Before long, all the black-robed figures seated around the space channel had also become Ye Yunfei's slaves.
When all these slaves wanted to stand up to respectfully pay homage to Ye Yunfei, he sent a mental order telling them to remain seated and not make any movements.
This was because Ye Yunfei knew there was still a powerful being within this Ice Mountain Hell that might be monitoring him. Ye Yunfei suspected that being should be the leader of this Ice Mountain Hell, tasked with guarding and maintaining the operations of this particular hell.
"I wonder if that Inspection Elder from the headquarters is still within the Ice Mountain Hell I'm in charge of? I also wonder if he is satisfied with how I'm running this place? I hear these Inspection Elders dispatched from the headquarters hold real authority. If I can impress him and get his endorsement, I might have a chance to be transferred to the headquarters. My status and treatment would surely improve—it's much better than being stuck here in this branch stronghold."
At this moment, atop a certain tall black iceberg within the Ice Mountain Hell, a figure concealed deep within space was having these very thoughts.
This black figure was the Prison Master of the Ice Mountain Hell. His main duties were to guard this hell and ensure its normal functioning.
After sensing Ye Yunfei's aura earlier, he had been secretly attempting to locate Ye Yunfei's whereabouts. However, Ye Yunfei was hiding exceptionally well, and the Prison Master hadn't been able to detect any further aura or movement.
"But perhaps that Inspection Elder has already left my Ice Mountain Hell. If he were still here, it's impossible I wouldn't have detected even a hint of his aura after all this time.
Then again, the Ice Mountain Hell I'm in charge of is only one of the eighteen hells within this branch stronghold—it doesn't hold the most important status. An Inspection Elder from the headquarters wouldn't likely pay special attention to this particular hell, nor would he look upon me with any particular favor."
Thinking this, the Prison Master of the Ice Mountain Hell sighed.
He had been in charge of this hell for a very long time. Endless years spent here had bred weariness within him. He longed to be transferred to the headquarters and experience a different life.
Just as the Prison Master was lost in these wandering thoughts, Ye Yunfei had already left the black iceberg he was on earlier. Concealed within a Ghost Bailiff he had subdued as a slave, Ye Yunfei was now quietly moving about within the Ice Mountain Hell.
Ye Yunfei continuously turned every Soul-Hooking Enforcer and Ghost Bailiff he encountered into his slaves.
In fact, apart from these Soul-Hooking Enforcers and Ghost Bailiffs, there didn't seem to be many other living beings within this hell, nor were there many powerful individuals.
"It seems these hells are mostly populated by tortured souls, Soul-Hooking Enforcers, and Ghost Bailiffs carrying out various tasks. Apart from them, there aren't many other creatures," Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei.
"Indeed. This hell is just one internal space within the underworld stronghold. The underworld likely doesn't station heavy defenses here. Their real forces are probably deployed outside for defense," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Let's go meet the chief of this hell," Ye Yunfei said after a moment's consideration.
Earlier, after turning so many Soul-Hooking Enforcers and Ghost Bailiffs into slaves, Ye Yunfei had learned from them that this hell had a Prison Master.
The Prison Master typically stayed atop a black iceberg at the center of the hell, which housed his cultivation and living palace.
Generally, only the Prison Master's trusted aides had the privilege of approaching and ascending that peak.
Many of the Ghost Bailiffs Ye Yunfei had subdued were among those trusted aides of the Prison Master, making it easy to ascend the central black iceberg.
Atop the black iceberg stood a black palace. Its outer walls were carved with numerous soul figures, and inside, a powerful energy aura was concealed.
"Looks like a high-level Sovereign God," Ye Yunfei remarked after perceiving the powerful aura within the palace using Mental Force energy and observing it for a while with the Divine Pupil at his brow.
At this moment, Ye Yunfei was inside the Phantom Tower, which was being carried by one of the Ghost Bailiffs.
This Ghost Bailiff was one of the Prison Master's primary confidants. The Prison Master rarely showed himself; it was usually these trusted Ghost Bailiffs who managed the Ice Mountain Hell and issued various orders on his behalf.
"That fellow should be a Sixth or Seventh-Level Sovereign God. The cultivation techniques and secret arts he practices are probably those of the Great Netherworld, given that the energy aura he emits is completely characteristic of those from the Great Netherworld," Hun Lao said, having also sensed the energy aura within the palace.
"Right. He must have been sent here by the Great Netherworld," Ye Yunfei nodded.
Ye Yunfei had previously devoured the Soul Bodies of several Sovereign Gods from the Great Netherworld and was quite familiar with their energy signatures. He let out a cold laugh.
The Ghost Bailiff controlled by Ye Yunfei then approached the main gate of the black palace.
"Prison Master! I have urgent matters to report!" the Ghost Bailiff called out in front of the palace gate, his expression one of extreme urgency.
"What is it? Running around in a panic—where is your propriety!"
A moment later, a voice of reprimand came from within the black palace.
"Reporting, Prison Master! I've discovered that our hell seems to have an uninvited guest, and a very powerful one at that. I almost clashed with him just now," the Ghost Bailiff reported.
"What?! You almost clashed with him?"
The voice from within the palace instantly became anxious. Then, with a loud *boom*, the palace doors swung open.
The Ghost Bailiff outside hurried in. Inside the hall, there was an altar table, upon which sat a black figure.
This black figure appeared exceptionally tall and imposing. The energy radiating from him filled the entire hall.
"Tell me the specifics. What exactly happened? When and where did you encounter this uninvited guest? And where is he now? Is he still within our Ice Mountain Hell?" the black figure on the altar table asked anxiously.
"A Seventh-Level Sovereign God," Ye Yunfei gauged the black figure's strength at a glance.
"A mere Seventh-Level Sovereign God is nothing for someone with your current power, Master," Hu Miao commented.
"Of course," Ye Yunfei nodded.
As he spoke, Ye Yunfei had already activated the Mind Reading Art, silently attacking the Prison Master's Soul Body. Instantly, all sorts of bizarre and fantastic thoughts began sprouting in the Prison Master's mind. "Quick! Tell me! Where is that Inspection Elder? I must pay my respects to him immediately! This might be my golden opportunity to leave this branch stronghold for the headquarters, to rise to greatness! Speak quickly!"
Under the interference of the Mind Reading Art, the Prison Master's thoughts became chaotic and tangled. He even stood up and began pacing around the hall, visibly restless and agitated.
"It seems this fellow detected your presence earlier, but he seems to have mistaken you for an Inspection Elder dispatched from the Great Netherworld headquarters," the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm couldn't help but comment.
"This guy is only a Seventh-Level Sovereign God, yet he was able to sense you. His perception must be quite sharp," Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei.
"He's in charge of this hell. There might be some special perception methods unique to this place that he uses," Ye Yunfei mused aloud.
Even as he spoke, Ye Yunfei had already unleashed the Heart Sword and the Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art. Blades of the Heart Sword rained down ceaselessly upon the Prison Master's Soul Body, while countless puppet soul threads instantly wrapped and entangled it tightly, enveloping it like a glutinous rice dumpling, before starting to drill deep into his Soul Body.
"Not good! Someone is ambushing me!"
The Prison Master finally realized something was wrong.
His Soul Body was already under relentless attack. The puppet soul threads were especially sharp, piercing straight into his Soul Body and drilling deep, releasing large quantities of bizarre runes that began merging with his very essence.
"This... this feels like the Soul Race's techniques. Could a Soul Race expert be hiding nearby ambushing me?" The Prison Master had heard of the characteristics of the Soul Race's cultivation methods. Suddenly realizing the attacks he was suffering resembled the legendary Soul Race arts, he cried out in mingled shock and fury.
However, he was only a Seventh-Level Sovereign God, far too weak compared to Ye Yunfei.
Simultaneously deploying the Mind Reading Art, Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art, and Heart Sword, Ye Yunfei soon overwhelmingly suppressed his Soul Body, completely stripping him of any power to resist.
"Oh no! I must send word out immediately! This Soul Race individual is too terrifying! I don't think I'm a match," the Prison Master began to howl. He also realized he simply couldn't defend against the varied attacks ravaging his Soul Body. In desperation, he prepared to send a distress call.
"It's you! So the Soul Race expert is hiding within your Soul Body? You've already been controlled by them!"
It was at this moment the Prison Master suddenly noticed the Ghost Bailiff who had come in to report earlier was just standing there watching him, a cold smirk even playing on his lips. He instantly understood this Ghost Bailiff was compromised and pointed a furious finger at him.
Having become Ye Yunfei's slave, this Ghost Bailiff was utterly loyal. He naturally knew it was Ye Yunfei taking action against the Prison Master, which was why he had been standing there watching coldly.
Any creature controlled as a slave by the puppet soul threads would naturally view their master's enemies as their own.
By now, numerous puppet soul threads had penetrated deep into the Prison Master's Soul Body. While they tightly bound and entangled his Soul Body, they constantly released profound and esoteric runes.
These mysterious runes seeped into every part of his Soul Body. Before long, this Sovereign God from the Great Netherworld gradually lost control over his own Soul Body.
"Oh no! This guy's Soul Body is about to explode! It seems with your current power, you can't use puppet soul threads to control a Seventh-Level Sovereign God," Hun Lao exclaimed in surprise upon suddenly sensing a destructive aura rising from the depths of the Prison Master's soul sea.
"Indeed. I currently can't subdue a Seventh-Level Sovereign God using the Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art," Ye Yunfei nodded.
Ye Yunfei had allowed a large number of puppet soul threads to drill into this otherworldly being's Soul Body precisely to test whether he could subdue a Seventh-Level Sovereign God with them. But the facts proved that with his current power, he was unable to do so. Now, the Prison Master's Soul Body was on the verge of explosion.
With a thought, Ye Yunfei immediately executed the Soul Force Stars Technique. Sixty massive Soul Force stars instantly entered the Prison Master's soul sea and began forcibly devouring his Soul Body.
Simultaneously, Ye Yunfei recalled all his puppet soul threads. If they remained embedded within the Prison Master's Soul Body, they would soon cause it to completely explode and turn to ash.
The sixty massive Soul Force stars surrounded the Prison Master's Soul Body, tearing away at it hungrily. In mere moments, they had devoured it entirely, allowing Ye Yunfei to obtain most of his memories.