Chapter 2: Preparation (Part 1)

After only a brief hesitation, Ancestor Nan Qiang believed them. The main reason was that Guo Shier and his men had fled. A master of Ancestor-level strength fleeing in panic was enough to prove something.
Once convinced by Guo Shier’s report, Ancestor Nan Qiang immediately ordered a retreat and sent out many message talismans. The Red Gold Continent had a large number of troops from the Gu Nan family, as well as many professionals from Ancestor Nan Qiang’s branch families. The first order was for the Grand Saints to retreat, instructing them to open their talisman gates and leave the continent.
As for the mid- and low-level professionals, they were to use large teleportation arrays to leave. All the altar-level masters had to depart as well; losing even one of them would be unbearable for Ancestor Nan Qiang.
A large amount of supplies was abandoned, and the people evacuated quickly.
At that moment, Ancestor Nan Qiang received a message talisman. After taking a quick look, his expression changed. A camp thousands of miles away from the main base had been completely destroyed, with only a few hundred people escaping—everyone else, including several altar-level masters, perished.
In shock, Ancestor Nan Qiang began to evacuate his disciples at all costs. More news followed: the Gu Nan family and the Gu Jin family were fighting on the Bai Lu Grassland, with nearly a million troops from each side. Most of them were killed, with only a few thousand escaping—only because the Red Robed men refused to kill them.
The two ancient families immediately stopped fighting and began a large-scale retreat. Against such monstrous enemies, there was no way to resist.
Ancestor Nan Qiang sighed deeply. Persuaded by Nan Yong, he left the continent with a group of subordinates. He was also a person who couldn’t die; if he fell, his branch family would suffer even more than losing an entire continent’s worth of people.
…
Guo Shier and the others did not stay in the Wind and Rain Secret Realm but used a teleportation array to return to Great Diving Fort.
The Gu Nan family had a dedicated residential area in Great Diving Fort. Guo Shier showed his identity token, and immediately, family disciples came to guide him to a luxurious residence.
After the family disciples left, Guo Shier sat down heavily, let out a sigh, and said, “I don’t know how many people will die this time! We didn’t even see those guys and just ran frantically… Terrifying creatures.”
The handsome old man poked his head out and said, “If you really saw those people, you’d be dead already. Fire sacrifice… Someone actually dares to use such a method.”
Guo Shier asked, “What is fire sacrifice?”
The handsome old man replied, “Fire sacrifice isn’t something physical; it’s a method to plunder souls on a large scale. After refining them, one can strengthen their own soul.”

Guo Shier said in horror, “His soul is already powerful enough to… shatter our souls. And he still wants to strengthen it? Killing millions of professionals… This man is truly evil.”
The old hero smiled bitterly and said, “With such strength to seize souls, unless there’s someone on par with him to stop him, there’s no other choice but to flee.”
Guo Shier shuddered and asked, “How many people will have to be killed? How long will this take?”
The old hero replied, “The people of one continent… probably won’t be enough for him. I guess he’ll go to other continents to refine his sacrificial souls. Well, when he thinks he’s had enough, maybe he’ll stop killing.”
Both Nan You and Eagle Demon, along with Luo Zhan, couldn’t help but tremble. Since becoming a professional, Eagle Demon had experienced countless killings and wasn’t fazed by killing at all, but even he was terrified by this man. Killing everyone on an entire continent—such madness was beyond his hearing.
Nan You was almost dragged out of the Red Gold Continent by force. In truth, he was very grateful to Guo Shier and the old hero for allowing him to escape danger and save his life, which was more important than anything else. He said, “I wonder if Ancestor Nan Qiang and the others have withdrawn. Ancestor, I’ll go investigate…”
Guo Shier also wanted to know what was happening over there and said, “Go ahead. I guess many people will flee to the Great Hidden Fortress.”
Nan You nodded and turned to leave.
Guo Shier turned and asked, “Uncle Luo, have you succeeded in advancing?”
Luo Zhan sighed and said, “I have, but I don’t have time to consolidate it. After my soul grew… I can’t control it yet. I currently have no combat power.”
Guo Shier said, “Uncle Eagle Demon, you take care of guarding, Uncle Luo, you focus on consolidating your soul, and I’ll help as well.”
Luo Zhan’s face lit up with joy. He urgently needed Guo Shier’s soul fluctuations. Guo Shier began to chant silently, and Luo Zhan immediately looked relieved. Due to his advancement and the absorption of many soul beads, his soul had become somewhat mixed and impure. He urgently needed Guo Shier’s soul fluctuations to purify it.
After a while, Luo Zhan became immersed in it, his soul fluctuating with the waves.
Eagle Demon sat at the entrance. Although he was a bit far away, he could still feel the waves of energy coming through, and he too became immersed in them involuntarily. This kind of benefit could only be enjoyed near Guo Shier and was extremely beneficial to the soul.
A few hours passed, and Guo Shier stopped chanting. Luo Zhan sat in silence for a while before opening his eyes. He sighed, “It’s like being in warm water, with ripples… It’s intoxicating. So comfortable.”

Eagle Demon said at the door, “This isn’t what you said. You should have said… it’s fucking great!”
Luo Zhan grinned and said, “You barbarian. I’m a refined man.”
Eagle Demon dismissed him with, “Bullshit!”
Guo Shier stood up and asked, “How’s it going?”
Luo Zhan smiled and said, “Very well. A few more times and it should be completely resolved. Hehe, I heard that other professionals need several years to stabilize their souls after advancing to the Virtual Altar. With this speed, I’m very satisfied.”
Guo Shier asked, “When will you be able to fully control the altar?”
Luo Zhan replied, “Not much longer. After my soul stabilizes, um, about ten days or so.” His tone was uncertain, as this was his first time advancing to an altar, and he didn’t know much about it.
Guo Shier said, “A bit nervous, but it’s not a big deal. Anyway, once we start moving, you can sit on my altar.”
Eagle Demon asked, “Do you plan to leave here?”
Guo Shier nodded and said, “Yeah. I plan to go to Yaobi Dami Tian to see if I can find someone from the Four Ancient Families. If we can find them, we’ll go back and use their teleportation array to return! This place is getting more and more dangerous. Who knows if that powerful guy might storm into Yaobi Dami Tian? Leaving then would be too hasty.”
The handsome old man poked his head out and said, “The farther away from that guy, the better!” Then he pulled his head back.
Both Eagle Demon and Luo Zhan thought to themselves: Someone who could scare the handsome old man so much must be extremely powerful. Eagle Demon said, “Okay, let’s leave here.”
Luo Zhan asked, “What about Nan You? Should we take him with us?”
Nan You came in from outside, looking depressed, and said, “That man… has gone to another continent and is still killing frantically. This time… our Gunan Family has lost countless disciples.”
Guo Shier asked, “Has Ancestor Nan Qiang evacuated?”
Nan You nodded and said, “Most of them have left. Those who couldn’t make it… are all dead. That man is simply a madman.”
Eagle Demon asked, “Which continent did he go to? Is it your family’s continent?”
Nan You replied, “The only slightly good news is that he went to the continent of the Gujin Family. Currently, several ancient families are gathering altar-level experts to either surround and kill him or drive him away, but that man is simply too powerful…”
The handsome old man poked his head out again and said, “Surround and kill? Drive him away? Haha, are you joking?”

Nan You retorted indignantly, “Hundreds of experts from those ancient clans have been sent—how is it not enough to surround and kill that person?”
The old man with the handsome appearance laughed heartily and said, “That person must be overjoyed. Haha, it’s a great boost for the soul. Hmph, we certainly won’t join in.”
Nan You had indeed come to invite Guo Shier to join them, but after hearing the old man’s words, he knew Guo Shier wouldn’t participate. He felt a bit puzzled: “Is that person really that powerful?”
The old man replied, “Imagine what kind of existence an expert beyond the ninth-tier altar is. If we go, there’s no way we’ll survive—nothing but certain death. Not even escaping will be possible.”
Nan You’s expression darkened. After a long pause, he asked, “So what should we do?” Guo Shier could ignore his clan’s orders—he was an honorary ancestor with great power and freedom. But Nan You was the eldest of the Gu Nan clan and an expert in the Illusory Form Altar. Once the clan gave an order, he had no choice but to obey. According to the old man, going meant certain death with no chance of escape, leaving him in turmoil.
Guo Shier said, “There are two options. One is to return to your clan and join the hunt. Well, from what I can tell, survival chances are practically zero. The second option…”
A glimmer appeared in Nan You’s eyes as he looked at Guo Shier expectantly.
Guo Shier said, “I remember… you’re my follower.” In other words, “Come with me.” He was satisfied with the prospect of bringing away an expert in the Illusory Form Altar.
Nan You had no choice but to agree. After hesitating for a moment, he said, “I… okay, I’ll go with you.” Faced with a choice between life and death, he would surely choose to live. He didn’t want to fight to the death, and more importantly, even if he did, it would be a futile death—something no one wanted to do.
Guo Shier nodded. “Good. Nan You, since you’ve decided to follow us, this journey will go much smoother. Hehe, you know more about the Eight Paths Apocalypse than we do. Well, we’ll have to travel far this time… possibly far away from here. Be prepared.”
Since he had decided to follow Guo Shier, Nan You actually hoped to go as far as possible. He nodded and said, “As a follower, I just need to follow. As for how we move forward, hehe, that’s the ancestor’s concern.”
Guo Shier waved his hand. “Inside the Gu Nan clan, you can call me ancestor. But outside, just call me Shier, just like Uncle Eagle Demon and Uncle Luo.”
Nan You said, “Okay, Shier. Shall we leave now?”

The handsome old man poked his head out and said, “Yes, it’s no longer safe here either.” He then explained, “With that person’s strength, he can reach here without any teleportation gates. At the height of the ninth-tier altar, he can go to any continent or secret realm he wants.”
A disciple of the Gunan family outside said, “Ancestor, esteemed elders, Ancestor Nan Qiang has arrived.”