Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign and Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign were two ancient Heavenly Sovereigns of the Xuanyin Ancient Kingdom.
Their mental will was slightly weaker compared to other Heavenly Sovereigns.
This was why they so desperately desired the rare Black Jade produced by the Black Jade Nest.
When the Black Jade Nest's guardians were rotating, they planned to risk infiltrating it.
Actually, it wasn't much of a risk. Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign had made ample preparations for this operation.
The new guardian, Milky Way Great Sovereign, although much stronger than other extreme core imperial family members, had not yet entered the Heavenly Sovereign rank.
Naturally, he wouldn't be as difficult to deal with as the previous guardian, Chiyang Heavenly Sovereign.
Furthermore, Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign had watched the combat footage of this Milky Way Great Sovereign many times.
He believed he understood this newly emerged imperial family member of the Liyang Ancient Kingdom very well.
Even if an extreme situation occurred, and he and Extreme Frost were discovered as soon as they infiltrated.
They could easily retreat unharmed without exposing any identity-related information.
Thus, even if the Liyang Ancient Kingdom investigated afterward, as long as there was no substantive evidence, it would eventually come to nothing.
"Ten breaths."
"At most ten breaths, no matter how much Black Jade we get, we must retreat immediately."
Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign successfully infiltrated the Black Jade Nest and instructed Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign.
Ten breaths was precisely the time it would take for reinforcements from the Liyang Imperial Capital to transmigrate to the Black Jade Nest.
Simply put, from the moment they infiltrated, the earliest reinforcements from the Liyang Imperial Capital would arrive after ten breaths.
The two Heavenly Sovereigns were not worried about Milky Way Great Sovereign, but the reinforcements from the Liyang Imperial Capital? They were quite apprehensive.
"Understood."
Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign nodded.
Since they dared to infiltrate such a prime treasure land, everything had to be planned for the worst.
With the strength of their two Heavenly Sovereigns, it was unlikely they would be discovered as soon as they infiltrated.
But as long as there was a possibility, they had to plan according to that premise.
Whoosh.
In just one-tenth of a breath, the two Heavenly Sovereigns completely infiltrated the Black Jade Nest.
And they quickly approached the area where Black Jade was bred within the Black Jade Nest.
Deep within the Black Jade Nest.
Lin Yuan was refining the Black Jade. Wisps of Black Jade power were slowly but steadily tempering his own mental will.
"Hmm?"
Lin Yuan's heart suddenly stirred, and he looked in a certain direction.
"Two auras have infiltrated?"
Lin Yuan thought to himself. The two infiltrating auras he discovered were not detected by relying on the Black Jade Nest's great array.
Instead, it was purely based on Lin Yuan's own perception and the semi-operating state of his divine ability 'World'.
Since the Black Jade Nest was about to enter its mature stage, Lin Yuan had become cautious, always keeping his divine ability 'World' in a semi-operating state.
A powerful Heavenly Sovereign like Chiyang Heavenly Sovereign would not hesitate to completely offend four or five other Heavenly Sovereigns to gain the opportunity to guard the Black Jade Nest.
What's more, Heavenly Sovereigns from other ancient kingdoms?
The stronger one's power, the more importance one placed on their mental will.
This was also why the Black Jade Nest was listed as a prime treasure land.
Rare treasures that directly enhance mental will, even across the six great ancient kingdoms, were extremely rare and enough to cause Heavenly Sovereigns to contend for them.
"It should be two Heavenly Sovereigns, Heavenly Sovereigns from the Xuanyin Ancient Kingdom?"
Lin Yuan remotely overlooked the two rapidly approaching auras.
Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign and Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign were fully prepared, believing they could deceive the heavens and cross the sea, evading the Black Jade Nest's great array's detection.
In fact, this was true.
The Black Jade Nest's great array did not detect the auras of these two Heavenly Sovereigns.
Of course, this was also because Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign and Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign had not made a move.
However, while the defensive great array couldn't detect them, under the shroud of Lin Yuan's divine ability 'World', everything was clearly revealed.
"We're here. That's the area where Black Jade is bred."
Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign and Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign felt a slight surge of excitement. Especially Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign, from the moment they infiltrated until now, there had been no unusual fluctuations in the Black Jade Nest's great array.
He estimated that the Milky Way Great Sovereign hadn't discovered them at all.
"Two breaths have passed. Three breaths for withdrawal, leaving us only five breaths to collect Black Jade."
Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign glanced at Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign.
Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign immediately nodded.
Being able to cultivate to the Heavenly Sovereign realm, they naturally wouldn't lose their minds in front of treasure. Everything would proceed according to the planned schedule.
Whoosh.
The next moment.
The two Heavenly Sovereigns entered the area where Black Jade was nurtured.
Large areas of deep black jade stones came into view. Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign and Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign suppressed their joy.
"Take them all, even the immature Black Jade."
Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign said quickly.
The rare Black Jade nurtured in the Black Jade Nest was only taken out and circulated once it was fully mature.
But that didn't mean immature Black Jade was completely ineffective; it just didn't temper the mental will as much as mature Black Jade did.
And now, as plunderers, Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign and Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign naturally didn't care whether the Black Jade was mature or not. As long as it was in sight and could be taken, they took it all.
However.
When the power of the two Heavenly Sovereigns covered the Black Jade, they discovered layers of space-time barriers subtly condensed around all the Black Jade.
"What's going on?"
Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign frowned. He could feel that these layers of space-time barriers were not from the Black Jade Nest's defensive great array.
"Northern Yin, what do we do now? I can't take it."
Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign quickly asked. The space-time barriers covering large areas of Black Jade made him feel helpless; he couldn't break them.
"What to do?"
Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign pondered, when suddenly his expression changed. He looked upward and saw a man walking out of the void, quietly overlooking the two Heavenly Sovereigns.
The ancient Heavenly Sovereigns, high above, seemed like two ants under the gaze of this young man.
"Milky Way Great Sovereign?"
Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign immediately recognized the identity of this young man: it was Milky Way Great Sovereign, the guardian of this Black Jade Nest.
"We've been discovered?"
Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign's face became solemn. With Milky Way Great Sovereign's personal presence and all the surrounding Black Jade being protected, it was easy to deduce this conclusion.
"This Milky Way Great Sovereign, was he already prepared for us?"
Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign thought to himself, and at the same time looked at Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign, wanting to know what to do next.
"Go."
Although Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign felt some reluctance, he also knew that under the current circumstances, immediate retreat was the best option.
If they didn't retreat, they couldn't take the Black Jade in a short time, and staying here would be meaningless.
Buzz!
Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign's mind moved slightly. Since they had already been discovered, there was no need to completely conceal their aura. As long as they didn't expose their signature killing move, they didn't have to worry about anything.
Whoosh!
Space-time began to boil. Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign intended to forcibly penetrate the space-time channel between this place and the outside world to retreat.
However.
The power of the great array surged, and Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign's method of penetrating space-time was immediately suppressed.
"Milky Way Great Sovereign?"
Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign looked at Lin Yuan, "You still want to keep us?"
Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign frowned, but didn't pay much attention, then flew out without hesitation.
Since he couldn't break through the space-time channel to retreat quickly, he would just fly out directly.
The Black Jade Nest's defensive great array primarily defended against external attacks. As for internal defense?
At least it couldn't stop powerhouses like Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign.
"Suppress."
Seeing this, Lin Yuan completely unleashed his divine ability 'World'. (Za... warudo...)
Whoosh!
The vast external universe spread out like an ocean, instantly filling every inch of space-time within the Black Jade Nest.
"What is this?"
Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign's expression changed drastically. He clearly felt that he was suppressed in all aspects, and even flying became extremely difficult.
Under this suppression, let alone retreating from the Black Jade Nest in three breaths, it would be impossible even in thirty breaths or three hundred breaths.
"Not good."
Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign's face was grim. Through the omnipresent domain suppression, he realized that Milky Way Great Sovereign's strength was far beyond his estimation, and had even entered the Heavenly Sovereign rank.
"Don't hold back."
Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign unhesitatingly began to use all his escape methods.
An invisible, terrifyingly Yin aura permeated the surroundings, aiming to counteract the suppression of the external universe. At this moment, Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign held nothing back, even if it meant exposing his true identity.
As a Heavenly Sovereign of the Xuanyin Ancient Kingdom, unilaterally attacking a prime treasure land of the Liyang Ancient Kingdom broke the unwritten rules between the two great ancient kingdoms.
Once word got out, he would certainly be punished by the Xuanyin Ancient Kingdom, but any punishment would be far lighter than losing this physical body.
And now.
Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign had a feeling that if he didn't fight with all his might, he wouldn't be able to break free from the external universe's suppression. If he dragged it out, once powerhouses from the Liyang Ancient Kingdom arrived as reinforcements, there was a possibility of being captured alive and suppressed.
Heavenly Sovereign rank powerhouses, secretly breaking the unwritten rules to attack, the Xuanyin Ancient Kingdom would certainly punish him for the sake of face, but it wouldn't be too severe, as he was one of their own.
But if he were captured alive and suppressed, the Xuanyin Ancient Kingdom would lose immense face, and there would be no limit to his punishment.
Boom!
Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign began to burn the origin of his physical body, wanting to break the surrounding space-time suppression, but found it had little effect. The rolling power of suppression came crashing down like a grinding stone.
Unstoppable.
Unblockable.
Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign was shocked.
"Milky Way Great Sovereign..."
Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign's gaze shifted, looking at Lin Yuan, who was overlooking him, and suddenly said, "Perhaps I should call you... Milky Way Heavenly Sovereign?"
For the Liyang Ancient Kingdom to produce a Heavenly Sovereign-rank powerhouse, while incredibly rare, was not entirely inconceivable.
After all, the Liyang Ancient Kingdom had a large number of Great Sovereign peak powerhouses, only one step away from the Heavenly Sovereign rank, capable of breaking through at any time.
But Lin Yuan?
Lin Yuan was a core imperial family member recognized by the Liyang Ancient Kingdom.
For a core imperial family member to become a Heavenly Sovereign, how could its significance be the same as other newly born Heavenly Sovereigns?
"Milky Way Heavenly Sovereign?"
Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign, not far away, also looked at Lin Yuan, with a surging wave of shock in his heart. Was the saying that core imperial family members of various ancient kingdoms could not cross the Heavenly Sovereign barrier broken by Lin Yuan?
Lin Yuan overlooked Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign and Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign, saying nothing.
Displaying Heavenly Sovereign-tier strength was a plan Lin Yuan had long entertained.
And with his previous strength, which surpassed that of ordinary extreme core imperial family members, Lin Yuan entering the Heavenly Sovereign rank was not unbelievable.
Both the Emperor of the Liyang Ancient Kingdom and King Chikui were eagerly anticipating Lin Yuan breaking the imperial family's Heavenly Sovereign barrier.
"I concede this time."
Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign took a deep look at Lin Yuan, then his physical body and soul began to disintegrate.
With Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign's strength, he could have endured for a longer time under the suppression of Lin Yuan's external universe.
After all, Lin Yuan was not his true body at this moment, but his Yin Primordial Spirit, and his strength had not yet reached the point where he could easily crush a Heavenly Sovereign.
But for every moment he delayed, reinforcements from the Liyang Ancient Kingdom could arrive at any time.
Once the reinforcements included those few ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns from the Liyang Ancient Kingdom, Northern Yin might not even be able to self-destruct.
Under these circumstances, to be safe, Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign still chose to abandon this main combat body.
"Northern Yin."
Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign was silent when he saw this.
Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign also clearly understood why Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign chose to actively disintegrate his physical body.
"Let's try again."
Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign's eyes faintly showed crimson, and a chilling coldness permeated his surroundings, freezing space-time. But facing the external cosmic power emanating from Lin Yuan, it all quickly dissipated.
"Forget it."
As the ten breaths approached, Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign also felt that resistance was hopeless, and he couldn't escape in a short time.
He also began to disintegrate his physical body and soul.
Soon.
The physical bodies and souls of the two ancient Heavenly Sovereigns were completely annihilated.
Lin Yuan watched quietly and did not stop them.
In fact, he couldn't stop them. Not to mention that he was only his Yin Primordial Spirit at the moment.
Even if his true self were here, it would be difficult to stop a Heavenly Sovereign-rank powerhouse from actively disintegrating their physical body.
In the Chaos Void, Lin Yuan suppressed Heiyao Great Saint, Savage Great Saint, and others because these Great Saints were unwilling to disintegrate their main combat bodies.
That's why he was able to suppress them successfully.
The Great Saints in the Chaos Void had no distinction of ancient kingdoms. If they were suppressed and captured, it only meant they were outmatched. If they could exchange for their physical bodies, they would naturally choose to do so.
But in this Source World? Heavenly Sovereign-rank powerhouses had basically all pledged allegiance to the six great ancient kingdoms. Being captured by an enemy ancient kingdom had very severe consequences.
The higher the status of the powerhouse, the more so.
For example, in the previous war between the Qingfen Domain and the Zimeng Domain, King Lingwei and King Ling Shen also actively disintegrated their physical bodies and souls, preferring to suffer the loss of their main combat bodies rather than be captured by Lin Yuan.
"That's good enough."
Lin Yuan was quite satisfied. Forcing a Heavenly Sovereign-rank powerhouse to actively disintegrate their physical body and soul was extremely difficult.
If this were on the battlefield, even if a Heavenly Sovereign-rank powerhouse was suppressed by Lin Yuan, other Heavenly Sovereigns would soon provide support. The suppressed Heavenly Sovereign would only need to hold on for a while, far from reaching the point of disintegrating their physical body and soul.
Unless one could sweep all enemies by themselves, but this was too difficult. The various ancient kingdoms would activate their hidden reserves.
It was only here in this Black Jade Nest, where Northern Yin Heavenly Sovereign and Extreme Frost Heavenly Sovereign's identities couldn't be exposed, and coupled with the imminent arrival of reinforcements from the Liyang Ancient Kingdom, that these two Heavenly Sovereign-rank powerhouses made such a choice.
"Hmm?"
Lin Yuan looked at the location where the two Heavenly Sovereigns had disintegrated.
Several weapons and World Secret Treasures fell.
"I've long wanted to experience the secret techniques and legacies of the Xuanyin Ancient Kingdom."
Lin Yuan's eyes lit up. The path he followed was The Tao of Tai Chi, and Tai Chi was divided into Yang and Yin. Although Yang and Liyang, and Yin and Xuanyin were not the same thing.
But it was still possible to draw parallels. The many Liyang legacies of the Liyang Ancient Kingdom had greatly helped Lin Yuan's Yang path.
Therefore, Lin Yuan was very much looking forward to the many Xuanyin legacies of the Xuanyin Ancient Kingdom.
...
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