Within the black miasma, Zong Shou now saw with perfect clarity. Traversing it, in merely a few breaths, he arrived twenty li from the Abyss Gate.

The moment he entered this area, he felt his very eyes beginning to burn. That strange transformation in his pupils that day suggested the gate was riddled with cracks, on the verge of breaking through.

Finally, his wish could be granted—to clearly see what lay beyond that barrier. Yet, at the very last moment, he was violently interrupted by Jue Yan, who struck him unconscious with a single finger.

When he awoke, the barrier had healed as if untouched. Not only were the fissures sealed shut, but the barrier seemed even thicker than before.

As a result, the Blood Spirit Curse power within him had not been vented; instead, it had accumulated even more. The barrier now stood like a massive dam, holding back all of Zong Shou’s vital energy and curse power.

The more it was blocked, the higher the pressure surged. The only way to alleviate this excruciating pain was to force the fusion of his four distinct bloodlines to **.

However, every time he ventured deep into the black fog, that feeling of distension and sharp throbbing would inevitably return. Ignoring it, as soon as Zong Shou reached this location, he saw Jue Yan, who had been standing silently at the Abyss Gate, open his eyes.

Jue Yan looked over, a mix of curiosity and veiled disdain in his gaze. “Right on time!

But today is the final day. Are you prepared?” Zong Shou spoke no word, finding discourse beneath him, and strode directly into the boundless crimson flames.

This time, he did not manifest his demonic form. Instead, with every step he took, a black lotus flame would bloom beneath his foot.

In an instant, he vanished from sight, yet the surrounding Sky-Burning Flames could not draw near him. Without exerting much force, he crossed ten li.

At this point, his entire body, every movement, every lift of a hand or foot, held latent Dao rhythm. His vital energy was reined in, condensed into a single point, seemingly present yet absent, constantly shifting.

His whole being was unified, subtly conforming to the method of Return to One. He had integrated the sword intent of the Soul Realm into his very actions.

It lacked the overwhelming, colossal might of the beginning a few days ago, but it possessed the same piercing sharpness, perhaps even more acute. He advanced smoothly, unimpeded, reaching Jue Yan, one hundred zhang away.

A look of genuine admiration surfaced in the latter’s eyes. Jue Yan could tell that the situation this time was fundamentally different from the previous few days.

“Interesting!” Days prior, Jue Yan would only have made his true move when Zong Shou approached within ten zhang. But this moment, as Jue Yan’s thought arose, countless Dharmic Wheels instantly manifested a hundred zhang before him.

Varying in size and possessing different magnitudes of power, they perfectly sealed off every inch of space within that hundred-zhang radius. Anything entering this zone would be crushed into dust!

This excluded Zong Shou, however. As he burst into the five-zhang range, a sword light flashed out.

He struck the wheel before him, shattering it with one clean cut. His sword intent held to oneness, unyielding.

Even the wheel’s revolving motion, whether forward or reverse, could not use his own force to return and strike him. These were seemingly unremarkable strikes, yet they were overwhelmingly dominant and pushed to the limits of brute force.

Without wasting a moment, he reached ten zhang from Jue Yan. His Illusory Heart Mirror focused its gaze on the opponent, and Zong Shou unleashed another strike—it was the Three Thousand Starfall once more!

Behind him, the Thunder Wings and the Wings of Life and Death simultaneously unfurled, stretching seven thousand zhang. Beneath his feet, a seven-colored lotus platform appeared, and his nine massive tails soared into the air.

Abruptly, his aura transformed from latent containment to explosive zenith! His presence roared forth!

Yet, he maintained the principle of embracing unity; though rivers might have ten thousand sources, they all return to a single ocean! Up close, Jue Yan was unhurried, even sneering slightly.

He formed hand seals before his chest, and a massive Dharmic Wheel enveloping ten zhang materialized before him. And upon this imposing wheel were inlaid countless golden and silver runes.

It seemed to incorporate myriad Great Daos, countless fundamental laws. However, within this wheel, it symbolized only the Dao of Rotation!

In the preceding days, Zong Shou had indeed managed to charge this close before. But only today, facing this, was he compelled to treat the situation with true gravity and unleash this foundational technique.

Clang! The sword light collided with the imposing wheel.

The resulting air currents swept outwards, dispersing all the black miasma. An area spanning a hundred li churned like fine dust.

Soil and rock alike were pulverized into true powder. The colossal wheel rotated ceaselessly, yet the blood-hued sword light concentrated on a single point.

For a time, the two forces remained deadlocked. Zong Shou’s gaze was utterly focused, fixed only on the tip of his blade.

Break! Break for me!

Every iota of strength within his body was drawn out and squeezed dry. Every measure of sword power was utilized to its absolute limit.

Advancing fearlessly, he would neither retreat nor yield until it broke! He aimed to shatter all resistance!

Suddenly, innumerable slashing wheels materialized behind him, converging to attack from his rear. Zong Shou did not turn back.

The Ten Absolutes Dao-Governing Annihilation Sword Formation activated spontaneously to guard him. Within a hundred-zhang radius, sword qi surged densely, striving mightily to resist the onslaught of the tempestuous, rain-like slashing wheels.

Zong Shou paid them no mind; his Illusory Heart Mirror was fixed solely on the Abyss Gate ahead. He continuously increased his power, squeezing out every last reserve of potential within him.

His bones cracked in succession, and the half-suit of Juntian Armor on his body ignited with flame. However, at this moment, the pain in his pupils intensified.

It seemed the more his blood boiled and his fighting spirit soared, the more severely the power of the Blood Spirit marrow-burning impacted that 'gate.' With a crisp crack, a fissure suddenly appeared on the imposing wheel. Starting from that point, power began to fracture across the entire wheel surface.

“He plans to crush me with sheer force? Clever indeed—” Zong Shou heard none of it.

After all, what stood before him was merely an incarnation of Jue Yan, formed from a single drop of essence blood. The power it contained was finite, and it had already been significantly depleted over ten days of intense fighting.

This situation was something Zong Shou had only vaguely discerned yesterday. Therefore, Zong Shou’s strategy today was to force Jue Yan into an all-out contest of true power depletion.

At this critical juncture, as long as he could secure his mother’s release from the Death Prison, he would resort to any means necessary. Furthermore, could this strategy be considered truly despicable?

The sword’s might continued its frontal assault, accompanied by the roar of a primordial dragon shadow. The ten-zhang giant wheel could no longer hold back the collapse; it shattered into fragments.

Jue Yan’s expression remained unchanged. He shifted his hand seals, and another Dharmic Wheel formed.

The technique of rotation could be both clockwise and counter-clockwise. Though it had broken, this reverse rotation could return it to its origin.

It began at only three zhang, but in an instant, it restored itself to the massive size of eight zhang. The scattered residual power flowed backward, recovering its integrity.

His true qi and soul power swiftly shifted from weakness back to full strength. The Buddhist sect possessed the method of Nirvana; his Wheel Rotation technique was in no way inferior!

Thus, for anyone, truly shattering this wheel was exceedingly difficult! Suddenly, he felt a jolt run through his blood and qi, the source being the descendant Xuan-grandson before him.

Jue Yan looked over in surprise. Zong Shou’s face was utterly expressionless.

Only his eyes opened again. They were crimson like blood, with countless restrictive talismans flickering within them.

Seemingly unaware of his own state, he carved out a slash with his sword! He applied the Sword Intent of Oneness to its absolute extreme.

The sword light cut across the sky, and the eight-zhang wheel snapped in response! Jue Yan was momentarily stunned, feeling that Zong Shou at this instant was practically merged with heaven and earth.

It was as if the Sword God had descended; every flicker of his sword light resonated with the Heavenly Dao. A resonance between man and heaven?

Jue Yan’s pupils constricted. He had a flash of understanding.

Was this a state of sudden enlightenment brought about by utter sincerity and soaring battle intent? He looked again at Zong Shou’s eyes.

Indeed, they had changed. Within the familiar, familiar talismans and bloodline inheritance, there was now a thread of the profound mysteries of the Heavenly Dao.

He narrowed his gaze. Jue Yan still condensed an imposing wheel before him.

But it was instantly sliced apart by the blood-hued sword—decisive, swift, and efficient. Jue Yan’s lips curled into a cold smile.

He continued the process. He reformed it, and it was shattered again!

Where the sword light fell, it seemed like the indestructible sword of a celestial deity, sharp and overwhelming. Ten times in succession, he shattered the final ten-zhang disc.

Then, Zong Shou’s sword swept out directly, aimed at Jue Yan’s head. Jue Yan frowned, and for the first time, he retreated a step backward.

Then, with a complex expression, he looked down. He had actually lost— At this moment, Zong Shou stepped once more into the Abyss Gate.

At that instant, Zong Shou’s intensely focused concentration finally fractured. Simultaneously, he withdrew from that moment of unity between man and heaven.

Yet, there was no trace of regret on his face; instead, it was filled with unfeigned, heartfelt joy. He won!

After ten days of relentless effort, he had finally succeeded in entering the Abyss Gate! Immediately, his expression hardened, and he looked coldly at the Jue Yan opposite him.

He had won, that was true, but would this Venerable Sage Jue Yan honor his promise? Even Zong Shou’s life and death lay in this person’s hands; what was a mere promise?

This feeling was truly agonizing. His resolve to reach the pinnacle of the Sword Dao hardened further.

Due to his profound worry, he had momentarily forgotten the searing pain in his eyes, and the increasingly violent pounding of his heart. At this moment, the myriad talismans in his blood-red eyes were gradually coalescing into a single point.

And in this instant, all the surrounding black miasma, all the Nether Death power near the Abyss Gate, began to burn fiercely, rapidly vanishing without a trace. Jue Yu did not ignore the change; he had been continuously observing Zong Shou’s eyes.

Then, with a calm expression, he gave a slight nod. “Today, you have won—” Zong Shou felt a slight easing in his chest, but immediately heard Jue Yu sneer again.

“However, this old man now chooses to go back on his word! The previous agreement is void.” His gaze was mocking, as if to say, even if I don’t keep my promise, what can you, a mere speck of dust, possibly do?

Zong Shou’s mind immediately felt a thunderous explosion, the veins on his forehead bulging. His pupils widened, then contracted sharply.

The myriad talismans in his eyes merged into one with astonishing speed. Both eyes were blood-colored, flawless like fine jade.

Upon closer inspection, it seemed as if black and white vortices were spinning within them. Eerily beautiful, yet possessing an overwhelming aesthetic.

Jue Yan immediately sensed something. He instinctively felt that this entire Netherworld realm, spanning tens of thousands of li, was trembling slightly.

He felt his own spirit flicker, as if he had fallen into a world entirely filled with flames. Then came a shock.

Observing this scene, it was clearly on the verge of a transformation! Only one step away from completion!

But even before completion, it could already manifest such divine power? It nearly caused his trace of ultimate-realm consciousness to fall into an illusionary realm leading to eternal perdition!

His main body must have also sensed this, as a ray of light descended from the sky, converging into the body of ‘Jue Yan.’ Then, he pointed a finger—still light and seemingly without any strength, yet it struck Zong Shou precisely on the brow, plunging the youth into unconsciousness once more. Holding the teenager in his hand, Jue Yan couldn’t help but shake his head slightly.

Immediately after, he felt a gaze, clear as water, observing him from a distance.

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