Marquis Huanming's Suspicion

Dutu Star Sector, Blood Demon Planet.

Inside the palace, the Blood Demon King slowly opened his eyes. Lying at his feet was a figure familiar to Jiang Luo—Thanses.

Thanses's corpse lay with its eyes wide open, vacant and hollow.

"Interesting..." The Blood Demon King revealed a chilling smile. "No wonder he cut off contact with Blood Demon Planet after going to the Flint Star World. To think someone actually helped him regain his freedom."

An Immortal God below said in astonishment, "Impossible! Although I removed the soul enslavement, long-term soul enslavement leaves behind powerful consciousness shackles!"

Blood Demon Planet employed a method of layered soul control.

The Blood Demon King controlled 999 Immortal servants, and these Immortal servants, in turn, soul-enslaved the elites screened from the entire Dutu Star Sector through the Blood Demon Trial.

However, the Ancient Wheel Sacred Hall and the five major giants would never accept geniuses who had been soul-controlled.

No matter how strong their talent, they wouldn't want them!

Therefore, for geniuses of Blood Demon Planet who were to enter the Ancient Wheel Sacred Hall or the five major giants, the soul control would be lifted.

But that did not mean no contingency measures were left behind.

The traces left by long-term soul enslavement, and the impact on the mind, were difficult to eliminate completely even after the soul control was lifted.

Unless one's willpower was strong to a certain degree.

"Hmph! Fool!" The Blood Demon King's expression turned gloomy. "I still cannot discern the origin of that mysterious Universe-level powerhouse from his memories.

"Appelrad, have you made any progress on the things I asked you to investigate?"

A short, stocky Immortal God spoke up: "I have visited most of the major powers in the Huanming Star Sector. As soon as I mentioned your name, they all trembled in fear.

"One power, called the Obsidian Company, possessed some intelligence.

"Thanses, whom you sent to retrieve the treasure from the Flint Star World, entered the Flint Star World through this company.

"They had previously suspected that a Star-level individual named 'Jiang Luo' had obtained the token to open the World within a World, but since that Jiang Luo was a member of the Ancient Wheel Sacred Hall, they dared not act rashly.

"However, after the World within a World opened, that Jiang Luo never seemed to appear, and the Universe-level individual who ultimately obtained the treasure was clearly not him, leading the upper echelons of the Obsidian Company to suspect that their intelligence might have been wrong."

The Blood Demon King's gaze was cold: "No clue can be overlooked. Go and investigate the origins of this Jiang Luo, and be discreet!

"According to the laws of the Universe Kingdom, our people cannot leave the Dutu Star Sector.

"That Huanming Star Sector is the territory of Marquis Huanming; try not to give him any handle to use against us."

Those small powers feared the Ancient Wheel Sacred Hall, but he did not.

"Heh." The Blood Demon King's expression suddenly shifted. "Marquis Mo Yan has come to hold me accountable? I suppose I must handle him."

Virtual Universe, Floating Island.

This was the second time Jiang Luo had faced Marquis Huanming; the first was when he crossed the threshold of the Laws to become a disciple of the Ancient Wheel Hall.

Marquis Huanming's expression was stern: "Among the treasures left behind by the Flint Star Sector Lord, there must be something the Blood Demon King desired, which is why he dispatched Thanses to compete for it.

"It should have been a sure thing, but I never expected a mysterious Universe-level powerhouse to snatch it first.

"And the Blood Demon King likely suspects that the mysterious Universe-level individual who obtained the Flint Star World treasure is related to you.

"It is also highly probable that Thanses was captured back by the Blood Demon King.

"But unfortunately, as far as I know, Thanses did not transmit a single piece of information through the Virtual Universe before he died.

"Logically speaking, he had already reached the Universe-level and should have been able to split off a sliver of consciousness to log into the Virtual Universe.

"Without evidence, even the Sacred Hall would find it difficult to pursue or punish the Blood Demon King."

Jiang Luo's expression was a mix of shock and confusion.

Half of it was feigned, but the other half of his emotions were genuine.

He truly had not expected the Flint Star Sector Lord's treasure to be something the Blood Demon King would care about so deeply.

He was also fortunate that even though he had subdued Thanses through the Illusionary Demon Emperor Fist, he had been cautious enough not to reveal his true identity to Thanses.

Furthermore, he had not rashly used other soul-control secret techniques to enslave Thanses.

It appeared that Thanses was free after joining the Sacred Hall, but now it was clear that other methods from Blood Demon Planet remained on him.

Otherwise, how could Thanses, who was traveling through the universe, have been suddenly captured by people from Blood Demon Planet?

He couldn't even transmit a single message.

Marquis Huanming said in a low voice: "You have entered the Gulun Secret Realm, which is a good thing. Within the Gulun Secret Realm, unless you court death yourself, no one can do anything to you.

"I have already dispatched a team of Huanming Guards to protect your hometown, Luo Planet.

"Rest assured, the Blood Demon King would not dare to touch your hometown.

"What you can do now is cultivate diligently in the Gulun Secret Realm. If you can pass the selection to enter the Giant Axe Arena in a hundred years, the threat the Blood Demon King poses to you will be much smaller."

Jiang Luo said gratefully: "Thank you, My Lord!"

His parents and family were on Luo Planet.

That Marquis Huanming would specifically dispatch a team of Huanming Guards to protect Luo Planet was indeed beyond his expectations.

After Jiang Luo left the palace, Bu Li, a Sector Lord standing by in attendance, asked with some surprise, "My Lord, do you value this Jiang Luo so highly?"

A Huanming Guard unit is composed of one Sector Lord, ten Domain Lords, and over a thousand Universe-level powerhouses.

And yet, you dispatched one just to protect Jiang Luo's home planet.

Furthermore, the Huanming Guard acts as the public representative of Marquis Huanming; to provoke the Huanming Guard is to become an enemy of Marquis Huanming himself.

Within the Gulun Universe Kingdom, even a King-level powerhouse would not dare to do such a thing.

This level of importance is treating Jiang Luo as if he were a core member of the Giant Axe Arena!

Marquis Huanming's gaze was profound: "Do you think the mysterious Universe-level individual who obtained the treasure of the Flint Star Sector Lord has any connection to Jiang Luo?"

Bu Li was stunned: "Does My Lord mean that Jiang Luo truly possesses the token to open the World within a World, and that he is acquainted with that mysterious Universe-level individual?"

Marquis Huanming revealed a smile: "It is possible that this Jiang Luo is the very person who defeated Thanses and obtained the treasure of the Flint Star World."

"How is that possible?!" Bu Li found it hard to believe. "That mysterious Universe-level individual likely had the strength of the seventh or eighth stage of the Universe level; how could it be Jiang Luo? Besides, his combat methods were completely different..."

Marquis Huanming's eyes narrowed slightly: "What if he possesses a powerful avatar? It is not impossible that the mysterious Universe-level individual in the Flint Star World was an avatar of his possessing some kind of peak bloodline."

"Ah...?"

Bu Li was left dazed by what he heard.

Marquis Huanming shook his head inwardly; only those who reached his level of status would know that all sorts of miraculous encounters in the universe emerge one after another.

Some things are difficult to imagine until one reaches a certain level.

Just like those Immortal gods from the Obsidian Company, who basically dismissed their suspicions of Jiang Luo after the battle in the World within a World of the Flint Star World concluded.

Because they could not imagine that a Star-level individual could possess such formidable combat power in reality, or be able to switch from a warrior path to a Spirit Reader Controller path.

Naturally, Marquis Huanming would not so easily dismiss his suspicions that Jiang Luo had obtained the treasure of the Flint Star World.

He was certain that the Blood Demon King felt the same way.

Thinking of this, Marquis Huanming commanded: "Any movements Jiang Luo makes in the Gulun Secret Realm must be reported to me immediately, especially when he challenges the Immortal Sacred Mountain or the Trial Tower."

"Understood! Eh?" Bu Li had just lowered his head when he let out a sound of surprise.

Then, with a strange expression, he said: "My Lord, that Jiang Luo has already ascended the Mountain of Power..."