"My lord, you’ve finally arrived. This humble one is indeed the leader of the first layer world of the Ten Thousand Beasts List, known as ’Shuo Yan’."

A bewitching white-clad woman stood respectfully, her voice echoing in Qin Yu’s mind.

"Shuo Yan?"

Qin Yu nodded, "I’ve noticed that the weakest beings in the first layer of the Ten Thousand Beasts List seem to be of the Seventh Level Heavenly Demon rank. There seem to be several hundred Spiritual Beasts of the Ninth Level Heavenly Demon rank. Why is that?"

As the owner of the Ten Thousand Beasts List, although currently unable to control the second and third layer worlds, Qin Yu had a thorough understanding of the first layer world.

In this first layer world, the weakest Spiritual Beasts were Seventh Level Heavenly Demons, and the strongest were naturally Ninth Level Heavenly Demons.

There were two to three hundred Ninth Level Heavenly Demons, with several hundred of both Eighth and Seventh Level Heavenly Demons as well. In total, there were nearly a thousand Spiritual Beasts. This made Qin Yu very curious why the weakest were all Seventh Level Heavenly Demons.

"My lord, when we followed Immortal Emperor Ni Yang in his conquests across the worlds of Immortals, Demons, and Spirits, there were indeed many Second Level and Third Level Heavenly Demons in the first layer world. But ever since Immortal Emperor Ni Yang died, many years have passed. Over such a long time, most Spiritual Beasts with decent aptitude have cultivated to the Demon King realm and were directly transferred to the second layer world. We... are the ones with poorer aptitude," said Shuo Yan, somewhat ashamed.

Qin Yu was slightly taken aback.

He finally understood.

Immortal Emperor Ni Yang had been dead for a long time, and that length of time was enough for those Spiritual Beasts to cultivate to the Demon King Realm. This was why the weakest in the first layer world were all Seventh Level Heavenly Demons.

"You are the ones with poor aptitude? Does that mean... there are even more Spiritual Beasts in the second layer world?" Qin Yu inquired.

Shuo Yan was clear in her heart, "My lord might not be aware of the conditions in the second layer world of the Ten Thousand Beasts List without having reached the Demon King Realm. Yes, the second layer world definitely has more Spiritual Beasts than the first layer world. Just from what we know, over a thousand Spiritual Beasts have been transferred from the first to the second layer world."

Qin Yu was secretly astonished in his heart.

What a formidable force this was.

Ninth Level Heavenly Demon Spiritual Beasts, aren’t they equivalent to Twelfth Tribulation Independent Practitioners? To think that he now possessed two to three hundred of these, in addition to a large number of Eighth and Seventh Level Heavenly Demons, Qin Yu felt a tremor in his heart.

"No wonder Ao Feng and a group of others were so keen to obtain this Ten Thousand Beasts List. They are at the First Level Demon King Realm, and if they got the Ten Thousand Beasts List, they could unlock the second layer world. That means they could control the Ninth Level Demon King Spiritual Beasts," Qin Yu thought with a start.

His Sword Immortal Puppet at the Ninth Level Golden Immortal was already so powerful.

If Ao Feng and the others obtained the Ten Thousand Beasts List, wouldn’t they gain many Ninth Level Demon King Spiritual Beasts? Even using the Sword Immortal Puppet, he probably wouldn’t be able to compete with others for treasures.

"Lucky I made my move quickly," Qin Yu thought to himself, feeling relieved.

Qin Yu wasn’t worried about the Spiritual Beasts daring to rebel; if the Spiritual Beasts thought about rebelling, the master would know immediately. With a mere thought from the master, the Spiritual Beast would die on the spot.

If a Spiritual Beast wanted to regain freedom, there were only two ways.

One was to cultivate to the point where it could exist independently of its soul, which was nearly impossible.

The second way was... for the master to die, provided that the master’s death had nothing to do with the Spiritual Beast. Sometimes, some despicable masters would kill all their Spiritual Beasts when they were dying.

After all, for a master to kill their own Spiritual Beasts takes but a mere thought.

With just a thought, a Spiritual Beast would be annihilated, soul and spirit scattered.

"Immortal Emperor Ni Yang, at least, wasn’t so ruthless as to kill all the Spiritual Beasts before he died. If he had killed them, leaving me to capture the beasts myself, that would have been quite a helpless situation," Qin Yu secretly rejoiced in his heart.

Indeed, when Immortal Emperor Ni Yang died, he didn’t slaughter the beasts but left them for the successors.

At that moment—

"Those in the second layer of the Nine-layered Heaven, quickly proceed to the third layer. Should you fail to enter the third layer and choose a room, you will be deemed to have forfeited. The Restriction of Nine-layered Heaven will then kill you," an icy voice reached Qin Yu’s ears.

Startled, Qin Yu hurriedly followed Sword Immortal Lan Feng and swiftly stepped into the third layer.

×

At this moment, in the central hall of the third layer of the Nine-layered Heaven, seven individuals including Man Qian and Du Zhongjun were standing respectfully. Not one dared show the slightest disrespect, for in front of them stood a lean and dark-skinned man.

The lean dark man simply swept his gaze over the crowd, and everyone felt like a tiny boat in a tumultuous wave, their lives no longer controlled by their own hands.

Following the sound of footsteps, Qin Yu followed behind Lan Feng, entering the vast hall of the third layer.

Not a trace of a smile could be seen on the lean dark man’s stern and indifferent face, but when he looked at Qin Yu, he unexpectedly nodded with a rare smile. Yet, when his gaze fell on the Sword Immortal Puppet, his face revealed a hint of surprise.

"Kid, is this an external incarnation? No, that can’t be right, your cultivation is too weak, how can your external incarnation be so strong? It’s so strange, I can’t even sense his presence. Could it be..."

The voice of the lean dark man echoed in Qin Yu’s mind.

The man’s gaze toward Qin Yu changed once again, "Unexpected, indeed unexpected. If those two fools had come, they certainly wouldn’t have noticed. Kid, I was originally dissatisfied with you becoming the master of the Ten Thousand Beasts List for this generation, but now... I’m very pleased!"

The lean dark man’s face erupted into a smile, as if flowers were blossoming on it.

But to Qin Yu, who heard these words, everything remained unclear.

What does it mean? Seeing the Sword Immortal Puppet, he’s very pleased with me becoming the master of the Ten Thousand Beasts List? What kind of logic is that? Qin Yu couldn’t figure it out. However, Qin Yu could feel... that this lean dark man before him was too terrifying, far more so than the Sword Immortal Puppet.

"Alright, all ’nine’ of you have arrived," the lean dark man emphasized the word ’nine,’ and specifically cast a smirk at Qin Yu. He then resumed his solemn demeanor as he looked at everyone present.

Qin Yu understood that the lean dark man had seen through the true nature of the Sword Immortal Puppet.

"Now, let’s see who can exceed their bounds the most. There are seventeen rooms here, and each can only be entered three times. You... choose first," the lean dark man pointed at Hua Yan.

Hua Yan was startled.

In fact, no one wanted to make the first choice, but who would dare to defy the command of the lean dark man?

"Yes, Senior," Hua Yan respectfully responded, but upon catching the sharp flash in the lean dark man’s eye, as if possessed by a ghost, Hua Yan ended up choosing the room with the weakest Sword Qi—the first room.

The Sword Qi of the first room was the maximum power released by a First Level Golden Immortal that Immortal Emperor Ni Yang had suppressed.

"The first room, Hua Yan, have you gone mad?" Du Zhongjun spoke up.

Hua Yan shook his head with a wry smile, "Immortal Emperor Ni Yang held great disapproval toward the envoys of the Immortal Realm. I’m afraid choosing a room with stronger Sword Qi could cost me my little life; I’d better pick the first room."

"Clap, clap, clap!" The lean dark man applauded, "Smart, Ni Yang indeed held great disdain for the envoys from the Immortal Realm. His death, it cannot be separated from several of Emperor Yu’s doings in the Immortal Realm."

The others immediately understood upon hearing this.

So the death of Immortal Emperor Ni Yang had something to do with Emperor Yu and other Immortal Emperors. No wonder Immortal Emperor Ni Yang was so antagonistic towards envoys from the Immortal Realm.

"Little guy from the Immortal Realm, Ni Yang had entrusted me to increase the difficulty by three times for anyone descending from the Immortal Realm. Even if you enter this first chamber, you will be attacked by three sword energies at once. Be careful," the skinny black man actually revealed some secrets.

Hua Yan was delighted in his heart, and immediately bowed, saying, "Thank you, Senior."

If not for the skinny black man revealing this information, when he entered the room unprepared, he could have been shot by three sword energies at the same time. He might have even died on the spot.

"Don’t be so verbose, I’m in a good mood today... Haha, I also need to thank Emperor Yu and a few others. If it weren’t for the death of Immortal Emperor Ni Yang, how would the Ten Thousand Beasts List have its current master?" The skinny black man’s face was all smiles.

Qin Yu was filled with doubts from the sidelines.

This skinny black man didn’t seem to grieve at all over Ni Yang’s death.

"Get inside already." The skinny black man suddenly shouted coldly, making Hua Yan’s face turn instantly pale and blood spill from his mouth. Just one cold shout and such immense power that it shocked everyone.

"Yes, Senior." Hua Yan dared not waste any more time and directly entered the first chamber.

Just a short while later—

Hua Yan, with a pale face, walked out of the chamber. He had been seriously injured by the skinny black man’s cold shout, and to then face three consecutive Sky-breaking Sword Energies while severely injured, he was lucky to be alive.

"You really have a strong life." The skinny black man said with a smile, then waved his hand.

On the hall wall, a line of text appeared: "Immortal Realm, Hua Yan, surpassed Level Zero, success!"

"Next, Ao Feng." The skinny black man pointed his finger at Ao Feng.

Ao Feng bowed and said, "Yes, Senior." Not daring to delay, he immediately entered the third chamber. The scene of Hua Yan being injured for stalling was fresh in everyone’s memory. Who would dare to delay?

Raging roars of a dragon could be heard from the chamber.

Only moments later—

Ao Feng walked out of the chamber, his face slightly pale with traces of blood on his body.

The skinny black man waved his hand, and beneath "Hua Yan" on the hall wall, another line of text appeared—"Dragon Clan, Ao Feng, surpassed two levels, success!"

At this moment, everyone was holding their breath.

With two people coming out alive in succession, everyone understood that one should never be too greedy. One should try to surpass as many levels as possible while ensuring their survival.

"Third, Yu Liang." The skinny black man then pointed at Yu Liang.

Yu Liang was very puzzled; how did this skinny black man know his name, when he had never mentioned his name in front of him?

Despite his confusion, Yu Liang still responded resolutely and respectfully on his face, "Yes, Senior," and directly entered the second chamber.

Yu Liang, only a Twelfth Tribulation Independent Demon, originally wanted to challenge the first chamber, but the three sword energies in the first chamber had been used up all at once while dealing with Hua Yan. So, he had no choice but to choose the second chamber instead.

Man Qian, Du Zhongjun, Fang Tian, Zong Jue, Qin Yu, and others were all silently waiting.

The later it got, the more they could choose their rooms based on others’ performance.

Suddenly, the door to Room No. 2 opened. Yu Liang, his clothes completely destroyed and his body covered in blood, was so gravely injured that he didn’t even have the strength to tidy up his appearance. As soon as he came out, he collapsed to the ground.

"Luckily, there was only one Sword Qi. Thankfully, I have a Top-Grade Demon Artifact. If there had been another Sword Qi, I would have undoubtedly died," Yu Liang said as he lay on the ground, beginning to quietly recover.

The thin, dark-skinned man smiled and nodded, then waved his hand.

Following Hua Yan and Ao Feng, a new line of words appeared—’Demon Race, Yu Liang, excelled by two levels, success!’

"Next, Man Qian!" the thin, dark-skinned man said indifferently.

Man Qian had a smile on his face, clearly brimming with confidence. He bowed and said, "Yes, Senior!" and immediately strode into... Room No. 7.

A Sword Qi containing the full power of a Seventh Level Golden Immortal.

Although it was the most powerful, there was only one Sword Qi. Man Qian believed that with the treasure he had taken and his Low Grade Divine Artifact, he was confident he could withstand this one Sword Qi.

After all, he was not asked to kill a Seventh Level Golden Immortal Sword Immortal, but merely to block a Sword Qi.

"Room No. 7!" Du Zhongjun’s expression changed.

He and Man Qian were both at the First Level Demon King (Demon King) Realm. Du Zhongjun himself did not have the courage to enter Room No. 7. He believed he had a chance of surviving in Room No. 6, but as for Room No. 7... the chances of survival were slim.

With a thunderous roar, the door to Room No. 7 opened.

Man Qian, surrounded by swirling Qi Force, strutted out confidently. The thin, dark-skinned man waved his hand, and once again a line of words appeared—’Demon Race, Man Qian, excelled by six levels, success!’

Suddenly—

"Four people have already entered the rooms just now, among them Hua Yan ranked last. Since only three people can enter the corresponding palace of the first layer, therefore... Hua Yan, you must now leave the Ni Yang Realm," said the thin, dark-skinned man indifferently.

Everyone present was startled, only to see the thin man wave his hand, a ray of brilliance completely enveloping the astonished Hua Yan, who then... vanished into thin air in front of everyone.

"Hua Yan has been transported out of the Ni Yang Realm. Man Qian, Ao Feng, Yu Liang, the three of you temporarily rank in the top three. You can proceed to the fourth layer’s hall first. If someone exceeds your results, I will send the last of the three of you out," the thin man said as he waved his hand, and Man Qian, Ao Feng, and Yu Liang instantly disappeared from the third layer’s hall.

"Senior Ao Feng, both you and I excelled by two levels, so who ranks second?" Yu Liang’s voice speaking to Ao Yan could actually be heard from the fourth layer’s hall.

In fact, the distance from the fourth layer’s hall to the third layer’s hall was only about five or six meters vertically.

"Although both Ao Feng and Yu Liang excelled by two levels, Ao Feng challenged Room No. 3, while Yu Liang challenged Room No. 2. Therefore... Ao Feng ranks second, Yu Liang ranks third," the thin man said indifferently, his voice naturally reaching the fourth layer’s hall.

Startled by the sudden voice from below, Yu Liang and Ao Feng, who had given a start, immediately fell silent.

(To be continued, if you want to find out what happens next, please log in to WWW.CMFU.COM, where there are more Chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)