As the tide of death swept over, a pale sword light sliced across the void. It was almost imperceptible, a mere flash, and in that instant, the life force of a Saint-level cultivator ten miles away silently vanished from everyone's spiritual perception.

Those nearby only saw a head fly up, followed by the entire body suddenly disintegrating into dust.

Meanwhile, Zong Shou remained standing in place, seemingly unmoved. Under the combined assault of more than ten Saints, he was utterly unharmed.

The sword light had not yet dissipated; this time, it plunged directly into the Imperial Study. Yin Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly, and the Twelve Imperial Bronze Men also began to emit low, resonant sounds.

They were programmed to act only when the situation became truly perilous.

Standing beside him, Zuo Xin offered a faint, cold sneer. He firmly believed his path was the righteous one, adhering to the rites and laws of Confucianism. To die defending orthodoxy—what better way to go? Fear was unthinkable.

But in that very moment, a dark figure materialized directly in front of Yin Yu. A man in his thirties with a head of pale hair—it was Li Biexue. He flicked his finger, striking precisely at the tip of the pale sword edge.

Zong Shou, man and sword combined, was flung backward, soaring fully ten thousand zhang, nearly expelled outside the palace walls.

Only after much effort did he manage to stop, but even more blood surged from his mouth, a sight both tragic and terrifying.

At that moment, a trace of blood appeared on Li Biexue’s fingertip.

The entire knuckle of his left index finger began to necrotize. Even with the power of a peak Saint Venerable, Li Biexue could not immediately heal it.

He could only frown slightly and temporarily set the matter aside. Zong Shou’s Styx River’s Death Proclamation Sword utilized the Divine Art of Death.

Until this section of his finger was confirmed 'dead' before the revision process, even instantaneous limb regeneration would be useless.

The onlookers noticed nothing unusual, but Yin Yu was deeply shocked, staring closely at the left hand Li Biexue quickly drew behind his back.

To ignore the rank difference and wound a peak Saint—even those considered 'Half-Step Apex' could never accomplish such a feat.

And the Supreme Primordial Devil, Li Biexue, was among the absolute elite even among Saint Venerables.

If that were the case, the sword Zong Shou had just wielded must have been a Thirteenth-Grade Supreme Divine Art?

A deep chill washed over Yin Yu’s heart. Gratitude even surfaced on his face.

“Many thanks to the State Preceptor! Had the State Preceptor not intervened just then, His Majesty Yin Yu might truly have perished under this boy’s sword today!”

“It is my duty!”

Li Biexue seemed utterly unconcerned, waving his sleeve dismissively. “Even without this old man present, that monstrous Demon Lord would not have been able to harm His Majesty.”

Yin Yu smiled without speaking. Although he possessed the protection of the Twelve Imperial Bronze Men, he had no assurance they could have blocked that single sword strike.

Zong Shou, conversely, was utterly devastated. The injuries he had just managed to mend using the Netherworld Flower of Life and Death had flared up again. His entire body was riddled with fresh wounds.

His internal vital energy was in violent chaos, and his Primordial Soul shuddered. The transformation of the Life and Death Profound Mystery into Primordial Force was far less fluid than before.

That single blow had nearly shattered his soul, returning him to oblivion.

This was the might of an Apex Realm expert! He had learned the lesson well; seeking Xu Fu’s assistance beforehand had indeed not been superfluous.

If it had only been Wei Xu and Yuan Jing, they truly might not have been able to stop Li Biexue from escaping.

Though his injuries were grievous, fortunately, the Sword Formation of All Sentient Beings continued to operate unimpeded. The Spirit Refining Sword zipped and spun through the void, weaving layer upon layer of sword nets that forcefully held back Li Biexue's pursuit, granting Zong Shou a brief window to regulate his vital channels and recover as much as possible.

However, this came at a cost: the Sword of the Heavenly Dao of All Sentient Beings could no longer stop Li Biexue from repairing the Netherworld Array of the Thirteen Heavens and Ten Earths.

Dark crimson clouds once again permeated the sky.

At that moment, a long, slow sigh drifted from behind him.

“The outcome is practically decided! I, Yang Yehen, humbly serving as the Grand Scholar of the Martial Valor Hall of Great Shang, Left Vice-Minister, and Patriarch of the Yang Clan of Huangjing! I can guarantee here that if His Majesty, the Qian Emperor, is willing to retreat now, offering only an explanation to Our Sovereign and returning all the lands south of the Yangtze River, we will persuade Our Sovereign to show mercy, allowing His Majesty to withdraw safely—”

Yin Yu remained seated, listening quietly with a slight smile, neither stopping nor endorsing Yang Yehen's proposal.

Zong Shou merely shook his head slightly. He saw through the intentions of Yang Yehen and the great aristocratic clans with perfect clarity. Yet—

“Noisy!”

Another streak of silver light shot out from his sleeve. The Mother-Child Falling Leaf traversed the void at ten times the speed. With a swift downward plunge, it pierced Yang Yehen’s throat!

Thin trickles of blood seeped from the wound. Yang Yehen touched the injury on his throat, his face filled with disbelief.

Saints possessed indestructible bodies; even if their bodies were reduced to dust, they could recover.

But the Immortal Slaying power imbued in the blade had severed all his vital energy the moment the light entered his body.

Zong Shou didn't spare the man a glance. His sole purpose today was to execute Yin Yu; he simply couldn't be bothered with anything else.

Li Biexue watched with cold eyes as Yang Yehen’s life force gradually faded. Then, he let out a cold laugh. “Though his motives were treacherous, his intended action would have brought you some benefit. Yet he still deserved to die. Truly worthy of being called the Blood Sword Demon Lord—ruthless! Even I find it hard to watch. Since His Majesty is valiant and unwilling to retreat, that suits my wishes perfectly. Then, please allow His Majesty to perish here!”

He reached out again, and immediately an invisible force seized Zong Shou.

Zong Shou felt his vital energy choked, unable even to draw breath.

Even protected by the Sword Formation of All Sentient Beings, drawing upon the power of the Heavenly Dao, the struggle felt immense. The Heavenly Dao sword intent was slowly being erased, and the space he could command around himself was compressed step by step.

Li Biexue’s eyes were filled with derision. Just as he was about to apply more pressure, at that very moment, two faint auras suddenly pierced the clouds outside the Imperial Capital and surged into the city.

Ordinary cultivators might not notice, but under his divine sense, they were perfectly clear, leaving no blind spot.

Auras on the same level as his, yet clearly weaker?

Wei Xu? Yuan Jing?

The mockery in Li Biexue’s eyes deepened, showing no surprise. These two were scheduled to strike around this time; otherwise, in another moment, Zong Shou would have died by his hand.

The only strange thing was that the figures of Xiu Guan and Yuan Jing Dragon Shadow were still nowhere to be seen.

But it didn’t matter. As long as he suppressed these two, he was certain Xiu Guan would reveal himself.

Suddenly, Li Biexue’s heart stirred, and he glanced toward the south with surprise.

In that direction, another aura, not inferior to the previous two, perhaps even slightly superior, was quietly approaching.

Xu Fu?

Li Biexue paused, then let out a disdainful soft chuckle. Instead of returning to the Penglai world to await death, he waded into this troubled water. Was he seeking death?

So that’s how it is! In this battle, the Sagely Path did not just have five Apex Saint Venerables and two sword formations—it had six Saint Venerables!

Then what confidence did Xiu Guan possess? Li Biexue awaited the outcome with keen anticipation!