Ever since his battle with Huoluo, Li Yuan had traveled through the Void River for months without a single Ancient Spirit intercepting him, to the point that he had almost forgotten he could stir an Ancient Spirit's desire to devour him.
The reason I didn't encounter any Ancient Spirits before was most likely because Heart Dream God Emperor was secretly helping me, Li Yuan thought. Perhaps some Ancient Spirit Dominator or even a Supreme Ancient Spirit gave an order.
For large numbers of Ancient Spirits along the way to practically "vanish," a Black Ancient Spirit of extremely high status must have issued the corresponding command.
Otherwise, not even a supreme being among Universe Cultivators could command so many Ancient Spirits.
As for how Heart Dream God Emperor had done it, Li Yuan did not care.
But now that I've run into three Black Ancient Spirits, there are two possibilities, Li Yuan thought as countless ideas flashed through his mind. First, I've left the "safe zone" Heart Dream God Emperor promised, and from here on, any Ancient Spirits I encounter will attack and kill me.
But that possibility is rather low. After all, I haven't even entered the Ancient Ruins Sea yet, and there's still some distance before I reach Demon Heart Lake.
Second, I'm still within the safe zone, but the emergence of the ancient ruins disrupted Heart Dream God Emperor's arrangements, attracting large numbers of nearby Ancient Spirits toward the ruins, and they happened to run into me, Li Yuan thought.
These Ancient Spirits might previously have received orders temporarily forbidding them from going out to hunt, but they themselves did not know of Li Yuan's existence. Their appearance now was most likely because they had come for the ancient ruins and had simply happened to encounter Li Yuan.