Secret Realm Powerhouses could sense one another. While Nie Yun’s Secret Technique could suppress Xiaofong’s aura and hide him from others, Xiaofong could still tell if someone nearby was also a Secret Realm Powerhouse.

They had been so caught up in the thrill of looting everything that they hadn’t paid attention. They never imagined that the moment they finished collecting the last of the treasures, the Secret Realm Powerhouse of the Zi Qiong Mountain Range would already be right outside the Treasure Vault.

"Up above!"

Knowing it would be certain death if they tried to leave now, Nie Yun let out a low cry and shot toward the ceiling. In a flash, he was hidden in a corner of the roof.

Xiaofong knew the situation was critical as well. He zipped into a hiding spot near Nie Yun, and the two of them held their breath, not daring to move a muscle.

Though he had yet to lay eyes on this Zi Qiong Emperor, Nie Yun could tell from his aura alone that the man’s strength was terrifyingly formidable—countless times greater than the Qi Emperor’s. And while Xiaofong was also a Secret Realm Powerhouse, he had only just broken through and was no match for such an expert.

’Even with my Great Perfection Soul, I’m still no match for a supreme powerhouse like this!’

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Zi Qiong Emperor! Lord Qi Emperor just went inside. We have been standing guard out here!"

The four Golden Armored Men replied.

"The Qi Emperor went in? What for? Open the door!"

The Zi Qiong Emperor said with a frown.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

CREAK!

As the sound echoed, the great doors of the Treasure Vault swung open, and a tall figure strode inside.

"Hm? Where is everything? My treasures!"

The moment the Zi Qiong Emperor stepped through the doors and saw the completely empty vault, he let out a piercing shriek. A furious rage burned within him, seeming to shoot straight into the heavens.

This Treasure Vault in the Zi Qiong Mountain Range was the culmination of countless years of his painstaking effort. To suddenly see it so bare—picked clean without a single speck of dust left behind—it was a miracle he didn’t drop dead from fury on the spot.

"Your Majesty... when Lord Qi Emperor... came in just a moment ago, the Treasure Vault was still full..."

Hearing their emperor’s shriek, the four Golden Armored Men on guard finally saw the state of the Treasure Vault. Their faces turned pale with fright as they scrambled to explain.

"Yao Qi, you dare to touch my things? You’re courting death!"

The Zi Qiong Emperor let out a long roar, absolutely livid. He was about to charge out and settle the score with the Qi Emperor when his ears twitched. "And where do you think you’re going? Get down here!"

With a great grasping motion of his hand, immense Mana instantly enveloped the entire ceiling. A swirling torrent of Qi swept straight toward Nie Yun and Xiaofong.

The unleashed Mana felt world-shattering. Before the attack even reached them, the air in the room grew thick and viscous, like paste. Any True Qi would be severely weakened in such a restrictive space.

’Such immense Mana! Xiaofong, let’s go!’

Seeing the Qi Force formed from the Mana pressing down on them from all sides, Nie Yun sent a Sound Transmission to Xiaofong as he burst from his hiding spot.

’My Soul Power and physical strength have both increased tremendously. I want to see how I stack up against a Secret Realm Powerhouse!’

"Break!"

Suspended in mid-air, Nie Yun faced the immense wave of Mana. He bent his back like a drawn bow, clenched his fists, and then snapped forward, punching out with explosive force.

CRACKLE! SIZZLE!

He unleashed his full power in this strike, including thirty-two layers of Dark Force and his Soul Power. The punch created a chain of sonic booms that sounded like a string of firecrackers, meeting the Zi Qiong Emperor’s attack head-on.

BOOM!

The world seemed to shake as the two forces collided. A scorching shockwave erupted, and Nie Yun felt a sweet taste rise in his throat. He was sent tumbling backward seven or eight times, crashing through the ceiling and out into the open air.

Despite his recent massive improvements and possessing the strength of Myriad Phenomena, there was still a vast gulf between him and a true Secret Realm Powerhouse. Nie Yun had suffered a major blow in just one exchange.

"Let’s go!"

Knowing he was no match for his opponent, Nie Yun didn’t hesitate. In a flash, he grabbed the Wind Wolf King’s arm, letting his companion’s speed carry them swiftly away.

The Wind Wolf King’s greatest asset was his speed, which had become even more incredible after he reached the Secret Realm. Even a veteran Secret Realm Powerhouse like the Zi Qiong Emperor would likely be unable to catch him. While using his full power would disrupt the Disguise Qi and reveal his true form, it wouldn’t hinder their escape.

"A Qi Sea Great Perfection Soul... Yao Qi, you think you can escape? Not so fast!"

After that single clash, the Zi Qiong Emperor had already gauged the Soul Power and overall strength of his opponent. With a roar, he thrust out his hand, and countless streams of Mana shot from his fingertips, forming a massive cage to imprison Nie Yun and Xiaofong.

This Mana cage was a common technique that any Secret Realm expert could use. However, it was exceedingly difficult for anyone below that realm to break. Even the current Nie Yun lacked the power. But if Xiaofong stopped to break it, they would lose their chance to escape, making a getaway nearly impossible.

’Xiaofong, ignore it! Just keep charging forward and watch this!’

After giving the mental command, Nie Yun willed it, and the Demon Saint Ancient Corpse materialized before him. It raised its fist and punched out with a resounding BOOM!

There was no telling what stage of the Secret Realm the Demon Saint Ancient Corpse had reached in life. Even though one hundred Low-Grade Spiritual Stones only allowed it to unleash one percent of its power, it was not to be underestimated. It was far more powerful than a newly-promoted Secret Realm expert like Xiaofong. The Mana on its fist solidified into a stone-like substance, translucent as jade. With enough power to shatter all techniques, its punch rumbled through the air and completely shattered the Mana cage.

SWOOSH!

The instant the Demon Saint Ancient Corpse’s fist shattered the cage, the Wind Wolf King had already carried Nie Yun clear of the area, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Nie Yun then immediately recalled the Demon Saint Ancient Corpse into his Dantian. The entire sequence—from appearing, to punching, to being withdrawn—happened in a flash. Even the sharpest eyes would have only seen a flicker of light before it vanished without a trace. Coupled with the turbulent air, still swirling with True Qi and Mana, not even the Zi Qiong Emperor saw who had made the move.

All he knew was that another Secret Realm Powerhouse had intervened, broken his cage, and allowed the two thieves to escape.

"AHH... DAMN YOU, YAO QI! I’ll never rest until one of us is dead! We cannot exist under the same sky! Today, either you die or I do!"

Seeing the Wind Wolf King and his passenger fly so far away that they were no longer visible, the Zi Qiong Emperor threw his head back and roared at the heavens, his body trembling with such rage that he nearly coughed up blood.

As the King of the Zi Qiong Mountain Range and one of the absolute Peak powerhouses on the Qi Sea Continent, when had he ever suffered such a humiliating loss? A malevolent fire raged through his veins, making him feel as if his lungs would explode.

’A Secret Realm Powerhouse... There are only a handful of us on the entire Qi Sea Continent. Huangg Chen, not only did you fail in your duties, but you even colluded with my own subordinate to steal my things! I will kill you for this!’

Huangg Chen was the ancestor of the Divine Holy Empire’s Imperial Family and another Secret Realm Powerhouse of the Qi Sea Continent.

"Zi Qiong, what happened? What’s going on?"

The Zi Qiong Emperor had just finished venting his frustration when he heard an anxious shout. A figure was rapidly approaching. The sight of this person, which might not have angered him before, now sent him into another fit of uncontrollable rage.

Who else could it be but the Qi Emperor!

"You have the audacity to show your face? You dare to come back? DIE!"

With a long howl, he slammed his hand downward. A force of solidified Mana plummeted from the sky, crashing down on the Qi Emperor with a thunderous roar.

SPLAT!

Before the Qi Emperor could even react, he was slammed against the mountain wall, blasting a massive crater into the rock.

P.S. I ran into a reader today. Here’s our conversation.

Reader: Lao Ya, let me give you a suggestion.

Me: I’m all ears.

Reader: Your Chapters have way too many typos. There are like seventy or eighty in a single Chapter.

Me: @#%￥#...

Reader: What, you can’t humbly accept criticism? You don’t even know about the typos, be more serious about your writing...

Me: Bro, are you reading a pirated version?

Reader: I’m talking about your typos. Stop changing the subject.

Me: @##￥%...

Me: Bro, pirated versions have a lot of typos. The official version only has them occasionally, it’s very rare.

Reader: Can we not talk about pirated versions? I’m talking about your typo problem. If you don’t fix it, I’m going to stop reading!

Me: @#%￥...!

Alright, I am utterly defeated. To any other readers who don’t get it and think there are too many typos, please come to Qidian to read the official version. Also, I’ll keep asking for monthly tickets! If I don’t ask, they won’t increase... (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)