New Companions, the City Lord's Mansion Under Attack

After dinner, everyone was led to their rooms.

"Looks like we've been imprisoned," Du Ze said with an easy smile.

"It's fine. The initiative is in our hands anyway."

"Young Master Lei Zhuo, we brought him," two Soldiers said as they escorted Duan Jian into the room.

"Thank you, gentlemen." Nie Li took out several pills and handed them to the Soldiers.

"Young Master, be careful. This guy has the strength of a Gold Three Star. We'll be leaving now." After the Soldiers left, Nie Li looked at Duan Jian, who was sitting on the floor, and asked,

"Do you want revenge?"

"Of course I do." Whenever he thought of how the Silver Wing Family had driven his parents to their deaths, Duan Jian gritted his teeth in hatred.

"Good. I can give you that chance. I'm not from the Silver Wing Family, and I don't think much of them either. I'll help you. It depends on what you choose."

"If you can truly help me, I'm willing to serve you as my master and never betray you!"

"Good. Black Dragon Bloodline flows through your body, immensely powerful. I'll use Silver Needles on thirty-six acupoints throughout your body, but the process will last ten days. Can you endure it?"

"What doesn't kill me will only make me stronger!"

Nie Li immediately took out the Silver Needles and inserted them into Duan Jian's body.

"Ahhh!"

When the final needle went in, Duan Jian finally could no longer endure the pain and screamed.

The Soldiers some distance away shuddered in terror upon hearing that heart-wrenching cry.

"That Young Master Lei Zhuo looks so refined. Who would've thought he'd be this terrifying?"

For ten days, Duan Jian endured torment every moment. Meanwhile, Shangguan Ye used Shadow Clones to transform into everyone's likeness, leaving the Soldiers outside completely unaware. Shangguan Ye then led everyone into the Mountains and Rivers Painting to cultivate.

At last, Duan Jian's cries stopped, and Shangguan Ye led everyone back out.

"Shangguan, I never expected you to possess such a treasure. My Heavenly Dao Divine Art was already slow to cultivate, yet I've somehow reached Black Gold One Star now," Nie Li said in admiration.

"Everyone can cultivate inside it from now on."

"Nie Li, Shangguan, is this guy dead?" Lu Piao squatted beside Duan Jian and poked him with a wooden stick.

"Heh, looks like it's over."

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Just as Nie Li was about to turn and leave, a series of heartbeats suddenly rang out.

As the heartbeat grew faster and faster, Duan Jian's aura became increasingly powerful. He slowly rose to his feet and spread his wings. A wave of pressure bore down on Lu Piao and the others, nearly suffocating them. Only Shangguan Ye and Nie Li remained unaffected.

"Danger..." Everyone assumed defensive stances, afraid Duan Jian might suddenly attack. Instead, Duan Jian abruptly dropped to his knees.

"I can never repay Master for remaking me. From now on, if Master tells me to go east, I will never go west."

"Good. Change the seal and chains back first. Don't let Sikong Yi discover anything."

"Shangguan, Sikong Yi will probably send people to gather herbs outside with me. Take care of everyone first. In ten days, when you hear that someone has attacked the Silver Wing Family, come out and meet up with me."

"Don't worry." Shangguan Ye nodded.

Sure enough, not long afterward, Sikong Yi sent people to take Nie Li and Duan Jian away.

"Patriarch Shangguan, Nie Li will be all right, won't he?" Ye Ziyun asked worriedly.

"Don't worry. He's very adaptable. Even if he encounters danger, he'll be able to turn it into safety."

"For the next few days, everyone should continue cultivating in the Mountains and Rivers Painting. If there's anything you don't understand, ask me."

And so, the remaining people diligently cultivated within the Mountains and Rivers Painting, while the bond between Shangguan Ye and Xiao Ning'er grew deeper and deeper.

Just as Shangguan Ye was immersed in cultivation, the system's voice rang out.

"Master, it has been detected that your relationship with Xiao Ning'er is growing deeper. A mission has been issued: break through to the Legendary level. The reward is severing the karmic connection between Nie Li and Xiao Ning'er."

"Karma? I'd overlooked that. In their previous life, Nie Li and Ning'er had shared a relationship. But Nie Li never knew that person was Xiao Ning'er, since Ning'er had already been disfigured then. Fine. Without that karmic connection, it will be better for both of them."

Everyone cultivated in the Mountains and Rivers Painting for ten days. Sensing activity outside, Shangguan Ye woke everyone up.

"Let's go. It's time to go home." Shangguan Ye took Xiao Ning'er's hand, and everyone emerged together. Outside, flames soared into the sky and explosions deafened their ears.

"Let's go meet up with Nie Li." After walking for a while, they saw Nie Li and Duan Jian being besieged by three Black Gold Martial Artists. Lu Piao and the others had improved again over the past ten days, nearly all reaching Black Gold Three Star. A group of Black Gold Demon Spirit Masters surrounded three Black Gold Martial Artists; the outcome was obvious.

"Let's go. Leave that old thief Sikong Yi for Duan Jian to deal with later. Otherwise, I'd have stepped in myself," Shangguan Ye said with a sigh.

The group rushed to the teleportation array at top speed. Nie Li placed the Stone of Radiance inside, and the array slowly lit up. Everyone turned back together, looking at the vast, boundless Black Prison World, then at the companions by their side. They smiled knowingly and stepped into the teleportation array.

"Whew, we're finally back."

"Everyone's tired, so go home and rest first. I'll head to the City Lord's Mansion. Before leaving, I gave them the method for constructing the Myriad Demon Spirit Array. It looks like part of it has already been completed." Nie Li looked toward the enormous pillars in the distance.

Not long after everyone returned home, night slowly fell. A group of people quietly infiltrated the City Lord's Mansion. At a training ground, one of the Men in Black took out a scroll and infused it with Soul Power.

"Come forth, Abyssal Demon!"

As his words fell, the ground suddenly split open with a massive crack. Scorching magma erupted forth, and a gigantic figure slowly emerged from within, gripping an enormous flaming sword.

"Not good! Quickly request reinforcements!" The guards of the City Lord's Mansion immediately rushed forward.

But the Abyssal Demon, whose strength rivaled the Legendary level, merely swung its sword, destroying several buildings. Moreover, whenever magma hit the ground, it transformed into Lesser Flame Demons, making it extremely troublesome.

"Lure it west, into the Taiyi Killing Array! Progenitor Ye Yan should be arriving soon!" Ye Xiu arrived at the scene, clearing out Lesser Flame Demons while giving orders.

"Lord Ye Xiu, there's no need for the trouble. Let's deal with it here." A hand rested on Ye Xiu's shoulder. When Ye Xiu looked closely, he saw that it was Shangguan Ye.

Before Ye Xiu could speak, more than a dozen figures appeared beside him. They were Nie Li, Xiao Ning'er, and the others.

"Your auras... you're all Black Gold!" Ye Xiu was stunned. These youngsters had only gone to the Dark Space once. How had they become so powerful?

"Leave this big guy to us," Nie Li said.

"I'll go find those Dark Guild bastards," Shangguan Ye said as well.

Nie Li and the others all fused with their demon spirits and charged forward, while Shangguan Ye spread out his senses and found those people's location.

Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu

Shangguan Ye created clones, each flying off in a different direction.

"This is bad, we miscalculated. How can Glory City have so many Black Gold Masters, and they're all children?!" The leader inwardly cried out in alarm as he fled at full speed.

"Where do you think you're going~?" A ghostly voice sounded. The man turned around and saw Shangguan Ye's handsome face.

"Shangguan Ye!"

"Nether Black Fox..." The man had just been about to fuse with his demon spirit when Shangguan Ye kicked him to the ground.

"Only Black Gold Three Star. Don't say I didn't give you time to fuse with your demon spirit." A white cube condensed in Shangguan Ye's hand.

Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique

Before the man could even let out a scream, he turned into dust and vanished. The others suffered the same fate, without exception.

As they died, all of their Soul Power was absorbed by the Divine Tree and turned into nourishment.

"There's still a big guy waiting for me to finish it off."