Ye Ling looked at the agitated Bai Ling with a calm expression and said lightly, "Are you the Sect Master of the Qing Yue Sect?"
Bai Ling's face darkened. "Indeed! This Tian Ren City is our Qing Yue Sect's territory. You killed our Tian Ren City Lord, then our Qing Yue envoy, and now you remain so nonchalant?"
Ye Ling raised an eyebrow. "So what? Are you here to cause trouble for me? I happen to be free right now and am happy to oblige!"
"I..." Provoked by Ye Ling, Bai Ling suddenly deflated like a wilted eggplant, her imposing aura vanishing completely.
She had witnessed the barrier Ye Ling had constructed. For a mere Tian Ren City and an outer sect elder, it was truly not worth falling out with a powerful individual like Ye Ling.
With this thought, Bai Ling forced herself to calm down and said to Ye Ling, "You've misunderstood. I'm not here to cause trouble."
Ye Ling continued, "Then why are you here? Let me tell you beforehand, all the profits from the Tian Ren City auction have nothing to do with your Qing Yue Sect."
Bai Ling replied, "Our Qing Yue Sect isn't short of that little bit of money. I'm here this time to confirm some matters and to seek cooperation with you!"
"Three months ago, a celestial phenomenon appeared in the Luo Yun Mountain Range, and subsequently, all demon beasts above the Demon King level within the entire mountain range disappeared. I want to know if these events have anything to do with you."
Ye Ling smiled and replied, "What if it has something to do with me? What if it doesn't? Am I obligated to tell you these things?"
Bai Ling said, "Don't be too arrogant. I've come here with good intentions to tell you that Tian Ren City is now the center of all the storms. Ancestors of the prominent forces in Ling Zhou will be coming to Tian Ren City. They claim to be attending the auction, but in reality, they are here to investigate the matters of the Luo Yun Mountain Range!"
"I don't care how strong you are. If there's anything you're hiding, please tell me quickly. That way, our Qing Yue Sect can still save your life!"
Hearing Bai Ling's confident words, Ye Ling couldn't help but laugh.
He looked at the self-assured Bai Ling playfully. "With a Sect Master like you, who can't even break my barrier, the Qing Yue Sect still has the audacity to talk about saving my life?"
"Don't underestimate our Qing Yue Sect!" Bai Ling glared at Ye Ling, her voice sharp.
Ye Ling didn't want to waste any more time with Bai Ling. He waved his hand. "Never mind. Seeing as you came without ill intentions this time, I'll spare your life and that of your Qing Yue Sect. You should go back now and not disturb my cultivation."
Seeing Ye Ling dismiss her so casually, Bai Ling felt even more displeased. She said coldly to Ye Ling, "You arrogant fool, when you are swallowed by the ominous power from the darkness, you will regret your actions today!"
Bai Ling spoke her piece, turned, and tore open space, stepping into it.
"Wait!"
Ye Ling suddenly called out to Bai Ling and asked, "You mentioned darkness just now?"
Seeing Ye Ling call her back, Bai Ling became even more haughty. Without looking back, she said, "It's too late for you to beg me now. Bye-bye!"
As Bai Ling spoke, she directly stepped into the space she had torn open. However, before she could teleport away, she felt a powerful suction force from behind her, pulling her out!
The cracked space quickly closed, and a barrier rose again around the Tian Ren Tower, completely trapping Bai Ling.
Seeing the barrier rise around her, Bai Ling instantly became nervous. She looked at Ye Ling with considerable fear. "Wh-what do you want? I'm warning you! I am the Sect Master of the Qing Yue Sect. If you dare to touch me, the Qing Yue Sect will be your sworn enemy!"
Ye Ling ignored Bai Ling's threat and asked her, "What is this darkness you mentioned? Explain it to me properly."
Bai Ling: "With your attitude, why should I..."
*Ching!*
Mid-sentence, Ye Ling casually flicked out a spiritual blade. It grazed past Bai Ling's ear, directly slicing the ground behind her in half.
Bai Ling froze on the spot!
She could feel that if the spiritual blade that had just passed her ear had been aimed directly at her forehead, she would be dead by now!
This great demon... was not on the same level as her at all!
Bai Ling looked at Ye Ling in horror and stammered, "Are you... are you from the heavens?"
The Nine Heavens Realm was divided into nine layers, and with each ascending layer, the power of the cultivators within also increased!
Bai Ling, being a Half-step Supreme, was already considered a top-tier figure in the first layer. There were virtually no individuals who could instantly kill her!
And the strength Ye Ling had displayed, in Bai Ling's understanding, could only be achieved by cultivators from the second layer or above!
Ye Ling said lightly, "Don't worry about where I'm from. Explain the darkness you mentioned properly, or the next spiritual blade I throw won't miss."
Hearing Ye Ling's threat, Bai Ling couldn't hold back any longer and quickly said, "I'll tell you, I'll tell you! Just don't act rashly!"
"Alright!"
Ye Ling smiled, conjured a chair with spiritual energy, and sat down with his legs crossed, gesturing to the somewhat flustered Bai Ling. "Speak, I'm listening."
Bai Ling looked at Ye Ling, who had a faint smile on his face, and couldn't help but swallow. She then explained, "The darkness I speak of is the ominous power that is secretly eroding this world."
"Ominous power?" Ye Ling raised an eyebrow.
Bai Ling nodded slightly and continued, "Yes... that's what we call it. It's a power that emits black energy, is extremely cold and evil, and can corrupt hearts, controlling anyone."
"Wherever the ominous power erodes, all life disappears without a trace, which is very bizarre."
"Previously, the ominous power only appeared at the edges of the continent and did not affect our Ling Zhou. However, recently, the ominous power has begun to appear in our Ling Zhou, and many sects have been eroded by it."
"And the disappearance of the Demon Kings in the Luo Yun Mountain Range, I suspect it's related to this ominous power that is eroding Ling Zhou."
Hearing Bai Ling's words, Ye Ling's brow furrowed slightly.
According to Bai Ling's description, this so-called ominous power was the dark force that had devoured the river of time.
At that time, the World-Destroying Spiritual Fire self-destructed, destroying all space-time, and he was also swept into this era of the Nine Heavens Realm...
It seemed that the Seven Star Pillars had also been swept into the Nine Heavens Realm, and into an even more ancient era.
Ye Ling murmured, "This must be the work of the Seven Star Pillars. Are they trying to erode the Nine Heavens Realm as well?"
Hearing Ye Ling's mumble, Bai Ling couldn't help but ask, "What are the Seven Star Pillars?"
Ye Ling snapped back to attention and said to Bai Ling, "It's nothing. Continue with your topic."
"Why did you say I would be swallowed by the darkness? And how can your Qing Yue Sect save my life?"
Bai Ling pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, and then replied, "I've investigated before. The Ancestor Yue Lun of the Moon Wheel Sacred Land is likely the mastermind behind the erosion of Ling Zhou by the ominous power."
"He is coming to Tian Ren City to attend the auction, which clearly shows he has malicious intentions!"