Myriad Daos of the Heaven

Sword Qi swept across the heavens and earth; a single thought could slay a million foes!

Though Jiang Jichen was only at the Innate Ninth Realm, his aura was invincible and his Sword Intent was sharp and piercing. No one could suppress or stop him.

Forming the Five Poison Transformation Array and summoning a wisp of the Poison Saint’s will had already taken an immense toll on the fifteen Cultivators from the Five Poison Sect.

Worst of all, the Power of Poison Spirit they had expended was completely absorbed by the Secret Artifact on their opponent. This was an absolutely fatal blow to them.

In peak condition, they might have stood a chance against Jiang Jichen’s Sword Qi—a force like a tempest, like starlight, like all the phenomena of the world.

But now, they could only watch helplessly as the attacks they conjured were shattered, their defensive auras dimmed and collapsed, and finally, their bodies were utterly consumed by the Sword Light.

They were reduced to a mist of blood, their Divine Souls annihilated.

When the Sword Qi—that force like a tempest, like starlight, like all the phenomena of the world—finally dissipated, Jiang Jichen was the only one left standing in the vast, open space. Only the blood-stained patches on the ground proved that the men from the Five Poison Sect had ever been there.

Floating in mid-air, Iron Hand and the two other Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators stared at Jiang Jichen as if he were a monster, their eyes filled with terror.

’Could it be that legendary pearl? I’m on a secret mission from the Sect to find the Mysterious Pearl Fragment. I thought it was strange when the poison mist in the forest of peaks vanished for no reason. So that’s it... the Mysterious Pearl Fragment is in Jiang Jichen’s hands!’

Iron Hand was the calmest of them. Even with his men all but wiped out, he was still able to think with a clear head.

Moreover, he was the only one who knew of the Sect’s secret order.

When he was given the mission, a Sect Elder had told him that the pearl fragment could devour all poisons and protect its wielder.

It now seemed certain that the Mysterious Pearl Fragment was in Jiang Jichen’s possession.

The Sect Elder had said that for a Poison Sect, this pearl was a Supreme Treasure, more important than anything. It was key to the Five Poison Sect’s future revival.

As an important disciple in the Five Poison Sect’s line of succession, Iron Hand knew far more than the other members.

A Sect Elder had at least informed him that the Five Poison Sect was merely a branch of an ancient Poison Sect from the Central State. Long ago, they had been sent here to find the Mysterious Pearl Fragments. Only by finding the two fragments scattered across the Southern Continent could they return to the main sect.

A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, and Iron Hand made his decision in an instant. He barked a single word, "Retreat!"

As he spoke, he was already falling back from Jiang Jichen’s attack range without the slightest hesitation. A jade stone appeared in his hand. He crushed it, and his figure faded, vanishing from the spot in an instant.

His departure was swift and decisive, without a moment’s delay.

The sudden turn of events stunned even Jiang Jichen.

’Am I really that terrifying?’

’That was the leader of the Five Poison Sect, a Late-stage Foundation Establishment of Profound-level Dao Platform Cultivator... And he just fled? He even crushed a Teleportation Jade to return to the outside world.’

The two remaining Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators from the Five Poison Sect were also dumbfounded.

Their leader had fled. Logically, they should have fled immediately as well, but... they didn’t have Teleportation Jades!

Teleportation Jades were incredibly precious, a life-saving tool within the Refining Illusion Realm. Crushing one in a life-or-death situation allowed the user to leave this place and return to the outside world.

Even among the Seven Great Families and the Three Major Sects, an entire squad would typically possess only a single Teleportation Jade, held by their most important leader.

Iron Hand had witnessed Jiang Jichen’s terrifying power and confirmed that the Mysterious Pearl Fragment was on him, making him immune to any Poison Skill. As such, he knew he didn’t stand a chance of victory.

That was why he chose to withdraw from the Refining Illusion Realm at the first opportunity, forgoing even a chance to enter the Exquisite Treasure Tower.

He had to survive to bring this news back to his Sect.

Before, it might have been possible to send a message to the outside world using a Secret Skill, but the Ancient Ruined City was now completely sealed. It was impossible to get a message out, even with a Secret Skill.

And if he were to die here, the news that Jiang Jichen had obtained the Mysterious Pearl Fragment would never reach the Sect.

That was why he had acted so decisively, retreating without hesitation and leaving everyone else baffled.

Of course, the onlookers were unaware of his reasoning. To them, it only served to emphasize Jiang Jichen’s overwhelming power. The leader of the Five Poison Sect, Iron Hand, had been so terrified that he had fled in a panic, abandoning his subordinates and giving up his chance to enter the Exquisite Treasure Tower.

Of the two remaining Five Poison Sect Cultivators, one was the skinny man who had previously boasted about melting Jiang Jichen into a puddle of blood. He now screamed in terror, "Fellow Daoist, stay your hand! We are willing to surrender! We will leave immediately!"

But how could Jiang Jichen possibly stay his hand?

He knew that showing mercy today would only lead to endless trouble in the future.

Given their nature, they might not be able to get revenge on him, but would they spare the members of the Red Beauty Adventurer Squad?

If he hadn’t arrived here by chance today, how many from the Red Beauty Adventurer Squad would still be alive?

So, Jiang Jichen felt not an ounce of pity. His expression was impassive as he said coolly, "Since this is a feud to the death, there is no talk of surrender. It’s either you die, or I do!"

With that, he began to walk step by step toward the two Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators from the Five Poison Sect.

Watching Jiang Jichen approach, they felt his aura was as vast as an abyss and as unshakeable as a mountain, incomparably dominant—even though he was only at the Innate Ninth Realm.

In truth, it was mainly because Iron Hand’s escape had shattered their will to fight. Even though their cultivation Realms were far higher than Jiang Jichen’s, they were now completely overwhelmed by his aura.

The Red Copper Sword in Jiang Jichen’s hand hummed softly, poised and ready to strike.

But just as Jiang Jichen came within five meters of the two men, they suddenly moved! 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"In that case, you can go to hell!"

As the words left his mouth, both of them sprang into action. The Secret Artifacts they already held in their hands transformed into myriad points of light, shooting toward Jiang Jichen.

"Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle!"

Seeing this, someone in the crowd cried out in alarm.

The Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle was renowned as one of the most terrifying Secret Artifacts available to those in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Myriad poisoned needles, as fine as hairs, rained down on him, impossible to evade. The poison on them was so potent that a single touch would be fatal even for an ordinary Foundation Establishment Middle Realm Cultivator; it could even severely injure a Genius-Level, Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator.

And Jiang Jichen was only a Genius-Level Minor Grandmaster at the Innate Ninth Realm.

How could he possibly dodge?

How could he possibly survive?

The women of the Red Beauty Adventurer Squad felt their hearts leap into their throats, their faces turning deathly pale in an instant.

Watching Jiang Jichen as he was engulfed by the endless rain of poisoned needles, no one believed he could create another miracle.

At that moment, the two men from the Five Poison Sect finally breathed a sigh of relief. Believing their ambush had succeeded, triumphant smiles curled onto their lips.

But the smiles had barely formed when the scene that unfolded before their eyes horrified them to their very souls!