The upper level of the Sky Ladder Pavilion was called the Lingyun Tower. Instead of being a grand hall for the Imperial Clan, it served as the resting and cultivation retreat for the Grand Sect Master, Jiaye, exuding a sense of lofty yet tempered tranquility.

Led by Marquis Zuo Cheng, Ye Xiu gradually entered an area both prosperous and serene. Every blade of grass, every tree, every spring, and every lake before him began to ease his initial tension. This Jiaye, outwardly rigid and severe, was actually quite the connoisseur of enjoyment.

"The Grand Sect Master is at the Lian Tian Lake just ahead." Marquis Zuo Cheng escorted Ye Xiu only this far before taking his leave. "Young Master Ye, please proceed."

Lian Tian Lake? Ye Xiu walked forward, marveling at how a body of water could be constructed atop a structure that pierced the clouds—a testament to the sheer ingenuity of the Boundless Realm's artisans.

He gazed ahead, his mood lifting as the sheer expanse of azure blue flooded his vision. The lake mirrored the clouds above, and those clouds seemed to merge and separate within the water, creating an interplay of immersion and distance.

"Ye Xiu, you have finally arrived." Jiaye, who had been standing with his back to the lake in the central pavilion, turned as he sensed someone approaching. He offered a slight smile that nonetheless retained its solemnity. "If I recall correctly, we met within the formation of the Terrestrial Imperial Clan, didn't we? Death God Ye Xiu!"

Ye Xiu was prepared for this direct address; he nodded without a trace of fear. "I am surprised the Grand Sect Master still recalls a mere Death God like myself. I know the Boundless Realm cannot tolerate the existence of Death Gods, so..."

"So, you don't need to worry. If I intended to kill you, I wouldn't have waited until now." Ye Xiu stood ramrod straight, his imposing aura unbroken, the golden sash at his waist emphasizing his extraordinary bearing. "The turmoil of the Death Gods is past. I only wish to know your purpose for entering the Boundless Realm."

The casual tone allowed Ye Xiu to relax somewhat, though the pain in his abdomen made him bend slightly. "If I told you I only came here chasing information about the Underworld King of the Death Kingdom, would you believe me?"

"Of course." Jiaye spread his hands, clearly serious. "Just as you believe Hong Ling is my daughter, the answers regarding the Underworld King can certainly be found within the Boundless Realm, for the Celestial Bone Legacy records everything."

Hearing this reminded Ye Xiu of Hong Ling, that woman steeped in legend. "Since we mention Hong Ling, I assume you know of the Myriad Demon Empress. Who exactly is that woman?"

Jiaye intended to reveal certain truths to Ye Xiu, but he found the quiet conversation between two swordsmen somewhat lacking. "As a Death God, the wounds from the recent martial bout should be minor, correct? Perhaps you require some time to rest?"

"The Grand Sect Master is too kind. Ye Xiu has only fought a minor skirmish and needs no rest." Ye Xiu was clearly injured, but his curiosity burned brighter. Information concerning the Myriad Demon Empress and the Death Kingdom was his destiny to pursue.

Ye Xiu was still puzzled: the Lian Tian Lake was vast, yet the pavilion, named the Heaven-Pointing Pavilion, stood isolated in the center. Looking around, there seemed to be no path leading across. "Does the Grand Sect Master wish for me to approach you?"

"Hahaha, Ye Xiu, your speed is extraordinary. This small distance should not trouble you. If you can manage it..." Jiaye's laughter was low but carried a distinct undertone of challenge.

Ye Xiu understood Jiaye's intent. Without hesitation, he prepared to deploy the Soul of a Hundred Insects, intending to skim across the lake and land directly on the Heaven-Pointing Pavilion. However, the waters of Lian Tian Lake were bizarre; setting aside their color, the subtle, chilling luminescence alone was unsettling.

"Or, I can come over..." Jiaye spoke on, deliberately provoking Ye Xiu.

Ye Xiu lifted one foot just as it touched the lake's surface, only to feel an intense heat engulf him. Immediately, a pillar of water shot out like a beam of sword light, striking towards him.

"Ah!" He gasped, flipping his body mid-air to narrowly evade the attack. By this time, his entire body was airborne above the lake, with nowhere to land or find purchase. Reluctantly, he drew the Tian Miao Sword and rose to meet the water pillar head-on.

Sword against water erupted in a massive surge. Ye Xiu plunged his blade into the water, slashing back and forth to disrupt the pillar’s trajectory. He used the minuscule leverage gained from contact with the surface to deploy the Soul of a Hundred Insects once more, propelling himself into the air. Looking up again, he saw the Heaven-Pointing Pavilion was still a great distance away.

On the Heaven-Pointing Pavilion, Jiaye stood with his hands clasped behind his back. Observing Ye Xiu's performance, he noted the flow of energy within him. "The Anomalous Lifeform is indeed the ultimate combat machine birthed from the Chaos War—one body capable of containing two or more distinct powers."

Ye Xiu, feeling the pressure, summoned the Tian Miao Sword and executed a Divine Sense sword technique, merging it seamlessly into his Shadow Flicker, causing his figure to multiply endlessly.

"Heh, it is this move again." Jiaye extended one hand, positioning his Tian Qian sword before him. Now, countless images of Ye Xiu covered the lake's surface, stirring up water pillars that shot upwards. As these pillars approached him one by one, Ye Xiu smiled and bowed before Jiaye.

"Ye Xiu has arrived, Grand Sect Master." Ye Xiu kept his back bent in respect. "May I ask what connection the Myriad Demon Empress has to the Boundless Realm!"

Jiaye helped Ye Xiu straighten up, speaking with earnest gravity. "The Bone Gatherers originated in the Primordial Era. As long as the bone remains, life continues, though each cycle requires slumber and waiting for revival. The duration of this revival depends on the cultivator's prowess and the quality of the bone vessel used."

Ye Xiu pondered as he asked, "I encountered Hong Ling within the Nine Path Vicious Array. After a near-death experience, she used a bone jar to transform into Mo Xi of the Xia Dynasty. I later realized that woman had only one identity: the Myriad Demon Empress."

"The Bone Gatherers attain immortality through endless cycles of slumber and awakening, but with each revival, the memory of the previous identity is lost. I could become the Sect Master of Desolate Bone City because I was the first to awaken!" Jiaye spoke of these matters as if recalling events from centuries past. "The four of us—the Imperial Clan siblings—awoke in the same place. We await the awakening of our kin. This law exists and continues within the Boundless Realm."

Ye Xiu abruptly interrupted Jiaye. "I remember when Hong Ling first transformed into Mo Xi, she didn't lose her memory; rather, she merely changed her appearance!"

Jiaye paused, seeming unwilling to reveal the secrets of the Myriad Demon Empress so quickly. "The long sword in your hand is quite unique. Might I examine it?"

"The Tian Miao Sword, presented! Grand Sect Master, please." Ye Xiu offered the sword with both hands, though his gesture was only superficial; he had no intention of revealing any true information about the Tian Miao Sword to Jiaye.

Jiaye carefully accepted the Tian Miao Sword, examining it closely in his hand, finding nothing particularly unusual about the blade.

"Swoosh..." Jiaye suddenly raised the sword and drew it slightly, producing a clear, resonant sound. A sharp, icy glint illuminated the entire Lian Tian Lake. "The Tian Miao Sword? Indeed, its malevolence is palpable, yet it lacks not the robust energy of Heaven and Earth. It is a fine sword, but why can it not unleash its full destructive power in my hands?"

"Thank you for the compliment, Grand Sect Master." Ye Xiu managed a casual bow and took his sword back. He didn't wish to discuss the sword. He surmised that the defensive master Fa Liangluo of the Bone Sect must not have informed Jiaye about the emergence of the Tian Miao Sword when he returned to the Boundless Realm. Could it be that Fa Liangluo was at odds with Jiaye?

"However..." Jiaye's tone shifted slightly, tinged with doubt. "The sword techniques you employed during your duel bear a striking resemblance to several forms of the Celestial Bone Sword Art. Why is that?"

Ye Xiu, having been ignorant before, fell into confusion only after hearing Jiu Liansheng mention it. "Aside from Hong Ling, I have never contacted anyone from the Bone Sect. I cannot answer that question."

Jiaye asked no further. He drew his own Tian Qian treasure sword, and instantly, a broad swath of golden light illuminated the surroundings—magnificent to behold. "This sword is forged from the Profound Bone of Heaven and Earth, cured under the sunlit haze of the heavens. It is hardy, capable of slicing through hair, and measures about 1.2 meters in length. Its name is Tian Qian."

"I never realized the Grand Sect Master's Bone Manipulation skills could extend to sword cultivation. I have truly learned something today." Ye Xiu grew increasingly disinterested in the conversation. By now, he had guessed Jiaye's true intention.

"I will not hide it from Young Master Ye; Jiaye has an unwelcome request." Jiaye swung the Tian Qian, pointing it toward the ground, from which a streak of pure white light emerged, brilliantly boundless.

"The Grand Sect Master's command is absolute; how could Ye Xiu dare refuse?" Ye Xiu retreated a few steps, already spinning the Tian Miao Sword onto his arm. Although this was merely a spar, he could not afford to relax.

Seeing Ye Xiu ready, Jiaye smiled confidently. "Just one strike. I only wish to test your sword moves, Ye!"

Suddenly, a gentle breeze swept across Lian Tian Lake, causing ripples with every contact point on the water's surface. As the nearest ripple drifted toward the Heaven-Pointing Pavilion, Jiaye's eyes hardened. He swept his Tian Qian to gently flick away the droplets, his body shooting out like a shuttle wrapping around one side of the pavilion.

Ye Xiu dared not be careless. Clutching the Tian Miao Sword tightly, he too shot towards the pavilion roof from the opposite side. In a flash of lightning and sparks, the two men clashed, sword meeting sword.

"Celestial Bone Sword Art." Jiaye spun his sword tip with one hand, generating waves of golden light. That beam of golden light seemed composed of countless sword tips converging into a single, focused point, slamming down toward Ye Xiu.

Ye Xiu countered with his Divine Sense technique, accompanied by a flash of crimson light, moving toward Jiaye like a raging dragon emerging from the sea.

"Clang..." A heavy collision followed, and streaks of brilliant, multicolored light filled the Lingyun Tower. The duel between the Bone Sword Tian Qian and the Tian Miao Sword atop the Heaven-Pointing Pavilion caused the entire Lian Tian Lake to surge, sending countless splashes against Ye Xiu and Jiaye's bodies, which showed no sign of stopping.

In an instant, both returned to the center of the pavilion, standing perfectly back-to-back. This exchange was one of mutual appreciation between swordsmen, the highest respect paid to the sword and its technique.

The Lingyun Tower? Galluoluo, situated within the Sky Ladder Pavilion, looked up at the summit. That brief flash of multicolored light—how many people noticed it? What exactly had Big Brother and Ye Xiu done? Did he know about Ye Xiu's identity as a Death God? That was impossible. How could Fa Liangluo betray me!

"Have I been defeated?" Though subtle, Ye Xiu had noticed the tear in his sleeve, and the hand gripping the Tian Miao Sword was trembling slightly in the lingering spray.

"Haha, perhaps we both have been defeated." Jiaye threw his head back and roared. "This time, it was merely sword technique against sword technique. We both lost, or perhaps neither of us lost. In my view, true victory or defeat is only realized at the moment one forces the other to the brink of death."

Ye Xiu let out a breath of relief, sheathing his sword before turning back. "In terms of swordsmanship, I am still a novice. I believe when you first saw me, Grand Sect Master, I wasn't even wielding this type of weapon."

Jiaye lightly brushed the water droplets from his body, a trace of confusion in his eyes. "It has become a habit for the Bone Sect members to forget things. Unless it is vital, they simply don't bother remembering. Heh."

Ye Xiu offered a faint smile, his mind fixed on one point. Jiaye's attitude toward his own daughter was deeply suspicious. "Regarding Hong Ling?"

"I only know that the Myriad Demon Empress possesses the techniques of the Bone Sect, and Hong Ling is merely a bone taken from her person!" Jiaye deliberately revealed this, hiding nothing.