“The Union of Immortals…” Wang Wei regarded Voidspirit with icy detachment, shaking his head. “Such lofty titles.”

Hu Juan chuckled, her gaze sweeping dismissively over Voidspirit. The Union held no sway in their eyes. It wasn’t a matter of the Grandmaster’s strength, nor the Union’s lack of power. It was a matter of pedigree, of an innate arrogance that flowed in their veins, particularly in Wang Wei’s. Even in the Immortal Realm of old, his haughtiness was legendary.

But eons had passed, and Wang Wei’s temperament lay buried beneath layers of restraint. The arrogance remained, however, etched into his very being, impervious to the erosion of time.

Wang Wei and Hu Juan were disciples of Qing Lin, the Immortal Emperor, mightiest of his age. Even when the Immortal Realm stood in glory, their names were spoken with reverence. When they rose to prominence, the Union was but a collection of aspiring cultivators in the lower realms.

Even the ancient demon, Bei Luo, grinned, his eyes alight with mockery. As a primordial demon, he held the upstart Union in contempt. He carved his legend in the Outer Reaches when the Immortal Realm reigned supreme within the inner spheres.

Imprisoned in the Demonspirit Lands for countless ages, he had learned much of the Union through the passing of unfortunate souls. More, perhaps, than many among the living.

“Your esteemed brother, Grandmaster Chong Xuan, is an ambitious soul. When the Immortal Realm crumbled, he dared to venture into the ruins. With the Four Saint Sect’s Azure Dragon and other notable cultivators, he seized what remained.” Bei Luo chuckled, his gaze now turned solely to Voidspirit. “Through cunning and force, he claimed the majority of the Realm’s legacy, birthing the Union. I admire such ambition, but you…” He shook his head, his mockery deepening.

Voidspirit’s face darkened, but he suppressed his rage. He turned to Wang Lin, his voice laced with venom. “I have a personal matter with this whelp. Since you noble beings intervene, I shall postpone my pursuit. I vow, within these cavern halls, not to trouble this junior. Doubtless, we all seek passage to the next level, lest we diminish our chances with needless squabbles.”

His words were carefully chosen – a concession coupled with a plea for unity, a reminder of the grander purpose. For Voidspirit, a being of such stature, to speak thus was almost unheard of.

A black-clad figure, who had accompanied him, moved to the side and sat in meditation, marking the start of an oath of non-violence. Only the village woman, paled, stood silently next to Voidspirit.

Wang Wei suppressed his first murderous instinct; killing Voidspirit would be troublesome even if the man was gravely wounded. Voidspirit was, after all, Grandmaster Chong Xuan’s brother. He would have some skills and defensive treasures. With the need to find and help his mentor, he’d have to find another time to help Wang Lin with this problem.

The situation seemed to diffuse when Wang Lin rose to his feet. Voidspirit’s eyes narrowed, locking onto the younger cultivator.

As Wang Lin moved, Zhou Yi erupted with a chilling aura. He became a living blade, hurtling towards Voidspirit.

As Zhou Yi charged, Wang Lin stepped forth, his hand forming a mystic seal. Flames ignited in his eyes, spreading to his hand. A Vermillion Bird of fire materialized before him, its screech echoing through the hall as it joined Zhou Yi’s assault.

“You court death!” Voidspirit roared. With a wave of his hand, a swirling vortex of ochre earth appeared, sweeping towards the attackers.

Wang Wei sighed; he had to interfere. Zhou Yi and Wang Lin would be destroyed. He owed the cultivator for his assistance and Wang Lin had brought Qing Shuang’s body back for burial.

With a silent sigh, Wang Wei gestured, and a shimmering, iridescent curtain of water materialized, racing towards the ochre vortex.

“Seal!” Wang Wei commanded.

The water curtain dissolved into mist, enveloping the vortex. It constricted, merging into the earth and causing it to falter and shatter into swirling sand. Voidspirit’s ploy was ruined by Wang Lin’s audacity and cunning. In his youth, Voidspirit wouldn’t dare attempt such a bold move.

Even among those of renown, such decisiveness was rare.

The vortex collapsed, allowing Wang Lin’s Vermillion Bird to pierce through the scattering earth. The flames blazed, engulfing the hall in heat as it hurtled towards Voidspirit.

Wang Lin’s attack, devoid of the fearsome iron sword, held no fear for Voidspirit. He worried for Wang Wei, Hu Juan, and Bei Luo.

Facing Wang Lin’s assault, Voidspirit produced a black pouch, slapping it open with a single move. A cloud of purple-grey erupted, transforming into a viscous mire, its foul reek spreading towards Wang Lin and Zhou Yi.

Bei Luo grinned and strode forward, appearing at the mire’s edge. With a single, ferocious inhalation, the mire vanished into his mouth like water drawn into a whale.

His eyes gleaming with avarice, he licked his lips and lunged towards Voidspirit, his hand outstretched.

Voidspirit’s face twisted in horror. He retreated, hands weaving incantations, unleashing a series of thunderous booms.

The Vermillion Bird, meanwhile, struck, the intense heat and crashing into the Grandmaster’s shoulder. Voidspirit roared and his Yuan Spirit burst out of his body and enveloped him in protection, his body flicking like a switch to go next to the Grandmaster. When Wang Lin’s divine bird slammed nearby, he thrust a hand out.

With his formidable power, the Vermillion Bird shattered, scattering flames. Without pausing, he dodged to the side, trying to escape Bei Luo.

But Bei Luo was faster. They chased each other through the hall, each step marked by deafening crashes. With each strike, Voidspirit paled.

Fueled by demonic energy, Bei Luo unleashed a barrage of spells without incantations. His bewildering assault left Voidspirit reeling, forced to defend desperately.

Even more maddening, the shattered Vermillion Bird reformed, its flames burning even brighter, charging towards Voidspirit once more.

No matter how many times Voidspirit destroyed it, the flames reformed, making the creature an unkillable soul. Zhou Yi, a blur of sword-light, followed closely, seizing any opportunity to strike.

The village woman hesitated, her desire to aid her companion warring with the memory of Wang Lin’s words and the fearsome iron sword.

She froze, averting her gaze, her resolve crumbling.

Voidspirit paled. Adding to his peril, Wang Wei stood, forming a pincer movement with Bei Luo, their combined presence a suffocating threat.

“If you noble beings refrain from interfering, I relinquish all claim to the Immortal Emperor’s treasures! I vow to aid you in overcoming all seals and barriers within this tomb!” Voidspirit cried as Wang Wei made his move.

Wang Wei and even Bei Luo paused.

At that moment, another presence entered the hall. The Heavenly Fate Child, trailed by Ling Tianhou and the gourd-carrying elder, stepped within.

Ling Tianhou blinked in surprise, but the Heavenly Fate Child merely smiled knowingly, his gaze lingering on Voidspirit.

“Heavenly Fate Child, help me!” Voidspirit gasped, retreating. But as he moved, Wang Lin completed his incantation. The reformed Vermillion Bird crashed down, but did not strike Voidspirit directly, but instead unleashed a shockwave. In that instant, Zhou Yi’s sword-light erupted with unprecedented ferocity, infused with the chaotic energy of a Sub-Nirvanic treasure, striking a blow directly to Voidspirit’s Yuan Spirit.