Jin Buhui, listening from behind, found it increasingly strange. Zhao Yanran was one thing; he understood the temperament of the disciples of the Seven Spirit Sect well enough.

But this Xuan Yunlan, how could she be the same way? Though she was admonishing, her words seemed to imply that Zong Shou need not fear the might of the Lingyun Sect.

It was as if one of the world's top ten Sacred Lands didn't amount to much for Zong Shou. Ge Hanyun also felt the situation was odd, but she couldn't dwell on it now.

She could only kneel, bowing deeply: "Your Highness, I beg you to show mercy and spare my Senior Brother!" Zong Shou, hearing these words, raised his eyebrows coldly. The vital essence he had absorbed from the 'Dead Man's Cone, Cold End' just moments ago had been almost entirely expended when he struck with his sword just then.

The small remainder was no longer a threat. This also helped clear his mind somewhat, slightly suppressing the murderous intent and savagery in his chest.

Thinking carefully, he recalled that Qiantian Mountain's foundation was still unstable. The fate of his countless demon kin remained uncertain.

The Great Method of Swallowing Heaven and Primordial Transformation had too many flaws; if he continued killing like this, he would likely turn into a true berserker. He also remembered the complete Shocking Cloud Divine Annihilation Sword Qi within his Dantian.

Zong Shou snorted coldly, finally releasing his grip, and said lightly, "I don't need ten years. If you, Yan Feibai, are unconvinced and confident you can defeat me, find me at Gu anytime, regardless of the time.

The next battle will decide life and death!" Seeing Zong Shou withdraw his hand, Zhao Yanran clearly saw his killing intent fade, and she felt a distinct regret. She shook her delicate head: "So wishy-washy, that’s really not like you!" Zong Shou glared at her coldly, and then felt a surge of fierce intent within his soul.

The thought actually arose to bind this woman, hang her up, and whip her soundly. He quickly recited the Heart Calming Incantation again, halting the sinister thought.

Zhao Yanran's Dao Embryo Demonic Seed was still planted within Zong Shou. She could sense some of his thoughts at that moment, causing her eyes to widen in shock.

She immediately crossed her arms over her chest and stepped back: "Zong Shou, you are truly a pervert!" Even with her background in the Seven Spirit Sect, she felt it was a bit much to bear. However, deep down, for some inexplicable reason, she felt a slight thrill.

Zong Shou remained silent, knowing this was the consequence of the Great Method of Swallowing Heaven and Primordial Transformation. He couldn't recall who exactly had harbored such wicked thoughts toward Zhao Yanran just now, which his Swallowing Primordial technique had absorbed into his divine consciousness.

It was truly too evil! He also understood his own condition had reached an extremely perilous stage.

At that, he ceased speaking, ignoring even Jin Buhui, and strode towards the stone chamber he had previously located. At this moment, he almost wished this Lingyun Sect member would foolishly attack again so he could kill them.

Regrettably, after he had walked more than ten paces, the Lingyun Sect member still showed no reaction, just standing dumbly to the side. Around fifty paces later, he heard Yan Feibai ask breathlessly, "Where exactly did you learn your Shocking Cloud Divine Annihilation Sword?" Zong Shou paused his steps, his gaze flickering momentarily, then his pace returned to normal: "Naturally, from the Bright Sword Platform, those eighteen Sword Puppets!" Had it not been for this matter, the Shocking Cloud Divine Sword should have gone to Yan Feibai.

If not for considering this context, even if he had exposed his identity as a second-generation disciple of the Cang Sheng Dao today, he would have had to kill! The last stone chamber here was extremely close.

Upon arrival, Xuan Yunlan, who was following Zong Shou, let out an exclamation of wonder. "This is the place that records the final secret art of the Nine True Dragon Sword Intents?

What a pity that we could never locate this place; my Seven Spirit Sect has always been unable to restore the Nine True Dragon Sword Arts. We could only integrate some of their essence into our sect's martial arts.

My Master once entered the Outer Gate and always regarded this as a regret." Zhao Yanran also gazed at it with intense interest, while Jin Buhui was beaming with delight. He took out over a hundred sheets of blank, specialized paper, pasted them one by one over the patterns, and meticulously replicated every single design.

He didn't even spare the forty-nine symbols above, laughing heartily, "Although we couldn't obtain the True Dragon's Essence Blood, having these diagrams is still a profit! Once these are copied and sold, they should cover the costs." Even Zhao Yanran and Xuan Yunlan felt a stirring of desire.

They hesitated, wondering whether to borrow some paper from him, or perhaps even purchase some. Those diagrams clearly contained the spiritual intentions left behind by the Dragon Shadow Elder.

Copying directly from the original diagram versus Jin Buhui's secondary tracing afterward—the effect was absolutely separated by a layer! Though these Nine True Dragon Arts were far inferior to the Ninety-Nine Shadow Dragon Sword, they were all legendary sword arts of the Seventh Rank, and moreover, nine completely distinct types.

If they could be brought back to their respective sects, they would certainly provide considerable benefit to their own martial arts lineages. Zong Shou listened and let out a wry smile, his mind growing calmer.

Yet, his feet didn't slow at all as he passed through the hundred paths. A moment later, that massive iron door appeared before him.

Standing before this door, Zong Shou frowned again. Before him were only carvings of the nine True Dragons, coiling upon the door.

There was no lock, nor any visible seam; he had no idea how to open it. He could only stand firmly in place, contemplating while simultaneously trying hard to purify and regulate the breath within his body, pushing away the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

A full quarter of an hour later, Jin Buhui finally finished his tracings and flew over to this spot. Seeing this door, the Divine Ability user was also taken aback.

But what surprised him wasn't the door, but Zong Shou. "Good heavens, the entrance to the upper level is finally found.

Why are you just standing here, refusing to go in?" Zong Shou's brow twitched, and he asked curiously, "Do you perhaps have a way?" Jin Buhui smiled confidently, then took a sword from his Qiankun Pouch. It emitted a cold, clear radiance, its rank a staggering Ninth Grade!

He then continuously took out several talismans, shaking them open in sequence. They transformed into clusters of spiritual light that scattered down, adhering to his body and the sword.

Waving the sword, Jin Buhui boasted, "I foresaw that we would encounter this situation here, so I borrowed this sword from my Master. These spiritual talismans are also extraordinary; they are specialized for breaking all sorts of restrictions and barriers, and they cost me a huge amount of Beast Crystals." The corner of Zong Shou's lips curled up slightly.

He didn't recognize the other talismans, but he noticed one was an Eighth-Rank Spirit-Disrupting Restriction Breaking Talisman, and the other was unique to Jue Long City—a Ninth-Rank Minor Dragon Restriction Talisman. He couldn't guess how many Beast Crystals Jin Buhui had spent to acquire them.

After a moment of preparation, Jin Buhui swung his sword toward the door, followed by a muffled 'clang' that resonated throughout the cavern chamber. Where the sword light landed, the nine coiling giant dragons on the door seemed to come alive.

Streams of spiritual light shot out, converging, and collided precisely with the sword light. The two forces were deadlocked.

Jin Buhui only held on for a mere instant before letting out an "Ah," and his entire body was violently thrown backward. Flailing his limbs, he flew back a full hundred feet, splashing into the small lake.

Zong Shou let out a soft laugh, then a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He raised his hand, drew his sword, and struck out.

Behind him, the nine dragon shadows materialized, instantly slicing the iron door open with a single blow. This time, the nine giant dragon statues on the door showed no reaction whatsoever.

Zong Shou paid them no mind, struck out with another sword, and shattered the door completely! Almost simultaneously, Zong Shou suddenly felt a strange force transmit from the massive iron door, traveling along his sword and directly into his body.

He couldn't help but freeze slightly; this situation was precisely like when he broke through the eighteen sword puppets over a year ago. And before him, a staircase leading to an unknown destination materialized.

Only half a moment after Zong Shou departed, Yan Feibai, who was sprawled weakly on the ground, finally felt his internal injuries begin to recover slightly. Zong Shou's strikes had been extremely heavy, causing his internal organs to shake violently, almost shaking his foundation.

However, the physical damage was far less significant than the blow to his confidence from Zong Shou's few swords. Attacking his strongest point, Zong Shou had nearly toyed with him using the Shocking Cloud Divine Annihilation Sword, leading to a complete defeat.

This made Yan Feibai feel his cheeks burn with shame, utterly mortified. Whether it was the variation of swordsmanship or the comprehension of the Sword Dao, Zong Shou was clearly far superior to him!

His eyes vacant, Yan Feibai sat still for a long time before some color returned to his face, and his gaze regained some clarity. Then he ordered the other Lingyun Sect disciple: "Help me up!" The person he addressed also possessed Profound Martial cultivation.

He was much older than Senior Brother Lie. Hearing the command, he respectfully helped Yan Feibai up, a look of relief actually showing on his face.

The rest of the group also felt a bit more at ease; their greatest fear earlier was that Yan Feibai couldn't withstand the shock and would be completely crippled. Senior Brother Lie also stared at the direction Zong Shou had left, his expression shifting unpredictably.

After a long pause, he sighed slightly and spoke, "This person is truly a freak! I gauge his cultivation to be only at the Martial Ancestor realm, yet the sword strike he unleashed could probably kill any Profound Martial expert!" Recalling how he had arrogantly intended to execute this person, only to end up with a broken sword and injured body, unable to block even one of the opponent's strikes even with his full strength—a trace of helplessness appeared on Senior Brother Lie's face.

Then, curiosity took over: "I truly cannot fathom why Martial Uncle Long chose to bar someone like this from entering!" He had vaguely heard about what happened a year ago; he knew this was the person who broke through both the Bright Sword and Heavenly Talisman Platforms in a single day. It took less than one hundred and sixty breaths to destroy the eighteen sword puppets!

Furthermore, he managed to comprehend the Ninety-Nine Shadow Dragon Sword within two days. Such terrifying talent, yet Long Ruo came forward and let him go!

It was utterly incomprehensible. If they could have accepted this person, the future of their Lingyun Sect might truly compete with the foremost Sacred Lands.

"Either Martial Uncle Long is hiding something, or there is another reason!" Yan Feibai was equally confused and fell into deep thought. Just at the next moment, he heard Ge Hanyun speak up: "I do know a little.

Legend has it that after Martial Uncle Long met Zong Shou that time, he said that Zong Shou possessed a remnant soul, was hindered by the Heavenly Man's Barrier, and also had a dual meridian body!"