All transformation occurred in the span of a single breath.

Then, that streak of silver light slipped from Zong Shou’s sleeve.

And now, Dao Xuan, who was closing in with a devastating punch, felt an inexplicable jolt of dread.

It should have been a single strike to kill Zong Shou, yet inexplicably, a sense of panic and alarm arose— It was a true warning from his very essence, a signal from his Primordial Spirit! Dao Xuan, without hesitation, obeyed his body's instinct and retreated rapidly.

His form flickered, constantly shifting his position.

His escape arts were among the absolute finest, even among those at the Half-Step Zenith Realm! That was why, six thousand years ago, even the Zenith Realm cultivators of the Cloud World, who hated him to the core, could do nothing to him.

But at this very moment, he felt a subtle, almost imperceptible thread of intent locking onto and entangling his Primordial Spirit, impossible to shake off.

Dao Xuan was deeply bewildered.

What was happening? What further ability did this Zong Shou possess that made him feel endangered? Was it just his imagination? Or perhaps that Su Xiaoxiao beside him was interfering with his divine sense again using the Seven Emotions Great Art of the Primordial Demon? Then, in the next instant, Dao Xuan saw the silver-white blade light streaking toward him.

It emerged abruptly, arriving in a flash. "Six Spirit Slaying Immortal, Slash!" There was no brilliant radiance, nor the oppressive might Zong Shou’s previous few swords had exerted upon nearly every cultivator within this Minor Thousand World.

Yet, the moment it appeared, it commanded the attention of everyone present.

In truth, Chu Xue and the others couldn't truly see it, only sense a faint resonance in their spiritual awareness.

However, that arc, perfected to the utmost degree, made everything in the surrounding reality pale in comparison! Dao Xuan's pupils immediately dilated wide, and a cry of agony erupted, much like a wild deer, leisurely grazing moments before, suddenly glimpsing the predator about to strike right before its eyes—terrified and utterly disbelieving.

He accelerated his body, continuing to slide backward.

His hands flailed in front of him, seemingly without pattern.

In reality, he was pouring all his strength into trying to disrupt the trajectory of the incoming blade light.

But cause and effect were inverted—the consequence appeared before the antecedent cause! Fate, locked—though far less potent than the strike that nearly slew Xu Fu’s separated soul not long ago—it had locked onto a portion of destiny, preordaining that the Demon Lord Dao Xuan must be struck by this blade! Time, accelerated—unleashed with the might of the Zhou Book, a hundredfold acceleration caused the speed of the flying blade to increase by the same factor! Space, folded—one hundred and eighty Star Dragon Pills continuously folded space, shrinking the distance between man and blade.

The Six Spirit Sword Manipulation Art caused the thin-as-a-cicada’s-wing blade shadow to constantly shift direction, even more nimble than Sword Manipulation, yet losing none of the blade’s inherent ferocious power.

No matter how Dao Xuan moved or dodged, it clung to him like a persistent shadow, impossible to dislodge.

In a mere three-thousandth of a breath, the blade light had reached Dao Xuan’s chest.

First, the ancient script tortoise shell shattered without warning, and then the protective Astral Qi surrounding Dao Xuan was forcibly ripped apart.

Great swathes of blood light exploded outward; Dao Xuan’s chest was pierced by the silver-white blade light, leaving a massive void! More lethally, the Slaying Immortal Intent simultaneously impacted, beginning to sever every spark of life force within Dao Xuan! In that instant, nearly everyone inside and outside the Celestial Altar froze.

Chu Xue and Yuan Wushang’s group stood with their mouths slightly agape, unable to close them.

Moments ago, they were suffocating under Dao Xuan’s oppression; Zong Shou seemed one step from ruin.

And they all had already braced themselves for death.

Yet, in the blink of an eye, Dao Xuan had been reduced to such a miserable state.

Not only was he severely wounded by the flying blade, but his entire life force was rapidly dimming. "Six Spirit Slaying Immortal Blade?" Lin Xuanxuan stared blankly at Zong Shou’s left hand.

She had personally witnessed the silver blade light slide out from the wide sleeve of his left arm just then.

This strike was actually another supreme divine ability, approaching the Thirteenth Grade— It was utterly impossible to guard against, utterly impossible to evade.

On the level of fundamental origin, perhaps it wasn't as absolute as the Infinite Beginning and End Divine Art, but it was far harder to resist, far harder to defend against! After a long pause, Lin Xuanxuan recovered, beckoning and recalling the Blood Moon Blade to her hand.

Yet, she could not calm her mind.

Her thoughts kept circling back to that seemingly ordinary arc, which somehow seemed to contain the ultimate principles of heaven and earth.

And in the very next instant, the dozens of Saint Realm divine senses that had begun to retreat suddenly surged forward again like a tide, competing to reach the scene.

They were filled with disbelief, attempting to decipher the reason behind Zong Shou’s turnaround from defeat to victory, but it was already too late.

The moment Zong Shou unleashed the Slaying Immortal Blade, almost no one saw it; they only witnessed the outcome: Dao Xuan, gravely wounded and retreating— And hundreds of miles away, in the west of the city, Hermit Ming Xuan suddenly stood up.

He had been the only one who still held hope for Zong Shou, and the only one who had witnessed the entire process of Zong Shou executing that Slaying Immortal strike from beginning to end.

But now, Ming Xuan’s eyes were dazed.

That was Slaying Immortal Blade Qi? Hadn’t it already been used up? Why was there more? In Zong Shou's hands, the power of this strike was no less than his own! No, it should be far superior! But how was this possible? What kind of joke was this? Although Zong Shou’s sword manipulation was augmented by a confusing array of divine abilities, Ming Xuan’s mastery of the Destiny Divine Art had reached its pinnacle! How could it be comparable to Zong Shou's half-baked collection of techniques? And this Half-Step Zenith Realm cultivation, even if Zong Shou displayed his Saint-grade Golden Body, it was far inferior.

Yet, why was the same blade energy so much stronger in Zong Shou’s hands? Ming Xuan’s mouth tasted bitter; he vaguely felt that he might have missed out on an astonishingly valuable divine treasure— This transaction, he feared, had cost him dearly! ※ ※ ※ ※ On the Celestial Altar, Dao Xuan was astonished and flabbergasted beyond measure.

How could there be such a sharp flying blade technique in this world? So fast as to be impossible, yet so piercingly sharp as to defy belief! But time did not allow him to daze or contemplate.

Following the blade light, Zong Shou’s Spirit Refining Sword plunged in immediately after! Half black, half white, the opposing energies merged into one, continuously tearing at the void and cleaving the world apart. "Buzz!" This sword strike, capable of shattering the Minor Thousand World, now whistled toward him.

Dao Xuan felt a strange anger, coupled with sheer panic.

He had never been so humiliated, not even when the Supreme Primordial Demon and the World-Treading Heavenly Lord deceived him, joined forces to ambush and seal him! The Slaying Immortal Blade Qi, upon entering his body, had already disintegrated, transforming into wisps of white vapor that drilled into his every limb and bone.

Not only were they interfering with the circulation of Qi within him, but they were also severing everything they touched.

As a result, despite possessing boundless, sea-like power within his body, and still mastering peerless divine abilities, he was somehow unable to call upon them.

His normally fluid movements were now agonizingly difficult to execute! This sword, he could not dodge.

He had to meet it head-on— This thought barely crossed his mind when Lin Xuanxuan’s Blood Moon Blade followed closely behind, slashing down.

Beside Shen Yuexuan, eight silver cylinders materialized, shooting out thousands of five-colored feather plumes.

In any other situation, Dao Xuan would likely have ignored them, but at this critical juncture, they might be the final straw that breaks the camel's back! Dao Xuan let out a scoff, his expression turning savage.

Did they think this was enough to take the life of Dao Xuan? Utter delusion! In the nick of time, Dao Xuan tossed a pill into his mouth.

Biting down, the blood-red elixir flowed down his throat.

Dao Xuan’s entire being suddenly regained vigor, vitality surged back.

His movements became agile and graceful, pleasing to the eye.

With deliberate intent, he drifted toward Su Xiaoxiao.

As he swept past, he lunged again toward her throat.

A faint smile played on his lips; this girl was likely Zong Shou’s woman.

Whether he took her for blackmail or kept her for vile pleasure, either prospect was appealing.

That brief moment when Zong Shou’s blade struck had caused him agonizing, heart-wrenching pain.

So, he was determined to make Zong Shou suffer a torment worse than death! Nothing was more satisfying than having an opponent’s woman pinned beneath him, violated while the opponent watched helplessly! But Zong Shou’s sword light suddenly shifted, as if anticipating this move, executing a diagonal slash that landed precisely beside Su Xiaoxiao’s position.

Instantly, a flash of blood light erupted; Dao Xuan’s entire left arm was severed once more! At this point, Dao Xuan was neither alarmed nor angry; instead, he laughed loudly again.

Zong Shou’s sword, while severing his arm, had also effectively removed his threat to Zong Shou.

Dao Xuan merely flicked a finger, causing the crimson blade momentum to halt mid-air.

Despite his severe injuries, he no longer possessed the strength to strike Lin Xuanxuan—person and blade—away.

But he forced Lin Xuanxuan to abandon her momentum, mid-strike, to redirect her strength.

Dao Xuan himself, before anyone could react, moved with blinding speed, escaping to Yuan Wushang’s side.

His large hand spread wide, effortlessly seizing Yuan Wushang by the neck.

Although his body was covered in wounds, his expression had returned to composure.

“A magnificent flying blade technique, truly peerless! Peerless! For three millennia I, Dao Xuan, have roamed the world, never suffering such a loss.

You, Zong Shou, are the first person to wound me so grievously, the first to make me feel fear!” Dao Xuan smiled faintly, casting a scornful glance at the others present, his gaze finally settling on Zong Shou.

“I wonder, what is the price on this boy’s life in your eyes?” He squeezed hard, causing Yuan Wushang’s bones to emit crisp cracking sounds.

However, Dao Xuan seemed aware that Yuan Wushang’s life alone couldn't demand too much.

“Let the battle end here today! I vow not to seek trouble with you for three months.

Shall we cease our conflict and part ways?” Zong Shou let out a wry laugh upon hearing this.

He intended to use Yuan Wushang’s life to coerce his submission? That was impossible! A fire was searing through his chest, especially watching Dao Xuan move against Su Xiaoxiao—an endless torrent of malevolent rage accumulated in his core.