Snow Dragon Island, the Kohler family.

In the main hall, more than a dozen high-ranking leaders of Snow Dragon Island sat quietly, none daring to move under Yi Tianmo’s chilling gaze, fearful of provoking his displeasure and causing trouble.

Ian and Uke, having sensed Yi Tianmo’s terrifying soul ability, both turned their attention to Linda, their eyes querying her, eager to learn Shi Yan’s true identity.

Both Ian and Uke were cunning old foxes, naturally discerning that Yi Tianmo was consistently awaiting Shi Yan’s directives. This made them inwardly alarmed, leading them to subconsciously speculate that Shi Yan’s background must be extraordinary.

Although Linda and Shi Yan had known each other for a time, she was completely ignorant of his origins. Now, having witnessed the power behind him in Yi Tianmo, she certainly understood Shi Yan was no ordinary person, prompting her to finally inquire.

Shi Yan stood in the hall. Waiting until he noticed Yi Tianmo had secured control of the situation, he suddenly let out a soft chuckle and said to Linda, "I suppose I belong to the Yang family."

"The Yang family!"

The expressions of everyone in the hall shifted dramatically.

Linda’s pupils contracted, her demeanor tinged with sadness as she gently nodded. "I should have guessed long ago. After we parted ways, I thought I saw you leaving with the Asura King, Mo Duanhun, aboard a Green Blood Demon Bat, but I didn't truly believe it then. Now, it’s confirmed."

Hearing Shi Yan reveal his identity, both Ian and Uke’s faces grew grim, their expressions uneasy.

The arrogance of the Yang family was renowned throughout the Endless Sea. The Galo Sea Region was not far from the Yuanluo Sea Region, and in the past, the Three God Cult and the Yang family frequently warred, being mortal enemies. Snow Dragon Island was an outer force of the Three God Cult, meaning the martial families on the island were naturally not unfamiliar with the Yang family, deeply aware of just how formidable that power was.

"You... what do you want here on our Snow Dragon Island?" Ian sank into his chair, feigning composure as he picked up a cup of water and took a small sip. Uneasily, he continued, "Two years ago, many factions from the Endless Sea moved into the Galo Sea Region and attacked your Yang family. However, our Three God Cult was not involved in that matter. Even if you seek vengeance, you shouldn't be targeting us."

As Ian spoke, the others in the hall quickly echoed his sentiments, some hastily arguing that the Three God Cult had no recent ties with the Yang family, or that they were merely an outer faction with little insight into the Cult’s internal affairs.

In essence, they were all trying to prove their innocence, hoping Shi Yan would be lenient.

"Shi Yan," you... are you here on Snow Dragon Island to...?" Linda clenched her ten fingers, biting her teeth hard, looking at Shi Yan with palpable resentment. "If you intend to deal with us, I will hate you for the rest of my life!"

Shi Yan was momentarily speechless, shaking his head, his expression strange. "What are you imagining? I just happened to pass by Snow Dragon Island. I purely wanted to see you. I have no other intentions."

The people in the hall clearly breathed a massive sigh of relief.

"Don't speak of the Three God Cult not targeting the Yang family. Even if they had, for your sake, I wouldn't deal with your Kohler family," Shi Yan said, smiling faintly and openly to prevent Linda from overthinking. "I just... wanted to see you, to check if you were doing well."

Linda was deeply moved, a captivating light shimmering in her eyes.

Ian stared blankly at Shi Yan, then subtly glanced at Linda, as if noticing something unusual, his eyes gradually brightening.

The Kohler family was currently grappling with some thorny issues. Ian was struggling to find a solution and had been deeply troubled lately. Now, suddenly realizing his own daughter seemed close to Shi Yan, an idea began to form in his mind…

Ian pondered for a moment, having secretly devised a plan. He suddenly laughed heartily, his slightly stout body forcefully pulling itself free from the chair. With a flush in his cheeks, he raised his wine glass and announced loudly, "Nephew Shi Yan, if you don't mind, how about sitting down for a drink first?"

Shi Yan was momentarily stunned, instinctively ready to refuse, but then he noticed Linda looking at him with anticipation, seemingly pleading for him to accept.

After a brief pause, Shi Yan smiled calmly and nodded slightly toward Ian. "Very well."

"Please, sit, sit." Ian hurried over to attend to him, personally arranging a seat, his attitude extremely amiable, bordering on obsequious.

Seeing the fawning smile on his face, Linda naturally understood what he was thinking. She wanted to subtly signal him to stop, but recalling the current complex situation, she let out a quiet sigh and dismissed the thought, instead looking awkwardly at Shi Yan, signaling with her eyes for him not to take offense.

Shi Yan smiled and nodded, indicating he didn't mind. After sitting down with Yi Tianmo, he remained silent, casually picking up the Green Snake Fruit before him and taking a hearty bite without ceremony. As he chewed, he muttered in praise, "Tastes quite good."

"Heh heh." Ian kept smiling foolishly, not rushing to speak. He waved, signaling Linda to sit right beside Shi Yan. Only after Linda settled down to Shi Yan’s left did he casually inquire, "I wonder where you've come from, esteemed nephew? That is, the situation in the Galo Sea Region is extremely complicated now... does nephew know anything about the conditions there?"

This was precisely the issue Shi Yan was most concerned about.

He shook his head, his expression gradually growing heavy. "To tell you the truth, I didn't come from the Galo Sea Region. I left the Endless Sea some time ago and have only just returned. May I ask what the current situation is?"

Ian seemed to have already expected Shi Yan wasn't coming from the Galo Sea Region, so he showed no surprise upon hearing this, merely sighing softly with a tone of deep sorrow. "The Galo Sea Region has fallen." Shi Yan's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Two years ago, after your Yang family members all vanished, the demons from the Fourth Demon Realm descended upon the Galo Sea Region not long after. It took them only a year to completely occupy the Galo Sea Region. At present, the Galo Sea Region belongs to the demons of the Fourth Demon Realm. Alas…" Ian looked genuinely grief-stricken, shaking his head and sighing as if his entire family had been wiped out by demons.

"I knew this would happen," Shi Yan sneered. "Back then, when various factions joined forces, fully aware that the two Demon Emperors had imprisoned our Yang Family Master, they still dared to collude with the demons to move against the Yang family. This forced the Yang family to retreat to various places, leaving the Heavenly Gate leading to the Fourth Demon Realm unguarded. They even entertained the ridiculous notion of trading with the demons! Now the demons are invading in force, and they will gradually devour the Endless Sea. Those people must now reap what they sowed. How satisfying."

Ian’s hand trembled, his face contorted with embarrassment as he wiped his brow and let out a strained chuckle. "Well, our Yuanluo Sea Region is adjacent to the Galo Sea Region, and Snow Dragon Island isn't far either. We heard that after the demons of the Fourth Demon Realm reorganized, they are preparing to attack our Yuanluo Sea Region, so..."

Shi Yan glanced at him strangely. "You belong to the Three God Cult. The Cult will naturally find a solution. I assume the Gu family and the Heavenly Pool Holy Land have already begun discussing matters with your Three God Cult? It hasn't happened yet—why are you so nervous?"

"It hasn't struck yet, but once it does, it will be too late," Uke said with a wry smile, shaking his head sadly, his former spirit gone.

Linda sat beside Shi Yan, her head gently bowed, remaining silent, only listening. Under the table, her hands were clenched tightly, betraying her tension.

"To be frank," Ian continued, after a moment of thought, his expression strained, "we received word that in about a month, demons will begin crossing over from the Galo Sea Region. At most two months, and the demons will pass by Snow Dragon Island." Shi Yan was momentarily stunned, then spoke directly, "Then you should have retreated long ago! Do you still intend to defend Snow Dragon Island to the death? What is the Three God Cult saying? You are their outer faction; surely they won't ignore you?"

"It’s like this..." Ian’s expression grew awkward as he slowly recounted the predicament they faced.

Upon learning that the demons in the Galo Sea Region intended to attack the Yuanluo Sea Region soon, Ian, Uke, and the others immediately sent inquiries to the Three God Cult. The Cult suggested that the outer factions temporarily abandon their respective islands and relocate to islands near the Cult’s main headquarters, preparing to concentrate their forces to fight the demons of the Fourth Demon Realm.

Factions from other sea regions would send powerful experts to be stationed with the Three God Cult, the Gu family, and the Heavenly Pool Holy Land to keep abreast of the demons' movements and engage them in combat.

After the Three God Cult issued this command, Ian and the others immediately hit a major snag.

During this period, the Yuanluo Sea Region was experiencing frequent tsunamis, and the tsunamis and tornadoes around Snow Dragon Island were the most ferocious. Sailing a vessel on the sea was extremely dangerous; one mistake could lead to sinking and death. To travel from Snow Dragon Island to the Three God Cult’s headquarters required passing through a sea area called the Turbulent Wind Domain, where the hurricanes and tsunamis were most terrifying during this season.

The three major families on Snow Dragon Island had limited strength and could only travel by ship, needing to pass through the Turbulent Wind Domain. The three families only had about ten experts at the Nirvana realm, and they had no assurance of protecting all their ships in that domain—they dared not venture forth easily.

In Ian's view, they could only ensure a safe journey through the Turbulent Wind Domain if they had a Celestial realm expert overseeing the escort, alongside the Nirvana realm martial artists from their three families.

They reported the situation to the Three God Cult, who replied, telling them to wait. However, if the Celestial realm experts did not arrive, they would have to risk braving the Turbulent Wind Domain.

The Three God Cult had too many outer factions; there were at least a hundred islands like Snow Dragon Island. Even if the Cult intended to dispatch Celestial realm experts to assist them, their resources were limited, and the dispatched experts might not be able to attend to Snow Dragon Island.

If the help arrived too late, and their departure time was pushed back, they risked falling into the hands of the Fourth Demon Realm demons and being massacred.

The Three God Cult had given a deadline, but with that deadline drawing near—only a few days left—and still no Celestial realm experts arriving to help, Ian and the others grew anxious and distressed. Recently, they had begun debating whether to leave early and risk plunging into the Turbulent Wind Domain.

On Snow Dragon Island, besides the three major families, there were several smaller factions, totaling several hundred martial artists of various realms. Furthermore, the island housed nearly ten thousand civilians. Without a Celestial realm expert to oversee them, setting off rashly and entering the Turbulent Wind Domain meant no one could say how many would survive.

This was the dilemma faced by Ian and the others.

When the martial artists of Snow Dragon Island, including Ian, witnessed Yi Tianmo’s terrifying soul suppression, they immediately realized Yi Tianmo must be a Celestial realm powerhouse, and they abruptly felt a flicker of hope that Yi Tianmo could offer them protection.

But Shi Yan came from the Yang family, and the Yang family had always been at odds with the Three God Cult. These people wanted Shi Yan’s help, yet knew the chances were slim. However, the current situation was indeed perilous, and time was running out. Delaying further would only increase their danger, which is why they turned their thoughts to Shi Yan.

Shi Yan sat silently, calmly sipping his tea, his expression placid, his gaze sweeping over the faces of Ian and the others.

After Ian and the others explained the situation, they naturally understood that Shi Yan grasped their meaning, and one by one, they showed expressions of pleading, secretly anticipating Shi Yan’s decision.

Just then, a small hand suddenly rested on his leg, gently sliding across his thigh and slowly moving toward his lower abdomen, subtly beginning to move…

Shi Yan’s heart fluttered. Feeling the surge of arousal and pleasure below his waist, he couldn’t help but let out a soft, low gasp, immediately turning his head to look at Linda beside him.

Linda kept her head lowered, her cheeks flushed crimson, daring not to meet Shi Yan’s gaze, but the hand under the table did not stop, continuing to work on his lower body, bringing Shi Yan an exquisitely intoxicating pleasure.

Ahead, Ian, Uke, and the others watched Shi Yan somewhat nervously, their faces etched with entreaty.

Right under everyone’s eyes, Linda dared to be so bold as to move below Shi Yan’s waist, immediately granting Shi Yan an intensely satisfying sensation.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Shi Yan slightly narrowed his eyes, appearing to be frowning in deep thought, but in reality, he was secretly savoring the moment…

This girl… she’s really bold…

A faint smile gradually surfaced at the corner of Shi Yan’s mouth, yet he remained silent. He understood Linda’s meaning and wasn't rushing to declare his stance, continuing to immerse himself in the feeling.

"Um," Ian, unaware of his wife's actions, waited patiently for a while. Seeing that Shi Yan still hadn't spoken, he finally couldn't help himself and nervously prepared to broach the subject directly.

Suddenly, the erection beneath Shi Yan tightened sharply, firmly grasped by Linda's small hand.

"Ah!"

Shi Yan felt a sting of pain and couldn't help but let out a soft cry, cursing the girl for gripping too tightly.

Knowing Linda was anxious, he pretended to seriously deliberate for a moment, gave a slight cough, and smiled faintly. "This is simple. I will find someone to handle this matter for you. Hmm, since you need to leave Snow Dragon Island, I will temporarily watch over this island for you for a while."

Ian’s eyes lit up.

Uke, who had previously been rather unfriendly toward Shi Yan, suddenly stood up with excitement, exclaiming in surprise, "You are willing to help us?"

"A trivial matter," Shi Yan smiled, then subtly glanced at Linda beside him, signaling that he had agreed to her unspoken request.

Linda’s neck flushed scarlet, and she let out a soft breath, but she still dared not look up. Her hand below the table continued to move, gratefully bringing Shi Yan further pleasure.

"That said, since the demons have invaded the Galo Sea Region, what has become of the Heavenly Evil Grotto and the Xia family?" Shi Yan asked with a smile while continuing to enjoy himself.

"After your Yang family disappeared, the Xia family was continuously suppressed by the Heavenly Evil Grotto. After the Yang family’s defeat, the Xia family gained nothing; instead, the Heavenly Evil Grotto found all sorts of excuses to seize many of the islands that belonged to them. The previous head of the Xia family has been rambling and insane, never appearing in public, which made the Heavenly Evil Grotto increasingly arrogant, even starting to entertain the idea of driving the Xia family out of the Galo Sea Region..." This time, Uke stood up to explain. He seemed incredibly well-informed about the situation in the Galo Sea Region, smilingly recounting to Shi Yan everything that had transpired there.

Initially, the Heavenly Evil Grotto intended to use the marriage between Xie Kui and Xia Xinyan to bind the Xia family to their war chariot. However, Xia Xinyan continuously remained in secluded cultivation, and the Xia family used this as an excuse to constantly postpone the marriage. Eventually, the Heavenly Evil Grotto grew impatient and began targeting the Xia family.

Before the demons descended, the power of the Xia family in the Galo Sea Region had significantly waned, far inferior to the Heavenly Evil Grotto.

When the demons from the Fourth Demon Realm finally appeared in the Galo Sea Region, the Xia family, knowing they couldn't oppose the Demon Realm invaders and having already lost too much vested interest, simply chose a decisive path: as soon as they detected the arrival of the demons, they began to retreat.

Before more powerful demon figures arrived, the Xia family abandoned everything in the Galo Sea Region and wisely withdrew into the Yuanluo Sea Region, temporarily settling on several islands located between the Gu family and the Heavenly Pool Holy Land.

It was thanks to the Xia family’s prudence that they escaped disaster, suffering minimal losses, and their family experts were preserved; only their outlying forces were left behind in the Galo Sea Region, unable to be accounted for.

The Heavenly Evil Grotto was different.

Following the disappearance of the Yang family and the decline of the Xia family, their influence grew immensely, truly establishing them as the supreme overlord of the Galo Sea Region. The island resources they possessed even surpassed those of the Yang family in their heyday.

Even when the demons arrived, they were unwilling to abandon the foundation they had fought so hard to build in the Galo Sea Region; naturally, they refused to leave.

Conflict was inevitable.

Soon, the Heavenly Evil Grotto witnessed the horror of the demons. Those invaders from the Fourth Demon Realm took only three months to crush the Heavenly Evil Grotto, slaughtering more than half of their elite experts.

When the two Demon Lords under Bo Xun simultaneously descended upon the Heavenly Evil Grotto, the fate of the Grotto was sealed.

Faced with the overwhelming power of the demons, the leader of the Heavenly Evil Grotto ultimately made a decision that shamed all the factions of the Endless Sea.

The Heavenly Evil Grotto surrendered.

Presently, the Heavenly Evil Grotto had become a subordinate force under the demons, acting as their lackeys, divulging the power distribution of the various forces in the Endless Sea and all their accumulated knowledge about the martial artists of the region over the years to the demons.

Having acquired this intelligence from the Heavenly Evil Grotto, the demons developed a profound understanding of the Endless Sea. In the Galo Sea Region, they obtained numerous resources unavailable in their own realm, leading to extremely rapid growth in their power. Many demons even broke through their realms right there, and their cultivation methods and strength soared; their power increased daily.

"The Heavenly Evil Grotto is truly a disgrace," Shi Yan said, his face gloomy, cold light radiating from his eyes. "These faithless wretches! If they could betray our Yang family back then, they can certainly betray the entire Endless Sea!"

After learning the current situation in the Galo Sea Region from Uke, Shi Yan felt a secret surge of grim satisfaction.

"You three major families, start preparing. Someone will help you once you are ready," Shi Yan mused, then frowned as he looked at Ian and Uke. "I gave you my word, and I will keep it. Hmm, remember to take all the civilians on Snow Dragon Island with you as well."

"Understood," Ian and Uke nodded simultaneously.

"You may go and attend to your business," Shi Yan waved his hand, his expression showing slight impatience.

Linda had already sat up straight, ceasing her movements under the table, though the flush on her cheeks had not completely faded, making her look exquisitely alluring.

Having received Shi Yan's assurance, Ian and Uke relaxed, treating Shi Yan with considerable deference. Upon hearing his dismissal, they rose one after another and soon left the hall.

Before leaving, Ian subtly glanced at Linda, seeming to try and ascertain the nature of her relationship with Shi Yan.

From the flush on Linda’s face, Ian seemed to have guessed something. Not only did he refrain from blaming her, but he also felt secretly pleased and somewhat smug.

After everyone, inside and out, had departed, Yi Tianmo slowly stood up and murmured softly to Shi Yan, "I’ll take a stroll outside. If you need anything, just call out from inside."

Shi Yan knew Yi Tianmo had seen Linda’s little maneuver. His departure now was clearly intended to give them privacy, so Shi Yan smiled and nodded. "Thank you for your trouble."

"It is my duty," Yi Tianmo replied, turning and leaving instantly.

In front of outsiders, Shi Yan had forbidden him from using the address 'Master,' as that title was too astonishing. Yi Tianmo had therefore complied with Shi Yan’s instruction.

"That man is so strange. His aura is a bit different from ours," Linda said, sticking her tongue out after Yi Tianmo vanished, then blushing. "Did he see what happened just now?"

"No," Shi Yan laughed heartily, then swiftly pulled Linda into his embrace, setting her down on his lap. He growled, "You’ve been teasing me long enough; now it's my turn!"

"Heh heh, I’m not afraid of you," Linda was completely joyous, her beautiful eyes brimming with passion.

Shi Yan stayed at the Kohler family temporarily.

While waiting for the movements of the major families on Snow Dragon Island to conclude, he also used Linda to inquire about the situation in the Endless Sea. After two and a half years, the biggest event in the Endless Sea was the invasion of the demons.

When the demonic entities truly descended upon the Galo Sea, the powers of the Endless Sea realized what a colossal folly it had been to target the Yang family.

The sheer brutality of the demonic horde far exceeded their expectations. After the fall of the Galo Sea, every faction in the Endless Sea lived in terror, fearing that the demons might soon invade their own waters.

Driven by fear and a common enemy, all the forces of the Endless Sea quickly coalesced into a single, albeit shaky, entity.

The leaders of these various factions held ceaseless meetings, plotting strategies to counter the demonic threat.

Yet, long-standing feuds persisted between these groups. Moreover, those factions situated farther from the Galo Sea were reluctant to commit their full strength, hoping instead to let others deplete the demonic forces first.

Their initial intentions were sound, but the moment plans moved toward execution, countless internal contradictions surfaced.

Even as the demons began to encroach upon their territories, the inherent selfishness of humanity remained unchanged. Each power only wished to use others as cannon fodder to preserve its own strength—a classic case of refusing to see reason until disaster was at the door. It was rumored that the leaders' meetings often devolved into bitter arguments, never yielding a truly flawless strategy.

Thus, before they could even mount an offensive, the demonic horde made the first move.

In the Kele family’s exquisite three-story manor, Shi Yan sat calmly on the top floor, slowly opening his mind to delve deeper into the soul mysteries of the Yin Mei race.

He had remained within the Kele family for three days. Meanwhile, Yi Tianmo had taken charge of protecting him, constantly busy gathering the accumulated resources of the three great families, arranging their masters, and managing the mobilization of their common folk...

After several passionate encounters with Linda, their desires temporarily sated, Shi Yan returned to his rigorous ascetic training.

With Yi Tianmo remaining close by, Shi Yan began consulting him on obscure soul techniques of the Yin Mei race he had encountered in the past.

Ever since witnessing Shi Yan's ruthlessness in the forest, Yi Tianmo's attitude toward him had subtly shifted. He seemed to have finally decided to treat Shi Yan seriously, diligently assisting with any questions he could answer regarding the Yin Mei soul mysteries.

As a result, Shi Yan’s understanding of the profound secrets of the Yin Mei soul progressed at a staggering rate.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, jade-green waves surged. Strands of divine consciousness, like fine threads, quietly converged upon the primary soul. As this core soul accumulated more and more threads of consciousness, Shi Yan’s perception stretched outward, expanding in all directions.

Inside the Sea of Consciousness, the Five Demons had been unusually quiet lately. Since the primary soul took residence, Shi Yan had not utilized his negative power. The Five Demons seemed to understand the suppression exerted by the core soul and had remained inactive.

One day, as Shi Yan’s divine consciousness continued to coalesce around the primary soul, he vaguely felt capable of controlling the Five Demons. A sudden idea sparked in his mind.

He channeled the thought toward the primary soul, using it as a medium to guide the Five Demons. Instantly, a colossal tempest erupted within the Sea of Consciousness. The Five Demons, lurking there, abruptly transformed into five streaks of dark light, violently shooting out from the consciousness.

In the small tower, an aura of wickedness, violence, and despair suddenly permeated the air, spreading an exceptionally terrifying wave of malevolence.

Five monstrous fiends, each ten zhang tall, hovered above the manor, emanating a horrifying soul fluctuation capable of plunging anyone into endless agony.

Shi Yan’s body visibly withered as negative power surged from his acupoints, pouring into the Five Demons.

Their previously indistinct, phantom bodies slowly solidified, and the aura they emitted grew increasingly dreadful.

“Master, be careful!” Yi Tianmo’s face drained of color, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at the Five Demons suspended above. He cried out, “What kind of soul skill is this? Such terrifying energy… This is, this is the materialization of soul power!”

Shi Yan opened his eyes, his gaze icy and devoid of emotion. He stared coldly at the ferocious demons hanging in the void and commanded sharply, “Return!”

The Five Demons struggled, apparently unwilling to obey. At that moment, Shi Yan snorted again and unleashed a thread of crimson Heavenly Fire from his hand.

The five heads, having escaped Shi Yan’s Sea of Consciousness, finally felt fear. Daring not to continue resisting, they swayed briefly in the air before shrinking one by one.

In less than a breath of time, the Five Demons reverted to streaks of dark light and vanished back into Shi Yan’s body.

Shi Yan took a deep breath. The bone-chilling coldness in his eyes gradually softened. After a long pause, he exhaled lightly and stated flatly, “I knew you feared the Heavenly Fire.”

Yi Tianmo kept his distance, watching the Heavenly Fire Shi Yan had summoned with unease. That fire possessed a fatal threat even to him.

Shi Yan smiled, retracted the Heavenly Fire from his hand, and continued, “It’s merely the flame of the Ten Thousand Year Geocentric Fire. While this flame restrains inherently cold or shadowy things, it isn't truly terrifying. If the Nine Nether Soul Devouring Flame emerged, those five demons would likely know true terror... A pity, that Nine Nether Soul Devouring Flame cannot be subdued.”

“Master, those five soul creatures you released, were they condensed using your soul power?” Yi Tianmo asked, his face etched with astonishment. “Master only possesses the cultivation of the Status Realm. Even with extraordinary mastery of our Yin Mei soul mysteries, achieving such swift comprehension and condensing these creatures purely from soul power… how is this possible?”

Yi Tianmo found the fact utterly unbelievable.

Using the soul as a catalyst to condense soul creatures was an extremely profound soul technique recorded in the secret manuals of the Yin Mei race. Cultivating it required not only supreme soul attainment but also a minimum cultivation of the Divine Realm; otherwise, it was simply impossible.

Even Yi Tianmo himself, at the first layer of the Through-Spirit Realm with such exquisite soul mastery, could not condense the Five Demons.

To accomplish such a feat with only the Status Realm cultivation, relying solely on a few Yin Mei secret texts, transcended mere genius.

“You mean the Five Demons?” Shi Yan paused, then smiled, explaining, “It has nothing to do with your Yin Mei soul mysteries. Before I ever obtained your secret manuals, I had already condensed these five fellows within my Sea of Consciousness.”

Yi Tianmo stared dumbfounded, looking at Shi Yan as if he were observing a monster.

After a long silence, Yi Tianmo sighed deeply, reflecting, “It was fortunate that I made the correct decision. Had we tried to kill you back then, I believe our Yin Mei race might have vanished entirely from this world.”

Yi Tianmo now felt a degree of reverence, tinged with fear.

Waving a hand dismissively, Shi Yan stood up, sensing the quietude of the Five Demons in his Sea of Consciousness. He walked directly to the window, observing Ian and the other Kele family members rushing over in a panic. He called out loudly, “Apologies, I had a slight mishap during cultivation. I’m fine now; don’t worry.”

The Kele clan members were all pale, their spirits trembling from the terrifying commotion that had erupted on Shi Yan’s floor. These cultivators, generally having average cultivation and knowing nothing of soul skill application, assumed the demons had arrived early. If the Five Demons hadn't suddenly vanished, they wouldn't have dared approach.

Ian, wiping sweat from his brow, stopped ten paces away when he heard Shi Yan. He bowed respectfully from a distance, “That is excellent, then. I shall not disturb you further.”

With that, Ian signaled to his kin, who were equally perceptive and soon dispersed entirely.

“Master, I wish to ask you for pointers on the knack for condensing those types of creatures…” Once Ian and the others departed, Yi Tianmo hesitated, speaking with some embarrassment. “I have been studying this area myself lately, but without any progress. I am curious: what did your Five Demons rely on for their formation?”

“The negative emotions of the human heart,” Shi Yan frowned, deciding not to conceal the truth, though he offered no further detail.

“Negative emotions?” Yi Tianmo was stunned. “Can these negative emotions be enhanced through cultivation? This… I’ve never heard of this, Master. Can you continually strengthen this negative power, allowing these five condensed beings to continuously grow stronger?”

“In principle, yes,” Shi Yan nodded.

A look of profound horror flashed in Yi Tianmo’s eyes, making his expression exceedingly strange. “What’s wrong?” Shi Yan asked, finding Yi Tianmo’s reaction odd. “Is that so rare? I find it perfectly normal.”

Yi Tianmo took a deep, slow breath, then slumped as if defeated. “Master is truly… truly a celestial genius. Ah, I am utterly convinced. Though I cannot fully grasp it, your abilities are clearly beyond what the likes of us can comprehend.”

“What exactly is the situation?”

“Only soul creatures condensed by martial artists in the True God Realm possess the capability of continuous enhancement and evolution!” Yi Tianmo stated, looking deeply at Shi Yan, his eyes glittering with astonishment.

Shi Yan’s expression tightened, then a smile spread across his lips. He rubbed the back of his head. “Heh, it seems my luck is indeed extraordinary.”

Only now did he fully realize the terrifying potential of the Five Demons soul technique derived from the Blood Pattern Ring. A soul technique flowing from that artifact indeed possessed such a peculiar ability—it was truly breathtaking.

Just as Yi Tianmo was about to elaborate further, his brow furrowed, and he slowly closed his eyes.

A faint wave of soul energy suddenly permeated Yi Tianmo’s body. A subtle, new soul signature drifted in from an extreme distance, seemingly wrapping around Yi Tianmo as he quietly communicated with it.

With his eyes closed, Yi Tianmo absorbed the information and suddenly spoke, “Kabah has encountered some trouble. Some martial artists have appeared near his location. They discovered Kabah… and it seems they recognize those human girls belonging to you, Master. Kabah asks if you wish for those people to be executed?”

“Recognize those girls…” Shi Yan paused, his mind racing. He quickly realized those must be masters from the Endless Sea. After a moment’s thought, Shi Yan gave a decisive order: “Capture anyone involved, regardless of who they are. The appearance of the Winged Race differs too greatly from ours. If they spread rumors haphazardly, it will cause unnecessary trouble.”

“Understood.” Yi Tianmo nodded, closed his eyes, and transmitted the message.

At that very moment, Ian, who had previously left, suddenly reappeared. Standing ten meters away, Ian addressed Shi Yan, “We’ve received news; reinforcements are coming. It’s people from the Gu family and the Heavenly Pool Holy Land. They happen to be passing through on their way to the Three Gods Sect for an important consultation, and our Three Gods Sect personnel requested their assistance for us.”

“Gu family? Heavenly Pool Holy Land?” Shi Yan’s expression turned odd. “When will they arrive?”

“They should arrive today, I hear. Heh, well, thank you for your kind offer, but it seems we won’t need to trouble you,” Ian said suddenly.

“No trouble for me?” Shi Yan chuckled. “That’s the best outcome. You just wait for those people to rescue you; it saves me the headache.”