Blood Hand was an old acquaintance of Xu Dao from the Northern Frontier War Department; they even shared a life-or-death camaraderie.
Seeing Xu Dao's bargaining text messages, Blood Hand felt a mix of amusement and helplessness.
However, he had already made contingency plans.
Although the Imprisonment Hell did not have many people at its headquarters, it did not mean it was devoid of personnel. Naturally, they had their own people along the northern frontier as well.
Blood Hand quickly found a phone number, composed a text message with instructions, and then went to rest.
Meanwhile, Ye Kunlun was cultivating in his room.
He spent an hour clearing the killing aura from his body.
While killing was not a significant matter to him, especially when it involved those who came to claim his life, an excessive killing aura could hinder cultivation and, if not careful, lead to cultivation deviation.
After entering a state of deep concentration, Ye Kunlun soon found himself in that profound starry world.
Among the billions of stars, the shadow of Ye Kunlun, which he had never been able to see clearly, seemed to have solidified considerably.
He gazed at Ye Kunlun, who was seated amidst the stars, his gaze seemingly piercing through eons to rest upon him.
Ye Kunlun seemed to sense something.
He opened his eyes, looking at the billions of stars around him, a hint of confusion appearing in his eyes.
"An illusion?"
He had clearly sensed someone observing him just moments ago, as if they were right beside him, yet despite his power, he couldn't detect any anomaly.
Shaking off the distractions, Ye Kunlun once again immersed himself in the Ten Thousand Ancient Starry Art.
He had been stuck at the third level for some time, and now, he couldn't find the method to break through.
It was as if the fourth level was a shackle imposed upon him by this world, and only by breaking the shackle could he advance.
As this thought surfaced, two sharp beams of light shot from Ye Kunlun's eyes.
"Could it be that I truly need to break the shackles of this world to enter the fourth level of the Ten Thousand Ancient Starry Art?"
This was the first time Ye Kunlun had this thought, and once it arose, it was like a floodgate opening, impossible to contain.
The more Ye Kunlun thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
"Then, let's give it a try!"
With a decision made, Ye Kunlun circulated his strength, releasing the power of the Spiritual Infusion realm.
At this moment, the room where Ye Kunlun was located was filled with spiritual energy as abundant as water. The two fish, one blue and one gold, within his dantian, mysteriously appeared in the room.
They were connected head to tail, circling Ye Kunlun and spinning rapidly, swimming with joy!
Anyone witnessing this scene would undoubtedly be stunned.
Simultaneously, the countless powerful individuals imprisoned within the Imprisonment Hell felt the aura of Ye Kunlun's Spiritual Infusion realm.
The terrifying pressure instilled an unprecedented sense of dread in their hearts.
*Swish, swish—*
Imprisonment Hell, Ninth Layer.
In the darkness, the sound of chains echoed again. A pair of golden eyes slowly opened, illuminating the purple chains around him.
"Mmm..."
He let out a low growl from his throat, "Spiritual Infusion realm, the pinnacle of power in this world. Shouldered person, you must quickly break the shackles of this world, so that... this venerated one can go out..."
"Soon, you cannot keep me confined, soon..."
The voice echoed in the dark ninth layer of the Imprisonment Hell. Strangely, no one could hear the sounds from here.
Ye Kunlun, of course, did not hear it.
At this moment, he was fully immersed in his own world.
With the release of his Spiritual Infusion realm power, it continuously surged, quickly reaching its peak!
*Rumble—*
Peals of thunder boomed from the sky, like angry roars.
Suddenly, Ye Kunlun sensed a terrifying pressure from the void. The power released by the shackle was oppressing his strength and realm!
"Ten Thousand Ancient Starry Art, Fourth Level..."
Ye Kunlun directly circulated the Ten Thousand Ancient Starry Art, wanting to test if it was as he suspected!
As his power climbed and the Ten Thousand Ancient Starry Art circulated, a storm of starlight stirred within the sea of stars in Ye Kunlun's consciousness.
The phantom entity seemed to sense something, let out a soft sigh, and then slowly faded away.
"Condense for me!"
Ye Kunlun shouted, and the starlight released by billions of stars condensed into a colossal sword that pierced the heavens.
The sword was forged entirely from starlight, radiating the power of the stars. It stood tall in the cosmic firmament, exuding a power that almost transcended this world!
*Boom, boom, boom—*
Outside, muffled thunder rolled, and bolts of lightning gathered above the Imprisonment Hell, resembling world-ending lightning!
Feng Tutu and Blood Hand had already been awakened by this terrifying power, but when they realized the source of the power was Ye Kunlun's room, they breathed a sigh of relief.
Feng Tutu, in particular, had witnessed the terrifying phenomena generated by Ye Kunlun's cultivation more than once!
Beyond the Imprisonment Hell, Gu Changsheng of the Qin Tian Tower also wore a grave expression.
Behind him stood Nangong Yunshao, whose face was somewhat pale.
"Yunshao, are you certain about the poison you gave your master..."
"Master, I watched him drink it personally!" Nangong Yunshao's voice carried no discernible emotion.
Gu Changsheng nodded, his profound black eyes fixed on the sky, and then in the direction of Ye Kunlun.
His expression was one of shifting emotions.
"Could it be that because he was poisoned, he is trying to expel the toxin from his body, causing his aura to become chaotic and attracting such a massive commotion?"
As Gu Changsheng performed calculations with his fingers, wisps of profound black light flashed. He tried to predict Ye Kunlun's destiny, but it was a complete mess.
Moreover, as he calculated, his complexion grew paler.
"Hmm?!"
Gu Changsheng's expression changed drastically as a bolt of lightning struck directly towards him.
With a wave of his hand, he dispersed the lightning.
"This brat truly has a destiny that is impossible to fathom!" Gu Changsheng whispered in a deep voice. "It is just unknown whether this poison will have any effect on him!"
A hint of hesitation flickered in Gu Changsheng's eyes. If Ye Kunlun was indeed poisoned, then now would be the best time to make a move.
"Master," Nangong Yunshao spoke.
"Yes?" Gu Changsheng looked at his beloved disciple. "Yunshao, is there something else?"
"I am feeling unwell, so I shall withdraw for now!" Nangong Yunshao replied.
"Yes, go," Gu Changsheng waved his hand.
After Nangong Yunshao left, Gu Changsheng suppressed the hesitation in his eyes and decided to wait and see.
If the poison truly took effect, he would find another opportunity to act.
If the poison did not work, even if Ye Kunlun suspected him, he would need solid evidence!
Shan He Tai.
"Yuwen, what is happening outside?" The voice of Emperor Sage resonated from the great hall.
Eunuch Yuwen, who was in the shadows, respectfully replied, "My lord, it is merely a few bolts of lightning. You need not concern yourself."
"These few bolts of lightning... When was the last time?"
"Replying to my lord, according to the records of Shan He Tai, it was one hundred and sixty years ago."
Eunuch Yuwen replied.
"Mm, you may rest."
—
Imprisonment Hell.
Within Ye Kunlun's consciousness, the condensed star sword pointed towards the boundless, vast firmament.
His eyes, like the brightest stars in this world, he softly uttered, "Star River, Slash!"
The name of the sword was Star River!