Gu Xiechen sat cross-legged in the nest of grass suspended high between the tree branches. Across from him, Eternal Starlight chuckled, his face wearing a sinister, dangerous smile utterly foreign to a pure infant. He gloated, looking Gu Xiechen up and down as if admiring a peerless treasure. There was an indescribable strangeness in his gaze, as if he stood ready at any moment to annihilate everything in the world, including himself.

The two stared at each other for a full fifteen minutes before Eternal Starlight finally managed to suppress the bizarre, inexplicable laughter. He nodded toward Gu Xiechen and fished out two black wooden figures, each about the size of a palm, from beneath his rear, handing them over. “Prisoner Soul Puppets of Mei Lin and Mu Sha Duoertro. A wisp of their separated spirit is trapped within each. Only by aligning the ‘Seven Yin Seven Fiend Soul Slaughter Incantation’ with the celestial timing, terrestrial advantage, and human accord can one harness the suppressive, evil, murderous energies of heaven and earth to execute this spirit wisp, thereby eliminating them.”

After a brief silence, Gu Xiechen took the two small wooden figures. He tested their weight; though small, each puppet felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. He wondered what kind of wood Eternal Starlight had used to craft them. The wood was ice-cold to the touch, subtly conveying a sensation like being pricked by needles or blades. Sweeping his divine sense over the puppets, he could vaguely detect the agonizing screams of billions of tormented souls within. Occasionally, specks of sinister green malevolent energy flickered across the puppets’ surfaces, revealing the faces of distorted vengeful spirits struggling violently inside.

“What a supremely sinister and ferocious object.” Gu Xiechen glanced at Eternal Starlight and couldn't help but scoff, “Your Majesty possesses deep foresight; you were prepared all along?”

Eternal Starlight waved his short arms dismissively, explaining the intricacy in a tone of utter resignation.

He had prepared these small wooden figures long ago, but the true infusion of a wisp of Mei Lin’s and Mu Dao’s separated spirits occurred only when he was on the verge of breaking through to the Clarity of the Pure Infant Heaven and preparing to face the Heavenly Tribulation to become a Fourth-Rank Celestial Immortal. At that time, his strength was infinitely close to a Fourth-Rank Celestial Immortal, and forcibly seizing the spirits of Mei Lin and Mu Dao using dark magic was as simple as lifting a hand.

Had he passed the tribulation, with his Fourth-Rank Celestial Immortal power, Mei Lin and Mu Dao would have stood no chance of causing any real trouble, and he could have easily dispatched them. Unfortunately, Eternal Starlight failed his tribulation. Now, he could only barely sustain his cultivation by forcing his residual soul into the body of an infant. Although he still barely possessed the cultivation realm of the Supreme Sovereign Exalted Heaven, his actual magical power was only equivalent to the Golden Core stage. His remaining avatars, the strongest among them, were merely at the Soul Transformation stage, utterly incapable of executing the Seven Yin Seven Fiend Soul Slaughter Incantation.

“If this were not the case, how could I possibly request your assistance?” Eternal Starlight condescendingly looked down at Gu Xiechen. “Why would I ever seek help from an uncultivated creature of a lower civilization? In the past, you wouldn't even possess the qualifications to sit before me.”

The more arrogant Eternal Starlight became, the more he asserted his lofty superiority, the more Gu Xiechen’s ever-vigilant heart settled. If Eternal Starlight had adopted a base, desperate demeanor, flattering and bowing subserviently to Gu Xiechen, Gu Xiechen would have deeply mistrusted him and dared not help him deal with Mei Lin and Mu Dao. For the Emperor of a Six-Star Civilization, such self-assurance and pride were entirely natural.

Testing the weight of the wooden figures in his hand, Gu Xiechen extended his own hand toward Eternal Starlight. “Give me the cultivation method for the Seven Yin Seven Fiend Soul Slaughter Incantation,” he paused, then continued, “I will choose the time and place I deem correct and safe to take their lives.”

Eternal Starlight shrugged, completely unconcerned, and handed Gu Xiechen a black memory jade slip. “Do as you please! The correct time? This spell can only be cast on a moonless night. A safe place? Do you truly believe you can leave this planet? You must act here. But, suit yourself; I will not interfere with your actions.”

He fixed Gu Xiechen with a cold stare, waved his hand as if shooing away a common insect, “Go, go, do what you must do. Help me eliminate Mei Lin and Mu Sha Duoertro; consider it revenge and satisfaction for you. If you still intend to move against the Polar Star Empire, I won’t mind engaging you with my full power! I, Eternal Starlight, never fear any challenge!”

Bowing slightly, Gu Xiechen smiled at Eternal Starlight, and three Tai Yin Thorns suddenly shot forth from his hair. One darted toward the brow of the nearby 'Death God,' while the other two flew toward Eternal Starlight’s tiny frame. Before either could utter a word, their physical bodies were pierced by the Tai Yin Thorns. The intensely cold Tai Yin Qi instantly froze both their bodies and souls into masses of profound ice. Staring at Gu Xiechen in stunned disbelief, their forms gradually dissolved into wisps of icy crystal and scattered away.

“Why should I adhere to the plan you laid out?” Gu Xiechen smiled faintly. He caressed the Prisoner Soul Puppets in his hand, suddenly leaped up, and casually sent a blast of Cai Shui Yin Thunder toward the ground. Beneath him lay a vast lake, surrounded by extremely dense moisture. The Cai Shui Yin Thunder exploded continuously, causing the surrounding earth to shake violently, the dense forest turning to ash, the mountains leveled, and the lake surging waves miles high. The shockwave propagated for thousands of miles.

Laughing aloud three times to the sky, Gu Xiechen vanished via instantaneous movement, taking the Prisoner Soul Puppets with him.

The very next instant, several figures glowing faintly with golden light rapidly materialized above the dense forest, which had now transformed into a wide expanse of water. They meticulously analyzed the residual magical fluctuations in the air, and all of them exclaimed in surprise simultaneously. Gu Xiechen’s Cai Shui Yin Thunder was profoundly mysterious, and the wisp of Tai Yin Qi contained within the thunder formula was peerlessly rare. These cultivators, who had already reached the realm of the Supreme Sovereign Exalted Heaven, were naturally horrified when they sensed the lingering aura of lightning in the atmosphere.

Countless cultivators who had submitted to Mei Lin, along with numerous warships, streamed toward the area. They scoured the area spanning several thousand miles inside out, some even using earth-shattering techniques to overturn geological strata, yet they could not find a single suspicious trace. Frustrated, these groups had no choice but to retreat glumly to face the wrath of Mei Lin and the heavens.

Another full hour passed before a handsome young man, clad in a simple white robe with long hair streaming down his back, slowly walked over from the distance. He stood quietly by the lake for a moment, then suddenly chuckled softly, “What a ruthlessly decisive Gu Xiechen. Truly someone capable of great deeds! Foolish woman, why did you have to provoke such a person?”

He let out a few sinister chuckles, then sighed leisurely, “Is it not just an imperial throne? What does it matter if I give it to your son? Truly, too foolish.”

Several cultivators who had pledged allegiance to Mei Lin flew over from a distance on their swords. They clearly saw the young man, but every one of them acted as if they saw nothing, merely offering a slight, disappointed nod in his direction before quickly driving their sword light away. Several waves of cultivators came and went.

Hands behind his back, head held high, the young man sighed leisurely once more. This time, his sigh was filled with the loneliness of having no worthy opponent.

After a long interval, he chuckled deeply, “Worthy opponents are hard to find. Since you wish to play this game, I shall play along! Tell me, will Gu Xiechen actually execute the Soul Slaughter Incantation?”

Two thin whirlwinds began to spin up from the young man’s feet, and two ancient, withered eunuchs with pale faces and no beards emerged from the vortex. They happily bowed once to the youth, meticulously using their hands to dust off a speck of dirt that had accidentally adhered to the young man's shoe. One eunuch said cheerfully, “Your Majesty’s calculations are divine! What is Gu Xiechen? Whether he activates those Prisoner Soul Puppets or not, he is doomed! How dare he speak of destroying Your Majesty’s foundation—what audacity!”

The other eunuch bent down closely to inspect the youth’s boots, ensuring every speck of dust was gone, before saying with a grin, “Isn’t that precisely the logic? Your Majesty successfully passed that series of catastrophic tribulations. Although several avatars were lost, the main body is unharmed. You are already a master of the Profound Fetal Nurturing Heaven realm; even the Elder Council has no expert as formidable as you. You are merely indulging them in this little game now.”

“But do they even possess the qualifications to play games with you?”

The youth—the true body of Eternal Starlight, Emperor of the Polar Star Empire—sighed slightly, a hint of desolation in his tone. He patted the heads of the two eunuchs affectionately, just as a master might stroke a pet dog. He sighed again, “Indeed, they lack the qualifications. In the future, my target will be the Elder Council. As for this Polar Star Empire…”

After a moment of contemplation, Eternal Starlight suddenly sneered, “Very well, the Polar Star Empire is due for a Second Emperor.”

He then laughed at the two eunuchs, “Do you find it ironic? If that foolish woman Mei Lin knew that all the so-called emperors throughout the history of the Polar Star Empire have been refined into my avatars, would she still have the nerve to contend for the throne? Hm?”

The two eunuchs merely smiled, bowing low on the ground, daring not to comment on the subject.

With his spirits greatly lifted, Gu Xiechen soared tens of thousands of miles away, finding an island among a sea of islands scattered like stars across the boundless ocean to make a temporary stop. The entire planet was the territory of the Polar Star Imperial family. Due to Mei Lin’s rebellion, the Imperial family had been massacred, and their associated slaves and guards thoroughly purged. This archipelago had originally been a resort area, maintained by numerous servants. Now, all the servants had been executed, and the empty palace complexes fell conveniently to Gu Xiechen.

He randomly selected a palace situated beneath a cliff face, chose a room, and settled in.

First, he contacted the avatar of Xiao Xiao and learned that the little fellow had gained control over the master control superbrains of all thirty planets on the five outer orbital paths surrounding the Starlight Domain. However, the master control superbrains of the six planets on the inner orbit—Star One through Star Six—were exceptionally advanced. Furthermore, they utilized a crystalline computation core entirely different from the electronic systems Xiao Xiao was familiar with. Not only was Xiao Xiao unable to infiltrate or control them, but he was nearly detected by them.

According to Xiao Xiao’s analysis, given about half a month more time, he was confident he could control the master superbrains on those six planets.

Beyond those six planets, even the ship control superbrains of the White Winged Warships commanded by Mei Lin had fallen into Xiao Xiao’s clutches, becoming his extensions. If Xiao Xiao wished, all the White Winged Warships of the Polar Star Empire would become Gu Xiechen’s possessions. But the master superbrains on the Death Star Cruisers also employed that strange crystalline computation core, and Xiao Xiao could not yet decipher their secrets, making those vessels uncontrollable for now.

After encouraging Xiao Xiao a few times, praising him for doing very well, Gu Xiechen suddenly remembered something and hastily summoned the Haotian Mirror. He spat a mouthful of vital essence onto it. The mirror flashed with azure light, and as Gu Xiechen directed his thoughts, a scene of mountains, water, and lakes materialized within the glow—it was the exact location where he had just met Eternal Starlight.

The azure light shone, instantly allowing Gu Xiechen to observe every blade of grass and every tree within a radius of several thousand miles. Apart from some cultivators allied with Mei Lin flying overhead, only a strikingly handsome youth in a white robe, hands behind his back, standing upon a distant white cloud, drew his attention. Gu Xiechen’s mind stirred, and the mirror light locked onto that person, displaying his every movement to Gu Xiechen. However, Eternal Starlight, feeling himself targeted, continued to drift forward as if nothing was amiss. After a while, several cultivators suddenly appeared and guided him into a highly secret cavern beneath the earth.

Shaking his head, Gu Xiechen abandoned his surveillance of Eternal Starlight. He chuckled softly, “So, he’s also a cultivator recruited by Mei Lin. Quite the pretty boy.”

With a few low chuckles, Gu Xiechen took out the two Prisoner Soul Puppets and the black memory jade slip containing the Soul Slaughter Incantation, studying them intently. This type of spell that used a spirit wisp as a lure to strike at another’s nascent soul was not rare; the Great Desolation Scripture contained at least eight thousand variations, if not ten thousand. Based on the experience documented in the Great Desolation Scripture, the Soul Slaughter Incantation presented no intrinsic problems; it was a genuinely vicious spell for remotely attacking the soul and nascent spirit by targeting a separated spirit. Moreover, the spell was exceptionally refined, ranking among the very best in the Scripture.

As for the Prisoner Soul Puppets, Gu Xiechen truly could not identify the material used to construct them. This material seemed to absolutely isolate divine sense observation, preventing him from seeing through the embedded spells and restrictions. However, through physical contact with his fingers, he could sense that two nascent souls were indeed stored within, along with a massive reserve of sinister, evil, baleful energy.

“It should be fine. But, why would Eternal Starlight just…” Gu Xiechen played with the two fiercely malevolent Prisoner Soul Puppets, slowly reviewing the cause and effect of his meeting with Eternal Starlight. Nothing seemed out of place; everything was logical, meticulous, and flawlessly interconnected. From the moment his avatar was targeted by Eternal Starlight’s minion until the arrival of 'Death God' controlling the slain attendant, everything proceeded smoothly.

The problem was that it was too smooth. Eternal Starlight seemed utterly powerless after being beaten by Mei Lin, yet he managed to so easily allow one of his avatars to escort Gu Xiechen onto Star One. Gu Xiechen squeezed the Prisoner Soul Puppets tightly. He suddenly laughed. Things that proceed too smoothly always hide a trap. Things that fit together too perfectly always have something amiss.

Eternal Starlight possessed powerful treasures like the Haotian Mirror, yet he gifted the Haotian Mirror to him so generously... He couldn't possibly be unaware of the mirror’s value. For a wondrous treasure that could help him consolidate his rule, he shouldn't have been so liberal. For a psychologically twisted deviant like Eternal Starlight, unless he was utterly confident he could reclaim the Haotian Mirror, how could he allow Gu Xiechen to benefit so easily?

Tucking the Prisoner Soul Puppets into his sleeve, Gu Xiechen crushed the memory jade slip containing the Soul Slaughter Incantation.

To cast the Soul Slaughter Incantation, one must select a so-called Seven Yin Seven Fiend Desolate Ground, and the spell must be cast on a moonless night when the Seven Yin Seven Fiend Qi erupts—the moment when the supreme Yin energy of heaven and earth is at its peak. The memory jade slip detailed the precise locations of nine such Desolate Grounds on Star One, along with the timing of the next eruption of the corresponding Qi for each. The nearest Desolate Ground would experience its eruption in three days, which was also a moonless night. The last one would not see its moonless night and active subterranean Yin-Evil Qi eruption for another three months.

After careful deliberation, Gu Xiechen took out a massive Spirit Tortoise shell and meticulously refined it using the Tai Yin Profound Flames.

Once the shell was refined down to palm size, Gu Xiechen immersed his entire consciousness into it, using his own vital essence as the catalyst, initiating the Tortoise Shell Divination Technique.

With a 'snap,' the shell exploded back into dust. A shallow bloody cut was carved across Gu Xiechen’s palm, and a surge of blood erupted, instantly dyeing his palm crimson.

An inauspicious omen. The sign calculated by the Tortoise Shell Divination was one of misfortune. Whether it was Eternal Starlight or Mei Lin who had laid a trap, the moment Gu Xiechen dared to activate the Seven Yin Seven Fiend Soul Slaughter Incantation against Mei Lin and Mu Dao, bloodshed awaited him. Gu Xiechen’s eye twitched slightly; then, he let out a sinister, drawn-out laugh, slowly raising his right palm and licking the dripping blood into his mouth. Following that, he gathered all his strength and, using the Tai Yin Taboo Law, struck his own chest with a mighty force.

With a 'crack,' Gu Xiechen’s ribs were pulverized by the combined force of the Cai Shui Yin Thunder and a surge of immense hydraulic power.

He uttered a low cry of pain, then fully circulated the Indestructible Profound Yellow Body technique, drawing upon the Profound Yellow Qi to repair his physical body. Such a severe injury, with shattered bones, was fully mended in less than fifteen minutes. Afterward, he slammed his arms together, using all his strength to violently shatter the muscles and meridians of both arms, causing large amounts of blood to spray out from the ruptured skin.

With another cry of agony, Gu Xiechen gritted his teeth and continued to activate the Indestructible Profound Yellow Body technique, repairing his damaged arms once more.

Thus, three months passed quickly.

During these three months, Gu Xiechen tormented his body with almost insane fervor. His body suffered hundreds of instances of limb severing and hundreds more of ruptured internal organs. Once, getting carried away, he deliberately agitated the Tai Yin and Tai Yang energies, causing a minor, self-contained, nuclear-like surge of internal qi that nearly blasted his small frame to pieces. But his Indestructible Profound Yellow Body technique proved astonishingly potent; after tormenting himself like this for a full month, he miraculously survived.

Not only did he survive, but Gu Xiechen’s physical body became hundreds of times stronger than before. Now, even if he exerted his full strength, he could not inflict the slightest injury upon his body. This meant that a Celestial Immortal at the Supreme Sovereign Exalted Heaven realm, unless wielding powerful spiritual artifacts or treasures, could cause him absolutely no harm.

“Wonderful.” Sensing the terrifying strength of his own physique, Gu Xiechen excitedly threw two punches forward. The bodies of Immortals were usually rather fragile. A physique as robust as Gu Xiechen’s now was an absolute anomaly among Celestials, barring those who specialized in body cultivation. Recalling the description in the first layer of the Haotian Pagoda regarding the Indestructible Profound Yellow Body technique: when the Haotian Supreme Cultivated this art to the Mahayana stage, he could almost ignore all attacks below the Grand Unity Golden Immortal level, even without the protection of the Haotian Pagoda or the Haotian Mirror. Such divine power was truly what Gu Xiechen yearned for.

Satisfied, he put away the cultivation manual, stood up, and summoned two small Prisoner Soul Puppets again.

“No matter what scheme you have, after waiting these three months, you must be growing anxious, right?” Testing the weight of the puppets in his hand, Gu Xiechen smiled wickedly. “Mu Dao, don’t tell me you’re still missing. Your entire clan has been wiped out—can you truly remain patient? If you both insist on holding back, then let me add fuel to the fire!”

Grasping certain subtle insights from the foundational practices of the Indestructible Profound Yellow Body, Gu Xiechen suddenly opened his eyes. A swirling mass of black and yellow energy rose around him, enveloping his entire body.

Tens of thousands of miles away, within a spacious and luxurious tent covered by vibrant wisteria vines in a boundless primeval forest, Eternal Starlight sat reclined on a soft, brocaded couch. Two charming young girls nestled close on either side of him, occasionally using their rosy lips to feed purple berries from a small silver plate into Eternal Starlight’s mouth with gentle care.

Yan Wu Asura lay languidly on a soft couch within the tent, clad in a nearly transparent white silk robe, radiating boundless sensual allure. Endless amorous glances constantly swept from the corners of her eyes toward Eternal Starlight, but all her gazes seemed to fall into a black hole, receiving not the slightest reaction from him.

More than a dozen pale-faced eunuchs stood smiling around the tent, their malicious gazes examining Yan Wu Asura’s exposed body like a group of butchers appraising a fat pig in a sty, calculating when the pig would be sent to the slaughterhouse for a good carving.

This strange atmosphere persisted for a full four or five hours before Yan Wu Asura suddenly sighed, “Your Majesty, that Gu Xiechen is ruthless. I didn't expect him to be so cunning as well. Over these three months, you have already changed your waiting location eight times. This is the ninth spot; how much longer must you wait? Can you at least give me a definitive answer?”

Yong Heng Xing Guang roughly patted the curved hip of the young woman beside him, saying dryly, "What? Impatient?"

Yan Wu Ashura sighed deeply, "Our Cult Master is your friend, you can't just leave me hanging like this, can you?"

Yong Heng Xing Guang burst into laughter as if he'd heard a hilarious joke, slamming his thigh hard and roaring, "Demon Emperor Ashura Viking is my friend? Have you fiends been causing havoc in the Polaris Empire all these years? Heh heh, Goloman? Is he dead or alive?"

Glancing resentfully at Yong Heng Xing Guang, Yan Wu Ashura said sweetly, "He cultivated the Yuan Yang Nurturing Demon Art. Of course, he had his uses, just to help me consolidate the fetus. Since the demon fetus has taken shape, and he is no longer the Governor of the Polaris Empire, unable to secure the allocation of God Crystals from the Polaris Empire, he can only be transformed into my own cultivation!"

Staring fixedly at Yan Wu Ashura's flat abdomen, Yong Heng Xing Guang sneered, "That fool who believed you could make him the Emperor of the Polaris Empire—good riddance if he's dead! However, you truly shouldn't have come to me this time. Your former Emperor of the Viking Empire, now the Demon Emperor, who was exiled, dares to cause trouble in my territory. It’s your good fortune that I haven't already sought you out. And you still dare to talk about me helping him restore his throne? What do you take me for? Another fool like Goloman?"

Suddenly shaking off the two young women beside him, Yong Heng Xing Guang stood up, laughing menacingly, and strode toward Yan Wu Ashura.

"Stop talking about things that can never happen. I will not help Ashura Viking restore his rule. I will only plunge a knife into him when he is in peril. Little woman, Gu Xie Chen has angered me. You'll do just fine to vent my frustration. I will spare your life so you can return to your Demon Emperor. Tell him, tell him to go die!"

Grasping Yan Wu Ashura by the throat, Yong Heng Xing Guang violently slammed her onto the ground, tearing at her clothes to press down upon her.

Yan Wu Ashura gazed languidly at Yong Heng Xing Guang, then suddenly laughed, "Our Cult Master has found the entry and exit to that place."

Yong Heng Xing Guang’s body instantly stiffened. Slowly, inch by inch, he straightened up, a faint, innocent, and kind smile, like that of a shy youth, appearing on his ferocious face. He gently swept his hand across Yan Wu Ashura's cheek and said mildly, "Really? That’s… truly incredible. He actually found the entrance to that place? Hmm, I haven't seen my old friend Ashura Viking in many years. How has he been lately? I heard he was driven out by rebels in his own nation?."

Gently helping the fallen Yan Wu Ashura to rise, Yong Heng Xing Guang solicitously took off his own robe and draped it over her delicate form. Yong Heng Xing Guang acted like a traveler who had just heard news of an old friend from his distant homeland, eagerly and passionately pressing his questions: "Is Ashura Viking alright? Is he injured? How has he been recently? Does he need my help to restore his throne? Of course, the Polaris Empire’s strength is limited, but if he and I join forces, we have a seven or eight out of ten chance of defeating the Viking Empire's rebels!"

Yan Wu Ashura seemed to have forgotten that this gentle Emperor was just moments ago about to assault her. A trace of tenderness appeared in her eyes, and she firmly linked her arms around Yong Heng Xing Guang’s arm: "Of course, of course, we need your help. Our Cult Master said you are his best friend!"

Yong Heng Xing Guang laughed heartily, affectionately patting Yan Wu Ashura’s small hand and nodding repeatedly, "Good, very good! Once I’m done with this little game within the Polaris Empire, I will go with you to see your Cult Master. Hmm, for now, just enjoy watching how I toy with those fools who don't know whether they are alive or dead."

The two exchanged a smile, completely natural. Yan Wu Ashura leaned into Yong Heng Xing Guang’s embrace, just like a virtuous wife leaning against a deeply loving husband.

Suddenly, a eunuch called out softly, "Your Majesty, Gu Xie Chen has arrived."

From behind the curtain, a crystal sphere materialized out of thin air. Within it, the image of Gu Xie Chen appeared clearly. He was clad in the Grand Yin Robe, his hair bound by three Grand Yin Needles. He held the Five-Water Dragon Beard Fan, and a sword case was strapped to his back. He was stealthily flying on a patch of water cloud less than three meters above the ground. He flew along the ravines, deliberately sticking to areas with complex terrain, dense jungle, and ground covered in wild grass and thorns. Using the terrain for cover, he snuck to the entrance of a valley where thick black miasma was billowing out.

"That fellow really looks like a thief!" Yan Wu Ashura suddenly laughed.

"A thief? Even if he is a thief, he’s a ruthless one who fancies himself clever," Yong Heng Xing Guang growled while staring at Gu Xie Chen in the crystal sphere. Then he suddenly burst out laughing, "If he hadn't come, fine, I would have had to find another way to play with Meilin and the others. But now that he is here, he, along with Meilin, Mu Sha, and those scoundrels, will all die here today."

In the sphere, Gu Xie Chen was seen cautiously and stealthily approaching the valley, constantly casting various spiritual arts to detect ambushes and dangers along the way. His vigilance and caution made Yong Heng Xing Guang grimace, shaking his head repeatedly and muttering curses at Gu Xie Chen under his breath.

The sun had already set, and the sky was gradually darkening. There would be no moon tonight, and the Seven Yin Seven Fiend Earth Veins in this valley were about to spew out a massive amount of Earth Core Yin Fiend Qi, drawing the Zhou Tian Supreme Yin Evil Qi to converge in the valley. This was the optimal time to cast the Seven Yin Seven Fiend Soul Slaughtering Curse.

Gu Xie Chen cautiously entered the valley, probing his way until he reached a swamp where black bubbles were constantly rising at the bottom of the valley. He carefully surveyed the surroundings, then walked to a piece of rock shaped like a resting ox by the swamp. He kicked a protruding stone on the ox-shaped rock with all his might. Several enormous, viscous black globs of slime suddenly erupted from the swamp, and the surrounding black mist instantly converged toward the swamp. An altar constructed from human bones and tendons gradually ascended, hovering above the swamp.

The cautious Gu Xie Chen circled the swamp for a long time, waiting until midnight before nodding in satisfaction. He then leaped into the air above the swamp and stood before the altar.

Yong Heng Xing Guang and Yan Wu Ashura had been cursing impatiently while waiting for this move from Gu Xie Chen. It was just casting a curse, why did he need so much time to check the surroundings? Yong Heng Xing Guang cursed displeasedly, "If you could see through the traps I set, would I still have the guts to plot against the Elder Council? Truly clueless!"

Amidst Yong Heng Xing Guang’s curses and urging, Gu Xie Chen in the crystal sphere cautiously took out two Soul Imprisoning Puppets. He looked around again as if he were a thief, then placed the two Soul Imprisoning Puppets on the altar with a satisfied grin, pointing at them and making gestures of cursing.

After cursing for about fifteen minutes, Gu Xie Chen turned and wept profusely in a certain direction before finally beginning to cast the Seven Yin Seven Fiend Soul Slaughtering Curse.

At this moment, the entire valley was filled with the Yin Fiend Qi spewed from the swamp. Countless Yin Evil Qi churned in the void, constantly gathering toward the valley from all directions. Unless one was a cultivator, nothing could be seen clearly in this valley with the naked eye; the air was thick, almost tangible... Vapors constantly erupted from the swamp, within which the vague outlines of an ancient tripod could be faintly seen, adding a touch of ghostly dread and death energy to the valley. Gu Xie Chen first used his spiritual power to scoop out several clumps of black mud steeped in Yin Fiend Qi from the swamp and carefully molded them into an earth sword.

As the earth sword took shape, Gu Xie Chen channeled the incantation of the Seven Yin Seven Fiend Soul Slaughtering Curse into it, branding Meilin’s birth date and true name onto the earth sword.

A large amount of black energy in the valley transformed into seven black lights that flowed into the earth sword, condensing into seven lifelike skulls on the sword.

Subsequently, an earth sword marked with the true name and birth date of Daoist Mu followed, which also drew seven streams of Yin Fiend Qi to infuse it.

Making the two earth swords seemed simple, but sweat had already broken out on Gu Xie Chen's face, and he was panting heavily, feeling the strain of his strength being depleted.

Yong Heng Xing Guang shrugged, casually running his hand over Yan Wu Ashura’s waist and abdomen. He muttered softly, "It's hard on him, just a mere Grand Sovereign Celestial Immortal. Heh heh."

Due to the excessive consumption of true essence, Gu Xie Chen’s body could no longer withstand the invasion of the surrounding Yin Fiend Qi. His skin had taken on a faint black tint, and even his blood-red eyes now showed black threads, yet he seemed completely unaware of this himself.

"Seven Yin Seven Fiend Qi entering the body, hehe, even a Heavenly Immortal would be in trouble!" Yong Heng Xing Guang narrowed his eyes, sitting excitedly on the soft couch, pulling Yan Wu Ashura down between his legs. Yan Wu Ashura hummed coyly a few times, obediently moving as guided by Yong Heng Xing Guang.

Having made all the preparations, Gu Xie Chen swallowed a few pills to replenish his vital energy, then casually picked up the two earth swords and fiercely stabbed them into the chests of the two Soul Imprisoning Puppets.

The swirling black energy around them suddenly solidified, followed by a sound of ghostly wailing in the void. The ground below began to tremble violently. Countless black energies converged into two massive black tornadoes that shot straight into the two earth swords, causing the two Soul Imprisoning Puppets to swell rapidly like balloons. In no time, the two puppets expanded to thirty feet high. Dazzling black light erupted from within their bodies, and immense fluctuations of spiritual power spread out from the puppets, shattering the surrounding hilltops like toys made of flour.

Gu Xie Chen in the crystal sphere was clearly stunned, staring blankly at the two giant Soul Imprisoning Puppets for a long moment without regaining his composure.

Before Gu Xie Chen could react, the two puppets suddenly opened their hands, each grasping one of his limbs, lifting him forcefully into the air. The altar built of human bones and tendons suddenly spurted out a sinister ray of bloody light, and the bone and sinew writhed, gradually forming a blood-soaked human shape nearly ten feet tall.

This human figure struck the two Soul Imprisoning Puppets with a powerful punch. Amidst a chorus of hideous ghost shrieks that filled the sky, two balls of greenish ghost fire shot out with continuous explosions. One flew low along the ground, while the other shot straight up into the high heavens. These two ghost fires moved with extreme speed, disappearing beyond the horizon in the blink of an eye, only the continuous sound of explosions could be heard arriving from afar.

The blood-soaked humanoid figure let out a few sinister laughs, then clamped a claw onto Gu Xie Chen’s vital Dantian, using several wisps of evil energy to seal the circulation of energy through his meridians.

A sharp ghostly howl erupted from the swamp below, and countless strands of black energy densely poured out, transforming into innumerable runes that rapidly spread outward. Once these runes touched the ground, they instantly merged with the earth, rocks, trees, and flowers. In an instant, these talismans formed a massive formation spanning nearly a hundred kilometers on the ground.

Immediately following this, seven black crystal pillars carved with ferocious ghosts and malevolent gods erupted from the swamp. The seven hundred-foot-tall crystal pillars rapidly spewed out strands of black energy that transformed into chains as thin as a thumb, piercing through Gu Xie Chen’s joints and suspending him firmly in mid-air.

Before long, tens of thousands of sword lights, escape lights, and cloud lights were seen flying and swirling from the surroundings. A monstrous, strangely shaped black ox, several feet high, let out a low roar, leading a sky full of black demonic winds, flying rapidly toward this location, surrounded by dozens of cultivators with profound cultivation. This black ox was entirely listless with death energy; it was a cow spirit that had turned into a zombie. The self-satisfied Heavenly Corpse Venerable sat atop the black ox, cradling Meilin in his arms, whose seven orifices were constantly spewing sticky black blood.

Meilin, who was originally as delicate and beautiful as a flower, now looked ferocious and ugly like a female ghost. She shrieked, "Who used a curse to harm me? Hahaha, too bad your learning is shallow; you think such a half-baked escape technique can deal with me? Huh?"

Then, a streak of auspicious cloud descended from the sky. Daoist Mu, also spitting viscous black blood from his seven orifices, held a shining treasured sword, also leading tens of thousands of cultivators on auspicious clouds down from the sky.

From a great distance, Daoist Mu roared angrily, "Meilin, are you truly determined to oppose me? You—did you use a curse on me?"

Yong Heng Xing Guang watched the scene of Meilin and Daoist Mu’s factions facing off in the crystal sphere with immense satisfaction, sighing contentedly, "Both groups of rebels are here. With just a flick of my finger, they will all be captured in one fell swoop! Nothing could be more ideal!"

Raising his right hand, Yong Heng Xing Guang was about to flick his finger when the image in the crystal sphere suddenly changed.

Meilin was loudly taunting Daoist Mu, "I've already wiped out the bloodline of your Dortro family; what’s this talk about opposing or not opposing? Huh? Am I opposing you? Do you even have the qualifications to accuse me like this?"

Daoist Mu trembled with rage, about to argue with Meilin, when Gu Xie Chen, bound by heavy restrictions, lazily stretched and gave the cultivators in the sky two middle fingers.

"A bunch of morons, you really came?"

After three loud bursts of laughter, Gu Xie Chen’s body suddenly dissolved into a swirling mass of black and yellow energy and drifted away.

On a high mountain in the far distance, Gu Xie Chen sat beneath an ancient pine tree, leisurely sipping a cup of clear tea.

His clone, condensed from Profound Yellow Qi, had indeed deceived those who thought they grasped everything. Gu Xie Chen was in excellent spirits now.

The Profound Yellow Qi that dissolved from the clone rapidly circulated in the void, and in the blink of an eye, it drew in the dense water vapor from the surroundings, forming a massive Water Element Yin Thunder, thick as a water vat.

With a deafening crash, the Water Element Yin Thunder exploded, sending Meilin and those nearest flying backward.

This clap of thunder was like a command. The cultivators on both sides simultaneously roared and launched their attacks against the opposing faction.