Heavenly Nether Sect had arrived, accompanied by the powerhouses of their vassal sects. The sight of countless skyships and the figures of formidable cultivators aboard them exuded overwhelming pressure.
Yet, the most striking presence was aboard Heavenly Nether Sect's flagship. A black-robed figure, tall and imposing, stood calmly at the prow, his indifferent gaze sweeping over the Divine Will Sect. His eyes were fathomless, as if linked to the netherworld, so deep that a mere glance felt like it could snatch one's soul. The aura radiating from him was terrifying, causing even Nascent Soul cultivators to pale.
Though he hadn't spoken, his identity was unmistakable: Tian Mingzi, the Sect Master of Heavenly Nether Sect, had come in person. Unlike other sects, Heavenly Nether Sect had no retired ancestor—Tian Mingzi, their strongest, held absolute power without ever stepping back.
His gaze, sharp as lightning, scanned the surroundings, and the watching powerhouses from afar hurriedly bowed, retreating further. The might of a Deity Transformation cultivator was undeniable.
"Break the array. Slaughter them all."
Tian Mingzi's first words upon arrival echoed like a voice from the underworld, chilling everyone to the bone. Surprisingly, he didn't act himself. Instead, he sat cross-legged to cultivate, as boundless black nether qi surged around him, seemingly drawn from the netherworld itself. The qi morphed into various divine beasts, circling him, making him resemble an ancient nether emperor, inspiring even greater awe.
From Heavenly Nether Sect's flagship and the other skyships, powerhouses emerged, wielding various spiritual treasures to assault Divine Will Sect's mountain gate.
Onlookers were stunned—ten Nascent Soul cultivators, mostly early-stage but including one late-stage, formed a force capable of annihilating most sects in the cultivation world. Tian Mingzi's presence wasn't even necessary; Divine Will Sect stood no chance.
Under the shocked gazes of the spectators, a barrage of sea-like, world-shattering spells from these Nascent Souls slammed into the mountain gate. Yet, the array flared with radiant light, rippling like water, effortlessly deflecting the onslaught.
No one was surprised. Every sect prioritized its gate array—otherwise, any random powerhouse could wipe them out, making them a laughingstock. With an eight-thousand-year legacy, Divine Will Sect wouldn't make such a blunder. But no matter how strong the array, it would eventually fall under such relentless bombardment.
Some onlookers were puzzled, wondering why Tian Mingzi didn't attack himself. With his Deity Transformation prowess, he could break the array faster. Some speculated he disdained targeting mere early-Nascent Soul cultivators, deeming Divine Will Sect unworthy of his personal intervention if not for his son's death.
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Others sensed deeper motives. Given Tian Mingzi's ruthless history—once celebrating his Nascent Soul breakthrough by annihilating a Golden Core sect for fun—disdain for weaker foes seemed unlikely.
A Deity Transformation cultivator's actions had their own logic, and no one dared question him. The heavens resounded only with the ceaseless rumble of the array's bombardment.
Beneath the protection of the mountain gate array, Divine Will Sect was shrouded in a suffocating atmosphere. The sight of Tian Mingzi cultivating atop the skyship struck terror into their hearts. His intent was clear: no one would be spared.
"Tian Mingzi not attacking himself is a small mercy," an elder said, trying to lighten the mood. "If we hold out longer, something might happen at Heavenly Nether Sect, forcing him to leave."
But the Divine Will Ancestor's expression was grave. "I'd rather he attacked personally."
He wasn't joking. Divine Will Sect's gate array, a fifth-grade Nine Palaces Primordial Array, boasted formidable defenses. Its key feature was the ability to channel nearly all its power into a single, devastating strike of Primordial Chaos Force. Timed well, it could severely wound or even kill a Deity Transformation cultivator. However, unleashing this force would leave the array vulnerable, on the brink of collapse.
It was evident Tian Mingzi recognized the array's nature. By staying back and letting his Nascent Soul cultivators grind it down, he put Divine Will Sect in a true dilemma. If Tian Mingzi didn't approach, the Primordial Chaos Force, even if it killed a late-Nascent Soul cultivator, would be wasted. Yet waiting would let the array be worn down until it collapsed, leaving no chance to strike. Either way, it was a death sentence.
Glaring at the Nascent Soul powerhouses bombarding the array, the Ancestor's face grew darker. Nascent Soul cultivators recovered spiritual qi swiftly and, drawing on ambient spiritual energy, expended little while unleashing devastating attacks. Ten Nascent Soul cultivators, including one late-stage and two mid-stage, were overwhelming. The array might not last twenty days under such pressure.
"Has Ye Chen not emerged yet?" the Ancestor asked An Miaoli, hopeful. He knew Ye Chen's strength—if he broke through to Nascent Soul, he could fight late-Nascent Soul cultivators. Paired with An Miaoli, they might kill a few attackers, forcing the others to hesitate and slowing the assault. An anxious Tian Mingzi might then act personally, giving them a shot at the Primordial Chaos Force.
Regrettably, Ye Chen's cave abode remained silent.
An Miaoli spoke calmly. "Ye Chen hasn't emerged, but I can act. As an early-Nascent Soul, I'm confident in slaying those of the same stage."
Her words, delivered flatly, stunned the room. Only half a year since her breakthrough, yet she claimed she could casually kill peers? Defeating same-realm cultivators might be feasible, but killing them was far harder—high-realm cultivators were talented, with myriad techniques and escape methods. Read full story at novel※fire.net
The Ancestor, however, trusted her. "Fine, but don't linger in battle. Old Liu and I will join you to pin down the enemy."
An Miaoli shook her head. "I've refined Wind-Thunder Wings, granting me great speed. I'll move more freely alone."
The Ancestor's mouth twitched, his eyes narrowing. Her words were polite, but it felt like she was calling him a burden. Fine, dismiss Old Liu—he's genuinely weak, no argument there. But me? Do you know the saying, 'Old ginger is spicier'? Disrespectful!
"Old Liu's not fully recovered, so he can stay in the array to cover us," he declared. "I'm going with you."
Unable to bear the slight, the Ancestor insisted on joining to prove himself. Everyone would see: the Divine Will Ancestor was not to be underestimated.