"Your second crime, following the incident, was the failure to seek amends. In your resentment, you even plotted to harm the Crown Prince!

Both offenses are unforgivable! Do you have anything to say in your defense?" The voice thundered like rolling drums, shaking the very soul.

Lu Tianqing parted his lips, seemingly about to speak. But the words caught in his throat, swallowed back down.

What was there to defend? Today’s events were clearly a trap.

The two Supremes had joined forces to take down him, Lu Tianqing, and eliminate him, Xuanhua’s loyal branch! There was no defense to offer!

His action today, intending to harm Zong Shou, was an undeniable fact. And this young man before him, having ascended to the Blood of World-Burning, was now unquestionably the foremost figure among the Lu Family’s imperial heirs.

The life of this child was bound up with the survival plans of the Lu Family, the very hope for dozens of Saint Realm cultivators to reach the Paramount Realm. Once the myriad elders of the Holy Court learned of this matter, even the Sovereign of Xuanhua Kingdom could not intercede for him.

Lu Tianqing had now provoked universal wrath! What use was any defense now?

A silent, bitter laugh escaped him as Lu Tianqing’s expression gradually grew remote. His heart was filled with ash, holding no hope of survival.

"What crime have I committed? If you wish to condemn me, excuses are easily found!

If the two Supremes desire my life, I shall accept death!" The voice of the Yan Yuan Supreme fell into a sudden silence, then a cold sneer echoed back, "Truly unrepentant, past all saving! Since this is the case, this Venerable One need not show mercy.

However, your life will be taken by another—" As the words faded, plumes of bloody mist erupted from all the joints of Lu Tianqing’s limbs and body. The entire man nearly collapsed to the ground, unable to stand upright.

Zong Shou, opposite him, watched with cold eyes. Initially, a flicker of surprise crossed his gaze.

His true reliance was not on this Supreme. His Soul Sense cultivation was nowhere near the level required to perceive the movements of a Paramount Realm Supreme.

But the surprise quickly settled into composure, his lips curling into a cold smirk. Was this drama staged for his benefit?

To placate his overwhelming fury toward the Lu Family of Fen Kong. Yet, his mother had suffered such torture, confined within this Nine Despair Prison for over twenty years.

Could the life of one Lu Tianqing truly extinguish such deep-seated resentment and hatred? His gaze turned icy, fixed upon the fallen, prostrate Lu Tianqing.

At this moment, the old man in the crimson robe possessed none of the majesty of a Saint Realm Venerable; stained with blood, utterly miserable and utterly disgraced. The Yan Yuan Supreme had not only destroyed the man's joints and musculature but had also severely damaged his Nascent Soul, rendering him incapable of wielding spiritual arts.

Even his vocal cords had been pulverized. All that remained was a bubbling sound from his throat, fixed upon Zong Shou with eyes brimming with the deepest malice.

Zong Shou was utterly unconcerned. Instead, he let out a sharp laugh, runes suddenly flickering within his eyes, causing Lu Tianqing’s body to convulse violently.

Terror immediately flashed in the latter’s eyes. It was not just his physical body being torn by tens of thousands of conflicting forces, but flames were also seeping in, scorching his flesh.

But this was not what caused his true panic. What was truly unbearable was the agony— A searing pain that made one yearn for immediate death, wishing to sever his own muscles at that very instant.

He understood instantly. This was an illusion!

Zong Shou was projecting the suffering he himself had once endured directly into his consciousness. And at this moment, he was utterly incapable of resisting it.

"Does it hurt greatly? Do you wish to die right now?

But the suffering my mother endures daily surpasses this tenfold, a hundredfold—" Zong Shou chuckled wickedly, his fingernails digging deep into his own flesh, his killing intent surging outward. "You should be thankful that I have not yet truly descended into madness and committed the acts of a mere beast." The luster in his blood-red eyes shifted again.

A combination of runes, secretly harmonizing with the Heavenly Dao, formed patterns resembling the hook of a Yin-Yang fish, one black and one white. And in that instant, Lu Tianqing’s body twisted and shattered, exploding completely into a mist of blood!

Only a residual strand of soul escaped, and before it could flee, Zong Shou forcibly seized it. The Yan Yuan Supreme had merely destroyed the man’s cultivation and martial power, then washed his hands of the matter.

He clearly intended to leave the disposal of Lu Tianqing to Zong Shou. However, Zong Shou was equally resolute; there was no reason to spare Lu Tianqing’s life merely to avoid owing the Yan Yuan Supreme a favor— The memory of those Crimson Bee Birds, the scene of that day, brought a crushing pain to his chest.

"However, even if you die painfully now, my lingering hatred cannot be appeased! I have heard that the Buddhist sects possess the art of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, and also the method of vows.

Today, I shall incur some karma, vowing by the body of the Boundless Beginning and End Buddha! I swear that through a thousand lifetimes and ten thousand rebirths, you shall fall into the Animal Path, eternally serving as an insect, food for beasts—" Lu Tianqing’s remnant soul struggled violently.

But by now, it was too late. A muffled sound resonated around Zong Shou.

A Gate of the Netherworld, as if impatient, burst open, spilling forth countless strands of deathly aura and an incomparably powerful dragging force, which forcibly pulled Lu Tianqing’s wailing Nascent Soul into that Nether Gate. When the Nether Gate closed, Zong Shou looked around once more.

The consciousness of the Yan Yuan Supreme had long since retreated, leaving no trace behind. This Nether Prison world, with the demise and spiritual death of Lu Tianqing, had lost its final support.

Its very root had been gradually damaged by his World-Burning Flames, and the collapse intensified. Yet, Zong Shou felt an emptiness in his heart.

But he did not hesitate, nor did he linger for even a moment. With a single stride, he departed the Nether Prison world.

The collapse of a world inevitably generates cataclysmic fluctuations, affecting countless streams of time and space. Even the vicinity of the Nine Despair Prison would generate a Sea of Illusions.

The shockwave was by no means something he could withstand at this juncture. Stepping beyond the void, Zong Shou extended a hand again, reaching toward the seventh layer of the Death Prison.

The restrictive formation of the Death Prison had been impregnable before, and Zong Shou could do nothing against it. But now, he completely ignored it.

Possessing the Blood of World-Burning, he was practically omnipotent within the Death Prison. In just a short while, Zong Shou extracted Lu Wubing from the Spiritual Sea Death Prison and brought him beside him.

Lu Wubing gave Zong Shou a faint glance, showing no surprise. Only a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, followed by a deep bow.

"Your subject congratulates His Majesty on achieving the Blood of World-Burning!" Since he possessed the World-Burning Blood Eyes, he was not merely a subordinate lord, but the venerated superior of the clan. Zong Shou frowned slightly, then shook his head: "Are you, like my master, someone who foresaw this long ago?" Lu Wubing could only offer a bitter smile.

How could he possess such foresight? No matter how highly he regarded Zong Shou, he would not have expected such a shocking metamorphosis of the bloodline within the Death Prison.

He had only managed to vaguely surmise something when reaching the fifth layer of the Death Prison. "Your Majesty, regardless of whether I foresaw it, you still needed to make a journey into the Nine Despair Prison." Zong Shou fell silent; he truly could not blame Lu Wubing for this matter.

Then, his pupils contracted slightly as he looked toward the distant void. Three figures manifested just beyond the speed of an instantaneous escape.

The one in the center, even if reduced to ash, he would recognize: it was Jue Yan, who had blocked and tormented him for ten days on the eighth layer! However, his attention was now fixed on the woman to his left.

It was his mother! At this moment, her eyes were rippling with emotion, gazing at him fixedly.

Tears welled up, as if a thousand unspoken words wished to pour out to him, yet seemingly restrained by some strange force, preventing her from speaking. "Mother—" Zong Shou subconsciously moved to step toward her.

But though the intention arose in his mind, he could not move forward even half a step. Not even his World-Burning divine abilities, his Dao Seed Star, could accomplish it.

An invisible barrier stood before him, making passage impossible. Instantly, an uncontrollable rage boiled up, and he glared in the direction of Lu Jueyan beside him.

In this place and at this time, the only one who could stop him was this Jue Yan Supreme! Lu Jueyan merely smiled, appearing immensely pleased, utterly unconcerned by Zong Shou’s fierce gaze.

"Within ten years, Shou'er, you must remember to return to the Holy Court! You are now the foremost heir of the Lu Family, the future Saint Emperor of Fen Kong.

Yet, since birth, you have never visited the Holy Court to offer sacrifice at the Ancestral Temple. This is truly unacceptable—" His words carried the tone of an elder instructing a junior, laced with a sense of gentle guidance.

Upon hearing this, Zong Shou did not grow angry but laughed instead: "Return to the Holy Court, sacrifice at the Ancestral Temple? You people of the Fen Kong Lu Family likely look down upon me, someone of impure blood, and fear that an outsider like me might defile the ancestral grounds of the Lu lineage." "What nonsense are you speaking?" Jue Yan let out a short laugh, his expression conveying helplessness, as if watching a child throwing a tantrum.

"You are the only surviving great-grandson of our Saint Emperor, the legitimate eldest descendant of the Lu Family. If the bloodline of you, Lu Shou, is impure, then the Fen Kong Holy Court has no true direct lineage left.

As the foremost heir, who would dare disrespect you? If someone is impertinent, shall I slay him for you?" Zong Shou was momentarily speechless, having never encountered such an absurdly shameless Paramount Supreme.

He took a deep breath, forcing his turbulent emotions to calm. "I do not recall ever changing my surname.

Furthermore, if you wish me to go to the Fen Kong Holy Court, first release my mother, Zong Shou’s mother! Holding my mother hostage—is this the sincerity of the Supreme?" "Hanyan?

Your mother willingly accompanied me back to the Holy Court to visit the Saint Emperor of Fen Kong. After twenty years apart, your mother misses him greatly—" As Jue Yan spoke, Zong Shou paused slightly.

He then looked toward his mother again, seeing Lu Hanyan’s expression firm as she gave him a slight nod. Jue Yan smiled again: "If you wish to see her, come to the Fen Kong Holy Court.

A family reunion, wouldn't that be wonderful!" Zong Shou clenched his fists, the very bones in his body creaking under the pressure. His gaze was like a knife, wishing he could smash it into the Supreme's face with a single punch.

Jue Yan appeared entirely oblivious, or perhaps saw it and simply did not care. His look was mocking, as if saying, What does your hatred matter?

What does your anger achieve? In the end, you will still have to follow my will— "That is all I have to say!

Whether you come or not is entirely up to you. The conflicts within the Holy Court are far more intense than you can imagine.

If you come late, Shou'er, you are likely to regret it for all eternity!" Having said this, Jue Yan’s figure slowly faded. The forms of Lu Hanyan and the red-robed girl vanished alongside him.

Zong Shou's figure flashed violently to the spot where the three had stood, only to grasp empty air. Then, a sigh reached his ears, "In the end, I have dragged you into this as well, Shou'er—" RQ