Shi Yan’s expression was grave as he relayed every detail of what he learned from the Profound Ice Cold Flame to Yang Lao.
The intelligence the Profound Ice Cold Flame possessed was immensely ancient, reaching back so far that modern martial artists might struggle to discern it even from ancient ruins. This information, sourced from the Flame, was entirely new even to Yang Lao.
When Shi Yan finished elucidating the situation, Yang Lao was utterly aghast, falling into a prolonged silence.
“Where did you obtain this intelligence? Can you guarantee its authenticity?” Yang Lao drew a deep breath, his countenance becoming exceedingly severe.
“From the Profound Ice Cold Flame,” Shi Yan nodded. “Throughout its long existence, it has interacted with several God Realm powerhouses from the ancient era. This news comes entirely from the memories of those God Realm experts. I believe there should be no mistake.”
“In the Fourth Demon Domain, the Demon Emperors Chi Yan and Bo Xun seem perpetually at odds. If your information is accurate, then these two Demon Emperors have likely been plotting against our Yang family for some time. If connecting the passage between the Underworld and the Demon Domain truly requires centuries, then these two Demon Emperors might have begun plotting against us hundreds of years ago.”
Lightning flashed in Yang Lao’s eyes. “Looking at it this way, Bo Xun capturing Xiao Hanyi was likely intended to force your great-grandfather to seek him out alone, allowing Chi Yan to join forces and then use the ‘Heavenly Demon Sealing God Formation’ against him. These two Demon Emperors have gone to great lengths to deal with our Yang family.”
“Even you didn’t know about the connection between the Underworld and the Demon Domain?” Shi Yan was taken aback.
Yang Lao shook his head. “Perhaps the last time the demons and the Nether beings allied was too long ago—so long ago that no one remembers such a hidden affair. I do not know, and the leaders of other factions in the Endless Sea likely do not either. Alas, this matter is complicated. I believe that even if we explained the current situation to those faction leaders, they might not believe us, instead suspecting our Yang family of fabricating things.”
Shi Yan fell silent, knowing Yang Lao’s assessment might prove true.
In the face of this potential upheaval that could sweep across the entire Endless Sea, he, a mere cultivator in the Hundred Tribulation Realm and obscure at that, held no influence whatsoever.
He also understood that in his current capacity, he couldn’t offer the Yang family much help.
“It is fortunate, however, that obtaining this message at least lets us know what the Nether beings and the demons intend. Knowing their next move allows us to prepare in advance,” Yang Lao clapped Shi Yan on the shoulder by way of comfort. “Don’t worry too much. The Yang family has stood firm in the Endless Sea for so many years; we naturally have our foundations. At worst, we will temporarily retreat from this location. Once others see the situation clearly, we will fight our way back. It’s fine if we lose what belongs to the Yang family for now; we will reclaim it sooner or later.”
Shi Yan knew he was referring to the Divine Mountains on Undying Island.
“Don’t overthink things. Remain here and find a way to subdue Gui Liao. Since your great-grandfather said you could do it, I believe you surely can. I will prepare contingency plans during this time, and when things turn south, I will arrange a safe place for you.”
“En.”
“I’m leaving now; focus on your task. Remember, our Yang family will not fall. Your generation is capable, and in the future, our Yang family will continue to stand tall in the Endless Sea. This minor setback… will not crush us.”
“I understand.”
After Yang Lao departed, Shi Yan temporarily suspended his arduous cultivation of the Swift Electric Transformation. He sat cross-legged in the valley, staring fixedly at Gui Liao, his eyes like twin bolts of lightning.
Time was pressing. If he couldn't subdue Gui Liao within a month, he might lose this creature forever, forfeiting this optimal opportunity.
“Do you know any way to subdue this ferocious beast?” Shi Yan sent a message to the Profound Ice Cold Flame.
“Generally, to subdue a ferocious beast, one needs to be stronger than it; only through overwhelming force, instilling fear, can they be made compliant,” the Profound Ice Cold Flame quickly responded. “However, your current strength clearly cannot surpass this Level Six variant beast. In this situation, the only paths are through soul communication, or if the attribute of the power emanating from you feels familiar to the beast, making it believe you belong to the same kind, only then might it grow close to you.”
Soul communication? Similar power attributes?
Shi Yan frowned deeply.
Just what made Yang Qingdi certain that he had a connection with Gui Liao? Why did he believe only Shi Yan could earn the beast’s affection?
There must be some hidden secret he did not know.
Shi Yan felt as if he had grasped something, yet upon reflection, he had tried nearly every conceivable method recently, but Gui Liao remained completely unresponsive.
What within him hadn't he tried yet? Similar power attributes? What force within his body had he not utilized when attempting to subdue Gui Liao?
A sudden flash of insight illuminated his mind, and Shi Yan abruptly stood up.
The Power of Negativity!
Shi Yan’s eyes instantly brightened, locking onto Gui Liao, as if he had grasped the critical key.
All this time, he had been attempting soul communication, trying to approach Gui Liao, trying various methods, but he had never truly deployed the Power of Negativity churning within his body.
Gui Liao, on the other hand, constantly exuded an aura of extreme violence, bloodlust, and ferocity—a distinctly evil power.
These emanations were clearly not the righteous path, utterly different from the auras surrounding ordinary beings. Within this Gui Liao seemed to be an endless reservoir of hatred and desire for destruction toward all living things!
Did the evil aura share an extremely close attribute with the negative power seeping from his acupoints?
“What have you realized?” The Profound Ice Cold Flame sounded quite curious. “Have you found a method?”
Shi Yan did not reply, his expression turning cold and grim as he began walking step by deliberate step toward Gui Liao.
“Roar!”
Gui Liao let out another deafening roar, and a hurricane-like surge of baleful energy erupted from its center, sweeping out in all directions.
Its hideous, ghost-like face, with its sinister, greenish-yellow eyes, remained fixed on Shi Yan.
Accompanying the impact of the baleful energy, an evil force that reached straight into the soul quietly began pressing toward Shi Yan’s position. Once Shi Yan crossed the forbidden boundary, the evil power emanating from Gui Liao would erupt completely.
“You fellow, are you going in again? Be careful this time; my power is sealed again by that ghost ring of yours…” the Profound Ice Cold Flame warned telepathically.
Shi Yan had ceased communicating with it.
Walking toward Gui Liao step by step, nearing the hundred-meter forbidden zone, he could already sense the churning nether energy and demonic qi mixed within the fierce flames. These two powers, alien to this realm, blazed furiously, carrying Gui Liao’s evil mental consciousness—a torrent of raging, violent waves.
“Roar!”
Gui Liao howled again, seemingly feeling that Shi Yan was testing its patience. Its ten-meter-long body violently reared up, and the iron chains wrapped around it clanged thunderously.
Shi Yan suddenly activated the negative power within his acupoints.
In an instant, negative emotions such as violence, madness, hatred, and destruction flooded Shi Yan’s mind. The Power of Negativity surged within his body, forming a faint, eerie, and sinister white mist.
Gui Liao abruptly quieted down.
Standing one hundred and ten meters away, the previously agitated Gui Liao’s greenish-yellow, evil eyes showed a flicker of bewilderment for the first time. It simply stared at Shi Yan, making no move to struggle against its restraints.
Its eyes, supposed to be brimming with bloodthirsty intent, became strangely focused at this moment. It seemed to be contemplating, hesitating, and judging something...
Shi Yan did not stop moving. Channeling the Power of Negativity to flood his entire body, he advanced step by step into Gui Liao’s forbidden zone.
One foot crossed the line.
Hesitation appeared in Gui Liao’s green eyes; it seemed poised to strike, yet simultaneously constrained by some concern.
Shi Yan’s expression was detached, but his gaze was profoundly chilling. The evil, violent negative aura on his body gradually spread out, rushing toward Gui Liao.
Simultaneously, the overwhelming negative emotions in his mind merged with a sliver of divine sense, forming a profoundly evil divine thought that flew toward Gui Liao.
This divine thought was utterly different from any released before. The negative emotions it carried nearly drove Shi Yan to madness, infused with a desire to destroy everything and extinguish all living beings in the world.
Normally, if such a thought surfaced in Shi Yan’s mind, he would be close to losing control; he always suppressed it to maintain clarity.
However, at this moment, he held nothing back, voluntarily releasing his rationality and allowing those negative emotions to take the lead.
Shi Yan’s eyes gradually turned crimson, as if dripping blood, resembling an evil creature crawled up from the deepest hell, his entire being radiating an aura of destructive madness.
Gui Liao fell silent.
The baleful energy swirling around it receded like a tide. It watched Shi Yan blankly; within those evil green eyes, which should have been filled with murderous intent, a trace of joy appeared.
Shi Yan continued to approach it step by step, his eyes crimson, gradually losing all reason.
Gui Liao watched him with joy, all hostility vanishing, as if awaiting something, anticipating something.
“Hoo, hoo!”
Gui Liao’s breath grew heavy; it seemed somewhat excited. Its massive body, which had been standing upright, slowly coiled down onto the ground.
When Shi Yan reached the beast, a section on the spiky carapace of Gui Liao suddenly trembled lightly. The spikes there slowly retracted, sinking back into its body.
On Gui Liao’s back, a flat, clear area miraculously appeared, perfectly sized for one person.
Shi Yan leaped up, flying to the spot, and settled down steadily in a cross-legged posture, grinning widely, “We were meant to be together.”
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
The twelve iron chains binding Gui Liao’s entire body suddenly shattered into pieces.
The restriction left by Yang Qingdi on Gui Liao was utterly gone.
“Roar!”
Gui Liao let out a scream of pure exhilaration. Its massive body shook, and it soared into the sky with claws extended and teeth bared, soaring freely within the valley.
Man and beast, perfectly attuned, moved as one.