Chapter 398: Teleportation

Li Pin shifted his gaze to Lin Baichi and Lin Langya.

While any Top-Tier Astral Cultivator proficient in crafting astral artifacts could theoretically forge a Void Ring, Lin Baichi had dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the creation of this divine ring. For that, Li Pin felt compelled to express his gratitude.

After all, in a sense, the Lin Clan was merely seeking refuge under the protection of the Celestial Martial God Hall, and they were under no obligation to go to such lengths.

"The Lin Clan has contributed greatly by forging this divine ring. I will grant you a spot to use a Skill Crystal. Select a suitable candidate from your younger generation and inform me once you've made your choice," Li Pin said.

Lin Langya and Lin Baichi glanced at each other, their eyes brimming with unmistakable joy.

Despite that, Lin Langya answered humbly, "Hall Master, for you to entrust us with such a task is already a great honor. How could we—"

"Enough. It's settled," Li Pin interrupted, waving his hand. "Just inform me once you've chosen your candidate."

Realizing Li Pin had already made up his mind, Lin Langya quickly stepped forward," Hall Master, we don't seek the Skill Crystal. We only hope that Xingchen can remain by your side and serve you in any way needed."

Li Pin's gaze swept over them, instantly grasping their intentions. "Lin Xingchen?"

However, with Xing Ying already tending to his daily needs, there was no reason to add another attendant.

Li Pin responded, "Since you've brought up Lin Xingchen, I'll take it as your intention to use the Skill Crystal for him."

Lin Langya and Lin Baichi understood there was no room for negotiation. They bowed deeply and said, "As you command, Hall Master."

Li Pin nodded in acknowledgment.

Lin Xingchen had already received a Skill Crystal that carried the Celestial Martial God Manual and Li Pin's insights into the Celestial Force Field. His second Skill Crystal would house the Innate Primal Chaos Technique.

Having received the legacies of two Skill Crystals, Lin Xingchen was bound to walk further on the Martial God path.

***

Dark Moon Island was one of the main islands in the East Sea's Thirty-Six Countries. It once housed billions of people and boasted prosperous cities. However, as the demonic creatures ravaged the island, it fell rapidly, with the inhabitants either perishing or fleeing.

Historical records briefly noted: "Demonic creatures ran rampant, causing countless casualties. The island was abandoned, and its people migrated to Great Tong."

Great Tong was an island situated nearby. It also faced the threat of the demonic creatures from Dark Moon Island. However, Great Tong was protected by the elite forces of the East Sea's Thirty-Six Countries, which prevented the creatures from spreading further.

Following the elimination of demonic creatures from Dark Moon Island, resources were gradually transported from Great Tong back to Dark Moon.

What was once a small fishing village, serving as a temporary base on Dark Moon Island, had grown significantly and was now as large as a town.

When Li Pin arrived at Dark Moon Island, Ran Dongsheng, the hall master of the Dragon Gate Hall, and Wan Qingshan—who had previously overseen the World's Top Martial Competition—were already waiting.

As Li Pin crossed the sea, the two Master Astral Cultivators quickly went to meet him. "Welcome, Hall Master Li."

Both of them cupped their hands in greeting. "Hall Master Li, the conditions on Dark Moon Island are dull. Please forgive us for not being able to prepare a proper welcoming ceremony."

"I've come to Dark Moon Island only to eliminate the demonic creatures. There's no need for such formalities," Li Pin replied. He then asked, "How's the situation?"

Ran Dongsheng said solemnly, "We've advanced to the final area of the Ox Demon Temple. However, the further we go, the more densely packed the demonic creatures are. The difficulty of advancing increases, and under the Ox Demon Bishop's command, the creatures have formed battle formations, moving with precision.

"It's causing us great trouble. The united squad had already lost one Master Astral Cultivator and a Legendary Mage due to a reckless advance. They were surrounded and killed by the demonic creatures.

"We have two options. One is to continue using our current strategy, relying on time. The situation is in our favor, so in three to five months, the demonic creatures will be eliminated.

"The second option... is where we need your help. That is, to locate the Ox Demon Bishop behind the scenes. Once we find him, our Legendary experts will unleash their combined attacks to take him down. By then, the remaining demonic creatures will scatter, and the cleanup will be much easier."

Li Pin nodded. The second option was clearly devised with him in mind.

"Time is of the essence. Let's head over now," Li Pin said.

"Of course, Hall Master," they both replied in unison, excited by his agreement.

They hadn't expected Li Pin to be so easygoing.

The three of them simultaneously took to the air, soaring toward the Ox Demon Temple.

Though Dark Moon Island was called an island, its area was vast, exceeding one million square kilometers. It contained countless mountains, rivers, forests, and valleys. The Ox Demon Temple was located on the largest mountain of Dark Moon Island, the Moonfall Range.

The entire temple was built into the mountain, integrated with the peaks. It consisted of two main sections: the exterior of the mountain and the interior.

Due to its unique construction, the Legendary experts could only destroy the surface structures using their legendary astral techniques to cleanse the area. The demonic creatures inside the mountain remained untouched.

As for destroying the entire Moonfall Range with their legendary astral techniques, that would be entirely unrealistic. It was like throwing all the nuclear weapons from every nation onto the Himalayas; it wouldn't flatten the mountain.

When Li Pin arrived at Moonfall Mountain, he could faintly see the mountain's surface covered in shattered rock layers, soil, broken trees, and collapsed buildings. From time to time, the deafening sounds of attacks from the Master Astral Cultivators could be heard.

The noise was as intense as the blast of heavy artillery.

"Hall Master Li, please follow me," Ran Dongsheng said, leading Li Pin quickly to a ruin, where the foundation was still barely visible.

The ruin stood before a massive cave, its height surpassing one hundred meters, exuding a sense of grandeur.

Man-made brick and stone lined the cave's sides, while numerous murals symbolizing civilization adorned the walls, giving it an artistic touch. This scene made Li Pin stop in his tracks.

At that moment, a voice broke through. "Surprised, aren't you?"

It was Yuan Zhenchuan, the supreme commander of the Special United Squad. He had been waiting at the cave entrance. His gaze settled on Li Pin as he continued, "You're probably thinking that the level of civilization these demonic creatures have achieved far surpasses anything we imagined, right?"

Li Pin nodded. "These writings and murals...."

Yuan Zhenchuan explained, "They were left by the demonic creatures. The information embedded in the astral energy, along with possible assistance from extraterrestrial powers, allowed them to accomplish in a century what humanity took a million years to achieve.

"Besides the writings and murals, they also have craft skills and have learned to forge weapons. In many ways, they've already reached the standards of our Bronze Age."[1]

He paused. "Of course, thanks to the presence of astral energy, their Bronze Age is an extraordinary one."

Li Pin observed the cave, its walls covered in murals and intricate carvings. The distinctiveness of these markings—similar to human civilization, yet undeniably the work of another advanced culture—struck him deeply.

For any human witnessing this, it would evoke an undeniable sense of urgency and looming crisis.

If humanity didn't strengthen itself soon, it would be overtaken by rising competitors, losing any chance to reclaim its place as the ruler of Gaia.

"There are even more murals, carvings, and creations inside the temple." Yuan Zhenchuan sighed. "It's not just the Ox Demon Temple. The Degenerate Temple and Demon-Sealing Fortress also feature similar architecture, each with different styles and civilizations."

"What's the situation inside?" Li Pin asked.

"As far as the Ox Demon Temple is concerned, it's progressing smoothly! But when it comes to the broader crisis humanity is facing, the situation is dire," Yuan Zhenchuan said, glancing at Li Pin. "If you hadn't come, I would have had no choice but to interrupt your training. After all, the dangers we face extend far beyond this single perilous region."

Li Pin nodded.

It was a decision Yuan Zhenchuan had to make. Without Li Pin... they would have only one option: to take risks and accelerate the eradication of the Ox Demon Temple.

At least now... they no longer needed to proceed with the same level of caution or move as slowly as before.

"Let's go. Give me a detailed briefing on the Ox Demon Temple, its cultural and architectural styles, and a map. Show me where the Ox Demon Bishop is most likely to appear," Li Pin said. "Then... I'll decapitate him."

"Are you going to decapitate him?" Yuan Zhenchuan froze for a moment. He quickly added, "Hall Master Li, please be cautious. The Ox Demon Bishop is a legendary demonic creature. It won't be easy to deal with."

He continued, "The Ox Demon Bishop is even more formidable than other legendary creatures. Just half a month ago, Zhu Zhao led a team of three Legendary Mages on a cleansing mission when they encountered this bishop-level demonic creature.

"Despite their swift movements—with two of the Mages unleashing the Heavenly Thunder Aurora Astral Technique—the creature withstood two direct strikes and still managed to kill one of the Mages."

Li Pin was taken aback. "It withstood two Legendary Astral Techniques!?"

Heavenly Thunder Aurora was a legendary technique known for its rapid activation and near impossibility to dodge.

The technique's power output was relatively weak, but withstanding it was still outlandish. Li Pin wasn't even sure he could endure it with the Heavenly Demon Divine Armor.

In the face of an attack of this magnitude, Legends would be forced to take on their starlight form, yet this legendary creature had taken two such attacks!

"Is it considered a Supreme Expert among the demonic creatures?" Li Pin asked.

"Unclear," Yuan Zhenchuan replied, "but its threat is certainly not any lesser than the Supreme Experts. This creature has attacked several times—once killing a Master Astral Cultivator, and another time slaying a Legendary Mage..."

Yuan Zhenchuan's tone was grim. "It not only has incredible offensive power, but its defense is equally terrifying. From our research, the Ox Demon Temple has already built a divine kingdom. Through the power of this kingdom, the Ox Demon Bishop can perform teleportation-like abilities."

Li Pin's expression grew serious.

Divine Kingdom Teleportation! It was similar to the Void Ring's teleportation.

In theory, if they could seize the right moment, they might be able to interfere with the creature's use of the Divine Kingdom's power through a Mental Spirit Storm, breaking its teleportation ability. However, that would be extremely difficult to pull off.

This ability was the main distinction between bishop-level and other legendary demonic creatures.

The Yellow Spring Bishop's teleportation ability was precisely why the Special United Squad had spent so much time in the Burial Ground. This ability made the bishop very difficult to kill.

Eventually, the Special United Squad wiped out nearly all the demonic creatures there, causing the Yellow Spring Bishop's divine kingdom to collapse and stripping it of its teleportation ability. Only then did they manage to finally kill it.

Yuan Zhenchuan continued, looking at Li Pin, "So, to deal with such a creature, we either clear it inch by inch, or we first scout its location and have multiple Legends strike together. This way, we prevent it from teleporting and overwhelm it with a focused attack.

"As for the task of locating this creature, only you, Hall Master Li, can accomplish it."

1. Bronze Age is used as a metaphor to describe an era of significant advancement and societal change. ☜