... A little over a month had passed. At the dead of night, high above, the fierce astral winds howled.

A modest, small-sized flying boat sliced through the nocturnal expanse. The couple, the King and Queen of Zhennan, stood on the viewing deck along the gunwale, gazing up at the starry sky. The hazy moonlight and scattered starlight illuminated the night, making the heavens both beautiful and brimming with untold mystery.

Two Foundation Establishment level retainers from the Zhennan Royal Estate—a man and a woman—stood guard. Both possessed the bearing of immortals, their flowing robes lending them an air of transcendent beings. At this moment, they were loyally protecting the King and Queen. In truth, in any ordinary royal estate, even if they managed to recruit Foundation Establishment retainers, those individuals would be treated as honored guests. A slight displeasure, and they might very well storm off.

But the Zhennan Royal Estate was different. Their daughter and son-in-law were core disciples of the Yin Sha Sect, possessing extraordinary influence. These retainers were by no means ordinary rogue cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage whom one could treat lightly or offend. Because of this elevated status, the power and prestige of the Zhennan Royal Estate in the Da Ding Kingdom had grown to an unprecedented height; even the Sovereign of Da Ding treated the King and Queen with utmost deference.

“My Queen, Wan Yan’s Master, he is truly too kind, gifting us such an expensive flying boat.” The King of Zhennan sounded deeply moved. He had heard tales of flying boats for years but never dared to dream of possessing one. Cultivation, truly, was beyond the comparison of ordinary mortals. The King and Queen had initially been reluctant when Wan Yan was found to have rather good cultivation aptitude. Looking back now, their decision then had been absolutely correct.

“Dong’er is also excellent; dutiful and respects us as his own parents.” The Queen, though advanced in years, still retained much of the charm and grace of her youth due to excellent care, radiating poise.

As the two spoke and reflected, a gust of wind, carrying a scent of blood, suddenly swept over them.

The flying boat shuddered violently, its speed dropping sharply.

The two Foundation Establishment cultivators instantly changed color, keenly sensing that something was terribly wrong. They immediately shielded the King and Queen behind them, their faces pale as they cried out, “Your Highness! Your Highness! Be careful!” In reality, their loyalty was enforced; should anything happen to the King and Queen, their own lives would be forfeit. That colossal entity, the Yin Sha Sect, was not something they could afford to provoke.

“Hee hee~”

A series of sharp, hoarse, strange laughter echoed.

Simultaneously, a man in a black robe materialized on the deck like a phantom. Behind him drifted two viscous, intensely foul blood-shadows, flickering uncertainly.

“Blood Puppets, kill those two ants.” The black-robed man barely glanced at the two Foundation Establishment cultivators, his eyes filled with profound disdain. Perhaps in the secular world, Foundation Establishment cultivators were revered like terrestrial deities. But to high-level cultivators such as those at the Core Formation stage, they were truly nothing more than ants.

The two Blood Puppets flickered, dissolving into clouds of bloody mist. In mere moments, they bored two small holes through the flying boat’s transparent shield. The blood mist seeped inside, twisting and reforming into two hideous and terrifying crimson monsters.

In desperation, the male Foundation Establishment cultivator hurled out a Life-Preserving Fire Dragon Talisman.

The talisman dissolved upon meeting the wind, igniting into a vivid, living fire dragon nearly ten feet long, which lunged ferociously toward a Blood Puppet. The power of this spell could seriously wound even an unsuspecting late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. He had spent a considerable sum of spirit stones to acquire this talisman for self-preservation.

However, the unexpected occurred. The Blood Puppet opened its mouth and spewed forth a thick, viscous blood mist that utterly extinguished the Fire Dragon, causing it to sizzle and dissolve into black smoke.

At the same time, the female cultivator’s mid-grade spiritual artifact slashed across the neck of the other Blood Puppet. The Blood Puppet did not dodge or evade, allowing the flying sword to carve a wound. But as the blood mist surged, the injury healed instantly, suffering no damage. The Blood Puppet grinned hideously at the female cultivator, its form blurring slightly as it instantly appeared before her. It extended a massive, blood-colored hand and seized her. Countless streams of blood mist surged like a tide, engulfing the screaming, terrified woman. With a few gurgling gulps, she was digested into a pool of blood within moments.

The Blood Puppet, after devouring a Foundation Establishment cultivator, shone even brighter with bloody light, its power evidently increased.

“No~” the male cultivator shrieked in panicked grief and rage, unleashing all his spiritual artifacts and spells, but to the Blood Puppet, they were little more than irritating tickles. Without exception, the male cultivator met the same fate. The twisted black-robed rogue cultivator cackled maniacally. These two Blood Puppets had been borrowed from Lord Blood Fiend; their power was immense, comparable to early-stage Core Formation cultivators. How could two mere early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators contend with them?

The reason the black-robed rogue cultivator had borrowed the Blood Puppets was that he was extremely cautious, preparing for any contingency. Now, it seemed, his caution had been excessive.

“Hee hee, King of Zhennan, come along quietly with this lord, and spare yourself physical torment.” The black-robed rogue cultivator chuckled incessantly, conjuring two wisps of black fog that pierced into the flying boat, binding the King and Queen. However, he understood priorities; he knew these two were critically important to Ding Wan Yan. If anything happened to them, he would face a disastrous end, no matter what. At the very least, if Ding Wan Yan were to simply tell Li Yao, “Kill him, and I’ll stay with you,” he would be finished. Therefore, the black-robed rogue cultivator dared not harm the King and Queen in the slightest.

For a Core Formation cultivator to deal with mortals was effortless; making them commit suicide would be difficult.

“Hmph~”

An icy voice pierced the black-robed rogue cultivator’s ears.

Though light, the sound struck him like a thunderclap, nearly causing him to fall from mid-air.

The black-robed rogue cultivator, who had been feeling smug, immediately turned ashen-faced with terror, shrieked a single word—Nascent Soul—and then whipped up his escape light, fleeing desperately.

“If you can escape my grasp, from this day forward, I, Tian Mo, shall take your surname,” Tian Mo’s cold voice echoed in his ears, requiring no physical movement whatsoever.

The black-robed rogue cultivator instantly halted his escape. His face was bloodless and utterly terrified as he flew back obediently, hovering suspended in the void, head bowed, hands respectfully placed below, and stammered, “Lord, Lord Tian Mo. I, I was briefly, briefly confused.” Being an evil path cultivator, Tian Mo’s name was legendary to him. He knew that even if his power doubled, escape was impossible. Just as those two Foundation Establishment cultivators were helpless against the Blood Puppets, he was powerless against Tian Mo. His only recourse was immediate, honest surrender to plead for leniency.

“Heh heh, Sister Tian Mo is mighty!”

A series of delightful giggles sounded again. A group of early-stage Core Formation cultivators, including Qing Niangzi, flew in from a distance and landed beside Tian Mo. Initially, Qing Niangzi and the others held Tian Mo in awe, but as they spent more time together, they discovered her cold exterior hid a warm heart. Seeing her connection to Lei Dong, she occasionally offered them guidance, and their relationship rapidly improved. As for Han Chao, he treated her with the utmost reverence, as if she were the mistress of the house.

Tian Mo flicked out a Ghost Gu she had obtained from Lei Dong, her expression calm and icy. “Swallow it, or die.”

In truth, dying was not the worst fate. In this world, there were many ways to endure suffering far worse than death.

In Tian Mo’s presence, the black-robed rogue cultivator dared not harbor any illusions. Even if that object were poison, he would have to swallow it obediently.

Receiving a subtle gesture from Tian Mo, the mature and charming Qing Niangzi covered her mouth and spoke, “That black robe, this thing you are about to swallow is called a Ghost Gu, its primary component being a High-Grade Spirit Ghost. Once ingested, the Ghost Gu attaches itself to your soul. Every year, you must consume a specific antidote, otherwise, the Ghost Gu will slowly devour your soul—that kind of agony, tsk tsk, I imagine you do not wish to experience.”

The black-robed rogue cultivator shivered. Although he had never heard of a Ghost Gu, anything produced by Tian Mo allowed no room for disbelief. Yet, simultaneously, he felt a slight easing of breath. Since the item required refining with a High-Grade Spirit Ghost, it must be quite valuable. This, conversely, meant that he, the black robe, still held some utility. With utility came the chance to live.

“Lord Tian Mo, your junior is willing to serve you, to be your slave and servant, without a single complaint.”

Among cultivators, temperaments varied widely. However, most high-level cultivators clung tightly to life. Especially some who would do anything to survive. Unless they belonged to sects with exceptionally strong religious convictions, such as the Vajra Temple monks, whose willpower was often firmer.

“From now on, you will follow Qing Niangzi; she will assign tasks to you.” For such spineless individuals, Tian Mo wouldn’t even deign to speak to them unless absolutely necessary. She waved a hand, her expression tinged with disgust.

“This subordinate greets Lord Qing.” The black-robed rogue cultivator was suitably compliant, immediately bowing respectfully.

“What are those two monsters?” Qing Niangzi pointed at the two motionless Blood Puppets, asking with some curiosity.

“Reporting to the Lady, those are two Blood Puppets borrowed from Lord Blood Fiend—ah, no, from Old Fiend Blood. Each one is comparable to an early-stage Core Formation cultivator,” the black-robed rogue cultivator immediately betrayed Blood Fiend, answering honestly. “Each Blood Puppet requires the soul of a Core Formation cultivator, combined with the blood and souls of a million people for a blood sacrifice, to be refined through Blood Fiend cultivation. It is rumored that Old Fiend Blood has already gathered ten Blood Puppets.”

“It is twenty,” Tian Mo stated coldly, though her expression remained calm. Having originated from the demonic path, she had seen such things countless times and was largely unconcerned. Just as she had been perfectly capable of saving that Foundation Establishment cultivator earlier but simply hadn't bothered. Unless it involved Lei Dong, Tian Mo was equally cold and merciless.

“Good heavens, it seems that Blood Fiend is quite powerful, no?” Qing Niangzi, who was only an early-stage Core Formation cultivator herself, stuck out her tongue.

“Hmph,” Tian Mo scoffed with disdain and contempt. “I care not how powerful he is. In short, if Lei Dong wants him dead, he will die.”