Master of Strange Dao

However, the Seven Yin King never bothered to appear in person. He didn't even care to glance over.

The real body didn't appear, only the consciousness descended. What power could that have?

If those outside couldn't even solve such a small problem, then let them die for all it mattered.

Deeply engrossed in the book, the giant glanced into the depths of the dark.

"Either behave and don't disturb my reading,

or I'll cripple two more."

Hearing the giant's threat, the dark depths slowly grew quiet.

Their purpose was simply to prevent the giant from intervening.

As long as the giant had no intention of stepping in, they were also keen on avoiding trouble.

They had thought that after all these years, with the fellow having slept for so long, he'd grow weak.

However, a small test had surpassed their expectations.

Two Great Devil Kings were crippled, almost killed. The power they intended to send out nearly all became food.

For now, they bided their time.

The Seven Yin King wasn't here, creating opportunities for him was enough.

The commotion in the dark slowly vanished, and the giant's gaze returned to his book.

But this time, no one noticed that while one eye was on the book, the other eye, with pupils constantly shifting, had irises adorned with countless runes, gazed seemingly across space and into other places.

He sought within the void, layer by layer through the abyss, searching in the crevices of the abyss.

He searched for the Seven Yin King who had hidden away for a long, long time.

This fellow was always the best at hiding, hidden so well that no one, not even the devils, could find him.

Without acting, he indeed was tough to locate.

Through sensing power, the giant slowly locked onto a general direction.

He locked onto the abyss.

Yet, within the direction of the abyss, the range was too vast, and he had to search bit by bit.

...

Yang only tried a little and found it impossible to break free from this seemingly virtual and illusory world, so he quickly started contacting Yu Ziqing.

Soon, Yu Ziqing appeared inside the Seventh Floor ring.

"What's the situation?"

"You weren't drawn in, were you?"

"No."

"That's good. This is the domain of the Yin Devil, but extremely powerful. Inside, it appears virtual and illusory. Based on my estimation, it would evolve different things for different people.

These would likely be scenarios and matters most unwillingly faced, or perhaps the scenes most desired.

Or possibly both.

What I encountered was precisely the scene I least wanted to face and the one I most enjoyed.

It was as real as it could be, with no difference. I've even verified several ideas I've accumulated here.

If you haven't entered, don't come in.

First, take the villagers and head west to avoid it for a while.

According to my estimation, maintaining such a mystical state would require immense power.

He won't be able to maintain it for long; in three days at most, we can come out.

There's no need to worry about anyone else."

"Any other intel?" Yu Ziqing asked again.

Yang quickly spoke a whole lot, laying out possible conjectures one by one.

After coming out from the Seventh Floor ring, Yu Ziqing glanced into the distance.

Seemingly virtual, seemingly illusory, as if the map hadn't loaded.

What was there to avoid? He didn't intend to hide.

No matter who came, whether it was the descent of the Seven Yin King's consciousness or anyone else,

He wouldn't hide.

Jinlan Mountain was under attack.

This time, if he didn't eliminate every intruder and set their heads as trophies, would anyone dare to trample Jinlan Mountain in the future?

Yu Ziqing merely relocated the people and hungry ghosts within Jinlan Mountain, then headed straight for that seemingly virtual and illusory world.

The Seven Yin King, the Lord of Yin Devils, the Lord of Dream Dao.

If their real body descended, Yu Ziqing would have turned and fled.

A mere consciousness descending, with not much power, dared to barge into Jinlan Mountain so brazenly.

Truly insane.

Yu Ziqing stepped into the seemingly virtual and illusory world.

His Yin God embraced the Stele of the Earth Deity Origin, then looked at his own belly, muttering to himself,

"Earth Devil Venerate, put in some effort."

Before entering, Yu Ziqing reached out, patting his head, as rosy clouds illuminated, washing over him.

The Dadui Jade Seal also emerged, transforming into a streamer that merged into Yu Ziqing's body.

"Dadui, it's time to pay back a little interest."

Yu Ziqing closed his eyes, and entered that illusory world. When he opened them again, he saw a hellish scene.

His form was emaciated, cheeks sunken, almost skin and bones.

Wherever he looked, all across the land were emaciated corpses, all those who had starved long ago.

Yu Ziqing looked up and saw, in the distance, the Seven Yin King slowly approaching, with several Great Devils following at his side.

Yu Ziqing sensed his own power, it seemed to have vanished entirely.

Unlike what Yang had said, the Seven Yin King seemed to have amplified the power on him.

The evolution here was completely different from the others, a deeper level of evolution.

It was as real as could be.

He could distinctly feel the hunger in his belly, that state of having starved to the point of being unable to feel hunger.

His mind was dizzy, body and soul exhausted, too tired to utter a word, too tired to stand, even breathing felt laborious, too tired to want to breathe.

This was the scene he encountered not long after birth.

He was no chosen one, faced with a world with nothing to eat as far as the eye could see, what awaited him at birth was to starve to death.