These colossal iron frames were implicitly connected to the restrictive formation of the Nine Deaths Purgatory itself. To free the person within would not only require breaking through the formidable seal but also withstanding the inevitable counter-attack from the Purgatory’s formation.

Yet, if he truly intended to act, he should possess a degree of certainty. It would merely require paying a certain price.

However— Zong Shou’s gaze was stern, his expression utterly blank as he looked upon the figures chained to the iron racks. While the utterance made by Wu Yazi just now was unremarkable, the reaction of the dozen or so others was one of vague bewilderment.

Regarding the name Zong Weiran, or the whereabouts of the intruder into the Nine Deaths Purgatory, they appeared utterly clueless. If these people knew nothing, then where did Wu Yazi obtain his information?

There was clearly deception woven throughout his words. He had risked severe injury to release this man.

If the promise was kept, it was manageable; but if Wu Yazi turned treacherous and struck back lethally, regret would be unavoidable. He glanced down beneath Wu Yazi’s iron frame, where countless white bones lay scattered.

Most appeared to be beast bones; ordinary savage beasts could hardly survive in this Death Purgatory, suggesting they were mostly Nether Beasts and innate aberrations. Among them, however, were more than a dozen sets of human bones— The skeletal structure was nearly jade-like, indicating they must have achieved the Immortal Body before death.

Zong Shou’s vigilance sharpened considerably. “Breaking the seal is not difficult!

But I wonder if Senior is willing to swear an oath? A Soul-Source Oath!

I happen to be versed in the corresponding curse markings and can draw the talisman and enact the sealing ritual!” Upon hearing the first few words, Wu Yazi was overjoyed, but the mention of the final four words caused him to fall silent. The Soul-Source Oath was the most solemn vow a cultivator could make, its curse marking plunging directly into the core of the spirit.

Failure to uphold it resulted in the direct destruction of one’s Dao foundation, rendering all future cultivation impossible. Observing Wu Yazi’s expression, Zong Shou understood his intent.

With a cold sneer, he dismissed the matter. He still lacked precise details about the Eighth Layer, the Nether Hell.

If Wu Yazi’s claims held true, he needed to conserve more strength, perhaps attempting to breach the Ninth Layer. Why would he exert himself now, risking rescue for someone utterly unconnected to him, a person clearly harboring ill intentions?

Just as he was preparing to depart using the Instantaneous Dragon Elixir to tear through space, he heard Wu Yazi laugh, “I never intended to use force! But since you, this brat, are so ungrateful, then don't blame old Wu Yazi.

I have been trapped here for hundreds of years; I am dreadfully lonely, and I lack fresh sustenance. Seeing your uniquely pure bones, your vital energy must be exquisite and delicious.

Having you accompany me will certainly make these days much better—” As he spoke, Zong Shou felt an abrupt surge of ten thousand times the primal magnetic force erupt in the air. It was so potent it temporarily sealed even time and space, forcefully yanking Zong Shou’s figure towards the iron rack.

Zong Shou’s eyes narrowed slightly, then the corner of his lip curled in disdain. With a mere thought, he activated his Star Dao Seed.

With a flash, he shifted away from his original position. Having reached the Immortal Realm, and having received the Origin Breathing Secret Art from Lin Xuanshuang, alongside the Cang Sheng Dao’s 'Myriad Dao Rites Profound Void' Seven-Character True Law, these Instantaneous Dragon Elixirs became increasingly difficult to restrain.

Wu Yazi commanded the art of primal magnetism and possessed the ability to lock down space and time. This might be fatal to other cultivators, but for him, Zong Shou, it was hardly worth a second glance.

Slipping free of the magnetic pull, Zong Shou instantly traversed ten miles, reappearing at a distance. Wu Yazi visibly stiffened at the sight, his expression then growing grim.

He likely realized that Zong Shou’s escape technique could not be constrained, leaving him helpless. Thus, he made no further moves, merely letting out a cold snort, “A fine technique for escaping through space!

No wonder those six Azure Thunder Eagles could not detain you!” But as soon as the words left his mouth, Zong Shou’s face suddenly contorted in pain. Wu Yazi’s eyes lit up, followed by a burst of roaring laughter, “So, you have only recently entered the Nether Hell.

The restriction arts here are far beyond what the Seventh Layer, the Spiritual Sea Death Purgatory, can manage. Come obediently to keep this old man company—” At that moment, Zong Shou felt an unbearable heat coursing through his entire body.

His qi meridians flowed backward, and the Blood Spirit Curse Power began actively igniting his Scorched Heaven Bloodline once more. The pain in his eyes, though present before, intensified by another twenty to thirty percent compared to the Seventh Layer.

Simultaneously tormenting him with discomfort and irritation was something within his Nascent Soul. The icy erosion of Nether Power, combined with the restrictive arts, nearly froze his spirit, causing an omnipresent agony like being pricked by billions of needles.

“So, the restriction arts of the Eighth Layer Death Purgatory directly assault the Nascent Soul! If one fails to resist, the entire person will likely grow gradually numb, lose the ability to think, and descend into madness.

Yet, one is still forced to experience this ultimate pain; should vital energy be exhausted, the spirit is utterly extinguished. Even if reincarnation were possible, it would be as a vicious insect—” However, the restriction arts themselves were only marginally stronger than the Seventh Layer.

But the simultaneous assault on his pupils and his Nascent Soul induced agonizing, almost maddening pain and extreme agitation. Precisely at this moment, the primal magnetic force wielded by Wu Yazi, still separated by a distance of ten miles, surged toward him again.

This colossal force, capable of tearing apart ordinary Divine Realm cultivators, dragged him down towards the iron rack. Zong Shou let out a cold, derisive laugh.

Already agitated internally, he now erupted in fury! Too annoyed to evade further, he yielded to the dragging momentum, launching a sword strike like a falling meteor.

Nether River’s Farewell to Death—behind him, the Nether Gate slammed open, unleashing countless torrents of Nether Power. The sword light cleaved down, filling the heavens and earth.

A deceptively simple strike, yet it possessed the power to cleave the cosmos in two. Of the seventy-nine Great Dao Stars circling him externally, a full quarter began to shimmer faintly.

It was the First Principle: Great Dao Becomes One! He fused all the mastered Dao principles with the sword Nether River’s Farewell to Death into this single strike.

Wu Yazi’s initial sneer vanished, instantly replaced by a look of utter shock. The primal magnetic force shifted from pulling to pushing, but it proved incapable of resisting; the sword shadow shattered it like dry wood.

The blade then struck the sealing formation on the iron rack. Sword aura and formation power collided in a tense stalemate.

Wu Yazi was secretly breathing a sigh of relief, only to see black flames suddenly ignite upon the sword. The blade actually pierced through layer upon layer of seals, striking directly into his skull and splitting it into two halves!

Fortunately, at that moment, the power of the restriction formation converged. It ensured that the one who wielded the sword retained a shred of sanity.

Before the sword light could fully expend itself, it was withdrawn, narrowly avoiding the counter-attack from the formation. Wu Yazi, in the span of a breath, reconstituted his head.

But his face was ash-pale, devoid of color, and for a moment, he stared at the young man before him, utterly shaken. Sword Intent Soul Realm!

What a piercing sword! He must be close to the mid-stage of the Soul Realm!

This child actually managed to break the seal— Capable of contending with the Divine Realm, his combat strength further amplified by that Black Flame Nether Power. For the time being, he dared not speak or provoke further.

Being pinned to the iron rack, though painful, was infinitely better than having his soul utterly annihilated. He vaguely guessed that this child’s ability to enter the Eighth Layer likely relied on more than just his spatial evasion techniques; those six Azure Thunder Eagles must have met a grim fate!

After delivering the strike, Zong Shou felt his rage subside slightly, his mind regaining a measure of calm.