"Jade Separation Sword Autumn!" Suddenly, a storm of red wind swept down from the sky, and a figure slid from the clouds, landing upon the back of the Chiwen. He was surrounded by countless swirling maple leaves, which, though seemingly fragile, cut like blades back and forth through the pack of wolf beasts, instantly strewing the ground with gore and bone amidst pathetic cries.

"This is..." The members of the Royal Clan looked up as if seeing salvation, fixing their gaze upon the figure dancing around the blue skeletons. The rings of maple leaves battered the skulls until they were shattered beyond recognition.

"Ice Crystal Rise!" The figure stamped his foot onto the mountainside, extending a hand to reveal a pure white, star-shaped object. This object plunged heavily to the ground, instantly freezing every wolf beast and skeleton solid.

"It's a spell!" The Venerable one leaped up, leading her kin to retreat to the base of Mount Buxian. She stared blankly at the newcomer and his sorcery.

"Chiwen! Kill him!" Empress Wu bared her fangs, tossing her head back so violently that blue veins bulged at the roots of her eyes.

The Chiwen, soaring high above, moved back and forth, instantly gathering the surrounding air. In response to the command, it opened its maw and spewed a torrent of crimson flame toward the intruder.

The man's brows furrowed deeply. The maple-red treasured sword in his hand was raised before his chest. He drew a circle-shaped swastika pattern with the blade, and as the red halo emerged, the swastika formation actually surged to meet the flame head-on.

"Whoosh!" The Chiwen's flame roared skyward, erupting with earth-shattering noise as it struck the swastika formation. Though ferociously powerful, it could not penetrate the array's defense.

"Agh!" Empress Wu, seeing the divine beast Chiwen blocked by the newcomer, immediately channeled all her mystical power. Her eyes locked onto the man, and a beam of cold white light stabbed toward the formation, shattering it instantly.

"Ah!" With his formation broken, the Chiwen's flame struck the man directly. He flipped mid-air and crashed heavily at the foot of Mount Buxian. His eyes shone with piercing clarity as he stared fixedly at Empress Wu of Buxian, pondering, "You are E Qian. Are you E Qian?"

Empress Wu of Buxian had not heard anyone speak her name in a very long time. She looked at the man clad in a Taoist robe before her, waves stirring in her heart: "Who are you? Are you Old Liu? Liu Yunzong!"

Indeed, the newcomer was the sole survivor among the band of thieves who had once infiltrated Mount Buxian attempting to seize the Royal Artifact. He was also the one E Qian had sought to protect even after being possessed by Empress Wu. Now, Liu Yunzong had mastered the secrets of the Ancient Strange Path. He had observed the celestial phenomena and knew of the divine beast's aberration, which led him to Mount Buxian. He never expected that the E Qian he once befriended would become today's Empress Wu of Buxian, indiscriminately slaughtering the innocent.

"Order your men to retreat!" Old Liu glanced at the Venerable one, then stepped forward alone, standing before the crowd. He wore simple white robes and held a red longsword. On the other side, the fluttering talismans were proof enough of his cultivation.

Empress Wu was momentarily lost upon encountering an old acquaintance; the wrinkles around her eyes softened slightly as the love, hate, joy, and sorrow of the past flooded back: "Old Liu, is it really you?"

Old Liu slowly took a step forward. He offered no confirmation, for he knew the monster with the human head and serpent body before him was no longer the E Qian of before. He raised his longsword, instantly summoning the swirling maple leaves to lash out: "For one who follows the Dao, there is no 'Old Liu.' The lineage of the Ancient Strange Path descends to subdue demons. Even if you are the Empress Wu of Mount Buxian, you cannot control the fate of the living world. Heaven shall punish those who murder the innocent."

"Hmph, ha ha ha! How laughable." Empress Wu waved her hand, and a white light flared again. The shattered blue skeletons surrounding her instantly revived, and the wolf beasts in the front ranks reformed amidst blood and gore, growing immensely large. "Well said, you guardian of the Dao! The Grand Compendium of the Ancient Strange Path also belongs to our Mount Buxian. How dare a guardian, burdened by the crime of theft, speak such words?"

"I failed E Qian, but I am not today's Empress Wu of Buxian. I advise you to recall your divine beast immediately." Old Liu's expression was grave. He showed no regard for their past affection. He channeled his power, and the Jade Separation Sword overflowed with killing light. The burst of red leaves sliced a bloody gash across Empress Wu's face. "Go, now!"

Empress Wu gently touched her face. Upon seeing that streak of crimson, she plunged back into a frenzy. The sentiments of E Qian were now irrelevant; only rage filled her heart—rage toward Old Liu, toward the entire Royal Clan of Mount Buxian, toward the entire world. She raised her head high, looking toward the Chiwen in the sky, and roared: "Destroy this place! Kill them all, leave no one standing!"

"Rumble!" The clear sky instantly became shrouded in dark clouds, within which dazzling lightning flashed. Immediately, the entire world was swept by a violent tempest. Every inch of rock, earth, and timber was scoured by this fierce onslaught, left tattered and ruined.

Old Liu raised his sword to block the lightning descending from the heavens. He weaved through the crowd, attempting to save every clansman, but the heavenly thunder provoked attacks from all directions. The situation was beyond what Old Liu alone could control. The Venerable one attempted to conjure a protective shield again with natural magic, but the myriad bolts of lightning caused countless casualties.

The Chiwen thrashed its tail. Its ferocious eyes had long since absorbed sufficient moisture. Amidst the gathering electrical discharges, the crimson flame had transformed into pure black. It opened its mouth and spat forth a torrent that became a laser beam spreading across the wilderness. This beam swept side to side as the Chiwen moved its head. Wherever it passed, countless lives were lost.

Old Liu pulled out a black talisman, murmuring an incantation. In an instant, he rushed toward the crowd at full speed. Just as the black laser swept over the people, he leaped up, forming a crimson storm that assaulted the beam. However, the laser's energy was too potent; even gravely wounded, he could only slightly slow the laser's movement before being violently thrown back, blood gushing from his mouth.

"Ha ha ha, ah ha ha ha!" Witnessing the rampaging wolf beasts and the devastation of Mount Buxian, Empress Wu could no longer suppress the madness within her. She waved her hands, continuing to summon waves of wolf beasts that ceaselessly charged at the clansmen. At that moment, the base of Mount Buxian resembled a living hell, unbearable to look upon.

The Venerable one channeled the power of nature into Old Liu's body. She brandished her scepter, and a warm green current enveloped Old Liu's wounds, quickly stemming the bleeding. "Daoist Master, the Royal Clan of Buxian vows to defend this place to the death. We are eternally indebted to you for your assistance today."

"Mobilize the Heavenly Dragon!" Old Liu nodded. He stood up, pointing his longsword toward the heavens. Wind and thunder answered the call, and the rain from the nine heavens seemed to gain eyes, swirling toward the tip of his sword. They gathered more and more densely, growing ever more ferocious, until they finally formed a water dragon, rearing its head high before the Chiwen.