"Fine, I'll release him." The figure garbed in gray, Shadow Transcendence, agreed, but his face shifted instantly. "Natuo, that Wu Ming used dark flames to obliterate the trap I prepared."
"It burned up that fast?" Natuo was astonished. "He's only a recently ascended Eternal, yet one of his pathfinding clones has such power?"
Pathfinding clones typically didn't possess valuable treasures. It was already remarkable if they could unleash 30 to 40% of one's full potential, but to have a pathfinding clone demolish the trap?
This didn't align with the intel on Wu Ming.
"He fell into my trap and destroyed it. The resulting karma will undoubtedly allow him to sense my presence," the gray-robed Shadow Transcendence expressed with concern. "Will he attack us alongside the three monsters from Myriad Star Island?"
Natuo shook his head and replied, "Don't fret. The three monsters on Myriad Star Island aren't of the Heart Realm lineage; they only possess a single true form! Wu Ming wouldn't dare teleport them here using the Heart Realm. Besides, this is our cave dwelling and stronghold. Wu Ming wouldn't let his allies take such a risk."
Buzz!
As he finished speaking, a figure descended from the void above the distant palace—it was Xu Jingming.
True, Xu Jingming wouldn't dare teleport the dean and the others through the Heart Realm into an unknown enemy's lair, but his pathfinding clone instantly teleported over using karma after the Eight-leaf Black Lotus Fire swept in every direction and entirely incinerated the trap.
Heart Realm powerhouses could detect anything—as simple as the other party mentioning their name, let alone the karma formed from traps and ambushes.
"So, it's you two ancient Abyssal fiends." Xu Jingming glanced at the gray-robed Shadow Transcendence and Natuo, recognizing them. "Given your skills, you must have set up numerous traps in the Primordial Gold Mountains, right?"
Those traps intercepted and killed all high-dimensional lifeforms that passed by. As long as they weren't strong enough, they would die! The duo had no qualms about accidentally harming others.
Shadow Transcendence and Natuo's expressions remained unchanged.
Their reputations were already tarnished.
"Wu Ming," Natuo said, "this cave dwelling was indeed established by Shadow Transcendence and myself. We've set up even more powerful traps. If you attack, you'll only be sending your clone to its demise."
Shadow Transcendence chimed in, "We never engaged you when your Myriad Star Island migrated to this dominion, nor do we wish to become enemies with your Myriad Star Island. Just walk away."
Xu Jingming paid them no heed, instead scanning the vast cave dwelling and sensing hidden perils lurking within.
"Wu Ming! We're doing this for the sake of the three Island Lords. As a newly-ascended Eternal, you ought to know your limits." Natuo scowled. "Those who don't know their limits won't last long in high-dimensional space."
Naturally, Natuo thought little of Xu Jingming. Having practiced Abyss Sacrifice and cultivated for an extended period, he had long reached the pinnacle of the Eternal realm.
The various treasures obtained from the Abyss Sacrifice granted him near-limitless power.
Few things in this dominion frightened him—the three Island Lords of Myriad Star Island being one! As for Wu Ming? He had only achieved the Eternal realm a few millennia ago, so Natuo didn't take him seriously.
"Is that so? I'm curious to see who won't last." Xu Jingming's eyes were cold.
Upon hearing that, Natuo's expression turned icy.
He, Natuo, had long dominated the South Pavilion 3609 Dominion and was infamous! Granting respect to Myriad Star Island didn't mean he had to extend the same courtesy to Wu Ming.
"You're truly begging for death." Natuo sneered. "Fine. Bring the three Island Lords behind you as well. I'm eager to see if Myriad Star Island has the capability to breach my cave abode."
Shadow Transcendence remained unshaken as well.
In the outside world, they were genuinely fearful of the three monsters on Myriad Star Island.
But within their lair? What was there to fear?
This cave abode was constructed amidst the perils of the Primordial Gold Mountains. In addition to the numerous traps they had set up, several formidable threats lay hidden within the Primordial Gold Mountains.
"You two seem quite confident." Xu Jingming eyed the cave abode. "However, I alone am more than enough to exterminate both of you Abyssal demons."
Boom!
No sooner had he finished speaking than a black lotus flower erupted around Xu Jingming, with black flames radiating in all directions.
Chi! Chi! Chi!
Gray energy rapidly surged around him, halting the black lotus flames' advance.
"Is that all you've got?" Natuo sneered.
The Black Lotus Flame incinerated matter and seared the mind, but its threat diminished if it couldn't make contact. Furthermore, the Eight-leaf Black Lotus Realm's flames couldn't endanger the demon body Natuo had cultivated.
Natuo's demon body had already reached the peak of the Eternal realm after consuming a drop of Abyssal Mother Blood and copious amounts of Abyssal True Blood from sacrifices.
The Nine-leaf Black Lotus Realm flames could barely scratch him.
Only the Red Lotus Fire could scorch such an ancient Abyssal demon. Even possessing the Red Lotus Fire, one would still need a corresponding third-realm weapon to challenge other half-step third-realm powerhouses.
Without formidable treasures and weapons, the Red Lotus Fire alone ranked as the weakest among half-step third-realm powerhouses.
This demonstrated the significance of treasures and weapons.
For instance, the psychic weapon lineage was renowned for its combat prowess among the Heart Realm's various lineages!
"Destroying a mere clone of yours will serve as a warning," Natuo declared.
Instantly, the gray energy intensified, and he transformed into three gray snakes. Each gray snake possessed the strength of a peak Eternal and encircled Xu Jingming.
This was the home ground advantage. He could exploit array formations to unleash exceptional power.
Xu Jingming didn't even glance at the three gray snakes, but at Natuo and Shadow Transcendence.
Whoosh!
Xu Jingming vanished from his spot.
A Xu Jingming materialized beside both Natuo and Shadow Transcendence individually.
The two black-robed Xu Jingmings also erupted in surging black lotus flames.
"The mind goes as far as the eye can see, allowing one to teleport at will using the Heart Realm," Xu Jingming stated.
Heart Realm teleportation could occur in the Heart Realm or the external world. The obstacles encountered when teleporting externally were formidable, naturally limiting the range. However, with Xu Jingming's current strength, he could traverse from one end of a dominion to the other whilst outside the Heart Realm by teleporting dozens of times. It was undoubtedly effortless for him to teleport to Natuo and Shadow Transcendence, who were right in front of him.
"Appearing beside me?" Natuo felt warm and comfortable from the Black Lotus Fire's assault. It posed no threat to him.
He swung his right hand! His right hand was crystalline, and the golden scales on his fingers seemed to contain an abyssal projection.
Xu Jingming found himself unable to escape the moment he grabbed.
"Ah!"
At close range, the gray-robed Shadow Transcendence couldn't evade the Black Lotus Fire in time. He was already engulfed by the flames and screamed in agony.
The Eight-leaf Black Lotus Fire was potent, but Natuo could dismiss it because the Abyssal Mother Blood and Abyssal True Blood had cultivated his body to an unimaginable level. The dean, Tower Master, and Island Lord—who were also at the peak of the Eternal realm—were inferior to Natuo in terms of physique. The Black Lotus Fire couldn't penetrate his body's defense, so it naturally couldn't harm him.
However, Shadow Transcendence's body couldn't resist the Black Lotus Fire.
As the Black Lotus Fire ravaged and burned Shadow Transcendence's body, it infiltrated his mind. Shadow Transcendence howled in pain, his face contorting.
There's no hope. Natuo instantly determined that he couldn't prevent the Black Lotus Fire from devouring his ally's mind.
Phew.
Shadow Transcendence was on the brink of death, but Natuo couldn't care less. After all, he was nothing more than a convenient pawn!
"You do have some power." Natuo's right hand enveloped Xu Jingming, and spacetime seemed to freeze.
Xu Jingming struggled to dodge, and his form suddenly turned ethereal before vanishing; he had retreated into the Heart Realm.
"Hmph." Natuo scoffed.
Killing a Heart Realm powerhouse's clone was pointless.
I took a hit this time. Shadow Transcendence died by his hand. I need to find another reliable ally, Natuo thought as he approached the agonized, wailing Shadow Transcendence. At least the treasures amassed by Shadow Transcendence are mine now.
Just then—
A phantom figure materialized from thin air, brandishing an equally spectral spear.
Huh? Natuo's expression shifted at the sight. A psychic weapon?
The spear could exist in both reality and the mind or consciousness—it was a psychic weapon.
Whoosh.
Xu Jingming gripped his spear and transformed into a radiant beam of light that ripped through Natuo's body.
Natuo's body remained intact, but his eyes widened in disbelief as he stood motionless.
The spear-wielding Xu Jingming gradually solidified.
"This is the first move of the spearmanship I created—Thunderbolt! You're the first to experience this technique," Xu Jingming whispered.
The Golden Halberd had only two moves. Both moves targeted the mind and consciousness.
One strike!
If the opponent's mind could endure it, they would survive! Otherwise, they would perish!
One-shot, one-kill was no exaggeration!
Xu Jingming gestured and collected Natuo's corpse and the spoils left behind by Shadow Transcendence. Then, he glanced in a certain direction. As expected of an ancient Abyssal demon. He even hid a life mark in the Abyss?
…
In the space where the Abyss and South Pavilion 3609 dominion intersected, a vast golden lake sprawled.
The instant Natuo perished, the golden lake churned and bubbled. The water converged, forming an immense golden figure with Natuo's face.
What a terrifying psychic spear technique. It targeted my mind and consciousness. Natuo's eyes brimmed with dread. That strike seemed capable of obliterating everything. I couldn't block it at all, and my consciousness was instantly eradicated.
Even my other five life imprints have been destroyed through telepathy. This was the last bastion that barely held. As Natuo reconstituted his body, he stared in horror in a particular direction.
A ghostly, transparent figure wielding a transparent spear descended into the abyss and above the golden lake.
Utilizing his senses and Heart Realm teleportation, Xu Jingming reached this location in mere seconds.
"Wu Ming, I was wrong. I beg you, spare me. I'm willing to be your servant," Natuo immediately pleaded. He knew that evading pursuit by a Heart Realm powerhouse was impossible!
Whoosh!
A dazzling light tore through the lake body he had just reassembled once again.
The form above the lake stiffened and abruptly dissipated, transforming into water that plummeted down. The entire golden lake was left lifeless.
"I have plenty of clones. What use do I have for a servant like you?" Xu Jingming waved his hand, and the mighty golden lake water surged before being collected by him.
Whoosh.
Xu Jingming's figure turned ethereal and vanished, departing the Abyss.
The notorious ancient Abyssal demon—Natuo, who had perpetrated innumerable atrocities in the South Pavilion 3609 dominion—was stealthily annihilated. His years of amassed wealth naturally fell into Xu Jingming's possession, enabling him to break free from the shackles of poverty at last.
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