Even maintaining his composure, a flicker of shock crossed Wen Xu's face, quickly replaced by an even deeper gloom.

"When did he break through to the Saint Realm? Did you find that Dragon Elixir for him? You, Long Ying, have great nerve—"

His hands were clenched tight, the very bones in his body creaking loudly. The surrounding void kept shattering.

Time and again, unexpected events arose. He had intended for today's battle to utterly obliterate the Qian Tian Mountain, which was like a spike driven into the East Lin Cloud Continent, and to slay Long Ying, thus settling all future troubles.

Yet now, when both sides had revealed their trump cards, he realized the opponent's hidden strength far exceeded his expectations.

—Four thousand Blood Cloud Cavalry, and one newly ascended Saint Realm expert, were enough to push the Shang Xiao Profound Spirit Sect into an abyss from which they could never recover.

"When I rescued Ao Kun from that person back then, I, Long Ying, made a promise not to assist him in battle. Long Ying’s word is as good as gold; how could I commit such an act of treachery?"

Long Ying shook his head, a hint of derision in his tone. "It was Zong Shou who procured the Destruction Dragon Elixir for him in the Dragon Hall, along with three drops of the True Spring of Rebirth. Thus, Ao Kun turned misfortune into blessing, obtaining the method of destruction to achieve the Saint Realm! That individual plotted for ten thousand years, sealing Ao Kun away, intending to find a capable assistant for the Divine Emperor. It seems he never expected Ao Kun's destiny to take a turn. Perhaps Heaven's Will does not exclusively favor him—"

At this point, Long Ying chuckled. "But you're already anxious, aren't you? I knew you, Wen Xu, would likely lose your patience!"

Wen Xu remained outwardly calm, only his gaze flickering slightly. He was indeed anxious, consumed by a burning impatience!

Long Ying burst into wild laughter again, thoroughly pleased with himself and brimming with fighting spirit. "Then, the three of you intend to fight? If you can defeat me, Long Ying, within two hours, the Shang Xiao Profound Spirit Sect might still have a sliver of hope!"

Wen Xu was even more silent. He also could not afford to fight. Even moments ago, with the three of them combined, they had at best a thirty percent chance of winning.

What’s more, his state of mind was now fractured, breeding impatience within him. In this battle, they didn't even have a ten percent chance.

—Not to mention that Ao Kun could support Long Ying at any moment.

At that point, having two of the three escape intact would be considered a great success.

What they needed to consider now was not fighting, but how to retreat—

A trace of despair appeared in Wen Xu's eyes. Was Heaven truly intending to destroy their Ling Yun Sect?

※ ※ ※ ※

Zong Shou was still climbing along the mountainside of the Shang Xiao Summit. He was incredibly close to the Shang Xiao Spirit Mansion now, yet this final stretch was proving exceptionally difficult.

Previously, he could cover thirty feet with a single step. Now, managing to cross one stone step was a notable achievement.

The mountain-guarding Spirit Array here had been incessantly bombarded by the Nirvana God Crossbows of the Kong Qi Sect, and partially torn open by the forceful interference of the Seven Spirits Sect. It was already riddled with breaches, but the closer he got to the core of the grand array, the more intact it became.

Offering no exploitable weakness, he could no longer bypass it with ease as before.

Zong Shou resolutely settled his mind and began methodically dismantling the array.

The Duān Qiū Sword in his hand slashed wildly through the void. Though seemingly random, after every swing, a gap would appear before Zong Shou, opening the path ahead for him to ascend further.

With every spirit rune and restriction he unlocked, Zong Shou could feel his understanding of talismanic arts deepening considerably.

Sometimes, when he truly couldn't decipher it, he would forcibly blast through. The pair of Thunder Wings behind him had already unfurled to a hundred feet.

But unlike before, dense lightning now mingled with the Sky-Burning Flames. These purple wings had turned black.

Every flap generated continuous bursts of explosive sound, bringing destruction!

Each time Zong Shou drew power from these wings, he managed to carve a path through the impossible.

And the voices from above continued to reach his ears.

"Everyone, stop! Conserve your spirit energy; our spirit techniques are useless against him!"

"What kind of spatial secret art is this? This Zong Shou is simply a monster, a demon!"

"Remember, do not use any fire or lightning-element spirit arts! Not only are they useless, but they actually boost his power!"

Zong Shou offered a faint smile and continued stepping upwards. In truth, if these people persisted, his 'Thunderous Thousand Splendors' secret art wouldn't last much longer.

If he continued to use it, the Sky-Burning Flame, unchecked by the restraining force of a water-element bloodline, would spiral out of control.

Indeed, he needed to find and slay a divine beast with a water-element bloodline first to absorb its bloodline imprint.

While contemplating this, Zong Shou felt a sudden prick in his consciousness and looked upward.

He saw a young man standing about ten feet above him. Exceedingly refined, exuding an air of scholarly elegance, holding a curved saber nearly three feet long.

Zong Shou raised an eyebrow, observing the person carefully, sensing that intense Dao intent which had also reached its peak.

"Is that the Boundless Saber Lord?"

"It is Li Wuhui! I am no longer worthy of the title Saber Lord."

The youth responded, then pointed his saber tip backward, executing a solemn and respectful bow. "I should not have come to this battle, but I am compelled by a personal favor. I ask for Your Highness's forgiveness for any offense..."

Zong Shou chuckled upon hearing this. "My tolerance has always been quite narrow!"

Li Wuhui paused for a moment, then smiled in return. "Your Highness is truly interesting, speaking so frankly. I have already witnessed Your Highness's swordsmanship; being able to fight you is the greatest fortune of Li Wuhui's life! Watch out—"

The gleaming saber light suddenly flashed and descended. Swift as a phantom shadow, like lightning and flint, it vanished in an instant.

That imposing saber intent, amplified upon the blade, seemed to transcend the constraints of spatial obstruction, surpassing the limits!

A focused intensity appeared in Zong Shou's eyes. In the infinitesimal gap between moments, he blocked with a single sword strike.

With a soft ding, the saber and sword touched and immediately retreated. However, the immense force transmitted through the blade almost forced Zong Shou to take a step back.

Li Wuhui’s raw strength was not great—far less than Yuan Wushang’s, and even further from Jue Yu’s. But the extreme speed of each strike intensified and concentrated the saber's force.

Through several continuous attacks, Zong Shou’s brow furrowed slightly before relaxing, a look of sudden realization dawning.

"So, it is Time and Space!"

This brilliant curved saber could clearly cleave through the flow of time, harnessing its power. It was the Dao intent of the Time Saber!

Li Wuhui was equally astonished. "Your Highness is indeed remarkable; this is the first time someone has recognized the foundation of my saber intent!"

It really was the Dao of Time! No wonder it was so fast. Zong Shou frowned; it wasn't just speed, it was incomparably sharp. In the brief clash, his Duān Qiū Sword had already acquired several nicks.

He felt a throbbing headache. Against such an opponent, if he couldn't return to his physical body and fight using the method of Spirit-Martial Integration, winning against this man today would be difficult.

After a moment of thought, just as the shadow of the saber was about to reach him, Zong Shou thrust out a sword strike of equal sharpness, matching the speed of the opposing curved saber, clashing again in the void.

According to the principles later discovered by people ten thousand years hence, beside black holes and white holes, not only space but also time is distorted.

His sword strike could indeed move parallel to Time! It was the Instantaneous Void Dragon Sword!

As this sword shadow swept out, Li Wuhui gave a startled cry, seemingly amazed that Zong Shou’s sword speed could keep pace with his own.

The blades struck repeatedly over several rounds, and then, with a final crisp ding,

The three-foot curved saber and Zong Shou's Duān Qiū Sword both snapped simultaneously!

Li Wuhui's figure immediately retreated, returning to the distance of ten feet.

Zong Shou frowned again; having come with his Nascent Soul, he hadn't brought a spare weapon.

He hadn't expected anyone on the Shang Xiao Summit to be capable of breaking his sword!

Since the Duān Qiū Sword was broken, then—

He snatched at the void, and a surge of Spatial Spirit converged, forming a black blade in Zong Shou's hand.

Li Wuhui's expression abruptly changed, and he suddenly retreated another ten feet. "So it is you! I almost didn't recognize you. It seems there’s no need for us to fight!"

Zong Shou was momentarily stunned. Recognized what? What had Li Wuhui seen?

Then, he heard Li Wuhui laugh. "I have watched you duel others before, and it benefited me greatly. My saber intent reached its peak entirely because of that. Though your current appearance is different, your swordsmanship bears a faint resemblance. Your Highness can conceal much, using only the Nine-Nine Dragon Shadow Sword, but some trace of him remains."

Zong Shou pondered briefly and understood. The battle Li Wuhui referred to was likely the one against Jue Yu. Far too many people had witnessed that sword fight; Li Wuhui must have been among them.

Indeed, even though he deliberately concealed it, certain habits in his swordsmanship were unavoidable.

During the defense against those few strikes of the Time Saber just now, there were also faint echoes of the Primordial One Yin Sword.

Others might not notice, but top-tier figures like Li Wuhui certainly would.

Having realized this, Zong Shou calmed down and sank into thought. "I am contemplating how to kill and eliminate them all!"

"I shall naturally keep my mouth shut!" Li Wuhui offered a wry smile. "Besides, I don't believe Your Highness fears anything now. It would be foolish of me to do something so contrary to my own interest."

Zong Shou smiled; that was true enough.

"Didn't you owe the Ling Yun Sect a favor? Are you just going to ignore it?"

"I wouldn't say ignore it! It's just that I owe one of your senior brothers a greater favor."

Li Wuhui added self-mockingly, "Furthermore, Wuhui knows he is no match for Your Highness. Continuing to fight would only lead to death; what would be the point? My name is Wuhui, but I am not foolish enough to willingly seek death for the sake of others."

Zong Shou remained unmoved. This man was relatively clear-headed and knew his own limits.

However, with these few words, he had no intention of letting the man go so easily.

The Blood Killing Twin Flags mandate, to exterminate utterly—this was not mere talk.

Whoever stood before him today had to fall beneath his sword!

Li Wuhui seemed to sense Zong Shou’s intent and sighed softly, a hint of relief coloring his tone. "I know Your Highness is determined to kill me today. Fortunately, I prepared a few things before coming—"

As he spoke, Li Wuhui tossed out a sheet of purple-gold spiritual talisman, and the space around him immediately filled with the essence of Time and Space.