"How much further to the Changeable Mansion?"
Far from the Heavenly Fire Domain and deep within the Unconstant Tao Domain, more than ten thousand li beyond its borders, three war-chariots rushed through the Void. Two Cave Heaven Stage magical beasts flapped their wings, pulling the chariots as fast as lightning.
Han Yuquan’s icy voice emanated from the central chariot.
"Bishop, we’re still a thousand miles away!"
The driver was a grey-robed man seated at the front of the chariot; he possessed Heavenly Realm cultivation. His reply was calm and composed, yet neither his expression nor his tone conveyed much respect. With his strength, he was highly revered even in the Holy Fire Sect, yet now he was acting as a mere coachman, a fact that gave one pause.
Inside the chariot, Han Yuquan let out a cold chuckle, drawing out a piece of black jade from his bosom. It emitted a black light, exceptionally profound, as if it could devour one’s soul. A subtle, enchanting force began to spread, enveloping the surrounding area. The accompanying guards, as if cursed, froze in place, their eyes unfocused and devoid of any expression.
"This is... the Soul-Control Curse!"
Realizing the unusual occurrence, the grey-robed charioteer was horrified. However, at this point, he did not suspect Han Yuquan. He hurriedly halted the chariot and warned, "Bishop, be careful! We are under attack!"
He drew his war sword and covered his body with Spiritual Energy, attempting to block the enchanting force permeating the Void. He vigilantly scanned his surroundings, not daring to be careless in the slightest. In the neighboring Tao Domains, the reputation of the Soul-Control Curse was enough to make anyone pale with fright at its mere mention. It was the Changeable Mansion’s unique and terrifying technique, capable of controlling souls and turning victims into mindless puppets.
After waiting for a while, the surroundings remained deathly quiet, with no sign of movement. The grey-robed man frowned slightly. Suddenly, his expression changed drastically as he whipped around to look at the chariot.
"So, you’ve finally realized?" Han Yuquan lifted the chariot curtain and leisurely stepped out, toying with the black jade in his hand.
"How do you know the Soul-Control Curse?" the grey-robed man demanded coldly, Sword Qi swirling around his body, making the Void tremble.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am one of the eight emissaries of the Changeable Mansion, and the supreme commander of the Heavenly Fire Domain branch!" Han Yuquan said with a smile.
But his words caused the grey-robed man’s pupils to constrict violently. A high-ranking member of the Holy Fire Sect was actually an emissary of the Changeable Mansion? Doesn’t that mean all the secrets of the Holy Fire Sect have been completely exposed?
After a long, hard look at Han Yuquan, the grey-robed man didn’t hesitate. He turned to flee, transforming into a streak of light. In the blink of an eye, he was several thousand zhang away.
He had to report this news to the Pope.
He had a premonition that the Changeable Mansion was orchestrating a monstrous conspiracy.
"Can you truly escape?" Han Yuquan’s gaze was tranquil. He took a step into the air, spatial energy suffusing his feet. His figure vanished and reappeared in an instant, directly blocking the grey-robed man’s path.
"A thousand li in a single step! You concealed your cultivation! You’re a Reaching the Holy Realm Martial Artist!" the grey-robed man cried out, his eyes filled with utter despair. If his opponent were merely at the Heavenly Realm, he would have been confident of escaping. But against a Martial Artist who had reached the Holy Realm, he had no chance at all.
"Become my puppet!" Han Yuquan let out a creepy laugh, his power at the late Reaching the Holy Realm stage erupting to seal off a hundred miles of the Void. "Being able to work for the Changeable Mansion is your honor! HEH HEH HEH..." Within this sealed region, he was the undisputed master.
Facing death, the grey-robed man, reckless of whether he could win, began to burn his lifeblood. He condensed a potent Sword Qi, and a brilliant light exploded, sweeping across the sky and earth.
Han Yuquan merely shook his head, as if mocking an ant’s futile struggle. He slowly extended his left hand, index and middle fingers pressed together, and gently tapped into the Void. A beam of black light shot out, effortlessly shattering the Sword Qi.
The grey-robed man, as if struck by a tremendous blow, was sent flying backward. He crashed heavily onto the ground, spitting out a large mouthful of fresh blood. His face turned as pale as paper, and he stared at the sky with wide, terrified eyes.
"Go!" With a wave of Han Yuquan’s right hand, the black jade stone pierced through the air. It transformed into a black, spectral shadow, like a vengeful ghost coming to claim a life, and flew into the grey-robed man’s body with a chilling wail.
This jade stone was a precious artifact. The process of forging it, while simple, was horrifying: it required the murder of ninety-nine infants. Their souls were extracted, fused into the jade, and incubated for a hundred years to form the Yin Phantom. Once possessed by this Yin Phantom, one would become a puppet, completely under another’s control.
"ARGH!" The grey-robed man began to scream in agony, clutching his head, his face contorting grotesquely. He endured for only a few minutes before his eyes glazed over, his consciousness completely extinguished.
In the end, the grey-robed man’s soul was replaced by the Yin Phantom. He knelt on the ground, pledging his allegiance.
A few minutes later, the three war-chariots were speeding along once more. Han Yuquan looked out from the window, the gradually familiar environment stirring a deep excitement within him.
Thousands of years of lurking were finally about to end.
An hour later, a majestic complex of buildings, suspended in the air, appeared before Han Yuquan. Dominated by the color black, figures occasionally flitted past, exuding powerful auras.
"Envoy Han, the Mansion Master summons you!" an elder at the mid-Reaching the Holy Realm stage approached and said respectfully, welcoming him.
"Lead the way!" Han Yuquan stated indifferently. As the strongest power in the area, the Changeable Mansion maintained a strict hierarchy: individuals in the early Reaching the Holy Realm stage served as Deacons, those in the mid-stage as Elders, those in the late stage as Envoys or Protectors, and those at the Peak of Reaching the Holy Realm were Supreme Elders. Further up were the Saint Ancestors.
Under the elder’s guidance, Han Yuquan entered the largest palace. After he went in, the Formation outside the palace activated, sealing it off from any external prying. This was a high-level meeting; even Elders were not qualified to attend.
What was discussed in this meeting remained unknown to outsiders. All that was known was that two days later, an army of one hundred thousand soldiers departed from the Changeable Mansion. Accompanying them were two Supreme Elders, three Protectors, and five Elders.
Their direction of march was precisely towards the Heavenly Fire Domain.
As the Changeable Mansion dispatched its army, the Qin Empire’s forces officially arrived outside Demonfire City. They arrayed themselves in neat formations, weapons gleaming, their gazes as sharp as eagles’, completely encircling the city.
A dense, suffocating Evil Qi swept across the surrounding hundreds of miles. Every living creature within this region trembled in terror.
Birds dared not cross the vast sky.
Tigers dared not roar in the mountain forests.
Inside and outside the city, an eerie quiet descended. Everyone held their breath, awaiting the inevitable battle.
On the city wall, Duan Shouming stood ramrod straight, his expression grave as he watched the enemy army below. This battle, they could not afford to lose again. Behind him stood the Holy Fire Sect’s five remaining Saint Ancestors. Beneath their cold masks, Evil Qi roiled, and killing intent seethed.
"Relay the order: besiege the city!" Emperor Qin, standing on the command platform, waved his command flag.
The army began its charge, its morale soaring like a rainbow. All the Qin soldiers harbored an unshakeable belief in victory. They knew that once Demonfire City fell, they could march directly upon the Holy City. And by capturing the Holy City and vanquishing the Holy Fire Sect, the Qin Empire’s territory would span two Tao Domains.
They, as participating soldiers, knew that if they won this battle, they would bring glory to their ancestors and families, benefiting their descendants for countless generations!
For the Empire, fight!
For the future generations of the Qin people, fight!