Star Martial Soaring Cloud

After Niu Ben and Wang Xiao separated, it took a great deal of effort for him to escape Ying Zhao's pursuit.

"I wonder how things are going with my godfather."

Niu Ben was still thinking about Wang Xiao, wondering if he had successfully taken the Immortal Ephemeral Flower. He was about to turn back to the valley to look for him when he suddenly stopped.

Three figures blocked the way.

The leader was dressed in a black outfit, with an incomparably handsome face, but his body was covered with an impenetrable, chilling evil aura. The black broadsword in his hand hung casually at his side, with a faint black mist swirling around the blade, and a murderous aura was faintly visible. He was none other than Qin Wuming, the young master of the Tianyi Sect.

Beside Qin Wuming stood a man in a green robe with a delicate face, slender eyebrows and eyes, and skin so white it was almost transparent. A half-smile played on his lips, and his aura was cold and eerie, making people feel uneasy. This man was Yang Xuan, the son of Yang Yi, the Azure Dragon Protector of the Tianyi Sect.

What made Niu Ben's heart tighten the most was the motionless figure standing behind the two of them.

The man wore a long, dark robe, had a tall and slender figure, and his face was covered with a hideous ghost mask. Beneath the mask, only a pair of deep and cold eyes were visible.

Those eyes showed no emotion whatsoever, like a bottomless ancient well, or like the Grim Reaper looking down upon the world. Just one glance was enough to send chills down one's spine and make one tremble with fear.

His aura was extremely restrained, with not a trace leaking out. Yet, just by standing still, Niu Ben felt his hair stand on end, and a sense of crisis from his very instincts instantly swept over him.

魇！

The strongest outer disciple of the Tianyi Sect, who had overcome countless death trials and climbed over countless corpses, abandoned his name and only used the pseudonym "Nightmare".

The Tianyi Sect is divided into inner and outer sects. The inner sect consists of the relatives and children of the sect members, all of whom are close confidants. The outer sect consists of other disciples who had no prior connection with the Tianyi Sect but joined the sect for various reasons.

Disciples of the outer sect have always started from the bottom, going through countless hardships and near-death experiences before they can earn even a sliver of recognition.

And Yan is the most outstanding talent in the outer sect of Tianyi Sect every ten years. Not only is his combat strength unmatched among his peers, but he is also the most skilled killer in the sect.

The three men stood in a triangle formation, their eyes fixed on Niu Ben, their gazes filled with undisguised scrutiny and pressure.

Seeing this, Niu Ben's eyes flashed with impatience. He had met these three people once before, but he didn't get along with them, especially Qin Wuming—his arrogant and disdainful attitude disgusted him from the bottom of his heart.

Being stopped without cause ignited his anger, and he immediately shouted gruffly, "Qin Wuming, are you people from the Tianyi Sect just bored out of your minds? How dare you block my way!"

Qin Wuming smiled faintly, his tone gentle yet condescending: "It seems Brother Niu isn't very welcoming to us? After all, our Tianyi Sect and the demon race are allies. This attitude is bound to damage our harmony."

"An ally?" Niu Ben scoffed, shaking his massive head with disdain. "I simply don't like the look of you. What, is that not allowed?"

He sized Qin Wuming up and down, his gaze growing increasingly brazen, his tone full of sarcasm: "I've long heard that your Tianyi Sect hides at sea, barely surviving. Seeing you today, it's clear your reputation is well-deserved—you're certainly meddling in other people's business!"

"Instead of staying at sea, you've come to Demon Island to join the fun. Have you been exposed to the sea breeze too much and want to come ashore for a change of pace?" Niu Ben's large, bell-like eyes glanced at the three of them, his disdain evident in his words.

These words were a blatant exposure of the Tianyi Sect's wounds.

Thirty years ago, the Tianyi Sect wreaked havoc across the land and was driven out by a coalition of major powers. It was forced to flee across the ocean and hide on an overseas island to eke out a living.

Although they have recovered much of their strength after decades of recuperation, this humiliation remains a pain that is hard to erase from their hearts.

Upon hearing this, Yang Xuan's eyes flashed with a sinister rage, and his chilling aura surged instantly. He immediately stepped forward and shouted sharply, "How dare you!"

"Yang Xuan".

Qin Wuming raised his hand and gently pressed it on Yang Xuan's shoulder, stopping him from making any further moves.

He still wore a smile, as if Niu Ben's words were nothing more than a passing breeze, and he didn't care at all.

"Brother Niu's words are quite interesting," Qin Wuming said slowly. "Don't you demons also live in the mountains? You were once the masters of the Nine Provinces, but now you can only cower in that corner of Kunlun Grotto-Heaven. Mountains and rivers share the same origin, so we are allies—we were all driven out, why hurt each other?"

His smile was gentle, but the sharpness in his words was in no way inferior to Niu Ben's sarcasm.

Niu Ben's expression changed slightly.

The demon race once ruled over the Nine Provinces; that was in ancient times.

The human world is now dominated by humans, while the demon race can only live in a secluded corner, guarding the isolated world of Kunlun Cave.

This sense of desolation bears a striking resemblance to the fate of the Tianyi Sect.

"Alright, alright, stop with the nonsense." Niu Ben waved his hand impatiently, too lazy to argue with Qin Wuming anymore. "Speak, what do you want? I'm busy, I don't have time to chat with you."

Seeing his expression, Qin Wuming wasn't annoyed. He simply smiled and slowly said, "It's nothing serious. I just wanted to ask Brother Niu to set off immediately for the northern teleportation array. Once the array is activated, we'll leave Demon Island right away."

Upon hearing this, Niu Ben was taken aback at first, then threw his head back and burst into laughter, his laughter rough and unrestrained: "Haha! There are many paths to take, everyone can go their own way. I, Niu, will leave whenever I want! I don't need you—"

His words came to an abrupt end.

Because Qin Wuming had somehow acquired a token.

The token was entirely reddish-gold in color, about the size of a palm, with a phoenix soaring with outstretched wings engraved on the front. The phoenix was surrounded by raging flames, so lifelike that it seemed as if it might break free of the token at any moment.

The token emitted a faint golden light, which, though not dazzling, exuded an undeniable pressure that made Niu Ben almost unable to breathe.

Holy Phoenix Decree.

The Demon Queen's Token.

The demon race has a strict hierarchy. When the Demon Queen issues a decree, it is as if the Demon Queen herself is present. All demons must obey her orders and must not disobey.

Niu Ben's laughter vanished instantly, and the disdain and mockery on his face disappeared, replaced by deep awe and solemnity.

He stared intently at the token, his massive bull head slowly lowering as he knelt on one knee, saying in a deep voice, "Niu Ben obeys the Demon Queen's command!"

Qin Wuming put the token back into his sleeve, his smile growing even more composed: "Brother Niu, please rise. We are merely relaying the Empress's orders. I hope you will depart immediately and not delay."

Niu Ben stood up, his expression complex and difficult to decipher.

He was still thinking about Wang Xiao and wanted to talk more with his adoptive father, but the Demon Queen's command was paramount, and as a member of the demon race, he could not disobey her no matter what.

He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "So, Qinglin and Huyue also received this news?"

"That's right." Qin Wuming nodded. "Those two are probably already on their way to the northern teleportation array. If Brother Niu moves quickly, he might be able to travel with them."

Niu Ben remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded and turned to leave.

As he brushed past the three, his gaze involuntarily fell on Nightmare.

Those eyes, hidden beneath the ghost mask, were now silently watching him.

What kind of look was that?

Without sorrow or joy, without waves or ripples, devoid of warmth, it is like a bottomless abyss, or like the Grim Reaper coldly overlooking all living beings, exuding a bone-chilling stillness.

Niu Ben felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and all the hairs on his body stood on end. He even subconsciously slowed his breathing.

He had lived for decades, seen countless powerful opponents and ferocious beasts, but he had never seen such eyes—eyes that seemed to hold endless darkness and death, filling one's heart with despair at a single glance.

He dared not look any longer, quickly averted his gaze, and strode towards the northern teleportation array.