Chapter 34
Inside the main hall, Zan Yunxiao quietly listened while Zan Wei gave the latest report regarding the imperial capital incident.
“The demonic cultivators have all been eliminated,” Zan Wei said seriously.
“Their purpose was to kidnap children.”
A faint killing intent flashed across the hall.
Then Zan Wei continued with a grim expression.
“They intended to use the children as sacrifices to feed the Demon King. And after the interrogation I got a information that the Demon King realm is in 4th Nascent Soul Realm.”
The moment Zan Yunxiao heard those words.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“…The Demon King again.”
At this point, the repeated system missions finally started making sense.
Every major incident somehow connected back toward that existence in the northern region.
The demonic cultivators.
The kidnappings.
The strange infiltration.
All roads pointed toward the Demon King.
Zan Wei continued explaining,
“Fortunately, the infiltrators were only around the 3rd to 5th Qi Refinement Realm.”
“We eliminated them before they could escape.”
Then his expression relaxed slightly.
“And thanks to Emperor Hong Se, the capital was completely sealed.”
“He personally activated large-scale talismans to prevent spatial escape and concealment techniques.”
Zan Yunxiao lightly nodded.
Hong Se was truly good at talisman.
Although his cultivation talent was mediocre, his understanding of formations and talismans had become quite impressive over the years.
Without those sealing talismans.
Several demonic cultivators might have escaped.
But while listening.
Zan Yunxiao’s thoughts gradually turned heavier.
Because one problem remained.
If the Demon King learned his subordinates were completely wiped out.
Then retaliation might come eventually.
And if a true large-scale demonic invasion descended upon the Crimson Empire right now.
The Zan Clan was not fully prepared yet.
Especially him.
Golden Core Realm was powerful within the empire.
But against a 4th Nascent Soul realm Demon King, repeatedly highlighted by the system.
It was probably insufficient.
At that moment, Zan Yunxiao slowly stood from the patriarch seat.
The atmosphere immediately became quiet.
Zan Wei looked upward slightly.
“Father?”
Zan Yunxiao’s gaze turned toward the distant northern skies.
Then he calmly spoke.
“I’ll enter seclusion.”
Everyone’s expressions became serious instantly.
Zan Yunxiao continued calmly,
“Before the Demon King moves…”
“…I must reach Nascent Soul Realm.”
The pressure in the hall subtly changed.
Nascent Soul Realm.
Even hearing the name felt distant and terrifying.
That realm represented a powerhouse among cultivators.
A level where one could establish a sect and survive for thousands of years.
Without wasting further time, Zan Yunxiao directly left the hall.
Soon.
He arrived once more at the mountain cave beneath the Zan Clan grounds.
Dense spiritual energy flowed throughout the cave like mist.
At the center sat the enormous spirit stone vein discovered years ago.
Zan Yunxiao calmly sat cross-legged before it.
Then slowly closed his eyes.
This time.
His goal was clear.
Break through.
Reach Nascent Soul Realm.
Only then would he possess the confidence to face the Demon King.
. . .
Five years quietly passed inside the mountain cave.
The dense spiritual energy surged endlessly around Zan Yunxiao while the Zan Heaven Veiling Scripture circulated continuously within his body.
At the very center of the cave, a terrifying pressure slowly spread outward.
Boom.
A silent shockwave erupted from Zan Yunxiao’s body.
His Golden Core finally shattered completely.
And within his dantian.
A tiny Nascent Soul slowly opened its eyes.
At that moment, Zan Yunxiao officially stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm.
More importantly.
Because of the Zan Heaven Veiling Scripture’s concealment abilities, he completely avoided the heavenly lightning tribulation that normally descended during breakthrough.
Even the heavens failed to notice his advancement.
Slowly, Zan Yunxiao opened his eyes.
A terrifying aura briefly leaked from his body before vanishing instantly beneath the concealment technique.
1st Nascent Soul Realm.
The moment he stepped out from seclusion.
The familiar system notification appeared immediately.
[DING!]
[Mission Issued]
[Option 1: Kill the Demon King in the Northern Region
Reward: 100 years of cultivation
Option 2: Flee the Empire
Reward: 1,000 High-Grade Spiritual Stones]
Zan Yunxiao looked at the second option briefly.
Then scoffed lightly.
“Flee?”
Now that he finally reached Nascent Soul Realm.
His confidence naturally rose tremendously.
“Option 1”
[Ding!]
[Host Selected Option 1 Kill the Demon King in the Northern Region]
[Reward upon completion: 100 years of cultivation]
Without wasting time, Zan Yunxiao disappeared from the mountain cave and directly went to find Zan Wei.
The moment Zan Wei saw him, his pupils slightly contracted.
Even though Zan Yunxiao concealed most of his aura, Zan Wei could still vaguely sense the terrifying pressure hidden beneath it.
Zan Wei immediately bowed respectfully.
“Congratulations, Father, for reaching Nascent Soul Realm.”
Zan Yunxiao lightly nodded before asking directly,
“Did the Demon King move?”
Zan Wei’s expression immediately became serious.
“Yes.”
“The Demon King already attacked several villages in the northern region.”
“Almost no survivors remained.”
A faint killing intent flashed across Zan Yunxiao’s eyes.
Before he could leave.
The system notification suddenly appeared.
[DING!]
[New Function Unlocked: All-Seeing Eye.]
The moment the function activated, a transparent information panel appeared before Zan Yunxiao similar to an encyclopedia.
[All-Seeing Eye: A system function that allows the Host to instantly extract information from any living being without interrogation. You can view their cultivation realm, family background, bloodline, physique, hidden secrets, and even fragments of their past life through a transparent encyclopedia-like panel.
Additional Function: Fate Assessment
By analyzing cultivation, techniques, treasures, bloodlines, hidden trump cards, and surrounding factors, the All-Seeing Eye can instantly determine the most likely outcome of a confrontation whether you win or lose.]
Without hesitation, he immediately asked the system.
“What realm is the Demon King? And what chances of winning?”
The system responded instantly.
[Target: Demon King
Cultivation Realm: 4th Nascent Soul Realm
Battle Assessment: Win]
Zan Yunxiao narrowed his eyes.
Four minor realms above him.
Dangerous.
In the past, facing such an opponent would have been akin to courting death. But now, things were different.
With the All-Seeing Eye's Fate Assessment, the system had already calculated the outcome using countless factors, their cultivation, techniques, treasures, bloodlines, hidden cards, and even the surrounding environment.
A simple word appeared before him.
Win.
That was enough.
A look of surprise flashed across his face.
"This All-Seeing Eye is truly a heaven-defying function."
"Not only can it uncover a person's background and secrets, but it can even determine the outcome of a battle before it begins."
For cultivators, information was power.
Knowing an enemy's cultivation was valuable.
Knowing whether one could win or lose was priceless.
Zan Yunxiao couldn't help but praise the system inwardly.
"System, this function is excellent."
The system remained silent as always.
A faint smile appeared on Zan Yunxiao's lips as battle intent surged within his eyes.
"If the system says I can win..."
"Then the Demon King is already a dead man."
Then he immediately asked another question.
“Where is the Demon King now?”
The All-Seeing Eye quickly provided a location.
The Northern Region.
Advancing toward the Northern City.
The moment Zan Yunxiao received the answer.
His figure vanished instantly from the hall.
Boom!
A powerful gust of wind erupted behind him as he shot through the skies at terrifying speed.
Several hours later.
The silhouette of a massive city gradually appeared in the distance.
Northern City.
The atmosphere there was already filled with panic and tension.
Soldiers gathered along the walls and prepared defensive formations everywhere.
The city gates were tightly shut and the walls was covered by the defensive talisman.
Civilians hurried through the streets carrying supplies while fear spread across everyone’s faces.
Standing outside the Northern City, Zan Yunxiao quietly observed the tense atmosphere surrounding the walls.
The soldiers looked exhausted already despite the battle not even beginning yet.
Fear spread throughout the city like a plague.
Meanwhile, Zan Yunxiao calmly spread his spiritual sense across the area.
Soon, he discovered several rogue cultivators hidden among the defenders.
Most were only at Qi Refinement Realm.
Weak. Very weak.
Still, considering the current situation, even rogue cultivators were valuable combat strength.
But what truly surprised Zan Yunxiao.
Was the Demon King’s behavior.
The Demon King was not attacking directly.
Instead, several kilometers away from the city, a massive demonic encampment had been established.
Barracks.
Supply camps.
It looked more like an organized siege army rather than a reckless demonic invasion.
Zan Yunxiao narrowed his eyes slightly.
The Demon King was planning to starve the city to death.
A slow siege.
This meant the Demon King was intelligent and patient.
Far more troublesome than mindless monsters.
After confirming the Demon King’s location, Zan Yunxiao quietly moved.
His Zan Heaven Veiling Scripture activated fully, concealing his aura almost completely.
Even the surrounding spiritual energy naturally avoided him.
Like a ghost.
He silently traveled toward the demonic camp outside the city.
Several kilometers away.
The demonic barracks gradually came into view.
Black banners fluttered beneath the night wind while countless demonic soldiers patrolled the surroundings.
The atmosphere felt cold and oppressive.
Some demonic cultivators sat around strange blood-colored formations.
Zan Yunxiao’s eyes gradually turned colder the more he observed.
Zan Yunxiao silently infiltrated the very center of the demonic encampment.
His presence was almost nonexistent.
Even the Nascent Soul Demon King failed to notice him immediately.
Inside the largest black tent at the center of the camp, several powerful demonic cultivators were gathered together.
Among them sat the Demon King himself.
A tall man wearing dark crimson robes, surrounded by dense demonic energy that distorted the air around him.
Several Golden Core demonic cultivators stood nearby while discussing their plans.
One of them laughed darkly.
“Once the Northern City falls, the rest of the settlements will panic.”
Another sneered.
“The mortals are already starving.”
“They won’t last long.”
Even the Demon King smiled coldly.
“After this city…”
“We advance south.”
“The Crimson Empire will belong to us.”
The entire tent filled with laughter.
In their eyes.
Victory was already guaranteed.
Meanwhile, outside the tent, Zan Yunxiao listened calmly.
He raised one finger slowly.
Golden spiritual energy silently condensed at the tip.
This was the perfect opportunity.
All the strongest demonic cultivators were gathered together.
Including the Demon King himself.
No better chance would ever appear again.
The surrounding air quietly trembled.
“Sun Extinguishing Divine Finger.”
Boom!!!
A terrifying golden beam erupted instantly from Zan Yunxiao’s fingertip.
The attack crossed space almost instantly.
Inside the tent.
The Demon King’s expression suddenly changed violently.
He sensed danger.
A deadly danger.
“Tch—!”
Before he could even finish reacting.
The golden light descended.
The expressions of the Golden Core demonic cultivators instantly turned into terror.
Boom!!!!!
A catastrophic explosion erupted at the center of the camp.
The earth shattered.
The sky trembled.
A gigantic wave of spiritual energy swept across the battlefield, obliterating everything in its path.
The entire central encampment vanished completely.
No screams remained.
No corpses remained.
Only a massive crater existed where the Demon King and his strongest subordinates once stood.
The surviving demonic cultivators outside the blast radius froze in horror.
Then panic erupted instantly.
“The Demon King—!”
“What happened?!”
“Enemy attack!”
But before they could escape.
Zan Yunxiao appeared among them like a phantom.
Silver sword light flashed repeatedly through the battlefield.
One after another.
The remaining demonic cultivators were slaughtered completely.
None escaped.
Minutes later.
The entire demonic encampment became silent.
Only burning ruins and shattered earth remained beneath the night sky.
Zan Yunxiao calmly stood at the center of the destroyed battlefield.
Then the familiar system voice rang out.
[DING!]
[Congratulations Host for completing the mission.
Reward: 100 years of cultivation obtained.]