Chapter 671: A Deal

Episode 1: Secret Technique "Three Autumn Leaves"

By I Eat Tomatoes

Everything on the ice river is indestructible.

Even mighty beings of the Seventh Tribulation realm, exerting their full power, cannot break off a corner of the iceberg or draw a scoop of water.

"No treasures can be obtained here, nor are there any opportunities for cultivation. Once you enter, you can't leave, which is why no factions occupy this place." Meng Chuan smiled. Soul Tribulation realm experts could easily send a soul avatar to explore, but physical body Tribulation realm experts couldn't do the same.

"It's quite an eye-opener. Time to cultivate diligently."

Meng Chuan focused on traversing the nebula, meticulously experiencing the shifting void of the nebula. His Soul World expanded, using the mysteries of spatial rules to resist the nebula's influence, trying to move closer to the ice river.

Three thousand li, two thousand eight hundred li, two thousand seven hundred li... the distance grew shorter.

Occasionally, if he failed, he would be teleported hundreds of billions of li away, but Meng Chuan would continue his journey.

"This place suits me quite well," Meng Chuan nodded slightly.

The Ice River Nebula had no spatial rule guidance; it was merely an array set up by a mysterious Eighth Tribulation realm mighty being to prevent outsiders from approaching.

The closer one got to the palace deep within the Ice River, the more powerful the array became.

However, Meng Chuan's foundation was already very profound. For him, what he needed wasn't guidance; "The Void Atlas" provided more than enough. Instead, deciphering the nebula array allowed Meng Chuan to skillfully apply the mysteries of spatial rules. The process of breaking through the array and advancing towards the ice river made his understanding of spatial rules even clearer.

While Meng Chuan cultivated diligently, in the distant Fangcheng River Domain, on a Lunar Star, there was a rather secluded cave mansion. It spanned a million li and was protected by numerous large arrays. Even a Fifth Tribulation realm mighty being who stumbled into it would perish.

In one corner of this cave mansion, there was a vast area of dome-shaped houses. Each dome-shaped building covered only about ten zhang, serving as the residences for the Monarchs.

Each building housed one Monarch.

These Monarchs varied in appearance, coming from different worlds and races, but they now shared a common identity—servants of the Black Demon Hall.

"One hundred and eighty-eight years left," said a red-robed cultivator with a large head and small body, sitting cross-legged inside one of the dome-shaped buildings. His three eyes on his massive head were slightly narrowed. "After serving the Black Demon Hall for a thousand years, I'll regain my freedom. I only have one hundred and eighty-eight years until then."

"The Black Demon Hall is truly greedy. We paid two hundred units of outer realm primeval crystals, and still have to serve them for a millennium without any benefits during that time."

"However, they are trustworthy in that they won't seize my remaining treasures as long as I serve them loyally."

The red-robed cultivator felt quite fortunate.

The Black Demon Hall offered a way out to Monarchs during their massacres because their large-scale operations required 'henchmen'. Otherwise, when dealing with bustling trading stars, where cultivators fled in droves, without enough subordinates, they couldn't set up enough arrays, and most cultivators would escape.

Not seizing the Monarchs' remaining treasures was the only hope given to them, and all members of the Black Demon Hall had to adhere to this rule. Otherwise, if this rule wasn't upheld, the captured Monarchs wouldn't serve loyally and would rather self-destruct their outer realm true bodies.

There were also Black Demon Hall members who broke the rules, plundering the treasures of Monarchs who had diligently served for a millennium. If such acts could be kept completely secret, that was one thing, but once exposed, they would face severe punishment from the Black Demon Hall and would find it impossible to move freely throughout the entire River of Spacetime. Thus, without sufficient temptation or special reasons, Black Demon Hall members would not break the rules.

"If not to protect this treasure, why would I be a servant for a millennium?" The red-robed cultivator sensed the wondrous item within his storage artifact.

It was a map.

It was also his greatest fortunate encounter during his ventures in the outer realms. After obtaining this map, his strength greatly advanced. He had planned to take the scroll back to his home world and place this rare treasure there. However, he traveled too slowly; with his strength, crossing several star systems to return home would take over three hundred years. Midway, he encountered an array set up by the Black Demon Hall. The Black Demon Hall had laid a vast net across that section of the outer realm void and the corresponding River of Spacetime area, and he happened to stumble right into it, becoming a captive.

"For all these years, I haven't dared to use this treasure again. I just need to endure a little longer." The red-robed cultivator's three eyes on his large head held a chilling gaze.

In the past, he had always plundered and killed as he pleased, and in his home world, he was the sole Monarch. Who would have thought he'd become a captive? He was utterly fed up with this humiliating life.

These Monarch servants were all enduring, because the Black Demon Hall had given them hope.

In the central area of this cave mansion, in a garden, three figures sat apart.

"The master of Changbo Star wants to make a deal with us, willing to offer Changbo Star."

"I never would have thought that old man, after guarding Changbo Star for so many years and nearing his lifespan's end, would simply betray tens of thousands of cultivators on Changbo Star. I think he's better suited to join our Black Demon Hall!"

"Nearing one's end, one becomes more reckless, and it's normal to want to seize the opportunity to make a huge profit. However, he wants to betray tens of thousands of cultivators on Changbo Star, but the Eternal Tower's branch on Changbo Star can communicate with the Eternal Tower's headquarters. Once we attack or the old man from Changbo Star makes a move, the Eternal Tower headquarters will immediately receive news. We need to confirm... that no Sixth Tribulation realm mighty beings will rush to stop us."

"The master of Changbo Star is offering it himself; who would meddle?"

"Slaughtering tens of thousands of cultivators, such a matter must be reported and can only be done with approval from above."

"The Black Demon Hall has too many rules."

"Fool, rules are there to save your life."

After their brief discussion, they quickly reported the matter.

Almost all Sixth and Seventh Tribulation realm experts were members of the Star Cloud Palace; whether good or evil, the Star Cloud Palace welcomed all.

Members of the Black Demon Hall also occupied a section within the Star Cloud Palace.

Inside one of the halls:

"News from the Fangcheng River Domain: Cave Master Changbo wants to sell the entire Changbo Star, along with its tens of thousands of cultivators, to us. Check if this can be done."

"In the vicinity of the Fangcheng River Domain, there are eight Sixth Tribulation realm members of the Eternal Tower. According to the Eternal Tower's task assignment rules, the task should be transmitted to these eight... The other seven are fine; they are Sixth Tribulation realm cultivators who have cultivated for many years and won't easily act without sufficient reason. However, there's a newly advanced 'City Lord Dongning' who has a soul avatar in the Taidong River Domain. The Taidong River Domain is close to the Fangcheng River Domain, so he should receive the task from the Eternal Tower. Not long ago, he acted once and completely annihilated one of our Black Demon Hall teams."

"How many times has he stopped our Black Demon Hall?"

"Just once."

The five Sixth Tribulation realm members on duty in the hall reviewed the intelligence. The purple-robed individual, after reviewing the information, nodded and said, "Issue the order. We can accept this deal."

"What if that City Lord Dongning acts again?" a gray-robed woman frowned.

"Myriad Law Star, and now this Changbo Star, have no connection to him. If he repeatedly intervenes in matters that are not his concern within a short period... it signifies that he harbors deep hostility towards our Black Demon Hall, and he's quite audacious," the purple-robed man said calmly. "Then we should take action and properly teach this City Lord Dongning a lesson about the rules."

The other members also nodded.

Although the Black Demon Hall was notorious, it also adhered to rules and generally wouldn't directly attack forces under a Sixth Tribulation realm mighty being.

The Black Demon Hall could tolerate a Sixth Tribulation realm mighty being acting two or three times occasionally to save some allied forces. After all, they didn't care if a few Fifth Tribulation realm cultivators died.

However, if there was no connection, and a Sixth Tribulation realm mighty being actively accepted tasks and repeatedly foiled their plans, then the Black Demon Hall would show its fangs.

"In my opinion, according to the intelligence, this City Lord Dongning is very low-key and doesn't cause trouble. He rarely participates in missions from the Eternal Tower or the White Bird Pavilion, so he likely won't clash with our Black Demon Hall twice in a short period," a withered grass life form said with a slight smile. "Of course, if he does act, it will be even more interesting."