Long Diao, in his soul form, genuinely feared the Suppressing Soul Dirge of the Purgatorial Ghost Clan. Yet, he harbored doubts about whether the Dirge alone could eradicate all these Malevolent Dragons in a single sweep.
The Obsidian Tombstone was too bizarre; it seemed to conceal a protective power shielding the dragons. His Heavenly Fire clone, grappling with a Malevolent Dragon, distinctly felt a force emanating from the tombstone, causing the dragon’s aura to intensify.
Furthermore, immediately after the Malevolent Dragon was imprisoned, the Ink-Jade Bone Dragon, previously motionless atop the tombstone, suddenly sprang to life and charged directly at him.
This Ink-Jade Bone Dragon possessed not a trace of soul energy; it was purely an amalgamation of Malevolent Dragon bones, functioning like a puppet controlled by some power within the Obsidian Tombstone.
Lacking a soul, the Ink-Jade Bone Dragon would naturally be immune to the Purgatorial Ghost Clan's Suppressing Soul Dirge. If he were to deploy the Dirge to refine the Malevolent Dragon, the Bone Dragon would undoubtedly shred his soul.
He had no choice but to retreat instantly. Against these strange Dragon Souls and Dragon Bodies, he felt utterly helpless.
The two Heavenly Fire clones were special manifestations. As soon as his soul broke free, the clones seized the opportunity to soar upward as well.
The four figures from the Celestial Serpent Cult and the Joyful Union Valley had already arrived. As the Malevolent Dragon blocking the volcanic crater struggled, they charged in one after another, hoping to escape via the Dead Volcano Crater.
Unfortunately, after the disappearance of Ji Changkong's two Heavenly Fire clones, the Malevolent Dragon blocking the crater was no longer restrained. It unleashed a torrent of dragon breath saturated with violent power, striking all four men.
Zhou Hong and the Celestial Serpent Cult Master, along with the other two, had their souls blasted by the dragon breath. Their souls immediately softened, and they began to slowly sink back down.
At the critical moment, the Celestial Serpent Cult Master enacted a secret cultivation technique. Numerous small snakes streamed from his mouth and nostrils, lifting him up and carrying him directly toward the surface.
Another Malevolent Dragon, previously trapped by the Annihilation Net, broke free at this moment. Its massive claw struck out, unleashing brilliant beams of black light that shot out like meteors, striking the four men ascending above.
A series of mournful soul cries echoed out. The four from the Celestial Serpent Cult and Joyful Union Valley were all injured, screaming repeatedly, yet they struggled upward.
With Shang Bingyi’s safety weighing heavily on his mind, Ji Changkong, fearing the three Heaven-Vein Masters might target her, dared not hesitate, charging directly upward.
Midway through his ascent, the two Heavenly Fire clones caught up and materialized beside him.
Whoosh! Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!
Amidst the billowing heat, Ji Changkong soared out of the Dead Volcano Crater onto the desolate, lifeless planet.
Not far from the crater, the three Heaven-Vein Masters stood waiting, while Shang Bingjie stood to one side, watching the crater with deep concern, silently anticipating his emergence. The moment he flew out, Shang Bingjie sighed in relief, her soul stabilizing. “Are you alright?”
“Fine,” Ji Changkong replied calmly. He then glanced at the three distant Heaven-Vein Masters, then back at Shang Bingjie. “They didn't cause you any trouble, did they?”
“Boy? What do you mean?” one of the Heaven-Vein Masters huffed indignantly. “Do you think people from our Cloud-Overturning Vein are the same as those scum below? When you are our enemies, we will naturally kill you at any cost, but when we temporarily consider you allies, we don't engage in such disgusting acts!”
Ji Changkong ignored him, focusing only on Shang Bingjie.
Shang Bingjie’s soul phantom offered a faint smile. “I'm fine. Although these fellows are arrogant, they are more trustworthy than the scum from the Celestial Serpent Cult and Joyful Union Valley. They wouldn't commit acts of ingratitude or betrayal.”
“That’s good,” Ji Changkong nodded. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly made a slight sound, his soul expression turning grim.
Ah! Ah-ah-ah!
From within the Dead Volcano Crater came the voices of the Celestial Serpent Cult Master and the Joyful Union Valley expert. Under the surging heat waves, their soul power gradually waned, and their speed toward the crater clearly slowed.
Ji Changkong’s soul phantom flickered violently, reappearing in the crater. Once Zhou Hong’s soul body flew out, a massive Annihilation Net suddenly enveloped him.
The pursuing Celestial Serpent Cult Master, whose soul was spewing lava, was struck by hundreds of soul rays before he even reached the crater's edge.
Shang Bingjie showed no mercy, raising her chilling cold sword to stab repeatedly at the Celestial Serpent Cult Master’s form. Zhou Hong and the Cult Master, already near death as they emerged from the crater, were directly annihilated by the ruthless techniques of the pair.
After the Annihilation Net crushed Zhou Hong’s soul phantom, Ji Changkong was naturally impolite, immediately beginning to absorb the spiritual energy Zhou Hong had left behind in the world. He had expended considerable spiritual energy during the preceding confrontation; upon arriving at the Dead Volcano Crater, he had felt weary.
If Zhou Hong and the Celestial Serpent Cult Master hadn't shown up, he would have had no immediate means of recovery, but fortunately, the two proved resourceful enough to fight their way out of the Malevolent Dragon’s assault. They emerged heavily wounded, their souls extremely weak.
The betrayal shown by Zhou Hong and the Celestial Serpent Cult Master meant Ji Changkong felt no guilt when he acted, swiftly obliterating their souls and seizing their essence.
Shang Bingjie had not expended much power; while below, she had replenished sufficient spiritual energy. Now, after absorbing just a little, she fully restored her spiritual strength, appearing invigorated.
The other three Heaven-Vein Masters were all visibly exhausted. Down in the crater, they had first fought the experts from the Joyful Union Valley and the Celestial Serpent Cult for a time. After Ji Changkong appeared, they engaged him, and finally, when the Malevolent Dragons attacked, the three of them jointly subdued two.
The spiritual reserves of the three Heaven-Vein Masters were deeper than the Celestial Serpent Cult Master’s, but after this string of expenditures, their spiritual power was almost depleted.
Even abandoning the situation here, it was doubtful whether their remaining strength would suffice to return to their home Life Stars.
Consequently, watching Shang Bingjie and Ji Changkong absorb the residual spiritual energy from the Celestial Serpent Cult Master and Zhou Hong made the three of them feel restless. They wanted to join in for a share, yet they hesitated, held back by apprehension.
They worried that provoking Ji Changkong and Shang Bingjie at this juncture might incite a counterattack. They had spent too much spiritual power, whereas Shang Bingjie and Ji Changkong were nearly recovered, especially Ji Changkong, whose hidden capabilities remained unknown.
They feared that approaching now would trigger a fierce retaliation from Ji Changkong, resulting in their own demise before they could secure any residual energy. Although they desperately craved that energy, they dared not move, merely staring longingly toward the area.
“Come over,” Ji Changkong glanced at the three fellows and languidly sent a mental message. “There’s more residual energy from those two than we can use. Take it; it’s free!”
“Wh-what?” one of the Heaven-Vein Masters clearly disbelieved. “You mean—you mean that?”
“Hurry up, or there won't be any left,” Ji Changkong urged impatiently.
The three Heaven-Vein Masters huddled together, communicating their thoughts through a special soul exchange. They decided to risk it and charged over together, stopping near Ji Changkong and Shang Bingjie. Cautiously, they began to collect the residual spiritual energy of the Celestial Serpent Cult Master and Zhou Hong.
The three men were unsure if Ji Changkong genuinely intended to share or if he planned to ambush them. However, at this point, they had few alternatives. If they didn't gain sufficient replenishment, in this volatile environment of intense conflict, even without encountering a master from the Solar Star Domain, they would struggle to return to their Life Stars.
If they were unlucky enough to run into the organized Nine Palaces Celestial Soldiers from the Solar Star Domain, they might not even manage to escape, being instantly annihilated.
Even if they encountered people from their own Abyssal Sea Star Domain, if their strength was too weak, they might end up becoming supplementary energy for their own side, killed and stripped of their spiritual power.
They had no choice. Knowing the risks, they approached, positioning themselves near Ji Changkong and Shang Bingjie, secretly observing their movements while cautiously absorbing the overflowing spiritual energy.
Watching the prudence of the three Heaven-Vein Masters, Ji Changkong inwardly found it amusing. He truly had no intention of eliminating them; he had a better idea in mind.
Down in the Dead Volcano Crater, the three Heaven-Vein Masters had refrained from ambushing him and Shang Bingjie. After Shang Bingjie left the crater, their cooperation had ended, yet these three still hadn't attacked Shang Bingjie. From these two facts, Ji Changkong concluded that the three were far more trustworthy than the Celestial Serpent Cult Master and Zhou Hong.
The Heaven-Vein Masters were experts from the Cloud-Overturning Vein of the Abyssal Sea Star Domain. These three were powerful and likely held some influence within that domain. The reason the Abyssal Sea Star Domain constantly warred with the Solar Star Domain was entirely due to the scarcity of Star Essence.
He presumed that the Nine Palaces Celestial Soldiers of the Abyssal Sea Star Domain desired Star Essence even more intensely than those from the Solar Star Domain.
He possessed a solution. If the masters of the Abyssal Sea Star Domain proved trustworthy, bringing them into an alliance was not impossible. Although ruthless toward enemies, those two incidents revealed to him that these three wouldn't stab him in the back at a critical moment. If they truly partnered up, they would be reliable.
Moreover, their minds had not been clouded by greed. Upon realizing the Malevolent Dragons were too powerful and the risk too great, they immediately decided to retreat from the crater, unlike the people from the Celestial Serpent Cult and Joyful Union Valley, who only awoke to the danger at the very last moment.
These three, unswayed by avarice, demonstrated foresight superior to the groups from Shang Family, Flying Flower, and Golden Net Mountain. Cooperating with such individuals would save him considerable trouble.
As for the enmity between the Solar Star Domain and the Abyssal Sea Star Domain, he paid it no mind. If he could resolve the conflict between the two domains and save the fate of billions of living beings in both, no difficulty would be insurmountable.
“I have enough,” Ji Changkong smiled freely and deliberately withdrew.
Seeing him retreat, Shang Bingjie, who had already recovered to the Peak of Transcendent Realm, naturally moved to stand with him, stepping away from the epicenter where the Celestial Serpent Cult Master and Zhou Hong had been killed.
“You come over here. You can have all the remaining spiritual energy,” Ji Changkong and Shang Bingjie moved far away, signaling they had no further interest.
Shang Bingjie looked at him suspiciously, puzzled by his actions.
Ji Changkong offered no lengthy explanation, simply reassuring Shang Bingjie with a gaze that suggested he had his own plans. Shang Bingjie nodded lightly and followed him obediently, watching the three Heaven-Vein Masters from a distance.
When the three saw him and Shang Bingjie withdraw and maintain a safe distance, despite their lingering doubts, they didn't stand on ceremony. They immediately took the position Ji Changkong and Shang Bingjie had vacated to absorb the spiritual energy of the Celestial Serpent Cult Master and Zhou Hong, which was rapidly dissipating.
Ji Changkong stood aside, quietly observing, releasing his soul presence to probe the activity within the Dead Volcano Crater. He detected that the seven Malevolent Dragons had not emerged, and the Ink-Jade Bone Dragon remained below, seemingly only guarding the Obsidian Tombstone and unwilling to stray far from it.
Reassured, Ji Changkong leisurely watched the three Heaven-Vein Masters, contemplating how he would address them later.
He knew that even after absorbing all the residual spiritual energy, the three would be far from regaining their peak state, as the energy they expended at the bottom of the volcano had been immense, making recovery difficult.
It was precisely because he knew these three would pose no threat to him even after gaining that energy that he remained so composed, unafraid that they might turn against him and Shang Bingjie once they finished absorbing the residue.
While acting generously, he had maintained a cautious eye.
Finally, the three Heaven-Vein Masters divided and absorbed the remaining spiritual energy. Though none approached their peak strength, their spirits were considerably bolstered.
Only then did they regain some confidence. One looked over coldly. “My name is Tore; these are my brothers, Torei and Toron. The one who died below was our cousin. We hail from the Cloud-Overturning Vein of the Abyssal Sea Star Domain. Our vein harbors deep enmity with your Solar Star Domain. Don't think that helping us will earn our endless gratitude—hmpf!”
“Ungrateful wretches,” Shang Bingjie muttered coldly.
Tore’s soul suddenly exuded a chilling aura as he stared over. “We will remember this debt of favor. The next time you fall into the hands of experts from our Abyssal Sea Star Domain, we will spare your lives. Consider it repayment for today’s assistance.”
Ji Changkong gently shook his head and smiled. “Then you likely won't have the opportunity to repay the favor. I suspect your people from the Abyssal Sea Star Domain still haven't found a way to capture me.”
Hearing this, Tore and his two brothers seemed to recall something, and their expressions turned somewhat strange.
“You—you might be able to escape, but she doesn't possess your divine abilities,” Tore pointed at Shang Bingjie. “We will still have leverage over her. If she is ever captured by someone from the Abyssal Sea Star Domain, simply stating the names of our three brothers might grant her immunity from death. We will issue orders when we return.” Tore’s confidence in saying this suggested that he and his brothers held considerable renown within the Abyssal Sea Star Domain; otherwise, who would respect their word?
“Oh?” Ji Changkong stared at the three, feigning confusion. “Are the three of you so famous in the Abyssal Sea Star Domain?”
“You should ask the people of the Abyssal Sea Star Domain about that. Rest assured, we never leave things unsettled. We will find a way to repay what we owe you today,” Tore asserted forcefully.
“Big Brother, say less. They are enemies eventually,” Torei reminded him. He resembled Tore’s soul phantom but appeared leaner and subtly more shrewd—a clear indication of a formidable character.
“No need for that!” Ji Changkong shook his head. “Forget those favors. If you listen to everything I have to say, those debts will be cleared!”
Tore and his two brothers were all perplexed, unable to grasp what Ji Changkong intended to say.
“The conflict between the Abyssal Sea Star Domain and the Solar Star Domain is entirely due to the scarcity of Star Essence, and your Abyssal Sea Star Domain is especially afflicted in this regard. As far as I know, the living stars in your domain have long since vanished, correct?” Ji Changkong asked.
The faces of the three Heaven-Vein Masters darkened, yet they all nodded, confirming he spoke the truth.
“And haven't the natural disasters on the Life Stars in your Abyssal Sea Star Domain been increasing over the last few decades? Haven’t some Life Stars been utterly devastated by meteorites and strange powers, their populations scattered?” Ji Changkong pressed further.
The three Heaven-Vein Masters' souls trembled, their complexions growing even paler. They nodded once more.
“Too many dead stars, too few living stars. The balance has been broken, and the star domain naturally suffers calamities. This is a law of nature; it’s not strange,” Ji Changkong stated calmly.
“What exactly are you trying to say?” Tore huffed.
“I am saying I have a method to resolve all of this,” Ji Changkong grinned, adding, “If you cooperate with me, and if you can persuade more experts from the Abyssal Sea Star Domain, I can solve your domain's problem permanently—on the condition, however, that you trust me absolutely!”
The three Tore brothers froze, staring at him in utter shock, momentarily speechless.
Tore paused, then spoke word by word, “If you truly have a way, we will listen to everything you say. The Cloud-Overturning Vein certainly won't object either. Our elders have worried about this matter for hundreds of years. If you can help us, your word is law!”