C1549 Complete Domination

Adjacent to the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea lay the territory of the Voodoo Cult.

Within a valley swarming with venomous insects, numerous gaunt elders gathered. Some were adorned with vibrant paints, while others bore fierce tattoos on their necks and cheeks. They congregated in this secluded place.

Deep in the valley, Lin Tianming from the Voodoo Cult, the enduring Lianjing, and Yuen Qingxi, along with many practitioners from both the Ghoul Glyph Sect and the Voodoo Cult, assembled in unity.

All the cultivators, except for Yuen Qingxi, knelt before Xuanli, swearing their allegiance to him.

Thanks to the efforts of Yuen Qingxi and Lianjing, the Voodoo Cult and Ghoul Glyph Sect on the Quietus Continent had long since merged. Those who resisted their commands had already been purged before Xuanli's return.

They had been anticipating Xuanli's return for quite some time.

Following Xuanli's unexpected emergence in the Absence Relic, Lianjing began making preparations for his homecoming.

After the ceremony, where numerous Yang God Stage and several Unrestrained Stage cultivators pledged their loyalty, Xuanli, with the Ghost Feeding Diagram in hand, had secretly marked the soul imprints of these individuals.

Once the ritual concluded, Xuanli gestured dismissively, signaling that those within the valley were free to depart.

This included Lin Tianming, who had previously encountered Yu Yuan and was now summoned by the Fiend Sect to assassinate Chiu Muge.

Xuanli chose to retain only the two elders, Yuen Qingxi and Lianjing.

"Old Yuen, how long has it been since we last saw each other?" Xuanli asked with a playful grin, eyeing Yuen Qingxi's somber demeanor. "On such a glorious day, why hasn't Youyu come to celebrate with me? Has he grown too proud since reclaiming his divine status, to the point where he looks down on me?"

Back in ancient times, both he and Youyu were prominent leaders of the Ghost Wizard Sect. Youyu, known for his cold and detached nature, seldom interfered with the sect's internal affairs.

Xuanli, a master strategist, handled most of the sect's matters. Despite his seemingly carefree attitude, he was in fact cunning and fiercely cutthroat.

His tactics ensured a rigid and well-ordered hierarchy within the Ghost Wizard Sect, commanding respect and obedience both internally and externally.

Perhaps his combat strength had been slightly inferior to Youyu's because he had devoted part of his focus to the growth of their sect.

Currently, without having attained a divine seat, he was naturally at a disadvantage compared to Youyu.

"Master will come to see you in person after the council concludes," Yuen Qingxi said with a sigh, aware of Xuanli's many commitments. "Master has taken Rovi's soul and is currently in seclusion, working to extract all the useful information from Rovi's mind."

"Void Spirit Succubus, Rovi..."

Xuanli murmured to himself.

His desire to meet Youyu stemmed from an incident during his return from the Delude Devil Abyss, where a soul was extracted from him in the Realm passageway. He still maintained a faint connection with that soul, but recently, the sensation had been fading.

He believed that neither Yuen Qingxi nor Lianjing were privy to such matters; Youyu was the only one he trusted.

Moreover, Youyu had achieved godhood before him and had a stronger affinity with the source of the Yin current, prompting Xuanli to seek his counsel.

"Lord Xuanli, you will lead the new Ghost Wizard Sect. As for the Fiend Sect, I will oversee it a bit longer until you ascend to godhood and can spare more energy. Then, the Fiend Sect will be transferred to your hands," Yuen Qingxi declared.

With the Ghoul Glyph Sect, the Voodoo Cult, and the Fiend Sect under his influence, Xuanli would become the focal point of external power.

His master, Youyu, had always trusted Xuanli's capabilities, knowing he excelled in such matters.

After all, even before his awakening, Han Miaoyuan had manipulated Xuanli into attempting to absorb the Blood God Cult.

Xuanli had an innate fascination with authority, not only excelling in its pursuit but also relishing control over sects and their power.

Previously, Youyu had entrusted him with the reins of the Ghost Wizard Sect, and the situation remained unchanged.

"The Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea is quite near us..."

Xuanli grinned, gazing at the distant clouds visible from the valley, "As you know, our Ghost Wizard Sect's original domain lies within it."

Yuen Qingxi and Lianjing understood his intentions immediately.

Lianjing, ever obedient to his word, dared not contradict him or speak out of turn in his presence, remaining silent.

"My master has made it clear that the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea is off-limits," Yuen Qingxi said with a shake of his head, his tone grave. "Both the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea and the world below, the Foul World, fall under the dominion of the Earth Demon Clan. In this age, they're all Yu Zhu's territory since she's already forging her divine seat. So, both are hers."

Upon hearing this, Xuanli's expression turned icy as he demanded, "Why has she gotten ahead of me?"

"Well..." Yuen Qingxi hesitated, looking down. "Once my master concludes the council, he'll explain everything to you himself. He also wants you to use our resources to regain your strength as much as possible. He mentioned that new seats of power will emerge soon, and he'll support you in claiming one."

After a brief pause, Yuen Qingxi added, "Yu Zhu will also lend you her full support."

"That despicable girl took my blood crystal in the heavens! And in the vast expanse, she snatched my divine seat!" Xuanli couldn't shake off his irritation. "Had I not trusted Youyu, I'd be in the Foul World right now, shattering her divine seat."

Yuen Qingxi coughed awkwardly, his head still lowered, and let out a few strained chuckles before continuing, "My master has stated that the Foul World beneath the surface is now her realm. You wouldn't be able to destroy her divine seat even as she's forging it. He also advised that until you ascend to godhood, it's best to steer clear of her and avoid a premature confrontation."

"What is Youyu playing at?" Xuanli snapped, visibly upset.

"He insists it's for your benefit," Yuen Qingxi murmured, his head bowed even more, not wishing to incite further anger from the impulsive man who might just recklessly make a beeline for the Foul World.

"For my benefit? If he truly had my best interests at heart, he would've waited for my return before going after Zhu Zhenqi!"

"Why didn't he wait for me?"

"That man, who couldn't even muster a word in ages, never waited for me! It was only after my death that he sought out Tai Yin! If he had joined forces with me back then, neither of us would have perished!"

"Maybe, just maybe, the vast expanse would now be under the rule of our Ghost Wizard Sect, with us calling the shots!"

Xuanli, incensed, unleashed a torrent of curses within the deep valley, dredging up past grievances.

Yuan Qingxi and Lianjing exchanged a glance, remaining silent as they allowed him to vent his fury on Youyu and the Dragon Slayer.

Indeed, it was him...

They both silently acknowledged in their hearts.

...

In the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, the Yang Gods in the martial arts field began to merge, swiftly coalescing back into their original forms.

Hwa Xin, battered and breathless, huddled in a corner, devoid of any remaining strength to retaliate.

His vital energy and spiritual power were nearly depleted. The various incarnations of Yu Yuan had deliberately honed his combat skills by pitting him against the mightiest warriors across the cosmos in a short span of time.

Each one appeared to wield the strength of a Ninth Level Warrior.

Hwa Xin stood no chance against any single Yu Yuan, much less several.

Thankfully, Yu Yuan did not gang up on him; they came at him one by one, systematically draining his energy until he was spent.

As Hwa Xin slumped to the ground, his eyes vacant, he watched the multitude of Yu Yuan merge into one.

His competitive spirit suddenly waned considerably.

"Alright, that's enough. Time to disband," Jiaang Miaojie called out, signaling everyone to go about their business. She then approached Hwa Xin, crouching beside him with a gentle gaze. "You alright?" she inquired.

Hwa Xin shook his head, remaining silent.

Jiaang Miaojie sighed inwardly. She knew Hwa Xin was simply exhausted, his spiritual and vital energies sapped. A few days of rest would see him recovered.

Her real concern, however, was the erosion of Hwa Xin's fighting spirit and self-confidence...

Hwa Xin, as gifted as she, was a rising star of their era. She had followed the divine path left by the Great Su, while Hwa Xin had chosen that of the Great Yin.

Before encountering Yu Yuan and arriving at Hao Yun, Hwa Xin had believed he was the furthest along this path.

He had thought he would be the first to reach the end.

This battle had painfully forced Hwa Xin to realize that someone had utterly surpassed him in every way.

Jiang Miaojie knew that Hwa Xin needed time to adjust his mindset. Without this adjustment, Hwa Xin risked quickly fading into obscurity among his peers, relegated to the bottom rung.

Then, during an exploration of the starry sky's forbidden area, he met his end—his body and soul extinguished, never to return.

Jiang Miaojie's brows furrowed in concern as she pondered how to console Hwa Xin so he could regain his confidence. Even if surpassing Yu Yuan was out of reach, it was crucial that he didn't prematurely give up on himself.

Whoosh!

Yu Yuan's true form emerged from his conversation with Guixu, having learned of their intentions for him, and he stepped out of the majestic hall.

"Hmm?"

He offered a slight smile and a nod to the person before him.

"The Primordial Divine King sent me to see you."

The Sky Shocking Emperor, a practitioner of the "Martyr Spell," had also emerged from the forbidden area. The instant he appeared from the palace, he felt an overwhelming, invisible pressure.

Yu Yuan seemed to have the power to influence his body and soul at any moment, a sensation he had never felt in their previous encounters.

"What's the matter?" Yu Yuan inquired softly.

"I've encountered some issues with my cultivation of the 'Martyr Spell.' I intended to seek the Ruins Divine King's counsel, but the Primordial Divine King directed me to you instead," the Sky Shocking Emperor answered, his confusion evident.

He couldn't fathom why Taishi would send him to Yu Yuan rather than the Ruins Divine King.

As far as he knew, the legacy of the Divine King had been documented by the Ruins Divine King and taken to the Outer Star River, hence the emergence of successors like Hwa Xin.

According to Taishi, the 'Martyr Spell' he had developed was derived from that very Soul Arts legacy. Shouldn't he then consult the Ruins Divine King?

"Let's find a more suitable place to talk."

With a subtle shift in thought, Yu Yuan's Yang God, which had been in the martial arts field, seamlessly integrated back into his body.

"..."