The moonlight was hazy, the stars dimly visible. The nights at Long Jade Gate were extremely serene. The junior disciples, unconcerned with worldly matters, chased and frolicked among themselves. The youths, who had just joined the sect and not yet begun fasting, were now enjoying their meals in their residences. In several large halls dedicated to artifact refining, the sound of hammering could be heard all day long. That rhythmic CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG always stirred one's impulse to recite poetry, compose verses, or sing.

To anyone who looked, this place was a normal Immortal Sect. Within the gate, Elders of the Heavenly Immortal Realm provided shelter, and the Mountain Protection Array was always active, creating a small, stable world for the members of Long Jade Gate to cultivate in. They actively responded to the call of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, taking in a batch of disciples every few decades or centuries, and then after about the same number of years, they sent batches of disciples to join the army at the border. The disciples from Long Jade Gate, like those from other Immortal Sects sent to the border, were not out of the ordinary, diligently protecting the Human Domain and repelling ferocious beasts.

Only a few Heavenly Immortals, the Sect Leader, and the Elders inside Long Jade Gate knew the truth about this place. They were all people from the Ten Evils Hall. Beneath their feet lay one of the four Main Halls of the Ten Evils Hall. The Immortal Sect, Long Jade Gate, had become the perfect cover for the Fourth Main Hall. The Mountain Protection Array impeccably enveloped the space below, requiring just a few layers of Formations to separate two completely different worlds. What's more, Long Jade Gate could openly accumulate 'wealth'. A large portion of the Spirit Stones earned from artifact refining was used to support the activities of the Ten Evils Hall.

In a deserted 'furnace' of a remote hall in Long Jade Gate, there was a path downward, the sole passage linking the realms of light and shadow. Descending dozens of feet and passing through several layers of Formations, one would encounter a vast underground space. Rows of stone houses stood closely packed, and the silhouettes moving between them appeared lifeless. Several Blood Pools were scattered across the area, with figures coming and going. And further down, past two more major Formations, one would see a series of interconnected palaces, and in the center, the Teleportation Formation. It was this Formation that connected six external landing points, radiating to seventy-two sub-halls, its Spiritual Power derived from the Earth's veins, as well as from the continually replaced Spirit Stones. A significant portion of the Spirit Stones earned by Long Jade Gate were invested in this Formation.

At this moment, it had only been a few hours since the disciples of Heaven Fire Sect had been attacked. In the palace near the Teleportation Formation, the newly awakened Female Celestial Qiong Qi had a livid expression, and more than a dozen figures knelt trembling before her.

Right now, Qiong Qi was indeed in a foul mood, completely lacking the insolent bravado he had shown in front of Wu Wang. His plan was supposed to be flawless.

Hearing that the Sun Demolition Sect and Heaven Fire Sect were organizing a life-and-death arena, Qiong Qi had begun preparing for all of this in silence. He had been covertly observing Heaven Fire Sect and the Sun Demolition Sect for some time. Using his Divine Skills, he measured the firmness of the cultivators' Dao hearts, eventually realizing... Inside Heaven Fire Sect, there was a general sense of impatience. The internal atmosphere of the Sun Demolition Sect, on the other hand, was much more stable, with harmony among the ranks and few conflicts. Choosing which one to deal with was plainly obvious.

Qiong Qi's initial target was Heaven Fire Sect. To ensure the plan proceeded smoothly, he had secretly identified a group of Heaven Fire Sect disciples whose mental defenses would be easy to break. He had the Fourth Main Hall running errands, all to gain control of the Heaven Fire Sect disciples. This involved kidnapping mortals in secret to refine resentment-filled Treasure Beads that complemented his Divine Skills. He also deliberately dispatched hundreds of vicious individuals from the Ten Evils Hall, including two Heavenly Immortal-level experts, to cause trouble in the life-and-death arena. This was a ploy to have them captured by the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, thereby lulling the Pavilion into complacency.

Qiong Qi chose a very clever moment to act: right after the life-and-death arena ended, when Heaven Fire Sect had let down their guard, felt morose, and were most dissatisfied with the outcome of the arena. The plan was progressing smoothly. He had specifically chosen a beautiful female cultivator from an Immortal Sect to flee for her life, with a few brutal Demonic Cultivators in pursuit, and the Heaven Fire Sect disciples were indeed duped.

The Resentment Power accumulated by mortals before death, in conjunction with Qiong Qi's Divine Skills, was too much for cultivators below the Heavenly Immortal Realm to resist. And Qiong Qi only aimed to control True Immortals, Yuanxians, and non-ascended disciples, allowing the Resentment Power to spread swiftly. With so many sect disciples on the ship, which Heavenly Immortal would bother to steer?

By changing the course of the Heaven Fire Sect fleet, directing it toward the Refining Heaven Sect, he didn't need to intervene any further after their arrival; thousands of Heaven Fire Sect disciples would plunge into battle. Wouldn't this incite the flames of war between the immortal and demonic paths in the Human Domain? What could the Heaven Fire Sect experts explain?

In this calculated scheme, Qiong Qi's proudest point was that he had merely used the life-and-death arena as a stepping stone, a stage in his plan, while the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion's attention was fixated on the life-and-death arena. This was the difference between operating in the shadows and in the light.

But… Why is Wu Wangzi still paying attention to Heaven Fire Sect? Qiong Qi was utterly confounded at this moment.

The abnormalities in Heaven Fire Sect were exposed too quickly, forcing Qiong Qi to destroy Heaven Fire Sect himself and appear before Wu Wangzi, taunting him. Although destroying Heaven Fire Sect was enough to go to the Heaven Palace and claim credit, if the Human Domain became aware of such methods, they would certainly become more cautious, making future successes difficult.

The Female Celestial, controlled by Qiong Qi, pondered for a moment, a trace of coldness flashing through her eyes. "That Wu Wangzi..." she murmured. "He truly is a troublesome enemy."

The people prostrated below hurriedly said, "Father... that Wu Wangzi is too cunning; we never expected him to react so quickly!"

"We were only an hour away from a successful retreat!"

"Father, we should eliminate Wu Wangzi first!"

"All of you, rise." The Female Celestial Qiong Qi said coldly, "If I, in my true body, could arrive here, what would a few more Wu Wangzis matter? Dismiss yourselves."

The dozen or so individuals repeatedly agreed, bowing and standing up, retreating from the grand hall.

Suddenly, the first-generation Divine Child, the Chief Elder of the Fourth Main Hall, paused, and then looked up, exclaiming, "Father, look at the Mountain Protection Array!"

"The Mountain Protection Array?" The Female Celestial Qiong Qi was somewhat puzzled and casually summoned a Cloud Mirror. He was using this Female Celestial's immortal power, so naturally, he cast Spells of the Human Domain.

The Cloud Mirror displayed the top of Long Jade Gate's thick Mountain Protection Array, which seemed to have a hole drilled through it; the Formation's light barrier slowly diffused, revealing a gap five feet in diameter. A figure appeared without warning, leaping down from the gap and calmly landing in the plaza in front of the main hall of Long Jade Gate.

Upon observing the individual, they saw him dressed in a suit of shining golden armor, wielding a unique Silver Dragon Spear, with long hair tied behind his helmet, gently fluttering. His tall figure carried an amazing aura of vitality. He lightly touched his faceplate with his left hand, revealing a young, square face.

Suddenly, Long Jade Gate went quiet for a moment.

Then, in the next second, in the underground grand hall, the Female Celestial Qiong Qi suddenly stood up, and the high-level officials of the Fourth Main Hall gasped in shock.

"Wu Wangzi!"

"What's he doing here!"

"What are you panicking for? A bunch of useless fools!" The Female Celestial Qiong Qi shouted, feeling as confused as everyone else. Why would Wu Wangzi appear here?

Wu Wang's voice had already echoed everywhere, spreading through the Mountain Protection Array, "Qiong Qi, are you wondering why I am here?"

Streamers of light flew out from around Long Jade Gate, but before they could reach Wu Wang, he had already raised his spear.

Wu Wang said calmly, "Actually, I didn't want to take this risk alone, but I had no choice. To draw your attention and focus your gaze on me for these few moments, I needed to buy time for the seniors to act. I'm stalling for time, you makeshift god."

CLANG!

The spear hit the ground, without a surge of immortal power.

In the underground grand hall, the elite members of the Ten Evils Hall, who had been momentarily stupefied, almost simultaneously came to their senses and turned towards the Teleportation Formation!

But it was too late. They missed it by a hair's breadth! Before their figures could reach the edge of the Formation, the glow that had been emanating from it abruptly ceased!

Suddenly, all throughout Long Jade Gate, tremors began. Outside the Mountain Protection Array, a multicolored membrane unfolded instantly, with twelve silhouettes revealing themselves, each carrying the weight of twelve mature Great Daos to suppress the area!

Caught off-guard, the cultivators of Long Jade Gate were bewildered.

Wu Wang, leaning on his spear, shouted loudly, "Lift it up!"

The entire Long Jade Gate silently ascended, turning into a complete sphere that swiftly rose a thousand feet above the ground. Below, the underground river was cut off, several grand halls were bisected, and more than a dozen figures stood atop the multicolored membrane, their eyes full of bewilderment, like ants on a hot pan.

The situation that befell the Second Main Hall had replayed itself. The same overpowering force, the same ascent into the sky. But this time, the experts from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion acted even more decisively and efficiently. Even Wu Wang, who usually avoided standing out among the Immortals, took a risk and made himself visible, to give the enemy a strong enough shock and delay their chance to flee.

The sphere was inverted. Above, it was beautiful and radiant, where pure energy gently flowed and hundreds, if not thousands, of cultivators practiced serenely. Below, however, lay hidden corruption, thick with baleful energy, where the fiends of the Ten Evils Hall, now seemingly driven mad, battered against the surrounding multicolored membrane.

The light on the periphery kept flickering as more than twenty peak Heavenly Immortal Realm masters merged into the multicolored membrane.

A female Immortal sat suspended in midair, her head bowed as she plucked the strings of a zither. With just a few resounding twangs, swathes of cultivators from Long Jade Gate fainted.

There were Ten Evils Hall members disguised as Heavenly Immortal Realm Elders who got too caught up in their act. At this moment, one actually knelt down and shouted, "Fellow Daoists, what is this for? We, of Long Jade Gate, are willing to surrender our treasury, please spare us this once!"

A streak of sword light swept past, and the Long Jade Gate Elder clutching his neck collapsed to the ground. Such a grave bodily injury would not claim his life; after becoming an Immortal, an Immortal's only fatal vulnerabilities lay in their Primordial Spirit.

Xiao Jian Daoist appeared behind Wu Wang, standing aloof with his hands behind his back.

Wu Wang raised his spear before slamming it down with a resounding CLANG. He lifted the spear and smashed it down again, repeating the process incessantly, creating a continuous, rhythmic beat. It was the rhythm of the Northern Wilderness war drums.

A wisp of black fog drifted out from a side hall in the corner. The surrounding masters restrained themselves from dispersing it, letting it rush in front of Wu Wang and transforming into the Female Celestial.

Wu Wang paused with his spear, and Xiao Jian Daoist behind him flicked his finger lightly.

An invisible sword shadow crossed the figure of the Female Celestial, causing her to soften and tumble to the ground. That odd black qi reappeared a hundred feet away, shaping itself into Qiong Qi's true body.

"Have you really reached such an extent?" Qiong Qi's visage morphed into that of a middle-aged man, his demeanor calm, cloaked in black fog, locking gazes with Xiao Jian Daoist.

Xiao Jian Daoist sneered coldly, ignoring him completely.

Wu Wang spoke indifferently, "I owe you one, Qiong Qi."

"Heh," Qiong Qi's eyes revealed a hint of murderous intent as he burst into wild laughter. "You thank me? For what? For aiding your growth? HAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHA!"

Wu Wang didn't hurry, simply waiting for Qiong Qi to finish laughing before he explained, "You helped me find the hiding place of the Fourth Main Hall."

Qiong Qi's nostrils quivered slightly, his face took on a hint of chill as he laughed, "It's just a Main Hall, after all. What's to stop me from giving it to you?"

"There are four Main Halls in the Ten Evils Hall. The Second Main Hall has been uprooted by me, the Fourth Main Hall shall fall tonight, and the Third Main Hall is in the Southeastern Region of the Great Wilderness. Henceforth, the Ten Evil Gods in the Human Domain will be left standing on one leg, already unstable."

Wu Wang tilted his head slightly, smiling as he said, "Qiong Qi, do you think I should thank you? Going forward, any movement from the Ten Evils Hall can be unraveled to find clues to the location of the First Main Hall. The Ten Evils Hall has been in the Human Domain for just over six thousand years, after all. Its roots are too shallow."

Qiong Qi replied nonchalantly, "You saw the extent of my Divine Skills today. The Ten Gods Temple could build as many as it wants at any time."

"How can you bring so much Resentment of Living Beings here without their help, since your true body can't come to this place?" All of a sudden, Wu Wang turned his head and instructed, "Brother, take note, the Third Main Hall is indeed in the Southeastern Region of the Great Wilderness. Qiong Qi's reaction just now was actually a subconscious acknowledgement."

"You!" Qiong Qi glared, while Xiao Jian Daoist nodded smilingly.

Wu Wang's smile vanished as he gazed steadily at Qiong Qi and spoke slowly, "The account of Heaven Fire Sect will surely be settled with you in the future."

With that, he gestured with his hand, and two divine swords burst forth from the eyes of Xiao Jian Daoist, directly slicing Qiong Qi's apparition into three sections.

This was but a mere strand of Qiong Qi's Divine Soul; it wasn't worth expending much emotion over.

In Qiong Qi's abode in the Southwestern Region of the Great Wilderness, Qiong Qi roared several times and smashed things around, the noise continuing for half the night.

「The next day, at the Main Hall of Benevolent Emperor Pavilion.」

Wu Wang and his entourage had returned last night and interrogated a great number of experts captured from the Fourth Main Hall through the night. Fortunately, Qiong Qi hadn't planted any hidden measures on that Chief Elder, preventing them from turning into puddles of blood in an instant. Otherwise, the gains for the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion would have been much less.

Since the Four Main Halls of the Ten Evils Hall operated independently, finding one meant reaching an 'end'. Wu Wang didn't interrogate them much further. Once he confirmed that he could not extract any valuable information, he ordered the killing or burying of the criminals from the Ten Evils Hall and preserved only the Primordial Spirits of a few key figures. They were to be used later for the Punishment Hall to train interrogators.

After all, he was no Evil God. How could he possibly vent his anger on these criminals from the Ten Evils Hall? It was merely a form of retaliation.

Worth mentioning is the fact that, as he interrogated the villains from the Fourth Main Hall, he also had the five Divine Children present to listen, greatly impacting them. To deal with these five was like cultivating five seeds. One must water and fertilize them consistently, allowing them to grow into mature fruit trees before picking a few 'fruits'.

Busy until noon the next day, the Punishment Hall finally quieted down. Wu Wang gestured for those around him to leave, then stood quietly next to the long table for a while before he sighed and sat on the steps. His elbows propped on his legs, his hands formed a 'little grass hut' in front of his nose. Wu Wang zoned out for a while.

He should have seen this coming. The turmoil within the Human Domain all pointed to the Evil Gods and the Ten Evils Hall. With such significant anomalies appearing, I should have made some connections. This isn't self-blame or undue humility. It's purely a matter of review and summary, thinking about how I can avoid such mistakes in the future. The image of thousands of cultivators from Heaven Fire Sect perishing in unison is always lingering before my eyes. Since leaving the Northern Wilderness, I've encountered continuous opportunities and smooth sailing; I've indeed become a bit impetuous.

"Into self-seclusion already?" Liu Baiyi's voice suddenly came from the side. A crack in Heaven and Earth opened up, and Liu Baiyi's somewhat chubby body squeezed out, raising an eyebrow at Wu Wang.

Wu Wang asked, "The experts of the Heaven Fire Sect..."

"Half of them went mad," Liu Baiyi sighed deeply, sitting down next to Wu Wang. "We have already planned to hunt down Qiong Qi, but that fellow is quite cunning and can sense us as soon as we approach. The result is likely to be a fruitless endeavor."

"We must still go," Wu Wang said in a low voice, "to let them know the Human Domain's response."

"It's good that you discovered Qiong Qi's little tricks in time," said Liu Baiyi, "had Heaven Fire Sect slammed into the Refining Heaven Sect, the situation would have become uncontrollable."

Wu Wang shook his head, "It's all thanks to the Grand Elder's efforts."

"Aren't you all the same?" Liu Baiyi chuckled. "And that beautiful resolution of the life-and-death arena, that counts as a great achievement too. Let's promote you to be the official Hall Master of the Punishment Hall!"

"Let Xiao Jian Daoist do it instead," Wu Wang suddenly said. "I want to return to the Annihilation Sect to calm my mind and reflect on myself."

"You wouldn't be using this as an excuse to slack off, would you?"

"Achievements are achievements, mistakes are mistakes. I won't be too hard on myself, but I have been negligent with the troubles at Heaven Fire Sect." Wu Wang spoke earnestly, "I need some time to be at peace."

"Okay then!" Liu Baiyi didn't insist, but added, "We'll let Xiao Jian Daoist take over for now, and when you come back, you can take up the position of Hall Master directly. You can't just uproot two of their main strongholds and then wash your hands of it! Sigh, there's still seventy percent of the Evil God's Divine Power. I wonder if this stuff can be used to water flowers."

Wu Wang laughed, "I will come back for that Divine Power. Just take good care of it for me."

Liu Baiyi patted Wu Wang on the shoulder, fumbled in his sleeve for a while, and took out a long box. "Here, His Majesty asked me to give this treasure to you."

Wu Wang's eyes lit up, and he immediately flipped open the long box. The dazzling treasure light burst forth, shining so brightly that Wu Wang could barely keep his eyes open. But the brilliance quickly faded, revealing the crystal-clear sword inside that appeared as if forged from crystal.

The Star Sword was back!

This sword was three feet and six inches long, with a blade over an inch wide, without blood grooves or decorations. Occasionally, the heavens full of Stars would appear on it, attracting the power of the Stars to converge within. Even the speed at which Wu Wang absorbed the power of the Stars had increased significantly!

Wu Wang slowly grasped the hilt of the sword. Initially, it was extremely heavy, but it quickly became weightless. He saw the objects in front of him more clearly, and could faintly make out two rivers of Stars scattering endless strings of pearls…

This sword was not only a weapon against the enemy but also strengthened Wu Wang's connection with the Star Dao!

Above Immortal Treasures, it was known as a Dao Treasure!

Wu Wang muttered, Since I can't feel its weight, is His Majesty trying to prevent me from knowing just how much 'wool' was sheared off for this?

Nearby, Liu Baiyi looked up at the sky, the corners of his mouth curling into a slight arc.

「Deep in the starry sky, within the Star God Temple.」

The figure sitting quietly cross-legged on the throne also had a slight smile on her lips at this moment. Her staff twinkled with light, projecting Qiong Qi's lair before her eyes. Just as she was about to make a move, Cang Xue suddenly halted her fingers and erased the illusion. She smiled indifferently, turning to open another projection.

It was at Xuan Nu Sect's bamboo forest. Because of the sect's Great Formation's interference, Cang Xue could only see a blurry figure with the help of the Star God's power, barely recognizing Ling Xiaolan's silhouette.

Ling Xiaolan did not return to the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion with Wu Wang but directly went back to the Xuan Nu Sect. After much hesitation, she decided to seek an audience with Sect Master Jingyue and make a decision that might go against the ancestral teachings.

She wanted to move in and live with Wu Wang, cultivate the Yin and Yang Divine Arts together, and help him recover from his strange illness sooner!

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