Jia Ye regarded the masked man beside him coldly. The figure was elusive, and his tone suggested familiarity. He concentrated, unable to stop himself from asking, “You are the Masked Man? The master of the Sky Punishment Bow.”

“Hmph, Grand Sect Master!” The Masked Man spoke with arrogance, seemingly unconcerned about Jia Ye’s status. “I didn’t expect the lofty royal family of Desolate Bone City to even know of me?”

“We invite all warriors victorious from the various weapon-testing platforms to ascend the stage!” The official’s voice remained shrill. At this moment, the square below was a roar of noise; the entire Desolate Bone City was once again enveloped in vibrant excitement.

Ye Xiu, as the victor from the Celestial Zenith, was the first to step onto the plaza. Though his victory had not come easily, he was deeply worried about the future of Desolate Bone City. Had the Drought Fiend Bug Emperor already completed his deployment outside the city walls?

“Wow, that’s the victor from the Celestial Zenith!” The crowd below erupted in a thousand whispers, cheering wildly as Ye Xiu mounted the stage. “Look at that guy—he’s the one who defeated the White City Guard Captain.”

Jia Ye stood tall and imposing. The Celestial Zenith in his hand was incredibly sharp, flashing with chilling, killing light. The sword itself was conventional, showing no strange peculiarities: “From this moment on, Ye Xiu, you are the master of the Celestial Zenith!”

Ye Xiu bowed his head to receive the Celestial Zenith. In terms of both appearance and imposing presence, this sword could not compare to the Sky-Gazing Sword on his back. He glanced at Jia Ye, then quickly shifted his eyes to Jia Louro and Jia Yunxin standing behind him. “Thank you, Grand Sect Master!”

“Indeed, I have one more matter to announce here.” Jia Ye turned to look at Yunxin. At this moment, displeasure toward Ye Xiu was evident on her face. “Ye Xiu, the victor of the Celestial Zenith, will marry Jia Yunxin and be elevated to the Desolate Bone City royal lineage.”

Jia Louro gazed at Ye Xiu with admiration. Holding Jia Yunxin’s hand, his face glowed with joy. “Brother Ye, I entrust my little sister to your care. You mustn’t bully her, mind you.”

“This…” Ye Xiu knew this arrangement was coming and had prepared for it. He shook his head, looking somewhat awkwardly at Jia Ye. “Grand Sect Master, regarding the marriage to Princess Yunxin, could we perhaps put that on hold for now?”

“You!” Jia Yunxin, who had lowered her head shyly, instantly flushed crimson when she heard Ye Xiu’s gentle refusal. The image of Ye Xiu embracing Qi’er flashed through her mind, and anger flared. “Hmph, I know who occupies your thoughts. If you won’t accept me, why even participate in the Celestial Zenith battle!”

Jia Ye saw Yunxin losing control and ordered someone to lead her away. Matters of the heart required mutual willingness; since Ye Xiu was hesitant, he would not force the issue. “Very well, we shall revisit this matter later. The Nether Realm faces a grave enemy now. From this day forward, Ye Xiu, are you willing to serve Desolate Bone City?”

Ye Xiu let out a long breath and sheathed the Celestial Zenith at his waist, replying, “The knowledge and appreciation shown to me by the various Sect Masters—and the life-saving grace from the Boundless Dao Master—mean that I am naturally bound to stand by the Nether Realm’s side.”

“Good, good!” Jia Louro had intended to place his own people near Jia Ye, but Ye Xiu was clearly no ordinary talent. He felt a pull to accept Ye Xiu, yet simultaneously a reservation.

Elder Beast, naturally, had heard about Ye Xiu in Desolate Bone City. He, too, had designs on the young man. “The young man gave up the chance to join the royalty? It seems Desolate Bone City isn’t so amazing after all.”

Jia Ye shot a glare and commanded the officials to summon the two remaining victors. According to the rules of the Weapon-Testing Platform, the right to claim any magical artifact had to be designated by the owner.

Elder Beast took out the Beast Flame Celestial Key. He glanced at the Masked Man, and together they presented the artifacts in their hands to the two figures standing above the rest. “Since the Grand Sect Master has no objections, we do not wish for the Heaven Bone Weapon-Testing Platform to end in regret. However…”

Jia Ye suddenly felt a cold light strike him, and looking at the Masked Man, a deep sense of unease washed over him.

“Since it’s this easy, we won’t be polite,” those two individuals obtained the treasured objects they desired. They slowly walked forward and snatched up the Beast Flame Celestial Key and the Sky Punishment Bow. But just as they were about to raise the artifacts high to flaunt them before everyone in the square, a sudden, violent explosion ripped through the air. A thousand figures descended from the sky, emerged from the ground, attacked from above and below, swarming the plaza!

Ye Xiu reacted with lightning speed, drawing his twin swords and positioning himself at the edge of the plaza. The ferocious beasts charged toward the crowd with blades clenched in their jaws, and bloodlight erupted everywhere.

“Not good! The people from the Ferocious Beast Sect were mixed into the city long ago!” Jia Ye realized the implication of Elder Beast’s words. He drew his sword, pointing it at Elder Beast. “Third Brother, protect my sister. I see your army has already infiltrated Desolate Bone City.”

“Hahahaha, Hahahaha!” Elder Beast let out a long, wild cry as he rapidly retreated beyond the plaza. At this moment, the Masked Man had also vanished. “Grand Sect Master, do not blame me for being ruthless. The entirety of Desolate Bone City is surrounded by our Ferocious Beast Sect. You have nowhere left to run!”

“Let’s go, little sister.” For some inexplicable reason, Jia Louro’s lips curled into a smile. Perhaps he, too, was awaiting such a moment. When chaos begins, heroes are destined to emerge. What was his own scheme?

“Ye Xiu, Ye Xiu he…” Jia Yunxin was worried about Ye Xiu, especially at this critical juncture. “Third Brother, don’t worry about me! I want to be with Ye Xiu.”

“Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.” Jia Louro surveyed the surroundings. The vast Desolate Bone City plaza was in utter chaos, with the Ferocious Beast Sect members baring fangs and claws, slaughtering indiscriminately. The formerly peaceful and solemn city had turned into an ocean of screams and blood.

Ye Xiu had barely gotten a grip on the Celestial Zenith when fierce members of the Ferocious Beast Sect surrounded him with menacing snarls. He swung his twin swords with all his might, trying to fend off the initial onslaught, but those creatures were instantly sliced to pieces by a sword edge descending from above before they could even close in.

“Grand Sect Master.” Ye Xiu took a step back, positioning himself behind Jia Ye. “It seems the Ferocious Beast Sect decided to burn everything down together. What is the strength of Desolate Bone City’s military?”

Jia Ye coldly faced the surrounding enemies, his sword pointed: “These are merely Elder Beast’s advance troops. If I’m not mistaken, the main armies of the Ferocious Beast Sect and the Sun-Blind Tribe are stationed on both flanks of Desolate Bone City. Jianan should be mobilizing troops now. We only need to hold out a little longer.”

Ye Xiu nodded, and just then, another wave of attackers poured toward them. Even using his twin swords to defend, he struggled to cope, his body being grazed by the rapidly attacking horde of Ferocious Beast Sect members. “Grand Sect Master, you must organize your forces quickly to rescue the innocent citizens. If this continues, it will rapidly devolve into a city-wide massacre!”

Jia Ye knew what was urgent. He immediately commanded the Bone Sect Guards to charge into the crowd to protect the others. He was anxious because his second brother, Jianan, was in charge of the city’s garrison, and why was there such a delay? Had something happened to the Desolate Bone Army as well?

“Aah…” At this moment, Jiu Liansheng also soared out of the crowd, whirling his wine gourd as he joined the fray. He deployed his Bone Control technique to remain constantly beside Jia Louro; in this critical moment, he naturally had to exert his full power to protect his master.

“Auhahahaha!” The Ferocious Beast Sect members seemed completely maddened. Their figures appeared on rooftops, beneath the plaza, and within the crowds. Elder Beast’s arrangement was astonishing; in just a few days, the entire Desolate Bone City had been silently infiltrated by the Ferocious Beast Sect.

Ye Xiu held off dozens of enemies alone, fortunately aided by Old Liu fighting beside him. During their back-and-forth engagement, they managed to close in on the Yaofeng Sect member who had obtained the Beast Flame Celestial Key. “The Beast Flame Celestial Key—this is the perfect opportunity!”

“Hey, Old Liu, what are you doing!” Ye Xiu panicked at Old Liu’s sudden move. Old Liu had drawn his long sword and pointed it directly at the Yaofeng Sect member. “What the heck, you Daoist priest actually want to cause trouble at a time like this!”

Old Liu gave a faint smile to the disheveled Yaofeng Sect member. “Brother, hand over the Beast Flame Celestial Key, and perhaps I’ll let you go.”

“Swish-swish-swish!” The Yaofeng Sect member flared his wings, shooting out several black long blades. The blades were incredibly fierce, flying toward Old Liu from all directions. “A mere Daoist dares to act wild in front of me!”

Ye Xiu could not spare any attention for Old Liu; he turned to look behind him. Jia Ye, assisted by his guards, had retreated into the Heavenly Ladder Pavilion. Thankfully, he had already moved Qi’er away; otherwise, preserving anyone in such a chaotic situation would be difficult.

Screams rushed toward him like the wind. Old Liu merely drew a light arc in front of him, and a layer of ice crystal blocked the Yaofeng Sect’s sharp blades. He walked forward slowly, extending a hand. “I only want the Beast Flame Celestial Key. Give it to me, and I’ll let you go.”

How could the Yaofeng Sect member fear a Daoist priest? His eyes flashed with malice, and his entire body erupted with feathers, sending a rain of sharp blades descending from above. “If you want the Beast Flame Celestial Key, you’ll need the ability to take it.”

“Hoo…” Old Liu shook his head, moving forward while drawing the black sword, Ghost Punisher, from his back. As the sword appeared, it immediately sucked the surrounding feathers into itself. “You have one more chance. The sword in my hand seems to be growing restless.”

The Yaofeng Sect member naturally paid no heed. He turned his hands into blades and flew toward Old Liu. Old Liu sighed regretfully, lightly raised the Ghost Punisher, and swept it out. Under the resulting cold wind, the Yaofeng Sect member instantly dissolved into nothingness.

“So this broken key is the Beast Flame Celestial Key?” Old Liu steadily caught the Celestial Key. Suddenly, several Ferocious Beast Sect members lunged at him, grinding their teeth. He unleashed the Ghost Punisher, and black mist permeated the surroundings, causing those sect members to vanish as well. “Now I can finally report back to that fellow Long Xuan. The malevolence of the Ghost Punisher is truly chilling.”

Jia Ye’s group was steadily being pushed back toward the base of the Heavenly Ladder Pavilion. He was furious, but seeing all the Bone Sect Guards dismembered and fallen, he had no choice but to retreat further back. The Ferocious Beast Sect members were fierce and powerful; the ordinary guards were no match for them. Worse still, some transformed into innocent civilians, stealthily approaching the guards before striking and killing them when they were caught off guard. Only Elder Beast could devise such bizarre and despicable tricks.

“Bone Sect Guards, form up!” In the emergency, Jia Louro gathered several hundred guards and attempted to arrange an offensive formation. Upon command, the guards raised their bone staffs and quickly advanced, setting up formations based on the Eight Trigrams and Sixty-Four Hexagrams. However, the Ferocious Beast Sect members acted as if nothing mattered, focusing relentlessly on Jia Ye as their target. Although Jia Ye was protected by the Heaven Bone Sword Art, he could not extricate himself.

“Heaven Bone Sword Art, Sword Bone Cosmos!” Jia Ye used his sword to channel his Bone Sect cultivation and unleashed a heaven-shaking ultimate move. A streak of red cloud swept across the formation, and a massive flame sprayed toward the bulk of the Ferocious Beast Sect. Success seemed imminent.

“Heaven Bone Sword Art, Killing Intent in All Directions!” The same voice, the same posture, but devoid of previous excitement, Yan Shangcheng descended like a god or demon, a sword edge slicing down that instantly cleaved the red cloud, along with the profane fire above the blade formation, into dust. None of the guards within the formation survived.

“Ah!” Jia Ye choked, and blood spilled from his lips. He steadied himself, circulated his energy to protect his heart, and glared furiously toward Yan Shangcheng. “Yan Shangcheng, is that truly you? And that so-called current situation is also your doing, correct?”

Yan Shangcheng’s eyes were sharp, and a long jade bone sword in his hand blocked half his face. He looked at Jia Ye’s wretched state and laughed, “Grand Sect Master Jia Ye, today I will take your life and avenge my Yan family!”

“The Yan family?” Jia Ye maneuvered close to the wall under the cover of his remaining subordinates. He looked at Yan Shangcheng’s cold, stern face; it was indeed identical to the Yan family members of years past. “Are you, are you a descendant of the Yan family? If you belong to the Bone Sect, why are you helping the Ferocious Beasts slaughter your own kin!”

“Is killing kin something you, Grand Sect Master Jia Ye, haven’t done enough of?” Yan Shangcheng grinned, sweeping his sword out and slaughtering all the guards around Jia Ye. “This is all your fault, Grand Sect Master. How does it feel now, watching the entire Desolate Bone City descend into war?”

Jia Ye sighed deeply. His massacre of the Yan family back then was ostensibly to enforce the law, but in reality, the Yan family head had secretly colluded with foreign tribes. In a fit of rage, Jia Ye had ordered the extermination of the entire clan. He never expected a descendant of that family to now be mixed in with the Ferocious Beast Sect, slaughtering his own people.