Chapter 30: The Demon Sect Massacres the City

"Indeed! A city was sacrificed in this manner once before."

"That time, the Sect Master of the Demon Sect utilized the energy harvested from the sacrifice to break through to the Saint Realm."

Qin Tian’s face twisted in disgust; he had never imagined such an evil cultivation technique could exist.

"Let’s go, we must see this for ourselves!"

With that, he took Ming Yilian by the arm and hurried toward Chongming City. On the way, Ming Yilian asked, "Master, should we not call for reinforcements? He may have already reached the Second Level of the Saint Realm."

"It is of no consequence," Qin Tian replied, brimming with confidence. Only then did Ming Yilian’s heart settle.

Upon arriving outside Chongming City, Qin Tian looked at the city of over ten million souls, now completely shrouded in black mist. This was clearly a long-planned conspiracy—a massive undertaking. Deathly energy permeated the air, and the sounds of wailing echoed everywhere.

Qin Tian was enraged. This was where he had spent his childhood; he held a certain attachment to this place. Now, the city had turned into a living hell overnight, with a death toll likely in the millions. In a fit of fury, he drew his Life-Death Sword and struck out with a single, violent thrust.

*Clang!*

The great formation shattered instantly. Qin Tian could now see the situation clearly: a figure in black robes stood at the center of the city, absorbing the death energy. Below him were hundreds of other robed figures amidst countless withered corpses.

With the formation broken, the survivors finally saw a glimmer of hope. They looked toward Qin Tian and Ming Yilian, unable to contain their ecstatic cheers:

"It’s the Princess! The Princess has brought someone to save us!"

High in the air, the Demon Sect’s leader, Ye Han, wore a look of utter frustration. He had spent decades laying out this trap and was only a single step away from breaking through to the Second Level of the Saint Realm, yet now, his efforts were ruined.

"Who are you?" Ye Han roared in madness.

"The one who is going to kill you," Qin Tian replied coldly.

As the words fell, the Life-Death Sword shot toward Ye Han’s forehead. Feeling the threat of death, Ye Han tried to dodge, but he had already been locked on.

"No—"

Before he could finish the word, the Life-Death Sword pierced through his skull. The sword then flew out, continuing to slaughter the black-robed figures below. Within three breaths, every last one of them had been executed.

The survivors finally let out a sigh of relief; the nightmare was over. However, as they looked at the corpses filling the city, their expressions turned heavy.

Ming Yilian stepped forward and said, "We could not avoid this tragedy, but since we have survived, we must continue to live. I shall ascend to the throne, and I promise that under my leadership, such a thing will never happen again, for the Chongming Kingdom shall henceforth be under the protection of my master."

She looked at Qin Tian eagerly, hoping for his nod of approval. Qin Tian understood that this was to stabilize the public morale. He was also willing to guard Chongming City; after all, it was his home.

So, looking down at the crowd, Qin Tian spoke in a booming voice: "From this day forth, the Chongming Kingdom is under my protection."

Instantly, the crowd below erupted in cheers and knelt in unison!

"Greetings to the Imperial Master!"
"Greetings to the Lotus Empress!"

With a powerhouse like Qin Tian, who could kill a Demon Sect leader in an instant, watching over them, what was there left to fear?

Afterward, Qin Tian scouted the surrounding cities and eradicated all the demons he encountered. Once the task was finished, he returned to Hidden Sword Peak, while Ming Yilian led her people in rebuilding their home.

An Miaoling continued to immerse herself in her cultivation, striving for perfection. Bai Xiaoru was on the mountain peak, practicing the Celestial Fox Supreme Art. Her current combat strength was in no way inferior to the Saint Realm. She practiced the Dao of the Demon, the same path she had walked before, so she did not encounter any bottlenecks.

Qin Tian walked over and sat beside her. Noticing him, Bai Xiaoru stopped her practice.

"Can you tell me your story in detail?" Qin Tian asked curiously.

Bai Xiaoru’s expression turned grim. She feared that if Qin Tian learned the truth, he would be terrified and leave her. After all, the forces hunting her were incredibly powerful, and there was more than one of them. Otherwise, even Qingqiu, one of the three great demon clans, would not have been unable to protect her.

She felt insecure; she didn't want to be Qin Tian’s pet, but she didn't want to leave him either. Being with Qin Tian made her feel genuinely happy and safe.

Qin Tian sensed her anxiety, patted her head, and said, "No matter how powerful your enemies are, I will protect you. Actually, Miaoling’s situation is quite similar to yours; she also has many powerful enemies in Central Province. So, a few more or a few less makes no difference to us."

Bai Xiaoru nodded slightly, then transformed into her human form and sat beside Qin Tian. "I was originally the Princess of Qingqiu..."

After Bai Xiaoru finished her story, Qin Tian looked at her with newfound admiration. It was hard to imagine that one woman’s beauty could lead to the destruction of two powerful empires—empires with populations in the billions. Yet, Bai Xiaoru’s beauty and her eyes were indeed intoxicating.

Qin Tian stroked her hair and said, "From now on, just stay by my side and stop causing trouble for others."

Bai Xiaoru shook her head and pouted playfully, "You’re the one causing trouble for others!"

...

Central Province, the Shenlan Empire.

This was a power located relatively close to the Eastern Province, with a heritage spanning over one hundred thousand years. The empire was filled with experts and was even guarded by those at the Emperor Realm.

At this moment, on the Star-Gazing Terrace of the Shenlan Empire, an old man suddenly opened his eyes. His gaze was sharp, piercing through countless territories before finally landing on the Two-World Mountain, which lay between the Eastern and Central Provinces. A streak of purple energy shot straight into the clouds.

He closed his eyes to calculate, and after a long while, he opened them again and transmitted his voice:

"The purple mist rises from the East; a secret realm belonging to a peak Emperor Realm expert has emerged at the Two-World Mountain. The space within the realm can only accommodate cultivators below the Saint Realm. All Half-Saint geniuses of my Shenlan Empire may go and claim the treasures."

Sword God Valley!

Jingyun, the Sword Emperor, who was in the middle of forging a sword, suddenly stopped and looked toward the Two-World Mountain. About ten breaths later, a vigorous and powerful voice echoed throughout the entire valley.

"An Emperor Realm secret realm has emerged. All disciples of the Sword God Valley at the Half-Saint level or below may proceed to the Two-World Mountain."

In the Haotian Empire, the Ice Empress also began to transmit her orders.

In an instant, almost all the forces in Central Province near the Two-World Mountain sent their disciples out toward the mountain. This was not only to seize treasures but also to provide training for the younger generation.

On Hidden Sword Peak, Qin Tian, who was resting, received a system task.

[A secret realm of the Emperor Realm has appeared at the Two-World Mountain. Those at the Half-Saint Realm and below may enter. The host may send his disciple An Miaoling for training; rewards will be granted based on her performance rating.]

After receiving the task, Qin Tian hurried to An Miaoling’s side. Her sword intent, through long-term immersive practice, had basically reached perfection. It only needed a little polishing to become truly complete.

Seeing Qin Tian, An Miaoling put away her sword and said happily, "My sword intent is nearly perfect. Thank you for your guidance, Master."

Qin Tian brushed back her stray hair and said, "Why are you being so polite with me? An Emperor Realm secret realm has appeared at the Two-World Mountain, but only those at the Half-Saint level and below can enter. I want you to go—consider it training for your sword path so you can progress even faster."

A restricted Emperor Realm secret realm? A glint of light flashed in An Miaoling’s eyes. She had heard of such places; they were remnants left behind by peak Emperor Realm experts before their deaths. Seeking to find a successor, they would limit the cultivation level of those entering, usually within a separate dimension.

Beyond the inheritance of techniques and arts, such realms often contained Emperor-grade spiritual herbs, and perhaps even Emperor-grade weapons, though the chances were slim. In her previous life, she had wanted to enter such a place but never had the chance; she hadn't expected to have the opportunity in this life.

"I will go, Master."

Qin Tian handed her some medicinal pills and gave her a hug, saying, "If you encounter any trouble, use the Space-Time Token."

An Miaoling bid him farewell and set off.

At the entrance to the secret realm at Two-World Mountain, geniuses from many different factions were already gathered, discussing the event. Just then, three dragon-like creatures pulling a magnificent palanquin flew in.

Walking alongside the palanquin was a youth wielding a sword—the sword itself was clearly extraordinary, a Semi-Emperor grade blade. These were Prince Lan Feng of the Shenlan Empire and Jian Beichen of the Sword God Valley.

Their arrival immediately sparked a heated discussion among the crowd.

"I heard that both of them are geniuses at the Third Level of the Half-Saint Realm and have records of holding their own against Saint Realm experts without suffering defeat."

"Indeed, they were both taught personally by peak Emperors; we cannot compare to them."

Upon reaching the entrance, the two began to size each other up. Since they were the strongest present, there was a palpable tension between them, and they even toyed with the idea of a spar.

Just as they were about to test one another, a woman in a white dress approached with graceful steps.