Hun Changqing, satisfied, put away the bamboo scrolls used to refine the Heavenly Demon Puppet. He turned to leave, only to find Zi Yan reaching for the precious medicinal herbs on the crystal counter, her eyes gleaming, a drop of clear saliva dripping from her lips.
Hun Changqing stepped forward, appearing behind Zi Yan, and gave her a sharp rap on the back of the head.
"Ouch! Master, what are you doing?!"
Zi Yan cried out in pain, quickly covering her head with her small hand.
"Although these things aren't very precious, I can't let you waste them like this. You can eat them after they've been refined into pills. Bear with it for now."
"Oh~"
Zi Yan rubbed her head, pouting, and replied somewhat aggrievedly.
"Let's go."
After packing up the medicinal herbs and scrolls on the shelf, Hun Changqing said goodbye to Zi Yan and walked outside.
Seeing Hun Changqing leave, Zi Yan immediately followed, eagerly trailing behind him and secretly making small movements.
...
Hun Changqing walked out of the main hall. The previously deafening sounds of battle in the plaza outside had ceased.
The entire vast plaza was now completely stained crimson with flowing blood. Blood mist filled the air, and the stench of blood permeated everything, even the bright moon in the sky was veiled in crimson, resembling a blood moon.
The disciples of Demon Flame Valley had been completely annihilated, and because of Su Qian, a Dou Zong, the elders of Demon Flame Valley also met their end. Now, apart from the Earth Demon Old Ghost, who was being pursued by Medusa and whose fate was unknown, Demon Flame Valley was utterly wiped out.
Hun Changqing glanced at the Canaan Academy disciples below, who were rustling and rummaging among the corpses of the Demon Flame Valley disciples. His slender, willow-leaf-shaped eyebrows twitched slightly. Then, his gaze swept across the entire Demon Flame Valley, and he thought to himself,
"The environment of this Demon Flame Valley is not bad. Currently, the Underworld Palace is only established in my words; it doesn't even have a gate yet. Most of the Canaan Academy students are here now. I might as well just establish the Underworld Palace here in Demon Flame Valley and take this opportunity to promote it."
With this thought, Hun Changqing immediately mobilized the Taiyin True Qi within his body. Black Qi surged out from his body, and then the entire plaza began to tremble violently. The ground began to crack, and countless pitch-black fissures appeared. Then, black mist spewed out from the fissures, and pitch-black wooden strips shot into the sky along with the billowing black mist.
Countless black wooden strips blotted out the sky, twisting and turning wildly like a chaotic dance of demons. Coupled with the dense aura of evil and death emanating from the black wood, everyone present trembled, their bodies chilled, and a powerful sense of impending death gripped them, their eyes filled with horror.
Su Qian, who had been immersed in the joy of victory, was also startled by this sudden turn of events. He looked anxiously at Hun Changqing, though he knew Hun Changqing wouldn't attack the Canaan Academy students, he still felt a heavy, oppressive feeling emanating from the eerie black wood.
"Retreat!"
As more and more black wood burst from the ground, almost completely filling the plaza, Su Qian shouted to the students. Many students, initially stunned by the overwhelming black wood, immediately snapped back to reality upon hearing Su Qian's shout and retreated hastily towards his position.
After all the students had left the plaza, the twisted, dark wood began to intertwine and entwine. Countless wooden strips rubbed and creaked, producing a piercing, grotesque sound, like the mournful howls of a demon, sending chills down the spines of all the students.
As the wooden strips intertwined and rubbed together, a vast expanse of black energy erupted from the gaps between the strips, spreading and enveloping the entire plaza. Those outside couldn't see what was happening inside, only hearing violent, earth-shattering roars. Their hearts trembled with each of the sounds.
As time passed, the commotion within the black mist gradually subsided. With the calming of the sounds, the dense black mist thinned until it finally dissipated completely, revealing the scene within.
Everyone turned their gaze in that direction, filled with curiosity. What was this incredibly mysterious Dou Zun powerhouse doing, causing such a commotion? The scene before them left them utterly astonished.
The once vast plaza had vanished, replaced by an enormous building.
The building was entirely black, its shape twisted and bizarre, its surface uneven, with black wooden strips winding and coiling, seemingly alive and slowly writhing. At the top were two deep, dark holes, which, together with the massive portal at the base, resembled a grotesque, terrifying face. The
entire twisted and terrifying building exuded an eeriness and gloom, which, combined with the perpetually gloomy weather of Demon Flame Valley and the occasional howling winds like ghosts, created a scene that sent chills down everyone's spines and made them tremble.
Just as everyone present was in shock, Hun Changqing, clad in black, slowly stepped through the void and walked to the building. He seemed to merge seamlessly with the building behind him, appearing perfectly harmonious.
"Hehehe... From today onwards, Demon Flame Valley ceases to exist; from now on, only the Underworld Palace will remain here!"
Hun Changqing's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to everyone's ears. Some students at Canaan Academy who were already interested in Hun Changqing's power stared at him and the buildings behind him, their eyes gleaming with a hidden light.
They wanted to join the Underworld Palace, but Hun Changqing's sinister and evil aura, and the ever-present eerie atmosphere emanating from the Underworld Palace, made them hesitate. After Hun Changqing finished speaking, his figure gradually became ethereal, then transformed into a wisp of black mist and disappeared into the eerie building. However, the moment he entered, he sent a message to Zi Yan, who was below.
Upon receiving Hun Changqing's message, Zi Yan was initially startled, then nodded thoughtfully. Her battle qi began to surge around her, and battle qi wings condensed behind her. With a sudden flap of her wings, accompanied by a loud sonic boom, Zi Yan soared into the sky, appearing atop the building, within everyone's sight.
The instant Zi Yan appeared, many students who had been traumatized by her earlier beatings trembled involuntarily, their hearts pounding as if recalling some terrifying scene, their faces filled with fear.
Students who didn't recognize Zi Yan were filled with shock and curiosity. They were shocked that Zi Yan, at such a young age, was already a Dou Wang (Battle King) expert, and curious about what this seemingly adorable little girl intended to do.
"Ahem,"
Zi Yan squinted, scanning the students below with their varied expressions. She then made a coughing motion, placing her small fist near her mouth. The students, who had been somewhat agitated by Zi Yan's appearance, quieted down upon hearing her cough, focusing their attention on her and awaiting her next words.
"I believe many of you recognize me. I've spotted quite a few familiar faces—people I've beaten up. However, there are some weaker students who haven't been beaten up and don't recognize me. So let me introduce myself: my name is Zi Yan, and I'm the number one on the Canaan Academy's inner court's ranking list."
Upon hearing Zi Yan's blunt words, the familiar faces darkened, several black lines appearing on their faces. Those who didn't recognize Zi Yan also looked rather displeased. What did she mean by saying, "Because we're weaker, we haven't been beaten up by you?" Could she even speak properly?
While their faces darkened, they were also secretly shocked. They hadn't expected that the legendary, mysterious number one on the power ranking would be this seemingly harmless and adorable little girl.
Zi Yan noticed the ugly expressions on the students' faces below, nodded, and gave a satisfied smile. She hadn't said those words out of naivety; she had deliberately said them. She enjoyed seeing the ugly expressions on others'
faces as they wanted to hit her but couldn't. After satisfying her own mischievous pleasure, Zi Yan began her speech, reciting the words Hun Changqing had just taught her.
"That dark-robed man was my master, the master of this Underworld Palace, a Dou Zun powerhouse. You can call him Ghostly Dou Zun. And I, the number one on the Power Ranking, have already joined the Underworld Palace.
I was originally only a nine-star Dou Wang, far from the peak, and Dou Huang was even further away. But after joining the Underworld Palace, in just a few days, my cultivation has skyrocketed. Now I'm only one step away from Dou Huang. Before, I couldn't have imagined such a speed of progress!
The Underworld Palace is newly established and has abundant resources, but lacks manpower. So, those who join now, as long as you work hard, will enjoy abundant resources for training. The more you do, the more you earn.
At that time, Dou Wang and Dou Huang will no longer be dreams. The realms you once longed for will be within your reach with the help of the Underworld Palace." Reaching that level will be absolutely effortless.
Join the Underworld Palace, and as long as you work hard, advancing two to three realms a year is definitely not a problem!
Imagine the proud looks on your parents' faces, the envious glances from your neighbors, and the regretful expressions on the faces of the girls or boys who left you when you become Battle Kings or even Battle Emperors. That's the importance of strength, and the Underworld Palace can provide that strength!
Moreover, joining the Underworld Palace won't restrict your freedom too much. Even if you don't like the atmosphere, it's very easy to leave, and the working hours are very flexible.
So don't hesitate! Graduation season is approaching, so those who want to join the Underworld Palace should go and register with Elder Su Qian! Elder Su Qian has a deep partnership with the Underworld Palace, so you can rest assured!
...
As Zi Yan began her speech, a tremendous uproar erupted among the students below. Some, inspired by her words, were already fantasizing about what it would be like to join the Underworld Palace and become stronger.
Many students started gathering their friends, planning to go back and register with Elder Su Qian to join the Underworld Palace together. With Elder Su Qian and Zi Yan, the number one on the strength ranking, endorsing it, they believed the Underworld Palace was definitely not a scam and they could join with peace of mind.
Su Qian, watching the students' heated discussion and Zi Yan's impassioned voice, was dumbfounded. He hadn't expected Zi Yan to say such things. It was clearly something Hun Changqing had taught her—speaking so enthusiastically and recklessly, depicting such a beautiful future, leaving Su Qian speechless.
If Su Qian didn't know what was going on, he might have almost believed it himself. Moreover, Zi Yan had dragged him into this mess, leaving Su Qian feeling utterly helpless. However, Su Qian couldn't contradict Zi Yan now, otherwise, Hun Changqing's ruthless nature might come his way, and he wouldn't be able to withstand it.
...
Inside the newly constructed main hall of the Underworld Palace, Hun Changqing sat cross-legged, taking out a container shrouded in black mist. He slowly opened the container and retrieved the souls of Xuan and Iron Protector.
Hun Changqing then used his soul power to probe into their souls, obtaining the location of their branch palace in the Northwest Continent from their memories. He then gently placed their souls back into the container.
Earlier, at the moment Hun Changqing advanced to the Dou Zun realm, the previously blurred "Weapon Refining Chapter" of his Taiyin True Understanding had become incredibly clear, revealing new content.
In the "Weapon Forging Chapter," the various powerful magical artifacts made Hun Changqing's eyes gleam. These artifacts were not only incredibly powerful but also possessed many unique uses. Hun Changqing's mouth watered at the sight.
Unfortunately, among the powerful magical artifacts recorded in the Taiyin True Scripture, Hun Changqing had never even heard of the materials needed to forge them, let alone seen them. He guessed that these materials were probably impossible to find on the Dou Qi Continent.
Seeing these incredibly powerful magical artifacts but being unable to forge them filled Hun Changqing with great resentment. Undeterred, he searched and finally found a magical artifact perfectly suited to his needs, one that could be forged in the near future. This overjoyed him, but the materials used to forge this artifact caused a strange look to appear on Hun Changqing's face.
"The Yin Soul Banner... Hehehe..."