CHAPTER 409
SPREADING
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Su Cheng did nothing, nor did he need to do anything.
To achieve such an outcome, only two conditions were necessary.
When a problem spirals out of control, when even minding one's own business becomes impossible, when there's nowhere left to hide—any rational person would understand what choice to make.
With a single sword strike, Su Cheng demonstrated Lingxian Hall's power and leadership to the world.
He then entrusted Yu Lan and Cang Jue to secretly inform Ling Mountain about the perilous realm, clarifying the significance of the Immortal Alliance.
It is commonly known that goodness requires trust, but Su Cheng understood precisely how to proceed.
Su Cheng deliberately instructed Cangjue and Yulan that this mission must be conducted with utmost secrecy, ensuring no unrelated parties gained knowledge…
Though Su Cheng trusted Cangjue and Yulan's meticulousness to prevent leaks, Ling Mountain was another matter.
There's no such thing as a wall that doesn't let the wind through. Good news stays close to home, while bad news travels a thousand miles.
Consequently, immortal sects seeking information would scramble to join the Immortal Alliance, fearing isolation.
Who would resort to such methods unless driven to desperation?
But such is the nature of this world. Had Su Cheng stood on a street corner shouting about unity, he would likely have been ignored—or worse, mocked as a madman…
How laughable…
"Your Imperial Highness, the Demon Emperor, has magnanimously set aside past grievances to lend aid. Qi Huan is deeply impressed!"
All lukewarm nonsense. Ye Qinghan couldn't care less.
"Your Lordship needn't worry. This Emperor has no intention of exploiting the situation. Those monsters, that black mist—they are enemies to all who dwell upon this land."
"Let us address everything after we weather this immediate crisis. The scale of this death zone is unprecedented—it may prove far more formidable than anticipated."
Qi Huan exhaled deeply. Now, as he looked at Li Shiyao beside him, he felt a newfound respect.
A common enemy was an enemy to all living beings.
The so-called "Reshaping Plan" of the gods was to destroy this world and nurture a new one from its ashes.
No one would consent to such a thing. Qi Huan refused, and Ye Qinghan certainly wouldn't agree—after all, the fragments of her mother remained scattered.
"Thank you, Demon Emperor."
"You're welcome. Hurry along."
"Hey! Wait for Shiyu!"
But unsurprisingly, Ye Qinghan nearly got blocked at the border too…
This situation shouldn't have arisen. Ye Qinghan, along with all soldiers and cultivators needing access to the Northern Realm, possessed passage credentials issued by Ling Mountain Sect, granting them unrestricted entry and exit across the borders of the Four Realms.
But clearly, Qi Huan hadn't yet relayed this directive. He'd never imagined such a day would come—never anticipated the emergence of such a vast death zone, nor that anyone would actually be willing to help.
While Senior and Junior Sisters and Su Muchan moved swiftly, other immortal sects followed closely behind, especially after hearing that all three realms had mobilized.
The newly established Twelve Sacred Realms of the North had dispatched small contingents to assist, while the various sects of the South traveled alongside the Heavenly Dao Pavilion. As for the demonic tribes arriving from the South, Qi Huan intended to investigate personally.
No one could have foreseen that countless immortal sects would truly unite this time. Nor could anyone have imagined that this deadly trap was far from ordinary.
Even with their combined strength, overcoming this deadly terrain proved no simple feat.
The black mist spread unstoppably, claiming every cultivator who ventured within it.
And the black mist continued to expand. There was no time left for idle chatter.
The demonic cultivators were the first to reach the border. Yet when Su Muchan arrived alongside them, the group had long since lost the confidence they'd possessed upon setting out.
What they had hoped would be a historic joint operation had instead turned into a trap, resulting in heavy casualties.
Master Cheng clearly hadn't anticipated this either. Within a mere two hours, over a hundred casualties had already been suffered, and he still hadn't obtained any intelligence from within the black mist.
Su Muchan respectfully bowed to her three senior sisters before stepping forward.
"Senior Sisters, what happened?"
Su Muchan's movements were all under Ye Qinghan's watchful eye, and Xu Zhanfeng had already reported everything to the First Lady.
Before Ye Qinghan could speak, Cheng Liang's voice echoed from the sky.
"Halt! Cease this suicide mission! Continuing will only worsen the situation! All are requested to gather in my tent for counsel!"
It was clear that this black mist acted like an insatiable black hole—no matter how many cultivators were sent in, it could never be filled.
"Master Cheng! My brother is still inside!"
"Do you wish to die alongside him? Order your men to withdraw immediately!"
Such matters were commonplace. Even cultivators found familial bonds difficult to sever.
But retreating was no simple matter.
Apart from Lingxian Hall's three direct disciples and Shangguan Rou, who wielded the Divine Position Martial Arts, even Cheng Liang himself could not move freely within the black mist.
This black mist was denser than before, and the monsters within were larger and more ferocious.
As the group retreated, they inadvertently drew out a Hunter!
The Hunter burst forth like a boiling crab, sweeping the black mist along with it. Indeed, upon seeing its form clearly, Ye Qinghan realized this was not the Hunter they had faced before.
It possessed eight spider-like legs, resembling a crab general from the mythical shrimp and crab armies.
One hand was a blade, the other a hook. Headless, it appeared low-centered yet astonishingly agile—capable of running and leaping. A hook swing followed by a slash meant instant death!
Even Ye Qinghan and his two companions lacked experience dealing with this type of Apostle.
The instant it burst from the black mist, it claimed the lives of three Foundation Establishment cultivators!
"Shiyao! Suppress it!"
"Got it!"
"Jue'er, let's meet it head-on!"
"Coming, Senior Sister!"
Just as the other cultivators, helpless and scattered, fled to create distance, the three direct disciples of Lingxian Hall made their move.
In front of everyone, Li Shiyao once again demonstrated the power of the so-called Little Madwoman!
With the Chaos Bell activated, Li Shiyao radiated golden light, resembling a golden Saint!
Facing the Apostle charging straight into the crowd, Li Shiyao didn't retreat—she advanced instead, rushing directly toward the Apostle!
"Shiyao! Get out of the way!" Qi Huandu cried out in panic. This was a monster that even the combined forces of the Immortal Sects couldn't defeat—how could Shiyao possibly stand against it alone?
What shocked him even more was that as the senior disciple, she had actually sent her junior sister into such grave danger!
What if Shiyu got hurt? That monster was so brutal—if anything happened, Ye Qinghan would be held responsible!
Just as he was about to confront Ye Qinghan, the little madwoman's shrieks pierced the air!
"Stop, Shi Yao!"
A thunderous roar!
Li Shiyu swung her arm in a wide arc, leaping high into the air before delivering a powerful punch with her tiny fist!
At that moment, Li Shiyu was enveloped in golden light, radiant and dazzling. That single punch shattered everyone's expectations!
This punch shook heaven and earth, moved gods and demons. It seemed as though the Apostle, with his seemingly indestructible body, was forced to stumble backward dozens of meters by this single blow!
Even the claw on the Apostle's left hand cracked under the force of Li Shiyao's strike!
Before the crowd could gasp in awe, the monster roared. Surrounding Li Shiyao were crimson sword shadows—the Frostblade Formation!
"Jue'er! She's got too many claws!"
"Here we go!"
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