The very first moment Xiahou Jue opened his eyes, he bowed deeply to Baili Xukong.
"Thank you, my lord."
Baili Xukong hurried forward to help him up and asked, "Did it work?"
The reason he was anxious was that he could already sense that Xiahou Jue had likely succeeded. But he wasn't entirely certain and needed Xiahou Jue to confirm it himself.
Still, if it truly had succeeded, then this was no small matter.
"My lord, the Prison Lord's method was indeed effective. I have successfully mastered it."
"With this secret technique, I can now fight even a sixth-rank Heavenly God."
"If I encounter that Xianhai Yu'er and Chu Feng again, I will definitely be able to cut them down."
Xiahou Jue said, his voice brimming with excitement.
But Baili Xukong's brow furrowed slightly.
"Mastering a secret technique is certainly a good thing."
"However, unless it is absolutely a last resort, you should avoid using it."
"After all, the price of this method is your life."
Baili Xukong advised.
"If I can trade my life to eliminate Xianhai Yu'er and Chu Feng — two great enemies of our Prison Sect — then my death will have been worth it."
Xiahou Jue replied.
"Eliminating them doesn't necessarily require your sacrifice."
"Remember, this technique is something you may only use when there is absolutely no escape — to perish together with your opponent."
"As long as even a sliver of hope remains, you must not use it."
"This was something you promised me before."
Baili Xukong said.
"I obey, my lord."
Xiahou Jue accepted the order.
"Now that the secret technique is complete, you should also go reinforce the Seven Realms Sacred Mansion."
"Come, I'll see you out."
Afterward, Baili Xukong personally escorted Xiahou Jue out.
Once Xiahou Jue had departed, Baili Xukong turned to a Prison Sect Elder who had come along to see Xiahou Jue off.
"Outside the barrier, a faction has arrived and refuses to leave. What's the situation?"
Baili Xukong asked.
He had already sensed that a group of cultivators had arrived outside the Immortal Star Domain, and their presence was far from insignificant.
"My lord, that is correct."
"They call themselves the Red Soul Sect — an ancient faction — and wish to ally with our Prison Sect."
"Lord Cang Li has already ordered their request for an alliance rejected."
"But the Red Soul Sect won't give up. They keep pleading to meet you."
"You were inside the hall the entire time, my lord, so I did not inform you of this matter."
The Prison Sect Elder explained.
"Tell them to get lost."
Baili Xukong said.
"As you command."
The Prison Sect Elder moved to handle the matter.
"Wait."
But Baili Xukong suddenly recalled something and couldn't help asking, "This Red Soul Sect — why does it sound familiar?"
"Reporting to my lord: when the Divine Era opened, the Red Soul Sect entered it."
"During that opening of the Divine Era, Chu Feng also set foot inside, though he left later."
"Because of that, the Red Soul Sect developed a grudge against Chu Feng and suffered a devastating loss at his hands."
"The Red Soul Sect has harbored resentment toward Chu Feng ever since."
"It was only after they learned that our Prison Sect had declared war on Chu Feng that they wished to join forces with us to deal with him together."
The Elder said.
"Oh, I remember now."
"That Red Soul Sect Master was incredibly arrogant back in the Divine Era."
"He didn't place any of the contemporary factions in his eyes at all."
"And he publicly provoked the Seven Realms Mansion Lord, didn't he?"
Baili Xukong asked.
"That is correct."
The Prison Sect Elder confirmed.
"Show me the way."
The moment Baili Xukong said this, the Prison Sect Elder immediately led the way.
And outside the defensive barrier of the Immortal Star Domain, several massive warships floated in orderly formation across the vast starry sky.