To the southwest of Sun Island, there lay a secluded and exquisite manor built of red brick. This estate originally belonged to a highly esteemed elder of the Three Gods Cult, but unfortunately, the elder suffered a cultivation deviation, leading to the complete annihilation of his soul, leaving the property unclaimed.

The manor spanned thirty acres. Within its courtyards, miniature mountains and a small lake were readily apparent, complemented by some thirty pavilions and halls. Servants and maids were constantly stationed there, ensuring the grounds remained flawlessly immaculate.

Within the Three Gods Cult, guest quarters were categorized into various tiers based on the visitor's status. This particular manor ranked among the absolute highest echelon of the Cult's accommodations, reserved only for the leaders of various powerful factions; even standard Elders or Guardians were not qualified to stay here.

As Shi Yan and the trio including Yi Tianmo arrived, they observed the carved wooden pillars flanking them, the exquisitely crafted utensils, tables, and chairs, and the abundance of luxurious amenities. They inwardly marveled, slightly astonished by the sheer extravagance of the Three Gods Cult.

A number of beautiful, vibrant young maids, barely fourteen or fifteen years old, dressed lightly with bared arms and midriffs, their skin possessing a healthy, sun-kissed wheat tone, approached with silver platters piled high with crystal-clear, fresh fruit, holding them aloft with expressions of profound deference.

No sooner had Shi Yan settled into one of the spacious reception halls than seven very young, pretty, and charming girls appeared before him, bustling about to set down various fruits and pastries.

"This is one of the most honored suites in the entire Three Gods Cult; even the last time I visited with my uncle, we weren't qualified to stay here. Now is when the Three Gods Cult has the most distinguished guests, so I fully expected my own treatment this time to be far less favorable. To think that Li Fu would lead us straight here is utterly unbelievable," Cao Zhilan murmured softly, sitting gracefully opposite Shi Yan. She delicately picked up a cluster of translucent grapes, her head lowered as she began peeling the skin, never looking directly at him.

"Li Fu must certainly be giving face to your Cao family," Shi Yan replied casually while biting into a crystal pear in his hand. "Didn't you mention that your Cao family's strength in the Endless Sea ranks among the top three?"

"That's not me being boastful."

Cao Zhilan nodded, her red lips moving slightly as she chewed a piece of fruit before swallowing. She then looked up with a faint smile, her beautiful eyes brimming with peculiar amusement. "If a Cao family elder were visiting, securing this suite would be a matter of course. But my seniority is far too low for me to warrant it. Li Fu seemed quite attentive to me on the journey here, yet I know his conversation was merely polite filler; his entire focus was fixed on someone else."

The beauty’s bright gaze settled on Shi Yan, her smile becoming enchanting and striking. "I'm just curious. He never once inquired about your background, yet he treated you with more cautious reverence than he would a Celestial Rank expert. He even seemed afraid to meet your eyes directly, only daring to steal glances at you from behind. What could possibly warrant such awe?"

Shi Yan shrugged, gesturing toward the trio including Yi Tianmo. "He probably perceived their true cultivation realms."

The beauty let out a light laugh and shook her head. "When a Divine Realm martial artist deliberately conceals their aura, even a peer of equal rank might struggle to detect them without the practitioner deploying their Divine Power. How could he possibly sense it? Especially since these three are masters of Soul Mysteries and have taken pains to mask their presence; even a martial artist a full realm higher would likely fail to discern their actual cultivation."

Shi Yan looked momentarily stunned, then smiled and shook his head, offering no further explanation.

Seeing his continued silence, Cao Zhilan glared fiercely at him before suddenly rising. "I’m heading down to the foot of the Sacred Light Mountain. Do you care to join me?" she asked, slightly annoyed.

Shi Yan shook his head.

"Sun Island is circular. All the various guest suites line the perimeter, but the base of Sacred Light Mountain holds all the island's most interesting spots—the renowned Sacred Sun Hot Springs, pavilions for the free exchange of cultivation materials and secret treasures, and all sorts of unique local delights..."

Noticing his distinct lack of interest, Cao Zhilan felt a surge of vexation in her heart, compelling her to elaborate on the wonders awaiting her there.

Shi Yan still shook his head, offering a placid smile as he waved her away. "Go ahead. Perhaps I’ll feel inclined to follow later. Oh, and remember, we’ve placed restraints upon you. Don't do anything reckless before your Cao family pays the ransom."

"Can you stop reminding me of that?" Cao Zhilan muttered darkly.

"I’m just afraid you’ll forget your constraints once you’re in familiar surroundings, hehe. Nothing more. Go on now."

Cao Zhilan shot him a dismissive look, her graceful figure drifting away lightly like a blooming, vibrant purple flower, accompanied by the faint clinking of crystals from the hem of her dress.

As soon as Cao Zhilan departed, Shi Yan’s expression abruptly darkened. He swiftly rose from his chair.

Ignoring the surprised looks of the three companions, he immediately sat down right where he stood and began to channel his spiritual sense, observing and perceiving something in secret.

The three figures—Yi Tianmo and the others—exchanged looks of astonishment, then quickly began refining specialized restrictive barriers within the room to prevent any unwanted intrusions.

Strange waves of spiritual fluctuation emanated from Shi Yan's body. These were highly peculiar, each carrying subtle emotional textures and minute thoughts.

Yi Tianmo and the other two, being masters in the domain of the soul, paid close attention. After a while, they noted that the fluctuations of Shi Yan's divine sense seemed to be both receiving some form of information and simultaneously transmitting something outward—it was quite bizarre.

Five minutes later.

Shi Yan slowly opened his eyes, his expression complex. He stood up silently, pondering for a moment before suddenly stating, "Come with me to a place."

"Alright," the three responded in unison, yet refrained from asking questions.

"I don't know why, but since arriving here, I’ve sensed two entities persistently calling out to me..." Shi Yan furrowed his brow deeply, carefully choosing his words. "Those two entities seem to possess only the beginnings of awareness; their souls are somewhat vague and muddled. Their spirits appear to lack the complex emotions of higher life forms—they are very simple and direct—yet they continuously radiate feelings of closeness and dependence toward me. It’s utterly inexplicable."

The three exchanged confused glances; they could not comprehend what he was feeling.

"I feel like I know them, perhaps I’ve encountered them somewhere before, but the more I try to recall, the less certain I become," Shi Yan shook his head, troubled. "It feels strange, unsettling. I think it's best if we go observe the location in person. Relying solely on sensation might not yield any results."

The trio nodded again.

At Shi Yan's signal, the three dismantled their soul barriers and restrictions. After issuing a brief instruction to the manor's steward and butler, the four of them left the estate, heading west across Sun Island.

Kaka! Karsh! In a stone chamber steeped in chilling Yin energy, horrifying sounds emanated from two Yin-wood coffins. The Celestial Corpses within the caskets seemed to be scraping at the lids with their long, sharp nails, desperate to heave the Yin-wood open and emerge.

Yin Hai was not present; he had been summoned by the leader of the Corpse God Cult to receive instructions along with other Elders. The secret room, wreathed in swirling Yin and Corpse Qi, was a cellar sunk ten meters underground, damp and illuminated by dim light.

Only Yin Hai's disciple was dozing in the chamber at this moment, leaning against a distant wooden pillar while mentally wandering foreign seas. The sounds from the Yin-wood coffins grew steadily louder, until the noise became too great for sleep to be maintained. He awoke with a start.

The young man’s face went pale with horror. He stared fixedly at the two Yin-wood coffins for five seconds, then, his complexion suddenly ashen, he hastily fled, scrambling to find Yin Hai.

Kachah! A pale, sharp claw suddenly pierced through the lid of one Yin-wood coffin, which was immediately torn open. The male Celestial Corpse, which Shi Yan had once controlled at Burial Site No. 93, slowly sat up. Faint glimmers of strange light flickered in its hollow eye sockets; upon closer inspection, they resembled the appearance of the Life Seal from Shi Yan’s Life and Death Seal. Now, tiny, miniature handprints, shining with an odd light, gradually became distinct within its pupils—some ineffable power seemed to be quietly gestating, undergoing some form of transformation...

Kachah! From the other Yin-wood coffin, the female Celestial Corpse also sat up. Strange light glittered deep within her vacant eyes as well. Her pallid skin began to exude a peculiar luster, her body seemingly regaining a spark of vitality.

Dense shrubs and vegetation covered Sun Island, where stone-paved avenues crisscrossed the terrain. Many martial artists from various sea regions wandered about in small groups, most heading in the direction of Sacred Light Mountain, muttering to themselves with ambiguous smiles.

Shi Yan frowned. Despite the searing sun overhead, his body felt strangely cold and frigid. He had inadvertently absorbed a portion of the cold essence from the Profound Ice Cold Flame, allowing the chilling power to circulate through him. On the hot Sun Island, he was freezing internally, a state somewhat akin to that of powerful practitioners of the Corpse God Cult, radiating an unnerving, unapproachable aura.

The trio accompanying Yi Tianmo also cultivated Yin-centric techniques, and given that their physical structures differed from humans, all three possessed pale complexions, naturally exuding a chilling, eerie coldness. As the four of them walked, the ambient heat around them seemed to be automatically displaced, as if even the sunlight could not fully settle upon their forms.

Many martial artists on the path, upon approaching within ten meters, would immediately shudder, feeling a bone-deep chill rise, prompting them to instinctively put distance between themselves and the group, their faces showing a mixture of revulsion and fear. They took Shi Yan’s party of four for high-ranking members of the Corpse God Cult.

In the Endless Sea, only the secret arts practiced by the Corpse God Cult members yielded such profound, chilling energy; even in the height of summer, they remained icy cold, wrapped in heavy robes, projecting an aura of 'stay away.' The Corpse God Cult was not the mightiest force in the Endless Sea, but it was perhaps the most mysterious, instilling dread and fear in many martial artists. Unless necessary, ordinary practitioners instinctively avoided associating with Cult members, fearing they might one day be refined into Corpse Slaves.

Two faint, veiled soul auras drifted over from a distance, quietly seeping into Shi Yan’s Sea of Consciousness where they swirled intangibly, yet remained outside the acceptance of his primary soul. These two auras were aimed specifically at him, containing no malice or intent to attack—only pure joy. Because the auras were inherently vague and directed straight at him, even the highly skilled Yi Tianmo and his companions could only dimly perceive them due to their proximity to Shi Yan; no outsider could possibly detect them.

The two auras lingered within his Sea of Consciousness. Shi Yan secretly controlled his primary soul to sense the simple thoughts attached to them, hoping to discern the origin and identity of the senders through these fleeting mental impressions. However, the auras were too indistinct. The senders clearly did not understand how to utilize soul power, lacking even the capacity to attach conscious intent. Even with intense focus, Shi Yan gathered nothing concrete. The Five Demons within his Sea of Consciousness, however, showed considerable interest in these auras, ferociously attempting to drag them over to devour, but they were suppressed by his main soul and could not succeed.

"Who could it possibly be?" Shi Yan was deeply perplexed, furrowing his brow, unable to make sense of it.

His steps suddenly halted.

Shi Yan pushed aside the swirling doubts in his mind, looked up ahead, narrowed his eyes slightly, and a distinctly sharp curve curled at the corner of his lips. Ahead, a group of men and women approached, laughing and chatting, appearing to be in excellent spirits.

A seductive, mature woman walked in the lead, clad in sheer red silk gauze that revealed tantalizing glimpses of dazzling white skin beneath. This woman wore an ambiguous smile; her face was like a peach blossom, her cheeks flushed crimson, and her eyes were glistening with sensual moisture, as if recently satisfied, presenting an air of profound contentment. Beside her walked a plump man whose face was covered in fat, his eyes like tiny soybeans. He beamed broadly, his immense bulk jiggling with every word, while his thick fingers were laden with multi-colored gemstone rings—each one a Spatial Illusion Ring capable of storage, likely housing countless rare treasures.

A middle-aged scholar in a green robe walked beside them, his expression cold and aloof, his hands clasped behind his back as he paced, deep in thought. Seven men and women of varying cultivation levels, dressed in different attire, followed the trio, behaving respectfully, speaking softly among themselves while cautiously observing the three figures ahead, fearful that their voices might rise too high and draw a reprimand.

The leading trio approached Shi Yan’s party of four, still engaged in their jovial conversation. The sheer-clad woman happened to glance at Shi Yan inadvertently, then continued turning to chat with the fat man beside her. After a few steps, however, she seemed to recall something abruptly, suddenly whipping her head back toward Shi Yan. She then raised a finger tipped with brightly polished nail polish, pointing vaguely at him, exclaiming in shock, "You—you are that brat?"

Yin Hai had been sending disciples to gather information about her for days, and Shi Yan’s image had occasionally surfaced in her mind. Seeing him unexpectedly on Sun Island belonging to the Three Gods Cult, she instantly recognized him.

"Guardian Sui, long time no see," Shi Yan grinned widely, chuckling.

The mature woman was precisely Sui Yueru of the Yin-Yang Grotto. Shi Yan and Xia Xinyan had interacted with her when they were trapped on the miniature island and boarded the Yin-Yang Grotto’s iron ship. Having refused to become her subservient admirer, he had been framed by her and Li Zhuang, nearly becoming a Corpse Slave of the Corpse God Cult.

The fat man beside Sui Yueru was Elder Chen Feng of the Spirit Treasure Grotto, and the gloomy scholar in the green robe was Dongfang He. At Gate Luo Island, Shi Yan had suffered at the hands of Chen Feng and Dongfang He due to the Profound Ice Cold Flame; if not for his incredible luck, he might have been killed by those two as well.

Shi Yan’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze mysterious and unfathomable, letting out a light, cold chuckle.