A glance passed between them, and the four felt a surge of spirit, catching a glimpse of victory. "Move!"

With almost no hesitation, Ji Ming drew forth a bow-crossbow nearly ten feet long. Amidst three successive 'whum' resonant vibrations, three beams of light shot fiercely toward the direction from which Ao Yi was approaching. The others, too, acted without delay, daring not to engage Ao Yi directly. Most who achieve the Saint Realm are cultivators of both Spirit and Martial arts, capable of unifying the two to a certain degree. At this moment, they each unleashed their Immortal Artifacts and spurred their Spirit Arts, consolidating the power of over a hundred surrounding Divine Realm experts to strike as one, completely enveloping that stretch of the void. The crux of today rested on whether they could stop this woman before capturing Zong Shou. Even holding her for a single breath would suffice!

Yet, Ao Yi proceeded onward, neither fast nor slow. She seemed utterly unconcerned with Zong Shou's safety, her delicate features filled only with cold scorn. As the arrow-light streaked toward her, it began to slow down a breath's distance before her. Then slower still, until finally, it was frozen solid in the void. Wherever Ao Yi passed, all power of the Laws was utterly locked in frost. Those myriad Spirit Arts could not even draw near. Several Immortal Treasures, upon mere approach, showed signs of being instantly congealed and locked down. Ji Ming and the others, wary, commanded their Immortal Artifacts to only brush against the threat before retreating instantly, daring not to linger. And in that expanse of void nearly drowned by various Spirit Arts, Ao Yi forcefully carved open a grand avenue of sheer ice. Fortunately, the woman’s travel speed was not high; it took three breaths for her to reach the location of their fierce battle. This brought a wave of relief mixed with tension to everyone, increasing their dread and estimation of Ao Yi’s strength, yet they were also thankful the time bought was sufficient. The matter with Liu Jue should also have concluded. It was only strange that the two from the Dao Sect, Cheng Xin and Rong Bi, had not made a move. Glancing sideways, Ji Ming, Han Tao, and the others all started in surprise. They now saw that the thirty-odd cultivators from the Dao Sect had coalesced into a single, swift beam of light, fleeing frantically into the distance, as if terrified of being overtaken by something utterly horrific. After their initial shock, the four were filled with anger and indignation. They thought that the people of the Cloud Realm Dao Sect were indeed unreliable. Then, all eyes turned back toward Zong Shou. The time gained was enough. They had never placed much hope on those two Saint Realm Venerables from the Dao Sect anyway; it mattered little if they fled now. These few breaths were sufficient for the three of them to secure Zong Shou.

At this moment, Liu Jue’s eyes also shone brightly. So close, he could even see Zong Shou’s face, which seemed so panicked it had turned blank and expressionless. Within reach! Four Saint Realm experts joining forces, with himself being in the mid-stage Saint Realm. Even if the boy was protected by a Dao Soldier, in his eyes, capturing him would still be as easy as turning a hand. There was no doubt. But in the next instant, he heard the middle-aged man standing beside Zong Shou sigh softly. "My sword has long been undrawn. I wonder if it retains its former sharpness? Young Master should not place too much confidence in Ye Xuan."

Clang!

As the sound faded, Ye Xuan’s Sky-Azure Sword was already unsheathed. A streak of cyan light instantly transversed the void, striking the three like three points of cold starlight. Liu Jue’s brow first twitched, then he sneered. Merely a peak Divine Realm cultivator daring to provoke a Saint Realm expert—truly ignorant of the consequences of death. Too much effort to deal with, Liu Jue simply flicked his sleeve and slapped out fiercely, scattering the incoming sword-light! But just then, the middle-aged man shook his head slightly. The scattered sword-light reformed, carrying an incredibly bizarre power. With just a slight touch, Liu Jue’s mighty sleeve was pulverized. In a hasty defense, he flicked his fingers repeatedly, clashing with the sword-light. Yet, with every impact, he felt immense discomfort, almost pinned suspended in mid-air. The man himself was merely Divine Realm, but that sword seemed to vibrate minutely with every passing moment. And the terrifying power capable of resisting a Saint Realm stemmed from this very vibration. With every contact, Liu Jue felt his own body, his flesh and blood, his True Force, trembling in response. Guan Zhong and Ju Yesheng, who followed him, were similarly held suspended, unable to advance, their brows likewise covered in shock. In that fleeting moment, Liu Jue recalled someone. Among the cultivators in this domain capable of using a single sword to directly contend with three Saint Realm Venerables, there were only a handful. And regarding this method of vibrating the sword, if this person had arrived, it would be painfully obvious. "The Grand Illusion Quaking Sword Art! You are Dao Xiaoyao of the Carefree Pavilion—" It was him! How much fortune did Zong Shou possess to command such a gifted prodigy to his service!

Ye Xuan also smiled: "Indeed, the Grand Illusion Quaking Sword Art, but I have changed my name now. Dao Xiaoyao is the hereditary title of the Pavilion Master of Carefree Pavilion; Mr. Liu may call me Ye Xuan." Liu Jue felt a choking frustration, nearly spitting blood, his rage boundless. No wonder those Dao Sect members fled, without even the thought of a desperate struggle! No wonder Zong Shou was so arrogant as to not keep Ao Kun and Ao Yi by his side as protection. With this man present, the Nine Heavens Immortal Court truly had no chance whatsoever. To capture the king by capturing the thief was utterly like trying to scoop the moon from the water—a sheer delusion. However, this only stoked the vicious intent in his heart. With victory so slim, at this moment, he could only fight to the death. Once his mind was set, every pore on his body burst forth with clumps of blood mist. His entire form enveloped in this bloody aura, appearing monstrous. A pair of golden lights slipped smoothly from his sleeves, seeming gaseous yet hard as metal. Grasping them, he crossed swords with Ye Xuan’s light, completely unaffected by the Grand Illusion Quaking Sword Art. With only a few exchanges, he forced a gap in Ye Xuan's sword-light. "Eh?"

Ye Xuan let out a surprised exclamation, casting a look of astonishment. "Is that the innate Geng Metal Qi?" And it must be a Heavenly-tier treasure! Inherently solid, it was the finest category for sword material. Not just him, Zong Shou also showed a look of surprise, a flicker of delight in his eyes. His Second Nascent Soul, the Yuan Yi Soul Sword, could finally be forged! This Liu Jue actually possessed an exotic treasure of this caliber! It would be a lie to say he wasn't pleased. It was natural to feel avarice. However, Ye Xuan beside him seemed equally desperate. Though the Sky-Azure Sword was also an Immortal Sword, it did not align with his Grand Illusion Quaking Sword Art. If he could use a wisp of Innate Qi as the primary material, he could forge a sword perfectly suited to his technique. His combat power would then increase by more than half. Naturally, he was determined to obtain this item! Zong Shou shook his head, a smile in his eyes: "No need to strain yourself. It would be ugly if he escaped. I will resolve this person. You and I will each take one of these two strands of Innate Geng Metal Qi!" Hearing this, Ye Xuan burst into hearty laughter: "It all depends on the Young Master. My accumulation of slaughter in my early years, coupled with the upheavals back then, left me with too many mental barriers. Thus, although my cultivation reached the peak of the Divine Realm, I am timid and dare not easily undergo tribulation. The hope of achieving sainthood in this life rests entirely on the Young Master!" Zong Shou remained silent, and the sword intent, already retracted to its extreme, condensed once more. These two strands of Innate Geng Metal Qi were highly valued not just by Ye Xuan, but by himself as well. They concerned his ability to achieve true Soul Sword Sword Qi, so he dared not treat the matter with the slightest carelessness!

After Ye Xuan spoke, his sword-light did not diminish but rather grew stronger, thousands of points of sword-light tearing through the void. Three-tenths of these pierced toward Guan Zhong and Ju Yesheng. The remaining seven-tenths enveloped Liu Jue. The latter paid it no mind, continuously striking with the golden lights in his hands, forcefully carving a path through the myriad blades. Only, more blood mist erupted from his body this time—not due to a secret technique, but because Ye Xuan’s sword had sliced nearly a hundred wounds into him in that instant. Many places were deep enough to expose bone. His left hand and arm were connected only by a thin layer of skin, preventing them from being severed entirely. But Liu Jue was unconcerned; it was all worth it. At this moment, Zong Shou was right before his eyes. Even resisting layers of protective force and layers of sealing Dao power, he still only needed one step to reach the monarch of the Great Qian. Capture this man, and he wouldn't worry about Ao Kun refusing to yield!

Boom!

The impact of kinetic energy exploded. Liu Jue’s form almost completely dissolved into a blood shadow, his battle intent surging to its peak. This strike: victory or death! The golden lights danced between his hands, slicing the void apart. Just then, a warning sign suddenly arose in Liu Jue’s mind, and he looked behind Zong Shou. The one hundred and eighty-four Azure-Robed Swordsmen, whose vital energies were already linked, simultaneously shifted position, abruptly channeling a powerful, piercing sword intent (Gāng Qì, martial aura/force) into Zong Shou’s body. "The Force Infusion Technique!"

Liu Jue’s heart leaped violently. This was one of the supreme divine abilities among Dao Soldiers. It could only be performed on top-tier Dao Soldiers, requiring perfect harmony and flawlessness in the channeled energy. Otherwise, the recipient would instantly be completely ruptured by the disparate forces. Liu Jue had only heard of a few such techniques! "Supreme Demon Extermination!"

At that same moment, Zong Shou murmured softly. That nameless sword finally pierced out from his sleeve. At this moment, his spirit surged to the heavens. The sword-light was like white clouds emerging from a mountain cleft, incredibly fast, yet endlessly mutable, its trajectory impossible to track! Before Liu Jue could react, the sword-light was upon him. He no longer cared about capturing the youth before him, and Liu Jue abruptly retreated at high speed. In his hurried evasion, he heard a light crack. Looking closely, he realized both of his hands had been cleanly severed by the sword-light. Furthermore, a devastating sword intent rushed into his body, annihilating all of Liu Jue's vital energy. And as the sword finished its arc opposite him, another one immediately rose. Liu Jue, without even thinking, let out a desperate, soul-shattering roar. "Nine Heavens Life-Ending Absolute Blade Formation!"

At this critical juncture, only those two sword formations, already poised and capable of resisting Saint Realm experts, could save his life! And just as his words fell, the two Dao Soldier grand formations on the other side were activated. Two beams of condensed black light streaked across. Zong Shou glanced sideways, paying them no mind. "Sever!"

As the word left his mouth, the black light blades instantly disintegrated. Immediately following, another streak of pale white sword-light swept horizontally back the way they came. The void immediately erupted in a burst of spiritual energy. The sword-light shattered, dispersing into countless kinetic forces. And in the eyes of everyone present, nearly half of the Dao Soldiers in the Nine Heavens Life-Ending Absolute Blade Formation on the left side of the airship turned into motes of flying ash!