“Profound Yin Devil Qi!” Elders Miao and Gu seemed to recognize the origin of this black energy, crying out in terror. As if seeing a venomous scorpion, they immediately split apart, instantly darting to either side.
The black energy showed no intention of pursuit, instead retracting like a snake’s tongue back to the sea surface, where it condensed into a black whirlwind beside the ice-sculpture-like Infant Carp Beast.
As the black wind gradually subsided, the figures of one man and two women appeared beside the Infant Carp Beast. The man was short, withered, and thin, his face covered in black pockmarks. The women were voluptuous and beautiful, wearing sleeveless short skirts, but exuded an aura of sinister coldness and evil.
The two women were only at late Foundation Establishment stage, but the grotesquely ugly, withered young man—whose cultivation level Han Li couldn’t discern—was actually a Core Formation cultivator.
“Wu Chou! What is the meaning of this? Do you intend to start a war with our Six United Palaces?” Elder Miao, clearly recognizing the man, blurted out in furious rage.
“War? This young master has no interest in that! However, my ancestor is about to emerge from seclusion beneath the sea. The demon core of this Infant Carp Beast shall serve as my congratulatory gift!” The withered young man said arrogantly, his eyes turned upward.
“Ancestor Extreme Yin is emerging from seclusion?” This statement from the young man shocked the two Six United Palaces elders, and they exchanged bewildered glances.
Nearby cultivators like Qing Suanzi turned deathly pale upon hearing this! Even the middle-aged scholar, who had always been brimming with arrogance, trembled slightly, revealing a look of terror.
Witnessing all this, Han Li was inwardly astonished! Could this “Ancestor Extreme Yin” really have such a fearsome reputation? What struck him as even stranger was that he felt a faint sense of familiarity with the black evil energy emanating from the young man, which puzzled him immensely.
After a moment’s thought, Han Li recalled that although he didn’t know the power of this black energy, its aura seemed somewhat similar to the “Blood Refinement Divine Light” practiced by Yue Huang and Qu Hun. This reminded him of the “Profound Yin Scripture” mentioned in the grayish-white jade slip.
“Could this ‘Profound Yin Devil Qi’ be related to that?” Han Li wondered suspiciously.
But before he could ponder further, Elder Miao couldn’t restrain himself and shouted loudly, “Wu Chou, what nonsense are you spouting! Everyone knows your ancestor entered life-and-death seclusion over a hundred years ago. Unless he achieved a breakthrough in cultivation, he would never emerge, no matter how great the matter. Don’t tell me your ancestor reached mid-Nascent Soul stage in just over a hundred years!”
Upon hearing this, Wu Chou threw his head back and laughed maniacally.
“Haha, your Six United Palaces are truly ignorant! Who told you my ancestor entered seclusion to reach mid-Nascent Soul stage? In truth, he was cultivating a peerlessly powerful devil art. Now that the technique is complete, he naturally emerges!” Wu Chou declared triumphantly.
Hearing this, Elders Miao and Gu were stunned, unsure whether the other spoke truth or falsehood.
“Since you know of my ancestor’s reputation, this young master will take this Infant Carp Beast. Surely your Six United Palaces won’t deny our Extreme Yin Island this face?” Seeing their expressions, Wu Chou added with a sinister tone.
Hearing such arrogant words, Elder Miao’s face paled. Elder Gu, however, seemed to be contemplating something, his eyes flickering. For a moment, neither spoke.
As for Qing Suanzi and the other invited helpers, they instinctively retreated several steps, clearly wanting no part in the conflict.
Feng Sanniang, seeing this, frowned deeply but could do nothing. After all, cultivators like Qu Hun had only agreed to deal with the demon beast; they weren’t subordinates of the Six United Palaces. In the current situation, the Six United Palaces were truly at a disadvantage!
Although the Six United Palaces had two early Core Formation cultivators in Elders Miao and Gu, they had already exhausted much of their energy driving the two borrowed ancient treasures, the “Dry Heaven Halberds.” Meanwhile, the young man called Wu Chou, though also at early Core Formation stage, practiced the “Profound Yin Art,” a top devil art in the Scattered Star Seas, far surpassing ordinary Core Formation cultivators!
Moreover, the Extreme Yin Ancestor behind him was a notorious demonic titan known to all in the Scattered Star Seas—who would dare provoke him lightly?
But to let Wu Chou take the Infant Carp Beast right before their eyes would be a massive loss of face for the Six United Palaces! Not only would all their previous efforts be wasted, but it would also create an impression of weakness, severely hindering the Palaces’ future development.
At this moment, the disheveled Elder Gu moved his lips slightly, secretly communicating with Elder Miao. As they discussed, their expressions shifted uncertainly.
Wu Chou snorted coldly, arrogantly stepping next to the Infant Carp Beast at his feet. Black light flashed in his hand, and a pitch-black demon blade appeared. With a swift strike, he severed the beast’s strange head and unceremoniously began searching inside the skull. The two women watched Elders Miao and Gu in the sky warily.
Seeing this, Feng Sanniang’s expression turned extremely grim! But since the two guest elders remained silent, she dared not act rashly.
Han Li and the others watched silently, none daring to speak loudly for fear of drawing trouble.
Soon, Wu Chou extracted a turquoise-blue pearl from the Infant Carp Beast’s head, his ugly face lighting up with joy. He then looked up at the crab pincers and other strange objects on the four bizarre hands, greed flashing across his face.
But as he raised his demon blade again, Elder Gu sternly halted him.
“Young Island Master, out of respect for your ancestor’s past acquaintance with our Palace Master, you may take everything else from the Infant Carp Beast. But the demon core is something our Six United Palaces must obtain. It must be left behind, or we will have no way to account to our Palace Master.” Elder Gu’s voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.
Hearing this, Wu Chou sneered several times but paid no heed. With another slash, he severed one of the beast’s wrists and snatched the blue coral it held.
Seeing this, Elder Gu first showed a trace of anger, but then sighed. Seemingly helpless, he suddenly sent a sound transmission to Wu Chou.
The moment these transmitted words entered Wu Chou’s ears, his raised demon blade halted mid-air, his face displaying incredulous shock. He then lowered the blade, equally disbelief evident as his lips moved, seemingly asking questions. Elder Gu responded expressionlessly with a word or two.
This bizarre scene left Han Li and the others utterly confused. Elder Miao, however, floated woodenly in the air, indifferent to it all.
“I don’t believe it! Unless you show evidence to prove your identities!” Wu Chou suddenly shook his head and declared coldly and loudly.
Whether intentional or not, he didn’t use sound transmission but spoke openly, allowing Han Li, Feng Sanniang, and the others to hear clearly, deepening their bewilderment.
Elders Gu and Miao’s expressions changed dramatically. They exchanged a glance, both showing anger.
“Here, this should prove our identities!” Elder Gu said with a frosty expression, tossing out a black light. Wu Chou effortlessly caught it.
Han Li, concentrating intently and relying on his powerful spiritual sense, clearly saw the object: a token engraved with a ferocious ghost head, emitting faint black energy. Wu Chou turned it over carefully for inspection.
Han Li’s heart sank with a foreboding sense of dread. He quickly glanced around and couldn’t help but shudder.
The others were still watching the three Core Formation cultivators with wary confusion, but Qing Suanzi was deathly pale, his hands clenched as he silently began retreating. In moments, he had put thirty yards between them.
When he noticed Han Li looking at him, he started, then showed an extremely strained bitter smile. Without a word, he suddenly transformed into a green streak, fleeing for his life.
Seeing this, Han Li’s heart plummeted! Without hesitation, he slapped his storage pouch, swiftly summoning the Divine Wind Boat. Pulling Qu Hun along, he boarded the vessel and transformed into a white streak, urgently fleeing toward the nameless island.
The extremely bizarre actions of Qing Suanzi and Han Li left the just-noticing Feng Sanniang and the middle-aged scholar stunned and bewildered.
Elders Gu and Miao below also noticed this scene, their expressions turning cold simultaneously. Elder Gu said sinisterly, “We will handle killing the two escapees. The remaining people here are left to Brother Wu to silence!”
Without waiting for Wu Chou’s agreement, he and Elder Miao immediately transformed into two startling streaks of light, chasing after Han Li and Qing Suanzi respectively, vanishing without a trace in an instant.
Wu Chou snorted coldly. Though clearly reluctant, he turned a murderous gaze toward the bewildered Feng Sanniang and the others.
“Hmph! Consider yourselves unlucky for hearing what you shouldn’t have! Offer your primal souls to this young master!” With that, Wu Chou spread his arms, and a overwhelming black Yin wind surged from his body, sweeping toward Feng Sanniang and the others with terrifying, oppressive momentum.
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