"A promise?" Qin Hao paused, then gave the middle-aged man a long look without speaking.
A faint smile appeared on the middle-aged man's pale face. "This place is the Abyssal Grave Realm! Since you've made it here, you're no ordinary person. You must know how terrifying this realm is, and you've likely encountered the Ghost Souls wandering outside."
"I won't hide it from you. Every Ghost Soul in the Abyssal Grave Realm is Sovereign-level. In life, each was a Nirvana Sovereign!"
"With tens of thousands upon tens of thousands of Sovereign-level Ghost Souls, even a Heaven and Earth Sovereign—or a Great Dao Dominator—would surely die if surrounded by them day after day."
"Of course, if you can leave safely, pretend I said nothing."
The middle-aged man smiled, staring straight at Qin Hao.
But...
Qin Hao could clearly tell that the man could not see him. He did not even know Qin Hao was there.
The reason was simple.
What Sovereign Chengyu, who called himself an Inner Gate Elder of the Azure Flame Sect, had left in the Jade Slip was a recorded image!
Sovereign Chengyu's True Self had died long ago!
The image followed a sequence Sovereign Chengyu had devised before his death. Whoever came and activated the Jade Slip would see him.
Qin Hao took a deep breath, his expression turning grave.
The Abyssal Grave Realm?
What sort of place was this?
Qin Hao wanted to ask Sovereign Chengyu, but the man could not hear him, much less answer.
With a rustle, a faint cluster of light from the Fire Great Dao appeared beside the middle-aged man.
It clearly contained a complete Fire Great Dao!
Qin Hao could sense it with perfect clarity.
"If you agree," Sovereign Chengyu said slowly, "you need only swear an oath before this Fire