Back then, the Heavenly Secrets Compass had only reached the third tier. When Yi Tianxing used it to divine information about his adoptive parents, it merely revealed that they were still alive and hadn't perished. However, a significant portion of his own fortune had been consumed in the process, and no further meaningful clues could be obtained. He had no choice but to set it aside.
Now that the Heavenly Secrets Compass had reached the sixth tier, its divination capabilities had increased dramatically—by at least tenfold.
Whoosh—!
With a single thought, the compass before him began to spin. Celestial tracks whirled as myriad mysterious runes flashed across its surface. The overlapping and flickering divine symbols emitted radiant, ever-shifting lights, interweaving in a dazzling and unfathomable display.
Yin-Yang and the Three Essences, Four Symbols and Five Elements, Eight Trigrams and Nine Palaces—all of it connected to the unseen laws of fate and the river of time itself. Scene after scene flickered rapidly within the compass.
Yi Tianxing could feel his own fortune being rapidly consumed. Were he not someone with immense destiny—protected by the heavens and ruler of a Destiny Dynasty—this rapid depletion alone would have caused grave internal injuries.
The backlash could have been devastating.
Finally, the celestial tracks stilled. Countless runes converged into a single word upon the surface of the compass:
"Nothing!"
"No trace… As expected, there's no sign of my parents in the Dark Domain. This proves it—this domain is nothing but a massive trap, likely laid out just for me. Eternal Night truly never gives up. Again and again, they try to take my life. Very well… let's see who's behind all this."
Looking at the word on the compass, Yi Tianxing's gaze turned cold. There was no 703 Research Facility, no trace of his adoptive parents.
The entire Dark Domain was a complete fabrication—a trap and a conspiracy.
"Pass my order to Zhuge Liang. Begin the campaign. Avoid the restricted zones and initiate indiscriminate cleansing across the entire Dark Domain."
A decree swiftly left the Sacred King Palace.
Zhuge Liang and the armies had been ready for a long time. At once, forces moved through domain gates toward the Dark Domain. The Seven-Colored Legion acted as the vanguard, stepping through the gates first. Every major legion carried heavy, destructive weapons of war.
Inside the White Lotus Restricted Zone—
After speaking with the White Lotus Celestial Maiden, Yi Tianxing had gained a solid understanding of the current situation in the Dark Domain. Each of the restricted zones had begun consolidating their forces to brace for the coming storm.
"Has Fellow Daoist White Lotus considered launching a counterattack?" Yi Tianxing asked.
"Counterattack? Easier said than done," she replied, shaking her head. "We still don't understand what method they're using to corrupt even Dao Platform Realm cultivators into demonic entities. Everyone is cautious. No one dares make reckless moves. But we've agreed: if any of our restricted zones come under threat, the rest will immediately support them. We won't allow them to pick us off one by one. We've already set up teleportation arrays—it won't take long to respond."
Their strategy had already been decided. Each held powerful trump cards to ensure survival. But how to break the siege—that was the real problem.
Suddenly, a solemn Buddhist chant echoed from beyond the White Lotus Zone.
"Sacred King Yi, this humble monk Wuxin has long awaited this moment. I learned much from our last encounter. Allow me the honor of facing you again."
In the void, endless black Buddha light erupted. Within it, the chants of countless sentient beings echoed. A young man stepped forth, long black hair flowing behind him, calm and serene… yet exuding an eerie sense of evil. He stood on a black lotus platform.
Just by standing there, his aura spread invisibly, covering the entire White Lotus Zone.
His gaze pierced through the restricted zone's barriers, locking directly onto Yi Tianxing. Their past clash had left a lingering resonance—such karmic ties could never be forgotten.
"Demon Buddha Wuxin!!"
Yi Tianxing looked up at the void, eyes flashing. He immediately recognized the figure.
Their battle years ago had left a deep impression. Wuxin was indeed worthy of being called a demonic genius. He fought across realms like it was second nature. His Seven-Aperture Exquisite Demon Heart was monstrous in power.
The legacy of the Demonic Buddha lineage was terrifying.
In their doctrine, demon is Buddha, and Buddha is demon.
"All beings suffer in the sea of Samsara—through demons, they find salvation. My demons are merciful."
Their teachings were aggressive, even tyrannical—utterly unrestrained.
Not killing Wuxin back then had been a major regret. If such a monster were allowed to grow, he would surely become a threat to the Eternal World itself. The more such enemies perished, the better. The earlier, the better.
Yi Tianxing had long heard of geniuses in the Eternal World dying under mysterious "accidents" before they could grow.
It was no coincidence.
He was certain:
Eternal Night was behind those deaths.
If Wuxin were still hidden within Eternal Night, Yi Tianxing wouldn't be able to reach him. But now that he appeared here in person—how could Yi Tianxing possibly let this chance slip by?
"This trap… they laid it. The upheaval in the Dark Domain began with them," he thought coldly.
White Lotus Celestial Maiden's expression darkened."This aura… it's from Eternal Night. He's one of their top geniuses. He knew you'd be here—this proves it. The Dark Domain is a trap. And we… we're the bait."
Being used as bait—no one would accept that lightly.
"Perfect. Since he's come, there's no need for him to leave," Yi Tianxing said calmly, stepping toward the edge of the restricted zone.
"Don't go! It's a trap—you'll die!" she warned.
"Don't worry. If he dares show up, I've got the strength to deal with him. He couldn't beat me before—this time won't be any different."
Yi Tianxing emerged into the void beyond the restricted zone, standing directly across from Wuxin.
Wuxin's eyes lit up. Seeing Yi Tianxing personally confirmed it. He would never mistake that aura.
"Sacred King Yi, I've awaited this battle for years. Today, let me kill you with my own hands," Wuxin said with a calm, confident smile—void of arrogance, but brimming with certainty.
"You, the so-called demonic genius from the Eternal Night's Moonlight Rankings—coming here to face me. So this whole Dark Domain was a trap laid out for me."Yi Tianxing's tone remained calm.
"Whether it was or not, you're dead today. There's no escape. Come—fight me."
Wuxin did not answer directly, but his words left no room for doubt.
"My demons are merciful!"
He smiled, palms pressed together as he began to chant.
Tathagata Demon Palm (如来魔掌) — My Demons Are Merciful!!
As the technique was unleashed, immense black Buddha light surged behind him. Within it, a massive Demonic Buddha manifested—its face identical to Wuxin's.
Beneath the sky-filling demonic chants, black swastika symbols formed in the void and rained down toward the zone, and toward Yi Tianxing.
"Take up the butcher's blade—and become a demon."
"Take up the butcher's blade—and become a demon…"
The demonic chants had the power to corrupt the soul, turning enemies into loyal believers—or even dogs waiting to be slaughtered. The area covered by this chanting became Wuxin's domain, suppressing enemy strength.
If one's will was not firm, they would be converted instantly.
It was a terrifying sight.
Yi Tianxing's eyes turned icy.
"Wuxin… I'm disappointed. After all these years, this is all you've got? Then you can die now."
This demonic chant was many times stronger than it had been years ago. Wuxin had clearly reached the pinnacle of the Dao Platform Realm, just one step away from Dao Proving Realm. But he wasn't making that step—not yet.
All peerless geniuses like him were extremely proud. They would temper their foundations until they were perfect before transcending.