Chapter 458: Heavenly Demon Eight Sections

Qingming Fortress.

Fang Xing held the Mirror of Years, and one after another black-clad young men appeared, each engaged in their own tasks.

Some patrolled Qingming Fortress; others verified accounts.

Some meditated on the Panwu Scripture, the Celestial Emperor's Scroll…

Others gripped long spears, practicing the Cun Guangyin Spear Art.

Cht-cht-cht!

The spear thrust forward, condensing countless spear shadows, even faintly freezing time itself.

"Cun Guangyin's ultimate killing technique—Time Freeze!"

In an instant, the flow of time within Qingming Fortress seemed to stall.

When Fang Xing sheathed his spear, everything returned to normal.

Countless Yuan Shen cultivators inside the fortress remained unaware of what had just occurred, continuing their own affairs as before.

"This technique… succeeded!"

Fang Xing stood with spear in hand, deeply satisfied: "Back then, Shi Guang used this technique to dominate the Yuan Shen realm—dared to challenge Heavenly Immortals and Heavenly Demons alike, earning the title of Yuan Shen Overlord…"

Yuan Shen Overlord was an unimaginable breakthrough beyond some limit.

Take Fang Xing—he forcibly shattered the boundary between Yuan Shen and Heavenly Demon realms through sheer physical might.

Meanwhile, the Green Slaves in the Pangu Secret Realm attained Dao comprehension at the Yuan Shen stage and mastered Daoic power.

Shi Guang's understanding of Time's Law always fell just short of completion, yet with his near-perfect mastery of a top-tier Law, combined with his painstakingly crafted technique, he could still rival a Heavenly Immortal!

Some Yuan Shen Overlords relied entirely on uniquely suited artifacts, crafting combat styles tailored precisely to themselves.

"Compared to my physical strength, my Law comprehension has always been my weakness…"

"But now, with the Cun Guangyin killing technique combined with the Mirror of Years… my Law's power rivals that of a Time Heavenly Immortal."

Fang Xing named this Time Freeze technique "Cun Guangyin," honoring the unfortunate Yuan Shen Overlord predecessor Shi Guang, while silently warning himself not to meet the same fate.

"My Lord!"

Jiao Chi flew in shortly after: "We received a secret report… a Primordial Spirit Treasure has reportedly emerged in the Divine Wood Forest!"

"Primordial Spirit Treasure?"

Fang Xing's interest stirred—such a marvel, born of heaven and earth within a great world, could rival an Emperor Weapon!

Though he already possessed one Emperor Weapon, no one ever had too many of these.

"How did this information leak out?"

He asked, thoughtful.

"It was spread by San Yuan Daoist, who belongs to the Hongtian Alliance—a loose, sprawling force. Though they hold some influence in Qingmu Realm, members rarely aid each other, preferring to act alone…"

Jiao Chi knew Qingmu Realm intimately: "San Yuan Daoist originally discovered the opportunity in the Divine Wood Forest, but was killed by Jin Yan Hou of the Qing Emperor's Palace… Jin Yan Hou thought he could suppress the news, but San Yuan Daoist had a remarkable survival technique—he swore a solemn oath, convincing many major factions of the truth…"

"Moreover, our investigation confirms all cultivators from Wu Jie Mountain stationed in that special region have lost contact—they've clearly been silenced."

…

"The Qing Emperor's Palace truly acts with arrogance."

Fang Xing chuckled at this.

"Not just us—disciples from the Original Demon Sect, Seven Stars Pavilion, and others have also vanished in that area… another confirmation." Jiao Chi asked: "What will My Lord do?"

"Since it's so lively, I'll go take a look—and meet a few Yuan Shen Overlords along the way."

Fang Xing chuckled.

His gaze passed over Duo Mi's meditation chamber.

This Flowerwood Clan's Sacred Maiden had long reached Yuan Shen Ninth Layer; after receiving more refined transmissions, her understanding of the Wood Dao had deepened further.

Now she stood at the peak of the Fifth Layer of Dao, poised to take the final step toward Heavenly Demon.

Yet that final step was the most difficult, trapping countless heroes and villains.

Fang Xing then recalled the Divine Wood Forest's specialty—Purple Wood Soul Heart.

Though inferior to Enlightenment Pills, it still held some efficacy in aiding breakthroughs in Wood Dao.

"Besides… this woman is Qingmu Realm's prodigy. If she becomes the first to break through to Heavenly Demon, fate itself may favor her—her future potential is boundless…"

The so-called "favor of qi and fortune" actually meant the world's favor—a thing useless outside the world.

True masters capable of escaping the great realm didn't care about this at all.

But for natives, it was vital.

For a cultivator, heavenly favor could significantly weaken heavenly tribulations—far more effective than any lightning-avoiding treasure or technique.

In other words, if Duo Mi became Qingmu Realm's first native to break through to Heavenly Demon and gained the world's favor, she might even hold a sliver of hope for Chaos Realm later.

That tiny, negligible hope already surpassed over ninety-nine percent of Heavenly Immortals and Heavenly Demons.

…

Several days later.

Divine Wood Forest.

Outside the valley—BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Countless demonic birds and beasts roared, their demonic energy surging skyward, forming a dark green cloud.

Beneath the cloud stood eight military formations, together forming a mysterious array that enveloped the central valley.

"The Heavenly Demon Eight Sections Array… Jin Yan Hou is going all out—he's staked everything…"

A woman's laughter rang out: "If someone now attacked the Qing Emperor's Palace base, they might easily breach it…"

"Hmph, breach it and then what? The Qing Emperor's Palace's true strength lies here—they carry even their crystal mines with them. Go there, and you'll only destroy useless caves and kill servants—gain nothing."

Lie Feng Shan Zhu of the Wahuang Palace was also present; he sneered at this.

Regardless of relations between Qing Emperor's Palace and Wahuang Palace elsewhere, in Qingmu Realm, everything depended on the attitudes of their respective Yuan Shen Overlords.

This time, Jin Yan Hou, to monopolize the treasure, silenced even Wahuang Palace's nearby disciples—Lie Feng Shan Zhu naturally despised him.

"Jin Yan Hou… come out!"

He roared: "You dare kill my Wahuang Palace disciples and still deny it? Hah… clever scheme—if not for San Yuan Daoist escaping, you'd have claimed the treasure already!"

Above the Heavenly Demon Eight Sections Array, golden flames coalesced into the form of Jin Yan Hou.

He wore a golden crown, his nose slightly hooked, radiating an air of supreme arrogance as he coldly scanned the gathered Yuan Shen Overlords.

Only Yuan Shen Overlords dared come to seize a Primordial Spirit Treasure!

"Wahuang Palace's Lie Feng Shan Zhu, Seven Stars Palace's Piaomiao Sacred Maiden, San Ye Sect's Ye Daoist, Gui Ling Sect's Ling Gui Zi, lone wanderer Ye Gu…"

Jin Yan Hou's gaze swept each one, a sly smile forming: "There's only one Primordial Spirit Treasure. So many Yuan Shen Overlords here—how do we divide it?"

"Jin Yan Hou, don't you think your provocation is too obvious?"

Piaomiao Sacred Maiden frowned.

But the other Yuan Shen Overlords said nothing, even standing apart from each other.

Clearly, Jin Yan Hou employed an open strategy—or rather, even without his words, all Yuan Shen Overlords would inevitably turn on each other in the end.

"Even if we settle it by strength in the end, we must first break your Heavenly Demon Eight Sections Array!"

Ye Daoist, a refined-looking man, idly twirled a green leaf, deeply displeased with Jin Yan Hou's actions.

Now that his formation was complete, even if they summoned their elite forces, they'd struggle to shake it—only increasing casualties.

Ye Daoist was the Yuan Shen Overlord of San Ye Sect; legend said that at his birth, celestial omens appeared and a blue bird descended, leading a Heavenly Immortal elder of San Ye Sect to take him as a disciple and nurture him carefully.

After reaching Yuan Shen, he gained a miraculous artifact—the Three Green Leaves—whose power far surpassed a Royal Weapon, though not an Emperor Weapon, allowing ordinary Yuan Shen cultivators to wield some of its might.

Ye Daoist then created the "Three Green Secret Art" based on the Three Green Leaves; after a century of seclusion, his first strike matched a Heavenly Immortal's power, earning him the title of Yuan Shen Overlord.

Now, the green leaf in his hand pulsed with vibrant life, as if ready to pierce the sky at any moment!

"To break my Heavenly Demon Eight Sections Array, naturally, is simple… yet this array shifts endlessly; if I concentrate its power in one spot, it can hold off one of you for a long time…"

Jin Yan Hou smiled: "Which of you is willing to sacrifice yourself first to break the array?"

At these words, Ling Gui Zi, Ye Gu, and Lie Feng Shan Zhu exchanged glances.

'Perfect!'

Jin Yan Hou secretly rejoiced at this sight.

He never intended to rely on the array to block all Yuan Shen Overlords—just to buy time was enough.

If he could delay until the Primordial Spirit Treasure emerged, his chance would be greatest.

At that moment, every Yuan Shen Overlord's expression changed, turning toward one point.

Their spiritual senses vanished upon approaching it—as if swallowed by a "black hole."

Even more, this "black hole" moved at an unimaginable speed, now right before them.

A dark glow descended, revealing a black-clad young man—Fang Xing.

"Ladies and gentlemen… and Lie Feng Shan Zhu, long time no see."

He surveyed them all, a faint smile on his face.

"You're… the Black Dragon Imperial Son of Wu Jie Mountain!"

Piaomiao Sacred Maiden's eyes sparkled: "Though you're a newly minted Yuan Shen Overlord, you defeated Lie Feng Shan Zhu—I truly admire you…"

Among Yuan Shen Overlords, strength varied.

The Black Dragon Imperial Son was undoubtedly among the strongest.

"Piaomiao Sacred Maiden…"

Lie Feng Shan Zhu's face darkened but said nothing—he still trembled at the memory of being defeated by the Black Dragon Imperial Son.

"Greetings, everyone…"

Fang Xing's gaze swept over the Piaomiao Holy Maiden, Liefeng Mountain Lord, Ye Daoren, Linggui Zi, and Ye Gu, the Nascent Soul overlords, finally settling on Jin Yan Hou: "The Nascent Soul overlords of Qingdi Palace… good, very good. Since your Qingdi Palace dared hire Wu Xin Dao Ren to assassinate me, today you shall all stay here and pay with your lives."

"Hmph, such bold words—those who don't know might think you're some kind of Demon Emperor…"

As a Nascent Soul overlord himself, Jin Yan Hou was utterly unafraid, especially since he still held the Heavenly Demon Eight Sections Array.

As for the Nascent Soul overlords like the Piaomiao Holy Maiden, they exchanged glances and silently accepted Fang Xing's provocation—even Lie Feng Shan Zhu said nothing.

After all, they all hoped one of the Nascent Soul overlords would lead the charge and draw the fiercest firepower of the Heavenly Demon Eight Sections Array.

Now it seemed Black Dragon Imperial Son was perfectly suited for the task!

(End of Chapter)