Primordial Era: The Holy Maiden Shiji, a woman of exceptional talent and beauty

This information was vast and all-encompassing, and many images flashed through Shi Ji's mind like lightning. His figure stood in the void, gazing into the distant distance.

After a long while, Shi Ji closed her eyes. Her expression was constantly changing. After a long time, Shi Ji sighed and said, "You knew I would come, so you deliberately set this trap?"

“Indeed, I have been waiting for this day for hundreds of years.” Nan Mingjing looked at Shi Ji with icy eyes and said, “Today, I will make you die here.”

As Nan Mingjing finished speaking, nine puppet corpses, each three meters tall, appeared around her. Each puppet corpse unleashed terrifying power, and each puppet's realm was incredibly terrifying.

"My dear brother, I'm sending you on your way." Nan Mingjing's lips curled into a cold smile.

“You won’t succeed.” Shi Ji looked sharply at Nan Mingjing and said, “Let’s have a duel and see who defeats whom.”

"Shiji, you're too naive. You're already at your limit. Do you think you can defeat me?" Nan Mingjing said disdainfully to Shiji.

"I never fight a battle unprepared." Shi Ji looked at Nan Mingjing and said, "You should know your weakness. Your life essence has been exhausted, and you only have three years left to live. If you want to leave this land alive, you must refine the souls of those two people!"

“I know you are exceptionally intelligent, but unfortunately you have made a fatal mistake.” Nan Mingjing’s beautiful eyes were fixed on Shi Ji as she said, “However, you are destined to perish here tonight. You must keep the promise I made to you.”

As she spoke, Nan Mingjing's aura grew increasingly terrifying, and a crazed expression appeared on her stunningly beautiful face.

Nine powerful puppets rose into the air, carrying earth-shattering power as they rushed towards Shiji. At this moment, Nan Mingjing completely lost control, her aura rising steadily like a vast ocean.

"You want to self-destruct?"

A strange smile appeared on Shi Ji's lips.

The moment Shi Ji finished speaking, the nine terrifying puppets let out hoarse roars, their auras becoming even more terrifying and their speed even faster.

Just as the nine puppets were about to collide with Shi Ji's body, a jet-black sword beam pierced the sky and shattered the bodies of the nine puppets. This sword was an extremely evil demonic sword.

A piercing scream rang out as Nan Mingjing was pierced through the body by a jet-black spear, crimson blood flowing from her chest. Nan Mingjing was filled with rage, staring into the void with resentment in her eyes.

"How dare you defy me!" Nan Mingjing roared angrily as she lunged forward, but just as she did, Shi Ji's fist slammed into Nan Mingjing's chest.

This time, Shi Ji attacked with hatred, breaking Nan Mingjing's sternum with a single punch.

A trickle of blood spilled from Nan Mingjing's lips, but her attacks remained fierce, emanating a destructive aura of slaughter.

She took a step forward, and a dark curved blade appeared in her hand, which she slashed fiercely at Shi Ji's head.

The blade struck Shi Ji's head with great force, but Shi Ji remained unmoved, allowing the blow to hit his head. At the same time, he grabbed the curved sword with his left hand and walked towards Nan Mingjing.

Just as Shi Ji approached, Nan Mingjing fiercely swung his curved blade, unleashing a devastating attack on Shi Ji with power several times greater than before.

A muffled thud exploded in the void, and Nan Mingjing's figure was thrown out, her hair disheveled and her face as pale as paper.

She coughed up a mouthful of blood, and Nan Mingjing's life force waned to its lowest point.

"What exactly did you use?" Nan Mingjing asked with difficulty, her eyes filled with resentment as she looked at Shi Ji.

"Guess!" Shi Ji laughed loudly as she walked towards Nan Mingjing and said, "Well? Do you submit? If not, let's fight again."

"You're despicable, you actually cheated!" Nan Mingjing shouted at Shi Ji, "I didn't lose unjustly, and I admit defeat, but don't forget what you promised me."

"Rest assured, I will keep my word this time." Shi Ji looked at Nan Mingjing indifferently and said, "Your soul has been sealed by me."

As he spoke, he formed several mysterious hand seals with his fingers and struck directly at Nan Mingjing.

A crisp cracking sound rang out, and Nan Mingjing's figure trembled slightly, as if she wanted to stop Shi Ji.

However, Shi Ji was incredibly fast, sealing Nan Mingjing's soul in an instant. Then, Shi Ji placed her hand on Nan Mingjing's forehead, directly releasing the restriction on Nan Mingjing's primordial spirit.

The excruciating pain caused Nan Mingjing to let out a piercing scream.

"Nan Mingjing, do you still remember?" Shi Ji turned to look at Nan Mingjing and said, "Your father and your brother have both been sealed away by me. Do you still dare to break your promise?"

Upon hearing this, Nan Mingjing's face turned pale, and her lips trembled slightly.

“You want to save them? It’s simple.” Shi Ji looked at Nan Mingjing and said, “Lead me to the tomb of the Great Emperor of the Western Regions, and I will help you rescue them.”

"The location of the Western Regions Emperor's tomb... this..." Nan Mingjing hesitated upon hearing this, because she truly did not know the location of the tomb; such a secret was known only to her grandmaster.

"It's alright if you don't want to talk about it," Shi Ji said with a smile. "However, I think your grandmaster has probably already been buried there."

“I’ll tell you,” Nan Mingjing said, biting her lip and looking at Shi Ji, “I did lie to you before. Weren’t you looking for the tomb of the Great Emperor of the Western Regions? He never built a tomb!”

"Oh?" Shi Ji looked at Nan Mingjing.

“Shiji, I underestimated you this time, and I admit I am no match for you. But you have absolutely no chance of finding the tomb of the Great Emperor of the Western Regions,” Nanming Jing said arrogantly.

"Is that so?" Shi Ji suddenly laughed and said, "Since I have said this, I am sure I can find it, even if I have to dig three feet into the ground."

"Don't even think about it," Nan Mingjing said, shaking her head.

"Is that so?" Shi Ji looked up at the sky: "Nan Mingjing, do you believe that if I were to use a secret technique to summon your grandmaster to descend right now, he would definitely show himself? Although he is seriously injured, his strength is probably no less than that of the Demon Lord back then, right?"

"What? You..." Nan Mingjing's expression changed drastically upon hearing this. She had underestimated Shi Ji after all. This person was too cunning, even managing to scheme against her own martial uncle.

"Impossible! My master has long since passed away, and his tomb is located on a mountain peak in the Kunlun Mountains, called Qinglong Mountain," Nan Mingjing hurriedly explained.

"Qinglong Mountain? Located in the north?" Shi Ji asked, slightly surprised.

“It’s in the north!” Nan Mingjing said hurriedly.

“Very good, Qinglong Mountain.” Shi Ji stood with his hands behind his back, a wicked smile playing on his lips: “Nan Mingjing, I hope you will remember what I said today.”

Before she finished speaking, Shi Ji turned and stepped into the void, disappearing from sight.

Nan Mingjing watched his departing figure, panting heavily. She gazed at the distant horizon, then raised the curved sword in her hand.

A clean, white hand gripped the hilt of the knife, and eerie flames flickered on the blade.

With a deafening roar, Nan Mingjing crushed the weapon in her hand, and her entire body transformed into a sky full of flames and vanished into the void.

However, these flames did not burn out.

A moment later, the flames gradually condensed into a ball of blood, within which a golden pill, pure and immaculate, emerged.

"I will definitely kill you and seize the Creation Divine Art and Purgatory Demon Technique from your body!" A cold voice came from the blood, and it was none other than Nan Mingjing's voice.

Immediately, the ball of blood-red light shot out and disappeared into the distant void.

In the desolate northwest desert, above an ancient canyon, a blood-red afterimage appeared—it was Nan Mingjing.

She was covered in blood, her gaze icy as she stared into the void.

"You just wait, I will avenge this!" Nan Mingjing's cold and stern voice echoed through the sky before his figure vanished.

Not long after the bloody afterimage disappeared, the void trembled, and several figures emerged out of thin air.

These people exuded a powerful aura and possessed astonishing might. One of the men, dressed in white with his hands behind his back, had eyes as sharp as swords, long, slender eyebrows, an upright posture, and a square face with distinct features, displaying the demeanor of a domineering ruler.

This person is none other than west Kuangtu, the young master of the Western King's Mansion.

The other man was burly and strong, with short hair, a dark face, sharp eyes like an eagle, and a powerful aura. He was Nangong Fenglei, the deputy sect master of the Donghua Sect in Donghai City, Donghua City.

Both of them turned their gazes toward the spot where Nan Mingjing had just fled.

"What an exquisite illusion!" Nangong Fenglei stood with his hands behind his back, gazing coldly at the sky.

"She is no less powerful than any other in terms of supernatural abilities!" west Kuangtu exclaimed. "If I hadn't witnessed it myself, I would never have imagined that she had mastered such illusionary arts!"

“Indeed, this woman is truly terrifying,” Nangong Fenglei said. “In the past, she always thought that her illusion techniques had reached a high level.”

“But her illusions are more sophisticated than before, yet I always feel that they are counterfeit,” said west Kuangtu. “They don’t seem to be the result of painstaking research.”

"Regardless, Shi Ji has won this round." Nangong Fenglei said after a moment of silence, "But Shi Ji, do you really want to kill her? I advise you not to provoke her; after all, she is Nan Mingjing!"

“Nan Mingjing, the pride of the Nan Ming family,” west Kuangtu said coldly, “If allowed to grow up, he will surely become a scourge in the future.”

“You madman, you don’t understand. Only a strong man is worthy of a woman like Nan Mingjing.” Nangong Fenglei said with his hands behind his back, “As for Shi Ji, she is not her type. The way we are dealing with her will only create deep enmity.”

“That’s true. We shouldn’t force her. She doesn’t want to marry me anyway,” west Kuangtu sighed.

“We never expected this situation to unfold like this. Shi Ji actually used the methods we taught her,” Nangong Fenglei said. “But I think this might not be such a bad thing.”

"How do you know?" west Kuangtu asked doubtfully. "Could it be that Shi Ji and Nan Mingjing are getting married and will join forces in the future? The probability of that is not high. Such a person is extremely ambitious."

"Although he is ambitious, he is not a man of any kind who would stop at nothing."

Nangong Fenglei looked up at the void and said, "Moreover, such people are most afraid of others threatening their lives. I suspect that Shiji has already seen through some clues, otherwise she would not have allowed her to leave alive."

“Yes, I agree with that.” west Kuangtu nodded.

"Alright, let's leave this matter for now. Let Rong Shiji talk to her. Let's return to the Northwest Continent first and discuss important matters together." Nangong Fenglei said calmly, "The Northwest Continent is our main battlefield."

“Exactly, let’s go back and discuss it first. I’ve heard that Japan is also making moves.” west Kuangtu said with his hands behind his back.

The two powerful figures turned and disappeared, their whereabouts unknown.

In the northwestern desert, the carcass of a giant golden python floats in mid-air, its abdomen oozing crimson blood as hot as lava.

At that moment, a piercing laugh, filled with excitement, rang out from the void.

A blood-red figure appeared; it was Shi Ji.

Looking at this enormous body, Shi Ji couldn't help but roar to the sky: "Golden Python, you have finally awakened!"

A painful roar echoed through the sky, and the golden python suddenly stood up, its body surging with a terrifying aura.

Its figure stood still, the surrounding sand swirled endlessly, its aura rising steadily, so strong that it made Shi Ji change color—this was the aura of a vast emperor, as if ruling the world.

"Welcome back, Your Majesty!"

A loud voice came from the mouth of the golden python, and its body knelt down in worship.

"Congratulations, you have returned to the Emperor Realm." Shi Ji laughed and stepped forward to help the giant python up. The python's body was hundreds of meters tall, like a small mountain.

The giant golden python shook its enormous head, its tongue flicking in and out, its gaze docile.

"Thank you so much for your help this time!" Shi Ji patted the python's head lightly and said, "However, your injuries still require recuperation."

"Thank you, Master. I will heal my wounds immediately," the golden python said respectfully, opening its massive jaws and spitting out several bloody, mangled pills.

The pill was crushed by his bite and absorbed into his body, its medicinal power instantly permeating his limbs and bones.

"Indeed, it works." Shi Ji smiled upon seeing this.

"Hehe, I found this in a secret place on the east coast. It is very beneficial for healing." The golden python grinned and said, "Master, use it first. If it's not enough, I'll send more."

"You scoundrel, do you have any conscience at all? I am your master, how dare you hoard it?" Shi Ji laughed and scolded, "Quickly refine it."

"I am your demonic pet," the golden python said with an embarrassed smile.

"Fine, you're right." Shi Ji nodded.

The golden python's scales fluttered as it coiled on the ground, beginning to refine its flesh and blood, its aura gradually stabilizing.

"This python is no ordinary creature; it may possess the potential to become a great emperor." A hearty laugh suddenly came from afar, and two young men slowly approached.

One man held a folding fan, while the other stood with his hands behind his back, exuding an extraordinary air and displaying a refined and scholarly demeanor.

“People from the Northwest Continent!” Shi Ji turned around and smiled at the two of them.

"Oh? You noticed our presence so early, truly worthy of being a god-level expert." The two laughed, "We are envoys from the Ancient Kingdom of Nanhua and the Southern Ridge Continent."

As they spoke, they each tossed a jade pendant to Shiji.

"Thank you." Shi Ji smiled and accepted the two bronze plaques, densely inscribed with four ancient seal characters:
The ancient kingdom of Nanhua, located on Nanling Island.

The two characters exuded a mysterious aura.

The two messengers bowed slightly, turned around, and stepped into the air, disappearing into the void.

"Please wait, envoys." Shi Ji smiled as she watched their retreating figures, then looked at the golden python on the ground: "Golden Dragon, how are you now?"

"Master, I feel warm all over."

The golden python exclaimed excitedly, "I feel my power increasing, which must be due to the strengthening of my primordial spirit. The transformation of my primordial spirit has accelerated considerably, and I expect it will be fully completed soon."

"Very well, we shall immediately return to the Eastern Mausoleum Region and settle old scores with Nan Batian!" Upon hearing this, Shi Ji's face was covered with a frosty killing intent, for Nan Batian had almost taken her life in the past.

"Where are you two?" Shi Ji asked, her gaze fixed on the two Great Saints, Hu Xiaoqian and Nanming Fenyue, who were not far away.

“Master, let us accompany you to the Eastern Mausoleum Domain. That way, if you encounter any danger, we can help you.” Nanming Fenyue and Hu Xiaoqian both replied with smiles.

Upon hearing this, Shi Ji nodded slightly, and his figure flashed away. His speed in this realm was astonishing. When crossing the void, he was as fast as lightning, and it was impossible to catch his trajectory.

Not long after, Shi Ji and the other two arrived at the Eastern Mausoleum Region.

A massive ship broke through the void in the distance and landed directly outside Dongling City. Immediately, the ship's hatches opened, and seats flew out into the air.

Nanming Fenyue and Hu Xiaoqian stepped out. A sinister and cold light appeared deep in Nanming Fenyue's eyes, while Hu Xiaoqian's expression was extremely solemn, as if he had something on his mind.

"Congratulations on your return, Master." (End of Chapter)