Lord Saint Yang's furious roar was truly formidable.
It shook everyone present, their eardrums tearing in pain, their hearts trembling, and the entire grand hall quaked violently with a resonant hum.
"What's this?"
Sha Xiang remained seated on his throne, legs crossed, looking utterly at ease as he chewed raw beef and drank from a large bowl of strong liquor. He glanced disdainfully at Lord Saint Yang and said, "Judging by your posture, you actually want to fight me?"
Lord Saint Yang's face alternated between shades of green and white as he stared fixedly at Domain Lord Sha Xiang. He just stared, his sharp eyes flickering with killing intent. After a moment, he took a deep breath, as if suppressing the fury in his heart, and sneered, "I have no need to fight you, nor do I deign to fight a cowardly, incompetent fool like you who fears death. In my eyes, the Immortal Court Residence functions just the same with or without you as Domain Lord. I have never regarded you as the true master of Lingluo Heavenly Domain."
With that,
Lord Saint Yang directly issued orders, saying, "Yanze!"
A man stepped forward, cupping his hands in salute. "At your command, Lord Saint Yang!"
"Relay my orders! Proclaim throughout Lingluo Heavenly Domain that from this day forth, all world-immortal realms within the domain are under martial law! Entry is permitted, but exit is forbidden!"
"As you command!"
"Immediately summon all domain patrols to search for the whereabouts of that criminal disciple, You Di!"
"As you command!"
"Summon all domain law enforcers to maintain order within the domain!"
"As you command!"
"Pass down the command: all major Immortal Dynasty lords and major Immortal Realm masters are to mobilize all immortals, prepare themselves, and await my further orders!"
Lord Saint Yang issued one command after another right in front of Sha Xiang. Clearly, he intended to use practical action to tell Sha Xiang that within the Immortal Court Residence of Lingluo Heavenly Domain, he, Lord Saint Yang, was the true Domain Lord, while Sha Xiang was nothing but an incompetent puppet.
"Sha Xiang, you continue to feast, drink, and enjoy yourself here as your 'Domain Lord.' I will handle the affairs of Lingluo Heavenly Domain myself."
With those words, Lord Saint Yang turned and left. As he departed, he added, "All of you, listen! If you still acknowledge me as your Grand Elder, then follow me to proclaim this throughout the domain."
After Lord Saint Yang left,
the Heavenly Domain elders of the Immortal Court Residence also departed.
The lords of the major Immortal Dynasties and the masters of the major Immortal Realms followed as well.
Even those Immortal Dynasty lords who had always disliked Lord Saint Yang went along. Though reluctant, they had no choice. After all, Lord Saint Yang had made it very clear: staying here would undoubtedly mean thoroughly offending the Grand Elder, making it difficult to establish themselves in Lingluo Heavenly Domain in the future.
As for whether You Di had truly died and resurrected, or whether he was even in Lingluo Heavenly Domain, they did not know. What stance the Nine Heavens Immortal Path truly held toward You Di, they also did not know. The only thing they knew was that if they wished to continue establishing themselves in Lingluo Heavenly Domain in the future, they could only obey Lord Saint Yang's commands.
They left.
Everyone left.
The once lively and bustling grand hall was now empty, save for Domain Lord Sha Xiang alone. From beginning to end, he had been eating raw beef and drinking strong liquor. It was the same when Lord Saint Yang arrived with the lords of the major Immortal Dynasties and realms, and it remained the same when Lord Saint Yang left with them.
"Master, they have all followed Lord Saint Yang."
At that moment,
another gray-robed elder walked in. He was the steward of the Immortal Court Residence, holding no official position. He was also the only person in the Immortal Court Residence who followed Sha Xiang's lead. The reason was simple: long, long ago, he had been Sha Xiang's servant and had descended to Lingluo Heavenly Domain alongside Sha Xiang.
"It's good they're all gone. Much quieter with them gone."
Domain Lord Sha Xiang stood up, stretching his massive frame with a great yawn. Standing nearly four meters tall in the grand hall, his head almost brushed the ceiling. He shook his head and cursed, "They're all a bunch of useless fools. I had the heart to save them, but not a single one of them understood what was coming. They all think their lives are too long."
"Master, has You Di truly died and resurrected and returned?"
Domain Lord Sha Xiang nodded. "Judging by the current situation, I reckon that lord has probably returned."
"So... You Di is really in our Lingluo Heavenly Domain?"
"This is his hometown. That fellow slept for nearly ten thousand years. After waking up, he'd definitely want to come back and take a look. Besides, he's always been a very nostalgic person. His return is perfectly normal."
"Then...
Master, what do you plan to do?"
"You ask me? How the hell should I know what to do."
"Sigh!"
The elder also let out a deep, heavy sigh. "Master, you shouldn't have agreed to Lady Tianji and taken on this duty back then."
Hearing the name 'Lady Tianji,' Domain Lord Sha Xiang immediately felt a splitting headache, his face revealing endless regret and remorse. "Don't bring it up. Thinking about it makes me regret it to the core. I even wish I could chop myself to pieces!"
Others might not know why Sha Xiang came to Lingluo Heavenly Domain to serve as Domain Lord, but as Sha Xiang's servant, this elder was aware. The reasons behind Sha Xiang's arrival to become Domain Lord of Lingluo Heavenly Domain were quite complex, stemming from two debts of gratitude.
Sha Xiang owed a debt to the Nine Heavens Immortal Path, and he also owed a debt to the ancient and nameless Lady Tianji.
Back then, Sha Xiang went to the Nine Heavens intending to repay his debt to them. Coincidentally, Lady Tianji was also present that day, and she proactively suggested that if Sha Xiang was willing to come to Lingluo Heavenly Domain as Domain Lord, he could not only repay his debt to the Nine Heavens but also settle his debt to Lady Tianji in one go.
Sha Xiang was no fool, especially since this proposal came from Lady Tianji herself. There had to be some hidden secret behind it.
But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't figure out what that secret might be.
So,
in the end, he didn't dwell on it and agreed.
It wasn't until he arrived in Lingluo Heavenly Domain that he realized, to his dismay, this place was actually You Di's hometown. In other words, You Di had made his debut from Lingluo Heavenly Domain back in the day, sharing deep origins with this domain.
Although You Di had ignited the Karmic Flames of Original Sin and turned to ashes back then, no one knew if he might die, resurrect, and return once more.
Sha Xiang didn't know either.
Others might fear You Di's resurrection, his becoming the True Lord of Original Sin, slaughtering the Great Dao, ending the Present Era, and so on.
However,
Sha Xiang was not afraid. Not only was he unafraid, but if possible, he genuinely hoped You Di would die, resurrect, become the True Lord of Original Sin, and slaughter this so-called Three Thousand Great Daos.
After all, he held no fondness for the Three Thousand Great Daos. As for the safety of the common masses, he couldn't be bothered to care.
If there was such a grand spectacle to witness, he would gladly revel in it.
Most importantly, he himself had a good relationship with You Di and admired him wholeheartedly.
Therefore, he truly hoped You Di would die, resurrect, and return.