The asteroid region trembled, shockwaves rolling outward as the concealment formation tore apart like fragile silk. Shattered fragments of spatial barriers flickered and faded, revealing the vast stronghold of the Three-Eyed Chromatic Hex Arachnid Clan.
At that moment, a fiery storm descended.
A colossal rift in space ignited with crimson radiance, birthing a towering figure wreathed in molten light.
A powerful cultivator of the Pyraxis Ember Arachnid Clan emerged as a manifestation of eight burning limbs spreading wide. His was encased in a shell of blazing obsidian armor, his ember-like eyes flaring with unbridled confidence. Veins of molten gold energy pulsed around him, radiating waves of scorching heat that warped the layers of space around him.
Behind him, battleships emerged. There were considerable forces on top of each battleship.
A deafening boom followed their arrival, and the shockwave rolled out once again.
The asteroids themselves shuddered from the impact, sending debris scattering into the space. Spatial turbulence surged through the region like a tidal wave, distorting light, bending trajectories, and sending weaker people spiraling uncontrollably within the asteroids.
Screeches and panic erupted among the arachnid clan's forces. Despite all the panic, the asteroids weren't damaged at all except for shedding a few rocky substances.
There were a certain few who were already in the space, their expressions indifferent.
"You finally came here to end us."
Ancestor Alissara shuddered ever so light, her purple eyes turning bloodshot as she looked at the forces of the Pyraxis Ember Arachnid Clan.
Beside her, Ancestor Lissana's expression also grew wrathful.
Within the numerous undulations, they sensed three Late Stage Autarchs, four Mid Stage Autarchs, and seven Low Stage Autarchs. As for the man clad in crimson obsidian armor, he appeared to be a Level Seven Autarch, his prowess appearing to be one level higher.
"Die!"
Ancestor Alissara directly attacked him.
Her third eye split open, and a crimson light emerged as the Collapse Hex shot through the invisible realm of karma using a line of sight. The time taken for it to reach was not even a millisecond, spontaneously activating as the crimson light shone on the Pyraxis Ember Arachnid's Ancestor.
However, the crimson light suddenly receded.
"Nuh-uh." The crimson obsidian armored man, the most powerful Ancestor of the Pyraxis Ember Arachnid Clan, raised his hand and shook his finger in a condescending manner before he displayed a spider-like shield. It was so primitive, still appearing bloodied.
"Your hexes won't work when we have this wonderful new Legacy Artifact that had been made with the blood and soul essences of countless Three-Eyed Chromatic Hex Arachnid."
"You dare!?" Ancestor Alissara scowled.
She trembled with fury but quickly lost her footing as she wobbled from the overuse of energy when she had barely recovered.
Ancestor Lissana quickly caught her and kept her from falling. They glared at him.
"What do you mean I dare? I've already harvested so many of your essences. What's left for me to not dare?"
The Pyraxis Ember Arachnid Ancestor scoffed, "Especially when you two seem injured. It seems like choosing to wait until your inheritor left was really the correct answer. What a strong menace, but I no longer need her, for you have stupidly revived our original target. Isn't that right, Empress Hexena Xylusc?"
At this moment, Empress Hexena Xylusc stepped out of the asteroid. She arrived beside her allies, her gaze making the entire battlefield fall silent. The battleships rumbled to a stop and even the enemies gasped at the sight of her majestic aura but also her exquisite beauty.
"Morten, to think you are still here instead of ascending. Do you really want to take my hand in marriage that much?"
Her condescending voice traveled to every part of the asteroid region.
Ancestor Morten smirked, "Back then, I did indeed try to pursue you, but it's not in the way you think."
Empress Hexena Xylusc clenched her fists, "I don't understand. If I am your target, why did you all go as far as to persecute us? What was the need for you to pin unthinkable crimes on us and make people fear our abilities?"
"Aiya! Do you hear yourself?" Ancestor Morten looked dumbfounded, "You were so strong even at a young age, and your Emperor-Tier aura even affected us, completely nullifying our hex-purifying ability in your presence. Your Matriarch and Ancestors just needed to open their third eye, and everyone in their gaze would explode into a bloody mess or become unable to retaliate. You were all so powerful that even three Lower Realms together may not be able to take you down."
"How can such power be unchecked? How can we not take action? However, we were weaker back then, so how could we compare? Unfortunately for you, luck wasn't on your side- wait, you were saved by your powerful Matriarch who sacrificed her life to get you out of the realm, so I guess your luck entirely didn't fade out, but still, it's finally up. You were revived just to meet the same fate you would've met four million years ago. What a pity…"
He lustfully gazed at her voluptuous body before he shook his head, sighing lightly.
Empress Hexena Xylusc's expression turned cold.
The Pyraxis Ember Arachnid Clan finally revealed the reason for the persecution but she still wasn't convinced.
"Who wants my true soul essence? It's certainly not you who is fated to be a lackey, no matter the time and place. Is it your foremost backer?"
Ancestor Morten's expression flickered. His cheeks twitched as though he wanted to respond to that condescending statement, but ultimately, he smiled deeply.
"You don't need to know, darling. Now, if you would be kind enough to join us, I can bestow your clan a swift death instead of allowing them to go through the excruciating experience of having the flesh ripped and their blood essence taken. Surely, you wouldn't be so heartless as to ignore their plight?"
"Wasn't I an evil incarnation?" Empress Hexena Xylusc shot back.
"That's between you and the world. To me, you're always the ruthless yet kind empress."
"Stop~"
Abruptly, the spatial layers trembled as a battleship warped out of a spatial tunnel that suddenly appeared.
Both powers turned to look towards that direction, one having an unsightly reaction while the other side cheered.
"Realm Master!~"
The two Ancestors screamed at the wooden battleship. There was a figure standing on the deck.
She wore a robe of verdant green and azure, its flowing fabric etched with delicate patterns of leaves and vines. It was unknown if they were just embroidery or a part of her body. Further outside, the edges of her robe shimmered with faint golden threads.
Her hair cascaded in long, silky waves of deep forest green, streaked with vibrant streaks of azure that glimmered faintly. Her hair was crowned as though they were intertwined branches, adorned with tiny gemstones that sparkled like the stars.
Her face was veiled, but her expression was serene and timeless, with a gentle yet commanding presence. She had almond-shaped eyes the color of ancient jade, glowing softly with a natural luminescence. Her skin was smooth, with a faint greenish undertone, letting one know that she wasn't human.
She was none other than the Azure Tree Realm Master, the one who was considered to be the most gentle Realm Master of the forty-eight Lower Realms.