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These were the cultivators devoured by the Baleful Energy—not just Human Cultivators, but even Ghost Cultivators among them.

The Baleful Energy thrives on consuming beings brimming with vitality. Driven by instinct, it yearns for the human realm, rich in spiritual energy and life. Back then, it seized the chaos of the Three Realms' War to infiltrate the human world.

Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou silently observed the monstrous figures within the dark mist.

Had Long Yi not guarded the Red Forest Continent back then, halting the spread of the Baleful Energy, the fate of the human realm would have been unthinkable. Even Ghost Cultivators from the Netherworld would have succumbed to its corruption, turning into such horrifying abominations.

The Red Lotus Karmic Fire was born for this purpose—to suppress its existence.

Realizing this, Wen Qiao instinctively tightened her grip on the man beside her.

The previously drifting dark evil *qi* sensed their approach and instantly coalesced, surging toward them like a violent black fog.

The Fallen Dragon opened its maw and unleashed a deafening roar, while the Red Lotus Karmic Fire began spreading around them.

The dark evil *qi* burned within the flames, letting out a furious howl. Seizing the moment, the Fallen Dragon soared away, breaking free from the black mist’s encirclement as if instantly teleporting out of the cavern and descending into the depths of the pit.

Without slowing, it soared on clouds and mist upward.

"Chirp~"

The baby phoenix leaped into Wen Qiao’s arms, watching excitedly as the Fallen Dragon ascended like a tempest, its chirps brimming with exhilaration.

Just as the Fallen Dragon broke through the gray mist and was about to exit the pit, Wen Qiao handed the baby phoenix to Ning Yuzhou.

Ning Yuzhou swiftly tucked it into his space.

Their movements were seamlessly synchronized. By the time the Fallen Dragon surged past the pit’s edge, facing hundreds of thousands of Ghost Cultivators, the baby phoenix was already safely hidden.

The Fallen Dragon was fully aware of their actions but said nothing, silently allowing it.

All the cultivators at the pit’s edge stared dumbfounded at the colossal dragon that had suddenly emerged from below.

Though they had come to Moonview Island for the Fallen Dragon, now that it stood before them, they realized how laughably naive their ambitions had been. How could mere mortals dare covet a divine dragon’s submission?

The Fallen Dragon’s dragon’s aura pressed down mercilessly upon the surroundings.

Instantly, another wave of cultivators collapsed to their knees, with only a handful managing to remain standing.

The dragon’s massive form loomed in mid-air, its gaze sweeping over the cultivators below.

The Ghost Saints and Ghost Emperors who barely remained upright stared in shock at the two Human Cultivators standing atop the dragon’s head. Their first thought was disbelief—had the Fallen Dragon truly submitted to these two? But they quickly dismissed the notion. Given the pride of dragonkind, no one in this world could force a dragon to bow, nor did dragons need a master.

As they pondered, the Fallen Dragon suddenly flicked its tail, sending the two hurled from its head.

Fortunately, Wen Qiao had anticipated this. As the tail lashed toward them, she pulled Ning Yuzhou along, using the momentum to land gracefully on solid ground at the pit’s edge.

The onlookers were stunned into speechlessness, their minds went blank.

The Fallen Dragon snorted. It had held back its strength, not intending to harm them, but hoping to embarrass them a little. Yet, the Divine Ghost brat reacted far too swiftly.

Once the two were safely delivered, the dragon prepared to leave—only for the little qilin, now perched on its head, to clamp onto one of its horns.

The Fallen Dragon: "…" What kind of nonsense is this? These little beasts were nothing but trouble.

Reluctantly halting, it locked eyes with the three Ghost Saints and thundered across Moonview Island:

"These two youngsters are my friends. Harm them, and you’ll meet the same end as this mountain!" With that, it lashed its tail and shattered a nearby hill with a single strike.

The small mountain instantly shattered into pieces, debris tumbling down the pit's rim.

After hearing its declaration, the little qilin finally released its grip on the dragon's horn.

The Fallen Dragon unceremoniously whipped its tail, sending the qilin flying away, before diving back into the pit and disappearing into the gray mist below.

A heavy silence fell over the pit's edge, except for the distant howling wind.

None of the cultivators present spoke, as if too stunned—or terrified—to speak. Whether Ghost Cultivators or Human Cultivators, their reactions were sluggish.

Wen Qiao caught the little qilin that had been swatted over by the dragon. After a quick look around, she quickly spotted Wen Tutu and the others.

Not only Wen Tutu, but many familiar faces were there—people from the Ji and Gui families, and those from Xuanyin City... It seemed that in the month they had spent near the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, cultivators from across the island had gathered here.

"Father! Wen Tutu!"

"Sister!"

With one arm cradling the little qilin and the other holding Ning Yuzhou's hand, Wen Qiao pushed through the staggering cultivators who were struggling to their feet. She met up with Wen Tutu and the others, checking them over carefully until she confirmed they were unharmed, finally feeling at ease.

Wen Tutu and Ning Jichen were thrilled to see them unharmed.

Wu Xiongan and his companions, however, stared at Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou with strange expressions, as if they didn't recognize them, completely dumbstruck.

The two who had seemed certain to perish had returned unscathed—and were even delivered back by a dragon. Probably no one else in the entire lower realm had ever pulled off something like this.

At that moment, Wu Xiongan and the others had no choice but to admit that Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou were living miracles. No wonder Wen Tutu had been so unwavering in her belief in their safety, never doubting they would survive.

After the Fallen Dragon departed, the crushing pressure weighing down on all the cultivators faded. They slowly rose from the ground, their gazes flickering toward Wen Qiao and the others.

If not for the dragon's blatant warning, they would likely have been surrounded by the gathered cultivators by now, rather than getting these wary looks.

This was also the little qilin's deliberate doing.

The pit's depths were nearly thick with Baleful Energy, devoid of any living creatures. The fact that they had survived unscathed would naturally raise suspicions. Thus, choosing to return here required a grand entrance—one that would prove to the Ghost Cultivators of the Netherworld that they had powerful backing. Anyone thinking of targeting them would have to reconsider.