NOVPUBEven if the Emperor tried to stop them, he would only be seen as obstructing their path, resulting in a relentless situation.
Five days later, under the watchful eyes of the Immortal Alliance Cultivators, a seven-color rainbow light slowly flew out of the sky.
Compared to the last time, this occurrence seemed much more familiar.
The differing colors separated in order and eventually teleported into a deeply dark Star Sea.
Li Ping watched them depart and silently mourned for them for a moment.
Seven days later, the Emperor’s expression shifted.
He teleported to the secret space inhabited by the You Clan People.
Under the current rule of the Sacred Dynasty Daqi, the You Clan People could largely be divided into three groups with different missions.
Most numerous among them were those who, from birth till death, needed and must do only one thing each day—chant in praise of the Emperor’s grace. This group was cultivated from the Exotic Beasts and had very short life spans and reproductive cycles. They were truly like leeks, harvested batch after batch, unceasingly.
The second group, moderate in number, was treated much better. They had plenty of rest each day and could even read various books. As original bodies of the You Clan, some of them would be selected to participate in trials to optimize the clan.
As for the third group, they were the fewest in number and the most special. They could be considered the purest and most original You Clan People. They still worshiped the great Ocean of Darkness and maintained their long-standing traditions. However, since they were living under the rule of the Holy Dynasty, they naturally had to obey Li Fan’s commands. Even the question within the clan about whether the Emperor or the Ocean of Darkness was greater had been unanimously resolved.
The Emperor was the incarnate of the will of the Ocean of Darkness. The Emperor, the Ocean of Darkness, and the ancestral spirits of the You Clan were one and indivisible. Although the theory was somewhat crude, it indeed resolved the potential conflicts brought about by Li Ping’s intervention and stabilized the clan completely.
"Greetings to the Emperor," the You Tribe Chieftain said as he saw Li Ping, immediately kneeling and knocking his head in homage.
Previously, since Li Ping had not forcibly required it, these You Clan People did not need to kneel when they saw him. However, since the birth of the new theory, various ceremonial standards had emerged within the You Clan, even the chieftain had to adhere. Li Ping just let them be.
"Open the pathway to the Dark Realm." Watching the You Clan People kneeling before him, Li Ping commanded in a cold voice.
The You Clan People rose, and amid the mysterious and ancient chanting, a door slowly opened.
Li Ping flew in first.
Once inside, he was instantly swallowed by endless darkness.
But Li Ping did not hesitate for a moment, speeding towards the direction of the sensing.
Quietly, getting closer.
The object his senses had locked onto was naturally the Mysterious Skills that, under the identity of the Hierarch of the Elemental Spirit Sect, he had revealed to the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, capable of enhancing the cultivators’ primary force output.
The efficiency of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals in exploiting this area was unexpectedly high.
Li Ping could already sense, a large amount of marked energy, in a condensed state, rushing into this Ocean of Darkness.
But counterintuitively, such an immense and terrible energy couldn’t stir a single energy ripple here.
It was unknown whether the Ocean of Darkness was too vast or if something within silently devoured these ripples.
Approaching closely, Li Ping slowed down.
Despite his absolute confidence in his strength, caution was still paramount.
He concealed his presence and stealthily closed the distance.
Thud!
Thud!
In the Ocean of Darkness, where sound was not supposed to travel and should have been silent, regular intermittent thuds now emerged.
It was like the sound of a big drum forcefully being struck, causing even the Emperor’s heart to tremble.
Li Ping grew solemn.
His vitality was now thoroughly sublime. Even attacks from the Immortal Realm might not shake him, yet now, this simple thumping agitated him…
"It’s not caused by an external force. It’s the rhythm of the Ocean of Darkness itself."
The Emperor quickly made his judgment.
Without resisting the thumping sounds, Li Ping stood still for a moment, aligning the beating of his heart perfectly with the rhythm of the Ocean of Darkness.
It was as if he had completely merged into the darkness, his discomfort also dissipating.
Li Ping then continued forward.
Soon, he "saw" the source of the thumping noise.
Or rather, he sensed it.
Like a punctured balloon, or perhaps like the Great Vortex of Realm Rending in the Xuanhuang World.
In the darkness ahead, a "small hole" appeared.
The surging compressed energy was fiercely poured in through this gap. Due to the natural repulsion of the Ocean of Darkness’s own power, a bit of the Power of Darkness was channeled along the pathway formed by the mutual opposition of the two forces and got absorbed.
Li Ping stopped at a distance and watched, his heart growing heavier.
"Coincidental."
After a while, he gave such an evaluation.
The power of the Ocean of Darkness, combined with the compressed and ejected primal force, formed a perfect state of balance.
The primal force was not able to truly invade the Ocean of Darkness; similarly, the counterattack from the Ocean of Darkness was not fully triggered.
In this strange balance, a connection was established between the primal force and the power of darkness.
You should know that the swell of the Ocean of Darkness is unpredictable.
This meant that the output of primal force by the Alliance of Thousands of Immortals also had to change and adjust accordingly. If the balance were disrupted, they would immediately face the furious backlash of the Ocean of Darkness.
The Alliance of Thousands of Immortals must have maintained this device for quite some time; it seems their research on the Ocean of Darkness has also reached the Realm of Transmutation.
"The Alliance of Thousands of Immortals, they have capable people indeed," Li Ping couldn’t help exclaiming.
After ruling half of the Xuanhuang World for thousands of years, having such an ace up their sleeve is not surprising.
"Compared to the power of darkness that usually leaks into the various places of the Xuanhuang World, this extracted power of darkness is much more tranquil."
"And much easier to utilize."
After observing for some more time, Li Ping also noticed the clues.
"It’s just unknown, for what purpose the Alliance of Thousands of Immortals goes to great lengths to extract this tranquil power of darkness."
Yet the unknown did not hinder Li Ping’s actions.
As for the Ocean of Darkness that maintains the stability of the Xuanhuang, the extraction of its power by the Alliance is surely an act against the heavens.
Li Ping, being the "Incarnation of Xuan Huang Heavenly Dao," naturally could not stand idly by.
However, he did not act rashly.
One reason was because of this perfect state of balance; if he carelessly disrupted it, the turmoil it might cause in the Ocean of Darkness could even be greater.
Secondly, merely stopping this act of extraction was nothing more than a temporary solution, not addressing the root cause.
What Li Ping wanted was a permanent solution to completely prevent the petty thievery of the Alliance of Thousands of Immortals.
The Emperor’s patience was very ample.
After observing for more than a month here, he first returned to the Sacred Dynasty Daqi.
He brought nearly a hundred people from the Primordial You Clan to this place.
"Damn it! Such blasphemy!"
From the You Tribe Chieftain’s vehement reactions, the Emperor discerned his inner fury.
Other members of the Beast Race, seeing their revered great Ocean of Darkness being pilfered, also felt extreme hatred.
Had it not been for Li Ping’s shielding, such intense emotional turmoil would probably have caused them to rage long ago.
"This time, we are here to resolve this matter."
"The blasphemers must be punished."
Li Ping’s thoughts transmitted into the minds of the You Clan People.
At that instant, a group of You Clan People knelt down once again, their faces filled with resolute readiness to die.
In a corner unnoticed by the Alliance of Thousands of Immortals, this group of You Clan People began an ancient ritual.
It was a method passed down from ancient times for communicating with the Ocean of Darkness.
What Li Ping wanted them to do was to attract the attention of the origin of this Ocean of Darkness.
Despite the significant commotion here, in relation to the vast Ocean of Darkness, it was merely a small poke on its body.
Under the circumstances where the balance had not been disrupted, it wouldn’t notice at all.
Thus allowing the Alliance of Thousands of Immortals to continuously steal the power of darkness unabated.
However, if guided by the You Clan People’s ritual, everything could change.
Even if it wouldn’t immediately expel the Alliance of Thousands of Immortals, the abrupt change in repulsive force would be enough to disrupt the balance.
There was no immediate change because it was the Ocean of Darkness itself that altered, backed by this colossal entity.
Even if it wouldn’t immediately expel the Alliance of Thousands of Immortals, the abrupt change in repulsive force would be enough to disrupt the balance.
There was no immediate change because it was the Ocean of Darkness itself that altered, backed by this colossal entity.
