This active volcano stood 2,300 meters tall, its terrain covered with rough volcanic ash, devoid of any vegetation nearby, and billowing smoke at its mouth like a kettle of boiling water.
Similar active volcanoes numbered in the hundreds within this region.
Due to its nature as an active volcano, the geological plate movements here were extremely active, with volcanic eruptions occurring from time to time. This also resulted in a barren landscape with thick layers of volcanic ash and strange landforms created by lava flows over the years.
In such an environment, let alone humans, even few animals could survive here.
Yet recently, this desolate, uninhabited region had gradually become bustling due to the confrontation between the forces of Right and Evil.
Batches of disciples from both sides converged here and, using the volcanoes as boundaries, began the battle for control, vying for the volcanoes themselves.
Both the Five Righteous Sects and Ghost Ridge Palace had Fire Attribute offensive formations; taking control over them and establishing formations would significantly enhance their power—a geographical advantage.
The two factions engaged in a fierce battle for control, and due to the numerical superiority of the Righteous Sect, they seized more volcanoes.
The reason a decisive battle had not yet erupted was that both sides wanted to capture more active volcanoes to increase their advantage and minimize casualties.
At the base of Gao Li Mountain, a figure slammed heavily onto the ground, kicking up dust and creating cracks in the earth. Nearby trees were uprooted by the shockwave and blown dozens of meters away.
This person was an Elder from the Secret Realm of Ghost Ridge Palace. He had met his end upon impact, decapitated and fallen.
On the ground, two groups of fighters chased and fled, speeding across the desolate volcanic terrain.
The retreating group belonged to Ghost Ridge Palace.
The pursuing group, of course, was from the Righteous Sect.
Among the retreating Ghost Ridge Palace forces, Ning Xinyue turned to look back at the leading figure chasing after them.
There stood a man: tall and slender, dressed in a white-embroidered robe, his long black hair lightly tied with a ribbon, eyes like shining stars, and his handsome face bearing a composed expression.
With a flick of his fingers like the thrust of a sword, he generated several meters long tendrils of Sword Qi that howled as they weaved through the air, relentlessly slicing through the slower Ghost Ridge Palace Disciples, turning them into dismembered corpses—even an Elder from Ghost Ridge Palace met his demise at his hands.
"This Immortal Seed is ruthless."
Ning Xinyue knew his identity, the recent standout in the Sect war, Wei Ji from Guan Chao Pavilion.
She had been somewhat skeptical about the rumors surrounding Wei Ji, but today, as she routinely patrolled with her team, they encountered Wei Ji's ambush. She witnessed firsthand the truth of the rumors.
A group of two hundred, led by two Elders from the Secret Realm, had run into Wei Ji and barely stood a chance. Now one had already been slain.
"A bunch of defeated dogs, run! In the future, when you see me, just grovel and whimper like today, fleeing with your tails between your legs. If I'm in a good mood, I might just spare your lives."
Wei Ji stood suspended in the void, not pursuing relentlessly, as venturing too deep could lead to a mobbing by Ghost Ridge Palace.
"How dare you, take my move!"
Amidst an angry shout, reinforcements arrived for Ghost Ridge Palace upon receiving a signal.
The first to appear was a dark-skinned, robust man—a familiar face to Ning Xinyue and a newly promoted Elder of the Secret Realm within Ghost Ridge Palace, Xiao Fengyuan.
Xiao Fengyuan's left hand was entwined with a Top Grade Three Refinement Poisonous Insect, the Multi-legged Centipede, while his right hand held a black long spear, a Mid Grade Magical Artifact.
Separated by a thousand meters, Xiao Fengyuan's spear erupted with a bloody glow, transforming into a crimson aura, lunging straight at Wei Ji's heart.
The Multi-legged Centipede in his left hand swelled in size, drifting down towards Wei Ji.
Before even getting close, numerous flesh spines extended from beneath the Centipede like a dense forest of needles, swarming like a tide.
"Little sorcerer, let me show you what the grand Way is all about."
Wei Ji's expression remained unchanged as he caught the bloody spear with his bare left hand. His right hand reached out, palm enlarging like five massive iron columns, pressing the Centipede from the sky dome to the ground, leaving a near 100-meter-wide handprint. The Centipede's body broke in several places.
Xiao Fengyuan spat out a mouthful of blood—his Top Grade Three Refinements poisonous insect had been crushed by a single slap.
"Heh, your name is Xiao Fengyuan, right? The new talent of Ghost Ridge Palace's Secret Realm. Is this the strength of the young generation in Ghost Ridge Palace? Laughable, just laughable. Send Su Jie to see me, you're not qualified yet."
Wei Ji held the bloodied spear with his pale hand, which contained a terrifying force. He snapped the Mid Grade Magical Artifact into two pieces.
"Here, take it back."
With a throwing gesture, Wei Ji's right hand surged with the aura of dragon patterns. In the next instant, he hurled the broken half of the spear back.
Like a projectile from a railgun, the air was displaced, creating a vacuum channel. In a flash of lightning, Xiao Fengyuan tried to dodge, but the difference in speed between them was incomparable. The spear struck right in front of him like lightning.
With a spray of blood, Xiao Fengyuan's left shoulder was torn off at the root, bleeding profusely.
This was because Xiao Fengyuan dodged quickly; otherwise, he would have been impaled entirely.
In a casual manner, Xiao Fengyuan was defeated before Wei Ji.
In every aspect, whether physical strength, Spiritual Power, or magic, Wei Ji was far superior. Xiao Fengyuan lost after just a few exchanges.
"Wait, Brother Xiao, don't go. You're not his match."