Dawn broke over the Ancient Sacred City with deceptive tranquility. Su Chen emerged from his cultivation chamber precisely as the first rays of sunlight pierced the eastern horizon, his transformation complete. The night-long meditation had yielded extraordinary results—the Origin Mirror had successfully copied the Divine Source Crystal's energy structure, granting him access to a renewable supply of divine power. The amount was limited, perhaps one-tenth of the crystal's total capacity, but it would regenerate over time as he refined his understanding of the copying process.
More significantly, exposure to divine energy had pushed his cultivation forward dramatically. His Cave Heavens had begun transforming, their internal spaces expanding and refining as divine power catalyzed changes that would normally require decades. He stood now at the threshold of the Spirit Transformation Realm, needing only a final push—ideally a life-or-death battle that would force his cultivation to breakthrough under pressure.
How convenient that several hundred cultivators were gathering outside the city specifically to provide that pressure.
His team had assembled in the suite's main chamber, each displaying the results of their overnight preparations. Saeko's blade sang with suppressed sword intent that made the air around her shimmer and distort. Esdeath radiated cold that caused frost to form on nearby surfaces despite the room's temperature control formations. Bibi Dong's twin spirits manifested partially, their arachnid forms weaving patterns in the air that seemed to exist in multiple dimensions simultaneously. Xiao Yi Xian appeared almost ghostly, her silver form occasionally becoming translucent as toxic energies cycled through her transformed physiology.
"Status reports," Su Chen commanded, settling into a chair that had been positioned to overlook the tactical maps Saeko and Esdeath had prepared.
Saeko spoke first, gesturing to the map displaying the terrain north of the Ancient Sacred City. "We've identified the optimal ambush zone—approximately five kilometers from the northern gate, where the main road passes through a valley with elevated positions on both sides. Our intelligence indicates enemy forces have concentrated heavily in this area, with secondary positions at three and seven kilometers respectively."
She highlighted specific locations with sword intent that carved glowing marks into the map's surface. "Primary concentrations: Void Scripture Temple has deployed two hundred seventeen cultivators, including twelve Spirit Transformation Realm elders. They're positioned on the eastern ridge with formation arrays that suggest they plan to launch coordinated technique barrages. Iron Blood Mercenaries have three hundred forty-two personnel, mostly Cave Heaven and Engravement Realm, distributed across both ridges with heavy emphasis on ranged weapons and artifact usage."
Esdeath continued the briefing. "Smaller groups number approximately eight hundred additional combatants, though calling them combatants is generous. Most are opportunistic bandits or rogue cultivators with inflated confidence and minimal coordination. They'll be positioned in the valley floor and rear positions, likely hoping to scavenge whatever the major forces leave behind."
She smiled coldly. "Total enemy count: approximately thirteen hundred cultivators. Cultivation distribution: roughly nine hundred Cave Heaven Realm or below, three hundred Engravement Realm, twelve Spirit Transformation Realm from the Void Scripture Temple, and three Formation Arrangement Realm—two with the mercenaries, one independent operator whose affiliation remains unclear."
Su Chen processed the numbers with calm satisfaction. Thirteen hundred enemies represented substantial resources once their storage rings were collected. Even assuming average cultivation levels, that translated to millions in liquid assets plus countless weapons, techniques, and materials. The battle would effectively pay for itself several times over.
"Bibi Dong, fortress status?" he asked.
The Spider Empress activated a communication formation displaying a holographic feed from the Black Dragon Fortress. The massive vessel hung in low orbit directly above the northern gate, its stealth systems engaged to prevent easy detection. Saya's voice emerged from the formation, crisp and professional.
"All systems operational. Weapon arrays configured for anti-personnel saturation bombardment. I've loaded precision railgun rounds for the Spirit Transformation targets, cluster munitions for the Engravement Realm concentrations, and area-denial plasma for the Cave Heaven rabble. Additionally, I've prepared orbital drop pods containing Skeleton Army units—Albedo has five hundred elite skeletons ready for deployment if you need ground support."
Su Chen considered the skeleton option briefly before dismissing it. "Keep the skeletons in reserve. This engagement is about demonstrating the Stellar Void Pavilion's personal combat capabilities, not our ability to deploy armies. I want our enemies to understand that the five of us alone are sufficient to crush overwhelming numbers."
"Understood," Saya replied. "Weapons will remain on standby. I'll provide tactical support and target designation as needed, but primary combat will be your team's responsibility."
Su Chen turned to Xiao Yi Xian. "Toxin preparations?"
The Poison Body produced three jade bottles, each sealed with formations designed to contain substances that would otherwise kill everything in the vicinity through proximity alone. "The paralytic cloud covers approximately one square kilometer when fully dispersed, effective against anyone below Spirit Transformation. The necrotic venom comes in grenade form—each produces a two-hundred-meter kill zone that corrodes spiritual energy systems. The truth-death poison is my masterpiece—aerosol delivery, affects targets through any form of contact, forces biological systems to cease all functions within thirty seconds regardless of cultivation level."
She paused, her expression becoming more serious. "The truth-death poison is lethal enough that even we should avoid exposure. I've prepared antidote pills that will provide temporary immunity, but they last only two hours before requiring renewal."
Su Chen accepted the antidote pills she distributed, noting their unusual composition. The pills contained not merely medicinal ingredients but conceptual protections—they didn't just counteract the poison's physical effects, they prevented the body from comprehending the truth-death concept itself. Ingenious and terrifying in equal measure.
"Excellent work," he acknowledged. "Reserve the truth-death poison for emergencies only. I want most enemies captured alive if possible—dead cultivators can't be interrogated or ransomed back to their factions."
Esdeath raised an eyebrow. "Ransom? You're planning to capture and return enemies for payment?"
"Only the ones affiliated with major powers," Su Chen clarified. "Void Scripture Temple elders are worth more alive than dead—their sect will pay substantial sums to recover them. Independent cultivators and bandits have no one who will pay for their return, so they're expendable. The mercenaries... we'll evaluate case-by-case depending on their skills and potential recruitment value."
It was cold calculation, but cultivation world economics operated on such principles. Powerful cultivators represented substantial investments in resources and training time. Organizations would pay premium prices to recover valuable personnel rather than accept the loss and dedicate decades to developing replacements.
Bibi Dong nodded approvingly. "A sound strategy. I've already prepared soul-binding contracts that can compel captured enemies into temporary service if ransom negotiations fail. We can extract value through labor if monetary recovery proves impossible."
Su Chen checked the time through a jade slip synchronized with the city's public chronometers. "Eleven forty-five. We depart in fifteen minutes. Final equipment checks, then we move to the northern gate. Remember—this is a demonstration battle. We're not merely winning, we're making a statement about the cost of opposing the Stellar Void Pavilion. Overwhelming force, minimal mercy, and maximum psychological impact."
The team conducted final preparations in disciplined silence. Weapons were checked, formations verified, spatial storage organized for rapid access during combat. Su Chen himself activated the various bloodline abilities and cultivation techniques he might need, ensuring each was ready for instant deployment. The Kun Peng's transformation abilities, the Supreme Sword Bone's cutting power, the Lich Bloodline's death immunity, the psychic abilities from Tatsumaki, the cultivation base from Perfect World—all were catalog and prepared for strategic deployment.
At precisely noon, they departed the Celestial Phoenix Inn and walked unhurriedly through the Ancient Sacred City's streets toward the northern gate. Word of their departure had spread throughout the city, and crowds gathered along their route—some hoping to witness history, others seeking to profit from whatever chaos might follow, still others simply caught up in the spectacle.
Su Chen noted the Merchant Alliance's observers stationed at regular intervals, recording everything with formation-based surveillance arrays. The intelligence they gathered would be compiled and sold throughout the realm, spreading the Stellar Void Pavilion's reputation far beyond those who witnessed events firsthand. Excellent—reputation was a currency as valuable as Origin Stones in the cultivation world.
The northern gate loomed ahead, a massive structure carved from spirit stone and reinforced with defensive formations that could withstand siege from Formation Arrangement Realm cultivators. Gate guards—employees of the Ancient Sacred City's security forces—watched Su Chen's approach with expressions mixing professional neutrality and poorly concealed curiosity. They had obviously been briefed about the situation and instructed to maintain neutrality regardless of what occurred beyond the city's boundaries.
"Stellar Void Pavilion," the gate captain acknowledged formally. "The northern road is open. I'm required to inform you that intelligence reports indicate hostile forces massed approximately five kilometers north. The Ancient Sacred City cannot provide protection beyond our walls. Proceed at your own risk."
"Acknowledged," Su Chen replied. "We proceed willingly and accept all associated risks."
The gates swung open, revealing the northern road stretching into wilderness beyond the city's cultivated zones. The path was wide enough for multiple carriages to travel abreast, paved with spirit stone that would sustain formation-based vehicles. In normal times, it would be busy with merchant caravans and traveling cultivators. Today, it was utterly deserted—everyone with sense had cleared the area to avoid being caught in the impending battle.
Su Chen led his team through the gate, and the moment they crossed the boundary threshold, he felt hostile spiritual senses locking onto their positions. The ambush forces had clearly established observation formations throughout the area, tracking their every movement.
"Contact," Lin Xiya's voice emerged from a communication formation, transmitted from the orbiting fortress. "I'm reading massive spiritual energy signatures converging on the valley five kilometers ahead. Confirmed count: thirteen hundred seventeen distinct auras. They're not even trying to hide their presence—this is a show of overwhelming numbers designed to intimidate you into surrender."
"Noted," Su Chen replied. "Begin target designation. Prioritize Spirit Transformation and Formation Arrangement Realm enemies. I want firing solutions calculated for rapid engagement if needed."
"Solutions calculated and locked," Saya's voice cut in. "I have precision rounds chambered for all high-value targets. Say the word and I'll reduce their leadership to component atoms."
"Hold fire unless I specifically authorize," Su Chen ordered. "This is our battle. The fortress is emergency backup only."
They continued walking up the road at an unhurried pace that projected absolute confidence. The five-kilometer distance passed slowly, giving ample time for anticipation to build. Su Chen used the interval to activate his dual pupils fully, analyzing the terrain ahead with comprehensive precision.
The valley's ambush positions were exactly as Saeko's intelligence had indicated—elevated ridges on both sides, narrow passage through the center, multiple blocking positions to prevent escape. A textbook ambush layout that would be devastatingly effective against normal targets. Unfortunately for the ambushers, Su Chen's team was anything but normal.
As they approached the valley entrance, a figure materialized on the road ahead—spatial transportation bringing someone directly into their path. It was a man in elaborate robes marked with void-attribute symbols, his cultivation base radiating Formation Arrangement Realm power. One of the Void Scripture Temple's high elders, likely serving as the spokesperson for the allied ambush forces.
"Stellar Void Pavilion," the man declared, his voice amplified to carry across the entire valley, "you have committed grave offenses against the cultivation world. Your monopolization of the auction's premium treasures represents unacceptable greed. Your mysterious origins and refusal to declare proper allegiances violates established protocols. Your arrogant display of wealth insults all who struggle honestly for advancement."
He gestured dramatically toward the ridges, where hundreds of cultivators now revealed themselves, abandoning concealment to display overwhelming numbers. "Surrender your auction acquisitions immediately. Additionally, provide complete accounting of your origins, resources, and affiliations. Comply with these demands, and you will be permitted to depart with your lives. Refuse, and face the combined wrath of the cultivation world's righteous forces."
The speech was clearly intended to establish moral justification for what was essentially armed robbery. Su Chen almost admired the audacity—attempting to frame theft as righteous enforcement of proper conduct. It was the kind of hypocrisy that made the cultivation world simultaneously fascinating and infuriating.
He waited until the echoes of the elder's declaration faded before responding, his own voice calm and carrying no amplification beyond what his cultivation naturally provided.
"I decline your demands. Additionally, I make a counter-offer: Disperse immediately, return to your respective factions, and spread word that the Stellar Void Pavilion is not to be trifled with. Those who comply will be permitted to live. Those who persist in hostile action will be harvested for resources."
Shocked silence descended across the valley. The Void Scripture elder's face twisted with rage at being so casually dismissed. "Harvested for resources? You dare threaten thirteen hundred cultivators with such—"
Su Chen interrupted by raising one hand, and divine energy erupted from his palm in a visible column of golden light that stretched into the sky. The display lasted only two seconds, but its effect was immediate and profound. Every cultivator present felt the overwhelming presence of power from a higher realm, energy that transcended their understanding of cultivation's limits.
"That was divine energy," Su Chen stated flatly. "True divine power from beyond this realm. I possess it in quantity. I have mastered techniques that allow me to exist in states you cannot comprehend. I command weapons that could sterilize this valley from orbit. And most importantly, I am not remotely impressed by your numerical advantage."
He lowered his hand, and the divine energy vanished. "I have made my offer. You have ten seconds to begin dispersing. Those who remain after that deadline will be considered hostile combatants and treated accordingly."
The Void Scripture elder struggled to regain control of the situation, his spiritual pressure flaring as he attempted to project authority. "Empty threats! You cannot possibly—"
"Ten," Su Chen began counting. "Nine. Eight."
Several bandits in the rear positions immediately fled, their survival instincts overcoming their greed. But the organized forces—the Void Scripture Temple and the Iron Blood Mercenaries—held their positions, clearly believing that Su Chen was bluffing or that their overwhelming numbers would prevail regardless of his individual power.
"Seven. Six. Five."
More independent cultivators broke and ran. The crowd was beginning to fracture, discipline eroding as individuals recalculated risk versus reward. But the majority remained, committed now through pride, greed, or inability to accept that they had so drastically miscalculated the situation.
"Four. Three. Two."
The Void Scripture elder made his decision. "Attack! All forces, engage! Capture them alive if possible, kill them if—"
"Zero," Su Chen finished.
And then he moved.
The Kun Peng's transformation technique activated, and Su Chen's form blurred through multiple states in rapid succession. He became spatial distortion, existing as localized reality warping that allowed him to cross the five hundred meters between his position and the Void Scripture elder in literally zero time—not fast movement, but actual translocation through occupying the intermediate space states simultaneously.
He rematerialized directly in front of the shocked elder, his hand already extended in a palm strike that incorporated divine energy, spatial manipulation, and the crushing force of his Perfect World cultivation base. The impact connected before the elder could even begin defensive techniques, and the Formation Arrangement Realm cultivator simply ceased to exist from the chest upward, the upper half of his body converted into component particles that dispersed across the valley.
Su Chen plucked the elder's spatial ring from his disintegrating hand, pocketed it casually, then turned to face the thirteen hundred cultivators who had just watched their spokesperson get effortlessly annihilated.
"Negotiations have concluded," he declared. "Commence harvesting operation."
Saeko moved like liquid death incarnate, her Supreme Sword Bone allowing her to become the blade rather than merely wield it. She carved through Engravement Realm cultivators with such speed that they died before comprehending they were under attack, her path marked by a trail of severed limbs and bisected torsos. Each kill was surgical, precise, targeting vital points that killed instantly while leaving storage rings intact for later collection.
Esdeath activated Mahapadma, and time froze across a three-hundred-meter radius centered on her position. Within that frozen time, she walked casually among immobilized enemies, marking each one with ice constructs placed at lethal points—throats, hearts, spines. When she released the time-freeze, two hundred seventeen cultivators simultaneously died, their bodies not even having time to register what had killed them before brain death occurred.
Bibi Dong's twin spirits erupted in full manifestation, the Death Spider Emperor and Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor each growing to the size of buildings. They swept through enemy formations like combines harvesting wheat, webs of soul energy capturing dozens of cultivators simultaneously while death essence corroded anyone who resisted. Within thirty seconds, she had captured over one hundred enemies, their bodies paralyzed by soul-binding formations, their minds locked in place by spiritual pressure they couldn't hope to resist.
Xiao Yi Xian released her paralytic cloud, and a rainbow-shimmering mist erupted across the valley floor. Every cultivator below Spirit Transformation Realm who breathed the air immediately collapsed, their nervous systems shutting down as conceptual toxins convinced their bodies that consciousness was unnecessary. Four hundred cultivators dropped within seconds, alive but utterly helpless.
And Su Chen himself became a whirlwind of destruction, employing every technique he had mastered in a devastating display of overwhelming martial supremacy. He transformed into spatial distortion to bypass defenses, shifted to energy form to absorb and redirect attacks, became solid divine matter to tank techniques that would have vaporized mountains, then cycled back to human form to deliver killing strikes enhanced by multiple bloodline abilities simultaneously.
The Iron Blood Mercenaries, realizing the situation had deteriorated beyond salvage, attempted organized retreat. Their commander—one of the Formation Arrangement Realm cultivators—activated emergency transportation formations designed to extract his personnel.
Su Chen wouldn't permit it. He released the copied divine energy in a massive burst that disrupted spatial manipulation across the entire valley, preventing teleportation and collapsing portal formations before they could fully activate. The mercenaries found themselves trapped, their escape route severed, facing enemies who had just demonstrated that numerical superiority meant nothing against this level of individual power.
"Saya," Su Chen transmitted through his communication formation, "authorization granted for precision strikes. Target the two Formation Arrangement Realm cultivators attempting to organize resistance. Non-lethal if possible—I want them captured for interrogation."
"Targeting solutions locked," Saya responded instantly. "Firing."
The Black Dragon Fortress, still invisible in low orbit, discharged two railgun rounds—tungsten-carbide penetrators wrapped in spatial manipulation formations that allowed them to carry non-lethal force despite their kinetic energy. The rounds arrived at hypersonic velocity, struck both Formation Arrangement cultivators simultaneously, and delivered enough impact trauma to shatter their defensive formations and render them unconscious without killing them outright.
Both bodies plummeted from their elevated positions, caught by Bibi Dong's soul-webs before they could hit the ground and suffer additional damage. She wrapped them in paralysis formations immediately, ensuring they would remain incapacitated even when consciousness returned.
The remaining Void Scripture Temple elders, witnessing the complete collapse of their ambush, made a collective decision to surrender. The senior among them, a Spirit Transformation Realm expert named Elder Hong, activated a white flag formation—the universal cultivation world signal for requesting parley.
"We yield!" Elder Hong shouted, his voice carrying genuine fear rather than the arrogant confidence from minutes earlier. "The Void Scripture Temple acknowledges our error! We request terms of surrender!"
Su Chen paused his assault, his form stabilizing back into primarily human configuration though his dual pupils continued to blaze with active power. "Terms are simple. All Void Scripture Temple personnel will submit to soul-binding oaths preventing future hostility toward the Stellar Void Pavilion. You will provide complete intelligence regarding your sect's resources, personnel, and operations. Your sect will pay reparations of five hundred million Origin Stones delivered within thirty days. And you will publicly announce that the Void Scripture Temple attempted robbery and was justly defeated, deterring others from similar stupidity."
The terms were deliberately harsh, designed to extract maximum value while simultaneously humiliating the sect publicly. Elder Hong's face went pale as he processed the demands, recognizing that accepting would devastate his faction's reputation and finances. But refusing meant death, not just for him but for all two hundred Temple cultivators present.
"We... accept," Elder Hong finally forced out, the words clearly agonizing to speak. "The Void Scripture Temple will comply with all terms."
"Excellent," Su Chen replied. "Bibi Dong, process their surrender. Ensure the soul-binding oaths are comprehensive—I want no loopholes permitting revenge attempts or technical compliance while maintaining hostile intent."
The Spider Empress moved to handle the surrender processing, her twin spirits weaving formations that would bind the Temple cultivators to their oaths at the soul level. Meanwhile, the battle—if it could even be called that anymore—continued around them as Saeko and Esdeath finished eliminating or capturing the remaining hostile forces.
The entire engagement lasted eleven minutes from Su Chen's opening strike to the final bandit's capture. When the dust settled, the valley floor was carpeted with bodies—some dead, most merely unconscious or paralyzed. Thirteen hundred cultivators had entered the ambush. Approximately four hundred were dead, killed when they resisted too effectively or when immediate lethality proved more efficient than capture. Eight hundred were captured alive, restrained by formations and stripped of weapons. The remaining one hundred had successfully fled during the early chaos, escaped before Su Chen established spatial disruption preventing teleportation.
Su Chen walked through the aftermath, his dual pupils cataloging resources with systematic precision. Storage rings by the hundreds, weapons ranging from common to exotic, formation diagrams, cultivation manuals, spirit herbs, pills, treasures—the accumulated wealth of thirteen hundred cultivators, now forfeit as spoils of war.
"Saya, deploy collection teams," Su Chen ordered. "I want every item cataloged and transported to the fortress within the hour. Priority to cultivation resources and unique artifacts. Standard equipment can be batch-processed later."
"Collection teams deploying now," Saya confirmed. Spatial portals bloomed throughout the valley as skeleton personnel emerged, each unit equipped with spatial storage and inventory formations. They moved with mechanical efficiency, stripping bodies and prisoners of valuables with speed that would have impressed professional thieves.
Esdeath approached Su Chen, her expression showing satisfaction despite the relatively brief combat. "That was disappointing. I expected more challenge from a thousand-plus cultivator force. Thirteen minutes is hardly worth calling a battle."
"Quality over quantity," Su Chen replied. "Only three enemies warranted our full attention—the three Formation Arrangement cultivators. Everything else was resource harvesting disguised as combat. But disappointing or not, we've achieved our objectives."
He gestured at the captured forces being processed by Bibi Dong and the skeleton teams. "Eight hundred prisoners means eight hundred ransom opportunities. The Void Scripture Temple alone will pay five hundred million. Conservative estimates suggest we'll recover fifteen to twenty million from ransoming prisoners back to their various factions, plus another fifty to seventy million from liquidating seized resources. Combined with the five hundred million in reparations, we're looking at approximately six hundred million Origin Stones recovered."
Saeko wiped blood from her blade, her expression thoughtful. "We spent two billion at the auction. Six hundred million recovered is significant, but leaves a substantial deficit. Should we seek additional... recovery opportunities?"
Su Chen smiled coldly. "The day isn't over. News of this battle will spread rapidly. Other factions who were considering action against us will now make their calculations. Some will wisely withdraw. Others will escalate, convinced they need overwhelming force to succeed where the Void Scripture Temple failed. Those escalations will provide additional harvesting opportunities."
He activated his communication formation to contact the Black Dragon Fortress. "Lin Que, activate long-range surveillance. I want comprehensive monitoring of all major faction responses throughout the Lower Realm. Anyone mobilizing forces of ten thousand or more gets flagged for my immediate attention. If someone's stupid enough to attempt revenge in force, we'll raid them preemptively."
"Understood," Lin Que responded. "Surveillance protocols activated. Current scans show... interesting activity. The Fire Country has mobilized their royal guard—approximately five thousand cultivators led by their crown prince. They're moving toward our last known position at speed suggesting hostile intent."
Su Chen's smile widened. "Five thousand cultivators led by royalty. That's not a revenge force—that's a treasury on legs. Excellent. Calculate their trajectory and estimated arrival time. We'll prepare an appropriate welcome."
Esdeath laughed, genuine delight coloring her tone. "The day isn't over indeed. How many factions do you think will be foolish enough to attack us before word spreads sufficiently?"
"Hopefully several," Su Chen replied. "We have two billion worth of deficit to recover. If the Fire Country can provide another five hundred million, we'll need three or four more similar harvests to reach profitability. Let's make sure the cultivation world provides them."
The Northern Gate Massacre, as it would later be known, had concluded. But for Su Chen and the Stellar Void Pavilion, it was merely the opening engagement of what would become the Lower Realm's bloodiest and most profitable week in recorded history.
The harvesting had only just begun.