The battle at Mount Sumeru saw the collapse of the All-Interlacing Realm's various alliances, with the Limitless Dao Master single-handedly using ice to restrain the Demon Realm's Tyrant, Sha Jun Tian Xia, while the King of the Death Realm, Zhou Wang, concealed himself in the Mortal Realm. Ye Xiu, Old Liu, and A'Bi were arguably the last survivors of this war.

A'Bi was well cared for by Ye Xiu and Old Liu; although injured in the battle, she was not gravely hurt. Conversely, the life-prolonging Sky Needle inside Ye Xiu erupted, causing his energy to become chaotic, and he fell unconscious. "It seems only the Demon Empress can heal Ye Xiu's injuries. I must rush him back to the Fox Spirit Palace."

Old Liu was also badly wounded, yet he was deeply shaken by the Limitless Dao Master's choice in that final moment. Recalling the Dao Master's words left him conflicted. "I must return to Ten Thousand Dao Mountain to report this matter in detail to the Dao of Wonder Sect. I truly should accompany you to the Fox Spirit Palace..."

"Heh heh, don't worry. Though this fellow's identity is strange, he isn't a bad person. I will certainly see him healed," A'Bi said, looking tenderly at Ye Xiu. This man in her embrace possessed deep-set features and a resolute countenance, truly a hero with grand intentions. "Besides, the Daoists and the Fox Spirits have always been irreconcilable. To avoid unnecessary trouble, that's why..."

Old Liu nodded, placing his trust in A'Bi regarding Ye Xiu. "Good. When this fellow wakes up, tell him I’m waiting for him at Ten Thousand Dao Mountain!"

"No time to lose, let us part ways here!" A'Bi was gentle yet capable. At this moment, she alone, with her slender frame, shouldered Ye Xiu, and the two headed into the Corpse Demon Forest.

Old Liu watched A'Bi's figure recede before heaved a sigh and soared away on his sword, intending to return to Ten Thousand Dao Mountain. To think that all the elite disciples of Ten Thousand Dao Mountain had come to Mount Sumeru, only for him to be the sole survivor returning—even the highly regarded Senior Disciple Dao Wan Deng had fallen in battle. What a tragedy this was for the entire Dao Sect.

Ten Thousand Dao Mountain lay east of the All-Interlacing Realm's continental plate, its peaks steep, cliffs thousands of feet high, and strange rocks jutting out everywhere. Although this mountain belonged to the Daoist lineage, it possessed a unique splendor. The entire mountain was adorned with flowing maple leaves, resembling an immortal realm. Most remarkably, this mountain had no established paths; unless a Daoist disciple could ascend via sword flight, they would become hopelessly lost within the chaotic maze of peaks.

Old Liu had resided in Ten Thousand Dao Mountain for several months and had already mastered its ingress methods. His Demon-Breaking Sword carried him soaring directly to the Summit Sword Unsheathing Pavilion. This pavilion stood atop the First Wonder Peak, its structure an extension of the Eight Trigrams, within which rested a massive bronze bell. This bell housed ancient lodestones capable of drawing in all weaponry.

Dong... As Old Liu arrived, his Demon-Breaking Sword was instantly pulled toward the bronze bell. The clear chime immediately attracted numerous Dao Sect disciples. These disciples held various Pen of Spirit Inscription, weapons forged from materials far superior to ordinary bronze or iron. Seeing Old Liu ascend, they raised the talismans in their hands and encircled him within a formation.

"Hey, I'm Liu Kai! Don't you fellows even recognize me?" Old Liu was quite surprised. He had been in and out of Ten Thousand Dao Mountain for so long, even chatting and laughing with these formation-setting disciples when he left; how could they now face him with such anger? "Are you mad? Where is Second Senior Brother Long Xuan?"

"How dare you address the acting Sect Master by name?" A black-faced Daoist stepped forward. He was tall, and the Pen of Spirit Inscription in his hand was the longest. "The battle at Mount Sumeru was imminent; why did you run back here instead of staying by the Sect Master's side? Could it be... could it be..."

Old Liu felt something was deeply wrong, yet he was eager to convey the news. "The alliance of the All-Interlacing Realm suffered a crushing defeat at Mount Sumeru. Our Dao Sect disciples sacrificed bravely, even the Limitless Dao Master..."

"What? The Dao Master!" Seeing Old Liu’s grave expression, the disciples had already guessed the outcome.

"The Dao Master sealed himself in ice to prevent Sha Jun Tian Xia from entering!" Old Liu couldn't help but recall the expression in the Limitless Dao Master’s eyes at the moment of his freezing—resolute, yet tinged with something strange. "Why are you still blocking me! I must find Senior Brother Long Xuan."

The black-faced Daoist immediately blocked Old Liu as he tried to rush into the pavilion. "It is just as we suspected. Fortunately, the acting Sect Master discerned your plot. Our Curse System disciples were annihilated in the battle, and even Senior Brother Dao Wan Deng did not return. Why is it that only you have returned? Don't tell me your power surpasses the Dao Master's!"

"The Dao Master saved me and brought me back. He told me..." Old Liu observed his surroundings cautiously, sensing the situation was not right. He looked toward the main Daoist building and saw dark clouds gathering. Had the situation changed when the Limitless Dao Master emerged? "Regardless, I must see Senior Brother Long Xuan!"

At this critical moment, an unfamiliar young Daoist boy emerged from a corridor and whispered something to the black-faced Daoist, all while his eyes remained fixed on Old Liu, seemingly harboring some plot within them.

The black-faced Daoist bowed and scraped subserviently, adopting the manner of a lackey. He suddenly raised his Pen of Spirit Inscription. "The acting Sect Master has commanded: Liu Kai colluded with the God of Death during the Mount Sumeru battle. Bring him back for interrogation."

"What!" Old Liu exclaimed, stunned and pale. However, the disciples' formation was already in place, and his Demon-Breaking Sword was stuck on the bronze bell. Only his thin blade, made of non-iron material, could serve as self-defense. "Who is that boy? Why do you listen to him!"

"Curse Technique: Autumn Descends!" The black-faced Daoist shouted the command, and the disciples’ magical artifacts flew up. He spun rapidly around Old Liu, and the maple leaves on the mountainside had already formed a vortex before him.

Old Liu leaped up and clung to the bronze bell, but no matter how hard he tried, the Demon-Breaking Sword remained utterly still. The bell's attraction to weapons was indeed formidable. A whirlwind approached, the maple leaves like blades. He slashed with his thin blade but couldn't fully evade the attack. His existing wounds had barely healed, and now this was adding frost to snow. "What are you doing!"

The black-faced Daoist moved with the wind, sending down icicles with his Pen of Spirit Inscription, attempting to freeze Old Liu. Old Liu dodged around the bronze bell, using his thin blade to conjure a fiery beast that incinerated the ice surrounding him. "Liu Kai, it's not that we want to capture you; it's just that we must obey the acting Sect Master’s order!"

"What has happened to Senior Brother Long Xuan? The Limitless Dao Master sealed himself away, and instead of trying to save him, you capture me!" Old Liu's power was greatly diminished without his Demon-Breaking Sword, and coupled with his severe injuries, he was growing weary. "If you go sooner, there might still be a chance to save the Dao Master. You damned people..."

Swish... Suddenly, a long iron chain shot out from the Ten Thousand Dao Pavilion. The chain was incredibly heavy, entering the crowd as if it had eyes, heading straight for Old Liu. Old Liu dodged frantically, but his hands were firmly bound behind his back by the chain.

"Stop!" Seeing Old Liu restrained, the black-faced Daoist immediately waved his hand in cessation. He stared at Old Liu with a look of helplessness. "It's just that you appeared right before Sha Jun Tian Xia entered the realm, and you carry an item of extreme Yin and evil essence. It's no wonder we acted this way!"

"Hey, let me go!" Old Liu tried to cut the chain with his thin blade, but a trace of black mist emanated from the chain, making it impossible to sever completely no matter how hard he cut. He felt himself being pulled by the chain directly into the highest level of the Ten Thousand Dao Pavilion. "Why did you capture me!"

The Ten Thousand Dao Pavilion was the structure atop the most wonderous peak of Ten Thousand Dao Mountain, originally the place where the Limitless Dao Master lectured on his cultivation. It was usually brightly lit, grand, and magnificent, but today it was pitch black, radiating a terrifying atmosphere.

Thud! Old Liu was violently thrown onto the cold ground by the massive chain. He grimaced from the pain in his waist and struggled to stand and assess his situation. To his shock, the hall once filled with Daoist scriptures was now empty, save for a colossal seat positioned deep within. A figure, whose features were obscured, sat there. "You... who are you? Are you Senior Brother Long Xuan?"

Only the sound of rattling chains and manacles was heard as the figure slowly stood up. His face was pale blue, his body stooped, having completely lost the gentle and refined appearance he once possessed. This person was none other than Long Xuan, the second disciple under the Limitless Dao Master of Ten Thousand Dao Mountain, whom Old Liu had mentioned.

"Senior Brother Long Xuan, what is wrong with you..." Old Liu was aghast. He could only perceive one thing in Long Xuan's eyes: hatred. "The Limitless Dao Master, he is already..."

"He should have died long ago, and that troublesome Dao Wan Deng too!" Long Xuan grinned, his head tilting slightly. "If these two weren't gone, how could I become the Sect Master of Ten Thousand Dao Mountain?"

Old Liu sucked in a cold breath. These words were completely out of character for someone like Long Xuan, yet the person before him, apart from being somewhat neurotic, clearly resembled the respectful Senior Brother Long Xuan. "Senior Brother Long Xuan, what has happened to you? It might not be too late to save the Dao Master now."

"Save? Save what..." Long Xuan tried to move closer to Old Liu, but the shackles on his body severely restricted his steps. He forced himself forward and nearly fell. "From now on, I am the master of Ten Thousand Dao Mountain! That old man Limitless was too soft-hearted. He knew perfectly well that Bone Sect's Jia Ye was sent to his death, yet he still gave his full support—wasn't that foolish?"

Old Liu remained silent, his attention fixed on the strange iron chain, a chain whose appearance he distinctly remembered seeing somewhere before.

Swish... Long Xuan suddenly exerted force, and a black chain shot out from the wall, striking toward Old Liu. Old Liu reacted too slowly and stumbled to the ground to escape. "Don't even think about having any ideas here. Killing the current you would be as easy as crushing an ant."

Old Liu managed to stand up, but since he had just used the Wonder Scripture Dao, he felt weak and powerless. Left with no choice, he said quietly, "If that is the case, why should I contend with the acting Sect Master? Everything will be according to what Acting Sect Master Long Xuan arranges."

"Hush... Remember, not acting Sect Master." Long Xuan raised a finger, and the chain swayed in the air, making a sound. "It's the Sect Master? And not just any Long Xuan Sect Master, understand?"

A great man acts according to the times. Old Liu knew fighting this man head-on was impossible. However, judging by Long Xuan's tone, it seemed there was someone else behind him. "It is the Sect Master. I wonder what instructions the Sect Master has for me."

Only then did Long Xuan nod with satisfaction. He retreated to his throne. "In the battle of Mount Sumeru, aside from you, were there any other surviving members of other clans?"

"Of course there were..." Old Liu knew the situation was far from simple, and he certainly wouldn't mention Ye Xiu. That meant only A'Bi from the Fox Spirit Palace remained. "Besides myself, there is one other person—someone from the Fox Spirit Palace!"

"The Fox Spirit Royal Family!" Long Xuan's expression darkened, sinking further into the shadows. "Very good. I want you to point out the Corpse Demon Forest. Say that the entire Corpse Demon Forest colluded with Sha Jun Tian Xia, betrayed the All-Interlacing Realm Alliance, harmed our Limitless Dao Master, and plotted treason."

Old Liu nodded, understanding Long Xuan's intent. Wasn't this going to incite internal strife throughout the entire All-Interlacing Realm Alliance? He suddenly recalled what the Limitless Dao Master had told him: Long Xuan should have been someone trustworthy. The reason for his current state must be more complicated than it seemed. "As the Sect Master wishes, I know what to do."