The Blood-Patterned Sword arrived at the man's throat in an instant, yet the man didn't even glance at it. With a casual flick of his finger onto the blade itself, a sharp clang echoed, and the Blood-Patterned Sword shattered into a cloud of fine dust. Luo Ling'er immediately spat out a mouthful of blood…

Meanwhile, Zhuge Yishi’s black abacus hammered down toward the man’s head, already closing the final distance to his forehead.

“Clang!” The black abacus slammed brutally against the man’s brow, causing his forehead to immediately crack and shatter. Before Zhuge Yishi and the others could feel a surge of triumph, they watched the fractured head rapidly seal itself, as if nothing had ever occurred.

“It seems my luck is truly excellent. Not only has an Immolated Demon appeared, but now a Pure Spirit Body has also shown up. Combined with the Gluttonous Soul, hahaha—completing the Heavenly Tribulation Pill will be no problem at all! Hahahaha!” With a right-hand grab, the man snatched the black abacus mid-air. With a gentle squeeze, the seemingly solid abacus crumbled into dust, causing Zhuge Yishi, whose spirit was intrinsically linked to it, to violently spew blood.

The man simply let out a cold snort, raised his hand, and slapped out a palm strike. An immense force slammed into Zhuge Yishi’s body, sending him flying outward while blood erupted from his mouth ceaselessly, numerous ribs undoubtedly snapped within his chest.

Seeing Zhuge Yishi struck down and gravely wounded by a single blow, Zhuge Siyu’s expression shifted drastically. Her translucent longsword swept upward, unleashing a blinding surge of sword light aimed at the man.

“Heh heh, you are quite beautiful. You can stay and keep me company!” Facing the dazzling sword light, the man still didn't spare it a glance. With a casual pinch, the fierce light was ruthlessly crushed.

At this moment, Gluttony and Ni Bo both let out tremendous roars and charged directly at the man. Ni Bo’s eyes blazed with intense light, and the fangs at its jaws extended nearly a foot long as a powerful aura of savage ferocity erupted.

Flames instantly erupted all over Ni Bo’s body, fully showcasing its arrogant defiance against the heavens…

“Little Black, hurry and go! Go notify Little Ye!” Luo Ling’er, deeply sensing the man’s terrifying power, understood they stood no chance against him. Even escaping seemed impossible now. Their only hope lay with the fastest one, Ni Bo, the only one capable of evading the man’s grasp long enough to inform Ye Jingyu of everything.

“None of you will leave!” A gruesome smile stretched across the man’s gaunt face as his skeletal frame lunged toward Ni Bo and Gluttony.

In that instant, a flash of golden light streaked across Little Tao Tao’s eyes, and a violent golden ripple shot forth. However, this intensely powerful Dragon-Patterned Wave failed to harm the man in the slightest; he moved as if he were a fish swimming in water, drawing closer to Gluttony and Ni Bo step by measured step.

“Ao…” The Celestial Dragon, trapped on the island, suddenly let out a tremendous roar. A golden bead shot from its mouth, hurtling directly toward the man.

Seemingly sensing the bead’s overwhelming power, the man’s expression changed. He swiftly retreated backward, shielding his chest with both hands, yet the bead struck his arm without mercy.

With a slight crack, his entire arm snapped clean off. The bead slammed into his chest, violently knocking him backward.

A choked gasp escaped his lips as a mouthful of blood sprayed out; his entire chest cavity was concave. The golden bead, however, returned once more to the Celestial Dragon’s maw, though the Dragon’s body seemed drained of some vital energy, collapsing entirely.

Taking advantage of this moment, the black flames beneath Ni Bo’s feet burned even more fiercely, its body transforming into a streak of light that vanished without a trace.

Little Tao Tao, Luo Ling’er, and the others instinctively moved to rush forward, but the man leaped up, once again blocking their path.

A vast pressure radiated from him, his face contorted in fury. He glared intensely at the Celestial Dragon locked upon the stone pillar and spoke with rage, “For the sake of a mongrel with a mere trace of Dragon blood, you actually dared to expend the power of your Dragon Pearl! You truly know how to do things!”

Whether due to the preceding attack draining too much of its power or simply scorning the man’s words, the Celestial Dragon offered him no reply whatsoever.

The man seemed accustomed to this, simply refocusing his gaze on Luo Ling’er and the others. With a wave of one hand, an immense force struck them, tossing them away. Even Little Tao Tao passed out from the impact.

“As long as they remain, I can refine the Heavenly Tribulation Pill. Once I have the Pill, I will cross the final lightning tribulation. At that time, I will flay you alive!” He sneered coldly toward the Celestial Dragon on the island, then rolled up his sleeve. His body, along with the bodies of those on the ground, vanished.

However, Zhuge Yishi’s body was unceremoniously dumped into the nearby lake, while the others were transported by the man to another location.

The man arrived in a colossal stone cavern where dozens of figures clad in long robes stood respectfully. These individuals all radiated powerful soul energy fluctuations; every one of them was a super expert at the Soul Immortal realm, and several had already passed multiple lightning tribulations, becoming True Immortal masters.

Upon seeing the man arrive, these formidable Soul Immortals and True Immortals immediately knelt down, shouting in unison, “Disciple pays respects to Master!”

“Rise, all of you!” The man waved dismissively, and the dozens present stood up.

“Yu…” Once everyone was standing, the man called out.

“Master, your disciple is here!” A man in a cyan robe stepped forward from the ranks and bowed respectfully. Upon closer inspection, he was revealed to be Mr. Yu, the very person who had once rescued Xuanyuan Ruoxing.

“Tell your apprentice that within three days, he must gather ninety-nine hundred and ninety pairs of virgin boys and girls for me. I require them to refine the Heavenly Tribulation Pill!” the man commanded in a cold tone.

“Master, have you already gathered the rest of the materials?” Hearing the man’s words, everyone present showed a flicker of astonishment.

“Indeed. The Pure Spirit Body, the Violet Flame Blood, the Gluttonous Soul, and the Celestial Dragon’s Pearl—I have gathered them all. Now, all I need are the hearts of those boys and girls!” the man stated calmly, though a faint glimmer of joy shone on his otherwise cold face.

He was already a master of the Nine Thunder Tribulations; even those Martial Venerables were powerless against him. Once he survived this final tribulation and achieved godhood, he would be invincible throughout the world. At that point, whether it was the Soul Fighting Continent or the Ancient Splendor Continent, both would tremble because of his existence…

The moment he considered how the humiliation of so many years was about to be washed away, the man’s smile became even more triumphant…

(Writing requires feeling. When I have the inspiration, my updates are more frequent. I hope everyone understands the pacing!)