Within the Vast Expanse of the Mortal Realm, Ao Kun bowed respectfully towards Xiu Guan, his expression filled with genuine emotion.

"Senior, my deepest gratitude!"

With those words from the foremost figure in the Cloud Realm's Zenith Stage, any action the Dragon Palace might take against him would have to be carefully reconsidered.

If the Zenith Sages themselves did not intervene, then below their level, he and Ao Yi could essentially disregard any interference.

Xiu Guan, however, felt undeserving of such praise and shook his head, offering a wry smile. "It is our Boundless Path that owes you, for the immense kindness of rebuilding Sister Yuanjing's Zenith foundation. Even aiding you in settling that old grievance was our duty. But for now, with the strength of the Boundless Path, this is all we can manage."

Although this battle had concluded, shattering three Zenith Sages—one sealed, and Kun Ming Dong Zhongshu requiring five thousand years to recover, signifying a grievous blow—the Boundless Path's precarious position of having the entire world as its enemy remained unchanged.

Furthermore, if his intuition was correct, this fight was likely not the final chapter. Before matters settled, the Boundless Path truly could not spare much energy to assist Ao Kun.

Ao Kun, on the other hand, appeared unperturbed, already deeply grateful in his heart. His ability to break free and escape the wager between Long Ying and Qing Xuan was thanks to Zong Shou drawing his troubles away. And realizing the method of existential dissipation was also due to Zong Shou. He owed too much, and today was merely repaying a fraction of that debt.

By now, the great battle had settled. The Vast Expanse was a scene of ruin and devastation. Except for the five Sword Platforms and the Pagoda of Heavy Gold, no structure remained intact.

Though the Thirty-Three Heavens Array was formidable, it could not truly divert all external forces into the void. A Zenith cultivator transcending their tribulation required the sacrifice of destroying a world. Even with Xi Zi’s unparalleled talent, most of the overflowed tribulation energy was converted by the Thirty-Three Heavens Array for its own use, turning into power to protect the Vast Expanse. Yet, a significant amount still ravaged the realm, causing destruction everywhere. During the most critical moments, the grand array could only focus its full power on safeguarding the one hundred and seventy thousand cultivators within. Consequently, these academies bore the brunt of the damage.

However, as the final storm clouds dissipated in the southern sky, bathing everything in seven-colored radiant light, a powerful consciousness—both unfamiliar and deeply familiar—stretched out from that direction. Throughout the entire Vast Expanse, cheers erupted like thunder.

"It is done! The Venerable Master has completed the tribulation! From this day forward, he shall have eternal life—"

"Our Boundless Path celebrates three joys today: the return of Ancestor Xuanshuang, Ancestor Yuanjing completing her foundation, and now Wei Xu successfully passing his tribulation and stepping into the Zenith Stage!"

"Four joys! Kun Ming Xing Xie and that Confucian Saint Dong, our three great enemies, have been struck down. Is that not a joy?"

"Of course, it is joy! I still can't believe that our Boundless Path has actually won—"

"All thanks to Ancestor Xi Zi's Boundless Seven Swords, and the Thirty-Three Heavens Array of Myriad Immortals’ Illusory Void, worthy of being the foremost defensive array in the Cloud Realm. But without that person, today would likely have ended in annihilation."

"Do you mean Ancestor Tan Qiu? No, we should call him Ancestor Zong!"

Earlier, before the Zenith Sages, Xiu Guan had publicly acknowledged Zong Shou as his junior martial nephew. Everyone thus understood that this figure’s status within the Boundless Path must be one of the second-generation direct disciples. And truly, this battle proved it. Zong Shou first anchored the Nine Palaces Sword Formation, then took command of the Spirit Refining Art, controlling the Boundless Sword Formation—all flawlessly executed. His astonishing talent in the way of the Sword was undeniably displayed.

"Is that the Blood Sword Demon Lord, the Sovereign of the Qiantian Kingdom?"

"He is the Savior of our Boundless Path!"

"Only a figure like him is worthy of the Spirit Refining Sword—"

"I always felt the governance style of Great Qian aligned with our Boundless Path. So, Ancestor Zong truly is a disciple of our Path."

"The Demon Lord deserves the greatest credit for this battle! Destroying three hundred thousand Dao Soldiers and slaying Kun Ming Xing Xie—truly exhilarating!"

"Didn't Dong Zhongshu vow to revise history and erase our Boundless Path? What about that now?"

"Did everyone hear his oath just now? Though I am not a ruler chosen by the people, I understand the principle that water can capsize a boat as well as carry it. Therefore, I grant power to the populace and govern with laissez-faire ease. Under my rule, there are distinctions between rich and poor, strong and weak, but absolutely no distinction between noble and lowly. Govern by law, ensuring the strong do not bully the weak; the ruler and the people are one; those who violate the law shall be executed—"

"I swear to treat all subjects equally! I swear to protect all beings in this world!"

Some disciples recounted these words with gleeful excitement. A brilliant light shone in their eyes, and recalling the near-disastrous peril of the moment, they felt only surging satisfaction and elation.

"Zong Shou never considered himself nobler than others. A nation requires rites and laws, but it shouldn't have a rigid hierarchy merely to bind the masses—these words truly resonate with me."

"Ancestor Zong is excellent, but those words slightly diverge from the doctrines of our Boundless Path."

"Diverge how? Didn't you see that even the Spirit Refining Sword acknowledged him? Legend says the Spirit of the Spirit Refining Sword was forged by Ancestor Xi Zi using a sliver of his own soul, making it almost equivalent to a clone of Ancestor Xi Zi. Since it recognized Ancestor Zong as its Sword Master, it naturally affirms his Way—"

"For our Boundless Path to endure, compromise is inevitable."

"To govern by law, treating all myriad mortals and immortals equally, regardless of race! We cannot realize a truly egalitarian world, but we can grant fairness and just laws to the people under our governance. Achieving this much is already remarkable!"

Nearly every gaze was fixed upon Zong Shou. Their expressions varied—some intense, some grateful, some excited, and some filled with anticipation.

Zong Shou, however, had no mind for them at the moment. He was completely focused on suppressing that black Qilin, engaging in a matter of using a public tool for personal gain. This mutated divine beast, a half-step Zenith creature, possessed too much power and a higher realm boundary. Only today, by simultaneously controlling the Thirty-Three Heavens Array and the Boundless Seven Swords, could he fully suppress it. After this, he would have to ask Xiu Guan for assistance.

The Cloud Realm's foremost Zenith expert could naturally deal with this Qilin. However, it was less legitimate than an action taken by the master of Xiao Ri. This was partly self-consolation, allowing Xiao Ri to devour its essence later without mental burden. Currently, the entire force of the Thirty-Three Heavens Array was channeled onto the black Qilin, layer upon layer of compression and restraint, relentlessly grinding it down. The Boundless Seven Swords guided the might of heaven and earth, crushing the Qilin’s primordial spirit inch by inch.

Zong Shou acted with extreme caution, afraid that the power he summoned might be too overwhelming, causing the Saint-level divine beast to shatter on the spot.

At this moment, Xiao Ri surged out from his sleeve. Still resembling a small earth dog, it took a sharp, deep inhalation. Swirls of aura, invisible to the naked eye, were forcefully drawn towards it.

Qilins are sustained by consuming Qi. The orthodox Saint Beast Qilin consumes the 'goodness' of the world, symbolizing auspiciousness. The Black Qilin, however, consumes the 'evil' of the world, a harbinger of disaster; wherever it goes, the earth dries up, and conflicts erupt. Yet, their origins were strikingly similar, even convertible into one another.

Zong Shou was not deeply versed in the secrets of the Qilin clan. He only saw the black Qilin howling continuously, filled with boundless rage, resentment, sorrow, and unwillingness. Its previously surging power and cultivation were rapidly diminishing. The essential beast core, absorbed by Xiao Ri, transformed into wisps of gaseous liquid that flowed out and were mercilessly devoured by Xiao Ri.

Subsequently, the aura of the latter grew wildly. Having just entered the mid-stage Immortal Realm, in this brief instant, Xiao Ri surged to the peak of the Immortal Realm, almost breaking into the Divine Realm.

"If this earth dog really swallows this entire black Qilin, will it rush straight into the Saint Realm?" Zong Shou marveled inwardly, musing that having a Saint Realm Qilin protect him would truly be magnificent. This return had yielded genuine profit.

Just as he was daydreaming, an exceptionally familiar voice sounded from behind him.

"I have never witnessed the mutual devouring of black and white Qilins before. The conversion of essence is nearly flawless. With this opportunity, your Qilin might reach the Saint Realm in just a few days. However, in my view, Junior Brother, you should exercise restraint. This Qilin of yours still has flaws in its physical body and primordial spirit; it is too weak. Pressing for the Saint Rank too soon is not wise. It is best to hold it back until the Divine Realm. After a hundred years, or perhaps through another opportunity when its physical body is solidified, it can achieve the breakthrough in one go—"

The speaker was none other than Wei Xu. His clothes were tattered, barely covering his body, betraying the perilous nature of his recent tribulation. Yet, Wei Xu at this moment was radiant and imposing. Even dressed like a beggar, he maintained an air of refined grace.

Zong Shou looked at Wei Xu with confusion, then turned his inquiring gaze to Xiu Guan. The advice sounded plausible, but he still needed to consult the foremost Zenith expert of the Cloud Realm to verify its reliability.

"That observation is quite sound!" Xiu Guan chuckled softly, walking up beside Zong Shou. Just as Xiao Ri's aura was about to enter the Divine Realm, he extended a finger and lightly tapped the creature's brow.

Instantly, an imprint materialized on Xiao Ri's forehead. Although the black Qilin's primordial energy continued to pour into Xiao Ri, it no longer reinforced its aura core; it was clearly sealed, contained within the mark on its brow. Xiao Ri paid it no mind, visibly exhaling a sigh of relief, and continued its frenzied absorption.

Zong Shou, however, froze. This little fellow, upon entering the Divine Realm, faced no Heavenly Tribulation?

"I have temporarily suppressed its tribulation as well, postponing it for a hundred days. By then, it should have digested some of this gain. This place just experienced a Zenith-level battle, leaving behind countless fragments of Zenith Daos, and Wei Xu just completed his tribulation here. It is no longer an ideal location for transcending tribulations, but it is excellent for comprehending the Dao."

More than ten Zenith experts had clashed here, leaving countless 'Traces of the Great Dao' scattered throughout the Vast Expanse. Furthermore, the flesh and blood of three Zenith beings lay scattered nearby—a massive opportunity for cultivators. Kun Ming had perished moments ago, though Zong Shou’s Boundless Beginning and End Art devoured the majority of his physical body, some fragments still scattered about. Zong Shou had personally watched that expanse of barren land instantly transform into fertile soil.

However, this location was truly unsuitable for undergoing tribulations. After this war, the Boundless Expanse would undoubtedly be scrutinized by the immense will of heaven and earth.