Summoning the Gods: Start by creating the Eternal Night.

Yuan Tiangang glanced at the silent cultivators around him, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

When he swept his gaze over everyone, they felt a chill run from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads, and no one dared to linger.

in an instant,

Cries of agony and wailing rose and fell; the cultivators who had been observing earlier were now like frightened birds.

They scrambled and stumbled as they fled out of the dense forest, fearing that if they were even a step too late, they would suffer the same fate as Dongfang Wen.

Yuan Tiangang ignored this and looked up in the direction where Xing Luoyao was in the void, nodding slightly as a greeting.

Seeing this, Xing Luoyao nodded in response from afar.

After doing all this, Yuan Tiangang turned around and said in a deep voice to Di Yun and Linghu Chong, "Let's go."

The two responded and followed. The three figures transformed into three streaks of light and disappeared into the dense forest in the blink of an eye, leaving behind only a mess of corpses.

With the departure of the three, the treasure hunt that began over a single glass fruit finally came to a temporary end.

Above the dense forest, Xing Xuanfeng looked in the direction where the three had disappeared and said:

"Eternal Night Heaven... it's likely to stir up trouble in the Eastern Region from now on."

Xing Luoyao's beautiful eyes flickered slightly, and she said softly:

"If they are truly an ancient force, now that they have made their move, they will likely no longer keep a low profile in the future."

And on the other side,

—Eternal Night Space.

The space was shrouded in mist, with magnificent palaces and pavilions appearing and disappearing among the clouds. The spiritual energy was so dense that it was almost liquefied, far surpassing anything found in the outside world.

Inside the Monarch's Pavilion, Ye Junlin and Donghuang Taiyi sat facing each other, playing chess on a chessboard.

Black and white chess pieces fell in an alternating pattern, making a crisp sound.

Just then, Donghuang Taiyi paused slightly, a faint smile appearing on his lips:

"Your Majesty, Yuan Tiangang and the others are back and on their way."

Although he was stationed in the Eternal Night Space, he had already taken in everything outside with his supreme divine sense.

Ye Junlin raised his eyes, looked at Donghuang Taiyi, and said:

"It's faster than expected."

After a while.

From outside the Monarch's Pavilion came Yuan Tiangang's voice: "Your subordinate requests an audience with the Monarch!"

"Come in," Ye Junlin said after placing a white flag on the chessboard.

"Your subordinate greets Your Majesty, and Your Majesty the Eastern Emperor," Yuan Tiangang said as he entered.

Di Yun and Linghu Chong followed closely behind, bowing respectfully with reverent expressions.

Ye Junlin waved his hand, signaling the three to stand up: "How did things go?"

Yuan Tiangang stepped forward, took out the ring containing the glass fruit, and presented it with both hands:

"We have successfully completed our mission. The Glazed Fruit has been obtained, and Dongfang Wen and his guards have all been executed."

Ye Junlin took the ring, scanned it with his divine sense, and sensed the pure aura of the glass fruit inside. He nodded in satisfaction.

"Well done, you've worked hard. You've been traveling a long way, go and rest now."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The three bowed and took their leave, then turned and left the Monarch's Pavilion.

Donghuang Taiyi watched the three figures depart, then glanced at Ye Junlin, slowly rose, and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect:

"My lord, the affairs outside have been settled, and I shall take my leave to return and cultivate."

Ye Junlin nodded slightly and waved his hand: "Go."

Donghuang Taiyi bowed respectfully, his figure transforming into a streak of purple light and instantly disappearing from the Monarch's Pavilion.

In an instant, only Ye Junlin remained in the vast Monarch Pavilion.

He fiddled with the ring in his hand, pondered for a moment, and then tossed it into the system space:

"The Glass Fruit is good, but we don't need it for the time being."

As Ye Junlin gently tapped the chessboard with his fingertips, he recalled the five members of the Eight Guards who had entered the Time Tower for cultivation a week ago: Yao Li, Zhuan Chu, Yu Rang, Cao Mo, and Chu Yu.

He immediately muttered in his mind, "System, view personal panel."

[Ding, instruction received]

[Host]: Ye Junlin

[Identity]: Lord of the Eternal Night

[Realm Level]: Early Stage of Grandmaster

[Physique]: Supreme God-Demon Body (No Superior Level)

[Cultivation Technique]: Supreme Divine Demon Scripture (Unparalleled Level)

[Martial Arts]: Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique, Emperor's Seal Technique, Shadow Step

[Items]: 10 Eternal Night Decrees, 3 Storage Rings, ...

[Energy Points]: 10000 points

[Summoning Character]:

The Five Emperors: Donghuang Taiyi (Late Stage of a Land Immortal)

Sixth Master: Yuan Tiangang (Late Stage of Celestial Realm)

The Seven Stars: 1. Di Yun (Late Nirvana Stage) 2. Linghu Chong (Late Nirvana Stage)

八卫：1.荆轲（洞虚境巅峰）、2.聂政（洞虚境巅峰）、3.要离（洞虚境巅峰）、4.专诸（洞虚境巅峰）、5.豫让（洞虚境巅峰）、6.曹沫（洞虚境巅峰）7.鉏鸒（洞虚境巅峰）

Ye Junlin looked at the cultivation levels of everyone on the panel, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

Di Yun and Linghu Chong, two of the Seven Stars, broke through a minor realm.

Apart from Jing Ke and Nie Zheng guarding the stronghold, the other members of the Eight Guards who entered the Time Tower for cultivation all made breakthroughs in their cultivation.

"good,"

Ye Junlin muttered to himself, his fingertips unconsciously tightening their grip.

"The strength of the people of Eternal Night Heaven has increased once again."

Ye Junlin's gaze turned toward the Time Tower, his eyes flashing with a sharp edge.

Meanwhile, in Qianzhou, at the Dongfang family residence.

The vermilion gates were tightly shut, and white banners were hung inside the mansion. The former hustle and bustle had vanished, leaving only a depressing silence.

Inside the main hall, the fragrance of sandalwood wafted through the air, yet it could not dispel the menacing atmosphere permeating the space.

The news of Dongfang Hao's murder spread throughout the mansion with the sound of the midday bell, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.

The patriarch, Dongfang Wu, sat upright in the main seat, his brocade robe crumpled from being gripped so tightly, his face ashen.

The spiritual energy around him surged endlessly, causing the candlelight in the hall to flicker erratically.

Beside him, Dongfang Hao's mother, Liu Yan, slumped in a chair, her hair disheveled, crying her heart out.

Her eyes were red and swollen like peaches, and she clutched a brocade handkerchief embroidered with cloud patterns tightly in her hand.

"My son...you died so tragically...Brother Wu, you must avenge Hao'er!"

She rushed forward, sobbing, and grabbed Dongfang Wu's sleeve, her voice hoarse and broken:

"And what about Dongfang Wen and Li Xuanfeng! What do they think of Gu Hao'er?!"

"When they return, we'll skin them alive and make them pay for my son's life!"

"That's enough!"

Dongfang Wu slammed his hand on the armrest, letting out a loud shout that echoed throughout the hall, making the beams and pillars vibrate.

His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the sobbing Liu Yan, his chest heaving violently, his voice filled with suppressed rage:

"Stop crying! Hao'er ended up like this because of you!"

Liu Yan's sobs stopped abruptly. She raised her head blankly, looking at him with teary eyes.

"From childhood to adulthood, you've treated him like a precious gem, afraid he'd break if you held him in your hands and melt if you kept him in your mouth! Every time I try to discipline him, you get angry with me!"

Dongfang Wu pointed at her nose, his words as sharp as knives.

"His arrogant and domineering nature is a result of your spoiling."

"When they bullied men and women in the capital, didn't you always turn a blind eye?!"

"His death outside is entirely his own fault!"

These words were like ice picks, piercing Liu Yan's heart.

Her face was deathly pale, her lips trembled, but she couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Yes, Hao'er's temperament is all because of her spoiling him.