The Demon Subduing Staff struck the blue light of the Fang Tian Pagoda heavily, sending ripples across its surface, yet it failed to cause Fang Zhentian even the slightest harm.

Just as Fang Zhentian was preparing to gloat, Gongsun Lu, clad in green, emerged from Liang Xiaoke's Sea of Consciousness and also lashed out with a punch directly at Fang Zhentian…

"Damn it all…" Even with Fang Zhentian's composure, the aura radiating from Gongsun Lu, indicative of the Celestial Immortal realm, forced an oath from his lips.

Celestial Immortals! In the entire Gu Hua Continent, there had only ever been nine Family Heads who reached that level. Back on the Dou Hun Continent, only Dugu Ba Chen and Xuanyuan Jue had achieved Martial Venerable, barely able to contend with Celestial Immortals. Yet now, five of them arrived at once?

Especially this fellow before him—what kind of cultivation technique was he practicing that he could manifest three separate beings? And this young woman looked to be some kind of puppet under his command.

A puppet possessing the cultivation of a Celestial Immortal? Had he truly been living like a pig for all these years?

The Fang Tian Pagoda above his head emitted beams of blue light, encircling him completely. Meanwhile, the Immortal Slaying Sword in his hand was constantly being swung. Perhaps due to not having fully refined the blade, Fang Zhentian could only wield it like an ordinary longsword.

Even so, the sharp sword qi caused the very void to hiss and crack. Liang Xiaoke and the others dared not rush in rashly. Any ranged attacks launched were entirely blocked by the Fang Tian Pagoda.

Seeing Fang Zhentian maintain this offense-and-defense posture, Liang Xiaoke was enraged. Clutching the Immortal Slaying Sword, he charged straight in. The Daoist, the Monk, and Gongsun Lu followed in perfect synchronicity. Even Xiyang, with a wave of her hand, unleashed a massive Fire Phoenix that erupted from her body, hurtling toward Fang Zhentian.

Observing Liang Xiaoke and the others charging at him without regard for their safety, Fang Zhentian sneered. With the Fang Tian Pagoda protecting him, how could they possibly strike him bare-handed? As for the ancient sword in this fellow's hand, he absolutely had to seize it back with all his might…

In that moment, he didn't even think about the other Family Heads arriving sooner. Though these individuals had all reached the Celestial Immortal realm, they were only just entering it; how could they possibly be a match for him?

With a flick of the Immortal Slaying Sword in his hand, a piercing sword qi tore through the air, arriving before Liang Xiaoke almost instantaneously. Liang Xiaoke met the attack bravely, holding the Immortal Slaying Sword aloft.

"Clang…" A crisp sound echoed as the two ancient swords collided once more. Razor-sharp sword qi exploded outwards, instantly riddling the surrounding ground with holes. As for the onlookers, even though they had retreated hundreds of feet, they were shredded to pieces by the energy; only a few individuals of immense strength managed to narrowly evade the terrifying bursts of energy…

This was the result of both fighters diligently compressing their sword qi. Otherwise, the energy emitted by these two vicious blades alone would have been enough to flatten the surrounding area.

Upon the clash of swords, Liang Xiaoke’s body was naturally thrown backward, as his power was far inferior to Fang Zhentian’s. However, as he flew backward, a golden bead appeared in his hand, and without a moment’s hesitation, he hurled it out as if it were a common egg…

To treat the Haotian Bead like an egg being thrown—if Emperor Haotian were still alive, would he not be so enraged that he vomited three liters of blood and died on the spot? Nevertheless, all present instantly witnessed a miniature sun blasting toward Fang Zhentian…

"Rumble…" The Haotian Bead slammed directly into the Fang Tian Pagoda. The Pagoda, which had just withstood numerous attacks, flared with intense blue light, seemingly attempting to shield Fang Zhentian with all its might. Yet, this was the personal magic treasure of Emperor Haotian; it was not something it could possibly resist.

It held on for barely half a breath before the blue light radiating from the Fang Tian Pagoda shattered completely. Immediately afterward, the Haotian Bead unleashed crackling arcs of lightning, bombarding the Pagoda. The Fang Tian Pagoda, already bearing a fractured corner from the Eastern Emperor Bell's strike, utterly disintegrated…

A massive surge of energy swept out. Those who had fled far away felt as if their heads had been struck by heavenly lightning, their ears ringing incessantly while blood streamed from all seven facial orifices simultaneously. As for those with lower cultivation, their bodies simply disintegrated, their souls scattered by the sheer concussive force.

There had been thousands present; fewer than a hundred managed to survive the aftermath of that shockwave…

To be repeatedly struck by innate supreme treasures like the Eastern Emperor Bell and the Haotian Bead—the Fang Tian Pagoda was certainly honored enough. However, Fang Zhentian was not so fortunate. With the Pagoda destroyed, a direct connection to his core severed, he instantly vomited a torrent of blood, his spirit in turmoil.

It was precisely at this juncture that the attacks from the Daoist, the Monk—the manifestations of Liang Xiaoke—along with Gongsun Lu, struck full force upon Fang Zhentian. Even if their combined strength was still less than his, they were all Celestial Immortals, and the combined impact left him reeling.

The blood he had already spat out came forth in several more gushes…

More critically, Xiyang’s Fire Phoenix also slammed into his back. The flame, tinged with traces of Lihuo, burned Fang Zhentian with searing pain, feeling as if even his very soul was being scorched.

It was only due to the water-attribute techniques practiced by the Fang family that Fang Zhentian managed to unleash his internal power to its maximum extent, barely neutralizing the flame. But his back was already burned to a char, indistinct and raw…

In mere moments, Fang Zhentian was severely wounded. His face contorted into a mask of savage fury. He was utterly bewildered—his own strength was clearly superior to theirs, yet they had managed to beat him into such a state purely through superior numbers and the advantage of their magic treasures. It was an incomparably humiliating situation…

"Feng Yan, Lin Xingyun, Zhan Batian, Hua Wuhui, Xue Yuanyun, Yue Zhongtian, Jun Longmin, Xue Hai Wuya—what are you waiting for? Do you intend to wait until I’m killed before you show yourselves?" Seeing the crowd surrounding him, and knowing that without the Fang Tian Pagoda he could no longer hold the advantage, Fang Zhentian could no longer maintain the reserve of a Fang Family Head and bellowed out his demand…

As his voice faded, eight figures materialized from the void, emerging precisely as the eight Family Heads, including Xue Hai Wuya.

Seeing Fang Zhentian's utterly wretched state, faint smiles flickered across their faces. It was no easy feat to put Fang Zhentian in such a predicament. However, their gazes soon settled on Liang Xiaoke. Apart from Xue Hai Wuya, who had already witnessed Liang Xiaoke’s Three Corpses Divine Art, the others wore expressions of varied astonishment…

Some looked genuinely shocked, while others appeared contemplative, frequently glancing at Xue Hai Wuya as if weighing the information he had previously transmitted…

It was at this precise moment that a dark silhouette descended suddenly from the sky, landing directly before Fang Zhentian—it was Ye Jingyu, who had been concealed in the air all along…

[Ti: Dear reader, the current chapter has reached the final page of this book]