closed his eyes to rest, and the events that transpired in the Boundless Realm flickered through his mind. He carefully pondered everything he had gone through; was it truly just good fortune?

"Hall Master Ye! This is terrible, Hall Master Ye." Ant-Dah scrambled up from the ground, paying no mind to Ye Xiu. "Hall Master Ye, we've found a location belonging to the Demon Peak Sect!"

Ye Xiu was startled awake by Ant-Dah's shout and grabbed him roughly. "Where is it?"

Ant-Dah was exhausted, panting heavily. "It's in the Sea of Exile, not far from the Fox Demon Palace in the Corpse Demon Forest. A faction of the Demon Peak Sect is there. Scouts report that it should be the base of the Four Winds Hall of the Demon Peak Sect."

"Any other details? What exactly is this Four Winds Hall of the Demon Peak Sect?" Although Ye Xiu was anxious, this was the Boundless Realm, a place teeming with experts, not somewhere he could just blunder into and solve problems.

Ant-Dah reported truthfully, "The Hall Master of the Four Winds Hall, Gale Shadow-Swift, is known throughout the Demon Peak Sect as the fastest among them. Thus, the Four Winds Hall specializes in harnessing the power of the wind. However..."

"However what?" Ye Xiu disliked direct contests of speed, although he felt he was certainly not losing in terms of pace currently.

Ant-Dah scratched his head, looking slightly confused. "This Four Winds Hall's base is in the Sea of Exile, and the Sea of Exile is not far from the Fox Demon Palace. Our subordinates investigated and found that the Four Winds Hall seems to have had contact with the Fox Demon Palace. We even saw the Demon Empress."

"The Demon Empress is the ruler of the Fox Demon Palace?" Ye Xiu didn't fully grasp the structure of the Fox Demon Palace. Logically, the Fox Demon Palace governed the entire Corpse Demon Forest, even if only nominally, holding a certain degree of authority. For a Hall Master of the Demon Peak Sect to directly converse with the Demon Empress suggested the situation was far from simple.

"The Demon Empress is indeed the ruler of the Fox Demon Palace. Hall Master Ye, what are your plans..." Ant-Dah felt a hint of disdain for Ye Xiu's question but dared not voice it—surely his Hall Master didn't lack even this basic common knowledge of the Corpse Demon Forest?

Ye Xiu clenched his fists upon hearing this, having grasped the general situation. It seemed Yao Qi'er had been captured by these people from the Four Winds Hall. This group clearly knew Qi'er was the Demon Empress's woman, so they sought out the Empress naturally to exchange something: "I understand. You lead me to this so-called Sea of Exile immediately."

"How many people should I bring?" Ant-Dah had never operated alone; in terms of sheer numbers, the Ant Army couldn't be matched by anyone else in the Boundless Realm. "We can bring millions of engineers alone, but the Demon Peak Sect members are the natural predators of the Ant Soldiers. I fear..."

Ye Xiu delivered a punch that made Ant-Dah yelp in pain. "Two or three people are enough. We aren't going to tear down their house; we're going to scout the situation. Damn it!"

"Hehe, if Hall Master Ye is bringing people, I naturally cannot be absent." Spider-Ji had been beside Ye Xiu all along. She materialized into human form and knelt upon Ye Xiu's shoulder, her voice alluring. "I don't fear any Four Winds Hall. For Hall Master Ye, I am willing to be shattered into pieces."

"Lead the way." At that moment, Snake-Beauty also knelt by Ye Xiu's leg, shaking her hips seductively. "Hall Master Ye, I have no problem dealing with those tiny flying fowl. Allow me to accompany you."

Ye Xiu nodded, leading the two, commanding the Ant Soldiers as they left the Insect Demon Gate. Indeed, the power of the Ant Soldiers was formidable. From the surface to the distant Sea of Exile, they had established their subterranean palace. If the territory on the surface of the Corpse Demon Forest was divided among three clans, then below the earth belonged entirely to the Insect Demons and Ants—a thoroughfare, impregnable and all-encompassing.

The night was cold under the moon, and surging tides crashed against the base of the sheer cliffs. The Sea of Exile rushed toward the distance, never ceasing its flow, yet atop the sea-cliffs of this desperate coast, the scene was ablaze with light.

Ant-Dah had managed to carve out an opening near a rock and led Ye Xiu and the others there. "Hall Master Ye, I heard movement above, so I chose this spot. Take a look."

Ye Xiu squatted down inside the earthen hole. On the slope of the cliff face above, flames leaped high, suggesting a large gathering. "The Demon Peak Sect has placed their base in such an exposed cliffside—it's so easy to find. Which fool told me these people were secretive?"

"Hall Master Ye, you may not know, but something major is about to happen tonight." Snake-Beauty licked her lips and smiled. "The Demon Peak Sect members always build their outposts inside hollowed-out caves in the cliffs; they wouldn't easily appear in a place like this."

Spider-Ji, usually at odds with Snake-Beauty, maintained a truce during this critical moment. "That's right. Look at those people across the way dressed in noble attire—they must be the Fox Demon Royalty."

"More than just the Fox Demon Royalty; the enchanting noblewoman at the very front is the Demon Empress herself." Ant-Dah, skilled at burrowing, had seen the Demon Empress before.

Hearing this, Ye Xiu immediately squeezed to the front. His eyes locked onto a tall woman standing before the flames, clad in a robe trimmed with gold, her face bearing the mark of wealth, her brow tightly furrowed. By her appearance, she was undoubtedly worried about Qi'er's situation. "The Demon Empress personally coming to this cliff—what conspiracy does the Demon Peak Sect harbor?"

Spider-Ji and Snake-Beauty transformed and moved, carefully scaling the cliff face. "We'll go check."

"Follow my instructions exactly, do not act rashly." Ye Xiu waved his hand, signaling the two to separate and leave, while he himself hid beneath the ground, observing everything around him.

"The Demon Empress is indeed punctual. Have you brought what we asked for?" A figure entirely covered in black fur grinned before the flames, his face ferocious and nose extremely pointed—he looked exactly like a crow.

The Demon Empress clearly felt pressured, but her expression remained composed, showing no sign of panic. "I request the Hall Master of the Four Winds Hall, Gale Shadow-Swift, to step forward and speak."

"A mere fox demon dares to speak with such arrogance? You wish to see our Hall Master?" The Black Crow's eyes shifted, and the feathers on its body immediately scattered, forming the shape of flying needles that shot toward the Demon Empress.

"Insolence!" A streak of emerald light flashed past the Demon Empress. A small, jade-clad woman wielding a long whip moved in a serpentine manner, her whip like a long snake striking down every flying needle. "What trash dares to offend my Demon Empress!"

The Demon Empress stood motionless, radiating the demeanor of a great commander. She waved her sleeve sleeves. "A-Bi, stand down."

"But, Your Majesty, he..." The woman named A-Bi had a fiery temper. Seeing someone disrespect the Demon Empress, she was ready to lash out with her whip. "I must teach this wretch a lesson."

"Whoosh..." A sudden blast of black wind swept in, and a figure covered in red and black fur, with a pale face and blood-red eyes, appeared beside the flames. His expression was savage, and his voice hoarse. "Four Winds Hall, Gale Shadow-Swift, apologizing to the Demon Empress on Black Crow's behalf."

"Hall Master Ye, that fellow is the Hall Master of the Four Winds Hall!" Ant-Dah pointed contemptuously at Gale Shadow-Swift's appearance. "That's why I say our Ten Thousand Insect Hall Master Ye has the most perfect appearance. Look what that fellow has turned into."

Ye Xiu was always stern, but Ant-Dah's flattery managed to bring a faint smile to his face. "Do you know what powerful techniques this guy possesses? So that if I have to face him, I won't be caught completely off guard."

"The Demon Peak Sect has intricate ties with the Day-Blind Clan; both can fly freely in the sky. As for this Four Winds Hall Master, his specialty is controlling hurricanes." Ant-Dah's cultivation was limited, but his information-gathering ability was unmatched. "The Four Winds Hall is the proudest branch of the Demon Peak Sect; even the Sect Master, Ren Tianxing, must treat them with caution."

"Ren Tianxing..." Ye Xiu disliked such grand-sounding names. He refocused his attention on the Demon Empress, who remained unperturbed, displaying the bearing of a powerful woman. "What capabilities do the Fox Demon Palace possess?"

Ant-Dah pointed toward the long whip in A-Bi's hand. "The Fox Demon Palace members frequently use long whips, and the cultivation level of a fox demon can be discerned by the number of tails. A figure of the Demon Empress's caliber has already reached eight tails; her cultivation should be above Gale Shadow-Swift's. Unfortunately, fox demons are naturally not skilled in combat, which is why Gale Shadow-Swift seems to have the upper hand."

Gale Shadow-Swift's gaze was sharp. After the customary greeting, he immediately stated his purpose. "I believe the Demon Empress already knows what leverage I hold. This time, I only requested the Demon Empress's presence because I desire one item from the Fox Demon Palace—a simple matter for you, Demon Empress."

"You mean the Earth-Severing Saber!" The Demon Empress slowly paced, her dark, flowing hair brushing against the flames. "Hall Master of the Four Winds Hall, do you know that the Sky Sword and Peerless Saber are forbidden items in the Boundless Realm? If the Demon Peak Sect now seeks to collect components of the Sky Sword and Peerless Saber, won't it incite unrest among all the clans?"

Gale Shadow-Swift was naturally insidious and clever, knowing the Demon Empress would not yield easily. "The Demon Empress has a poor memory. The Sky Sword and Peerless Saber require the convergence of the Heavenly Citadel, the Heaven-Severing Blade, and the Earth-Severing Saber to form. Currently, I merely wish to behold the legendary Earth-Severing Saber; I harbor no designs on obtaining a divine weapon."

The Demon Empress shook her head, her smile revealing dimples as beautiful as Qi'er's. "If that is the case, Hall Master of the Four Winds Hall could simply pay a visit to the Fox Demon Palace. Why compel me to come here?"

"Gale Shadow-Swift would not dare trouble the Demon Empress to travel such a distance. It is merely to reminisce and, incidentally, discuss a story concerning a Death God." Gale Shadow-Swift’s words held hidden meanings as he now stood beside the Demon Empress. "My Four Winds Hall has merely found the Death God's daughter. We wish to inquire how the Demon Empress intends to dispose of her."

"Qi'er is indeed in their hands!" Hearing this, Ye Xiu's fist tightened. Protecting Qi'er was his final promise to Bafang Jin. If he couldn't even keep this promise as a fellow Death God, he would disgrace the renown of the Heaven-Defying Sword.

Ant-Dah rarely saw Ye Xiu so agitated and asked doubtfully, "Hall Master Ye, what business do you have here that makes you so emotional?"

"Nonsense! Don't you desire that legendary Earth-Severing Saber?" Ye Xiu couldn't be bothered to explain to Ant-Dah and continued to watch the unfolding scene.

The Demon Empress's face twitched slightly; Gale Shadow-Swift's words had clearly struck a nerve. "Hall Master of the Four Winds Hall jokes. Any Death God remaining in the Boundless Realm is a target for extermination by all. Why ask me? As for the life and death of a little girl, I imagine Hall Master of the Four Winds Hall would rather bear the guilt of slaughtering the innocent—that would only bring shame upon Sect Master Ren Tianxing."

"The Demon Empress truly has a ready tongue." Gale Shadow-Swift, seeing he gained no ground through words, couldn't help but reveal a fierce look, baring his fangs and claws in warning. "What the Demon Empress did when she was the Fox Demon Princess in those years, and whom she met, is perhaps not our concern. However, executing the daughter of a Death God—I doubt too many people would object. Our Demon Peak Sect is greatly benevolent and righteous; we grant the Demon Empress one more night to consider. Tomorrow at dawn, I do not wish to see the Demon Empress arrive empty-handed, or you shall receive back nothing but a corpse."

"You..." The Demon Empress's face flushed with anger, yet she was helpless against Gale Shadow-Swift. She turned and gave a sharp cry before leaving the firelight. But as she passed the spot where Ye Xiu hid, a single tear unexpectedly dropped. This tear, though tiny, conveyed the helplessness of a mother facing a crisis concerning her daughter.

"Don't bother seeing her off, hahahaha!" Gale Shadow-Swift held the bargaining chip and was naturally smug.