The turmoil in Yanjing City was quickly suppressed after lasting for a whole night.

Most of the strong members of the Witch Fiend Sect within Yanjing City were killed, with only a few, like the Left Guardian, managing to escape. On their way out of Yanjing City, they encountered the Elder Supreme of the Ling Family returning from outside the city.

After a fierce battle, the Black Heart Saint of the Witch Fiend Sect was killed by the Elder Supreme of the Ling Family, while the others suffered varying degrees of injuries before they managed to escape Yanjing City.

All the traitors and spies responding to the Witch Fiend Sect within the city were also cleansed.

This time, the Ling Family essentially wiped out the Witch Fiend Sect's forces that had been lurking in Yanjing City. The sect's influence, painstakingly built over hundreds of years in the city, was eradicated overnight, suffering devastating losses.

Moreover, they lost a Saint level Elder.

It seemed that the Witch Fiend Sect undoubtedly suffered great losses, enduring an unprecedented blow and heavy defeat.

However, none of the Ling Family members felt victorious.

Ling Chen ultimately escaped from Yanjing City.

Even with so many top experts in action, they couldn't retrieve the Saint's Soul Niche.

In this situation, the Ling Family was mobilizing its entire family power, preparing an expedition to the East Sea to attack the Witch Fiend Sect, destroy them, and reclaim the Saint's Soul Niche.

...

At this moment, in the distant East Sea, there lay an island shrouded in mist, Spirit Snake Island.

On the western side of Spirit Snake Island, in the Huang Quan Pavilion.

The whole Huang Quan Pavilion appeared empty, emitting an odor of the dead.

In the center of the Huang Quan Pavilion, an altar stood prominently, surrounded by an ancient array formation, exuding a bloody and eerie aura.

At the center of the array, inside a massive coffin, lay a breathtakingly beautiful woman with a delicate jade-like body. Her face was pale without blood, yet it couldn't conceal her enchanting charm, reminiscent of a sleeping beauty, lying there peacefully.

Beside this coffin stood seven figures—the Left and Right Guardians of the Witch Fiend Sect, the three Saint Elders, the Hades Supreme, and Ling Chen—everyone was present.

The Left Guardian's gaze fell on Ling Chen, speaking with a smile, "Little friend Ling Chen, to awaken this maiden, we need the Saint's Soul Niche. Please bring it out now."

As his voice fell, numerous eyes in the hall also converged on Ling Chen.

Upon hearing this, Ling Chen, without further ado, flipped his palm, revealing a black box enveloped in a blue aura.

"This is the Saint's Soul Niche!"

The Left Guardian's eyes slightly narrowed; even though he had seen it once before, he couldn't hide the fervor in his eyes. The others were even more eager, nearly unable to restrain themselves from trying to snatch it.

Ling Chen could tell that this Saint's Soul Niche was likely entangled in some secret between the Ling Family and the Witch Fiend Sect. However, he wasn't interested in the secret; he just wanted to awaken Xia Yunxin, that was all.

Amidst those covetous gazes that seemed to emit green light, Ling Chen retrieved the Saint's Soul Niche again, instantly causing the Witch Fiend Sect members' expressions to darken.

"Kid, don't play tricks."

The Saint Elders of the Witch Fiend Sect appeared eager to make a move against Ling Chen, probably held back only because the Saint's Soul Niche was in his hands, and they feared unintended consequences.

"This thing seems very important to you."

Ling Chen maintained a calm and collected demeanor, raising the Saint's Soul Niche slightly, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth, "What if I hand the Saint's Soul Niche over to you, and then you collectively tear the vote, not only refusing to save my friend but also uniting to attack me? Wouldn't I be doomed then?"

Hearing this, the sinister look in the Left Guardian's eyes quickly vanished, replaced by a smile, "Little friend Ling Chen, you're overthinking. I value you greatly. If you are willing, join our Witch Fiend Sect, and we can directly appoint you as our Sect's Saint Child, and the future heir to the Sect Leader. Joining forces to harm you appears to have no benefit for us."

"The Left Guardian makes a reasoned point, but one should never be without caution," Ling Chen's eyebrows raised, a gleam appearing in his eyes, "In case of emergency, I've tampered with the Saint's Soul Niche. If you dare to do anything untoward, I'll detonate it, and then none of us will benefit."

"Detonate the Saint's Soul Niche? Kid, I fear you are bluffing."

The speaker was the Thousand Ghosts Saint, who sneered, "The Saint's Soul Niche is a high-rank sacred object, beyond the destructive capabilities of someone like you." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Haha, if you don't believe me, feel free to try!"

Ling Chen also sneered continuously, "Even though I can't destroy it, I can cause it to malfunction at a critical moment."

Ling Chen wasn't bluffing; he had indeed planted a Sword Intent Seed within the Saint's Soul Niche, a technique taught to him by the Human Emperor. Though it couldn't destroy such a level of treasure, it could surely cause it to malfunction, preventing it from operating properly.

"Haha, little friend Ling Chen is overly cautious."

The Right Protector suddenly laughed heartily, but this laughter only made the scars on his face appear even more terrifying. He looked at Ling Chen with a smiling face, "But that is understandable; prudence prevents future woes. If I were in your position, I would do the same."

"We will first awaken your friend, and only then will you hand over an untampered Saint's Soul Niche. Will that do?"

The Right Protector suggested.

"If you can awaken her, the Saint's Soul Niche, I will deliver to you cleanly."

Ling Chen replied calmly.

"Good! Then it's settled!"

The Right Protector nodded, then looked towards the Hades Supreme, giving her a glance, "No time to delay, let's begin immediately!"

"Yes."

The Hades Supreme bowed slightly, then her expression turned serious, addressing everyone, "Please step outside the array formation."

Then she turned her gaze to Ling Chen, "Please, young master Ling Chen, hand over the Saint's Soul Niche to me."

This time, Ling Chen readily handed over the Saint's Soul Niche to the Hades Supreme and stepped out of the array.

As soon as she received the Saint's Soul Niche, the Hades Supreme immediately enwrapped it with True Qi, then slowly suspended it above Xia Yunxin's body.

From the Saint's Soul Niche, strands of faint blue light suddenly flowed out, gradually covering Xia Yunxin's entire body.

These strands of faint blue light seemed to seep into Xia Yunxin's body through her pores.

At this moment, the Hades Supreme picked up the previously prepared mugwort, dipped it in the adjacent talisman water, and then sprinkled drops of the water onto Xia Yunxin's delicate body.

After absorbing the talisman water, a rare hint of color appeared on Xia Yunxin's originally paper-white face.

Witnessing this, Ling Chen's eyes narrowed abruptly, and his body couldn't help but tremble.