Seeing Jiu Feng so decisively summon the Profound Origin Water Control Banner, Xuanyuan Jing’s brow furrowed slightly. Was a real fight about to break out? Before he could even move, a snow-white tiger with wings on its back materialized behind him, its sharp claws aiming straight for his heart—it was Yingzhao, who had been sunning itself on the nearby grass…

"Hmph…" Xuanyuan Jing snorted dismissively. A mere demon beast at the Cosmos level? Did it truly think it could harm him?

Without even deploying a move, a burst of sword energy shot directly from Yingzhao’s abdomen, instantly piercing its body.

“Aaaagh…” A pained shriek escaped Yingzhao’s maw as its massive body crashed to the ground, convulsing uncontrollably. Pale-gold blood began to seep steadily from its lower abdomen.

“Little Whitey…” Seeing Yingzhao struck down by Xuanyuan Jing’s sword, before Jiu Feng could even voice her concern, Xiyang erupted. She was the most forthright of them all. Usually, this white tiger was the primary target of her teasing, but it was still their family pet. To quote Du Gu Ba Chen, it was: My possessions are mine alone to touch. Since Yingzhao was essentially their property, whether to beat or scold it was their business. What right did an outsider have to harm it?

Fueled by that thought and the initial wound, the enraged Xiyang burst forth from the swirling mist, instantly transforming into a colossal firebird spanning hundreds of feet, its wingspan equally vast. It charged at Xuanyuan Jing, and even before reaching him, it swooped down with its sharp talons aimed at the crown of his head, sending a massive wave of searing heat toward him.

Xuanyuan Jing felt as though the surrounding space itself was igniting, so scorching hot it was, as if he were immersed in a sea of fire. Xiyang’s gargantuan silhouette seemed monumental in that moment.

“I hadn't expected that at only the initial stage of the Immortal Subjugation realm, you could grasp the fundamental power of the Rule of Fire. That is quite surprising. However, relying on just this little bit, you’ll find it truly difficult to injure me!” A calm voice emanated from him. Showing no inclination to draw his sword, he simply traced a line through the void with one finger. That stretch of empty space shattered, and the boundless flames seemed to find an immediate outlet, vanishing without a trace.

Yet, Xiyang’s sharp talons reached his crown, and in the span of an instant, that strike shredded the top of Xuanyuan Jing’s skull.

But Xiyang felt no joy. The Vermilion Bird is born of fire; the Rule of Fire flows inherently within her. Thus, even at the nascent stage of the Cosmos level, she could manifest a sliver of that power. Originally, relying on this, she could overcome opponents of the same rank unless facing an enemy with an elemental advantage. But now, Xuanyuan Jing had nullified it with a single gesture, and her strike had only hit an afterimage. How could she possibly be happy?

Before she could recover, Xuanyuan Jing’s form appeared directly above her. With a swift grab of one hand, a massive palm materialized above Xiyang’s head. Denying her any chance to resist, he scooped her entire body up and flung her violently into the distance…

“Xiyang…” Jiu Feng never anticipated Xiyang rushing out, and everything had happened far too quickly. It wasn't until Xiyang’s body was already sailing away that a startled cry escaped her lips.

“KRA-KOOM…” A deafening sound followed as Xiyang’s body slammed heavily into the ground, gouging a massive crater. A series of sickening cracks echoed through her frame; who knew how many bones had snapped?

“Ah… I’ll fight you to the death, you fiend!” Xiyang had never endured such treatment. Even when she had successfully lured Ye Jingyu into her trap, she had never been thrown like this! She was a lady! How could a grown man bear to treat her so roughly? Her reputation was ruined today!

Enraged, Xiyang unleashed her full strength. Searing flames erupted from her body in waves. With a mighty beat of her huge wings, she launched herself from the earth once more, transforming into a massive, fiery-red silhouette as she lunged toward Xuanyuan Jing.

Seeing Xiyang fighting so desperately, Jiu Feng knew it was too late to counsel restraint. All she could do was shake the Profound Origin Water Control Banner in her hand, summoning winding water dragons—dragons wreathed in the Divine Lightning of the Water of Quenching—which surged toward Xuanyuan Jing.

Xuanyuan Jing’s eyes flickered. His goal was the Profound Origin Water Control Banner, not a life-or-death struggle with them. Unless absolutely necessary, he truly preferred not to harm these two women. Now that they were fighting with reckless abandon, he stopped holding back.

He grasped the void with his right hand, and a sword of violet-gold appeared in his grip. A ferocious surge of sword energy immediately erupted, shredding those water dragons before they could even approach Xuanyuan Jing, the immense force soaring straight toward the heavens. Jiu Feng was violently forced backward, her face turning deathly pale…

The Xuanyuan Sword—the symbol of ultimate power—how could an ordinary person hope to withstand it?

Witnessing Jiu Feng driven back, Xiyang’s fury intensified. Disregarding everything else, she opened her mouth wide, spewing forth a vortex of fire. At the very front of the flame spun a small sphere covered in white fire, resembling a miniature sun, which shot toward Xuanyuan Jing at full speed.

“Xiyang, no…” Upon seeing Xiyang actually summon her core natal essence, Jiu Feng let out a horrified cry. That was her most precious possession! If it sustained severe damage, Xiyang might very well lose her life!

But no matter how loudly Jiu Feng cried out, it was too late. Xiyang, consumed by rage, had only one thought: to burn the man before her to ash.

Sensing the immense power contained within that core essence, feeling the White Li Fire capable of incinerating everything, a flicker of genuine anger finally crossed Xuanyuan Jing’s face. He had been holding back precisely to avoid tearing things completely apart. Yet here she was, choosing a fight to the death. Did he, Xuanyuan Jing, truly have reason to retreat before a mere woman?

He neither manifested the Apricot Yellow Banner nor the Taiji Diagram. Holding only the Xuanyuan Sword, he brought it down directly upon the natal core engulfed in the White Li Fire. A blinding ray of purple sword light burst forth from the sword, carrying the pinnacle of sword intent, and struck the white core directly…

With a sharp “CRACK…” the violet-gold sword ray shattered, but the white natal core was knocked flying backward. Its once smooth surface was now crisscrossed with fissures, and even the white flames dimmed noticeably…

“Xiyang…” A heart-rending wail escaped Jiu Feng’s lips…