"Hmph! Survival of the fittest. This is what you earned, Grand Sect Master!" Yan Shangcheng did not stop his slaughter. He didn't just use his sword; the Raging Sand Saber in his hand had already formed an arc and scattered, exploding among the crowd. "Now, I not only want you dead, I want everyone to be buried with my Yan family! Hahahaha!"

Ye Xiu shook off those chasing him and rushed over to help. The moment he saw Yan Shangcheng, he was astonished. "So you were here, you scoundrel. Your deliberate loss was just a feint. You were plotting to take over the entire Desolate Bone City."

"What is Desolate Bone City?" Yan Shangcheng's eyes were deep crimson, making him look demonic. "I only want Jiaye dead. I want him to die spat upon by ten thousand people, utterly without dignity. After killing these useless wretches, I’ll burn their bones! Hahahaha…"

"Ye Xiu, you hold off the other fierce beast disciples. Jiunan should be arriving with reinforcements shortly! I must personally sever Yan Shangcheng's head." Jiaye raised his sword and pointed it at Ye Xiu. The attendants around the Sky Ladder Pavilion were clearly no match for the fierce beasts. "I bestow upon you the status of Desolate Bone Sword Royal Clan. From this day forward, everything that is mine is yours."

Ye Xiu felt no thrill from the title of Royal Clan, but Jiaye's current fearlessness and conviction deeply moved him. This was the demeanor a true sovereign should possess, and he was willing to become his strength.

"Hah!" With that declaration, Jiaye swept the Tianqian, unleashing a torrent of tyrannical energy that echoed throughout the entire square. The rampaging beast race assailants were instantly torn to shreds by a single beam of golden sword energy.

"Hahaha, I was careless last time and didn't kill you! Today, I shall end you myself!" Yan Shangcheng had waited decades for this day. Before even engaging Jiaye, he was already vibrating with excitement. He turned, retrieved the Raging Sand Saber, held the saber in one hand and the sword in the other, simultaneously unleashing both saber and sword energy with a furious roar. "This move was prepared specifically for you: Saber Sword Blood Sinking!"

Jiaye soared upward, separating his battlefield with Yan Shangcheng from the crowd. He spun his body, channeling the eighth level of the Heavenly Bone Sword Art through the Tianqian, gathering energy into a single point before unleashing an aura of deadly golden light that radiated in all directions.

Instantly, the wind and clouds changed color, the heavens and earth trembled, filled with light, dust, flying sand, and streaks of blood. After countless figures clashed amidst the slaughter, two powerful beams of light shot forth in response, cutting through the masses. With a resounding "Boom…," they canceled each other out, but all that was heard was Yan Shangcheng’s soaring cry that filled the sky: "Hahahaha, today is your death day!"

Jiaye was unexpectedly outmatched by Yan Shangcheng. In the end, the power of his sword move was reflected back by Yan Shangcheng's Raging Sand Saber, wounding him. He lowered his head, spitting blood, utterly dejected. "Could this be fate? To be the Royal Clan of Desolate Bone City and yet be defeated by the Heavenly Bone Sword Art. How lamentable, who taught you the Heavenly Bone Sword Art?"

Yan Shangcheng spat contemptuously and raised the sword in his hand high. "I learned the Heavenly Bone Sword Art from childhood. Although you have reached the eighth level, you can never surpass me, who has also reached the eighth level."

"Grand Sect Master!" Ye Xiu simply put away the Heaven's Q ue and charged through the crowd with his Heavenly Glimpse Sword, arriving by Jiaye's side. "Grand Sect Master, you leave first. I will hold them here."

Jiaye was truly unable to continue the fight, but the pride of the Royal Clan forbade him from simply retreating. He pulled Ye Xiu back. "Ye Xiu, this has nothing to do with you. Don't worry, he cannot kill me yet."

Ye Xiu ignored everything else and stood directly in front of Yan Shangcheng. He commanded the attendants behind him, "You all quickly escort the Grand Sect Master into the Sky Ladder Pavilion. I will handle this."

"Big Brother!" At this moment, Jia Yunxin and Jialuoluo also arrived leading their men. Seeing Jiaye wounded, both were extremely anxious. "Big Brother, are you alright?"

"Take them all inside!" Ye Xiu issued orders to the Desolate Bone Sword Guards with resolute authority, his voice in no way inferior to Jiaye's of old. "Everyone retreat into the Sky Ladder Pavilion. Jiu Liansheng! Protecting the Sect Master and the Princess relies on you!"

"But…" Jia Yunxin was somewhat worried about Ye Xiu. Although everyone knew Ye Xiu's strength, the current situation was truly not optimistic. Looking across the field, Jiunan's organized forces had still not arrived, and the beasts from the Fierce Beast Gate were running rampant across the entire square.

"Trying to leave!" Yan Shangcheng, certain of victory, would naturally not let anyone escape. He raised his saber toward the sky; the arc shape of the Raging Sand Saber was fully formed, surrounded by blood-red light, vibrant energy, and killing intent. When he next aimed the Jade Bone Sword toward the crowd, it manifested as a blood-red swastika shape. "Raging Sand Saber, Pluto's End!"

"Be careful!" Ye Xiu flew forward without thinking, standing opposite Yan Shangcheng. He utilized the desperate stance of his Heavenly Glimpse Sword, instantly chopping down, sending another beam of crimson sword light to meet the attack.

"Fool!" Yan Shangcheng, brimming with arrogant power, used one hand to once again activate the Heavenly Bone Sword Art, pressing directly toward Ye Xiu. "Those who block me must die! No matter who, no matter the race, all must die! Aaaah!"

"Hah!" Ye Xiu's sword light was razor-sharp as it met the attack, intending to cleave through the swastika of killing intent. Unexpectedly, his power was far inferior to Yan Shangcheng's. How could this be? Had this fellow increased his abilities by tens of times in such a short period?

Suddenly, a "swoosh" sounded near his ear. A multicolored sword light ascended from behind him, helping him to barely contend with Yan Shangcheng's killing aura.

"Old Liu!" Ye Xiu smiled knowingly. He hadn't expected him to come help at this critical moment. "This is excellent. With the strength of us two combined, we should be able to subdue him."

Old Liu gritted his teeth, his face furious. "You kid are too incompetent, needing my help at the crucial moment. Don't underestimate the strength of this purple-robed youth. Long Xuan told me what that thing is?"

"What thing?" Ye Xiu was fully occupied defending and didn't have time to notice other details. But hearing Old Liu mention it, he took a closer look and indeed saw a patch of purple airflow surging in the center of Yan Shangcheng's forehead. "How can there be such a thing? Are you saying this thing has increased his power?"

"That is the Mad Vein Celestial Pivot, inherited from the ancient War Gods of the Boundless Realm. The Mad Vein Celestial Pivot can instantly boost his combat strength." Old Liu stared fixedly at Yan Shangcheng, whose expression was now filled with a ferocity that couldn't be stopped. "This thing operates on the same principle as our Meridian Path—expanding the meridians to enhance individual cultivation. However, the Daoist enhancement is temporary. This Mad Vein Celestial Pivot can be grafted into the body and remain there permanently."

"There’s such a thing? What do we do now?" Ye Xiu gasped, suddenly feeling his hand tremble, almost unable to hold on.

"Ghost Execution Sword, Color!" Old Liu roared. His entire Ghost Execution Longsword was almost enveloped in dazzling, colorful light. Unexpectedly, Old Liu possessed such a supreme sword technique even after his cultivation. "Hahahaha, Ye Xiu, step back! See the might of the weapon in my hands! I want to prove that the Mad Vein Celestial Pivot does not mean invincibility."

"Hey…" Before Ye Xiu could react, Old Liu kicked him away. He looked with utter astonishment at the brilliant, colorful glow behind Old Liu.

"Those who block me die!" Yan Shangcheng was nearly driven mad, roaring alone in the sky. The murderous aura of the swastika was actually held back by Old Liu's single move and could not descend to the ground for the time being.

"Sword Color Flowing Light Ghost Dance!" Old Liu stated calmly. From behind his back, countless vibrant sword energies erupted once again. Each sword energy seemed to drift uncertainly, graceful and elegant, half-dancing, half-moving, firmly encircling Yan Shangcheng.

At this time, Jiunan still had not arrived with the pre-arranged forces to rescue them. The main escort force brought Jiaye into the Lingyun Tower of the Sky Ladder Pavilion, intending to rest and recuperate. Unexpectedly, a bizarre change occurred above Desolate Bone City. A dark, overwhelming mass of people, their wings beating the chaotic heavens, looked down upon everything below.

"It's the Sun-Blind Clan!" Jiaye had not expected the Sun-Blind Clan to take advantage of the chaos to invade the skies above Desolate Bone City. He straightened his body and sternly reprimanded, "Elder Tianyuan, have you forgotten the promises of the past?"

"Promises?" Elder Tianyuan sneered coldly and ordered his Sun-Blind Clan companions in the sky to spread their wings. "The Sun-Blind Clan has always kept to the distant heavens. Promises of peaceful coexistence are long outdated. With the innate strength of the Sun-Blind Clan, we already stand above all other races. If we can obtain the Bone Sect's method for eternal life, hahahaha!"

"Damn it, why hasn't Second Brother arrived yet? Letting these brutes rampage over Desolate Bone City like this." Jialuoluo complained, finding it hard to restrain himself from drawing the Jade Sword in his hand to display his power.

"Fire!" Elder Tianyuan showed no hesitation. With a command, a rain of feathered arrows descended from the sky. Although the Desolate Bone City guards summoned their bones to resist, they were completely unable to withstand the thousands of feathers plunging down. Even Jiaye was struck by several arrows.

"Grand Sect Master!" Suddenly, Ye Xiu chased after them, sending a sword strike flying upward that knocked several of the birdmen out of the sky. At this moment, the Bone Sect attendants recovered and swarmed forward, engaging the fallen Sun-Blind Clan members in close-quarters combat, their faces red with exertion, roaring incessantly.

"A red longsword? I didn't expect to run into another person connected to the death of Tianyue Shanren here. Perfect, I'll capture you and take you back to Tianyunji for execution as well." Elder Tianyuan dared not underestimate Ye Xiu. He merely flapped his wings, generating a tornado that rushed straight toward Ye Xiu. Ye Xiu raised his sword to guard his chest, unleashed the Heavenly Glimpse Divine Sense, and a single stream of sword light sliced the hurricane apart.

"You know Tianyue Shanren? Did you capture Jun Bugu!" Ye Xiu felt this was utterly unbelievable upon hearing it. What level of cultivation did Jun Bugu possess? How could he have been captured by the Sun-Blind Clan? Had he fallen into some trap, or did the Sun-Blind Clan possess some strange art unknown to him?

Tianyuan waved his hand, and unknowingly, he had acquired the Heaven's Punishment Bow. He spread his five fingers, and an emerald feather arrow immediately materialized. He lightly let go with one finger, and a beam of light instantly shot out toward Ye Xiu. "Having the Heaven's Punishment Bow saves me quite a few feathers."

"Swoosh…" That beam of light appeared simple, but its speed was incredibly fast. Ye Xiu had to use Azure Eye Brilliance to narrowly dodge it. However, the light arrow, after missing its target, did not cease. It turned back as if it possessed life and struck at Ye Xiu again.

A "hiss" sounded, followed by a stinging northern wind accompanied by myriad streaks of light. Even the Sun-Blind Clan members high in the heavens shielded themselves with their wings against this blow.

"Waaah!" The Bone Sect attendants were swept by the northern wind, suffering heavy casualties and crying out in pain.

"What is this…" Before Ye Xiu could evade the tracking arrow, he felt a surge of dark red light rush up from the ground into the nine heavens. Even that Heaven's Punishment Bow arrow was engulfed by the attack of the red light. "What is that thing?"