The sound wasn't loud, perhaps even gentle, yet it carried an undeniable power that brooked no resistance. Ye Jingyu merely looked up at the sky and saw the colossal dragon head gazing down at him; it seemed, impossibly, to be smiling.

At this moment, the Seven Great Lords of the Abyss Demons materialized ahead. Facing this outrageously large dragon, even the Seven Lords frowned deeply. Especially the Devouring Demon, whose former look of innocence had vanished, replaced by an expression of profound solemnity, as if an immense burden weighed upon him.

"Destruction, this one seems difficult to deal with!" A figure standing beside the Lord of Destruction spoke first. The light surrounding her slowly receded, allowing Ye Jingyu to clearly perceive her appearance: she was a woman, a dreamlike, ethereal beauty. Such a woman seemed stepped right out of a painting—so unreal, so unreal—yet she existed palpably before them. She was indeed the sole female among the Seven Lords, Nightmare Demon.

"Not just difficult; I never imagined such an ancient existence could still survive in the mortal realm!" Another demon gradually revealed his true form. He appeared much like a normal human—not handsome, but with well-proportioned features. His complexion was somewhat pale, and his entire demeanor exuded coldness.

This man was one of the Seven Lords: Fear Lord...

"No matter how ancient, at best he only reaches the Celestial (Yu) rank. Can he truly break past that? As long as the seven of us join forces, can’t we simply tear him apart!" A burly man, rugged in appearance and sporting two horns on his head, roared. He was the Lord of Rage, notorious for his volatile temper...

"Rage speaks the truth. Destruction, let's move together. Surely the seven of us combined aren't a match for him?" The Lord of Ruin also spoke up. He too had a human form, but a long, deep scar marred his face. Given his current cultivation, he should have been able to erase any scar effortlessly, yet for some unknown reason, he bore this one alone.

The faces of the other lords were equally grim, but the answer was already visible in their eyes.

Lord of Destruction remained silent. He took a slight step forward, his deep gaze fixed upon the dragon's massive form...

At that moment, golden light began to ripple across the dragon's body. Its sheer size meant that the entire, already fractured void was enveloped in this golden radiance, as if the world were now composed solely of gold.

The light was so blinding that even Ye Jingyu struggled to keep his eyes open. Bathed in this glow, Xiao Taotao and Ni Bo were utterly stunned. They simply stood there, feeling the warmth of the light, as myriad golden streams poured directly into their bodies, causing their strength to surge instantly.

Slowly, just as Ni Bo and Xiao Taotao felt their power on the verge of a breakthrough, the golden light began to dissipate. The dragon's immense body had vanished. Before them stood an old man, his hair completely white—yes, a gaunt figure, his face a map of wrinkles, looking as if he could perish at any second.

But both Ye Jingyu and the Seven Demon Lords showed visible reactions. They sensed the power contained within the old man, a force that seemed ready to erupt at any instant.

"I did not expect your cultivation to have reached such a formidable plane. I suppose you are not far from that final step, are you?" Lord of Destruction stepped forward again, speaking with genuine deference.

"Not far? Quite far. That step appears simple, yet it is separated by an immense distance. I am nowhere near that level yet, so you may strike without reservation!" The old man smiled faintly, his expression as kindly as an aged master speaking to his disciples.

Hearing the old dragon's words, Lord of Destruction nodded. He had attained his current realm tens of thousands of years ago and had been pursuing that final step ever since, yet he found not a single clue. That step looked easy, but crossing it was thousands, tens of thousands of times harder than leaping a chasm.

"Since you say so, we shall not stand on ceremony. Please..." Before the Lord of Destruction's words had fully faded, his body shot forward, landing directly before the old dragon. He launched a straight punch aimed squarely at the elder's heart.

At their level, there was no need for the niceties of asking names; names had lost all meaning for them.

Facing the Destruction Lord's sudden strike, the old dragon's expression didn't change in the slightest. He slowly raised his right hand and gave a gentle push backward. Instantly, Ye Jingyu saw the Nine Provinces, encased in a shell of light, propelled away like a ball, vanishing in the void in a blink—the old dragon had hidden them somewhere unknown...

Ye Jingyu, Ni Bo, and Xiao Taotao were similarly enveloped by a peculiar force. Though standing still, Ye Jingyu felt an absolute certainty: no matter how fierce the ensuing battle became, they would remain untouched.

He felt like an audience member in a cinema; no matter how intense or terrifying the scenes unfolding on screen, they could never harm him personally...

Having secured them, the old dragon turned his gaze back to Destruction. At this moment, the punch that seemed frighteningly fast to Destruction was still one inch short of the old dragon's heart.

But this one inch felt like the edge of the world, utterly unreachable...

Because the old dragon had already thrown a punch—still the simplest of strikes, yet undoubtedly the most perfect punch Ye Jingyu had ever witnessed...

Fast, accurate, ruthless...

This punch possessed virtually no flaw; the trajectory of the strike was breathtakingly elegant. It landed precisely on Destruction’s sternum...

Yes, before anyone could react, the old dragon’s fist slammed fiercely into the Lord of Destruction’s heart...

A flash of golden light erupted...

That beam of gold pierced into Destruction's body. Immediately afterward, his entire form began to shatter. From a distance, it looked as if an internal light source had been installed within him, the radiance spilling out from the fissures cracking his body...