The Dragon Lizard guards, who had been closely monitoring the situation in Shi Yan's cavern, grew restless once the entrance sealed, obscuring their view of the interior.

"Boom!"

The blocked stone door exploded outward again. The Dragon Lizard supervisors, spotting the scene from a distance, saw Shi Yan and his group completely unharmed, while the contingent from the Earth Ghost Clan, led by Balago, had vanished. Their hearts immediately sank.

Their expressions turned grave. With a swift glance at each other, they rushed toward Shi Yan's location.

Balago was the designated leader for the Earth Ghost Clan delegation on this mission, holding subtle connections with Singh of the Soul Clan. His purpose in seeking trouble with Shi Yan's group was clear; as long as he remained safe, the Dragon Lizards, however displeased with him, would have to swallow their resentment. But if something befell him, once the Earth Ghost Ancestor and Singh learned of it, an uproar would be inevitable.

In an instant, the Dragon Lizard guards stormed into Shi Yan's cavern.

Several guards cautiously reset the protective barriers, sealing the cave opening once more. The Dragon Lizard who had previously warned them to leave stepped forward to question them: "Where are the members of the Earth Ghost Clan?"

Shi Yan understood their anxiety and calmly replied, "They came here intending to strong-arm us and take our possessions by force, even attempting murder. We naturally fought back. Well, now there isn't so much as a bone left. Any issues?"

It was over!

The Dragon Lizard clansmen felt their vision darken; they knew a major incident had occurred. One of them took a deep breath, refrained from further questioning, and immediately produced a sound stone, reporting with a grim expression, "Lord Duller, a huge problem has arisen. Balago of the Earth Ghost Clan is dead..."

Duller, one of the powerful figures under the Dragon Lizard Ancestor, had been managing affairs in a different sector. Upon receiving the report, he was instantly thrown into a panic. After confirming the location, he hurried over at maximum speed.

Inside the cavern, the Dragon Lizard clansmen wore expressions of bitter helplessness and deep worry. Balago's demise could bring grave trouble to the Dragon Lizards. If they allowed Shi Yan and his group to walk away too easily, explaining the situation would become even more difficult.

The Earth Ghost Clan was backed by the Soul Clan, and at this very moment, Singh was a guest on the Dragon Lizard Star. Balago often reported information to Singh, as the Dragon Lizards had heard whispers that Singh seemed to be using the Earth Ghost Clan to search for someone specific. Now, with Balago suddenly dead, Singh would certainly press for details. Furthermore, if the Earth Ghost Ancestor discovered that his subordinate sent to the Dragon Lizard Star had been killed right here, he would be furious, possibly arriving immediately to demand accountability.

"You cannot leave this place for the time being!" the Dragon Lizard clansman stated gravely.

Shi Yan grinned. He had intentionally escalated the situation because he wished to meet the true decision-maker of the Dragon Lizard Clan. He wasn't in a hurry and was happy to wait for Duller's arrival.

Duller arrived remarkably fast; in less than half an hour, he descended upon the location. As soon as he landed, he sensed something was amiss. Numerous members of third-rate races were crowded outside the cave entrances, clustering around one particular cavern, whispering amongst themselves with strange looks on their faces. Some appeared exhilarated, others gleeful at the misfortune, but most maintained a detached observation.

"Balago hasn't come out yet. Could something really have happened?"

"How is that possible? Balago is a powerhouse at the Second Heaven of the Immortal Realm, and a member of the Earth Ghost Clan. Who would dare lay a murderous hand on him?"

"Why isn't he out yet?"

"The Earth Ghost Clan is inherently venomous and depraved; perhaps they sealed the cave and are torturing those Sky Eye Clan members inside. Who knows?"

Shi Yan's battle with the Earth Ghost Clan had taken place entirely within the confines of the cave, and the entrance had been sealed, making it impossible for outsiders to see what transpired. The only ones who truly knew of Balago’s gruesome death were Tu Shiqi and Ya Yun. However, even this couple was deeply perplexed at the moment. "The profound mystic arts practiced by the Earth Ghost Clan were bestowed upon them by the Soul Clan. Even if their Soul Altar collapses, the main soul can split and escape. Without a targeted profound art or secret treasure, it’s incredibly difficult to achieve a complete kill. Why hasn't a single strand of soul thread escaped? Could it be that those Earth Ghost Clan members had their soul threads incinerated as well?" Ya Yun was utterly baffled.

"I wonder as well," Tu Shiqi admitted, inwardly alarmed. "The real spokesperson for the Dragon Lizard Clan has arrived. Let’s observe the situation quietly. Since the boy managed to draw out the higher-ups, if he’s smart enough, he should be able to steer the situation toward the best possible outcome."

"It seems we might really profit from this encounter," Ya Yun chuckled. "If we can persuade the Dragon Lizard Ancestor, and we join forces to plot against Singh, Singh will surely fall right here on the Dragon Lizard Star! If that happens, the Dragon Lizards will align with our Profound Heaven Clan too. Heh, that would be absolutely perfect."

Tu Shiqi chuckled in agreement.

"I am Duller!" a deep, restrained roar echoed from the cave entrance.

The Dragon Lizard clansmen quickly moved to undo the seal and respectfully welcomed Duller inside. Duller was a figure who could genuinely approach the Dragon Lizard Ancestor. Upon arrival, his expression was exceptionally grim. He took a deep breath and stated, "Are you certain all the Earth Ghost Clan members were killed?"

"He said so?" one clan member pointed toward Shi Yan.

Shi Yan remained composed. "The Earth Ghost Clan attempted to seize our possessions by force and even threatened our lives; we were forced to retaliate."

Duller’s gaze swept over Adams, Evelyn, Marisha, and Audrey one by one. He said with a stern face, "Just the few of you? Could you possibly kill Balago and the others?"

Shi Yan smiled lightly, unwilling to waste any more time. He knew that if he couldn't provide a satisfactory explanation to Duller, he might be captured and handed over to the Earth Ghost Clan and the Soul Clan as appeasement from the Dragon Lizards. "The profound arts I cultivate are unique. Well, I detonated a spatial wave, shattering them to dust." He offered this quick explanation, then his expression turned solemn. "I heard your Ancestor is currently stuck at the peak of the Immortal Realm, only lacking comprehension of Dark Energy to break through to the Domain Ancestor realm. Well, I happen to possess some insight into Dark Energy. I wish to exchange my understanding for an Immortal Pill. Could you perhaps introduce me to the Ancestor?"

"You think just saying that will let you off the hook?" Duller noticed Shi Yan showed no sign of fear, which earned him a flicker of admiration. However, he quickly added, "To be honest, we have no affection for the Earth Ghost Clan. If you truly managed to kill them, I’d applaud the deed. The problem is their tight bond with the Soul Clan; we must offer an explanation."

Saying this, he prepared to order the immediate confinement of Shi Yan and his group. Clearly, he utterly doubted Shi Yan knew any secrets about Dark Energy, viewing Shi Yan's claim as a mere stalling tactic, especially since, in his eyes, Shi Yan was only at the Primordial God realm. He had never heard of a Primordial God realm cultivator grasping the true essence of Dark Energy.

"Perhaps this will make you believe me more easily."

Shi Yan calmly activated his power. His spiritual sense rippled outwards like a wave, causing the surrounding stone walls to suddenly crackle and burst apart violently. An intangible force instantly infiltrated the bodies of Duller and the others, seeping into their souls and consciousness, making their spines tingle instantly. They all revealed expressions of terror and disbelief.

"How is this possible? How can this be?" Duller’s face was filled with utter astonishment. He had heard discussions about the mystique of Dark Energy from others; he knew this energy was mysterious and peculiar, formless and invisible, capable of spreading silently like a soul, possessing destructive power even greater than divine power. Shi Yan's display clearly matched the rumors—this was the undeniable hallmark of someone who understood Dark Energy.

"I want to see your Ancestor," Shi Yan stated simply and directly.

Duller’s eyes were complex. After pondering for several seconds, he suddenly turned to his clansmen: "Strictly forbid anyone from speaking another word about this. You will make arrangements to move them to another area immediately, ensuring no one finds out. As for the death of the Earth Ghost Clan members, seal the news for now! No—this entire region is temporarily sealed. No one is allowed to leave, and no one is allowed to enter!"

The Dragon Lizard clansmen understood the severity of the situation and nodded in unison.

"There’s no need to move to another area. I have two friends over there; just arrange for them to rest in their cavern," Shi Yan directed, pointing toward the cavern of Tu Shiqi and Ya Yun in the distance.

"This matter is not up to you to decide. We will make the arrangements. We will do our best to conceal this until you meet with the Ancestor," Duller snorted coldly, then added, "Follow me. I will take you to see the Ancestor!"

Duller knew the sole reason the Dragon Lizards showed deference to the Soul Clan was that their Ancestor had not yet broken through to the Domain Ancestor realm. If their Ancestor could achieve that breakthrough, even a Domain Ancestor expert from the Soul Clan would have to weigh the consequences before launching a fatal attack. Duller was aware of the Dragon Lizard Clan’s most pressing need: Shi Yan, this anomaly who understood Dark Energy, might provide the catalyst for the Ancestor’s breakthrough. In that case, the deaths of the Earth Ghost Clan members were inconsequential.

Duller led Shi Yan through a passage carved into the stone. The passage held hidden mechanisms that Duller activated with his spiritual sense as he moved. The seemingly closed path opened up into hidden realms, leading them deeper toward the core of the star.

After a long, long time, Shi Yan descended deep underground, finally appearing near a vast, scorching magma pool. After bringing him there, Duller knelt down, using the Dragon Lizard language to call out softly to the magma pool, summoning the Dragon Lizard Ancestor to appear.

After a moment, a projection of the Dragon Lizard Clan condensed from the magma pool and stood before Duller and Shi Yan, looking astonished. "Who is this young fellow?"

"The situation is as follows..."

Duller quickly explained the entire sequence of events. When he mentioned Shi Yan's comprehension of Dark Energy, the Dragon Lizard’s projected body trembled, its eyes flaring with sunlight-like brilliance.

"If you can bring me assistance, you need not worry about the matter of the Earth Ghost Clan. The Immortal Pill will absolutely not be an issue!" the Dragon Lizard declared decisively. For him, nothing was more important than breaking through to the Domain Ancestor realm. If he could harness Dark Energy and truly step into that realm, he could slay the Earth Ghost Ancestor whenever he pleased, and even the Soul Clan would have to pause and consider whether it was worth launching a full-scale conflict against him.

"The Soul Clan has already made a move against you. Within your main body’s abdomen lies a Primordial Divine Artifact—a Three-Legged Giant Cauldron from the Soul Clan," Shi Yan said, looking at him and dropping another, even more shocking piece of news. "If you don't form an alliance with the Soul Clan this time, you will die. This artifact was specifically borrowed for you by Singh from the Domain Ancestor experts in his clan."

PS: It’s Monday, requesting recommendation votes~~ Deepest thanks!! (To be continued)