Within Hongyue Abyss, purple qi leaked out.
In an instant, the authority of the Creation Treasure activated, concealing the purple qi. Even so, the Yang Gods within hundreds of thousands of li—and even farther—caught a whiff of that aura.
In the Moon Goddess Palace, a Yang God of the Great Heavenly Position Realm wore a solemn expression.
"Purple qi billowing like clouds... a treasure has emerged. That's the territory of the Moluo Clan in Hongyue Abyss!"
Even as a Yang God, she could hardly sit still.
With so much purple qi, even what she had glimpsed would likely be enough to advance her cultivation considerably.
"Why did it have to appear in Moluo territory!"
The Yang God Heavenly Venerable wore a bitter look.
Not long ago, word had spread to the outside world that Moon Goddess Yuanjun had been severely wounded.
From top to bottom, the Yang Gods of the Moon Goddess Palace were on edge, their nerves stretched taut.
Though the Moon Goddess Palace was still the exalted Moon Goddess Palace, close attention revealed that a tremendous change had come over it compared to the past.
During battles, the number of traitors was fifty percent higher than before.
When trading with other sacred grounds, there was no shortage of opportunists hiking up their prices.
It could be said that the entire Moon Goddess Palace stood in precarious turmoil, tottering in the storm.
The battle in the Demonic Abyss could brook no failure; otherwise, it might become the fuse that triggered a catastrophic collapse.
Now, in the region guarded by the Moluo Clan, purple qi billowed like clouds as a treasure revealed itself.
Because of the Creation Treasure's concealment, Heavenly Venerable Yuelian could glean no further details.
Yet if the Moluo Clan grew stronger as a result, the Moon Goddess Palace would face immense pressure.
Guarding the Demonic Abyss for all these years, Heavenly Venerable Yuelian had never felt such strain. No Yang Gods had entered the fray, nor had there been any fiercely intense battles.
Yet ever since the news of Moon Goddess Yuanjun's grievous injuries leaked, she had felt intense pressure, and the warfare within the Demonic Abyss had escalated at that very moment.
While she was gripped by unease, a voice reached her ears.
"Heavenly Venerable Yuelian, have you considered my offer?"
Hearing the man's voice, Heavenly Venerable Yuelian's gaze grew profound.
As Yang God Heavenly Venerables, their transmissions were naturally unsuppressed by the Creation Treasure.
The one contacting her was a Yang God Heavenly Venerable from Shenluo Heaven, a top faction in the Sixth Heaven.
As the saying went: One Society, Two Palaces, Three Heavens, Four Abysses, and over a dozen Sacred Grounds.
The Sixth Heaven had the fewest sacred grounds; counted altogether, they did not even reach thirty.
Among them, the strongest were the One Society, Two Palaces, Three Heavens, and Four Abysses.
This ranking was in no particular order; it did not mean the One Society was the strongest.
The One Society naturally referred to the Ultimate Principle Society.
The Two Palaces were Taihuang Palace and the Moon Goddess Palace.
Shenluo Heaven was one of the Three Heavens.
Its strongest figure was a Great Ultimate Principle cultivator who commanded a supreme ultimate principle, fully on par with Moon Goddess Yuanjun.
This Yang God of Shenluo Heaven had maintained intermittent contact with Heavenly Venerable Yuelian, seeking to poach talent from the Moon Goddess Palace.
His question now was merely dredging up the old topic.
"I have received great favor from the Moon Goddess Palace. If I leave now, where would my Dao heart be? If I should be fortunate enough to enter the Ultimate Principle Realm one day, how would I ever pass the Root Demon Tribulation?" Heavenly Venerable Yuelian replied calmly, her stance resolute.
"Moon Goddess Yuanjun is heavily wounded, and Taihuang Palace is watching like a tiger stalking its prey. If you do not find a good haven soon, you can only meet oblivion alongside the Moon Goddess Palace," the Yang God Heavenly Venerable remarked, his tone tinged with a sigh.
Heavenly Venerable Yuelian's expression shifted slightly. "Have you heard some news?"
This Yang God from Shenluo Heaven was the descendant of a Yang God in the realm of Great Ultimate Principle. He knew more than others.
Though Moon Goddess Yuanjun being heavily wounded was practically a proven fact, someone who commanded a supreme ultimate principle would not perish so easily. How could the Moon Goddess Palace succumb to catastrophe? Yet the other party's words sent a jolt of apprehension through Heavenly Venerable Yuelian's heart.
"Certain rumors have begun to circulate. Once... the Ultimate Principle Dao Discussion Conference begins, you will understand. Oh, by the way, Yuelian, as a friendly reminder: a Yang God Heavenly Venerable from your Moon Goddess Palace has already defected and joined one of the Four Abysses."
With that, the Yang God Heavenly Venerable fell silent.
Hearing this, Heavenly Venerable Yuelian's expression abruptly changed, turning complex and distraught.
"A Yang God Heavenly Venerable actually defected!"
This was undeniably a bolt from the blue.
That was a Yang God Heavenly Venerable—a pillar of a sect!
For a Yang God Heavenly Venerable to dare defect, could it be because they realized... the Moon Goddess Palace truly had no hope left?
Had the Moon Goddess Palace really reached such dire straits?
"Should I report this news to..."
Heavenly Venerable Yuelian hesitated.
If her superiors asked how she learned of it, how would she answer?
She wavered.
...
Meanwhile, Heavenly Venerable Moheng descended like a giant roc, landing on the ground.
Within Hongyue Abyss, a pitch-black fissure had split open in the dark soil, bottomless and leading to parts unknown.
Heavenly Venerable Moheng frowned. "Where are they?"
He swept his gaze across the area but saw no sign of the five Yang God Heavenly Venerables.
However, he detected their lingering auras, which indicated they had departed only moments before.
He sank his consciousness into his communication jade slip.
The message he had sent still sat solitary at the end; no one had replied.
"They fled quickly enough, yet didn't have time to reply?"
Heavenly Venerable Moheng's gaze grew deep, carrying a tinge of anger.
This proved the supreme treasure appearing here was astonishing enough to drive those five to try to keep it for themselves.
"This old man will see just what kind of treasure it is!" Moheng thought to himself, his body plunging into the fissure.
In a mere dozen breaths, his expression altered.
"So much purple qi!"
"And...!"
In that same instant, he spotted the figures of those five.
At that moment, the five Yang God Heavenly Venerables were combining their strength to assault a formation.
By all appearances, they were exerting every ounce of power and had been attacking for a considerable time.
Right now, the formation was on the verge of collapse.
Seeing this, Moheng felt annoyed, but for the sake of his grand schemes, he suppressed his temper.
"Do you need this old man's help?"
As he spoke, he flew toward the formation.
The moment the words left his mouth, the tottering formation shattered beneath the five Heavenly Venerables' blows.
The five wore nervous, anxious looks, seemingly noticing Moheng's arrival.
What shocked Moheng most was that they gave no reply whatsoever, charging straight ahead with relentless determination.
One of them even pretended to carelessly toss out a defensive formation to obstruct him.
Only... wasn't that acting a bit too clumsy?
"You think a mere formation can stop me?"
"Just what supreme treasure could drive them this mad!"
Puzzled, Moheng's eyes also grew greedy.
Those five Yang God Heavenly Venerables had always been obsequious and submissive toward him, yet now they dared scheme against him for the sake of a treasure.
This was quite abnormal.
"Break!"
As a Yang God of the Ultimate Principle Realm, Moheng possessed extraordinary might.
A mere formation posed no real obstacle to him.
Even so, it held him back for half a breath.
The moment the formation shattered, Moheng's pupils constricted violently.
His mind shook with wild shock.
Before him stood a vast, boundlessly sacred gate...
"Could this be... the Gate of Ultimate Principle?"
For an instant, Moheng was overcome with suspicion and shock.
Right then, the five figures plunged straight into the Gate of Ultimate Principle, their faces brimming with fanatical zeal.
Any lingering hesitation in Moheng evaporated instantly, and he cast all second thoughts aside.
If he missed this... he might never get another chance.
Besides, those five had already charged in; as a cultivator of the Ultimate Principle Realm, why would he shrink back?
Without another thought, he threw himself into the Gate of Ultimate Principle.
With the Gate of Ultimate Principle in hand, how could his future ever be bounded by a mere Lord of Moluo!
However, the moment he stepped inside the Gate of Ultimate Principle, his eyes narrowed sharply.
Nearly twenty remnant souls stood before him.
Every single one of them was looking at him with eager anticipation or as if watching a farce.
Seeing them, Moheng's mind reeled.
Motong... Motang... Mochi... Moran...
These remnant souls were none other than every single Yang God Heavenly Venerable of the Moluo Clan stationed in the Demonic Abyss!
Like a bolt out of the blue, Moheng's head buzzed.
Looking past the remnant souls, he saw a man clad in a crimson robe seated lazily, smiling with amusement.
"Welcome to... the Netherworld."
...
A month slipped by quietly.
Dressed in a blood-red robe, Qi Yuan exuded an unfathomable aura.
He stretched lazily.
"Would you believe it? The Lord of Moluo turned out to be an aggressive topmouth culter. I hadn't even started fishing or properly baited the hole, and he practically threw himself onto my doorstep."
Qi Yuan sent a message to Jin Li, recounting the recent events.
After dealing with Heavenly Venerable Moheng, Qi Yuan headed to the Fifth Heaven to continue his fishing expedition.
With the advice of the remnant souls from above, his plans grew even more ingenious.
He had even employed a honey trap.
Did you think a honey trap meant simply picking a peerless beauty?
Wrong. It was: "Silly dummy, why are you just as foolish as you were back in high school?"
Those remnant souls knew the Yang God Heavenly Venerables below like the back of their hands. They offered strategies, allowing Qi Yuan to craft customized bait for every single Yang God down there.
The funniest part was when Qi Yuan prepared groundbait for Heavenly Venerable Moluo.
It had to be admitted that Heavenly Venerable Moluo was exceptionally formidable.
The moment Qi Yuan began laying the bait, Heavenly Venerable Moluo detected him.
Qi Yuan had felt somewhat awkward at the time.
Yet Heavenly Venerable Moluo completely disregarded Qi Yuan and, without a second thought, charged straight into the Gate of Ultimate Principle.
Qi Yuan had almost burst out laughing.
He immediately coordinated with Lord Buddha Wutian, who wielded the Buddha Realm, to suppress the Moluo Clan.
Only when searching Heavenly Venerable Moluo's remnant soul did Qi Yuan learn the truth.
It turned out that when Heavenly Venerable Moluo was young, he had met a mysterious old Daoist.
The Daoist told him he was fated with the Gate of Ultimate Principle.
Back then, he had no idea what the Gate of Ultimate Principle was.
Later, after becoming a Yang God, he kept those words engraved in his heart.
Seeing the Gate of Ultimate Principle with his own eyes, how could he stop to think? He had simply dashed in.
"So you're saying... the Moluo Clan... is gone?" Inside the Moon Goddess Palace, Jin Li's usually serene heart was thrown into turmoil.
Every day, Qi Yuan sent her updates.
And now, the Moluo Clan had been completely wiped out.
She felt as if she were dreaming.
Her shock was no less than when Qi Yuan had announced he annihilated the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground.
Yet the Moon Goddess Palace remained entirely oblivious to what had transpired on the other side of the Demonic Abyss.
Jin Li's expression shifted.
Above all, Qi Yuan's tone was as breezy and relaxed as if he had crushed an ant—not in the least like someone who had just brought down a colossal titan like the Moluo Clan.
One had to realize that in the Fifth Heaven, the Moluo Clan ranked among the top five factions.
In the entire Sixth Heaven, it could make the top thirty.
The annihilation of such a powerhouse was enough to shake the Sixth Heaven to its core.
"Gone. From now on, Lord Buddha Wutian will pose as the Lord of Moluo," Qi Yuan said casually.
He already had a plan to occupy the nest, having his Divine Infants masquerade as the Moluo Clan.
After all, the Yang God Heavenly Venerables had all been replaced by his own people.
They were the true Moluo Clan!
The original Moluo Clan?
Traitors! Impostors!
"Well, in a little while, I'll be heading to the Black Demon Abyss," Qi Yuan added. "What do you think—should I lay down some groundbait and fish in the Black Demon Abyss too? Ah, that won't do. I have no grudge against the Black Demon Abyss; fishing there wouldn't be nice."
Qi Yuan considered himself a genuinely kindhearted person.
"Don't. The number of Great Ultimate Principle experts in the Black Demon Abyss is second only to the Ultimate Principle Society. You must be careful!" Jin Li was deeply worried for him.
Although the Black Demon Abyss lacked someone who commanded a supreme ultimate principle like Moon Goddess Yuanjun, their sheer count of ordinary Great Ultimate Principle figures was unquestionably high.
"Mm, no fishing. I'm very kindhearted, just like you."
"..." Jin Li's fair face blushed faintly.
"I have to log off now and sort things out. The Moluo Clan has too many good things, and I don't have much time left."
"Bye-bye!"
Ending his call with Jin Li, Qi Yuan reclined within his jade slip, his eyes shining as he looked over the dense expanse of cultivation manuals.
"All good stuff!"
There were simply too many treasures.
In particular, he had found eight to nine thousand types of divine arts that he needed.
Cultivation arts below the level of divine arts were beyond count, as were the mountains of Immortal Jade and assorted treasures.
"Sigh, if only I had seen all this back when I was in the Qi Refinement Realm—how exhilarating that would have been."
Looking at these treasures, Qi Yuan felt calm. Aside from divine arts and the well back home, nothing else could stir ripples in his heart.
"These things... hmm..."
Qi Yuan mused.
Suddenly, he recalled what Junior Sister Jiang Lingsu's father, Jiang Ruhua, had once said:
"Our Jiang family is just too poor, sigh."
With that thought, Qi Yuan made up his mind.
...
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Lands, people came and went in an endless stream within the Jiang clan.
Only a few months had passed since Qi Yuan eliminated the Great Tribulation, and the atmosphere in the Canglan Realm following its eradication had yet to dissipate.
Before the gates of the Jiang family, guests gathered like clouds.
From time to time, Yin God Venerables arrived to pay visits and present congratulatory gifts.
Their pretexts for visiting were manifold: the Jiang family's dog had given birth to a litter of puppies, or a young prodigy of the Jiang family had slain a hen.
In short, people swarmed everywhere, using every conceivable excuse to deliver presents.
Today's Jiang family possessed illustrious renown; even factions backed by Yin Gods dared not offend them.
At this moment, Jiang Qian was walking through the Jiang family courtyard, carrying gifts inside.
A look of lingering shock still showed on her face.
Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that Qi Yuan—who had come to her rescue in Yuntian City and slain the profligate son of the Feng family—was actually... such an existence.
Remembering how she had urged Qi Yuan to flee quickly back then to avoid the Feng family's retaliation, she felt like laughing at herself now.
Right then, out of nowhere, a voice resonated between heaven and earth:
"Uncle, isn't your Jiang family a bit strapped for cash?"
"As luck would have it, I went up to the Immortal Realm and wiped out a faction, earning a little pocket money. Allow me to offer some relief."
Hearing that voice, reverence and wild excitement flashed across Jiang Qian's face.
"Greetings... Blood-Robed Sword God!"
Across the entire city, people seemed to realize what was happening as well. Every cultivator lowered their heads, deep awe stamped on their faces.
"Greetings, Senior Blood-Robed Sword God!"
The look on Jiang Ruhua's face at this moment was smug to the extreme.
If not for the crowd, he would have broken into a dance right then and there.
Even so, he feigned an indifferent demeanor, though he made sure to maintain courtesy: "Many thanks for Senior's kind consideration!"
After all, his daughter wasn't married yet, so he had to show proper respect to Senior Blood-Robed Sword God.
Naturally, the surrounding members of the Jiang family were speechless at Jiang Ruhua's act.
This fellow chattered endlessly at home every day about his "worthy son-in-law," boasting of his own sharp eye for talent, and claiming he was the one who had taught the Blood-Robed Sword God how to woo his daughter.
"With all this Immortal Jade... you shouldn't be poor anymore, right?"
Qi Yuan casually waved a hand.
Above the sky, a pitch-black rift tore open.
No meat pies fell from the sky—instead, it rained... Immortal Jade!
Not just Immortal Jade, but all kinds of treasures capable of driving even Yin Gods mad.
Glinting jewels and shimmering spiritual light, swirling immortal mist, and a dazzling kaleidoscope of colors left everyone dazed.
Gazing upon the treasures descending from above, the cultivators in the city felt a profound wave of envy.
Jiang Ruhua's face bloomed with delight. "Senior, you must have wiped out a major faction more than ten times stronger than Qiudao Palace, haven't you?"
Not far away, the Palace Master of Qiudao Palace, who happened to be passing by, twitched slightly.
*Don't bring me into this!*
Besides, any single item among these treasures was something Qiudao Palace probably couldn't afford.
"Oh, you're quite right," Qi Yuan answered without hesitation after a brief thought.
Being a hundred times stronger still counted as being more than ten times stronger.
It was just like how earning three thousand a month still counted as earning under two hundred thousand, right?
Chapter 426