In the void beyond the realms, in a place far removed from the Cloud Realm, several figures stood stiffly, their expressions varied. Xiu Guan stood alone, facing the Clear Profound Grand Supreme and a clone of the Primordial Demon Lord.

Yet, every movement he made exuded an ineffable composure. It was Qing Xuan, however, whose face was now utterly ashen.

To describe his state as heart-wrenching would be an understatement; an entire force of sixty-five thousand Dharma Protector Dao Soldiers had been annihilated before his very eyes. Such a taste was anything but sweet.

If the previous battle in the Azure World was merely a slight graze to the Dao Sect, where Kun Ming perished but could still be resurrected, then the battle at Fallen God Plain today was a true crippling blow! “Accompanied by the King of Qilin?

In that case, is this Zong Shou the Holy King incarnate?” It was because he had pegged the Black Flame Golden Tripod Beast as the mount for the Profound Tier Dao Soldiers that he had been certain, since the era of the Three Ancient Sovereigns, that no Qilin would ever appear again, nor would a Holy Sovereign possibly emerge. Yet, twelve thousand years later, the scene before them was tantamount to a resounding slap across the faces of both of them—so forceful it left them momentarily bewildered and utterly unable to comprehend how Zong Shou, a man whose actions were absurd and who had sown countless seeds of slaughter, could possibly be the living Holy Monarch.

Though Huang remained silent, even the light in his eyes was bitter. Others might not recognize it, but the moment those tens of thousands of Black Flame Golden Qilin Beasts lost control, he had already identified the Kingly Might of the Qilin!

The Qilin is a creature of auspiciousness, born from the consumption of the world’s benevolent energies. It possesses immeasurable divine abilities but grows exceptionally hard to mature; only by constantly accompanying a wise sovereign and absorbing the aura of a Holy King can it develop into a Kingly Qilin Beast!

Understanding dawned in his heart. When Rong Bi gazed upon Zong Shou’s destiny before death, she had stated this child was the great tribulation of the Dao Sect, finally uttering a single character: ‘It.’ It turned out this did not refer to the battle in the Azure World, but to this day.

That final character most likely referred to that King of Qilin! The one thing the Dao Sect’s over one hundred thousand Black Flame Golden Qilin Beasts genuinely feared.

“True Master Hua Ruo of the Sword Sect used divine power to divine Zong Shou’s destiny a month ago, but in that instant, his spiritual eyes bled, and nearly half of his lifespan was depleted. Xiu Guan is not proficient in the arts of prognostication, but since Zong Shou is followed by a Qilin, it must be true.” Xiu Guan seemed to read the minds of those before him.

He glanced into the realm and then smiled faintly. “Daoist Friend Qing Xuan, are you preparing to depart?

Not waiting a little longer for the victor to be decided?” These two before him were already moving cautiously, attempting to disengage from this space and extract themselves from the clash of intentions. Qing Xuan’s face was turning green, his gaze deep and inscrutable as he stared at Xiu Guan.

Zong Shou being the living Holy Monarch, possessing the companion Qilin, was something the Cang Sheng Dao and the Sword Sect likely already knew. Yet, they had kept it hidden, striving to conceal Zong Shou.

The schemes of the two sects, as evidenced by today’s events, were truly venomous to the extreme! Though filled with anger, he felt helpless.

If he could plot against the Cang Sheng Dao, then Xiu Guan could naturally plot against the Dao Sect as well. The losses suffered by the Dao Sect today were the heaviest since the great upheaval sixteen thousand years ago when the Compassionate Dao Lord departed.

Even with his profound composure, he found it difficult to remain detached. The pain and rage in his heart only spilled a few wisps into the void through his intent, causing ripples of spiritual explosions nearby.

But at this moment, he could only forcibly suppress the malevolence boiling within him. “Daoist Friend Xiu Guan jokes.

The outcome today has long been decided; what else is there to do but leave? Staying here only to watch Daoist Friend Xiu Guan gloat?” With the collapse of Shang Jun’s right flank, the outcome on the battlefield was clear.

The Heart-Nailing Art of the Profound Daoist was something worth anticipating before. But since Zong Shou is the body of the Holy King, he must naturally possess a body immune to all evils.

Forbidden arts are terrifying, but in the Cloud Realm, which of the founding monarchs of the successive Central Plains dynasties ever feared them? Even some military officers with heavy malevolent energy paid them no heed.

How much less Zong Shou, who is the living Holy Monarch. The Profound Art of Chong Xuan is merely a joke.

“I actually do have that intention! My heart is filled with indescribable joy, and I intend to find someone to share it with.” Xiu Guan laughed heartily.

It was not a sound of self-satisfaction, but rather an outpouring following the release of accumulated rage and hatred suppressed over millennia, the burden lifted in a single day. “If the two of you wish to leave, feel free.

Xiu Guan will absolutely not stop you, though it might be considered a bit impolite.” As he spoke, the figure of the Supreme Demonic Lord Li Bie Xue also appeared, his complexion equally poor, his eyes cold and piercing. “Daoist Friend Qing Xuan, since the Three Teachings of our Demon Path, Confucianism, and Daoism have joined forces today, we should naturally advance and retreat together!” The implication was directed elsewhere, but everyone present understood that Li Bie Xue was concerned about the tens of thousands of Heavenly Demon War Riders still on the battlefield, and the Primordial Demon Spirits Riders of the Primordial Demon Sect.

While the Dao Sect’s Profound Tier Dao Soldiers were utterly destroyed, the Demon Path’s tens of thousands of demonic cavalry remained intact. But once Qing Xuan and Huang withdrew with the Dao Sect, those tens of thousands of demonic Dao Soldiers would likely face a dire fate.

Only now did they realize the ruthlessness of Kong Yao’s layout: there was only one path nearby for a safe retreat from Fallen God Plain. And of the six hundred thousand troops in the Cloud Realm, perhaps fewer than one in a hundred would be able to withdraw safely today!

Qing Xuan remained silent, his eyes filled only with coldness. Advance and retreat together?

Did he really have to wait until those Heavenly Demon War Riders escaped the edge of the Qian army’s blades? If they delayed, perhaps the Dao Sect’s remaining several hundred True Martial Swordsmen would also perish.

There was no reason to risk the Dao Sect’s last remaining assets for the sake of the Demon Path cultivators’ lives. Since the Purple Qilin Flame Spear Cavalry was wiped out, it would be gratifying if those Heavenly Demon War Riders also fell on the battlefield.

Otherwise, how would they be restrained in the future? If the Demon Path cast aside their grudges with the Cang Sheng Dao and attacked the Central Plains, how would they resist?

However, an alliance existed, and these thoughts could not be voiced openly. “Li Bie Xue, there is an alliance between our Three Teachings?

Why have I, the elder, never heard of it? Losing the greater for the lesser would only bring pain to our allies and joy to our enemies!” The one speaking was neither Primordial Grand Supreme Huang nor Qing Xuan, but Zhu Xi, who had also arrived by crossing the void.

Qing Xuan looked over, unable to suppress a hint of pity. Though the Dao Sect suffered heavy losses this time, their foundation remained.

But the Confucian School, while appearing undamaged, was actually worse off than the Dao Sect. The man regarded by the entire Confucian School as a tyrannical ruler, whom they had publicly proclaimed an enemy of Confucianism, killable by all—this man was now the living Holy Monarch, comparable to the Three Ancient Sovereigns revered by Confucianism.

The blow to Confucianism was self-evident! In a serious view, it could even be interpreted as the beings of the Cloud Realm and the Heavens themselves negating the Confucian School and rejecting the path it followed.

For Zhu Zi personally, it was not an exaggeration to say his prestige was completely shattered! As he looked around, Zhu Zi’s expression still carried a trace of distraction—now bewildered, now furious, and now confused, exhibiting signs of demonic deviation.

However, a glimmer of clarity remained in his eyes as he bowed slightly to Qing Xuan. “I leave the matters within the realm to you, Daoist Friend Qing Xuan!” Qing Xuan’s expression also sobered, and he nodded slightly.

“It concerns the survival of my Dao Sect; I, Qing Xuan, will naturally do my utmost! But Daoist Friend Zhu Zi, are you truly decided?” Zhu Zi’s face was blank as he nodded slightly.

What else could be done? Knowing that Zong Shou was the living Holy Monarch, should he simply surrender and crawl beneath the feet of that upstart?

That was absolutely impossible! The Heavens must have made some error!

That foolish monarch, ten years after ascending the throne, had only occasionally managed state affairs. He mistreated scholar-officials, implemented all manner of absurd policies, and had even uttered words of exterminating Confucianism in front of everyone.

How could such a person be the Holy King? The Confucian School had been passed down for over ten thousand years, creating several ages of great prosperity; it was the learning of governance recognized by the rightful mandate of Heaven and Earth.

By what right was Zong Shou recognized by the Heavenly Dao? He, Zhu Xi, had sought truth through investigation, grasping the ultimate principle—he could not be wrong!

Even if Zong Shou truly was a Holy Monarch, then the one at fault was the Heavens! Not he, Zhu Zi.

The billions of students of the Confucian School and Zong Shou were already irreconcilable enemies! The heresy spread by the Cang Sheng Dao, Xi Zi’s theory of universal equality, was fundamentally subversive to social order!

How could it possibly be correct? This world required reverence for ritual, respect for hierarchy, to operate normally and achieve an era of great governance!

What kind of state was that Qian Kingdom, resembling what it did? But at this moment, the urgent priority was to rescue Yin Yu.

Only while this restorer of the Great Shang remained could the national strength of the Great Shang be stabilized, preserving the capital needed to continue opposing Zong Shou and the Cang Sheng Dao! While the two spoke, they completely ignored the Supreme Demonic Lord Li Bie Xue.

The latter’s expression was furious, as if he wanted to speak. In the end, he fell silent.

He did not utter a word, only curling the corner of his lips into a cold sneer. And the Primordial Demon Lord remained silent throughout, his gaze shadowed as he watched the realm, his thoughts unknown.

Xiu Guan stood by, watching this scene as an outsider, finding it extraordinarily amusing and engaging. And at this time, in a location several river-like realms away, also near Fallen God Plain.

Qing Ming also stared blankly into the Cloud Realm, feeling his limbs, body, and spirit growing cold. This was an altar made of jade, spanning the void outside the realm, upon which stood several thousand Dao Sect disciples.

It was a node of the Grand Array of Supreme Heavenly Cycle Forbidden Void, Demon Restriction Grand Array, supplying the Dao power and spiritual energy for this grand array that sealed the void. To seal off several hundred miles of territory completely, and to suppress Zong Shou’s Flame of World Burning, naturally could not be maintained by merely nineteen Saint-ranked Venerables who also had to divide their attention to counter the pressure from the Cang Sheng Dao, Sword Sect, and Buddhism.

But at this moment, panic was spreading among this crowd. Every eye revealed shock and astonishment.

“The Purple Qilin Flame Spear Cavalry was actually annihilated?” “How is this possible?” “Must our Three Teachings, joining forces, be defeated here again?” “An entire force of sixty-five thousand Profound Tier Dao Soldiers—are they just gone?” “What should we do? Maintain this array now?

Is it still useful?” “I wonder if this battle will affect this location?” “The Dao Soldiers have failed; the Blood Cloud Cavalry is no longer restrained. If we don’t leave now, countless casualties are certain!” “That Blood Cloud Cavalry is notoriously fierce, led by a famous general, capable of matching five or six Saints.” The people were uneasy, but Qing Ming paid them no heed.

His heart felt struck by lightning, and his entire person fell into a stupor. Accompanied by the King of Qilin—that person was truly the Holy King come to the world?