Gazing at the fallen Zhou Shu before him, Zong Shou felt a flicker of melancholy in his eyes. He mused that three thousand years of lifespan, thousands of immortal stones—all of it was now utterly gone?

Sighing with deep feeling, Zong Shou immediately turned his awareness inward. After eight years of recuperation, the internal energy within him surged like a tide.

Mid-Immortal Realm— Zong Shou had already crossed this threshold a year prior. The forbidden arts within the Nine Deaths Prison had tempered his physical essence and spirit.

The stimulus from his bloodline's sublimation, the influence of his recent re-observation of Tai Chu, coupled with several years of quiet cultivation, had pushed both his Martial and Spiritual paths beyond the Mid-Immortal Realm. However, even now, he had only just managed to stabilize this new level.

It was still far from the peak apex of the Mid-Immortal Realm that he had hoped to charge towards in one go. Zong Shou couldn't help but let out a faint sigh; truly, after reaching the Immortal Realm, even gaining half a step was immensely difficult.

He possessed the supremely pure bloodline of the Lu family of Fen Kong, inheriting legacies from both the Qilin and the Lu clan. Yet, advancing remained arduous, so what must it be like for others?

Every subsequent step in his future cultivation would surely be measured in hundreds or thousands of years. This time, it was only by leveraging the vision of Tai Chu to impact his own soul that he could break through the bottleneck so swiftly.

Achieving such rapid progress again in the future was utterly impossible. Zong Shou dared not risk further reckless advancement; this was no trifling matter.

If he developed an unstable foundation, it would require several times, even dozens of times, the effort to compensate. Demonic cultivation starts fast, but the further one proceeds, the slower it crawls—like a snail.

Had it not been an absolute necessity this time, he would much rather have spent ten or twenty years to cross this barrier. After inspecting his internal state, Zong Shou then drew forth the Nameless Sword.

A sharp, resonant hum echoed throughout the chamber. The blade was blood-red, yet a three-foot layer of pure azure gang energy was condensed upon the cutting edge.

Simultaneously, a vast and magnificent Sword Intent spread outward. Though Zong Shou deliberately restrained it, focusing it to a single point on the tip, a portion still leaked out.

This caused the sturdy timbers of the great ship—wood nearly comparable to immortal artifacts—to protest with a series of grating 'krak-krak-krak' sounds, shaking violently. His current cultivation realm was, in truth, ephemeral to him.

While important, it wasn't the most pressing concern right now. To wield Kingly Martial Arts capable of matching the power of the Saint Realm, the first prerequisite was the mastery of the 'Momentum' (Shi) within the martial way.

Many monarchs of small nations, lacking support from powerful cultivators, only employed rudimentary applications of Kingly Martial Arts, often failing to even master the technique of condensing momentum into a singular force. They could crush lower-tier cultivators through sheer might, but against peers of equal combat strength, they were often reduced to a desperate state.

What Zong Shou studied was the Di Feng Jue (Emperor's Wind Art), the most balanced and harmonious of techniques, resulting in a power that was both majestic and overwhelming upon mastery. During normal cultivation, this pinnacle Kingly Secret Art allowed one to naturally master and utilize 'Momentum' to a degree comparable to regular cultivators.

It even possessed life-extending properties. While not achieving immortality like true cultivators, reaching the thirteenth level at its peak granted a lifespan of two thousand years.

Naturally, these aspects were secondary to Zong Shou. Having comprehended the Martial Dao's intent to the mid-Soul Realm level, his control over the 'Momentum' of the martial way could already be called consummate.

Yet, Zong Shou was not satisfied. To truly contend with those in the Saint Realm, he was still too far behind—the gap was not small.

He was accustomed to manifesting one unit of strength as three, five, or even twelve units. If he wished to have any impact during Wei Xu's tribulation, to perhaps turn the tide, he absolutely needed to achieve another breakthrough in the Dao of the Sword, mastering a stronger Sword Intent.

Following the initial humming resonance, the gang energy on the Nameless Sword retracted once more. But far from diminishing, the imposing aura grew even more grand and vast.

He had paid the price of three thousand years of lifespan to re-observe Tai Chu this time. While it failed to elevate the level of his Sword Intent further, the intent had clearly undergone a transformation, refined by the vision of Tai Chu.

Redundancies were stripped away, though it hadn't been purely distilled; moreover, new elements had been added. This current sword momentum, every subtle shift, could stir the mechanisms of heaven and earth.

It was also more fluid, the Sword Intent possessing a complete soul, as if it were a living entity. His cultivation realm was currently insufficient; this formidable martial sword technique was the true foundation of his standing in the world right now.

Though he hadn't broken through yet, he had already brushed against the potential for change. The three thousand years of lifespan hadn't just sent him back in time; it included the expenditure necessary to recall everything from the dawn of Tai Chu.

With just a few more years to fully comprehend and integrate it all, the breakthrough would naturally follow— "To potentially glimpse the state of 'Divine Illumination' (Shen Er Ming Zhi) within the Sword Intent while still in the Immortal Realm—even voicing this now, few would believe it. From antiquity to the present, if not unprecedented, it is certainly unmatched..." Ao Yi, who had just awakened on the side, first gazed at the sword in Zong Shou’s hand with astonishment.

Then, she smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Brother Shou, for this time.

I owe you an immense debt. Though I cultivate the Great Dao of Cold Ice, the spectacle of Tai Chu was something I dreamed of.

Just one hour provided me with a benefit equivalent to eight hundred years of my own quiet contemplation. I now feel considerably more assurance regarding the Tribulation of the Ultimate Realm." Her gaze then turned hazy, almost dreamlike, as she continued, "Was that the Guan Jie Yi (World Viewing Instrument)?

The divine treasure jointly forged by Xi Zi and the Mohists back then? Truly extraordinary.

Even after experiencing it once, I still feel it’s not enough; I long to see it again. I wonder where that divine treasure rests now.

You are incredibly fortunate to have encountered such a rare opportunity—" Zong Shou blinked at her words. So the Guan Jie Yi was not merely an artifact of the Mohists; Xi Zi had also been involved in its creation long ago.

A gruff voice sounded from beside him—Ao Kun’s: "See it again? That would reduce my sworn brother to dust." Ao Yi gave an embarrassed smile and said nothing.

Ao Kun, however, turned his face toward Zong Shou with a complex expression. He seemed about to reprimand him, but ultimately let out a soft sigh.

"Great kindness requires no thanks! Between us, such formalities are unnecessary.

But in the future, I only ask that Brother Shou consult me before undertaking things like this. Don't let Ao Kun feel guilty again.

Otherwise, this brotherhood might end here—" Zong Shou immediately straightened his expression, recognizing the earnestness in Ao Kun's tone. He smiled wryly in his heart, nodding solemnly in agreement.

Then, driven by curiosity, he asked, "How did it go?" "Thanks to you, it's mostly complete!" While saying this, Ao Kun's face was alight with unconcealed joy and excitement. "The Ultimate Realm is still too far off.

But if I can seize enough Dragon Pellets and Dragon Souls, I should be able to advance further and reach the late Saint Realm." Ao Yi’s eyes dimmed slightly upon hearing this. Ao Kun clearly no longer considered himself one of the Dragon Clan.

To speak of seizing the Dragon Pellets and Souls of his own kin without a shred of guilt. He was truly heartbroken to the point of death, completely disillusioned with the Dragon Clan.

She also worried about the hidden dangers of the Dragon Devouring Secret Art Ao Kun practiced; if it backfired later, she didn't know what could be done. Moreover, the Four Great Dragon Palaces, upon learning of Ao Kun’s reappearance, would surely try every means to hunt him down.

Though the Dragon Clan was in decline now, there were still several ancient beings at the Ultimate Realm. Ordinary Saints could not harm the two of them, but if those ancient figures acted, escaping even with merely a remnant soul for reincarnation might prove impossible.

Zong Shou, however, held a different view: "I actually envy Brother Ao a little now. Thinking carefully, the methods of Existence and Extinction might be the only Great Dao divine abilities in this world that allow for rapid advancement.

Others fret over incomplete Dao foundations, but Brother Ao has no such affliction. At the utmost peak, he can use divine abilities to complete his foundation.

Only the backlash from the Dragon Devouring Secret Art needs to be considered." He felt a genuine envy. He cultivated the method of the Convergence of Ten Thousand Daos, and he presumed that once his cultivation reached the Saint Realm, he too might grasp partial Existence and Extinction abilities.

But it could never be as pure as Ao Kun’s. Zong Shou certainly wasn't confident he could use divine abilities to perfectly complete that Ultimate Realm foundation.

"That is precisely it!" Ao Kun also let out a light laugh, his words and demeanor radiating openness. "It’s a pity that while I can complete most of the Creation Method this time, the refinement is still somewhat lacking.

As for the backlash from devouring dragons—" He merely offered a 'heh' of a laugh, his tone implying neither disdain nor indifference, nor the slightest hint of unease. It was utterly calm, the composure of one who watches the world's affairs with detachment.

Zong Shou and Ao Yi exchanged a glance, both catching the slight sense of reassurance in the other's eyes. Dealing with the backlash of Dragon Souls was almost comparable to confronting Inner Demons.

While the souls didn't transform like demons, the Dragon Souls were far more ferocious. Dozens or hundreds attacking in concert, constantly pressing upon the mind—the resulting pressure was naturally immense— This required not only a formidable spiritual will but also a serene state of mind.

Ao Kun’s demeanor now clearly showed he had grasped the profound essence of this balance. Seeing their reaction, Ao Kun chuckled.

"I have avenged half of the great feud from the past. As for the other half, there is hope in sight.

I will walk step by step; there is no need to rush because of it. As long as I don't overstep my bounds, those trash cannot touch me.

Given that, what more do you two need to worry about?" "Just be careful yourself." Saying this, Zong Shou stopped speaking, trusting that Ao Kun had his own judgment. Then, he looked at the mess strewn across the room with an expression of regret.

The month of quiet cultivation had yielded results that greatly satisfied him. Yet, looking at the pulverized remnants of immortal stones in the chamber, Zong Shou couldn't help but feel a sharp, agonizing pain, his face growing pale.

"Seven thousand four hundred immortal stones—" The spoils gained from Liu Mu-chen and the others, combined with the stones he already possessed that had partially recovered their spiritual energy, had all been used here. And now, they were completely exhausted.

They were utterly scattered; these immortal stones could never be restored or recharged with spiritual energy. Ever since Zong Shou activated the secret art to recall and reshape time, they had been battered by the violent temporal force, shattering their fundamental structure.

Their destruction was sealed; the remaining time only allowed the spiritual energy stored within to dissipate normally. Since acquiring the Zhou Shu, wealth like spirit stones and immortal stones had become alien to him.

Often, as soon as he obtained them, before he could even warm them in his hands, he would fall back into destitution. With a self-mocking smile, Zong Shou’s eyes suddenly sharpened.

His blood pupils pierced through the void, looking outside the great vessel. Not far from here lay the Tian Fang World.

He had now set his sights on the vast wealth accumulated by the Tian Fang Cultivation Society over the past ten thousand years. —That should surely be enough to replenish his Qian Kun Bag once more!