The five wandering souls originally thought that death was simply the end. As core disciples of the Enlightenment God Palace, they had already stepped onto part of the Ghost Immortal path while alive. Although their cultivation wasn't high and hadn't reached the first transformation, they could at least lie low for a time. Perhaps they might even be taken to the Underworld. Once there, they could continue their secluded cultivation. As long as they had enough Yin Lifespan, they could achieve a state of undying existence.

They could never have imagined that Fang Chen could see them.

Xu Kun's heart skipped a beat. "No wonder his eyes are different from those of ordinary people. This guy was born with Yin Yang Eyes!"

Fang Chen smiled. "Why so quiet, everyone? Not used to your current state?"

Core Disciple Cheng remained silent for a long time before asking coldly, "What do you want?"

"I thought I made it clear just now. Let's exchange information."

"In your dreams! If you think you can drag any information out of us, then you're dead wrong. Our kind does not yield to coercion!" Core Disciple Cheng closed his eyes. "You'd best give up on that idea as soon as possible."

"A demon named Xin Zong has already spilled plenty of useful information," shared Fang Chen, chuckling. "It seems not every member of your race is immune to coercion."

The five wandering souls were startled and suspicious.

Core Disciple Cheng shook his head with a faint smile. "There's no need for such talk. The fact that the five of us could become Enlightenment Core Disciples proves that our status within the demon race is not low. Even if we truly disclosed something, would you dare to believe it?"

Just as he finished speaking, an imperial edict was slapped directly onto his face. At this moment, he was only equivalent to a Ghost Immortal of the Upper Three Realms. He had no power to resist and was conferred on the spot as a True God of the Underworld.

"What is this!?" roared Core Disciple Cheng, rage rising in his heart. He felt a profound change occurring within him.

The other four were also struck by an imperial edict. All of them wore expressions of horror.

"Core Disciple Fang, what kind of method is this!? I feel as if—"

Xu Kun's expression twisted. He felt a ridiculous, instinctive urge to kneel and worship Fang Chen that he couldn't explain!

Fang Chen laughed. "The demon race is unfamiliar with this method? Wasn't the Underworld the first to fall back then?"

"Could it be...?

The five looked at each other in utter horror. They had vaguely heard that when their ancestors conquered the Underworld, they had plundered a certain divine object that played a vital role in the subjugation of the Nine Mortal Realms. However, there was another extremely important thing that they had never been able to find.

"The inheritance of Monarch Yan!?" Core Disciple Cheng sucked in a breath of cold air, staring intently at Fang Chen. "You possess the inheritance of Monarch Yan!?"

"Dammit! He isn't some small fry; he might be a crucial piece on the board for those Yang Gods!"

Xu Kun was beyond shocked. They had thought their own identities would be shocking enough if exposed, but they hadn't expected Fang Chen's background to be even more terrifying.

Fang Chen's smile widened. "Speak, what was your true objective in choosing to strike at me this time?"

Grisly expressions appeared on the five faces as if fire were scorching their souls. Wisps of smoke drifted off them continuously. This was their soul power being evaporated. With every wisp that vanished, their cultivation and Yin Lifespan plummeted.

Damn it all! roared Core Disciple Cheng inwardly, turning to look at Xu Kun and the others who were still trying to endure.

"Don't worry, we'd rather die than speak," snarled Xu Kun. "Our race's great cause is nearing completion. How can we let it be hindered by our own hands!"

"Core Disciple Fang, our purpose for acting against you is exactly as you guessed. It is because of the Xie Zhi cultivators. But the one who ordered us to act was Shao Guangyin," said Core Disciple Cheng suddenly. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The burning sensation on his body vanished instantly, and his soul stopped evaporating.

Xu Kun and the other three were dumbfounded. They couldn't believe their ears.

A string of words belonging to the language of demons suddenly burst from Xu Kun's mouth. He was clearly cursing Core Disciple Cheng. "Gibberish! Jargon!"

Core Disciple Cheng said nothing in rebuttal.

The other three clearly couldn't withstand the sensation of their souls evaporating either, and they chimed in.

"Right, it was Shao Guangyin who ordered us!"

"His status is extremely high. He is our superior!"

"We wanted to kill you because your talent is too high. You comprehended two Formation Immortal Techniques in one go. If you became a Xie Zhi cultivator, you would inevitably hinder our race's great cause!"

Once they were done talking, the four of them felt the agonizing burning pain vanish, and they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Core Disciple Cheng glanced at them, and Xu Kun immediately glared back. "What are you looking at!?"

Core Disciple Cheng sighed and remained silent.

The five wandering souls were currently experiencing extremely complex emotions. Anyone who had heard of the ancient war in the Underworld knew exactly what it meant to become a True God of the Underworld.

"I am satisfied with those answers. Let us continue." Fang Chen nodded. "Tell me about your identities back in the demon race, as well as Shao Guangyin's identity."

***

A long while passed. Fang Chen learned of the five wandering souls' status within the demon race. They were all small fry. They came from various small locations across the Twenty-Six Realms and had been low-level demons since birth. However, due to their outstanding talent, they were selected and sent to reincarnate into the Nine Mortal Realms. They certainly hadn't disappointed the demon race and had awakened their memories on their own and become core disciples of the Enlightenment God Palace.

"The seal that the old man and the others placed on us had some loopholes. A demon with sufficient talent can break the seal and awaken their memories on their own."

If that seal could be perfected to sever their path to awakening, the demon race's dream of plundering the Nine Realms would remain just a dream.

"As for Shao Guangyin, he comes from the Abyssal Region. We don't know much about the Abyss, but the demons there are all at least high-level demons," shared Core Disciple Cheng.

"How did he contact you?" asked Fang Chen. "And how did you all learn of each other's identities?"

The five felt the burning sensation once more. Clearly, they did not want to answer. After several breaths, they compromised.

Core Disciple Cheng sighed. "It was the Saint Son who told us. But we have never seen him. Once we awaken our memories, the Saint Son appears in our dreams, in a manner similar to the demonic calamity."

The others' accounts were largely the same, with no major discrepancies.

Fang Chen pondered. Using a method similar to the demonic calamity to contact every awakened demon... This 'Saint Son' has a method similar to dream-sending, but not exactly the same. If all their communication relies on this, it will be incredibly difficult to find any clues in their daily lives.

It meant that all demon operations were almost entirely controlled by this Saint Son. His commands reached all demons regardless of distance.

"Why didn't you use the Demonization Technique just now?" Fang Chen asked. "During the struggle for the Great Thunder Sound, Shao Guangyin's Demonization was incredibly powerful."

"Because we are merely low-level demons. The Demonization Technique can only be performed by high-level demons or above," explained Xu Kun, his expression complex. "In truth, we are currently no different from the human race. No matter how high our cultivation reaches in the future, we will never be as we were before."

"Then why not just lie flat? Is it not good to be human? Why must you insist on plundering the Nine Mortal Realms?" Fang Chen sighed softly. "But it doesn't matter. I will slowly reform all of you."