News of the deaths of Sang Mo, Bai Yin, and the other three protectors had yet to stop reverberating through Crimson Blood Cave Mansion when Yun Ce used the pretext of "purging the ranks and stabilizing order in the cave mansion" to submit a document to the guards outside Cha Hong's seclusion chamber, requesting control of the forces and resources left behind by the five men. The guards knew Cha Hong was wholly devoted to his cultivation and had no interest in the cave mansion's affairs. Coupled with Yun Ce's status as Great Protector and his Void-Piercing Realm cultivation, they tacitly approved the request without obstruction.
That very day, Yun Ce took Qin Yu, Black Feather, Zhao Hu, and Li Bao to the cave mansions and guard camps of Sang Mo and the others, formally taking over their forces. Sang Mo had three hundred guards under his command, while Bai Yin and the other three controlled a combined twelve hundred. Adding the thousand guards Yun Ce had already commanded, he now controlled a total of twenty-five hundred—nearly half the guards in Crimson Blood Cave Mansion—making him a true power in the cave mansion.
In addition to the guards, Yun Ce took over the cultivation resources the five men had stockpiled: large quantities of spirit stones, pills, low-grade spiritual weapons, and quite a few demon beast cores and pelts. What concerned Yun Ce most, however, were the demon beast corpses, Golden Cores, and Nascent Souls of Sang Mo and the other four men, as well as twenty guards. All five of them were demon cultivators. Though their true forms weren't top-tier demon beasts, they were all at least at the Golden Core stage. Together with the true forms of the twenty guards, the corpses contained rich demonic power. Used to aid cultivation, they would undoubtedly make excellent nourishment for Qin Yu and Black Feather.
After returning to the cave mansion, Yun Ce gathered all the demon beast corpses and laid them out in the cultivation room. He said to Qin Yu and Black Feather, "Xiao Yu, Xiao Hei, these demon beast corpses contain pure essence of blood and qi, and you have these Golden Cores and Nascent Souls as well. You two can use them to cultivate and reach higher realms. Xiao Yu, you can refine and absorb these Golden Cores and Nascent Souls, transforming them into Nebula True Qi. Xiao Hei, Long Yan, Red Phoenix, you're divine beasts, so absorbing demonic power will be twice as effective for you. Do your best to break through soon."
"Thank you, Master!" "Thank you, my lord!" Qin Yu's eyes filled with delight. Black Feather, the Dragon Rock Lion, and the great divine beast Red Phoenix also sent excited cries and roars through their spiritual senses. Qin Yu immediately entered the cultivation room, sat cross-legged, and circulated his cultivation method, beginning to absorb the demonic power in Sang Mo's Nascent Soul. Faint Nebula True Qi swirled around him, enveloping the Nascent Soul. Its demonic power slowly flowed into his body, where the Stellar True Fire produced by the Stellar Transformations technique refined away its impurities, leaving only the Nascent Soul's essence to be converted into his own Nebula True Qi. Black Feather spread his wings, faint arcs of lightning flickering around him as demonic power flowed into his body like a stream, nourishing his true form and slowly strengthening his aura.
The Dragon Rock Lion and Red Phoenix kept watch outside the cultivation room, alert to their surroundings to prevent anyone from disturbing Qin Yu and Black Feather. Yun Ce had told them they could refine the Golden Cores and demon beast corpses to improve their strength once Qin Yu and Black Feather were done. Yun Ce sat in the main hall, pondering his next move while secretly circulating his cultivation method to stabilize his own cultivation. A system lay within him, complete with its core benefit: the master's cultivation would always remain two major realms above his disciple's. Qin Yu had previously been at the Golden Core Mid Stage, so Yun Ce had been at the mid stage of the Void-Piercing Realm. As soon as Qin Yu broke through, Yun Ce would rise in tandem thanks to the system's benefit.
In the days that followed, Cha Po and Cha Ge began secretly making trouble for Yun Ce. First, they tampered with the guards' cultivation resources, deliberately withholding spirit stones and pills from the guards under Yun Ce's command. Then they secretly sowed discord among the guards, spreading rumors that Yun Ce planned to seize Crimson Blood Cave Mansion for himself and making them suspicious of him. They even secretly contacted the Three Black Turtle Brothers, Teng Bi, and several other powerful protectors, hoping to isolate Yun Ce.
Zhao Hu and Li Bao reported each incident to Yun Ce, their voices full of indignation. "Great Protector, Cha Po and Cha Ge have gone too far! They're secretly withholding our resources and spreading rumors to drive a wedge between us. Why don't we go confront them directly?"
Yun Ce smiled faintly and shook his head. "No need. They're just resentful and want to cause us a little trouble. They still don't dare to make themselves our true enemies. Qin Yu and Xiao Hei are in seclusion, so we shouldn't stir up trouble and risk disturbing them. We can put up with these minor irritations for now."
He had his own plans. Cha Hong was still in seclusion, and though Cha Po and Cha Ge were dissatisfied, they didn't have the strength to stand against him. For now, enduring their provocations would let Qin Yu, Black Feather, and the others cultivate in peace, lull Cha Po and Cha Ge into a false sense of security, and allow him to consolidate his forces in secret. Once Qin Yu broke through and Yun Ce advanced in cultivation thanks to the system, he would settle all these problems at once.
Yun Ce then instructed Zhao Hu and Li Bao to ignore Cha Po and Cha Ge's provocations for the time being and focus on managing the guard force. They were also to quietly select loyal, reliable guards to expand his personal guard. Meanwhile, he secretly reached out to the two protectors Yan Qing and Xi Yan. Their strength was average, and they usually avoided conflicts with others. They were also unhappy with Cha Po and Cha Ge's arrogance. Yun Ce promised them generous rewards and successfully brought them under his command, further strengthening his position.
Time slipped by, and before long, half a year had passed. During those six months, Qin Yu and Black Feather steadily improved their cultivation with nourishment from the demon beast corpses. In the cultivation room, Nebula True Qi grew ever denser around Qin Yu. He had reached the threshold of the Golden Core Late Stage. Holding his breath and concentrating, he circulated the Stellar Transformations technique at full force, converting the last trace of demonic power in Sang Mo's Nascent Soul into his own true qi. He broke through the bottleneck and officially entered the Nebula Late Stage (Golden Core Late Stage).
Delight flashed through Qin Yu's eyes. Feeling the substantial Nebula True Qi within him, he smiled. This breakthrough had not only raised his realm but had also brought a qualitative leap in his combat strength. Beside him, Black Feather broke through at the same time, successfully reaching the Golden Core Late Stage. His true form grew even more powerful, and his lightning became sharper. Even without releasing his divine beast aura, he could easily crush demon cultivators of the same realm.
At almost the exact moment Qin Yu broke through, a crisp system notification rang in Yun Ce's mind in the main hall: [Ding! Detected disciple Qin Yu's breakthrough to the Golden Core Late Stage. Core system benefit activated—the master's cultivation will always remain two major realms above his disciple's. Raising host Yun Ce's cultivation automatically!]
[Ding! Congratulations, host Yun Ce! You have advanced from the mid stage of the Void-Piercing Realm to the late stage of the Void-Piercing Realm!]
[Ding! Activating aura concealment function. The host's breakthrough fluctuations have been concealed to prevent detection.]
Yun Ce's mind stirred. He felt his true qi surge within him, a force far more powerful than before sweeping through his body. His cultivation at the late stage of the Void-Piercing Realm settled firmly into place. The pressure radiating from him grew heavier, but the system concealed it completely, leaving no trace. He slowly opened his eyes, a glint flashing in them. The system's benefit had worked exactly as promised: when Qin Yu advanced to the Golden Core Late Stage, Yun Ce had risen in tandem to the late stage of the Void-Piercing Realm, exactly two major realms above him.
The Dragon Rock Lion and Red Phoenix stood nearby. They sensed only a faint change in Yun Ce's aura, not the fluctuations of a breakthrough, and had no idea what realm he had reached. Yun Ce was secretly delighted. With his current strength, he could now hold his own even against core members of the Nine Sha Hall.
Under Zhao Hu and Li Bao's management, the guards under Yun Ce's command had also become far more disciplined, and their combat strength had increased significantly. His twenty-five hundred guards had become an elite force, fiercely loyal to him. Yun Ce gradually dealt with Cha Po and Cha Ge's provocations. Though the two remained resentful, there was nothing they could do but slowly rein themselves in and stop provoking him so readily. They still believed Yun Ce was at the early stage of the Void-Piercing Realm, as before, and hadn't realized his cultivation had quietly improved.
Just as Crimson Blood Cave Mansion was gradually returning to calm and Yun Ce was preparing to further consolidate his hold over its forces, a powerful surge of demonic energy swept across the waters beyond Crimson Blood Territory. Its force was domineering, and its icy pressure instantly enveloped the entire territory, making every demon cultivator in the cave mansion feel a pang of dread.
"What is that aura? It's so powerful!"
"That pressure... It can't be an ordinary demon cultivator. Has some other force sent a powerful figure here to provoke us?"
The guards and protectors in the cave mansion were all visibly alarmed, and they broke into a flurry of discussion. Cha Po and Cha Ge felt the powerful aura too. Their expressions instantly turned grave as they hurried out of the cave mansion and gazed toward the edge of Crimson Blood Territory.
Yun Ce also stood by the cave mansion's window with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the edge of Crimson Blood Territory. A look of understanding flashed through his eyes. The aura carried a flood dragon's dominance and a dense murderous energy. It couldn't belong to an ordinary demon beast; someone from the Nine Sha Hall had surely arrived. He deliberately restrained his own aura, maintaining the appearance of being at the early stage of the Void-Piercing Realm to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.
Before long, a figure came flying slowly toward Crimson Blood Cave Mansion, stepping over the seawater. He wore a deep blue robe and had handsome features, though a trace of icy malice marked his face. The demonic energy radiating from him was at the middle stage of the Void-Piercing Realm, and his aura was even more domineering than Cha Hong's. Faint purple light swirled around him, and the phantom image of a flood dragon could just be made out. He was Di Tong, the eighth brother of the Nine Sha Hall.
The Nine Sha Hall's Nine Sha were nine Purple Sha Flood Dragons. Purple Sha Flood Dragons were beings whose bloodlines came extremely close to those of divine beasts. They had exceptional talent and immense combat strength. A single Purple Sha Flood Dragon could easily crush five or six immortal cultivators of the same realm, while the nine of them fighting together were unstoppable. The Nine Sha Hall had become one of the three great powers beneath the sea, commanding a vast stretch of ocean.
Di Tong had come to Crimson Blood Territory not to provoke anyone but because he had heard a rumor: someone claimed that the master of Crimson Blood Cave Mansion, Cha Hong, had learned where the key to the Nine Swords Immortal Mansion was—the black Jade Box holding the Jade Sword. The Nine Swords Immortal Mansion was a site of opportunity left behind by an immortal, containing countless treasures and cultivation methods. The Nine brothers of the Nine Sha Hall had long been searching for its key, hoping to claim its opportunities. As soon as Di Tong heard the news, he rushed over to investigate.
Di Tong slowly landed before the gates of Crimson Blood Cave Mansion and looked over the place with disdain. In his eyes, Crimson Blood Cave Mansion was merely a minor force under the Nine Sha Hall, not worth a second glance. But just as he was about to storm inside to search for clues about the key to the Nine Swords Immortal Mansion, he sensed two distinct auras of demonic energy within the cave mansion, as well as a faint air of discord.
His divine sense spread out quietly, and in an instant, he grasped the situation inside. Yun Ce controlled most of the guards, and his cultivation seemed to remain at the early stage of the Void-Piercing Realm—Yun Ce had deliberately concealed his true strength. Though Cha Po and Cha Ge were deputy masters of the cave mansion, they were outnumbered and outmatched. Both resented Yun Ce and were wary of each other, making the place look like a powder keg of infighting. Di Tong hadn't realized Yun Ce had already reached the late stage of the Void-Piercing Realm, nor did he know that Qin Yu and Black Feather had quietly broken through as well. The Dragon Rock Lion and Red Phoenix had also grown considerably stronger by refining Golden Cores.
A playful smile curled Di Tong's lips, and a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes. "Who would've thought that a little place like Crimson Blood Cave Mansion would have such an entertaining show of infighting? Good. Let's see what interesting things this little feud can lead to."
The guards outside the cave mansion's gates were already trembling under Di Tong's pressure. They didn't even have the courage to step forward and stop him, and could only watch him stand before the entrance, regarding the cave mansion with amusement.
Cha Po and Cha Ge hurried to the gates. The moment they saw Di Tong, their faces turned deathly pale. They quickly bowed and greeted him, their voices more respectful than ever. "Your subordinates, Cha Po and Cha Ge, pay their respects to Your Highness Di Tong! We didn't know you were coming to Crimson Blood Cave Mansion, and failed to welcome you. Please forgive us!"
They knew how terrifying the Nine Sha Hall was, and understood Di Tong's strength even better. Neither of them could hope to match him; even Cha Hong might not be his equal if he emerged from seclusion. Facing Di Tong, they could only bow their heads and submit, daring not to slight him in the least.
Di Tong gave them a cool glance, his tone icy and dismissive. "No need for formalities. Tell me, where is Cha Hong? I heard he'd found a clue to the key to the Nine Swords Immortal Mansion. Is that true?"
Cha Po and Cha Ge's hearts tightened. They hadn't expected Di Tong to have come for the key to the Nine Swords Immortal Mansion. They exchanged a glance, their faces troubled. Cha Hong was in seclusion, trying to break the Dust-Removing Restriction. If they told Di Tong, it might bring even greater trouble. But if they didn't, they would surely offend him.
As the two hesitated, Yun Ce slowly walked over and stood beside them with his hands behind his back. He met Di Tong's gaze calmly, speaking in a warm but neither servile nor overbearing tone. "Lord Di Tong, the master of the cave mansion is in seclusion and cannot receive guests. As for the clue to the key to the Nine Swords Immortal Mansion, that's only a rumor circulating outside. There's no proof. I ask you to look into it carefully."
Di Tong's gaze settled on Yun Ce, and surprise flashed through his eyes. He could sense that Yun Ce was at the early stage of the Void-Piercing Realm. To hold such a high position in Crimson Blood Cave Mansion and carry himself with such composure was impressive. He hadn't the slightest inkling that the seemingly early-stage protector before him was actually a powerhouse at the late stage of the Void-Piercing Realm, one minor stage above him.
The amusement in Di Tong's smile deepened. His gaze shifted between Yun Ce, Cha Po, and Cha Ge as he spoke playfully. "Oh? The master's in seclusion, the Great Protector holds power, and the two deputy masters are dissatisfied with him... Looks like the show at Crimson Blood Cave Mansion has only just begun."
Before you continue