Long moments passed, and upon the throne, the mature and handsome face of the Radiant King gradually clouded over. He let out a cold snort, murmuring to himself, "Old Demon, how do you view the recent events? Could it be that the legendary Azure Wave Fairy did not truly perish? Is the Immortal Realm beginning to interfere in the affairs of the Six Domains once more?"

"Jie jie."

Beside the throne, a shadow slowly materialized, yet it remained like black mist, twisting and perpetually shifting. The shadow emitted a series of sinister chuckles. "Radiant One, you grow older and more timid with every passing year. Whether the Azure Wave Fairy lives or dies is utterly irrelevant. What matters is that if we can retrieve that thing, who in these Nine Continents and Six Domains can stand against us? Even if the Immortal Clan or the Demon Clan wished to descend, they could only manage a few Nascent Soul avatars at best. If they come down, they are merely inviting their own demise."

The Radiant King’s complexion somewhat improved, a look of eager avarice flashing in his eyes. "Indeed. Once we possess that item, we can rapidly break through the Nascent Soul stage, achieve Refinement, and advance straight toward the Supreme Dao. Those mere Nascent Soul avatars truly warrant no consideration. When we unify the Nine Continents and Six Domains, who can challenge us? It is laughable that the Mother of All Spirits sacrificed the majority of her power to establish the Teleportation Seal—a case of tying one's own knot. However, Old Demon, you are quite unlucky. Just as you obtained a heaven-defying treasure and were set for unparalleled success, you were met with betrayal, hehe."

"Hmph. If not for that, how would I ever need to bring you in to share the spoils?" The shadow seemed deeply dissatisfied by this topic, regarding it as a humiliation. It shifted the subject. "Radiant One, back to business. When do we storm the Abyss Domain and turn that detestable traitor into dust?"

"This cannot be rushed; the Arbiter King is an absolute hardliner." The Radiant King’s expression grew troubled. "If we cannot handle her, unifying the entire Bright Domain becomes immensely difficult. At worst, it will result in fragmentation. Old Demon, do you still possess a Soul-Seizing Demon Heart Spirit Treasure? Give me another one. As soon as I deal with the Arbiter King, I will immediately convene the Council of Kings, unify the Bright Domain, and march on the Abyss Domain."

"Radiant One, do you take the Soul-Seizing Demon Heart as a common trinket you can have on demand?" The shadow shrieked animatedly. "If I had that many Soul-Seizing Demon Hearts, I would have unified the Six Domains long ago; it wouldn't be your turn! How many times must I tell you? The one I gave you was discovered at the exact same time as that heaven-defying artifact. There is only a single one. In the entire Three Realms, there cannot be more than ten of these things, let alone just our Nine Continents and Six Domains. Aren't you known for being quite adept with women? How can you not even handle a mere Arbiter King?"

"Hmph, don't just lecture me." The Radiant King's pride was stung. He retorted sharply, "Aren't you just as incapable with women? You promised to send that Nascent Soul Succubus under your command to me for a taste. How many years has it been, and you still haven't persuaded her? Heh. And you still dare call yourself the Lord of the Abyss? You can't even command a low-level Nascent Soul Succubus. No wonder you were betrayed by your subordinates."

"Radiant One, are you spoiling for a fight?" The inconspicuous shadow instantly grew agitated. "My word is always my bond. It is only because Mi Xue'er showed me life-saving grace when I was in dire straits that I am reluctant to apply too much pressure. Give me some more time, and I will surely persuade her. However, you must not forget the conditions you promised me."

From the conversation, it could be discerned that the shadow was none other than the legendary, renowned powerhouse of the Abyss Domain: the Lord of the Abyss. Just what catastrophe had befallen him to lead him to collude with the Radiant King in the Bright Domain remained a mystery.

"Heh, once this endeavor is complete, I will personally capture Aggana and deliver her to you. I am not like you, indecisive and hesitant. It’s just one Nascent Soul Succubus; giving her up isn't some great catastrophe, is it? Besides, just a taste." The Radiant King smiled grimly. "When we truly succeed, what will we lack?"

"Indeed, indeed," the Lord of the Abyss chuckled heartily. "I quite look forward to the descent of the avatars of the great powers from the Three Realms, especially the Immortal Clan—I hear they have quite a few beauties."

After a period of silence, the two concluded their discussion and parted ways to carry out their respective tasks.

...

No one suspected that deep within the so-called Temple of Light lay a dark, austere, and terrifying prison. This place was riddled with potent restrictions; even a captured Nascent Soul expert would find escape impossible.

Take, for example, the Arbiter King, long heralded as the most just sovereign of the Bright Domain.

At this moment, her limbs were shackled to a cross. Her pristine white robes were somewhat tattered, her golden hair disheveled, and her beautiful yet cold face appeared pale and drawn. Yet, her deep brown eyes remained startlingly clear and sharp, utterly resolute. Years of confinement had shown no sign of her yielding.

Before her stood an equally beautiful, winged female figure with a slender figure, her lovely eyes swirling with emotion as she sighed softly. "Sister Arbiter, why must you endure this? The Radiant King is deeply infatuated with you. If you would only grant him a single night of pleasure to fulfill his long-held desire, he promised to set you free. You won't suffer any great loss; why remain so stubborn?"

"Pah."

The Arbiter King spat in disdain, a look of contempt flashing in her fierce gaze. "Liuyue, I never imagined that you, always so upright and proper, one of the esteemed Eight Kings of Light, would sink so low as to become the lapdog and plaything of the Radiant One. It is a disgrace. There is no need to persuade me further. Go back and tell that despicable, cowardly turtle-bastard. This is Arbiter, and I would rather die than submit."

"Arbiter King, whether my actions are despicable or shameless, it is all forced upon me by you." The Radiant King's handsome and perfect form slowly solidified out of the gloom. His gaze held a hint of mournful yearning, yet it was deeply affectionate as he looked at the Arbiter King. "My feelings for you have transformed from love into hatred. Arbiter, do you know you have become the obsession that plagues my heart? If I cannot satisfy my long-cherished desire for you, I will never have a chance to break through from the mid-stage to the high-stage of Nascent Soul in this lifetime."

The Arbiter King’s gaze remained unwavering, unmoved by his words. She stared coldly at the Radiant King. "Radiant One, do you take me for a fool? You can actually utter such disgusting and insincere words? Put away this pretense of affection. I firmly believe you must have cultivated some kind of vile demonic art that requires dual cultivation to control women. And Liuyue is merely one of your spoils. I have no interest in engaging in this charade any longer. I will repeat my small warning one last time: if you dare touch a single strand of my hair, I will show you the true power unleashed by the self-destruction of a mid-stage Nascent Soul expert's Primordial Spirit."

The Radiant King’s face froze, and he immediately felt frustrated. He had never expected that his feigned sentiment and strategic words had already been seen through by her, meaning she had been deceiving him for years. Now, she could not even be bothered to play along anymore?

While irritation burned in his chest, he truly had no immediate solution for her. Killing her was out of the question—he couldn't bear it. But not killing her meant she would never yield? His frustration mounted to an extreme. The sight of the Arbiter King, pitiful and vulnerable in her bonds, only stoked the Radiant King's wicked desires. Yet, he clearly knew he absolutely could not touch her. Otherwise, knowing the Arbiter King's temperament, she would likely self-detonate on the spot.

Glancing sideways, he spotted the King Liuyue beside him, whose beautiful features were gazing at him with tender affection. Animalistic instincts flared. He violently seized King Liuyue and tore away all pretense of clothing. Right in front of the Arbiter King, he violently pinned Liuyue beneath him in mid-air, roaring with manic ecstasy and challenging the Arbiter King with brazen mockery. "Arbiter, King Liuyue is your best friend and sister, yet you never expected that she belonged to me long ago! Look at her, how happy, how joyful she is! Liuyue slave, quickly tell your good sister how happy you are?"

The King Liuyue, currently yielding beneath him, tightly gripped the Radiant King with her flushed, moaning body, appearing utterly blissful and satisfied. "My Lord Radiant One, Liuyue slave is so happy, truly so blessed, in this life, the next, and for all eternity..."

The Arbiter King could listen no more. A deep sorrow settled in her resolute eyes. Her teeth were clamped so hard her lips began to bleed. Simultaneously, she was deeply apprehensive and horrified by the power of the evil art the Radiant King cultivated. King Liuyue had once been as proud and self-respecting as she was, but now, she was utterly lost and subjugated by the Radiant One’s dark sorcery.

She did not cry out or rage. Doing so would achieve no positive or constructive result. Moreover, it would only make the Radiant King more rampant and smug.

"Arbiter, do you dare accept my challenge? Aren't you constantly boasting of a heart most steadfast in its faith in the Light? If you agree to my request just once, I swear I will release your dear sister Liuyue." The Radiant King burst into a triumphant laugh.

...

In the same time frame.

The battle involving the forcible demolition of the Sky City was drawing to a close.

Its shields and flying vessels stripped away, the Sky City lay exposed before its attackers like a naked maiden. A brutal, street-by-street battle was unfolding in full swing. At this moment, this Sky City, untouched by war for an immeasurable time, was plunged into catastrophe.

Innumerable insects, earth giants, ghost soldiers, and specters rampaged through the city. Although the city’s internal defenses remained formidable, mitigating some disadvantage, the disparity between the two sides was simply too vast.

"Boom—"

A pillar of crimson flame blasted directly into the protective barrier of the Sky City’s temple. The ferocious blaze and explosion completely destroyed the shield and half of the structure.

Thunder Dragon stood suspended in the void, wielding his Crimson Flame Dragon Cannon, his voice cold. "Those who surrender will be spared; those who resist will be executed without mercy."

...