The present Sumeru Mountain was reduced to only half its peaks, shrouded in snow, with divine beasts running wild—a desolate scene anticipating the brutal battle ahead. Dusk was approaching, and the ranks of the Boundless Realm Alliance closed in on this savage killing ground.

Garuda marched at the vanguard. Gazing upon the snowbound mountain, he raised his sword and commanded, "Today's fight determines the very survival of the Boundless Realm. Everyone, proceed according to the deployment plan."

As the order rang out, the various clan members advanced as agreed. Garuda led the main army, along with Ye Xiu and Old Liu, into the main peak of Sumeru Mountain. The others had already taken their positions, ready to counter any sudden disruptions from the divine beasts.

Ren Tianxing, Sect Master of Demon Peak Gate, and the Birdman leading the Sun-Blind tribe occupied an advantageous high ground. High above the Nine Heavens, the one-tailed, two-headed Long Serpent stood proudly. Its entire body was encased in black flame armor; a mere ripple caused plumes of fire rain to cascade across the sky. Where this fire rain struck the earth, it scorched the heavy snow into steaming, boiling water.

The Drought Demon Insect Emperor led the Insect Gate disciples to deal with the giant wolves burrowing beneath the ground. However, his attention never strayed from Ren Tianxing. He instructed Jun Bugu, "Keep a constant watch on Ren Tianxing's movements for me. I want..."

"Understood." Jun Bugu naturally grasped the Insect Emperor's meaning. He himself was employing a strategy of 'the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind,' for he knew the Insect Emperor carried the Sky's Citadel and the Absolute Blade.

The long serpent swooped towards the crowd. Its tail swept across, violently knocking aside many airborne tribesmen. Then, it brandished its four claws, unleashing an icy frost attack that instantly froze many into blocks of ice, which then plummeted to the ground.

"Not good, this creature’s power seems even fiercer than Sumeru Mountain's temperature." The Birdman spiraled mid-air, intending to repel the two-headed long serpent, when a stream of black mist intervened. Ren Tianxing stood directly in his path. "What are you doing?"

"Leave this sort of thing to me." Ren Tianxing rocketed skyward and landed directly on the belly of the two-headed long serpent, hooking his hands like claws firmly onto the creature's body. "What divine beast is this? It’s just a bit large."

The Birdman had no desire to compete with Ren Tianxing. He dove down to rescue his tribesmen, for the serpent was now violently shaking its body, causing fine ice shards to fall, transforming into countless deadly blades aimed at the people below. "Everyone scatter! Don't get hit by this thing!"

"Agh!" Many tribesmen, lacking sufficient cultivation, could not match the speed of the blades. The moment the shards pierced them, their entire bodies were frozen solid from the inside out.

Beneath the ground, the forces of Ten Thousand Dao Mountain and the Insect Gate disciples fiercely resisted the wolf beasts. These wolves towered several times the height of a man, their claws lethally sharp. A single swipe was difficult even for the Insect Gate members to withstand. "Insect Emperor, these big ones are far more formidable than the wolves from the Fierce Beast Gate!"

The Insect Emperor pushed back a giant wolf lunging at him with a palm strike. He paid little mind to the threat of the divine beasts; his gaze remained fixed on Ren Tianxing in the sky, who was bravely charging toward the giant twin-headed dragon. "Go on, unleash the full might of your three evil forms!"

Ren Tianxing moved recklessly across the divine beast's body, speaking incantations from his mouth. Black mist enveloped the serpentine beast, exploding around it. Even the divine beast could not fully withstand it. "Hahahaha! Against the power of the Evil Body, what is there to fear from a divine beast? Die by my hand!"

From above, reinforcements descended, plunging into fierce combat. However, atop Sumeru Mountain, Garuda and the main contingent had already landed near the ice encasing Sha Juntian. Clear droplets of water were beginning to trickle down the frozen surface, and Sha Juntian met the approaching crowd with a furious glare.

Garuda glanced at the sky and announced, "The sun setting marks roughly the day Sha Juntian fully revives. Is everyone prepared?"

Ye Xiu and Old Liu understood everything. Their role in this battle was direct assault. They also recalled the Witch Maiden's instruction: if Sha Juntian could not be slain, he must be dragged into the Celestial Emperor's Cycle Realm. "It's just a pity for the Limitless Dao Master; he cannot resurrect like Sha Juntian."

Old Liu let out a heavy sigh, looking at the now utterly rigid Limitless Dao Master beside Sha Juntian. "I will reclaim the honor belonging to Ten Thousand Dao Mountain."

"Swish..." At that moment, several beams of blade light shot over. The light curved like giant dragons coiling around their targets, striking without mercy toward everyone.

"Hmph!" Garuda channeled his energy, stepping to the front of the formation. His body glowed with circulating blue light as he cleanly deflected the incoming blade strikes. "Why must the Death Gods of the Dark Path hide their faces?"

Lord Zhou leaped onto the ice, wielding the Heaven-Shaking Blade. Behind him, Shunichi and his group had already taken up their positions. "Before Sha Juntian awakens, I am your opponent. But I make no promises that you will live to see him awaken."

"Death God!" Shunichi recognized Ye Xiu immediately. He licked his lips and grinned, "Shouldn't our confrontation finally have a conclusion?"

Ye Xiu didn't speak, merely gestured, and walked out of the crowd towards the most remote part of the snowy field.

"Courageous! Then, Lord Zhou, I shall..." Shunichi had always looked down upon Ye Xiu, a low-ranking Death God. After signaling his subordinates, he grinned smugly and bounded back. Two shadows followed close behind him. "This time, I will surely kill you!"

"Ye Xiu!" Old Liu held absolute confidence in Ye Xiu. He threw his head back and laughed, "I hope I never see this irritating fellow return alive again."

"Swish..." Ye Xiu's black flames instantly propelled him toward the rear of Sumeru Mountain. His movements and Shunichi's were so fast that they had already exchanged several blows before anyone could discern them.

"I will handle Lord Zhou. You all watch the movements of the other Death Gods?" The Demon Queen's eyes suddenly brightened as she stepped before Garuda. She smiled faintly, "The fate of the Boundless Realm is in your hands, Sect Master."

Garuda nodded. Looking at the nine spirit tails behind the Demon Queen, he immediately sensed an indescribable power. "Everyone, be alert for the moment the ice breaks. I must deliver a devastating blow to Sha Juntian immediately."

"Clang! Clang!" Shunichi's sharp claws slammed against Ye Xiu's Sky Viewer Sword. Their rapid movement back and forth across the mountain's rear had already stirred up a massive avalanche.

Shunichi grew more energized as he fought. His shadows moved with blinding speed. After just a few exchanges, three shadowy figures had enveloped Ye Xiu, trapping him. "This time, I'll show you the true power of a Dark Path Death God—what high-level crushing means!"

"Hmph!" Ye Xiu let out a cold laugh, his entire body enveloped in black flames. He slowly advanced toward Shunichi. "High-level? Do you think those useless shadows of yours can get close?"

"What! Sacrifice Body Realm!" Shunichi was clearly unconvinced and greatly surprised. "When did this happen? When did you reach this realm?"