Chapter 168: The Chaos Witch King

Chapter 168: The Chaos Witch King

The Emperor's Tomb was shrouded in endless darkness, teeming with Yin Evil creatures.

To the north of the Emperor's Tomb lay an underground forest, dense with vegetation, where wisps of Yin Evil energy drifted among the leaves and branches.

Two Transcendent Realm Elders fled frantically through the forest, their Bone Garments in tatters, sweat pouring down their bodies, their hair disheveled, looking as wretched as beggars.

"Boom—"

Behind them, a crimson mist surged forward rapidly.

Within the mist loomed towering figures, each five meters tall, clad in armor and wielding massive swords. Their faces, visible through the helmets, were grotesque—wide, bloodthirsty maws and ghastly green visages with fangs.

Over two hundred Blood Fiend Generals pursued them relentlessly.

The two Transcendent Realm Elders were soon surrounded.

One of the elders transformed into a towering tree, its branches sharp as blades and leaves hard as iron, slashing at the Blood Fiend Generals. The other elder summoned bolts of lightning and thunder, his aura overwhelming.

"Roar—"

Despite their profound cultivation, the two elders were ultimately overwhelmed by the Blood Fiend Generals, unable to break free.

Ning Xiaochuan, Ji Hanxing, Yu Qianqian, and Yue Mingsong stood atop one of the Blood Fiend Dragon's claws, observing the fierce battle below.

One of the Transcendent Realm Elders suddenly shot into the air like a bolt of lightning, unleashing a massive palm strike as he glared at Ning Xiaochuan. "Brat, die!"

A Profound Qi Cloud erupted from the elder's body as he charged forward with unstoppable momentum.

"Roar—"

The Blood Fiend Dragon roared and swiped its claw downward, shattering the elder's techniques and slamming him into the ground.

The elder, now severely wounded, collapsed back into the encirclement of Blood Fiend Generals. His back was riddled with wounds, and had it not been for his formidable cultivation, his body would have been torn apart.

The other elder transformed into a Mystic Wood, lashing out with a lightning-wreathed branch toward the four atop the dragon's claw.

The Blood Fiend Dragon struck again, uprooting the entire Mystic Wood and hurling it away.

The Mystic Wood let out a pained cry before reverting to human form and fleeing into the distance.

"Thud—"

The first Transcendent Realm Elder, already injured by the Blood Fiend Dragon, was finally cut down by a flurry of swords, collapsing in a pool of blood.

No matter how powerful one's cultivation, facing hundreds of Blood Fiend Generals could only end in bloodshed.

"Only one left. Chase them!"

Ning Xiaochuan refused to let any enemy escape, lest they seek revenge in the future.

Hundreds of kilometers away from the underground forest, another fierce battle raged in a valley.

Hundreds of students from the Emperor's Martial Palace were besieged by a massive force of Blood Fiend Generals. They formed defensive formations, barely holding their ground.

The five strongest experts of the Emperor's Martial Palace—Xiao Cheng of the Cloud Alliance, Han Fu of the Law Enforcement Team, Zhuo Yufan of the Tianli Society, Ling Qingwu of the Chazi Society, and Zhao Weici of the Ghost Book Society—stood guard at five key positions, summoning five radiant pillars to protect the students at the center.

These five individuals were all peerless talents, the most powerful among the current students of the Emperor's Martial Palace. Once they left the Emperor's Martial Palace, they would undoubtedly be courted by many major factions, easily granted titles like Grand General or Grand Marshal. The appearance of any one of them in the Imperial City would cause a massive stir. Though they were still students at the Emperor's Martial Palace, their fame had long spread across the world.

Yet who could have predicted that these five mighty heroes would now be on the verge of collapse, their Profound Qi nearly depleted, teetering on the brink of exhaustion?

"If this continues, we’re doomed. The number of Blood Fiend Generals keeps increasing, while our Profound Qi grows thinner. In another quarter-hour, I fear my reserves will be completely drained," said Zhao Weici, leader of the Ghost Book Society, his face pale but his teeth clenched in determination.

A year ago, Zhao Weici had single-handedly repelled 8,000 soldiers of the Haiyue Dynasty at the border of the Yulan Empire, saving an entire town and leaving behind a legendary reputation. But now, a year later, he found himself cornered by a horde of Blood Fiend Generals.

"My Profound Qi can only last another quarter-hour. If the elders of the Emperor's Martial Palace still can’t break open the Emperor's Tomb, this place will become our grave," said Ling Qingwu, leader of the Radiant Blossom Society.

"I can hold out for another half-hour. After that, it’s up to fate," said Han Fu, captain of the Law Enforcement Team.

"Then why don’t we disband the formation now, while we still have strength left, and risk a desperate fight?" suggested Xiao Cheng, leader of the Cloud Alliance.

Zhuo Yufan, leader of the Tianli Society, objected, "No! If we disband the formation, the other students inside will surely die at the hands of the Blood Fiend Generals. How could we face the elders of the Emperor's Martial Palace then? Return with nothing but bones?"

"Sentimental nonsense!" Xiao Cheng retorted. "Most of these students are already infected with Corpse Poison. Even if the Blood Fiend Generals don’t kill them, they won’t survive the night."

"Ning Xiaochuan is refining an antidote for the Corpse Poison. As long as the elders arrive in time, they can still be saved," Zhuo Yufan insisted.

"Ning Xiaochuan? What is he worth? In front of the Blood Fiend Generals, he’s nothing but an ant—probably already dead," Xiao Cheng sneered.

Just then, twelve Native Warriors arrived in the valley. These warriors were unnaturally powerful, and the man at their forefront stood tall and imposing, his strides confident, his thick eyebrows and piercing eyes radiating an overwhelming pressure. Clad in Witch King Armor with a dark gold cape billowing behind him, he exuded an aura of unquestionable authority.

At the sight of this armored man, Han Fu's face paled in shock. "The Chaos Witch King!"

The Chaos Witch King was one of the four Great Witch Kings among the Natives, a cultivator of the Earthly Venerable Realm, and ranked among the top ten on the Emperor's Martial Palace's Martial Venerable Wanted List. Though Han Fu, as captain of the Law Enforcement Team, had never met the Chaos Witch King in person, he had seen his portrait on the wanted list and recognized him instantly.

Most of the students from the Emperor's Martial Palace had heard of the Chaos Witch King's infamous name. Now that they stood face-to-face with this demonic figure, their expressions turned pale, and despair welled up in their hearts.

The Chaos Witch King clasped his hands behind his back and said, "Excellent. Half of the Emperor's Martial Palace's elite geniuses have gathered here. If I were to kill you all, the Emperor's Martial Palace would surely suffer a devastating blow. Truly, the heavens favor me!"

Zhuo Yufan responded with neither humility nor arrogance, "Chaos Witch King, do you truly believe the Emperor's Martial Palace lacks the power to exterminate you Natives? The Palace merely uses you as training fodder for its students. If you dare to make an enemy of the Emperor's Martial Palace, its experts can end your life at any moment."

The Chaos Witch King sneered mockingly, "You clearly don’t understand the current situation. I now command over ten thousand Blood Fiend Generals. Once they storm Emperor's City, it will mark the downfall of your Emperor's Martial Palace."

"Heavens! Ten thousand Blood Fiend Generals!"

"The Natives are launching a counterattack against the Emperor's Martial Palace. They must have been planning this for years."

Fear spread among the students in the battle formation. One could only imagine the terrifying might of ten thousand Blood Fiend Generals attacking simultaneously.

At that moment, a Transcendent Realm Native Elder staggered into the valley, grievously wounded, and collapsed before the Chaos Witch King. "Witch King... disaster... disaster has struck..."

The Chaos Witch King's expression darkened as he sensed something amiss. His sharp gaze turned toward the valley entrance.

A crimson cloud surged forward.

Boom!

A Blood Fiend Dragon smashed through the valley entrance, standing defiantly before the Chaos Witch King. It let out a furious roar, sending the dozen or so Native Warriors around the Witch King flying.

The Chaos Witch King stood firm as an unshakable pillar of divine iron, his piercing eyes locked onto the Blood Fiend Dragon. What had happened?

Ji Hanxing stood atop the dragon's claw and declared, "Chaos Witch King, the decades-long conspiracy of you Natives has been crushed by us. Surrender now!"

Ning Xiaochuan raised the Yin-Yang Furnace, unleashing hundreds of streams of Yin energy that seeped into the bodies of the Blood Fiend Generals. Within moments, hundreds of them in the valley fell under his control.

With the Blood Fiend Generals no longer attacking, the five top experts of the Emperor's Martial Palace disbanded their formation.

"It's them! They’re standing on the claw of a Blood Fiend Dragon—why isn’t it attacking them?" All the students stared in shock at Ning Xiaochuan, Ji Hanxing, Yu Qianqian, and Yue Mingsong.

"I saw Ning Xiaochuan release streams of Yin energy, and then the Blood Fiend Generals stopped attacking us. Could he be controlling them?"

"Very likely! Look at that divine furnace in his hand—it resembles the legendary Yin-Yang Furnace!"

"They actually foiled the Natives' grand scheme. They’ll be hailed as heroes across the entire Emperor's Martial Palace!"

Many students felt a wave of relief, grateful to Ning Xiaochuan and his companions for saving them. Yet, amidst the gratitude, envy burned in the eyes of others, their gazes filled with resentment.

Outside the valley, over two hundred Blood Fiend Generals charged in, joining the four hundred already present, forming a force of nearly seven hundred. They assembled into a battle formation, encircling the Chaos Witch King at its center.

This was a warrior of the Earthly Venerable Realm. Even with Ning Xiaochuan wielding the Yin-Yang Furnace, he could at best protect himself—there was no way he could shield the other students of the Emperor's Martial Palace.

Standing atop the claws of the Blood Fiend Dragon, clad in his white academy robe, Ning Xiaochuan spoke with arrogant defiance: "Chaos Witch King, you spent decades preparing, exhausting countless resources and manpower, all to strike back at the Emperor's Martial Palace. But you never dreamed that your efforts would merely pave the way for me. Now, everything belongs to me!"

Ning Xiaochuan deliberately provoked the Chaos Witch King. Only by making the Witch King fixate on him as a sworn enemy would the tyrant abandon all reason to kill him—giving the other Emperor's Martial Palace students a chance to survive.

Though individuals like Xiao Cheng of the Cloud Alliance and Han Fu of the Law Enforcement Team were hardly worth saving, many among the students still deserved rescue. These people might one day become invaluable allies.

Compared to killing, Ning Xiaochuan preferred saving lives.