What a uniquely spirited battle! To match the Ant Daoist evenly with pure spirit arts—intriguing, most intriguing. This Zong Shou certainly possesses something uncommon. I underestimated him before—”

Dozens of li away from the resounding detonations, a young man laughed incessantly, though a chill permeated the sound.

Beside him stood a tall figure clad in a white gown. However, the sleeve on her left side fluttered loosely, entirely smeared with dried black and red blood. Occasionally, fresh blood would seep out, staining the fabric anew. Her beautiful face was utterly pale. It was none other than Xiong Yu, whom Zong Shou had briefly encountered not long ago. She had come to this secluded spot to recuperate, yet Zong Shou’s Water-Fire Spiral Qi was terribly virulent. Even now, she could not fully heal the wound where her arm had been severed.

At this moment, she too rose to her full height, gazing into the distance with an expression of astonishment. It was no less striking than when she had witnessed Zong Shou defeat all three of Long Ruo’s group previously.

After all, at that time, Zong Shou had relied on the momentum of the Dragon Shadow. But here and now, he stood face-to-face with the Ant True Man, relying entirely on his own strength.

After a moment of contemplation, Xiong Yu suddenly spoke, “In Young Master Li Han’s esteemed view, who do you think will win between these two?”

“That is hard to say! The Ant True Man has yet to reveal his true trump cards; the Demonic Fire Crystal Ants currently displayed probably constitute less than half of his total force. As for Zong Shou, he too has held back the greater part of his strength. His sword path is spiritually attuned, and although his martial cultivation is only at the Martial Ancestor realm, the sheer power of his martial capability should place him second to none below the Celestial Rank. Today’s fight will most likely end in Zong Shou’s defeat. Zong Shou’s chance of victory is at most twenty percent. However, I estimate that even if he loses, he will likely possess a hidden means to retreat whole, perhaps even managing to seriously wound the Ant True Man, resulting in mutual destruction—”

The young master glanced dismissively at Xiong Yu before letting out a soft sneer: “I know you wish to kill him. Very well! This opportunity is rare. If the possibility arises, I will lend you a hand. Coincidentally, I have some interest in the Ant True Man’s Demonic Fire Queen Ant. To let such a top-tier spirit pet fall into his hands is truly a waste of heavenly treasure!”

As he spoke, Li Han’s eyes began to gleam faintly: “Zong Shou’s possessions are rumored to be quite substantial. I have desired that Seven-Star Altar for a long time. The Qiankun Bags of Long Ruo’s trio must have fallen into his hands. I am also intensely curious what the Ant True Man seeks that makes him fight so desperately, risking the ire of the Dragon Shadow Elder—”

In his words, he already treated both the Ant True Man and Zong Shou as mere prizes for the taking.

Xiong Yu paid no mind, a faint gleam appearing on her face. She knew Li Han’s abilities, perhaps not matching Long Ruo, but certainly superior to Han Nishui’s. Just as she was about to offer her thanks, she saw Li Han’s gaze turn cold and desolate.

“However, this man, you must dispatch yourself. It is best not to have any connection with my Fierce Spirit Li Family. Should any flaw be exposed, I, Li Han, will certainly take your life first!”

The elation in Xiong Yu’s chest immediately faded somewhat. She understood Li Han’s meaning: Zong Shou’s identity was special—a monarch of a nation. The Li Family were mostly cultivators and were naturally reluctant to stain their hands with royal blood, nor did they wish to offend the Dragon Shadow Elder on her behalf.

But this was within her expectations. If she wanted revenge and wished to preserve the foundation of Blazing Flame Mountain, she had to pay a price.

Many matters in this world were inconvenient for the members of the Fierce Spirit Li Family due to their constraints; it was no trouble for those like her, who dwelled in the mortal sphere, to handle them. This was precisely the reason the Li Family allied with Blazing Flame Mountain.

As her heart turned cold and murderous intent surged, Xiong Yu suddenly caught a faint, delicate fragrance wafting towards her nose. Before she could react, it had already permeated her lungs.

Instinctively, she tried to expel it. Yet, in the next instant, she felt a sudden clarity wash over her spirit, and even the pain from her injuries seemed to ease slightly.

Frowning, Xiong Yu followed the source of the fragrance. Dozens of li away, several sticks of incense were burning atop Zong Shou’s altar.

The next moment, she heard Li Han beside her remark, “Interesting! This incense can enhance soul power and sharpen the mind—truly exceptional. It can keep one’s thoughts calm during combat. I wonder where Zong Shou found this. It’s quite a treasure; perhaps it is refined from the Chestnut Yuan Pill?”

As he spoke, Li Han inhaled deeply again, seemingly deriving intense pleasure from it—

The lingering caution in Xiong Yu’s heart vanished completely. She stopped paying attention to him and redirected her focus toward the scene dozens of li away.

However, after a short while, she felt a strange prickle of unease. The aroma had been pleasant at first, but after lingering for so long, she found a faint revulsion rising within her, though she could not ascertain why.

※※※※

“I underestimated you—”

Almost identical words were spoken from the Ant True Man’s mouth. Just as the Seven-Star Altar charged forward another ten li, the Ant True Man’s figure reappeared before it.

Several Six-Winged Flying Ants still circled him, yet they still did not attack directly. Instead, their mouths suddenly opened, emitting strange, rhythmical cries that resonated deeply with some unknown pattern.

Then, the earth beneath suddenly churned, and countless Demonic Fire Crystal Ants erupted from the ground.

The ant swarm, which had been reduced to forty thousand, instantly swelled to a massive host of one hundred and twenty thousand!

A portion of them immediately began to devour each other, tearing flesh from flesh. In mere dozens of breaths, over ten colossal Crystal Ants began to bloat, their vast demonic fires stretching over dozens of li, completely blocking the path into the sea of clouds. They pressed forward relentlessly toward the altar’s location.

The Ant True Man’s eyes were filled with mockery, as if to ask: You can kill one, but can you kill the second, the tenth? Here, the Demonic Fire Crystal Ants number in the thousands upon thousands—can you truly exterminate them all?

Zong Shou was covered in goosebumps, and even Zong Yuan frowned deeply, trying his best to avert his gaze downward.

The sheer number of Crystal Ants surging below, thick as a tide, coupled with the disgusting spectacle of them consuming each other—it was an unpleasant sensation indeed.

Yet, for some unknown reason, both men’s expressions eased slightly, as if breathing a sigh of relief.

Without hesitation, Zong Shou violently commanded the altar to retreat. With the aid of the Thousand-Year Peach Wood Sword, every Crystal Ant that approached was instantly cleaved upon contact.

However, the colossal Crystal Ants were slightly faster. In just a moment, they caught up, completely encircling the Seven-Star Altar. Their demonic fires roared skyward, interlocking, sealing the surrounding space entirely within flames.

Even from several thousand zhang away, Zong Shou could feel the astonishing power of the flames capable of incinerating high-grade spirit artifacts. The Thousand-Year Peach Wood Sword, which had been unstoppable moments before, could not even approach now.

A flush rose on the Ant True Man’s face, perhaps due to extreme soul power consumption. He spoke coldly, “I offer you one last chance: hand over those things yourself. Although I am reluctant to offend the Dragon Shadow Elder, if forced, I will not hesitate to kill! Your Highness, weigh this carefully. Give me an answer within twenty breaths—”

Zong Shou seemed not to hear. He looked around; there was truly no more space to retreat. Further stalling now would likely prove impossible.

He glanced at the four pillars of the Hundred Li Purity Incense; more than half had already burned away.

It seemed the time was drawing near.

A sharp, icy glint flashed in Zong Shou’s eyes, followed by a smile. Even before the fifth breath was counted, he shook his head. “No need for twenty breaths; I can give you my answer now.”

A beam of sword light shot out from between his eyebrows, plunging into the Fire Yin Sword at his waist. The sword shadow instantly soared into the sky. Unlike before, this time his spirit had left his body; his true essence soul directly piloted the Rank-Eight spirit artifact!

The soul power he had painstakingly conserved was now being burned away like water, fueling immense might.

In a single flash, the sword plunged into the demonic fire. With one whirling strike, it cut a colossal Crystal Ant in half, instantly absorbing it via the Devouring Heaven Primordial Transformation Great Law. In a mere instant, the blood and vital essence within the giant ant were entirely absorbed. Then, with an incomparably sharp whirling slash, the sword struck toward the Ant True Man’s location. A dragon’s roar suddenly echoed from the blade as a full nine Dragon Shadows coiled around it.

Far from being alarmed, the Ant True Man was delighted. Though secretly startled by Zong Shou’s fierce and peerless sword momentum, he remained unconcerned, still sneering, “Finally willing to come out!”

With a thought, the few Six-Winged Flying Ants around him moved to intercept. Over a hundred Soldier Ants gathered around him, forming a massive shield.

Meanwhile, in the distance beyond the altar, over a thousand Flying Ants frantically began their assault, no longer tossing ordinary Crystal Ants. Instead, they dove straight down. Even the Rank-Six Six-Winged Flying Ants and the Silver Soldier Ants were mixed among them. Their mandibles were aimed directly at Zong Shou’s body, which sat motionlessly on the altar.

But just as a flicker of joy crossed the Ant True Man’s face, and the swarms were about to collide with the Flying Leaf Sword Formation outside the altar—

All the Demonic Fire Crystal Ants, regardless of rank, including the Six-Winged Flying Ants, suddenly swayed precariously, as if their strength had been utterly drained.

The Thunderwing Flood Dragon that had been circling the altar roared to life. The electric light flashing around it intensified by scores of times. With one sweep, it swept away hundreds of Crystal Ants nearby. These nimble flying insects, however, could not retreat at all, seemingly allowing themselves to be slaughtered, wiped clean in an instant.

The situation was the same for the Soldier Ants defending the Ant True Man. Not only did their speed plummet, but some Soldier Ants simply fell from the air. The massive shield instantly disintegrated.

The Ant True Man’s expression shifted. When he tried to muster his soul power, he felt only an extreme revulsion rising in his chest, and his spirit instantly recoiled in alarm.

“You used poison?”