151: The Secret of the Chaos Sea, the Secret of Heaven Returns

The news of the Anti-Alliance's establishment spread like wildfire throughout the Central Plains. The Soul Hall Alliance's crushing defeat and the Yan Clan's powerful entry gave hope to many wavering forces, who then sent envoys to the Pill Tower Holy Domain, expressing their desire to form an alliance or pledge allegiance. For a time, the Anti-Alliance's prestige soared, becoming a formidable power that could contend with the Soul Hall.

However, Xiao Chen, one of the core figures of the Anti-Alliance, was not immersed in this superficial prosperity. He knew that the true crisis—the threat from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion and the Outer Realm Heavenly Demons—was far from over. The conversation with his teacher in the secret chamber of Yan Emperor City weighed heavily on his mind like a massive stone.

"The founder of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion might be an Outer Realm Heavenly Demon... The Soul Hall's Emperor Hunting Plan might just be one part of his vast conspiracy..." Xiao Chen sat cross-legged in the quiet room of the Yan Clan guest elder's residence, his fingertips caressing the jade slip that recorded clues about the "Chaos Sea," his brows tightly furrowed. The description of the Chaos Sea in the jade slip was extremely brief, merely stating that it was located deep within the "Endless Void Sea" in the far east of the Central Plains, a chaotic region of laws that even Dou Saints dared not easily enter, and was rumored to be related to a major incident in the ancient Xiao Clan.

"Chaos Sea... Xiao Clan..." Xiao Chen looked inward, feeling the faint tremor deep within his bloodline. Ever since he obtained the yan ancestor's essence blood and broke through to Six-Star Dou Zun, he felt that his Xiao Clan bloodline seemed to have become more active, and he was increasingly sensitive to certain ancient auras related to the Xiao Clan.

"Perhaps, there truly is an opportunity there to fully awaken my bloodline, and even... touch upon Origin Qi." A hint of determination flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes. Strength! He urgently needed stronger strength! Only with power sufficient to contend against Soul Heaven Emperor and even the mastermind behind the Heavenly Secret Pavilion could he protect everything he wished to protect.

"Elder Xiao, Azure Dragon Elder from Ancient Dragon Island is here to visit." A servant's announcement came from outside the door.

Xiao Chen composed himself: "Please invite him in quickly."

A moment later, Azure Dragon Elder, dressed in a green robe with restrained dragon might, entered the quiet room. His gaze was like lightning, sweeping over Xiao Chen, a hint of awe flashing in his eyes: "In such a short time, young friend Xiao has already advanced to Six-Star, such progress is truly astonishing. No wonder His Majesty the Dragon Emperor holds you in such high regard."

"Azure Dragon Elder, you overpraise me." Xiao Chen stood up to greet him, cupping his hands, "May I ask what guidance the Elder brings this time?"

Azure Dragon Elder waved his sleeve, setting up a sound-insulating barrier, his expression turning solemn: "Young friend Xiao, this old man has come under His Majesty the Dragon Emperor's secret order. His Majesty has sensed that the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's dark influence has deeply infiltrated, and may even... have affected the interior of our Ancient Dragon Island."

Xiao Chen's heart tightened: "Elder, why do you say that?"

"When His Majesty was in seclusion recently, he vaguely detected a strange power twisting the dragon clan's luck circling within the island. Its source is obscure, but its aura is quite similar to that of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion," Azure Dragon Elder said in a deep voice, "What's more unsettling is that several elders within the clan, who have long been out of public view, have recently changed their attitudes inexplicably, obstructing cooperation with the Anti-Alliance. Their words and actions... seem to be guided by an invisible hand."

Xiao Chen's expression changed slightly. Ancient Dragon Island was immensely powerful; if it were infiltrated by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, the consequences would be unimaginable! "Does His Majesty the Dragon Emperor have a countermeasure?"

"His Majesty is currently making every effort to investigate, but the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's methods are insidious and impossible to guard against," Azure Dragon Elder shook his head, looking intently at Xiao Chen, "His Majesty asked this old man to tell you, young friend, to be extremely careful of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's 'Karma Manipulation' and 'Fate Grafting' techniques. What they are best at is creating misunderstandings, instigating internal strife, and making allies kill each other. In addition..."

He paused, lowering his voice: "His Majesty speculates that the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's next major target is very likely you! You possess the Xiao Clan bloodline and have repeatedly foiled their schemes, becoming a thorn in their side. They might stop at nothing to either kill you on your way to the Chaos Sea, or... lead you into a desperate situation, making you a 'sacrifice' for some ritual!"

Sacrifice! Xiao Chen's pupils contracted, recalling the intercepted message fragments from before! The Heavenly Secret Pavilion had indeed been watching him all along!

"Thank you, Your Majesty and Elder, for the reminder." Xiao Chen said in a deep voice, "I will be extremely careful."

"The Chaos Sea is extremely perilous, but it might also be your only path to rapid advancement." Azure Dragon Elder took out a dragon scale talisman and handed it to Xiao Chen, "This is a 'Void Dragon Scale Talisman' refined by His Majesty, containing a trace of spatial origin power. At a critical moment, it can help you tear through space and escape hundreds of thousands of miles, but it can only be used once. Young friend, take care!"

"Please convey my thanks to His Majesty the Dragon Emperor!" Xiao Chen solemnly accepted the talisman, feeling grateful in his heart. This undoubtedly added another life-saving trump card.

After seeing off Azure Dragon Elder, Xiao Chen's mood grew even heavier. The Heavenly Secret Pavilion's reach could even infiltrate Ancient Dragon Island; their strength and schemes far exceeded imagination. He felt as if he was at the center of an invisible giant net, every step requiring utmost caution.

Three days later, Xiao Chen bid farewell to Flame Emperor and Xuan Kongzi, preparing to head to the Chaos Sea alone. Flame Emperor presented him with a small flame dragon flying boat, extremely fast and with decent defenses. Xuan Kongzi, on the other hand, prepared a large quantity of high-grade pills and life-saving talismans, repeatedly cautioning him.

"Chen'er, the Chaos Sea is no small matter; safety comes first. If things become impossible, return immediately!" Xuan Kongzi said earnestly.

"Teacher, rest assured, this disciple understands." Xiao Chen nodded. He knew that his journey was not only to seek opportunities but also to jump off the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's chessboard and proactively break the situation!

Without alarming too many people, Xiao Chen quietly left Yan Emperor City, piloting the flame dragon flying boat, transforming into a crimson streak of light, and sped towards the Endless Void Sea in the far east.

The Void Sea is located on the edge of the Central Plains, a vast and boundless dangerous airspace with an extremely unstable spatial structure. There are no continents here, only countless shattered spatial fragments, stellar remnants, and energy storms. Ordinary Dou Zun (Battle Venerable) who venture in have a nine out of ten chance of dying.

Xiao Chen concentrated fully, his Heavenly Realm Soul Power spread out to its maximum extent, carefully avoiding various dangers. At the same time, he remained constantly vigilant for possible ambushes.

After flying for about half a month, he had already delved deep into the heart of the Void Sea. The surrounding landscape became increasingly desolate and silent, spatial turbulence raged like blades, and occasionally, he could see the gigantic skeletons of unknown creatures floating in the void, exuding ancient and terrifying auras.

According to the jade slip's instructions, the Chaos Sea should be near this area. However, the exact location required him to rely on his bloodline sensing.

Just as Xiao Chen slowed down to carefully sense, an anomaly suddenly occurred!

A seemingly calm void ahead suddenly twisted and collapsed! An enormous black hole appeared out of thin air, emitting a terrifying suction force that instantly enveloped the flame dragon flying boat! The flying boat vibrated violently, its defensive light shield flickering erratically, on the verge of being swallowed!

"Spatial trap!" Xiao Chen's eyes sharpened, instantly judging this to be a cleverly laid trap! He didn't hesitate, fully activating the flying boat, and at the same time, he unleashed a punch, his majestic Dou Qi attempting to shatter the edge of the black hole!

However, this black hole was extremely strange, seemingly able to devour energy; Xiao Chen's attack was like a mud ox entering the sea! The flying boat was dragged little by little towards the center of the black hole!

"Hmph! Open up for me!" Xiao Chen roared, the star origin imprint on his brow lit up, Power of Starlight erupted, forcefully stabilizing the flying boat! At the same time, his Heavenly Realm Soul Power transformed into a sharp cone, fiercely piercing a certain energy node of the black hole!

"Hiss!"

The black hole trembled slightly, and the suction force slightly decreased. Seizing this opportunity, Xiao Chen piloted the flying boat, violently breaking free!

But before he could catch his breath, four figures silently emerged from the surrounding void! These four were all shrouded in gray robes, their auras ethereal, as if they had merged with the surrounding void. Their strength had all reached the early stage of Six-Star Dou Zun! Even more terrifying, they were enveloped in a strange power that twisted karma and shielded heavenly secrets, precisely the signature technique of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion!

"Fate Manipulators of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion!" Xiao Chen's heart sank. The opponents had indeed arrived, and they had dispatched four Six-Star Dou Zun right away! What a grand display!

"Xiao Chen, your destiny's trajectory ends here." The leader of the gray-robed figures spoke in a hoarse voice, devoid of any emotion, "Surrender, and you can avoid the pain of soul-searching."

"Just you lot?" Xiao Chen sneered, the phantom of his dark gold battle axe instantly coalescing, "If you want my life, show me what you've got!"

"Form the Four Symbols Fate Manipulation Array!" The gray-robed figure stopped wasting words; the four of them simultaneously formed hand seals! Four hazy gray light pillars shot up into the sky, intertwining to form a bizarre grand array that enveloped tens of thousands of feet of void! Within the array, karmic lines were chaotic, and destiny's trajectory was forcibly twisted! Xiao Chen felt his Dou Qi circulation and soul perception greatly interfered with, as if countless hands were tampering with his combat instincts!

"Die!" The four Fate Manipulators attacked simultaneously, their attacks not straightforward, but rather along the manipulated karmic lines, striking from various inconceivable angles, cunning and vicious, impossible to guard against!

Xiao Chen fell into a bitter struggle! Although he was powerful, within this strange array, he could only exert seven-tenths of his full strength, repeatedly encountering dangerous situations! The Heavenly Secret Pavilion's methods were indeed specifically designed to counter powerhouses who relied on intuition and brute force!

"I can't get trapped!" Xiao Chen's eyes were resolute, knowing he had to break the array! He frantically circulated his Heavenly Realm Soul, attempting to find a flaw in the array. At the same time, he activated the residual power of the drop of yan ancestor's essence blood within his body!

"Power of Yan Ancestor, burn away all illusions! Stars as eyes, pierce through karma! Open!"

He roared, and simultaneously, starlight and golden flames burst from his eyes! Where his gaze fell, the chaotic and complex karmic lines seemed to become clearer! He saw a slight disharmony in the array's operation!

"There it is!" Xiao Chen raised his battle axe high, condensing all his power into one point, and fiercely swung his strongest axe at that flaw!

"Chaos Heaven Opening Seal — Sever Karma!"

Where the axe light passed, invisible threads seemed to be severed! The Four Symbols Fate Manipulation Array vibrated violently, and a subtle crack appeared!

"Charge!" Xiao Chen had no desire to linger in battle; his figure transformed into a streak of light, rushing out of the array through the crack! Without looking back, he fled deeper into the Void Sea!

"Chase! He won't get far!" The four Fate Manipulators immediately pursued, but Xiao Chen's speed was extremely fast, and he was familiar with the Void Sea environment. He quickly used a violent spatial lightning storm area to temporarily shake off his pursuers.

However, after this battle, Xiao Chen also sustained some minor injuries, and his Dou Qi consumption was immense. He hid behind a relatively stable spatial fragment, his expression grim.

"Heavenly Secret Pavilion... truly persistent!" He felt that those prying eyes had never left him. Moreover, the other party seemed... intentionally forcing him in a specific direction?

Xiao Chen spread out the jade slip, comparing it with the stellar positions, and his expression suddenly changed! He realized that the recent chase and escape had, unknowingly, led him onto a course that deviated from the correct route to the Chaos Sea! And at the end of this course, the jade slip marked a vivid red warning symbol—"Saint-Felling Cliff"! That was a place where even Dou Saints could perish!

"They really want to lead me into a desperate situation!" A cold light burst from Xiao Chen's eyes, "Since that's the case, I'll play along and see what mysteries this 'Saint-Felling Cliff' holds, and if it can truly trap me, Xiao Chen!"

He adjusted his direction, not only not taking a detour but actively accelerating towards Saint-Felling Cliff! A daring gamble, knowing there was a tiger on the mountain but still heading towards it, thus began! And the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's true killing move likely awaited him at Saint-Felling Cliff!