“What?” Dongbo Xueying frowned slightly. “Another one is in the Three-Headed Divine Mountain?”
The Three-Headed Divine Mountain, located in the fortieth layer of the Abyss, was naturally less dangerous than the Lakeheart Island. However, having survived the cosmic cataclysm until now, it was not to be underestimated.
“Finding one of his avatars inside the ruins is too difficult. I’m not proficient in the Dao of Karma, so I have no way to track him within the ruins,” Dongbo Xueying thought to himself, shaking his head. “It seems I have no choice but to go to his lair and ask him directly.”
Whoosh.
Standing at the prow of the Starfield Ark, the vessel once again traversed the spatial tunnel, heading deeper into the Abyss.
Though Dongbo Xueying had never met the Howling Fiend Cult Master, he already harbored a faint hostility toward him. The Howling Fiend Cult Master had been collecting countless souls on a massive scale, which were likely used for some sinister secret technique. If that were truly the case, then the fate of his sworn brother Chi Qiu Bai would be tragic indeed!
“I hope Brother Changfeng is still alive. I hope my guess is wrong,” Dongbo Xueying silently prayed.
Soon, they arrived at the thirty-seventh layer of the Abyss.
This was a vast and boundless world, where icy winds howled like blades. In such gales, weaker demons would be instantly shredded to pieces. At the heart of this expansive Abyssal world lay the center of power for this layer—countless bones formed a sea, and amidst this skeletal ocean stood a towering palace radiating light, faintly illuminating the entire Bone Sea.
“I heard the Howling Fiend Cult Master is utterly mad, establishing his own cult and even building his palace atop a sea of bones,” Dongbo Xueying mused as he stowed the Starfield Ark and hovered above the Bone Sea, gazing at the distant palace. “There are many eccentric figures in the Divine Realm, but I’ve never heard of anyone constructing their palace upon countless skeletons.”
Boom!
Dongbo Xueying unleashed the dark aura of destruction around him, his intangible will surging outward like a shockwave sweeping in all directions. The Bone Sea, once filled with the wails of countless vengeful spirits, suddenly fell silent. Even the ever-present gales ceased entirely.
For millions of miles, all was still—not a single ripple disturbed the eerie calm.
At the center of this vast silence stood Dongbo Xueying, clad in dark red robes, suspended in midair.
“Master!”
“Master!” The patrolling demonic deities, spotting him from afar, immediately panicked and rushed to report.
Inside a grand and sinister bone hall, the Howling Fiend Cult Master lounged on his throne, attended by a host of succubi. Suddenly, he frowned and looked up, his gaze piercing through the hall’s entrance to fix upon the dark-red-robed figure mere millions of miles away. The moment he recognized the robes, his expression shifted.
These were robes personally crafted by the supreme Bloodblade Divine Emperor of the Divine Realm and Abyss, worn exclusively by Bloodblade Pavilion Masters. Their distinctiveness made them easily identifiable—unless deliberately concealed, which most Pavilion Masters rarely bothered to do.
“A Bloodblade Pavilion Master?” the Howling Fiend Cult Master muttered before barking, “All of you, get out!”
Before the words fully left his mouth, he transformed into a wisp of black mist, instantly traversing the void to appear before Dongbo Xueying. The mist solidified into his form, and he bowed slightly with forced courtesy. “Greetings, esteemed Pavilion Master. To what do I owe the honor of your visit to my Howling Fiend Abyss? If there is anything you require, I shall do my utmost to assist.”
“Howling Fiend Cult Master, I’ve come for one matter,” Dongbo Xueying stated coldly. “Thirty thousand years ago, you collected countless souls, one of which was obtained from Darhao. I need to take that soul with me.”
The Howling Fiend Cult Master’s heart skipped a beat.
A soul?
He had gathered those souls to cultivate the *Bloodfiend Tome (Upper Volume)*, a fact he had kept hidden to this day. Why would a being at least at the Paragon level inquire about this? Had someone suspected he possessed the *Bloodfiend Tome*?
It was no wonder he was paranoid. The *Bloodfiend Tome* was an irresistible treasure—a supreme technique. Even its lower volume alone had elevated the Annihilation Emperor to a status second only to the Abyssal Overlords. If exposed, he would never be able to keep it. Though he had already inherited its knowledge, such a treasure was best retained for future trades once his strength grew.
Allowing others to inherit it even once would demand an exorbitant price.
“Esteemed Pavilion Master, I gathered countless souls back then. How could I possibly remember which one came from Darhao?” the Howling Fiend Cult Master replied with a shake of his head.
“The soul’s name is Chi Qiu Bai,” Dongbo Xueying said, his gaze piercing.
The Howling Fiend Cult Master’s heart clenched.
Chi Qiu Bai?
Of course he knew. Among the countless souls he had collected, this one had initially seemed insignificant—not even a deity! Yet, through the brutal process of devouring and merging wills, Chi Qiu Bai had emerged as one of the nine final dominant wills. Recently, while attempting to refine these nine wills, he had absorbed fragments of their memories, giving him some basic understanding of Chi Qiu Bai.
Though inwardly alarmed, he betrayed nothing outwardly.
“Did you use these souls to cultivate a secret technique?” Dongbo Xueying pressed, seeing no cracks in the cult master’s facade.
“Hahaha! In the Dark Abyss, using souls for cultivation is commonplace,” the Howling Fiend Cult Master chuckled. “Surely the Pavilion Master isn’t here to police that?”
A flash of killing intent in Dongbo Xueying’s eyes sent a chill down the cult master’s spine. Such terrifying willpower!
“Either hand over Chi Qiu Bai’s soul, or if you can’t distinguish it, surrender all the remaining souls you’ve collected for me to sift through. Otherwise… I’ll have to search you myself,” Dongbo Xueying said icily. “I suggest you comply willingly.”
Search him personally?
That was out of the question! His true body in the lair carried the *Bloodfiend Tome (Upper Volume)*. A search would expose it immediately!
“I truly know nothing of this Chi Qiu Bai’s soul,” the Howling Fiend Cult Master insisted.
“Hmm?” Dongbo Xueying’s frown deepened.
“Ah! I recall giving a batch of souls to a Paragon,” the cult master quickly added. “Among them were the souls Darhao provided. Yes, I’m certain of it.”
A being of his level had flawless memory.
“Then swear an oath by the Abyssal Will that you’re not lying,” Dongbo Xueying demanded. “If you do, I’ll spare you and seek out that Paragon instead.”
The Howling Fiend Cult Master panicked.
He had given no souls to any Paragon—he’d used them all himself. Chi Qiu Bai was now one of the nine dominant wills! Swearing an Abyssal Oath was impossible.
“Pavilion Master, don’t push too far,” the cult master growled, though inwardly he was desperate. He knew well that Abyssal powerhouses rarely followed reason—some were outright capricious. Yet, even without fully mastering the *Bloodfiend Tome*, its influence had warped his mindset. Given time, ordinary Paragons would be no match for him.
“Refusing to swear proves your deceit. Then I’ll search you myself.” Dongbo Xueying remained still, but the surrounding space twisted as nine figures materialized, each clad in black armor—the *Annihilation Primordial Body* technique—and exuding a destructive, sinister aura.
World Avatars could assume any form, even mimicking weapons, the *Taihao Force*, or the *Annihilation Primordial Body*. Replicating dark destruction aura was child’s play.
The nine avatars encircled the Howling Fiend Cult Master completely.
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