This is the enduring spirit of vast righteousness!

The Deputy Lord of the Heaven's Reason Civilization couldn't help but laugh in utter fury: "Deputy Lord of the Integrity Civilization, you are asking for death. Are you not afraid to die?"

The Deputy Lord of the Integrity Civilization nodded: "The thirty-five of us know that every one of us is courting death, but knowing death awaits, are we afraid? We fear neither life nor death."

"Good, good, good." The Deputy Lord of the Heaven's Reason Civilization laughed in anger. Yes, this was the feeling—the very feeling of disgust the Deputy Lord of the Confucian Civilization had once given him. He had thought that feeling would vanish after killing the Deputy Lord of the Confucian Civilization and capturing the Deputy Lord of the Three Books Civilization. That’s why he hadn't been particularly interested and had sent the Deputy Lord of the Ethics Annihilation Civilization to destroy the Confucian Civilization. Since this feeling has returned, let him be the one to destroy the Confucian Civilization.

"Hahahaha, hahahaha! I now have the motivation to personally destroy the Confucian Civilization!" The Deputy Lord of the Heaven's Reason Civilization laughed heartily and was about to strike, intending to kill every last resistor. Just then, Gu Shi spoke up: "Deputy Lord of the Heaven's Reason Civilization, how about I take action instead?" Gu Shi was there to earn merit. Having just joined the ranks of the Deputy Lord of the Heaven's Reason Civilization, he needed achievements. Defeating the Deputy Lord of the Integrity Civilization and capturing or killing the other thirty-four minnows would certainly count as such.

The Deputy Lord of the Heaven's Reason Civilization had intended to act himself, but he was also in the process of recruiting Gu Shi. It wasn't easy to bring a Civilization Realm expert into the Heaven's Reason Civilization. He understood immediately that Gu Shi was angling for credit. He pondered for a moment; after all, as long as the Confucian Civilization was destroyed and this so-called vast righteousness was crushed, it would suffice. Thus, he nodded: "Very well, you may act. Thoroughly annihilate these Thirty-Five Gentlemen for me. What Gentlemen? Only those of the Heaven's Reason Civilization deserve the title of Gentleman. Do those people of the Confucian Civilization even deserve to be called Gentlemen? The title of Gentleman is determined by me, and no one may alter it."

"Yes." Gu Shi nodded. The old man, who carried the flavor of 'Origin,' looked at the Deputy Lord of the Integrity Civilization and the thirty-five others with a detached and cold expression: "It is truly unfortunate. Your so-called Thirty-Five Gentlemen will all die by my hand. Deputy Lord of the Integrity Civilization, you entered the Civilization Realm before me, but let's see if you are my match now."

Gu Shi unleashed a palm strike with a resounding boom—a strike that contained the Galaxy of Beginning and Origin.

This Galaxy of Beginning and Origin was the source from which ten thousand rivers flowed forth.

With a crash, the galaxy slammed towards the Deputy Lord of the Integrity Civilization.

Lu Yuan was just about to intervene when the Deputy Lord of the Integrity Civilization struck first. Indeed, Li Taishi was the main force this time, but the Deputy Lord of the Integrity Civilization also wished to contribute his own strength. No matter how small the power, the sincerity remains unchanged. The Galaxy of Qi collided with the Galaxy of Beginning and Origin. The Deputy Lord of the Integrity Civilization was already sustaining significant injuries; he was violently sent flying back, spitting out another mouthful of blood.

Gu Shi smugly raised his fist. He wasn't usually prone to arrogance, but having been suppressed in the World Realm for so long, and only recently achieving the Civilization Realm, where he instantly leaped to the power level of the Second Epoch with a low-tier divine object—surpassing the Deputy Lord of the Integrity Civilization who had entered the realm long before him—he felt an immense sense of triumph.

Gu Shi struck again with a punch: "Be destroyed, Senior Integrity, and the thirty-four pieces of trash."

The Deputy Lord of the Integrity Civilization was about to move again when Li Taishi placed a hand on his right shoulder: "Martial Uncle Integrity, you have done your utmost. Leave the rest to me now." A small minnow had jumped out? Gu Shi recognized this minnow. This was none other than the figure who claimed to be the Child of Shadow, Li Taishi, when he was pushing for the Civilization Realm—a person rumored to have even surpassed Murong Honglei, the eighth on the original Heaven Ranking.

"Oh, Li Taishi, the Child of Shadow, ranked eighth on the new Heaven Ranking. Let me show you the might of one who has comfortably occupied the first position on the Heaven Ranking for half an Epoch," Gu Shi roared with laughter. Having held the top spot for half an Epoch, he possessed absolute confidence against other Heaven Ranking masters; no one could surpass him. Seeing Li Taishi, he felt compelled to suppress this junior. Trash must know its place as trash.

Gu Shi waved his hand and unleashed Heaven Shading with One Hand!

Heaven Shading with One Hand was his ultimate skill!

One hand descended like the heavens!

In the past, Gu Shi had used this move to subdue forty-nine rivals, from the second to the fiftieth on the Heaven Ranking, who could not handle him even when united. By the time the Son of Desolation, Lu Yuan, and Li Taishi emerged, Gu Shi was already attempting to break into the Civilization Realm and had no time for such games. Seeing Li Taishi now, he was eager to assert his dominance.

The original Heaven Shading with One Hand was already a formidable ultimate skill, but after Gu Shi ascended to the Civilization Realm, his perspective broadened, and he significantly refined the technique, elevating it to a Civilization-level move. The current Heaven Shading with One Hand was even more powerful. And now, Gu Shi brought this evolved Heaven Shading with One Hand to bear.

The move was like the heavens!

Heaven descends!

Li Taishi extended his slender, fair, and crystalline right hand, charging straight into Gu Shi's Heaven Shading with One Hand.

The two men, once rivals on the Heaven Ranking, clashed!

Courting death! Gu Shi thought inwardly, but before the thought had fully formed, he was violently slammed backward by a force immense and unparalleled. Gu Shi struggled to remain in place, but the force was too vast, too great. He was violently impacted against the World Wall of the Deputy Lord of the Heaven's Reason Civilization, causing the wall to subtly ripple.

Gu Shi's face showed shock and doubt: "Civilization Realm! And not the Second Epoch, perhaps not even the Third Epoch."

Lu Yuan stood with his hands behind his back: "That is correct. I am now in the Civilization Realm. Back when you dominated the Heaven Ranking, you never got to fight the Gu Shi who reputedly held the top spot for half an Epoch. I always felt it was a pity. Now, finally facing the Gu Shi who was number one on the Heaven Ranking for half an Epoch, it settles an old desire. However, what a shame. Gu Shi, the former number one on the Heaven Ranking, your strength seems rather lacking." Lu Yuan sighed deeply. These long sighs almost made Gu Shi vomit blood. Losing to other Civilization Realm experts would bring no shame, and defeating the Deputy Lord of the Integrity Civilization, who had entered the realm much earlier, would have been a significant face-saver. But Gu Shi absolutely could not lose to someone who originated from the Heaven Ranking. After all, he had sat atop that ranking for so long. He couldn't stomach losing to someone he once overshadowed—it was like having far superior grades only to be overtaken later; the feeling was utterly sickening.

Blasted back by Lu Yuan's palm strike and slightly wounded, Gu Shi dared not be careless again, nor did he dare to attack lightly.

Lu Yuan stood calmly, hands clasped behind his back.

The Deputy Lord of the Heaven's Reason Civilization's expression tightened. Although he couldn't discern Li Taishi's exact power, the fact that he could repel Gu Shi with a single palm suggested considerable strength. He hadn't expected the Confucian Civilization to produce such a figure. This was the last disciple chosen by the Deputy Lord of the Confucian Civilization. Why? In the matter of taking disciples, why must I always lose to the Deputy Lord of the Confucian Civilization? The only person the Deputy Lord of the Heaven's Reason Civilization couldn't afford to lose to was the Deputy Lord of the Confucian Civilization. But now it seemed he had already lost in terms of recruitment. Damn it! That man, who was supposed to be dead by his hands, managed to best him one last time even in his final moments. Damn it! Deputy Lord of the Confucian Civilization, you took a good apprentice; I will destroy a good apprentice, and then you won't have any good apprentices left.

The Deputy Lord of the Heaven's Reason Civilization looked at Li Taishi: "Li Taishi, your current strength is decent. You should have gone into seclusion to cultivate; perhaps then you might have had a sliver of hope of surpassing me. But now, it is hopeless." He intended to shake Li Taishi's resolve. If Li Taishi's mind wavered, exposing an opening, the Deputy Lord of the Heaven's Reason Civilization could deliver a killing blow instantly.

Lu Yuan let out a long breath: "That is true. I admit that achieving victory over you here is impossible. But some things, no matter how difficult, must be done even at the cost of one's life. Let the vast righteousness endure forever."

Lu Yuan held the Divine Book of True Transmission, gathering his power for the strike.

The Deputy Lord of the Thunder Storm Civilization shouted loudly: "This battle, we will take it up on behalf of Deputy Lord of the Heaven's Reason Civilization!" The Deputy Lord of the Thunder Storm Civilization yelled, seeing Gu Shi repelled without much shock. In his view, Gu Shi was merely a nascent Civilization Realm expert, a mere rogue cultivator with shallow foundations who understood nothing of Civilization-level combat techniques. His slight advantage over the injured Deputy Lord of the Integrity Civilization was purely due to the latter's weakness and prior injury; Gu Shi wasn't truly strong. This Li Taishi likely wasn't very strong either. The Deputy Lord of the Thunder Storm Civilization owed the Deputy Lord of the Heaven's Reason Civilization a favor for obtaining a part of the corpse of the Deputy Lord of the Confucian Civilization; since he was indebted, he must repay it. A mutually beneficial relationship was best.

The Deputy Lord of the Violent Force Civilization laughed loudly: "Count me in too." The Deputy Lord of the Violent Force Civilization was itching for a fight. This wasn't the first time he and the Deputy Lord of the Thunder Storm Civilization had teamed up. The Deputy Lord of the Violent Force Civilization looked at Li Taishi: "In my entire life, I hate pretty boys the most, especially excessively handsome pretty boys. You are too much of a pretty boy—handsome, strong, talented, famous, and the so-called Child of Shadow. Simply put, everything about you is an object of my disgust. I must kill you." Scars across the body of the Deputy Lord of the Violent Force Civilization throbbed. What was most repulsive was a pretty boy. A real man should be covered in scars and muscle—that was the aesthetic of the Deputy Lord of the Violent Force Civilization.

The Deputy Lord of the Poison Me Civilization gave a sinister, muffled chuckle: "I shall join as well. I've recently been researching a new poison, and this battle is the perfect opportunity for experimentation." The Deputy Lord of the Poison Me Civilization spoke darkly. This move would solidify the relationship between Heaven's Reason and the Poison Civilization; better to have close ties as members of the Desolate Immortal Buddha Alliance.

Gu Shi also straightened himself up: "Count me in as well."

Four against one!

The Deputy Lord of the Thunder Storm Civilization, the Deputy Lord of the Violent Force Civilization, the Deputy Lord of the Poison Me Civilization, and Gu Shi would face Li Taishi alone.

This was an undeniably unfair fight: three seasoned veterans plus an elder facing a newcomer who had just reached the Civilization Realm.

But what if it was unfair? Very few places in this world truly valued fairness. The Confucian Civilization was practically the last bastion of it, and now the Confucian Civilization was on the brink of destruction.

(First update delivered.)