229: An era without saints!? (Twenty-eight)

A "Prodigy Hunting Competition" that swept across the Northern Plains battlefield began.

The first year.

The cruelty of the war far exceeded everyone's imagination.

Undying Fortress truly transformed into a massive meat grinder.

Countless Prodigies fell here; their bones paved every inch of land inside and outside the fortress.

But those who survived had all undergone the baptism of blood and fire, their strength and Heart-Nature undergoing astonishing transformations.

That year, a large-scale conflict erupted beneath the fortress.

Gu Yun faced the Golden Lion royal Prodigy who had been clamoring the loudest.

It was a powerful opponent with combat strength comparable to a Human Race "Grotto-Heaven Realm" cultivator.

The battle entered a white-hot state from the very beginning.

The Golden Lion's Demonic Qi soared to the heavens; every claw strike carried the power to shatter mountains.

Gu Yun's figure flickered as he activated the Azure Heaven Indestructible Art to clash with it head-on.

This was a brutal war of attrition.

After all, Gu Yun's cultivation was only at the Guiyi Realm; the gap in Realm left him restricted at every turn.

He began to sustain injuries, his white robes stained red with blood.

However, his eyes grew brighter, and his Battle Intent grew stronger.

The domineering nature of the Azure Heaven Indestructible Art was fully revealed at this moment.

It frantically plundered the blood Qi and Demonic Qi scattered across the battlefield, forcibly refining them to replenish Gu Yun's consumption.

"Roar!"

The Golden Lion went completely berserk, burning its royal blood essence to unleash a natural Divine Ability.

A golden sun condensed in its mouth, carrying a destructive aura as it blasted towards Gu Yun.

"Heart Sword."

Gu Yun spoke softly.

In this exhilarating battle, his comprehension of the Heart Sword deepened by another layer.

An invisible Sword Intent slashed out from between his brows, arriving first despite being launched later.

Puff.

The light of the golden sun instantly dimmed, disintegrated from within by an invisible force.

The Sword Intent did not diminish in momentum, precisely slashing into the Golden Lion's brow.

"No..."

The Golden Lion let out a wail of unwillingness, its massive body collapsing.

Gu Yun also paid a price; he spat out a mouthful of blood, his face pale.

But he had won.

After this battle, Gu Yun's name shook both races.

Time flew by.

Five years passed.

The continuous flames of war never ceased.

Gu Yun's cultivation steadily improved amidst countless bloody battles.

In the fifth year, he successfully achieved a Breakthrough to the Late Stage of the Guiyi Realm.

He had slain countless Yao Race kings and achieved illustrious battle merits, long since becoming the undisputed spiritual leader of the young generation of the Human Race in the Undying Fortress.

Undercurrents, however, surged in corners unnoticed by anyone.

Behind the Yao Race lines, within the Demon Court.

Venerable Sky Wolf looked at the battle report in his hand, his expression gloomy.

The Yao Race's "Golden Generation" had suffered heavy losses; even the Golden Lion royal Prodigy he favored most had been slain by a Human Race cultivator in the Guiyi Realm.

His murderous intent towards Gu Yun grew increasingly intense.

"This child must die!"

On the other side.

Inside the Undying Fortress, in a hidden camp tent.

The Ji Family Divine Maiden and the Wang Family Qilin Son were also looking at the battle report regarding Gu Yun.

Five years, a mere five years.

The growth rate of that person made them feel intense fear and jealousy.

They understood that if they allowed Gu Yun to continue growing, they would have no chance in the future.

"We cannot wait any longer."

The Wang Family Qilin Son's eyes were malicious.

But he also knew that with the will of Venerable Heavenly Secret shrouding the area, they could not directly kill Gu Yun.

"Since we cannot do it openly, we will do it in the shadows."

The Wang Family Qilin Son took out an ancient turtle shell.

This was a supreme treasure of the Wang Family, capable of briefly obscuring Heavenly Secrets and isolating Karma.

He activated his Dharma Eye and, in coordination with the turtle shell, successfully created a blind spot in the surveillance.

He secretly contacted Venerable Sky Wolf of the Yao Race.

"Venerable, if you want to kill Gu Yun, how about we join forces?"

Venerable Sky Wolf's cold voice came through.

"What brilliant plan do you have?"

"It is very simple."

The Wang Family Qilin Son sneered.

"From within our Human Race, I will create a 'reasonable and legitimate' opportunity for you Yao Race to surround and kill Gu Yun and other Prodigies."

Hearing this, Venerable Sky Wolf was silent for a moment, then burst into wild laughter.

"Good! What a great scheme of borrowing a knife to kill! This Venerable promises that once it is done, the benefits for you will not be lacking."

The poisonous plot was thus reached.

The Wang Family Qilin Son quickly identified the most suitable pawn.

Undying Fortress Deputy General, Li Tai.

Five years ago, his good-for-nothing son had once provoked Gu Yun during a conflict and was slain by Gu Yun in public.

Li Tai had held a grudge against Gu Yun ever since, but due to Gu Yun's status and strength, he had kept it hidden.

"Deputy General Li, do you want to avenge your son?"

The Wang Family Qilin Son found him and got straight to the point.

"As long as you cooperate with me in acting out a play, after it is done, this bottle of 'Breakthrough Divine Pill' will be yours."

Looking at the bottle of Divine Pill that was enough to help him break through his Bottleneck, Li Tai's eyes were filled with greed and hatred.

"Whatever Your Highness Qilin Son commands, Li will do, even at the cost of his life!"

Three days later.

A piece of fake intelligence stating that "an important Yao Race transport team will carry Yao Saint blood essence and ancient formation diagrams through the Black Wind Canyon" was delivered to Li Tai.

He immediately convened the highest-level emergency meeting in the name of the Undying Fortress command.

"Everyone, a heaven-sent opportunity!"

Li Tai made the fake intelligence public, his expression excited.

"I propose that we immediately organize an elite squad to go deep behind enemy lines and intercept this transport team!"

He looked around and issued the "highest priority" interception mission in an irrefutable tone.

"This mission is extremely arduous and must be carried out by the strongest young generation of our Undying Fortress!"

His gaze fell upon Gu Yun, who had just finished a bloody battle and had come to discuss matters.

"I propose that Dao Child Gu Yun serve as the captain of this interception mission!"

He "brushed aside all dissenting opinions," his voice loud and clear.

"Dao Child Gu Yun has the most illustrious battle merits and the strongest strength; with him leading, we will surely succeed!"

To "ensure the mission is foolproof," he also named a dozen other Prodigies who were equally renowned in the fortress and belonged to different factions to go along.

Among them were several followers who were wholeheartedly convinced by Gu Yun.

The moment he received the military order.

Gu Yun's Minds Eye felt a violent throb.

A strong sense of life-and-death crisis welled up in his heart.

He immediately performed a deduction, only to find the Heavenly Secrets in Chaos, obviously obscured by someone using a supreme treasure.

But he could still vaguely feel that this crisis was inseparable from the Ji and Wang families.

An open scheme.

This was a naked open scheme.

Going deep behind enemy lines was inherently a nine-deaths-and-one-life situation, so feeling a sense of crisis was "normal."

More importantly, this was a formal military order issued in the name of the Undying Fortress command in front of everyone.

If he refused, it would be cowardice and disobedience.

All the prestige he had accumulated through five years of bloody battles would be destroyed in an instant, and his reputation would be ruined.

Gu Yun raised his head, meeting Li Tai's "earnest" gaze, and his Minds Eye also caught the flash of resentment in Li Tai's eyes.

His heart was crystal clear.

He knew that this trip was a nine-deaths-and-one-life situation, but he had no choice.

Gu Yun stood up calmly.

"Gu Yun, accepts the order."

He took the military order, and at the same time, a Divine Thought quietly entered the Sea of Consciousness of Gu Zhan, who was beside him.

"Be extremely careful on this trip."

Great You Divine Dynasty, You Divine Capital.

In the deepest ancestral grounds of the imperial family.

A middle-aged man who had been in seclusion for who knows how many years opened his eyes.

He muttered to himself, his voice carrying a hint of shock and suspicion.

"How many years has it been..."

"That thing left behind by Ancestor Chen has actually stirred again."

He pinched his fingers to calculate, his gaze looking in one direction.

"That direction is... Undying Fortress?"