Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Mysterious Woman

“The formidable power of the Divine Shrine has become clear to you all over these past chaotic days. It is enough to stir the winds of an entire domain. I’ll ask one last time: will you cooperate?”

Amid the dazzling starry expanse, a woman dressed in white spoke coolly. Her figure was tall and graceful, her skin crystal-clear, suffused with ethereal radiance. The delicate contours of her perfect features were faintly revealed beneath her white veil.

Her tranquil, beautiful eyes gazed into the distance, fixed upon a burning star.

The scorching brilliance illuminated the cold, dark reaches far away.

Opposite her stood three figures.

One was a majestic man, black hair tumbling over his shoulders, his bearing noble and imposing. He stood seven feet tall, his jet-black eyes deep and unfathomable, shimmering with mysterious light. He carried a decaying wooden sword on his back, his expression cold and indifferent.

Had the Master of the Star Realm Hub been present, he would have been shocked to see this man with the rotting sword—for he was the Lord of the Ancient Origin Domain.

Beside him was a corpulent cultivator with an ugly, toad-like face, clad in a yellow-brown robe. His beady eyes gleamed as he stared hungrily at the mysterious woman’s graceful curves. Between his brows, a faint golden glow swirled, forming the character “Slay,” radiating a chilling aura.

The last was a boy clad in fiery red, with soul-stealing, peach blossom eyes, icy brows, and a calm, detached manner. He exuded a forbidding presence, warning strangers to keep their distance. On his brow, too, was the character “Slay.”

“Fellow Daoist, we are indeed interested in the Divine Shrine. But we know nothing of your identity or origins. Isn’t this partnership a bit hasty?” The toad-faced cultivator narrowed his eyes, licking his thick lips, and chuckled darkly.

The Lord of the Ancient Origin Domain remained silent, as did the fiery red boy, his expression steady.

“My time is short. I wish only to swiftly eliminate that source of calamity. If the Ancient Origin Domain hesitates, I’ll seek another. The Slay Alliance’s claws aren’t limited to one domain—I’m sure that Elder Ten Directions has many subordinates eager to distinguish themselves.” The mysterious woman’s demeanor was icy, her brows faintly arched.

At her words, the Lord of the Ancient Origin Domain frowned, his obsidian eyes flickering with a shadowy hue.

The other two also changed expressions. Elder Ten Directions… the most forbidden figure in the Slay Alliance. How could she know so much about them?

“How many Divine Shrines can you provide?” Suddenly, the Lord of the Ancient Origin Domain spoke.

His voice was deep and steady, and as it resounded, the cosmic space seemed to contract, the void hummed, and the very laws of existence vibrated. Of the three, his presence was the most overwhelming.

“As many as you want.” The mysterious woman’s eyes flashed with divine light. With a flick of her jade hand, a miniature world appeared, packed densely with Divine Shrines, shimmering with radiant colors.

“Is there really that many?” The fiery boy’s eyes sparkled.

“Ten thousand shrines, and three thousand delivered in advance,” the Lord of the Ancient Origin Domain stated, his black hair falling over inscrutable eyes as he set their terms.

“Agreed.” The mysterious woman replied briskly. Immediately, she raised her hand, and three crimson ancient slips flew from her sleeve, coming to rest before the three mighty figures.

“These are Divine Oath Slips.”

The slips were archaic in appearance, suffused with crimson glow, covered in intricate blood-red patterns, emanating a chilling aura.

They were powerful contracts. Both parties would infuse them with soul-laden blood; should either side betray the oath, their very souls would suffer grievous injury.

“Divine Oath Slips! Fellow Daoist, do you distrust us so much?” The corpulent cultivator in yellow-brown robes scowled, anger twisting his toad-like face.

“What if I didn’t?” The mysterious woman’s voice was airy and cold, her words biting.

The corpulent cultivator grunted.

“We both know the power of the Divine Oath Slip. Without its binding, either side could simply walk away at any time. If there’s no sincerity, then let’s call the matter off.” The woman was icy and beautiful, draped in a gauzy white robe, her skin gleaming like jade, her bearing elegant, as though enveloped in mist.

The Lord of the Ancient Origin Domain glanced at the blood-red slip and asked evenly, “What is the strength and origin of the person you want slain?”

“I won’t hide it. He is a young master of exceptional status in the Spiritual Energy Cosmos. His strength has not yet reached the Radiant Realm, but he possesses divine treasures, and his trump cards are unknown. You need only do your best—if you try your utmost and fail to kill him, the Divine Oath Slip will not bind you.” The mysterious woman explained.

“I find this acceptable.” The fiery boy smiled, “The Slay Alliance often takes payment to eliminate trouble for others. Ten thousand shrines to kill a single man—impressive.”

The corpulent cultivator snorted disdainfully, “He might be the son of some cosmic saint. Firebrand, think it over—is this deal really worth risking your life?”

“Risking my life? Hardly.” The boy, called Firebrand, shook his head. “Toad, since joining the Slay Alliance, you’ve grown timid. With our combined strength, slaying a brat below the Radiant Realm should be easy enough.”

“If he’s guarded by a powerful protector and we stumble, we’ll suffer backlash from the soul contract,” the corpulent cultivator retorted.

“Didn’t this fellow Daoist just say—if we try our best and still fail, we’re not bound by the slip. Ancient Origin, what do you think?” Firebrand smiled and turned to the noble man.

“It’s acceptable,” the Lord of the Ancient Origin Domain replied calmly.

…

The starry sky stretched without end, the golden ship sped onward.

Feng Xiang sat cross-legged with eyes closed on deck, divine radiance swirling around him, refining his body.

Qing cradled a book, reading avidly, while Little Phoenix and Shadow admired the cosmic scenery, their eyes sparkling with wonder.

The Ancient Origin Domain contains a hundred thousand star realms, each with a hundred thousand great star systems—its vastness defies imagination. They were now heading toward the nearest Flashcloud Star Realm Hub.

“A Divine Shrine has fallen into the hands of a great demon—tens of millions of lives sacrificed.”

The young man’s expression was grave, the golden tablet glowing, lines of text emerging, urgent news. Bloody conflicts for the Divine Shrine were erupting across every star realm.

A storm was sweeping through all worlds.

Many evil cultivators had gone mad, seeing an opportunity. Numerous ruthless individuals violated the laws of the Spiritual Energy Cosmos, blood-sacrificing countless innocent souls.

…

Drip.

The Lord of the Ancient Origin Domain, his features sharp and composed, opened a cut on his fingertip. A drop of blood infused with soul aura fell onto the Divine Oath Slip, quickly soaking in.

Firebrand did the same.

Lastly, the corpulent cultivator in the yellow-brown robe, though reluctant, followed suit. After deliberation, all three had agreed to the deal—the mysterious woman would pay with ten thousand Divine Shrines for their action.

Whoosh—

The three Divine Oath Slips burned, turning to ash in scarlet flames, drifting away into the cosmic void. At the same time, each felt the binding force settle upon their souls.

“The oath is sealed. Once I locate the target, I’ll notify you immediately.”

With a flick of her hand, the mysterious woman sent a blue storage ring flying into the Lord of the Ancient Origin Domain’s palm. A sweep of his divine sense confirmed there were indeed three thousand Divine Shrines inside.

“Wait—how should we address you?” The Lord of the Ancient Origin Domain asked, hands clasped behind his back.

“Xia.”

The answer was brief and forceful. With a flash of white, the immortal vanished.