955: Before darkness fell, the tribesmen arrived.

Night.

The moon ascended to the highest heavens, stars dotted the sky, moonlight illuminated the desolate lands, and starlight filled all directions.

The people of Shuofeng Tribe gathered at the altar, as always, bowing to the goddess statue, quietly awaiting the arrival of darkness.

But this time, darkness did not appear. The starlight remained, brilliant and dazzling, and the moonlight was pure and flawless, making people feel an unprecedented comfort.

The Seal set by the Marquis of Eight Desolations at the Dark God Pass had temporarily blocked the new wave of darkness.

However, it wouldn't hold for too long; in a few days, the Seal he set would be broken through.

Among the crowd.

Xie Weilou, Lin Qinghuang, and the Marquis of Eight Desolations stood together, all three staring at the goddess statue.

“...”

Lin Qinghuang examined the statue before her, her eyes betraying an indescribable strangeness.

It was truly bizarre that there was a statue of Yan Ruyi here.

The Marquis of Eight Desolations looked at Lin Qinghuang, “Is there a problem?”

This statue was obtained by the Shuofeng Tribe from the lower reaches of the Black Profound River a hundred years ago.

He had some conjectures about this item; the statue could resist the dark mist, so it might be something from within the Dark God Pass.

Lin Qinghuang shook her head, “No problem! I just find this statue very peculiar.”

The Marquis of Eight Desolations said, “Being able to resist darkness, this item is indeed extraordinary.”

After waiting for a while.

The dark mist still didn't appear. Some people from the Shuofeng Tribe showed surprise. The dark mist dared not approach the stronghold but would sweep across other areas.

Tonight was peculiar; there wasn't the slightest trace of dark Qi, and even the moon and stars weren't obscured. They hadn't felt this sensation for quite some time.

The Shuofeng Leader said to everyone, “Tonight's dark mist probably won't appear. Everyone can go back and rest early. Those responsible for patrols, continue patrolling, and report any situation immediately!”

“Understood!”

Upon hearing this, everyone rose, bowed, and then left one after another.

Although tonight's dark mist didn't appear, they still dared not let down their guard. If anything seemed amiss, they would immediately rush back to this spot.

“...”

The Shuofeng Leader looked at their retreating figures, a contemplative expression in his eyes.

Until the source of that darkness was resolved, this matter would not be over. If this continued for a long time, everyone would surely become mentally and physically exhausted.

Half an incense stick later.

Inside a grand hall.

Lin Qinghuang picked up a scroll to read. She glanced at Xie Weilou, “I didn't expect there to be a statue of her here. Now, recalling what Wang the Celestial Being said to Yan Ruyi earlier, he must have seen such a statue.”

Yan Ruyi is indeed very mysterious; the appearance of her statue here is quite peculiar.

Xie Weilou said, “He entered the Great Sage Tomb and came to the desolate lands, so he must have seen this statue here, or perhaps he saw a pendant statue on someone from the Shuofeng Tribe.”

“Perhaps.”

Lin Qinghuang didn't pay too much attention to this matter either.

Xie Weilou walked to a bed on the side, sat on it, and took out the ten thousand souls banner.

He looked at the Divine Soul of Marquis Zhenyu within the soul banner, pondered for a moment, then directly formed hand Seals, allowing the remnant soul of the Demon Ape to devour the Divine Soul of Marquis Zhenyu.

The Demon Ape was already a Half-Saint. If its Divine Soul could recover to its Peak, its power would naturally be extraordinary, and it could be of great use at critical moments.

As for Marquis Zhenyu... he was an eyesore, so it was better to let his Divine Soul be annihilated!

Xie Weilou put away the ten thousand souls banner, letting the Demon Ape devour on its own. He lay sideways on the bed, looking at Lin Qinghuang, “Qinghuang, it's late, and we're alone. Don't you plan to lie down together? This is a tiger-skin bed, soft and warm.”

“Lie down yourself!”

Lin Qinghuang didn't even lift her head, continuing to read the scroll.

She had always maintained the habit of reading classics and scrolls; the more she read, the more she naturally knew.

“Alright then!”

Xie Weilou smiled, closed his eyes, and lay comfortably.

——————

Three days later.

Three powerful cultivators arrived at the Shuofeng Tribe. The Marquis of Eight Desolations and the Shuofeng Leader personally came out to greet them.

One was Shi Qingxuan, the Vice Dean of Zhongzhou Academy.

Another was an Old Ancestor from the imperial family. He was white-haired and emaciated, yet his aura was terrifying—an ancient Half-Saint realm expert.

However, the Death Qi on this old man was incredibly dense, and his Divine Soul fire was slightly dim, clearly indicating that his Lifespan was nearly at its end.

As for the third person, it was none other than Wang the Celestial Being of the Heaven Mending Sect!

“Greetings, Old Ancestor Xuanzhen, greetings, Senior Wang!”

The Marquis of Eight Desolations bowed to the old man and Wang the Celestial Being.

He wasn't surprised by Ye Xuanzhen's presence here.

Old Ancestor Xuanzhen was the imperial family's number one Dao of arrays Great Master. To reinforce the Seal of the Dark God Pass, his intervention was necessary.

As for why Wang the Celestial Being was here, he was somewhat puzzled.

Ye Xuanzhen gave the Marquis of Eight Desolations a gentle smile, “Little Bahuang, tell me again about the Dark God Pass.”

The Marquis of Eight Desolations was merely a Junior in front of him, considered an excellent young man with the potential to become a Saint in the future.

The Marquis of Eight Desolations pondered, “The Seal reinforced by the Human Emperor at the Dark God Pass has loosened, allowing the Dark Power to spill out. I observed the Seal, and there are traces of external immense force impacts, likely left a hundred years ago. As time passed, one of these traces expanded, forming a crack. I have already reinforced the Seal, but it won't hold for too long.”

Ye Xuanzhen shook his head, “The Seal reinforced by the Human Emperor cannot loosen so easily. How could ordinary power create such traces...”

As he spoke, he looked at Wang the Celestial Being, “A hundred years ago, you old fellow came to the desolate lands. Did you really only enter the Great Sages Tomb of the Eastern Wilderness?”

He and Wang the Celestial Being were contemporaries, so he naturally understood him.

This old fellow, as a member of the Heaven Mending Sect, was a respectable figure, yet he always liked to do things like petty thievery and grave robbing.

This old fellow had entered the desolate lands a hundred years ago, and he didn't believe that he had merely entered the Great Sage Tomb. Wouldn't he be interested in the Dark God Pass?

Wang the Celestial Being said speechlessly, “No matter how despicable I, this old Daoist, am, I wouldn't possibly destroy the Seal of the Dark God Pass, would I? I did go to the Dark God Pass back then and only studied it. I didn't act rashly, but...”

“But what?”

Ye Xuanzhen stared at Wang the Celestial Being.

Wang the Celestial Being said, “At that time, I saw an old fellow from the Myriad Sword Holy Land near the Dark God Pass, and he was even holding the great luo heavenly sword! The Seal set by the Human Emperor is indestructible. Unless someone attacked it with a supreme emperor artifact, it would be difficult to leave any traces.”

“Myriad Sword Holy Land? Who was that old fellow?”

Upon hearing this, Ye Xuanzhen's face darkened.

If someone attacked the Seal with the great luo heavenly sword, it could indeed leave cracks.

Although Wang the Celestial Being was unreliable, he knew right from wrong and wouldn't easily tamper with the Seal set by the Human Emperor.

Wang the Celestial Being said, “Half-Saint Miluo!”

“Half-Saint Miluo? I heard his Lifespan was at its end a hundred years ago, but then he obtained some good fortune and seemed to have extended his life...”

Ye Xuanzhen raised an eyebrow.

Wang the Celestial Being said meaningfully, “A hundred years ago, in the desolate lands, I saw that Half-Saint Demon Ape that was suppressed. Ten thousand years passed, and it still hadn't perished. It carried Dark Power. How could a Half-Saint demonic creature live so long? Unless it was...”

“...”

When Ye Xuanzhen heard this, he also understood the trick.

Some old fellows, when their Lifespan is at its end, will do anything to survive.

Wang the Celestial Being looked at the Shuofeng Leader, “I heard your Shuofeng Tribe has a peculiar statue that can resist Dark Power. Could you allow us to see it?”

This time, he came to the desolate lands not for the Great Sages Tomb of the Eastern Wilderness, nor for the Dark God Pass, but only for a statue!

“Of course, please follow me, everyone.”

The Shuofeng Leader quickly bowed.

Shi Qingxuan and Ye Xuanzhen were also very interested in that statue, so they followed the Shuofeng Leader to the altar...