With a single palm strike, he struck the very heart of the Demon Spirit Vortex, yet the tremor resonated through the entire Demon Spirit Land. A cataclysmic shudder ripped through the nine counties, a palpable tremor that shook the very foundations of the realm.

A wave of terrified gasps swept across the Demon Spirit Land. The azure sky was devoured by an oppressive darkness, and within that gloom, the clouds churned and writhed, forming a colossal vortex of unimaginable scale.

This swirling abyss stretched across the heavens, its tendrils reaching towards the horizon. As it spun, countless swords of pure energy burst forth, scattering into the world below.

A domineering aura, as if the sky itself had descended, poured out from the heart of the vortex, accompanied by seven rainbow-colored beams of light, scattering across the land.

In that instant, every ancient demon within the Demon Spirit Land materialized from their hidden sanctums, their shadowed faces turned towards the turbulent skies above.

Bailuo, his brow furrowed in concern, cast a single glance upward before vanishing without a trace.

From the heart of the celestial maelstrom strode an enemy. Ling Tianhou, clad in verdant robes, descended upon the void, his gaze sweeping across the ravaged land. “Greedy Wolf!” he roared, his voice echoing with the fury of a thousand storms. “Come forth and face me!”

His voice, like a thunderous avalanche, shattered the tranquility, causing the very ground to crack and splinter. The echoes of Ling Tianhou’s wrath reverberated throughout the Demon Spirit Land.

Strangely, Tian Yunzi and his companions seemed unfazed by Greedy Wolf’s arrival, as if they had foreseen his presence.

Blood Ancestor, draped in crimson robes, scowled. As soon as he stepped into the land, he unleashed his divine sense, yet he found nothing. Yao Xixue had vanished utterly, fueling his growing unease.

With a deep breath, he summoned his powers, invoking a secret technique for another sweep. His face darkened even further.

Tian Yunzi raised his right hand, his fingers dancing in arcane calculations. In the outside world, the Eastern Sea had veiled his divination, but here, within the Demon Spirit Land, he was within the heart of the mystery, unhindered.

As these ancient beings descended, Wang Lin, standing outside the Tide Entrance, leaped into the abyssal chasm. He plummeted downwards like a falling star.

The suction became an irresistible force, propelling him ever faster through the labyrinthine corridors towards the deep pit below.

Ling Tianhou’s face was a mask of fury. As he scanned the northernmost reaches of the land, he met two opposing surges of divine sense. With a groan, he staggered, but a glint of triumph shone in his eyes.

Simultaneously, a cloud of auspicious vapor appeared before them, ethereal and unreal. Upon the cloud sat a man and a woman, the Cloud Immortal Couple: Wang Jie and Hu Juan.

Wang Jie calmly surveyed Ling Tianhou and the others. When his gaze fell upon Tian Yunzi, his pupils narrowed imperceptibly. The sage remained lost in his calculations, unfazed by their arrival.

“Greetings, fellow Daoists,” Wang Jie chuckled. “It has been a long time.”

Hu Juan offered a gentle smile but remained silent.

Ling Tianhou glared at Wang Jie. “Daoist Wang, I sense Greedy Wolf is within your domain. Surrender him, for I have pressing matters to discuss with him!”

Wang Jie chuckled, turning to his beloved. “See? After all these years, the Sword Revered’s temper has only worsened.”

Hu Juan’s eyes softened with affection. “The Sword Revered’s concern for his disciples is only natural.”

Ling Tianhou’s expression grew even darker. If not for his deep respect for the pair, he would have already drawn his sword.

Wang Jie slapped his storage bag. Two figures materialized: Chen Long and Greedy Wolf.

Chen Long, upon seeing Ling Tianhou, froze, then his face flooded with ecstatic relief. He fell to his knees, tears welling in his eyes. “Master! It was Greedy Wolf who harmed my brothers!”

Greedy Wolf, however, remained composed, standing respectfully behind Wang Jie and Hu Juan, like a loyal servant.

Ling Tianhou ignored Chen Long, his piercing gaze fixed upon Greedy Wolf. “Greedy Wolf, you are audacious beyond measure!”

Though a flicker of unease crossed his face, Greedy Wolf kept his expression neutral. “Little whelp,” he sneered at Chen Long, “did I, with my own hands, strike down a single member of your Great Luo Sword Sect?”

Chen Long glared at Greedy Wolf. With his master’s presence, his courage returned. “Though your hands were clean, you trapped us within the Purple Mist, a deed worthy of death! Were it not for that, my brothers would still be alive!”

Greedy Wolf burst into laughter. “I trapped you in the mists for the token of the ancient cave, but did I lay a finger on you? You seek revenge from the wrong foe. It is preposterous to blame me!”

Chen Long was about to reply, but Ling Tianhou silenced him with a wave of his sleeve. “Chen Long, say no more!” He turned to Greedy Wolf, his eyes burning with undisguised hatred. “Greedy Wolf, where is the token?”

Greedy Wolf sighed, his face a mask of sorrow. “You may not believe me, but I swear upon my ten thousand years of cultivation, the token is no longer in my possession!”

Ling Tianhou stared at Greedy Wolf, waiting for an explanation. Besides Tian Yunzi, who remained lost in his calculations, the other ancient beings, including Blood Ancestor, fixed their eyes on Greedy Wolf.

Greedy Wolf felt the weight of their gazes, their power crushing him. He was the weakest among them, save Chen Long. A shudder ran through him. “Xiu, of the Tian Yun Sect, stole the token! Chen Long can vouch for my words! He also murdered the disciples of the Great Luo Sword Sect!”

Ling Tianhou frowned, turning to Chen Long.

Chen Long quickly spoke, “Master, I only saw Greedy Wolf capture the token-bearer, Wang Lin. What happened after, I do not know. However, I can confirm… he killed several of my brothers!”

At that moment, Tian Yunzi opened his eyes and turned sharply towards the east.
“He shall not escape!” Tian Yunzi’s fingers flew, weaving an incantation with increasing speed. His gaze, as if piercing the very fabric of reality, plunged into the depths of the Water Sprite Domain, finding the Tide Gate. It bypassed the Gate itself, reaching the winding Corridors beyond. Here, his vision lingered not, but sped towards the abyssal pit that marred the Corridors’ heart.

As Wang Lin descended, he sensed the approaching gaze. With a flick of his wrist, he melded with the pit’s ravenous pull, accelerating his fall. Tian Yunzi’s penetrating sight, however, struggled against the abyss’s hunger. After a moment of hesitation, he pushed through, delving deeper into the chasm.

This display of celestial power did not go unnoticed. Ling Tianhou and the Yun Xian Daoist couple, their eyes widened in surprise. The ancient beings, their combined consciousness, followed in Tian Yunzi’s wake, exploding outward, past the Tide Abyss, and into the pit’s maw.

Wang Lin remained unperturbed. He slapped his storage bag, and the Seven-Star Sword Array materialized, orbiting his body in a whirlwind of light. This arcane formation generated a thrust, which combined with the pit’s suction, amplified his speed.

He plunged ever downwards, making for the vortex that dwelled at the pit’s heart. And then, as he neared, Tian Yunzi’s all-seeing eye, along with the collective awareness of the old monsters, descended upon him!

Ling Tianhou spotted the Seven-Star Sword Array, and his rage flared.

Tian Yunzi also beheld Wang Lin. The sigils of the Killing Immortal Art were gone, replaced by an icy resolve in his eyes.

Wang Lin’s foot touched the surface of the vortex. He turned, a cold stare fixed upon his pursuers. Then, he was consumed by the swirling chaos, vanishing from sight.

A boundless power erupted from the vortex, washing over the surroundings. It was a force so immense that even Tian Yunzi and the ancient ones were forced to retreat, their senses reeling, as they watched Wang Lin become one with the maelstrom.

It was not for lack of desire that they failed to intervene, but the power emanating from the vortex was the very essence that bridged two star domains – a power too great to overcome!

As Wang Lin was swallowed whole, the Blood Ancestor’s consciousness manifested as a spectral image, his gaze locked on Wang Lin. His face was twisted in a grimace. In that fleeting moment, he had sensed a presence clinging to Wang Lin, the aura of Yao Xixue! Within it, he detected a struggle, a resistance. He knew, with chilling certainty, that Yao Xixue’s disappearance was connected to Wang Lin, and that she may very well be held captive!

His voice boomed, laced with fury: “Wang Lin, where is my daughter?!”

“The Illusionary Abodes are not three, but four!” Wang Lin countered, a glint in his eye as he vanished into the swirling depths.

His words may have been cryptic to others, but the Blood Ancestor understood. The existence of the fourth Illusionary Abode was a secret shared only with Yao Xixue, a truth she would never have divulged.

This was precisely Wang Lin’s intention. Though he had escaped, he would stir the pot! Had the Blood Ancestor not sensed Yao Xixue’s presence, so be it. But now that he had, Wang Lin would strike back. His goal was to prevent the Blood Ancestor from pursuing him over his daughter. He trusted that the old monsters’ minds would latch onto his words, weaving their own intricate webs of suspicion.

Wang Lin was gone.

Silence descended upon the vortex. The ancient ones, their faces grim, each harboring their own secrets, turned to the Blood Ancestor, their thoughts a maelstrom of suspicion.

The Blood Ancestor felt their accusing eyes like daggers. After a long pause, he spoke: “There is indeed a fourth Illusionary Abode. However, it has clearly been claimed by Wang Lin. And he possesses the token! Unless we capture him, we shall never gain access to the true domain!”

“We have long known that this vortex leads to the Luo Tian Star Domain. But its power is immense. Wang Lin, through some unknown means, has found a way to enter. We attempted to do so ourselves, but to no avail. However, if we combine our power to send one individual through, perhaps we could succeed!”

“And who shall that be?” Ling Tianhou demanded, his voice sharp.

“Were I to suggest myself, you would undoubtedly harbor doubts. Therefore, the ideal candidate is Greed Wolf! We shall each place a binding spell upon him, ensuring he cannot escape our grasp. He will enter and retrieve Wang Lin. Furthermore, his strength is more than sufficient to deal with Wang Lin!”

Tian Yunzi stared at the vortex, his eyes gleaming with an unfathomable light. His true thoughts remained hidden, as always.