To a Mythical Race, a few thousand years was but the blink of an eye. Yet, the changes on the Li Yang Continent in the past two thousand years filled the World-Devouring Whale with utter disbelief.
Li Chang’an didn’t bother explaining much to it and turned back toward the Slaying Immortal Pass.
「Two years passed quickly.」
The year 1000 of the Emperor Calendar was a day of both tension and excitement for all the Martial Artists of the Liyang Empire.
Just as they expected, the Immortal Gates trembled, and the Cultivators arrived.
And this time was different from the last.
It wasn’t just the Immortal Gate at Soul-Breaking Mountain that trembled, but also several others in different regions. However, the one at Soul-Breaking Mountain shook the most violently.
The army of Martial Artists was divided into several groups.
They stood guard outside each Immortal Gate, tensely awaiting the appearance of the Cultivators.
...
「Cultivation Realm. Immortal Palace.」
As the Immortal Gates swung open, twelve Cultivators in white robes made their preparations and entered the six large gates nearby.
Before they entered the Immortal Gates, a Law Enforcement Hall Elder looked at the twelve disciples and said with a solemn expression, "Two thousand years ago, a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator named Duan Hongrui entered this minor world to mine resources. He never returned!"
"When the Immortal Gates closed, it seems someone also stole a portion of the Spiritual Power. You must investigate what exactly happened in Minor World No. 732. If you can handle it, then deal with it cleanly. If you can’t, retreat immediately..."
As he spoke, the Law Enforcement Hall Elder took out twelve sheets of talisman paper and handed them to the disciples, continuing his instructions, "If you face a life-threatening situation, ignite the talisman paper with your Spiritual Power. The Immortal Gates will open ahead of schedule, and I will be here to receive you. You’ve already been briefed on the situation in Minor World No. 732, so I shouldn’t need to explain anything else, right?!"
This was all just a formality.
The group of disciples all nodded, but inwardly, they weren’t particularly concerned.
They had indeed been thoroughly briefed on the details of Minor World No. 732. They knew this world had been plundered many times, and its natives were nothing more than a bunch of crude Martial Artists.
The crucial point was that the Martial Dao they practiced had been tampered with by Cultivators, leaving it with a very low ceiling.
The last incident was, in all likelihood, the fault of the Cultivator who had gone to the Lower Realm to mine resources.
Holding this belief, the disciples didn’t give it much more thought and casually entered. Over a dozen Immortal Gates opened simultaneously, and the Cultivators stepped out.
And then, they saw a world ablaze with light.
’What’s going on?’
’Isn’t Minor World No. 732 supposed to be an ancient dynasty?’
’Why are there lights like from a technological world?’
Before they could even process what was happening, a piercing, low hum sounded in their ears.
BOOM!
A roar loud enough to shake the heavens and the earth erupted.
The first things to detonate were twelve nuclear bombs.
These Cultivators were all Direct Disciples of the Immortal Palace’s Law Enforcement Hall. The lowest among them was at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and five were even at the Golden Core Stage. They were considered core members with promising futures.
But faced head-on with a nuclear explosion, the seven Foundation Establishment Stage disciples were instantly turned to ash.
The remaining five Golden Core Stage disciples relied on life-saving Magical Treasures from their sect to escape the epicenter in the nick of time, barely surviving.
However, they were still severely injured in an instant.
Gazing at the mushroom cloud rising behind them, the few Golden Core Cultivators’ faces were filled with the relief of having survived a disaster, but at the same time, a sense of bewilderment began to creep into their hearts...
’What the hell was that?’
’How is this world completely different from what we were told?’
While their minds were still reeling, they saw that tens of thousands of eager Martial Artists had appeared out of nowhere. They were swarming in from all directions, surrounding them completely.
Amid their tension, the few Golden Core Cultivators couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.
’Thank goodness, at least we can see people!’
’Cultivators are good at dealing with people, not terrifying, inexplicably explosive weapons like the ones just now.’
However, under the Cultivators’ watchful eyes, the Martial Artists, though eager, did not rush to attack. Instead, one by one, they pulled out all sorts of large-caliber weapons.
RUMBLE...
Another round of earth-shaking explosions followed.
The sheer number of weapons firing and the density of the explosions were overwhelming. Even though the Golden Core Cultivators were fast enough to dodge most of the shells, they still felt their insides rattle, sustaining considerable injuries.
The Martial Artists produced an ever-changing variety of weapons.
They suppressed the Cultivators with a mad barrage of covering fire.
The Golden Core Stage Cultivators were clearly becoming frantic. They had never expected to encounter such a situation, and thus hadn’t prepared enough Magical Treasures.
They weren’t even wearing the explosion-proof suits specifically designed to counter gunpowder-based attacks!
But having reached the Golden Core Stage, the five of them possessed not only unfathomable strength but also incredible Life Force. Incredibly, even without the protection of Magical Treasures, they managed to withstand the barrage of fire and break out of the encirclement!
The moment they were out of the encirclement, one Golden Core Cultivator flung out a Magical Treasure that sucked in all the incoming shells. With a casual toss, he threw the bag-like treasure into the sky, where it exploded, blasting away a large number of Martial Artists.
Another Cultivator was even more ruthless. Not content to just flee, he unleashed a Technique mid-escape, slashing out with a beam of sword light hundreds of meters in diameter!
Nearly a hundred Martial Artists were caught by the sword light and decapitated on the spot. They fell from the sky, and soon, all signs of life were gone.
Their counterattack was quite fierce.
But the Martial Artists behind them still filled the sky and covered the land.
The few Golden Core Stage Cultivators sensed the immense danger. They increased their speed, trying to shake off their pursuers as best they could, intending to find a place to regroup and plan their next move.