Chapter 280

Chapter 280: The Emergence of the Eleventh Sacred Land

Mu Kaitian and the four great saints turned pale, their expressions drastically changing as they stared at Chi Zhenyi in fear. At the same time, anger blazed in the hearts of the remaining saints.

“Chi Zhenyi, you have gone too far! Do you truly believe our Great Xia Empire fears you? If you dare stand alone against us, we will destroy you!”

In response, the massive face in the void suddenly vanished.

In its place, countless sword lights appeared in the sky, descending like torrential rain upon the palace.

Chi Zhenyi had declared war on the Great Xia Empire alone. Under the overwhelming assault of sword lights, the once-mighty Daxia Palace, which had stood tall for thousands of years, crumbled into ruins.

The people inside trembled, collapsing to their knees under an invisible force. They were not killed, not because they couldn’t be, but because, as mere mortals, they were beneath Chi Zhenyi’s notice.

In the void, the three saints standing behind Mu Kaitian were pierced through the chest by sword lights, their holy blood staining the heavens.

Mu Kaitian himself knelt awkwardly on one knee.

Before him stood a saint with pure white hair, enduring the remaining sword lights without faltering.

Chi Zhenyi’s gaze sharpened. “I was wondering where the Great Xia Empire found the audacity to act against me first… So, it is you, Mu Qingchen, who stands behind them.”

The massive face of Chi Zhenyi reappeared in the void.

Mu Qingchen. To those who knew his name, he was a figure of terror. To those who did not, he was a hidden storm waiting to strike.

He was one of the few extraordinary saints from the Southern Region who had once dared to challenge the former number one saint, God King Taiyi of the Ghostly Divine Platform.

Mu Qingchen’s voice was steady. “This matter was the fault of the Great Xia. You have already slain Shen Zhihua, severely wounded three saints, and crippled their hopes of advancing further on the saintly path. Let us end it here.”

His words deeply displeased Mu Kaitian and the three injured saints.

The Great Xia Palace had been obliterated in an instant.

Shen Zhihua was dead.

The three saints, who had once harbored hopes of ascending to higher realms, had now been permanently crippled. They would never again progress beyond their current level.

Yet, Mu Qingchen now wanted to end the battle.

How could they possibly accept that?

“Elder…”

Even Mu Kaitian struggled to contain his emotions.

Chi Zhenyi’s expression turned playful. “How amusing! You, Mu Kaitian, are practically half a disciple of mine… And now you wish to kill me to vent your anger? How delightful, truly delightful.”

Then, turning his gaze to Mu Qingchen, he said with a smirk, “Continue? I can accompany you to the very end. One man against nine blades, I am quite curious to see if I can erase the depths of the Daxia royal family and test just how strong your foundation truly is.”

Mu Qingchen remained calm. “End the battle.”

His tone was unwavering.

Only then did Chi Zhenyi withdraw his menacing aura. His voice, however, remained icy.

“This is the last time. Next time… I will slaughter without restraint.”

The gigantic face disappeared.

Mu Qingchen waved his hand, causing the sword lights impaling the three saints to dissipate.

They were free at last.

Yet, their expressions were grim.

“Elder!”

“Are we truly going to let him leave like this?”

“What about our dignity?”

“The Great Xia Empire has spent a thousand years building its prestige, forged through blood and sacrifice. If we bow to Chi Zhenyi now, wouldn’t that mean bowing to the Vast Forest? How will we face the Southern Region after this? Won’t the other nine Top Saint-level Forces look down on us?”

They were deeply dissatisfied with the outcome.

Mu Qingchen simply asked, “Do you all wish to die?”

The four great saints were simultaneously shocked.

Mu Kaitian exclaimed, “Even with our ancestor stepping in, we still can’t stop him?”

To them, Mu Qingchen was invincible, a figure capable of competing with the most powerful saints in the world.

Mu Qingchen coldly stated, “Chi Zhenyi has returned to his peak while his strength is still declining. Yet, his vitality burns as fiercely as the blazing sun, his power is comparable to that of the former God King Taiyi. I suspect that even if he hasn’t taken that final half step forward, he is already prepared. In such a state, I can match Chi Zhenyi evenly, but if he truly decides to go on a killing spree, I cannot guarantee your safety. It is also uncertain whether he would invade places he shouldn’t. Such chaos would only benefit the Ghostly Divine Platform, the Golden Cauldron Sacred Land, and the other nine Saint-level forces. Enduring for now is the wisest choice. Why should the Great Xia Empire spill its blood to stop the Vast Forest? That would be nothing short of foolish.”

The four great saints were stunned, finally realizing just how powerful Chi Zhenyi had become.

Mu Qingchen continued, “For a thousand years, we have followed the path of the wolf, acting aggressively. No matter the situation, we have always wielded our full strength to secure our benefits. However, now that a great era has arrived, figures like Chi Zhenyi, Ghost King Yingtian, and the Dawn Goddess have all returned. This is an era of immense transformation, and our past methods no longer suit the times. Pass down my decree: from this moment forward, the Great Xia Empire will conceal its brilliance and act in the shadows. We will endure, avoiding direct conflict with the Vast Forest. Let the other sacred lands clash with them, we will wait and reap the benefits.”

His command was the highest authority in the Great Xia Empire.

With that single decree, the Great Xia Empire abandoned a thousand years of aggressive dominance.

They chose to lie dormant, waiting for the opportune moment.

In such turbulent times, even the smallest disturbance in the Southern Region could ignite widespread chaos.

Especially now, Chi Zhenyi had publicly slain the saint Shen Zhihua, severely wounded three great saints, and destroyed the Daxia Palace. Even though Mu Qingchen had intervened, he had ultimately chosen to endure.

This decision not only shook the Southern Region but sent shockwaves throughout the entire world.

Everyone knew that Mu Qingchen, a supreme existence of the Southern Region, stood on equal footing with God King Taiyi, a saint of unmatched prowess.

His willingness to bow down shocked the world.

While people questioned why Chi Zhenyi had chosen to target the Great Xia Empire, news soon arrived from the Taixu Sacred Gate in the Northern Plains:

They had officially expelled the saint Lie Qianlong and banished all his followers, vowing never to accept them again.

The revelation sparked widespread discussion.

Soon after, it was discovered that Lie Qianlong had accepted Shen Zhihua’s invitation to kill Zhang Yang, only to be ambushed and slain in the process. Once the pieces were connected, the world finally understood the depths of the Vast Forest’s struggle to establish itself.

A holy war.

The Great Boundless Battle.

The new generation’s rise.

The assassination of saints.

The slaying of one’s own kin.

A relentless series of blood-soaked battles had forced all ten major Saint-level forces in the Southern Region to acknowledge the emergence of a new power, the Eleventh Sacred Land.

Even though the Vast Forest possessed only five great saints, it was still enough to support a sacred land.

Chi Zhenyi’s overwhelming strength sent waves of terror across the Southern Region and beyond. One man alone was enough. Thus, a strange phenomenon unfolded. Countless individuals surged toward the Vast Forest, some of them genuinely sought to join. While some sought refuge. Others harbored ulterior motives. Regardless, the rapid expansion and rise of the Vast Forest became an undeniable reality.

The ten Top Saint-level forces remained silent. If they joined forces, they could likely eliminate the Vast Forest, but the price would be devastating. The unique terrain of the Vast Forest alone could cause tremendous casualties among the saints.

And with Chi Zhenyi leading a desperate resistance, the losses would be enough to shake the foundations of at least two or three Saint-level forces.

They understood each other well.

If given the chance, they would not hesitate to eliminate one another.

Thus, no one stepped forward to take the lead. No one dared to suggest an alliance. Even the Ghostly Divine Platform, the former dominant force, chose silence. The reasons behind their inaction remained shrouded in mystery, the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins.

The Dawn Goddess, Shui Lianyi.

The enigmatic Holy Corpse.

Too many uncertainties loomed.

For the first time, even the Ghostly Divine Platform found itself disoriented, sensing that the Southern Region was slipping from its grasp.

The rise of the Vast Forest had truly disrupted the existing order.