Chapter 253: Netherworld Outpost Exposed in Ink City, Heartless Demon Python Battles the Princess Co

Chapter 253: Netherworld Outpost Exposed in Ink City, Heartless Demon Python Battles the Princess Consort

Whoosh!

A scorching and vast aura rose into the sky, melting the snowflakes frozen by the cold, turning them into a torrential downpour!

Thunder roared and lightning flashed across the vast sky, tearing through the darkness and illuminating the entire Qianyuan Dao City.

Tiger Whale Gang's territory.

It had become a dead zone.

One after another, incredibly terrifying and powerful auras enveloped the area within a ten-li radius of the Tiger Whale Gang's base, as if an invisible force was distorting the sky, causing the falling raindrops to tilt and deviate from their path.

Li Qingshan, wearing a cat-faced mask, felt a sense of despair so intense that it seemed to freeze even his blood.

The overwhelming pressure of their terrifying cultivation base left him feeling suffocated.

Hunter Pavilion, Three Flowers Rakshasa Assassin!

Due to the Hunter Pavilion's presence in Jingangfu, they had once sent powerful cultivators to contact Li Qingshan.

Therefore, Li Qingshan was well aware of the Hunter Pavilion's assassin rankings.

The Golden-faced Assassin was equivalent to a Divine Gale Grandmaster, the Jade-faced Assassin was a Primordial Grand Master, and some top-tier Jade-faced Assassins possessed the cultivation of the Apex Three Flowers.

Above the Jade-faced Assassins were the Three Flowers Rakshasa Assassins, each of whom was a top-tier assassin meticulously cultivated by the Hunter Pavilion.

They must excel in both martial arts and divine nature, reaching the pinnacle in both.

In terms of martial arts, they were Unparalleled Grand Masters with the Three Flowers at the Apex, and in divine nature, they had reached the Embryonic Breath Exhausted level!

A Three Flowers Rakshasa Assassin was equivalent to a You Liqing.

Of course, facing such an assassin head-on would not be as easy as dealing with You Liqing, but they were still assassins...

Their methods were even more bizarre and ruthless!

Li Qingshan was completely stunned.

In addition to the Three Flowers Rakshasa Assassins, there were also the Jade Curse Corpses of the Corpse Deity Sect, who were equally formidable, comparable to Unparalleled Grand Masters with the Apex Three Flowers.

Apart from these two...

There were also the Lower Rank Five Elders Divine Symbol Masters!

And the Dragon Empress Consort, brimming with killing intent...

Such a lineup...

One might think they were targeting a Martial Saint!

Did his Netherworld Cat Face have such a powerful backing?

His Netherworld Cat Face, comparable to a Martial Saint!

Li Qingshan took a deep breath, and three Capture Spirit Assassins gathered around him.

Even so, they still lacked sufficient strength to resist, unable to withstand the terrifying formation of their opponents!

The Dragon Empress Consort, Ao Yuxin, descended gracefully, her entire body glowing as if emitting light. Every inch of her flesh trembled slightly, her long eyelashes fluttering incessantly, revealing the insane killing intent beneath her eyes.

Netherworld...

Netherworld!

She had sworn to annihilate the Netherworld, and now...

She would not spare a single member of the Netherworld!

"Netherworld Cat Face?"

"You... you're really from the Netherworld?"

The Dragon Empress Consort, Ao Yuxin, stood on the towering wall, her fair skin glowing as if it were covered in scales. She opened her mouth to speak, and the breath that escaped her nostrils seemed to pierce through gold and shatter stones, showcasing the formidable physical strength of the Dragon God bloodline.

Her terrifying physical body was almost on par with a Half-step Martial Saint, causing the falling raindrops to evaporate into mist.

Behind her, a huge and slender dragon shadow appeared, stretching over ten zhang long, coiling and crouching. The massive dragon shadow, with serpent-like horns and a crocodile-like body, danced wildly behind the Dragon Empress Consort, roaring and singing in unison!

Crack! Crack!

In the sky above, thunder rumbled amidst the leaden clouds, illuminating the entire Qianyuan Dao City.

A bead of sweat formed on Li Qingshan's forehead.

His five fingers tightly gripped the Ram Horn Hammer, the immense pressure making it difficult for him to even swing the hammer.

There was no other reason; the gap between them was simply too vast.

His proudest achievement was his cultivation at the Divine Gale Grandmaster level, while the Dragon Empress Consort...

In terms of physical body, being a member of the Dragon God bloodline, she possessed an innate advantage, reaching the Half-step Martial Saint level. Once she broke through the Dragon Gate, she would soar through the Dragon Gate and attain the Martial Saint rank!

In terms of divine nature, the Dragon God bloodline was also formidable, and the Dragon Empress Consort possessed the strength of the Embryonic Breath Exhausted level.

The Sect Leader's wife, Xuan Qisha, could easily suppress the Dragon Empress Consort because she was truly powerful, and her mastery of divine symbols had reached the Divine Symbol Demigod level!

But what about him, Li Qingshan? What was he compared to her?

However, Li Qingshan quickly calmed down. His tall figure suddenly stooped, his hands clasped behind his back, and his black robe fluttered in the wind.

"Since you've discovered me... there's no point in pretending."

"Netherworld Cat Face, I've met the Pacifying Chaos King's Consort."

"Is the Consort working with the Corpse Deity Sect's heretics to deal with me, Cat Face?"

Li Qingshan spoke calmly.

Although his aura had been suppressed to the point of being a thousand times weaker, his determination remained unyielding.

He had to throw mud first.

Moreover, Li Qingshan held the Thunder Flying Chess Piece given to him by the Thunder Dragon in his palm, ready to escape at any moment.

With this thought, Li Qingshan completely relaxed.

As long as he could escape, he had nothing to fear.

Even if he couldn't escape, what could they do?

Li Qingshan smiled lightly, brushing off his black robe. Beneath the cat-faced mask, his eyes were calm and serene, revealing his unwavering determination.

It was just a matter of death.

Hmm?

In the distance, standing around the surrounding walls, the Hunter Pavilion, Corpse Deity Sect, Su Family, and Dragon Empress Consort all showed a hint of surprise.

This Netherworld Cat Face was surprisingly resolute.

The Dragon Empress Consort's back was adorned with a wildly dancing dragon shadow, and she coldly asked, "Where are the Netherworld's Bull Demon, Horse Face, Monkey God, and Black and White Impermanence?"

"Where is your Netherworld base located?"

The Dragon Empress Consort's voice was chilling.

"Hehehe..."

"Consort... show some mercy. Don't kill him right away. Capture him first, and we can slowly interrogate him."

"I've already set up eight 'Calm Wind and Waves' Divine Symbols around here, all of which are Lower Rank Five Elders Divine Symbols. Let's see if this Netherworld Cat Face can break through the 'Calm Wind and Waves' Divine Symbol Formation using the Netherworld's unique teleportation technique."

The voice of the Su Family's Lower Rank Five Elders Divine Symbol Master, with his hunched back and aged appearance, echoed with a hoarse tone.

His words were filled with mockery and playfulness.

This Divine Symbol Master was extremely satisfied with his 'Calm Wind and Waves' Divine Symbol Formation.

As one of the older generation of the Su Family, he was naturally furious about the recent events that had befallen the family.

Especially, the Divine Carving Master Su Huai Ming was even his own younger brother.

These two brothers, one following the path of Divine Talismans and the other the path of Divine Carving, were both nurtured by the Su family's vast resources accumulated over three thousand years, reaching the level of Lower Rank Five Elders Divine Carving Masters.

This was an extremely high level, with a chance to leap into the Demigod realm!

But...

Su Huai Ming actually died!

Killed by the Netherworld!

Yes, the Su family's investigation revealed that the culprit was not the Corpse Deity Sect, but the Netherworld!

Su He Lian died at the hands of the Netherworld, and now Su Huai Ming has also fallen to a Netherworld assassin!

How could the Su family endure this?

The Divine Talisman Master Su Huai Yin finally decided to take action personally.

And when he did, he went all out!

The Netherworld Cat Face?

Just a Divine Gale Grandmaster?

Eight Lower Rank Five Elders' Wind-Calming Divine Talismans were arranged first!

The main reason was the Netherworld's incredibly mysterious teleportation technique, which allowed them to come and go without a trace, causing headaches for many.

To be able to teleport freely within Qianyuan Dao City, this teleportation technique was likely only achievable with the extremely precious Lower Rank Five Elders' Small Teleportation Talismans, crafted by a Divine Talisman Demigod, right?

Therefore, to capture this Netherworld Cat Face...

The Su family spared no expense, and without any hesitation, they directly offered up eight Lower Rank Five Elders' Wind-Calming Divine Talismans!

Blocking the void, leaving no escape!

They would capture this Netherworld Cat Face first!

On the other side.

At the moment when the Divine Talisman Master from the Su family spoke, Li Qingshan felt his hair stand on end.

He looked at the eight talismans floating in the air, blocking eight directions, and the Xuanhuang talisman paper silently burning.

It was as if everything between heaven and earth had solidified.

The air, divine energy, and gentle breeze... all seemed frozen, as if trapped by an unparalleled divine ability! Cold sweat dripped down Li Qingshan's forehead. Could it be?

Eight Lower Rank Five Elders' Divine Talismans?

Is it worth it?

Beneath the Cat Face mask, a hint of unease finally appeared in Li Qingshan's eyes.

The Flying Thunder Chess Piece given to him by the Thunder Dragon was Li Qingshan's greatest assurance of escape.

But now, this assurance...

Seemed to have been anticipated by his opponent!

Li Qingshan's expression changed slightly, and he took a sudden step back, his toes pressing down sharply.

His five fingers spread out, then clenched tightly, and a white chess piece in his palm burst with radiant light, its powerful mental force striking the Flying Thunder Chess Piece he held.

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

Li Qingshan felt the blocked void around him tremble slightly.

...

...

Thunder Listening Alley.

Independent Workshop Courtyard.

Perhaps it was the powerful blood energy surging into the clouds, causing the clouds to melt and turn into raindrops.

The raindrops fell incessantly on the edge of the hood, causing it to crack and explode.

Li Che's tall and robust body wore a Cute Bull Mask.

His eyes beneath the mask seemed to reflect countless streams of light.

At the moment Li Qingshan clenched the Flying Thunder Chess Piece, Li Che felt a message transmitted from the Chess Sage's Dao Fruit, throbbing with excitement.

"The opponent is indeed well-prepared, setting up a Heaven Net Earth Cage to wait for the Netherworld cultivator..."

"Hunt God Pavilion, Corpse Deity Sect, Su Family, and Dragon Empress Consort..."

"The Netherworld's enemies have all gathered."

Beneath the mask, Li Che's lips curled up slightly.

"Using eight Lower Rank Five Elders' Wind-Calming Divine Talismans to block space and solidify the field..."

"Even the most advanced escape techniques would be useless at this moment, leaving no escape!"

"However..."

"The connection between the Heavenly Chessboard and the Flying Thunder Chess Piece remains unbroken, and teleportation is still possible."

"But compared to before, instant teleportation is no longer achievable..."

"Eight Lower Rank Five Elders' Wind-Calming Talismans are not for trivial matters. With this level of blockade, it would take about three breaths to teleport away."

"Three breaths is enough time for Senior Qingshan to be torn apart a hundred times by these powerful cultivators."

This was the situation after the Chess Sage's Dao Fruit had reached maturity level 4.

If it were before, when the opponent used such means, the countdown time would have been extended to ten breaths!

Ten breaths of countdown time.

Facing such a powerful encirclement, it was no different from waiting for death.

"In the end, it's because I'm too weak..."

Li Che murmured.

Reflecting, summarizing, and learning from the experience, Li Che deeply introspected, taking the lesson from the only teammate, Cat Face, who was about to be killed by the enemy.

But the next moment, Li Che's back straightened, his eyebrows furrowed, and his Star-Snatching Pupil opened! Instantly, the Chess Sage's Dao Fruit in his chest throbbed violently.

Boom! Li Che raised his head, and beneath his towering body, his eyes burst with dazzling golden light! The Heavenly Chessboard instantly connected with the Flying Thunder Chess Piece of the Cat Face.

Crossing the void, an invisible connection was established.

At the same time, his arms, like steel and iron, with veins bulging like dragons, rose fiercely, and his five fingers clenched tightly.

In his palm, a drop of ink as black as ink seemed to contain a city within it! With a bang, the rain and air in front of him were instantly crushed and exploded!

...

...

Beneath the Cat Face mask, Li Qingshan's eyes narrowed slightly!

The next moment, he felt the space loosen, as if an invisible connection had been established.

He raised his head.

Above the courtyard, a huge, semi-transparent chessboard suddenly appeared.

On the crisscrossing chessboard, black and white chess pieces were scattered like a starry sky, adorned with dazzling stars.

It wasn't just Cat Face Li Qingshan.

Hunt God Pavilion's Three Flowers Rakshasa, Corpse Deity Sect's Jade Curse Corpse, Su Family's Divine Talisman Master, and Dragon Empress Consort all looked up.

The Su Family's Divine Talisman Master's eyes flashed involuntarily with a strange light! "What... what is this?!"

A chessboard shadow appeared faintly.

"Damn it!"

The Su Family's Divine Talisman Master, Su Huai Yin, who was controlling the eight Wind-Calming Talismans, finally felt something, and a look of shock and anger appeared on his face, wrinkled like the bark of a thousand-year-old tree. "What the hell is this?"

"What?!"

"How is this possible?!"

The Divine Symbol Master from the Su Family, Su Huaiyin, was shocked and enraged. He clenched his fists and formed intricate seals.

From his waist pouch, eighteen Upper Rank Six Courts Divine Talismans soared into the sky, transforming into a terrifying giant cleaver. It seemed as if it would sever the connection between the Heavenly Earth Chessboard and the cat-faced man.

On the other side, the Dragon Queen's black hair danced in the air, and her eyes narrowed upon seeing the Heavenly Earth Chessboard.

In the next moment, her powerful body took a step forward, landing with force.

Boom!

Circles of white, wave-like rings appeared in the air, as if the airflow had been violently disrupted and shattered.

The Dragon Queen's black hair flew behind her, and her eyes, like mirrors, reflected a terrifying dragon aura. Her deep blue eyes were filled with murderous intent.

The Dragon Queen's overwhelming killing intent surged, creating several white rings of air. In less than half a breath, she had reached the cat-faced man's side.

Her five fingers transformed into dragon claws, crushing the air.

She fiercely struck towards the cat-faced man, Li Qingshan, intending to shatter his internal organs, pressure points, and explode his cultivation pill.

At the same time, an incredibly fierce Divine Nature burst forth from her deep blue eyes.

A deep blue light, condensed from her Divine Nature, shot out from her eyes, filled with sharp cutting power. It pierced through Li Qingshan's third eye, the Niwan Palace.

She aimed to completely destroy the cat-faced man's cultivation!

His martial arts and Divine Nature were completely shattered!

The cat-faced man would become a cripple, unable to continue using his spatial movement technique to escape.

The Dragon Queen believed that such a powerful spatial movement technique must require cultivation as support. Without cultivation, even the most ingenious technique would be useless.

Li Qingshan's eyes lost their divine light as he faced the Dragon Queen. With the powerful body of a half-step Martial Saint from the Dragon God Clan, he unleashed a claw strike.

He felt as if the world had dimmed. All the light seemed to have been shattered and lost.

He couldn't see anything!

This was a momentary blindness caused by the overwhelming pressure of a vastly superior cultivation level.

Compared to the Dragon Queen, his cultivation was far too weak.

Just as mortals couldn't bear to look directly at deities, the gap in their cultivations was too great. The Dragon Queen's burst of aura and might could directly shatter the eyes of those who dared to gaze upon her.

He couldn't block it...

Not even a little.

Was he about to die?

Was this the end of his sinful life as the cat-faced man of the Underworld?

Suddenly, the white flying thunder chess piece in Li Qingshan's palm turned pitch black.

The transition from black to white occurred in an instant.

Intense blackness erupted, like an ancient, enormous black gate slowly opening a crack, pulling Li Qingshan's body into it.

"What?!"

"What's happening?!"

The Dragon Queen's eyes narrowed in shock, and her terrifying punch accelerated. With overwhelming force, she slammed into the ink-colored vortex.

Boom!

Terrifying power erupted, and the fierce martial intent of the Dragon God Clan surged like a tidal wave, pounding down.

Boom, boom, boom!

In an instant, the fist's aura exploded, creating a dazzling light.

Brilliant as the sun, vast as the clouds!

The dense ink fog shattered, torn apart by the powerful blood and energy. The Dragon Queen's terrifying, unbound punch slammed into the Tiger Whale Gang's stronghold.

Boom!

Like a massive-yield explosion, the entire Tiger Whale Gang's courtyard seemed to flip over, with spiderweb-like cracks spreading. Hot steam hissed from the shattered ground.

Mud, sand, and stones rose like a tidal wave, creating a curtain several meters high. The substantial shockwave struck the air, creating expanding white rings like ripples in a pond, turning the entire courtyard into a turbulent sea of air.

The Dragon Queen stood amidst the chaotic, broken ground.

Her hair danced wildly, and her deep blue eyes were filled with anger and unwillingness.

Gone?

Disappeared!

The cat-faced man from the Underworld had vanished into thin air!

Spatial movement technique?

No, it wasn't a spatial movement technique!

What kind of method was this?

Cold sweat trickled down the Dragon Queen's back. In that instant, she had glimpsed an ancient and mysterious ink-colored city through the mist.

Where did this city come from?

The Underworld was too mysterious!

This force was shrouded in an impenetrable veil of mystery. The Tiger Whale Gang's stronghold was in ruins, with collapsed walls and shattered houses. Even the cracks spread beyond the long street.

A half-step Martial Saint-level powerhouse had struck the ground with all his might, creating a massive crater and shaking buildings within a ten-li radius, turning them into ruins.

The power of a Martial Saint, even at the initial stage, was earth-shattering!

If not for the Divine Symbol Master from the Su Family using the Eight Tranquil Wind Divine Talismans to restrict the sound and shockwaves, the entire Qianyuan Dao City would have been shaken.

The situation had already attracted the attention of powerful cultivators in the Dao City.

Experts from the Heavenly Origin Sect, the Temple of Suppressing Demons, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, and the Dao Lord Mansion must have sensed it!

"Disappeared? How is that possible?!"

The Dragon Queen was on the verge of madness.

She wanted to capture the Netherworld Cat Face and, through it, locate the Netherworld's forces, and then... kill everyone in the Netherworld!

To avenge You Liqing and her son, Ji Haihui!

Although she had yet to discover who was responsible for Ji Haihui's death, Dragon Queen Consort had no doubts—it had to be the Netherworld!

But the Cat Face had vanished right under her nose, as if it had disappeared into thin air.

"It's not a teleportation technique. With the eight Tranquil Wind Divine Talismans and my Water-Severing Divine Talisman, even a Divine Embryo cultivator using teleportation would be restricted to ten breaths!"

"On the chessboard, there's an ink-colored city."

"Could that city be the Netherworld's stronghold?"

"Was the Cat Face also sent into that city?"

Su Huai's voice was chillingly cold.

He raised his head, and Dragon Queen Consort, the assassins from Hunt God Pavilion, and the powerful Jade Curse Corpse experts from the Corpse Deity Sect, who were already preparing to retreat, all paused and looked up.

They saw a blurry, semi-transparent chessboard with an ink-colored city faintly visible, like a mirage, spanning across it.

"That city..."

Dragon Queen Consort's eyes narrowed.

Indeed!

The Cat Face had entered that city!

Damn it!

Dragon Queen Consort roared in anger.

Then, she tapped her toes and launched herself like a cannonball, as fast as a bolt of lightning surging upstream.

Clenching her fists, she let out a dragon's roar! With a fierce punch, she struck the dissipating chessboard and the ancient ink-colored city.

...

...

Inside the Ink City.

Everything was bathed in ink.

The sky was drizzling with light ink-colored rain.

The Cat Face lay on the ground, his hair spread out, the sheep-horned hammer lying beside him, allowing the ink-colored rain to wash over his mask.

Li Che wore the Ox Demon mask, a hood covering his head, not looking at the Cat Face who had just returned from the Ghostly Gate.

Beside him stood a tall and sturdy figure in golden armor—You Liqing. His black hair danced wildly, and the edges of his golden armor emitted a faint black glow, indicating that he was a Capture Spirit, not a living person.

He quietly stood by the Ox Demon's side.

His eyes were deep and dark.

Li Che indifferently watched Dragon Queen Consort charging madly from outside the ink city.

He saw Dragon Queen Consort's endless fury.

Li Che thought it was time to make her doubt her own son and torment her mentally.

"Old You."

"Calm her down."

Li Che said indifferently.

His voice shattered the ink rain that filled the sky.

"Yes."

After speaking,

With a clang, the golden helmet suddenly fell, completely covering You Liqing's face.

Like a cold and ruthless golden knight, he clenched his fist, and a golden eighteen-foot serpent spear, emitting a golden light, was gripped in his hand.

Taking a swift step forward, the ink-colored city gate swung open!

A twist.

A pass.

Without any emotion...

A stab!

Divine Seed · Ten Thousand Demon Serpent Spear!

...

...

Dragon Queen Consort's hair whipped wildly, and the two dragon horns on her forehead glowed with a crimson light.

Her entire body seemed to transform into a giant true dragon over ten zhang long. The dragon scales shimmered, emitting a bright green light, and the dragon horns, whiskers, and eyes glowed with dazzling brilliance!

A colossal green dragon shadow spanned the heavens and earth.

At the chest of the dragon shadow, Dragon Queen Consort clenched her fists, and with the coiling thunder snakes and the leaden clouds, she let out a fierce roar!

The dragon claws slammed out, and dragon roars echoed through the Heavenly Origin Dao City! Aiming at the blurry, mirage-like ancient ink-colored city suspended in mid-air, Dragon Queen Consort fiercely charged forward, unleashing her pent-up fury!

The pain of losing a child, the humiliation of the talisman suppression, and the grief of her beloved's death!

All of it erupted in this moment!

The dragon shadow collided with the ancient ink-colored city!

Boom—

Suddenly,

To the astonishment of the powerful cultivators, the ancient ink-colored city, which seemed like a mirage on the heavenly chessboard, abruptly opened its gate.

From within, a golden eighteen-foot serpent spear was thrust out! Countless blood auras burst forth, condensing into a terrifying black demon serpent that roared and struck out, as if it could shatter the mountains that reached the sky!

The demon serpent covered the sky, incredibly massive, almost matching the size of Dragon Queen Consort's dragon shadow.

Everyone only saw the demon serpent soaring through the sky.

Their hearts trembled at the sight.

Dragon Queen Consort was the only one who saw the figure who had thrust the spear.

She recognized this spear technique!'

It was You Liqing's second Divine Seed, the Ten Thousand Demon Serpent Spear!

His aura was still formidable, even with a weakened spirit!

You Liqing...

Was he still alive?!

The dragon shadow and the demon serpent collided and exploded in mid-air!

The air currents in mid-air churned like a violently shaking carpet, constantly stirring up waves!

Boom—!!!

Dragon Queen Consort's body trembled as she felt the terrifying power within that spear strike, even her half-step Martial Saint-level flesh body was shaken in this moment, and as she hung in mid-air, she sprayed out dense blood mist.

This spear strike...

Was filled with fierce killing intent, showing no mercy!

This was...

You Liqing? Was this You Liqing, who was willing to suffer severe injuries to block the Locking Spirit Talisman strike for her?!

Dragon Queen Consort was stunned, her heart in turmoil.

She struggled... wanting to see the golden-armored figure clearly.

But when she looked again...

It was like a flower in the mirror, a moon in the water, the chessboard stirred up waves, the ink-colored drum tower dissipated like a mirage, and the figure holding the eighteen-foot divine spear, the incredibly handsome golden-armored divine general, also disappeared...

Dragon Queen Consort felt as if her heart had been pierced.

The pain was so intense that her entire body convulsed.

The killing intent was so strong...

There was not a hint of softness...

Her eyes showed no trace of tenderness, and she saw him as an enemy!

This...

Was not her You Liqing!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end