Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 768 - 324: Two Domain Masters

Sikong Lan and his companions stared at the Node Pearl that had suddenly appeared in front of them, their eyes shining with holy brilliance.

"Ning Qi possesses a compass for locating nodes; he'll definitely detect this one and bring his forces rushing here!"

Sikong Lan and Sima Fei went on with their conversation, wrapping up the strategies to counter Ning Qi.

Sima Fei suggested, "Let's draw in a few Fierce Beasts from the Sea of Realms to this spot. If we can, pull over some cultivators from the Vast Realm too; that way, we'll feel much more secure."

At these words, all eyes turned to Sikong Lan, anticipating his command.

Sikong Lan was on the verge of issuing an instruction when abruptly, a startling voice echoed through the air nearby.

"I never thought a node would be concealed right here!"

"Who's there?"

Sikong Lan whipped around instantly to search, yet spotted no one.

Sima Fei retreated several steps, warily scanning the area while quietly readying the Killing Array they'd recently arranged.

At the same time, the Cyan Profound Immortal Sect's troops assembled into a combat lineup, braced for any threat.

The voice floated vaguely, elusive and hard to pinpoint, making its origin impossible to trace.

Sikong Lan's initial thought was that Ning Qi might have trailed them to this place.

However, thinking back to the earlier voice, it didn't resemble Ning Qi's in the slightest.

Sikong Lan called out, "Just who are you? You've made your presence known by speaking, so why not reveal yourself?"

"Hmph," came a sudden scoff from the figure, as if ridiculing the entire group: "What, are you all itching for a fight with me?"

Without waiting for a reply, the speaker pressed on independently: "With that pathetic Killing Array you barely finished and your bunch of insect-like cultivators, I could wipe you out in one strike of my palm. Believe me?"

His tone brimmed with utter self-assurance, laced with blatant arrogance and disdain.

These declarations sent chills down Sikong Lan and Sima Fei's backs, their pulses racing in fear.

Was it possible the intruder had shadowed them all the way?

From the manner of speaking, he sounded like a foe cultivator out of the Vast Realm, and his use of "I" hinted at a lofty rank.

Even more alarming, from the moment he uttered his first words up to now, despite their sweeps with Spiritual Sense, they couldn't locate his hiding spot at all.

The enemy's concealment skills likely surpassed even Ning Qi's.

Naturally, Sikong Lan and his group had only crossed paths with Ning Qi once before and knew nothing of later events.

"Your silence—does it mean you doubt my claim?"

This remark jolted Sikong Lan to attention, and he responded at once with a forced grin:

"Your Excellency, hidden so well beyond our senses, we naturally take your statement at face value. Yet if you really plan to end us with a single palm, why not appear and let us see the face of our doom clearly?"

After a brief hesitation, the voice erupted in laughter: "Fine then, I'll make sure you grasp it fully!"

His words barely ended when a tremendous aura surged into being within the emptiness.

They prepared to strike at the detected spot, but the aura flashed like thunder, materializing behind Sikong Lan in an instant and slamming a palm against his skull's rear.

A wave of icy dread shot up Sikong Lan's back, freezing him in place as he bellowed, "Stand down, everyone!"

Sima Fei, standing nearby, was seconds from triggering the Killing Array, but a mere look from the stranger locked him rigid, as if petrified, utterly unable to stir.

Terror exploded in Sima Fei's chest, his gaze locked on the newcomer, scarcely daring to draw breath.

As for the Cyan Profound Immortal Sect's forces, witnessing their commander Sikong Lan seized and hearing his urgent command to hold back, they naturally refrained from any action.

Besides, bringing him down seemed doubtful, and with Sikong Lan held so vulnerably, any assault carried deadly peril.

At last, they beheld the foe's features.

The individual donned an opulent Taoist Robe decorated with intricate ink artwork.

His stature towered, his features striking, marked by somewhat slender eyes brimming with sharp vitality.

Sikong Lan, drenched in icy sweat yet gripped by the man, struggled to steady his nerves.

He kept up the smile and inquired, "Could I learn your honorable title in the Vast Realm? Even if death awaits me at your hands, shouldn't I at least know the name of my slayer?"

The man cast a glance at Sikong Lan, appearing to regard him with a touch of approval.

"I am Kuang Shanqing, Domain Master of the Divine Wind Domain in the Vast Realm!"

Only now did the group grasp his identity and name. His self-proclaimed Domain Master status immediately evoked thoughts of Ning Qi.

They had earlier aligned with Qi Keqing's forces and encountered Ning Qi, aware he held the Domain Master role in the Profound Truth Realm.

Yet Ning Qi paled dramatically in power compared to this figure!

"So Your Excellency serves as the Divine Wind Domain Master. We never imagined such a mighty power dwelled in the Vast Realm. Our Mountain and Sea Realm can't hold a candle to it!"

Sikong Lan artfully praised him, all while inwardly damning the man's forebears.

Curse it, if he'd foreseen clashing with a rival Domain Master, he'd have stayed far away no matter what.

What galled Sikong Lan even more was how their elaborate setups with Sima Fei proved useless—they hadn't met Ning Qi at all but got snared first by this Vast Realm intruder. Such cursed fortune!

Sikong Lan's flattery filtered into Kuang Shanqing's ears, swelling his ego noticeably.

Despite being adversaries, Kuang Shanqing clearly savored the compliments.

Kuang Shanqing declared, "You're just a cultivator from the Mountain and Sea Realm, but your judgment proves sharp. It wouldn't be fair to smash you outright with one palm. So, I'll grant you a moment to voice any final wishes."

At this, Sikong Lan's gaze flickered rapidly.

The foe's haughty superiority offered him a slim window to regroup through his reply.