Staying in the sect, controlling beasts and cultivating immortals

The Soul-Suppressing Protectorate, the core hall of the Chaos Emperor Array.

After seven days of rest, the lingering smell of gunpowder and blood has been replaced by the delicate fragrance of purified lotus and the cool, heavy feel of the stone.

The Guixu Demon-Suppressing Stele stands like a pillar of heaven, its body shrouded in chaotic divine patterns, locking the last trace of restless, desolate poison deep within the earth's veins.

In the center of the main hall, the fire in the Myriad Transformations Returning to the Void Furnace controlled by Mo Heng gradually died down. The last batch of Annihilation War Puppets—three hundred metal skeletons with dark gray bodies and simplified chaotic divine patterns and annihilation runes—saw their eyes light up with a cold, eerie light. They lined up neatly in front of the Demon Slayer Army, which had been replenished under Wang Cheng's command, and their murderous aura was as solid as a tangible substance.

Wang Cheng was clad in newly forged dark gold armor. His broken Chaos Bone Arm had been reshaped by Yu Changsheng with Emperor's Blood and the Origin of Annihilation, making him even more ferocious and powerful. His eyes were like torches as he surveyed the newly renovated 30,000 Demon Slayer Army and the Annihilation War Puppet Formation, his heart burning with fighting spirit.

Chen Xueqing sat on the jade lotus platform. Although her face still showed signs of fatigue and pallor after the battle, the azure lotus Daoist aura around her was harmonious and complete. The afterglow of the Returning to Heaven and Reversing the Sun Formation flowed through her fingertips, pulling most of the seriously wounded who were almost exhausted back from the brink of death.

On the high platform, Yu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back. (Emperor)
The robe remained the same, but upon closer inspection, subtle, barely perceptible cracks could be seen at the edges of the hem—marks of Dao wounds left from the direct clash with the will of the divine demon's finger bones.

His aura was deep and unfathomable, no longer possessing the domineering and unparalleled power of his peak, but instead exuding an extremely restrained sense of danger, like a dormant volcano.

The Sword of Annihilation, hanging beside him, had dark red divine patterns lying dormant on its blade. The newly embedded core of the Returning Void Star Orbit Compass at the hilt was emitting a faint starlight pointing towards the endless void.

His gaze pierced through the thick, chaotic stone walls of the main hall, crossed the scorched earth of the Eastern Territory that had already been cleared, and finally settled on the West—that vast region shrouded in chaos and the unknown, which the Rift Heaven Alliance regarded as its foundation: the Central Continent.

"The remnants of the Eastern Territory, the Yin Puppet Sect, have been annihilated."

Yu Changsheng's voice was not loud, but it clearly overwhelmed all the metal friction and energy humming in the hall, carrying an unquestionable imperial majesty that resonated in the hearts of every soldier.

"However, though the superficial ailment has been removed, the deep-seated threat remains. The roots of the Heavenly Alliance have taken deep root in the Central Plains. Mo Heng."

"Your subject is here," Mo Heng replied, stepping out from the array's light and shadow and bowing.

"Based on the perception from the Myriad Transformations Returning to the Void Furnace, what is the state of the chaotic energy in the Central Plains?"

Mo Heng's expression was solemn. His fingertips traced profound paths in the void, drawing upon the power of the Imperial Array. A blurry, colossal phantom, outlined by chaotic energy and the starlight of the Void, appeared in mid-air above the hall. The phantom's outline was distorted and irregular, filled with violent energy turbulence, massive spatial rifts, and countless blinding spots representing the strongholds of powerful beings or forces. Its chaos and oppressive aura far surpassed any battlefield in the Eastern Territory.

“Your Majesty,” Mo Heng said in a deep voice.

"The Central Plains is a remnant of the ancient convergence of myriad realms, with an extremely unstable spacetime structure, chaotic and mixed laws, and numerous ominous lands and ancient secret realms scattered throughout. The Rifting Heaven Alliance has occupied its core, 'Ripening Heaven City,' for over a thousand years, its power deeply rooted, its aura as vast and boundless as the ocean, subtly resonating with the chaotic origins of the Central Plains. I, Honglu, sense several auras within its core area, fierce and powerful, no weaker than... the divine and demonic power I encountered in the Ancient Ruins of the Burial of Gods! Moreover, xenophobia is rampant in the various regions of the Central Plains, with large and small forces intertwined, harboring deep hostility towards us 'Eastern Barbarians.' If we rashly send a large army to invade, we risk getting bogged down and being besieged by all sides."

There was silence in the hall.

Even the most valiant demon-slaying soldiers felt a heavy pressure as they looked at the chaotic and terrifying phantom. Wang Cheng frowned, and a flash of worry crossed Chen Xueqing's eyes.

Yu Changsheng's expression remained unchanged as he lightly tapped the cold hilt of the Annihilation Sword with his fingertips. "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. The victory in the Eastern Expedition lay in first breaking their wings and cutting off their claws. Now that we wish to attack the Central Plains, we cannot repeat this method. The Rift Heaven Alliance is not comparable to the remnants of the Eastern Territory; its foundation is deep, and a direct attack is the worst possible strategy."

His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept over the prince's core: "I need a pair of eyes and a pair of ears to be the first to enter the Central Plains. To investigate its strengths and weaknesses, to draw its map, to observe its people's hearts, and to find its lifeline! This is the vanguard of a large army, not something that can be accomplished by mere bravery. It requires shrewdness, patience, and adaptability, to hear thunder in silence, and to find a way out in desperate situations. Ling Wuying!"

"Your subordinate is here!" Ling Wuying, the commander of the Sky Patrol Army, a thin man whose aura almost blended into the shadows, appeared like a ghost beside Wang Cheng and knelt on one knee.

He was skilled in airspace reconnaissance, stealth, and intelligence gathering, and was the true eyes and ears of the Sky Patrol Army.

"I hereby appoint you as the 'Star Orbit Envoy,' commanding thirty elite scouts of the 'Return to the Void Camp.' Furthermore," Yu Changsheng turned his gaze to Mo Heng.

"From the soldiers surrendered by the Yin Kui Sect, select three who are proficient in the Central Plains dialect, familiar with the geography of the outskirts, and whose souls have been cleansed and imprinted by the Pure World Green Lotus, to serve as guides and for disguise. Also select two array masters who are knowledgeable in array deduction and skilled in drawing diagrams to accompany them."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Ling Wuying's voice was cold and emotionless.

"I bestow upon you three items for protection." Yu Changsheng raised his hand, and three streams of light flew toward Ling Wuying.

The first item: a black token that is neither gold nor jade, with a dark red dot in the center like congealed blood, emanating a faint yet chilling aura of the sword of annihilation.

"This is the 'Nirvana Induction'. In times of crisis, its power can be activated to unleash annihilation sword energy to block the enemy or disrupt their senses. Use with caution, as its power can easily reveal your whereabouts."

The second item: a palm-sized, intricately structured bronze compass, resembling the movement of stars. "The Guixu Star Orbit Sub-Compass."

Although it lacks the ability to open channels from the main disk, it can sense the main disk's location and subtly guide space, helping you identify chaotic currents and avoid large spatial rifts. It also serves as a benchmark for drawing maps.

The third item: three vibrant green lotus seeds, brimming with vitality. "Purifying Lotus Seeds. They can purify evil, heal wounds, prolong life, and also temporarily conceal the aura of foreign energies, disrupting tracking marks."

Ling Wuying solemnly accepted it and put it into the secret bag in her bosom.

"You have three tasks," Yu Changsheng said in a chilling voice.

"First, we will explore the relatively safe routes from Zhongzhou to the Eastern Territory and mark dangerous areas and spatial nodes. Second, we will thoroughly investigate the location, defenses, troop movements, and high-level activities of the core area of ​​the Rift Heaven Alliance, 'Ripple Heaven City,' as well as the distribution of its vassal forces."

Thirdly, draw a comprehensive map of the Central Plains, detailing its mountains, rivers, spheres of influence, and key resource points! The deadline is three months. Regardless of success or failure, reliable information must be sent back. If the task is unsuccessful, survival and bringing back intelligence are paramount. Depart immediately!

"This humble general would gladly die a thousand deaths!" Ling Wuying kowtowed heavily, his figure silently blending into the shadows of the hall and disappearing from sight. (Star Trail Dark Travel)
Three days later, at the border between the Eastern Territory and the Central Plains, lies a death zone known as the "Boundless Sand Vortex."

There is no earth here, only an endless vortex of chaotic energy quicksand that devours everything. Countless tiny spatial rifts appear and disappear in the quicksand like venomous snakes. Deeper inside, there is a terrifying spatial storm powerful enough to tear apart divine iron. If an ordinary cultivator steps in, he will be torn apart, devoured, and banished to the unknown void in an instant.

A faint gray streak, almost blending into the chaotic background, struggled to navigate the edge of the raging sand vortex.

It was Ling Wuying leading the "Star Trail" team. They were traveling in a "Return to the Void Shadow Boat," a vessel specially modified by Mo Heng and shaped like a barracuda. ​​The surface of the boat was covered with shadow materials that could absorb energy fluctuations.

Inside the boat, the atmosphere was heavy. Thirty Guixu Camp scouts, like stone statues, each performed their duties, maneuvering the boat through the gaps in the turbulent energy currents.

Three Yin Kui Sect cultivator guides, their faces pale, pointed to a seemingly calm area outside the porthole, but which was actually filled with invisible spatial blades. Their voices trembled as they said, "M-Master, after bypassing that 'Silent Killing Domain,' ahead... is the entrance to the 'Rotting Bone Forest' on the outskirts of 'Quicksand City.' There... are the 'Sand Scorpion Guards' of the Rift Sky Alliance patrolling..."

A formation master stared intently at the Guixu Star Orbit sub-disc floating in front of him. The sub-disc projected a constantly distorting and changing three-dimensional light and shadow. He quickly marked on the light and shadow with his fingers: "Commander, the sub-disc sensed a violent spatial collapse fluctuation three miles to the left front. It is recommended to deviate fifteen degrees to the right and cut in along this energy-sparse zone... The spatial coordinates of the Corpse Bone Forest have been initially anchored."

Ling Wuying closed his eyes, his divine sense spreading out like threads, sensing the violent and chaotic energy outside. "Initiate at the coordinates. Activate the 'Return to Nothingness' escape technique, reduce speed to 30%. Yin San, you are responsible for sensing the 'Earth-Sand Resonance' fluctuations of the Sand Scorpion Guards. Everyone, conceal your presence and cease all thought!"

The shadows on the surface of the Shadowship intensified, as if it had vanished into nothingness, silently gliding into a vast, twisted, and decaying forest of pale bones. A pale yellow miasma permeated the forest, and the ground was covered in sticky black mud.

The City of Quicksand is not built on sand, but rather a chaotic city built upon a relatively stable mass of giant skeletons.

It is the largest intelligence and black market trading hub on the eastern edge of Zhongzhou, a melting pot of all sorts of people, and also an important outpost for the Rift Heaven Alliance to monitor the eastern border.

Ling Wuying's team broke into smaller groups, disguising themselves as independent cultivators, caravan guards, and down-on-their-luck treasure hunters from different regions, and infiltrated the city.

Inside the tavern "Drunken Sand Cave," the air was thick with smoke. A scarred mercenary, disguised as a scout from the Guixu Camp, was "drunk" and slamming his fist on the table, loudly complaining about the "brutality" of the Eastern Chaos Divine Dynasty. This attracted several cultivators who were equally wary and greedy of the dynasty. Their conversation revealed that the Rifting Sky Alliance had recently increased its troops in "Black Wind Gorge," and that a large spatial teleportation array in the direction of "Rifting Sky City" was being frequently activated.

In a corner of the black market, a formation master, disguised as a scholar who buys ancient maps, "inadvertently" traded a few pieces of ore containing pure chaotic energy for a tattered ancient scroll marked with the approximate location of "Rift Sky City" and three dangerous forbidden areas in the surrounding area from an old broker with yellow teeth.

The scout, codenamed "Shadow Seven," used his ghostly agility to infiltrate the outer perimeter of the city lord's mansion and eavesdrop on a fragment of an encrypted communication.

"...There is unusual activity in the 'Wilderness'...Suspected to be spies from the Eastern Border...Report to the 'Heavenly Listening Pavilion'...Strengthen the defenses of 'Burial God Ridge'..." He quickly compared the information with the abnormal energy fluctuation area sensed by the secondary disk and marked the coordinates of "Burial God Ridge".

The information flowed like a gentle stream, converging into Ling Wuying's hands.

A month later, based on intelligence from various sources, the Star Track Squad identified the key to obtaining the complete map of Central Plains—the "Star Observation Room," a secret outpost established by the mysterious Central Plains intelligence organization "Tianji Pavilion" in the heart of the underground black market of Flowing Sand City.

It is said that the latest and most complete jade slips of the "Zhongzhou Lingshu Wanyu Tu" are stored there, but it is heavily guarded and has a self-destruction restriction.

The operation commenced at midnight. The Guixu Camp scouts, utilizing their perfect mastery of shadows, silently felled the outer guards. A formation master, proficient in enchantments, breached the first layer of defense.

A cultivator from the Yin Kui Sect, relying on his familiarity with the restrictive techniques of Zhongzhou, narrowly avoided the trigger-based soul alarm trap.

Just as Ling Wuying's hand was about to touch the jade slip floating in the center of the secret chamber, which was flowing with starlight, a sudden change occurred!

Om-!
The alarms blared throughout the underground black market! A blinding red light enveloped everything. It wasn't that they had triggered the alarm, but rather an inconspicuous, "decorative" ancient mirror deep within their hideout. Their frequent activities in Quicksand City had inevitably left indelible traces, which were captured and magnified by this mirror!

"Eastern Rat! Take him down!" A fierce shout came from all directions, and several powerful auras instantly locked onto the secret chamber! The leader was none other than a Rift Heaven Alliance elder whose aura had reached the late stage of Void Refinement, with strange gray causal lines wrapped around his body!

"Seize the map! Retreat!" Ling Wuying shouted sharply, grabbing the Star Jade Slip. At the same time, without hesitation, he crushed the "Nirvana Guide" jade tablet in his hand!
boom--!
A terrifying, dark sword aura, carrying the will to wither and end all things, suddenly erupted! It wasn't used to attack the enemy, but rather to slam into the ceiling of the secret chamber! The entire black market shook violently, its spatial structure instantly becoming fragile and unstable! The ceiling cracked, and chaotic currents poured in!

"Go!" The array master pushed the Guixu Star Orbit sub-disk to its limit, and a faint starlight guided them to their pre-set escape coordinates outside the city—a relatively weak spatial barrier.

The squad sped through the collapsing chamber and chaotic energy flow. A scout covering the rear was entangled by several gray causal threads, his flesh and blood withering instantly, turning to ashes.

A guide from the Yin Kui Sect was caught in a spatial rift, only managing to let out a short scream.

Ling Wuying's left arm was grazed by a bone-corroding gray light, and his flesh instantly carbonized. He groaned and severed his arm without hesitation, then slapped a green lotus seed into the wound, which temporarily stopped the bleeding.

The Shadow Ship was waiting outside the city, but the Sky Rift Alliance pursuers, piloting several extremely fast Sky Rift Shuttles, were hot on their heels. The Sand Scorpion Guards were also driving countless swarms of poisonous sand worms, obscuring the sky.

"Shed your shell like a cicada!" Ling Wuying commanded. The three Pure World Green Lotus Seeds were activated simultaneously, transforming into three dense emerald-green mists, each carrying a trace of the team member's aura, and shot off in three different directions. The pursuers were indeed misled, and most of their forces dispersed in pursuit.

Amidst the violent rocking, the hull groaned under the strain, sustaining multiple breaches. Two more scouts, attempting to stabilize the hull's core magic array, were torn apart by the overflowing spatial power.

Finally, just before the Shadow Ship was about to disintegrate, a familiar, faint anchor point of light belonging to the Chaos Emperor Array of the Soul Guardian Prefecture shone like a lighthouse amidst the chaotic energy flow ahead!
Picture presented before the Emperor
The Soul-Suppressing Protectorate, the core hall of the Imperial Array.

Two months and twenty days have passed since Ling Wuying set off.

Yu Changsheng stood before the Demon-Suppressing Stele of Guixu, with the Sword of Annihilation hanging beside him.

Suddenly, the core light of the Star Compass began to flicker rapidly! (End of Chapter)