The sky was pitch black, with only two or three faint pinpricks of starlight scattered across the void.
This was the Dark Sky.
All was silent. Three Gu Immortals were secretly making their way through the darkness.
The Gu Immortal on the left was an elderly man, skeletal and hunched, his face covered in age spots and wrinkles. He was nearing the end of his natural lifespan.
The female immortal on the right wore a resplendent purple robe. Her skin was as white as snow, and her dark hair cascaded to her waist, failing to conceal her slender figure. Her eyes were like deep, still pools, and a veil of sorrow hung between her brows.
At the center walked a black-robed Gu Immortal. He appeared middle-aged, his face pale, black hair falling to his chest. A dense, cold killing intent perpetually coiled around his body.
They were Elder Zheng Yuan, Purple Star Fairy, and Demon Venerable Spectral Soul!
The master and his two servants moved silently through the Dark Spectral Soul paused briefly, then spoke in a flat tone: "It's coming again."
Purple Star Fairy and Elder Zheng Yuan's expressions remained unchanged as they immediately flanked Demon Venerable Spectral Soul, setting up defensive measures.
Soon, all three heard a thunderous roar.
A massive, violent tide of energy surged toward them, engulfing the sky and earth. Wherever it passed, all living things were devastated — a truly horrific sight.
The energy tide crashed over the three immortals, lasting a full half an incense stick's time before finally sweeping past.
Spectral Soul and his two servants exhaled in relief and slowly withdrew their defenses, revealing themselves once more.
Elder Zheng Yuan watched the energy tide recede into the distance, a compassionate expression on his face. He sighed heavily: "After the Five Regions merged, I never imagined such changes would occur. At regular intervals, these energy tides arise, flooding the sky and earth, sweeping across all living beings. They not only cover the Five Regions but even extend into the two skies. Wherever they pass, creatures are devastated — who knows how many lives have been lost."
Though Elder Zheng Yuan had been subdued by Demon Venerable Spectral Soul, his loyalty to Spectral Soul was absolute. His fundamental nature, however, had not changed much.
Purple Star Fairy's eyes flickered with sharp light as she ran calculations, but soon she gave up in frustration.
She analyzed: "Between the Five Regions, there are fundamental differences in heaven and earth energy. When Gu Immortals travel to foreign regions, absorbing the local heaven and earth energy causes their immortal apertures to destabilize. That is why immortals must frequently return home to undergo tribulations. The differences in heaven and earth energy are also the origin of the boundary walls. Now that the boundary walls between the Five Regions have completely vanished, the vast quantities of heaven and earth energy from each region have begun to mingle — this is the fundamental cause of the energy tides."
"But how long these energy tides will persist, and whether their power will grow or diminish, cannot currently be calculated. Not even the trend can be determined."
To solve this problem, it would likely require the intervention of Primordial Origin Immortal Venerable, who possessed the deepest understanding of the energy path. Or perhaps the resurrection of Star Constellation Immortal Venerable, who could compute through clues of such staggering scale.
Demon Venerable Spectral Soul let out a cold snort, his voice hoarse and chilling: "These energy tides are an obstacle to me. Wherever they pass, most soul beasts cannot withstand them. Even those that manage to survive suffer severe damage to their soul cores."
Spectral Soul desperately wanted to restore his former strength.
Devouring souls was the fastest shortcut.
Originally, he had intended to reclaim the Gate of Life and Death, but unfortunately, it had been secretly spirited away.
The battle for Heavenly Court had long since concluded, and given his current state, Spectral Soul could not afford to act without restraint.
And so, he had brought his two subordinates out of Heavenly Court and into the Dark Sky, intending to hunt soul beasts on a grand scale.
The Dark Sky was home to countless soul beasts that formed vast armies, often led by nether ants, roaming the darkness in massive numbers — hundreds of thousands, even millions, beyond count.
"Master, with these energy tides causing such devastation, please allow us to stay and assist you," Elder Zheng Yuan urged with genuine loyalty.
Demon Venerable Spectral Soul snorted coldly: "What use would you two be by my side? I am more than sufficient on my own. Besides, I have other tasks to assign you."
Elder Zheng Yuan and Purple Star Fairy exchanged a glance and spoke in unison: "Please give us your orders, Master!"
Spectral Soul narrowed his eyes, his tone eerie and bone-chilling: "Back then, I exhausted all my resources to refine the Supreme Immortal Fetus Gu and left it with Fang Yuan, creating a complete Otherworldly Demon. Now that Fate Gu has been destroyed and the grand plan has succeeded, it is time to reclaim the Supreme Immortal Fetus Gu. I want you to find Fang Yuan, capture him alive, and refine him back into the Supreme Immortal Fetus Gu!"
Demon Venerable Spectral Soul's current strength had fallen to its nadir. Had it not been for this, he would have already intervened in the battle for Heavenly Court.
There were three critical keys to his rapid resurgence and restoration of power: the Gate of Life and Death, the dreamscape, and the Supreme Immortal Aperture.
The Gate of Life and Death had mysteriously vanished, a quiet disappointment to Spectral Soul. However, this shortfall could be compensated with soul beasts.
The dreamscape — one of the critical keys — had been taken by Fang Yuan. Though Fang Yuan had consumed a portion during the battle for Heavenly Court, the vast majority still remained in his possession.
Spectral Soul had to recover the dreamscape. Only by doing so could he fundamentally restore his realm to Grandmaster of All Paths.
Beyond that, the Supreme Immortal Aperture was also indispensable. It was the most effective guarantee of the cultivation resources Spectral Soul would need to return to Peak Stage.