Just as Fang Guyou finished his reply, Xuanyuan Ruoxing plunged the ancient sword in his hand into Fang Guyou’s body. Watching his own grand-disciple stab him with a treasure he himself had gifted, Fang Guyou’s expression shifted dramatically.

"You... you... you..." Horror flashed across Fang Guyou’s face. He could never have imagined that this grand-disciple, whom he could have crushed with a mere thought moments ago, would actually strike against him.

"I apologize, Grand-Master. I must become Emperor. How can an Emperor exist without power?" A sinister smile curled the corners of Xuanyuan Ruoxing’s lips.

"You unfilial disciple! Even if my soul power is completely depleted now, do you think you can actually kill me? I—ah! Devouring Heaven and Earth?" Fang Guyou’s words died in his throat as his face changed again. The reason was simple: one of Xuanyuan Ruoxing’s hands was now clamped onto the crown of his head, and the power within him was being involuntarily drawn away.

"Grand-Master, don't forget, I am also the only Ghost Immortal cultivating in a pure soul form. This Devouring Heaven and Earth technique was taught to me personally by you!" Xuanyuan Ruoxing's grin widened, and the suction from his hand grew stronger.

"You... you..." Fang Guyou was furious, but at this moment, he had not the slightest thought of resisting. His soul power had just been completely siphoned off by that wretched tower, and there was no way to recover it within a few breaths. Moreover, Devouring Heaven and Earth was an utterly vicious technique; the moment it struck, it locked onto his very soul. Forget his current grievous injuries—even at his peak, if he were caught off guard by this move, resisting would be nigh impossible.

It was with this very technique that he had absorbed the strength of countless Soul Immortals and True Immortals far stronger than himself to reach his current level. Yet now, he himself had fallen victim to this move. Was this karmic retribution?

Fang Guyou was unwilling to accept it. He had labored for so many years; he had finally achieved what he had today. How could he simply die like this?

He struggled with all his might, but he suddenly realized that it was not only Xuanyuan Ruoxing absorbing his power; even the ancient sword was greedily drawing on his vital blood and essence.

In a short time, all of Fang Guyou’s vital essence was completely absorbed by Xuanyuan Ruoxing and the ancient sword. After completely devouring Fang Guyou’s strength, Xuanyuan Ruoxing’s power soared continuously. He not only inherited Fang Guyou’s power but also inherited all of his memories and his comprehension of the Heavenly Dao.

Comprehension—that was the foundation for advancing a realm, and this was the terror of Devouring Heaven and Earth. If it were merely the absorption of power, he could, at most, devour beings slightly stronger than himself. Otherwise, without the corresponding realm to harness it, the end result would only be fatal corporeal explosion.

But now that he had accepted Fang Guyou’s memories and comprehension, he instantly possessed Fang Guyou’s realm, perfectly capable of commanding this torrent of power. In other words, he was the second Fang Guyou—a Nine Tribulation True Immortal.

Feeling the immense power surging within him, a triumphant smile spread across Xuanyuan Ruoxing’s lips. Power! This was true power! This was the strength he had yearned for in his dreams.

"Rest assured, Grand-Master. Your nephew plotted against you, and I will deliver justice for you. I will not only become the sovereign of the Douhun Continent but the master of the entire world… Hahahaha…" Having absorbed Fang Guyou’s memories, Xuanyuan Ruoxing knew everything about his Grand-Master. Seeing Fang Guyou’s body slowly dissipate, a look of smug satisfaction crossed his face.

Putting away the broken white tower and the archaic longsword, Fang Guyou’s body dissolved into a streak of light, chasing the direction in which Ye Jingyu and the others had fled.

Now was the absolute best chance to kill Ye Jingyu, and he would not let it pass. As for Fang Guyou, though his heart churned with anger and resentment, faced with the vicious technique of Devouring Heaven and Earth, even his three souls and seven spirits had been transformed into Xuanyuan Ruoxing’s power—what could he possibly do now?

At this moment, Ye Jingyu and his group were already blocked by the thirty-six strongest True Immortals. Ye Jingyu, whose strength had been utterly depleted, finally came to his senses. Sensing the terrifying soul pressure surrounding them, the complexions of the group darkened.

This was the Tiangang Soul Formation, a massive array constructed by thirty-six Soul Immortals and True Immortals. Even at his peak, Ye Jingyu could not be certain of breaking through this formation, let alone in his current state.

He glanced at Luo Ling’er beside him, whose abdomen was already beginning to show a slight swell; at Hei Ming Shixuan, whose eyes constantly shimmered with innocent light; and at Zhuge Yishi, who was supporting Zhuge Siyu. Ye Jingyu sighed inwardly.

As if sensing his sigh, the East Emperor Bell in his Sea of Consciousness emitted strands of cyan light, continuously replenishing the power that had been drained by the giant phantom.

"Yishi, the moment there is an opening, take them and charge out immediately!" The Bàyuán Jue involuntarily circulated, ceaselessly restoring the strength within his body, while he secretly transmitted a message to Zhuge Yishi via ethereal sound transmission.

Zhuge Yishi turned his head and nodded lightly. In his hand, he still clutched that black banner.

"Break for me—!" Ye Jingyu suddenly roared, his body leaping into the air. His hands gripped the Sky Venerable Blade tightly, and the Thunder Aperture in his right palm spewed out a frenzied torrent of multicolored lightning. The enormous prismatic light illuminated the entire sky, as if this single strike could cleave a piece of heaven apart.

Without hesitation, without reservation, without concern for the consequences, Ye Jingyu brought down his full strength, aiming directly at the weakest Soul Immortal among the array.

Upon seeing that brilliant flash of light, the Soul Immortal’s expression changed. However, the surrounding True Immortals and Soul Immortals simultaneously recited an incantation, and a massive surge of Divine Thought shot out, transforming into a longsword to meet the dazzling blade light.

At this critical juncture, Ye Jingyu’s expression turned grave. The Moon Wheel between his brows suddenly erupted with blinding rays. Lightning, starlight, and firelight intertwined, unleashing a terrifying beam of energy that continued toward the targeted Soul Immortal.

"Boom—!" With a deafening crash, the sword formed by Divine Thought and Ye Jingyu’s blade light collided violently, shattering simultaneously. But before the Soul Immortals could form a second attack, the light emitted from Ye Jingyu’s brow pierced through the body of the targeted Soul Immortal.

The rampant lightning power instantly blasted his body into dust, and the entire soul formation trembled violently. A fissure instantly appeared in the void.

"Go—!" Ye Jingyu roared, snatching Luo Ling’er’s small hand and dashing toward the rift.

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