“Is this guy planning a beheading tactic!?”
Di Shengyi’s expression was complicated. He had thought charging ahead from the perilous northern front was already risky enough, and he had even felt a bit proud of himself.
He never imagined...
Jiang Yan had never planned to break out!
Instead, he had directly targeted the Diseased Domain, preparing to snipe the Earth Serpent mid-transformation into a dragon.
The enormous Diseased Domain was dragged by countless threads. Thunder rolled within it, like a thunder chariot charging through, crushing numerous minor Diseased Domains and mutated beings along the tributaries.
In contrast, Jiang Yan was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot—infinitesimally small.
Yet he did not avoid the edge at all!
Perhaps this mindset—perhaps this was the difference between him and Jiang Yan!
“To live in the same era as someone like that, the future will never be boring!”Di Shengyi laughed and immediately took a pill, converting a massive amount of spiritual energy, continuing to use the Law Seed [Eternal Night Bone-Eroding Wind].
He didn’t believe he couldn’t take down a mere snake-headed Longbo puppet!
Ge Xianyao raised his head in a daze and sighed, “This guy really is arrogant!”
True arrogance lay in one's bones, not in words.
Compared to that, he was as humble as a green recruit.
“Madman, a real madman!”
“A Great Mountain Flood has broken out over there, going to kill the Jiao Dragon on its home turf is far too dangerous!”
“Good man! I, Shi Ju, salute you as a true warrior!”
“……”
Everyone’s emotions surged. At last, they understood why throughout history, heroes were always surrounded by a crowd.
Those who could stand up at the critical moment—whether they succeeded or not—were always stirring!
The morale of the group soared as they resumed their assault.
“This guy always surprises!”
Zhou Li repelled the Feast Girl’s scarlet mouth. Watching the figure going upstream against the flow, her expression was complicated.
In truth, she knew those undergoing dragon transformation constantly suffered from heavenly tribulation and were at their weakest state.
The reason she hadn’t sent the geniuses into the Diseased Domain was that being able to transform into a dragon meant the opponent was at least peak Law Seed stage.
Even during weakness, it still possessed Beginner Law Seed Stage combat strength.
That was no brainless, qi-less puppet relying on brute strength like the snake-headed Longbo giant.
Even so, those giants, drawing upon the Earth Veins, had already fought the crowd until their scalps went numb!
If not for the top-tier geniuses like Ge Xianyao and Di Shengyi leading the charge, they’d have been wiped out already.
Now, the Earth Serpent lay deep within the Diseased Domain—possessing intelligence, controlling the Earth Veins, and wrapped in a terrifying Mountain Flood.
Even a slight misalignment of that flood carried the power of a natural disaster, enough to obliterate the land.
Jiang Yan was truly snatching chestnuts from the fire!
Ka ka ka!
Bo Rui’s left hand was bitten off by the scarlet mouth. The next second, sword energy burst from the opponent’s maw, shredding it into scarlet streams.
His sleeve hung empty, yet he didn’t mind the minor injury. Laughing, he said, “Charging ahead without hesitation—he’s a natural sword cultivator seed!”
“Donor Jiang is truly an Awakened One!”
Master Fale formed the Vow Seal and chanted scriptures, praying and blessing him with the power of the Moonlight Bodhisattva, increasing his fortune.
Within the tributary of the Historical Long River—
“Was I discovered?”
Jiang Yan had already learned from Zhao Yinman that the Substitute Talisman had been broken. He relied on the Celestial Ghost Treasure Mirror to resist the erosion of the Historical Tributary, his expression calm.
He looked at the nearby Diseased Domain. Reflected in his eyes was the black-red “Dual Pupils.” Vast cataclysmic energy surged and solidified within them, faintly forming blooming twin lotus flowers of catastrophe.
It wasn’t that he was charging in recklessly, but because the Feast Girl had laid her plans years in advance, monitoring their every move.
Jiang Yan had once tried texting Ba Lie to call for reinforcements but received no reply, indicating that the blockade began earlier than expected.
Making an excuse to leave was also impossible—isolating himself was no different from walking into a trap.
Even if he warned Zhou Li and the others in advance, it would only alert the enemy and cause the Feast Girl to flip the table, losing all initiative.
So he simply stepped into the board himself, looking for opportunity.
Finally, after crushing Xiang Siyu, he intercepted the Historical Projection of the Dual Pupils birthed from the Wild History, transforming it into his descendant, and fused it with the Cataclysmic Sea of the Return Ruins, feeding it with massive cataclysmic power, upgrading the previously catastrophe-sensing [Calamity Eye] into the [Eye of the Cataclysm].
The name sounded grand, but it was only a low-end prototype ability—he had not truly devoured the real Dual Pupils.
The advantage was that Jiang Yan could now use the perspective of a higher-dimensional observer to see a catastrophe’s weakness and break through it.
Dismantling the disaster at its source!
This disaster at Jiulong Mountain seemed well-planned, but had many weak points.
For example, the snake-headed Longbo giant on the southwestern ridge—it was an unfinished product. Its abdomen had clotted blood—likely poorly processed. Target its weakness and it could be easily slain.
But...
Could he really leave?
Jiang Yan felt the Feast Girl’s strength was likely much greater.
Because throughout the entire battle, she had acted with ease.
Her true goal was likely to hold the Feast and ascend to the Old Talisman stage.
And for a banquet—guests were essential.
Everyone, Jiang Yan included, was a part of this ritual. That was why she was so indulgent, never crushing them, always controlling the pace of the feast.
However, once he crossed her bottom line, she would absolutely crush him.
Thus—
Jiang Yan knew that Jiulong Mountain in the real world seemed safe, but was actually a dead end.
So, he set his target on the Earth Serpent atop the Diseased Domain!
“Balance in all things, extremes lead to reversals. The source of catastrophe also holds opportunity. Within the Diseased Domain, the Feast Girl’s influence will be at its lowest.”
Jiang Yan murmured, staring at the vast Historical Long River. Without turning back, he asked:
“Afraid?”
“What?”
Zhao Yinman tilted her head, still immersed in the novel experience of sitting on the Coffin Spirit to cross the river.
“……It’s nothing.”
Jiang Yan swallowed back his words. Even though ahead lay a dragon’s den and tiger’s lair, it somehow felt like a spring outing with a child.
At this moment, he had already reached the edge of the Dragon-Transforming Diseased Domain and was about to open the realm gate when a faint voice rang by his ear:
“Brother Jiang Yan, didn’t anyone teach you not to touch things in someone else’s house?”
Feast Girl!
Jiang Yan whipped around. He could still see that she remained in the real world and had not entered the tributary of the Historical Long River.
But at that instant, his spine turned cold, an indescribable sense of danger surged up within him. Without hesitation, he made a swift decision:
“Run!”
Wng!
The Celestial Ghost Treasure Mirror flickered, teleporting the Coffin Spirit and Jiang Yan sixty meters away onto the river.
Crack!
Where they had just stood, a massive snake head suddenly emerged, opening its bloody maw to devour everything. It stirred up towering waves, but unfortunately only snapped at empty space, swallowing a mass of mutated creature remains.
Immediately after,
A colossal snake-headed Longbo giant rose from within—fully twenty meters tall, like a towering building. Countless dragonified chains were wrapped around its body, their ends tethered to the Dragon-Transforming Diseased Domain.
To prevent it from being washed away by the Historical Long River.
“What a scheme… there was a tenth snake-headed Longbo giant buried outside the Diseased Domain.”
Jiang Yan’s gaze turned grave, as the tributary of the Historical Long River was filled with calamity energy, rendering the enemy completely invisible.
If not for the Celestial Ghost Treasure Mirror’s void-shifting ability, he’d have nearly become the creature’s meal.
As expected, what the eyes see isn’t always real.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Zhao Yinman made her move. Thousands of Thunder Explosion Talismans plastered onto the giant’s body and exploded instantly.
Rumble rumble rumble!
Thunder roared, but when the smoke cleared, only pockmarked external wounds remained on the giant’s body.
‘Such a strong physique!’ Jiang Yan frowned, sensing trouble.
“Roar!”
The snake-headed Longbo giant was enraged, letting out a sky-shaking roar. Its aura was formidable, sweeping out like a storm in all directions.
Its power already rivaled High-stage Law Seed.
Even discounting the lack of Elemental Qi, it was still comparable to Mid-stage Law Seed.
“Those who attempt to disrupt the banquet will be punished.”
Feast Girl’s voice came again, with a trace of amusement.
She had indeed left plenty of trump cards to deal with these unruly children.
“Trouble!”
Those in the real world witnessing this scene felt their hearts sink. Jiang Yan’s original plan to snipe the Earth Serpent was already a suicide mission, fraught with difficulty.
Now, an additional snake-headed Longbo giant, comparable to Mid-stage Law Seed, guarded the outer perimeter of the Diseased Domain.
Even with Jiang Yan’s formidable strength, entering the Diseased Domain would come at great cost.
And by then, how would he even face the Earth Serpent?
Zhao Yinman spoke up, “I’ll hold it off. You go inside.”
“Stay safe.”
Jiang Yan nodded. Now was not the time to dawdle—he could only place his trust in Zhao Yinman.
“Roar!”
The snake-headed Longbo giant suddenly reached into the current, stirring the tributary with force. Within a hundred meters, it raised a surging wave.
Though minuscule compared to the full tributary of the Historical Long River...
The Coffin Spirit couldn’t endure!
“The water’s too fast… glug glug…”
Fragments of thought came from the Coffin Spirit. Though it tried its best to stay balanced, it was ultimately only at Foundation Establishment Stage, and on this battlefield, it simply wasn’t enough.
“This is bad!”
Jiang Yan frowned. The tributary of the Historical Long River was already turbid and extremely prone to fluctuations.
At this rate, they’d be swept further away,
or even into some strange Diseased Domain.
Just as he was about to use his remaining dozen trump cards to take down the giant—
Suddenly,
Brilliant five-colored light burst forth.
“Yang Five Phases Azure Dragon Sky-Spanning Bridge!”
The Wooden Tendril Azure Dragon roared, its claws hooking onto the Dragon-Transforming Diseased Domain, transforming into a sky-spanning bridge over the turbulent river.
“This is…”
Jiang Yan turned and saw Ge Xianyao, clad in a Daoist robe and pale-faced, standing at the Edge of the Old Days.
His wrist had been slit open, and a torrent of five-colored treasured blood—rich in spiritual energy and exuding a strange fragrance—dripped into the river. Using the Jia Wood Azure Dragon to govern the Four Seasons’ cycle, it constructed a Yang Five Phases balancing bridge, stabilizing the turbulent river, which gradually calmed.
However, the bridge was also rapidly corroding.
He had expected reinforcements, but never thought it would be...
Ge Xianyao—the one he had just trampled over!
Ge Xianyao met Jiang Yan’s astonished gaze and lifted his chin proudly: “No need to be surprised. I, Ge Xianyao, am not some petty man. A temporary defeat is nothing worth mentioning.
Even Sages were not born invincible. Before success, they too experienced countless hardships and failures—but they were all eventually overcome. Jiang Yan, remember this: on the road to the peak in the future, there will absolutely be a place for me, Ge Xianyao!”
He had wanted to act cool, but after several seconds of silence, there was no response.
Looking over, he saw Jiang Yan in a daze.
Ge Xianyao completely lost it and shouted, “Damn it, hurry up! My treasured blood is expensive—I can’t hold on much longer!”
“Delicious Bro, not only do you smell amazing, but you’re also really interesting.”
Jiang Yan burst into laughter, taking back his previous judgment. This guy might be a bit chūnibyō, but he wasn’t bad at heart.
With that, he used the Celestial Ghost Treasure Mirror to teleport onto the Yang Five Phases Sky-Spanning Bridge, quickly closing in on the Dragon-Transforming Diseased Domain.
“Delicious Bro?”
Ge Xianyao nearly lost composure upon hearing that nickname. He really wanted to shout, “Your whole family smells nice!” but he had already lost too much blood and no longer had the strength to speak.
This was no ordinary blood, but his origin blood essence—each drop would require an immense amount of precious medicine to replenish.
“Plop”—he dropped to his knees, supporting himself with both hands as the world before him began to blur…
Buzz buzz buzz!
The Yang Five Phases Sky-Spanning Bridge was rapidly corroded by the Historical Long River, beginning to shake violently, slowing Jiang Yan’s advance.
“Damn it!”
Ge Xianyao, seizing his last thread of clarity, decisively bit his tongue. The intense pain snapped him awake, allowing him to steady the Yang Five Phases Sky-Spanning Bridge as he muttered:
“Jiang Yan, don’t disappoint me!”
“Roar!”
The snake-headed Longbo giant attempted to intervene but was blocked by a sky full of flames. It slapped downward with its palm, but not only did it fail to extinguish the flames—it was instead scorched in return.
The blazing flames burned fiercely, making it howl in fury as it turned to the tributary of the Historical Long River to douse the fire.
“Your opponent is me.”
Zhao Yinman stood atop the Coffin Spirit, blocking the giant. Her gaze was cold. The ends of her originally crimson hair were rapidly dyed silver, fluttering in the wind. From red hair and red eyes, she transformed into...
Silver hair and red eyes!
“Roar!”
The snake-headed Longbo giant roared with rage, opening its massive jaws to bite.
Zhao Yinman’s gaze remained calm. Strands of Silver Dragon-Tiger Qi gathered at her sides.
Earlier, Jiang Yan had helped her recall...
It seemed she, too, could use Silver Dragon-Tiger Qi!
“Rise!”
With her slender fingers, she swiftly drew a series of silver talismans, sticking them onto the giant.
“Lawbreaker Talisman!”
Boom!
The Silver Dragon-Tiger Qi erupted. The power of lawbreaking surged forth with terrifying might—but its target was not the giant’s body, but the many chains wrapped around it.
Crack crack crack!
Several dragonified chains howled in agony and snapped instantly. Although the snake-headed Longbo giant was unharmed, it was struck by the current of the Historical Long River, staggering in place.
Unlike Jiang Yan and others born in the real world—individuals with anchor points—these mutated beings, once removed from the protection of reality, were much easier to be pulled back into the depths of history.
If all the chains on its body were broken and it lost the Dragon-Transforming Diseased Domain as a temporary anchor, it would most likely be swept into the depths of the Historical Long River—back to the source of its birth.
This was the pull between kindred mutations!
Zhao Yinman said nothing, simply continued to strike the chains with relentless force.
Jiang Yan had taught her—to learn to use one’s strengths to strike at others’ weaknesses.
Hmm… she summarized it a bit, but that was the gist.
“Hissss—”
The snake-headed Longbo giant’s survival instinct kicked in. It no longer dared to get close and instead charged at Zhao Yinman with all its might. Only by killing this troublesome human could it complete the task assigned by its master.
However, Zhao Yinman didn’t confront it head-on. She chose guerrilla tactics.
When the enemy advances, we retreat. When the enemy halts, we harass. When the enemy tires, we strike. When the enemy retreats, we pursue.
This wasn’t something Jiang Yan taught her—it was taught by the Bureau of Historical Revision.
“Roar!”
The snake-headed Longbo giant was utterly miserable. Though its strength surpassed that of its kin in the real world, the chains limited its movement to a hundred meters, and now it was being walked like a dog.
“Quite a fine performance indeed,” Feast Girl whispered. No more giggles—her gaze beneath the mask had grown deep and profound.
“If you’re feeling sad, brother, you can borrow your greatsword to stab open your heart.”
Bo Rui’s voice rang out as he rode his sword in, then—
Was smacked away by the Scarlet Mouth!
Zhou Li and Master Fale were also heavily attacked, forced back dozens of meters.
Boom!
Behind Feast Girl, torrents of scarlet energy surged. Numerous Scarlet Mouths returned, stacking atop one another, devouring each other until in the blink of an eye, they formed an enormous dark-red giant mouth—ten meters tall, like a terrifying sculpture.
Its lips and tongue were covered in mysterious incantations, exuding a suffocating aura.
The already dark night deepened into utter dread!
‘Law Seed—Prison Formation!’
‘Law Seed—Moonlight Glazed Treasure Tree!’
Zhou Li and Master Fale’s assaults rained down like a storm.
“All you see is illusion!”
The massive Scarlet Mouth spoke, a deep voice resonating as it swallowed both spells whole, chewing continuously.
“The boss has entered phase two!”
A genius who often played games went pale at the sight.
As expected—beneath the health bar, there was an even longer health bar!
“Feast Girl’s getting serious. Keep helping Jiang Yan buy time!”
Zhou Li, feeling immense pressure, still charged forward.
Feast Girl paid them no mind and instead turned her gaze toward Jiang Yan, who was nearing the Dragon-Transforming Diseased Domain. She said calmly:
“Mouth of the Feast King, restore order to chaos.”
Boom!
The Mouth of the Feast King chose to tank Zhou Li and Master Fale’s attacks, gathering scarlet energy in its maw and unleashing it as a scarlet light pillar.
It directly obliterated the Yang Five Phases Sky-Spanning Bridge.
“Puh!”
Ge Xianyao suffered backlash, coughed blood, and lost consciousness.
Just before fainting, he had only one thought left.