"It's done." Su Yingxue lowered her hands, then looked up at the ordinary guard possessed by Yuan Ming and spoke.

Yuan Ming nodded and sat cross-legged at the cell door, inquiring about the complexities of the Eight Extremes Golden Lock Array.

Su Yingxue answered every question, making efforts to explain.

With this woman's profound understanding of formations, she was now willing to impart her knowledge generously. Coupled with Yuan Ming's direct insights gained when he possessed her, the combination greatly benefited Yuan Ming.

A quarter of an hour passed quickly.

By this time, Yuan Ming had a good grasp of the Eight Extremes Golden Lock Array. While not claiming complete mastery, he understood most of the key points, leaving the rest to further comprehension through practice.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Su, for clearing my doubts." Calculating that the time was just right, Yuan Ming stood up and bid farewell.

"Please wait, Senior." Su Yingxue called after Yuan Ming.

"Does Fellow Daoist Su have further business? Or do you perhaps require compensation from me?" Yuan Ming looked over.

"The Eight Extremes Golden Lock Array was promised to you, Senior, from the beginning. Explaining it is natural and not something that should require compensation. Calling to you is because I wish to make another transaction with you." Su Yingxue said with a smile.

"Oh, what kind of transaction would you like?" Yuan Ming furrowed his brow slightly and asked.

"Having observed Senior through our encounters and just now, I dare to speculate that Senior is also an Array Master, stuck at the Level 5 Peak realm, correct?" Su Yingxue inquired.

"Indeed, your observation is sharp." Yuan Ming nodded, acknowledging without hesitation.

"I have a way to help Senior advance your Array Formation Cultivation to Level 6. In return, I wish to ask Senior to investigate the space array connecting Nihility Prison to the outside world." Su Yingxue said slowly, her bright eyes flowing with thought.

"Why are you investigating this?" Yuan Ming asked, his gaze flickering upon hearing these words.

He knew that Nihility Prison was located within the Demon World's absolute danger zone, its connection to the outside reliant entirely on a space array.

"Senior needn't concern yourself with this. My investigation bears no relevance to you." Su Yingxue arranged her hair with a smile.

"I'll give you an answer next time I seek you out." Yuan Ming scrutinized Su Yingxue for a moment, gave an ambiguous reply, and then turned to leave.

...

A year later, on a desolate island somewhere in the Dongji Sea.

A tunneling light sped towards the horizon, swiftly approaching, and gradually diminishing.

Before the visitor could stop, a faint golden light flickered on the desolate island, its powerful Spiritual Power causing the visitor's face to change drastically.

"Fellow Daoist Yun Luo, you have arrived." At this moment, Yuan Ming's figure appeared silently on the island, waving towards the sky.

Hua Zhi and Vajra stood on either side of him.

In the years that passed, Hua Zhi's power did not seem significantly enhanced, but Vajra had reached the mid-stage of the Wanxiang Body.

However, its Qi-Blood fluctuation was slightly unstable, a side effect from quickly advancing with the aid of the Blood Origin Pill.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan, just now, that was..." Yun Luo Fairy landed from the clouds, arriving beside Yuan Ming, and looked around nervously while searching for the vanished golden light.

"It was a nested array I arranged through connections, which inadvertently leaked some aura due to the aura of Fellow Daoist arriving." Yuan Ming smiled.

"I see. However, just a little glimpse of its aura shocked me greatly. I wonder what it would look like if the full power were unleashed?" Yun Luo Fairy smiled slightly, adopting a dignified appearance unlike her verbose communication through talismans.

"You'll see when we hunt Level 6 Demon Beasts later." Yuan Ming gave her a glance and said.

"Oh? It seems Fellow Daoist Yuan has already decided on a target. But in the Dongji Sea, where Spiritual Energy is sparse, Level 6 Demon Beasts are hard to find. Are you planning to go to the Abyss or the Biluotan Ancestor Spirit Secret Realm?" Yun Luo Fairy's eyes flashed with intrigue as she asked.

Unlike the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, Level 6 Demon Beasts were nearly extinct in the Dongji Sea, with only two places harboring them: the Abyss and the Ancestor Spirit Secret Realm at Azure Dragon Pond.

The Ancestor Spirit Secret Realm is a natural secret realm controlled by Azure Dragon Pond, rich in nature's spiritual energy, regarded as a cultivation sanctuary where many predecessors from Azure Dragon Pond retreat.

The former Sect Leader of Azure Dragon Pond was also there, so surely Level 6 Demon Beasts must reside there.

However, those entering the Ancestor Spirit Secret Realm have never returned.

"I'll naturally go to the Abyss." Yuan Ming declared without hesitation.

The Ancestor Spirit Secret Realm being located at Azure Dragon Pond's stronghold, Yuan Ming's intention to avoid provoking Dongji Palace, Azure Dragon Pond, and other major forces through hunting Level 6 Demon Beasts would be betrayed if he ventured into the Ancestor Spirit Secret Realm.

Nevertheless, the Abyss, being the hunting grounds of the Six-winged Heavenly Cicada, was also far from safe.

Fortunately, Void previously mentioned that the Six-winged Heavenly Cicada dwelled within the Abyss's depths, so if Yuan Ming intended only to search its outskirts, there should not be major issues.

"There indeed are Level 6 Demon Beasts within the Abyss, but it is a place of peril in the Dongji Sea..." Yun Luo Fairy said with a solemn expression.

"We'll search the outskirts of the Abyss without venturing deeper in, even if it takes several years." Yuan Ming waved his hand dismissively.

"That should be alright then." Yun Luo Fairy, with less knowledge of the Abyss than Yuan Ming, seeing his strong confidence, readily agreed.

In fact, Yuan Ming chose to hunt beasts in the Abyss for another reason; the demon beasts there are rarely rational, making them much easier to deal with than normal Level 6 demon beasts, making it the best current choice.

Apart from these considerations from the big picture, he also harbored a small hope in his heart to encounter the Heavenly Cicada Mother Qi again. Sаmplе frоm Мy Virtuаl Librаry Еmpirе—rеаd mоrе оn М&VLЕМРY&R.

Although the previous encounter had caused him no end of troubles, this time, the bark of the World Tree had already merged with the Undying Tree. Should he encounter it again, he believed he wouldn't be as embarrassed as before and could even gain some transformative benefits.

Afterward, Yuan Ming spent some time gathering the array apparatus for the Eight Extremes Golden Lock Array before setting off with Yun Luo Fairy and Hua Zhi towards the Abyss.

Given their speed, they finally reached the Abyss over two months later.

"What should we do next? Act separately or search together?" Yun Luo Fairy blinked her beautiful eyes and asked.

"Let's act separately; it will be more efficient that way. Take these communication talismans with you. If you spot traces of a Level 6 demon beast, use these to get in touch," Yuan Ming took out several Void Communication Talismans and handed them to Yun Luo Fairy, Hua Zhi, and Vajra.

Hua Zhi and Vajra put away the talismans and flew off in two different directions.

"I will be off as well," Yuan Ming said, transforming into a green light and speeding away.

Seeing Yuan Ming leave so swiftly and decisively, Yun Luo Fairy snorted slightly in dissatisfaction before flying off into the distance.

Once the group entered the Abyss and began searching for Level 6 demon beasts, they realized finding a suitable target for hunting was far more difficult than imagined.

The outermost area of the Abyss barely had any traces of demon beasts, and after several months of searching separately, they all came up empty-handed.

In the end, they cautiously flew a bit further into the Abyss, once more arriving at the Demon Song Sea Domain.

Here, the number of demon beasts increased, but most were transformed under the influence of the Heavenly Cicada Mother Qi, each larger than the next. Relying on their size, they could often unleash powers far exceeding their demonic power levels.

During their journey, Yuan Ming and the others repeatedly encountered beasts whose strength was comparable to Level 6 but had demonic power only at Level 5 or even Level 4.

Even if they were slain, such beasts wouldn't meet the standards needed for refining a Dharma Manifestation Pill, and because of their immense size, fighting them was extremely troublesome.

Thus, Yuan Ming and his group had to repeatedly avoid these formidable and massive beasts, searching within the vast Abyss for suitable targets.

...

Near the Abyss, in a certain sea area, seven or eight cultivators were slowly flying along the sea surface, constantly looking around, divine senses scanning beneath, seemingly searching for something.

The leader among them was a white-bearded elder in a wide gray robe, with cultivation at the Early Stage of Returning to Void, while most of the others seemed to be at the Nascent Soul Middle Late Stage.

"Uncle Master, this is near the Abyss. Are we really going to search for Corrosive Immortal Stone here?" A young man with sword-like brows beside the white-bearded elder asked, with a tone of complaint.

"What can we do? This is an order from Dongji Palace. How can our minor force at Huiyun Island oppose Dongji Palace?" the white-bearded elder said gloomily.

The young man with sword-like brows paused and lowered his head.

"Alas, originally, with Wuya Island keeping them in check, Dongji Palace couldn't cover the sky with one hand. But it's vexing that Yuan Mo wiped out Wuya Island in one fell swoop, and then continued to assassinate several Island Masters, allowing Dongji Palace to expand its influence. It is becoming increasingly difficult for us neutral islands to survive," another beautiful young girl in a red dress pouted.

"The matter of Yuan Mo is rather suspicious. Though Dongji Palace has offered a reward for his capture, they haven't stated the reason. Moreover, years have passed with no message at all. With Dongji Palace's power, how could this be? Do you think Yuan Mo could possibly be one of them, and it's all a double act?" A sallow-faced man beside the young girl said.

The young girl in the red dress's expression changed slightly, about to speak.

"I don't think so. It isn't just Dongji Palace offering a reward for capturing Yuan Mo, but also Luo Jia Mountain, Azure Dragon Pond, and even Black Evil Sect. If Yuan Mo hadn't stirred up major trouble, how would these major forces in the Extreme East join hands in offering a reward for his capture?" the young man with sword-like brows shook his head.

"Even so, it doesn't mean Yuan Mo isn't one of Dongji Palace's people," the sallow-faced man retorted, seemingly not wanting to lose face before the girl in the red dress.

"If you can think of this, wouldn't those from Luo Jia Mountain and Azure Dragon Pond have considered it too? If Yuan Mo were really one of Dongji Palace's people, Luo Jia Mountain and Azure Dragon Pond would have joined forces to demand him long ago and wouldn't let things remain so calm," the young man with sword-like brows said bluntly.

The sallow-faced man's face showed dissatisfaction and he wanted to retort.

"Enough, instead of spending time arguing, focus on finding the Corrosive Immortal Stone," the white-bearded elder said coldly.

Upon hearing this, the sallow-faced man and the young man with sword-like brows closed their mouths.

At this moment, an uninhabited deserted island appeared ahead, with thunder rumbling from it. Nearby, there was a fierce storm, causing huge waves to rise on the sea surface, while thick black clouds appeared overhead, rapidly expanding and enveloping an area dozens of miles wide within a few breaths.

Upon seeing this scene, the group halted.

"What's going on?" The sallow-faced man was startled.

"This kind of celestial phenomenon, could it be an Exotic Treasure appearing?" The young man with sword-like brows brightened his eyes.

Upon hearing this, the others all showed joy.

The celestial phenomenon was so astonishing that if it were truly an Exotic Treasure appearing, it would be extraordinary.

Thinking this, several people couldn't help but start itching to act.

"Calm down, it's not an Exotic Treasure, but a demon beast undergoing the Transforming Thunder Tribulation," the white-bearded elder said in a low voice, quelling their thoughts.

"Transforming Thunder Tribulation? What is that?" The young girl in red asked.

"Typically, I tell you to read more of the classics and widen your knowledge, but you turn a deaf ear. The so-called Transforming Thunder Tribulation is the tribulation experienced by demon beasts with high-grade bloodlines when they completely transform into human form," the white-bearded elder explained slowly.