Before the two demonic cultivators could launch another strike, a brilliant rainbow light suddenly descended from the heavens.
It came without warning, streaking through the dark clouds like a falling rainbow sword, its radiance carrying a terrifying force that caused the surrounding spiritual energy to tremble. The two demonic cultivators instinctively sensed the danger and tried to retreat, but the rainbow light had already reached the battlefield.
Boom!
The ground shook violently as the rainbow radiance exploded between them, an overwhelming shockwave spreading in every direction. The two demonic cultivators were blasted away as though struck by an invisible mountain, their bodies tumbling through the air before crashing heavily into the ground.
A massive crater appeared at the centre of the battlefield, dust and broken stones rising into the sky.
For a moment, everything became silent.
The cultivators inside Cloud Mist Ridge Market stared at the enormous crater in shock, while the defensive formation continued to shimmer around them, protecting the surviving cultivators from the scattered force.
The two demonic cultivators slowly climbed out from the wreckage, their expressions filled with disbelief.
The ghost cultivator's robes were torn, blood staining the corner of his mouth, while the zombie cultivator's corpse-like body had several cracks across its pale skin. Neither of them had expected someone to suddenly intervene with such overwhelming force.
The ghost cultivator immediately swept his divine sense across the battlefield.
His expression changed.
Guardian Zhao was gone.
Only then did he notice that the battered Guardian Zhao had already retreated into the confines of the market's defensive formation, where several cultivators had surrounded him and were helping him stabilise his injuries.
The ghost cultivator's face darkened.
"The mission..."
He clenched his fist.
"It failed."
The zombie cultivator's expression became equally ugly. They had spent so much effort creating the beast tide, forcing Guardian Zhao to exhaust himself, yet at the final moment someone had appeared and dragged their prey out of their hands.
Before their anger could fully erupt, however, both cultivators suddenly froze.
A cold, unfeeling aura descended upon the battlefield.
It was not merely killing intent.
It was an aura that seemed to carry the stillness of death itself.
The surrounding air became heavy, the spiritual energy seemingly freezing in place. Even the countless beasts that remained scattered throughout the mountains seemed to sense something terrifying, their movements becoming chaotic.
The two demonic cultivators slowly raised their heads.
Above them, a figure stood in the sky.
A black cloak fluttered behind him, hiding most of his appearance, while his face was concealed beneath the shadow of his hood.
The figure raised one hand.
A palm descended.
The palm was enormous, not because it physically expanded, but because the moment it descended, the space around the two demonic cultivators seemed to become part of its domain. Their bodies suddenly felt as though they had been pressed beneath an entire mountain range.
The ghost cultivator's pupils contracted.
The zombie cultivator's corpse body tensed as he desperately circulated his spiritual energy.
Too fast.
There was no time to escape.
The ghost cultivator hurriedly shouted, "Senior, show mercy! We are under the orders of a Nascent Soul True Monarch—"
He had barely managed to say the words when the palm descended.
BOOM!
The earth collapsed.
A terrifying force erupted from the crater, crushing everything beneath the palm into the ground. Rocks shattered into dust, trees snapped and were buried beneath the earth, while the remaining traces of Yin Qi were completely dispersed by the overwhelming power.
The two demonic cultivators did not even have the opportunity to resist.
Their bodies were obliterated beneath the palm.
The cultivators inside the market formation stared at the scene in stunned silence.
No one spoke.
The battlefield, which only moments ago had been filled with the roar of beasts and the clash of powerful cultivators, had suddenly become eerily quiet.
High above the battlefield, Lin Sheng lowered his palm.
His expression remained calm.
However, the moment his eyes swept across the battlefield, a purple streak suddenly flashed through the distant sky.
His gaze turned sharply towards the east.
A purple light was fleeing at incredible speed, disappearing beyond the horizon in an instant.
Lin Sheng's eyes narrowed.
"One escaped."
His mind immediately began calculating what had happened.
The rainbow light had arrived just in time to save Guardian Zhao, but he had also sensed another presence withdrawing during the chaos.
"Was it a talisman?"
His eyes became slightly colder.
"Or some kind of escape treasure?"
Either way, that person had clearly been prepared to retreat.
Lin Sheng did not hesitate.
Before pursuing the fleeing purple light, however, he first looked towards the market.
Inside the formation, Guardian Zhao had already been helped to his feet.
Although his clothes were covered in blood and his breathing was heavy, his life was no longer in immediate danger.
Guardian Zhao looked towards the cloaked figure in the sky.
He could not see the man's face clearly.
More importantly, he could not sense his true cultivation.
That alone was enough to make Guardian Zhao understand the terrifying gap between them.
He immediately stepped forward and cupped his fists.
"Thank you, Senior, for saving my life and protecting everyone in Cloud Mist Ridge Market."
Lin Sheng glanced at him.
Fortunately, Guardian Zhao did not recognise him.
That was exactly what Lin Sheng wanted.
He had only just returned to the Eastern Region after nearly nine years away, and he had no intention of revealing his identity before understanding the current situation.
Lin Sheng deliberately changed his voice, making it deeper and slightly unfamiliar.
"I have been in seclusion for quite some time, and I have only recently come out."
His gaze swept across the devastated market.
"What has happened in the province during this period?"
Guardian Zhao was stunned.
Someone capable of killing two Purple Palace demonic cultivators with a single palm, yet asking about the recent situation in the province?
The thought immediately flashed through his mind.
This Senior must have been in seclusion for an extremely long time.
He did not dare to underestimate the question.
If someone of this level had been isolated from the outside world for years, perhaps even decades, it was perfectly reasonable for him not to know what had happened.
Guardian Zhao hesitated for only a moment before answering respectfully.
"Senior, the Eastern Region has changed greatly."
"The three behemoths have begun to move."
Lin Sheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The three Nascent Soul sects?"
"Yes."
Guardian Zhao nodded.
"The three great Nascent Soul sects have begun making increasingly large movements. Their disciples and elders have been appearing throughout the Eastern Region, and many forces believe that the three sects are preparing for war against one another."
He paused before continuing.
"At the same time, countless assassin organisations have begun targeting the younger generation of various powers. They are not merely attacking ordinary disciples either, many of the targets are geniuses who have displayed extraordinary talent."
"Some disappear without a trace, some are killed before they can grow, and some are taken away entirely. The forces behind these assassinations appear to have little concern about provoking powerful sects or families."
Lin Sheng remained silent.
Guardian Zhao continued, "The situation has become increasingly chaotic. Even some forces that normally would never interfere in conflicts have begun preparing themselves, because nobody knows who will become the next target."
Lin Sheng's expression remained hidden beneath his cloak.
But inwardly, he felt somewhat calmer.
He had already expected the Eastern Region to change.
The strange golden runes that had descended from the heavens, the changes in the world's spiritual energy, the appearance of new geniuses, the disturbances surrounding the major sects, all of these were bound to produce consequences.
Still, hearing how quickly things had developed left him somewhat surprised.
Nearly nine years... no it's been nearly nine years since he left for the martial continent
He's been away from the eastern region for about maybe close to 13 years.
It seems the Eastern Region has not been peaceful at all.
Guardian Zhao noticed that the mysterious Senior had fallen silent, but he did not dare interrupt his thoughts.
After a moment, Lin Sheng finally looked towards him.
"Thank you."
He casually raised his hand.
A jade bottle flew through the air and landed in Guardian Zhao's hands.
Guardian Zhao instinctively caught it.
"This is..."
"Rank 3 Lotus Recovery Pill."
Guardian Zhao's pupils contracted.
A Rank 3 pill!
Even for an Astral Gang martial artist like him, such a pill was an extremely valuable treasure, especially now that his internal injuries were severe.
He immediately bowed.
"Thank you, Senior!"
But when Guardian Zhao raised his head again, the cloaked figure had already disappeared.
Lin Sheng had no intention of staying.
The moment he tossed the recovery pill, his figure had already transformed into a streak of light, shooting towards the east.
His divine sense stretched across the vast mountains, locking onto the faint trace of purple light that had fled earlier.
His eyes became cold.
Whoever escaped was clearly involved in this matter.
And if he was carrying a message...
Lin Sheng accelerated.
The clouds parted behind him as his figure crossed the sky.
I need to know where that purple light is heading.