That night, above Skyfall City, countless tiny black dots suddenly appeared, coalescing into a vast expanse that was starkly visible under the moonlight, slowly drifting toward the Ethereal Pavilion.

Many martial artists with exquisite cultivation within the city looked up and realized that these black specks seemed to be a strange type of monstrous beast.

About fifty black dots, a dense, oppressive mass, gradually descended toward the Ethereal Pavilion.

As the fifty black dots landed, many keen-eyed martial artists discerned that they were, in fact, enormous bats. Each bat measured seven or eight meters in length, entirely jet-black, with menacing fangs protruding from grim faces, appearing like fierce ghosts flying up from the depths of hell—ferocious and terrifying.

A faint, ethereal black mist coiled around every single bat. This mist was sinister and bizarre, imbued with an icy, chilling malevolence.

Seated atop each of these colossal bats was a martial artist, all possessing cold, indifferent expressions, as if they were envoys of death, exuding a thick, heavy scent of blood.

On the foremost bat sat a middle-aged man whose face was horribly scarred, crisscrossed with markings.

The scars on the man’s face resembled writhing earthworms, covering his entire cheeks and stretching down to his neck, making it seem as though not a single patch of smooth skin remained anywhere on his body.

An intensely concentrated aroma of blood emanated from him; anyone who came near would be so assaulted by the heavy stench that they would be driven to vomit.

Fifty-one Azure Blood Fiend Bats slowly descended from the sky, finally halting within the courtyard of the Ethereal Pavilion.

Kuluo, the master of the Ethereal Pavilion, had long been waiting with the key figures of his domain. Upon seeing the arrivals dismount, he immediately dropped to one knee, bowing respectfully: "Kuluo of the Ethereal Pavilion greets Lord Xiao."

Xiao Hanyi, seated atop the leading Azure Blood Fiend Bat, advanced with unhurried composure.

As he approached, the entire contingent from the Ethereal Pavilion flushed sickly, lowering their heads and desperately suppressing the urge to retch, unwilling to look upon him.

The Asura Blood Guards, all hailing from the Yang Family of the Boundless Sea, dismounted from their Azure Blood Fiend Bats and followed closely behind Xiao Hanyi, filing one by one into the Ethereal Pavilion.

Outside the main square of the Ethereal Pavilion, the Azure Blood Fiend Bats’ vibrant green eyes pulsed with vicious and cruel light, sweeping over the kneeling martial artists of the Pavilion, seemingly taking a keen interest in human flesh.

Targeted by the bats' gaze, the martial artists rooted to the ground showed clear signs of terror and profound unease.

Xiao Hanyi strode into the Pavilion and settled heavily into the master’s seat, casting a cold glance at Kuluo. "How are the matters progressing?"

"My… my Mistress has gone to the Dead Still Swamp; the location of the Celestial Gate is there, and the treasure map has been fully integrated," Kuluo replied, thoroughly intimidated.

"That is not what I asked!" Xiao Hanyi’s face instantly turned frigid.

An invisible power suddenly erupted within the hall!

That force instantly bound Kuluo, as if an unseen giant hand had clamped around his throat, hoisting him into the air and slowly drawing him toward Xiao Hanyi.

"Father!"

"Master!"

Kuluo’s family members, faces etched with terror, glared angrily at Xiao Hanyi, ready to fight desperately.

Several Asura Blood Guards regarded Kuluo’s family with cruel eyes, one of them remarking, "My Lord, shall we eradicate Kuluo’s entire lineage?"

"Lord Xiao!" Kuluo struggled, coughing, clutching his throat in fear. "Lord Xiao, we have done our utmost! Give us a little more time, and we will certainly locate Yang Hai!"

"Next time, do not dare to play games with me." Xiao Hanyi glared at Kuluo, who was now inches away, and gave a cold snort.

"Bang!"

Kuluo plummeted back down, landing heavily on his knees, nodding frantically with terror as he hastened to explain: "Every person named Yang Hai in Skyfall City has already visited the Ethereal Pavilion. The one you seek is not here. We are currently searching the surrounding cities; news should arrive soon."

"Give me the Blood Spirit Crystal," Xiao Hanyi mused for a moment, extending his hand.

The Blood Spirit Crystal that Xia Xinyan had left on Kuluo suddenly flew from his person, landing directly in Xiao Hanyi’s palm.

"Everyone except Kuluo, get out!" Having secured the crystal, Xiao Hanyi commanded indifferently.

"Everyone, leave!" Kuluo quickly signaled his family members with his eyes.

Under his silent direction, only those brought by Xiao Hanyi remained in the room shortly thereafter.

"I do not have unlimited time to wait for your news," Xiao Hanyi scoffed. "The Xia family’s methods are truly sluggish. It has taken this long just to find one person. You are wasting my time."

With that, Xiao Hanyi stroked the Blood Spirit Crystal and abruptly closed his eyes.

A powerful Divine Sense, emanating from Xiao Hanyi as the epicenter, suddenly spread outward, enveloping all four directions of Skyfall City.

Within the Blood Spirit Crystal in his hand, brilliant rainbow light flared, flashing images of faces displaying various expressions. These figures flickered past within the crystal like ghostly shadows; no single face remained visible for more than three seconds.

"Divine Seeking Art!" Kuluo’s expression became one of horror; he was secretly aghast.

The Divine Seeking Art was a mysterious secret technique relying on one's spiritual consciousness to locate people. As long as the practitioner possessed flesh, bone, or even a strand of hair from the target, they could find them within the range covered by their Divine Sense. The further the seeker's consciousness could reach, the broader the search area became.

Xiao Hanyi kept his eyes closed as his immense spiritual awareness gradually blanketed the entirety of Skyfall City.

Within the city, any martial artist who had reached the Nirvana Realm capable of forming a Sea of Consciousness could distinctly feel a terrifying spiritual presence hovering above Skyfall City, like that of a Celestial Deity.

Many of Skyfall City’s strongest figures were startled.

The sheer power of this Divine Sense surpassed that of Bei Mingshang by more than one or two measures. It had completely covered Skyfall City and showed a tendency to keep expanding outward.

For a time, experts from the Five Great Families felt precarious. Amid this stifling atmosphere, the various Family Heads began communicating, uncertain of the Ethereal Pavilion’s true intentions.

The Divine Seeking Art continued…

The terrifying spiritual sense, like a whirlwind, swept through the entirety of Skyfall City, centered on the Ethereal Pavilion. Wherever the consciousness passed, every living being in Skyfall City could not escape detection; all were scrutinized.

Suddenly.

Blood-red light shot forth from the Blood Spirit Crystal, and points of strange light converged. A round, chubby face suddenly materialized within the crystal.

The image inside the Blood Spirit Crystal became clear:

—That person was in the desolate wilds west of Skyfall City, seated inside a carriage, seemingly heading toward the city.

Xiao Hanyi abruptly opened his eyes.

"Who is that?"

"Shi Jian’s adopted son, Yang Hai!" Kuluo’s face changed drastically, filled with disbelief.

"It is him."

Xiao Hanyi shot to his feet, his figure vanishing from the hall into thin air.

The next instant, the sound of the Azure Blood Fiend Bats tearing through the air resonated from outside the Ethereal Pavilion.

One hour later, Xiao Hanyi returned, bringing a bewildered Yang Hai with him.

"Who are you? Hmph! Did the Mo Family hire you?" Yang Hai remained relatively calm, but his expression shifted sharply upon seeing Kuluo. "Kuluo! Your Ethereal Pavilion has actually allied with the Mo Family? What are you playing at? Didn't the three of us agree to cooperate in exploring the treasure map? What are you trying to do?"

Kuluo offered a wry smile and bowed awkwardly. "Two separate matters, two separate matters."

"Xiao Hanyi, Head Guard of the Yang Family Asura Blood Guards, greets Young Master Hai." Xiao Hanyi bowed respectfully. "There are some matters Young Master Hai is unaware of; allow me to explain and clarify them for you."

Xiao Hanyi, neither arrogant nor overly subservient, proceeded to explain the secret history concerning Yang Hai. He concluded: "Young Master Hai, the Family Head is currently occupied dealing with the chaos in the Fourth Demon Domain, so he sent me to bring you back. Years ago, the Family Head used immense power to tear open the void and send you out of the Fourth Demon Domain; he has always worried about you. Unfortunately, after leaving the Fourth Demon Domain, the Family Head also sustained severe injuries and has been in arduous recovery these past years…"

"Boundless Sea? The Yang Family?" Yang Hai was stunned, his expression clouded with confusion, seemingly unable to process the revelation immediately.

He stood there, his face shifting constantly, thoughts racing through his mind.

At this moment, he suddenly recalled the test he underwent with Shi Yan in the Gravity Room some time ago. During that test, his arm was scratched, yet it healed completely before Han Feng's injury—this was clearly an extremely potent Martial Soul.

Hearing Xiao Hanyi’s explanation now, he was almost certain that what they said must be true.

However, he had grown accustomed to everything within the Merchant Alliance, and Shi Jian had treated him well over the years. His son, Shi Yan, was here too, and he himself was not a martial artist…

Beset by these concerns, Yang Hai’s thoughts were heavy, and he had no desire to start a new life in the Boundless Sea.

After a long, long moment, Yang Hai shook his head. "I do not want to go to the Boundless Sea. I have never cultivated the Martial Dao in my life; even possessing the Undying Martial Soul, it is too late for me at this age. I am used to being here and have no wish to start over in the Boundless Sea. You should go. Just consider me dead."

"Young Master Hai!" Xiao Hanyi chided softly, his voice heavy. "As a son of the Yang Family, you must fight for your clan in the Demon Domain!"

After a pause, Xiao Hanyi continued, "Although Young Master Hai is not young, you need not worry. The Family Head long anticipated that you might not have cultivated the Martial Dao. Therefore, the Family Head has specially prepared an 'Undying Fortune Pill' for you. This Saint-grade elixir is sufficient to allow Young Master Hai to be utterly transformed! Stepping into the Hundred Tribulations Realm within ten years will be as easy as turning over one's hand!"

"The Undying Fortune Pill!" Kuluo exclaimed, urging Yang Hai, "Young Master Hai, the Undying Fortune Pill is one of the Seven Great Marvelous Medicines of the Boundless Sea. One pill can truly reverse everything! It can even change your innate aptitude! Young Master Hai, cherish this opportunity!"

A Saint-grade Elixir!

The three Medicine Kings of the Medicine King Valley were merely Spirit-grade alchemists; they could never refine a Saint-grade pill.

In the Blazing Fire Empire, the Divine Protection Empire, and the Merchant Alliance, not a single Saint-grade pill had yet appeared!

Legend held that Saint-grade elixirs truly possessed miraculous effects capable of seizing the fortune of heaven and earth!

The words of Xiao Hanyi and Kuluo deeply moved Yang Hai. Under the temptation of the Saint-grade elixir, Yang Hai’s expression flickered as he remained indecisive.

"I have never practiced martial arts since childhood; if I suddenly become a martial artist now, I fear I won't adapt."

After a long silence, Yang Hai fixed his gaze on Xiao Hanyi. "My heart died after my wife left; I harbor no grand ambitions anymore. However, my son, Shi Yan, is in his prime, also possesses the Undying Martial Soul, and furthermore has the Petrification Martial Soul of the Shi family. He didn't cultivate for seventeen years, yet he miraculously reached the initial stages of the Xiantian Triple Heaven within a single year. Perhaps your Undying Fortune Pill can be saved for him."

"Shi Yan!"

Kuluo cried out in surprise and told Xiao Hanyi, "Lord Xiao, Shi Yan is indeed exceptional! Young, with infinite potential, resolute in will, and full of drive!"

"Seventeen years old, Dual Martial Souls, Xiantian Triple Heaven," Xiao Hanyi murmured, his eyes gradually brightening. "Where is he?"

"Dead Still Swamp, Nether Shade Valley," Kuluo answered obsequiously.

"Young Master Hai, I shall meet Shi Yan first," Xiao Hanyi bowed to Yang Hai, then suddenly vanished into thin air again, his voice echoing from outside the Ethereal Pavilion: "Let's go to the Dead Still Swamp!"

: Going live tonight at midnight. Please reserve next month's monthly tickets, brothers and sisters~~~M