Just as everyone stood stunned, Zong Shou’s sword did not slow even for a moment. Swallowing Heaven Primal Essence Technique.

When the azure sword silhouette swept past the old man’s neck, it had already siphoned off several strands of vital essence from this Xiantian Martial Master. Less than a tenth of the total, yet it was terrifyingly vast.

And this old man’s residual consciousness was ten times more formidable than those two Secret Martial Masters! Zong Shou sneered inwardly, forcibly erasing these extraneous thoughts, and the sword shadow soared into the air again.

With a rotation, it swept down once more toward the distance. Gao Yi’s face turned pale, yet he still gripped his sword and slashed back, urging the Wind-Riding Colt beneath him to flee desperately.

Zong Shou paid him no mind, and the gathered primal energy erupted suddenly. He attacked head-on, thrusting down with his sword at full speed, transforming into a thousand sword blades, like a celestial waterfall inverted, a giant tidal wave descending, surging downward.

When the clanging sounds of swords rang out, it was accompanied by splattering blood and flying flesh. One direct strike cleaved the Wind-Riding Colt in half.

Then, the sword shadow flashed again, severing Gao Yi’s four limbs entirely at the root, allowing him to tumble to the ground. The momentum of the sword then pivoted sharply.

He leaped high, swift as a sudden thunderclap, covering a thousand zhang in an instant. With a flicker, he put the body and head of another armored guard, who was preparing to escape behind him, two halves apart.

Then, sword shadows flickered incessantly; in the night sky, only several streaks of light cut across. Hundreds of zhang away, another Secret Martial Master’s head also lifted silently, falling to the ground.

The remaining two were currently locked in a fierce struggle with the Cold Nether Tiger, flailing clumsily in their panic, unable to break free for the moment. Zong Shou felt waves of piercing pain in his soul sense; the violet lightning surrounding him had faded to its absolute limit, and his soul power was nearly scattered.

Knowing he had reached his limit, even the absorption of vital essence would hardly sustain him. He stopped bothering with them entirely, turning directly back toward his physical body.

He transformed once more into a wisp of light smoke, pouring in from the Shenxiao acupoint. But as the primordial spirit returned and his body recovered, Zong Shou was instantly struck by a wave of dizziness.

Wavering as if about to collapse, it was not just his spirit that was weak; his entire body felt as if pricked by needles. All the strength within him was utterly depleted.

The Sea of Souls was even more contaminated with countless impurities, now utterly turbid. Zong Shou knew this was the price paid for using the primordial spirit outside the body to forcefully execute the Swallowing Essence Technique and slay the Xiantian Martial Master.

To cleanse his spirit and restore its purity would require at least two months of effort. During these two months, not only would he be unable to manifest his primordial spirit again, but his soul power cultivation would likely regress instead of advance.

In fact, it wasn’t just the primordial spirit; even after firing the powerful bow twenty times, his arms were still trembling slightly, some tendons and bones nearly completely torn. He probably wouldn't be able to exert much force for the next half a month.

But he didn't care at all. Instead, his mind felt clear, and the violent rage in his chest was completely vented.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Chu Xue, head bowed, staring at him like a dazed goose. Gong Xinran beside her was the same, her eyes vacant, seemingly at a loss for words.

Slaying the Secret Martial Master had already felt like a dream to her. Now, even the Xiantian Martial Master, whom she believed was utterly impossible to defeat, had been slain by a single sword stroke!

He actually kept his word, fulfilling his promise to make Gao Yi die before him, truly fighting recklessly, disregarding everything to slay him, even engaging the Xiantian Martial Master. Not only were his wondrous arts and secret techniques inexhaustible, but his actions were also so sharp, decisive, and awe-inspiring.

She remembered that this junior disciple, regarded as a cripple in the academy, was not yet twenty years old? Her heart swelled with countless emotions.

The child who could only weep silently after being bullied now possessed such formidable martial power. She also wondered: if she had stayed by this young man’s side two years ago, if she hadn't been captivated by Gao Yi's gentleness and aristocratic demeanor, what might things be like now?

Thinking of this, Gong Xinran couldn't help but curse herself internally for being so shameless. In that moment, Gong Xinran found herself no longer concerned with Gao Yi, the one who had personally pushed her into the abyss.

Her gaze was fixed solely on the youth before her, whose face was as pale as paper, her inner thoughts a tangled mess, surging uncontrollably. Zong Shou was completely oblivious.

After forcibly ** twitching the corners of his lips, he struggled to sit up. Then his face instantly went stark white.

His gaze fixed steadily on Gong Xinran’s left chest. The golden needle sealing her lifeblood, the last thread of her vital energy, was now showing signs of loosening.

With a sudden sigh, Zong Shou struggled to his feet, then drifted down from the back of the Scythe-Tail Lion. He felt as if he couldn't move a single finger; utterly exhausted to the point of death, he longed to collapse into unconsciousness the next moment.

However, no matter how bitter or tiring it was, there was one thing he absolutely had to accomplish before losing consciousness. He abruptly pulled out a pill and threw it into his mouth.

As the medicinal power of this Snow Soul Pill spread, the piercing pain in his soul immediately subsided by more than half. His Sea of Souls felt as cold as an icy spring.

He then exerted all his remaining strength to move, walking up to the body of Gao Yi, who had been cut into a human stick. This man was staring back, his eyes burning with fire, filled with endless resentment.

Zong Shou let out a mocking smile and took out a bracelet from his hand. Then, in the next instant, Gao Yi’s eyes were completely replaced by shock and terror.

His face turned paper-white, his body twisting violently as he shook his head fiercely, trying to crawl away. “Seven Spirits Ring?

What are you doing? No!

I don’t want to become that Free and Easy Heavenly Demon, Zong Shou, I beg you, just kill me—” Zong Shou paid him no heed. When his feet were planted, the blood of the elder surnamed Lin from not far away had already begun to flow over, mixing with the corpse of the horse and Gao Yi’s own blood.

Within a three-zhang radius, a circular talisman array had formed. In each of the seven directions stood a bizarre sigil!

He then slapped the bracelet sharply, releasing several vengeful souls sealed within it, before finally forming a hand seal. “My actions, Zong Shou, always favor repaying others in kind.

Since you intended for Senior Sister Xinran to become the main spirit within this Seven Spirits Ring, then I shall now make you become a Heavenly Demon within this ring, unable to find release for all eternity!” As he chanted the secret words, the blood-colored talisman array began to emit an eerie red light, even capturing several newly deceased souls nearby. The bracelet floated high, transforming from its original pure white to a seven-colored radiance.

Then, under Gao Yi’s gaze of utter horror, Zong Shou suddenly reached out and tapped the Seven Spirits Ring. Instantly, a puff of black smoke surged from Gao Yi’s brow, forcibly drawn into the Seven Spirits Ring.

Watching the light ring flash, Zong Shou felt no joy, only a slight bitterness. He turned his head back to look behind him.

He saw Chu Xue, her pretty face ashen, clutching the lifeless Gong Xinran, who had already closed her eyes, shaking her head slightly: “Sister Xinran passed away three breaths ago. She told me that though this life had too many regrets, she could finally die in peace—” Zong Shou’s heart tightened, but surprisingly, it wasn't the soul-crushing grief he had imagined, only a sense of loss and slight melancholy.

Then, his thoughts surged, and he let out a long, sudden cry. Deep within his soul, something seemed to be constantly overflowing.

Not only was the Sea of Souls expanding wildly, but the impurities absorbed into the primordial soul through the Swallowing Essence Technique were also being expelled. Wisps of green smoke rose from his head, and the cry grew clearer and more ethereal, lingering for a long time.