"Hook Star Palace?"

Li Boyang looked up at the plaque above his head, which seemed to be constantly shifting, and slowly spoke out the true name of this palace.

And right in the center of this palace.

The corpse of Hook Star sat solemnly on the throne, taking on a posture as if ruling the world.

"Huo Ji?"

Reaching out to stop the rather impulsive Xiluo, Li Boyang squinted and asked.

Upon hearing Li Boyang’s words, the Cyan Bird immediately alighted on Xiluo’s shoulder, watching the corpse of Hook Star with a vigilant gaze.

"I knew you would come sooner or later."

Hook Star’s corpse didn’t change in the slightest, but its shadow slowly rose beneath it.

In an instant, a Shadow Evil Dharma Aspect wearing a [Monkey Mask] formed dramatically.

Unlike Li Boyang’s Shadow Evil Dharma Aspect.

Huo Ji’s Shadow Evil Dharma Aspect was evidently still in a half-baked stage.

Not only could it not achieve any wishful transformations, but its very existence severely depended on Hook Star’s corpse.

Yet, even so, Huo Ji’s transformation was enough to stun Xiluo and the Cyan Bird, who knew the inside story.

If not for seeing it with their own eyes, they would find it really hard to imagine that the Water God, who failed to forcibly break into becoming a Celestial God, was still able to survive in the perilous environment of the Celestial Emperor’s Capital.

No, not merely survived.

He even adapted to the Primordial Qi turbulence after "Wu Yi Shoots the Sky" and cultivated a Shadow Evil Dharma Aspect somewhat similar to Li Boyang’s.

"Using the shadow of a strong one to bear ’Celestial Evil Qi’..."

"Your comprehension and talent stand out among all the people and gods I’ve ever encountered."

Li Boyang hadn’t forgotten during the water calamity initiated by Wuzhiqi.

Huo Ji was also the first to grasp the existence of the "Breathing Technique," and even as a result, summoned one of the powerful Guhuo Birds—Hidden Flight.

"But what I’m more curious about now is, why did you deliberately leave a Dharma Aspect here to wait for me? What do you want to say?"

Li Boyang had already realized that not just this Shadow Evil Dharma Aspect, but even the corpse of Hook Star was deliberately left by Huo Ji.

"It’s simple, I want to leave this damned place."

Huo Ji’s voice was full of helplessness, yet also filled with trust in Li Boyang.

Because having fought against Li Boyang, Huo Ji knew even more clearly about Li Boyang’s character and abilities.

Since the other party came to this Returning Void for the Celestial Erosion Monarch as he anticipated, he must have full confidence to get out of here.

Although, in terms of current facts, Huo Ji guessed half wrong about the original intention.

But Li Boyang indeed possessed the ability to leave this Returning Void, of that Huo Ji was not mistaken.

However, Huo Ji clearly knew that, even if Li Boyang could leave the Returning Void, he would absolutely not let him hitch a ride.

So he had his own plan and notion, and needed to leverage Li Boyang’s powerful strength.

"The Celestial Erosion Monarch has been lured by me to the fall point of the Eighth Heaven."

"That place may be connected to the only intact Ninth Heaven of the Celestial Emperor’s Capital..."

Before Huo Ji finished his words, Li Boyang already smiled knowingly.

"You want to use the Ninth Heaven to escape here, but you’re well aware that your strength is simply not enough."

"No, you should have realized after luring the Celestial Erosion Monarch to the fall point of the Eighth Heaven that your strength could never break through the Eighth Heaven."

"So you want to repeat old tricks and use the Celestial Erosion Monarch as bait to lead me into the trap?"

Taking a deep look at Li Boyang, Huo Ji’s Shadow Evil Dharma Aspect involuntarily twisted.

"On this point, you’re wrong. I don’t think those remains of gods in the Eighth Heaven can stop you at all."

"You’re different from the Celestial Erosion Monarch. He is but a stubborn brute, while you are the truly unique Celestial Being, destined to achieve and become an ancestor."

On one hand, Huo Ji indeed feared Li Boyang’s abilities, especially his unconventional methods.

On the other hand, Huo Ji’s admiration for Li Boyang was genuine, particularly for his incredible creativity.

"It seems you’ve perfectly inherited everything from the Guhuo Bird, including Hook Star’s memory?"

Li Boyang did not respond to Huo Ji right away but rather asked thoughtfully.

"Then can you tell me... where is the soul of the Huai River Witch now?"

When Li Boyang asked this.

Beside him, Xiluo suddenly widened her eyes, looking incredulously at Huo Ji’s Shadow Evil Dharma Aspect.

Even though Xiluo had long accepted the fact of Wu Yao’s death and greatly despised the Celestial Erosion Monarch’s obsession.

But when she truly had a chance to know the whereabouts of the Huai River Witch’s soul, a slight tremor inevitably aroused in her heart.

"Is this considered a transaction?"

After a brief silence, Huo Ji asked.

"No, it’s merely my personal curiosity."

Glancing at Xiluo unobtrusively, Li Boyang’s voice appeared exceptionally calm.

"Even if you don’t say, with Hook Star’s corpse here, it’s not difficult for me to find the truth."

Li Boyang was not deceiving Huo Ji when he said this; he was stating a fact.

"Furthermore, with you here, it can spare me a lot of effort and trouble."

Perceptively sensing Li Boyang’s ill intent in his words.

Huo Ji hadn’t yet realized what Li Boyang meant by this.

Only to see the shadow beneath him suddenly dart out and connect at lightning speed to his own Shadow Evil Dharma Aspect.

In just a split second, Huo Ji lost control over the Shadow Evil Dharma Aspect, replaced by a continuous surge of Evil Qi pouring in from deep within the earth.

"You don’t understand the essence of the Shadow Evil Dharma Aspect, simply using the shadow of a strong one to bear the Evil Qi."

"This shortcut indeed allows you to bypass the initial cultivation barriers and directly possess a tangible shadow."

Looking at Huo Ji, who wanted to struggle but was immobilized, Li Boyang explained with a smile.

"But the problem is, if it’s not your shadow, how can you have complete control?"

"You think a shadow is just a simple vehicle..."

"But it’s actually our incarnation on a two-dimensional plane as high-dimensional beings."

"Some powerful witchcraft can even directly curse the original body through the shadow; thus, the shadow is seen as an extension of the soul, a symbol of spirituality."

The voice paused slightly, and Li Boyang could clearly see the fear on Huo Ji’s face.

The emotion of panic that even the [Monkey Mask] couldn’t hide was proof that Li Boyang wasn’t deceiving him.

Huo Ji could distinctly feel the Shadow Evil Dharma Aspect slipping away from his control bit by bit, forced into a much larger low-dimensional space.

That was the world of shadows, a special space opened by Li Boyang for his Shadow Evil Dharma Aspect.

In that space, countless indescribable shadow creatures were extending their tendrils toward Huo Ji, trying to drag his soul into that low-dimensional space.

"Your talent on the path of the Celestial Being is indeed strong, but it’s a pity you don’t like to walk the righteous path."

☞☞Moon Tickets☜☜/☞☞Recommendation Tickets☜☜

```