Rumble—
Another deafening boom rang out as violent ripples of energy ravaged across the sky.
But after that single explosion, no further sounds of battle came from the war zone. Soon after, a hurricane appeared, scattering the ripples that filled the heavens.
"This…"
Once the ripples dissipated, the expressions of everyone present turned incredibly solemn.
The battle was over…
But the losers were Grandmother Wish Spirit and Grandmaster Hui Zhi.
These two were towering figures whose names had long shaken the entire Eastern Domain.
Yet now, both of them had collapsed onto the ground.
Although Grandmaster Yin Ren had not inflicted any further harm on them, they had been completely subdued under his control.
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, no one would have believed that these two renowned figures had been defeated at the hands of Grandmaster Yin Ren.
And at this moment, though Grandmaster Yin Ren's appearance had not changed in the slightest, now that he stood there, not a single person present dared to look down on him.
Hum—
Suddenly, Grandmaster Yin Ren's robes billowed as the pressure radiating from his body blanketed heaven and earth.
Everyone present was engulfed by that pressure.
Even the onlookers who had gathered to watch found themselves restrained by his aura.
After unleashing his pressure, he swept his enormous sleeve, and a vast wave of barrier energy spread outward in all directions.
Wherever the barrier energy passed, even those who had been hiding were forced to reveal their true forms.
Even Daoist Niantian, Sacred Light White Brow, and Fairy Dao Hai—all three of them were no exception.
"As I expected, you're all here too."
"It's just a pity that brat Chu Feng didn't show up?"
Grandmaster Yin Ren spoke toward Sacred Light White Brow and Daoist Niantian.
"Old scoundrel Yin Ren, don't you dare be so arrogant! My Sacred Light Clan will never let you off!"
Sacred Light White Brow declared.
"I've noticed—you old fool are nothing but stubborn."
"Has your Sacred Light Clan come for me yet?"
"Could it be that they don't dare?"
"It doesn't matter. Your Sacred Light Clan doesn't need to bother coming. I will return to the Sacred Light Heavenly River myself. I only hope that when the time comes, your Sacred Light Clan's people can manage to flee far enough to avoid being wiped out in one fell swoop."
Grandmaster Yin Ren said with a smile.
"Wipe out my Sacred Light Clan? You? In your dreams!"
Sacred Light White Brow let out a cold laugh.
Although he was currently no match for Grandmaster Yin Ren whatsoever and fully understood how formidable the man was, if Grandmaster Yin Ren dared set foot in the Sacred Light Clan's territory, he felt not the slightest bit of fear.
After all, he still held absolute confidence in their Sacred Lord.
However, Grandmaster Yin Ren did not take the stubborn Sacred Light White Brow's words to heart. Instead, he turned his gaze to the others present one by one.
"Today truly is a wonderful day. Not only did I manage to invite Grandmaster Hui Zhi and Grandmother Wish Spirit, but even Fairy Dao Hai and so many other distinguished masters have come."
Grandmaster Yin Ren swept his eyes across the crowd before finally settling his gaze on Fairy Dao Hai.
This was telling enough—though many renowned Spirit World Masters were present, in Grandmaster Yin Ren's mind, Fairy Dao Hai still carried significant weight among them.
In fact, she was second only to Grandmaster Hui Zhi and Grandmother Wish Spirit.
"Yin Ren, what exactly are you scheming?"
Fairy Dao Hai asked in a solemn voice.
She was now nearly certain that the great catastrophe befalling the Nine Soul Heavenly River was connected to Yin Ren.
So she wanted to know precisely what this Yin Ren intended to do—after all, it concerned the future of the entire Nine Soul Heavenly River.
"Scheme? Don't make it sound so unpleasant."
"But if you truly wish to know, there's no rush. There will be time for that in the future."
"I'm sure everyone present is also quite curious about what exactly I, Yin Ren, am planning."
"Rest assured—if you are fortunate enough, you will bear witness to my great undertaking."
"But for now, I can tell you one other thing."
"Yin Ren is not my real name. My true name is Sima Xiangtu."
With those words, Grandmaster Yin Ren's features began to shift. Though he still appeared elderly, his face transformed into an entirely different visage.
"Sima Xiangtu… You're actually Sima Xiangtu."
Looking at the man who had been Grandmaster Yin Ren, both Sacred Light White Brow and Daoist Niantian were thoroughly shocked.
Because both of them had met Sima Xiangtu before.