This Grand Extermination Demon Array completely severs Sword Intent, which could arguably be deemed grand and proper enough to rank among the orthodox ways.

Yet, this Sword Intent was truly ruthlessly absolute. Once struck, the intent would surely pursue the soul and gnaw at the bone until utter annihilation was achieved!

At this moment, Zong Shou didn't need to actively control it; the Extermination Sword Intent that penetrated Qingming's body had already roamed throughout, spontaneously piercing the void and seeking its quarry.

From that direction, Cheng Xin's furious roar echoed.

"Little brat Zong Shou, I, Cheng Xin, vow that one day I will slice you into ten thousand pieces, body and soul destroyed!"

The sound waves rolled, penetrating dozens of barriers. Cheng Xin, however, along with the other surviving members of the Daoist Sect, had already continued their escape.

Zong Shou's eyebrows twitched, a faint killing intent surfacing, quickly followed by a look of helplessness; he decided to ignore them further.

He didn't mind ending Cheng Xin right here.

It was just that at this moment, he truly lacked the residual strength.

The one hundred and eighty-four Source Sea Demon Exterminators behind him already had fluctuating auras, their faces showing clear signs of fatigue and exhaustion.

The two swords just now, though powerful, had completely drained the power of the Lesser Heaven Grand Demon Extermination Sword Array behind them.

At this moment, any cultivator in the Spirit Realm, wielding just a single sword, could likely slaughter every single one of these Source Sea Demon Exterminators.

It wasn't just these Dao Soldiers; Zong Shou himself was in the same state.

Having borrowed the nation's surging momentum and the power of this Sword Array today, he had managed to slay two Sages—an extraordinary feat. Now, anyone could casually topple him with a mere finger.

Yuan Wushang beside him discerned his true condition. The jade puppet emitted a surge of green light, helping Zong Shou steady himself in the void so as not to appear too dishevelled. He smiled and said, "That strike of yours was truly vicious! It has thoroughly alienated the Daoist Sect. If Kunming cannot overcome his tribulation, so be it, but if he truly achieves the status of a Saint Venerable, he will certainly seek you out one day to settle this karmic debt."

"What is there for this Sovereign to fear?"

Zong Shou sneered. A multitude of debts brings no more worry; an abundance of lice causes no more itch. He and the Daoist Sect were already mortal enemies—the kind that wouldn't rest until one side was utterly destroyed. Adding another grievance made little difference.

Yuan Wushang shook his head, then looked at Zong Shou's rear with a hint of astonishment.

"What Sword Array is this? In my observation, it matches the Daoist Sect's Great True Martial Swordsmen blow for blow, perhaps even subtly superior. Even the Nine Capitals Immortal Court's Nine Capitals Absolute Bladesmen, though not yet deployed, look like trash compared to these Heaven-tier Dao Soldiers. They can handle four opponents at once without issue—"

The colossal ship was still there, surrounded by nearly a hundred Divine Realm experts and hundreds of Immortal Cultivators, and even a complete Nine Capitals Non-Life Absolute Blade Grand Array.

However, Yuan Wushang paid it no mind, not taking it seriously. With more than ten Sages dead or fled today, the outcome was, in his view, already decided.

"It is the Grand Extermination Demon Sword Array of the Lesser Heaven Grand Dao. The Dao Soldiers are called Source Sea Demon Exterminators. Besides these, Da Qian also possesses five hundred Easy Spirit Demon Exterminators, which are Earth-tier Dao Soldiers, born of the same source."

Zong Shou explained casually, his eyes turning gratefully toward Ye Xuan.

"I must thank Mr. Ye for gifting me the schematics. Obtaining the method for this type of Dao Soldier is truly my good fortune, Zong Shou's."

Without the one hundred and eighty-four Source Sea Demon Exterminators, he might have won today's battle, but there would have been absolutely no chance for such a glorious result.

Without the five hundred Easy Spirit Demon Exterminators, the battle in the Yuanlian Realm would certainly have distracted him.

Not to mention the future benefits these two Heaven and Earth-tier Dao Soldier types would bring him.

Heavenly Dipper Swordsmen, Heavenly Dipper Crimson Crossbowmen, Mystic Fox Iron Cavalry, Blood Cloud Iron Cavalry, Easy Spirit Demon Exterminators, Source Sea Demon Exterminators—

With this, Da Qian's Dao Soldier system was now completely perfected.

Moreover, every single unit was of the most elite military class.

He could now freely expand his power, ready to conquer the myriad realms outside his domain.

"I merely offered the diagram; the one who truly perfected it was Young Master and Daoist Brother Ao Kun, Senior Sister Ao Yi. How dare I claim the merit?"

Ye Xuan shook his head, raising a hand to summon the strand of golden Geng Metal Qi that drifted in the distant void after Liu Jue's demise. He didn't examine it closely before tucking it into his sleeve.

"However, Ye Xuan does have one wish: that one among the Source Sea Demon Exterminators might become famous throughout the myriad worlds, making my former sect brothers regret their past actions. It sounds laughable; I have cultivated for two thousand years, yet I am still like a child, unable to let go of these vain desires, still so competitive."

Although he was mocking himself, Zong Shou detected the intense obsession woven into Ye Xuan's words.

He recalled Ye Xuan mentioning his fear of his Inner Demon, which was why he dared not undergo tribulation—it seemed genuine.

This person appeared free-spirited, not like someone burdened by lingering attachments.

Unless the experiences from a few decades ago were so deeply imprinted on Ye Xuan that he could never forget them.

"That day will surely come."

Zong Shou smiled, without the slightest hesitation: "It will certainly be as you wish, Mr. Ye."

As he spoke, Zong Shou was simultaneously regulating his own breathing. Having recovered a slight bit of True Force within his body, he no longer needed the support of the jade puppet.

He also collected the other strand of golden Innate Geng Metal Qi before turning his attention toward Ao Kun.

Ao Kun and Liu Muchen had been fiercely battling for half an hour. The latter held the advantage, his strength nearly rivaling that of the Half-Step Ultimate Realm by utilizing the Martial Arts of the Sovereign Way.

However, he needed the majority of his power to stabilize his foundation lest Ao Kun take advantage.

Currently, the two were evenly matched, locked in a stalemate. Ao Kun's iron fists continuously struck the great bell, eliciting peals of thunderous sound.

Yet, Liu Muchen's endurance was ultimately longer than Ao Kun's. As time passed, his advantage became more pronounced.

But as the remaining Sages fled, and Ao Yi pressed forward from behind with her Ice Lotus, Liu Muchen slowly began to lose composure. He was forced back repeatedly by Ao Kun.

Finally, with a roar of despair, he let go of the great bell, hurling it with full force at Ao Kun, forcing the latter to evade and shift aside momentarily to avoid the impact.

Liu Muchen seized the brief opportunity, transforming into a streak of swift light and retreating toward the massive ship.

Zong Shou and the other three were slightly taken aback, wondering what he was planning.

Was he planning to escape using this giant vessel? But this voidship was not an artifact like his Demon-Slaying Shuttle, capable of instant spatial travel. Its speed through the void was only average.

In the next instant, waves of spiritual patterns unfurled from the airship.

Just as Zong Shou speculated whether this was a defensive formation inherent to the vessel, he saw the heads of the remaining two hundred-plus Nine Capitals Absolute Bladesmen simultaneously explode.

Their vital blood energy and soul power were instantly drained, some feeding into the array, others merging into Liu Muchen's body.

It wasn't just these Heaven-tier Dao Soldiers; some of the Divine Realm cultivators among them suffered the same fate.

They perished instantly, their vital essence forcibly drawn out.

With a muffled roar from Liu Muchen, his entire aura surged wildly, almost breaking past the limits of the Sage Realm. His limbs swelled with muscle, threatening to tear his robes apart.

Zong Shou was finally alarmed. This Nine Capitals Holy Land actually possessed such a contingency! Could this person actually turn the tables in his desperation?

His heart filled with shock and doubt, Zong Shou subconsciously glanced toward Ao Yi and Ao Kun.

Only these two could accurately judge the current situation.

Ao Kun knew his worry and shook his head: "This is a demonic technique, absorbing the blood essence of others for one's own use to temporarily raise realm and power. But it is useless against me. His aura is chaotic; the more muddled his internal meridians become, the easier it is for me to strike and shake his Dao foundation!"

Seeing that Ao Yi beside him nodded in agreement, Zong Shou's heart settled slightly, realizing this was indeed the case. This technique might work on others, but for Ao Kun, who controlled the way of existence and annihilation, it was akin to seeking his own death.

He was struggling to stabilize himself; introducing the vital essence of others would only disrupt his own meridians—it was simply suicidal.

But did Liu Muchen not know this was courting death?

Raising his eyes to the massive ship, Liu Muchen shot a gaze brimming with chilling venom toward everyone.

Then, more spiritual runes manifested on the airship. Vaguely, a gigantic gate appeared upon its surface.

"It's Plane Transference!"

Ye Xuan, standing beside him, was the first to exclaim in shock.

Zong Shou's expression also grew solemn. He recognized this as genuine planar travel, not relying on the River of Realms. Furthermore, Liu Muchen was summoning someone from several thousand worlds away solely relying on his own power.

Lu Wubing had done something similar not long ago, though over a much shorter distance, relying on the innate divine ability of the Fen Kong Lu family.

At this moment, everyone felt a chill, but no one attempted to stop it.

The rune barrier opened on the ship was indeed a defensive formation. Fueled by the blood essence of hundreds of Immortal and Divine Realm cultivators, it was momentarily impossible to breach.

Stopping it now was perhaps a little too late.

A faint, ethereal soul thought pierced through the 'gate,' causing even Ao Yi to furrow her brow slightly and resist with all her might.

"Ultimate Realm?"

Zong Shou also gritted his teeth, struggling with all his might. His internal energy and soul power, which had barely recovered, showed signs of being completely depleted again.

However, his heart felt a deeper burden. He wondered if he had truly provoked an entity at the level of an Ultimate Realm Saint Venerable this time?

As he plotted countermeasures in his mind, an aged, resonant laugh drifted into his ears: "No need to panic. That person likely won't make a move. Even if he does, there's no need to worry. I shall borrow the use of this subordinate of yours—"

Like hearing celestial music, Zong Shou felt a wave of ease wash over his entire body.

It was Long Ying! But wasn't his Master still in seclusion?

He then looked toward Lu Wubing beside him, only to see his expression grave, sweat beading on his forehead, clearly struggling immensely.

Yet, a massive 'Rift' was subtly forming beside Lu Wubing.

Zong Shou instantly understood. Lu Wubing had become a medium. If anything went wrong, his Master, Long Ying, could immediately enter this place through that rift.

Zong Shou couldn't help but chuckle. He had looked forward to Lu Wubing reaching the Divine Realm for this very reason, at least in part. That Rift divine ability was essentially a mobile teleportation array, allowing him and others to move arbitrarily through Lu Wubing.

He hadn't expected his Master, Long Ying, to utilize it first.

However, the Divine Realm was still insufficient; reaching the Sage Realm would be best. Then, even from hundreds of worlds away, it would be instantaneous.