Xun Kun looked up and said, "This fragment of a soul won't remain sealed for long. What should we do next?"
A cold glint flickered in Yunxi's eyes as she spoke in a deep voice, "No matter whether this soul fragment was sent by some upper realm evil cultivator to hinder us or for another scheme, now that she's in our hands, we cannot allow her to return to her body. Otherwise, we'll be the ones to suffer."
Han Lian nodded in agreement. "You're right. If this soul fragment's true body has a powerful background, we'd have offended a great figure before we even ascend. That wouldn't end well."
Yunxi's gaze shifted as she suggested, "Then let's send her into the Soul-Confining Mirror and hand her over to Black and White Impermanence. Let her stay in the underworld."
Xun Kun's lips twitched at the plan, finding it ruthless but effective. He replied, "Alright. But before that, I'll erase all her memories. Even if her true body one day finds this soul fragment in the underworld, she won't be able to betray us."
Han Lian smiled. "Xun Kun always handles matters thoroughly. This way, we'll have nothing to worry about. By the time her true body finds the fragment, it'll be a distant future. Perhaps by then, our cultivation will surpass hers."
Han Lian was always the optimistic one.
Yunxi turned toward Yun Chen Fózǐ, who was frowning silently. "Yun Chen, did your soul search reveal anything?"
Yun Chen nodded, though he seemed hesitant. "After Wei Yunqing's dantian was damaged by the Ling Li in the Qinghua Mountain Range, she crushed a Ten Thousand-Mile Teleportation Talisman and accidentally ended up at the Yunxiao Sea.
Then this natal sword with a replaced core led her into the place sealing the evil god's body, cutting off all tracking methods. That's why even your bloodline tracking spell couldn't find her.
In that place, Wei Yunqing discovered a supreme spiritual vein and, beneath layers of seals, the 'Immortal Tree.' It could repair her damaged dantian and grant her immortality.
But the formation surrounding the 'Immortal Tree' couldn't be broken by force, so she stayed there, unsealing it layer by layer. She spent nearly forty years using every method she had until she finally obtained the 'Immortal Tree.'
After refining it and restoring her dantian, the first seal on the so-called ancient expert's estate at the bottom of the sea was broken, causing it to surface. That's when she left the seabed and was captured by Ran Xi aboard the flying boat. You know the rest."
Yunxi immediately caught a key detail and pressed further, "You're saying the seal on the evil god's body has more than one layer?"
Yun Chen nodded. "I saw her memories. She only removed the first seal. The second layer likely requires a soul sacrifice to open. The vision caused by this will attract more cultivators, and what happens next is unpredictable—especially with evil cultivators lurking in the Weiyu Realm. They're bound to make a move."
Han Lian raised her brows. "So this so-called ancient expert's estate is nothing but a trap. But since it draws cultivators from every region, it'll also lure the evil cultivators. Maybe this is a good chance to wipe them out in one swoop. It just depends on who outplays whom."
Yunxi thought for a moment and then said, "We've already destroyed many of the evil souls raised by those evil cultivators in the mortal realm. Most of the ghosts and malicious spirits that escaped from the underworld are in our hands too. Even if some remain well-hidden, their numbers are limited.
To unseal the remaining layers, the evil god doesn't have enough sacrificial offerings. The evil cultivators will have to lure more cultivators here to carry out the next step of their plan.
In that case, we'll split up. This place is closest to the Western Region, so I'll stay here. The rest of you return and warn cultivators in every region that the so-called ancient estate at Yunxiao Sea is a trap laid by evil cultivators. Stop as many as you can from coming here.
We need to link the 'Heavenly Gang North Star Demon-Slaying Formations' in each region and be ready to activate them at a moment's notice. If we can suppress the evil god's body from breaking free, we'll buy time for more cultivators in the Weiyu Realm to ascend."
When it came to serious matters, the other three naturally deferred to Ran Xi's leadership. They nodded without hesitation and immediately left the flying boat.
Yunxi raised her hand and sent a message talisman to Cao Yi, summoning him to the Yunxiao Sea.
Cao Yi, who was in seclusion studying formations, received Yunxi's message and hurriedly packed up. He stored away the formation disk he was engraving and slipped out of Haoran Sect. Just as he was leaving, Lin Keyang and Zhang Lingrui spotted him.
"Huh? Isn't that Cao Yi? I thought he was in seclusion. Why is he suddenly out?" Zhang Lingrui asked Lin Keyang.
Lin Keyang frowned. "Could he have heard about the ancient estate surfacing at the Yunxiao Sea and came out because of it?"
"Stop guessing," Zhang Lingrui said bluntly. "Let's catch up to him and ask. If he's going to Yunxiao Sea, we can go with him."
He turned into a streak of light and flew off. Lin Keyang sighed helplessly but followed him.
When they caught up, they learned Yunxi had summoned Cao Yi urgently. The two exchanged glances. If Yunxi had interrupted Cao Yi's secluded training, something major must have happened. They immediately decided to join him.
"We'll go with you to see Yunxi. If she called only for you, it must be for a formation. We'll act as your guardians. We've worked together on formations before, so let's stick as a team," Lin Keyang said firmly, giving Cao Yi no room to decline.
Cao Yi thought it over and found their reasoning sound, so he accepted. The three sped toward Yunxiao Sea together.
Meanwhile, messages flew across the entire Weiyu Realm: talismans, flying swords carrying letters, and jade slips with rapidly updating information. All of it was about the Yunxiao Sea.
In the Western Region, Wan Bowen, the famed "All-Knowing One," listened to his disciples' reports while simultaneously editing news on a jade slip using his divine sense. His reputation wasn't undeserved; every piece of information he sent out was accurate and first-hand.
Just as he was halfway through drafting, a familiar female voice sounded in his ear. Wan Bowen froze, then his face turned solemn. After a moment's pause, he erased everything he'd written and rewrote the message. Handing the jade slip to his disciple, he said, "Spread this as fast as possible. Everyone needs to know."
"Yes, Master!"
The young disciple scanned the contents, then looked up in shock. "Master, is this source reliable? We can't risk our reputation."
Wan Bowen glared, beard bristling. "Ran Xi Zūnzhě told me personally. Do you think it's fake? If someone insists on dying, that's their problem. A good warning can't save a fool. Go!"
The disciple's expression turned grave. He bowed and said, "Yes, Master. I'll see to it right away."
Wan Bowen sat back in his recliner, fanning himself as he muttered, "Sigh, the Weiyu Realm is about to descend into chaos again. Let's hope the four Zūnzhě can lead us through this calamity."