After a long time and several space transfers, the pitch-black small world arrived at a safe location.
In truth, this wasn't new for the Tianheng Clan.
After all, over the past tens of thousands of years, they had been constantly on the run, hiding and evading detection.
Despite their significant power in the Nine Cang Realm, they managed to remain hidden from the original inhabitants, thanks to their exceptional concealment abilities.
Not only that, but their intelligence-gathering skills were formidable as well. One could say that the entire Tianheng Clan functioned like a network of underground agents.
As the saying goes, "Sickness teaches you to be a doctor."
Just as those who live in the mountains learn to climb, and those who live by the sea become skilled swimmers, these abilities were born out of necessity.
From this perspective, the Tianheng Clan was actually quite pitiable.
Even though they might dream of making a grand return, most Tianheng Clan members had long since lost that ambition. All they wanted was to live peacefully, but even that was hard to achieve.
Years ago, during the battle for the divine relic, they had mobilized their entire clan but suffered a crushing defeat in the Nine Cang Realm. Many of their top experts perished.
To make matters worse!
Their homeland—the Tianheng Realm—became a dead land, uninhabitable after the loss of so many top-tier experts caused a severe depletion of the world's essence. The world collapsed, turning into a desolate wasteland.
"From now on, your main task is to gather intelligence for me. If you detect any abnormal occurrences, report them immediately."
In the Tianheng Clan's highest council, Qin Chuan stood with his hands pressed on the long table, leaning forward as he spoke with authority.
In front of him.
The conference table was long—longer than the one in his previous life's CEO conference rooms. The Tianheng Clan's high-ranking members sat neatly on both sides of the table. From one end to the other, you couldn't even see the end.
"Yes!"
"We obey!"
The crowd responded in unison.
They respected Qin Chuan. After all, they were Martial Emperors, and strong people naturally respected those even stronger.
More importantly, when you can't resist, harboring resentment only makes it harder to bear.
"Very good."
Seeing their response, Qin Chuan smiled in satisfaction.
The main reason he subdued the Tianheng Clan was for their intelligence network. Only by controlling information could he stay ahead and maintain the initiative.
For example, if a commoner suddenly developed strange powers or if someone obtained advanced technology, he needed to be informed immediately so he could take action.
More importantly…
Calculating the time, Lin Yi's mother's family should soon be arriving in this world, and Qin Chuan needed to be aware of their movements as soon as possible to prevent these upper-realm visitors from sneaking up on him.
Indeed!
If they found Qin Zi first before he detected them, it was highly likely they would quietly eliminate him and his son!
If they attacked Qin Zi first, that would be acceptable.
But logically, they would go after the greater threat first and then torment the lesser one. Therefore, if they planned to act, they'd probably target him first—and he most likely couldn't survive that.
The safest strategy was to be proactive—throw Qin Little Pig out to divert their attack.
As long as they tried to kill Qin Zi first, they would be the ones walking into a trap, and he would have the upper hand.
...
The sky was clear, with a gentle breeze.
White clouds lazily drifted across the sky, resembling fluffy cotton balls.
Suddenly, "buzz!"
A spatial ripple appeared, and a fist-sized black sphere materialized in the sky.
"Whoosh!"
The ball spun rapidly before exploding and dissipating, revealing a group of dizzy figures floating in the air—none other than the Dragon-Capturing Martial Emperor and the Human Sanctuary experts.
"Qin Chuan!!!"
After a brief pause, the Dragon-Capturing Martial Emperor roared in fury, his aura surging and shattering the white clouds above.
The other experts looked on, too terrified to speak.
After a long while.
The Dragon-Capturing Martial Emperor regained his composure, letting out a cold snort. "Sun-Swallowing, this time you've misjudged. How will you explain this to me?!"
He then turned to Goldchen Hall Master and asked, "Where are we? Quickly calculate the exact coordinates."
Specializing in brute strength, the Dragon-Capturing Martial Emperor was clueless when it came to spells and geography.
"Understood."
Goldchen Hall Master observed the sky, his gaze penetrating the daylight to glimpse the stars, and quickly calculated their location.
Soon, his lips twitched as he reached a conclusion and said:
"If I'm not mistaken, we're outside the Three Clans' territory, in the desolate region known as... the Burial Grounds."
Whoosh!
The news caused a wave of panic among the others, with some even shouting in disbelief.
"The Burial Grounds! The ancient land of calamity!"
"How did we end up here?!"
Even the fearless Dragon-Capturing Martial Emperor's face turned grim, his teeth grinding in frustration.
The Burial Grounds!
This was a forbidden zone in the Nine Cang Realm. Interestingly, this forbidden land was even larger than the combined territories of the Three Great Clans.
In fact, it could be said that the Burial Grounds made up the main body of the Nine Cang Realm, while the territories of the Three Clans were just insignificant corners.
However.
This vast and boundless Burial Ground was a dead zone where the great Dao had collapsed, and spiritual energy no longer existed—it was completely in a state of end-times.
In this place.
Most of a cultivator's divine abilities would fail, and they couldn't harness the power of the world because the environment itself was depleted of energy.
What's more terrifying.
If one stayed too long in this region, their internal energy would mysteriously begin to weaken, as if being eroded by an unknown force.
This kind of erosion was similar to that found in decayed lands but far more subtle and potent.
"It's said that the Nine Cang Realm experienced a catastrophic collapse long ago, which created this terrifying Burial Ground."
Goldchen Hall Master muttered softly:
"Some say it was the despair of the heavens' fall that cursed this land, while others believe that it was the dying curse of an unimaginable, peerless being, which condemned an entire era to be buried with it."
The Dragon-Capturing Martial Emperor snorted coldly, his face darkening.
"Whatever the reason, we're in big trouble now! This place is easy to enter but nearly impossible to leave. It feels as if some ancient, mysterious force is keeping us trapped here—we might die in this place."
As he spoke, his anger flared, and he lifted his head, releasing a beast-like roar:
"Qin! Chuan! The next time I see you, I'll take your head!!!"
"And as for you, Sun-Swallowing! If not for your constant trust in and protection of him, I would've taken care of him long ago. We wouldn't be in this mess!"
Goldchen Hall Master tugged at the Dragon-Capturing Martial Emperor's sleeve and whispered:
"Dragon-Capturing, we should keep our voices down. Being too noisy in the Burial Grounds might attract some truly terrifying things."
Upon hearing this, the Dragon-Capturing Martial Emperor remembered the scraps of ancient records he had read, and a shiver ran down his spine.
Even though he was an extreme realm expert, one of the most powerful figures in Nine Cang history.
But this so-called "history" was incomplete, as the Nine Cang Realm's past had gaps.
They suspected that, long ago, the Nine Cang Realm had once boasted a civilization of unparalleled splendor.
Compared to that time, the current Nine Cang Realm's so-called prosperity was nothing more than a primitive era of ignorance.
Thus, some of the "terrifying things" in the Burial Grounds were genuinely fearsome.
"Let's move quietly and get out of the Burial Grounds."
Finally, the Dragon-Capturing Martial Emperor whispered.
With that, he led the group of Human Sanctuary experts, cautiously flying toward the Human Clan's territory like thieves, treading carefully.
It was a pitiful sight.
And the more pathetic their escape, the deeper the Dragon-Capturing Martial Emperor's hatred for Qin Chuan grew. His loathing even extended to Qin Chuan's son—he wanted nothing more than to crush them both!