"So, even Senior Brother Wei has no certainty this time? Not even the courage for a desperate struggle? Are you completely without hope?"

Wei Xu paused upon hearing this, studying Zong Shou intently.

"Junior Brother, are you angered?"

Sensing the hidden, thin layer of fury beneath Zong Shou's expressionless face, Wei Xu could not help but let out a slight laugh. "How could I truly be without hope? If there were absolutely no chance, I would not have followed Uncle-Master Xiu Guan back, dragging the entire Sect into this gamble!"

As Wei Xu spoke, a fierce, tiger-like spirit gradually rose within his phoenix eyes.

"This time, it was my own overeagerness that allowed me to be set up. I've spent my life hunting geese, only to be blinded by one myself. However, that fellow Qing Xuan won't wipe out my Cangsheng Dao so easily! At least two or three Supremacy Realm experts will meet their end here. Ha! Master once said something profound: If Heaven will not tolerate me, why not simply shatter this Heaven? It will be nothing more than mutually assured destruction—"

Zong Shou's gaze grew even dimmer. Although Wei Xu's words were spoken with dominating force and severity,

his discourse conspicuously omitted any mention of surviving the Tribulation.

He only spoke of ensuring the Dao Sect's major families suffered heavy losses in this battle.

Ming Yu also spoke up with a smile, "We in Cangsheng Dao do not subscribe to the philosophy of doing one's utmost and leaving the rest to fate. Even if we face absolute despair, we must use the sword in our hand to carve out a path. This is how Cangsheng Dao has survived these ten millennia. Junior Brother need not worry excessively. Besides, what good is worry now? If we win this battle, we live! If we lose, it is merely death."

His demeanor was open and unburdened, perhaps even more cheerful than before. The cold aloofness had diminished, replaced by a magnanimous heroism, utterly unconcerned with life or death.

Zong Shou felt his heart sink further. Perhaps these two did not realize it themselves, but he could clearly discern the shift in their mindset.

If the leading figures of the Cangsheng Dao were in such a state of mind, what hope did the others have?

How could they not lose with such an attitude?

His lips parted, and Zong Shou was about to speak, to remind them. But after a moment, he closed his mouth, remaining silent.

Until a path to victory was found, anything spoken now would be futile.

He was still ignorant of the situation within the Cangsheng Celestial Dome, and his knowledge of the specific arrangements of the other Three Teachings was sparse; he simply had no standing to lecture them now.

Wei Xu, for his part, mistook Zong Shou’s silence for lingering concern for the Sect, and felt quite gratified.

The Cangsheng Dao had taken Zong Shou as a disciple without ever publicizing his identity, never forcing him. For years, they had offered silent support, maintaining an awkward relationship. It seemed it had finally borne fruit, making Zong Shou gradually care for the Sect.

He had not misjudged him back then; this child was truly loyal and righteous.

"Actually, thinking it over, your return is no great matter. With the status of the First Crown Prince of the Fen Kong Lu Clan, even the Dao Sect wouldn't dare touch you now. In a moment of crisis, I can certainly find a way to send you away."

Wei Xu said this in a light tone, then chuckled, "Indeed, the Celestial Dome is desperately short of manpower right now. I heard that several months ago, you repelled three Formless Divine Demons in the Yuan Lian World? Your Sword Intent must surely reach the Soul Realm? Coincidentally, there is a Sword Array in the Celestial Dome that lacks an overseer."

Beyond the Celestial Dome, security was airtight. Inside, the atmosphere was equally tense.

Zong Shou glanced around; the previous serenity of the place was nowhere to be found, replaced everywhere by an air of grim vigilance.

All the open spaces outside the Academy had been occupied,

some practicing spirit arts, others drilling martial skills. Groups of Cangsheng Dao disciples were marshaling various formations.

Though relatively restrained, streams of protective energy and waves of spiritual tides still swept through the void,

causing Zong Shou to pause involuntarily, watching closely. By sheer count, there were easily over a hundred thousand experts at the Innate Realm.

It seemed the benefits of the spirit tide were not exclusive to Da Qian and Da Shang—

"The Cangsheng Dao’s Three Sects and Six Halls, disciples above the Innate Realm—there are slightly more than two hundred and seventy-three thousand, all gathered here."

Wei Xu's eyes flickered slightly, revealing a trace of pain before it was instantly suppressed.

"Let's go. There is little worth seeing. Uncle-Masters Xiu Guan and Yuan Jing have been waiting for you in the main hall of the Academy for quite some time."

Zong Shou nodded slightly and continued forward; there was truly little to see.

These disciples were, after all, not Dao Soldiers. Even arrayed, their power was limited.

The Cangsheng Dao had been in decline for some time, and there were few exceptionally talented younger disciples within.

The true trump cards were certainly not here.

Yet, outside the domain, Zong Shou had glimpsed several arrays formed by the Cangsheng Dao's Earth-Rank Dao Soldiers. Each comprised around a hundred individuals, manifesting unfathomable mysteries and endless variations.

Entering the palace gates and arriving within the Academy grounds, Zong Shou froze once more, bringing his steps to an abrupt halt.

Inside the Academy, over a hundred disciples were setting up an array using spirit stones and the essence blood of spirit beasts.

This array stood independently outside the great protective formation of the Cangsheng Celestial Dome, yet it mutually reinforced the Dome’s defenses, complementing it perfectly.

And at the very center, seven sword artifacts hovered high, emitting swirling spiritual light.

An energy rainbow spanned several dozen li, enveloping the entire Cangsheng Celestial Dome.

They were all Immortal Swords, the highest tier of Sword Artifacts! And the purple-gold flying sword situated at the absolute center looked strangely familiar to Zong Shou.

"It is the Soul Refining Sword—"

At first glance, Zong Shou thought it was the one from the ancestral shrine.

But upon closer inspection, he realized it was not.

The sword's intent of sharpness pierced straight into the firmament; it lacked the heavy, unadorned quality of the true Soul Refining Sword.

The aura was similar, yet distinctly different—

However, positioned at the core of this sword formation now, this sword subtly commanded the circulation of the entire array's vital energy, without the slightest hindrance.

The Seven Swords coalesced, achieving near-perfection!

This array, still unmanned, radiated immense sword might, a power no less formidable than that of a Supremacy Realm Saint Venerable.

"This is a Pseudo-Soul Refining Sword, painstakingly forged by several of your senior brothers who searched for countless Heaven-Rank spiritual materials. Since the true Soul Refining Sword is masterless, this was the only recourse."

Wei Xu explained from the side, "Master once said that if these seven swords were united, they would each be equivalent to a Mid-Grade Divine Treasure, granting Cangsheng Dao seven combat powers comparable to Supremacy experts. One sword array could contend with at least six Supremacy experts, and even injure the undying soul of a Supremacy Saint Venerable. With this Pseudo-Soul Refining Sword, resisting two or three Supremacy experts should not be difficult—"

As the words fell, the seven Immortal Swords before them all vibrated and sang in unison, scattering outward.

Zong Shou vaguely perceived that, besides the Pseudo-Soul Refining Sword, the sword spirits of the other six harbored a degree of resistance and dissatisfaction toward it.

But under the firm control of their owners, they were constantly grinding and integrating with the Pseudo-Soul Refining Sword, allowing the exchange of their vital energies to gradually smooth out.

The dissenting thoughts of the six sword spirits were forcefully suppressed.

And at that very moment, a hum echoed from within Zong Shou's sleeve.

The will of the Nameless Sword simultaneously imprinted itself upon Zong Shou's sea of consciousness.

First came indignation mixed with helplessness, then sorrowful disdain, and finally, self-pity.

Zong Shou could not help but shake his head internally; why was this happening again?

He recalled that when he returned from the Nine Desolations Prison, the sword spirit of the Nameless Sword had undergone a similar emotional shift. It had languished for several days afterward before recovering.

Why was it reacting this way again?

Suddenly, a thought struck him. He remembered that the last time the Nameless Sword's spirit exhibited such emotions was immediately after it heard Wei Xu forging a Pseudo-Soul Refining Sword.

And he remembered that he had obtained his sword back then, also within the Cangsheng Celestial Dome.

Could it be that this Nameless Sword actually shared some connection with the Soul Refining Sword?

He projected his consciousness inward, scanning the body of the Nameless Sword inch by inch. This sword had been with him for several years and had now advanced to an Immortal Sword, and not of low rank either, equivalent to an ordinary Fourth-Grade Immortal Artifact.

Whether in divine abilities or physical resilience, it was a top contender among Immortal Swords of the same grade.

Its blade was blood-red, a result of absorbing countless vital energies and souls.

The baleful aura was piercing; no matter how Zong Shou examined it, he could find no link to the dignified and noble Soul Refining Sword.

Shaking his head, Zong Shou felt an inexplicable surge of indignation in his chest, feeling that the Soul Refining Sword was being treated unfairly.

"Is this method sound? If the array is trained like this, even if the true Soul Refining Sword finds an owner someday, it might be difficult for it to integrate into this sword array. It will be rejected by the other six swords—"

In other words, the Soul Refining Sword left behind by Xi Zi was effectively rendered obsolete.

"It has to be this way!"

Wei Xu fell silent, but Ming Yu spoke coldly, "The Cangsheng Dao is at a point of life and death. If that Soul Refining Sword truly possessed a spirit, it should seek its own master and protect our sect. Not contentedly linger in the ancestral shrine, being overly picky. An artifact that no one can use—isn't that equivalent to waste? Junior Brother Wei forged the Pseudo-Soul Refining Sword out of necessity. Furthermore, if the Cangsheng Dao cannot survive the ordeal awaiting us in a few days, there will be no future. Then the Seven Swords will never be united again!"

Zong Shou was startled by this. He vaguely perceived that the emotions these few held for the Soul Refining Sword were incredibly complex—a mix of profound affection, resentment, and sheer helplessness.

At that moment, the Nameless Sword in his sleeve emitted a mournful cry, vibrating faintly.

The will transmitted to him was one of profound grievance, carrying an air of utter despondency.

Zong Shou was even more speechless, thinking, You aren't the Soul Refining Sword, so why the despair?

But he was drawn by Ming Yu's final sentences: the ordeal awaiting them in a few days?

In other words, the time for Wei Xu's Tribulation was set for just a few days from now?

"Senior Brother Wei Xu, when exactly will you face your Tribulation?"

"In four or five days; I cannot determine the exact time."

Wei Xu shook his head slightly, his expression placid. "I cannot delay any longer. The timing of the Tribulation depends on when the first stage of grinding for this sword array is complete. The sooner, the better—"

Zong Shou understood his meaning. Considering the Confucianists, the Cangsheng Dao ranked second to last among the six major sects in the Cloud Realm.

And their opponents might be the combined forces of the Dao, Demon, and Confucianist families. It was easy to see that any delay would only disadvantage the Cangsheng Dao.

While a day's delay would allow the strength within the Cangsheng Celestial Dome to increase slightly, the combined strength of the Three Teachings far surpassed that of Cangsheng Dao; the power they gained daily would be far greater.