The human cultivators watching from the side were secretly impressed. This simple technique was far more effective than any torture — worthy of being that person's own sister, indeed. They had heard rumors of her before, but in this chaotic era teeming with talent, she had always lacked a certain sharpness. Now that she had advanced to the Ninth Order, she would surely make a name for herself across both the Human and Ink Clans!
Yang Xue spoke again: "You have no room to bargain, and you needn't worry that I'll go back on my word. I promised to spare one of your lives, and I will honor that. The Human Clan values its word far more than your Ink Clan does."
That was true enough. Over the years, they had clashed with various human powerhouses, and in most cases, the humans did keep their promises.
The two Domain Lords exchanged glances. One of them hastily said: "We received orders from Lord Xiao You to proceed over there and rendezvous with him."
The other spoke almost simultaneously: "Lord Xiao You commanded us to join the fight and kill the human powerhouses."
Both Domain Lords had spoken at nearly the same instant, and both had mentioned the name Xiao You. This piqued Yang Xue's interest. She frowned and said: "One at a time. Slowly."
She turned to the Domain Lord on the left: "This Xiao You — is he a Pseudo King Lord?"
Before that Domain Lord could answer, a human Eighth-Order cultivator behind her spoke up: "I've had several encounters with this Xiao You in the past. Back then he was only an Innate Domain Lord, but his strength was formidable. In a one-on-one fight, I was no match for him. If he's still alive, then he must be a Pseudo King Lord by now."
To prepare for the appearance of the Myriad Objects Furnace, the Ink Clan had summoned all surviving Innate Domain Lords back to the Unreturnable Pass and forged them into Pseudo King Lords. That was why the Ink Clan had suddenly produced dozens of Pseudo King Lords at the final hour.
The Ink Clan hadn't done this before because it served no strategic purpose — the creation of dozens of Pseudo King Lords meant sacrificing over ten times that many Innate Domain Lords. But the appearance of the Myriad Objects Furnace had forced the Ink Clan's hand. Only with more Pseudo King Lords could they secure an advantage within the furnace.
Only Innate Domain Lords were eligible to be forged. Those who died would be forgotten; only the survivors would earn glory and renown.
The Domain Lord on the left hesitated for a moment, then said: "Lord Xiao You is now a true King Lord. He previously obtained an opportunity from the Myriad Objects Furnace..."
Everyone's expression shifted.
The so-called opportunity from the Myriad Objects Furnace could only mean a Supreme-grade Open Heaven Pill!
Though everyone had considered this possibility before entering — that the Ink Clan might also get their hands on a Supreme-grade Open Heaven Pill — it had remained merely a possibility. What if the Ink Clan simply had terrible luck and never found one?
But the intelligence they had just received shattered that hope entirely.
The Ink Clan now had a King Lord, one created by a Supreme-grade Open Heaven Pill. This not only nullified the advantage of Yang Xue's advancement to the Ninth Order, but also meant the Human Clan was down one precious opportunity. It was a bitter pill to swallow.
But what was done was done. Regretting it would change nothing.
Yang Xue looked at the Domain Lord on the right: "Continue."
That Domain Lord, apparently sensing the thoughts of the human powerhouses before him, hurried to say: "From what I've heard, the Human Clan has also produced a Ninth Order."
He added quickly: "Besides you, Lady! That Ninth Order is currently leading the human forces in battle against Lord Xiao You."
The human cultivators perked up immediately. Apart from Yang Xue, there was another known Ninth Order on the Human Clan's side? This was excellent news indeed.
As expected, Yang Xue's decision not to kill outright and instead interrogate these Ink Clan Domain Lords for intelligence had been the right call. The Ink Clan had the advantage of rapid communication through their Ink Nests, while the Human Clan, trapped within the Myriad Objects Furnace, was cut off and poorly informed.
"Do you know this Ninth Order's name?" Yang Xue asked.
The Domain Lord on the right was about to speak when the one on the left cut in: "My turn!"
It had been established that whoever provided more intelligence would be the one to survive. With their lives on the line, naturally they would compete.
Yang Xue turned to look, and the Domain Lord on the left immediately said: "That Ninth Order appears to be a man named Ouyang Lie!"
The words struck everyone with surprise.
Ouyang Lie was one of the oldest and most seasoned Eighth-Order cultivators among the humans. He had fought the Ink Clan in the Black Ink Battlefield for tens of thousands of years and survived. He had earned a fearsome reputation in the Xuanming Domain, and everyone present had heard of his name to some degree.
Moreover, rumor had it that this veteran warrior had accumulated dark injuries from a lifetime of fighting. His Small Universe was damaged, and he had long since fallen from his peak condition.
Yet who could have imagined that entering the Myriad Objects Furnace would bring him a new opportunity, allowing him to advance to the Ninth Order?
It was truly cause for celebration — a piece of news that warmed the heart.
The Domain Lord on the right continued: "The conflict between the two sides this time was triggered by an opportunity."
The Domain Lord on the left interrupted: "After Lord Xiao You advanced to King Lord, he inadvertently discovered another opportunity. But that opportunity was guarded by a group of native powerhouses, one of whom was no weaker than Lord Xiao You himself."
"A Chaos Spirit King?" someone asked.
The Ink Clan knew nothing of the Chaos Spirit Clan, but the humans did. A native powerhouse who could match an Ink Clan King Lord could only be a Chaos Spirit King.