Chapter 1980: Continue Beating

How could the three outsiders of the Huosui lineage not understand what had happened? Clearly, they had already been targeted.

"As expected of the remnants of the Immortal Hong lineage. Even after becoming an insignificant race of exiles, you still have a few tricks up your sleeves. This territory is so vast, yet the moment the three of us arrived, you were still able to respond so quickly."

One of the outsiders smiled. "But so what? The Young Master will arrive very soon. When that time comes, this world will become a natural prison. Where could you possibly escape to?"

"You might as well use this time to curry favor with the three of us. Perhaps when the time comes, we'll even put in a good word for you. Then maybe you won't be completely annihilated."

Xia Ji smiled faintly. "Arrogant. Beat them up."

The fierce Yin soldiers swarmed forward in an instant, pressing the three outsiders onto the ground and rubbing them in the dirt.

Xia Ji didn't bother to glance at the three, turning instead to look at Lu Yuan and cupping his hands. "Xia Ji, Division Head of the Hidden Guard Division, pays respects to the founder of the Spirit God Sect."

Everyone was slightly startled. The Founder of the Spirit God Sect!?

Xun Guozhu and Wang Zhenlong—who had already turned into a wandering soul—looked toward Lu Yuan, their eyes filled with surprise. Immortal King Gu Xi and the others also exchanged glances.

The Founder of the Spirit God Sect?

Xia Ji explained to everyone with a smile, "Everyone might not know yet, but this lady is the founder of the Spirit God Sect. She is not the head of a branch. She is the real leader. However, the Spirit God Sect has now been merged into the Underworld, transforming into the Spirit God Division. Once Monarch Yan returns, this lady will be the Division Head of the Spirit God Division and a future colleague of mine."

Upon hearing this, everyone instantly reacted.

So she was one of their own!

They all stepped forward one after another to cup their hands in greeting.

Lu Yuan wasn't quite accustomed to being surrounded and stared at by so many people, nor did she like interacting with others. In her eyes, whether it was these people before her or the Demon Race, they were all existences she once would have happily slaughtered together.

She responded coldly with a few perfunctory words, then glanced at the three outsiders currently being beaten into the ground. "The Underworld's strength has grown this formidable?"

The strength of those Yin soldiers truly surprised her. It was simply that, given her personality, she didn't show it too openly.

"Some stuff happened a few years back," explained Xia Ji.

He then briefly recounted the events of the past.

It was the first time Xun Guozhu and the others had heard about this. They were secretly horrified listening to what Xia Ji was saying.

So the Underworld had almost been usurped by someone?

"The appearance of these three outsiders signals that our true war is about to begin."

Xia Ji looked at the three outsiders who were continuously shouting curses.

"The young master they keep talking about must be quite strong. Therefore, every region of the Nine Realms is currently preparing for war."

He glanced at Lu Yuan. "I wonder how your rest has been going?"

Lu Yuan said calmly, "I've already broken through. I have taken that step beyond the ninth transformation. I originally thought that possessing such strength would at least earn me a place in this world. Now it seems that in the war to come, the role I can play will still be limited. However, rest assured. When it is time for me to contribute, I will naturally do so. I only hope it won't be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot."

Broken through the ninth transformation?

Xun Guozhu's gaze was complicated. He hadn't expected that the Spirit God Sect's founder had reached such a level. Even more unexpected was that she had been resting right beneath their feet.

Lu Yuan asked casually, "You said earlier to wait until Monarch Yan returns. Where did he go? Since it's a period of war preparation, if he's not present, it will heavily impact the war situation, right?"

"He went to handle some business and should be back very soon."

After answering, Xia Ji gave an order to the Yin soldiers. The three outsiders, already beaten black and blue, were dragged in front of everyone.

Xia Ji asked with a beaming smile, "What cultivation is this young master of yours at?"

The three outsiders looked feeble. The external injuries weren't important. What mattered was that their internal injuries were currently extremely severe. More importantly, they felt utterly humiliated.

From the start of their deployment, they had envisioned countless scenarios. But never once had they imagined that one day they would fall into the hands of the remnants of the Immortal Hong lineage and suffer such humiliation.

One of the outsiders spat out blood on the ground and sneered. "You want to know how strong the Young Master is? Just a single strand of his hair is enough to crush all of you!"

Xia Ji laughed. "Keep beating him."

The Yin Soldiers dragged the outsider away again.

The remaining two outsiders went pale.

Xia Ji looked at the remaining two. "How about it? Do you two plan to speak properly?"

One of them fell silent for a moment before answering, "He was already a Saint many years ago."

A Saint?

Ouyang Xuanzhen and the others didn't know what a Saint represented. But Xia Ji knew very well.

Xia Ji sighed inwardly. "A Saint, huh..."

He could tell that the man had no intention of hiding the truth.

If that Young Master was really a Saint, then Motian Dizang must successfully attain her Dao for the Nine Realms to have a chance at fighting back.

Xia Ji smiled and cupped his hands toward Lu Yuan. "Founder Lu, I will take these three with me first. As for Tuxiong Star, I'll have to trouble you to watch over it a bit more."

Lu Yuan casually nodded. "Easy enough."

Before Ouyang Xuanzhen and the others could react, Xia Ji had already led his people away. Wang Zhenlong left with him as well.

Ouyang Xuanzhen looked blankly at Immortal King Gu Xi and the others. "They're just... leaving?"

"What else did you expect?" Xun Guozhu smiled. "Still, you showed some backbone this time. Let's head back. The merit you earned today will surely be remembered over there."

Ouyang Xuanzhen nodded. "You're right."

Xun Guozhu looked toward Lu Yuan and cupped his hands. "Founder Lu, then we shall take our leave first."

Lu Yuan nodded coldly. Before the crowd even left, she had already returned to her black coffin, sinking into the foot of Three World Mountain and vanishing from everyone's sight.

Ouyang Xuanzhen and the others glanced at one another, feeling rather emotional. Now that they knew that Tuxiong Star had such a powerful expert guarding it, they naturally felt a lot safer.

***

The Underworld, Capital.

The Judgment Division.

Upon receiving the Hidden Guard Division's message, ninth-transformation immortals from the various factions travelled through the Underworld and gathered in the front hall of the Judgment Division.

Chen Feifei chuckled. "The Hidden Guard Division is well-informed indeed. To think they captured those three outsiders so quickly."

The ninth-transformation of the various factions wore smiles. Their mood was quite good.

This matter had originally been like a fishbone lodged in their throats. They never expected it to be resolved so quickly. Next, as long as they could pry information beneficial to the Nine Realms from the mouths of those three outsiders, it would be of immense benefit to the upcoming war.

Jiang Yushu stepped forward and smiled. "Everyone, Division Head Xia will be back shortly. Please take a seat."

Everyone nodded politely and took their respective seats.

Roughly an hour later, Xia Ji was the first to walk into the front hall of the Judgment Division. The wandering souls of those three outsiders were escorted in by Yin soldiers.

The moment they entered, everyone's gaze fell upon them.

Xia Ji smiled. "Division Head Jiang, these three are rather tight-lipped. Have your people take them downstairs and enjoy a nice, thorough chat with them. We'll stay here and drink some tea in the meantime."

When the three outsiders heard this, their faces instantly turned pale.