Operation Commences, Infiltrate Separately

Western Nether Abyss, the Soul-Burying Chasm.

Gray-purple miasma flowed through the canyon like a living entity, corroding everything in its path.

A six-member team from the Holy Realm trudged forward with difficulty.

The leader, a violet-robed cultivator, clutched a compass, his voice tense: "Hold on for half an hour more! Once we cross this miasma, we’ll reach the habitat of the Netherbloom!"

"Captain, does this damned place really have Netherblooms?"

At the rear of the group, a young girl gripped her sword tightly, her knuckles turning white. "The ancient texts say even Eternal Realm cultivators never return from the depths of the Soul-Burying Chasm..."

"Can we, mere Sovereign Realm cultivators, really make it...?"

"Silence!"

The captain barked sharply. "The Holy Maiden needs the Netherbloom to survive! Even if we have to sacrifice our lives— Huh?!"

His words were abruptly cut off.

CRACK!!

As terror twisted the faces of the team, the ground beneath them split open like a spiderweb, and thick black ooze surged from the fissures.

In the blink of an eye, five humanoid monsters took shape.

They had no facial features, their torsos covered in writhing veins, each step leaving behind scorched, corroded footprints.

Every cultivator in the Great Thousand Worlds recognized these abominations.

"Malignants! They’re Malignants!!"

The team descended into chaos.

"How?! How can Malignants appear inside a secret realm?!"

"We’re doomed!!"

The captain’s eyes bulged with fury. "Formation! Protect the Holy Maiden!"

But before he could finish—

"ROAR!!"

SCHLICK!

One of the Malignants lunged, its claws tearing through the chests of two cultivators.

Their blood hadn’t even hit the ground before the black ooze devoured it, causing the Malignant’s body to swell.

Then, its gaze locked onto the captain—and the figure at the center of the group.

At this sight, the captain gritted his teeth.

They stood no chance...

"Protect the Holy Maiden!" he growled, steeling himself. "I’ll hold them off!"

"No, Captain! We won’t leave you behind!"

"Go! Now!"

"We won’t! If we go, we go together!"

"Damn it, just—!"

SCHLICK!!

"Guh—!"

The next instant, the Malignant—as if puzzled why these humans weren’t fleeing—rammed its claw straight through the captain’s chest.

"CAPTAIN!!"

His teammates wailed in grief.

"Go... now..."

Blood trickled from the captain’s lips as his life faded.

"Rrrgh..."

After consuming the captain, the Malignant turned its attention to the rest.

The surviving cultivators trembled, their legs refusing to move.

But just then—

A figure emerged from the depths of the miasma.

"How noisy..."

A hoarse voice drifted through the air.

The Malignants froze, their heads snapping toward the sound.

There, stepping forward, was a black-robed young man, holding a dark-purple flower in his hand.

He raised his palm and clenched it—

The five Malignants were instantly crushed into spheres by an invisible force, shrieking as they dissolved into black mist and vanished into his grasp.

What... what kind of technique was this?!

The team’s pupils trembled in shock.

A living person in the Soul-Burying Chasm? And he just annihilated the Malignants like they were nothing?!

Just who was this man?!

And—wasn’t that a Netherbloom in his hand?!

The young man—Xu Tun—glanced at the battered team, his gaze settling on the white-robed maiden at their center.

Her lips were pale, her face weak.

Clearly, the miasma had invaded her body.

"Holy Maiden!"

A team member sobbed, cradling the unconscious maiden before turning to Xu Tun in desperation. "Senior! Please, save her! We’ll pay any price!"

Xu Tun crouched down and pressed the Netherbloom into her chest, dissolving it into spiritual energy that flowed into her body.

Moments later—

"Mmm..."

The Holy Maiden’s lashes fluttered as her eyes slowly opened.

The first thing she saw was Xu Tun’s cold, indifferent gaze.

"You... saved me?"

Strangely, she felt no fear.

Instead... an inexplicable sense of peace, even shyness, bloomed within her.

---

After leaving the secret realm...

Western Nether Abyss · Profound Nether Holy Domain.

Inside the Holy Maiden’s palace.

"Senior... would you consider joining our Profound Nether Holy Domain?"

The Holy Maiden—Suo Yunyun—lightly touched her chest, her crystalline eyes fixed on Xu Tun, her cheeks faintly flushed. "With your strength, you could at least serve as a Guardian Elder... which means you’d be my personal protector."

Xu Tun stood by the suspended bridge outside the palace.

He clenched his fist, lost in thought.

Though he had the means to navigate this world alone, his constant devouring would eventually expose his true nature.

Having a Holy Domain as cover might be more effective.

After a pause, he replied flatly, "Fine."

Suo Yunyun blinked, her eyes brightening with joy, her blush deepening. "Ah—my name is Suo Yunyun. May I ask...?"

"Xu Tun."

Suo Yunyun skipped closer, peering up at him curiously. "Senior Xu, how did you end up in the Soul-Burying Chasm?"

Xu Tun seemed uncomfortable with her proximity.

Or perhaps—after being betrayed by women in his past life, and then again in the lower realms when they accused him of being from the Shadow Garden—he had developed a wariness toward them.

He subtly took half a step back. "Cultivating."

Suo Yunyun noticed his distance, her expression dimming slightly.

For some reason, ever since Xu Tun had saved her, she’d felt an odd connection to him—as if fate had destined him to be her beloved.

"By the way, Senior Xu, have you heard of the Shadow Garden? Rumors say a new faction has emerged in the Western Nether Abyss, attacking weaker disciples."

"......"

When Xu Tun remained silent, she continued, "But it’s fine! Such factions are just heretical cults. They’ll surely be crushed by righteous forces."

"......"

"Oh! And recently, the Frostbound Divine Realm has sent envoys to every major world, promoting something called... the Great Net? Spirit Terminals? Ah, I have one too! Senior Xu, do you know how to use it?"

"......"

"Ah! The Jade Heaven Domain just made a Douyin account! Their first post is the Jade Heaven Empress!"

"? Show me."

Suo Yunyun’s eyes sparkled—finally, she’d found a topic he responded to.

---

Three days later...

Northern Profound Frost Realm · Icepeak Holy Domain.

Inside the grand hall, a crystalline table was laden with delicacies and rare spirit wine, its intoxicating aroma filling the air.

"Hahaha! Master Qin, another toast!"

The Icepeak Domain Lord—Han Tianqing—raised his cup with a booming laugh.

A towering man with silver hair and the imposing aura of a Dominator Realm expert, his face was flushed with the warmth of wine—a sensation he refused to dispel, for drinking was his one indulgence.

Qin Luo smiled faintly, refilling his cup. "Domain Lord Han’s capacity is truly admirable."

Beside him, the Shadow Garden’s master of disguise—Thousand Faces—stood in the guise of an attendant, his eyes discreetly scanning the hall’s layout.

Han Tianqing downed his drink and slammed the cup onto the table in delight. "Master Qin, this ‘Spirit Terminal’ of yours is marvelous! To think my subjects in the Northern Profound Frost Realm can now learn of the world’s affairs without stepping outside!"

He waved the latest Daqian edition spiritual device in his hand, its screen playing a trending video from "Douyin · Northern Profound Frost Realm Zone."

"Just a little trinket."

Qin Luo smiled modestly and refilled his cup. "If Domain Lord Han fancies it, I’ll gift your realm another hundred thousand units."

"Excellent! Now that’s what I call generosity!"

Han Tianqing beamed with delight, turning to the elders in the hall and exclaiming, "You hear that? Take notes! This is what vision looks like—Master Qin’s way!"

The elders forced polite smiles, though inwardly, they were uneasy.

Their domain lord had an insatiable love for liquor, and now, thoroughly swayed by Master Qin of the Netherfrost Divine Realm, he was bound to make reckless decisions...

Still, Qin Luo did seem far more amiable than that venomous woman—much easier on the eyes, at least...

As Han Tianqing downed another cup, Qin Luo watched with a faint smile before pouring him yet another.

The plan had begun.