Great Villain: Starting by Humiliating the Son of the Heavenly Fate

Next, the Golden Cicada Umbra Shield Skill! Without any hesitation, Jiang Chen began practicing the second cultivation method.

When it came to the Metal Dao, he had already gained a deep understanding of its teachings. He was very close to fully mastering the principles of its Sharpness nature.

Also, his understanding of the Golden Cicada Umbra Shield Skill had reached the Great Accomplishment-level.

As a result, the remaining energy in the Wordless Heavenly Jade was more than enough.

The process of practicing this cultivation method was similar to what he had done before.

A wave of enlightening energy came from the Wordless Heavenly Jade. Some of it entered his soul, while the rest combined with his body.

In an instant, Jiang Chen had perfected the Golden Cicada Umbra Shield Skill to the highest level.

Having mastered two Transcendence-level cultivation methods to their fullest, it was clear—even without direct observation—that Jiang Chen’s combat abilities had reached an extraordinary level within the Early-stage Transcendence realm.

As his cultivation continued to grow, these two methods would become even more powerful.

Jiang Chen thought to himself, For now, I’ve gained enough from these methods.

With my other skills, like the invisibility from the Death Eclipsed Moon Dao Embryo, my dragon-human hybrid form, and the Burning World Raging Flames, defeating an average Early-stage Transcendence cultivator would be easy!

Demons, I hope you won’t disappoint me. I expect you’ll bring forth many strong fighters from the Transcendence realm. A glimmer of excitement shone in Jiang Chen’s eyes.

Quickly, Jiang Chen began organizing the other treasures he had obtained from the inheritance peak.

Among these were pills protected by Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning’s secret art, along with a collection of manuals on arrays, alchemy, and crafting.

Jiang Chen thought, The quality and nature of these pills are quite basic; they aren’t very useful for me at my current cultivation level.

It would be better to save them for my Dao Palace realm subordinates.

If any of them manage to reach the Transcendence realm, it would strengthen my position.

As for the array, alchemy, and crafting manuals, with Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning around, there’s no need for me to study them right now.

I might look into them later, once the Wordless Heavenly Jade has plenty of energy.

After finishing his review, Jiang Chen stored everything in the Heavenly Demon Hidden Heart Ring.

Next, Jiang Chen took out his transmission jade token and contacted Ji Mingxiu.

From their conversation, Jiang Chen learned that the most powerful demons and demonic cultivators in the Vibrant Blaze Domain had been eliminated. Those who could be captured alive were imprisoned, while extra care was taken to preserve the bodies of those who resisted capture.

At the moment, only a few weaker demonic cultivators remained hidden in the Vibrant Blaze Domain. These minor threats were left for the disciples to handle.

Additionally, Ji Mingxiu and his team had identified the path the demon army used to invade the Vibrant Blaze Domain.

The demons had used special tunneling demonic beasts to dig a vast underground tunnel, which they used to launch a surprise attack on the Vibrant Blaze Domain, located near the Everflowing Truth Domain.

This matched Jiang Chen’s expectations. After evaluating the situation, he thought, With the Vibrant Blaze Domain mostly secured, our next step should be to destroy the underground tunnel and station a Dao Palace realm cultivator to guard it.

Wu Qian is the right person for the job. With his ability to quickly display Peak-stage Dao Palace realm combat strength, he can hold his ground for a long time, even if the Vibrant Blaze Domain faces another attack.

As for the Ageless Spirit Heavenly Sea, the underwater caves near Blackwood Island don’t need to be a concern for now.

After a moment of thought, he instructed Ji Mingxiu to proceed with the necessary preparations.

Jiang Chen then asked about the current situation in the Doomsday Cave Heaven.

The Doomsday Cave Heaven was vast, but even its enormous size couldn’t escape the attention of many cultivators searching it all at once.

Over time, the treasures hidden within the Cave Heaven had been thoroughly discovered.

Many cultivators had gained great rewards from their efforts.

Upon hearing this, a pleased smile appeared on Jiang Chen’s face.

The Immortal Martial Continent was now better prepared to face the demon race’s invasion.

At that moment, Ji Mingxiu sent another update. After leaving Wu Qian behind, they had entered the Doomsday Cave Heaven and were now preparing to return to the Purple Heaven Holy Land.

People like Bao Xunwu from the Golden Proud Cult and Lu An from the Nine Heavens Tower had expressed their desire to return to their own sects.

Jiang Chen, of course, had no problem with that.

Soon after, Ji Mingxiu and the seven other Dao Palace realm experts went their separate ways within the Doomsday Cave Heaven, each heading back to their own territories.

The entry points to the Doomsday Cave Heaven can be sealed for now. We can always reopen them when needed, Jiang Chen thought. He then took out the special key that controlled access to the Doomsday Cave Heaven and infused it with his Dao Origin Power.

Without delay, all the entryways to the Doomsday Cave Heaven, including the main portal, closed.

...

Elsewhere, in the Pure Frost Domain, the cold winds howled and thick snow swirled through the air.

But this was no ordinary snow—it had streaks of black.

A dark-red glow spread across the vast land, covering everything. Every living being had been corrupted by the Demonic Spiritual Qi!

On the Clear Frost Moon Plucking Peak, many strong cultivators from the Moon Plucking Heavenly Sect were gradually turning into demonic practitioners, surrendering to the ghostly figures of the Nether Soul Demon Clan.

Inside the central hall of the Moon Plucking Heavenly Sect, several important members of the Nether Soul Demon Clan gathered.

One of them spoke up, "The Vibrant Blaze Domain has fallen back into human hands!"

"Ji Junhao has met his end in that mysterious human Cave Heaven."

"He was too reckless. It was clear that place belonged to humans, yet he foolishly went in with a group of useless subordinates."

"We had to secretly help with an attack on the Vibrant Blaze Domain, which allowed us to take it quickly. Ji Junhao sure knows how to make things complicated."

"Now that the Vibrant Blaze Domain is back in human hands and other domains are on alert, it will be much harder to launch another stealthy attack."

The demons continued to meet and discuss the humans regaining control of the Vibrant Blaze Domain.

Although they were already aware of the situation, hearing it again made them scorn Ji Junhao, who had passed away.

After a brief moment of disdain, the group fell silent once more.

"Enough talk about the Vibrant Blaze Domain," a demon at the Dao Palace realm interrupted. "Our main army is getting ready to move."

He continued, "The spatial passage in the Bottomless Abyss is opening wider. Once our main force arrives, the conquest of the Immortal Martial Continent will begin."

"Isn’t that obvious?" a fellow Dao Palace realm demon replied, his expression serious. "But if our main army arrives and sees the mess we’ve made, won’t that be embarrassing?"

A different Dao Palace realm demon spoke up, "We were the vanguard. Many of us have already arrived here."

"We thought we would easily move through much of the Immortal Martial Continent and prepare the way for the main force. But the situation is far from what we expected."

He paused, then said nervously, "I’m even worried the Demon Lord might punish us."

"That’s true. Before the main army arrives, we need to prove ourselves!" one of the demons agreed seriously.

"Prove ourselves? How exactly? By launching a direct attack on the Purple Heaven Holy Land?"

"That would definitely lead to a fierce battle. Some of us could end up like Long Tianlu and die."

As the discussion continued, the demons became more and more focused on their situation.