In the southern reaches of the Alliance, where the Corpse Yin Sect held sway, a place of chains and ancient coffins, Li Yingzhi knelt on one knee. Her hands were clasped before her chest in supplication, her gaze fixed upon a jade slip that hovered before her, radiating a soft, milky light.

It seemed but a common token, unremarkable to any casual eye. Yet, its arrival would unleash a cataclysm upon the Alliance, driving many to madness, none more so than the Corpse Yin Sect.

Li Yingzhi recounted her tale, detailing all that had transpired since her entry into the Four Sacred Sects. Finally, she presented the jade slip. The moment it appeared, an invisible force emanated, swirling around the very stars, pulling the jade slip towards the heart of the coffin cluster.

From the largest coffin within that silent city of the dead, a withered hand emerged as the jade slip approached. The hand, a grotesque tapestry of black sinew and crimson flesh, snatched the jade slip from the void. An aura of ancient sorrow clung to it, a testament to ages long past.

A chilling wind erupted, sweeping across the heavens as the hand appeared. The very starlight seemed to dim, and even Li Yingzhi was forced to retreat, yet her face remained etched with reverence.

As the hand closed upon the jade slip, a colossal wave of divine sense poured forth from the coffin, engulfing the token. The sheer power of it caused Li Yingzhi’s face to drain of color, her very soul trembling beneath its weight.

This divine sense pulsed with a mad, violent hunger, a desire to escape its confines, to rend the stars and slaughter all life. A palpable stench of blood permeated the air, though none was truly there. It was the feeling, the raw, primal urge to spill life’s essence that conjured the illusion.

“What is your name?” The divine sense thundered, its power tossing Li Yingzhi like a leaf upon a stormy sea.

“I am Li Yingzhi, disciple, and I greet the Third King,” the woman replied, her eyes wide with fear. Never had she imagined that the jade slip could awaken one so powerful!

Whispers of the Third King’s legend filled her with dread. She had believed, in her pride, that the jade slip might rouse the Fifth King, at most. After all, she had a glimmer of understanding as to the corpse that was branded inside.

But the bloodlust that now filled the air made her understand. She had underestimated the remains within the jade slip.

Not only she, but throughout the southern Alliance, every disciple of the Corpse Yin Sect felt the crushing weight of the divine sense. They ceased their tasks, falling to their knees in supplication.

“You have delivered this jade slip. For this, you shall be rewarded greatly! You may enter the Corpse Pit and claim a corpse puppet from the sixth level,” the voice resonated, igniting a fire in Li Yingzhi’s soul. The legendary, forbidden secrets of the Pit’s lower levels sent shivers down her spine.

“I thank the Third King,” she managed to stammer.

“Do you know what lies within that slip?” the voice inquired, each word a drop of ice.

Li Yingzhi hesitated, then spoke, “My knowledge is limited, but I suspect… it is a god from the elder days.”

A wave of dark laughter echoed, the Third King’s voice now thrumming with fervor. The divine sense crackled with an unnatural excitement.

“A god! Yes, this flesh belonged to a god. But not just any god… it is a god of royal blood! An Eight-Star Royal God!” The voice’s lust was palpable, so intense that it disturbed the very fabric of the realm.

“Royal God?” Li Yingzhi whispered, her eyes widening with fear.

“Summon all disciples of the Corpse Yin Sect. Let blood offerings be made to replenish the Corpse Pit, and let the ninth level be opened to retrieve the eight bodies held within. Now, eight of the Corpse Yin Kings shall walk again!”

“And summon every elder of the Sect, for we shall claim this Royal God.”

The words boomed across the southern Alliance, reaching every member of the Corpse Yin Sect. Each heart pulsed with a dreadful anticipation as they raised their heads, chanting in dread and wonder.

The proclamation of the King swept across the Corpse Yin Sect’s territory like a thunderous roar.

“I cannot be certain of its veracity,” Li Yingzhi said, her voice shaking as she realized the sheer magnitude of the forces being set in motion. She had imagined the jade slip would shock the Sect. But this? This was far beyond shock. This was an all-consuming obsession.

Fear seized her. If the jade slip spoke the truth, all would be well. But if it held a lie, she would face consequences beyond imagination, for it was she who had brought it.

“No matter. The Vermillion Bird Emperor would not risk deceiving the Corpse Yin Sect, the Alliance, and Luo Tian with such a falsehood. The Four Sacred Sects have too much to lose.”

“Still, this King must pay a visit to the Four Sacred Sects myself.”

Like two invisible hands, the jade slips stirred the hearts of countless individuals in the Alliance. A great shadow was taking form.

As Mo Zhi returned to the Auspicious Cloud Kingdom, three jade slips flew on. These were sent to the other three corners of the Alliance. Meanwhile, in the realm of Luo Tian, the battles ceased. The Corpse Yin Sect no longer traded in the black market of corpses, and started to retreat to the shadows.

The master of these storms, Wang Lin, sat in the Vermillion Bird Sacred Sect at the mouth of a volcano in meditation.

Beside him a large frog-like beast lay, its body a mass of crackling electricity. It was the frog that wandered here from the Xuanwu Sacred Sect. He waited for the Corpse Yin Sect and Luo Tian to find him.

He felt that if he sent two unique jade slips to the two forces, they would come running.

Wang Lin often did not use strategy, not that he did not want to, but because he knew how weak he was. But now, with the Four Sacred Sects at his back, he no longer had to hide.

He told the world of the Old God. His opponents understood that Wang Lin was plotting something.

If Wang Lin was not the Emperor, but just a mere nobody, and spoke of the Old God, he would be captured and questioned immediately.

But now that he was the Emperor, no one would dare to move. They knew that behind him, was the power of the Four Sacred Sects.

The true reason that Wang Lin told the truth, was so that he could use the might of the Four Sacred Sects to protect him.

And in that, Wang Lin knew that his true heritage was no longer a secret. The battle in the Demon Spirit Earth made him famous. His ability to go back to the ancient times made others suspect who he truly was.

This was also the reason that Wang Lin joined the Vermillion Bird Sacred Sect. For it was the only place where he could be safe.

And in that, he decided to spread the word of To Sen. He knew that others would not dare to disrespect such a story.

“Luo Tian, the Corpse Yin Sect, the Alliance.”

Wang Lin took a deep breath. He saw the Thunder Frog next to him, absorbing the heat that was emanating from the volcano.

When Wang Lin arrived here, he set the Thunder Frog and Mosquito Beast free to train. Just yesterday the Thunder Frog found him from the Xuanwu Sacred Sect.

“The Mosquito Beast should be here too, but it is not here.” Wang Lin frowned.

“Oh well. It is probably just playing around.” Wang Lin bit his finger and started to bleed again.

Wang Lin felt as if he was being burned alive. Drops of sweat were now pouring from his forehead.

He took a deep breath. From his chest a broken sword slowly emerged.