[9.3K Words]
Kui Yanshuang's body went limp from his pinching. She glared at him reproachfully, letting out a cold snort, but couldn't hide the seductive glint in her eyes.
She gasped and moaned, "Ah...you bastard...be gentle..." Her voice was almost coquettish, making Qin Tian's groin harden even more.
She then sighed, her tone turning somber, tinged with distress: "Never mind, you wouldn't understand. Recently, a man in black robes has appeared in the city. He shows himself and then disappears, lurking in the city for seven days. The Kui Shui Guards and Cang Yuan Army I sent out haven't found a single trace. This man is elusive, his strength unfathomable. If we let him go unchecked, something terrible will happen."
She lowered her head and licked his penis again, as if venting her frustration. Her tongue swirled around the tip, making a soft "tsk tsk" sound, murmuring, "If this man isn't eliminated, Wuji Cang Yuan City will never have peace. As the city lord, I can't even catch a glimpse of him. It's truly pathetic..." As she spoke, she unconsciously swayed her plump buttocks, the flesh trembling as if still yearning for his caresses.
Upon hearing this, Qin Tian's eyes flashed with amusement. He lightly flicked her nipple with his finger and casually said, "Black Robe? Sounds like a mysterious fellow. Tsk tsk, City Lord, you're quite a slut to fuck, but your brain isn't very bright."
He paused, his wicked smile deepening. "But your appearance gives me an idea. Since Black Robe is well-hidden, why don't you, City Lord, personally go out and strip naked, stand on the city wall, and sway your fat ass to lure him out? With your slutty look, no man can resist. When he can't resist coming out and wanting to fuck your cunt raw, then kill him with one stroke. How about that?" "As he spoke, he slapped her plump buttocks hard with a loud "smack," making her flesh tremble even more violently. He chuckled, "Come on, give me a couple of shakes, you slut!"
Kui Yanshuang was stunned. She looked up at him angrily, her cherry lips slightly parted, her large breasts trembling with rage. "Qin Tian! You bastard, what do you take me for! I'm the city lord, not some whore for everyone to sleep with!"
She gritted her teeth and said, "If you talk nonsense again, I'll cut off this rotten thing of yours! So you'll never be able to fuck me again!" She glared at him as she spoke, her phoenix eyes filled with shame and anger, but her slender hands unconsciously tightened their grip on his penis, gently stroking it.
Qin Tian laughed heartily, slapping her buttocks again with a crisp sound, the flesh trembling lasciviously, rippling in waves.
He narrowed his eyes, his tone full of provocation: "Cut it off? Lord City Lord, are you willing to do that? Without my big cock, your cunt will probably be crying and begging other men to fill it. Come on, lick it faster, I'm still hard!" He grabbed her chin, forcing her to tilt her head back, his gaze locking onto her like a wolf's. "Seriously, I have a way with the Black Robe. You just need to lick my cock well, and leave the rest to me."
Kui Yanshuang's chin was held by him, a hint of shame and anger flashing in her phoenix eyes, mixed with a strange dependence.
She snorted coldly, breaking free of his hand, and lowered her head to continue licking the cock, her tongue swirling around the veins, making a "tsk tsk" sound.
As she licked, she whispered, "Hmph, if you're really capable, prove it to me. I want to see what else you can do besides fucking!" Her voice was hoarse and provocative, yet her eyes were fixed on the thick, hard penis.
Qin Tian leaned against the headboard, his fingers kneading her breasts wantonly, causing her body to tremble and a warm flow to escape from her vagina.
A deep glint flashed in his eyes as he chuckled, "You slut, don't worry, I guarantee the Black Robe will appear tomorrow. But tonight, you'd better serve me well first. Kneel properly, take it deep, I'm going to fuck your throat!"
With that, he slammed her head down, his penis plunging deep into her throat, causing her to cough and gurgle. She obediently swallowed, her cherry lips tightly gripping his shaft, her tongue deftly tracing the veins. The lewd sounds echoed in the inner room, lingering for a long time.
The next day, a torrential rain fell on the city.
The rain poured down, tearing the dark night sky apart with lightning, illuminating the majestic outline of Wuji Cangyuan City.
This ancient immortal city, dominating the Water Immortal Realm, now resembled a colossal beast lurking in a raging sea. The runes on the city walls flickered with the crashing waves, pulsating like breath.
*Crack!*
A bolt of purple lightning cleaved the night sky, the fleeting pale light illuminating the silent, dark figure standing atop the eaves.
The figure stood motionless on the eaves, his black robes billowing, his mask contorted like a demon's, a long black sword in his hand pointing diagonally at the ground, raindrops dripping from its blade etching wisps of blue smoke onto the tiles.
He was silent, only two crimson lights flickering beneath his mask, like a demon awakening from the abyss, coldly watching over this immortal city.
Suddenly.
*Boom!*
A deafening roar echoed from the forbidden area of Wuji Cangyuan City, the entire city trembling. An aged figure soared into the sky from the forbidden area, standing in mid-air, his dark blue robe billowing in the gale, raindrops automatically diverting within a three-zhang radius around him, not a single drop touching him.
"After hiding for so many days, you've finally decided to show yourself?"
The old man's voice was deep and resonant, like rolling thunder, distorting the surrounding rain.
His face was gaunt, a single azure Dao pattern gleaming between his brows—he was none other than Venerable Xuanming, one of the four pillars of Wuji Cangyuan City!
The old man in black robes slowly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes beneath the mask sweeping across the surroundings. His hoarse voice, like sandpaper rubbing against bronze, carried a chilling tremor:
"What a grand display."
Before his words even finished, celestial light shot into the sky from all corners of the city. One hundred and eighty Immortal Venerables descended through the air, their feet forming interwoven array patterns that created a vast, all-encompassing net of laws.
On the ground, the Kui Shui Guards and the Cangyuan Army stood in formation like a forest, the water-repelling beads on their heavy armor simultaneously lighting up, forming a water-curtain prison that sealed off every inch of space within a hundred miles!
Venerable Xuanming sneered, "No matter who you are, daring to covet the Endless Sea of White Bones, today I will annihilate you, body and soul!"
The black-robed figure remained silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled, a laugh as chilling as the hooting of an owl.
"Too many people..."
He slowly raised his black sword, an aura of extreme cold spreading out, the surrounding rain freezing into scarlet ice crystals the instant it touched the blade!
"It's just one more swing."
"Boom!"
The instant the sword light flashed, the entire world seemed to fall into an eerie stillness.
The sound of the torrential rain vanished, the waves froze, and even the law arrays formed by the Immortal Venerables momentarily stagnated!
The Xuanming Venerable's pupils constricted sharply, and he roared, "Myriad Phenomena Rise!"
The black-robed figure moved.
His form suddenly blurred, and in an instant, the entire world seemed to be filled with countless black afterimages—ten, a hundred, a thousand! Each afterimage stood holding a sword, its blade pointing with chilling killing intent!
"Be careful! This sword technique is strange!" an Immortal Venerable shouted sharply, his jade gourd spewing forth a torrent of water in an attempt to discern the true form.
However.
"Swoosh!"
A sword light flashed, and his head flew high into the air, his eyes still frozen in disbelief.
The black-robed figure was no longer in place.
"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"
Sword light rained down like a storm. In an instant, dozens of Cangyuan army cultivators stiffened, then blood streamed down their necks, chests, and brows. Before the blood could even splatter, the black-robed figure had already swept past like a ghost, rushing towards the sealed forbidden area of Wuji Cangyuan City.
"Stop him! Form the Cangyuan Immortal-Locking Array!"
Eight Immortal Venerables roared, their feet stepping in profound positions, their hands forming hand seals. Suddenly, eight Xuan Shui chains as thick as giant pythons appeared in the void. Runes flickered on the chains, containing the power to suppress immortals and demons, and they lashed out at the black-robed figure!
The black-robed figure didn't stop, his black sword suddenly gleaming.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
A thousand sword shadows bloomed simultaneously!
His sword was too fast, so fast that even afterimages couldn't dissipate. Before the eight Xuan Shui chains could even get close, they were cleaved into countless water droplets by the sword light!
The eight Immortal Venerables' expressions changed drastically. Before they could retreat, the black-robed figure had already approached like black lightning.
"Die."
A horizontal slash!
"Pfft!"
Eight heads flew off simultaneously. Before the blood could even hit the ground, the black-robed figure had already transformed into hundreds of afterimages, rushing towards the sealed land!
"Boom!!"
The ground trembled. Three thousand Kui Shui Guards charged in formation, wielding long spears and massive shields, their heavy steps carrying them towards the black-robed figure.
The black-robed figure sneered, his form suddenly splitting into a hundred, a hundred becoming a thousand shadows!
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!!"
Sword light surged like a tide, dense as rain!
Each illusory figure unleashed a sword strike, a thousand swords striking simultaneously, like a raging storm!
"Ahhh!!"
Screams mingled, hundreds of Kui Shui Guards in the front row were instantly sliced into a bloody mist. The cultivators in the middle row, barely raising their weapons, felt a chill on their necks as their heads rolled to the ground! The cultivators in the back rows retreated in terror, only to see hundreds of sword lights following them like shadows, piercing their chests in an instant!
Blood rained down!
The black-robed figure walked through the blood, leaving a trail of corpses in his wake!
"You wrathful creature!"
A furious roar shook the heavens; Venerable Xuanming had finally made his move!
He formed hand seals, the azure Dao pattern between his brows blazing brightly. The water-based spiritual energy of the entire Wuji Cangyuan City frantically converged, transforming into a thousand-foot-tall Xuan Shui Dharma Image, which slammed down with a palm, blotting out the sky!
The black-robed figure looked up, a hint of mockery flashing in his blood-red eyes.
"Too slow."
His figure vanished abruptly, and in the next instant, he multiplied into ten thousand illusory figures, each wielding a sword and soaring upwards against the heavens. The sword light, like a reversed galaxy, surged towards the Xuan Shui Dharma Image!
"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!!"
Ten thousand swords pierced the sky!
Before the Xuan Shui Dharma Image's giant palm could even land, it was pierced by countless sword lights, riddled with holes! The Dharma Image let out a silent wail and shattered with a deafening roar!
Xuan Ming Venerable groaned, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and horror finally appeared in his eyes!
The black-robed figure had already swept past him like a ghost, speeding towards the sealed land!
"Stop him! At all costs!"
Xuan Ming Venerable roared, and the entire city's array was activated. Countless Immortal Venerables, Cang Yuan Army soldiers, and Kui Shui Guards surged forward, vowing to stop him to the death!
However…
The black-robed man's sword was too fast.
So fast that no one could see his figure!
So fast that even death couldn't catch up with his pace!
"Whoosh!"
The final sword light flashed, and the last Immortal Venerable blocking the sealed land froze, a bloodstain appearing between his brows.
The black-robed man sheathed his sword, stepping over the corpses scattered on the ground, and walked towards the sealed forbidden area.
Behind him…
"Boom!"
A loud explosion rang out, and the Immortal Venerable's body suddenly exploded, blood mist filling the air!
The torrential rain poured down like a celestial river, lightning tore through the night, and the entire Wuji Cangyuan City seemed to teeter on the brink of collapse in a raging sea.
The black-robed man walked forward over the corpses, his blood-red eyes cold, the black iron longsword in his hand humming, the raindrops dripping from its blade even etching wisps of black smoke onto the bluestone slabs.
Venerable Xuanming's white hair danced wildly, his azure Dao pattern between his brows burning like a star. His hands formed a seal, drawing upon the water-based spiritual energy of the entire city.
He roared, "You wretch! Today, even at the cost of my Dao foundation, I will suppress and kill you!"
Before his words finished, he slammed his palm into the ground.
"Boom!!"
The earth's ley lines within the entire city were completely activated. The seawater within a hundred miles suddenly boiled, transforming into nine thousand-foot-long water dragons that soared into the sky. Their roars shook the heavens. Each dragon scale was formed from Xuan water, containing the power to suppress immortals and demons! The nine water dragons coiled and intertwined, transforming into a sky-covering "Nine Abyss Demon-Suppressing Array," completely sealing off the black-robed figure!
The black-robed figure narrowed his blood-red eyes, sneering, "Old man, finally willing to fight to the death?"
His figure suddenly blurred, instantly splitting into countless afterimages, each wielding a sword and slashing out, the sword light pouring down like a torrential rain, dense as a net!
"Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!!"
The sword light collided with the water dragons, erupting in a piercing tearing sound. Countless cracks were slashed into the Xuan Water Dragon's scales, but were instantly repaired by the power of the earth's veins.
Blood trickled from the corner of Venerable Xuanming's mouth; clearly, activating this formation had severely damaged his vital energy, but he gritted his teeth and persevered, his hands suddenly clasping together.
"Squeeze!"
The nine water dragons roared and contracted, their bodies intertwining, crushing inward like a net! The black-robed true form was forced to reveal itself, his black sword blocking, the blade rubbing against the dragon scales, sparks flying, the bluestone ground beneath his feet cracking inch by inch, spiderweb-like fissures spreading over a hundred feet!
A massive water dragon's tail swept across, striking the black-robed figure in the chest before he could dodge. A crack appeared in his Asura mask, and blood trickled from his lips.
But instead, he grinned maliciously, his bloodshot eyes blazing with even greater madness!
"Old man, you're actually a bit stronger than those trash..."
He suddenly plunged his sword into the ground, the blade sinking three inches deep. His dark sword intent spread like a plague, turning the ground to rotten earth wherever it passed, even corroding the Xuan Shui dragon's body with jagged gashes!
The Xuanming Venerable's expression changed drastically. He hastily changed formation, and the remaining eight water dragons simultaneously spewed out icy energy, instantly freezing the black-robed figure within an iceberg!
"It's over!" The Xuanming Venerable gasped, his last breath fading. He seemed to have aged hundreds of years.
Just as he was about to order his men to eternally suppress the black-robed figure...
A "crack" sound rang out.
The iceberg shattered instantly!
The black-robed figure burst forth from the ice, his movements like a ghost, a sword aimed straight for Venerable Xuanming's throat!
Venerable Xuanming was shocked. He hastily summoned his natal immortal artifact, the "Azure Abyss Sea-Stabilizing Pearl," a pale blue light barrier that barely blocked the attack. However, the sword's momentum remained, tearing a crack in the barrier and penetrating deep into Venerable Xuanming's shoulder, leaving a deep, bone-revealing gash!
"Ugh..." Venerable Xuanming groaned, staggering backward. The void beneath his feet exploded, and he crashed into a palace. Glazed tiles collapsed, beams crumbled, and dust billowed into the sky!
The black-robed figure did not pursue, but coldly gazed at the ruins, hoarsely saying, "I'll spare your life today."
As his words fell, his figure vanished into black mist, leaving behind only the ravaged Wuji Cangyuan City and the dying Xuanming Venerable amidst the ruins…
Beneath Wuji Cangyuan City, a thick fog shrouded the area, emanating a chilling aura.
The man in black robes did not hesitate, as if he had already witnessed it.
The moment he stepped into the fog, the entire world seemed to be swallowed up by some ancient and twisted will.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a bizarre place.
The ground beneath his feet was not soil, but layers upon layers of stark white bones, each bone inscribed with dim runes, as if forcibly suppressed by some indescribable force.
The pitch-black ocean stretched endlessly, its surface churning not with waves, but with countless struggling skeletons—humanoid, beast-like, even twisted and unrecognizable deformed remains—tearing and entangled against each other, emitting a horrifying grinding sound. On the sea's surface, enormous bone spikes rose like mountain peaks, each gleaming with a ghostly blue phosphorescence, resembling the spines of some ancient behemoth.
Further away, countless towering, upright coffins stood in the black sea, their wood as black as ink, their surfaces crawling with dark red blood-like patterns, slowly writhing as if alive.
The man in black robes remained silent, then plunged his black iron longsword into the bone-strewn ground.
The instant the sword pierced the surface, the entire bone-strewn ground trembled as if pierced by pain.
"Do you know what you're doing?"
At that moment, a deep, ancient voice echoed from all directions, like the murmur of countless departed souls.
The man in black robes looked up, his blood-red eyes sweeping over the slightly trembling ordinary coffins—scattered on the bone-strewn ground, seemingly plain, yet radiating a powerful aura of immortality.
"The immortal venerables of Wuji Cangyuan City throughout history have sacrificed themselves to eternally guard this place..." The voice from the coffin grew increasingly heavy, "For the sake of all living beings, they willingly imprisoned themselves here, keeping company with bones, even transforming themselves into monsters, neither human nor ghost... And you, you want to destroy all of that?"
"You... want all living beings in the world to be buried with your foolishness?!"
The man in black robes half-squatted on the ground, his hands gripping the sword hilt tightly, his blood-red eyes beneath the mask as cold as an abyss.
He whispered:
"The living beings of the world will not perish."
"The former are gone... but the latter will come."
He suddenly exerted force, and the longsword completely sank into the bones!
The black sword pierced completely into the bone ground, a terrifying shockwave exploding outwards from the blade! The pale earth cracked, countless bones were hurled into the air, the black sea boiled, and viscous waves of bone surged into the sky!
*Pfft!*
The coffins exploded simultaneously, sending over a dozen aged figures flying, spitting blood! These were the patriarchs who had guarded this place for generations in the Boundless Abyss City, now falling like kites with broken strings, their eyes filled with horror.
"No…impossible…" one patriarch coughed up blood and roared, "How could the seal…"
His voice trailed off.
Because he witnessed an even more terrifying scene—
"Crack…crack…"
In the endless sea of white bones, all the skeletons…stood up!
Densely packed, endless!
Skeletons, bone beasts, twisted and deformed skeletal bodies—they crawled out of the seabed, rose from their coffins, eerie green flames burning in their eye sockets, their jaws opening and closing, emitting silent shrieks!
And even more chilling was that those mountain-like, gigantic vertical coffins were slowly opening!
The moment the coffin lid slid open, thick black mist surged out. Pale, gigantic hands gripped the coffin's edge, and some indescribable beings stepped out. Their forms were twisted to the extreme; some were neither human nor beast, their bones proliferating, their limbs disordered, every inch exuding a devastating aura of decay!
"It's over..." An elder collapsed to the ground, his face ashen. "They...have awakened..."
And in the deepest part, in the pitch-black seabed...
Some colossal creature was slowly writhing.
Its presence distorted space; even the aftershocks of its awakening caused the entire Sea of Bones to boil! An indescribable shadow spread beneath the sea, as if even death itself was kneeling before it!
The black-robed figure slowly drew his sword, his blood-red eyes fixed on the abyss.
"Now..." he whispered, "this is just the beginning."
"Use your last embers, or try to stop me."
The City of Boundless Abyss was thrown into utter chaos. A torrential downpour ensued. In the pitch-black rain, countless cultivators fled in panic, their screams, roars, and the sounds of collapsing buildings mingling together.
On the distant horizon, white bones surged like a tidal wave. Terrifying beings, emerging from the seal, were riding the waves, inching closer to the city.
The grinding of their bones sounded like a death knell from hell; with each step, the earth trembled.
A man in a black robe staggered down the street.
Rain streamed down his face, washing over the pale, weary expression beneath his mask.
His black robe was tattered, and a deep, bone-revealing wound ran across his chest. Blood mingled with the rain, staining the cobblestones with dark red flowers.
He had won this battle, but the price was far heavier than he had imagined.
Suddenly, he stopped.
At the end of the street, a slender and alluring figure stood silently, like a solitary orchid blooming in the wind and rain, proud yet captivating.
She wore a blue cheongsam, the thin fabric soaked through by the rain, clinging to her skin like a semi-transparent second layer, outlining her exquisitely mature body.
Rain streamed down her long, black hair, the wet strands clinging to her cheeks, tracing her slender neck, and winding their way into her deep cleavage, leaving glistening droplets.
The cheongsam clung tightly to her full breasts, the peaks standing high and firm under the rain, the outlines of two rosy nipples faintly visible through the wet fabric, trembling heavily as if about to burst from the fragile confinement.
Beneath her slender waist, her plump buttocks, round and full like ripe peaches, were accentuated by her wet clothes, their curves clearly visible. Raindrops pelted them, splashing up tiny droplets that trickled down her buttocks, past the tattered edges of her black stockings, and into the hidden honeyed orifice between her legs.
The fabric clung tightly to her honeyed orifice, outlining its slightly raised contours. Rainwater mingled with the moisture from her body, flowing down her long, slender thighs and leaving an ambiguous puddle on the ground.
Her figure was fully revealed in the rain, a mixture of mature, juicy flesh and icy aura, like a lascivious statue cleansed by the rain.
Kui Yanshuang.
The city lord of Wuji Cangyuan City, the youngest Immortal Venerable in the Water Immortal Realm, her eyes were as clear as a cold pool, their depths concealing an indescribable complexity—shame, humiliation, and a hidden submission.
The two faced each other through a thin curtain of rain. Raindrops pattered on the ground, creating a soft, fragmented sound. Time seemed to stand still in that moment.
Her gaze was icy, yet it couldn't conceal the dishevelment of her soaked body. Her drenched flesh trembled slightly in the rain.
"Is it you?"
Qin Tian didn't answer. He simply raised his hand and removed the grotesque mask.
The face beneath the mask was both familiar and strange.
Sharp, angular features, deep, ink-black eyes, and a trace of blood still clinging to the corner of her lips.
Kui Yanshuang's fingertips trembled slightly, the coldness in her eyes gradually replaced by a deeper emotion.
"Why?"
Her question was simple, but Qin Tian knew that Kui Yanshuang had fallen for him.
For Kui Yanshuang, although it had only been a few days together, he had already "developed" her, transforming her from the cold and aloof city lord into a sow unleashing her inner desires.
She had never been with a man before. Although this man was rude, disrespectful, lecherous, and domineering, she had genuinely considered living like this for the rest of her life.
She had even considered resigning her position as city lord to become Qin Tian's lustful sow.
But now…
Qin Tian remained silent, simply walking forward and brushing past her.
The rain lashed between them, like an insurmountable chasm.
Kui Yanshuang's hand was already on the hilt of her sword, her immortal power gathering in her palm, but she released it at the last moment.
In the end… she didn't make a move.
Qin Tian's figure receded into the distance in the rain, but his voice remained clear, deep and hoarse.
"Run."
"Run to the lower realm, escape to the mortal world."
"Find a way to survive..."
"The Immortal Realm is about to change."
"In the future, if you haven't forgotten me, come find me after you sense my presence..."
Kui Yanshuang stood there, rain blurring her vision and concealing the warm tear at the corner of her eye.
In the distance, a wave of white bones had already engulfed the city walls, countless cultivators turning into blood mist amidst screams.
And Qin Tian, completely vanished into the rainy night...
...
"Lord Kui, why are you silent?"
In a grand hall, an array activated, five illusory figures coalescing. They were representatives of the five major Immortal Realms' overlord forces responsible for sealing the barrier.
At this moment, they were communicating remotely through the array.
Liu Qingping of the Wood Immortal Realm looked at Kui Yanshuang beside her and asked with concern.
She already knew the tragic state of Wuji Cangyuan City. Presumably, the Wanling Haoran Sect had directly suppressed Wuji Cangyuan City with a seal beneath it.
Once the seal broke, they had almost no time to recover.
"I'm alright..." Kui Yanshuang's voice held an undisguised desolation.
"Alas, this black-robed man is truly terrifying. Even a Celestial Venerable would find it difficult to withstand a single sword strike from him. At this rate, I fear he will break all the seals."
The speaker was a tall, square-faced man clad in earth-yellow armor, like a walking steel behemoth, exuding a powerful aura of oppression.
This man was the head of the Xiao family in the Earth Immortal Realm.
"I think his next target might be us," an old man with hair burning like flames said worriedly.
He was the Palace Master of the Fire Fusion Palace in the Fire Immortal Realm, who suppressed the Nine Deaths Bridge of Rebirth.
After a brief discussion, the group couldn't come up with any good ideas and all turned to look at the Qin clan representative who hadn't yet spoken.
The Qin clan representative wasn't their lord, but a middle-aged man.
Seeing everyone looking at him, he slowly said, "Blood and Flesh Hall, the seal on the Endless Sea of Bones has broken, but the area it's corroding is much smaller than we imagined."
The group fell silent; it was indeed true.
According to their previous assumptions, if the seal had broken, the entire Immortal Realm would have been corrupted and devoured.
But it seemed that after spreading to a certain area, these things had stopped.
This was still the key reason they were able to maintain control of the situation.
"Our ancestor speculated that the appearance of the black-robed man inadvertently and prematurely gave birth to the dark cradle, which ironically weakened it."
"Moreover, each of the four dark cradles nurtured a part of this darkness: the flesh of the Blood and Flesh Palace, the bones of the Endless Sea of White Bones, the soul of the Nine Deaths Bridge of Rebirth, and the head of the Coffin of Sin."
"If they were all unsealed together, darkness would be born. But now, only flesh and bones have emerged, without soul or head. Perhaps they are waiting, waiting for the soul and head to be unsealed. However, this also makes things easier for us; we no longer need to sacrifice our lives to seal them, dying in vain at the seal."
Liu Qingping frowned and asked, "Even if that's the case, once all four seals are broken, the outcome will still not change."
The Qin Clan representative said, "Therefore, we need to make a decision. I suggest abandoning the seal on the Nine Deaths Bridge of Rebirth, allowing the Fire Fusion Palace to preserve its strength, and then having the five Immortal Realms gather at the Coffin of Sin. If the black-robed man arrives, our chances of victory will be greater."
Huo Ronggong and Liu Qingping both nodded, agreeing with the Qin clan's plan.
Liu Qingping looked at Kui Yanshuang, who had been distracted from the beginning. She wasn't usually so dejected over a death.
Kui Yanshuang had earned her position as the city lord of Wuji Cangyuan City through blood and strength.
"Kui Yanshuang, what do you think?" Liu Qingping asked.
Kui Yanshuang looked at them and finally said, "I plan to step down as city lord. I will convey your message to the ancestors; I believe there won't be any problems. Farewell, everyone."
Kui Yanshuang then closed the illusory image.
The other four exchanged glances, all seeing confusion in each other's eyes.
Meanwhile, in the Water Immortal Realm, Wuji Cangyuan City had been destroyed and no longer existed. They were now at a new base.
Although Wuji Cangyuan City had suffered heavy losses, its high-end combat power hadn't diminished much. All four pillars were still alive and well.
Kui Yanshuang sat in her seat, stroking a bracelet in her hand. The bracelet was crudely made, strung together from seashells and pebbles she'd found on the beach, yet it possessed a unique style characteristic of the sea.
She had found it on her bed after returning to her residence.
A lingering scent remained on the bracelet; she knew it was left for her by Qin Tian.
"Bastard…"
She bit her lip, pressing her hand to her full, ample breasts, feeling the warmth of the bracelet.
After a long while, she sighed and put the bracelet on her wrist.
After settling everything, she resigned from her position as city lord and left alone.
From then on, no one saw her again, and no one knew where she went.
....
Two months later, in the Fire Immortal Realm.
Within the Qilin Imperial Dynasty.
This was Huo Lin'er's home, and she had quietly arrived over a month ago.
Huo Lin'er's parents treated her with the utmost respect.
Deep within the Imperial Palace, in a celestial palace suspended high in the heavens.
Huo Lin'er's petite figure darted about the palace, her fists and feet moving like the wind, leaving afterimages in her wake. Spiritual energy surged around her, like raging flames.
Her punches were swift as thunder, her kicks light as a swallow, her movements revealing an indomitable spirit. Sweat flew, landing on the gilded floor, rising in wisps of white mist.
As her movements grew increasingly rapid, her disproportionately large breasts, seemingly out of place with her petite frame, swayed violently within her clothing, the flesh colliding and making crisp "slap" sounds that echoed like drumbeats throughout the palace.
Her breathing grew heavier, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. The thin, fiery red gauze clung to her skin, outlining the full contours of her breasts, with two rosy nipples faintly visible beneath the damp fabric.
She was undergoing arduous physical training. Since her godfather moved in, she had been relentlessly violated by his thick, powerful penis almost constantly, and her delicate body was already overburdened.
If she didn't exercise, she feared her godfather would leave her completely worn down, unable even to stand, let alone lift her legs.
Fortunately, she had prepared a "grand gift" for her godfather, which earned her a moment's respite.
She exhaled a breath of stale air, slowly stopping her movements. Sweat dripped from her pointed chin, her clothes soaked through. Her large breasts were fully exposed beneath the wet gauze, like two ripe peaches, incredibly alluring.
She wiped the sweat from her brow, still catching her breath, when a rapid bell rang from her waist.
Huo Lin'er glanced down at the communication jade talisman floating at her side, her brow furrowing slightly. She picked it up with a slender hand, her tone tinged with impatience: "Father, what do you want with me so early in the morning?"
A hoarse yet amused voice came from the jade talisman: "Hehe, Lin'er, it's your father. Where's your mother? I need to discuss something with her."
Huo Lin'er snorted coldly, looking up at the sleeping quarters shrouded in spiritual mist on the second floor of the Immortal Palace. She faintly heard a blood-pumping groan, soft and low, like a sob, a lament.
She pursed her lips and whispered, "She's probably still asleep. I'll hand you the jade talisman; you wait here."
The old man pressed, "Why isn't she awake yet? What was she busy with last night? Sleeping until this late doesn't seem like her."
Huo Lin'er was too lazy to explain and casually said, "Ask her yourself."
The old man muttered, "This girl's temper is getting worse and worse."
She lightly stepped into her crimson cloud boots, and a blazing cloud of fire rose from beneath her feet, carrying her gracefully up to the second floor.
Before even approaching the bedchamber, the lewd sounds surged forth like a tidal wave, mingled with a woman's seductive moans: "Mmm...Young Master, fuck me harder... Ah... So good... My horny asshole is melting from your big cock... Mmm... Too deep... It's right in my heart... So comfortable...Young Master... I can't take it anymore... Ah... Harder... Oh... Fuck me to death... Ah...Young Master... My horny hole wants it too... Put it in... Ah...Young Master... I'm going to be fucked through..."
The voice was melodious and husky, as if lost in ecstasy.
Huo Lin'er was used to it, her face expressionless.
She thought to herself, this voice is even more wanton than her own last night. Her mother's body really gets more and more resilient with each thrust; perhaps even her soul has been taken away by her godfather.
With a gentle push of her slender hand, the palace doors swung open with a deafening roar. A thick cloud of spiritual mist rushed in, mingled with the cloying scent of ambergris, making one slightly dizzy.
The spiritual mist within the palace was dispersed by her fiery aura, revealing a scene of debauchery.
Inside the bedchamber, a tall, fair-skinned, mature beauty knelt on all fours on a gilded bed, like a docile female beast.
Her plump, full-moon-like buttocks were raised high, her snow-white skin gleaming with a lustrous sheen. Beads of sweat slid down her curves, rolling like pearls in the spiritual light.
The jade pillow at the head of the bed was soaked with sweat, emitting a faint, sweet-smelling odor mixed with the ambergris.
A young man stood behind her, his waist thrusting like a dragon, his thick, pillar-like penis deeply penetrating her rear. Each powerful thrust sent ripples of spiritual energy through the bed, making it creak as if it were about to fall apart. Her anus clenched tightly, as if trying to strangle him. As his penis withdrew, a ring of sticky, lustful fluid dripped onto the sheets. The gauze curtains around the bed trembled slightly with the ripples of spiritual energy, like waves, adding to the erotic atmosphere.
The beautiful woman's face was flushed, her eyes glazed, her red lips slightly parted, her panting incessant: "Ah...Young Master...slower...too rough...ah...my body is going to be torn apart by your fucking...oh...so good...deeper...all the way in...fuck me to death..." Her voice trembled, tinged with a sob, yet filled with endless longing.
The man chuckled, slapping her buttocks hard, leaving five red marks. His fingers slid down the marks, pinching and twisting her flesh. His other hand slipped between her legs, kneading her wet petals, then hooking and pinching her swollen clitoris, causing her to scream. Her body trembled violently, and a warm flow trickled from between her petals, running down her thighs and soaking the sheets.
The man's voice was deep and domineering: "Slut, scream even louder, I love it!"
The beautiful woman's breathing quickened, her voice hoarse as she replied, "My lord… I've screamed until my throat is hoarse… are you satisfied?"
He snorted coldly, growling, "Hoarse is better, I'll fuck you until you can't scream anymore!" He thrust his hips forward, his penis penetrating even deeper, the woman's buttocks trembling, creating waves of lascivious pleasure, a broken moan escaping her throat.
The man was Qin Tian, and the beautiful woman was Empress Lan Yuhui of the Qilin Dynasty, and also Huo Lin'er's birth mother.
A month ago, Huo Lin'er cheerfully said she had a gift for him and brought him to this secluded palace.
She pushed open the door, and Qin Tian saw a stunningly beautiful woman standing in the hall, draped in a purple gauze robe, as thin as a cicada's wing, exuding sensuality.
The gauze robe was so transparent that it barely covered anything, covering only a small patch of skin in the front and back. Her sides revealed her fair, fleshy breasts, which were barely contained by a white halter-neck bra, overflowing and trembling as if about to burst through the fabric.
Lan Yuhui's eyes were closed, her hands lightly resting on her lower abdomen, her posture dignified yet exuding a wanton air, like a concubine awaiting the emperor's favor.
Qin Tian recognized her at a glance. This empress, once the mother of the nation, sat regally in court, adorned in her phoenix coronet and embroidered robes, her words and gestures exuding imperial authority. Now, stripped of her finery, barely clothed, she appeared before him in such a shameful and wanton manner, craving his favor.
Qin Tian hadn't expected his goddaughter's "gift" to be his own birth mother.
Of course, he thoroughly enjoyed it.
After a night of frenzy, both mother and daughter became his possessions, their nights filled with his pleasure, indulging in his advances.
Qin Tian had asked Huo Lin'er why she had persuaded her mother to share a husband.
Huo Lin'er tilted her head, a sly smile on her face, and said in a crisp voice, "My father is old and frail, he walks with a shaky gait, while my mother is in her prime, her skin so tender you could squeeze water out of it. Tell me, how could my father's body possibly satisfy her? Her body is so voluptuous and alluring, how many men drool over her? Her breasts are so heavy, they sway so much they make people dizzy. How could my father possibly hold her? If I don't give them to you, they'll end up with some other man sooner or later, and I can't bear to see that."
She paused, leaned closer to Qin Tian's ear, lowered her voice, and said with a hint of smugness, "I whisper sweet nothings in her ear every day, telling her how big and hard your penis is, how amazing it is to fuck her. I've gone to great lengths to convince my mother, you should thank me, you know?"
At that moment, Huo Lin'er straightened her back, put her hands on her hips, and looked like she was about to claim credit.
At this moment, when Huo Lin'er's father, Huo Xiuhong, contacted her via a communication talisman, Huo Lin'er glanced at him, then looked at her mother on the bed.
On the large bed, Qin Tian was manipulating Lan Yuhui's anus. Her head was thrown back, her beautiful hair was disheveled, her delicate face was flushed, her breathing was rapid, and her moans were mixed with the vibrations of dragon power: "Young Master... ah... be gentle... too deep... oh... my cunt is going to be melted by you... ah... slower... I can't take it anymore..."
Huo Lin'er walked in, holding a communication talisman, and mouthed "my father" to her.
Lan Yuhui bit her cherry lips, suppressing the pleasure surging from her rear, and took the jade talisman her daughter offered, her voice trembling, "Hmm... what's wrong?"
Through the communication talisman, Huo Xiuhong's voice came through: "Yuhui, is Young Master Qin still in the harem?"
While Qin Tian was thrusting into her rear, and fingers were playing with her front orifice, the thrill of their affair caused both her orifices to spasm and contract, squeezing Qin Tian even more excited.
She suppressed a moan, her voice trembling, "Hmm... ah... yes, what's wrong?"
"It's good that he's here. The Fire Immortal Realm hasn't been peaceful these past few days. I have something I'd like to discuss with Young Master Qin," Huo Xiuhong said in a low voice.
On the other end of the communication jade talisman, Huo Xiuhong frowned slightly. Why did his wife's voice sound off today?
"You... um... why don't you just come and do it?" Lan Yuhui's face was pale, suppressing her pleasure as she dealt with her husband.
Qin Tian chuckled, pulled his penis from her anus, rubbed it against her vulva a few times, and then thrust it in again, making her eyes roll back and she couldn't help but moan loudly, "Ah..."
Huo Xiuhong asked suspiciously, "What's that sound coming from over there?"
She glared at Qin Tian, but he remained unmoved, thrusting even more violently, her juices splashing everywhere.
She gasped, trying to cover it up, "N-nothing... umm... Lin'er is... massaging me... She's kneading me... it feels so good..."
"Oh, alright, I've finished my business, I'll be right there." Huo Xiuhong had already started moving.
Lan Yuhui was shocked, blocked the communication talisman, and whispered, "Lin'er, your father is coming, what should we do?"
Huo Lin'er was startled and looked at Qin Tian.
Qin Tian laughed, "Let him come. I'm almost done too."
Lan Yuhui sighed helplessly and said to the communication talisman, "When will you arrive... umm... so I can get up and get dressed."
"I'll be there soon. Why are you so lazy today? You haven't even gotten up yet. What will Lin'er do if Young Master Qin sees this?" Huo Xiuhong asked with a hint of reproach.
"You... umm... why worry about so much? Just like that." She hung up the communication talisman, and a sudden groan erupted: "Ah... so deep... Young Master... hurry... fuck me to death... oh... so good..." Her vaginal fluid gushed out, and Qin Tian held her waist tightly, ejaculating deep into her uterus, scalding her and causing her to climax again.
Afterwards, Lan Yuhui lay limp on the large bed. Qin Tian caressed her large breasts, while Huo Lin'er knelt before me, sucking on his semen-covered penis, cleaning it clean.
She said to Qin Tian, "If my father makes any unreasonable demands, don't worry about me, just refuse."
Qin Tian leered, "Without him, you two, mother and daughter, have served me so well; I should thank him."
They both rolled their eyes at me. Lan Yuhui lightly slapped me, scolding, "You're so annoying."
Huo Xiuhong didn't keep them waiting long.
Before half a cup of tea could be brewed, steady footsteps sounded outside the door. When he pushed the door open, Lan Yuhui had already hurriedly put on a thin shirt to cover the red marks and sweat stains all over her body, and sat on the edge of the bed pretending to tidy her disheveled hair.
Huo Lin'er leaned against the window, playing with a communication talisman in her hand, lazily glancing at her father.
Qin Tian sat at the table, his posture casual, his fingers lightly tapping the surface, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
"Young Master Qin," Huo Xiuhong bowed, his tone solemn, "I apologize for my abrupt visit today, but I have important matters to discuss."
His brows were furrowed, and a hint of anxiety lingered in his eyes; clearly, something was on his mind.
He sat down at the table, and Lan Yuhui and Huo Lin'er followed suit, forming a tense atmosphere around the round table.
Qin Tian raised an eyebrow and said, "Senior Huo, please speak frankly. Lin'er is my adopted daughter, so your affairs are naturally my affairs as well."
Huo Xiuhong took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "The Fire Immortal Realm has been quite turbulent lately. The Fire Fusion Palace seems to be making a big move. I have a vague feeling that something is amiss. You know that my Qilin clan has the ability to avoid misfortune and seek good fortune. These past few days, I've been restless, frequently having visions of the Qilin Imperial Dynasty being destroyed by a terrifying creature."
He paused, his gaze fixed on Qin Tian. "Young Master Qin, your background is extraordinary, and your knowledge is vast. Do you have any way to lend me a hand?"
Lan Yuhui sat beside Qin Tian, coughing lightly to cover her hoarse voice from being teased earlier.
She feigned composure, but her watery eyes unconsciously glanced at Qin Tian, carrying a lingering allure.
Qin Tian drew circles on the table with his finger and said slowly, "Senior Huo, there's no need to worry. With me here, the Qilin bloodline will not be broken."
But at that moment, Qin Tian's hands became restless. He shifted his right leg slightly, his knee lightly brushing against Lan Yuhui's thigh.
The skin beneath her thin shirt was warm and smooth. With a slight pressure from his knee, he felt her body tremble, as if burned.
Lan Yuhui bit her lower lip, forcing composure, her face still serene, but her legs unconsciously tightened, clamping his mischievous knee, as if trying to stop him, or perhaps unwilling to push him away.
Qin Tian chuckled softly, his hand sliding down the edge of the table, slipping under Lan Yuhui's skirt, his fingertips tracing the inside of her thigh, gently caressing it.
Her body stiffened, her breathing quickening, but with Huo Xiuhong present, she could only forcefully suppress the moan escaping her throat.
She lowered her head, her fingers gripping the hem of her skirt tightly, her knuckles white, as if afraid she might inadvertently give herself away.
Huo Xiuhong, seemingly oblivious, continued, "If Young Master Qin can help me, I will certainly repay him with a generous gift."
Qin Tian narrowed his eyes, his fingers growing bolder, tracing the base of Lan Yuhui's legs upwards to her moist, warm vulva.
He gently pressed his thumb on her clitoris, causing her to gasp sharply, almost crying out.
She glared at him fiercely, her eyes filled with anger, yet her flushed cheeks betrayed her arousal.
"Oh?" Qin Tian feigned a thoughtful pause, his fingers circling and slowly rubbing against the entrance of her vulva. "Sounds quite nice."
He paused, then suddenly thrust forcefully, his fingers penetrating her tight flesh, causing her to arch her back and let out a low groan.
Huo Xiuhong looked up in confusion: "Yuhui, what's wrong?" His brow furrowed slightly, as if displeased by his wife's rudeness. Lan Yuhui hurriedly tried to cover it up, saying, "No...it's nothing. I just sat for a while, and my legs are a little numb." Her voice trembled, the last syllable unconsciously drawn out, carrying a hint of undisguised allure.
She pinched her thigh hard, trying to suppress the surging pleasure with pain, but to little avail.
Huo Lin'er giggled, leaning close to Qin Tian's ear and whispering, "You're so naughty, Mother can hardly take it anymore." She licked her lips, her eyes full of anticipation for the spectacle.
Qin Tian grinned, his fingers gently stirring inside her, causing her juices to trickle down her legs and drip onto the floor. He continued, "Given my relationship with Lin'er, I naturally won't stand idly by. I agree to the matter of the Qilin Dynasty."
Huo Xiuhong was overjoyed and quickly cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you, Young Master Qin! Please don't hesitate to ask if you need anything."
His expression relaxed, clearly relieved.
But just then, Lan Yuhui's hand moved.
She quietly reached under the table, grasping Qin Tian's erect penis through his trousers, her fingertips kneading and pressing the tip, the pressure varying, as if in revenge, yet also as a tease.
Qin Tian let out a low groan, his body stiffening slightly, a few low breaths escaping his throat. He glanced at her, a hint of lust burning in his eyes, and whispered, "What a slut, daring to play this game with me?"
Lan Yuhui snorted, her fingers becoming even more agile, stroking up and down his penis, her palm lightly squeezing his scrotum, causing his waist to tremble.
She lowered her head, her ears burning red, and said reproachfully, "Who told you to move first?" Her voice was barely a whisper, yet it carried a hint of petulance.
Huo Xiuhong, oblivious, remained immersed in his joy, laughing, "Young Master Qin's great kindness will forever be remembered by my Qilin clan." He rose, intending to bow deeply in gratitude.
Qin Tian waved his hand, "No need for that, sit down and talk." His voice was slightly hoarse, clearly he was losing control after being aroused by Lan Yuhui.
He thrust his hand forcefully inside her, causing her body to tremble, and her juices flowed even more freely.
She bit her lip, but her movements didn't stop; instead, they quickened, as if she were competing with him.
Seeing their audacity, Huo Lin'er whispered a warning, "You two really know how to play. Father's here, and you still dare to do this?"
Qin Tian chuckled, leaning forward slightly, his fingers thrusting faster inside her, the wetness making a slapping sound.
Lan Yuhui glared at him fiercely, her fingers squeezing his penis hard, a gesture that was both a warning and an urging.
Huo Xiuhong was immersed in Qin Tian's promise, a look of relief on his face, completely unaware of the undercurrents beneath the table.
Lan Yuhui's fingers moved with increasing skill on Qin Tian's penis, her fingertips circling the sensitive tip, her palm occasionally tightening, as if trying to squeeze out his very soul.
Qin Tian let out a low breath, his eyes burning with even greater lust, yet his hands didn't stop. His fingertips stirred faster inside her, each stroke hitting that soft flesh, causing her juices to splatter and drip down her thighs, soaking her skirt.
Lan Yuhui bit her cherry lips tightly, her teeth almost digging into her flesh, trying to suppress a moan, but the pleasure surged like waves, impossible to hold back.
Her waist involuntarily tensed, her legs trembling slightly, a spasm deep within her vagina as if Qin Tian had opened a floodgate.
She glared at him fiercely, her eyes filled with anger, but her flushed cheeks and unfocused gaze betrayed her breakdown.
Qin Tian grinned, his fingers digging deep inside her, causing her body to arch. Her juices, unable to be held back any longer, gushed out with a soft "plop," spilling onto the floor like a leak.
Her legs trembled violently, the wave of orgasm washing over her, leaving her mind blank. A low, muffled groan escaped her throat, as if she were being choked.
She quickly lowered her head, feigning a cough to cover it up, but her breathing was rapid and labored, like a broken bellows, impossible to conceal.
Huo Xiuhong frowned in confusion: "Yu Hui, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Lan Yu Hui hurriedly waved her hands, her voice trembling like a leaf in the wind: "N-nothing...it's just that my throat is a little itchy."
She pinched her thigh hard, trying to suppress the lingering pleasure with pain, but her wet, hot vulva continued to twitch, dripping her juices onto the floor, a faint, sweet, fishy smell filling the air.
Qin Tian withdrew his finger and wiped it on Lan Yu Hui's skirt, his face still calm as he said to Huo Xiu Hong, "The Fire Immortal Realm will inevitably be in chaos in a few days, which is why I came to find Lin'er. I will make arrangements in the next few days, so Senior Huo, please rest assured."
Huo Xiu Hong chuckled, the wrinkles on his old face softening considerably.
"I'm relieved by what you say, Young Master Qin. Yu Hui, come here for a moment, I have something to discuss with you." Huo Xiu Hong's narrow eyes gave his wife a meaningful look.
Lan Yu Hui's face was still flushed. She lowered the hem of her skirt, which had been rolled up to her waist, composed herself, and stood up to follow her husband outside.
Upon reaching the outside of the hall, Huo Xiu Hong's smile vanished instantly.
Lan Yuhui, seeing this, thought her affair with Qin Tian had been exposed, but Huo Xiuhong spoke up, "Yuhui, this Qin Tian has an extraordinary background. If there's an opportunity, see if we can get something good out of him."
Lan Yuhui frowned. Her mind and body were already focused on Qin Tian, and hearing Huo Xiuhong want to profit from him made her somewhat displeased.
"You old fool, are you senile? He's Lin'er's godfather! You want to harm him?"
Huo Xiuhong chuckled, saying, "You don't know, last time I passed by, I saw him cultivating. He had a full twenty-six Immortal Venerable Artifacts for his cultivation! My entire Qilin Dynasty only has one! And that's personally kept by our ancestor, while he alone has twenty-six!"
As Huo Xiuhong spoke of these Immortal Venerable Artifacts, a rare glint of greed flashed in his cloudy old eyes.
Lan Yuhui grew increasingly contemptuous of her husband, saying, "Aren't you afraid of being caught off guard?"
"Heh heh, my queen, don't you still have me?"
"What do you mean?"
"That brat often looks at you with those lewd eyes, I think you know that. If you just deliberately get close to him and slip some drugs into his drink, wouldn't we be able to control him?"
Huo Xiuhong's sinister smile sent chills down her spine.
Lan Yuhui grew even more disgusted. Huo Xiuhong had used improper means to bring her back to the palace and make her his queen, and she had even borne him a daughter.
But for some unknown reason, Huo Xiuhong had begun to age rapidly several years ago, and now he was a withered old man.
"Huo Xiuhong! What do you take me for! You want me to seduce him?" Lan Yuhui roared.
Huo Xiuhong said ingratiatingly, "Your Majesty, please bear with this. You don't need to offer yourself to him. Just give him a little something sweet to earn his trust."
Hearing this, Lan Yuhui thought to herself, "Old man, you'd never dream of this! I've been having an affair with Young Master Qin for a month now. His penis, several times thicker than yours, has been going in and out of my vagina and anus, thrusting so hard I feel like my soul is leaving my body. It's been incredibly pleasurable. Just now, at the table, we were sitting side by side, and his hand was under the table playing with your wife's cunt, making me drip wet... and I..."
"He was laughing and talking to you while masturbating, you stupid idiot, still so self-righteous, completely unaware that you're being cuckolded!"
Lan Yuhui snorted coldly, turned around and went back, saying, "I understand. Then don't come over these next few days unless you have to."
Huo Xiuhong was overjoyed upon hearing this, a smug glint in his eyes. He quickly said, "Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty! Don't worry, if this succeeds, I will not let your sacrifice be in vain."
His face was full of gratitude, as if victory was already in sight, completely oblivious to the fleeting mockery in Su Wanqing's eyes.