Summoning the Gods: Start by creating the Eternal Night.

The crowds at the auction house receded like the tide, and the Linglong Chamber of Commerce, which had been bustling all day, finally quieted down.

The door to the No. 3 private room was slowly pushed open.

Xiao Yan, dressed in a black brocade robe, stood tall and straight like a pine tree. Surrounded by several guards in tight-fitting clothes, he slowly walked to the first floor.

Hongxiu personally presented a brocade box inlaid with silver thread, her face beaming with just the right amount of smiles:

"Lord Xiao, congratulations on achieving your wish. This crystal fruit is a rare treasure of heaven and earth; please take good care of it."

Xiao Yan nodded slightly, raised his hand to take the brocade box, and felt the cool touch of the box with his fingertips. A subtle glint of light flashed in his eyes.

"Thank you for your trouble, Miss Hongxiu."

His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.

"The spirit stones are ready. Let's complete the transaction."

The transaction was completed shortly afterward.

Xiao Yan put the brocade box into his storage ring and turned to walk out of the auction house.

"My lord, the people of the Nine Nether Demon Sect will probably not let this go."

A guard whispered a reminder, his tone tinged with concern.

Xiao Yan nodded calmly: "As expected."

"Pass down the order: once outside Qingzhou City, everyone must be on high alert. If attacked, do not hold back."

"Yes!" the guard responded, and the group walked steadily out of the auction house, their imposing presence concealing a hidden sharpness.

Almost simultaneously, another group of people walked out of the auction house; it was the Dongfang family.

Inside the top-floor private room No. 2, Ye Junlin stood by the window, taking in the commotion below.

Seeing Xiao Yan and Dongfang Wen's groups leave one after the other, he lightly tapped his fingertips on the windowpane.

It makes a crisp "tap, tap" sound, with a rhythm that is neither too fast nor too slow.

Ye Junlin smiled coldly and said to Di Yun and Linghu Chong beside him.

"The people of the Nine Nether Demon Sect are vengeful and will not leave empty-handed if they want that Glazed Fruit."

"The people of the imperial court and the people of the Nine Nether Demon Sect are bound to have a battle to the death."

"You two, set off immediately and follow them discreetly."

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

"Remember, do not act rashly."

"Wait until they are both severely weakened, then seize the Glass Fruit."

Ye Junlin's tone became more forceful, carrying an unquestionable command.

"Yes, sir!" The two stepped forward and replied in unison.

Before he finished speaking, Di Yun and Linghu Chong swayed and burst out of the window like two wisps of green smoke.

They lightly touched the eaves below with their toes, used the momentum to leap into the air, and with a few leaps, they blended into the bustling crowd on the street.

Ye Junlin looked in the direction where the two had disappeared.

He cast his gaze into the empty space outside the private room and said solemnly, "Gangzi."

As soon as the words were spoken, a figure silently emerged from the shadows.

"Your subordinate is here!" Yuan Tiangang bowed and awaited instructions.

"Send someone to keep a close eye on Dongfang Wen and his group."

Ye Junlin said slowly, "Since they have provoked us, you can deal with them after they leave Qingzhou City."

A glint of light flashed in Yuan Tiangang's eyes, and he replied without hesitation, "Understood, subordinate."

Ye Junlin nodded slightly and added:

"You escort me back to the Eternal Night Space first. After we arrive, you can go back and deal with Dongfang Wen and the others."

"Your subordinate obeys!" Yuan Tiangang replied once again.

As soon as he finished speaking, Yuan Tiangang waved his sleeve, and a gentle yet powerful spiritual energy instantly spread out, enveloping Ye Junlin.

The two figures seemed to blend into the air, disappearing silently from the private room.

Only a faint aroma of tea remained, along with the sound of the wind rising outside the window.

Xiao Yan had barely stepped out the door when his brows furrowed slightly—

A subtle, almost imperceptible, sense of probing, like the forked tongue of a venomous snake, clung stickily to his body.

He didn't stop walking, but inwardly he was sneering.

Such clumsy tracking methods are only used by the demon lords of the Nine Nether Demon Sect.

Without making a sound, Xiao Yan reached into his robes and his fingertips quietly touched a communication jade tablet engraved with a black bird pattern.

With a slight transfer of spiritual energy, a subtle yet hidden fluctuation spread outwards.

"Right Envoy of the Shadow Guard, hurry to the dense forest on the western outskirts of Qingzhou City to meet me."

The jade pendant flashed briefly before Xiao Yan carefully put it away. Only then did he raise his eyes to gaze at the lush, dense forest in the distance, his gaze as deep and dark as the night.

Not long after.

Within the eternal night, light and shadow shift and change.

As soon as Ye Junlin landed, he raised his hand to Yuan Tiangang and said:

"Gangzi, there's no time to lose, you must go immediately."

"Understood," Yuan Tiangang replied, bowing.

He then vanished from his spot in a flash, transforming into a streak of light and speeding towards the outskirts of Qingzhou City.

Ye Junlin stood at the entrance of the space, looking in the direction Yuan Tiangang had left, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

"The Dongfang family, you've messed with me, so get ready to pay the price."

"As for the Glazed Fruit... this thing is destined not to fall into the hands of the Great Qian Dynasty, nor should it fall into the hands of the Nine Nether Demon Sect."

"It should fall into my hands, Eternal Night Heaven! Hahaha!"

Outside Qingzhou City, there is a dense forest with lush foliage that blocks out the sun.

Xiao Yan led his guards slowly into the forest, and stopped when they reached an open area.

He slowly turned around, his sharp gaze sweeping across the dense forest behind him, and said loudly:

"You rats from the Nine Nether Demon Sect, aren't you tired of following me all this way?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than several dark figures darted out of the forest, the leader of whom was none other than the Demon Protector Jiu Mo.

A sinister smile played on his lips, and a chilling, hoarse laugh suddenly rang out:

"Heh heh heh! Xiao Yan, Grand Chancellor Xiao, you do have some discernment!"

"Remember what I said? You might be lucky enough to get the Glass Fruit, but you might not be lucky enough to use it!"

Xiao Yan sneered, and the aura of a peak Nirvana Realm cultivator suddenly erupted from his body:

"Hmph! Dove Demon, with your meager forces, you think you can snatch anything from me? You're far too overestimating yourself!"

"I think you're asking for trouble, like an old man eating poison."

As soon as he finished speaking, the four Void Realm experts and thirteen Grandmasters behind Xiao Yan quickly formed a formation to face the group of Jiu Mo.

"Overestimating yourself?"

The Demon Protector seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world.

He suddenly clapped his hands and shouted towards the dense forest behind him.

"Demon, stop hiding, come out!"

As soon as he finished speaking, another figure slowly emerged from the dense forest.

This person was dressed in a black robe and had a hunched posture.

He exuded an aura even colder than that of the demon Jiu Mo.

—It was actually the cultivation level of the late Nirvana stage!

"Heh! Heh! I'm helping you this time, Demon Lord, don't forget what you promised me."

"Don't worry, as long as you help me obtain the Glass Fruit, you'll definitely get your share of the rewards!"

Xiao Yan's pupils contracted slightly, then returned to normal.

Just then, a whooshing sound suddenly came from behind him.

Several figures rushed over, the leader wearing silver armor with a cold face, who was none other than the Right Envoy of the Shadow Guard!

The Right Envoy of the Shadow Guard bowed respectfully: "Your subordinate is late, please forgive me, Prime Minister!"

After saying this, he led his subordinates forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Yan, which greatly boosted the morale of the court.