Swallowed Star: Lord of the Wolf

"Merit is merit, and fault is fault," said Le Yinshen unhurriedly. "I remember during the last round of the 'Bone-Corroding Secret Realm' competition, you, Hun Yinshen, secretly sent someone to make a deal with the Holy Radiance Palace, exchanging information about one of my fortresses in Xiuyuan for three 'Soul-Purifying Heavenly Crystals'... You haven't forgotten about that, have you?"

The gray fog suddenly stopped.

The indistinct face of the Soul Yin God seemed to become clear for a moment—it was an extremely gloomy face.

"You... already knew?" His voice finally lost its gentleness, becoming hoarse and dangerous.

"If you don't want anyone to know, then don't do it in the first place." Le Yinshen picked up a wine cup carved from white bones and took a small sip. "I didn't react then because I was considering the bigger picture. But now that we're talking about share... shouldn't we settle this old score too?"

The atmosphere suddenly became tense and hostile.

Seeing this, the Blood-Burning Yin God not only didn't try to stop him, but instead grinned and laughed: "Hahaha, interesting! You two continue! I love watching this show!"

He even pulled out a piece of bloody jerky from somewhere and started chewing on it, looking like he was watching a show.

Bai Yu sat quietly, her gaze shifting between the three sides.

He was no stranger to this kind of negotiation scene—a naked exchange and game of interests between the powerful. He just didn't expect Le Yinshen to reveal his hand so directly.

“Okay…okay…” The gray mist of the Soul Yin God slowly calmed down. “How much do you want to add?” He knew he was in the wrong and could no longer refuse.

“One-tenth.” Le Yinshen held up five fingers. “From now on, my Xiuyuan will also take forty percent.”

"So you want me to give up 10%?" The Soul God's tone was icy.

"good."

"On what grounds?" A suppressed growl came from the gray mist. "Just because you have a new Palace Master? Although Bai Yu is a Yin Heaven God, he has only recently broken through! It's still unknown how much of a role he can play against the veteran powerhouses of the Holy Radiance Palace!"

When his own interests were at stake, Hun Yin Shen no longer held back and addressed Bai Yu by his given name.

"Leyin, are you trying to force me to lose my temper?!"

A strange and powerful mental pressure surged toward the Abyss like a tide, carrying with it negative emotions such as fear, despair, and sorrow. Countless distorted phantom faces vaguely appeared above the Three Abyss Platform, emitting silent shrieks!

The faces of the withered old man and the other stewards of the Decaying Abyss paled slightly, and they subconsciously took a half step back—this kind of attack targeting the soul is the most difficult to defend against.

But just as this mental pressure was about to touch the God of Music—

hum!
A pure black barrier silently unfolded, blocking the way for the people of Xiuyuan!

It's white jade!
He remained seated, only the black singularity mark between his brows glowed slightly. The black barrier was not substantial, but rather formed from pure Devouring Laws, resembling an invisible, gaping maw of abyss.

He possessed the mental fortitude of a second-level God-King, and this level of mental pressure was not enough to make him change color.

A bizarre scene unfolded—

The spiritual pressure released by the Soul Yin God, the distorted phantom faces, and even the various negative emotions contained within them... were all rapidly swallowed up and dissolved the moment they came into contact with the black barrier, as if they were mud oxen entering the sea.

Ripples spread across the surface of the barrier, like pebbles thrown into water.

But all the "pebbles"... sank to the bottom.

"What?!" Soul Yin God's pupils shrank sharply.

Although he didn't use his full power in his Seven Emotions Illusionary Soul Technique, he still used about five-tenths of his strength! Even an ordinary Yin Heaven God would have to put in some effort to neutralize such a direct attack on the soul, but this newcomer... actually swallowed it so easily?!

Even Le Yinshen's eyes flashed with surprise—he knew that Bai Yu's Devouring Dao was extraordinary, but he did not expect it to be able to restrain Hun Yinshen's methods so well.

Burning Blood stopped chewing the jerky, his dark golden pupils showing even greater interest: "Interesting...really interesting..."

The face of the Soul Yin God turned completely gloomy.

He realized he had underestimated the white jade.

"Good tactic." The voice from within the gray fog was icy and chilling. "But defense alone isn't enough—"

Before the words were even finished, the gray fog suddenly exploded!

Transformed into countless fine gray threads, as thin as hair!

These threads are not physical entities, but are formed from pure spiritual power and the power of the seven emotions. Each thread contains a terrifying corrosive force that is enough to cause the soul of a Chaos God to collapse!
Hundreds of millions!
Like a waterfall, it cascaded down onto the white jade!
This attack... was serious.

But Bai Yu still did not get up.

He even closed his eyes.

The black singularity between his brows suddenly spun, and a much deeper black vortex expanded outward from him, with a clear halo faintly visible flowing around its edge—that was the will of a second-level God King interfering with reality!

Seven Emotions Devouring Realm Prototype: Soul Devouring Vortex!

This is not pure defense... but rather active absorption.

After the gray thread entered the range of the black vortex, its speed suddenly slowed down, as if it had sunk into a sticky swamp.

Immediately afterwards——

sizzle...

A sickening melting sound rang out.

One by one, the gray threads were swallowed, broken down, and transformed by the vortex. With each thread swallowed, the color of the black vortex dimmed a little...

In just three breaths.

Ten percent of the gray threads disappeared, and the black vortex also trembled slightly.

The Sanyuan Terrace was deathly silent.

Even the audience member, Fenxue, put down his dried meat.

The old man and the others were dumbfounded—they knew the new temple master was the Yin Tian God… but could a newly promoted one be this strong?!
They met the full force of the Yin Spirit's attack head-on, and neither gained the upper hand.

This doesn't seem like something a newly ascended Yin God could do! It's clearly something only an ancient monster, someone who has immersed himself in this path for countless eons, could accomplish!
At this moment, the smile on Le Yinshen's face was almost overflowing—Bai Yu's performance far exceeded his expectations.

A 'click' sound.

The gray silk broke free from the vortex, and the gray mist of the Soul Yin God re-condensed into human form.

But he remained silent for a very long time.

Those gray, swirling eyes were fixed on Bai Yu, as if trying to see right through him.

finally--

"...35 percent."

His hoarse voice broke the silence.

Le Yinshen raised an eyebrow: "Hmm?"

"You, Xiuyuan, own 35%." Hunyinshen's tone was filled with resentment. "I'll concede 50%. This is my bottom line." He lowered his stake from 30% to 25%... with one addition and one subtraction, the other party now had a 10% larger share. This was already the maximum concession he could make in the face of Baiyu's displayed strength.

Upon hearing this, Yueyin Shen laughed: "Brother Hun, why didn't you say so earlier? Why did you have to test me?"

He raised his wine cup and gestured to the Soul Yin God: "Then it's settled—Brother Burning Blood's 40% remains unchanged, I, Decaying Abyss, will get 35% and Heart Prison 25%."

Only then did Fenxue slowly speak: "Tsk tsk tsk... I've finished watching my show. Let's settle it then!"

He made the final decision: "One piece of white jade is worth 10%... It's a good deal! Hahahaha!"

The gray mist of the Soul Yin God lingered on the Three Abyss Platform for a moment before finally letting out a cold snort of ambiguity.

"Leyin, are you satisfied now?"

He didn't continue his outburst, but his voice from the gray mist grew colder: "If that's the case, then so be it. I hope your new temple master... won't disappoint me."

These words no longer sounded as venomous as before; instead, they were more like a businesslike reminder. At their level, while they might be annoyed by the loss of their interests, they wouldn't truly disregard the bigger picture—with external enemies at hand, if internal relations were to truly break down, no one would benefit.

"Rest assured, Brother Soul." Yue Yinshen smiled and nodded. "Palace Master Baiyu will never let our allies down."

The gray fog did not respond further, but slowly rose up, enveloping the people of Heart Prison and quietly dissipating into the sky.

Seeing this, the Blood-Burning Yin God also stood up and patted his armor: "Alright! The show's over, I'm leaving too! Remember, keep an eye on those bastards' movements."

The three Molten Sea Warriors behind him roared in unison, and amidst the surging blood clouds, they transformed into a crimson rainbow and soared into the sky.

Only Xiuyuan and his group remained on the Sanyuan Platform.

Le Yinshen did not leave immediately. He raised his hand, signaling the withered old man and the others to wait in the distance, while he turned to look at Bai Yu, his face showing undisguised approval.

"You did very well just now." His voice was gentle. "You showed your strength to intimidate Old Ghost Hun without pushing him too far and causing a deadly fight... You got the balance just right."

Bai Yu calmly replied, "You flatter me, Palace Master. I was merely acting in accordance with reason."

“Act according to reason.” Le Yin Shen pondered these four words, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes. “It seems you are not the kind of reckless man who blindly worships violence…that’s good. To establish a long-term foothold, strength alone is not enough; one must also know how to advance and retreat and weigh the pros and cons.”

He paused, then with a flick of his sleeve—two chairs carved from bones appeared beside the throne of bones: "Sit."

The two sat opposite each other.

Le Yinshen reached out and made a gesture in the void—a fist-sized, jet-black crystal appeared out of thin air. Liquid energy seemed to flow slowly within the crystal, emanating an indescribable, mellow aura.

“This item is called ‘Demon Source Crystal’.” Le Yinshen handed it to Bai Yu. “It is formed from the essence that has been condensed for ten thousand years deep in the Demon Source Ancient Well. Only a dozen or so can be produced every ten thousand years… and the pure demonic energy and fragments of the original laws contained in this one are enough to provide ten percent of the help when a peak Chaos God breaks through to the Yin Heaven God realm.”

Bai Yu took the crystal; it felt cold and heavy in his hand.

He could clearly sense the immense energy contained within it—it was not simply chaotic magic or cosmic source power, but a more refined and strange power that seemed to contain some primordial rules from the beginning of time.

"This is the resource produced by the Ancient Well of Demonic Origin?"

“More than that.” Le Yinshen shook his head. “The most precious thing about the Demon Source Ancient Well is the ‘Demonic Qi’ that flows out from its depths. Long-term use of Demonic Qi for cultivation can subtly improve one’s physique and enhance one’s affinity for the laws of the Great Dao. These ‘Demonic Crystals’ are formed from the essence that has escaped from the well and are slightly inferior to the Demonic Qi.”

He looked at the crystal in Bai Yu's hand: "This time we got an extra half-percent share, which means we can get one more crystal like this every ten thousand years, plus ten directional source demonic energy."

"Then the extra 10% share..." Bai Yu wasn't stupid, and asked, raising his eyes.

The God of Joy smiled: "Naturally, it will all belong to you."

He said seriously, “The rules of our Xiuyuan are always clear—whoever brings benefits has the right to share them. Your joining Xiuyuan has given us an extra half-percent share, plus what I originally prepared for you... So all the resources corresponding to this one-percent share are at your disposal.”

"All of them?" Bai Yu was slightly taken aback.

“All of them,” Le Yin Shen affirmed. “Two Demon Source Crystals and twenty units of Demonic Qi every ten thousand years. These resources are enough for you to temper your divine body and stabilize your realm… After all, although the Devouring Path is powerful, it also places a great burden on the physical body. Without sufficient resources to support it, it will become a hindrance.”

I see……

Bai Yu suddenly realized.

The God of Joyful Yin was paving the way for him—using tangible benefits to firmly bind him to the Abyss of Decay, while simultaneously solidifying his foundation.

That's quite a large sum.

"Thank you, Palace Master," Bai Yu said solemnly. This gratitude was heartfelt—regardless of the other party's motives, the benefits offered were genuine.

Le Yinshen waved his hand: "No need to be polite. Your strength is the strength of Xiuyuan. I will give you some resources in advance so you can use them to temper your body. Judging from what Fenxue said, a battle could break out at any time. That's the key. You must achieve a resounding victory to truly secure your position as the outer hall master and leave Hun Laogui and Fenxue speechless."

He paused, his expression turning slightly serious: "The Myriad Transformations Sword Sect and the Holy Radiance Palace are forces no less powerful than those of our Myriad Demons Continent, and should not be underestimated."

"I'll be careful." Bai Yu put away the magic crystal and asked, "Are there any special rules or restrictions?"

"There's only one rule for this three-way joint operation—" A cold glint flashed in Yue Yinshen's eyes, "Never hold back."

His voice was soft but carried a chilling killing intent: "Since the Myriad Transformations Sword Sect and the Holy Radiance Palace dare to probe our territory, they should be prepared to have their claws chopped off. Killing their powerful members will not only deter external enemies but also build your reputation and establish your prestige within our three factions."

Bai Yu nodded and asked no more questions.

A world where strength reigns supreme is inherently bloody and cruel.

The two talked for a while longer, mainly focusing on the terrain of the Tianji Mountain Range and the Shenxing Sea, possible changes in the battle situation, and the methods commonly used by the Wanhua Sword Sect and the Shenghui Palace.

The old man and the others waited respectfully in the distance, not daring to disturb them.

About half an hour later—

"It's time to go back." Le Yinshen stood up, waved his sleeve, and the bone staircase reappeared. "Take these resources, about a million years' worth. Prepare well. If you can refine them completely, it will greatly benefit your strength."

The group returned to the bottom of the Abyss of Corruption by climbing the stairs.

……

On the distant northern shore of the Sea of ​​Sinking Stars.

In a makeshift camp, two elderly men with white hair and beards, each carrying a long sword, sat facing each other.

It was Qingmingzi and Xuanyingzi from the Myriad Transformations Sword Sect.

Suddenly, Qingmingzi frowned and raised his hand, making a sweeping motion in the air—

A water mirror appears.

Three figures shrouded in soft white light faced two elderly men carrying long swords across the distance.

The white-clad figure, leading the group, spoke in a gentle yet naturally authoritative voice: "Qingmingzi, Fellow Daoist Xuanyingzi, we are contacting you to confirm your sect's stance on the 'Purification Plan'."

Qingmingzi cupped his hands and said, "Palace Master Huiguang, rest assured, my Myriad Transformations Sword Sect and the Holy Radiance Palace both belong to the Light faction, and we should naturally uphold the intention to purify such a filthy and chaotic place. However..."

He paused, then continued, "The three factions on the Demon Continent have been entrenched for a long time. The Soul Yin God, the Joyful Yin God, and the Blood-Burning Yin God are all veteran powerhouses with long-established reputations. If we act rashly, the losses could be considerable." (End of Chapter)