The snow covering half the mountain of Sumeru was instantly vaporized where the clash of those two extreme techniques met. As the Heavenly Sword engaged the Dragon God, their swirling movements stunned everyone present.

"The chaos of ghosts and gods—is this the Heavenly Bone Sword Art that the Bone Sect prides itself on?" Elder Tianyuan’s forehead beaded with sweat upon witnessing the scene. However, he dared not lose focus now, as his power was gradually surging into the Three Innate Needles. Relying solely on the divine power of the Needles was insufficient to break the ice seal imposed by the Limitless Dao Master; it required activation by a powerful cultivation base.

"Pfft..." Garuda suffered a grievous injury, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he knelt on the ground. Even the mysterious ninth level of the Heavenly Bone Sword Art could not suppress the formidable might of the dark Death God.

King Zhou supported his chest. Although not as wretched as Garuda, his vital energy pathways had sustained significant damage. "The strength of the Bone Sect members cannot be underestimated. It seems conquering the Boundless Realm will indeed depend on the power of Killing Lord of the Heavens."

Jiu Liansheng was wholly focused on protecting his master, but at this moment, he was fiercely troubled by the elusive form of Smoke Poison. That entity was physically present yet as intangible as mist, requiring his own potent wine essence to dispel the toxic fog. "Your King Zhou is severely wounded. If you don't resolve me soon, the entire Death God Legion might suffer a reversal!"

The mist was unaffected by Jiu Liansheng's psychological tactics. He materialized behind Jiu Liansheng, aiming a strike with his pipe, but found himself blocked by a wall of white bone jade swords surrounding Jiu Liansheng, rendering his attack useless. "Your master probably isn't faring much better. Why don't you go offer some assistance?"

"Spirit Hawk Blast!" On another stretch of the battlefield, the Birdman, entangled in a tripartite attack from Shunyi, was forced to unleash a heavy killing move. The Spirit Hawk transformed into a fiery phoenix and soared into the sky. When it plunged back down onto the Birdman's body, it blasted both the Birdman and Shunyi to the very edge of the mountaintop.

"Damn it..." Shunyi, injured by this suicidal attack, bled dark blood incessantly. Seeing the Death God Legion falter, he dared not act rashly for a moment.

The Birdman lay sprawled on the snow, his situation equally grim. The Fire Phoenix divine beast, after its single devastating strike, dissolved into feathers that settled onto the back of his hand. "Well done, Spirit Hawk!"

"Yu'er!" Elder Potian anxiously monitored the fight. Logically, the Sun-Blind Clan forces held an advantage in this confrontation, but the dark Death God proved remarkably tenacious. Still, this was acceptable; as long as no one harassed Tianyuan, the situation was settled. "Hold on!"

"Swish, swish, swish!" Jiu Liansheng swung his white bone longsword ceaselessly. Though he couldn't pin down Smoke Poison's true location, his relentless strikes bombarded the area, accidentally skewering Smoke Poison and forcing him out. At this moment, Jiu Liansheng had the upper hand. "Death God, any other tricks? Or must you die beneath my blade?"

"Ah!" Smoke Poison was not skilled in close-quarters combat. He tried to vanish back into the snow for concealment, but several sword points plunged directly into his heart. "Ya... King Zhou..."

"Smoke Poison!" King Zhou slapped the ground, certainly not allowing his subordinate to perish so easily. He moved with incredible speed, flying forward to launch a Black Dragon Qi strike directly at Jiu Liansheng. "Die!"

Jiu Liansheng summoned endless bones to form a shield wall in defense, but this barrier was nothing against King Zhou's assault. That palm struck his chest, causing a pain that felt like tearing lungs and heart. "Pfft..."

"Jiu Liansheng!" Garuda, whose power was slightly less than King Zhou's, forced himself over and desperately caught the flying Jiu Liansheng. He spun several times before finally stopping at the edge of the snowfield. "Are... are you alright?"

Jiu Liansheng coughed up several mouthfuls of blood. He hadn't expected the force of King Zhou's palm to be so lethal. He shook his head. "Don't worry, I won't die yet. Just some damage to my vital pathways."

"Clang..." A sharp sound suddenly echoed across the heavens. The Three Innate Needles in Elder Tianyuan's hand erupted in a magnificent, brilliant light that bathed Mount Sumeru, causing the perpetual snow to melt away rapidly.

"Not good!" King Zhou instantly understood the function of the needle. Looking across the entire battlefield, he was the only one among the Death Gods still capable of fighting. He launched himself into the air, determined to seize the Heavenly Needle from Elder Tianyuan with his remaining strength.

Elder Potian soared up as well, positioning his hardened wings in front of Tianyuan, ready to intercept King Zhou's onslaught.

"Clang!" A deafening explosion shook the entire land. Huge stones dislodged from the mountainside, scattering the combatants still locked in battle within the ravines, sending them screaming down into the abyss.

"Hoo..." Elder Potian crashed onto the ground. An attack from King Zhou was not something any single person could withstand.

"Master!" The Birdman struggled to move, his legs already becoming unreliable.

"Killing Lord of the Heavens!" Elder Tianyuan's gaze sharpened. He held the Three Innate Needles high, channeling his entire cultivation into launching the needle—a symbol of the Boundless Realm's supreme glory—outward. "From this day forward, my Sun-Blind Clan will stand at the pinnacle of the Boundless Realm, supplanting the Bone Sect!"

As the Heavenly Needle flew, it instantly transformed into a colossal spike. Its yellow radiance cascaded down, aimed directly at Killing Lord of the Heavens, who remained motionless within the ice seal.

"Boom-swish!" Suddenly, a blue-violet light descended, followed by a crimson sword gleam falling from the sky. It sliced through the area surrounding the Heavenly Needle and, with a single strike, cleaved it in two.

"What!"

"This!"

Everyone present was astonished by that single move.

Elder Tianyuan's long-cherished dream was shattered by that effortless blow, while the previously despairing eyes of the Death God King Zhou instantly regained their confidence.

"Who are you?"

A figure clad in deep crimson, eyes flashing with blue-violet radiance, wielding a longsword the color of withered maple leaves—this person's expression was grave, his gaze fierce, radiating an aura of desiring to slay all under heaven. This person was Jun Bugu.

"Killing Lord of the Heavens, you exchanged your Extinction True Essence to recover my memories, hoping I would protect you?" Jun Bugu's demeanor was savage. He was the physical manifestation drawn from the rebellious Jun Bugu's body. "I have been in the Boundless Realm for too long, too long; I almost forgot the connection between us."

"So it's this brat!" Elder Tianyuan certainly recognized Jun Bugu. With the Three Innate Needles broken, his rage boiled over, cursing himself for not killing this fellow earlier. "Heavenly Punishment Unbowed!"

This was an attack utilizing a Boundless Realm divine artifact, capable of snatching life across vast distances. Under Elder Tianyuan's furious might, a green arrow seemed even more devastatingly absolute.

"Foolishness!" Jun Bugu held his Maple Sword and summoned the Wrath of the Blood Sea, which instantly surged toward the peak of Mount Sumeru. At that moment, his eyes shifted, and with only his longsword, he annihilated the incoming force. "It seems among everyone here, only you are worthy of being slain by me!"

"How could this be?" Elder Tianyuan had perceived Jun Bugu's strength as mediocre, but witnessing the style of that sword strike left him frozen in the air. He tried to evade, but his entire body seemed engulfed by the Blood Sea. He looked in despair at everyone on Mount Sumeru; the low-level fighters locked in mutual slaughter had long since been washed away without even dregs remaining. "You are not the Jun Bugu from that day!"

"Swish..." Jun Bugu closed one eye and turned his head away. His Maple Sword had vanished into his palm, and at that instant, Elder Tianyuan’s figure was gone. All that remained in the air were snowflakes, mingled with feathers.

"Elder!" The Birdman, barely managing to fly with Potian, had evaded the Blood Sea attack. "Jun Bugu, shouldn't you be beside Ye Xiu? Have you... killed him?"

"Ye Xiu? Hahahaha!" Jun Bugu also knew Ye Xiu, and his interest in Ye Xiu far surpassed anyone else present. "I desperately wish to slay that fellow myself, but I never seem to encounter him. Perhaps you can provide me with information about him?"

King Zhou helped his comrades retreat into the black fog. In his view, this interception was concluded; with someone of such high cultivation protecting Killing Lord of the Heavens, there was no longer cause for worry. "Everyone fall back. Heal your injuries and prepare for the revival of Killing Lord of the Heavens."

Jun Bugu looked down dismissively upon the continent of Mount Sumeru. He knew little about his own actions. "It's your good fortune that you survived. Go back. Killing you holds no meaning."

Few elites of the Sun-Blind Clan remained. Facing such a formidable opponent, the Birdman had no choice but to lead the remnants in fleeing Mount Sumeru. On the Bone Sect side, though Garuda was resentful, he could only endure silently. They had hoped this battle would bring fame to the Boundless Realm, but an expert appeared midway, forcing their plan to return to Ancient Desolate City to be shelved once more.

Jun Bugu descended beside Killing Lord of the Heavens and reached out to stroke the thick ice layer. "The Extinction True Essence is the inherent power of the Primordial Demon Seed. Now that I am freed, it returns to its rightful owner!"

"Rumble..." A rush of wind seemed poised to topple the entire Mount Sumeru. Killing Lord of the Heavens slowly opened his eyes. He glanced at Jun Bugu, communicating telepathically, "In the ancient past, the Primordial Demon Seed once inhabited the Boundless Realm. I never expected it to truly leave behind such a contingency. You have stayed in this Boundless Realm for far too long, haven't you?"

"Perhaps I was waiting for your arrival," Jun Bugu replied, his voice and expression fundamentally altered. "For a long time, I have grown accustomed to slumbering within others' bodies; my desire for your concept of dominating realms has faded considerably."

Killing Lord of the Heavens closed his eyes, a hint of sorrow in his expression. "I never imagined the power left behind by the Primordial Demon Seed in the Boundless Realm would nurture something as ambitionless as you. Regardless..."

"Ambition? I only wish to slay every powerhouse in this realm," Jun Bugu stated bluntly. "I would be even more pleased if I could duel you."

"What a pity. Regardless, the Primordial Demon Seed has found your power. The day I break free from this ice seal will be the day your strength returns to the Seed. By then, whether you are willing or not, you must return to my body and watch me unify this entire realm." Killing Lord of the Heavens spoke a truth that revealed the very purpose of the Primordial Demon Seed's existence.