…


    Great Qian Dynasty.


    The Emperor of the mortal realm stood in front of the palace, his hands clasped behind his back, his dragon robe billowing in the wind. He looked up at the distant sky and suddenly spoke, “Imperial Advisor, do you know why those dark clouds have gathered?”


    Not far behind him, a man in a Daoist robe stood on the observation tower, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Jade Pool Sacred Land.


    His eyes were deep, as if piercing through the palace and reaching the Jade Pool.


    “The Forbidden Zone has emerged.”


    “The Forbidden Zone?” The Emperor’s heart skipped a beat. “The Forbidden Zone hasn’t emerged for a thousand years. Why would it…”


    The Forbidden Zone was a source of fear not only for cultivators in the Eastern Realm but also for the Emperor, who controlled the fate of the entire dynasty. Its emergence naturally raised concerns.


    The Imperial Advisor in the Daoist robe looked up at the rolling dark clouds but didn’t answer. He only said softly, “Your Majesty, a storm is coming. You should return to rest and avoid catching a cold.”


    …


    As the towering trident materialized outside the Jade Pool, the two Sect Masters’ escape route was cut off.


    They looked up in fear, seeing only the terrifying creature covered in lightning under the sky.


    Another giant shadow swept across the sky, creating a gust of wind.


    Fu Yuan looked up. The creature resembled a sea dragon, blotting out the sun. It swam through the dark clouds, then in the next instant, transformed into a dazzling golden roc.


    The Kun Peng!


    This was also one of the most powerful beings in the Forbidden Zone, renowned throughout the Nine Realms for its speed. Some had claimed to have seen it in the World Sea in the past. It had emerged from the sea near the Northern Demon Realm, transformed from a Kun into a Peng*, then passed through the Forbidden Zone and never left.


    Why were the Kun Peng and the Thunder God here?!


    The Sect Master of the Violet Rainbow Sect’s eyes were filled with fear as he looked up at the sky. He saw the Kun Peng approaching them.


    The Jade Empress also looked up at the colossal Kun Peng. Her green dress danced in the wind, but her expression remained calm.


    Fu Yuan felt a chill down his spine and turned around. When he saw the Jade Empress walking towards them, carrying Mu Zhi’an’s body, his heart pounded uncontrollably, and his fear intensified.


    Her green dress was stained with blood, yet her skin remained spotless, breathtakingly beautiful.


    But seeing her filled the man in the green robe with terror.


    The Jade Empress’s Vessel had been condensed. Even though it wasn’t fully replenished with Spiritual Energy, it wasn’t something an Earthly Immortal could touch.


    Why was the Jade Empress, who should have been attacked, here? What were the remnants of the Primordial Demon Emperor and that deity from the Southern Wilderness doing?!


    They had dared to gamble this time because a deity from the Southern Wilderness was involved.


    Normally, it would take the Jade Empress more than half a month to condense her Vessel. That was why they had acted so decisively, wanting to seize the Heavenly Phoenix Fruit.


    But they never expected that the Jade Empress would condense her Vessel ahead of schedule and resonate with the Great Dao.


    And until now, the evil deity from the Southern Wilderness hadn’t appeared.


    At this moment, a wisp of black mist silently spread outside the Jade Pool.


    Yao Meng also sensed the mist. She calmly looked at the black mist before her, her entire body emitting a faint silver glow, but bloodstains still marred her green dress.


    The black mist gradually expanded, eventually covering most of the area outside the Jade Pool.


    Within the mist, a creature seemed to be observing the Jade Empress, hesitating whether to attack.


    The man in the green robe immediately understood. He grasped at this last straw of hope and shouted urgently, “Lord Evil God, the Jade Empress’s Vessel has been condensed, but she hasn’t undergone the Primordial Spirit Tribulation yet! This is a rare opportunity!”


    Hearing this, the creature within the black mist seemed to stir.


    Then, a grating voice, like nails scraping against glass, slowly echoed through the area. “Hand over Lina to me, and we will leave.”


    Within the Jade Pool Sacred Land, a green lotus that enveloped the entire Jade Pool silently bloomed, immobilizing everyone, including the grotesque creature from the Southern Wilderness.


    It had backed down, unwilling to protect them, only wanting to take the genius from the Southern Wilderness!


    Realizing this, the man in the green robe’s heart pounded uncontrollably. Without hesitation, he turned and transformed into a streak of light, attempting to escape.


    However, in the sky, the colossal Kun Peng collided with him head-on. The overwhelming pressure was suffocating.


    At this moment, the Sect Master of the Violet Rainbow Sect was filled with boundless regret, anger, and a strong desire to survive.


    He didn’t regret attacking the Jade Pool, but he regretted not acting faster and more ruthlessly, seizing the Heavenly Phoenix Fruit, completing the deal, and escaping from the Eastern Realm with the eighth-grade pill.


    His anger stemmed from the fact that even the Forbidden Zone, which had never interfered in the Eastern Realm’s affairs, had sent out its powerful beings, and it seemed they were targeting him.


    Knowing that he couldn’t escape, a ruthless glint appeared in the man’s eyes. Emerald green flames danced in his hands, and his aura surged.


    He was burning his essence, willing to pay any price to break through the encirclement.


    The emerald green flames blasted towards the Kun Peng in the sky. At the same time, the man summoned his ancestral artifact, attempting to suppress the powerful being from the Forbidden Zone.


    The Kun Peng let out a piercing cry, the sound waves deafening. The man’s soul almost separated from his body. While he was still disoriented, the Kun Peng raised its giant claw and slammed it down towards him.


    Boom!


    The attack sent the man crashing to the ground, creating a huge human-shaped crater.


    This was why many cultivators feared Demonic Cultivators.


    Some Demonic Cultivators had enormous bodies. Even if a Demonic Cultivator and a human cultivator were both at the Nascent Soul Realm and at the same grade, the Demonic Cultivator’s Nascent Soul Realm was simply superior.


    Because the bodies and Vessels of these divine beasts were far stronger than those of ordinary cultivators.


    Human cultivators of the same level could threaten the Kun Peng, but only to a certain extent.


    To put it simply, it was like an enemy AD(Attack Damage) seizing an opportunity and skillfully attacking the Kun Peng, dealing 30 damage with each auto-attack. After ten auto-attacks, the Kun Peng lost a third of its health. Then, the AD made a mistake and was instantly crushed with a single punch.


    There was no fairness in this world. The physiques of ancient divine beasts were simply far superior to those of ordinary cultivators. There was nothing they could do about it.


    The man in the green robe coughed up blood, but his anger intensified. He looked up abruptly and roared, “Kun Peng, stop this! If I self-destruct, you won’t escape unscathed! Think carefully—”


    Slap!


    Before he could finish speaking, a giant hand slapped him from the sky, sending him flying. His pupils constricted, his eyes filled with shock and anger. He summoned his ancestral artifact again.


    However, at this moment, a heavy rattling sound came from the distance. Several golden chains descended from the sky, binding the man’s wrists.


    He looked up abruptly, wanting to speak, but realized he couldn’t even utter a word!


    The Forbidden Zone’s ancestral artifact, the Desolate Time Lock!


    Under the dark sky, the colossal creature slowly descended. Its body seemed to cover half the sky. It extended a giant hand, its back touching the ground.


    The ground shook violently.


    From within the Thunder God’s palm, a young woman in a purple dress walked out.


    Beside her, a seemingly emotionless woman followed silently. Although she restrained her aura, the terrifying power within her was still palpable.


    Many people in Sacred King City were secretly watching this scene. Although they were far away, some Nascent Soul cultivators could still make out what was happening.


    They speculated about the girl’s identity, their eyes filled with awe.


    Although they didn’t know who she was, the fact that the two divine beasts from the Forbidden Zone treated her with such respect suggested that her status was far beyond their imagination.


    The Forbidden Zone’s emergence this time was likely related to this girl!


    After descending from the Thunder God’s giant hand, Ye Lingxuan didn’t even glance at the man in the green robe. Her gaze was fixed on the Jade Empress not far away.


    Then, she looked at the young man in the Jade Empress’s arms, his body covered in blood, and murmured, “Brother Mu…”


    …


    Silence fell over the area outside the Jade Pool. Ye Lingxuan stared at the blood-soaked young man, her mind in a daze.


    Fu Yuan looked at the scene with a mixture of shock and uncertainty. At this moment, even a fool could guess that the Forbidden Zone’s emergence wasn’t because of the Jade Empress, but because of this young cultivator whom they had disregarded just moments ago.


    Thinking of this, Fu Yuan looked at the severely injured man in the green robe, his eyes filled with anger and frustration.


    “You idiot!”


    If it weren’t for him, the Forbidden Zone wouldn’t have emerged. The Jade Empress had just condensed her Vessel and hadn’t undergone the Primordial Spirit Tribulation yet. Soon, the tribulation lightning would descend, and she would have to face it. They might have had a chance then.


    But now…


    Fu Yuan’s eyes flickered. He looked at the young woman slowly approaching Mu Zhi’an and quietly backed away.


    “Young lady, how should we deal with these people?” The Thunder God’s booming voice echoed through the air, reaching far and wide. sea??h thё n??el Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ye Lingxuan gently caressed Mu Zhi’an’s face, her fingertips seeming to feel the warmth of his blood.


    After an unknown amount of time, she finally spoke, her voice trembling slightly, “Kill them all.”


    “Hand over Lina to me, and let us leave. I will give the Forbidden Zone and the Jade Empress an Imperial-Grade Medicinal Herb in the future!” The creature within the black mist said urgently.


    The Jade Empress’s Vessel had been condensed. Even though it wasn’t fully replenished with Spiritual Energy, it wasn’t something it could handle.


    And with the Forbidden Zone involved…


    The deity from the Southern Wilderness and the Primordial Demon Emperor’s subordinates hadn’t factored in the Forbidden Zone’s involvement when they planned to disrupt the Jade Empress’s Vessel condensation process. They knew the Forbidden Zone wouldn’t intervene for her sake.


    Everyone in the Nine Realms knew about the Forbidden Zone and its policy of non-interference. The Jade Empress’s fate had nothing to do with them.


    Yet, this time, powerful beings from the Forbidden Zone had emerged…


    This was an extremely dangerous sign. Even when the Eastern Realm wasn’t united in the past, it already possessed enough power to make certain forces in the Nine Realms wary. If the factions within the Eastern Realm became closely connected… It was a chilling thought.


    Yao Meng lowered her eyes and turned to look in the direction of the Two Polarities Sect.


    “Let’s take him back to the Two Polarities Sect first.”


    As she turned, a seed silently sprouted behind her. Countless vines erupted like mad, reaching towards the black mist.


    Screams came from the mist. At the same time, within the Jade Pool, the elders from the two Sects didn’t even have time to cry out before they were completely entangled by the green vines.


    On this day, two major Primordial Clans in the Eastern Realm were eradicated, and the news spread throughout the land.


    Sacred King City welcomed several powerful beings from the Forbidden Zone.


    They had only one purpose for coming to Sacred King City – to investigate the traitors.


    Within half a day, several Earthly Immortals in Sacred King City were killed. They were either remnants of the previous Demonic Cultivators or cultivators who had colluded with them for personal gain.


    Many cursed the Profound Sky Sect and the Violet Rainbow Sect. If it weren’t for these two Primordial Clans, they wouldn’t have been implicated.


    The next day, the Two Polarities Sect also sent out several elders and peak masters, using their Qi Observation Technique to investigate the traitors who had colluded with the Demonic Cultivators.


    This news was met with cheers from many cultivators in Sacred King City. However, those who had colluded with the Demonic Cultivators for personal gain were filled with anxiety, living in fear every day.


    Some old monsters in seclusion understood that the impact of this incident would extend far beyond Sacred King City.


    From now on, all major Primordial Clans in the Eastern Realm would likely conduct internal investigations, purging any unclean elements to avoid being implicated later.


    The Eastern Realm was about to face a major upheaval.