Another ripple of killing intent swept through the forest—
but this time, it was heavier.
Denser.
More vicious.
From the torn shadows between the trees, dozens of new beasts emerged.
Bigger. Faster. Their bodies warped, their eyes glowing with faint crimson light.
Xiao Jin hissed sharply, fur puffing up.
Mo Yue’er tightened her grip on the Qingluan Mingyue.
Even Lin Xian’s expression stiffened.
“These ones… their strength is closer to Peak Spirit Foundation.”
The ground vibrated as the horde surged toward them like a living tide.
But—
Mo Zhen suddenly stepped forward.
His usually gentle, scholarly face hardened.
The warmth disappeared from his eyes, replaced by a cold, ancient bloodlust that made even the shadows recoil.
His voice was calm—but carried the weight of an iron decree.
**“Don’t worry.
From here onward…
I will take over.
He clenched his fists and said coldly: “Let me start the slaughter. I’ll kill until the ground bleeds red.”
Preparations have been made.”
Lin Xian’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Preparations…?
Suddenly—
BZZZT—!!
A surge of qi rippled outward as a staff materialized into Mo Zhen’s hand, wrapped in swirling runes.
---
The Sky-Pillar Staff (天柱杖) is forged from primordial sky-iron, its surface layered in shimmering silver-gold patterns resembling ancient constellations.
The upper end was shaped like a broken celestial pillar, cracked yet humming with suppressed power—
as if it once held up part of the heavens.
The lower tip burned with faint azure flame, gathering the qi of heaven and earth with every breath.
When Mo Zhen gripped it, the entire forest seemed to bow.
---
But he wasn’t done.
With his free hand, he flicked his sleeve—
thirty-six formation flags shot out, each one sharp as a sliver of starlight.
Lin Xian’s eyes widened.
“Formation flags?
Mo Zhen… you—”
Mo Zhen didn’t even look back.
His hands blurred—
a speed impossible for a “mortal realm” cultivator.
Each flag flew into position like lightning streaks, embedding themselves into the ground, trees, and air itself.
The forest around them shifted—
lines of invisible qi connecting one flag to another, forming patterns that only a true master could comprehend.
Lin Xian felt his heart thrum for a moment.
**“…This level of formation control…
This man is definitely not from this realm.”**
Mo Zhen’s voice echoed across the clearing:
“?Nine Serpents’ Entombing Coffin Formation?!”
(九蛇葬棺阵, Jiǔ Shé Zàng Guān Zhèn)
And instantly—
BOOOOM—!!
The ground cracked.
Nine glowing serpentine constructs—each made of trembling earth, molten metal qi, and runic chains—burst upward with thunderous force.
They spiraled into the sky—
long, terrifying, ethereal—
then slammed into the charging beasts.
---
The Nine Serpents Awaken
One serpent wrapped around a beast’s torso, crushing its bones with grinding force.
Another coiled around a second beast’s neck, twisting until the head popped off in a cloud of shadow mist.
Two serpents slammed together, smashing an entire cluster of beasts between them like a divine hammer strike.
Each serpent moved with terrifying intelligence, their eyes glowing with runic insight.
Mo Yue’er gasped softly.
Even she had never seen her grandfather like this.
---
Meanwhile Mo Zhen lifted the Sky-Pillar Staff—
—and the surrounding qi shifted violently.
SHUUUUUM—!!
The staff absorbed all remaining qi within twenty meters, pulling it like a vortex.
Lin Xian felt even his qi being tugged.
Mo Zhen roared:
**“Sky-Pillar Descent—
Awaken!”**
He slammed the staff into the ground.
DOOOOOOOOOM—!!!
The entire forest shuddered.
The flags lit up.
The serpents reacted instantly—
their bodies enlarging, doubling in thickness, tripling in power.
Then—
They converged.
Nine colossal serpents twisted and intertwined, forming a massive coffin made of elemental force and crushing power.
Inside the coffin, dozens of shadow beasts were trapped—
thrashing, screeching, slamming against the walls—
all in vain.
The coffin shrank.
And shrank.
And shrank.
CRRRRUNCH—!!!
Silence.
Then—
A burst of dark ash erupted from the coffin’s seams before it dissolved completely.
Xiao Jin froze on Lin Xian’s shoulder, fur puffed, tail straight—
not speaking, but letting out a tiny, horrified:
“Mrrr…!”
Translation was unnecessary.
Even Lin Xian nodded with solemn understanding.
“Yes, Xiao Jin… he’s terrifying.”
Lin Xian exhaled slowly.
His gaze at Mo Zhen deepened.
“This old man… in his prime must’ve shaken entire continents.”
Mo Zhen straightened his back, breathing calmly as if nothing had happened.
Lin Xian watched him for a moment.
His eyes narrowed slightly—thoughtful, evaluating.
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Formation control… thirty-six flags, clean execution, stable foundation lines.
Mo Zhen was strong.
Powerful.
Experienced.
A faint, almost invisible smile touched his lips.
Not bad.
But then—
A quiet pulse of nostalgia stirred in his chest.
Still far from Greed…
His mind drifted briefly—
to a young man with mismatched eyes, sleeves rolled up, drawing runes in the air faster than lightning;
rebuilt an entire mountain’s leyline structure just because he was “bored.”
to the disciple who once rearranged an entire palace’s formation in the time it took Lin Xian to sip tea.
Greed—his Vault Master.
The one-in-a-million multi-talent formation sovereign.
Compared to that monster…
Mo Zhen’s technique felt almost like amateurs
Lin Xian exhaled softly, returning to the present.
But for this realm…
it’s impressive.
Mo Zhen turned and caught Lin Xian watching him.
“What?” he asked.
Lin Xian shook his head lightly.
“…Nothing. Just remembering someone who would’ve argued with your formation.”
Mo Zhen blinked.
Then frowned.
But then—
The leaves rustled.
A low, guttural hiss echoed from the darkness.
The remaining shadows—
the ones Mo Zhen had not erased—
began to gather again.
Their silhouettes doubled, expanding with distorted limbs.
Lin Xian’s expression sharpened.
“Only half of them wiped out…”
Xiao Jin’s eyes gleamed.
Lightning flickered in his whiskers.
Mo Yue’er stepped back, gripping her guqin defensively.
Mo Zhen turned toward Lin Xian.
“Boy… I believe this part is yours.”
Lin Xian smiled slowly.
His eyes darkened with predatory calm.
Xiao Jin crouched on his shoulder—
tail up, claws extended, trembling with excitement.
**“Good.
Let’s finish them
The moment Mo Zhen’s formation faded, the forest seemed to exhale—
a low, dreadful hum rippling through the shadows.
Lin Xian stepped forward.
And his eyes… shifted.
The golden pupils trembled with an ancient sharpness,
a familiar dominance awakening deep within—
Not literally the Heavenly King of Nirvana returning,
but the echo of who he once was.
A presence that had once looked down upon realms.
A presence that had commanded armies of immortals.
And now—
that same quiet supremacy seeped into his aura.
A cold, regal bloodlust spread across the clearing,
as if the moonlight itself bowed in silence.
---
At that same moment—
Xiao Jin, perched on Lin Xian’s shoulder, arched his back.
Then—
BOOOOM—!!!
A wave of Divine Beast Aura erupted from the little cat.
Lightning-like pressure exploded outward.
The air shook.
Trees bent.
The earth vibrated beneath their feet.
Xiao Jin stood there, tail raised proudly,
eyes half-lidded with pure disdain—
like an ancient emperor gazing upon insignificant creatures.
Even Mo Zhen staggered a half-step.
His face drained of color.
**“T-This aura… impossible…
Is this? Divine Beast Aura?!”**
His voice trembled.
“That hasn’t appeared since the Primordial Era…
Not even in the Upper Heavens…”
Mo Yue’er could only cover her lips, breath stolen by awe.
Even Lin Xian felt a slight tremor in the atmosphere.
Xiao Jin yawned arrogantly.
The shadow beasts reacted instantly—
The moment the aura hit them, their bodies jerked violently.
Their gazes widened.
Their limbs froze.
Their entire forms trembled uncontrollably.
**Because to beasts—
a Divine Beast isn’t just superior.
It’s their ancestor.
A king.
A natural predator.**
And Xiao Jin’s aura pressed on them like the weight of mountains.
The beasts’ movements became sloppy—
instinct overridden by primal terror.
Their shadows distorted.
Their legs buckled.
Some even collapsed entirely, unable to lift their heads.
Mo Zhen whispered in disbelief:
“I… I never thought I would witness this in my lifetime…”
---
Lin Xian cracked his neck slowly.
His eyes, glowing faintly with golden slaughter-intent, swept across the trembling beasts.
“Good.”
A thin smile curved across his lips.
Wind rustled his white hair.
Shadowbane hummed in his hand.
“If they have fear…”
He took one step forward—
the ground beneath him cracking like shattered glass.
“…the hunt will be faster”
He lifted his sword.
The world seemed to tilt.
Xiao Jin crouched, lightning building under his fur,
eyes gleaming with predatory hunger.
Lin Xian’s voice lowered into a whisper—
cold, elegant and lethal.
“Let the hunt begin.”
Shadowbane hummed — hungry for the first blood
To be continued
