West of Beast Continent lay Wu Continent.
Wu Continent was a vast state where numerous sorcerers congregated. Most cultivators within its borders practiced Gu arts and curses, specializing in killing with hexes, making them exceptionally formidable.
Cultivators from other major states generally wished to avoid any association with Wu Continent, fearing they might one day be cursed and suffer a fate worse than death.
Within Wu Continent, there were three supreme-level sorcerers, each the pinnacle of their art. They had each established their own factions, and the sects and forces under their command had largely carved up Wu Continent's land and resources.
The three major powers – Wu Palace, Myriad Poisons Sect, and Soul Snatching Sect – formed a tripartite balance of power in Wu Continent.
Ju Ye Tian Jun was one of those three top sorcerers. The Wu Palace under his command was also the largest sect in Wu Continent. Although it couldn't annex the other two, Wu Palace's strength consistently surpassed the other two sorcerer sects, making it the overt leader of Wu Continent.
Recently, internal strife had erupted within the Myriad Poisons Sect. Wu Palace seized this opportunity to launch a large-scale assault on the Soul Snatching Sect. Unable to resist alone, the Soul Snatching Sect could only retreat, losing a significant amount of resources to Wu Palace.
Under these circumstances, as the Soul Snatching Sect and Myriad Poisons Sect weakened, Wu Palace's influence grew. Ju Ye Tian Jun showed signs of unifying Wu Continent.
Once Ju Ye Tian Jun consolidated the entire Wu Continent, it was likely that the Dao Sect of Dao Continent and the Myriad Beasts Sect of Beast Continent would also fall into his grasp.
It would merely be a matter of time.
Wu Palace mountain gate, Tian Zhou Mountain.
The Heart Nurturing Hall.
Ju Ye Tian Jun sat in meditation within the grand hall, cultivating his mind and body.
Having reached the supreme realm, further cultivation held no meaning for Ju Ye Tian Jun unless it involved obtaining the Seed of Origin.
Therefore, besides practicing his sorcery, Ju Ye Tian Jun spent his days invading the Myriad Poisons Sect and Soul Snatching Sect, using warfare to pass the time.
Beyond that, he had nothing else to do.
"Palace Master!"
At that moment, a man in black appeared in the hall and knelt before Ju Ye Tian Jun, speaking rapidly, "Palace disciples intercepted a group of Soul Snatching Sect disciples and captured a prisoner."
"A mere prisoner, what is there worth reporting?" Ju Ye Tian Jun asked indifferently, without even opening his eyes.
"Reporting to the Palace Master, the prisoner's identity is unusual. He claims to be a guardian of the Primordial Spirit Fire." the man in black replied.
"Guardian of the Primordial Spirit Fire? What sort of nonsense is that? I've never even heard of it." Ju Ye Tian Jun's tone carried a hint of impatience. "Xiang Yue, have you now descended to reporting every trivial matter to me?"
Xiang Yue trembled slightly and quickly explained, "Palace Master, I also thought the prisoner was talking nonsense. However, despite having lost all his cultivation, he still killed over a dozen of our Chaos Overlords and Great Dao Immortal Lords using only his physical strength, and even shattered the Dao Heart of a Creation God."
"It took me all my might, using a sneak attack, to subdue him."
"Oh?"
Upon hearing Xiang Yue's words, Ju Ye Tian Jun's interest was piqued. He opened his eyes slightly and asked Xiang Yue, "Are you certain that prisoner shattered a Dao Heart solely through his physical body?"
"Absolutely certain!" Xiang Yue replied respectfully. "That prisoner is no ordinary person!"
"Furthermore, the spirit fire he guards does indeed contain the aura of the Seed of Origin! It was precisely because I discovered this that I immediately came to report to the Palace Master!"
"Such a thing exists in this world..."
Upon hearing about the Seed of Origin, Ju Ye Tian Jun could no longer remain seated. He immediately stood up and said to Xiang Yue, "Where is that prisoner? Quickly, take me to see him!"
"Yes!!!"
...
At the same time.
Wu Palace, the water prison.
Ye Ling, covered in wounds, was imprisoned in a pool of water. His limbs were bound by chains inscribed with curse seals, and over ten layers of restrictions were placed around him, all to prevent his escape.
Even the prison guards watching Ye Ling outside the water prison were at the Great Dao Immortal Lord level.
It could be said that Ye Ling was receiving the highest level of treatment from Wu Palace.
Ye Ling slowly woke up and, seeing the seals around him, couldn't help but say, "These fellows are truly ruthless... What grudge do they have against me to go to such lengths?"
With that, Ye Ling began to look around, surveying the environment of the water prison.
"Useless trash, what are you looking at?"
The prison guard outside the water prison saw Ye Ling wake up, immediately kicked the cell twice, and cursed at Ye Ling.
Hearing the prison guard's angry curses from outside the water prison, Ye Ling looked up at the arrogant prison guard outside the cell and gathered his emotions.
*Splash!*
Ye Ling began to violently tug at his chains and roared at the prison guard outside the cage, "You scoundrels, how dare you imprison me here! When my master arrives, he will slaughter you all!"
"You're just a drowning dog now, only capable of barking with your mouth." The prison guard outside the water prison taunted Ye Ling with a playful expression, showing no concern that Ye Ling might break free from the water prison.
"Listen up, trash. No matter how glorious you were outside, here, I am your grandfather."
"You are courting death!"
Seeing the prison guard's smug demeanor, Ye Ling immediately roared!
*Bang!!!*
The World Annihilation Spirit Fire ignited around his body. Ye Ling directly broke free from his chains, burst through the cage, and stomped the taunting prison guard to the ground.
The other prison guard, who had been watching the scene with complacency, was completely stunned when Ye Ling escaped the water prison. He was so scared that he fell to the ground, his mind going blank.
"Big... Big Brother! I was wrong! Spare me!"
The prison guard whose chest Ye Ling was stepping on instantly cowered and began to beg Ye Ling for mercy.
"I was just joking with you, Big Brother! I am the real trash, and you are my grandfather! Please be magnanimous and let me go!"
The prison guard frantically begged Ye Ling, regretting to the extreme that he had provoked Ye Ling.
Ye Ling stood on the prison guard's chest, his palm swirling with the World Annihilation Spirit Fire, and sneered at the prison guard, "Kid, you know regret now?"
"Regret! I regret it immensely! Big Brother, I was wrong! Please treat me like a fart and let me go!" The prison guard cried out, "Big Brother, I truly was wrong!"
"Unfortunately, there is no medicine for regret in this world." Ye Ling sneered. "Therefore, you shall become food for my Primordial Spirit Fire!"
With that, Ye Ling directly consumed the prison guard under his feet with the World Annihilation Spirit Fire, right in front of the other prison guard.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
The scorching flames evaporated the water in the water prison, and the prison guard under Ye Ling's feet let out a piercing scream.
The other prison guard, who witnessed everything, was completely petrified by the scene!
That was a Great Dao Immortal Lord... and he was just consumed by flames?
The surviving prison guard's mind ceased to function.
"Your turn!"
After consuming the prison guard who had provoked him with the World Annihilation Spirit Fire, Ye Ling turned his gaze to the other prison guard and approached him, wielding the World Annihilation Spirit Fire.
However, before Ye Ling could make a move on that prison guard, an extremely powerful pressure emanated from outside the water prison.
"Hmph! With your meager tricks, you dare to act presumptuously in my Wu Palace?" Ju Ye Tian Jun's cold roar echoed from outside the water prison, and Ye Ling was directly forced back into the water prison by the pressure.
The chains he had finally broken free from once again bound him!
"Who?"
Ye Ling roared towards the outside of the water prison, while simultaneously transmitting a message to the World Annihilation Spirit Fire, "World Annihilation Spirit Fire, the bait has taken the hook. You must perform well and absolutely do not reveal yourself!"
"Don't worry, I'm experienced now. Leave it to me!"
The World Annihilation Spirit Fire smiled at Ye Ling, then took a deep breath, secretly hypnotizing itself into believing it was the Primordial Spirit Fire, and began to breathe deeply.
The current situation couldn't possibly be worse than when it fell into Ji Ning's hands.
Back then, in Ji Ning's possession, it was truly a case of crying out to heaven and earth with no response.
Now, it at least had a trump card to resist.
Soon, Ju Ye Tian Jun and Xiang Yue walked into the water prison. The surviving prison guard was overjoyed and quickly knelt and bowed, "Greetings, Palace Master, Third Elder!"
Ju Ye Tian Jun ignored the prison guard, surveyed Ye Ling and the World Annihilation Spirit Fire hidden within Ye Ling, narrowed his eyes slightly, and said sternly, "Kid, your methods are strange. Who is your master?"
Ye Ling glared at Ju Ye Tian Jun, acting like a reckless youth, and shouted, "I have no name to change and no surname to forsake. I am Wang Liren, a descendant of the Wang family! I don't care who you are, release me quickly! Otherwise, when my master arrives, he will surely make you suffer a terrible death!"
"You've got a tough mouth, kid!"
Seeing Ye Ling's fearless demeanor, Ju Ye Tian Jun couldn't help but sneer, "You've killed so many of my Wu Palace people for no reason. Even if your master comes, he won't be able to take you away without an explanation!"
Ye Ling said, "You can try! When my master returns from the Primordial Lower Realm, I'd like to see if your Wu Palace can withstand my master's wrath!"
"Return from the Primordial Lower Realm?"
Upon hearing Ye Ling's words, Ju Ye Tian Jun's heart skipped a beat. His expression changed slightly, and he then asked Ye Ling, "Is your master conquering the Primordial Lower Realm?"