As the giant Flood Dragon settled, Zong Shou followed up with several spiritual talismans, layering them onto the Thunderwing Flood Dragon's body, making the electrical radiance even more intense, flashing ceaselessly all around. Within Zong Shou's eyes, sharp light glittered, tinged with anticipation.

For the sake of secrecy, since this Thunderwing Flood Dragon had awakened, he had never personally witnessed the true combat power of his guardian beast.

Having reshaped its body and advanced to the seventh tier, transforming from a serpent into a Flood Dragon, its strength should far surpass Long Ruo's Black Flood Dragon. Even if it only possessed comparable power, today it should be enough to ensure his safe escape.

With another casual wave, a massive Silver Bear suddenly materialized, standing solemnly around the perimeter of the ritual altar.

Though this Bewitching Eye Silver Bear was only a soul beast, after its mutation, its combat prowess could match that of an ordinary peak expert of the Profound Martial Sect.

Likewise, several talismans were cast, sinking into the Silver Bear's body. Zong Shou then looked down towards Zong Yuan and smiled.

"What are you dawdling for? Get onto the altar and guard me!"

The look of astonishment in Zong Yuan's eyes flashed and vanished. Without hesitation, he directly soared up and ascended the Seven Star Grand Altar, rising five zhang and landing to one side.

Zong Shou then picked up the Millennial Peachwood Sword from the low table, tapped it lightly upon the surface, and uttered the word, "Rise."

The altar indeed immediately surged upward, flying about ten zhang high before moving westward.

The west side of Julong Mountain faced the sea, barely two hundred li away. Although this placed it further from the domain of the Heaven's Might Mountain Kingdom, the sea of clouds in between was pure void. Even with immense ability, the Crystal Ants could not travel through the air.

The area within was shrouded in mist, rich with water elemental energy—precisely what the Demon Fire Crystal Ants disliked most.

As expected, in just half an hour, just as Zong Shou and the other were spotting the edge of the distant sea of clouds, the entire horizon suddenly emitted a humming sound. Hundreds, even thousands of flying ants converged from all directions. Countless Demon Fire Crystal Ants also began burrowing out from beneath the ground.

Fortunately, the altar floated two hundred zhang high in the sky. Though the jumping power of these Crystal Ants was strong, they could not reach that altitude and could only stare up from below.

Furthermore, the Thunderwing Flood Dragon radiated its might around the altar, deterring the flying ants from approaching rashly.

Zong Shou felt his scalp tingle. He realized that the force he encountered with the people from Linhai Academy that day was not the main strength of the Ant True Person.

The Crystal Ants below now numbered perhaps fifty thousand? The strongest Soldier Ants reached four hundred.

And those Six-Winged Flying Ants, comparable to sixth-tier experts, which he had slain with flying knives that day, numbered a full twenty.

The location of the Mother Worm remained unknown, but among this swarm, there were four Six-Winged Flying Ants and ten Soldier Ants whose carapaces were not pure black, but a faint silvery-white.

Their bodies were a full half-size larger, exuding a terrifying aura. While still slightly inferior to a seventh-tier refined beast, they approached that level closely. These were undoubtedly the Ant Queen's immediate retinue—the core combat strength of this Demon Fire Crystal Ant swarm.

Zong Yuan's face had turned pale, his grip tightening fiercely on the Purple Thunder Spear in his hand.

Zong Shou also inwardly lamented, thinking, Master, oh Master, while sealing my outer core was well-intentioned, you have terribly harmed your apprentice.

If he could utilize power above the Heavenly Rank, why would he need such trouble?

Yet, his expression remained unchanged. Around the altar, he quietly inserted several sticks of incense, lighting them.

Subtly driving the wind, he caused the wisps of blue smoke to gently drift outwards.

After the addition of the golden scorpion venom powder, the scent of the Hundred Mile Purity Incense became significantly more concealed. Upon first inhalation, it was a fresh fragrance, and its latent period was longer, even giving a slight effect of clearing the mind. It would only be detected when the accumulation of thunder reached a certain level—and by then, it would be too late.

Even Zong Yuan couldn't resist, taking several deep breaths before suddenly waking up, instantly covered in goosebumps. Over the past few days, he had witnessed Zong Shou several times adding poisons into the cauldron—things like the venom sacs of Three-Ring Stride Snakes and the eggs of the Hundred-Joint Worms, all notoriously toxic substances; any one of them could incapacitate a person.

He checked his internal circulation and indeed felt his vital energy slightly constrained. It was only when Zong Shou tossed over a medicine vial that Zong Yuan's anxiety eased slightly, and without delay, he swallowed a pill within.

As for the Thunderwing Flood Dragon, it remained utterly unfazed. Its body was impervious to all evil; any noxious poisons were naturally filtered and purified by the electrical light surrounding it.

The Crystal Ants, however, remained completely oblivious. They merely circled, blocking Zong Shou's path, surrounding but not attacking.

A moment later, a figure dressed in a daoist robe appeared, stepping upon a foot-long spiritual artifact, descending from the sky. He appeared to be around forty, with a fair, beardless face, floating in the air as if he were an enlightened master. He halted about two thousand zhang before the altar. Four silver Six-Winged Flying Ants were actually circling around him.

He was clearly wary of Zong Shou's swordsmanship, not only having activated two defensive spiritual artifacts in the air but also having at least seven spiritual techniques layered onto his body. Upon arrival, he summoned hundreds of flying ants to shield him like a massive breastplate.

His gaze was gloomy as he looked at Zong Shou. When his eyes landed upon the Thunderwing Flood Dragon, his pupils contracted slightly, then he sneered coldly, "I do not wish to offend the Dragon Shadow Martial Saint. Hand that creature over to me, and I can spare both of you!"

Hearing this, Zong Shou let out a dry laugh. However, all his preparations were complete, and he was in excellent spirits, so he bothered little with the Ant True Person. He simply pointed at the giant Flood Dragon before him: "You want the True Dragon essence blood? But since my Thunderwing Yang Serpent has reshaped its flesh and achieved the form of a Flood Dragon, do you think I still possess it?"

"Stop playing dumb! Why would I, Ant True Person, covet the True Dragon essence blood that others scramble for?" The Ant True Person let out a cold snort, sharp malice flickering in his eyes. "I speak not of the items from Jue Long City, but of what Xuan Lang secretly took back then! Don't tell me you don't know!"

Zong Shou's heart stirred. He knew this person must be referring to the ninth-tier Dragon Pill, the eighth-tier Dragon Soul, and the item within the vial. It was strange that Jue Long City was unaware of this, yet the Ant True Person knew precisely. No wonder this person was willing to risk offending the Dragon Shadow Elder to the point of death just to ambush and slay him here.

On his face, he feigned utter bewilderment: "What item? I know nothing of it! How can you be so sure that thing is on me?"

"Why confirm it? Since the True Dragon essence blood is in your possession, then you, Zong Shou, are naturally the most likely person. Simply kill you, and confirmation will follow!" The Ant True Person's eyelids narrowed slightly, his soul power spreading out wildly: "I know you recently defeated Long Ruohan Shui. But I, Ant True Person, assure you I am not comparable to those three pieces of trash. With the Dragon Shadow Elder gone, what defense do you have, Zong Shou? How long can you use that outer core? If you are intelligent, hand over the item yourself!"

Zong Shou had intended to exchange a few more pointless words to buy time. But seeing the Ant True Person's expression, he knew that was no longer possible. He then chuckled lightly: "Then let's see..."

He stamped his foot lightly, causing the Seven Star Grand Altar to tremble. In just a single breath, it grasped over a dozen earth veins below, connecting instantly with a full five celestial veins nearby. This allowed the spiritual energy to pour in along unseen conduits. Within the area of five zhang, the spiritual energy suddenly surged by more than tens of times in an instant. Zong Shou felt his own soul power expand by nearly seventy percent at that moment.

Not only did his divine soul perception enhance and his range expand, but the ambient spiritual energy he could control also increased significantly. He couldn't help but feel inwardly shocked; this was the power of a Spiritual Master's Altar!

No wonder those Spiritual Masters who possessed altars in his previous life were so troublesome to deal with. It was indeed as written in the books: only by possessing one's own altar could a Spiritual Master completely overpower martial cultivators in terms of combat strength! Connecting to the spiritual veins to amplify soul power effectively raised his strength in spiritual arts by almost a full tier!

"I think you don't know the immensity of heaven and earth! Did you truly believe that after defeating Long Ruo on Julong Mountain and being accepted as a disciple by the Dragon Shadow Elder, you could roam the Cloud Realm without restraint? Did you think that relying on this Seven Star Grand Altar and a Thunderwing Flood Dragon would render me helpless against you?" The Ant True Person let out a cold, mocking sneer filled with disdain. However, his gaze was fixed intently on the Seven Star Grand Altar beneath Zong Shou.

Spiritual artifact altars like this appeared only once every thousand years. Like the Small Qiankun Bags, they were monopolized by the various sects and noble families of the Cloud Realm. Even with his immense wealth and power, he still had no access to one. His gaze gradually grew fervent, then returned to a cold deadness.

"Others hesitate because you are a sovereign ruler, fearing repercussions from killing you. I, Ant True Person, fear nothing! Since you insist on seeking death, I shall grant your wish..."

He gestured with a finger, and instantly hundreds of flying ants rushed down, grabbing the Crystal Ants one by one before soaring several hundred zhang high and dropping them directly onto the altar. The Thunderwing Flood Dragon roared in anger at this moment. It surged up, circling the altar once. Without any elaborate preparation, the electrical light around its body suddenly burst outward, pulverizing over two hundred Crystal Ants into dust. For a seventh-tier refined beast, these common Crystal Ants, which were at most fourth-tier, were truly like mere ants, dispatched as easily as slaughtering dogs.

Zong Shou also casually flicked his sleeve. The forty-nine Azure Leaf Swords, already placed in readiness, instantly appeared, circling all around the Seven Star Grand Altar. Sword light flashed rapidly, and in moments, several dozen Crystal Ants were cut down on the spot.

Zong Yuan and the Bewitching Eye Silver Bear cleaned up the remainder behind them, dispatching the residual Crystal Ants. Any Crystal Ant that managed to approach the altar would be instantly pierced by a flash of purple spear light. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian, cast recommendation tickets, and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)