Chapter 363 – Slaughter Within the Domain, Dance of Deadbone!

When the beige-hued Domain shattered in the distance and the Serpentfolk Legend fell from the sky, King Blackfang already understood their surprise attack had failed.

Though the human territory lacked geographical advantages, he had to admit this city had been fortified to near-impenetrability, leaving almost no weaknesses to exploit.

With only their few Legendary Realm experts, it was nearly impossible to tear through the city’s defensive barrier in a short time.

And the Legendary Realm experts of humans, elves, and giants were likely already en route.

If they didn’t leave now… they might not be able to escape at all.

“Retreat!”

Before he even spoke, the two Blood Serpent Embrace Legends closer to Tianyuan City had already slammed to a halt. They descended to the ground, reversing their course faster than their initial advance while gathering heaven and earth energy to erect massive rocky barriers before them.

They were afraid.

Before coming, they hadn’t thought much of human Legends, and never needed to regard those below the Legendary Realm as anything but ants. But enough ants could indeed kill an elephant. Had they remained kilometers away manipulating natural forces for long-range strikes, they’d have been relatively safe. Most Fourth Order commanders or city defense weapons could only watch helplessly, and the occasional attacks that reached them could be easily weakened or blocked by their Domains—they’d felt no pressure.

But the World-Breaking Stone needed direct contact with the barrier to take effect.

They hadn’t expected difficulties.

They were mighty Legends, protected by Domains that allowed them to cross kilometers in mere moments, paying no mind to counterattacks from mortal insects.

However, as they drew step by step closer to the human city, the pressure they faced multiplied exponentially.

Shells, arrows, and Bone Spears rained down, quickly surpassing what their Domains could withstand and filter. This alone wasn’t problematic—a casual gathering of heaven and earth energy could obliterate countless shells, arrows, and Fireballs. But! Hidden among these ordinary projectiles were a few lethal strikes that carried a faint, threatening edge.

They couldn’t ignore them.

They grew more serious.

They struggled to cope.

Then… their companion was struck down mid-air by a thunderbolt that pierced the sky.

“The human city has traps capable of severely injuring us!”

“That lightning… how vast and violent its energy!”

The two Blood Serpent Embrace Legends glanced at their Serpentfolk comrade who’d fallen over a kilometer away. The Serpentfolk Legend was charred black, skin split open, resembling a dead snake.

But Legendary Realm life forces were tenacious; despite the wretched appearance, the Serpentfolk Legend might not have perished.

The two snakes took one look and, without hesitation, continued their retreat into the distance.

In the blink of an eye, the two Serpentfolk Legends, three Jackal Fang Legends, and the Mirage Armor Legend—who had withdrawn beyond ten kilometers early on—transformed into streaks of light vanishing at the horizon’s edge.

A while later, a roaring gale swept across the sky as an Aura, blazing like the Great Sun, descended over Tianyuan City.

But by then, naturally, no trace of the monster Legends remained—only the corpse of the Serpentfolk Legend, struck by lightning and encased in frost, half-buried in the earth.

And the watery mirror shield enveloping the city had dimmed considerably compared to its initial state….

In a swamp approximately several hundred miles south of Tianyuan City.

After King Blackfang and the other five Legendary Realm experts fled the human city at their fastest speed, they descended to the ground, completely retracted their Domains and Auras, then swiftly ran for a while before finally stopping to rest.

“The human Legendary hasn’t pursued us,” King Blackfang stated with certainty.

Naturally, they had scouts in the wilderness behind them. If the human Legendary wanted to give chase quickly, it wouldn’t escape the notice of their scouts.

He couldn’t tell whether he felt relief or regret.

In their plan, they had anticipated the scenario of the human Legendary giving chase. In fact, they would have welcomed it.

That way, they could tie down this Legendary and cripple the human forces.

Their Jackal Fang could then crush the human territories with greater ease.

However, for King Blackfang and his five companions, he was more than happy that the human Legendary hadn’t pursued. If the human Legendary were to fight them desperately, unleashing all the hidden trump cards and accumulated resources before the human forces’ destruction upon them, they would be the ones to suffer.

He, King Blackfang, had no desire to end up like Blackwing, fallen in the wilderness.

Compared to King Blackfang and the other four Legendary Realm experts, the two Snakemen Legends were even more shaken. During their retreat, they had been bombarded by countless human weapons and powerful attacks. There was even a thunderous light beam, slightly weaker than the previous one, that struck at them. If not for King Blackfang and the others providing some cover, one of the Snakemen Legends might have been left behind.

Even so, their pupils smoldered with rage, though their anger was concealed beneath their sinister serpentine gaze, not openly displayed.

But these damned Jackalweres who used them as cannon fodder for testing—they would remember this.

One Snakeman exchanged a glance with his kin, confirming they shared the same sentiment. But suddenly, the Snakeman Sword Saint saw shock, fear, and astonishment abruptly surface in the serpentine eyes of his counterpart.

A chill surged from his tail to the crown of his head.

Before the Snakeman Sword Saint could swing his sword in retaliation, a shadow of indistinct features behind him drew a Bone Spike and thrust it forward.

It seemed like a simple, straightforward thrust.

There was no overflowing energy, no surging Aura—only the scent of Death that the Snakeman Legend detected.

Snake scales shimmered, and a yellow-and-white light armor abruptly materialized, only to shatter in the next moment under the unadorned thrust of the skeletal spike.

The Snakeman Legend let out a sharp cry, his thick, powerful tail attempting to coil upward but freezing mid-motion and slumping downward.

By then, the lightless Bone Spike had already pierced through the Snakeman Legend’s scales, which were as hard as exceptional Treasure Armor, as easily as tearing through cardboard.

The Bone Spike had only penetrated a few inches, yet the Snakeman Legend’s body withered at a visible pace, rapidly extinguishing—scales, flesh, and blood all vanishing into nothingness!

They were Legendary Realm beings who believed in the eternity of Flesh, originally possessing vigorous vitality, with flesh capable of constant regeneration and recovery.

But now, that regenerative ability seemed nonexistent. The Snakeman Legend pierced by the Bone Spike struggled for less than a second before his life force completely vanished, and his remaining corpse crumbled into extinction. Even the surrounding grass, swamp, and soil were tainted with an aura of desolation, chilling to behold.

He died far too quickly!The Snakeman opposite had lingering fear in his eyes, yet he was a being who had fought his way up from an ordinary third-tier monster to the Legendary Realm. Though he valued his life, he would not panic or flee in disarray. He struck out fiercely, two giant pythons coiling and lunging from the murky waters.

Simultaneously, the Serpentfolk Legend spread their Domain, extending it forward.

Farther away, King Blackfang and the three other Legendary Realm beings were abruptly startled.

“Has a Legendary Realm expert truly pursued us?”

“Which faction does this Legend belong to?”

“Attack!”

The several Legends simultaneously unleashed their Domains.

Though their Domains could not fuse, they coordinated flawlessly, each controlling their Domain to occupy a strategic position. This way, the black-cloaked Legend’s Domain had little chance to expand before being suppressed.

Deadbone did not deploy his Domain.

Dodging the two lunging giant pythons, he took a step forward, deliberately stepping into the Serpentfolk Legend’s Domain.

By sacrificing his position, Deadbone could use the enemy’s Domain to block the black giant ray and red beam attacking from behind.

However, as he stepped into this seemingly limited Domain, it felt as if he had entered another world.

The earth was brown-yellow, the sky drifted with wispy, pale yellow mist, and a foul stench assaulted him, along with an overwhelming pressure like a tidal wave.

His body sank, bones creaking, and faint yellow spots began to spread across his frame.

Ahead, the Serpentfolk Legend stood at the center of the Domain, separated by a vast distance within it.

Such was the power of a Domain!

No Legendary Realm expert would dare step into another Legend’s Domain. Even the mightiest among them could be overwhelmed and crushed by the Domain’s immense, unrelenting force.

The Serpentfolk Legend initially felt elated at Deadbone’s recklessness, but the next moment—

An intangible force shimmered around Deadbone.

Trapped within the enemy’s Domain, it was extremely difficult to expand his own. Instead of expanding, he used his skeleton as a foundation and black mist as wings, summoning a small black-and-white skiff.

Standing atop the skiff, he entered a pocket dimension untouched by the outside world.

Riding this pocket dimension, he surged forward like a ship breaking through waves.

The raging pressure and powerful suppression could not halt the black skiff’s advance.

At the skiff’s prow, a skeletal fragment glowed faintly—the power of Desolate Kingbone, capable of annihilating anything it touched, be it matter, energy, or intangible Domain force.

The skiff tore through a path, like a line of surging spray, crossing half the Domain in the blink of an eye and charging toward the stunned Serpentfolk Legend.

The Serpentfolk Legend roared, and hundreds, even thousands, of giant serpents flew out from around them.

Ten Thousand Snakes danced wildly, thirsting for blood.

Deadbone stood on the black skiff, his drawn greatsword humming as if the heavens themselves sighed in sorrow.

Simultaneously, the vast and majestic Undead Holy Mountain materialized above Deadbone, descending like a world manifesting within the Serpentfolk Legend’s Domain.

Suppress!

The hundreds upon thousands of wildly dancing serpents trembled abruptly, as if crushed by a mountain.

Slash!

Death Lament swept in a circle. Empowered by the Desolate Kingbone, the greatsword effortlessly cleaved through all obstacles in its path. The frenzied serpents withered and fell like dead leaves.

Terrified, the Serpentfolk Legend retreated hastily.Yet, even within his own Domain, it was as if he were carrying a mountain on his back. Before he could retreat more than a few steps, the black-cloaked Legend caught up to him.

Three sword strikes fell, and the Serpentfolk Legend perished on the spot.

…

Outside, in the swamp.

Watching the hazy yellow Domain abruptly dissipate, King Blackfang and the other three Legends were all startled.

The dissipation of a Domain often meant only one thing—either death or the brink of death.

King Blackfang spoke, “Disperse your Domains and fight relying on my Domain. Otherwise, we will be defeated one by one.”

He saw the situation clearly.

It wasn’t that the enemy was too strong… though the enemy’s strength was undeniable. In a one-on-one fight, like the Serpentfolk Legend, the two Gnoll Legends beside him might not last more than a few moves.

But they held the advantage in numbers. No matter how powerful this black-cloaked Legend before them was, he was still only at the first level of the Legendary Realm, just like them. At the same level, as long as they coordinated properly, they could surround and kill even such a super Legend.

After all, King Blackfang was no weakling himself.

However, their earlier coordination was not just lacking—it was downright interfering with each other, which led to the Serpentfolk Legend’s swift demise.

Two Legendary Realm experts had fallen before the real battle had even begun… King Blackfang was frustrated.

Before him, the enemy’s trail had vanished once more.

His gaze swept across the surroundings.

The swamp was dark and gloomy, with fog blocking the sky’s light, casting the entire area in a dim, shadowy hue. It was as silent as a land of death.

King Blackfang did not let his guard down and maintained his Domain.

He hadn’t forgotten how the black-cloaked Legend had suddenly appeared earlier without him noticing.

However, as long as the enemy dared to step into his Domain, he would ensure there was no return.

“Will this Legend step in?”

“He wouldn’t dare, right?”

“No… he—he’s coming!”

A black ark, like a Greatsword, pierced violently into King Blackfang’s Domain. The entire Domain trembled on the spot as the ark-sword shot forward. A black figure stood atop the ark and the sword, like a demon god riding the sword through the air.

Deadbone’s gaze swept over the four figures before him.

Although he possessed strength that was “a bit” greater than an ordinary Legend, facing multiple opponents head-on and trying to kill them—quickly at that—was no easy task.

He needed to break them down one by one.

Black fang-blades and crimson beams of light came crashing toward him. Deadbone rode the ark, cutting through the waves as he advanced against the rain of lethal attacks.

A dozen seconds later, he broke through the onslaught. The ark was slightly damaged as he leaped from it. His entire skeleton bloomed like a flower, and thousands upon thousands of pale white bones suddenly erupted from him, spreading in all directions.

Bone Realm: Forest of the Sovereign Bone!

A menacing forest of white bones pierced through the earth, violently clashing with the crimson beams and black fang-blades, tearing apart the ground, energy, and the Domain itself with brutal force.

“This doesn’t make sense!”

King Blackfang’s eyes widened in disbelief.

This was clearly his Domain. The suppressive force descending from above was one thing—it might be some kind of Epic Skill. But within his own Domain, the enemy shouldn’t have been able to manipulate even a sliver of the world’s energy. How, then, could he unleash such a large-scale killing technique?

Within the black Domain, the eerie white bones continued to bloom, as if forming a domain within a domain.

His Bone Domain!

Deadbone truly couldn’t manipulate—or at least, couldn’t manipulate large amounts of—the world’s energy. Even with his multiple talents and various methods to enhance his authority, competing with an enemy for control over the world’s energy within their Domain was a battle he couldn’t win… or at least, not by much.He had long realized that while Legends were indeed powerful, the vast majority of Legendary Realm experts relied too heavily on their own Domains and the power of heaven and earth.

Once deprived of these two, a Legend would be like having both hands severed, reduced to nothing more than an oversized super soldier.

Domains could be restrained.

The power of heaven and earth could be stored.

At this moment, the Undead Holy Mountain not only had tens of thousands of undead creatures continuously providing him with fuel, but the Well of Death at the mountain’s peak could also output vast amounts of heavenly and earthly energy.

His bone blossoms danced.

Every single bone extended from the Desolate Kingbone, making it difficult even for Legendary Realm experts to break.

In just a short while, several Legends were separated.

Within the King Blackfang’s Domain, Deadbone had forged his own battlefield.

Kill!

Thirty seconds later.

He slew the first Gnoll Legend upon the forest of withered bones.

Forty-seven seconds later.

He nailed the second Gnoll Legend to death upon the mountain of skeletons.

Seventy-nine seconds later.

A golden radiance ignited in Deadbone’s eyes.

King’s Might – Divine Might Entanglement!

An invisible kingly Divine Might spread out, transforming at a certain moment into tangible golden power that coiled around King Blackfang’s body, climbing over his flesh and soul.

Above, the Undead Holy Mountain pressed down;

In the middle, the kingly Divine Might entangled;

Below, the Domain Ark tore apart all obstacles in all directions;

The more King Blackfang fought, the more frustrated he became. His Domain could barely function, and his strength, his energy—everything was at a disadvantage.

He fled.

But there was nowhere to flee.

He was pierced through by the Death Lament, the surrounding white bones closing like flower buds, stabbing through him repeatedly.

Squelch—

Blood splattered.

Deadbone didn’t waste his Desolate Power. He simply clasped his hands together, and the surrounding white bones shot down like spears, one after another.

Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud—!!

Blood sprayed high.

Blood dissipated.

Deadbone turned and walked away, the black Domain behind him slowly fading.

The swamp remained gray and dim, with stubborn blades of grass growing here and there. The massive, broken body of the jackalwere king crashed to the ground, his blood turning into nourishment, gradually dyeing the small grass red.

Deadbone gazed into the distance and sighed softly.

“One got away.”

He then examined himself.

“The Domain has minor damage, and the Desolate Power is down to 73.6%. The battles ahead will be even tougher.”

He unfolded the Undead Holy Mountain and, adhering to the principle of not wasting anything, swept up the nearby remains before his figure vanished into the misty swamp.

Meanwhile,

At Wolfhead Mountain.

The Elf and Giant Legends were still gazing south.

Tianyuan City emerged from the mist, standing firm on the vast earth.

They somewhat understood why the human Lord was so urgent about launching the expedition against the Gnolls, wanting to do it within a year.

Because Tianyuan City couldn’t remain hidden for much longer.

They just hadn’t expected that before their expedition could even begin, and with the one-year deadline still far off, the Jackal Fang would unite with other dominant forces to launch an all-out attack.

And with thunderous momentum, they assaulted Tianyuan City.

“Fortunately, Tianyuan City withstood this sudden assault.”

“Hmm, the Tianyuan Lord still has his methods. Even without a Legend guarding it, he left behind weapons capable of slaying Legends.”

Shen Linglong had troops stationed in Tianyuan City, so she was the first to witness that flash of lightning.

She recognized it.

The radiance of the Large Electromagnetic Coil Tower!

Her own territory also had large coil towers.Come to think of it, she had once exchanged a permanent blueprint with Tianyuan. The fact that the Large Electromagnetic Coil Tower had just managed to annihilate the Serpentfolk Legend was partly thanks to her contribution.

“What a pity, the other monstrous Legends managed to escape.”

She felt deeply regretful. If she had been in Tianyuan City, she could have surely taken down at least one of them.

Elf Mirena and Giant Asoro were even more dismayed. “If we could have kept two or three more of those Legends here, it would have greatly alleviated the pressure in the upcoming war.”

Such a shame!

5K

(End of Chapter)