"Is there anything that can quickly boost my fighting strength? Elixirs, external pills, or spirit artifacts will do, just for a moment."

Long Ying was initially surprised, appearing as if to caution him, but fell silent upon hearing the latter half of the request. Boosting combat power in a short span—he had countless methods for that, but they were all shortcuts and heretical paths that disregarded the foundation. However, if it was only temporary, then it was manageable. After a brief pause, Long Ying's voice returned.

"There is, actually. You only need to awaken that innate guardian on your arm!"

Zong Shou couldn't help but curl his lip. Didn't he already know that? But this Thunder-Winged Flood Dragon was at a critical juncture, already in slumber. Moreover, the giant dragon had left behind two drops of dragon blood upon its departure. It would take at least ten days to half a month to fully digest it. To forcibly awaken it now would undoubtedly impede the beast's evolution. For the sake of this dragon, it wasn't worth the risk for him.

"It seems you are unwilling," Elder Long Ying chuckled, having anticipated this outcome. "I happen to have a High-Grade second-tier External Pill I forcibly took long ago. I recall the person I took it from had already fused two Heavenly Meridians within it. Originally, I intended to gift you a third-grade Dharma Treasure later. But if you desire this, I can trade it for that item."

Zong Shou’s heart was immediately filled with hesitation, accompanied by a pang of regret. A third-grade Dharma Treasure he could use was infinitely better than an External Pill. Even if he couldn't use it immediately, once he reached the Seventh Stage and refined it, he would be unrivaled among Spirit Masters of the same tier.

Meanwhile, Wu Ying didn't give him time to waver. The moment the words fell, the space around him abruptly shimmered again. In an instant, a piece of jade-stone, colored red and blue, materialized before his eyes, dazzling with brilliance. At a single glance, one could feel spiritual energy surging like an unending tide.

Zong Shou’s eyes flashed with sharp light, and he grasped the object in one hand. Sensing with his mind, he indeed felt seven Earth Meridians coiled within, along with two spiritual meridians ten times grander traversing through them, occupying nearly seventy percent of the jade-stone's volume. Moreover, all the spiritual meridians inside were of ice and fire, perfectly balanced. Without hesitation, Zong Shou embedded his True Qi within it, and then used his Soul Energy to seal layer upon layer of runic restrictions into the stone. He didn't need to completely refine it; he merely needed to borrow the immense spiritual energy within it later.

"I can help you refine this item."

A strange force suddenly poured in, instantly increasing Zong Shou’s resonance with the External Pill.

At this moment, Elder Long Ying spoke with earnest sincerity, "Although the power of this External Pill is strong, it is ultimately not the righteous path. Your current cultivation is too low, and your physical body is frail. Using this item will place an immense burden, and one misstep could damage your meridians. Do not be swayed by external forces and forget your fundamentals. However, given your martial path in the Sword Soul Realm, perhaps you don't need to worry too much. By the way, what do you need this for?"

Zong Shou was momentarily speechless, pondering why Long Ying only thought to ask the reason now. Remaining silent, Zong Shou stared fixedly at the direction where the silhouette was. After a long while, his tone was flat and emotionless as he spoke, "Since he already regards me as his inner demon, then I, Zong Shou, will not shrink from truly becoming the demon in his heart, the nightmare of his life!"

The aura of Elder Long Ying briefly stalled, then he let out a dry chuckle. "What spirit! Worthy of being my Long Ying's disciple!"

He laughed wildly again, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation.

"External Pill?"

Over a hundred feet away, Long Ruo also stared at Zong Shou's figure in stunned silence. The suddenly appearing red and blue jade-stone entered his field of vision immediately. He instantly recognized it as a High-Grade External Pill.

However, this action made Long Ruo even more bewildered.

"Judging by its grade, it's at least High-Grade Second-Tier, integrating at least two Heavenly Meridians!"

Han Nishui frowned. Concerned about detection by the Martial Saint's spiritual sense, he communicated with extreme caution, drawing characters with spiritual energy in the void to replace spoken words. There was no sound fluctuation, and all spiritual energy was retracted internally.

"Is he perhaps intending for Zong Shou to borrow the power of the External Pill? But this child has no Inner Breath; what use is this item to him?"

Li Yuan Dan was more focused on the small yellow dots, taking a long time to recall their origin. He also gathered spiritual energy, forming characters in the air.

"Those must be Dragon Essence. It is said that all True Dragon species are the purest beings in the world. The so-called Dragon Essence is naturally generated around them when they inhale the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. It is useless to these True Dragons, but for human cultivators like us, and all spirit beasts, it is comparable to a supreme elixir. It can strengthen the physique, consolidate the origin, and increase strength. Judging by Long Ying's intent, he wants to merge this Dragon Essence into Zong Shou's body. Truly squandering heavenly treasures! With the barrier between Man and Heaven in place, what use is this method? No matter how much he cultivates, he will ultimately be a cripple."

Long Ruo fell silent, countless questions rising in his heart. Merely a successor of the Sword Dao—why would Long Ying treat this child with such favor?

These doubts had just arisen when they were instantly suppressed. His intent to kill was already decided; why bother thinking about these matters? No matter what tricks Zong Shou and Long Ying were playing, it was irrelevant. He only needed to take Zong Shou's head!

Since Long Ying intended to help Zong Shou merge the Dragon Essence, Elder Long Ying, hundreds of worlds away, would certainly be distracted. This was the perfect opportunity to strike.

Thinking of this, a faint flash of lightning glimmered in Long Ruo’s eyes.

"You truly intend to strike?"

Han Nishui's brow furrowed deeply. "This person is, after all, the Heavenly Demon King, the Lord of a city! Killing him carries heavy consequences. Furthermore, the Martial Saint Long Ying watches over him; even if he doesn't seek revenge for this child, he certainly won't wish to lose face."

"Even so, he must be killed! This is a struggle on the Dao path. This child blocks my path, so retreat is impossible. After killing him, I will leave the Cloud Realm to avoid implicating my sect. I have methods to conceal my tracks and evade the Martial Saint's perception. Long Ruo had a surge of heart-mind connection; if this child is not eliminated soon, I fear one day the three of us will die by his hand."

Shaking his head slightly, Long Ruo then turned to glare coldly at the other two. "If you are unwilling, you can withdraw!"

Long Ruo’s writing was condensed using Fire-attribute spiritual energy. Han Nishui immediately sucked in a sharp breath, feeling an icy chill penetrate his bones. This Long Ruo was truly insane, utterly and completely mad!

Yet, he gained a sudden realization: if he refused now, the first person to suffer Long Ruo's frenzied revenge would undoubtedly be himself. This man had planned deeply, dragging the Shangxiao Sect and the Danling Sect into this affair. If the Martial Saint Long Ying sought retribution afterward, their two sects would likely not escape involvement either.

Li Yuan Dan also maintained a somber expression, saying nothing, only his eyes flickered. He already felt a degree of regret; if he had known, he shouldn't have associated with these two. Killing Zong Shou wouldn't be difficult; a single sword strike would suffice. The difficulty lay in the aftermath. In the eyes of the Martial Saint Long Ying, they were mere ants; once their tracks were found, they could be erased in an instant. If the price was to leave the Cloud Realm temporarily—living in constant dread—he would rather swallow this anger and find another way to resolve the hidden danger of the Profound Moon Brightwood Art.

Long Ruo glanced at the two, and the coldness in his eyes immediately receded. He sneered and then refocused his gaze on Zong Shou a hundred feet away. He knew that although he had suppressed the two behind him just now, it was impossible to make them follow wholeheartedly. However, he didn't seek their full assistance; he only needed some marginal help. Once they were in the game, it would be difficult to escape.

A thin black thread suddenly slid from his sleeve, appearing like a small snake, yet possessing scales and horns. It also stared forward with a chilling gaze. And the 'Broken Blade' sword in Long Ruo's hand gathered soul power increasingly rapidly. Faint whistling sounds began to emerge.

Han Nishui's expression tightened; knowing that Long Ruo was about to act, he no longer wished to conceal anything. Looking again at Zong Shou, most of the yellow dots had already seeped into his body. Cold sweat covered his face; clearly, he had reached the most critical juncture. In the very next instant, Long Ruo let out a fierce roar: "Assist me!"

Han Nishui's heart sank. He admitted he was partially responsible for this situation. Since things had come to this, further refusal was impossible. He hesitated no longer, casting several spirit spells in rapid succession. Chanting true words, when two Seventh-Tier Soul Beasts materialized beside him, Han Nishui's soul instantly detached from his body. He then manipulated countless torrents of spiritual energy to converge toward Long Ruo’s direction—the Grand Firmament Spirit Invocation Art, the Grand Firmament Origin Spirit Art, several successive spirit methods were cast upon Long Ruo’s body.

Li Yuan Dan also sighed, taking out an unknown-grade black pill with his left hand. He suddenly crushed it fiercely, and then, with his right hand, lightly tapped the spot behind Long Ruo. He managed to instantly convert all the medicinal power within the pill and inject it into the other man’s body.

A flush instantly rose on Long Ruo’s face, and the light in his eyes grew even brighter. He shook his large sleeve. The small black snake immediately pounced out. After traveling just over ten feet, its body unfurled, growing over a hundred feet long, and it fiercely bit toward the front. Almost simultaneously, two other Seventh-Tier, serpent-shaped soul beasts manifested beside it, coiling around to guard. Long Ruo discarded all caution, his soul rising into the air. Appearing like a wisp of smoke, yet shimmering with golden light and vast Yang power, he wielded the Broken Blade sword, flashing dozens of feet in an instant, piercing directly toward Zong Shou’s throat!

Just this one strike would end this child's life!

Although Li Yuan Dan acted reluctantly when making his move, seeing the scene now, he couldn't help but be amazed. Long Ruo’s cultivation was only half a step away from the Eighth Stage. Now, bolstered by the spiritual power and medicinal aid of the two, the might of this single sword strike was comparable to that of a peak Eighth-Stage expert!

It was precisely at this moment that Li Yuan Dan’s peripheral vision suddenly spotted two figures emerging from a passage in another cave chamber. Li Yuan Dan was first stunned—there were people inside this cavern who had not yet emerged outside. In the next moment, he recognized them as Long Ruo’s junior disciples. Two of the most outstanding figures of the Fourth Generation of the Lingyun Sect; however, at this moment, Yan Feibai and Ge Hanyun’s faces were filled with despair.