Gu Zhixin was a Third Grade Open Heaven cultivator, and the others were all Second Grade. Combined, the fighting force they could bring to bear was far from weak. Yet someone had annihilated them in an instant. What kind of being could possibly accomplish that?
A Fourth Grade Open Heaven cultivator couldn't manage something like this. Whoever had done it was definitely Fifth Grade—or even higher!
"Could it be that Zhao Baichuan personally intervened?" The burly man surnamed Guan wore an expression of utmost gravity.
It was only natural for him to make that connection. Guo Ziyan was a man of Red Star, and Zhao Baichuan was Red Star's boss. If Zhao Baichuan had stepped forward on Guo Ziyan's behalf, it would make sense.
Yun Xinghua rose slowly to his feet. "Regardless of who killed Elder Gu and the others, I must warn you all—our Blood Nether Continent is very likely facing a catastrophic crisis. The slightest misstep could mean utter destruction. I need every one of you to stand with me and face this potential calamity together."
A man stepped forward. "Chief, are you saying that whoever killed Elder Gu will come after our Blood Nether Continent next?"
Yun Xinghua nodded. "That possibility cannot be ruled out."
The man said, "Even if the culprit really is Zhao Baichuan, he's only Fifth Grade Open Heaven. Our Blood Nether Continent may not have anyone who can match him, but if he intends to attack us here, it won't be easy."
Yun Xinghua replied, "If it were only Zhao Baichuan alone, our Blood Nether Continent would have nothing to fear. Relying on our protective grand array, what could he do to us even with Fifth Grade Open Heaven cultivation? The problem is, you all know the situation with Red Star. They have multiple mid-grade Open Heaven cultivators. For the past decade or more, nobody knew where they'd been hiding. Now that they've resurfaced, their strength is likely formidable."
The bookish man who had spoken earlier said, "If that's truly the case, there's no way we can hold out. Chief, I suggest we send a plea for help to the Jinghong Pavilion! The Jinghong Domain is the Jinghong Pavilion's territory, and our Blood Nether Continent falls under their jurisdiction. Red Star has no business running roughshod here."
A complicated look flickered in Yun Xinghua's eyes as he shook his head slowly. "I'm afraid it would be too late. If the enemy truly means to target our Blood Nether Continent, they'll appear within a day or two. Even if we send word to the Jinghong Pavilion, we wouldn't get reinforcements in time. Moreover, the Jinghong Pavilion… may not necessarily be willing to help."
The group's expressions turned grim.
Back in the day, Yun Xinghua had been suppressed by the Jinghong Pavilion, forcing him to advance to Third Grade Open Heaven prematurely. Now, after decades of bitter cultivation, he had finally regained Fourth Grade power—and the Jinghong Pavilion would hardly be pleased to see that. If he were to ask them for aid, who knew what price he'd have to pay. They might even seize the opportunity to impose harsh conditions.
"Drop the matter of seeking help. For the time being, I want all of you to be on high alert. The moment anything happens outside, report it immediately!"
"Yes!" The crowd responded in unison before dispersing.
After everyone had left, Yun Xinghua clenched his teeth and slammed his fist against the armrest of his chair in frustration. "Gu Zhixin, that bastard—he's ruined everything for me!"
He had been suppressed and forced into premature advancement to Third Grade Open Heaven. Now that he'd obtained Fourth Grade power, he could begin looking ahead to Fifth Grade. With his talent and sufficient resources, breaking through to Fifth Grade Open Heaven within two hundred years should not be difficult.
And that timing would likely coincide with the old master of the Jinghong Pavilion passing away. Aside from that old immortal, nobody else in the Jinghong Pavilion was worthy of his attention. Once he reached Fifth Grade Open Heaven, who in the entire Jinghong Domain could stand against him? Unifying the Jinghong Domain and elevating the Blood Nether Continent above the Jinghong Pavilion would be no grand feat.
Only then could he avenge the humiliation of being suppressed all those years!
But his beautiful dream had barely begun when this catastrophe struck. The unknown enemy had slain four lower-grade Open Heaven cultivators in an instant—he was certain he was no match for them. Even with the Blood Nether Continent's grand array to rely on, there was no guarantee it could repel such an invader.
Where could he go from here? For the first time, he felt truly lost.
His expression darkened as he pondered, but no strategy presented itself. All he could do was hope the enemy's strength wasn't as overwhelming as it seemed, and that they might be deterred and turn away.
But that hope was shattered spectacularly just one day later.
A deafening boom erupted, and the entire Blood Nether Continent seemed to tremble without end. Rampage energy ran wild, and chaos erupted across the continent. Those disciples with weaker cultivation coughed up blood from their noses and mouths, left in a wretched state. Some even passed out on the spot.
Yun Xinghua flashed out from his cultivation chamber and looked up. In an instant, he spotted it—beyond the Blood Nether Continent's protective grand array, a colossal lotus flower hung in the air.
The lotus rotated slowly, each petal crafted with exquisite perfection, as if it were a work of art. But Yun Xinghua could feel the astonishing power emanating from it.
This was undoubtedly an Artifact that only a second-tier power could forge—and not just any second-tier power, but one with truly deep reserves. The Jinghong Pavilion possessed a similar Artifact called the Jinghong Platform, which had consumed countless resources to create.
In that instant, bitter taste flooded Yun Xinghua's mouth.
Right now, the Blood Nether Continent's protective grand array had already been activated. A transparent barrier of light enveloped the entire continent, but at one point on that barrier there was a deep dent, slowly repairing itself.
Yun Xinghua's eye twitched. He knew without a doubt that dent had been caused by the lotus slamming into it.
Whoever was inside this lotus—what kind of background did they have, to use such an Artifact to ram head-on into the Blood Nether Continent's protective grand array? Were they insane? Such Artifacts, while incredibly powerful, cost a fortune to create, and once damaged, repairs were anything but easy. Any faction that possessed one would normally treat it with the utmost care, never risking damage. Yet this intruder had simply smashed the lotus straight into the grand array.