Hongyi took the jade slip, his Divine Sense swept in, and a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.

The materials listed in the jade slip were all rare and precious items, and the quantity required was considerable.

"Alright."

Hongyi did not ask further, and after a moment’s contemplation, nodded in agreement: "Leave this matter to me. The Star Palace indeed has special channels, I will do my best to collect them for Fellow Daoist."

This matter posed no difficulty for him, it would just take a little more time.

"Then many thanks to Fellow Daoist Hong!" Xu Ping cupped his hands and smiled.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, you’re too courteous. We have been friends for many years, there’s no need for such words." Hongyi smiled and waved his hand.

The two spoke no more and each transformed into an Escape Light, speeding off in completely different directions, quickly vanishing into the sky.

...

One month later.

In a desolate sea region, intense waves of Spiritual Power and furious dragon roars suddenly emerged.

Judging by the strength of the fluctuations, it was evidently at the Late-Stage Nascent Soul level.

Two True Dragons were besieging a Human Race cultivator.

If Xu Ping were here, he would surely recognize the Late-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator at a glance, it was Hongyi.

Hongyi was being besieged by two incredibly fierce True Dragons exuding Fourth Rank Upper Grade pressure.

The two True Dragons, one azure and one crimson, coordinated flawlessly, launching dragon breaths, sharp claws, and Innate Divine Abilities in turns, clearly they were Hall Masters of the True Dragon Hall.

Though Hongyi was surrounded by Evil Qi and wielded the fierce Lock Dragon Nail, he was at a disadvantage facing the frenzied siege of two True Dragons of the same rank.

"Star Palace cultivator, how dare you come to my outer sea to slay Dragon Race direct descendants, today you shall be buried in the outer sea." The Azure Dragon roared, its dragon cry shaking the surroundings.

Hongyi remained expressionless, driving the Lock Dragon Nail to resist the two dragons, but felt somewhat aggrieved in his heart.

He had been careful enough yet was still targeted by the True Dragon Hall.

Actually, there was a secret hardly anyone knew.

Slaying direct descendants of True Dragons stained one with Evil Qi from Dragon Blood, which was the perfect guiding beacon.

Plus, Hongyi was an outsider cultivator, with sensitive status, being noticed within the True Dragon Hall’s sphere of influence was quite normal.

If Hongyi hadn’t attracted the True Dragon Hall’s attention, Xu Ping might have been targeted as well.

After all, though Xu Ping’s Evil Qi was less, it was still Dragon Blood Evil Qi,

Roar! Roar!

Two earth-shaking dragon cries.

Two blazing dragon breaths formed in front of the blood mouths of the two True Dragons.

Seeing this, Hongyi’s face slightly changed.

Dragon Breath was an Innate Divine Ability of True Dragons, even the top late-stage cultivators must avoid its edge.

Just at this moment, a sudden change occurred.

A thick black ghost fog that seemed to swallow all light emerged without warning from the void, instantly enveloping the sea region spanning dozens of miles.

Within the ghost fog, thousands of ghosts wailed, the sinister wind pierced to the bone, greatly interfering with Divine Sense and visibility.

The movements of the two True Dragons suddenly paused; even the dragon breath was weakened by half within the ghost fog. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Go!"

An old and hoarse voice echoed in Hongyi’s ear.

Hongyi did not hesitate, immediately turned into a blood light, seized the chance to break out from the encirclement, and joined with the suddenly appearing shadow, the two vanished into the depths of the ghost fog.

The two True Dragons roared in anger, frenziedly tearing at the ghost fog, but found it difficult to track them, only able to rage at the same place.

...

Two months later, Blood Bone Island’s underground cave mansion.

Xu Ping sat cross-legged, not immediately letting the Ten Thousand Souls Banner devour the Essence Soul Pill.

The backlash from ghosts was significant, especially since the target this time was an Essence Soul of the Fourth Rank Upper Grade; he needed to adjust his state to the peak and make complete preparations.

Xu Ping meditated and recuperated for several days, restoring his Mana and Divine Sense to Perfection.

Feeling everything was ready, his mind clear and Mana abundant, Xu Ping finally slowly opened his eyes.

He slapped his storage pouch.

Buzz!

The Ten Thousand Souls Banner waved with the wind, suspended in mid-air, the black banner’s surface writhing with demonic patterns, exuding a terrifying pressure.

"Come out."

Xu Ping called lowly.

Roar!

The main soul, a massive ferocious soul exuding the terrifying demonic power of a Late-Stage Nascent Soul, roared out.

Upon appearing, its crimson gaze locked fiercely on the Mysterious Netherworld Snake Essence Pill in Xu Ping’s hand, revealing extreme greed and desire, its giant soul body trembling slightly from the greed.

Yet the ghost still seemed to remember the painful punishment from the Restriction last time, forcibly suppressing its impulse to pounce.

It merely looked at Xu Ping hungeringly, even trying to squeeze out a semblance of ’obedience,’ but with its ferocious countenance displaying such an expression, it appeared extraordinarily eerie.

Xu Ping’s face remained expressionless, yet within, he dared not relax in the slightest.

He flicked his finger, sending the pill containing the Mysterious Netherworld Snake Essence Pill slowly flying towards the main soul.

At the moment the Golden Core approached, the main soul could no longer contain itself.

It suddenly opened its gigantic mouth, a crimson long tongue formed purely of Soul Power, covered in barbs, shot out like lightning, accurately wrapping around the pill, reeling it back.

Within the pill, a miniature shadow of a Mysterious Netherworld Snake could be seen faintly roaring in anger and struggling.

Yet all efforts were in vain.

The main soul’s mouth snapped shut!

"Gulp!"

Accompanied by a tooth-aching swallowing sound, the Essence Soul Pill, along with the Mysterious Netherworld Snake’s soul within, was swallowed whole.

"Roar!"

At the moment of consuming the dragon soul essence, the ghost roared skywards, filled with pain yet also extreme satisfaction.

Its massive soul body inflated violently as if blowing air, its surface raging with demonic qi, boiling.

The main soul’s body occasionally twisted into a demonic silhouette, occasionally hints of serpentine traits appeared, its aura became exceedingly chaotic and dangerous.