Dutu Star Sector, Blood Demon Planet.
Inside the palace, the Blood Demon King slowly opened his eyes. At his feet lay a familiar figure—Thanses.
Thanses's corpse stared up with empty eyes.
"Interesting..." The Blood Demon King smiled chillingly. "No wonder he cut off contact with Blood Demon Planet after going to Flint Star World. Someone actually helped him regain his freedom."
An Immortal God below him said in astonishment, "Impossible! Although I lifted the Soul Enslavement, the long-term enslavement left powerful mental shackles behind!"
Blood Demon Planet used layers of Soul Control.
The Blood Demon King controlled 999 Immortal Servants, who in turn enslaved the souls of the elites selected through the Blood Demon Trial across the entire Dutu Star Sector.
But the Ancient Wheel Sacred Hall and the five great powers would never take in a genius under Soul Control.
No matter how talented they were, they wouldn't accept them!
So for Blood Demon Planet's geniuses who were going to enter the Ancient Wheel Sacred Hall or join one of the five great powers, the Soul Control was always lifted.
But that didn't mean no precautions were taken.
The traces left by long-term Soul Enslavement affected the mind, and even after Soul Control was lifted, they were difficult to erase completely.
Unless one's will was strong enough.
"Hmph! Fool!" The Blood Demon King's expression darkened. "I still couldn't identify that mysterious Universe Level's origins from Thanses's memories.
"Appelrad, have you found anything about what I asked you to investigate?"
A short, stocky Immortal God spoke up. "I've visited most of the major powers in Huanming Star Sector. The moment I mentioned your name, they all trembled in fear.
"One of them, a power called Obsidian Company, had some information.
"Thanses, whom you sent to retrieve the treasure in Flint Star World this time, entered Flint Star World through that company.
"They had previously suspected that a Star Level named 'Jiang Luo' had obtained the token needed to open the World within a World. But Jiang Luo was a member of the Ancient Wheel Sacred Hall, so they didn't dare act rashly.
"However, after the World within a World opened, Jiang Luo never seemed to show up. The Universe Level who ultimately obtained the treasure clearly wasn't him either, so Obsidian Company's higher-ups began to suspect their information might have been wrong."
The Blood Demon King's gaze turned icy. "We can't let even the smallest clue slip by. Investigate Jiang Luo's background, and be discreet!
"Under Universe Country law, our people aren't allowed to leave Dutu Star Sector.
"And Huanming Star Sector is Marquis Huanming's territory. Don't give him anything he can use against us."
Those minor powers feared the Ancient Wheel Sacred Hall. He did not.
"Heh." The Blood Demon King's expression shifted. "Marquis Mo Yan has come to demand an explanation? I'll have to deal with him."
Virtual Universe, Floating Island.
This was Jiang Luo's second time meeting Marquis Huanming. The first had been when he crossed the threshold of the laws and became a disciple of the Ancient Wheel Hall.
Marquis Huanming's expression was stern. "There must have been something among the treasures left behind by the Flint Star Sector Lord that the Blood Demon King wanted. That's why he sent Thanses to seize them.
"He should have had it in the bag, but an unknown Universe Level beat him to it.
"The Blood Demon King may suspect that you're connected to the mysterious Universe Level who obtained the treasure from Flint Star World.
"Thanses was probably captured by the Blood Demon King as well.
"Unfortunately, from what I've learned, Thanses didn't send a single message through the Virtual Universe before he died.
"He should have been able to project a sliver of his consciousness into the Virtual Universe after reaching Universe Level.
"Without evidence, even the Sacred Hall may find it difficult to punish the Blood Demon King."
Jiang Luo looked shocked, with a trace of confusion.
Half of it was an act, but the other half was genuine.
He truly hadn't expected the Blood Demon King to care so much about the Flint Star Sector Lord's treasure.
He was also glad that even after using the Illusionary Demon Emperor Fist to subdue Thanses, he had been cautious enough not to reveal his true identity to him.
Nor had he rashly used another Soul Control secret art to enslave Thanses.
Thanses had seemed free after joining the Sacred Hall, but now it was clear Blood Demon Planet had left other measures in place.
Otherwise, how could Thanses, who had been traveling through the universe, suddenly have been captured by people from Blood Demon Planet?
He hadn't even managed to send a single message.
Marquis Huanming said solemnly, "You've already entered Gulun Secret Realm. That's a good thing. Inside Gulun Secret Realm, no one can do anything to you unless you bring it on yourself.
"I've already sent a Huanming Guard to protect your home, Luo Planet.
"Rest assured, the Blood Demon King wouldn't dare touch your home.
"The best thing you can do now is cultivate seriously in Gulun Secret Realm. If you pass the selection a hundred years from now and enter Giant Axe Arena, the threat posed by the Blood Demon King will no longer be so great."
Jiang Luo said gratefully, "Thank you, sir!"
His parents and family were on Luo Planet.
Marquis Huanming's decision to send a Huanming Guard to protect Luo Planet had genuinely surprised him.
After Jiang Luo left the palace, Bu Li, the World Lord standing nearby, said in surprise, "Sir, why are you taking such a special interest in Jiang Luo?"
A Huanming Guard consisted of one World Lord, ten Domain Lords, and more than a thousand Universe Level powerhouses.
And they were being sent just to protect Jiang Luo's home planet.
The Huanming Guard also served as Marquis Huanming's representative to the outside world. To provoke them was to make an enemy of Marquis Huanming.
In the Gulun Universe Country, even a King Rank powerhouse wouldn't dare do such a thing.
This level of attention meant he was treating Jiang Luo as a core member of Giant Axe Arena!
Marquis Huanming's gaze was deep. "Do you think the mysterious Universe Level who obtained the Flint Star Sector Lord's treasure has anything to do with Jiang Luo?"
Bu Li froze. "You mean Jiang Luo really has the token that opens the World within a World, and knows that mysterious Universe Level?"
Marquis Huanming smiled. "Perhaps Jiang Luo was the one who defeated Thanses and obtained the treasure from Flint Star World."
"How could that be?!" Bu Li said, unable to believe it. "That mysterious Universe Level was probably at the seventh or eighth level of Universe Level. How could he be Jiang Luo? Besides, their fighting styles were completely different..."
Marquis Huanming narrowed his eyes. "What if he has a powerful clone? It's entirely possible that the mysterious Universe Level in Flint Star World was a clone of his with some kind of peak bloodline."
"Ah...?"
Bu Li was stunned.
Marquis Huanming shook his head inwardly. Only someone at his level could know that all kinds of extraordinary opportunities constantly arose throughout the universe.
Some things were difficult to imagine without reaching a certain level.
That was why, after the battle in the World within a World in Flint Star World, the Immortal Gods from Obsidian Company had mostly stopped suspecting Jiang Luo.
They couldn't imagine that a Star Level could possess such powerful strength in reality—or that a Martial Artist could become a Mental Master Controller.
Marquis Huanming wasn't going to dismiss his suspicions that easily.
He was certain the Blood Demon King wouldn't, either.
With that in mind, Marquis Huanming ordered, "Report Jiang Luo's every move in Gulun Secret Realm to me promptly, especially when he challenges Immortal Sacred Mountain or the Trial Tower."
"Understood! Huh?" Bu Li had just lowered his head when he let out a startled cry.
His expression turned strange. "Sir, Jiang Luo has already climbed Mountain of Power..."
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