"Holy shit! Qi Refining realm? This is definitely Qi Refining realm!
This aura is true energy, absolutely not internal force!
The Great Tang Dynasty actually has Qi Refining realm cultivators?"
As soon as he approached the small building where the Great Tang imperial family was staying, Yang Hong immediately sensed an extraordinary aura.
It was the aura of true energy, very similar to his own, although not as pure.
But, it was true energy.
Cautiously suppressing his entire presence, Yang Hong bypassed the patrolling guards and hid in the shadows of a corridor.
Faint, hidden fluctuations of true energy emanated from the room at the end of the corridor.
However, Yang Hong could not get any closer. Four guards were stationed outside the room, and more guards were present on the other side. It was a heavily protected area.
"Whose room is this that requires such tight security?"
Yang Hong attempted to attune his true energy to his ears to eavesdrop on the sounds within the room.
Unfortunately, the room was utterly silent.
The Great Tang's security for this individual is so stringent, their identity must be extraordinary. Should I go back and have someone investigate?"
Yang Hong felt conflicted. Once he investigated, it would imply he had been out.
And if he came out, it would require profound martial arts.
This would surely expose him, and he might then be hunted by the so-called higher sects.
"Forget it, as long as it's not a full-scale dynastic war, it won't affect me.
I'll remain a salted fish."
"At worst, I'll just grow more Tier 4 common vegetables."
Having made up his mind, he left the Great Tang imperial family's encampment. He was no longer surprised even when he sensed several true energy presences on the way.
Returning to the palace and after washing up, Yang Hong peacefully fell asleep.
...
However, Yang Hong was unaware that between the hours of midnight and dawn, a shadowy figure moved with imperceptible speed, evading the eyes of the entire Great Sui imperial palace and entering its core – the Great Sui court, the Guangming Hall.
This figure arrived behind the emperor's throne, formed a hand seal, and after a ripple of spiritual energy like disturbed water, vanished from the Guangming Hall.
It was as if the person had never been there.
In a space filled with gray mist, the mist suddenly churned.
"Human~human flesh, I smell human flesh, such a fragrant smell."
"Roar~delicious human flesh, hurry into my mouth."
"Human race, hurry up and come over, Uncle Tiger is starving."
"Fragrant human flesh..."
As the first voice rang out, the entire space erupted, and countless voices cried out for food.
Accompanied by a dripping sound, the calls grew increasingly ferocious.
"Hey, human, why aren't you hurrying to self-immolate? Wolf Uncle is waiting to eat meat."
"Meat~meat, hurry into my mouth."
"Food, hurry over and let me eat you!"
As the voices sounded, the gray mist slowly dissipated, revealing the owners of these voices.
There was a giant tiger hundreds of feet tall, a giant python thousands of feet long, and a seemingly cute little fox.
These creatures uniformly wore an expression of ravenous hunger and fierce malevolence.
They were demon beasts, the demon beasts of the Taiyuan world!
"Shut up, all of you! Did the Sky Swallowing Unicorn Wolf King die or not? If not, come out and answer."
A soft, charming female voice rang out, suppressing the voices of the demon beasts.
Though her voice was gentle, a sense of dominance emerged, and a pure white spiritual light ignited on this woman.
The demon beasts were taken aback at first, then began to curse again.
"A mere Human of the Fusion realm dares to be arrogant? Little thing, come over here and Cat Uncle will rip you to death with a single claw."
"Bug, if you have the guts, come over here, Pig Grandpa will sit on you and crush you to death."
"What a beautiful little lass, don't kill her too quickly, let Wolf Uncle enjoy a bit before we share."
"Right~right, such tender skin and delicate flesh must be delicious. I have a lot of experience."
The demon beasts became even more excited upon seeing the newcomer.
"Awoo~Enough, all of you shut up."
A majestic and domineering wolf howl echoed, followed by a powerful command.
The demon beasts immediately fell silent.
However, they all still looked at the woman with salivating eyes.
"Little friend, I am not dead yet. Come over."
The majestic voice sounded again, but this time with a hint of gentleness, becoming a deep, magnetic baritone.
Immediately, the gray mist in the space parted, revealing a path emitting gray light.
The woman who had entered, a confident smile tugging at the corner of her lips, stepped onto the gray path and walked into the depths of the gray mist.
After walking for about half an hour, the woman arrived before an iron cage about ten feet square. Inside, there was a black dog about half the height of a person, with a horn of over three inches on its head.
"Guan Yan, inner disciple of the Black Yin Sect, greets the Sky Swallowing Unicorn Wolf King Senior."
Upon reaching the iron cage, Guan Yan performed a bowing禮 before speaking.
This was a human, a true human, bowing to a demon beast.
If seen by others outside, it would undoubtedly cause immense shock, even leading to an attack by the human race.
However, the vast majority of people in the Five Directions Dynasty had never seen demon beasts.
Of course, no one could see this in the gray space.
"A disciple of the Black Yin Sect. That you could find this place and enter means you must have the consent of your sect's higher-ups.
So, tell me your purpose."
The black dog looked at the beautiful human woman before it, its tone very calm.
"Wolf King Senior, our Black Yin Sect wishes to make a deal with you."
"A deal? Interesting. Let's hear it."
The black dog's eyes were filled with amusement. It did not believe that humans would be so kind as to offer a deal to a prisoner like itself.
"Senior, we can release you. In return, you must send out 3 demon beasts of the Nascent Soul realm, Tier 7, and 30 demon beasts of the Golden Core realm, Tier 4, to sign a pact of partnership with our Black Yin Sect.
They will serve our Black Yin Sect for a thousand years."
Guan Yan straightened her back and loudly stated the deal entrusted to her by her sect master, audible to the other great demons nearby.
"Roar~Human, you court death!"
"Roar~The demon race is not to be insulted!"
"Ah~I want to tear you apart!"
Various roars erupted. Guan Yan's palms began to sweat, but remembering her sect leader's instructions, she calmed herself.
Guan Yan stared directly at the black dog, awaiting its reply.
After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the black dog, which had been pondering, finally raised its head and looked at Guan Yan.
"This deal is reasonable and fair. I agree."
The black dog's voice was calm, but to the other demon beasts, it was like a bolt from the blue.
"My King~Do not agree! You cannot agree."
"My King, you are a Great Demon King of the Integration realm, Tier 7. How can you make a deal with a mere Human of the Fusion realm, Tier 3?"
"My King, do not let our subjects become slaves!"
The demon beasts were in an uproar, each attempting to dissuade it.
However, the black dog raised its voice and stopped their roaring.
"Be quiet, I have my own plans.
Human, let us begin the transaction."
The black dog, the Sky Swallowing Unicorn Wolf King, began to shrink, until it was the size of a small puppy.
In its mind, only by shrinking could this human take it out of this seal.
"Wolf King Senior, the Five Directions Dynasty's seal has not been broken. I cannot take you out."
"Junior, are you playing me?"
The Sky Swallowing Unicorn Wolf King said in a low voice, and the gray mist in the gray space suddenly surged towards Guan Yan.
It seemed as if she would be engulfed in the next second!
"Wait~Senior, wait, listen to me. I really have a way."
Feeling her protective spiritual light flicker, Guan Yan became anxious and hurriedly shouted.
Then, she took out an object. Upon seeing it, the Sky Swallowing Unicorn Wolf King immediately dispersed the gray mist.