Beneath Mount K2 on the Pamir Plateau.
Here, a military camp was stationed, housing over a thousand soldiers and numerous heavy weapons. It was fully armed, capable of engaging any brigade-level military force in direct combat.
Among them was even a Semi-Saint from the Myth Organization, code-named Emperor Fudu!
ăOne month ago.ă
A soldier patrolling the border accidentally discovered a peculiar crystal beneath Mount K2 on the Pamir Plateau. It emanated a purple-black glow, and anyone who came into contact with this light felt their spirits immensely invigorated.
The soldier handed the crystal over to his superiors, attracting serious attention. The information was relayed to the nearest command center and then to Beijing, catching the interest of the Myth Organization.
The Pamir Plateau's location was also significant; in some legends, it was precisely where the mythical Mount Buzhou of ancient times stood. Coupled with the recent resurgence of Spiritual Energy, the awakening of Laws, and the reappearance of extraordinary phenomena, the Myth Organization joined forces with the military and came to this place.
They dispatched a battalion of soldiers equipped with various heavy weapons, accompanied by a peak Semi-Saint expert. An archaeological team was also brought in to assist with the investigation.
By this time, the exploration of the Pamir Plateau had been underway for half a month. Although there had been no major breakthroughs, it was not entirely without findings.
ăThree days ago.ă
In a valley on the Pamir Plateau, the archaeological team and Emperor Fudu discovered the ruins of a dilapidated palace. From inside, they cleared out more than a dozen bronze artifacts and three bone artifacts.
The designs of these artifacts were incredibly ancient, likely predating the Shang Dynasty. However, their craftsmanship was exquisite, and they even contained a certain degree of Transcendent power!
Could it be that thousands of years ago, during the Ancient Era, a powerful Transcendent heritage existed here? Was this place truly Mount Buzhou?
Both Emperor Fudu and the archaeologists were extremely excited. They took these artifacts back and meticulously surveyed and photographed the palace ruins.
In their eyes, these were treasures of civilization!
Emperor Fudu was in his tent, holding a bronze-cast mirror. The mirror was merely palm-sized, yet its patterns and design were incredibly detailedâa supreme work of art.
The only flaw marring its beauty was three deep scratches on the bronze mirror's surface. Judging by their appearance and residual aura, they seemed to be sword marks.
This bronze mirror, when intact, might have been a formidable Treasure Weapon, Emperor Fudu mused. His Spiritual Sense perceived the lingering power and aura on the bronze mirror, along with a nearly imperceptible sword intent, leading various conjectures to form in his mind.
Suddenly, his heart lurched with a sense of inexplicable panic. He instantly stood up, veins bulging on the hand clutching the bronze mirror, his eyes wide as he stared outside.
Yuncheng is dead? How is that possible?! An incredulous expression appeared on Emperor Fudu's face as he muttered, Yuncheng and Shen Ying were only patrolling with a dozen soldiers. How could they suddenly die?!
Emperor Fudu had not come to the Pamir Plateau alone this time; he had brought two new official members of the Myth Organization, who were also newly-promoted Innate Grandmasters.
He had wanted to take them out to broaden their horizons before they chose their code names and martial skills. His goal was for them to gain a deeper understanding of what the Martial Dao meant to them personally. Only then could they decide on suitable code names and the martial skills they wished to cultivate.
This would be beneficial for their future development in the Martial Dao!
But now, only half a month after setting out, one of them had already died! How was he supposed to explain this to the organization?
Although martial artists who had just entered the Innate Realm were not exceptionally powerful, to the Myth Organization, they represented future hopeâa fresh and indispensable infusion of talent.
Killed! Who was it? Who dared to make a move? Emperor Fudu clenched the bronze mirror, the sword scars on it faintly gleaming. Killing intent flickered in his eyes. Shen Ying is still alive; I have to bring her back... No, wait!!
He suddenly cried out in alarm and immediately rushed out of the tent. His Semi-Saint-level aura erupted without restraint. Pitch-black malevolent energy burst forth from his body, skyrocketing and dispersing the clouds above. Then, a phantom image of the Hall of Yama materialized in the sky!
"Who goes there? Since you have arrived, why conceal yourself?" Emperor Fudu's expression was one of extreme wariness. Just a moment ago, while tracking Shen Ying's aura, he had sensed an immensely powerful and terrifying force approach the outskirts of the camp.
Emperor Fudu's actions also alerted the stationed troops. Instantly, dozens of spotlights flared to life, and more than ten artillery turrets swiveled to aim outward, ready to fire at any moment.
Mere seconds after Emperor Fudu and the soldiers became vigilant, a dense, purple-black mist billowed up from a location about two hundred meters away.
Then, a handsome man clad in a worn-out, beast-skin robe and adorned with bone and bronze jewelry walked over. Perched on his shoulder was a strange bird resembling a crow but possessing three legs!
"Wu He, there are so many humans in this era! Even in a place like this, there are so many of them, and even a Semi-Saint," the Dark Golden Crow cawed, flapping its wings on Wu He's shoulder with a laugh. "I'd love to eat them! The souls of these soldiers and the Semi-Saint must be delicious. They could also help restore my strength to the peak Saint level!"
"Be quiet," Wu He said, his tone indifferent. His gaze was puzzled as he looked at Emperor Fudu. "Boy, from whom did you inherit your martial arts? As far as I know, the Martial Dao lineage of the Netherworld vanished from the human realm when Emperor Zhuanxu severed the Heavenly Ladder."
Boy?! Emperor Fudu was taken aback and looked at Wu He with a strange expression. He was not old; in his forties, he appeared to be a man in his thirties and could hardly be called a boy.
However, this confusion merely flashed through Emperor Fudu's mind, and he did not dwell on it. What he truly cared about was the latter part of Wu He's statement.
"Sir, do you know the whereabouts of the Netherworld lineage's inheritance?" Emperor Fudu asked, cupping his fists.
The Myth Organization's code name "Emperor Fudu" corresponded to the Divine Skill, the "Immortal Monarch's Heavenly Skill," from the ancient Netherworld lineage. However, the version they possessed only went up to the Great Saint level and was incomplete.
"Dark Golden Crow, has the Human Clan of this era become so foolish?" Wu He shook his head in disappointment. "Si Shaokang and Ru Ai fought desperately to preserve and pass on the Human Clan's legacy. After four thousand years, have they dwindled to such dullards? He's actually saluting me?"
"Unable to distinguish friend from foe, truly courting death. Heh heh." The Dark Golden Crow cackled, opening its beak. "Wu He, let me eat them! HAHAHA!!"
As it spoke, the Dark Golden Crow unleashed its power without restraint. It had now recovered to the strength of a Saint!
With such a realm of power, even without revealing its kilometer-long body, merely standing on Wu He's shoulder, it emitted a terrifying aura that seemed to roil through the heavens and dominate the universe!
Layers of dark energy surged from the Dark Golden Crow's body, coalescing in the air into a pitch-black sun that radiated a gloomy aura of death and destruction!
Instantly, within a thirty-kilometer radius, all light seemed to vanish, enveloped by this dark sun's radiance. Every living being caught within felt a bone-chilling coldness!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Suddenly, deafening explosions thundered one after another as streaks of firelight erupted in the camp. Twenty artillery emplacements all fired, targeting the Dark Golden Crow!
These emplacements housed tremendously powerful, latest-model weaponry. Firing in unison, their barrage could flatten hills several dozen meters high; even an ordinary Semi-Saint would have to retreat a considerable distance.
However, when the artillery fire ceased and the glare faded, the Dark Golden Crow and Wu He still stood there, completely unharmed!
A curtain of light descended from the pitch-black sun in the sky.
It had blocked all the artillery shells fired by those twenty emplacements moments ago! An attack capable of flattening hills could not even break through this light curtain!
Utterly ineffective!
How could this be?!
The soldiers in the camp stared in disbelief.
"HAHAHA! This is my manifestation, the Deathly Nether Sun! You think your mortal toys can break through? Utterly delusional!" the Dark Golden Crow cackled, once more freely displaying its Saint-level manifestation, feeling extremely exultant.
A Saint?!
That strange, three-legged bird is actually a Saint?!
Emperor Fudu's pupils constricted as he stared at the Dark Golden Crow in disbelief. He had never expected to encounter a Saint so suddenly. Where did this Saint come from?!
"Your Excellency..." he began.
"Dark Golden Crow, kill them," Wu He ordered indifferently, his gaze fixed on the distant Mount K2. "The call is growing stronger."
"Excellent!" The Dark Golden Crow was overjoyed. Its gaze swept over Emperor Fudu and those behind him as if they were mere trifles. It cackled, "Ants, merge with this great one! Become one with me! HAHAHA!!"
BUZZ!
The pitch-black sun in the sky pulsed with dark light, rendering everyone presentâincluding the peak Semi-Saint Emperor Fuduâutterly immobilized. They could only watch helplessly as the Dark Golden Crow opened its beak to spew forth flames...
CLANG!
Suddenly, a sword-cry pierced the air, as clear as a crane's call echoing through the heavens, instantly shattering the Dark Golden Crow's restraint. Following it, a sword light as pure and bright as moonlight slashed through the darkness!
SLICE!
It pierced the void and the Dark Golden Crow, which was about to commit its heinous act, pinning the creature firmly to the rocks!
"AAAAHH!! Save me! Wu He, save me quickly!!" the Dark Golden Crow shrieked in agony. It felt an extremely terrifying power within the sword light rapidly destroying its body and obliterating its divine soul!
Emperor Fudu and the more than one thousand soldiers in the camp were all stunned, staring in disbelief at the sword light.
A Saint-level creature!
Just like thatâimpaled by a sword strike that came from nowhereâit was fixed to the rocks, powerless to resist!
How could this be?!
What kind of being could unleash such a terrifying sword strike?!
BOOM!
A colossal sound tore through the heavens, as if the sky dome itself had been shattered. A massive roar reverberated across the world, shattering the tranquility of the Pamir Plateau and making it tumultuous once more!
"Wu He! Prepare to die!!"
A furious roar echoed as Qin Heng flew in from the horizon, like a streak of light cutting through the night. He arrived instantly at the foot of Mount K2, mana already gathering in his palm.
He struck with his sword!
Brilliant silver light erupted, dispersing the darkness and illuminating the land for tens of miles around as if it were daylight!
It was as if the Milky Way itself had fallen from the heavens!