"How exactly did you learn all of this?" The Heavenly Principles finally asked the question that had been troubling her.
Clearly, she could not figure it out on her own.
"What do you mean? The invasive species, or the Archon War?" Xiu Yuan asked in return.
"Everything."
"You're a greedy one, aren't you? Fine. At least you'll understand why you're dying."
"First, he figured out that you were an invasive species long ago. I don't know exactly when, but he knew."
"Second, everything he just said about the Archon War was speculation."
The Heavenly Principles froze slightly at the Lord of the Underworld's words.
"Impossible! How could he have guessed everything right?" the Heavenly Principles immediately protested.
"You spend all day on that lousy island. How could your experience possibly compare to his? He saw through your little schemes long ago. He simply lacked the strength to challenge you."
"Do you have any idea how much effort we spent taking this body, how long we battled wits with him? Your little tricks are too embarrassing to even mention."
The Lord of the Underworld mocked the Heavenly Principles without mercy.
Seizing this body had exhausted every ounce of their cunning. This entire plan had been devised by thousands upon thousands of karmic debts.
From their experiences over the previous eight lifetimes, they knew that brute force would never work against Xiu Yuan.
His willpower was unimaginably strong. Despite attacking him for so long, they had never broken through even once.
So in the ninth lifetime, they took a different approach.
Outsmarting him.
Allowing him to hear their voices when he removed his mask had been deliberate.
They had also intentionally leaked the information that the Abyss would be devoured once caught, heightening Xiu Yuan's sense of urgency.
In truth, the karmic