When the silk kerchief descended over their heads, everyone felt the sky dim and the world turn dark, their bodies instantly weightless and beyond control.

Gu Xiechen also felt his spirit lighten, his body completely disobedient to his commands. Startled, a surge of five-colored energy erupted from above his head, followed by the torrent of profound yellow energy that swiftly enveloped his body, instantly banishing all anomaly.

With his senses clear, Gu Xiechen immediately palmed the hidden Chaos Bell. All around him surged black, murky currents of energy, completely obscuring his divine sense. Gu Xiechen could only drift forward with the current, yet he was fully prepared for any contingency.

When the change occurred, Yang Jian, Monkey, and the Kongsang brothers reacted the fastest, instantly transforming into violet light and retreating into Gu Xiechen's Sea of Consciousness. Once Gu Xiechen was swept into the strange energy flow, they immediately rematerialized beside him.

These five possessed unique secret arts and divine powers to shield themselves. Although the surroundings were filled with a strange power that unsettled the soul and softened the limbs, it harmed them not in the slightest. Especially Monkey, relying on his indestructible golden physique, even dared to reach out and probe the dark, turbulent energy flowing past; only after the fur on the back of one hand was completely pulverized did he settle down.

The anomaly persisted for the time it took to brew a cup of tea. Then, light flashed before Gu Xiechen’s eyes, his body felt unburdened, and he found himself in a bizarre space.

It was a spherical space approximately one hundred thousand li in diameter. All around drifted clumps of cotton-like white clouds, and the void was filled with a strange, gentle white light. When this light shone upon a person, it felt like strong acid being poured onto the skin, causing waves of sharp pain across the flesh.

Dwellers in this white light for long periods showed signs of even their Primordial Spirits being gradually worn away.

Immortals from the War Immortal Court and the Heavenly Roc Army lay scattered across the white clouds. These clouds acted like blood-sucking leeches, constantly absorbing the immortals' immortal power and vital essence. These immortals cried out and struggled, attempting to rise, but their cultivation was limited, leaving them utterly unable to break free from these terrifying clouds.

In the span of just three to five breaths, seventy to eighty thousand Golden Immortals were sucked dry by the clouds, reduced to desiccated corpses. However, the desiccated bodies of the immortals were also filled with vast energy. The surrounding clouds converged on the corpses, working in unison to grind them into dust and absorb them completely.

Yanluo Shaozun and the Purple-Eyed Vulture King watched with immense grief as nearly half of their elite subordinates were lost. Simultaneously, they shouted fiercely, "Which senior is scheming behind the scenes? Are you not afraid of us joining forces to attack?"

They both knew clearly in their hearts that only figures at the peak level of Great Overarching Golden Immortal could capture so many immortals—including five Upper-Grade Great Overarching Golden Immortals—like snatching chicks and bringing them into this space. Who else could achieve such a feat?

Gu Xiechen swiftly scanned left and right, then suddenly hissed, "Eradicate the roots, attack!"

Monkey, being the most straightforward, didn't immediately grasp what Gu Xiechen intended. Yang Jian understood the implication of Gu Xiechen's words, but his body remained utterly still. The three Kongsang brothers, the moment Gu Xiechen spoke, transformed into three streaks of blue light and shot forward.

Scarlet Moon Divine Monarch shielded his brothers and son with both hands, struggling within an exceptionally large mass of white cloud. Having to protect two people while already injured made his resistance extraordinarily difficult.

Suddenly, the three Kongsang brothers pounced, giving Scarlet Moon Divine Monarch no chance to summon his natal magic artifact. A sword, a spear, and a halberd were driven deep into the three most vital points for cultivators.

Three fountains of blood erupted, and dense, continuous blue lightning burst within Scarlet Moon Divine Monarch's body. The three Kongsang brothers chanted ancient, profound incantations; the terrifying secret spell of the ancient divine race was activated. Despite their peak Taiyi Golden Immortal cultivation, they unleashed destructive power equivalent to an initial-stage Great Overarching Golden Immortal.

The weapons in the brothers' hands were their divine arms from years past, enchanted with secret curses transmitted from the thirty-three layers of the Heavenly Court, which possessed potent destructive capabilities against immortal bodies. With this coordinated strike, Scarlet Moon Divine Monarch was instantly dealt a critical blow.

From the flank, a streak of blood-red light flashed over. In an instant, the light split into two figures. Penghua and Han Kui burst from the blood-red light, their eight fangs sinking deep into Scarlet Moon Divine Monarch’s body. Penghua was insignificant; he merely absorbed a bit of Scarlet Moon Divine Monarch's vital blood. However, Han Kui’s fangs were coated with her Corpse God’s mysterious curse and the incomparably malicious Flame of the Corpse God.

Just as Scarlet Moon Divine Monarch was about to retaliate desperately, the Flame of the Corpse God, carrying terrifying necrotic poison, flooded his entire body. The restrictions on the divine weapons of the Kongsang brothers simultaneously activated, inflicting devastating damage upon his body.

Two thin rays of black and white light shot closer, launching dense attacks. Banruo Mohe could no longer grip his weapon but continued to kick fiercely at Scarlet Moon with his feet.

From the flank, a sword light as clear as water struck with extreme subtlety. Scarlet Moon Divine Monarch had no time to react before Siren pierced him through the back of his skull with a single thrust, penetrating the vital center of his Purple Mansion, his Sea of Consciousness, and his Primordial Spirit. Furthermore, Aredia, standing nearby, unleashed countless pitch-black fireballs the size of human heads in a torrential assault. In an instant, thousands of strikes, equivalent to the combined might of several peak Taiyi Golden Immortals, rained down upon Scarlet Moon. Gu Xiechen, finding the fight too easy to watch, finally acted himself, smashing the Seal of All Beings onto Scarlet Moon Divine Monarch's brow, shattering his Primordial Spirit.

Though the telling takes time, in reality, the group took less than the snap of a finger to jointly slay Scarlet Moon Divine Monarch.

The Kongsang brothers grinned menacingly, simultaneously wielding their three divine weapons to cleanly sever the heads of Tianyuan Xiaonan and White Water Divine Monarch, obliterating their true spirits. Three dignified Great Overarching Golden Immortals perished just like that.

Ran Xiechen casually seized Scarlet Er’s natal magic artifact, the Scarlet Moon Mirror, lightly testing its weight before casually tossing it aside.

Kongsang Ri was momentarily stunned, then erupted in ecstasy, rushing to thank Gu Xiechen before respectfully accepting the artifact. Though not considered supremely powerful, it was a formidable Innate Magic Artifact. He happily tucked it into his robes.

Yanluo Shaozun, watching from the side, had his eyes nearly bloodshot. He did not possess a single Innate Artifact, yet Gu Xiechen confiscated one and bestowed it upon his subordinate without him daring to utter a single complaint. This was Gu Xiechen's prerogative; no one could question it.

The Purple-Eyed Vulture King and the other Demon Immortals gasped, chilled by the ruthless methods and decisive will. Having also been captured and brought to this place, Gu Xiechen's first decision was to eliminate Scarlet Moon Divine Monarch and his group. The Purple-Eyed Vulture King and the others never dreamed he would act so swiftly.

Flicking his sleeve, Gu Xiechen spoke with a breezy smile, "Although we swore a solemn oath, keeping an enemy nearby is always unsettling. I thank the senior who brought us here for helping me eliminate this foe."

The Purple-Eyed Vulture King stated coldly, "Venerable One, you are mistaken. If we had kept Scarlet Moon Divine Monarch, we might have gained a powerful ally."

Gu Xiechen looked at the Vulture King as if he were an idiot. He suddenly burst into laughter, "Vulture King, did you suffer a high fever as a child that damaged your brain? Upon learning news of the Origin Star, you believe Scarlet Moon Divine Monarch would truly fight outsiders alongside us?"

After a few cold laughs, Gu Xiechen turned sideways and gazed coldly at a solitary white cloud in the distance, stating plainly, "Besides, the senior who brought us here possesses unfathomable, profound cultivation. Whether there is one more Scarlet Moon or one less makes no difference."

A crisp sound of clapping echoed from afar. That white cloud dispersed, and the short, bald old immortal with a long forehead—the one from the Azure Field Profound Wave Palace—flew out from behind the mist. He chuckled, waved a jade branch in his hand, and greeted everyone warmly.

The Purple-Eyed Vulture King stared blankly at the old immortal, then after a long moment, turned to look at the four sworn brothers of his father—four old-timers who had roamed the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths for countless years and were known for their vast experience.

These four Demon Immortals also stared dumbly at the old immortal, then shook their heads after a prolonged silence, indicating they did not recognize the old man.

Yanluo Shaozun cried out in alarm, "Jade Staff Elder, why are you here? It’s you, you... your cultivation isn't..."

The old immortal, Jade Staff Elder, stroked his beard proudly and smiled. "Hmm, my cultivation technique being able to fool the Celestial Venerable Yuanluo is something this old fellow is quite proud of!"

"Heh heh," after a hearty laugh, Jade Staff Elder glanced at Gu Xiechen without reservation, then knitted his brows as he looked toward the Purple-Eyed Vulture King.

Gu Xiechen also frowned, looking at Jade Staff Elder. He felt an unsettling aura emanating from the old man—an intense, hostile scrutiny, as if he harbored a deep, blood-feud against him.

However, he had never seen this old man before. Who was he? Why did he look at him this way?

The Purple-Eyed Vulture King, already impatient, asked Yanluo Shaozun, "Yanluo, what is the origin of this Jade Staff Elder?"

Yanluo Shaozun stared fixedly at Jade Staff Elder and said, word by word, "Celestial Venerable Bai Leng of the Profound Origin Manifestation Cave in Azure Field Orchid Islet's Profound Wave Palace. He only barely broke through to the Great Overarching Golden Immortal realm just before the Eon of Chaos, thereby securing a foothold on Yuanluo Palace’s territory."

Taking a deep breath, Yanluo Shaozun sneered, "Celestial Venerable Jade Staff Elder Bai Leng, you have hidden yourself deep enough!"

Jade Staff Elder sighed deeply, shaking his head. "Hiding too deeply is not good. My eldest grandson was slain precisely because I hid too deeply, wasn't it?"

Turning around, Jade Staff Elder smiled at Gu Xiechen, "This old man married late and only managed to have a few children; they, in turn, struggled greatly to have offspring. My eldest grandson was the one this old fellow cherished most in daily life."

Gu Xiechen shook his head helplessly, "I am truly sorry. Even knowing he was your grandson, he deserved to die, and so he died!"

Jade Staff Elder nodded, then sneered, "The child is ruthless, yet he never knows the immensity of heaven and earth, always doing things that invite disaster upon himself. Hmph, hmph, but your handling of the aftermath was quite skillful. My children genuinely believed that little bird and those from the Three Divine Palaces were your servants."

Gu Xiechen rubbed his nose and chuckled dryly, "Forgive my rudeness, I intended to divert the trouble eastward, but I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly."

Jade Staff Elder sneered, and with a wave of his jade staff, countless white clouds spewed forth from the void. The remaining hundreds of thousands of immortals from the War Immortal Court and the Heavenly Roc Army simultaneously wailed, their entire vital essence sucked away by the clouds, leading to their deaths. Under the Jade Staff Elder's command, beings like Taiyi Golden Immortals and Golden Immortals were mere existences he could casually wipe out.

Witnessing Jade Staff Elder's ferocious methods, Yanluo Shaozun's expression changed. He said hoarsely, "It seems Jade Staff Elder doesn't intend to leave any survivors?"

Jade Staff Elder chuckled and nodded. He asked indifferently, "Leave survivors? To have the old man Yuanluo come after me for reckoning? My cultivation was hard-won, and I have no desire to fight Yuanluo! We are both peak Great Overarching Golden Immortals; suffering even slight losses now will lead to endless future trouble. Am I that foolish?"

Yanluo Shaozun's face shifted. Just as he was about to speak, Jade Staff Elder glared, and countless streaks of lightning shot down from hundreds of white clouds surrounding them. Yanluo Shaozun let out a furious roar, and immortal light erupted around him as he prepared to unleash a desperate divine strike, but he was already pulverized by the lightning.

Gu Xiechen felt a chill deep in his heart, and bitterness welled in his mouth.

No matter the schemes, no matter the calculations—before absolute power, everything is an illusion.

He schemed to control the power of the Shura Palace, but before he could even calculate against Yanluo Shaozun, who had been summoned to the mortal realm, or assimilate the elites of the War Immortal Court, all his plans became empty fantasies. The Purple-Eyed Vulture King, the four great Demon Immortals, and the other two Great Overarching Golden Immortals also wore ugly expressions. They stared dumbly at the spot where Yanluo Shaozun had vanished into smoke. Heavenly Chicken suddenly laughed wryly, "Senior’s actions suggest we too cannot be left alive?"

Jade Staff Elder cast a cold glance at the four Demon Immortals. He flicked his jade staff, and countless white clouds swept over. Millions of bolts of thunder crashed down. The sky filled with blinding, surging white light. The four Demon Immortals felt intense pain; their physical bodies and Primordial Spirits rapidly dissolved in the light. Before they could react, the thunderbolts smashed their bodies to pieces. The white clouds rolled over and sucked their Primordial Spirits completely dry.

The Purple-Eyed Vulture King roared toward the heavens, raising his long halberd to stab at Jade Staff Elder.

Jade Staff Elder snorted coldly, and a beam of white light shot down from the void. The Purple-Eyed Vulture King shuddered again as the light struck him, turning into green smoke in the blink of an eye.

The last two Demon Immortals wailed, simultaneously kneeling upon a cloud mass and kowtowing repeatedly to Jade Staff Elder, begging for mercy. Jade Staff Elder merely let out a few cold laughs, and countless bolts of lightning thundered down from the void. These two Demon Immortals also perished.

Finally, a shower of white light descended. Even the avatars of the Two-Hearted Ghost Saint, enveloped by black smoke atop the White Bone Pagoda, could not escape the fate of annihilation.

Jade Staff Elder wiped out this contingent with every move, then tilted his head in thought for a long while before slowly shaking his head, "None of them know any news about the Origin Star or the Taiyi Earth Mother. That Two-Hearted Ghost Saint only has some vague impressions of the Origin Star."

Sighing, Jade Staff Elder smiled genially at Gu Xiechen, "This time, this old fellow exerted himself fully, firstly to avenge my grandson, and secondly for the forgotten treasures of the Taiyi Earth Mother. Now that I also know the news of the Origin Star, this intelligence must also be secured in my hands."

Jade Staff Elder’s benevolent face gradually contorted into ferocity. He ground his teeth and roared at Gu Xiechen, "Will you speak it yourself, or must this Venerable One extract it directly from your Primordial Spirit?"

Gu Xiechen paused, his eyes darting rapidly, but he remained silent.

Jade Staff Elder watched Gu Xiechen coldly and said in a low voice, "My few children have already trapped the dwelling you established on that planet outside with a contingent of capable subordinates. If you hesitate any longer, my children will begin attacking your dwelling and exterminating your lineage."

Gu Xiechen glanced dismissively at Jade Staff Elder, merely shaking his head. The Cloud Splendor Mountain was protected by the Heavenly Stars and Earthly Fiends Grand Array; over twenty Great Overarching Golden Immortals, including Celestial Venerable Xi Fa, had failed to breach it. Jade Staff Elder's sons were unlikely to be stronger than Xi Fa.

After pondering for a long time, Gu Xiechen finally spoke slowly, "Why not directly seize my Primordial Spirit?"

Jade Staff Elder laughed, "Inquiring into the Primordial Spirit is delicate work. The intelligence regarding the Taiyi Earth Mother and the Origin Star is too crucial. This old fellow fears accidentally losing some information, which would be troublesome. Therefore, you telling me is safer than me torturing your Primordial Spirit."

Gu Xiechen immediately pressed, "If I speak, what then?"

Jade Staff Elder stated bluntly, "If you speak, you and those around you die, but the disciples within your mountain gate outside will remain safe!"

He said grimly, "I killed the son of the old man Yuanluo, and the son and sworn brother of the Vulture King—that feathered creature. This old fellow does not wish to be hunted across the heavens by two masters of equal standing."

His meaning was clear and blunt. Gu Xiechen sighed helplessly; it seemed there was no room for negotiation.

With a wave of his hands, five great flags emerged from around him. Gu Xiechen stood upon the Wind Fire Cushion, the Haotian Pagoda above his head, and grasped the Pangu Banner, shielding Miao Hua and the others within layers of divine light. The Five Directions Five Colors Flags spewed forth vast auspicious light and auspicious energy; five-colored lotus flowers danced throughout the sky, enveloping Gu Xiechen securely. Jade Staff Elder hadn't even clearly seen that Gu Xiechen possessed so many Supreme Innate Treasures.

But the Five Directions Five Colors Flags alone made Jade Staff Elder’s mouth water, his eyes nearly leaping out.

"You, you, you truly know the news of the Origin Star? How else could you possess... how could you possess this? This is the legendary Yellow Apricot Flag of Wutu, the Green Lotus Treasure Banner, the Flame Light Flag separated from the Earth, the Plain Colored Cloud Boundary Flag, and the Profound Origin Water Controlling Flag!"

Jade Staff Elder suddenly sighed toward the heavens, "Heaven has eyes! It is fitting that I, Bai Leng, should have this fortune! With these five Supreme Innate Treasures, one can comprehend the Heavenly Dao rules of the Five Elements. When the Five Elements gather, the Great Dao is established. Even if one does not become a Saint, one can attain the Dao Fruit of Unfettered Existence in the Primordial Chaos!"

After his awe subsided, Jade Staff Elder waved his jade staff, and countless white clouds swept in from all directions, trapping Gu Xiechen and the others tightly.

"No wonder this old fellow had to resort to such vicious means today! Treasures stir the heart, treasures stir the heart!"

"My children, there is no need to attack the mountain gate! Hurry and assist your father in breaking through his defenses! I don't believe how much power these few Taiyi Golden Immortals can muster."

Even Supreme Innate Treasures require sufficient cultivation to unleash their ultimate power. Jade Staff Elder confidently summoned his few sons and their capable subordinates, swiftly employing the sinister techniques he had secretly cultivated, and began besieging Gu Xiechen.

This pale white space suddenly turned scarlet, and countless viscous streams of blood erupted from all directions.

The white clouds transformed into blood clouds, and a pungent, fishy stench assaulted their noses.

All around, countless phantoms rose from this sea of blood.