Chapter 992: Phantom Heterospace

Boom! Bang! Boom!

In the vast expanse of heaven and earth, thunderous roars echoed like lightning, creating a scene of epic warfare that shook the heavens and split the earth.

From the distant horizon, an army of a million soldiers surged forward like a tidal wave, all elite forces of the Tian Ting. Their killing intent pierced the sky, each warrior enveloped in divine light, resembling brilliant stars that illuminated the vast starry heavens in dazzling splendor.

Upon seeing this, the man in purple robes paled instantly.

Tonight's ambush was even more formidable than the last. If they were surrounded, it would mean certain death. Despite his and the white-haired woman's immense strength, they were only two against a massive army of cultivators.

Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and invoked a heaven-defying divine ability, swapping positions with Su family patriarch who guarded the perimeter.

"Stay!"

Dugu Ao snorted coldly, stepping across the void and unleashing a world-shaking sword strike, infused with devastating power. The man in purple robes was forced to stagger back, each step collapsing a section of the void.

Tian Zong Laozu arrived next, slamming down a sky-covering divine seal that crushed the void.

The man in purple robes suffered another heavy blow, spitting out blood as his body lurched unsteadily. Before he could steady himself, Fuling pierced his skull with a finger, shattering his divine sea and inflicting near-fatal damage to his soul.

Shangguan Xuan Zong and Shangguan Xuan Jiang joined forces, activating a divine mirror. As the man in purple robes tried to halt his retreat, he was pressed back once more.

"I'll send you on your way!"

Dugu Ao's sword struck with absolute precision, thrusting straight toward his brow.

"No... no, no, no!"

The man in purple robes' eyes bulged, his pupils contracting as he struggled to break free, but failed. He watched helplessly as the sword loomed larger in his vision, dragging his soul into the depths of Jiu You Di Yu before it even struck.

Thud!

As blood sprayed, Dugu Ao's sword pierced the man in purple robes' skull, extinguishing his divine sea and soul entirely.

This so-called Zhun Di was no better off than the black-robed man who had descended on Nan Chu before. Both were Zhun Di with suppressed cultivation, and both met their end at the hands of a group of Quasi-Tian realm experts.

After slaying the man in purple robes, Dugu Ao and the others charged into the battle circle where Ye Chen and Tai Xu Gu Long were fighting.

The white-haired woman frowned, seemingly sensing the man in purple robes' death and the rapid approach of numerous powerful foes.

She was extraordinarily formidable, holding her own against the combined assault of Tai Xu Gu Long, Zi Xuan, Ouyang Wang, Dao Huang, and Ye Chen without being subdued. Her prowess left Tai Xu Gu Long and the others in utter shock.

Perhaps the only one on this vast land who could truly match her was the muddled Hong Chen.

However, Hong Chen was not present tonight; his Dao principles and spiritual power had been sealed, and he was likely still asleep in Heng Yue Zong.

Boom!

In a brief moment, Ye Chen unleashed his Ninefold Unity, striking with the Bahuang Fist that pierced through the void.

The white-haired woman said nothing, countering with a sword strike that destroyed heaven and earth. Ye Chen's fist was instantly mangled, blood and bone flying.

Though he was in an immortal and unkillable state, his wound was entwined with multicolored ethereal light that dissipated his essence. Even in his bloodline limit state, the injury refused to heal.

Truly powerful!

Tai Xu Gu Long and Zi Xuan caught sight of it and couldn't help but feel alarmed, silently cursing the terror of the Zhuxian Jian. If they had been struck by it, they would have fared no better.

"Stay!"

As they were shocked, Dao Huang snorted coldly and cleaved a world-dominating blade aura, blocking the white-haired woman's attempted escape.

Ouyang Wang stepped across the void, his left hand forming yin-yang and unleashing the Yin-Yang Bagua, while his right hand manifested the universe and struck with the Qiankun Ancient Seal. This was a powerful secret technique imbued with sealing power.

The white-haired woman remained expressionless, severing the Yin-Yang Bagua with a sword and shattering the Qiankun Ancient Seal with a palm strike, even forcing back the Chu Hai Shenbing's might.

"Shen Shang!"

Tai Xu Gu Long activated his secret technique, firing a golden beam from his brow that targeted the soul.

"Shen Mie!"

Zi Xuan did the same, releasing a purple divine beam from her brow, also aimed at the soul. In their hands, these techniques wielded immense power.

Yet, in the white-haired woman's eyes, their techniques fell far short. Her crystalline jade hand, wrapped in multicolored divine radiance and dazzlingly beautiful, crushed both Tai Xu Gu Long's and Zi Xuan's soul beams with a single palm.

Ye Chen charged forward, thrusting out a palm that summoned a golden dragon roaring toward the white-haired woman.

Zheng!

It was still the Zhuxian Jian, its might capable of annihilating all heavens and extinguishing the golden dragon.

After dispatching the dragon, the white-haired woman crossed the void in a step, evading Dugu Ao's sword and repelling Tian Zong Laozu with a palm flip. She then swept her sword across the void, forcing back Fuling and the others who were closing in.

Only then did she retreat a step, with a multicolored vortex manifesting behind her.

It's that secret technique again!

Tai Xu Gu Long's expression turned ice-cold upon seeing it. Last time in that unnamed sea domain, the white-haired woman had escaped using this very multicolored vortex.

"Twelve Heavens Character Great Ming Array!"

Zi Xuan formed a seal with one hand, summoning a heavenly prison that suppressed the entire realm, actually halting the spinning multicolored vortex for a moment.

"Tai Xu Ji Mie!"

Tai Xu Gu Long swept his hand across the sky, fracturing the void inch by inch. This was a space secret technique, a great divine ability unique to the Tai Xu Gu Long clan.

Due to Tai Xu Ji Mie, the multicolored vortex stopped rotating entirely.

The white-haired woman frowned and formed a seal with one hand, invoking that extreme Dao imperial law that stilled the heavens.

"Open!"

Ye Chen activated his Xian Lun Yan, restoring the frozen world to normal.

But in that instant, the white-haired woman vanished into the multicolored vortex.

"Stay!"

Ye Chen's eyes turned blood-red, like a divine beam, flying into the vortex just as it began to dissipate. Joining him were Tai Xu Gu Long, Zi Xuan, Dao Huang, and Ouyang Wang.

Bang! Boom!

Immediately after, muffled rumbles echoed through the ethereal void, prompting Dugu Ao and the others to look up, though they could find no source.

This was a world shrouded in white mist. Ye Chen, Tai Xu Gu Long, and the others appeared one after another, only to find themselves in this scene, with no sign of the white-haired woman.

"Yi Kong Jian," Tai Xu Gu Long surveyed the surroundings, his face darkening.

"What is Yi Kong Jian?" Dao Huang asked in confusion.

"It's a space that doesn't truly exist," Zi Xuan explained softly. "You could call it illusory, or perhaps a space imagined by the white-haired woman."

"What a powerful divine ability," even Dao Huang couldn't help but exclaim in awe.

"So, we're in an illusion now," Ouyang Wang murmured.

"Theoretically, yes."

"Can we find the white-haired woman?" Ye Chen activated his Xian Lun Yan, but all he saw was the misty world. Not even a fly was in sight.

"She’s no longer here," Tai Xu Gu Long said gravely.

"The priority is to get out first," Zi Xuan added calmly.

"It'll take some time." Tai Xu Gu Long sat cross-legged in midair, pressing his palms together and chanting incantations in the exclusive language of the Tai Xu Gu Long, incomprehensible to Ye Chen and the others.

"Damn it." Ye Chen's eyes were blood-red, his fists clenched until they bled. All their careful schemes and orchestrated drama had still let her escape. Who knew when they could track her down again?

"Don't worry, I've marked her with an imperial Dao seal," Zi Xuan transmitted to Ye Chen. "Once we get out, finding her won't be hard."

"I hope so." Ye Chen took a deep breath, clenching his fists even tighter.

"This wasn't entirely without gain," Zi Xuan said lightly, glancing at the misty world. "Now that we know she can control Yi Kong Jian, next time we fight, we'll have ways to counter this secret technique."

From then on, the misty world fell into prolonged silence.

Tai Xu Gu Long remained seated, an illusory golden dragon emerging from his body and coiling endlessly. Its mighty dragon roar echoed, dispersing the white mist wherever the sound reached.

Outside, the Tian Ting army had arrived in full force, blanketing the void in all directions. They scoured the area, spreading their divine senses far and wide, but found no trace of Ye Chen and the others.

"How strange," Shangguan Xuan Zong frowned. "Not a single clue; it's unbelievable."

"That white-haired woman's abilities far exceed our expectations."

"With Tai Xu Gu Long, Zi Xuan, Dao Huang, and Ouyang Wang there, they should be safe," Tian Zong Laozu pondered.

"Father!" A call came from afar as a brilliant divine rainbow streaked across the sky. It was Chu Ling Yu, moving at incredible speed. She arrived in an instant, her expression tense, as if she had lost something precious.

"Jade, why aren't you staying in Heng Yue Zong? How did you—"

"Father, have you seen Hong Chen?" Chu Ling Yu interrupted Tian Zong Laozu, anxiously scanning the void as if searching for someone.

"Hong Chen?" Tian Zong Laozu furrowed his brow. "What's this about? Isn't he in Heng Yue Zong?"

"He suddenly flew away." Chu Ling Yu was full of worry. "I chased him all the way here, but then he vanished."

"Flew away?" Tian Zong Laozu narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Chu Ling Yu. "Tai Xu Gu Long and Zi Xuan placed seals on him earlier. Did you remove them?"

"It wasn't me." Chu Ling Yu replied casually before turning and flying off into the distance to continue her search.

"It must have been Hong Chen who broke free himself," Dugu Ao said lightly, watching her depart. "He possesses strength on par with the white-haired woman, a being of heaven-piercing prowess. Ordinary seals can't hold him."

"I just hope he doesn't cause any trouble." Tian Zong Laozu was filled with concern, sensing that something unfortunate might happen today.

Boom!

As they spoke, something in the void seemed to explode. Two disheveled figures tumbled out: Dao Huang Sui Yan and Chu Hai Shenbing Ouyang Wang.

Everyone sighed in relief upon seeing them unharmed, but their brows furrowed at the absence of Ye Chen and the others.

"Where are Ye Chen and the rest?" Dao Huang scanned the surroundings before looking at the group.

"Weren't you all together?" Everyone was stunned.

"We were, but..."

"Yi Kong Jian is treacherously unpredictable; they must have fallen into another area." Ouyang Wang cut in, dashing off in one direction. "Follow me—Ye Chen has my mark on him."

"What's Yi Kong Jian anyway?" The group muttered in confusion, scratching their heads as they hurried after Dao Huang and Ouyang Wang.