Lord Wang Lin, seeking to infiltrate the ranks of the ten thousand cultivators assembled for war, moved amongst them unnoticed. Only the fiery sentinel, Yan Chong, turned his gaze back, searching through the multitude for Wang Lin’s presence.

Yet, the throng was too great, and the pervasive mist further obscured his vision. His fleeting search yielded nothing.

Through the swirling fog, warriors from the Green Demon Continent descended like a storm. At their forefront, two elders, each possessing the power of the Empty Ethereal Mid-Stage, commanded a mastery of cultivation that bordered on the divine. Their approach caused the very mist to recoil, as if fearing their immense power.

To reach the Empty Ethereal Mid-Stage was a feat that, even in the Immortal Astral Continent, would establish one as a regional overlord, capable of sustaining a prominent sect. Even within the hallowed halls of the Nine Sects and Thirteen Houses, such beings were elders of significant standing, a rare sight indeed.

Those who attained the Empty Ethereal Mid-Stage were notoriously difficult to kill, their forms protected by layers of life-saving treasures and arcane techniques.

The two Green Demon Continent elders, Zhang and Zhao, each belonged to distinct demonic factions. Their every gesture echoed with the thunder of creation and destruction. Lü Wenran, in response, transformed into a streak of vibrant light, meeting the Zhang elder in a furious clash amidst the churning mists.

The earth quaked as their powers collided, sending shockwaves through the air. Gusts of wind emanated from their battle, forcing even their fellow cultivators to retreat from the immediate area.

The Zhao elder, equally formidable, moved to join the fray against Lü Wenran, seeking to cripple him and shatter the morale of the opposing forces. He believed that with Lü Wenran defeated, the rest of the Tianniu Continent cultivators would pose little threat.

However, as the Zhao elder advanced, Yan Cai, Xu Dongde, and a neighboring sect master of the Empty Ethereal Initial-Stage intercepted him, forming a trio of defiant light streaks. They met the Zhao elder in a desperate struggle.

Under normal circumstances, even their combined might would be insufficient against an Empty Ethereal Mid-Stage master. The gulf between stages in the Empty Ethereal realm was vast, akin to an uncrossable chasm.

Even Wang Lin, with his mastery of seven original essences, could only contend with an Empty Ethereal Initial-Stage opponent. Now, possessing eight, he remained unable to shake the foundations of an Empty Ethereal Mid-Stage cultivator.

Yet, within the Heavenly Bull Burrow Formation of the Extreme Heaven Grasslands, and with the insidious mists permeating their beings, something shifted. Yan Cai and his allies found a sliver of hope, a temporary strength to contend with the Zhao elder. Though victory remained elusive, they could at least restrain him.

This quartet held two of the enemy’s greatest powers at bay, preventing their terrifying impact on the greater battle. Among the remaining Green Demon Continent forces, four cultivators possessed the Empty Ethereal Initial-Stage.

Two men and two women, adorned in opulent garments, held positions of considerable importance. But these four faced a similar predicament. The Tianniu Continent boasted three ancestral figures of comparable power from nearby sects. Empowered by the mists, their abilities seemed limitless as they clashed with the Green Demon Continent quartet. The clash of Empty Ethereal cultivators marked the bloody opening to the battle.

Thereafter, the conflict devolved into a brutal melee. Twenty thousand warriors collided amidst the obscuring fog, their screams and cries of anguish piercing the air.

Wang Lin moved through the mist like a specter, his head bowed, a compass clutched in his hand. Its surface was alive with a dense network of white and green lights, reflecting every shift in the chaotic battlefield.

Gusts of wind swept past, and flashes of sorcery were dulled by the mist, yet the chilling aura of death remained palpable. As Wang Lin moved, his right hand shot out, pointing towards the swirling vapor to his right. A flash of crimson revealed his Blood Sword, carrying with it an aura of formidable killing intent. It pierced the mist, striking a Green Demon Continent warrior who emerged from its depths, unprepared for the attack. The sword pierced the warrior’s brow, ending his life instantly.

Wang Lin moved on, unfazed. His true target lay further afield: the Empty Ethereal Great Elders locked in combat.

He moved with swiftness, his body shrouded in a dark mist distinct from that of the Heavenly Bull Formation. This mist radiated malevolence, its depths concealing a flickering, crimson tongue.

As he drew closer to the seven battling Empty Ethereal Initial-Stage masters, Wang Lin slowed his pace, halting several thousand feet away, his eyes narrowed in contemplation.

“To slay an Empty Ethereal Initial-Stage cultivator is no simple task…” he murmured. “Such beings are rarely killed… Even the puppets are insufficient.” Wang Lin knew the true terror of those who had surpassed the ninth mystic tribulation and entered the Empty Ethereal realm. It was a different challenge entirely than slaying the Qian cultivator and the three under his banner back in the Dan Sea.

Those three had only been at the Ninth Mystic Tribulation, appearing close to reaching the Empty Ethereal Stage. However, the gap was immense. With the powers of two, they could beat Bai Hu and company, and even force them to retreat under certain conditions. In reality, Bai Hu’s cultivation was similar to Du Qing’s, and was at the Seventh or Eighth Mystic Tribulation stage.

Within the Realm of the Caves, only War Old Ghost and the Seven-Colored Daoist possessed the cultivation of Empty Ethereal Initial-Stage. If they could merge with the Third Soul, becoming the Seven-Colored Immortal, their cultivation would reach the peak of Empty Ethereal Mid-Stage.

Wang Lin could slay those under the Empty Ethereal stage, but to kill a true Empty Ethereal Initial-Stage cultivator required cunning and the use of many methods.

Even in the Immortal Astral Continent, the death of an Empty Ethereal cultivator was a rare event, casting a dark pall over morale and deeply impacting a sect.

The death of an Empty Ethereal Mid-Stage cultivator was even more significant. Even the Great Soul Gate would be unwilling to bear such a blow.

He stared at the turbulent mist several thousand feet away, the seven figures within locked in a stalemate of life and death. In truth, none of them could truly claim victory, for each, if cautious, could avoid death and suffer only injuries.

But Wang Lin was patient. He sat down, his body enveloped by the dark mist that blended with the ambient vapor, rendering him nearly invisible. The clash of the seven Empty Ethereal Initial-Stage warriors shook the heavens and created immense danger to those that approached, but Wang Lin could stand safely and await the proper moment.

He waited for the opportune moment to deliver a single, decisive blow, to kill an Empty Ethereal Initial-Stage cultivator.

“The puppets can provide the initial shock, the Blood Sword can wound, the Spirit Sealing Mark can prevent escape… Illusions can buy time… And the final killing blow must come from the Soul Summoning,” Wang Lin muttered, his gaze unwavering.

“However, even all these are only enough to seriously injure an Empty Ethereal Great Elder, but not enough to kill it completely.” He continued to gaze into the distance.

Time trickled by, and several hours passed. The sounds of battle around them did not decrease; instead, they increased in intensity. Casualties were high on both sides.

But Wang Lin remained seated, awaiting the perfect moment.

Liu Zhiyuan, an elder of the Green Demon Continent’s Dao Devil Sect, had only recently ascended to the Empty Ethereal Initial-Stage. He was renowned within the sect and was a direct descendant of the sect master, bound by blood.

Now, he participated in the invasion of the Tianniu Continent. Alongside his fellow elder Xu Wei and two other disciples from other sects, he battled three Tianniu Continent cultivators of equal cultivation.

His opponents seemed to have unlimited power, casting spells endlessly. As for the four of them, their divine senses were blocked by the mists, and they could not absorb any essence from the mists. After a few hours, they started to show signs of retreat.

They were in a chaotic fight where the thunderous sounds were endless. Liu Zhiyuan had only recently reached the Empty Ethereal stage, and the immortal power within him was gradually running out. He was also having his power absorbed by the surrounding mists.

“Damn mists!! When will the emissaries arrive? At this rate, it will be difficult to win this battle!” Liu Zhiyuan’s expression was dark. He raised his right hand and formed a seal, and a black lotus appeared and collided with a black dragon formed by the Tianniu cultivator.

Amidst the thunderous roar, Liu Zhiyuan retreated without hesitation. His three companions were aware of his intent, so they blocked the attacks coming his way and gave him a chance to retreat and consume pills to recover.

After battling for several hours, they all needed to replenish their immortal power, or it would be difficult to continue.

Liu Zhiyuan’s expression was extremely sinister. The cultivation method he practiced was Yin and Yang Dual Cultivation, and he condensed the Yin souls of women into black lotuses. Countless women had died under his hands.

As he retreated, he disappeared several thousand feet and raised his right hand and grabbed. Immediately, more than a dozen black spheres appeared in his hand. Within each sphere sat a naked, three-inch woman with a miserable expression.

Liu Zhiyuan did not even look at them as he opened his mouth and was about to absorb them!

But at this moment, Wang Lin, who had been concealing his presence not far away, suddenly revealed a cold light in his eyes. He had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, and now someone had finally given him the right opportunity!

“It’s him!”

Wang Lin revealed a killing intent in his eyes. He had agreed to the Great Soul Gate’s first condition, which was to kill ten Empty Ethereal Initial-Stage Great Experts. Today, he would complete the first!

As Wang Lin’s body moved away like lightning, a flash of blood light appeared in Wang Lin’s hand and slashed toward Liu Zhiyuan, who was facing away from him, not far away!

The Blood Sword’s sharpness was unparalleled, and it roared out and instantly approached Liu Zhiyuan, who was about to devour the ten spheres. Liu Zhiyuan suddenly felt his hairs stand on end, and a sense of danger filled him. Without hesitation, he gave up devouring the spheres and waved his sleeve. Immediately, a black lotus appeared behind him and collided with the Blood Sword that fell from the sky!

A heaven-shaking rumble echoed, and amidst the loud rumbling, Liu Zhiyuan suddenly turned around with killing intent in his eyes.

“I want to see who dares to launch a sneak attack on this deity!!”

But the moment he turned around, Wang Lin attacked!