Only when peering closely could one discern that the twinkling starlight marked the very tip of Feng Zikang's sword, yet his wielding appeared slow, when in reality, it was an impossibly swift rotation, creating the illusion of multiple points illuminating simultaneously!

Long Que scrambled up from the ground, stunned, suddenly sensing a formidable aura radiating from Feng Zikang within that arc, one that instilled fear. Not daring to act rashly, it retracted its headless neck and silently slipped past Feng Zikang, continuing its harassment of the Blood Spirit Giant Python, which writhed in agony on the ground from its injured abdomen.

Truthfully, Long Que held little regard for this new master. Misfortune makes a tiger descend from the plains to be teased by dogs; a dragon wading in shallow waters faces bullying from shrimp. This five-clawed Divine Dragon had not only died but also lost its head; not only lost its head but was fashioned into a mechanism beast; not only a mechanism beast but imprisoned for a millennium, forced to detonate its core just to escape that damnable formation.

In this near-death state, it collided with this greenhorn. Long Que had assumed that with its indestructible body, even if it couldn't employ any divine abilities, crushing a mere Qi Condensation level ant would be laughably easy, thus it attacked rashly.

Who would have known this little ant possessed so many bottom-of-the-box skills, forcing it to yield loyalty and send its Dragon Soul into the Bamboo Token of Destiny just to preserve its life.

This master's abilities were strange and varied, but in Long Que’s view, they were ultimately just minor tricks.

Yet today...

Long Que took a few steps but couldn't resist craning its neck to glance back towards Feng Zikang. Just then, he cleaved out a sword strike like lightning, a white light slicing through the miniature cosmos with astonishing might!

That feeling... terrifyingly familiar.

Long Que shook its neck. Having no head now, it couldn't process thoughts clearly, only instinctually sensing dread.

"Roar!"

The Blood Spirit Giant Python staggered upright again. A gaping hole marred its belly, spewing black blood—the result of Long Que's giant claws just moments ago—while countless smaller wounds riddled its body.

Ying Jiu Mi roared, and a human head manifested again upon the serpent's body. He was utterly frustrated. In terms of sheer strength or divine abilities, he held the upper hand over this Bone Mechanism Beast, yet this monster seemed impervious to damage. A moment of inattention, a brush from its five massive claws, and he suffered several deep gashes.

"Good! You brat are indeed formidable. You've actually forced this Old Ancestor to this pass! I suppose the only option left is mutual destruction!"

His face was savage, his hair disheveled, and he continued to curse incessantly.

Feng Zikang paid him no mind, his entire spirit immersed in the comprehension of the Sword Dao realm. Long Que, however, grew furious and lunged forward.

Dong Jiu Mi snorted but did not revert to a python head. Instead, he coiled his tail tightly around Long Que, grappling fiercely. He allowed the beast’s five claws to rake across him, remaining utterly still, only raising his head high, glaring at Feng Zikang, his eyes seemingly ready to spit fire.

Long Que's five claws tore. Black blood splashed, yet the Blood Spirit Giant Python offered no resistance. Surprised, Long Que looked up and saw that Liang Jiu Mi had opened his mouth wide, revealing a long, drooping tongue. The bifurcated tip trembled slightly, resembling a drawn sword, pointing directly toward Feng Zikang!

Long Que startled, frantically twisting its neck. Though headless, it seemed the Mohist methods had somehow given it sight through two protrusions on its cervical vertebrae. It saw Feng Zikang still with closed eyes, seemingly utterly unaware of the imminent danger.

Long Que couldn't help but inwardly complain, thinking this new master was truly too detached. When couldn't he practice cultivation? Now, on the battlefield, moments changed everything. Even if I, the Five-Clawed Divine Dragon, possess infinite power, must he be so trusting?

What if I am smashed to death by this foul snake, and it strikes while I'm incapacitated? That would be disastrous! Moreover, with the two tails entangled now, Long Que couldn't spare a claw to stop Huang Jiu Mi from unleashing this vicious ultimate move. It could only fight, roaring fiercely, hoping to eliminate the Blood Spirit Giant Python quickly while simultaneously trying to wake up that idiot lost in his swordsmanship!

Dong Jiu Mi's tongue stretched longer and longer, extending straight into the air, nearly seven feet long. Both edges gleamed with sharp light, their color a vibrant crimson, luscious enough to tempt a bite, emitting a foul, nauseating stench that inspired awe and terror.

This was Dong Jiu Mi's ultimate hidden technique: the divine ability of transforming the tongue into a sword.

Being a creature of the python lineage, his tongue was inherently like a sharp blade capable of piercing stone and steel. After centuries of refinement, it became wonderfully agile, concentrating the entirety of his vital blood essence onto the tongue. Any powerful opponent could be slain with a single strike—it was Huang Jiu Mi's final killing weapon.

Even after using it, he would be weakened for three years. Now, entangled with this mechanism beast, he might even meet his end here. However, Liang Jiu Mi deeply hated Feng Zikang and was single-mindedly focused on killing him, willing to perish together if necessary!

Long Que secretly lamented. Feng Zikang remained suspended in the void, seemingly calmly practicing his iron sword movements. The faint golden arc enveloping him shimmered with pinpricks of starlight, quite beautiful, entirely oblivious to the approaching killing intent.

"Cough," cough cough,

Perhaps due to the elongated tongue stretching outward, Huang Jiu Mi could only emit a series of screeching, strange laughs resembling coughing, his speech slurred.

"...Brat! Witness my Tongue-Dagger Divine Ability!"

Ying Jiu Mi's tongue shot out, wickedly sharp and cold, hissing as it sliced the air, aiming directly for Feng Zikang's throat.

"Whoa!"

Long Que shrieked, watching as the tip of the tongue passed through the faint golden arc surrounding Feng Zikang without hindrance. Feng Zikang seemed to feel the rushing wind against his face and frowned slightly, swaying his body aside.

"Splat!"

Blood sprayed violently.

The tip of Dong Jiu Mi's tongue savagely pierced Feng Zikang's left shoulder socket, penetrating entirely through his back.

Blood dripped rhythmically from the tongue’s tip. Feng Zikang gripped the sharp blade that was Dong Jiu Mi's tongue and slowly opened his eyes. There was no trace of pain on his face; instead, there was a surge of joy from a breakthrough!

"One point pierces, and the universe is born! So that’s how it is!"

He sneered, utterly disregarding the wound in his shoulder, and with a powerful wrench, he bent the tip of Huang Jiu Mi's tongue!

"Snap!"

The normally soft tongue, hardened like fine steel upon transforming into a sword, broke with a sharp cracking sound, as if it were rotten wood, under Feng Zikang's casual snap.

Dong Jiu Mi cried out and rolled onto the ground. His tail, previously entangled with Long Que, naturally loosened its grip.

Long Que scampered over gleefully, pinning him down, baring its fangs and claws in a display of dominance. It turned its neck towards Feng Zikang, whimpering softly, obediently asking how to deal with the captive.

Feng Zikang slowly pulled out the half-tongue protruding through his shoulder and tossed it casually onto the ground.

This injury was genuine, and it was serious, but by harnessing the injury from this strike, he had suddenly grasped the profound essence of the Starlight Great Extinction Sword Art.

Though wounded and pale from blood loss, he was now invigorated, triumphant, and immensely satisfied.

"Long Que, you handle him yourself!"

Feng Zikang swallowed a medicinal pill to treat the wound, gesturing with both hands, allowing Fang Que (Long Que) to deal with the heavily injured mechanism beast, Dong Jiu Mi. Long Que barked happily, wagging its tail in a submissive posture.

It turned its neck and showed no such courtesy to Dong Jiu Mi, driving one claw directly into his vital throat juncture!

Feng Zikang’s regulation of breath proceeded smoothly. He sensed that his Starlight Great Extinction Sword Art divine ability had improved further. This period of enlightenment had unexpectedly elevated the three sword forms to the fifteenth stage, matching the level of his Military Arts cultivation method.

This wound taken was certainly worth it!

Feng Zikang looked at the bloody hole in his shoulder without even frowning. He sprinkled medicinal powder over it. Those who practiced the Way of War inherently possessed resilient bodies and astonishing recovery capabilities. This penetrating wound was already slowly closing and healing. Once the outer scab hardened, he could use the 'Gentle Rain on Fine Wind' divine ability to regulate the finer meridians, and he would be completely fine.

By this time, Long Que had torn the Blood Spirit Giant Python into shreds, leaving only Dong Jiu Mi’s skull, eyes wide open in death, rolling aside. Long Que was cradling the python's inner core, slowly absorbing it.

After sucking dry the python soul and the inner core, Long Que’s body, slightly damaged by Feng Zikang earlier, recovered a small fraction, and the golden threads binding its bones became thicker. It was clear that not only had its physical body been replenished, but its Dragon Soul had also been strengthened, resulting in a considerable increase in power.

After all, the Dragon and Python shared some relation, especially the Blood Spirit Giant Python, a bizarre species from the Southern Wilderness, which possessed a degree of draconic nature. At this moment, it served as the best tonic for Long Que to restore its Dragon Soul.

"Move."

Feng Zikang finished regulating his breath and needed to press onward. Long Que followed happily in the wake of the sword light, anticipating the next benefit.

The thirty-six interconnected rings of Mangcang Mountain were divided into Left, Right, Front, and Rear continuous ranges, each possessing nine peaks. In the time it took to boil tea, Feng Zikang had slaughtered the demons in the Front and Left ranges. Now, he was proceeding toward the range of the Right Nine Peaks.

This scene was vastly different from the Front and Left Nine Peaks.

The first eighteen rings of Mangcang Mountain were gathering places for feral demons. They either submitted out of fear of the White Bone Divine Monarch's renown or sought to borrow his prestige to consolidate their own strength; in short, they were not the direct lineage of the White Bone Divine Monarch.

In the Rear Eighteen Rings, however, gloom and sorrow reigned, with mournful wails from vengeful spirits. These were all disciples recruited by the White Bone Divine Monarch, who had been taught the Nine Nethers Ten Hells Soul-Siphoning Great Technique, turning an originally beautiful, clear landscape into a smog of miasma.

And the White Bone Divine Monarch's reason for widely spreading this technique was singular.

To have these disciples and grand-disciples gather enough mortal souls for him!

The White Bone Divine Monarch’s teaching method was not to let the disciples cultivate the technique themselves but to use a magical Seal Imprint method to force them to learn the Nine Nethers Ten Hells Soul-Siphoning Great Technique. These disciples would then teach their own disciples using the same Seal Imprint method.

The power of a divine ability learned via such an imprint method was naturally incomparable to the original version, and it weakened further with each generation passed down. But for the White Bone Divine Monarch, it offered a distinct advantage.

The mortal souls collected by his direct disciples using the Nine Nethers Ten Hells Soul-Siphoning Great Technique would naturally yield eight-tenths to him, leaving him only two-tenths. The souls collected by his grand-disciples would yield eight-tenths to his direct disciples, of which he took another eight-tenths, and so on.

The White Bone Divine Monarch accepted over a dozen disciples. Seeing their master's cultivation process was simple, they were envious and each taught dozens of their own disciples. Among those dozens, the slightly smarter ones would teach yet more disciples.

Thus, his lineage of disciples and grand-disciples grew ceaselessly. The White Bone Divine Monarch could receive sufficient souls for his cultivation and boost his power without lifting a finger, eventually occupying the thirty-six rings of Mangcang Mountain and becoming the regional hegemon of the Southwest!

The presence of so many demon cultivators who practiced harvesting living souls caused the area for a hundred miles around Mangcang Mountain to become devoid of human presence. These demon-folk had no choice but to travel far and wide tirelessly, searching for living mortal souls.

They dared not enter the prosperous lands of the Central Plains, but their tracks could be found in the Southwest, the Southern Barbarians, and even the Tuoluo kingdoms outside the Great Tang.

That day, the White Bone Divine Monarch, in a fit of pique, personally emerged from seclusion to enact his great technique, collecting the souls of seventy villagers from Longshi Gully. Feng Zikang recognized him as a master immediately and wished to avoid entanglement, but Wu Lingzi, trying to curry favor with his master, happened to deliver himself into the situation and became the scapegoat who was killed.

The White Bone Divine Monarch had plenty of disciples; losing one or two did not concern him. All the disciples continued their daily toil, arduously absorbing souls to offer their master. Unexpectedly, one of them ventured into the Southern Border and happened to encounter Mo Li, thus triggering this current affair.

During this time, Mo Li and Mo Fenghuang had consecutively caused trouble in the front section of Mangcang Mountain, sowing widespread panic. Although the Rear Eighteen Rings were not directly disturbed, they lived in constant fear of a collective assault from righteous cultivators. In the past few days, they had become somewhat more cautious, refraining from going out to slaughter mortals for souls.

Especially after the White Bone Divine Monarch was repelled by the black shadow that was Mo Li’s manifestation, these disciples and grand-disciples became even more frightened. Some timid ones even considered defecting and secretly escaping, reasoning that if a mere Mohist junior disciple was so formidable, what would happen if his elders arrived?

When the White Bone Divine Monarch learned of this, his rage burned, but he could not silence the gossip spreading among the masses. He was forced to reveal the lineage he had long concealed;

As soon as this news broke, the demons of the Rear Eighteen Rings of Mangcang Mountain fell utterly silent, their courage bolstered somewhat.

The White Bone Divine Monarch's master was none other than the Island Master of Netherworld Island in the Sea of No Return—the Netherworld Superior!

Normally, the White Bone Divine Monarch was too proud of his status to ever mention where he acquired his abilities to his followers. Only when facing such a crisis did he reveal everything, providing a much-needed reassurance to his subordinates and disciples.

This revelation indeed had a marvelous effect. The disciples of the Rear Eighteen Rings stopped mentioning the threat of righteous sects and began discussing where it would be best to harvest souls next.

Indeed, behind the Mohist disciples stood the Mohist School, one of the Three Teachings and Nine Schools.

The Mohist School had countless Core Condensation Elders, and legend held that one or two peerless experts, having broken their cores to birth Nascent Souls, guarded their mountain gate.

The White Bone Divine Monarch was merely a petty Foundation Establishment realm minor demon. If they came, they could indeed crush him with a single palm strike, without question.

However, the Island Master of Netherworld Island, the Netherworld Superior, was a Soul Transformation stage cultivator!

"Then what the hell are we afraid of?"

The disciples of the White Bone Divine Monarch burst into laughter. Today they realized they actually had such a powerful background—a Grand-Master Ancestor at the Soul Transformation stage! Who would they need to fear?

"Let them be righteous or evil, as long as they dare step onto our Mangcang Mountain territory, we will carve out their hearts, devour their flesh, and capture their souls!"

"Senior Brother speaks the truth."

The disciples of the White Bone Divine Monarch spoke without restraint, filled with arrogance. The Death Edict hanging in the Divine Monarch's residence was not a fake. They felt they had backing, making them fearless.

At this moment, Feng Zikang had just stepped into the area of the Right Nine Peaks.