The nether yin devils and imperial nether devils were not related by blood. Rather, the nether yin devils were living under the Imperial Nether Clan's suppression. During the ancient times, the nether yin devils were a powerful and domineering race. However, they, as a whole, were rather lacking in intelligence. Only those with a high cultivation level would gain more wisdom and rise as leaders.
Nevertheless, they were still extremely powerful compared to many other races. That was especially true for their Nine Revolutions Realm experts, who were astonishingly powerful. Once, the nether yin devils had the ambition to wage war across the universe. They showcased their strength, their feats turning them into one of the many paramount imperial races.
Ultimately, they offended the Imperial Nether Clan and were imprisoned by an imperial nether devil in the Reincarnation Realm. The nether yin devils were tamed, their bloodline branded with an ultimate controlling ability. Imperial nether devils with high bloodline purity could make use of that ability and create a path connected to the prison, summoning a nether yin devil of corresponding strength to fight for them.
Something so terrifying was something only an expert at the Reincarnation Realm could do. The Nine Revolutions nether yin devil before Xiang Shaoyun was none other than the nether yin patriarch personally suppressed by the Nether Monarch. Back then, he was a Nine Revolutions expert, only a step away from reaching the Reincarnation Realm. After countless years of imprisonment and the suppression of the Nether Monarch, he had weakened and become an Eight Revolutions expert.
However, that was still enough strength to rank him among the top in the entire universe. Xiang Shaoyun had not imagined that the nether yin devils and the imperial nether devils would have such a history. He had only learned this history after his arrival had triggered the awakening of some fragmented memories in his bloodline and battle rune.
The nether yin devil addressed Xiang Shaoyun as a nether prince because, when the Nether Monarch imprisoned the nether yin devil, the Nether Monarch had told him that a nether prince would personally come to free him in the future. Thus, the nether yin devil had waited for tens of thousands of years. Finally, this day had come.
"I'm weaker than you. I really don't know how I'm supposed to free you," said Xiang Shaoyun earnestly. "In any case, this is only my soul clone. You should be able to sense it."
"Nether prince, you only need to drip some of your bloodline power onto these chains and then they will scatter by themselves," said the nether yin devil with an urgent tone.
The nether yin devil was called Ming Shi. He was the nether yin patriarch, someone who had taken countless lives.
"It's so simple?" asked Xiang Shaoyun doubtfully.
"The Nether Monarch will not lie to me. It definitely is that simple," said Ming Shi.
"But without my main body here, I can't do that," emphasized Xiang Shaoyun.
"Nether prince, I beg you. Your clone is also made of flesh and blood. I know that. So long as you can release me, I'll be your most loyal servant. I will never betray you," begged Ming Shi.
"What if you decide to kill me after I free you?" asked Xiang Shaoyun.
"I have been cursed by the Nether Monarch. The moment I try to lay my hands on someone from the Imperial Nether Clan, I'll be punished. Otherwise, I would have injured and drawn your blood by force," said Ming Shi.
Xiang Shaoyun sank into thought. He then said, "I'll try."
He then released the power of his battle rune. The power shot toward Ming Shi as he attempted to ascertain whether he could really put Ming Shi under his control. He was still worried that releasing Ming Shi would be the same as digging his own grave.
The moment his battle rune's power landed on Ming Shi's body, an indistinct power drifted out of Ming Shi's body. That was the power the Nether Monarch had sealed inside Ming Shi. Only the Imperial Nether Clan's battle runes could interact with the seal. The activation of the seal would bring disaster upon Ming Shi.
"Do you trust me now, nether prince?" asked Ming Shi nervously.
The unrivaled Nether Monarch was too strong. Not only had the Nether Monarch reduced Ming Shi's strength, but he had also branded a terrifying seal inside Ming Shi's body. No matter how Ming Shi tried, he couldn't remove the seal from his body. He could only submit to his fate.
After confirming the existence of the seal, Xiang Shaoyun had a new idea in his mind. If he could put the nether yin devil under his control, the dominion would be safe. However, there were imperial nether devils in the alien army. If they discovered Ming Shi, Ming Shi would be rendered useless. Xiang Shaoyun had to think of a proper plan to make use of Ming Shi.
"I believe you, but I still can't release you," said Xiang Shaoyun.
"Why? Nether Monarch said that so long as a member of the younger generation can get here, I will be able to regain my freedom! How can he lie to me?" asked Ming Shi furiously.
Ming Shi released his powerful nether yin devilish energy, subjecting Xiang Shaoyun to an uncomfortable sense of suppression. He was forced to quickly retreat so that he wouldn't suffer any injuries.
"It might be possible for me to help you," said Xiang Shaoyun.
"Say it! I can agree to anything!" said Ming Shi. He wasn't behaving like the super expert that he was at all. Instead, he was akin to a desperate convict trying to regain freedom.
"Hand over half of your life soul," said Xiang Shaoyun.
Human or devil, both possessed souls. The devils had their souls in their devil core. Handing out half their soul was akin to handing over half their life. The moment Ming Shi disobeyed, Xiang Shaoyun could easily inflict a heavy injury upon his soul. Even as an Eight Revolutions expert, Ming Shi would probably have to sacrifice several levels of cultivation to preserve his life in that situation.
"Sure, sure, take it if you want!" Ming Shi agreed without any hesitation. He quickly released half his soul from his devil core.
Xiang Shaoyun formed a jade bottle and confined the half-soul in it. He even wrapped a layer of primal chaos flame around the bottle before putting it away. The moment the half soul tried anything, he would be able to destroy it immediately with the primal chaos flame.
Only then did he drip a drop of his blood essence on the chains around Ming Shi. Utilizing the power of his battle rune, he resonated with the chains, causing the sealing power in the chains to dissipate away. The chains thus lost the ability to constrain Ming Shi any longer.
Boom!
Despite being nine-revolutions-grade equipment, the chains broke apart easily.
Massive, Ming Shi roared, "I, Ming Shi, am finally free! Hahaha!"
His aura soared into the sky, and his devilish energy was intense. Countless nether yin devils dropped to their knees. Even Xiang Shaoyun had to hurriedly retreat. As the suffocating pressure descended upon him, he thought to himself, This fellow better not mess around with me.