High Martial Arts: I Awaken a Low-Tier Martial System Chapter 854 - 417: New Achievement! Heaven-Slaying and Realm-Breaking (Three-in-One)

"The rewards bestowed by the system are quite substantial," Jiang Ye mused internally, "Could it be due to my defiance against the invaders?"

In a typical world of Grounded Martial Arts.

The phase of resisting world invaders typically signifies the story's apex!

With this in mind, it is understandable for the system to offer such generous rewards.

"If I manage to destroy this Shadow Race stronghold," Jiang Ye pondered, "what reward shall the system grant me?"

At this thought, Jiang Ye's eyes couldn't help but gleam faintly.

"Elder Chen..."

"Your unfulfilled aspiration, allow me, your junior, to bring it to fruition for you." A passionate fervor surged within Jiang Ye's heart.

Eradicating the Shadow Race stronghold.

It is not solely for the system's rewards.

More crucially, obliterating even a single Shadow Race stronghold would considerably alleviate the pressure presently bearing down on Blue Star Civilization.

"The countless billions inhabiting Blue Star have endured the Shadow Disaster for an excessive duration."

"This debt," Jiang Ye's gaze sharpened like a blade, "its repayment shall commence from this very day."

Numerous thoughts quickly coursed through his mind.

Though it felt as though time stretched, it had only taken mere breaths.

"Let us proceed!"

"However, before plunging into the heart of the Shadow Race stronghold," Jiang Ye stated with gravity, "I must first ensure the safe return of my teacher."

"Rescue your teacher?"

The Zhou Family Demi-God, initially filled with elation upon hearing Jiang Ye's declaration, quickly found himself taken aback.

"This Shadow Race stronghold is immensely vast," the Zhou Family Demi-God expressed with a furrowed brow, "Locating anyone within would prove exceptionally challenging for you."

"I possess my own methods." The instant Jiang Ye concluded his statement, he transformed into a beam of Flowing Light and shot forward.

Upon the activation of [Omniscient Vision].

Jiang Ye perceived as if he had obtained an insurmountable advantage, granting him an unimpeded perspective of the entire realm.

He could already discern from a considerable distance the precise location where Zhu Honglie was being held captive.

...

Within the confines of the Shadow Race stronghold, sable snowflakes descended.

These were not ordinary white flakes but were of a pitch-black hue, emanating a chill far surpassing that of mundane snow, imbued with a palpable aura of dread.

Inside a cave, enveloped by this frigid landscape.

Several individuals were huddled together, their breaths shallow and weak. Despite each clearly being a powerhouse of the Eight Breaks realm, they were visibly trembling from the biting cold.

This scene was undeniably peculiar.

It is a well-established fact that the physical vessels of Eight Breaks realm powerhouses have undergone an extreme evolution, attaining a state of Vajra Indestructibility, rendering them impervious to ordinary frigid winds.

How then, could they be succumbing to the chill?

Yet, the truth was that the chilling aura emanating from this icy expanse was a profound, bone-penetrating cold, propelled by unseen forces.

It was a cold so intense that even the hardened physique of an Eight Breaks powerhouse might find it unbearable.

"What course of action should we take?"

"With our communication severed and our sense of direction utterly lost," one figure lamented in a subdued tone, "if this continues, we shall not only face peril from the Shadow Tide but possibly succumb to freezing to death in this desolate place."

His voice quavered, gradually fading into a whisper.

This formidable Eight Breaks realm expert was now reduced to a state of extreme weakness.

"Old Chen, cease your slumber!"

"Persevere!" Another individual, distinguished by a thick, bushy beard, implored, "We cannot perish here. We must find a means to fight our way out!"

Were Jiang Ye to be present, he would undoubtedly recognize the voice, thick with a bushy beard, as belonging to Zhu Honglie.

However, at this moment, this burly elder bore a complexion as pale as death itself.

His body was marred by numerous life-threatening wounds.

"I find myself on the verge of abandoning all hope," the individual referred to as Old Chen uttered softly, his voice growing progressively fainter.

"Let us endeavor to seek an escape route once this tempest subsides," Zhu Honglie proposed solemnly, a shadow of despair clouding his eyes.

Several agonizing days had already elapsed since their entrapment.

Within the Shadow Race stronghold, all forms of communication had been rendered completely useless, leaving the Federation in ignorance of their predicament.

Even if the Federation were to become aware of their dire situation.

By the time reinforcements, consisting of powerful cultivators, were dispatched, the chances of locating them would be slim.

The Shadow Race strongholds, despite their designation as such, were each colossal in scale, rivaling planets in their vastness.

Furthermore, even a Demi-God realm powerhouse would find their Divine Thought rendered ineffective upon entering this domain.

The task of finding individuals within such an expanse would be akin to locating a single grain of sand on an endless beach.

"Am I, Zhu Honglie, truly destined to meet my end in this forsaken place?"

Zhu Honglie emitted an inward sigh.

"It has been a full year since my last return."

"I wonder how that young lad Jiang Ye fares now," Zhu Honglie mused silently, "Has he achieved the breakthrough to the Fourth Break?"

His most profound concerns at this juncture were for Jiang Ye and his own cherished family.

And precisely as Zhu Honglie found himself lost in recollection.

"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"

A sudden whistling sound pierced the air from beyond the cave.

"What is that sound?"

"Bad news! Enemies are approaching!" Zhu Honglie exclaimed with a low, urgent tone, "Prepare for engagement!"

The surrounding figures clutched their weapons, their faces etched with seriousness, each appearing as though they were confronting a formidable adversary.

Within this desolate, frozen expanse.

It seemed utterly impossible for any outsider to locate them so swiftly.

The sole plausible explanation pointed towards the Shadow Race.

"We shall fight until our last breath." Zhu Honglie’s eyes blazed with fierce determination, his remaining lifespan rapidly dwindling.

Yet, in the very next instant.

Whoosh!

A figure materialized within the cave entrance, halting abruptly.

Despite the prevailing darkness, the cave teemed with powerhouses at the Eight Breaks level, and at such close proximity, they instantly perceived the intruder's identity.

It was a human!

Zhu Honglie’s eyes flew open in astonishment.

"Jiang Ye?"

"How can it be you?" Zhu Honglie’s visage was clouded with utter disbelief, for a fleeting moment even questioning if he was experiencing a hallucination.

How could Jiang Ye possibly manifest in this location?

This was, after all, a stronghold of the Shadow Race!

Only those at the Seventh Break level or higher possessed the requisite qualifications to gain entry.

"Teacher, it is indeed I." Jiang Ye breathed a sigh of relief upon confirming Zhu Honglie's well-being.

However, upon immediately noticing the numerous grievous wounds afflicting the other man, his heart constricted once more.

"Teacher, your injuries are far too severe," Jiang Ye stated with urgency, "I shall escort you out of here immediately."

"Wait."

Zhu Honglie, however, brought a hand to his head, "Are you truly Jiang Ye?"

Jiang Ye offered a confirming nod.

"Preposterous!"

"Explain how you managed to infiltrate this place!" Zhu Honglie demanded, his gaze sharp, "Do you comprehend the perilous nature of this domain?"

"Teacher," Jiang Ye replied with a touch of helplessness, "I have now attained the Seventh Break; why would I be unable to enter this area?"