The Eighth Heaven Domain.

Nine Rivers Divine State, one of the divine states governed by the Donghuang Clan, one of the Ten Immortal Giants.

Shua!

The void rippled. Lin Xun’s figure stepped out of thin air.

“Nine Rivers Divine State...If my guess is right, some of the Donghuang Clan’s core figures should be here.” A cold gleam flashed through Lin Xun’s eyes.

Compared to the lower heaven domains, the Eighth Heaven Domain exuded a primordial, desolate aura, with vast mountain ranges, untamed wilderness, and ancient rivers flowing through lands seldom touched by man.

The Eighth Heaven Domain was divided into thirty-three divine states, each governed by one of the Ten Immortal Giants. As for the other powers that existed here...almost all of them were merely vassals beneath the Ten Immortal Giants.

After spending three days scouting the area, Lin Xun discovered that the closest major force to his location was indeed the Donghuang Clan! However, since this was his first time stepping into the Eighth Heaven Domain, it would be wise to gather information before acting.

Shua! With a flash of movement, he sped toward the territory of the Nine Rivers Divine State.

......

Blood Cloud City.

This was the most flourishing city in all of the Nine Rivers Divine State, and a major stronghold of the Donghuang Clan. At this moment, inside an ancient and majestic hall at the city’s heart, several powerful figures were gathered. All eyes were fixed on the thin, gray-haired elder seated in the highest seat.

This man was Donghuang Qiong, an ancient figure of the Donghuang Clan. He had cultivated in the Nirvana Spirit Realm for tens of thousands of years and had only recently stepped into the Transcendence Realm!

“I summoned you all here today because there is an important matter I must announce.” Donghuang Qiong’s voice was hoarse yet carried the weight of absolute authority.

The gathered experts stiffened, listening intently.

“I will be returning to the clan today, and I may not return for a long time. From this moment on, the affairs of the Nine Rivers Divine State will be entrusted to all of you.”

An uproar broke out.

“Old Ancestor, why so suddenly?” someone asked in alarm.

Donghuang Qiong fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly, “You have all heard the news...The Shaman Sect, the Zen Sect, and several Eternal figures from the Ninth Heaven Domain were utterly defeated at the gates of the Origin Sect.”

Everyone’s eyes narrowed, and their hearts churned like storm-tossed seas.

“The Origin Sect not only did not fall, but also emerged as the ultimate victor. No one could have predicted this. And our Donghuang Clan bears an irreconcilable enmity with the Origin Sect. In such a situation, who can guarantee that they won’t come for us next?”

Donghuang Qiong took a slow, heavy breath. “That is why I must leave. If danger comes, I can at least return and stand for our clan.”

The atmosphere grew suffocatingly quiet. A voice finally asked, “If the Origin Sect really does attack the Eighth Heaven Domain...will the Eternal Divine Clans of the Ninth Heaven Domain just sit back and watch?”

Donghuang Qiong shook his head. “That is...difficult to say.”

In truth, he understood better than anyone that the world was no longer what it once was. In the past, the Ten Immortal Giants could brandish the banner of the Eternal Divine Clans and fear nothing, not even the Origin Sect.

Now...those Eternal Divine Clans were likely already too busy dealing with their own problems!

The reason was simple: under the looming threat of the Great Silence Unlife Calamity, even Eternals lived in constant fear. Who would still have the mind to meddle in the troubles of others?

That night, Donghuang Qiong slipped quietly out of Blood Cloud City alone. Just as his figure flickered across the void outside Blood Cloud City, he suddenly froze. A terrifying force pinned him in place, dragging him out of the void as though an invisible hand had seized him.

A faint voice brushed past his ear. “Donghuang Qiong?”

“Who are you?” Donghuang Qiong’s expression changed drastically.

“Take me to your clan’s residence, and I’ll spare your life.” The voice rang again, drifting through the darkness like mist. Donghuang Qiong could not determine where it came from. His heart sank. His years of battle-hardened instinct told him that the opponent’s strength was far above his own!

“May I ask who you are? Would you be willing to show yourself?” Donghuang Qiong drew a long breath and forced himself to speak steadily.

“My patience is limited. If you do not agree within three breaths...you will bear the consequences.” The voice sounded again, calm, faint and utterly unhurried. Then, the world fell silent.

Three breaths! Donghuang Qiong’s pupils contracted violently. His beard bristled, and every hair on his body stood on end. Shock and fury spiked to their limit. Just as the final breath was about to pass, he found himself speaking almost involuntarily, “I agree.”

“Then let’s go.”

A moment later, Donghuang Qiong’s vision blurred. When he regained his vision, a tall figure was already standing before him, dressed in moon-white robes, features sharp and handsome, eyes deep as an abyss, and his bearing calm and ethereal as if untouched by the mortal world.

“Lin Xun?!” Donghuang Qiong blurted out in shock. He had never imagined that the one forcing him into submission would be the very man his clan hated down to the bone.

Lin Xun spoke lightly, almost casually, “Don’t be so shocked, I’m surprised to see you here as well.”

Back when Lin Xun and Jun Huan went to the Origin Sect, they had crossed paths with ancient monsters from the Ten Immortal Giants, such as Donghuang Qiong, Qi Tingzi, and Zhongli Chong. Jun Huan had even clashed with them.

At that time, Lin Xun was only at the Supreme Emperor Ancestor Stage, while Donghuang Qiong was at the pinnacle of the Nirvana Spirit Stage.

Steadying his emotions, Donghuang Qiong forced out, “Lin Xun, this place is not the Origin Sect. This is the Eighth Heaven Domain. Aren’t you afraid of courting disaster by coming here?”

Astonishment still churned in his heart. He had never imagined Lin Xun would dare step into the Eighth Heaven Domain, let alone clearly come with the intention of wreaking havoc on the Donghuang Clan!

“Courting disaster?” Lin Xun laughed, “Back then, the Ten Clans Alliance was almost annihilated at my hands. And now? Tell me, among you so-called Ten Immortal Giants, which one isn’t crippled and struggling to survive?”

Donghuang Qiong’s face grew ashen and cold. “The Eighth Heaven Domain and the Ninth Heaven Domain are connected. Even if you don’t fear us, aren’t you afraid of provoking retaliation from the Eternal Divine Clans? Do not forget, you are the one they most want dead!”

Lin Xun snorted dismissively, “Is that so? Then let’s see whether those Eternal Divine Clans really dare intervene when I crush your Donghuang Clan beneath my feet.”

Donghuang Qiong’s heart plummeted like a stone.

“Lead the way.” Lin Xun commanded.

Donghuang Qiong’s expression twisted as he spat, “Let’s see what kind of miserable end awaits you!”

Shua!

The void rippled as Donghuang Qiong turned and led the way forward, Lin Xun following behind him. For a Transcendence cultivator, traversing the void and crossing thousands of mountains and rivers took no more than a single instant.

Donghuang Qiong led Lin Xun along for nearly three full hours, crossing countless cities and mountain ranges as they sped northward. Throughout the journey, Donghuang Qiong offered no resistance at all, cooperating fully as though he had completely abandoned any thought of fighting back.

It wasn’t until they had flown for five full hours that Lin Xun suddenly spoke, “Your Donghuang Clan has already made its preparations...haven’t they?”

Donghuang Qiong’s expression stiffened. “Deputy Pavilion Master Lin, what do you mean by that?”

Lin Xun halted mid-air, turned and looked him straight in the eye. “Why do you think I asked you to lead the way?”

Donghuang Qiong frowned. “Why?”

Lin Xun said evenly, “Because I wanted you to deliver a message to your clan...that I, Lin Xun, have arrived.”

Donghuang Qiong froze. “And then?”

A faint smile touched Lin Xun’s lips. “Then I would give you enough time to prepare. So when I send you on your way, your whole clan can go together.”

Then he added thoughtfully, “Five hours have passed. If your Donghuang Clan reacted swiftly, you should have managed to gather all your important figures back from across your territory, isn’t that right?”

Donghuang Qiong’s mind exploded as if thunder had struck. Only now did he finally understand. Lin Xun intended to wipe out their entire clan in one sweep! A chill ran straight down his spine, draining every trace of color from his face.

Lin Xun lightly patted his shoulder. “Don’t panic. Every crime has its culprit, every debt its debtor. I don’t kill the innocent at random. I only need the ones responsible. As for the innocent members of your clan, I can spare them.”

“You...you...” Donghuang Qiong’s face contorted with rage and terror. Before he could utter another word, Lin Xun’s right hand shot out, gripping him by the throat, while a left-hand strike descended upon his crown like a divine hammer.

Boom! Donghuang Qiong’s head burst apart, his primordial spirit forcibly torn free.

Bang! Another rumble followed as his physical body disintegrated into drifting ash and scattered into nothing.

Lin Xun’s gaze locked onto Donghuang Qiong’s primordial spirit, which trembled violently in terror. Clearly, he had never imagined that Lin Xun would strike without the slightest warning, shattering his physical body as casually as crushing an ant.

Before Donghuang Qiong could even react, Lin Xun drove a heavy punch straight into the primordial spirit’s abdomen.

Pu! The blow jolted a golden bead from the primordial spirit’s mouth, and Lin Xun caught it between his fingers.

After examining it briefly, Lin Xun asked, “You’ve been using this bead to report back to your clan, haven’t you?”

This bead pulsed with a faint, obscure aura of law. When Lin Xun probed it with his divine sense, he discovered an entire miniature world hidden within it. At the depths of that miniature world, it was linked to a mysterious aura of law essence.

Clearly, that aura of law essence must originate from the Donghuang Clan’s territory. By relying on the law power sealed within this bead, Donghuang Qiong could communicate with his clan silently and transmit information to them without leaving the slightest trace!

Donghuang Qiong’s primordial spirit turned deathly pale, all hope draining away. “So...you already knew...”

Lin Xun said, “Before coming to the Eighth Heaven Domain, I studied your Donghuang Clan in detail. I know your clan’s guardian law is a rare ninth grade Heaven Rank law, and its power is tied to the dao of space.”

He paused, glanced at the golden bead in his palm and continued, “The records also mention that your Donghuang Clan possesses a secret treasure called the Unhindered Spirit Bead, which is capable of sending messages without a trace. This must be it.”

“So you really did come prepared...” Donghuang Qiong’s spirit turned ashen as he gritted his teeth. “But what use is that to you? My clan has already made its preparations. Even if you storm in now, you’ll only be throwing your life away!”

“You’re mistaken.” Lin Xun said with a shake of his head. “I only wanted to see whether your Donghuang Clan could summon help from the Ninth Heaven Domain. Depending on that...I’ll decide whether your clan is worth a personal visit.”

“You...you’re truly devious and calculating!” Donghuang Qiong’s primordial spirit widened its eyes, finally grasping Lin Xun’s intent.

“Know yourself and know your enemy, only then can you remain undefeatable. Charging in blindly without knowing a thing is what reckless fools do.”Then Lin Xun remembered something. “Oh, right. Before you die, I have to correct you on one thing.”

“What?” Donghuang Qiong asked.

Lin Xun smiled, “I am now the Pavilion Master of the Origin Clarity Pavilion. So just now, you should have addressed me as Pavilion Master Lin.”

Donghuang Qiong’s primordial spirit froze in utter disbelief.

Bang! The next moment, it shattered to dust in Lin Xun’s palm, scattering into the air without leaving so much as a trace.