Yuan Ming looked at Wulu with a surprised expression, not expecting his hatred for the Cao Family to be so deep.

After a brief silence, Wulu began to narrate again.

"Back then, as an orphan, I was taken in by the Cao Family who trained me as a Dark Child. Although I resented their control, I still remembered the kindness they showed by raising me, until I cultivated the Void Thought Technique and discovered that my memories had been tampered with using Demon Clan methods. My biological parents were actually killed by the Cao Family, and yet I had served my enemies for half my life!" Wulu said, his eyes nearly spewing flames.

"Alas, now that the Cao Family has perished, you have taken your revenge," Yuan Ming sighed.

"It's not enough. The Cao Family was merely a pawn; the Demon Clan is the true mastermind. They have long coveted the Chuyun Realm and have secretly laid countless cunning schemes. I swear, I must eradicate them completely and prevent them from invading!" Wulu declared as he slammed the table, stood up, and grabbed a jar of wine to drink heartily.

Yuan Ming noted the mention of "Chuyun Realm" in his words.

This must be the name of the realm where the Yunhuang Continent is located.

Yuan Ming silently memorized it, while Wulu finished the wine in the jar.

"The Blood Demon Ancestor has at least five sets of Blood Puppet Armor; you took one, leaving four," Wulu said, wiping his mouth with the hem of his clothes.

"But you only found one set," Yuan Ming noted the underlying implication in his words.

"Correct, and according to my investigation, the other three sets of Blood Puppet Armor did not appear in the battle. I suspect the Blood Demon Ancestor may have other Demon Clan assistants. These remnants, carrying the remaining Blood Puppet Armor, are hiding in Yunhuang, planning something unknown. I plan to start here, scour Yunhuang, and find their whereabouts," Wulu nodded firmly.

"Good, I'll also have the Moon Sect's people help you. If you need anything, just ask them, and if they cannot manage, I'll step in to help," Yuan Ming nodded.

"That's all I need to hear," Wulu drunkenly chuckled, then suddenly collapsed with a thud.

Since it was a gathering of good friends, they had not deliberately used mana to dispel the effects of the alcohol. The spiritual wine Yuan Ming brought out, bestowed by believers, had Wulu drinking excessively and now utterly intoxicated, he even started to speak nonsense.

However, it was evident that at this moment, Wulu was truly relaxing.

Yuan Ming did not interfere, understanding that Wulu needed this release through true inebriation.

Yuan Ming looked down at the now-empty wine jar and the small amount of liquid left in his own cup, ultimately giving a wry smile. He set up a protective barrier for Wulu, then left on his own.

...

The next morning.

Wulu woke from his hangover; a quick use of his mana cleared his mind and refreshed his body.

He bade Yuan Ming farewell and left alone to fulfill his promise, while Yuan Ming continued with his usual cultivation routine.

Meanwhile, Yuan Ming secretly found several elderly mortals whose life span was nearly exhausted, explained the stakes to them, and hoped they would help him test some theories on the Jade Puppet.

These elders had also received favors from the Moon Sect. Seeing Yuan Ming personally request their help, they immediately prostrated themselves, not even contemplating refusal.

Even so, Yuan Ming still provided some compensation to their families.

However, Yuan Ming's tests soon failed.

The Jade Puppet Technique had long been circulated in the East Sea, used for extending the life of cultivators, but it had never been available for mortals. Therefore, from the inception of the Jade Puppet, the possibility of mortals using it had never been considered.

Without a Spirit Root, the Jade Puppet was utterly ineffective.

Deeply disappointed, Yuan Ming sent the old men home and then secluded himself to study the Jade Puppet, attempting to create a new "Jade Puppet Technique" that could be used by mortals, emulating the Blood Demon Ancestor.

However, just as his research began, his father and mother unexpectedly approached him.

"Dad, Mom, what brings you here?" Yuan Ming quickly got up, asking in confusion.

"Ming'er, your mother and I wish to return to Da Jin," Yuan Zuochong said straightforwardly.

"Why, have you encountered any troubles on the island that need my assistance to resolve?" Yuan Ming was startled and quickly inquired.

"No, life on Bikong Island is good. However, both your mother and I have lived in Da Jin for most of our lives. Now that the world is at peace, we'd like to go back to see it once more. We're also getting older and would like to see our old friends again before we lose the chance," Yuan Zuochong explained.

"Since father has decided, I will accompany you both back," Yuan Ming realized and immediately nodded.

"Ming'er, you have your own matters to attend to, no need to take the trouble to accompany us back. Moreover, this time we go back, we likely won't return to the East Sea," Yuan Zuochong shook his head.

"Don't worry about that. With my current cultivation, anywhere in the Yunhuang Land is the same for me," Yuan Ming waved his hand dismissively.

Yuan Zuochong looked at him, hesitated to speak, but just as Yuan Ming was beginning to feel puzzled, his mother spoke up.

"Ming'er, you've been looking for a way to prolong my life recently, haven't you?" Yuan Ming's mother sighed.

"Mother needn't worry, I've already found some leads. It won't be long before I develop a complete method," Yuan Ming reassured her.

"Ming'er, let it be. Since birth, I have never longed for immortality. Having lived to see this day and raised a son like you, I am already content. Why do you exhaust your mind pondering methods to prolong my life?" Yuan Ming's mother shook her head and said.

"Mother, I do this willingly," Yuan Ming stepped forward and supported his mother.

"I know you are filial, but in this world, which parents would wish to become a burden to their son? Ming'er, promise me, stop worrying about us and focus on what you must do," his mother said gently, looking at Yuan Ming and raising her hand slightly, wanting to stroke his head.

"Mother—" Yuan Ming pursed his lips, lowered his head, feeling the warmth of his mother's palm, his heart full of emotions that he could not express.

"What your mother is saying is right, Ming'er. You should not stop because of us. The world is vast, and ultimately, we cannot accompany you through every journey. But remember, no matter what, our hearts are with you, and even in the depths of the underworld, both your mother and I will always be thinking of you," Yuan Zuochong stepped forward and patted Yuan Ming's shoulder.

Yuan Ming did not respond, but suddenly hugged his parents.

Yuan Zuochong and his wife were slightly surprised, but they soon smiled and embraced him in return.

The three of them hugged quietly, all emotions blooming wordlessly.

...

Several days later, the Flying Boat carrying Yuan Ming's parents left Bikong Island.

Against the firm refusal of his parents, Yuan Ming did not return to the Central Plains with them, but instead had Xu Che select a group of believers to ensure their safety on the road.

He also dispatched a Three-eyed Crow to secretly follow and protect them and contacted various powers to ensure his parents' safety during their journey.

In today's Yunhuang, no one wanted to irritate Yuan Ming over such a trivial matter.

Even the East Sea forces that had abandoned the faith in the Nether Moon God took this matter seriously, dispatching personnel to ensure safety at every segment of the route.

At Chang Chun Temple, Tian Jizi even volunteered to guarantee that no one would disturb Yuan Ming's parents during their time in Da Jin.

After watching his parents depart, Yuan Ming resumed his intense secluded cultivation.

Having obtained the Mixed Hole Primordial Stone, he specifically allocated time in his daily cultivation to further practice the Mixed Hole Secret Technique.

This secret technique, which he previously practiced only occasionally, was now officially part of his routine.

For this purpose, he placed his first soul split in the Dantian to maintain the operation of the Mixed Hole Secret Technique, ensuring it never ceased, whatever the circumstance.

With the strong Soul Power of Yuan Ming's first soul split, the cultivation of the Mixed Hole Secret Technique progressed smoothly, with delightful advancements daily.

During his cultivation breaks, Yuan Ming also never abandoned his study of the Jade Puppet Technique.

In one's lifetime, there are always matters one cannot let go of; these are called obsessions.

For Yuan Ming, he could not just watch his parents pass away. As long as there was a glimmer of hope, he would not give up.

Days passed by, and Yuan Ming at his secluded spot on Bikong Island never opened the doors again.

...

Spring came and went, and swiftly, a year quietly elapsed.

Demon World, Land of Nothingness, inside a certain guard room.

A man with red skin and horned demon patterns on his face was intently flipping through a classics book related to formations.

The man flipped through the pages quickly, finishing in less than half an hour. Spot an error? Visit the original post on M&VLEMPY&R.

"The formations of the Demon World and those of the Yunhuang Continent differ, yet they also share commonalities, certainly worth studying," the man murmured softly as he closed the book.

Yuan Ming, using Black Incense, possessed this man and controlled his actions.

Over the past year, besides cultivating, he had not neglected to explore the Land of Nothingness, albeit at a slower pace, exploring carefully bit by bit.

Though the Land of Nothingness operates as a prison, with numerous guards ranked by cultivation level and places like the Book Collection Pavilion, Elixir Medicine Pavilion, and Treasure Pavilion, it wasn't much different from a Sect.

The Array Formation Manual that Yuan Ming was currently perusing had been borrowed from the Book Collection Pavilion, where this red-skinned man, known as Huo Mo, a Nascent Soul cultivator, was one of the keepers.

The overall strength of Nihility Prison was formidable, far surpassing Chang Chun Temple and the Wuyue Sect. Just among those capable of Returning to Void, Yuan Ming knew of six, the Six Prison Wardens of Nihility Prison.

As for the Hell Demon Lord, as the Prison Director of Nihility Prison, he was even beyond Returning to Void.

With so many high-level cultivators present, the classics in Nihility Prison's Book Collection Pavilion were not only numerous but also profoundly insightful.

Yuan Ming, having come into contact with Huo Mo through Luo Zhu unexpectedly, spent this time possessed by him, voraciously reading various classics, significantly broadening his horizons.

His Divine Soul Power greatly exceeded Huo Mo's, allowing him to influence with a Soul Seal. Even by possessing Huo Mo multiple times and manipulating him to perform unusual actions, it did not arouse any suspicion.