Chapter 14514 The Last Glory of the Realm of Annihilation
Ling Bi smiled slightly, a hint of mischief in her eyes: "You've certainly made quite a few important acquaintances, no wonder the patriarchs look at you differently."
Ling Xiao chuckled wryly and spread his hands, his tone helpless: "To be honest, I don't know them at all. But these seniors all acted as if they had known me for a long time, taking the initiative to come up to me and make friends."
The old man pondered for a moment, his fingertips tracing the tassel of the sword hidden in his sleeve, and then asked, "Who exactly is your father?"
"I don't know." Ling Xiao shook his head, a hint of melancholy flashing in his eyes.
"Perhaps it's due to our ancestors' lineage, or perhaps it's karma from a past life." The old man gazed at the endless yellow sand, his tone complex and difficult to decipher.
Past life?
Ling Xiao remained silent.
It couldn't possibly be a past life; the most likely explanation is that his parents or grandfather had some karmic connection with these people.
The old man glanced at his conflicted expression, changed the subject, and said with a hint of teasing, "Speaking of which, it's their bad luck that the Temple of Annihilation provoked you. Your backers are all incredibly powerful; even someone like the Moon Maiden is willing to protect you."
Ling Xiao immediately protested, "They were the ones who provoked us first! I just wanted to develop peacefully, but the Holy Temple repeatedly set traps to ambush me. Do they really think my Overlord Empire is easy to bully?"
"Do not underestimate the Temple of Annihilation." The old man's teasing expression vanished instantly, replaced by a solemn and iron-like look. "The depth of its foundation is beyond even the Sword Sect's comprehension. Although you are exceptionally talented and possess astonishing combat power, you must remember that there are always higher heavens and more powerful people out there. Do not be arrogant."
Ling Xiao suddenly raised an eyebrow, a roguish smile playing on his lips: "Judging from what you're saying, senior, does the Sword Sect intend to sit back and watch the tigers fight, hoping that I and the Holy Hall will both be severely injured?"
"This matter need not trouble the Overlord Emperor," the old man replied calmly, his tone distant, unwilling to elaborate.
Seeing this, Ling Xiao stopped asking questions. He had never expected to rely on others; he would have to collect the debts of the Holy Temple himself.
Just then, the old man suddenly stopped.
On the distant horizon, a majestic ancient city rises from the ground, its walls over a hundred feet high, built of unknown black boulders, covered with ancient runes. Even from thousands of miles away, one can still feel an overwhelming pressure that is suffocating.
Dark clouds covered the city, the leaden-gray clouds so low they seemed to press down on the city walls. Countless black crows circled and cackled beneath the clouds, their cawing shrill and piercing. The entire ancient city exuded an aura of deathly desolation, sending chills down one's spine.
Before the main gate of the ancient city stood a towering iron pillar, its shaft covered with jagged barbs. Bound to it was a disheveled middle-aged man. His tangled hair, like withered grass, obscured his face, revealing only a pale chin. The iron chains binding him, as thick as a child's arm, locked his limbs and neck. The chains were engraved with blood-red curse marks, radiating an ominous aura.
"We've arrived." The old man took the lead, guiding the two to the iron pillar. The sound of their footsteps startled the circling flock of crows, their black feathers fluttering down like dark clouds overhead.
Ling Xiao looked up and his gaze fell on the man on the iron pillar. He asked in a deep voice, "Who is this person?"
"He was the last being to transcend the Annihilation Emperor Realm, and also the last glory of the Annihilation Realm." The old man's voice was low, tinged with regret and respect.
"Transcending the Nirvana Emperor Realm?" Ling Xiao's pupils shrank slightly, and his heart was filled with shock. The Nirvana Emperor Realm was already a legendary realm, surpassing hundreds of millions of cultivators. There was actually an even higher level.
"Indeed, that is a realm you cannot comprehend now." The old man stared at the man on the pillar, his tone growing increasingly heavy. "His power has aroused the Holy Temple's fear and panic. Tens of thousands of years ago, the Holy Temple mobilized the entire clan to besiege him. This powerful figure fought valiantly but was defeated and imprisoned here, serving as a warning to the entire Silent Realm, so that all races would respect the Holy Temple and dare not harbor any disloyal thoughts."
Ling Xiao seemed to understand something, his brows furrowing: "Nowadays, there are very few top experts among the various races of the Silent Realm, could it be..."
"It is the Holy Temple that is behind this!" The old man sneered, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes. "They practice the 'breeding of Gu' method, allowing a few powerful individuals to appear outside the Holy Temple, both to suppress them and to leave a glimmer of hope for all races, so that each race will live under their control forever and dare not easily resist."
"They actually have the power to control the experts of all races?" Ling Xiao asked solemnly.
"Anyone who can pose a threat to the Holy Temple is under their control." The old man looked deeply at Ling Xiao, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "You are an anomaly. Even without that supreme treasure, with the Moon Maiden behind you and your own extraordinary potential, they wouldn't tolerate you. Now, we can only hope that the Moon Maiden is powerful enough, otherwise..."
Ling Xiao suddenly interrupted him, his tone sharp: "What role does the Sword Sect play in this game?"
The old man flicked his sleeve and snorted coldly, his tone indifferent: "It's none of your business. Remember, this trip was entirely due to Ling Bi's pleading. What kind of fortune you gain depends entirely on your own destiny!"
Having said that, ten thousand golden rays suddenly flew out from his sleeve, shooting towards the iron pillar like a meteor shower, completely enveloping the entire pillar. The moment the golden rays touched the chains, they made a "sizzling" sound, and the middle-aged man on the pillar suddenly trembled violently. The iron chains rattled and made a piercing metallic scraping sound, as if trying to break free of their restraints.
Just then, a thunderous roar echoed from beyond the nine heavens, like a thunderclap:
"Be bold!"
The sky shattered instantly, countless spatial cracks spread out, and the overwhelming divine power poured down like a celestial river, making it hard for people to breathe!
Ling Xiao looked up and saw that the sky above had suddenly changed. The lead-gray clouds were dyed gold, and a huge gate of holy light appeared in the clouds, radiating a terrifying holy power.
People from the church have arrived!
He didn't act rashly, but instead turned his gaze to Yu Jianzi beside him. The old man coldly surveyed the sky, his expression unchanged, when suddenly a streak of dark light shot up from his sleeve, like a black dragon emerging from the sea, soaring straight towards the heavens!
Boom!
As the clouds churned, the earth-shattering divine power dissipated like melting snow, and the dark light collided with the holy light, bursting forth with dazzling brilliance!
"How dare the Sword Sect be so insolent!"
A thunderous roar shook the heavens as a golden-armored figure tore through the sky, clad in holy light armor, wielding a giant axe, his holy power surging around him, his aura terrifying! The dark stream of light rising from the ground did not yield, crashing straight into the approaching enemy.
In an instant, explosions resounded throughout the heavens, and terrifying energy turbulence tore the sea of clouds to shreds. Countless fragments of stars fell, streaking across the sky like a meteor shower.
Several more angry shouts rang out, indicating that many powerful figures from the Holy Temple had arrived.
The fierce battle raged high in the sky. Under the golden light, countless dense, blood-red runes appeared on the bodies of the powerful figures atop the iron pillar. These seals were visibly fading, revealing bronze skin beneath.
Yu Jianzi's gaze grew increasingly solemn. He rapidly formed hand seals and chanted incantations, causing the golden light to intensify.
Suddenly, a streak of light plummeted vertically from beyond the Ninth Heaven at an incredible speed. Ling Xiao could only catch a fleeting afterimage with his naked eye; he couldn't even discern its shape! (End of Chapter)
