Ye Xiu began to grasp the reason why the Death Realm Pluto retreated from the Boundless Realm—perhaps there remained a power hidden here that even he could not supplant. And what did the actions of the Myriad Demon Empress signify? To propagate the power of the Death Realm unendingly, what final outcome would this bring about in the future?

Jun Bugu, having stabilized himself momentarily, retracted his cultivation. Instantly, the entire space collapsed, and the two of them were back within the endless sea of fire that was the Fire Map Purgatory. "Finally back. Look, Old Liu is still up in the sky?"

"Whoosh! Whoosh!" Old Liu streaked across the heavens. The divine beasts flitting about were endless, impossible to slay completely. Seeing the two emerge, he finally let out a breath of relief. "You two were inside for far too long; you're going to wear me out."

Ye Xiu shot out, already suspended beneath the Ghost Punishing Sword. He let out a cold laugh. "Jun Bugu is not the ordinary Death God he once was. Why don't you let him try!"

The mark on Jun Bugu's forehead lit up, and the Desolate Blade instantly ignited with flame. A long dragon immediately surged through the sky, and after passing several of the flying divine beasts, it struck them all down. "Let's go! We're returning to Myriad Dao Mountain!"

Old Liu, having witnessed the power of the Raging Meridian Tian Shu, could not help but praise the Desolate Meridian Tian Shu as well. "Truly a wonder of the Boundless Realm. With this, when Sha Jun Tian Xia breaks the ice seal, won't there be yet another powerful being capable of..."

"Go!" Ye Xiu pointed towards the blue aura shimmering in the sky. The trio ascended together, bursting forth, and they found themselves back in the Demon Quenching Pavilion. However, by this time, the Demon Quenching Pavilion was already surrounded by disciples of Myriad Dao Mountain.

Old Liu, now acting as the interim Sect Master, naturally felt a sense of strangeness. He brandished his long sword and walked up to the Black-Faced God. "What is going on? Why is everyone gathered here?"

"Reporting to the Sect Master, we have already selected the elite disciples who will depart on the day Sha Jun breaks the ice. We await your command," the Black-Faced God and his group stated with resolute determination, set on slaying Sha Jun Tian Xia to avenge the Limitless Dao Master.

Ye Xiu gasped, the final battle at Mount Sumeru still seeming to be some time away. Why were the people of Myriad Dao Mountain so impatient? "There should still be more than twenty days until the Ice Breaking Day."

"There are fewer than fifteen days left!" the Black-Faced God reported. "We implore the Sect Master to decide soon."

Old Liu exclaimed in astonishment and looked back. "It seems the time inside the Demon Quenching Pavilion isn't calculated by days. A few hours for us might equate to several days in the Boundless Realm. What a hassle."

Ye Xiu nodded. He had secured Jun Bugu and the Desolate Blade. He wondered if the evil eye power of the Drought Demon Insect Emperor had recovered. If the Emperor knew of his actions, it would likely mean a complete severance with the Insect Demon Sect. "The only course of action now is to prepare thoroughly and welcome the breaking of the ice by Sha Jun Tian Xia."

...

Outside the Sinister Karma Forest, the Bone Sect had been besieging the area for days without success, gradually falling into a passive position. Canaan, clinging to a last breath, refused to withdraw his troops.

Suddenly, a wave of green poisonous mist erupted from the entrance of the Thousand Cave Insect Hall, spreading its smoke to target the Bone Sect members.

"Not good! That poisonous mist again! Everyone be careful!" By the time Zuo Cheng Hou gave the warning, the Bone Sect members at the forefront had already been struck by the mist, leaving nothing but skeletal remains. "Everyone, retreat!"

"Damn it! The Myriad Toxin Pearl holds such venomous power!" Canaan swung his Earth Fiend Weapon, attempting to use the wind to divert the toxic mist, but at that moment, swarms of demonic ants attacked from beneath the ground, overwhelming him. "Use the skeletons to restrain the ant soldiers! Everyone push hard to disperse the mist!"

"It won't be that easy!" The Insect Hall doors opened, and the Demonic Ant Strategist led various flying insects to meet the charge. The swarm of flying creatures instantly destroyed the weaker skeletons! "Capture Canaan alive!"

Zuo Cheng Hou, seeing the unfavorable situation, walked up to Canaan. "Sect Master, we must withdraw quickly. The power of the Myriad Toxin Pearl is beyond what we can match!"

"Keep fighting!" Canaan cleaved his sword into Zuo Cheng Hou's shoulder, saying fiercely, "If this grudge is not avenged, how can we establish the prestige of the Bone Sect? Keep fighting! I will deal with the Myriad Toxin Pearl!"

"Kill! Argh!" The Bone Sect members, seeing their Sect Master so valiant, also surged with killing intent. However, wherever the poisonous mist passed, it still worked against the Bone Sect, causing their forces to be weakened by more than half in the back-and-forth.

"Sigh!" Zuo Cheng Hou, devoted only to his master, inwardly cursed at being treated this way. "The Bone Sect is in peril!"

"Whoosh..." Canaan swiftly evaded the poisonous mist and lunged directly toward the Demonic Ant Strategist. He unleashed his Heavenly Bone Sword Art, instantly severing the Strategist's arm. "I will destroy your Insect Demon Sect's greatest treasure!"

The Demonic Ant Strategist had numerous limbs. At this moment, he held up the Myriad Toxin Pearl and continued to release the mist. "Hmph, let's see what other tricks you have!"

Canaan descended in a flash, intending to attack again, but unexpectedly, the Demonic Ant Strategist commanded his subordinates to intercept him. Maneuvering proved difficult, as he could not gain the upper hand amidst the myriad flying insects. "Damn it, Heavenly Bone Sword Art Eighth Layer!"

"Clang!" The entire entrance of the Thousand Cave Insect Hall was instantly shattered into pieces. This sword strike harmed personnel on both sides, and the entire Sinister Karma Forest was littered with corpses.

The Demonic Ant Strategist was also thrown to the ground by the powerful force, and the Myriad Toxin Pearl in his hand flew up into the sky. "Snatch the Myriad Toxin Pearl!"

"Dream on!" Canaan’s sword swept across, perfectly shattering the Myriad Toxin Pearl. With that strike, countless sword lights pierced the ground, slaying the Demonic Ant Strategist instantly. "Kill this ant!"

The morale of the Bone Sect soared, and they surged forward fiercely, causing the Insect Demon Sect to face crisis after crisis. "Avenge the Great Sect Master!"

"Whoa!" A powerful palm of pure light blasted out from the Insect Hall, and the voice of the Drought Demon Insect Emperor echoed throughout the Sinister Karma Forest. "Insect Demon Sect members, retreat quickly."

"Don't even think about it!" Canaan, blinded by the slaughter, blocked the Emperor's palm strike with his sword. But when he tried to find the Insect Demon Sect members again, they had already burrowed underground. "Hmph, without the Myriad Toxin Pearl, what is there to fear from the Insect Demon Sect!"

"Ha! Ha!" The Bone Sect forces achieved victory, and everyone cheered for Canaan. Even Zuo Cheng Hou, who had earlier advocated for retreat, was filled with immense admiration.

Canaan surveyed the battlefield. Though countless lives were lost, the victory was meaningful. "Clean up the battlefield quickly and return to Desolate Bone City. Leave a squad to continue searching for that fellow Yan Shang Cheng. Go!"

"Report..." At this moment, a scout from the rear rushed forward. He knelt before Canaan in urgency. "Rumors from Desolate Bone City say the Third Sect Master has returned there. There are rumors that he..."

"He what?" The most unexpected event for Canaan had finally occurred—his own third brother was finally stepping forward to contend with him for the position of Sect Master. "Speak quickly!"

The scout lowered his head and whispered, "There are rumors that the Third Sect Master holds evidence of you... killing the Great Sect Master, Jia Ye!"

"Nonsense!" Canaan roared, shaking the messenger far away with his anger. He raised his long sword high. "Jia Lou Luo has rebelled! Everyone, follow me back to Desolate Bone City!"