"Nonsense. He's nothing but a junior — killing him would be as easy as crushing an ant. What's this about him being the only one who can kill himself?" the Seven Worlds Master said.
"Then when you fought him head-on today, did you manage to crush him?" The mysterious force's tone carried a distinct note of mockery.
Hearing this, the fury in the Seven Worlds Master's eyes intensified.
"What exactly are you? What is your purpose?"
"Are you some remnant from the Ancient Era?" the Seven Worlds Master fired off question after question.
"This god's existence is meant to change this era. And you… didn't you covet this god's power, which is why you stepped into this god's domain?" the mysterious force asked.
"Your domain?"
"The Seven Worlds Galaxy is the domain of the Seven Worlds Holy Land," the Seven Worlds Master said.
"Then can you expel this god?" the mysterious force asked.
"You think that because you possess some power, you can toy with me?"
"You don't understand my Seven Worlds Holy Land at all, nor do you understand me — Jie Tianran," the Seven Worlds Master said.
But in response to the Seven Worlds Master's words, the mysterious force let out a string of laughter.
That laughter was utterly contemptuous, dismissing the Seven Worlds Master entirely.
Hearing this laughter, the Seven Worlds Master could no longer control his emotions. As the strongest being in the vast cultivation world, he would not tolerate being ridiculed like this.
And so, he struck out with a palm, and a torrent of barrier force surged forward.
No matter how divine the aura radiating from the mysterious force might have been, it was brutally annihilated before this overwhelming barrier force.
Yet although the mysterious force dissipated, its voice once again echoed through the air:
"Seven Worlds Master, this god's guidance is not wrong. The one who can bring supreme glory to your Seven Worlds Holy Land has already appeared. How you choose is up to you."
At these words, the Seven Worlds Master gritted his teeth.
"Playing tricks and masquerading as the will of heaven."
"Even if the Age of Gods truly exists, it will not be decided by you — it will be decided by me."
"Mark my words: I will not drive you from the Seven Worlds Galaxy, because I will make you wish you were dead."
"No matter where you come from, I, Jie Tianran, will make you pay the price for your actions."
When the Seven Worlds Master spoke these words, the mysterious force offered no further response.
…
Afterward, the Seven Worlds Master departed from that place and arrived at a forbidden ground within the Holy Land's territory — a place that could only be entered with a special barrier key.
Inside this forbidden ground, three thousand and three Spirit World Masters, all clad in black Spirit World Master robes and wearing black masks, were already waiting.
At their waists hung the Seven Worlds Holy Land's tokens, with the words "Holy Land Shadow Division" inscribed on the back.
"Greetings, Master."
Upon seeing the Seven Worlds Master appear, the three thousand black-robed Spirit World Masters bowed in unison.
"Rise."
After the Seven Worlds Master spoke, three black-robed Spirit World Masters stepped forward before him.
Compared to the other black-robed Spirit World Masters, these three had characters written on their robes — Beast Shadow, Ghost Shadow, and Demon Shadow.
"Master, are we to go capture that Chu Feng?" the Beast Shadow Spirit World Master asked.
"Capture? Do you have any leads?" the Seven Worlds Master asked.
The Beast Shadow Spirit World Master fell silent. He truly had no leads.
The Seven Worlds Master took the scroll detailing Chu Feng's background and handed it to the Ghost Shadow Spirit World Master:
"Ghost Shadow, take a thousand men and go to the Ancestral Martial Galaxy. Investigate thoroughly whether that one called Chu Xuanyuan is truly dead — where he died. If he's alive, bring him to me; if he's dead, bring me his corpse."
"Understood." Ghost Shadow took the scroll and then departed with one hundred black-robed Spirit World Masters.
Then the Seven Worlds Master produced another scroll and handed it to the Demon Shadow Spirit World Master.
"Demon Shadow, take everyone else and go protect the juniors listed on this scroll."
"Remember — if anything happens to these juniors in the future, their guardians will also be put to death," the Seven Worlds Master said.
"Understood."
After accepting the order, Demon Shadow led all the remaining black-robed Spirit World Masters and departed from the area.