Above the Da Li Mountain Range, clouds and mist swirled.
A Red Gold Giant Dragon cruised through the sky.
Amid the vast sea of clouds, the mountain ranges stood majestic and imposing.
Qin Yang soared through the heavens, looking down upon the scene at the foot of the mountains.
Five years had passed, and all living things were flourishing once more.
The previous Beast Tide had caused enormous losses, nearly wiping out entire species.
But after the Blood Spirit Array was successfully modified, the Heaven and Earth Star Force flowed in abundance, allowing the Star Beasts within the Da Li Mountain Range to rest and recuperate.
Their populations multiplied, and the cries of a hundred beasts echoed through the land.
Ferocious roars and howls could be heard everywhere.
But as Qin Yang passed overhead, all this clamor turned to silence...
Just then,
a powerful, resonant voice rang out from within the mountain range!
"Qin Yang?"
Inside the great Array, the Beast God’s eyes snapped open with apprehension. It stared in disbelief in the direction of the approaching Golden Dragon as a blood-red mist churned around it. A deep fear flickered in its eyes, and its heart filled with shock and uncertainty.
’What is he doing here at a time like this?’
’No, wait...’
’This aura isn’t right. It’s only half-step... So he hasn’t fully reached the Divine Venerable Realm yet.’
Sensing this, the Beast God’s mind raced, but it finally breathed a sigh of relief from within its sea of blood.
’As long as he isn’t in the Divine Venerable Realm, I have nothing to fear!’
「A moment later.」
Qin Yang’s draconic form shifted back into that of a man. He landed on a stone monument not far from the Array, sized up the trapped Beast God, and stated his purpose directly:
"Relax. I’m not here to draw your blood today. I have something else to ask you."
As he spoke, Qin Yang squinted at the Beast God with a smile, displaying his Divine Venerable aura. "It’s been five years. You should be able to sense my Realm, right?"
"Hmph. Of course."
The Beast God raised its head with a proud smile:
"You’re merely in the Half-step Divine Venerable Realm. It’s nothing more than a superficial display."
"Is that so..."
Hearing this, Qin Yang’s interest was piqued. He asked:
"Since you know so much, how about you tell me a bit more about the Upper Realm?"
"Information about the Upper Realm?"
The Beast God was taken aback for a moment, but then a smile played on its lips. "So, you’ve seen the light... Are you preparing to join us in the Upper Realm?"
With that, it approached the edge of the Ten Directions Sealing Demon Array and agreed readily. "Information about the Upper Realm? No problem!"
"Rest assured, we of the Upper Realm never slaughter the innocent. Even if we open a path between the two realms, we won’t bring any harm to Earth Star."
After this string of assurances,
Qin Yang just shook his head with a faint smile and cleaned out his ear, letting the words go in one and out the other.
He didn’t plan on believing a single word of this nonsense.
The Beast God definitely had malicious intentions!
"Of course, there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world."
Within its Blood Sea Domain, the Beast God crossed its arms. Its throat twitched as it stared fixedly at Qin Yang, swallowing its saliva like a ravenous wolf. "If you want to hear the secrets of the Upper Realm, you must first agree to one condition."
"What condition?"
"Release the Ten Directions Sealing Demon Array."
The Beast God licked its lips, its Spiritual Power sweeping over the living creatures in the Da Li Mountain Range. "I guarantee that I won’t slaughter any innocents after I get out. I’ll only need these animals as blood food!"
The moment its voice fell,
"Tsk, you think you’re in a position to bargain with me?"
"This isn’t up to you. Why don’t I just use Soul Search and be done with it?"
As he spoke, Qin Yang, as if he had anticipated this, raised a fingertip, revealing a translucent gray mist.
The Soul Devouring Technique!
An Evil Technique that had dropped from a Soul-devouring Insect all those years ago!
One who achieved Great Success in the Cultivation of this technique could use the souls of all living things as food, devouring them at will and freely viewing the memories of those they consumed.
And more importantly!
During his five years of seclusion, he hadn’t just focused on his Cultivation. He had also upgraded this Evil Technique, turning it into "Soul Devouring Technique 2.0"!
It could handle all kinds of Spiritual Power and was immune to any negative spiritual backlash, making him a true soul-devouring Taotie!
If the Beast God resisted, the great Array would suppress it directly.
This Soul Search was a foregone conclusion!
"You junior! How dare you?!"
Upon sensing that aura, the Beast God immediately knew something was wrong. It turned to hide within the blood-red mist, trying to avoid the brunt of the attack.
However,
"Did I say you could leave?"
Seeing this, Qin Yang’s brow furrowed. He directly manipulated the Laws within the Array. Layers of brilliant Golden Lotuses bloomed in his palm, entire worlds gathering and scattering within them.
The small world within the Ten Directions Sealing Demon Array began to transform continuously.
In that instant!
BOOM!
Lightning crackled and intertwined within the Array’s small world.
Mountains crumbled, forming a gigantic hand that blotted out the sky as it pressed down on the Beast God’s body.
The flat ground churned and gathered, surging forward like a terrifying tidal wave!
An unstoppable force bore down!
The Beast God couldn’t withstand it and was sent flying backward. It crashed through mountain peaks within the small world before falling wretchedly to the ground, spitting mouthfuls of blood, its expression listless.
"If you won’t talk, then I’ll just see for myself!"
Qin Yang flicked a finger, releasing the Soul Devouring Technique into the Sealing Demon Array.
Immediately, a gray-brown mist drifted out and morphed into the shape of a Soul-devouring Insect. In a flash, it stuck to the surface of the Beast God’s forehead.
The next moment, it drilled into its cranium!
And vanished without a trace!
"No! Stop! Qin Yang!"
The Beast God clutched its head and howled in agony, as if ten thousand venomous insects had burrowed into its heart, lungs, and brain, frantically tearing at its tissues.
The intense pain pierced deep into its soul, causing it to writhe and roll about in the Blood Sea.
Torture!
It was a pain like its very Divine Soul was being torn asunder!
"Qin Yang, stop this Evil Technique! I’ll tell you anything! Quick... hurry!"
"Tsk. Isn’t it a bit late to be begging for mercy now?"
Qin Yang just smiled.
He increased the extraction’s intensity!
The next moment,
a massive amount of memories flowed back to him through the connection.
Fragments of information about the Upper Realm... scattered and disjointed...
The Celestial Gate... an Immortal Sect... countless images swirled...
"So that’s how it is!"
Qin Yang came to a sudden realization.
So there really was a reason why the powerhouses of the Upper Realm couldn’t descend!
According to the Beast God’s memories, the Celestial Dao was impartial and just.
The more powerful an individual from the Upper Realm was, the more terrifying and severe the heavenly punishment they would suffer for trying to descend to the Lower Realm.
In a light case, their Realm would plummet. In a severe case, their body would perish and their Dao would be extinguished!
This was why, five hundred years ago, when the people of the Upper Realm opened the Celestial Gate to descend to the mortal world, they ultimately only sent experts at the Divine Venerable Realm!
If someone at the Emperor Venerable Realm tried to descend by force, they would likely be obliterated by the will of the world!
A disastrous loss!
’Perhaps I can try opening a Celestial Gate first.’
’Once the gate is open, I can gauge the strength of that person from the Upper Realm, and then make other plans?’
Qin Yang mulled over these thoughts, sorting through the chaotic fragments of memory. He dusted off his clothes and rose to leave, completely satisfied, leaving behind the drooling, stupefied Beast God.
...
...
「A short while later.」
「In the Jianghai Courtyard.」
A peach blossom petal fell to the ground, crushed into dust.
"He’s been gone for a while. Why isn’t he back yet?"
Li Zixuan stood under a tree, clutching the Ziwei Divine Sword, and gazed into the distance, her heart filled with worry.
"Xuanxuan, don’t worry,"
Li Qinghe stood to the side, gently placing a hand on his cousin’s shoulder and comforting her softly. "Master definitely had a plan when he went out this time."
Before his voice had even faded,
"Hey! Master’s back!"
Li Qinghe pointed joyfully at the eastern sky.
A figure that was part dragon, part man, could be seen slowly descending into their midst. Qin Yang’s gaze swept over them, a satisfied expression on his face.
"Not bad. It looks like everyone has made great progress these past five years!"