Nameless Region Arc Chapter 77: Mastering the Chessboard (Part Two)

Beyond the core of the World Pearl, Zhou Xuanhong’s figure flickered indistinctly within the shifting tides of barriers. One powerful restriction after another was unraveled, only to be swiftly restored, while Zhou Xuanhong’s silhouette receded ever further into this sea of arcane wards. As he drew closer to the center, the complexity of the enchantments increased, sometimes demanding several hours to break through a single one. Yet, in parallel, Zhou Xuanhong’s comprehension grew ever sharper, his techniques increasingly deft, his insight into the laws underlying these strictures ever deeper.

He soon became utterly absorbed in the process, unable to extricate himself. Unlike the ten years he had spent using Soul-devouring Worms to circumvent restrictions, this firsthand experience was far more authentic, lending his understanding of this world’s subtle laws a new clarity.

Meanwhile, in the outside world, the Yin Corpse Sect had seized the advantage completely.

But high above, even the Corpse Master was slowly being forced back, for he faced two powerful Nascent Soul masters alone. The soul-suppressing artifact in his spiritual sea began to crumble under the relentless assault of Master Dayan’s soul attacks.

At that critical moment, Master Tianguo abruptly turned traitor, launching a sneak attack on the now-unwary Master Dayan. Severely wounded, Dayan fled back to Supreme Peak, where he activated the grand sect-protecting array at full strength to fend off the Corpse Master’s onslaught.

Master Tianguo smiled at the Corpse Master and said, “My friend, it’s your turn now. After all, I am of the Formshaper Sect and cannot strike my own. Remember your promise—only kill those of the Xu family.”

The Corpse Master snorted coldly. “You waited until my artifact was destroyed to act, afraid I’d betray you?”

Tianguo merely smiled in silence and returned to his sect, entering Supreme Peak.

There, seeing that all the restrictions on Master Dayan’s cave were active, Tianguo simply smiled and said nothing, turning to enter the Xu family ancestral hall.

“Hou Mian, you go too far. Do you think that just because only a remnant of my soul remains, I am powerless against you?” From the portrait on the altar, a soul materialized, fixing Tianguo with an icy stare.

Tianguo laughed indifferently. “Ancestor, your Xu clan has existed long enough. It’s time to step aside. I don’t believe you dare act. That boy is in the small world now, about to seize the core—his strength will soar. You’d best save your strength and consider how you might possess him in the end!”

With those words, he swept up most of the soul lamps from the ancestral hall, stowing them in his storage bag, leaving only those of the Xu bloodline untouched.

Xu Yuqi’s face was cold. “Among those you’ve taken, there are disciples loyal to my Xu lineage.”

Tianguo replied carelessly, “I’ll return all the soul-blood to them. Let Xu Wuyan collect them again later. Now, I’ll take my leave and not disturb your rest!”

Watching Tianguo’s departing figure, fury flashed in Xu Yuqi’s eyes but soon faded to calm. “When I return in glory, it will be your time to die!”

Outside the Formshaper Sect’s gates, the cultivators of the Yin Corpse Sect pressed in, standing just beyond the mountain’s defensive barrier.

Within the sect, the original thousands of disciples had been reduced to mere hundreds. Nascent Soul cultivators aside, only ten Golden Core experts remained, just over ninety Foundation Establishment cultivators, and fewer than four hundred Qi Refining disciples—over a thousand had perished.

Among the survivors were a number of sword cultivators, the strongest of the lot, whose survival rate was highest.

“Master Xu, we’ve done all we can. It’s time for us to go.”

The leading Golden Core sword cultivator bid farewell to Xuan Qizi, and, gathering his disciples, they departed the sect astride a giant sword through an opening in the defensive array. They had come to assist, not perish alongside the Formshaper Sect; their purpose was to temper their disciples in blood and battle. Now that the sect war was over and only the siege remained, they had no further stake in Formshaper’s fate.

Other minor factions left as well, their spirits crushed. With Formshaper’s defeat, they—having sided with it—would soon face the Yin Corpse Sect’s retribution and needed to relocate swiftly.

On the martial stage, Xuan Qizi faced Liu Xiang, sneering. “With Formshaper destroyed, do you really think the Yin Corpse Sect will allow another to rise in its place?”

Liu Xiang stood with hands clasped behind his back, four Golden Core elders and fifty Foundation Establishment disciples, along with a host of Qi Refining disciples, arrayed behind him—outnumbering even the sect master’s own followers.

“Brother Xu, you’re old. It’s time to step down. Look at what’s become of Formshaper under your leadership—forced to fight a desperate last stand. It’s proof of these thousands of years of decay. Those with ability should lead, not someone as indecisive and shallow as you. The sect’s decline is your fault—and the fault of those rotten pillars eaten through by corruption.”

Xuan Qizi’s chest heaved, uncertainty clouding his eyes. Was it true? Had Formshaper’s fall truly come at his hands?

Liu Xiang continued, “Disciples of Formshaper, the outcome is clear. Who will follow me to found a new sect, rather than be buried in this decaying, gilded hall?”

He spoke little more, for some among them had to die—and not too few; otherwise, the Yin Corpse Sect might reconsider their bargain.

Soon, more than a dozen Foundation Establishment and several dozen Qi Refining disciples joined Liu Xiang. They did not fear death, but saw no sense in dying needlessly.

Among the Golden Core elders, only Xuan Qizi, Xu Yuan, Luo Tuan, Li Li, and Qiao Yixue remained. Xu Yuan and Luo Tuan would never join the elder’s faction, but Li Li and Qiao Yixue, being of other families, seemed unconcerned, their eyes calm and fearless.

Among the elder’s Foundation Establishment ranks were Mao Yishan and Ran Ziyu. Ran Ziyu belonged to the elder’s line, and Mao Yishan, having confirmed feelings for Ran Ziyu and survived life-and-death trials together, had naturally defected as well.

Outside, the Yin Corpse Sect made no rush to break the barrier, instead seizing the moment to recover and prepare for the plunder to come. The Corpse Master’s massive form sat suspended in the air, power restoring swiftly as the auras of corpses and earth mingled within a hundred-mile radius.

Amid the Foundation Establishment cultivators, Tu Shaoyan kept up an air of composure, but was inwardly frantic, praying for Zhou Xuanhong’s safety—for if his master fell, so would he.

On the martial stage, Master Tianguo reappeared, returning all soul lamps except those of the Xu family, and said to Xuan Qizi, “I’ll not meddle in Xu family matters. Open the passage—we’ll be leaving.”

Xuan Qizi hesitated, face dark. At that moment, Master Dayan appeared, bearing no resentment toward Tianguo for the earlier ambush, but calm instead.

“Hou Mian, you’ve succeeded—brought Formshaper low, destroyed the Xu family. You’ll be the new ancestor.”

Tianguo smiled, saying nothing.

Dayan added, “But don’t forget, the ancestor still lives. When he returns, all you’ve done will be for naught.”

Tianguo shook his head. “Of all the Xu family’s faults, hubris is the one you’ve inherited best—just like Xu Yuqi. You underestimate me, and he underestimates that young man. Whether he succeeds or fails, it no longer concerns me. It’s time to go.”

With a wave of his hand, Dayan opened a passage, and Tianguo gathered his followers and departed Formshaper Sect. As he left, he glanced back at the land he’d called home, eyes filled with both reluctance and relief.

The martial stage grew quiet as the sword cultivators and more than half the remaining disciples departed. Dayan bowed deeply toward the direction Tianguo had vanished.

“If our sect is extinguished today, I hope you will bear its seed forth, and let its glory shine anew.”

From Tianguo’s betrayal to his departure, everything seemed unreasonable, yet unfolded with an odd inevitability. Was it reasonable for Tianguo to ambush his own senior, handing victory to their enemies? Yes—for had they not, the internecine war would have dragged on, exacting a greater toll. Was Dayan’s indifference to the attack reasonable? Yes—for this was a long-brewing storm finally breaking.

Was it possible that a soul-cultivating Nascent Soul mid-stage like Dayan could not react in time to a junior’s attack? Hardly. The ambush succeeded only because Dayan chose to support Tianguo’s actions, preserving a seed of hope for Formshaper’s future.

This was less a battle with the Yin Corpse Sect than an internal reckoning, its resolution merely abetted by outside hands. The conflict was not truly among the lower disciples, nor even the Golden Cores, but rather a tacit understanding between those who steered the great factions.

Mount Song Sword Pavilion’s aim was simple: temper its disciples through blood and trial. Their choice of side was not dictated by profit, but by the fact that Formshaper was the weaker party. Had it been otherwise, they would have aided the Yin Corpse Sect.

The Five Spirits Alchemy Valley’s goal was simpler still: the small world. As alchemists, their strength lay not in cultivation but in mastery of the pill. With skill, strong cultivators would flock to serve them—why fear for lack of power?

As for the Yin Corpse Sect, they, as corpse cultivators, periodically needed chaos—to secure fresh corpses and fuel their ascension. With Formshaper’s decline, it became a natural target. The prior chaos wrought by Zhou Xuanhong and Mao Yishan in their territory—did the Corpse Master not suspect it was orchestrated? Of course he did, but with such a perfect opportunity delivered to his door, how could he refuse it?

Everything, on the surface, seemed absurd, yet on reflection was rooted in logic. Thus, the supreme Yin Polar Corpse Sect of the Nameless Region merely watched, unmoved.

Yet beneath the surface, a true conspiracy was gathering. Gu Zhen of Free City was on the move, the Ghost Sect began to stir, and within the small world, a cataclysm was brewing. The hand that steered this great game was about to change.