Chapter 1036: The Shadow Clan (Contd.)

"So it's just a Shadow Clan detector," Xia Wushuang muttered, then added, "The Great Yu Kingdom is an ancient nation forged from the fusion of many races. In this land, all races are treated equally, with no official prejudice."

"Of course, that's just the surface. Whether discrimination and bias exist beneath the surface remains to be seen."

As he spoke, Xia Wushuang stepped onto the Profound Light Platform. A wave of clear light swept over him, and he descended unharmed.

His words were overheard by Zhou Lin, a human female rider who couldn't tolerate anyone speaking ill of the Great Yu Kingdom.

"Hmph! In the Great Yu Kingdom, strength is the only measure of worth. There's no prejudice based on race or lineage. If you're strong enough, even becoming a marquis or prime minister is within easy reach."

Xia Wushuang sheepishly shrank his neck, daring not to argue further.

Behind him, Li Qing stepped onto the Profound Light Platform. A wave of clear light washed over him, and a sensation of being scanned surged through his mind.

Nothing happened. He let out a sigh of relief, realizing he hadn't been possessed by that strange Shadow Clan entity.

As he stepped off the platform, a sudden sandstorm erupted nearby, swirling dust and sand into the sky.

Suddenly, a shadow darted rapidly from beneath the ground, swiftly approaching the darkness cast by the sandstorm.

The cavalry commander immediately noticed the movement. He snorted coldly, "Hmph! Shadow Clan vermin, prepare to die!"

The great war was about to erupt. The cavalry general possessed immense power, his baleful qi so dense it forced many to retreat in fear.

He soared into the sky, a crimson halberd materializing in his hand as if from nowhere.

An earth-grade spiritual treasure!

Li Qing's heart tightened. He clearly sensed the halberd's extraordinary quality and grade.

"It's an acquired earth-grade spiritual treasure, nourished over time," Li Qing murmured. "This Heavenly Halberd must be his lifebound spiritual treasure."

A scarlet aura radiated from the Heavenly Halberd. The cavalry general's face hardened as he hurled the halberd forward.

Boom!

Even before it struck the ground, the halberd's impact blasted away vast quantities of sand and dust, its destructive power immeasurable.

Yet the mysterious Shadow Clan proved even more elusive. Their movements were impossible to predict; they had already vanished into the shadows of the sandstorm just moments before the strike.

The Heavenly Halberd plunged into the earth, causing the entire sandy terrain to collapse several meters deep.

The cavalry general formed a hand seal and chanted silently.

In the next instant, the halberd embedded in the ground erupted with a blood-red light, instantly engulfing the entire region.

"Blood River Halberd, Sea-Splitting Stance!"

The Blood River Halberd slashed downward, cleaving the earth asunder. The shadow-infused ground where the Shadow Clan member had just merged was instantly split open.

"Heh heh heh... The experts of the Great Yu Kingdom are indeed formidable, their methods astonishing."

"But alas, my techniques are beyond your comprehension."

As a chilling voice echoed through the air, the sky darkened abruptly. Within moments, not a single ray of sunlight pierced the gloom, leaving only the spiritual light emanating from various treasures to illuminate the world.

This was one of the Shadow Clan's innate divine abilities: the Boundless Dark Sun!

The stronger the Shadow Clan member's cultivation, the greater the range of this technique. Though this particular Shadow Clan member's cultivation was only at the void refinement realm, he had completely extinguished the light across the entire desert region, plunging the surrounding area into an impenetrable curtain of shadow.

The cavalry general, however, had anticipated this move and showed no signs of panic.

"Calamity-Breaking Unit, form formation!"

At his command, the cavalrymen swiftly and methodically arranged themselves into a grand formation.

The general positioned himself at the formation's center, gripping the Blood River Halberd with one hand. His aura surged violently, reaching a peak of power.

His aura rapidly surpassed the mid void refinement realm, momentarily approaching the perfected level of that realm.

Li Qing had witnessed such a power-gathering technique before. Back in the Heavenlight Secret Realm, after being swallowed by the Spirit-Devouring Flower, Gu Li had used a similar method to break free from the flower's belly.

However, the power-gathering technique employed by this cavalry general was clearly more refined. It could mobilize such a vast amount of manpower with minimal side effects, suggesting a relatively low cost.

Clap!

The cavalry general clasped his hands together, and the Blood River Halberd before him emitted an endless crimson glow.

Hum!

Under the crimson light, all shadows vanished without a trace.

The Shadow Clan member was forced into the open. His body lacked substance, appearing ethereal, yet his gaze was remarkably grave.

Being forcibly revealed meant losing his greatest advantage, leaving him in a perilous situation.

"Die!"

The cavalry general seized his lifebound spiritual treasure and swung it with ferocious force, creating a blood-red river of stars that crashed down like a celestial torrent.

Boom!

Heaven and earth seemed to split into two separate worlds. The Shadow Clan's illusory body shattered violently, splintering into countless fragments.

"Still trying to escape?"

He pointed at the Profound Light Platform on the ground, seizing control of the stone terrace and slamming it down.

This Profound Light Platform had been specially crafted to target the Shadow Clan. Not only could it detect their presence, but it was also designed to suppress them.

Sensing imminent danger, the Shadow Clan member realized that prolonging the fight would likely result in his capture.

Without hesitation, he initiated martial dissolution, causing vast shadows to dissipate and the sky to regain its clarity.

Witnessing this, the cavalry commander frowned, his voice tinged with displeasure. "Another self-termination? Do these Shadow Clan members possess some unique resurrection method? Why do they all choose suicide so readily?"

Clearly, he had hoped to capture a Shadow Clan member alive, but his efforts had been thwarted.

With the battle concluded, he released the formation's enhancements from his cavalry and descended back to the ground.

"Alright, you two. Pass through the Profound Light Platform once more. Once you've cleared it, you may leave."

And so, Li Qing and Xia Wushuang underwent the Profound Light Platform's assessment again before finally being allowed to depart.

This time, Xia Wushuang dared not utter another word. He had witnessed firsthand the cavalry commander's formidable skills—a true powerhouse.

Fearing that loose talk would bring disaster, he remained utterly silent.

"Whew! Finally out of there. The Great Yu Kingdom's Thirteen Heavenly Cavalry Legions truly live up to their reputation—not a single pushover among them."

Hearing this, Li Qing chuckled softly. "It seems you're quite familiar with the Great Yu Kingdom. What are your plans now?"

"Naturally, I'm heading to the Great Yu Kingdom's Imperial Capital. It boasts top-tier spiritual veins and unparalleled prosperity!"

"Of course, the most urgent matter is selling off this Monkey Wine and converting it into something useful for myself as quickly as possible."

"How about it? Want to join me?"

Li Qing pondered briefly before nodding in agreement.