Many children, many blessings: Stealing the offspring of powerful figures to cultivate immortality.

The morning mist quietly dissipated through the cracks in the stone steps.

Four managers in the backyard of the Tianyan Chamber of Commerce were quickly carrying several heavy iron and wooden crates towards the entrance of the cave.

Yun Zhongce waved his jade fan and pointed out the direction: "Be careful not to bump or knock that box of Ice Sea Dragon Saliva Incense. A-Ning can't stand strong smells lately, so choose the lightest incense."

Qian Yong responded cautiously, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

The sound of the stone gate scraping against the ground came again.

Xie Wuwang dragged a two-zhang-long icefield snow dragon into the room with one arm.

The dragon's corpse was covered with a layer of unmelted frost, and the blood at the severed neck had long been solidified by the Annihilation True Fire.

He slammed the heavy dragon corpse onto the bluestone ground, causing the surrounding rocks to tremble violently.

Xie Wuwang glanced at the exquisite wooden boxes: "They're just pretty but useless weeds. I cut down a snow dragon from the Northern Ice Abyss, extracted its tendons, and boiled them into soup. That's much more effective than your lousy leaves."

Yun Zhongce covered his mouth and nose with his folding fan and took two steps back: "Brother Xie, you're covered in such a stench, aren't you afraid of frightening the child? Miss Jiang doesn't have a good appetite right now, are you trying to frighten her by bringing back such a grotesque thing?"

A cluster of purplish-black flames flickered at Xie Wuwang's fingertips: "This is pure Yang dragon blood. I personally refined it; where is the fishy smell?"

Yun Zhongce raised an eyebrow: "Reckless."

Xie Wuwang's eyes grew cold: "You want to test the knife?"

The two faced each other across the dragon's corpse, with crackling sounds emanating from the air.

Jiang Yining emerged from the inner room wearing a large, dark purple robe, the hem of which fluttered slightly, concealing her figure.

Jiang Yining rubbed her temples: "If you two are really so energetic, why don't you go and break open the foundation stone of the Nine Heavens Star Array?"

Xie Wuwang's murderous intent vanished instantly. He quickly moved to her side and casually placed a warm animal hide under the stone chair.

Yun Zhongce also brought over a cup of spiritual liquid and handed it to her from the other side: "Miss Jiang, moisten your throat. This is spiritual dew that has just been warmed by the cold spring."

Jiang Yining reached out and took it, but before she could bring it to her lips, the entire dome of the cave suddenly trembled violently.

Qian Yong looked out at the sky in horror, his voice trembling: "Young Master, the sky... the sky has changed!"

Before the words were finished, an immense and irresistible pressure pierced through the multiple protective barriers above Tianyan City and plummeted downwards.

It was a sense of oppression that completely surpassed that of true immortals, carrying an absolute indifference that regarded all living beings as ants.

The jade cup at Jiang Yining's fingertips could not withstand the pressure and instantly shattered into countless crystalline powders.

The Myriad Spirits Divine Tree within her body instinctively sensed the presence of its natural enemy, and countless purple-gold branches and leaves violently retracted, tightly protecting the dormant life force deep within her lower abdomen at its core.

Jiang Yining's face turned slightly pale, her breath hitched, and her body swayed slightly.

Xie Wuwang moved swiftly, his long arm pulling her into his embrace, his broad back completely shielding her beneath his chest.

Xie Wuwang looked up at the trembling stone ceiling, his eyes a deep, dark purple like an abyss: "What is that?"

Yun Zhongce's expression suddenly turned cold, and the Treasure Gathering Bone within his body emitted a rapid buzzing sound.

He strode to the cave entrance, peering up at the dome through the cracks in the broken barrier.

Above Tianyan City, countless golden rays tore through the clouds, transforming into a dazzling, blazing sun suspended in mid-air.

Under this immense pressure, millions of cultivators within the city had their knees slam heavily against the bluestone slabs, and none of them were able to straighten their backs.

Deep within the golden light, three golden-armored phantoms, each over a hundred feet tall, stood in mid-air, occupying three corners of the universe.

The central deity slowly unfurled a crimson-gold edict, its booming voice echoing between heaven and earth: "By imperial decree, Xuan Tian is commanded."

"The Holy Ruler is about to emerge from seclusion and will personally tour all corners of the myriad realms."

"Anyone in the realm who possesses a different Dao principle, an ancient physique, or is born with a divine wood seal must go to the Divine Palace within three days for a physical examination."

"Those who conceal and fail to report will have their entire family exterminated."

"Those who defy the imperial decree will have their lineage exterminated."

Each character transformed into a tangible golden talisman, crashing down upon the protective array's barrier.

The city's protective array flickered, and fine cracks appeared in its patterns.

The ancient spirit-gathering array within the cave also collapsed, and the rocks on the four walls crumbled away.

Jiang Yining pursed her lips, the divine wood energy within her body restless, almost bursting out to meet the golden light filling the sky.

Emperor Xuanqing set up this formation with the intention of finding the Myriad Spirit Divine Tree and the clues to breaking the boundary.

Xie Wuwang noticed the disordered blood and qi in her body, and immediately took off his outer robe to wrap her tightly.

He knelt on one knee, holding Jiang Yining tightly in his arms, using his back to withstand the penetrating pressure of the golden light.

The law of annihilation spread out from his body, transforming into a deep purple cocoon of light, desperately resisting the invading golden light of the divine palace.

The bones creaked under the pressure, and a trickle of blood escaped from Xie Wuwang's lips, dripping onto her clothes.

Jiang Yining pressed her hand against his back: "Xie Wuwang, withdraw the law!"

Xie Wuwang, his mouth full of blood and foam, grinned maliciously: "A mere projection of the Divine Palace dares to try and break my bones?"

On the other side, Yun Zhongce also did not retreat an inch.

He bit his tongue, spraying his blood onto the jade fan. He then formed intricate hand seals, summoning a spirit shield radiating a thick golden light, which stood side by side with Xie Wuwang's purple light barrier and merged with it.

Yun Zhongce swayed slightly, spitting out a jet of blood that stained his moon-white brocade robe.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, his tone carrying the stubbornness unique to merchants: "Miss Jiang, don't panic. As long as the foundation of my Tianyan Chamber of Commerce is not depleted, even if we have to use spirit stones to build a way out for you."

Protected between two barriers, Jiang Yining looked at the bloodstains still wet on the lips of the two people beside her, her chest heaving with turmoil.

Without further hesitation, she sent two strands of pure divine tree life force through her fingertips into their pulse points, forcefully protecting their trembling heartbeats.

Half an incense stick later, the golden light that filled the sky finally faded away.

The phantom of the deity high in the sky dissipated into streams of light, and the suffocating pressure receded like a tide.

Cries of agony filled the city, and many low-level cultivators suffered severe injuries.

Inside the cave, all the barriers had dissipated. Xie Wuwang and Yun Zhongce leaned against the broken wall to regulate their breathing, their faces deathly pale.

Jiang Yining straightened up from under the black robe and tightened her waist belt again.

She walked up to Xie Wuwang, wiped the blood off his face with her sleeve, then turned to Yun Zhongce and handed him a high-grade meridian-protecting pill.

Jiang Yining's tone was icy cold: "Di Xuanqing's divine sense will soon cover this city. Tianyan City cannot be allowed to remain any longer."

Xie Wuwang stood up, short blade in hand: "Where are we going? I'll lead the way."

Yun Zhongce swallowed the pill, squinted his peach blossom eyes and examined the sky outside the cave, and said in a low voice, "There is a dead land in the northern corner of the Xuan Tian Realm. The Divine Palace Golden Mirror cannot penetrate it, and even the imperial decree cannot reach it."