In Yunshui City, on its somewhat desolate streets, Li Yi had once again donned his black robe, perfectly concealing his face. After all, having made quite the appearance in Yunshui City this time, being recognized could inevitably lead to some trouble. Gong Wushuang was walking beside him, pondering for a long time before asking lightly, "Where will you go next?"
"Me?" Li Yi was slightly taken aback before smiling lightly, "I guess I should be heading home now. It's been almost a month since I left, and I've resolved what needed to be resolved. Next, I should rest at home for a while. The Divine Ceremony at the Martial Deity Temple isn't too far off..."
"You're planning to attend the Divine Ceremony?" Gong Wushuang seemed slightly surprised, pressing urgently.
Li Yi nodded, "Naturally. Missing out on an event like the Divine Ceremony would be a loss..."
At this point, he seemed to recall something, glanced at Gong Wushuang with a mischievous smile, "But don't worry. It's just a Divine Ceremony. Could I possibly die there?"
Gong Wushuang's expression darkened slightly as she said solemnly, "Do you really not know, or are you pretending not to know? Are you unaware that the Divine Ceremony is also known as the Blood Ceremony? It's considered good if one out of a hundred participants makes it out alive! Often, not even one survives. It's better to avoid such places if possible."
Li Yi looked at Gong Wushuang curiously, then frowned, "Have you been there?"
"No," Gong Wushuang shook her head slightly, then looked at Li Yi with confusion, "Usually, those who participate in the Divine Ceremony are the least favored in their families, knowing they can't access high-level techniques and martial skills within their family, they have no choice but to take this path... But you, not to mention your family, that master behind you must be a terrifying figure, right? With your background and strength, why would you need to go to such a place?"
Li Yi smiled lightly, "Speaking of which, I really have no choice but to participate... For others, the Divine Ceremony might be terrifying, but for me, hehe... It's a crucial step for advancing to Warrior."
"Warrior? But you're already..." As she spoke, Gong Wushuang caught Li Yi's teasing glance.
Gong Wushuang sighed softly, "Forget it, you're always so mysterious and strange, I can't even figure out your real strength anymore! Go if you must, but remember, only those below Warrior can participate, and I can't accompany you."
"I'm well aware of that," Li Yi nodded, "So, you'll be free while I'm gone?"
Gong Wushuang's expression changed for a moment before she shook her head helplessly. As they talked, the two had reached the gates of Yunshui City. Perhaps because many people had already arrived, the city gates were eerily empty. As they boldly walked out, the drowsy soldiers barely opened their eyes for a glance.
"What's our next move? Through the Naga Mountains again?" Walking on a forest path outside the city, Gong Wushuang asked lightly.
"I'm not that foolish," Li Yi smirked, pulling out a map and pointing, "With over a month left, circumventing the Naga Mountains to reach Wanchao City isn't a problem. As long as we arrive before the Divine Ceremony, there shouldn't be any issues..."
"As you wish..." Gong Wushuang glanced at the map and responded indifferently.
"Then let's go." Li Yi nodded, choosing their direction and taking the lead. However, after only a few steps, he suddenly paused, exchanging a glance with Gong Wushuang, a cold smile forming on his lips.
"Friends, since you're here, there's no need to hide..."
"Hehehe... As the rumors say, such an arrogant youth! But, boy, simply detecting us without being able to find us is no skill at all!" A creepy, ghostly voice seemed to come from all directions at once, causing a dizzying effect, as if the space around them was distorting.
Li Yi frowned slightly, the dizziness making him extremely uncomfortable. He immediately activated his Dou Qi, and after circulating it through his body, the feeling subsided a bit.
Gong Wushuang suddenly let out a cold laugh, her voice carrying a chilling intent, "Soul-Snatching Demon Sound! Shadow Demon Sect!"
"Hehehe... It seems there is indeed a master among you, to recognize the likes of the Shadow Demon Sect!? Not bad, not bad... Unfortunately, knowing our identity is meaningless!"
The elusive voice continued, sending shivers down the spine. Gong Wushuang frowned and shouted, "Stop playing tricks! Show yourself!"
With her shout, the temperature around them plummeted, and a blast of cold air swept out from their position as the center, freezing the surrounding mist into ice crystals and instantly encasing the lush trees in ice, creating an eerie scene. However, this did not force anyone out.
The voice chuckled from afar, "Impressive, capable of freezing heaven and earth, you must be at least a King-level fighter! When did the Tianfeng Empire gain such an ice-element King-level fighter? Quite remarkable! But, if you can't find us, even a King-level fighter is meaningless!"
Li Yi and Gong Wushuang exchanged a look, both frowning as their hidden adversary spoke so arrogantly, clearly confident that they couldn't be found. Despite not knowing the origin, the invisibility of their enemy made them exceedingly difficult to deal with. "Could it be the Nalan family?" Li Yi speculated with a frown.
Gong Wushuang shook her head slightly, "Unlikely. Although the Nalan family holds some sway within the Tianfeng Empire, the Shadow Demon Sect's influence is vast and deeply concealed... It's beyond the Nalan family's reach to engage at this level."
"What exactly is the Shadow Demon Sect?" Li Yi asked in a deep voice.
After pondering for a moment, Gong Wushuang replied softly, "I'm not entirely sure myself; it's information I've gathered from various sources... Rumor has it, the Shadow Demon Sect's strength rivals that of the Beidou Sect. They've clashed in the shadows, often to the Beidou Sect's detriment. The sect is formidable and not to be trifled with. Thankfully, their objectives don't seem to involve direct power struggles but rather searching for something. Hence, their relationship with the Tianfeng Empire's major powers remains relatively harmonious. The empire's royal family, the Martial Deity Temple, and the Beidou Sect are likely aware of their existence but have chosen to turn a blind eye to their activities due to their low-profile actions."
"And now they're after..." Li Yi trailed off.
"Most likely for the martial skill you possess," Gong Wushuang deduced after a brief pause.
"What... have you figured out any plan?" The eerie voice chimed in again, "If that's all the ability you have... just surrender quietly. It'll save everyone some effort!"
Before Li Yi could respond, a cold laughter from the Serpent Venerable echoed in his mind: "Left!"
With swift action, Li Yi's Soul Severing Blade was drawn and hurled towards the left. An explosion and sparks flew as a dark figure, emerging as if from thin air, was forced to retreat several steps before landing squarely in Li Yi and Gong Wushuang's path. The figure appeared to be in his thirties, sallow-faced, clad in black, with a faint black aura swirling around him, cloaking his presence completely.
The figure, puzzled by his forced emergence, looked Li Yi up and down before nodding slightly, "Impressive, it's been a while since anyone saw through my techniques. Kid, you do have some skill."
As he made his presence known, Gong Wushuang, without hesitation, raised her right hand, and the ice crystals that filled the air rapidly formed into sharp spikes, hurling towards the man with tremendous force. The man, seemingly amused, commented on the strength of a King-level fighter but hinted at his possible inability to withstand the attack. However, with a wave of his hand, a massive black hand formed from the dark aura enveloped him, protecting him against Gong Wushuang's relentless assault. Despite showing signs of damage, the dark hand did not break.
"The Shadow Demon Sect's myriad shadow hand, is it?" Gong Wushuang sneered, "Tough as a turtle's shell!"
Just as the seal in Gong Wushuang's hand was about to change, Li Yi suddenly let out a muffled grunt, saying, "Be careful!" Gong Wushuang knew he must have his reasons for saying so. Immediately, his figure sharply turned, and the cold air that was originally blasting out suddenly swirled, condensing into a huge ice crystal, encasing the two of them within.
"Bang—Bang—Bang—" In the moment the ice wall formed, at least a dozen dark auras almost simultaneously struck the ice crystal, causing a series of vibrations. After the vibration ceased, on the empty ground outside the ice crystal, more than a dozen dark figures had already flashed from all directions! This scene caused both Li Yi and Gong Wushuang's hearts to tremble slightly, their gazes involuntarily becoming more solemn! Just now, only one person appeared, and although the two of them did not suffer, they did not gain any advantage either. But now, this scene... The opponent clearly came prepared!
Li Yi's mind stirred, and he quickly asked in his mind, "Old Coot! Do you know what this ShadowDemon Sect is?" The Serpent Venerable's faint laughter sounded, saying, "How come, boy... you're asking me now!?" Li Yi snorted in his mind, saying, "Now is not the time for nonsense!" The Serpent Venerable seemed to smile lightly, and after a moment, he spoke softly, "To talk about this ShadowDemon Sect, we must mention the Martial Deity Continent... First, you should know that the Martial Deity Continent is very large, unimaginably so! In such a vast place, naturally, there are various forces. And among the top forces... Hehe, let's put it this way, the Martial Deity Hall is one of those top strengths, and so is this Shadow Demon Sect! As for your North Star Sect, at best, it's considered a third-rate force! Moreover, the origins of the Shadow Demon Sect are mysterious, even I have not fully understood how powerful they are, but everyone who has offended them has died!"
"So troublesome, doesn't that mean I'm doomed today?" "Doomed? Hehe, boy, are you joking?" The Serpent Venerable said faintly, "These dozen people, not even a King among them, you two could lose to them? However, it must be said, the fighting techniques and methods of the ShadowDemon Sect are extremely strange and difficult to deal with. If you're not careful, suffering a great loss is inevitable... But well..."