In the Underworld Demon-Slaying Cavern, the column of dark energy that had pierced the heavens had entirely dissipated.

Around the pit, six figures sat cross-legged on the ground. Their expressions were exhausted, yet their eyes shone with intense excitement, punctuated by bursts of joyous laughter.

These six were Dayuan, Bai Lian, Zhan Xinzi, Mo Huang, Jing Ji, and Hua Ruxian.

But the brief elation faded quickly, and a sudden silence fell outside the Demon-Slaying Cavern. Zhan Xinzi, Mo Huang, Jing Ji, and Hua Ruxian stared at Dayuan and Bai Lian across from them, a distinct wariness creeping into their faces.

For years, the six had cooperated, finally succeeding in breaking the seal of the Fallen Abyss, allowing this sealed land to see the light of day once more.

However, they were fundamentally adversaries. With the basis for their cooperation gone, caution was necessary among them.

"Hmm?"

Just then, the smile vanished from the face of Spiritual Venerable Dayuan. Her exquisitely cold features seemed suddenly overlaid with a layer of frost, growing increasingly grim.

Seeing this, Zhan Xinzi’s heart gave a jolt, and he sprang to his feet almost instantly, his guard raised to its absolute peak.

"How is this possible?"

Yet, Spiritual Venerable Dayuan acted as if she hadn't noticed them, crying out in disbelief, "My avatar is not on that continent?"

Immediately following this, Spiritual Venerable Dayuan's eyes burned crimson, revealing a terrifying madness. A dense mist of blood surged out from her body, her gaze sharp with naked murderous intent.

"Nie Kong! Nie Kong..."

Spiritual Venerable Dayuan’s beautiful face twisted into a ferocious snarl, her angry roar shaking the very heavens. "No matter where you are hiding, this Venerable will find you..."

"Master."

Bai Lian bellowed, his voice like exploding thunder.

Spiritual Venerable Dayuan froze for a moment, as if waking from a dream. She stared intensely in the direction of the Heavenly Spirit Continent, breathing rapidly for a long moment until the blood-red hue in her pupils slowly subsided.

"Bai Lian, return to the Spiritual Venerable Hall!"

Casting a cold glance at Zhan Xinzi and the others, Spiritual Venerable Dayuan wheeled around and shot away like lightning. Bai Lian swiftly followed.

Watching their figures vanish from sight, Zhan Xinzi, Mo Huang, Jing Ji, and Hua Ruxian all let out quiet sighs of relief, a sense of burden lifted from them.

Over the past few years, their own strength had grown rapidly while helping to break the seal.

But the speed at which Spiritual Venerable Dayuan had recovered her power was astonishing.

Zhan Xinzi and the others had long harbored a premonition: if conflict erupted, even with the four of them united, they might still not match Spiritual Venerable Dayuan.

Not to mention that Bai Lian’s strength was equal to or greater than theirs.

Fortunately, Spiritual Venerable Dayuan had ultimately refrained from taking hostile action. Had she attacked, they feared they would have suffered severe injuries again, just as they had years prior. Of course, if their grievances proved truly irreconcilable, they would not shrink from a fight. Spiritual Venerable Dayuan was immensely formidable, but they too possessed their own foundations.

"Brother Zhan, what madness possessed that woman?" Hua Ruxian asked suspiciously.

"That Nie Kong—is he the one who was chased here by her 'Blood Slaughter Edict' years ago, only to jump into the Demon-Slaying Cavern? Based on Dayuan's tone, it seems he didn't actually die?"

"Old man, I can't quite figure it out either."

"..."

The four exchanged words, their hearts filled with lingering doubts.

...

War God Mountain.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh...

Sounds of piercing air echoed one after another. Zhan Yunlan, Zhan Baige, Zhan Baisong, Zhan Baifeng... figures of War Clan powerhouses ascended into the high sky, gazing towards the Heavenly Spirit Continent.

"It's done, it's truly done."

Zhan Yunlan's voice trembled with excitement. "The seal on the Demon-Slaying Cavern has actually been broken. I never thought we would live to see a day like this."

"How many Ninth-Rank experts, how many Ninth-Rank Dark Spirit Masters are on that continent? Our War Clan is an Upper-Tier Sect in the Underworld; even placed on that continent, we should be able to secure a respectable position, right?" Zhan Baifeng's questions tumbled out, eager to rush over and see immediately.

"Ten thousand years ago, that land and our Underworld were both part of the Illusory Spirit Continent, but after so long, the cultivation path there has likely become vastly different."

"Why don't we go over and see right now."

"Good, yes, that is precisely what I intend."

"..."

The elders were eager to move.

Before they could set off, Zhan Yunlan raised his hand to stop them. "The situation is unclear now. We must not act rashly. Let's wait until the Ancestor returns."

Hearing this, they merely suppressed their surging curiosity.

Within War God Mountain and in the encircling Ring Moon City below, a multitude of War Clan disciples emerged from their training grounds, gazing upwards in astonishment.

This spectacle was occurring simultaneously in countless places across the Underworld.

Overnight, the void of this world had become significantly clearer. Such a massive change provoked speculation everywhere. Similar events were unfolding sequentially on the Heavenly Spirit Continent as well.

Both continents were steeped in an unprecedented atmosphere of feverish anticipation...

...

Primal Beginning Grotto-Heaven, Sixth Secret Realm.

"Hoo!"

Immortal energy cascaded down like flowing clouds and waterfalls from the heavens.

At this moment, the "Great Sun Chaos True Fire" coiling around Nie Kong's body enveloped a space nearly a hundred meters in radius. From afar, it resembled a white sun, its dazzling flames dancing wildly, consuming matter at a terrifying speed. Any Immortal Qi that entered the flames was instantly refined.

Inside the Great Sun Chaos True Fire, Nie Kong's mind was still as water.

As time passed, his soul gradually immersed itself in an exquisitely mysterious state of enlightenment, while his physical body slowly melted into a mass of chaos.

It was impossible to tell how long it took before the chaos twisted and transformed, condensing into a stark white skeleton.

Thump!

A faint beating sound suddenly echoed from within the skeleton. It was a heart, slowly pulsating in the left chest cavity of the skeletal frame. After the heart came the liver, then the spleen...

The five organs and six viscera materialized one by one from the chaos in an orderly fashion.

Thump!

The sound of the heartbeat gradually intensified, and layers of muscle continuously formed, adhering to the bone structure.

Swish...

A sound like rushing water suddenly erupted as blood generated from the chaos flowed rapidly through the newly formed blood vessels.

Hoo!

The final wisp of Immortal Qi roared down from the sky, refined by the white flames, and integrated into the chaos. Subsequently, the final membrane of skin appeared from the chaotic mass.

Bone structure, organs, muscles, blood, skin membrane...

Manifesting sequentially.

A new physical body had finally coalesced within the "Great Sun Chaos True Fire." Nie Kong's soul, which had been immersed in this process, awoke abruptly.

"Chaos Body."

The Great Sun Chaos True Fire extinguished. Nie Kong rose to his full height, sensing the boundless Chaos Divine Power surging within him, a faint smile touching his lips.

"Brother!"

Noticing the change, Tai Yan floated over like a crimson cloud, joyful.

"Disciple, are you a Grand Venerable now?" Mu Hongling followed close behind, surprise and joy mingling in her tone.

"Not quite yet."

Nie Kong came back to himself, leaped down from the giant stone, and pulled Tai Yan's delicate figure into an embrace, laughing heartily. "For now, I have only managed to half-step across the threshold of the Grand Venerable realm."

The moment this body successfully formed, Nie Kong understood: only when he could shed this form and generate a new soul from the chaos would he become a true Grand Venerable.

However, his current strength already far surpassed that of the Ziwei Spiritual Venerable and others.

"Half-step Grand Venerable is still incredibly powerful."

Mu Hongling smiled radiantly. "Disciple, your master just asked me to inquire: should we return to the Heavenly Spirit Continent now, or solidify your power here first?"

"Return now."

Nie Kong blurted out without hesitation, his heart filled with urgent anticipation...

...

...RO