The Nine Heavens Poisonfire Furnace

Surrounded and protected by the Su River, Ji Ning came under attack from all sides.

Suddenly, the ‘Three-Tailed Thunder God Puppet’ turned around and began to flee at high speed.

“Trying to leave?” The candle-light in Ji Ning’s eyes blazed. He immediately executed the divine ability ‘Nine Heavens Annihilating Wind’. Although he had not possessed this technique for long, it was a ‘skill-type’ divine ability, and given that he had already fully comprehended the Windwing Evasion technique, his realm was extremely high. He had naturally already gained some insight into this Nine Heavens Annihilating Wind technique, reaching the point of minor mastery.

As soon as the technique was activated, a furious gale howled forth. Riding upon this wind, Ji Ning instantly caught up to the Three-Tailed Thunder God Puppet.

“You puppet, you think you can flee?” The six divine swords in Ji Ning’s hands hacked down at the puppet in a furious, unending barrage.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of sword-light blades rained down upon the puppet.

Boom~~~

The puppet was cleaved out of the air and sent tumbling to the ground, shattering the earth and carving deep crevices into it.

“D-9, you worthless bastards! Why aren’t you blocking Ning Ji? If you don’t stop him, I won’t be able to escape. How am I supposed to notify the master?” Han Da sent a frantic mental message. He was also cursing inwardly. This Ning Ji is too fast! We had a gap between us just a moment ago, and he caught me in an instant!

The D-9 squad was also shocked by Ji Ning’s speed, but they still moved to intercept him. The massive ‘Ba Serpent’ coiled its enormous body, wrapping its serpentine form around Ning Ji, while a volley of magical treasures flew through the air to attack him. “You’re the useless one! Do you think Ning Ji is so easy to deal with? It’s not that we’re weak, it’s that this Ning Ji is far too monstrous. He’s releasing that golden light from his body—who knows what sort of treasure it is? No matter how we attack, we can’t breach his defenses!”

Han Da took advantage of the chaos to flee.

He knew he couldn’t really blame the D-9 squad. He himself had tried attacking with the puppet, and Ning Ji was simply too monstrous.

He was like a piece of rotten bone.

Unbreakable. Indestructible. What could anyone do about it?

…

“Whew.”

After escaping a good distance, using the dense mist to conceal his movements, Han Da finally slipped out.

“Sir.” The Eastwood Forest Sect Leader was waiting for him.

“I’m going to meet the general. Stay here and make sure Ning Ji doesn’t escape,” Han Da ordered.

“Understood.” The Eastwood Forest Sect Leader replied respectfully.

Han Da quickly departed. After watching Han Da disappear from sight, the Eastwood Forest Sect Leader muttered to himself, “Even if he doesn’t leave, what can we do? None of our joint attacks can even scratch him.” He raised his head to look at the three-headed, six-armed Ji Ning, who was still under siege, and couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration.

This monstrous talent, who had stunned the world by winning first place in the Immortal Fortunes Assembly over thirty years ago, had truly become even more terrifying now. Even the D-9 squad of the Bloodcloud Hall couldn’t harm him in the slightest.

Within the Eastwood Forest Mountain Range, a forbidden area.

Inside a dark hall.

A silver-armored youth sat in the seat of honor, savoring a cup of wine, while a red-robed old man sat below him.

“I’m running out of patience, Qu Huan. You are really disappointing me.” The silver-armored youth swirled his beast-head goblet, staring into the wine as he spoke calmly.

“General, don’t be hasty, don’t be hasty.” The red-robed elder quickly forced a smile.

“I am not worried, but the Cave Lord is!” The silver-armored youth’s voice turned cold. He lifted his head and glanced at the red-robed elder. “You should be well aware of how important the task I’ve given you is. And yet, you’ve spent over ten years on it. How much longer do I have to wait before it’s completed?”

The red-robed elder quickly said, “We have been giving it our all, General. If you could reassign a few more people to help us, we might be able to finish faster.”

“You want more people?” The silver-armored youth shook his head. “Our manpower is stretched thin everywhere right now. I’m busy, and the other generals have their own tasks. Where am I supposed to find people to reassign? The Cave Lord has already pressured me. I’ll give you three more years. If you still can’t finish in three years… I won’t kill you, but you can prepare for reincarnation.”

The red-robed elder was filled with anxiety. “That’s not enough! Three years is far too short. With our current manpower… we need at least five more years.”

“It must be done in three years. If you can’t do it…” The silver-armored youth waved his hand. “Get out of my sight.”

“Understood.” The red-robed elder gritted his teeth. “Your subordinate will do his utmost to complete it within three years.”

He obediently took his leave.

The hall fell silent once more.

The silver-armored youth drank his wine, shaking his head in frustration. “Ever since I came to this Grand Xia world, I’ve been skulking around like a damn rat, hiding everywhere. It’s so stifling! I wonder when the war will start. Once we conquer this major world, that will be true freedom.”

Suddenly—

“Master! Master!” A voice called out from outside.

The silver-armored youth frowned and barked, “Where are your manners, shouting like that?”

“Master.” Han Da entered, quickly putting on a smile. “I was just so anxious.”

“What is it?” The silver-armored youth asked.

“I went to help the Eastwood Forest Sect Leader. We used the sect’s grand mountain-protecting formation. I even attacked myself! But there was simply nothing we could do to that Ning Ji.” Han Da quickly reported. “The D-9 squad said the same thing. They asked me to ask for your help, Master. If you can’t do anything either, they’ll have to use their final resort.”

“The final resort?” The silver-armored youth sneered. “That group of trash from the Bloodcloud Hall. Whenever they can’t assassinate someone, they fall back on that so-called final resort of theirs.”

“But that final resort has killed quite a few Celestial Immortals,” Han Da couldn’t help but say.

“Those Celestial Immortals were all stupid enough to get themselves killed!” The silver-armored youth shook his head. “Regardless, the D-9 squad of the Bloodcloud Hall has worked with me well enough. I’ll help them this once. Go and summon nine Devil Guards. Have them prepare to use the ‘Nine Heavens Extinguishing Poisonfire Furnace.’ If we can kill Ning Ji, then all’s well that ends well. But if even this attack fails to kill him, then let the D-9 squad figure out their own solution. They can use that so-called final resort of theirs, for all I care.”

“Understood.” Han Da asked in a low voice, “Master, aren’t you going to make a move yourself?”

“Me make a move?” The silver-armored youth let out a contemptuous laugh. “I’ve weathered my Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations to become a Celestial Immortal. Do you think it was easy? If a Celestial Immortal wants to live a long life, they need to have some foresight. You need to be absolutely clear about when to strike and when not to.” He let out a dismissive snort. “There might be a True Immortal or an Empyrean God behind this Ning Ji, or even a Daofather! If I were to personally make my move… and then some big shot from Ning Ji’s background popped out and crushed me like a bug… wouldn’t that be unjust? Of course, if the benefits were good enough, I might take the risk. But this mission is only worth three Immortal-ranked top-grade treasures in total! The headquarters of the Bloodcloud Hall takes one, and the D-9 squad has to split the rest. How much would I even get? And you expect me to risk my life for such a pittance?”

The silver-armored youth shook his head in disdain. “Han Da, we old brothers came to the Grand Xia world to enjoy ourselves. Of course, we have to kill when necessary. But you have to weigh whether it’s worth it. As for the Bloodcloud Hall’s assassination mission, whether it succeeds or fails, what the hell do I care?”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Han Da quickly replied. “You are wise, Master.”

“This Nine Heavens Extinguishing Poisonfire Furnace is the most powerful killing formation set up in this Eastwood Forest mountain range,” the silver-armored youth said. “Even Celestial Immortals… only the top-tier ones can withstand it. The vast majority would be killed in a single blow. Having me send the nine Devil Guards to execute this killing formation should be considered a great favor. Alright, hurry up and go.”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

Han Da quickly departed.

The silver-armored youth stood up and walked to the entrance of the hall. Soon after, Han Da arrived with nine Devil Guards, all wearing ancient bronze armor and at the Loose Immortal/Earth Immortal level.

“General.” The nine Devil Guards said respectfully.

“Han Da has already explained the situation to you, I trust? Go now. Prepare to activate the grand formation and annihilate this Ning Ji.” The silver-armored youth commanded.

“As you command, General.” The nine Devil Guards respectfully acknowledged the order before quickly departing.

“Let’s go. Let’s go watch. I want to see if this peerless monster of the Grand Xia world survives my grand formation, or turns to ash.” The silver-armored youth leisurely walked out.

…

On a distant mountain peak, three figures stood.

They were the silver-armored youth, Han Da, and a youth dressed in black.

“Disciple, you came with your master to the Grand Xia world,” the silver-armored youth said with a smile. “Today, your master will let you witness something. We will see the most supreme monstrous genius in the Grand Xia world. He has cultivated for less than a hundred years. His time spent training is about the same as yours. And yet… his fame far surpasses yours.”

The black-robed youth wore a confident expression. “How impressive can he be?”

“You’ll know in a moment,” the silver-armored youth replied.

Swoosh.

A figure flew over. It was the Eastwood Forest Sect Leader, who said respectfully, “Greetings, General.”

“Disperse the mist,” the silver-armored youth said with a smile. “Let my disciple get a good look at this Ning Ji’s power.”

“Understood.” The Eastwood Forest Sect Leader acknowledged the command and began manipulating the formation. In the distance, the thick mist began to dissipate, revealing everything with crystal clarity. Even from this mountain peak, they could clearly see the distant, three-headed, six-armed giant, the even larger ‘Ba Serpent’, and the raging currents of the Su River.

The silver-armored youth said with a laugh, “Disciple, what do you think?”

The black-robed youth stared into the distance. He could sense the earth-shaking might of that massive ‘Ba Serpent’, as well as the terrifying power of the numerous Immortal-ranked treasures. And yet, all of it was completely blocked by that three-headed, six-armed towering youth.

“He’s… formidable.” The black-robed youth was somewhat shocked. “Is he already a Celestial Immortal?”

“Although he is not a Celestial Immortal, he possesses the combat power of one,” the silver-armored youth said with emotion. “If it’s at the Wanxiang or Primal level, fighting above one’s grade is considered normal. But the gap between a returning-to-vacuity Earth Immortal and a Celestial Immortal is far too vast. To be able to fight above one’s grade at this level… that is something truly rare. And what’s even rarer is that this Ning Ji has cultivated for less than a century. Disciple, you see the difference now, don’t you?”

The black-robed youth pursed his lips, staring silently.

Right at this moment—

“Rumble~~~” A mountain peak suddenly rose into the sky from the southeastern horizon.

“Rumble~~~” A mountain peak also rose from the northwestern horizon.

One mountain peak after another rose into the air. Fortunately, the entire Eastwood Forest Mountain Range was protected by a grand formation, preventing those outside from seeing what was happening within. They were completely unaware of the fierce battle taking place inside.

Soon, nine mountain peaks had risen into the air, hanging in the sky in all directions. Each peak was covered in fiery red runes, which encircled them, causing the might of each mountain peak to swell with ever-increasing power.

An invisible pressure enveloped nearly the entire Eastwood Forest Mountain Range.

This was the most powerful killing formation of the Eastwood Forest Mountain Range. It could attack any point within its domain, including the very mountain peak where the black-robed youth, the silver-armored general, and their companion were standing.

“Master, this killing formation…” Sensing this terrifying pressure, the black-robed youth’s face changed. “This killing formation is to deal with Ning Ji?”

Just sensing it filled the black-robed youth with dread.

He knew very well the terrifying power of this formation. A single wisp of its energy would be more than enough to annihilate him.