Slaying a qi refiner Astral Monarch with a single spear thrust.

Even if it was only a mid-stage Astral Monarch, it was enough to prove Astral Monarch Gui Yi’s terrifying attack power.

Faced with the domineering and powerful Astral Monarch Gui Yi, the nearly twenty Astral Monarchs from the Myriad Waves Palace who had arrived in this area were momentarily speechless.

The space was enveloped by a deafening stillness.

Even their leader, Astral Monarch Wu Yao, hesitated. He was well aware of how battle-crazed Astral Monarch Gui Yi was.

Once the battle began, it was unclear whether these twenty or so Astral Monarchs could kill Wu Yuan in the chaos, but at least half of them would be slaughtered by Astral Monarch Gui Yi.

The combat power that a body refiner quasi-Sovereign powerhouse could unleash was incredibly terrifying. Most crucially, his ether body would certainly perish!

Damn it, I wouldn’t fear Astral Monarch Gui Yi if he were alone. How did Astral Monarch Huang Du get involved as well?

Astral Monarch Wu Yao's gaze swept over the figure in yellow robes.

As an Astral Monarch of Space, he could retreat into the Vacuum Spatial Layer in an instant. No matter how overwhelming Astral Monarch Gui Yi's strength was, he alone couldn't do anything to him.

But Astral Monarch Huang Du was also an Astral Monarch of Space, with strength no weaker than his own, and was fully capable of restraining him.

As long as Astral Monarch Huang Du prevented him from entering the Vacuum Spatial Layer, he would be killed by Astral Monarch Gui Yi in just a few exchanges. This was the deterrent power of someone with the strongest attack power below Sovereigns in the Dao Realm.

"Wu Yao, don't try to stall for time. I'll count to three. If you haven't disappeared from my sight by then, none of you will need to leave anymore." Astral Monarch Gui Yi slightly raised the great spear in his hand, its tip still stained with fresh blood.

The spear's aura spread, causing the group of Astral Monarchs directly facing the spear tip to feel their scalps tingle.

It remained eerily quiet.

"One!"

No one spoke.

"Two!" Astral Monarch Gui Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, as streaks of light began to flicker on his long spear.

Standing beside him, Astral Monarch Huang Du's body also began to surge with faintly visible mana. Both powerhouses were prepared to strike.

The tension was almost suffocating.

"Three!" Astral Monarch Gui Yi's eyes flashed, and his vital aura instantly surged.

At the same moment, Astral Monarch Wu Yao finally spoke through gritted teeth. "We're leaving.” His voice resonated throughout the space through spatial fluctuations.

Only then did Astral Monarch Gui Yi's vital aura ease slightly, and a cold smile appeared on his face.

The dozens of Myriad Waves Palace Astral Monarchs all felt a sense of relief. Dealing with Ming Jian alone posed no great risk to them. But facing off against Astral Monarch Gui Yi was far too dangerous. These Astral Monarchs knew that the drawbacks outweighed the benefits.

For Archimmortals and Archdeities, if their mana body or ether body perished, the cost of reducing the time to create a new one was considerable. For Astral Monarchs? The cost would be even greater.

If Astral Monarchs were to nurture a new mana body or ether body the normal way, it would take a million years. Losing the combat power of a mana body or ether body for a million years was almost unacceptable for an Astral Monarch. Therefore, most would choose to take an Immortal Life Pill.

An Immortal Life Pill at the Astral Monarch level was worth one billion divine crystals. With the wealth of Astral Monarchs, they could indeed afford it, but the key point was that it would still take ten thousand years to nurture a new mana body or ether body.

For Sovereigns, the price was even more terrifying. Once their mana body or ether body perished, it would normally take at least ten million years to nurture a new one.

Even if they took a Sovereign Immortal Life Pill, it would still take at least a million years to nurture.

Moreover, Immortal Life Pills at the Sovereign level were extremely precious and difficult to refine. Usually, only supreme beings could refine them, and their value was extremely high. Ṙ𝖆ℕÓBÈ𝓢

Because the cost was so enormous, the more powerful a super powerhouse was, the less likely they were to let their mana body or ether body take unnecessary risks.

"Let's go!" Astral Monarch Wu Yao took one last glance at Wu Yuan in the distance. Then with a wave of his hand, he quickly left with the many Myriad Waves Palace Astral Monarchs, disappearing into the spatial currents.

He was only here on orders. Furthermore, his choice to back down wasn't entirely because he was afraid of fighting Astral Monarch Gui Yi.

After all, this was a Sovereign's order. No matter how severe the losses, the Sovereign could compensate them. Disobeying a Sovereign's order would cause even more trouble.

However, Sovereign Mo Lang, who had been observing through the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, had issued a retreat order.

In just a few breaths, only Wu Yuan, Astral Monarch Gui Yi, and Astral Monarch Huang Du remained in this area of the Turbulent Spatial Layer.

"Thank you for your assistance, Astral Monarchs," Wu Yuan said with a slight bow.

From the earlier conversation, he knew the two powerhouses before him were here on Sovereign Lan Yan's orders.

However, Wu Yuan remained somewhat vigilant, as he had not yet received a message from Sovereign Lan Yan through the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm. How could he be sure this wasn't just an act between Astral Monarch Gui Yi and Astral Monarch Wu Yao?

Hm?

A moment later, Wu Yuan received a message from Sovereign Lan Yan. It came through the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, so it couldn't be fake.

"So you're Ming Jian? Quite fearless in the face of danger. Your true self is here, yet you didn't show a hint of panic when confronted by a group of powerful Astral Monarchs," Astral Monarch Gui Yi turned his head to look at Wu Yuan, grinning.

He shouldered his great spear, his tail swaying, appearing quite unruly. Clearly, he approved of Wu Yuan's earlier performance.

"Being afraid wouldn't have helped anyway," Wu Yuan shook his head.

In reality, if Astral Monarch Gui Yi and Astral Monarch Huang Du hadn't arrived to rescue him, Wu Yuan could still have escaped at a certain cost.

However, now that Astral Monarch Second Devil, Astral Monarch Ninth Devil, and the others remained unexposed, and Nine Firmaments In A Thought was still in reserve, this was naturally the best scenario.

Having one more hidden trump card would greatly increase his chances of survival when facing danger in the future.

"Daoist Ming Jian." Astral Monarch Huang Du smiled and said, "We have come to protect you on Sovereign Lan Yan's orders.

The battle in the Core Region of the Snowlight Mist Realm, where you displayed Astral Monarch-level combat power as a High Immortal and killed nearly a thousand Astral Lords, is quickly spreading. In time, you will be known throughout the Dao Realm, and even other realms in the river of space and time."

"The news has spread?" Wu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

In less than a day, the news had already begun to circulate?

"A High Immortal with Astral Monarch-level combat power, how impressive." Astral Monarch Gui Yi laughed, "They say I'm a genius, but compared to you, I'm far behind. When I was a High Deity, I cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years before crossing my Ninth Immortal Tribulation. Back then, I only had the combat power of a ninth-stage Archimmortal."

Astral Monarch Gui Yi, in the era of his rise, was recognized as the Dao Realm's number one genius, unrivaled among his peers, and was also extremely dazzling.

"The two Supreme Geniuses in the history of our Dao Realm both displayed Astral Monarch-level combat power at the High Immortal phase," Astral Monarch Huang Du smiled. "But they had both cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years at that time, so truly speaking, they were far inferior to you, Ming Jian.”

"As of now, I'm still not comparable to you, Seniors," Wu Yuan shook his head.

Sovereign Lan Yan had told him about the two historical monstrous prodigies in the Dao Realm.

One of them was Sovereign Black Devil! As a High Deity with Sovereign-level Dao comprehension, his combat power was enough to match an Astral Monarch.

Moreover, from the inheritance Wu Yuan received from Sovereign Black Devil, and through exchanges with Big Devil and the eight devil marshalls, he learned that Sovereign Black Devil had even killed Astral Monarchs while still a High Deity, and not just one.

After all, even without special arts like the Saint Prohibition Art or Genesis Law Sacrifice for incredible burst power, such a monstrous prodigy would still have cultivated some formidable secret arts and teachings.

In terms of Dao comprehension, he was far superior to the current Wu Yuan. In terms of direct combat power, he was also stronger than the current Wu Yuan.

To be recognized as a Supreme Genius, one had to become a Sovereign in a single step after breaking through from High Immortal or High Deity.

Wu Yuan could only display Astral Monarch combat power by relying on the extremely special burst secret art, ‘Genesis Law Sacrifice’. Its flaw was the enormous mana consumption, making prolonged battles impossible.

Therefore, in a true life-or-death battle, if Wu Yuan were to face Sovereign Black Devil from when he was a High Deity, he would certainly be no match.

"You're not comparable to Sovereign Black Devil of that time because your cultivation years are short. When Sovereign Black Devil attained Astral Monarch combat power, he had already cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years. How long have you cultivated? Just over two thousand years, there's no comparison," Astral Monarch Huang Du smiled. "Even if you're relying on special methods now, power is power."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly, not refuting further.

Indeed, when it came to those of the same age, looking across the entire river of space and time, there were hardly any who could match him in strength throughout the endless ages.

"Ming Jian, are you planning to return to the Spacetime Island now?" Astral Monarch Huang Du asked.

"Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.

"Although we forced Astral Monarch Wu Yao to retreat, Sovereign Mo Lang might not let the matter rest. Once we leave, he might still try to hunt you down through karmic threads," Astral Monarch Huang Du said. "So, Sovereign Lan Yan has instructed us to escort you back to the Spacetime Island. What do you think?"

"I will have to trouble both of you Astral Monarchs," Wu Yuan replied.

As an Astral Monarch of Space, Astral Monarch Huang Du possessed the ability to traverse the Vacuum Spatial Layer. If he was willing to take Wu Yuan back, the journey would be incredibly swift. At most, it would take a day to return to the Spacetime Island.

"Let's go," said Astral Monarch Huang Du. "Ming Jian, don't resist."

Wu Yuan nodded.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

With a wave of his hand, Astral Monarch Huang Du collected Wu Yuan, then Astral Monarch Gui Yi. Then, he rapidly set off in the direction of the Spacetime Island.

…

Within the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm was a special plane belonging to the Myriad Waves Palace.

In a majestic temple, over a hundred Astral Monarchs knelt prostrate on the ground.

"Sovereign," Astral Monarch Wu Yao said respectfully, his voice low, "We have disappointed you."

All the Astral Monarchs felt uneasy, well aware of Sovereign Mo Lang's violent temperament.

"You did nothing wrong. The responsibility for this failure lies with me, and has nothing to do with any of you," Sovereign Mo Lang said, unexpectedly not blaming anyone. His gaze swept over the Astral Monarchs below. "Everyone, you may leave now. Astral Monarch Jiu Xue, stay behind."

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The avatars of the Astral Monarchs vanished from the temple one by one.

Finally, only Sovereign Mo Lang and Astral Monarch Jiu Xue remained.

"Sovereign," Astral Monarch Jiu Xue said respectfully.

"Contact Ming Jian for me through the Spacetime Island," Sovereign Mo Lang said calmly. "Tell him I'm willing to pay a price to resolve this karma."

Resolve the karma?

Astral Monarch Jiu Xue was secretly shocked.

He knew Sovereign Mo Lang's temperament well; he rarely admitted defeat.

Today's battle seemed to have dealt a heavy blow to the Myriad Waves Palace, but for Sovereign Mo Lang, the loss was negligible, merely a loss of face.

Astral Monarch Jiu Xue understood that the Sovereign must have learned some deeper secret.

"I'll see to it at once," said Astral Monarch Jiu Xue, his figure quickly disappearing from the temple.