Summoning the Gods: Start by creating the Eternal Night.

Ye Junlin sat on the Xuan Yu throne, his fingertips lightly twirling a teacup, the fragrant aroma of tea swirling around him.

He took in the interaction of the crowd below, and only when their breathing had calmed and settled did he slowly put down his teacup.

His gaze swept across the hall, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority:

"Alright, now that we've all gotten to know each other, let's get down to business."

The hall fell silent instantly, and all eyes were on him.

"Dugu Qiubai" (meaning "Seeking Defeat Alone").

"Your subordinate is here!"

Dugu Qiubai stepped forward, his white robes fluttering in the wind. Despite his arrogance, he treated Ye Junlin with utmost respect.

Ye Junlin looked at this sword demon who had sought defeat his entire life and slowly said:

"From this day forward, you will be ranked alongside Donghuang Taiyi as one of the Five Emperors of my Eternal Night Heaven, with the title 'Southern Emperor'."

"Thank you for the imperial decree!"

Dugu Qiubai bowed and accepted the order, his voice carrying a rare hint of solemnity:

"Your subordinate is grateful for the imperial decree and will certainly live up to your expectations."

He was originally a free spirit, and for him, titles might be unimportant, but this recognition...

But this stirred a ripple in the heart of this sword master who had long since become indifferent to worldly affairs.

Moreover, being ranked alongside a powerhouse like Donghuang Taiyi is a testament to his strength.

Ye Junlin then turned his gaze to Yan Guiren and Yan Shisan on the other side:

"Yan Guiren, Yan Shisan."

"Your subordinate is here!"

The two responded in unison, stepped forward, and stood tall and straight.

"Yan Guiren, your halberd skills are divine, and your bravery surpasses that of the three armies."

Ye Junlin's voice was clear and powerful.

"From this day forward, you will be one of the Six Absolutes of Eternal Night, with the title 'Halberd Absolute'."

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Yan Guiren clasped his hands in a fist salute, the black armor clashing together with a crisp sound, his eyes burning with fighting spirit. The words "Halberd's Demise" suited him perfectly.

Immediately, Ye Junlin's gaze fell on Yan Shisan:

"Yan Shisan, your swordsmanship is ruthless and your artistic conception is unique. From today onwards, you will also be one of the Six Greats, with the title 'Sword Master'."

"If you have free time in the future, you can ask Dugu Qiubai for advice on swordsmanship. This will surely be of great benefit to you."

"Your subordinate obeys."

Yan Shisan bowed and responded, his voice still calm, but if you looked closely, you could see a hint of excitement flashing deep in his eyes.

"The Thirteen Deadly Swords" dedicated his life to the sword, and being awarded the title of "Sword Master" is undoubtedly the greatest recognition of his swordsmanship.

Yan Shisan turned to Dugu Qiubai, cupped his hands and said, "I hope that Lord Nan Yu will not hesitate to teach me in the future."

Dugu Qiubai's gaze fell on Yan Shisan, and he could clearly sense the aura within him that was in harmony with the sword.

He nodded slightly, his tone carrying a hint of approval:

"Your swordsmanship is pure; you're a fine prospect."

"If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'd like to see just how far your 'Thirteen Deadly Swords' can go."

He sought defeat throughout his life, and seeing that Yan Shisan was a rough gem, he didn't mind giving him some pointers.

Seeing that the titles had been arranged, Ye Junlin briefly explained the perilous situation that Jingxinmo and the other two might be in, as well as the situation predicted by Donghuang Taiyi, and said in a deep voice:

"Yan Guiren, Yan Shisan, you two take this broken array shuttle and set off immediately for Tianfeng City in Qianzhou."

"The primary task is to ensure the safety of Jing Xinmo, Yeluta Buyan, and Yeluta Buhua."

"Next, investigate what exactly happened in Tianfeng City."

"Remember, act within your capabilities and prioritize your own safety."

"Yes, sir! I guarantee the mission will be accomplished!"

Yan Guiren and Yan Shisan both answered the order in unison, their voices resounding throughout the hall, their bodies radiating a chilling fighting spirit.

"Su Muyu," Ye Junlin called out.

Su Muyu immediately stepped forward: "Your subordinate is here."

"Take Yan Guiren and Yan Shisan to Xiyu Tower to retrieve a map of the Eastern Region that marks the detailed location of Tianfeng City."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Su Muyu bowed and replied.

He then looked at Yan Guiren and Yan Shisan.

"Gentlemen, please follow me."

The three turned and left in haste; the figures in black armor and green robes quickly disappeared outside the hall.

Inside the palace, only Ye Junlin, Donghuang Taiyi, and Dugu Qiubai remained.

Ye Junlin looked at the two of them and smiled:

"The laws of heaven and earth are not yet relaxed, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth has not yet fully recovered. It is not convenient for a terrestrial immortal to make a move easily, lest it trigger a backlash from the laws of heaven and earth."

"Neither of you can go out and interfere for the time being..."

Before he could finish speaking, Dugu Qiubai clapped his hands and laughed:

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, Fellow Daoist Donghuang and I are planning to go to the edge of the Eternal Night Space to spar and discuss the Dao. This will be a good opportunity to verify each other's martial arts."

Donghuang Taiyi nodded in agreement:

"Fellow Daoist Dugu is absolutely right. The edge of the Eternal Night Space is currently deserted, which is just the right time for the two of us to take a gamble."

The fighting spirit in the eyes of the two powerful beings at the Land Immortal Realm surged once more, clearly indicating that they could no longer restrain themselves.

Ye Junlin shook his head helplessly; these two were truly "evenly matched".

He waved his hand:

"Go ahead, let's have some friendly competition, but don't let it ruin our harmony."

"And remember to conceal your presence, lest you break through the barrier of the Eternal Night Space."

"Haha, Your Majesty is overthinking it!"

Dugu Qiubai laughed loudly.

"That's good then." Ye Junlin nodded. "You may go."

"This subordinate takes his leave!"

The two bowed and then turned to leave.

As soon as they stepped out of the palace gate, they transformed into two streaks of light and sped toward the edge of the Eternal Night Space, clearly unable to suppress their desire to compete.

In an instant, faint sounds of energy collisions could be heard from afar. Although they were deliberately suppressed, they still caused ripples in the space.

Let's go back three days.

On the open field, two figures moved with lightning speed, the air currents they created sending dust flying everywhere.

"Thirteenth Brother, Tianfeng City is five hundred miles ahead. Let's speed up."

Yan Guiren held a long halberd, his black armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight, and his voice carried a hint of urgency.

Yan Shisan, standing beside him, his blue robe fluttering, nodded upon hearing this: "Alright."

As soon as they finished speaking, the two increased their speed by another three points, their figures transforming into two blurry streaks of light as they sped towards Tianfeng City.

An hour later, the outline of Tianfeng City was clearly visible.

From afar, the entire city was shrouded in a scarlet barrier, upon which blood energy surged.

The shadowy figures of vengeful spirits struggled and howled within, emanating a chillingly malevolent aura.

"The stench of blood is overwhelming, and this formation..."

Yan Shisan frowned, his grip on the sword hilt tightening slightly.

"It's incredibly eerie."

Yan Guiren's eyes sharpened, and a cold light flashed on his halberd:

"It seems that Jing Xinmo and the others are really in danger."

Just as the two were about to approach, they saw several figures in black pacing anxiously not far outside the barrier—it was Shadow, the commander of the Shadow Guard, and his subordinates.

Almost as they approached Tianfeng City, Shadow suddenly turned his head, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and shouted sharply:

"Who is it? Show yourself!"

Yan Guiren and Yan Shisan exchanged a glance, their figures slowly materializing from the air, their gazes falling on the shadow.

Sensing that the other party had reached the mid-stage of the Celestial Realm, the two did not pay any attention to it, but simply calmly observed each other.

Shadow felt a jolt in his heart.

These two individuals maintained a restrained aura, appearing ordinary, yet the oppressive aura they inadvertently exuded...

This caused even a mid-stage Celestial Being like him to feel a chill run down his spine – he was no easy opponent!