern that day!

His severed arm had been reattached, but his face was filled with malice and a strange trace of fanaticism.

“Follow him!

Notify Elder Fan Lao, the fat fish has left the pond!”

Undercurrents surged among the various forces.

Li Ao and Medusa were about to return to the Cloud Mist Sect, Xiao Yan stepped into the Black Storm Canyon, and the conspiracy of the Hall of Souls and Yun Shan quietly unfolded...

All the threads would interweave and collide in the near future, igniting an ultimate storm that would sweep across the entire Empire!