Ye Yun had always harbored a complex mix of respect and fear towards these figures, like living fossils.
These individuals, due to their nature, could cause immense upheaval to humanity on the current Blue Star. Although Heaven's Will could slowly alter human perceptions of non-human beings, it had not yet become widespread.
Furthermore, given their personalities, they would never be content with being subordinate. They would undoubtedly introduce significant variables into Ye Yun's plans. Therefore, Ye Yun had decided to keep them in the Demon Realm, effectively exiling them.
"Master!"
The mark entered the minds of the three, and they immediately scrambled to their feet, kneeling before Ye Yun.
"Speak!"
"Yes! We primarily returned to submit the energy crystals harvested last time. However, before we departed, Zhao Youqin stopped us. He asked us to… test the Master's strength."
The three lowered their heads, not daring to look at Ye Yun.
"If my strength proves to be merely ordinary, would he then plan to return to Blue Star in full force and control the entire planet?" Ye Yun asked Zhang Junbao, his expression calm.
As the former ancestor of the Southern Sect, Ye Yun had long known that this old fellow would not settle for the status quo. Moreover, Zhao Youqin might not have the audacity for such a plan; Zhang Boduan was likely behind him!
"Master's calculations are divine!" Zhang Junbao felt a tremor run through him and quickly prostrated himself on the ground.
"Old Zhang, I sent you there to supervise, and yet you went and joined the Southern Sect! Hand over the energy crystals to Liu Dahai and get out!" Ye Yun waved his hand lightly, and his entire form vanished. However, a streak of grey light pierced the sky, and under Ye Yun's spiritual guidance, it shot directly into the Demon Cave.
A few minutes later, in the Demon Realm, a dark figure halted above a black sea. Suddenly, its body trembled, stirring up colossal black waves.
"As per the Master's orders!"
The transparent wings on the black figure's back vibrated slightly, and it instantly vanished from its original position, reappearing a hundred miles away.
At the spatial rift, beside a river tens of meters wide, atop an earthen city wall a hundred zhang high, an elder with flowing white hair sat, holding a special fishing rod, his mind wandering.
"Master, it's been ten hours. According to our agreed time, they should have returned," a figure standing behind the white-haired elder said softly, staring at the river's surface.
"Hush, the fish is about to bite…"
The white-haired elder turned, looking at him and shaking his head. Silence fell once more upon the entire city wall.
After a long while…
"Youqin, do you think if I hadn't come to the Demon Realm back then, what would our Southern Sect be like now?" the white-haired elder suddenly broke the silence, asking Zhao Youqin with his back to him.
Zhao Youqin did not reply. He could not answer this question either. With the passage of time, anything was possible.
"Perhaps my decision to bring them to the Demon Realm was a mistake. Not only did it relegate our Southern Sect to historical dust, but it also subjected the descendants of our Southern Sect to the constant erosion of the Demon Realm's demonic energy."
"I don't have much time left to live. If I die, who will support this city's protective barrier? Once the barrier breaks, tens of thousands of descendants within the city will once again endure that inhuman torment day and night," the white-haired elder suddenly said calmly, though a glint flashed in his eyes.
Zhang Boduan, Zhao Youqin's master. His words instantly made Zhao Youqin feel the greatness of his master, but he also hesitated.
"But they have lived here for several generations! They already bear the imprint of the Demon Realm within their bodies. If we were to return rashly, I fear…"
"You fear they will 'become demonic' without the supply of demonic energy? But what if they don't return? Will their future descendants continue to suffer this torment?" At this point, Zhang Boduan's originally serene aura turned somewhat irritable.
*Bang…*
Just then, three figures erupted from the water's surface, flying through the air towards Zhang Boduan and Zhao Youqin.
"It seems it was a failure. Youqin, have someone prepare to activate the Heaven Sealing Array. It appears fate does not wish for us to return!" Zhang Boduan stood up and said to Zhao Youqin indifferently.
"Fortunately, that fellow didn't come in person, otherwise, I might have met my end here. It's a pity I cannot borrow the countless faith powers from Blue Star, or this old Daoist could advance further, achieving beyond the Mahayana realm and reaching the Heavenly Venerable stage!" Zhang Boduan muttered as he watched the three figures approaching.
Heavenly Venerable, that was a true immortal on earth! The highest existence in the mortal world. Beyond that lay the truly legendary immortals! They might not be immortal or indestructible, but at least they could extend their lives by several thousand years!
Blue Star's spiritual energy was depleted, but that did not mean it lacked attractions for them.
Seeing the three approaching, Zhao Youqin flicked his fingers, sending a stream of energy into the city wall, where it dissipated. He then adjusted his attire and went to meet them.
"Fellow Daoists, have you brought good news?" Zhao Youqin asked Zhang Junbao and the other two with a smile.
"Senior Zhao is indeed sharp-eyed. We tested him when we returned. His strength is truly formidable; he could suppress all three of us," Qiao Er said immediately, as if seeking credit, with a smug expression.
"Suppress all three of you? Junbao, is this true?" Zhao Youqin was taken aback, glancing at Zhang Boduan beside him.
"Replying to True Person, it is indeed so. In my estimation, he should be an expert of the Dao Comprehension realm," Zhang Junbao said respectfully, glancing at Zhang Boduan unobtrusively.
*Boom…*
With a deafening roar, three figures were sent flying backward without warning, falling from the hundred-zhang city wall.
"Hmph, three scoundrels. Do you think this old man is senile and easy to deceive?" Zhang Boduan slowly retracted his right foot. He had just stomped on the ground, sending the three of them flying.
"Heavenly Universe True Self, Great Dao Limitless."
Zhang Boduan detached himself from the city wall, slowly descending from the air. The commotion had already attracted all the residents of this small city. Thousands upon thousands of people instantly gathered, looking at the three lying on the ground, then at Zhang Boduan and Zhao Youqin standing in the void, and slowly knelt down.
Zhang Boduan was a god-like figure in the hearts of this city's populace.
"If he can disregard the lives of those of us stranded in the Demon Realm, then I need not be polite with him any longer! Die, all of you!" Zhang Boduan's face was cold, and his eyes burned with rage as he looked at the three.
In his heart, his own survival was paramount! He gave no thought to whether these subjects' physical bodies could withstand the consequences of traversing through a black hole!
With a sword drawn, it transformed into countless dense needles in the air, piercing down towards Zhang Junbao and the other two like raindrops!
Facing such a powerful individual, Zhang Junbao and the other two trembled under Zhang Boduan's aura, utterly unable to resist.
*Bang…*
A dark shadow flashed by, stirring up a hurricane. The countless fine needles struck an invisible wall, making clanging sounds.
A figure, so dark it shone, appeared before Zhang Boduan. A pair of black hand blades looked exceptionally bloody under the crimson sun.
"Black Ant, on the orders of my Master, has come to eliminate the human traitor, Zhang Boduan! Those who dare to obstruct shall be killed without mercy!"