The sky underwent a transformation.
The demonic energy that had surged into the heavens, after circulating once, returned to Si Qing's body.
It wasn't until half an hour later that everything finally calmed down.
"Si Qing!" Yue Zhiyin shouted his name, shielding himself from the intense demonic aura.
Si Qing cast a cold glance at him, then suddenly raised his hand, pushing the now blackened Yan Zhen Mirror high into the sky.
The Yan Zhen Mirror ascended higher and higher, eventually reaching the heavens and transforming into a black vortex.
Immediately, the spiritual energy of the surrounding flora and fauna was sucked into the black vortex.
The plants and trees, devoid of their spiritual power, withered, turned black and white, and finally disintegrated into dust.
Beyond the flora and fauna, all living beings that had been blessed by Qi Yu's primordial spirit's spiritual energy had their inner spiritual energy also sucked into the black vortex.
Ming Lou's expression changed instantly: "Si Qing, what are you doing?! You can't do this. If you absorb all this power, what will happen to these lives?"
"What do their lives have to do with me?" Si Qing lowered his gaze, staring at him coldly. "My sister saved so many people in her life, yet she received no good fortune. In that case, why should these wretches enjoy her spiritual energy?"
As he spoke, he gripped his flaming spear and fiercely struck the ground.
In an instant, the seas churned, thunder roared, and spiritual energy from all directions was forcefully drawn into the black vortex.
Human villages erupted in screams and cries of terror.
Those who had been revived from curses by Qi Yu's spiritual energy, now, having lost the spiritual artifacts bestowed by Qi Yu, turned into withered skeletons.
Yue Zhiyin knew he, as the Heavenly Emperor, should intervene, but seeing Si Qing's grief-stricken face, coupled with the memory of Qi Yu's smile, he found himself unable to act.
Everyone seemed to tacitly accept Si Qing's cruel actions.
Si Qing gazed at the black vortex in the sky for a long moment, then suddenly flicked his sleeve and ascended to the Ninth Heaven.
He drove away all the high immortals and gods, remaining alone outside the Southern Heavenly Gate, observing the spiritual energy absorbed by the black vortex. He gathered all that energy into his palm, watching it condense bit by bit, eventually forming a human shape.
At this moment, the gathered spiritual energy condensed into nothing more than a phantom of Qi Yu.
Si Qing knelt there, his face filled with sorrow, reaching out to touch, but unable to grasp.
In the mortal realm, Yue Zhiyin watched the disheveled high immortals and gods. Since they wished to lodge a complaint, he placidly soothed them, "Si Qing has fallen into demonic ways; this is a grave matter. You have all suffered injustice."
The high immortals and gods rose from the ground, chattering amongst themselves, accusing Si Qing of his transgression in expelling them from the Ninth Heaven and demanding that Yue Zhiyin ascend to the Ninth Heaven to seek justice for them.
Yue Zhiyin looked at the arguing immortals and gods, his expression weary, and rubbed his temples. Finally, he spoke to them:
"To be frank, I am no match for Si Qing at present. His current power is only comparable to Lord Yan Hua's. Furthermore, he is currently absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, so even Lord Yan Hua might not be able to defeat him. If any of you immortals have other ideas, or truly wish to seek justice, I do not object to you all attacking him together. If you can defeat him, the position of Heavenly Emperor will be yours. If you dare not step forward, then remain silent."
Upon hearing this, the high immortals and gods were silenced for a long time, and finally closed their mouths.
However, some high gods remained unwilling and ventured to suggest to Yue Zhiyin: "Your Majesty, this cannot go on forever. In my humble opinion, why don't you, along with the clan leaders and Lord Yan Hua, join forces to attack the Ninth Heaven? This way, we should be able to defeat that demonic fiend Si Qing."
Yue Zhiyin pointed to the black vortex above the sky: "Do you see that? It is absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. What does absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth mean? It means it is absorbing the spiritual energy of all life in the Three Realms."
"Let me put it this way: if you go near it, and Si Qing shifts his magic, that vortex can instantly turn you into dust, and you won't even have a soul left."
"It's not just you who will suffer this fate; all living creatures in this world will, including Lord Yan Hua."
Yue Zhiyin, already conflicted by this matter, became exasperated by the urgings of these high immortals and gods.
"If any of you feel you have lived long enough and wish to be absorbed by this vortex, then go ahead. Whoever wins, the position of Heavenly Emperor will be theirs."
At this, all the high gods and immortals fell silent.
Chen Xi found the group of people standing there an eyesore, so he promptly drove away all the gods and immortals who had descended from the Ninth Heaven to the South Sea and North Sea. This way, while they were staying there, they could also help guard the four seas.
Annuo watched everyone bustling about, her heart aching as she thought of Qi Yu and Si Qing, who had fallen into demonic ways on the Ninth Heaven. Her sorrow grew intense, and finally, while no one was paying attention, she secretly visited the Underworld again. She found the Judge and, with a choked voice, asked him:
"If the Heavenly Dao of Er has vanished, is it truly impossible to reincarnate? Is there any way for me to see my daughter? I am willing to exchange my life!"