The moment the clone sensed the saber intent, excitement seized him; he halted instantly and released his own blade will, drawing the stone pillar’s attention.

The pillar locked onto his saber intent at once. Yet what unfolded before him wasn’t a person demonstrating the intent—it was a saber, hovering in mid-air, letting him feel the realm it carried.

The clone had believed his saber intent was already perfect, but facing this blade he felt raw awe and fear rise from the very core of his being, and finally understood how wide the gap still was.

“This saber intent is far stronger than mine! What kind of realm is this?”

Shock rooted him to the spot. Neither Ye Liuyun nor the two clones had imagined there was still so much room for improvement.

The clone immediately sank into cultivation. All he sensed was that the saber stood between heaven and earth, no longer merely a weapon but the very will of the world itself—something no one dared defy.

The saber-intent seed in his sea of consciousness shone brightly, resonating as it studied alongside him.

At the same time, the second clone, leading the others in battle, abruptly unleashed his Apocalyptic Thunder Tribulation realm. The city they were assaulting was flipped upside-down in an instant.

Countless martial experts screamed as they fled, only to be incinerated by a single Heaven-Scorching Flame; even the void above the city was burned clean.

The wild, destructive force startled everyone. Only then did the second clone explain that Ye Liuyun had found a Realm Forest of Intent and was comprehending realms—news that filled them all with envy.

Next, the second clone drew his golden saber and began practicing saber intent, following the insights of the first clone.

The first clone simply stared at the heaven-supporting war-blade, utterly entranced.

Even Ye Liuyun’s true body was affected; his Ice Domain plummeted on the spot. The soul demonstrating the intent frowned at the sight, so Ye Liuyun had to sever the link with the first clone for the moment and focus on raising his Ice Domain. Though it wasn’t his main path, he would never pass up a chance to grow.

Days later, his Ice Domain still hadn’t reached the demonstrator’s level.

“That’s enough. Your frost power is still weak; this is as far as you can go for now.” The demonstrator stopped of his own accord, but not before revealing the ultimate Ice Domain as a reference for future cultivation.

Ye Liuyun thanked him repeatedly, heartfelt gratitude in every word.

Once the demonstrator left, Ye Liuyun immediately restored the mind-link with the clone.

By now the first clone’s saber intent had improved dramatically. The instant the connection returned, he sensed that the saber-intent seed in his sea of consciousness had become brighter and more solid.

Ye Liuyun judged that in future battles he could summon that seed at will to attack; its power clearly surpassed his own saber strikes.

The clone had already slipped into a state of sudden enlightenment, his saber intent still climbing.

He then realized how ideal this place was—he ought to bring the others here to cultivate. Such a chance to elevate one’s realm was simply too rare.

Yet on the appointed day the secret realm would expel them all. To bring others in, he would need the consent of the realm’s source will.

So instead of advancing, he returned to the entrance of the Realm Forest and reached out with divine sense to the two demon souls.

“Esteemed seniors, do you know where the source spirit of this realm resides?”

One demon soul asked curiously, “Why do you seek him?”

Ye Liuyun answered directly, “I wish to more time here. This Realm Forest is extraordinary; I’d like to cultivate longer and release some friends from my spatial world so they can train as well.”

The demon soul considered. At first he thought of sending Ye Liuyun to his death, but remembering there was still a clone nearby—and fearing retaliation—he relented.

“I know the place; telling you is no trouble. But remember, that is the source itself, and it’s collecting human bloodlines. If something happens, don’t blame us.”

Ye Liuyun agreed at once. “Fine. Just tell me the location. I’m prepared. Even if I die, I won’t hold you responsible.”

Only then did the demon soul speak: “He’s at the very center of the realm. In the void there stands a great hall; he’s trapped inside and cannot leave, yet with the power of the source he controls everything here.”

Ye Liuyun thanked him, then asked for the exact location of the heart of the secret realm before shooting toward it at full speed

On the way he also checked with Ye Ling about the spirit fiend’s strength

After gathered, Ye Ling told him bluntly, “He’s nothing more than a wisp of source energy. If you borrow the power of your spatial world you can handle him easily—your world’s source energy numbers in the thousands

A burst of black light can also wipe out his spirit form and force him back into his original source state. Just keep your time power ready so he can’t ambush you.”

Hearing Ye Ling’s words, Ye Liuyun relaxed completely, yet he kept his time power primed every second of the journey

He figured the realm’s source spirit fiend already knew he was coming and might strike at any moment

The spirit fiend had indeed sensed Ye Liuyun racing toward him, but he wasn’t in a hurry. If he had to fight, he could just wait until Ye Liuyun arrived

“Don’t tell me this guy found out I used the white ape to trick him and wants revenge?” the spirit fiend blinked, thinking to himself

Yet he also felt Ye Liuyun hadn’t actually suffered any loss, so maybe they could still talk

For now he had no idea why Ye Liuyun was seeking him out; in truth, he’d already lost the desire to kill

Ye Liuyun was the Nether God—if he died, the Netherworld’s retaliation might be more than the spirit fiend could bear. And Ye Liuyun still had a clone; to truly kill him would cost at least two lives, not one

So he’d decided: once Ye Liuyun arrived, he would try to negotiate first. Only if Ye Liuyun insisted on fighting would he retaliate

In fact, even if Ye Liuyun attacked, landing a blow wouldn’t be easy. The spirit fiend was wrapped inside that grand hall, a barrier even he himself couldn’t break—Ye Liuyun would have trouble reaching him. His real worry was that Ye Liuyun might wreck the surrounding environment

Thus Ye Liuyun reached the place without the slightest obstruction. Upon arrival, the source spirit fiend immediately tore open the void barrier, revealing the grand hall—no need for Ye Liuyun to search at all.