Half a Month Later, Release the Monsters

Gu Yan spoke slowly, "These are the souls of the deceased."

"What I need you to do is create bodies for them and store them here."

"Once everything is settled, I will awaken them."

"You are completely safe in this place."

Hearing this, Wang Yulan grew increasingly bewildered.

Souls of the deceased? Creating bodies? Awakening?

What is all this?

Gu Yan didn’t explain much. Instead, he sent a single tendril floating onto Wang Yulan’s palm before turning away and saying, "More souls will be sent here in the future."

"Your task is to craft bodies for them."

"Without my permission, the bodies and souls cannot merge. So... don’t get any ideas."

"Consider the soul in your hand an advance payment."

Before Wang Yulan could ask further questions, Gu Yan’s figure vanished from the spot.

Wang Yulan stared at the sea of tendrils around her, her expression filled with confusion and an odd sensation rising in her chest.

Gu Yan... just what is he planning?

And payment?

At this thought, she looked down at the tendril in her hand—and froze.

Under her perception, the soul within the tendril gradually took shape, transforming into the most familiar person imaginable.

This person was...

"Mom?"

Her voice trembled slightly.

What... is going on? Why was her mother’s soul in Gu Yan’s possession?

Suddenly, Wang Yulan shuddered as a realization struck her.

Her first meeting with Gu Yan had been when he visited under the guise of being her mother’s "student."

Thanks to his help, she had grown fond of him.

Later, when Gu Yan and Xiao Lin clashed, she chose to side with Gu Yan.

Not long after, the two reconciled, and Xiao Lin came to the hospital to visit her mother.

That very night, Xiao Lin, in a panic, had pierced her mother’s chest.

Because of this, she had joined the Peach Blossom Society to become a martial artist, seeking vengeance for her mother.

Yet, soon after, the Peach Blossom Society transformed into the Forbidden Zone No. 5, overrun by the Nether Clan.

She herself had become a demonized creature under the Nether King’s control.

But who could have guessed? There was never a Nether King—only one person behind it all: Gu Yan.

Then what was his goal? Why had she been dragged into this?

"!?"

At this moment, Wang Yulan’s eyes widened in realization.

Gu Yan’s target was... Xiao Lin?

A bitter smile tugged at her lips. So that’s how it was...

From the moment Xiao Lin met her, she had already been ensnared in Gu Yan’s scheme.

Her mother’s "student"?

All of it... was a lie.

Strangely, knowing this, Wang Yulan felt a sense of relief wash over her.

She gazed at her mother’s soul in her hand, then at the countless tendrils scattered around—souls that others would consider long dead—and sighed softly.

Gu Yan... just what are you trying to do?

......

Time passed, and half a month later.

Thanks to Long Tianyun and the forces backing him, he had firmly secured his position as the leader of the Martial Alliance.

Though dissent still lingered, the voices of approval outweighed opposition, and the martial artists reluctantly accepted his leadership.

Long Tianyun began implementing security measures, deploying martial artists to patrol the streets and reassure the public.

For half a month, no demonic creatures attacked, as if frightened by the patrolling martial artists.

Society gradually returned to normal.

Some even credited Long Tianyun’s governance for the newfound peace.

But only those privy to the truth knew that all demonic creatures had been relocated to the former Ancient Martial Realm, unable to escape.

This was merely the calm before the storm.

On a cluster of islands in the southern seas, a group of martial artists trudged through their exploration with frustration.

"Tch, the new boss is flexing his authority already. It hasn’t even been long, and he’s sending us to scout unknown islands."

"Right? At a time like this, sending all our main forces out here—what about security at headquarters? Is Long Tianyun an idiot?"

"Eh, don’t complain. There are still patrol units. They might not be strong, but they can handle basic order."

"That’s fine for troublemakers, but what if demonic creatures show up?"

"They won’t. It’s been half a month without a single attack. And even if they do, we still have Minister Leng of the Sword Holding Department! He can teleport from Jianghai in no time!"

"Ugh, if only Minister Leng had become the leader. Then we wouldn’t have wasted so much manpower searching for some so-called treasure."

Though resentful, the martial artists kept their complaints to themselves.

After all, he was the boss.

Meanwhile, Long Tianyun stood on a small island, his eyes burning with excitement.

These islands had surfaced just days ago.

Given his master’s mention of a treasure, this was undoubtedly the place to search!

At that moment—

"Xiao Yun, I sense an unusual energy fluctuation. The treasure... is about to appear!"

A hoarse voice rang from the ring on his finger.

His face lit up, but before he could speak—

BOOM!!!

"Ooooh—!!!"

A deafening energy pillar erupted into the sky, accompanied by a howl that shook the heavens.

"Leader!! It’s ancient qi!!"

The martial artists cried out in excitement.

Long Tianyun quickly looked up at the pillar.

There, hovering near its peak, was a mass of black qi shaped like a wolf’s head.

"Xiao Yun! Hurry! That’s the ancient qi that will boost your cultivation! Go!"

The voice from the ring urged frantically.

Long Tianyun grinned and soared into the air. "Got it!"

Hah! Absorbing this natural qi will bring me one step closer to breaking through to Grand Master!

Not only that, my combat power will skyrocket, solidifying my position in the Alliance!

But what no one knew was that—

At this very moment, in the secular world...

A figure clad in black robes appeared near the Martial Alliance headquarters.

This was Old Gao.

Perched on his shoulder was a raven with peculiar eyes.

"Young Master, the Alliance’s main forces have all withdrawn. Rumor has it... they were sent to the southern islands to seek fortune."

The raven tilted its head. "Then... let’s begin."

"Understood, Young Master."

Old Gao nodded, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He then flung out a dozen orbs, each exuding a sinister aura.

Encased within each orb was a ferocious demonic creature, their dark energy swirling ominously.

In an instant, the orbs arced through the air with a piercing screech, hurtling toward the ground below.

BOOM—!

The moment the spheres struck the ground, a deafening explosion shook the heavens, sending violent tremors through the earth as dust and debris billowed into the air.

Every person in the vicinity felt the ground quake beneath them.

Some threw open their windows to peer outside, while others halted in the streets, scanning their surroundings in alarm.

But with just a single glance, all of them froze in stunned silence.

Before their eyes, thick black miasma erupted from each exploding sphere, rapidly spreading like a creeping fog that swallowed everything in its path.

The demonic creatures sealed within the spheres broke free from their restraints, roaring as they emerged from the swirling darkness.

These monstrosities were grotesque and terrifying, each one a nightmare given form—massive, twisted, and radiating malice.

Their eyes burned with a sinister crimson glow, brimming with an insatiable thirst for bloodshed.

With guttural growls, over a dozen Grand Master-level demonic beasts... appeared near the headquarters district!!!

Gu Yan, in his raven form, observed the chaos with cold detachment.

"Go. Spread fear and disorder," he murmured, his voice a chilling command.

The creatures obeyed instantly, surging outward like unleashed predators, their monstrous forms fanning out in all directions.

The district... plunged once more into terror and pandemonium.

The overwhelming aura of these beings—

Even from a great distance, Leng Qingqiu, who had been meditating within the Sword Holding Department, sensed it immediately. She sprang to her feet.

Her expression darkened.

Over a dozen Grand Master-level presences... wild, chaotic, and violent...

Demonic beasts?

Did Gu Yan unleash this? How many will die because of this?

Leng Qingqiu clenched her fists. No—she had to intervene.