"Look around you."
Bai Jue sneered.
Hearing this, the young man's expression changed. He quickly scanned his surroundings—and his heart sank.
Hidden in several spots nearby were Festival Bearers.
Lone cultivators.
Every single one of them was no weaker than the three of them.
"This isn't Sky魁 City,"
Bai Jue said mockingly, the corners of his mouth lifting.
"If these people decided to kill you here, who do you think would ever know who did it?"
"So—"
he continued lightly,
"you might as well hand over the Darkflame Fruits yourselves."
The young man's eyes flickered with complicated emotions.
Behind him, the undead roared once more.
Suddenly—
A wraith lunged out of the darkness.
Its black claws slashed across the young man's back before he could react, tearing open a deep gash.
The force sent him flying, crashing heavily onto the ground nearby.
"Yinghao!"
The only woman cried out anxiously.
"I'm fine."
The young man—Yinghao—raised a hand to stop her. He gritted his teeth and forced himself up, enduring the pain in his back.
He took a deep breath and spoke solemnly.
"Sir… I'm willing to give you the Darkflame Fruits."
"I only ask that you let us leave safely. Is that acceptable?"
It was as if he had suddenly come to a realization.
His posture lowered completely.
"Yinghao, what are you—"
The woman started, clearly shocked.
But Yinghao shook his head with a bitter smile.
"Today, this gentleman taught me a lesson."
"My father was right all along. We're nothing but flowers raised in a greenhouse."
"We've never truly understood how dangerous and cruel the world is."
"If not for this gentleman intervening today, we wouldn't have made it out alive at all. The undead would've torn us apart—let alone those lone cultivators."
"Well,"
Bai Jue said, surprised,
"you've got a clear head."
It was rare.
Most rich young masters never truly understood reality.
Yinghao, however, was proud—but not arrogant. He knew when to bow his head.
That alone set him apart.
Still, Bai Jue wasn't interested in sentiment.
He smiled faintly.
"Then hand them over."
"Once you do, the lone cultivators won't touch you. The undead won't chase you anymore."
"You'll be able to leave safely."
"Alright."
Yinghao nodded decisively and handed over the Darkflame Fruit in his possession.
The woman hesitated—but under Yinghao's gaze, she reluctantly handed hers over as well.
Without another word, Yinghao took his companions and left swiftly.
Even as they departed, he kept glancing back warily, clearly not fully relaxed yet.
Watching them go, Bai Jue chuckled and shook his head.
Normally, he preferred to eliminate potential trouble at the root.
But this wasn't trouble.
The other party knew reality, knew when to retreat.
There was no need to kill.
He stored the three Darkflame Fruits inside Yama's Underworld.
Then he raised his head.
All around him, the undead and vengeful spirits summoned from the Underworld were still clashing violently with the native undead.
Though fewer in number, Bai Jue's forces were stronger, holding their ground evenly.
Now that the treasure was secured and the others had left—
There was no reason to hold back.
A grin spread across Bai Jue's face.
His right hand reached into the Underworld at his side.
Buzz—
A chilling aura erupted.
The Soul-Reaping Scythe appeared in his grasp, Yin flames surging along its blade.
His gaze turned cold.
"Yin Enforcers."
"Yes!!"
Figures stepped out from the Underworld—
Yin Enforcers, standing in neat rows, heads bowed respectfully.
"Go,"
Bai Jue commanded.
"Help me contain the undead."
"If any resist—kill them."
"Yes!"
They surged forward.
Chains in their left hands.
Soul-cleaving blades in their right.
Bai Jue laughed excitedly and stepped into battle.
The scythe swept outward, Yin fire roaring.
One slash—
Dozens of undead were incinerated instantly.
The undead were endless.
The Spirit Domain itself was practically built upon them.
One group fell—another rushed in.
Bai Jue swung again, then roared—
"Yama—Contain!"
BOOM—
Countless soul-binding chains shot out from the Underworld, dragging undead back one after another.
System notifications rang endlessly.
[You have slain undead. Prayer Power slightly increased.]
[You grow stronger through battle. Prayer Power slightly increased.]
[You have contained undead. Prayer Power slightly increased.]
[You have slaughtered and contained large numbers of undead. Reward obtained: White Tiger Bloodline.]
[White Tiger Bloodline: Can only be used on beasts. Grants White Tiger lineage. Humans cannot use it.]
[You have broken through.]
Feeling his Prayer Power draining rapidly, Bai Jue reached out, seized an undead—
—and swallowed it whole.
Gulp.
Prayer Power surged back instantly.
Then—
BOOM.
A terrifying aura exploded from within him.
In the midst of battle—
He broke through again.
This time—
He stepped directly into Rank Two.
Images flooded his mind.
Bai Jue's eyes widened in pure excitement.
"The third Zhongyuan ability… it awakened!"
Yes.
He could feel it clearly.
A powerful new force had emerged within him—
Evil Spirit Judgment.
Gripping the Soul-Reaping Scythe, Bai Jue raised it toward the sky and roared—
"Judgment!!"
BOOM—
Every vengeful spirit and undead within the Underworld let out a deafening howl.
Black streams of energy surged from their bodies, rushing into Bai Jue.
Even Changxi was no exception.
It was as if all their power was being funneled into him.
In that instant—
Bai Jue's aura exploded layer upon layer, forming terrifying shockwaves.
Black mist surged violently.
Above his head, a colossal phantom formed—
Its features…
Identical to his own.
Like a ghost god descending upon the world.
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