This man before him, though unseen before, was well-known by name and reputation. Yet at this precise moment, he should rightfully be the Crown Prince of Great Shang.

"Yin Han of Great Shang pays respects to His Majesty, the Emperor of Great Qian! I have long admired Your Majesty's renown; to meet you today is truly a fortune beyond three lifetimes!"

As he spoke the last four characters, "three lifetimes' fortune," Yin Han slightly emphasized his tone. Still, his bearing and demeanor remained effortlessly graceful, leaving an impression as warm as a spring breeze.

However, immediately following this man, two elderly figures in green robes caused Zong Shou's spirits to plummet, sinking him to the lowest depths.

The vital energies of both men were clearly those of Saint-tier Venerables.

"Your Majesty is a genius of Heaven's making. Given a few more years, who knows what would become of our Middle-Earth Cloud Continent? Perhaps Great Shang would be extinguished, and Great Qian would unify the Cloud Realm. That is why, when Madam Molian sought me out, I did not hesitate in the slightest. Whatever the cost, seeing Your Majesty perish here was worthwhile—I imagine my own Imperial Father felt the same. Today truly is a blessing for my Great Shang—"

As Yin Han spoke, his gaze was fiercely fixed on the Imperial Seal clutched in Zong Shou’s hand. Before his words were finished, two figures stepped out from behind Zong Shou, both radiating a chilling, murderous intent.

One was that person in crimson, clad in robes the color of blood. The other was Han Qing, whose eyes were brimming with excited pleasure, yet forcefully suppressed.

Chi Hongyi maintained a placid expression: "This day is indeed fortunate! To have fled in disarray before Your Majesty's sword two days ago was the deepest disgrace of Chi Hongyi's life."

Su Xiaoxiao and Chuxue’s faces gradually paled. If it were only two Saint-tier Venerables, they could manage the situation.

But adding Chi Hongyi changed the equation entirely. This person's strength, while perhaps not equal to Lin Xuanxuan or Mingrixuan, was not far behind. And this was precisely when Zong Shou was severely wounded.

Moreover, these individuals dared to intercept him here; their backup surely extended beyond these few.

As expected, the very next moment, a wave of soul force suddenly struck. Intangible and formless, it instantly eroded their minds.

Su Xiaoxiao’s willpower was firm; having cultivated the Seven Emotions Primordial Demon Art, she snapped back to clarity after only a moment's disorientation. Chuxue, whose nature was simple and pure, almost like blank parchment, possessed straightforward thoughts, which also kept her unaffected.

However, when the vital energies of two Free-Roving Divine Demons manifested from another direction, the two young women’s expressions shifted slightly.

That made five Saint-tier Venerables—

Seemingly deeply wary of Zong Shou, all five manifested their protective Immortal Artifacts upon appearance, shielding their bodies tightly.

Zong Shou’s eyes narrowed slightly, but then he smiled: "Then, does the Crown Prince intend to surround and kill this King with only five people?"

Yin Han recovered his composure and shook his head slightly: "Your Majesty possesses the Limitless Beginning and End Dharma Body, capable even of slicing through Dao Xuan. Under normal circumstances, unless Your Majesty’s Dharma Body dissipated, we would truly be helpless; we could only watch from a distance and flee. However—"

Saying this, he glanced towards Molian and chuckled: "Madam Molian spoke to me of the Supreme Primordial Demon’s unique methods to cast Your Majesty into a realm of eternal damnation! Upon reflection, given Great Shang’s current plight, without a breakthrough, the kingdom has at most thirty years of life left. If I were to ascend the throne then, I would inevitably be a king presiding over a fallen nation. Rather than that, it is better to take this risk. Since these words come from a Saintly Venerable, they should not be false."

Hearing this, Zong Shou’s heart instantly tightened. Thoughts raced through his mind, wondering what technique Li Biexue had prepared.

Could it be some method that could evade the senses of Saintly Venerables like Longying and Xuanshuang, allowing him to strike personally? Or some other means?

While countless questions spun in his mind, Zong Shou had already summoned the Demon-Repelling Divine Shuttle within his sleeve while Yin Han was speaking.

The methods of Saintly Venerables were impossible to guard against completely; he dared not risk it.

In the next instant, if the three of them entered the shuttle, they could utilize the supreme escape velocity of the Nine Nether Demon-Repelling Divine Shuttle, combined with the defensive power akin to a top-tier Immortal Artifact, to flee this location.

He even activated the piece of mutton-fat jade disk left behind by Xiu Guan.

One thought could set it off. If Li Biexue were truly making a move, all he needed was to stall for one hundred-thousandth of a breath, and Xiu Guan would tear through the void and appear here.

This object was too precious; even when he was pushed to the brink of death by Dao Xuan not long ago, Zong Shou had never considered using it.

Yet, at this very moment, Zong Shou prepared to trigger it without hesitation.

But in the very next instant, Zong Shou’s pupils violently contracted to pinpricks. He saw Molian suddenly toss something out.

It was a small mirror, blood-red all over, and its crimson light shone directly onto Su Xiaoxiao.

The latter’s expression changed drastically, and then, beneath the mirror light, she found herself completely unable to move.

Simultaneously, a will of unparalleled might suddenly pierced directly into Zong Shou’s consciousness.

Like endless tidal waves surging into his Sea of Consciousness, drowning everything with the might of swallowing heaven and devouring earth!

Utterly abrupt, its origin unknown, yet in just fifty-thousandth of a breath, it completely shattered Zong Shou’s will.

It also severed his internal and external spiritual energy, blocking off every possibility of seeking aid from outside.

"Seven Emotions Primordial Demon?"

At this moment, Zong Shou’s heart turned icy. The few remaining fragments of his consciousness finally understood.

The Seven Emotions Yuan-Induction Secret Art of the Great Art of Seven Emotions Primordial Demon had not only stirred his feelings for Su Xiaoxiao but had also created a subtle link between his soul and hers.

That Supreme Primordial Demon was using Su Xiaoxiao as a medium to attack him directly at the soul level.

But to accomplish this, Su Xiaoxiao must first have consented—

His body was now immobilized. His Dharma Body was still brimming with Buddhist power, yet he could not employ any of it.

The Demon-Repelling Divine Shuttle lay within his sleeve, but he could no longer activate it either.

The mutton-fat jade disk in his primordial soul was now being violently suppressed by the Supreme Primordial Demon's colossal will.

If it weren't for the Black and White Dharma Manifestation still present, the 'Dao' character divine art within his true form could still struggle to operate, maintaining his Sea of Consciousness.

Had it not been for that, his primordial soul would have long since dispersed—

And in his peripheral vision, he saw Su Xiaoxiao also bleeding from all seven orifices, seemingly struggling with immense effort, yet like a butterfly trapped in a spider's web, desperate and powerless, all her movements utterly futile.

At this point, Molian’s expression visibly relaxed, and she spoke leisurely to Su Xiaoxiao: "You probably don't know, although the Great Art of Seven Emotions Primordial Demon is famous across all realms, it was actually created personally by Lord Primordial Demon in his early years! Such is the divine technique of my Demonic Path; unless you create the technique yourself, you must always guard against something during cultivation. Only after reaching mastery and careful reorganization can one be truly at ease. Su Xiaoxiao, you thought yourself clever, yet you never knew you were under the Lord’s control from the very beginning. If he wishes you to live, you cannot die even if you wish it. If Lord Primordial Demon wills your death, then no matter what, Su Xiaoxiao cannot survive."

She laughed again: "You are the Myriad Spirit Origin Embryo; Lord Primordial Demon will not take your life. However, after this, you need not think of anything else. Just focus on peacefully bearing a Demonic Embryo for my Lord! Today's events, though greatly damaging to the future Demonic Embryo's vitality, were unavoidable necessities."

Han Qing also sneered: "Your recent behavior, while annoying to me, I have promised Lord Primordial Demon that I will treat you well afterward, ensuring you live without worry for the rest of your days. I hear Little Xiaoxiao’s skills in bed have always been excellent; don't disappoint me then—"

His tone was unnervingly sinister and perverse, and Han Qing’s gaze drifted towards Su Chuxue with a lecherous expression.

Zong Shou broke out in a cold sweat, struggling with all his might, yet not entirely despairing.

But his heart was utterly cold and dead. Was this truly the most perilous calamity spoken of by Kong Rui and Jing Yin?

It was truly only half a step away from eternal damnation!

"This person is protected by four Supreme Realm cultivators, and Lin Xuanxuan is not far away. If we delay, changes will occur. Why are you wasting time with idle talk?"

Chi Hongyi let out a cold snort. His figure flickered once, appearing directly before Zong Shou. He pointed a finger directly at him.

At this moment, Zong Shou’s vital energy was turbulent; he could not even maintain his protective aura. Before his fingertip arrived, a thin line of blood appeared on Zong Shou's brow.

"Get back!"

Chuxue’s expression turned grief-stricken, and she instantly slashed across with her blood-knife, sweeping towards Chi Hongyi’s fingertip.

The Five Elements Saber Force collided with the spiraling aura. The Half-Borrowing Character Divine Art instantly siphoned off a fraction of the spiral’s power, condensing it into rotation, followed by a sharp ‘ding’ of heavy impact.

Chi Hongyi’s body rebounded, but Chuxue stood rooted to the spot.

Within this underground palace, Chuxue’s strength was suppressed the least. Conversely, Chi Hongyi, constrained by the Two Forms Dragon Gathering Formation and the Twelve Nation-Guarding Bronze Men, could only unleash thirty percent of his profound arts. He was forced back by Chuxue’s single strike—

However, at this moment, the Prince of Liao also smiled: "Venerable Blood Robe speaks wisely; this is no time for idle chatter! Let us resolve this first, then there will be time for more. I ask the two honored attendants to assist me!"

The two green-robed elders behind him smiled coldly. They did not approach but instead each formed a spiritual seal.

Then, thousands of streaks of blade light surged forth like a waterfall, sweeping towards Zong Shou’s assault.

Beneath Chuxue’s feet, a phantom shadow materialized, extending countless tentacles to wrap around her.

They could neither be severed nor broken. Entangled densely upon her body by those black shadowy tentacles, with every new strand, Chuxue felt her body grow heavier. She constantly flashed her blade light, parrying the torrent of blade flashes. Chuxue felt increasingly overwhelmed, and despair appeared in her bright eyes.

Must she and the Young Master die here?

Chi Hongyi retreated rapidly, then lunged forward again. And the two Free-Roving Divine Demons were already within striking distance.

But just then, Su Xiaoxiao suddenly let out a strange, soft laugh.

"If Lord Primordial Demon wishes me to live, then even if I wish to die, I cannot. If he wishes me to die, then no matter what, Su Xiaoxiao cannot survive. Rather than that, it is better for me to die—"

More blood flowed from her mouth and nose, but Su Xiaoxiao continued to smile: "Demonic arts, unless self-created, always require precaution during cultivation. How could Su Xiaoxiao not know this truth? Fortunately, the caution I exercised years ago is now of some use. Shou-lang, what happens today is not my will; this concubine does not wish to implicate you again."

Her voice faded, and Su Xiaoxiao's vital energy slowly diminished.

Molian’s expression instantly changed: "Scattering your cultivation to commit suicide? Su Xiaoxiao, you've gone mad?"