Chapter 199: Impact Failure

Old companion is your name for the Ling Sword.

She accompanies you in battling heaven and earth, traversing mountains, rivers, seas, and streams, ascending to the nine heavens and entering the netherworld; she is your most in‑sync partner.

You stepped into the core territory of the Hidden Order Clan.

Swish swish swish!

In an instant, over a hundred members of the Hidden Order Clan descended, like a wall of iron, blocking you.

The Hidden Order Clan are also humanoid, but their height reaches a zhang or more.

The Hidden Order Clan's hallmark is their eyes; their eyes lack pupils, are gray‑white, and eyes grow all over their bodies.

The eyes are the key to linking to the Hidden Order Heart Eye.

"Human River, you have entered Hidden Order Clan territory! Leave now!"

Over a hundred Hidden Order Clan members voiced the warning in unison toward you.

A slight smile lifts your mouth corner, "I'm here to collect some compensation."

"Compensation?"

The Hidden Order Clan says, "The Hidden Order Clan and the Human Race have long had no dispute; where does this compensation come from?"

You draw your sword from its scabbard and laugh, "Some debts don't fade with time; you Hidden Order Clan can record everything in heaven and earth, so you should remember it clearer than I do."

The Hidden Order Clan replies, "In that battle, our Hidden Order Eye was struck by the thunder you summoned, suffering severe damage; thereafter our clan no longer opposes the Human Race, and you shouldn't pursue it further."

"According to the analysis of our Hidden Order Heart, our Hidden Order Clan's losses are greater than those of the Human Race."

"Your Human Race only lost some low‑grade forces and some foreign aid."

With those words, the demonic aura coiling around your Primordial Spirit surged sharply, and a massive Dharma Image manifested behind you.

"Die!"

You originally only wanted a Hundred‑Eye Penetrating Heart Vine, but now you've changed your mind.

Your defenses shattered.

When the Hidden Order Clan mentioned Yun Baobao's death in a trivial tone, you had only one thought.

Kill them all!

Together with the Sword Spirit, you forged endless sword techniques solely to counter the Hidden Order Clan.

You delivered sword after sword, each completely distinct.

Aside from the Tribulation Transcendence Battle where thunder severely damaged the Hidden Order Eye, this is your first direct clash with the Hidden Order Clan.

The Hidden Order Clan are hard to pin down.

They always manage to counter your sword moves before you break through their defenses, preventing effective attacks.

"You're good at countering, huh?"

You snort, fling ten Space Rings from your left hand, and dense sigils and Array Plates pour out of the rings.

In terms of invention, the Human Race is not inferior.

The Human Race has recorded up to a million different sigils in their books, and there are over a hundred thousand various Array Plates.

You doubt the Hidden Order Clan can decipher them all in a short time.

You see the Hidden Order Clan's eyes turn completely red, a sign of operational overload.

"Boom!"

In an instant you detonated all the sigils and Array Plates.

Even with spirit power comparable to a Divine Lord, your Primordial Spirit was nearly drained at that moment.

You know that these small things cannot inflict fatal damage on the Hidden Order Clan; merely confusing the Hidden Order Heart's judgment is sufficient.

You pour all the demonic Dao power into the Natal Spirit Sword, and a blade shoots out.

Buzz!

The Ling Sword roars, streaking out, piercing the life cores of ten Hidden Order Clan members before being blocked.

One sword slays ten Hidden Order Clan members—a feat no living being has ever achieved.

That is precisely the charm of the Human Race!

The Nine Ancient God Clans may surpass the Human Race in certain domains, but the Human Race compensates its shortcomings with all manner of things.

The Human Race, now at its pinnacle, is not something any race can resist.

"That counts as one form of compensation."

After slaying ten Hidden Order Clan members, you break the boundary and surge into their territory.

More and more Hidden Order Clan members converge to massacre you.

You no longer tangle with them; the same tactics now have little effect, and it's hard to kill the Hidden Order Clan as easily as before.

After obtaining the Hundred‑Eye Penetrating Heart Vine, you drift away.

A few days later, you return to Human Race territory.

You hand the gathered materials to Chi, asking him to forge a pill that can restore the Fox Clan Empress's severed tail.

Having obtained the pill, you locate the Fox Clan Empress.

"Here, take this; after eating it, your severed tail will regrow."

"Alright."

The Fox Clan Empress does not bother with pleasantries and swallows the pill.

She remains as enchanting and bewitching as ever, every gesture captivating, yet your thoughts are on Sangyu, rarely dwelling on such things.

"Chuan, it seems something's still missing."

The Fox Clan Empress gazes at you coquettishly, her eyes alluring.

You have feelings for the Empress; you wish to be with her, yet you can never forget Yun Baobao, and Sangyu remains in peril, life or death unknown, leaving you deeply conflicted.

Seeing you looking despondent, the Fox Clan Empress put away her seductive manner and restored her dignified, elegant appearance.

She comforts you, "When the time comes, all truths will surface; you need not blame yourself, the fault is not yours."

Even if that day truly arrives and we see the worst outcome, you must keep living properly.

"Life always has regrets."

"But can we not have any more regrets?"

The Fox Clan Empress's final words carried a faint, aggrieved sob.

You suddenly awaken; throughout this journey, the Empress's sacrifices have never been few. Without her, you would not be who you are now.

It is even possible that the Human Race would no longer exist.

"Hmm."

You embrace her.

You two entwine for a night, jointly cultivating the supreme Dao, indescribably wonderful.

She says, "When Sangyu returns, we shall marry."

You nod heavily, "Alright!"

Even if Sangyu does not return, you must absolutely not disappoint the Fox Clan Empress again; but before that, you must settle all Karma.

In the days that follow, you and the Empress discuss the Divine Lord Realm together.

You repeatedly launch assaults on the Divine Lord Realm, failing each time.

Clearly the Divine Lord Realm is but a hair's breadth away, and you have insights about that realm, yet you cannot take the final step.

"Why is it like this?"

"Could it be that our perception is wrong? That the Divine Lord Barrier has actually always existed?"

You puzzle over it endlessly; must it remain in this stalemate forever?

Just as you painstakingly search for the final cause, an unexpected piece of news spreads.