Once Kong Lin fully absorbed the Monarch Yan's decree and transformed into a True Underworld God, Abbess Qing He released her hold on him.

He restored his cultivation and once again stood, cupped his hands in respect. "I pay homage to Monarch Yan. May your reign last through the ages, unifying the Underworld."

"Nonsense." Venerable Jinglan snorted coldly. "With my lord in the Underworld, even Monarch Yan would still have to step back. Unify the Underworld? What a grand delusion."

"Venerable Jinglan, the wise yield to the times. I've known you for many years and do not wish to see you die here. Why not join me and submit to the Monarch Yan? Serve him loyally, and we can advance together," urged Kong Lin.

"Who wants to be a lackey of Monarch Yan? The one who holds true authority over the Underworld is my lord. Monarch Yan is merely a discarded relic." Venerable Jinglan laughed coldly. "When my lord appears, not a single one of you will even have a chance to kneel and beg for mercy."

She then cast a glance at Abbess Qing He. "A mere ninth-transformation Ghost Immortal, thinking yourself invincible? In my lord's eyes, a ninth transformation is no different than an ant!"

Kong Lin sighed softly. "Stubborn and ignorant."

The situation was now perfectly clear. Even if that Motian Division was a powerful, half-step Heavenly Dao, what difference would it make? After today, he might not even know what happened in Jinglan City.

Half-step Heavenly Dao still wasn't the Heavenly Dao. That half step made all the difference.

Fang Chen said, "Little Abbess, send her on her way."

"... Lord Fang, I'm afraid I cannot act," said Abbess Qing He with a wry smile, a trace of apology on her face.

Fang Chen was slightly taken aback, then shook his head with a smile. "No matter. What you've done this time is already more than enough."

"Oh? If this ninth-transformation Ghost Immortal cannot strike, may I ask what means would you have to kill me?"

Venerable Jinglan had expected her death but did not anticipate such a turn.

This ninth transformation Immortal... will refrain from killing?

A trace of mockery appeared on her face as she glanced at Ghost Infant and Kong Lin. "Even if these two eighth-transformation Ancient Immortals act together, they will still struggle to exhaust my Yin Lifespan. And this commotion here will sooner or later be noticed by my lord, and when that time comes..."

She did not continue, only letting out a series of cold laughs.

Fang Chen weighed the situation in his mind, calculating the cost of using the Sin Mallet to kill Venerable Jinglan. In the end, he decided to grant her death by decree.

"Little Abbess, I will impose a decree on her. Help me suppress her," said Fang Chen.

Abbess Qing He did not refuse. Even if she could guess what fate awaited Venerable Jinglan after the decree, she did not hesitate to assist.

***

As the final ancient character merged into Venerable Jinglan's body, her expression shifted from agony to deathly pale.

Fang Chen said, "I want every detail about the lord you mentioned. And I want to know the current state of your God Dao Sect."

Venerable Jinglan gritted his teeth. "Dream on."

Fang Chen nodded.

In the next moment, terrifying soul flames erupted on her body.

Her screams of pain were sealed within the courtyard by Abbess Qing He, leaving no trace outside.

Peng Xingwu and Kong Lin watched, wide-eyed, as an eighth-transformation Ancient Immortal was burned to ashes, completely erased from existence.

"Old Kong, what is the strength of your Spirit God Sect in the Taicang Realm?" Fang Chen asked, turning his gaze from the ashes to Kong Lin.

Suppressing the grief rising in his heart, Kong Lin replied respectfully, "Monarch Yan—"

"Call me 'Lord' from now on."

Kong Lin bowed. "Yes, lord."

"Because the sect's patriarch has been asleep for so many years, the Spirit God Sect's strength in the Upper Three Realms is unremarkable. In the Taicang Realm, there are forty core disciples who have not participated in the chaos. They merely follow both sides from behind, collecting Blood Spirit Pills."

"Who guards the Taicang Realm? You? Or other elders of the Spirit God Sect?"

"There are two guarding the Taicang Realm. I am one of them.".

Fang Chen said with a smile, "Then you will return to the Mortal Realm, mobilize all the core disciples you can command, and send them to the Lone Light Star. You know its location, don't you?"

Since the demons treated the Lone Light Star as an important supply base, and given the Spirit God Sect's intelligence, they should know its location.

Kong Lin asked respectfully, "I do. Shall I return immediately?"

Fang Chen waved his hand. "Go." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Kong Lin departed from Jinglan City silently.

The courtyard fell completely quiet, leaving only Fang Chen, Abbess Qing He, the Ghost Infant, and Peng Xingwu.

"Motian Dizang must have brainwashed these Venerables for many years. It's nearly impossible to touch them directly. Even Ghost Dragon or someone like Peng Xingwu cannot approach the core of the Motian Division. This celestial demon has built it like a fortress, airtight and impenetrable. Fortunately, they haven't truly interfered with the Mortal Realm. Their main focus remains on the Floating Pagoda Realm, so there's no need for immediate concern."

"Regarding Three World Mountain... once the Taicang Realm matters conclude, I must return to check. If the Spirit God Sect's patriarch truly sleeps there, he is undoubtedly a ticking time bomb."

After a moment of thought, Fang Chen looked at Peng Xingwu. "Return to the Mortal Realm first. Once you reach the Ten Thousand Immortal Sect, see if you can locate the remaining Motian Division cultivators."

"Yes," acknowledged Peng Xingwu.

Fang Chen looked at the Ghost Infant and gave it a pat on the rear. "I'll call you again next time. Go home now."

After saying that, he sent it back.

Fang Chen then turned to Abbess Qing He with a smile. "Little Abbess, I'll need your help to return to that previous location."

She nodded lightly, placed her hands on Fang Chen's shoulders, and the two vanished from the courtyard together.

***

Abbess Qing He walked alongside Fang Chen through the Yin City. That city corresponded to the Lone Light Star.

"This city has been abandoned for many years," Fang Chen said casually, observing the surroundings. "It was abandoned after the Three Realms upheaval. The Yellow Springs Path was sealed, so after people died, their souls could not enter the Underworld. Over time, it became like this."

Abbess Qing He murmured to herself, "If souls cannot enter the Underworld, they cannot reincarnate... then where do the people above come from now?"

Fang Chen's steps faltered for a brief moment, his expression strange. He glanced at her. "Don't speak of such things in front of outsiders. As for where today's people come from, if you understand the reasons the demons initiated the Three Realms upheaval, you will know."

He then found a set of steps and sat with Abbess Qing He, explaining some matters related to the demons. As she listened, Abbess Qing He gradually seemed to understand, her expression growing increasingly shocked.

Fang Chen took out the Yin Gourd and smiled at her. "Alright, I'll have to trouble you a bit more."

Abbess Qing He didn't mind and nodded. She calmly entered the Yin Gourd on her own.

After Fang Chen returned to life, he began organizing the cleansing of the Lone Light Star.

Thousands of expedition teams followed him in campaigns north and south, cooperating with Core Disciple Xuan and local powerful cultivators. In just thirty years, they fully reclaimed control of the Lone Light Star. Even if a few stragglers remained, they were like two or three kittens and were harmless.

One day, Fang Chen had just obtained a batch of supplies from the Lone Light Star—eight thousand immortal crystals.

He distributed them among his forces. For the consumption of a single Immortal Boat Formation, eight thousand crystals were barely significant.

Not long after distributing the crystals, another Lotus Formation arrived from Qingming at great speed, appearing rather urgent. Fang Chen and Core Disciple Xuan each condensed their own Immortal Boat Formation, preparing to meet it head-on.