After Ya Yao vanished, Huan Ming abruptly declared, “Issue the order: search for this man across the myriad realms of the heavens!”
Behind him, an elder bowed slightly, “Understood!”
With that, he disappeared from the scene.
Huan Ming turned to Ye Xuan, “Young Master Ye, this place may no longer be safe. Come with me to the Phantom Clan!”
Ye Xuan paused, then said, “Give me three days, can you?”
Huan Ming nodded, “Of course!”
Ye Xuan turned and left—he needed to tie up some loose ends!
As Ye Xuan departed, Huan Ming suddenly spun around, “Who’s there!”
In the distance, space shimmered, and a woman emerged before Huan Ming and the Phantom Clan warriors.
Had Ye Xuan been present, he’d have been overjoyed, for this woman was none other than Mu Niannian!
Huan Ming eyed Mu Niannian warily, a trace of caution in his gaze.
He couldn’t see through her!
Huan Ming asked gravely, “Who are you?”
Mu Niannian smiled, “I’m his sister!”
Huan Ming blinked, “Sister?”
Mu Niannian’s lips curved, “Yes!”
Huan Ming quickly clasped his fists, “May I ask what instructions you have?”
Mu Niannian inquired, “Does your Phantom Clan have enemies?”
Huan Ming replied solemnly, “Yes!”
Mu Niannian said, “Tell me.”
Huan Ming glanced at her, unsure of her intent, but answered promptly, “My Phantom Clan resides in the Daluo Ancient Realm, where three superpowers reign: my Phantom Clan, the Daluo Ancient Clan, and the Desolate Ancient Clan. Among them, my clan and the Desolate Ancient Clan are sworn enemies!”
Mu Niannian nodded slightly, “Then this Beast Spirit Clan ancestor, Ya Yao, is likely with the Desolate Ancient Clan!”
Huan Ming frowned, “Why?”
Mu Niannian chuckled, “He knows you’ve reached the Seventeenth Stage and still dared to vow ‘an irreconcilable clan feud’—he must have the confidence to challenge your Phantom Clan.”
Huan Ming said gravely, “A lower-realm figure couldn’t reach the Daluo Ancient Realm, he…”
Mu Niannian smiled, “That Plain-Skirt Woman is from the lower realms too!”
At that, Huan Ming’s pupils shrank. After a moment, he bowed slightly, “I stand corrected!”
Mu Niannian continued, “And since he dared make such threats to your face, it suggests the Desolate Ancient Clan might be stirring!”
Huan Ming’s eyes narrowed, about to speak, when the space before him rippled, and a phantom figure appeared.
A Phantom Clan member!
The man’s face was pale, eyes wide with panic, “Clan Leader, the Desolate Ancient Clan ambushed us—our clan is gone!”
Huan Ming’s face twisted with rage, “Desolate Ancient Clan!”
He turned, “All clansmen, return to Daluo at once—”
Mu Niannian interrupted, “Wait!”
Huan Ming looked at her, and she said, “If you go back now, you’ll all be wiped out!”
Huan Ming asked gravely, “What do you mean?”
Mu Niannian met his gaze, “The Desolate Ancient Clan should be roughly equal to your Phantom Clan in strength, so why would they dare strike? They’d know a deathmatch benefits neither—only the Daluo Ancient Clan would profit. They’re not fools, yet they acted!”
Huan Ming’s expression darkened, “The Daluo Ancient Clan joined them!”
Mu Niannian nodded, “Exactly!”
Huan Ming clenched his fists, “Why would they ally?”
Mu Niannian replied, “Two reasons: profit—wiping out your Phantom Clan brings gains; or threat—your clan now endangers them both!”
Huan Ming’s face sank like water, “It seems my breakthrough’s been exposed!”
Mu Niannian nodded slightly, “You can’t take your clansmen back to Daluo now. They’ve surely prepared thoroughly—if you return, you’re walking into a trap.”
Huan Ming fell silent, then bowed to Mu Niannian, “Please guide me!”
Mu Niannian smiled, “There’s a clever way!”
Huan Ming bowed again, “Speak, please!”
Mu Niannian brushed a stray lock of hair from her ear, “Let me break it down. You brought most of your clan’s elite here to fetch that kid, piquing their curiosity. If I’m right, they’re scrambling to dig into his origins, but they’ll find nothing. Still, they’ll speculate—think about it: a human prompting your entire clan to mobilize? Could he be ordinary? Add your recent breakthrough, and if I were them, I’d guess he’s from a Seventh-Stage civilization.”
She looked at Huan Ming, “Their target seems to be you, but it’s really that kid!”
Huan Ming gave a wry smile.
Mu Niannian continued, “Spread word that he’s from a Seventh-Stage civilization, but fled with others, carrying divine artifacts!”
She opened her palm, revealing three portraits—of the Plain-Skirt Woman, the Green-Shirt Man, and the Sword Cultivator!
Mu Niannian grinned, “They escaped a Seventh-Stage civilization with treasures.”
Huan Ming blinked, “Send them after those three?”
Mu Niannian nodded, “They’ll hunt them down!”
Huan Ming hesitated, “Is that… wise?”
Mu Niannian laughed, “Don’t worry, go for it! The kid’s got it covered!”
Huan Ming: “…”
Mu Niannian added, “Also, make it clear those three fled injured and are now hiding.”
Huan Ming glanced at her, “Lady, this…”
He wanted to say it felt too devious.
He didn’t know the Green-Shirt Man or Sword Cultivator’s strength, but the Plain-Skirt Woman’s power he’d witnessed. If the Daluo and Desolate Clans found her… wouldn’t that be like moths to a flame?
Too ruthless!
Yet he wasn’t opposed!
Mu Niannian smiled faintly, “One more thing: ensure they know you sought the kid not to protect him, but to use him to find those three and seize Seventh-Stage artifacts. Only then can your Phantom Clan escape this mess.”
Huan Ming bowed respectfully, “Understood!”
Mu Niannian nodded and turned to leave.
Huan Ming called out, “Lady, are they really from a Seventh-Stage civilization?”
Mu Niannian paused, smiling, “What do you think?”
Huan Ming said gravely, “I underestimated a bit?”
Mu Niannian nodded, “A billion bits!”
With that, she vanished into the starry horizon.
Huan Ming frowned, “A bit… Eighth-Stage, perhaps?”
Moments later, he turned and left.
…
At the Daluo Ancient Realm’s entrance, countless powerhouses had gathered—two at Seventeenth Stage, twenty-three at Sixteenth, hundreds at Fifteenth!
These were from the Daluo Ancient Clan and Desolate Ancient Clan!
Leading them were Daluo Tian, the Daluo Clan Leader, and Huanggu Xing of the Desolate Clan!
Daluo Tian gazed into the distance, chuckling, “Brother Xing, Huan Ming suddenly taking his whole clan to find a human… something’s off!”
Huanggu Xing laughed, “That human’s no small fry!”
Daluo Tian said, “I’ve sent people to investigate!”
As Huanggu Xing opened his mouth, a Daluo Clan warrior appeared, saying gravely, “Clan Leader, latest intel: that human’s from a Seventh-Stage civilization!”
Seventh-Stage civilization!
The words stunned the field!
Daluo Tian’s eyes narrowed, “Seventh-Stage?”
The warrior nodded, “Our sources say he and three others fled a Seventh-Stage civilization, the other three now gravely wounded! Huan Ming took his elite to find this Ye Xuan to track those three, who brought divine artifacts from the Seventh Stage!”
Divine artifacts!
Daluo Tian sneered, “No wonder Huan Ming broke through and mobilized his clan—he’s after Seventh-Stage treasures…”
Huanggu Xing asked, “The other three are injured?”
The warrior nodded, “Yes!”
Huanggu Xing and Daluo Tian exchanged a look. Huanggu Xing said gravely, “Fled from a Seventh-Stage civilization—they must know its secrets and carry artifacts…”
A voice cut in, “My clan reports that human Ye Xuan wields a divine sword!”
It was Ya Yao, the Beast Spirit ancestor!
Huanggu Xing turned to him, “Tell us about it!”
Ya Yao said solemnly, “Ye Xuan’s only Tenth Stage, but with that sword, he slays Fifteenth Stage foes, ignoring space-time pressure and abysses, entering the seventh layer and defying its black holes!”
Daluo Tian frowned, “He kills Fifteenth Stage with it?”
Ya Yao nodded, “Exactly!”
Daluo Tian said gravely, “Then he’s truly from a Seventh-Stage civilization!”
Huanggu Xing added, “Those three…”
Their eyes met, and Daluo Tian growled, “We can’t let them fall to the Phantom Clan!”
He turned to the warrior, “Do we have their portraits?”
The warrior nodded, “Yes! The Phantom Clan’s already hunting them!”
He waved, and three portraits appeared!
Daluo Tian barked, “Order the clan to search for these three with all our might!”
Huanggu Xing echoed, “My command: all Desolate Clan members drop everything and hunt them down!”
The clans’ warriors dispersed!
In the field, Huanggu Xing and Daluo Tian buzzed with excitement!
A once-in-a-millennium chance!
Escapees from a Seventh-Stage civilization!
Their fate could change!
