"Ahem." Yun Xiao gave a light cough, casting his gaze over the former followers of that foolish Young Dragon Lord.

He believed these people weren't dim-witted; when offered benefits, they'd accept them without pushing him to the point of charging them protection fees as well.

Bai Lu, Gusu Yan, Jiang Dongcheng, Ah Jiao, the Bloodvine Young Master, and others quickly nodded discreetly, deciding to restrain their junior disciples themselves.

"A celestial slave with quite some skill," Gusu Yan murmured appreciatively.

"Stop underestimating him because of his status," Bai Lu said deeply. "Those who didn't realize this have suffered greatly. Missing that part doesn't diminish his intellect, talent, combat prowess, or ruthlessness."

"Indeed..." Gusu Yan agreed with a nod, silently adding to himself, "What a pity. For a man, that's still crucial; without it, life loses its meaning."

He couldn't help but glance at Mu Zixiao and Mu Zhilu. These two were geniuses on his level, even boasting higher backgrounds and stronger sects, more renowned than himself. But now... he could only click his tongue.

"The pressure from the Southern Divine Dragon Realm must be immense. I bet he'll have Zu Wei continue recruiting," Bai Lu suddenly said.

Her brother, Bai Ao, shivered with excitement. "Goodness! They're treating this place like flypaper—whoever comes gets stuck, and no one escapes!"

"You're the fly, not me," Bai Lu rolled her eyes, exasperated with her dimwitted brother.

"We share the same parents; we must be the same species," Bai Ao chuckled.

"Get lost, get lost, get lost..." Bai Lu told him to scram dozens of times, thoroughly annoyed.

"Then I'll just wait here to fight the Southern Divine Dragon Realm to the death!" Bai Ao declared passionately.

Bai Lu and Gusu Yan exchanged glances and could only cover their faces.

Yet, deep down, they felt uneasy.

"Honestly, I'm really curious now," Gusu Yan said softly to those beside him. "How far can this youth go by borrowing momentum to build a snowball against the Southern Divine Dragon Realm?"

"Let's just keep watching," Bai Lu replied.

"What I mean is, what should we do?" Gusu Yan asked.

"Didn't you see? If we don't obey, the men are... dealt with, and the women humiliated. What else can we do?" Bai Lu crossed her arms, biting her lip. "No matter what, we're being forced by this fiend! We have no choice!"

"Ahem, understood."

The 11 of them nodded silently.

Meanwhile, Yun Xiao had convened a meeting with Feng Yao and Wan Ji's seven daughters.

"Yao Yao, and you seven sisters," Yun Xiao said. "Before the Dragon Devil Clan arrives, I'll leave the task of recruiting new teammates to you."

"What are you going to do?" Feng Yao stared at him, somewhat displeased.

"Naturally, I'm going to cultivate," Yun Xiao said, holding a large pile of Bags of Holding. He was polite to Hai Qing and the others, but his attitude toward Feng Yao remained the same.

"I'm coming too," Feng Yao pouted.

“Hell no. It’s not the right time for you yet. Wait until there's an ocean of blood before you come to me,” Yun Xiao said sternly.

“That’s not happening. Make each of them pay a bucket of blood as a protection fee instead,” Feng Yao retorted with a snort.

She wanted to follow Yun Xiao’s example, to carve out her own path and alleviate some of his burdens.

“Nonsense.”

With everything hinging on money, asking for blood was out of the question.

These people were already on edge. Pushing them further would be futile; they needed a glimmer of hope.

“Behave yourself!” Yun Xiao glared at Feng Yao before folding his arms, sinking into the blizzard below, and strode away.

As for Hai Qing and the others, they were accustomed to Feng Yao getting talked down to in front of Yun Xiao.

“Damn it, that Lil Yun has become so arrogant. He’s reckless. I’ll make sure to punish him later,” Feng Yao said awkwardly, forcing a smile.

“Understood, understood."

Wan Ji's seven daughters nodded, smiling.

“You brat, I’ll lop off that thing of yours and salt-cure it for real sooner or later!” Feng Yao exclaimed, feeling humiliated and annoyed.

“Eh?” Her seven sisters froze in surprise.

“Ahem, uhh... I meant the salt-curing part! Of course, it's already been lopped off!” Feng Yao quickly explained.

Unexpectedly, Wan Ji's seven daughters were even more shocked. Hai Ying leaned in and whispered, “Feng Yao, I heard that after a celestial slave is cleansed, that part cannot be retained. Did you really keep it? And now you're gonna salt-cure it...”

Feng Yao was stunned, her mind swirling in the wind. After a long moment, to dispel the awkwardness, she looked into the distance, slapped her thigh, and said, “That Zhu Wei’s charm is something else. People will be arriving soon. Sisters, set the nets!”

▬ι══🪦✧⚰

Behind the Nexus of the Extreme Yin Star was a deep valley, dotted with numerous secluded caves. Above, the wind and snow raged, making the area highly concealed.

The focus of the Million Starlight Palace wasn’t in this location.

Yun Xiao arrived here alone. His white robes fluttered as he advanced through the blizzard, delving deeper into the valley until he reached a secluded cavern.

“Diva, I have arrived,” Yun Xiao whispered.

The entire valley was shrouded in an artificial ice and snow mist. Yun Xiao knew that by stepping in, his figure in the Million Starlight Palace had likely vanished. Not to mention his voice.

This was because… the Snow Lineage Diva Si Ji was so powerful that she could obscure part of the Grand Assembly Arena’s celestial formations!

She was the strongest being Yun Xiao had encountered so far.

Of course, it was Yun Xiao who had pushed her to this point.

“Enter.”

Even though it wasn’t the first time, when that moment arrived, her once aloof and profound, otherworldly voice still carried a hint of tension.

That soft voice sounded like a passionate call from a beauty, causing Yun Xiao’s cheeks to flush. He thought to himself that since the Diva had

awakened

, her charm was irresistible.

He stepped into the deep cavern.

The passage was initially narrow, barely wide enough for a person, making the walk slightly cramped. After walking a few dozen steps, it suddenly opened up.

Ahead lay a small grotto, frost covering the ground, with a pure white fleece blanket spread out. On the blanket sat a fairy with white hair and pink eyes, bending gracefully.

She had long legs, her white hair spread out like snowflakes. Her pair of pink eyes seemed to speak, crystal clear and transparent, lively like pink gemstones. Time had left no trace on her; she was a vibrant young woman. Ethereal and otherworldly, yet her gaze and the subtle desire between her pink and white lips betrayed a hint of yearning.

Once, it was merely a quirky taste, but now, in the Grand Assembly Arena, Yun Xiao had come to realize that the Diva possessed an inner loneliness, burdened with responsibility and resilience, and a selfless nature that attracted him. Coupled with the enchanting atmosphere... Yun Xiao found it hard to remain as calm as before.

After all, just moments ago, his intimate encounter with Zu Wei's spirit had effectively ignited this blaze.

“Sorry, I’m late…”

To quell his agitation, Yun Xiao spoke with his head bowed, trying to steady his breath and focus.

But before he could finish his sentence, a cold, indifferent voice interrupted him.

“Indulging your spirit, you sure know how to play.”

That brief remark carried not only coldness but also a strange sense of resentment.

Yun Xiao could only respond with a hint of guilt, "I'm only doing what has to be done to save the Extreme Yin Star.”

“No need to explain!” The fairy with pink eyes on the snow-white fleece blanket spoke with a slightly chilly voice. “Yao Yao is innocent and pure. Don’t bully her in this regard, and that applies in spirit too.”

“She’s innocent and pure?” Yun Xiao was about to laugh, but he quickly realized that if he did, Si Ji would lose her temper. He suppressed his smile, nodded, and said, “Understood. I won’t cross any lines.”

Hearing his assurance, the chill of the cold cavern began to dissipate.

“Come here.”

With her resentment gone, Yun Xiao stepped forward and stood beside the blanket. He beheld her long snow-white hair and slender yet firm shoulders.

“Over the next few days in the Grand Assembly Arena, do you think you can still break through?” Si Ji propped herself up with both hands on the ground, slightly tilting her chin, her pink eyes coldly gazing at him.

“Yes, I can. This time, my first mission is to assist you in breaking through to become a Boundless Immortal, and then to focus on my own breakthrough,” Yun Xiao responded earnestly, choosing not to gaze upon her serene and lonely beauty.

“Your speed is even faster than Yao Yao’s,” Si Ji remarked, clearly surprised and puzzled.

How many secrets did this celestial slave hold?

In truth, she wanted to understand. But because of their secret pact, she felt a sense of shame, often wanting to keep her distance from him.

Yet, she also feared for his safety, worried it might disrupt her grand plans.

Yun Xiao knew she was curious about him, so he didn't hide it. He continued, “I’m afraid this time, I need a Burying Heaven grade Calamity Source.”

“You stole one from me, then asked Yu Ji for another, and now you need one more. What exactly do you intend to do with these Burying Heaven grade Calamity Sources?” Si Ji asked, frowning.

"Have you really not realized by now, or are you just pretending?"

Yun Xiao calmly directed the tribulation power within him toward Si Ji. Even though it was feeble for her, as she controlled and meticulously examined it, her pupils began to dilate.

"Three Lives Samsara, Deca-Yin Frost Fiend..."

Undoubtedly, her heart was in turmoil.

"How is that possible..." She gasped for air, her pink eyes fluttering as she gazed at Yun Xiao.

"Although my body is incomplete, in terms of talent, I'm no worse than Yao Yao," Yun Xiao said, his voice lingering.

"Perhaps even better than her," Si Ji replied deeply. She couldn't help but look at Yun Xiao for a long time with that incredulous gaze.

"Diva?" Yun Xiao, noticing the prolonged silence, reminded her. After all, he was still needed outside.

"When I become a Boundless Immortal, I will ensure that you and Yao Yao achieve greatness," Si Ji's resolve flared up suddenly, her words earnest.

"Mhm! You and I have nurtured each other, our hearts as clear as mirrors. Our secrets will remain forever sealed, known to no one. I swear it on my character." Yun Xiao made the promise once more, to ease her mind.

After all, as the paragon of chastity in the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm, what she was doing now within the Grand Assembly Arena was truly explosive.

If the Million Starlight Palace were to display it, it would undoubtedly cause a massive earthquake across the entire Samsara Galaxy, spreading for over 10,000 years.

"Enough, it's not the first time. I'm already used to it," Si Ji said calmly, asserting herself so Yun Xiao couldn't manipulate her.

Yun Xiao thought this was for the best. Then, he wouldn't have to deal with her crying like a little girl afterward.

Si Ji remained silent. She lowered her head, her long hair cascading down, effectively allowing Yun Xiao to make his move.

"So, about that Burying Heaven grade Calamity Source..."

When Yun Xiao spoke, Si Ji then recalled the matter.

She pressed her lips together and said, "I have only a few Burying Heaven grade Calamity Sources left, just enough for me to achieve Boundlessness. The only surplus is a yang attribute Calamity Source, which you can't use..."

But she didn't want to be stingy, so she was momentarily at a loss.

"Why can't I use the yang attribute Calamity Source?" Yun Xiao asked.

Si Ji gave him a soft glance, a hint of pity in her eyes. "That Calamity Source can only be wielded by a man possessing strong yang energy, and you..."