Chapter Forty-One: The Divine Envoy Faces the Lord of Shadows—Seven Steps of the Netherworld!

Unexpectedly, the nearly vanquished army of shadow soldiers reappeared! And not just a handful—there were a hundred thousand of them!

“Could it be that the Lord of Shadows has once again begun forging a new legion of shadow soldiers… Or perhaps this is the power the King of Chujiang has long kept hidden in darkness…”

Gazing intently at the fierce figures outside the city, each exuding an abyssal and violent aura, the young man’s mind raced with speculation, a faint sheen of sweat breaking out on his brow. The existence of ancient shadow soldiers was terrifying beyond measure. In years past, it was precisely this invincible force that slaughtered the Divine Dynasty’s warriors, leaving them fleeing in panic, their armies routed and shattered.

Now, their return to the realm spoke volumes—no words were needed to grasp the implication.

“So, you are the Divine Dynasty’s envoy who has been hiding in the Realm of Celestial Clouds?”

At that moment, a calm, youthful voice drifted up from below the city walls.

Looking down, the shadowy youth at the fore leaned casually against a massive sword, his expression serene, yet a faint, contemplative smile flickered in his eyes.

“Who are you?” The youth in white frowned at the sight, his gaze deep and inscrutable as he responded coolly.

“Commander Mo Yuan, under the Throne of King Li.”

At these words, Mo Yuan shook his head with a faint chuckle, reaching out to caress the great sword beside him, his voice slow and measured.

The youth in white showed no sign of emotion, a pale light flickering around him as a long spear swiftly took shape in his hand.

“Envoy Bai Leng, under the Divine King Li Qi.”

“Divine Kings and the like are but pigs and dogs—how could they compare to the Ten Lords of the Underworld?”

At Bai Leng’s words, Mo Yuan shook his head slowly, an almost imperceptible glint of murderous intent flashing in the depths of his eyes. He grasped the hilt of his great sword and slowly lifted it.

The sound of earth and stone tumbling echoed as Bai Leng let out a cold laugh, killing intent radiating from his gaze. He strode into the air, advancing toward Mo Yuan.

“Whether the King of Chujiang or the Divine Emperor of my dynasty is superior is not for the likes of you to debate. Perhaps you should worry more about your own safety first…”

His voice dripped with contempt as a surge of killing intent burst forth in his eyes. A terrifying energy, rivaling the late Celestial Realm, erupted around him, and his figure vanished in an instant.

“Die!”

He reappeared above Mo Yuan, a cold gleam flashing on the tip of his spear. As his shout rang out, he thrust down with lethal force!

How dare a mere Quasi-Emperor defy the Celestials?

Yet, in the very next instant, Bai Leng’s expression changed dramatically!

Mo Yuan took a single step, and a fearsome aura erupted around him. A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes as he swung his enormous sword, sending afterimages whirling through the air.

In a split second, the swords and spear clashed at close quarters!

A piercing, mournful hum resounded, and at the point of their collision, a tempestuous storm exploded outward, sweeping in all directions.

Bai Leng was forced to retreat several steps in an instant!

“You… How could a mere Quasi-Emperor possess such power?!”

Staring at Mo Yuan wreathed in that terrifying aura, Bai Leng’s head snapped up, disbelief burning in his crimson eyes as his voice rose, sharp and incredulous.

“A frog at the bottom of a well.”

Though Mo Yuan appeared impassive, he too was suffering, struggling to suppress the surging blood and throbbing pain in his flesh. Nevertheless, he sneered, a trace of disdain in his eyes, and took another step forward.

His aura surged violently!

A domineering energy, akin to that of a mid-stage Celestial, spread around him. He lifted the great sword lightly and, in a blink, closed the distance, slashing down at Bai Leng.

Again, a shrill, chilling hum split the air!

Yet the anticipated scene of evenly matched combat did not occur. At the instant their weapons touched, Bai Leng was sent flying backward like an arrow loosed from its string!

“The Divine Dynasty compared to the Underworld is as a firefly to the luminous moon!”

Without delay, Mo Yuan paused only briefly to steady his internal energy, a profound glint in his eye. As his words fell softly from his lips, he took another step forward.

In a flash, he was upon Bai Leng again, his aura swelling even further. The spiritual energy of the heavens and earth surged to pour into Mo Yuan’s body!

“This is…”

“The Seven Steps of the Netherworld!”

Sensing that with each step Mo Yuan’s aura soared, Bai Leng’s eyes filled with terror, his voice hoarse as he spoke.

Watching Mo Yuan perform the technique, Bai Leng had once thought little of it. Only now did he recall the final battle within the secret realm, when the Lord of Shadows, empowered by this very technique, devastated hundreds of the Divine Dynasty’s greatest champions with a single blow!

Through this footwork alone, a single punch from afar had crippled a third of the Divine Dynasty’s elite!

The Seven Steps of the Netherworld!

With every step, one’s power would undergo a qualitative leap!

Step one: resolve. Step two: force. Step three: gather spirit!

A resounding boom echoed as Mo Yuan’s sword fell. Bai Leng felt boundless sword energy pour into him through every pore!

As endless killing intent rampaged within, Bai Leng’s eyes widened to the extreme. He spat a mouthful of blood and was flung back violently!

“So, the King of Chujiang has entrusted such a technique to a mere commander of shadow soldiers…”

“Truly… unexpected…”

Flung to a distant point, Bai Leng barely managed to steady himself, blood gushing from his lips once more. Deep in his eyes, a subtle glimmer flickered as he forced his trembling body upright, his voice rasping out.

“Now you understand, but it’s a little late.”

Casting a cold glance at the battered Bai Leng, Mo Yuan spoke with calm indifference. He slowly raised his leg and stepped forward.

The fourth step—gathering the gods!

An unprecedented clarity flashed in his gaze, and then he took two more steps in quick succession.

The fifth step—evolving intent. The sixth—borrowing from the heavens!

A terrifying wave of murderous intent erupted around Mo Yuan as the boundless power of heaven and earth surged toward the great sword in his hand!

By now, with three consecutive steps, Mo Yuan had already reached Bai Leng. A cold light flashed in his eyes as he raised the great sword and slashed down!

Boom…

Thunderous explosions rolled as an unparalleled storm erupted, instantly engulfing the place where Bai Leng stood!

Murderous force rampaged, sword energy crisscrossed, tearing open thousands of miles of the void in an instant!

Bai Leng’s body was likewise reduced to a spray of blood mist in that very moment!

“Hahaha… hahahahaha…”

Just then, a nearly maniacal laughter echoed from every direction!

The figure of Bai Leng, whose body had just been obliterated into blood mist, was already rapidly reconstituting itself in the distant void!

“A mere insect—do you really think you can kill a divine envoy like me?!”

A look of bitter mockery flashed in Bai Leng’s eyes. Covering his face with his left hand like a madman, he broke into wild, frenzied laughter.

Mo Yuan remained silent, his gaze growing ever deeper. His answer was to lift his foot and take yet another step forward.

The seventh step falls—a world is born, entombing gods and demons alike!

The instant his foot landed, the terrifying energy around Mo Yuan trembled, as if fusing with the very fabric of heaven and earth!

It was as if the entire world had become Mo Yuan’s own domain!

Endless murderous intent spread, joined by a frigid, dreadful power that instantly enveloped Bai Leng!

“Die!”

At that moment, two icy voices resounded from every corner of the heavens and earth.