Following the convocation of his ministers, Zong Shou chose not to immediately address the matter of the World-Slaying Altar, remaining instead in seclusion to cultivate.

At this time, besides continuing to perfect the Six Spirits Dao-Controlling Art, which remained his top priority, Zong Shou also diverted some energy to the refinement of the Instantaneous Void Dragon Pills and the Dao-Dominating Dragon Tooth Sword, using the Grand Supreme Demon-Slaying Iconography to deduce formations—specifically, the Saintly Silver Demon-Slaying Array designed exclusively for the Saintly Fire Silver Ants.

It amounted to the third iteration now. Three years of contemplation within the quiet chamber had led to an entirely new comprehension of the Grand Supreme Nirvana Scripture, and naturally, this third set of the Saintly Silver Demon-Slaying Array incorporated significant additions.

It required no conscious effort from Zong Shou; the Grand Supreme Demon-Slaying Iconography alone could calculate the feasibility of these notions.

Over the past four months in the Tianfang World, numerous major battles had occurred, already accumulating a vast reservoir of soul energy and killing intent, more than enough to be expended freely.

It was on the thirty-fifth day that another year elapsed within this solitary chamber of the Jun Tian Immortal Estate. Zong Shou felt a stirring and gazed towards the outside of the estate.

He saw a colossal pillar of golden light erupting toward the heavens from the direction of the Artifact Probing Tower, piercing the constellations, its spiritual radiance dazzling everywhere.

This was the extraordinary phenomenon accompanying the manifestation of a Spirit Treasure, yet there was no trace of auspicious mist nearby. Only immense platinum-white energy swirled in the void. The ascending column of light, moreover, possessed a blood-red hue.

Then, the firmament of the Tianfang World dimmed utterly. Dark clouds surged, and countless tribulation forces began to gather wildly.

“This is… a Divine Treasure Tribulation?”

In Zong Shou’s eyes, astonishment flickered. That Immortal-Slaying Gourd should only rank as a top-tier Immortal Treasure, yet the phenomenon it triggered was of the magnitude of a Divine Treasure tribulation!

The tribulation force descended like hurled spears, as a blinding cascade of electrical currents flashed and crisscrossed, sounding terrifyingly momentous.

Then, after an unmeasurable period, just as the heaven and earth within the Tianfang Realm gradually settled back into tranquility, another shadow, vast enough to blot out the sun and moon, enveloped the confined world.

It was as if heaven and earth were enraged, roaring their displeasure without restraint, stretching forth a divine majesty that inspired awe. The stark white-red light of the tribulation almost completely submerged the entire Artifact Probing Tower.

“Two tribulations merging—”

This was the very reason Shen Yuexuan had remained hesitant, and the source of Zong Shou’s profound anxiety.

At this moment, Zong Shou could only watch from the outside, unable to intervene, his heart churning with unrest. The ‘Immortal-Slaying Gourd’ was not of great importance in his estimation; even if destroyed, it mattered little, as long as Shen Yuexuan remained unharmed.

However, with the tribulation forces now mixed and fused, how could one possibly separate the two? Even an attack from a Transcendent Realm master would not leave Shen Yuexuan without a chance.

Dispersing the power of the Cosmos Codex, Zong Shou remained seated in silent meditation from dawn till dusk. Around the hour of midnight, a streak of golden light suddenly shot forth from the direction of the Artifact Probing Tower, piercing into the Jun Tian Immortal Estate.

“Your Majesty, this servant has not failed in his duty!”

As Shen Yuexuan’s clear voice resonated through the void, the dark clouds within the Tianfang Realm finally parted, and clear moonlight streamed down in shafts.

The surrounding heavens finally revealed their true colors, manifesting purple-gold dominant, seven-hued auspicious mists that illuminated the entire world as brightly as day.

Zong Shou took one look and knew Shen Yuexuan had safely overcome the tribulation. Only when the tribulation force completely dissipated would those in the Saint Realm gain ten thousand years of lifespan.

“What a profound Dao foundation! The aura is almost unmatched by Ye Xuan’s successful passage through the Saint Realm tribulation previously. Truly, the ‘Three Xuans’ under your command are all extraordinary figures. In terms of foundation strength, they far surpass you!”

Zong Shou had initially been confused upon hearing the term ‘Three Xuans.’ After a moment of dawning realization, he managed a wry smile.

How could he compare? The youngest of the three possessed five millennia of accumulation. Their cultivation had been achieved step by step, solidifying every stage.

Unlike him? The time it took to reach this current realm was so swift that even he found it hard to believe.

Ascending to the clouds in one leap was certainly advantageous, but beneath those clouds, the foundation was alarmingly empty!

“Whatever the reason, you had best not attempt any further breakthroughs within the next twenty years! Unless you can truly reduce complexity to simplicity and condense the divine decree of the ‘Dao’ character!”

Lin Xuanshuang sighed, then turned her gaze to the cluster of golden light held in Zong Shou’s right hand, her expression shifting to admiration.

“This is truly a magnificent anomaly of heaven and earth—”

Zong Shou raised an eyebrow. His first sensation upon grasping the golden light was that this object was an excellent treasure, unlike Lin Xuanshuang’s own.

Could this Immortal-Slaying Gourd possess some profound mystery he was unaware of?

Suppressing the treasure’s spiritual effulgence, the object in his hand appeared to be merely a gourd carved from jade, thumb-sized, indistinguishable from an ordinary jade artifact.

However, after Zong Shou infused a few drops of his own vital blood and performed a brief refinement, then guided it with a thought, a ray of white light materialized between his fingers.

It was as thin as a cicada’s wing, shaped like a blade, and possessed an incomparably sharp aura. Even Zong Shou, with his Indestructible Body, managed to draw a thin line of blood after holding it for a prolonged period.

It did not require the constant, lifelong nurturing that his previous flying daggers demanded. The moment this blade qi appeared in his hand, Zong Shou felt an intrinsic, blood-spirit connection, an unparalleled synergy.

Its power was roughly thirty percent of the true Grand Supreme Immortal-Slaying Blade Qi. The gourd could store about a hundred strikes, which could naturally replenish. It could also be placed on the battlefield to forcibly absorb killing intent to nurture the blade qi.

In this way, should he ever face encirclement or numerous opponents, he would never lack a flying knife to deploy.

Yet, whether it was a delusion, Zong Shou constantly felt that the spirit of this object was subtly drawn towards, and echoing with, something hidden within the blood clouds several worlds away—

“Similar spiritual objects in heaven and earth can sense one another. Both of these are instruments of slaughter, and their refinement methods are broadly the same. That is the root cause of the Divine Treasure Thunder Tribulation. That is why I call it an anomaly. Your gourd, in fact, is incomplete. Truly enviable!”

At this point, Lin Xuanshuang suddenly made an 'Mm' sound, a glint of unusual light flashing in her eyes again. In that instant, though Zong Shou’s overall aura did not yet inspire dread in her, it did project an extremely dangerous sensation.

“It seems your Six Spirits Dao-Controlling Art has indeed made significant progress. Merging six kinds of Great Dao divine decrees into one—it shares similarities with your previous blade techniques, yet possesses differences—”

To achieve this without employing the Heaven-Augmenting Wing for spellcasting only proved that Zong Shou’s Six Spirits Dao-Controlling Art had advanced considerably.

Zong Shou smiled and dispersed the flying knife in his hand. He had been testing its potential on impulse just then. He had subconsciously attempted to apply the new Six Spirits Dao-Controlling Art to this weakened version of the Immortal-Slaying Blade Qi, and the results were exceedingly gratifying.

Immediately afterward, his gaze shifted back to the Grand Supreme Demon-Slaying Iconography. When this brand-new Saintly Silver Demon-Slaying Array was complete, there would be nothing left in this world he needed to fear!

“Master jested. Why should you envy me? Your achievement of a Divine Treasure is surely—” Huh?