The Black Sky Plains covered a vast territory spanning hundreds of thousands of miles, broader than many great nations. The Western Region, in particular, bordered three ancient kingdoms and was far more prosperous and bustling than ordinary kingdoms. Countless merchant caravans traversed this land, trading between various countries.
Consequently, bandits were more numerous here than in other regions.
More importantly, the territory of the Third Great Bandit, one of the Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky, was entrenched in this region. It was essentially his domain.
The Third Great Bandit was a truly terrifying figure on par with a Saint Lord, possessing earth-shaking cultivation. Even the three neighboring ancient kingdoms, with their long-standing legacies and formidable national power, were deeply wary and dared not provoke him. They had always maintained good relations with the Third Great Bandit, with all merchant caravan trade and other matters conducted according to his rules.
However, on this very day, a series of shocking events occurred one after another.
Witnesses saw the Scarlet Scale King, whose ferocious reputation had recently spread across the Black Sky Plains. He strode through the air into an ancient city built in the desolate wilderness of the Western Region. This city was an important stronghold under the Third Great Bandit's command, where many powerful bandits gathered, including several formidable bandit leaders.
The Scarlet Scale King entered the ancient city without any attempt at concealment, his scarlet hair flowing loosely, his expression cold and stern. He directly attacked the bandit leaders within the city, unleashing his awe-inspiring King-level combat power and engaging in a fierce battle.
The battle was intense, affecting a wide area, collapsing entire swathes of buildings and toppling two sections of the city wall. This was because the bandit city housed genuine top-tier experts, including figures at the Divine Transformation Realm. Several leaders were terrifying powerhouses standing at the third or fourth heaven of that realm.
Yet the Scarlet Scale King was even more formidable. Hailed as a generation's Young King, he was unrivaled, capable of fighting above his level. With a mere Demigod cultivation base, he could challenge a Saint. Within the city, he consecutively slew five bandit leaders, swept through countless bandits, left the ancient city bloodied, and departed with an air of arrogance.
This incident naturally caused a great commotion. No one had imagined the Scarlet Scale King would be so audacious as to openly kill within the Third Great Bandit's territory. It was as if he had eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard, deliberately making an enemy of the Third Great Bandit.
Yet before one wave subsided, another arose. On the same day, in another ancient city tens of thousands of miles away, blood relatives of the Fourth Great Bandit's lineage were visiting blood relatives of the Third Great Bandit's lineage to discuss important matters. But at that moment, the Scarlet Scale King appeared to kill once more.
From afar, a majestic, flame-like figure could be seen standing on the distant horizon, gazing at the ancient city. He shot forth a blood-red spear that streaked across the sky, shattered the palace hall, and directly annihilated the two bandit blood relatives inside. Countless other bandits were caught in the crossfire and slain.
Furthermore, several other important locations in the Black Sky Plains, which housed valuable strongholds and priceless treasuries of the great bandits filled with all manner of truly invaluable treasures, were all looted clean on this day. Numerous experts were swept aside. The world witnessed the Scarlet Scale King's handiwork, with the aura of his Fire Dao permeating the scenes.
A series of such events occurred, each one sensational, causing the name Scarlet Scale King to once again shake the Black Sky Plains. From the depths of the plains, the most terrifying fluctuations were detected. The heavens changed color, clouds scattered, and the boundless earth trembled—this was the wrath of the Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky.
Rumors spread that one of the terrifying figures among the Eight Great Bandits was preparing to emerge from seclusion to personally take action and suppress the Scarlet Scale King.
...
In the Western Region of the Black Sky Plains, amidst a stretch of barren mountains, the Scarlet Scale King stood. However, the fiery light dissipated, his crimson hair rapidly turned black, and even his facial features underwent subtle changes. Finally, a cold, stern young man with black hair cascading over his shoulders appeared—it was none other than Ye Chen.
The series of incidents in the Western Region had all been his doing, impersonating the Scarlet Scale King. It was all a frame-up to implicate the real Scarlet Scale King, prompting the supreme powerhouses of the Black Sky Plains to hunt him down.
He stood with Chen Ruo on another mountain peak, gazing at the divine ship engaged in fierce battle with numerous bandits in the sky a thousand miles away, a cold smile playing on his lips.
"Chen Ruo, let's go. Let's take this opportunity to leave the Black Sky Plains and head to Qingyang City for the cross-domain journey," Ye Chen said.
Chen Ruo, however, was filled with regret. "What a pity. I really wanted to see that red-haired freak being chased down by those old fellows from the Black Sky Plains, looking all disheveled and pathetic."
"Don't think too much about it. Those old fellows will see through it sooner or later. If we don't leave now, it'll be too late and cause even more trouble."
Ye Chen's gaze was profound. It wasn't that he didn't want to kill the Scarlet Scale King and obtain his King Blood, but he understood the difficulty—it was nearly impossible.
The most crucial point was that Old Yan would certainly not take the initiative to help him. With a Demi-Saint standing guard, no matter how powerful he was, he couldn't kill a Young King right under the nose of that Demi-Saint.
Chen Ruo suddenly spoke up. "I can help you stall that Demi-Saint old man, letting you face the red-haired freak Scarlet Scale King alone."
Ye Chen looked at the girl in surprise upon hearing this but shook his head. "Perhaps you have the ability, but it's too dangerous. I can't let you put yourself in danger."
"No need to worry. A mere Demi-Saint couldn't possibly harm this young lady." Chen Ruo was very confident. Her origins were extraordinary; she possessed many peerless treasures and had exceptional mastery over the Void Dao. Even facing a Demi-Saint, she was confident she could escape unscathed.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely!" the girl declared with certainty, appearing fully confident.
"Alright, I'll trust you this once. If there's any danger, your first priority is to escape," Ye Chen agreed. He felt this was also an opportunity. To maximize the revival of his Saint Body bloodline, King Blood was theoretically an essential divine blood, playing a key stimulating role for the Saint Body lineage.
Gathering ten types of King Blood was destined to be extremely difficult, and the Scarlet Scale King was one temporarily included in the plan.
Ye Chen gazed into the distance at the Scarlet Scale King a thousand miles away, his eyes profound and filled with a chilling killing intent.
Boom—
In the sky a thousand miles away, a terrifying giant hand suddenly appeared. The entire firmament darkened, shrouded by that massive hand, truly blotting out the sky and sun.
Clouds scattered, and the void itself was distorted under the slap. Countless bandits in the sky were directly slapped down from a distance by this giant hand, all vomiting blood and sent flying, crashing onto the plains. Many were even smashed to pulp by the hand, leaving no flesh or blood behind.
It was the supreme powerhouse on the divine ship, the Demi-Saint Seventeenth Elder, personally taking action. Faced with tens of thousands of bandits, he, who had remained hidden and not acted until now, could no longer hold back upon seeing the critical situation.
Because at this moment, the bandits besieging them were too many, numbering in the tens of thousands. Moreover, even more bandits were converging from all directions, attacking relentlessly.
Even the Scarlet Scale King couldn't possibly kill so many bandits. What made them even more frustrated was that, to this point, they still didn't understand why the bandits of the Black Sky Plains, upon seeing them, charged forward as if they were seeing their father's murderer, throwing their lives away without regard.