It would take a normal human traveling by carriage almost five months to go from Heavenly Sword Mountain to the Yuan Peninsula. Not only did they have to cross the immense Xia Dynasty, but there were several large landforms and rough terrain that could not be traversed by normal means. After traveling through the one nation, they would reach Song Country, which they would also have to traverse before finally reaching the Yuan Peninsula.

For a Seeker Realm cultivator like himself, it would take just two days to travel that distance.

Of course, he was not alone. Several Human Realm experts were with him. That did slow him down some, but they reached the Yuan Peninsula within three days time.

As a country located in the south-eastern side of the Xaio Continent, it was a very tropical nation. They were not known for their strong cultivators. However, they were famous for their poison experts. Many other nations were wary of the Yuan Continent. It had been suspected but never proven that their poison experts had killed numerous monarchs and clan leaders from other nations. Even Zhe Dāozhe was wary of them.

Because it was rude for a group like theirs to just enter another nation unannounced, Yan Huo sent a letter ahead of him to alert the nation’s king of their arrival. A delegation was waiting for them when they reached Du City--the Yuan Peninsula’s capital.

Du City was located on the southernmost shores of the peninsula, directly facing the Da Continent, which he could just barely make out in the distance. It was a large city with a population of over two million. Most of the people living their were normal humans with no cultivation. Their cultivators made up less than a tenth of their nation, which was about right for a small country like this. The Yuan Peninsula was another nation that did not have a lot of resources for higher levels of cultivation. That said, they were well-known for their many powerful monster cores, a result of being so close to the Da Continent.

Yan Huo’s airship set down in a docking port specifically for visiting dignitaries. Like most Heavenly Sword Sect airships, this one was quite long and shaped to resemble a giant sword. Even the wings extending from either side was composed of numerous blades.

“Welcome, Elder Yan Huo. We are honored by your visit.” The head delegate offered a martial bow and the others followed suit. “My name is Lang Huang. I am His Majesty, King Yuna’s, right hand man. If you would please follow me, I shall lead you and your people to his majesty.”

Lang Huan was plain in appearance. He wore stately robes and had a necklace with a qilin pendant around his neck. HIs black hair, brown eyes, and tan skin were normal for someone living in a tropical climate.

“We are in your hands,” said Yan Huo with a martial bow of his own. Those with him did the same.

While he showed his respect, Yan Huo ran a quick check of Lang Huang hand his people. The only one to worry about was Lang Huang. He was a Deva Realm cultivator while the rest were only had an Anima Realm cultivation. Well, that made sense. This nation, like others, lacked the resources to raise many cultivators up to the Asura Realm. They would be much stronger if that were not the case.

Lang Huang showed Yan Huo and his group to several carriages that would take them to the palace. The man in question sat inside of the carriage reserved for Yan Huo.

“I appreciate that you and your king are willing to take the time to speak with me. I know my visit was quite sudden,” said Yan Huo.

“Not at all.” Lang Huang waved off his apology and smiled. “I understand that you would not be here if there wasn’t a serious matter you wished to discuss. It’s well-known that elders of the Heavenly Sword Sect rarely leave the sect outside of the sword tournaments they host.”

“You’re not wrong. The matter I am here for is most urgent,” said Yan Huo.

“His Majesty has already made time for you, so you’ll be able to speak with him the moment you arrive.”

“Thank you.”

While Yan Huo was slightly irritated by the condescending tone Lang Huang used when talking about how the Yuan nation’s king had “made time for him” as if Yan Huo was beneath him, the situation was urgent enough that he said nothing. He couldn’t see anything good coming from stirring the pot right now.

The palace soon came into view. Many would have called it a magnificent structure. Located atop a larger hill overlooking the city, the palace was made of many tall pagoda painted in the purple and black of the Yuan royal family. Silver and gold statues of vipers adorned the many arched roofs. They stood guard, their mouths open wide as if preparing to lunge at whoever dared intrude upon this place.

Yan Huo was not impressed.

He kept such thoughts to himself, however.

Upon reaching the palace, they were led through several gaudily decorated hallways to reach the throne room.

All throne rooms had a similar scheme. A rug adorned in the colors of that nation’s royal family traveled from the double-door entrance to the throne, which sat upon a dais. Sitting upon the throne was a man who radiated power. Yuan Heching was a half-step Seeker Realm cultivator. His cultivation had stopped many centuries ago due to the poisons in his body, but those same poisons gave him enough power to kill even a peek Seeker Realm cultivator. Even Yan Huo felt wary of this man.

“I welcome you, elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect. You honor us with your presence,” he said.

“Your Majesty, Yuan Heching, the honor is all mine. I wish we had more time to speak, but I come today with grave news,” said Yan Huo.

“Oh?” Yuan Heching shifted on his throne. “Speak. What grave news do you bring?”

“We have reason to believe there is a group of unknown but dangerous cultivators hiding out in your country. They plan to use a ritual that will summon a horde of magical beasts from the Da Continent.”

“That is indeed grave. Do you have proof?”

Yan Huo bit his lip. “… No. However, should it prove that they do not exist and our beliefs are unfounded, we are willing to part with a Heavens Seeking Pill. All we ask is that you allow us to search. We are even willing to let members of your army join us since this a threat to your nation too.”

“Hmmmm,” Yuan Heching breathed out an intense breath. Yan Huo could practically see the flames of desire in his eyes.

The Heavens Seeking Pill was a lower-grade tier 8 pill that could help a half-step Seeker Realm cultivator fully step into the Seeker Realm.

“Will you only offer this pill if your belief is proven false?” asked the king.

Yan Huo shook his head. “We shall provide the pill regardless if you let us search the nation. I do not have it on hand, but I have been told that I am allowed to swear an oath under heaven to deliver that we will deliver the pill to your hands once our investigation is complete.”

“Very well. I shall allow you and your people to search this continent. ” Yuan Heching did not need much time to consider it. The idea of finally breaking through to the Seeker Realm was too good an opportunity to pass up.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Yan Huo said.

***

It was decided that Lang Huang and a contingent of two dozen Anima Realm cultivators would travel with them.

Because cultivators did not need as much rest as normal people, they did not sleep for two whole days.

The first placed they checked was along the peninsula’s northern shores. They avoided the mountains at first because of the assumption that any ritual to bring a horde of magical beasts would be difficult to perform there. When it became obvious there were no signs of any ritual on the coast, they traveled north.

A gulf known as the Azure Dragon’s Mouth was located up north. The lower half was the Azure Dragon’s Mandibles, and it connected the Yuan Peninsula to Song Country and the Ten Kingdom’s Alliance. The upper half connected the Han Dynasty and Ten Kingdoms Alliance, and it was called the Azure Dragon’s Upper Jaw.

They searched all along the northern coast but found nothing, which left only one place.

It was late evening. Tents had been set up at the base of Yuan Mountain Range, a peninsula located along the southern coast that spenned several hundred kilometers in length.

Several bright flames burned brightly in the night and men sat around these flames, sharing food and drink as they chatted.

Yan Huo did not partake. He normally looked lazy and unmotivated, but right now, he stared at the mountain range with an unyielding expression.

“Do you really suspect a ritual is taking place up there?” asked Lang Huang. Yan Huo blinked. He hadn’t even heard the young man walk up beside him.

“This is the only place left,” Yan Huo said.

“Yes, I know. What I’m asking is whether or not you may have been mistaken this whole time?”

“Ah. There is no way we can be mistaken,” said Yan Huo.

“What makes you so certain?” asked Lang Huang, but Yan Huo did nothing more than smile. The other man, seemingly realizing his fellow cultivator would not answer, merely sighed. “I suppose we all deserve to keep our secrets.”

Yan Huo was glad Lang Huang didn’t push. It would have amounted to nothing anyway, as he had sworn an oath under heaven to never reveal Wu Meiying’s existence, but it would have been annoying to deal with.

They set off the next morning. Since they had two dozen Anima Realm cultivators with them, only Yan Hup and Lang Huang flew over the mountain. Their primary goal was to see if they could locate a sealing array that might be the ritual. A bird’s eye view gave them a better vantage point. Meanwhile, the people on the ground would have a closer look at the area.

“I don’t see anything,” said Lang Huang.

Yan Huo pursed his lips. “I’m not either.”

They had been flying for several hours now and traversed nearly one half of the mountain range, but they had not seen anything. Was it possible the ritual didn’t exist? Yan Huo shook his head. No. That wasn’t possible. Madame Oracle had said it herself. He had already seen the miracles her future sight had enacted. His very life had been saved by one of her predictions. That alone was enough to let him know the ritual did exist.

“Let’s head down and join the others,” said Yan Huo.

Lang Huang merely nodded.

They joined up with the rest of their group. Their people were hanging out near what appeared to be a cave carved out at the base of Mount Yuan, the largest mountain in the center of the mountain range.

“It looks like you have discovered something,” said Yan Huo, glancing at the cave, which was hidden from the sky by an overhang. No wonder he hadn’t seen it.

“Yes, Elder Huo. We discovered this cave just a short while ago. We haven’t gone inside yet, but, as I’m sure you can sense, this cave was carved out of the mountain with chi,” said one of his men.

“Meaning it was made by a cultivator.” Yan Huo took a deep breath, then made a decision. “Let’s go inside. This might be where the ritual is set to take place. We’re already on the last day, so if we cannot stop the ritual now, it’ll be too late.”

The group entered the cave as one. Completely smooth walls greeted them. There were a couple of branching paths, but most of them led to deadends. Only one path continued, and it contained an upward slope that seemed to spiral around the mountain’s interior. Yan Huo was reminded of a staircase.

This was definitely not naturally formed.

Many hours later, they eventually reached exited the tunnels and found themselves in an open space with a surprising amount of light. Yan Huo looked up and found a large hole through which sunlight poured down. That hole was not natural. Like the rest of this place, it was manmade.

Is this the ritual sight?

He began walking forward. The men with him spread out. This had to be the ritual sight. The hole in the mountaintop was not to allow light, but to allow the chi of heaven to stream in. Given that this ritual was to take place underground, it meant they also needed to gather the chi of the earth. However, there was something missing.

Where’s the sealing array? Where are the catalysts?

Every ritual needed a sealing array and catalysts. Whether it was creating a defensive formation or a teleportation array, those two items were absolutely necessary.

Yan Huo was just about to hand out orders--when his entire body froze. Shock coursed through him. He would have widened his eyes, but he couldn’t even do that much. Every muscle within his body was frozen solid.

What… what is this…?

“You found this place much sooner than I expected,” said a familiar voice behind him.

Footsteps echoed around him as Lang Huang stopped before him, his smile more condescending than it had ever been. Yan Huo would have glared at him if he could.

“I’m sure you’re wondering why you can’t move. I wouldn’t worry about that. There’s no need for you to think about anything. Tell me something, does the name Tiāntáng Meiying mean anything to you? Oh, wait. I suppose she goes by Wu Meiying now, doesn’t she? You don’t need to answer me by the way. I am merely talking to myself.”

Yan Huo couldn’t fathom what was happening. Nothing made sense. Yet regardless of how much or how little sense this situation made, it didn’t change the facts. Something had completely prevented him from moving. Not even his Seeker Cultivation realm could help him break free.

Lang Huang leisurely walked around the cavern, up to another person who appeared frozen in time, and Yan Huo could only watch in horror as the man was stabbed through the chest. Oddly enough, there was no blood.

“Hm hm hm hmmmm. Hmm hmm hmmm.”

Incessant and awful singing filled the air as Lang Huang impaled each person besides him, even his own men! Then he snapped his fingers, and suddenly, every person he stabbed was standing in a specific point. Yan Huo would have widened his eyes in surprise as massive sealing array suddenly appeared on the cavern floor. He was no expert, but he could make sealing arrays. That was why they had sent him. However, he couldn’t even begin to understand what kind of sealing array this was.

“Are you curious?” asked Lang Huang. “Of course you are. You like sealing arrays, right? Hm hm. I can tell you’re a fellow enthusiast. I don’t mind sharing this knowledge with you since you’ll never be able to use it. This sealing array is something our patron deity created. It’s called Time Travel Teleportation Sealing Array. It doesn’t teleport magical beasts from one continent to another. You’d need a spatial teleportation array for that. No no. What this does is summons magical beasts from across time. It is quite the ingenious sealing array if I do say so myself. However, it requires a massive amount of power. Truly massive. I’ve been compiling spirit stones and spirit crystals for almost two centuries now! But it’s still not enough. However. Yes, however, I’ve learned that you can compensate the lack of power with lives. Specifically, it requires cultivators who are at least at the Anima Realm. More power is better, of course. I really have to thank you. If you hadn’t brought so many sacrifices to me… why? I might not have had enough power to use this sealing array. Thank you so much.”

We’ve been had!

Yan Struggled to break free, but it was no use. No amount of struggle would help him now.

Hang Luang stood in the center of the ritual and removed a locket from around his neck. Power flooded the area. Yan Huo was already frozen, so he could not respond, but he would have pissed himself if he had been able to move.

Realization Realm?!

It was normally impossible to feel the cultivation of someone stronger than yourself, unless the person in question released their cultivation for you to sense. Hang Luang was doing just that. His cultivation soared all the way to the Realization Realm as the sealing array lit up.

Immediately after that, the people who’d been stabbed were finally unfrozen. Each one writhed in agony, wailing and screaming as streams of chi escaped their bodies. Yan Huo was horrified as the cultivators shriveled up, becoming mere husks of their former selves.

What kind of horrible ritual is this?!

Yan Huo was unable to think any further as, in that moment, magical beasts appeared within the circle. Hundreds. Thousands. Tens of thousands. Not all of them were strong. In fact, there were only a few that had reached the Seeker Realm, but that was enough. More than enough. Even the Heavenly Sword Sect risked facing annihilation in battle against so many magical beasts.

Lang Huang spread his hands wide as if to embrace the many magical beasts he had summoned. The euphoric look on his face disgusted and horrified Yan Huo.

“Look at this army! Isn’t it magnificent?! Now go! Reak havoc!”

This was the end.

It was the end of the world.

Yan Huo fell into despair.