Qing Yan:
Huh?! — thinking — To think it would even interfere with a high-level technique like Soul-Capturing Memory Phantom… I won’t be able to break through. Just who—no, what kind of person—cast such a vile curse???

Enters the mind realm of the manager, then looks ahead

Qing Yan:
This bastard is here too… but something is different. It’s… stronger. Don’t tell me the curse gets stronger as the rank increases within the group—
No… it's no longer simple enough to call it a group. At this point, it's a cult.

The slime roared a demonic qi wave.

But… flicks his finger three or four times, and the slime is cut into pieces
You're still not strong enough.

Exits the mind realm, looks at the manager
Oh, this bastard is still breathing…

Manager:
Y-you… ha… hah… haha… You’re just as arrogant as that blue-eyed beast. He, too, was arrogant in his power and ended u—

Qing Yan: eyes wide
Not yet!!

Uses Soul-Capturing Memory Phantom again. Memories start flowing into his mind, but the manager is already dead, so only one or two memories transfer.

Blue-eyed beast? Who was he talking about? Could it be… the beast from the Beast Forest back then? Did something happen to him? Looks like I’ll have to pay him a visit sooner than planned.
I failed to get all of his memor—

His heart skips a beat, followed by a loud thump.

H-huh?! Was there still some of the curse left? Looks like it entered my body...

To think it even affected my body… the caster has to be at least peak of Soul Dominion Realm.
Hmph. I’ll put a sigil formation and try to remo—

Suddenly shocked, eyes widen.

Th-this feeling!!
I’ll have to check my body!!

Flicks his finger, places a protective sigil formation, then sits in cultivation position. Enters his own mind realm and looks above.

That dark tiger! It’s not fighting the white tiger… but the curse!!

No— that’s too one-sided to be called a fight. It's devouring the curse!
No wonder I felt like my power was increasing.

Evil smirk
Looks like I’ve found a new meal. A rich one at that!

Exits the mind realm quietly.
That dark tiger didn’t notice me while it was devouring the curse… So I was able to slip out unnoticed.

Should I try to cultivate a bit?

Starts to cultivate. Three hours pass in a blink. He wakes up, drenched in sweat. Stands up, clenches his fist.

This feeling...
Law-Inversion Realm!!
I broke through!!

Hahahaha!!!

I should be thanking this bastard for such a fantastic meal. He says while looking at the dead manager.

The information I got from his memory… he was a member of a cult named Black Lotus.
A cult of madmen who worship an “otherworldly” god.
They’re spread all over the world, and… they’ve existed since before I was sealed—no, even before I reached the Blood-Root Realm.

And their leader...
He’s the same one from back when the cult first started.

But how come I didn’t know anything about them before?

The manager was just a member, so there wasn’t much information.
But if the cult leader is that old… then he must be powerful.
Maybe even more powerful than me.

I should be prepared.
After all, I don’t know what’s waiting for me.

Looks toward a wooden closed door at the back.

Now that I’ve dealt with these bastards…
Should I take a look behind that door?

I can sense about sixty of them…
Some are young, some still children, others old men.

Are they the “slaves” those bastards mentioned while fleeing?

Moves toward the door and enters. Inside, slaves are locked in cages.

Judging from their grim expressions… looks like they were drugged or something.
But… some of them are at the Peak of Void-Step Realm, some at Beast-Ascendant Realm, and others too.

Each and every one of them is talented. You can tell just by looking.

But why?
Why were only people with high-realm talent being captured?

Are they going to sell them?

Or… is this—

A sacrifice???

Is this somehow related to the “otherworldly god” they mentioned??

I’ll take all of them… and nurture them to start a clan.
I was going to look for people anyway.
I’ll just help them a bit.

Yeah.

Evil expression
Obviously, to destroy the 11 Great Clans of those bastards.

Scene Cut — A dark figure sits on a throne, his face hidden in shadow, posture oozing luxury and menace.

???
Deep voice
Hmm…?
Did someone interfere with the curse I cast on the cult members?

He or she…
Whoever they are, they must be quite powerful to have resisted it.

But why… does this energy feel… familiar?

Hmmm…

Looks like I’ll need someone to investigate this situation.

Author's Note:
The mystery deepens and the cult begins to show its roots. Power scales and history will start unfolding from here. Stay sharp—everything connects.