A streak of blood-red sword light suddenly pierced through. The three thousand black threads instantly shattered!

Lu Kong was first startled, then let out a cold laugh. "Truly an interesting character, wanting to break free from the net even at a time like this?"

The other middle-aged man shook his head upon seeing this. This Heaven-Shading Silkworm Net was woven from the silk produced by a peculiar species of whale found in the Black Sea of the Lu Family's Azure Realm.

It hunts its prey in the ocean, is immune to external force, and even possesses a self-restoring capability. Furthermore, it was refined by a Divine Realm expert. While that sword light was sharp, the net could likely recover fully within moments.

However, in the very next moment, the entire body of the middle-aged man broke out in goosebumps. His heart pounded with unparalleled dread, and an icy chill seeped through him.

The initial momentum of the blood-red sword light had been contained, showing no abnormality compared to any ordinary strike. But as the light passed, it sliced through with an arc so profound and subtle it defied understanding.

Man and sword became one; all the black threads scattered and snapped one by one. They appeared utterly lifeless, withering away completely, showing no sign of healing whatsoever. A trace of killing intent clung to the light, locking firmly onto Lu Kong.

The expressions of all three changed drastically, and the smile on Lu Kong’s face froze solid. He hastily cast the Heaven-Shading Silkworm Net aside and flickered repeatedly in the void, maneuvering his body away from the trajectory indicated by the crimson blade.

Yet, this sliver of murderous intent, this intensely condensed sword intent, was not so easily evaded. The sword shadow shattered and reformed, piercing out from the black silk net like a startled swan, rushing toward him with terrifying speed.

Inch by inch it closed in, pushing him step by step toward a dead end!

The composed young man beside him was closest. His gaze instinctively narrowed, followed by a cold snort, and a burst of flame suddenly erupted. Countless fiery needle shadows shot out!

"Remember this, Lu Kong. You owe me a favor today. They truly weren't wrong when they said Cloud Realm cultivators cannot be underestimated. When fighting an opponent, one must not be careless, even if they seem like mere ants—"

His words abruptly ceased. A faint flash of silvery-white light was seen slipping out from Zong Shou’s sleeve. It flew with a speed surpassing the youth's limits of reaction. The composed young man didn't even have time to react. That silver flying dagger struck precisely between his eyebrows, just as Zong Shou's cold sneer echoed from a distance.

"Under my sword, how could there be room for you to save someone? It’s better if this favor doesn't need to be owed!"

The composed youth’s eyes were filled with disbelief. How could that flying dagger be so fast? So bizarre? So bizarre that it was completely undefendable. If he had known, he shouldn't have rashly intervened for that lunatic Lu Kong and brought trouble upon himself. The last vestige of his consciousness flickered through his soul sense, and then the fierce force of the blade surged into his mind, grinding his Mud Pill Palace and his entire primordial soul into dust. He could no longer know anything of the world.

The middle-aged man had also struck at the very first moment. A long blade of fire chased after Zong Shou from behind. He had only been alarmed by Zong Shou's swordsmanship initially, but witnessing the death of the composed youth now filled him with even greater terror.

"Lu You!"

A roar escaped him. The flaming blade did not retreat; instead, its might intensified, unleashing a monstrous wave of flames and instantly accelerating. Precisely because Zong Shou was so powerful, his depth of skill so immeasurable, they had to combine their strength to suppress his ferocious might.

However, in the very next instant, a blue light surged out from the shattered Heaven-Shading Silkworm Net—a colossal turtle wreathed in azure flames, perfectly blocking the path of the trailing blade behind Zong Shou.

The turtle looked back, blinked, and then a massive shield smashed down heavily behind it without mercy.

Clang!

A resounding boom echoed, but the force of the blade did not shatter the giant shield as the middle-aged man had expected. Instead, it was forcefully driven backward by the immense power! The blade strike scattered, sparks flying everywhere.

Xuanwu Primordial Qi!

The middle-aged man’s face changed dramatically. This giant turtle was actually a variant of the Black Tortoise, a unique Divine Beast. The power of the Black Tortoise ranks among the top three among Divine Beasts. And this giant turtle’s strength was certainly not inferior to its kin! Even if it was a realm lower, its sheer power far surpassed that of his own kind! Zong Shou actually had such a Divine Beast guarding him?

In the instant the man and beast clashed, the outcome before the giant turtle was already becoming clear. Zong Shou, as one with his sword, suddenly accelerated, evading the flying fire needles.

At this very moment, the woman, Lu Zi, attacked almost simultaneously. Just like before, she subtly manipulated hand seals with both hands, sending out a few sparks. These contained the power of Solar Thunderstorm, activated by a specialized technique, swift as lightning! Having witnessed Lu You’s previous fate, she had long since summoned a brocade handkerchief to shield herself.

Zong Shou smiled, his sword light bending and abruptly shifting slightly. A single streak of blood-red sword light flashed across the air, slicing toward the flying Lu Zi. The sword shadow merely flashed, and with unimaginable speed, it severed both of Lu Zi’s jade-like hands clean at the wrist, even before those sparks of fire could be deployed!

This technique, named Crimson Calamity Burning Sky Thunder, was something even he felt a measure of apprehension towards. Currently, only by using the Book of the Cosmos could he calmly evade and defend against it. Otherwise, why had he fallen into that black net earlier? Having suffered one loss, he would never make the same mistake twice—to fall for the same technique again!

Lu Zi was visibly startled, a look of painful surprise flashing across her ice-cold face. Without hesitation, her body shot backward in retreat. Zong Shou, for the moment, had no thought to pay attention to this woman. His sword light shifted again, and the Nameless Sword once more locked firmly onto Lu Kong, who was still fleeing at high speed. His words earlier had been too infuriating; therefore, he was determined to strike him down first!

Crimson light flickered, but this time, no one could block him. In just three hundredths of a moment, man, sword, and two beings traversed dozens of temporal layers and spatial crevices consecutively. Lu Kong was finally cornered, with nowhere left to run or evade, and was caught by the crimson sword shadow closing in. He brought out his blade, but upon the slightest contact, it instantly shattered. His protective aura was sliced through as if it were brittle paper.

Lu Kong’s eyes were filled with madness. How was this possible? A mere late-stage Spirit Realm cultivator, how could he kill him? He, Lu Kong, was the leader of these four. A rare rising talent of the Lu Family's branch line in the last two centuries. In just ten years, he could reach the late Immortal Realm, with one foot already in the Divine Realm. How could he perish here? To die by the hands of this mongrel from the Lu Family?

The blood-red sword shadow showed no mercy or forgiveness. With one slice, it cleaved Lu Kong’s body in two. His severed head flew off, his eyes wide open, filled with disbelief. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something, and his pupils contracted to pinpricks.

"Sword Intent Soul Realm! Your Path of Killing Sword Intent has actually reached the Soul Realm—"

Before he could finish speaking, the blood-red sword light stirred again. A thousand sword shadows shredded the head’s primordial soul completely.

The middle-aged man in the distance, who had been hesitating whether to continue the fight, unhesitatingly retreated violently upon hearing those words. Sword Intent Soul Realm, it was actually the Sword Intent Soul Realm! No wonder Zong Shou's sword had given him such a terrifying feeling. How could a late-stage Spirit Realm cultivator master the Soul Realm Sword Intent? Lu Kong’s strength was above his, and he certainly wouldn't have misjudged. It was simply unbelievable—

The Lord of Xuanye Nation was right to send him to the Cloud Realm to gauge the true situation. How laughable that the Lu Family still considered this child nothing more than a bastard, a mere smokescreen pushed forward by that Fang Jue. And what about those responsible for monitoring Zong Shou and his father? They kept reporting that Zong Shou was ordinary, incapable of martial cultivation, a cripple—If Zong Shou was still a cripple, then what was Lu Hui?

At this moment, Lu Hui felt an indescribable strangeness. In his initial impression, Zong Shou was just a small rabbit with some minor strength; no matter how capable, he was still just a rabbit. He posed no threat and could not escape their control. But in less than a few breaths, this rabbit had transformed into a man-eating beast!

The blood-red sword light, after slaying Lu Kong, instantly turned. The sword intent locked on, this time aiming for Lu Zi, whom Zong Shou considered the greatest threat. Man and sword became one, shifting a thousand times in an instant. Lu Zi's hands had already regrown, and sparks appeared in her hands once more. However, this time, she dared not use them against Zong Shou. Instead, casting everything aside, she detonated all the Crimson Calamity Burning Sky Thunder in front of her while continuing to retreat rapidly. Her icy expression could no longer be maintained, replaced by a deathly pale face. Sword Dao Soul Realm—at her current cultivation, if she were locked onto, death was certain! She could only risk everything for that sliver of life.

Lu Hui watched from afar with panic on his face. Because of the Azure Fire Black Turtle, he dared not intervene, nor could he stop it. He could only roar furiously: "Zong Shou, how dare you! Several of us are your elders! What consequences will follow killing your own kin? Do you know who stands behind Zi'er? If you dare kill her today, you will regret it for the rest of your life!"

Zong Shou’s lips curled into another cold sneer. Kin? In that conversation just now, he was never treated as kin by them! As for who stood behind Lu Zi, he couldn't be bothered to care, nor could he imagine any reason he would regret this for a lifetime! Even if someone sought revenge for her, as long as the Nameless Sword was in hand, what fear would he have?

He paused just before the thunderous explosion of the flame mine, and then, just as its momentum slightly eased, the sword force suddenly erupted again. He slashed out with a single strike, forcefully splitting the Burning Sky Flame, piercing through the layer of the brocade handkerchief, and his figure, ethereal as a dream, struck toward Lu Zi.

Just as he touched Lu Zi’s brow, Zong Shou suddenly reacted, feeling a beast-like roar echo beside his ear. The blood in his body began to boil. In that instant, he understood. Lu Zi bore a magical restriction placed by another person, capable of sensing danger. Moreover, this person's cultivation was not only overwhelmingly powerful, but his bloodline was also extremely close to Zong Shou’s own. Indeed, he had gained another major adversary!

Zong Shou’s gaze flickered, but his sword intent showed not the slightest hesitation. He thrust it into Lu Zi’s brow, extinguishing all her vitality completely. Having executed Lu Zi, the sword shadow folded. In just half a breath, Lu Hui’s head also flew away! (To be continued) RQ