The eyes of the Nine Nether Elder gleamed, looking at Xu Ping with a semblance of a smile.

Xu Ping felt a slight chill in his heart, but remained expressionless, merely smiled humbly:

"Senior Nine Nether praises too much, I dare not speak of Qi luck with my insignificant Dao skills, merely doing my best and leaving it to fate."

Regarding the matter of Qi luck, he has always deliberately restrained and concealed, to avoid unnecessary probing.

The words of the Nine Nether Elder, seemingly intentional yet unintentional, made him even more vigilant.

The topic seemed to have deviated, Hongyi lightly coughed to bring the conversation back on track: "Besides the news of the Wan Zai Ling Sui Yu, there is another matter to inform Fellow Daoist Xu."

Xu Ping composed himself: "Please speak, Fellow Daoist Hong."

Hongyi’s expression turned somewhat serious: "As for the Star Palace, although there hasn’t been any large-scale movements recently, the infiltration in secret has never stopped, moreover... it seems to be intensifying.

"The target is primarily the major top-tier forces of the Outer Sea."

"Infiltrating Outer Sea forces?"

Xu Ping’s brow instantly furrowed.

This was truly not good news for him.

The Star Palace is like a sword hanging overhead, never truly put down.

Once the forces of the Outer Sea are gradually infiltrated, the encirclement will only get smaller.

"Are there any confirmed targets?" Xu Ping asked in a deep voice.

Hongyi’s eyes slightly narrowed, lowering his voice: "Based on some clues I have, it can be basically confirmed that ’Hundred Cloud Hall’ has already been infiltrated by the Star Palace."

"Hundred Cloud Hall?" Xu Ping was slightly shocked.

Hundred Cloud Hall is even stronger than Mystic Water Sect, and it was infiltrated quietly?

"Are there any other forces affected?" Xu Ping pursued.

Hongyi shook his head: "Currently, only Hundred Cloud Hall is clearly known, but undercurrents may suggest more, it’s hard to say. The Star Palace has always acted mysteriously."

Thoughts rapidly raced through Xu Ping’s mind, considering various possibilities, yet his face remained unchanged, simply clasping hands again: "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Hong, for informing me of such crucial news, Xu Mou is immensely grateful."

Hongyi waved his hand: "No need for courtesy, just a reminder to Fellow Daoist."

After chatting for a while longer, Hongyi and the Nine Nether Elder got up to say goodbye.

Xu Ping personally escorted the two to the island’s exterior, watching their escape light vanish into the horizon, only then returning to Blood Bone Hall.

In the empty hall, Xu Ping’s expression was solemn as he paced slowly.

The Star Palace’s infiltration was like a poisonous thorn piercing his heart.

Action was necessary, he couldn’t sit and wait for death.

Otherwise, once the Star Palace’s network expanded, his Blood Bone Island would inevitably become a target.

However... he still felt that Hongyi and the Nine Nether Elder came today to inform him of the Wan Zai Ling Sui Yu news as one thing, but revealing the Star Palace’s infiltration also seemed to harbor a desire to have him prevent the Star Palace.

So, what exactly were these two planning?

"Be it so, regardless of everything, strengthening oneself is fundamental, Ten Thousand Demon Mountain must be visited!" A glint of light flashed in Xu Ping’s eyes.

The urgent task at hand was to find the Wan Zai Ling Sui Yu.

Of course, before leaving, he had to cut off the Star Palace’s minions, and at least stir the waters further.

...

Above the clouds, the escape lights of Hongyi and the Nine Nether Elder flew side by side.

Hongyi transmitted his voice: "Senior, do you think Fellow Daoist Xu has the ability to quietly resolve the hidden dangers of Star Palace’s infiltration this time?"

A profound light flashed in the muddy eyes of the Nine Nether Elder, who replied faintly: "Perhaps he can."

This youngster hides many secrets, last time the Star Palace was driven out of the Outer Sea by the Demon Race, I always felt afterwards, as if there was a shadow of this youngster secretly pushing things."

"Even if not successful, it doesn’t matter, we have alternative preparations."

Upon hearing this, Hongyi nodded silently, no longer speaking further.

The two escape lights accelerated, soon disappearing into the vast horizon towards the Inner Sea.

...

A year later.

After arranging everything diligently, Xu Ping quietly departed.

Ten Thousand Demon Mountain is located in the core area governed by the Star Palace — inland, extremely far from the Outer Sea.

If an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator relied on their own escape light flying day and night, it might take tens of years or even longer.

However, to consolidate its rule, the Star Palace has constructed a relatively complete long-distance teleportation network within its domain.

Though Xu Ping was reluctant to have too much contact with the Star Palace, to save time, he had no choice but to use these teleportation arrays.

He changed his appearance, disguising as an ordinary early-stage Nascent Soul loose cultivator, paying a significant amount of Spirit Stone, and conducted transmissions one after another.

Even so, crossing such a vast distance took him nearly three years.

On this day, Xu Ping finally arrived at the destination of his trip — the outskirts of Ten Thousand Demon Mountain.

As far as the eye could see, it was a stretch of unending, black mountain ranges.

The mountains were rugged and unusual, as if twisted by immense force, taking on an unnatural shape.

The sky was always shrouded by heavy, lead-gray clouds, making sunlight hard to penetrate, enveloping the mountain range with an oppressive, eerie atmosphere.

More peculiar was that the area’s Spiritual Qi intertwined and jumbled with pure Demonic Qi, forming a highly corrosive energy environment, making people feel extremely uncomfortable and cold.

The Demon Beasts here, therefore, underwent mutations, mostly becoming extraordinarily brutal, bloodthirsty, with eyes full of chaos and madness.

Not to mention the legendary true ancient demons falling through spatial rifts, hanging like a death scythe over every entrant’s head.

However, danger often coexists with opportunity.

The unique environment of Ten Thousand Demon Mountain also nurtures some rare Spirit Grasses and minerals.

Especially those materials containing pure Demonic Qi or those undergoing special mutations, are treasures to demon cultivators and cultivators practicing special techniques.