Amid a boundless sea of clouds, beneath the Water Realm, several Martial Dao Cultivators appeared out of thin air in a wondrous scene that seemed to turn heaven and earth upside down.
Elder Wu shook the banner he held aloft. The next instant, more people flew out of it and stood in midair.
Before long, another streak of light raced toward them, descending upon this stretch of sea at incredible speed.
He did not reveal his true form, but his enormous silhouette and vast aura made his identity unmistakable.
This was none other than Martial Emperor Yang Wuji, though he had not come in person. Instead, his second primordial spirit had descended.
"I am still fighting Puppet Master Grandmaster Shen Longcheng beyond the nine heavens. Enemy reinforcements will soon reach this place, so I have sent my second primordial spirit ahead to take you away."
Elder Wu said, "We obey your decree, Martial Emperor! But may I ask, Your Excellency, what should we do about our meager haul? We have not captured even a single Grand Artisan-level Puppet Master."
The second primordial spirit gave a sinister cackle. "This affair is far from over!"
"Having you withdraw first does not mean it is truly finished. It was no easy feat to seize this opportunity to come here while the other Puppet Master Grandmasters had ventured deep into the Netherworld to explore the Ancient Ruins, only to be tied down by several other fellow cultivators. If I cannot even capture a few Puppet Master Grand Artisans, would they not laugh at me?"
Puzzled, Elder Wu asked, "Then what do you intend?"
The second primordial spirit said, "My disciples have already found the Moon Abyss described in our intelligence and cast bait into it to lure demons into attacking!"
"Soon, a vast demon