As the terrifying sword gleam washed over them, the faces of Yu Luosha, Yulan, and Fang Zhendong grew solemn. Hues of light flared simultaneously around them, their immense auras converging to form a colossal silver hook that lunged toward the towering sword light…

With a thunderous boom, Dugu Bachèn’s blade radiance slammed directly into Fang Zhentian’s Fangtian Halberd. The terrifying force instantly blasted him backward, spraying blood from his mouth. Yet, the dreadful blade continued its downward arc, striking a small island near the coastline. That island, stretching for hundreds of li, was cleaved in two by the strike. The immense power caused the shattered halves to explode, annihilating them completely. The sheer force sent wave after wave of tsunamis rolling out, and within mere breaths, the island utterly vanished from everyone’s sight…

Similarly, Xuanyuan Jué’s sword effortlessly shattered the silver hook launched by the combined might of the group. The terrifying sword energy convulsed the nine individuals, forcing gouts of blood from their mouths as they were involuntarily sent flying backward. Yu Luosha and Yulan fared slightly better; the near-death experience had granted them deep insights. Although they hadn't fully broken through to the Martial Venerable realm, they had touched its threshold. Aside from spitting blood, they suffered no critical injuries, their bodies continually arcing backward to dissipate the momentum and evade the ceaseless sword energy.

However, Fang Zhendong and the others were significantly weaker. They had sustained injuries during the preceding confrontation, and it was already a miracle they weren't instantly slain. They were thrown about haphazardly, further lacerated by the razor-sharp sword qi.

But at that very moment, Dugu Bachèn’s figure materialized directly in front of Fang Zhendong, his iron saber swinging mercilessly toward him.

Fang Zhendong’s heart seized with terror. He had never imagined that powerhouses like Dugu Bachèn and Xuanyuan Jué would ever collaborate to strike together.

Facing the howling iron saber, Fang Zhendong desperately urged the power within him, launching his Fangtian Halberd forward with all his might.

The expressions of the other Fang family experts changed drastically. Seeing Fang Zhendong engulfed in peril, the remaining six disregarded their safety and fueled their internal power to intercept Dugu Bachèn.

With a sharp clang, the seemingly battered iron saber cleanly severed Fang Zhendong’s Fangtian Halberd, the sharp edge slicing clean through and detaching his right arm.

Just as Dugu Bachèn intended to follow up and cleave his body in half, the weapons of the other six arrived. He flicked his iron saber, already turning to engage the remaining six.

Fang Zhendong finally breathed a sigh of relief, but before he could retreat behind his six companions, Xuanyuan Jué’s figure was already upon him. The iron sword in his hand stabbed down without mercy.

With a shing, the iron sword plunged directly into Fang Zhendong’s chest. Bursts of blue light suddenly erupted across Fang Zhendong’s body—evidently, he wore armor of high enough grade. Yet, even this formidable armor proved insufficient to withstand Xuanyuan Jué’s strike.

Under this thrust, any armor seemed as fragile as paper. The iron sword penetrated Fang Zhendong’s heart without the slightest resistance. Fang Zhendong’s pupils snapped wide, his eyes filling with utter despair.

“Explode…” Xuanyuan Jué snorted coldly, twitching the hand grasping the sword slightly. The razor-sharp sword qi detonated entirely, the intense energy instantly pulverizing Fang Zhendong’s heart to dust. Even his physical form was ripped into fragments instantly.

Xuanyuan Jué was not yet finished. The iron sword sliced through the void, carving out a spatial rift. A powerful suction pulled the fragments of Fang Zhendong’s body in, utterly denying him any chance for genetic reconstruction.

All of this transpired with blinding speed, so swift that even Fang Zhentian struggled to process it.

It must be remembered that in his calculations, his own strength clearly surpassed either Xuanyuan Jué or Dugu Bachèn individually. He planned to use his seven family experts to keep Xuanyuan Jué occupied, while Yu Luosha and Yulan launched a sneak attack. If they could wound Xuanyuan Jué, the nine of them together should certainly hold their own. Once the two experts sent to eliminate Bai Xiaodi and Huangfu Yun returned, the combined strength of eleven would be enough to slay Xuanyuan Jué. Even if that failed, as long as he himself eliminated Dugu Bachèn, killing Xuanyuan Jué would still be possible.

But he had absolutely not anticipated that Xuanyuan Jué and Dugu Bachèn, sworn enemies, would not only cooperate but shamelessly team up against someone clearly weaker than themselves.

Faced with this sudden joint assault, even Fang Zhentian felt a knot in his stomach; how much worse would it be for Fang Zhendong, who was only at the peak of the Martial God Ninth Heaven?

To be instantly executed by two peerless masters striking in unison—even in death, Fang Zhendong’s end was perhaps 'worth it.'

However, watching Fang Zhendong slain so casually by the pair enraged Fang Zhenxi, Fang Zhenbei, Fang Zhenyun, and the others. These were the core pillars of the Fang family’s current generation. They had worked together for centuries; even setting aside the depth of their camaraderie, their mutual interests were inextricably linked. Especially when facing figures like Xuanyuan Jué or Dugu Bachèn, the loss of any single member would create an irreparable situation. Truly, they prospered together and suffered together.

Yet, as the six seethed with indignation, Dugu Bachèn and Xuanyuan Jué, ignoring their own expenditure of energy, launched another offensive.

The crowd watched as Xuanyuan Jué flicked his long sword, unleashing a sword intent that crushed the heavens. A gleam of sword light, sharper than before, erupted from the surface of the obsidian blade.

Heavenly Abyss Sword…

A strike capable of destroying heaven and earth, a strike that plunged one into absolute despair…

For this single blow, Xuanyuan Jué poured forth all his strength. Colossal waves of sword qi continuously converged, and the power within him burst forth relentlessly, determined to slay Fang Zhenxi and the rest.

Fang Zhentian, who had been thrown back by Dugu Bachèn, now returned. When he saw Xuanyuan Jué exerting his full power to execute his clansmen, his face turned bloodless. He frantically propelled the energy within him, his Fangtian Halberd blazing with blinding blue light as he rushed toward Xuanyuan Jué. He absolutely could not allow any further losses; otherwise, the Fang family would truly descend into ruin…

But the prepared Dugu Bachèn would not grant him his wish. His perpetually slightly hunched back suddenly straightened, and his gaunt frame instantly appeared robust. A saber intent even more tyrannical and brutal than the Heavenly Abyss Sword erupted from within him. A streak of saber light, piercing straight toward the highest heavens, instantly illuminated the entire sky…

(Uploaded at 22:14 on the 8th)