Volume 1, Chapter 50: The Hunt Begins

"Let's go, to the Ice and Fire Island."

At Bai Ni-shang's command, the disciples of the Jade Pool Academy also set off.

All the top experts from the four major academies rushed toward the final realm of fortune in the Dragon Gate Battlefield with burning momentum.

Meanwhile, on the Ice and Fire Island.

The entire island was divided into two completely different worlds: one half ice, the other half fire.

Volcanoes and glaciers converged in the very same place, resembling a Yin-Yang Taiji symbol, filling one with awe at the wonders of nature.

Mu Yi, dressed in azure robes, stood with his hands behind his back in front of a massive ice cave, stopping in his tracks.

According to Xian-yue's guidance, deep within this ice cave lay the ruins of the Four Seasons Sword Sect.

Yet Mu Yi did not go in; he simply stayed at the entrance.

Because he was hunting.

Only, his prey had not yet arrived.

Every single treasure within the ruins of the Four Seasons Sword Sect was already firmly within his grasp.

There was no need to rush.

An hour later.

Dust rose behind him.

The prey he had been waiting for had finally come knocking.

"Mu Yi!"

Led by the Hundred Battles Dragon King Yue Jue, the Soaring Cloud Crane King Fang Yi-yu, and the Blood-Handed Tiger King Yao Tian-nan, over four hundred disciples of the Great Qian Academy swept forward like a tempest, charging like a host of tigers and wolves.

When the three of them saw Mu Yi, their eyes instantly filled with boundless joy.

Fortunately, Mu Yi had not fled.

Clearly, he had no idea that all three of them had already stepped into the Yuanfu Realm.

"The disciples of the Spring and Autumn Academy have arrived as well."

"The disciples of the Jade Pool Academy are here too."

Arriving at the same time as the Great Qian Academy were the Spring and Autumn Academy and the Jade Pool Academy.

"Oh? Qing Shu-chen of the Spring and Autumn Academy and Bai Ni-shang of the Jade Pool Academy have actually both stepped into the Yuanfu Realm as well!"

Yue Jue, Fang Yi-yu, and Yao Tian-nan took one look.

At a single glance, they could tell that the auras emanating from Qing Shu-chen and Bai Ni-shang were entirely those of the Yuanfu Realm.

This could only mean that these two had also thoroughly crossed the threshold into the Yuanfu Realm.

"Hahaha! Winds and clouds converge, dragons and tigers vie for supremacy—how could Jun Wu-xie of the Evil Wind Grotto-heaven possibly be missing?"

At that very moment, another massive contingent swept in like a rolling storm.

It was none other than the people from the Evil Wind Grotto-heaven.

The four major academies, alongside the strongest power in the Great Qian Seas—the Evil Wind Grotto-heaven.

The five supreme powers and their ultimate monarchs had all gathered before the ruins of the Four Seasons Sword Sect.

However, compared to the other four factions, which arrived in large and well-ordered formations, the side of the Divine Concealment Academy appeared utterly desolate, consisting of Mu Yi alone.

Yet, despite being just one man, Mu Yi was enough to hold up half the sky.

As long as he remained, not a single soul in the entire Dragon Gate Battlefield dared to look down upon the Divine Concealment Academy.

"Hahaha! Good! They're here, they've finally all arrived."

Mu Yi turned around.

He looked very much like a primordial fierce beast, watching his prey deliver themselves to his doorstep.

He intended to swallow everything whole!

"Mu Yi, you have a lot of nerve. Seeing that the three of us have already stepped into the Yuanfu Realm, you remain completely unfazed?"

Yue Jue, Fang Yi-yu, and Yao Tian-nan formed a triangle, trapping Mu Yi in the center.

"The Yuanfu Realm?"

Mu Yi burst into loud laughter. "Had it been earlier, when my cultivation was only at the second level of the Divine Transformation Realm, the three of you with your current strength could indeed have posed a tremendous threat to me."

"But times have changed. The moment the three of you stepped and stood here, your doom was already sealed."

A ferocious smile crept onto the corners of Mu Yi's lips.

It was time; it was time to end all of this.

"You're courting death!"

Yue Jue, Fang Yi-yu, and Yao Tian-nan were consumed by fury.

They had originally expected that upon seeing them enter the Yuanfu Realm, Mu Yi would tremble with fear or even immediately turn and flee.

Never did they imagine that upon meeting face to face, not only did Mu Yi not run, but his expression carried the unmistakable look of a hunter waiting for prey to walk into the trap.

For the three of them, this was undoubtedly the ultimate insult.

"Sword Dragon Fist!"

Yue Jue made the first move.

Having stepped into the Yuanfu Realm, allowing him to traverse the void, his power was on an entirely different tier compared to the previous Divine Transformation Realm.

He leaped high into the air and struck down with a single fist, sword qi intertwining with his fist print as if attempting to shred the earth itself to pieces.

"His strength has indeed increased tremendously."

Mu Yi had witnessed the other's Sword Dragon Fist before.

At the time, however, Yue Jue's cultivation had merely been at the half-step Yuanfu Realm.

Yet now, he himself was no longer the person he used to be either.

"Hundred Battles Dazzling Dragon Fist!"

He similarly unleashed a single punch.

Fists collided!

Boom!

The earth groaned.

Mu Yi's feet remained firmly planted on the ground, though spiderweb-like cracks had already spread beneath his soles.

As for Yue Jue, he was forced back several meters by a wave of shockwaves, flipping through the air before landing with a somewhat unsightly expression.

Clearly, after this head-on exchange of punches, neither side seemed to have gained any advantage.

"How can this be..."

The first to show shock was Yue Jue.

He was now a genuine, full-fledged Yuanfu Realm expert!

Yet, after exchanging a direct blow with Mu Yi, he was actually unable to gain the upper hand?

"Let me try!"

At that moment, right behind Yue Jue.

A figure wreathed in a bloody aura, like a fierce tiger breaking out of its cage, instantly closed in on Mu Yi.

"Roaring Tiger Heavenly Palm!"

It was none other than the Blood-Handed Tiger King Yao Tian-nan making his move.

The moment he acted, he unleashed an ultimate technique. Amidst countless overlapping tiger shadows, a continuous torrent of ferocious palm strikes generated friction with the air, producing a series of popping, crackling sounds.

"Swift Thunder and Gale Palm."

Mu Yi remained calm, countering palm art with palm art.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

For a moment, onlookers witnessed Mu Yi and Yao Tian-nan exchanging frantic palm strikes within an extremely tight radius.

Boom!

A short while later.

A figure was sent stumbling backward in disarray.

Amidst the dust, the crowd gradually made out the person's appearance.

"It's actually Yao Tian-nan!"

The person forced to retreat was none other than the Blood-Handed Tiger King Yao Tian-nan!

As for Mu Yi, his body remained upright like a fluttering banner, his feet planted steadily on the ground, resembling a supreme deity who would never take a step back!

A hundred branches of a giant tree may sway in the wind, yet the earth remains unshakably still.

This was Mu Yi's supreme arrogance and strength.

"Next, it's your turn, Fang Yi-yu."

Mu Yi stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze falling upon Fang Yi-yu with a hint of playful amusement. "Ever since entering the Dragon Gate Battlefield, we've crossed paths several times, yet you've never once made a move."

"During those first few encounters, you kept hiding inside the Departing Fire Divine Cauldron, claiming you were breaking through to the Yuanfu Realm and unable to fight me."

"Well then, now that you have thoroughly stepped into the Yuanfu Realm, you no longer have any excuse to shirk this, do you?"

Mu Yi's words once again shocked everyone present.

He was actually provoking the Soaring Cloud Crane King Fang Yi-yu!

Did he not realize the perilous situation he was currently facing?

"Hahaha! You have courage!"

The Soaring Cloud Crane King Fang Yi-yu smiled, stepping forward to stare down Mu Yi. "I never imagined that with merely the sixth level of the Divine Transformation Realm, you could actually fight each of us individually to a standstill."

"Unfortunately for you, there isn't just one of us here today, but a full three."

"Once we join forces, you are dead beyond a doubt!"

Fang Yi-yu had also figured it out.

Mu Yi's current combat power was by no means inferior to any of the three of them.

In a one-on-one scenario, Mu Yi indeed had the right to be arrogant.

However, the three monarchs were all gathered here.

No matter what, Mu Yi was facing a dead end.

Therefore, facing Mu Yi's provocation, Fang Yi-yu did not get angry at all.

"You can join forces? What makes you think we can't?"

At that exact moment, a dark figure suddenly materialized before Mu Yi.

"What? Jun Wu-xie, what is the meaning of this?"

In an instant, Yue Jue, Yao Tian-nan, and Fang Yi-yu frowned, their eyes flashing with murderous intent.

For the person who had appeared before Mu Yi was none other than Jun Wu-xie of the Evil Wind Grotto-heaven.