After Bai Qi's assurances, the others finally relaxed. After a few pleasantries, they turned to leave, leaving only Wu standing in place.
Once everyone else had departed, Wu approached Bai Qi alone and said, "Lord Holy Lord, since the world beyond the gate is so perilous, I see no need to remain here for such meager gains. We could simply abandon this place. After all, this continent is isolated from the outside world, and we..."
"Enough," Bai Qi interrupted before Wu could finish. "Take me to your temple. I have something to do."
"Yes, my lord."
To avoid attracting attention, Bai Qi deliberately transformed into a flying insect and hid in Wu's pocket, accompanying him into the temple.
Upon entering, Wu instructed two of his confidants to guard the entrance and prevent anyone from entering. He then hurried to the rear of the temple.
Bai Qi, having reverted to his original form, waved his hand. Shadows enveloped the temple, and one by one, shadow ninjas appeared before him.
"Go," Bai Qi commanded. The ninjas immediately sprang into action, their movements swift and their coordination flawless. In less than half an hour, an underground secret chamber was revealed before Bai Qi.
Such efficiency astonished even Wu, who inwardly marveled at the Holy Lord's ability to command such a host of powerful subordinates.
With the underground chamber complete, Bai Qi opened the door and stepped inside. As he took his first step, he seemed to recall something and beckoned to Wu.
"Can... can I come in too?" Wu asked, feeling incredibly honored. He quickly followed Bai Qi's footsteps.
Inside the chamber, the shadow ninjas had already prepared all the materials needed for the ritual. Bai Qi arranged specific items in precise locations according to a set pattern. Then, with his dragon claw, he fiercely slashed his own right arm, causing a gush of blood to erupt.
The sudden self-inflicted injury stunned Wu, who couldn't comprehend why Bai Qi was harming himself. But before Wu could react, Bai Qi moved again, using his hand as a brush, his blood as ink, and the ground as parchment, he began to draw.
It was known that demons possessed immense magical power, and their blood was exceptionally potent, making it an ideal medium for inscribing magic circles. Under Bai Qi's movements, a strange and intricate magic circle soon appeared before Wu, inscribed with obscure demonic script that even Wu couldn't decipher.
Bai Qi stood at the center of the circle and asked Wu, "Do you know how the world was formed?"
The sudden question bewildered Wu, who instinctively replied, "From the interplay of good and evil?" His tone was full of uncertainty.
"Precisely," Bai Qi said slowly. "Today, you will witness something unparalleled, something you will never forget in your lifetime!" With that, Bai Qi chanted an incantation. The magic circle began to glow, and the bloody script on the ground pulsed with a crimson light.
When Bai Qi opened his eyes again, everything before him had changed. His vision was filled with darkness, yet within the void, he could perceive everything. It felt as though he was enveloped by something gentle and comforting, a sensation that drew him in. At this moment, Bai Qi's spirit connected with the Mother of Dark Energy.
Bai Qi closed his eyes again and began to speak. His spiritual connection with the Mother of Dark Energy was not for amusement or to boast; he had serious matters to discuss.
The first was the matter of stealing the energy from the planet beyond the teleportation gate. This was a monumental undertaking that Bai Qi could not accomplish alone and carried a high risk of detection by the forces of righteousness. Therefore, he needed the Mother of Dark Energy's assistance. Moreover, when Bai Qi made his move, she would create a diversion to draw their attention, thus providing him cover.
Perhaps due to the characteristics of the super-god world, the planet where Bai Qi resided, though primitive and unexploited, contained a surprisingly meager amount of primordial energy. However, for the weakened Mother of Dark Energy, this energy was desperately needed.
The second matter was to request a few auxiliary slots from the Mother of Dark Energy. While Bai Qi was her direct son, there were seven other demons who shared the same status. However, these demons were too arrogant. Their immense power and immortal lifespans made them unwilling to cooperate with anyone, even Bai Qi, their fellow demon. This included Xi Mu. Though Xi Mu appeared docile after his release, his power and authority had yet to be fully restored. Once he regained them, he would undoubtedly oppose Bai Qi. Therefore, Bai Qi needed allies, allies who would never betray him.
As Bai Qi finished speaking, the surrounding darkness shifted slightly. A faint smile played on Bai Qi's lips. He had received an affirmative answer from the Mother of Dark Energy. As her direct son, she had readily agreed to both of his requests without much hesitation.
However, in return for granting Bai Qi's requests, the Mother of Dark Energy also made a demand: that Bai Qi quickly release the other demons imprisoned in hell, even if they were to be recaptured soon. This was because every time the gates of hell opened, a large amount of dark energy would surge into the main world. Furthermore, the return of each demon would invigorate the dark energy in the world.
Bai Qi readily agreed to the Mother of Dark Energy's request. He had originally intended to release the other demons as soon as possible, to reclaim his own aggressive energy and perhaps extort them like he had done with Zhong Su. However, he had been delayed by various matters. Now that things were mostly settled, and before Karl could make his move, he would resolve the issues concerning the other demons.
Upon concluding his conversation with the Mother of Dark Energy, Bai Qi withdrew, opening his eyes to find himself back in the secret chamber. Not far away, Wu had collapsed onto the floor, his eyes wide like saucers, gasping for breath. The effect of the magic circle had also connected Wu with the Mother of Dark Energy. However, unlike Bai Qi, the Mother of Dark Energy's interaction with Wu had been far more brutal, leaving the weak human with a profoundly unforgettable impression.
"What... what happened to me..." Wu stammered, struggling to regain his footing after a long while on the ground. As he tried to recall what had just transpired, a wave of intense dizziness washed over him, and he couldn't help but vomit uncontrollably, his wretched state suggesting he had purged everything from his stomach.
Seeing Wu's condition, Bai Qi opened his right hand, and a small black dragon flew out from his palm. After circling in the air, it swiftly entered Wu's body. After the black dragon's entry, Wu's condition began to improve. Furthermore, his magical power surged exponentially after the black dragon entered him.