The spear-shadow descended in an instant, covering the heavens and earth, piercing through from beyond this realm. It carried countless forces of the void, a concentrated, vast killing intent focused at its sharp tip, stinging the skin.

Zong Shou narrowed his eyes; his vital energy was completely depleted, so he did not meet the attack head-on. He pulled back, his figure flickering away, stopping a thousand zhang distant, suspended in the void.

Lu Yantian saw the myriad sword shadows suddenly retract, vanishing without a trace. He paused for a moment before reacting, then burst into a thunderous laugh.

He had survived after all, holding on until Lu Wushuang made his move. The wound on his arm, muscle tissue fusing, bones growing, instantly returned to its pristine state.

A faint smile touched his lips. At this moment, his left and right arms, Lu Yantian and Lu Jun, were both dead.

Six or seven of his Immortal-ranked cultivators under his command had also perished. But what of it?

With cultivators of this caliber, so long as his own people remained, so long as he held the Cang Ling World, he could recruit replacements at any time. He dismissed it entirely, fixing only a pair of sinister eyes upon Zong Shou.

Especially that blood-red longsword—the true essence it had absorbed was clearly exhausted. Zong Shou’s sudden assault, from the (Jiaoshe) severing its tail to escape, to Lu Jun's death, and Lu Yantian's severed arm, had transpired in less than five breaths.

The survivors above the Tian Yan Mansion were utterly silent, rendering the vast mountaintop quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Jing Yin felt her mouth dry.

She had long suspected Zong Shou’s strength and cultivation were unfathomably profound. But she had not anticipated that his combat power would reach such a level— He had charged straight through the Tian Yan Mansion, inflicting direct harm.

Had the silver spear not intervened at the critical moment, he likely would have already cut down Lu Yantian. Even Master Xiaoyue was momentarily dumbfounded, her eyes flashing with strange light.

But immediately after, she frowned, a trace of worry crossing her features. The space tore open, and a figure stepped in from beyond the void realm.

A youth of about twenty, handsome and spirited, bearing a drop of bright crimson mole between his brows, stared coldly at the scene. Closely following this person, another young cultivator entered the Cang Ling World.

He positioned himself precisely behind Zong Shou, deliberately or otherwise, blocking Zong Shou’s retreat. Lu Wushuang gripped the silver spear, his gaze never leaving Zong Shou for half a second, yet he addressed Lu Yantian, “Is the matter of the Heaven-Seizing Return Elixir true?

Do you truly know its whereabouts?” Hearing this, Lu Yantian chuckled lightly, “It is naturally true! I, Lu Yantian, though despicable, know what is important and would not deceive you on this matter.” Lu Wushuang’s expression was calm, but a flicker of joy crossed his eyes.

The greatest joy in life is seeing an enemy pay for their crimes; achieving the divine realm he had long yearned for; the lover he thought forever lost to the separation of heaven and man now had a chance for revival. He took a deep breath, then his gaze also fell upon Zong Shou’s sword.

“That sword of yours is indeed excellent! However, your old power is spent; before me, it is likely useless.” If Zong Shou could still slaughter people wantonly and gather blood essence power in his presence, then Lu Wushuang would have lived all these years in vain.

“I thought you would hide like a rat within the Cang Ling World until I found you. I never expected you to be so unwise.

Then again, are you already in despair, coming here to let me grant you passage?” Despite these words, Lu Wushuang’s gaze was concentrated like a blade. His spiritual sense spread out, observing every subtle shift in Zong Shou’s aura.

He distinctly remembered the previous pursuit, forcing Zong Shou into despair dozens of times, only for this man to easily escape using instant spatial translocation. Even the initial battle, where he caught Zong Shou unprepared and nearly cleaved him in two, was vividly imprinted in his memory.

Against an opponent like this, even if his limbs were broken and his spine crushed, one had to remain fully vigilant, never letting guard down. The refined youth who accompanied him was equally cautious.

With a half-smile, his aura grew stronger moment by moment, his divine sense entwining around Zong Shou, locking onto his soul. This man before him, he could never truly fathom; it was like an unfathomable deep pool.

Every time he thought he knew the depth, he would discover the foundation ran far deeper. Take today, for instance—forcing Lu Yantian into such a predicament, nearly shattering the Tian Yan Mansion single-handedly, far exceeded his expectations.

To dare show himself here, knowing Lu Wushuang was searching the entire realm, he must certainly not be unprepared. However, whatever trump card this man held, whatever his reliance, he was destined to fall here today!

Without question— Jing Yin and Xiaoyue’s hearts sank to the bottom. When Zong Shou severed Lu Yantian’s arm, they had seen a glimmer of hope.

But upon the arrival of these two, neither possessed an aura weaker than Lu Yantian’s. Their power was also unfathomable; their two powerful intents had thoroughly suppressed Zong Shou’s sword intent.

Zong Shou, however, merely smiled silently and waved his wide sleeve again. In the vast sea of his soul, the seventy-two Star Dao Seeds gradually manifested externally.

Following them were thirty-seven swords of pure white Imperial Dao Dragon Fangs. Lu Wushuang’s pupils instinctively contracted.

Lu Wubing, however, smiled and shook his head, “Your Highness, if you still intend to rely on this divine secret technique to flee, it seems unlikely to go as you wish. I was fortunate enough to observe several battles between the Young Master and Your Highness, and I gained some insight.

Instantaneous Void Dragon Elixir, Dao Seed Stars, the Daoist Gate’s Grand Cycle Secret Star Falling Art. Truly wondrous.

After much contemplation, I have managed to devise some countermeasures.” With a wave of his hand, several hundred streams of flowing light emerged—array flags—which he deployed in all directions. Once this formation was set up, everyone immediately felt that the surrounding laws of time and space had stabilized immensely.

Zong Shou also sensed it; guiding his thoughts to activate his instant void power, he indeed found that shifting space-time was significantly more difficult than before. It might not stop his translocation, but merely delaying him for a moment would be enough for Lu Wushuang to accomplish many things.

For example, exploring his displacement coordinates for pursuit, or using specialized methods to seal space-time for an ambush mid-flight. But Zong Shou paid it no mind; he had never planned to flee today.

Having finally managed to turn the tables, he naturally intended to fight a truly satisfying battle! Having been hunted for months, this accumulated resentment naturally had to be settled upon Lu Wushuang.

He condensed his focus, piercing the clouds. His aura erupted, subtly achieving unity between man and heaven.

Changes began within Zong Shou’s Dantian. Threads of true essence began to gather like spring water.

In his soul, a monstrous tide surged. The eighteen True Talisman Spirit Seals began to fluctuate, even showing signs of shattering.

And at their center, a True Talisman bearing the character ‘Dao’ began to outline itself. Only the black and white Dharma Appearance remained utterly immovable, suppressing the sea of his soul.

These changes occurred within a single breath. None present, not even the mightiest Lu Wushuang, detected the anomaly.

They only sensed that Zong Shou’s aura had suddenly become bizarrely unpredictable. Lu Yantian, even more ignorant of the situation, sneered mockingly, “What is there to fear about him escaping?

He has two saviors here. If he just leaves now, wouldn't he be unjust and ungrateful?” His gaze swept over Xiaoyue and Jing Yin, intending to strike at Jing Yin.

However, wary of Zong Shou standing beside them, he ultimately dared not attack the woman directly. So, he reached out and seized Master Xiaoyue, pulling her close.

Gripping Xiaoyue’s neck, he smiled sinisterly. “Try escaping now!

I advise the Crown Prince to accept his death peacefully, or perhaps I, Lu Yantian, might be merciful and spare their lives—” Zong Shou paid him no mind, holding his unnamed sword before him. He flicked a finger, and a clear, resonant sword hum suddenly echoed across the mountaintop, suppressing all other noise and returning the area to dead silence.

“Since our first meeting, Zong Shou has longed for the day he could fight you, Lu Wushuang, on equal footing, to determine life or death. Being hunted for three months has been truly stifling!” In the sky, dense dark clouds surged, obscuring the horizon.

Although it was broad daylight, the area suddenly plunged into utter blackness, visibility reduced to zero. Zong Shou’s calm voice continued.

“Fortunately, Heaven has eyes! Heaven’s will has not forsaken this lone one; all the planning step-by-step has finally allowed me to precede you—” To precede Lu Wushuang—by stepping into the Immortal Rank!

Though still a gap separated them, they were, at least, in the same realm! Lu Yantian only then felt something was amiss.

He frowned, looking around, his gaze finally settling back on Zong Shou. His brows deeply furrowed; even the Dharma Appearance, Zong Shou’s obscure energy channels suddenly filled up, and the protective aura surrounding his body shifted from decay to flourishing.

“What did you do?” He genuinely could not understand why such a change was happening to Zong Shou. And this bizarre cosmic phenomenon left everyone baffled.

Lu Wushuang and the refined youth, however, both showed grave expressions, their eyes wide with astonishment. “Naturally, I am undergoing tribulation!” Zong Shou replied, his tone utterly flat and devoid of fluctuation.

As these words fell, a purely white-red flame ignited spontaneously across his body, rising up. The Crimson Flame Divine Tribulation?

Zong Shou chuckled inwardly. Yet another of the most perverse tribulations for this stage.

The crimson fire also contained the power to reverse natural laws, striking against his physical body and nascent soul. But this time, it brought a sense of relief to his heart.

Under normal circumstances, he would have to contend with it fully. But within this realm, it was exactly what he wished for.

What he hoped for came to pass—he had struck unprecedented luck! As he unleashed his Heaven-Devouring Method, waves of magnificent power of vow poured wildly into his body.

While resisting the Crimson Flame Divine Tribulation, they were also integrating, bit by bit, into his physical form. The Blood Spirit power, just as he predicted, was being suppressed little by little.

“Burning Marrow Blood Spirit, you have caused me so much pain these past days. But I must thank you, Esteemed Sir, for your fulfillment!” As his voice faded, the pair of black lightning wings behind him suddenly unfurled to a massive extent, stretching nine thousand zhang wide.

The Thunder Luan inheritance, the Lu family’s Sky-Burning Flame, had directly elevated his Thunderous Brilliance Thousand Radiance Secret Art by several levels, covering the entire sky, its might endless, its prestige resounding. Zong Shou stood upon the peak like a true deity.

His sword intent surged again, its intensity having increased severalfold, directly shattering the spiritual pressure exerted by the two figures and enveloping the vast sky!