Let's talk about Chang'sheng returning to The Cottage.
All the materials for the Nine Netherworld Formation have been prepared.
The array foundation is set, now all that's left is to irrigate the formation with the River of the Dead, which serves as the array spirit.
This legendary killing array from ancient times will soon return to the mortal world!
Chang'sheng flipped his hand, lifting the River of the Dead pearl.
The pearl turned into a streak of rosy light, flying into the center of the formation!
The instant it entered the array!
The pearl transformed into River of the Dead water, spreading out and swirling around the formation, morphing into a massive yellow dragon!
This dragon, formed from River of the Dead water, was the array spirit of the formation itself.
An overwhelmingly powerful slaughter energy and a sense of nirvanic extermination surged forth, drifting above The Cottage!
Even birds and fierce beasts passing by would turn tail in terror and flee.
Still, there was no need to worry about anyone else noticing anything strange at The Cottage.
Up on the cliff—
The willow tree waved a single willow branch, cutting off all movement and aura from The Cottage.
No one could detect anything!
At that moment—
A surprised voice sounded beside Chang'sheng.
"What kind of array is this? It's even stronger than the Nation Protection Array I commanded as an emperor!"
It was the voice of a young woman.
Chang'sheng turned around and looked at her, unsurprised.
After all, this woman had escaped from the Nine Netherworld Underworld with him earlier.
"Isn't it obvious?"
An array approved by the willow tree—how could it be ordinary?
The woman wore a battle robe of red and white, her fiery scarlet hair tied up—her spirit was sharp and confident!
With arched eyebrows, crimson lips, and a delicate, refined nose.
Her skin was as pale as jade, untouched by makeup, yet her complexion glowed like sunrise on snow.
Her eyes sparkled like a sky full of stars—unforgettable once you saw them.
But there was also an invisible imperial aura around her, as if all armies would surrender to her by instinct!
"But you escaped with me as a spirit body before—so how do you have a real body now?"
The woman shook her head. "No comment."
Hearing this, Chang'sheng shrugged, dropping the subject.
He wasn't all that curious anyway.
Just then—
A message flashed into his mind.
[Hong Ying, cultivation technique: Nine Cycles Reincarnation. Has experienced nine reincarnations; with each cycle, she abandoned her past cultivation and gained greater talent. Only those with special physiques can cultivate it.]
A technique like this?
And as if on cue, that long-lost mission system triggered.
[Accept Hong Ying as your disciple. Due to the high difficulty, the reward will be even greater.]
[Name: Hong Ying]
[Talent: SSS rank]
[Aptitude: Reincarnation Sacred Body, imperial aura, Aptitude To Become An Emperor]
High difficulty?
Chang'sheng glanced at Hong Ying, who was evaluating the formation, and couldn't help but nod.
With that personality, it was definitely going to be a challenge.
This woman had an overwhelming pride to her.
Not like Ye Qiubai's stoic pride—the unyielding pride of a swordsman.
Hong Ying's pride was the kind that looked down on everyone, as if all other people were beneath her!
This pride was born from her imperial aura.
And it made people unconsciously want to submit.
Then again, Hong Ying really did have the right to be proud.
But this imperial aura... Wait, could it be—Hong Ying's past life was an Empress?
[That's right, Hong Ying was the founding Empress of the Cloud Phoenix Empire.]
Receiving confirmation, Chang'sheng was struck with sudden realization.
Only with that kind of past could such an imperial aura be developed.
Though, her imperial aura held no sway over Chang'sheng.
This fact deeply surprised Hong Ying.
Normally, anyone sensing her imperial aura would be shaken to their core!
Who would ever be as calm as Chang'sheng right now?
But Chang'sheng's next words truly shocked Hong Ying.
"So, how about taking me as your master?"
"What?" Hong Ying's eyes widened in surprise. "Take you as my master?"
"What, you don't want to?"
Hong Ying laughed, "Maybe you're just not qualified."
Chang'sheng shrugged. He didn't expect a single sentence to make a former Empress take him as her master.
"Anyway, I'll be staying here for a while to recover my strength."
Without waiting for Chang'sheng's answer, she casually picked a wooden cabin and walked right in.
Seeing this, Chang'sheng didn't say anything more. After all, there was plenty of time.
"I wonder how that kid Qiubai is doing…"
Chang'sheng wanted to go down the mountain and check on Ye Qiubai, but after some thought, he shook his head and let go of the idea.
This was Ye Qiubai's fight to face.
The battle with his own heart demon was his alone to conquer.
Only that way could Ye Qiubai walk a path of unstoppable Sword Dao.
...
At this moment—
Tianyuan City.
Ye Qiubai walked down the bustling street, feeling a surge of emotions.
Not long ago, he'd been forced into exile from here.
At that time, all his talent was gone, his cultivation shattered.
Now he had returned—his talent back at its peak, cultivation stronger than ever.
Along the way, people started recognizing Ye Qiubai early on.
"Hey, isn't that the Ye family's former prodigy, Ye Qiubai?"
"Wait, why's he back in Tianyuan City? Didn't he flee for his life before?"
"Plus, he's headed toward the Ye family—could he be going home?"
"His cultivation's supposed to be ruined, talent ordinary as ever. Why would the Ye family ever take him back?"
"Let's go watch and find out!"
In an instant, everyone on the street dropped what they were doing and started following Ye Qiubai.
They too wanted to know why Ye Qiubai had returned this time!
After all, there was no end to the enemies who wanted Ye Qiubai dead nowadays!
Ye Qiubai noticed, but didn't care—letting them trail behind however they liked.
And the news spread like wildfire, instantly reaching every corner of Tianyuan City!
Jiang family.
Family Head Jiang Tianhan heard the news and couldn't help but sigh.
"After all, it was Chan's fault toward him… Pass my order: come with me to the Ye family."
Jiang Tianhan thought, if anyone tried to kill Ye Qiubai, he would step up and protect him.
The Jiang family owed Ye Qiubai that much.
Now, to the Chou family—one of the four great families.
"Big boss, big boss!"
A servant scrambled into the pavilion in a panic.
He glanced at the man, surrounded by beauties on each side, panting, "B-big—big trouble!"
Chou Siwu's face turned dark as he growled, "If this isn't important, I'll throw you in Myriad Snake Valley to feed the snakes!"
Hearing this, the servant shuddered, but forced himself to speak, "Y-Ye Qiubai is back!"
"Hmmm?"
Chou Siwu's pupils shrank as he instinctively clutched his chest.
There was a sword mark there.
A wound by Ye Qiubai.
There were countless medicinal pills that could heal the scar, but Chou Siwu had refused them all.
Because Chou Siwu wanted it to remind him—
Until the day he personally claimed Ye Qiubai's head!
"What's he doing back in Tianyuan City?"
The servant replied, "I—I don't know, except he's heading toward the Ye family."
Chou Siwu grinned wickedly, shoving the woman beside him away as he threw on a brocade robe.
"Let's go—bring the death guards with me to the Ye family!"