If she had not seen it with her own eyes, she would not have dared to believe her own words.
Yet that was exactly the case. The Black Lotus Cult searched everywhere for these children with certain special qualities, raising them as Sacred Children, and then used the Sacred Children to vigorously spread their doctrines, expand their faith, and gather followers.
Through such methods, the Black Lotus Cult had recently been quietly spreading across various territories, propagating as swiftly as a plague, impossible to contain.
As the chaotic era arrived, all beings were terrified. Especially with the Dark Beings approaching, ready to strike at any moment. This environment became a fertile ground for the Black Lotus Cult to grow and expand.
Yao Yao had personally witnessed a ritual in which the Black Lotus Cult used a Sacred Child to spread its doctrines and attract followers. Later, she secretly followed those Black Lotus Cult followers to an underground dungeon where many boys and girls were imprisoned.
In that dark dungeon, the boys and girls captured by the Black Lotus Cult were selected by the cultists using a strange stone disk infused with an eerie aura to choose candidates for Sacred Children.
Then, the Black Lotus Cultists would take the chosen Sacred Children candidates to undergo a peculiar and strange ritual.
It was during that peculiar and strange ritual that Yao Yao saw a mysterious ethereal figure descend to bestow blessings and protection upon that Sacred Child.
She had initially thought it was just an ordinary evil cult ritual, but unexpectedly, that descending mysterious ethereal figure bore a striking resemblance to Gu Changge.
This left her stunned in place, her emotions churning violently. She was then discovered by the Black Lotus Cult followers and forced to flee.
During her escape, in order to get to the bottom of all this, Yao Yao took the risk of capturing a Sacred Child—the teenage boy now imprisoned in the cage before her.
This led to all the subsequent events.
Because this matter ran deep and could even implicate Gu Changge, Yao Yao was very cautious. She did not want to alert the surrounding traditions and forces or make the matter known to everyone.
For this reason, she had planned to secretly take that Sacred Child back to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
But she had not expected that the Black Lotus Cult's origins might be far beyond her imagination, to the extent that a Dao Realms existence had been sent to pursue her.
"Temporarily transform into Dark Beings? You mean that the followers of the Black Lotus Cult can switch between normal beings and Dark Beings?"
"Is such a thing truly possible?" Jiang Weiyang's puzzled voice interrupted Yao Yao's thoughts.
As far as she knew, once a cultivator was eroded by dark substance and fell into darkness, they would be completely corroded by the Dark Will and gradually become a Dark Being, with no possibility of recovery.
Even the sages of ancient times who resisted the Black Calamity Catastrophe had no way to counter this.
Furthermore, connecting this with the recent events in the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, Jiang Weiyang had a bold guess: perhaps even her father had met with misfortune and become tainted by darkness.
Of course, this was just a bold guess of hers. She did not dare to dwell on it, nor could she accept it.
"Actually, dark substance is not without a solution. My master once helped someone remove dark substance, restoring them to clarity and sobriety…"
Yao Yao knew that Jiang Weiyang might find this hard to believe. After thinking for a moment, she mentioned the incident she had heard about from some people in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, when Gu Changge had come to the aid of the Floating Continent.
Among them was an old man who had been contaminated by dark substance, his will unclear and on the verge of falling into darkness.
But with Gu Changge's assistance, the old man eventually regained consciousness, and the dark substance on him was completely eradicated.
This matter had caused quite a stir in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance at the time and had greatly encouraged many in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, making them no longer fear dark substance.
Yao Yao had even heard that Ling Yuling, the Vice Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, had also been eroded by dark substance and trapped in a dark land. In the end, her master Gu Changge had led many elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace to rescue her and bring her out, and he had also removed the dark substance for her.
"Such things really happened?" After hearing these stories, Jiang Weiyang could not help but part her red lips slightly, somewhat shocked and moved. Then her beautiful eyes sparkled with radiance, exceptionally captivating.
If this were true, then even if her father had been eroded and corroded by dark substance, there might still be a way to resolve it?
Even though her temperament was gentle, fond of tranquility and peace, her heart could not help but surge with barely concealed joy and excitement at this moment.
"If you go to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and ask around, you will know. This is not a secret." Yao Yao shook her head, wondering why Jiang Weiyang had become so excited after hearing these things.
Shouldn't her focus be on another matter?
If ordinary beings could be artificially controlled and transformed into Dark Beings, did that not also mean that Dark Beings could similarly be transformed into ordinary beings, then silently and seamlessly merge into various traditions, civilizations, and True Worlds?
Thinking about it this way was simply terrifying.
The emergence of the Black Lotus Cult was another means by which the Dark Beings aimed to deal with the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and the various races and civilizations of the Vast Expanse.
"I must return to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance as quickly as possible and inform my master of this matter, so that he can prepare in advance." Yao Yao looked at the dazed teenage boy in the corner, feeling a mix of pity and apology, but mostly helplessness.
She also had no means to relieve him of this suffering.
"This matter is indeed terrifying in its implications; we cannot afford to delay." Jiang Weiyang brought her thoughts back and nodded in agreement.
She finally understood what Yao Yao was worried about.
In the Vast Expanse today, it seemed that three forces—the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, the Alliance of Righteous Unity, and the Dark Beings—were in contention. But it was very likely that the Alliance of Righteous Unity had already been infiltrated and controlled by the Dark Beings.
If the Heaven-Slaying Alliance also fell, then the entire Vast Expanse would truly usher in a real Dark Era, and a true end-times catastrophe would descend.
"Moreover, the Land of the Dark Source is drawing closer, falling toward the various worlds of the Vast Expanse. Time is running out…" Jiang Weiyang sighed inwardly.
But at this moment, she also felt a particular anticipation. Since ancient times, chaotic eras had given rise to heroes. Would the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance single-handedly save the building from collapse?
---
Yinchuan Ancient Domain, within a perpetually dim and gloomy palace shrouded in dark mists.
In a pool several zhang in length and width, built of green jade stones, black pool water bubbled and boiled. Bubbles churned continuously. A massive black lotus platform floated and drifted within, its petals crystal clear, radiating an undying luster like black jade—very mystical.
On this lotus platform sat a blurry black-robed figure, seemingly with brows lowered in meditation or perhaps roaming through space-time.
Around the pool, candles flickered, illuminating one black-robed figure after another, each wearing a similar black lotus mask, kneeling reverently and fervently.
"The great Lord of the Black Lotus will protect every one of his followers, guiding them back from the lost darkness…"
Suddenly, the figure seated on the black lotus platform opened his eyes. In his murky gaze, a flash of wisdom seemed to pass—like a sage who had penetrated the true essence of all worlds and infinite mysteries.
As his aged voice sounded, the kneeling and prostrating figures around him grew even more fervent.
The already boiling pool bubbled up even more black bubbles. Black mist rolled and churned, rising and falling as if something were about to burst out.
In the next moment, with a splash, a brand-new skeleton emerged from the pool.
It seemed to have no consciousness, merely following instinct as it walked up the steps of the pool toward the outside.
As it walked, the black mist in the pool, as if alive, continuously attached itself to it, causing flesh and blood to begin growing and evolving on its body.
This process did not last long. Even before it had left the pool, it had already grown and evolved complete facial features, then arms and limbs, and its eyes became lively.
To the fervent figures around, this miracle-like scene of bringing the dead back to life by growing flesh on bones seemed nothing out of the ordinary.
They only grew more fervent in their kneeling and prostrations, constantly chanting phrases like "The great Lord of the Black Lotus will forever protect his followers…"
The old man seated on the lotus platform paid them no heed. He simply looked at the figure who had emerged from the pool and was now kneeling before him, asking calmly, "How did you die?"
This figure did not seem fully awake yet, his mind still hazy. He thought for a long time before respectfully replying, "I was killed by a strange woman wearing a gauze hat, blind in both eyes, who offered up a sword embryo."
"You were at the Dao Realms level, yet you died so silently. It seems her strength far exceeds yours. But a strange woman wearing a gauze hat, hiding her face, yet blind in both eyes?"
The old man on the black lotus platform also seemed to fall into thought, connecting various possibilities in his mind.
"Could it be the princess of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty who fled her marriage? In that case, she should also know about the Sacred Child."
Upon hearing the words "Sacred Child," the kneeling figure visibly trembled, seemingly afraid of being punished.
The old man paid him no mind, merely muttering to himself, "But it doesn't matter even if she knows. Even her father cannot protect himself now, so how could he meddle?"
"Over at Void Sage's side, they should be making their move soon, too."
---
With the Land of the Dark Source reappearing in the world, the situation across the Vast Expanse grew increasingly chaotic and turbulent. In just a few months, many wars of conquest had broken out between various regional races and traditions.
Along the borderlands of the Dark Beings' territory, one could see many powerful beings leading vast armies to attack, intending to crusade against the Dark Beings.
As the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and the Alliance of Righteous Unity fought fiercely, more and more secluded races were forced to join the fray.
"Those six rays of light are the six Supreme Treasures of Civilization from the past. It's just a pity that the power they left behind has been worn down and depleted almost completely…"
At the Alliance of Righteous Unity, on a towering famous mountain, a white-robed figure, ethereal as smoke and dust, stood quietly with his hands behind his back, looking up at the mysterious dark land slowly approaching the Vast Expanse beyond the sky dome.
In the dim sky, six hazy rays of light flickered. Even across vast distances of space-time, they could be vaguely seen.
Those six hazy rays of light were shrouded in chaotic energy, vaguely revealing the ethereal forms of six different artifacts: an ancient mirror, a gateway, a pool, a coffin, a wheel disk, and a dao book.
"Master, why are you helping the Master of Yinxu Cave? There are rumors everywhere that the Alliance of Righteous Unity has already been infiltrated and controlled by the Dark Beings. If the Land of the Dark Source falls into the Vast Expanse, the Alliance of Righteous Unity might turn traitor at the critical moment, bringing disaster upon the Vast Expanse."
Beside the white-robed figure followed two young attendants, a boy and a girl, with ruddy lips and white teeth, handsome features, bright and spirited eyes, very similar in appearance.
At this moment, the young girl was also looking up at the scene in the sky, asking in a clear, sweet voice.
"The Master of Yinxu Cave?"
The white-robed figure merely smiled at this. "The rumors you hear are not necessarily true. The Alliance of Righteous Unity may not necessarily bring disaster to the Vast Expanse. Destruction gives birth to new life. It is in the midst of adversity that hope can be found."
The young girl nodded, half-understanding.
The white-robed figure said no more. Instead, he turned his gaze into the distance, where the din of battle rose to the heavens. The entire universe was drowned in the sounds of slaughter. Various lights shot into the sky, shaking heaven and earth.
Sun, moon, and stars revolved. Countless great stars trembled. Some were shattered by the residual shockwaves of the battle, turning into fragments flying in all directions.
One terrifying figure after another stood between heaven and earth. Massive palms swept across, carrying countless stars with them. It was like an ancient battle of gods and demons. The energies they emitted were enough to annihilate an entire star domain.
The entire universe had become a battlefield. The armies of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and the Alliance of Righteous Unity clashed and collided there. The battle was extremely brutal.
However, facing the fierce assault and strong offensive of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, the army of the Alliance of Righteous Unity showed clear signs of defeat, retreating step by step. Many regions had already collapsed, with soldiers scattering in all directions.
"Master, will you intervene?" asked the young boy on the mountain, his eyes gleaming like the brilliant sun.
"I have intervened several times in succession. The powerful experts of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance have already set their sights on me. This time, I am afraid I will encounter a troublesome opponent." The white-robed figure shook his head slightly.
The moment his words fell, a cold, sharp gaze also fell upon him from that distant universe.
It was a woman of breathtaking beauty, like an immortal. Her face was fair and flawless, but her eyes were as cold and detached as ice. Her black hair danced as she strode across space, traversing time and shifting stars. In an instant, she crossed an entire universe, raising her palm directly to strike at the white-robed figure on the mountain.
"A sage of the past?"
The white-robed figure seemed slightly surprised. He quickly grabbed the two young attendants beside him and vanished from the spot. The mountain beneath his feet silently turned to dust.
The white-robed woman, with her robes fluttering, transcendent and otherworldly, stood in the void, looking at him calmly. Her eyes also carried a hint of surprise. It was Ling Yuling.
"You must be the mysterious white-robed figure who has appeared in the Alliance of Righteous Unity recently?" she asked calmly.