Xuanyuan Jing and Yuan arrived at the scene almost simultaneously, the first thing that greeted their eyes being utter devastation. Half of Mount Hualuo was already ruined, the previously flat ground smashed into irreparable fragments. Tens of thousands of broken sets of armor lay scattered across the earth—some belonging to the Heavenly Soldiers, others to the demons. The ground was spattered with golden and dark-golden blood, every detail screaming that a massive battle had taken place here.

Neither Xuanyuan Jing nor Yuan felt the slightest surprise that not a single intact corpse remained. Even if it were the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, for the demons, the corpses of their enemies and even their comrades were the most precious food available. This was far more valuable than any spirit elixir, something that absolutely could not go to waste. With so many bodies, even if they couldn't be completely devoured in a short time, surely they could be carried away?

Moreover, Xuanyuan Jing distinctly sensed the sharp, piercing sword energy of the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation (Zhu Xian Jian Zhen) lingering in the air. Recalling that terrifying formation, his brow immediately twitched. That fellow had actually deployed the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation? It seemed the feud between them was truly deep. He wondered if he had managed to kill that person? And once the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation was invoked, leaving no bodies behind was the most natural outcome.

Meanwhile, Yuan’s brows were also tightly furrowed. He too could tell a major battle had occurred, noting that the opposing forces had outnumbered the Blood Demon Legion by several times. Furthermore, more than one master must have been involved; it was highly likely that the two Great Heavenly Sovereigns of the Heavenly Alliance had arrived. He worried whether General Jing was safe.

Gazing at Xuanyuan Jing, clad in embroidered robes ahead, a smile touched Yuan’s handsome face, yet this smile held no trace of mirth.

“I never expected that moving against one of my mere subordinates would warrant the personal appearance of the Heavenly Alliance Leader. This truly surprises me!”

“Hahaha, nor did I expect the Earth Alliance Leader to personally come to the rescue of a human traitor. It seems he holds a truly significant place in your heart, my friend. But I wonder when exactly you developed such a deep concern for humanity?” Xuanyuan Jing also offered a slight smile. After years of experience and tempering, he was long past being the straightforward, upright youth he once was.

“Hahaha, our clan harbors no xenophobic tendencies. Be it human or demon, once they join the Earth Alliance, they are members of the Earth Alliance. As the Earth Alliance Leader, it is my duty to protect them. Not like your Alliance, so hostile toward other races…” A smile of apparent benevolence actually surfaced on Yuan’s face, making him resemble a Buddha preaching peace for all sentient beings.

“Hmph…” Facing Yuan’s cold mockery, Xuanyuan Jing let out a sharp snort, and the Xuanyuan Sword instantly materialized in his hand. He slashed out with one motion.

No matter the grand justifications or the lofty sentiment, everything ultimately boiled down to strength.

The seemingly casual strike violently erupted with countless beams of sword light, instantly enveloping Yuan. Everything surrounding them transformed into blades—short swords, long swords, slender blades, thick broadswords, single-handed swords, and two-handed weapons. The initial single streak of light morphed into a colossal sword, one that seemed like a celestial pillar, hacking down ferociously toward Yuan.

The moment he struck, Xuanyuan Jing released his World Power, trapping Yuan within it. There was a saying, wasn’t there? Strike first and thrive, strike second and suffer…

Although the power Yuan currently displayed was only at the peak of the Cosmos (Zhou) level, Xuanyuan Jing had a distinct feeling that his true strength was greater, perhaps having already reached the Universe (Yu) level even earlier than himself.

Facing that enormous sword beam, the smile vanished from Yuan’s face. With a single grasp, a blood-red, transparent longsword appeared in his hand—this was none other than the Abi Sword, which had once been plunged into Mount Qin.

In the past, when the mortal realm shattered and the Demon Realm merged with the Immortal Realm to form the current Heavenly Realm, Mount Qin was destroyed along with it, and the Abi Sword, along with the Yuantu Sword, naturally fell into Yuan’s possession.

Wielding the Abi Sword to meet the massive incoming sword light, he simultaneously unleashed his other fierce blade, the Yuantu Sword, launching it straight toward Xuanyuan Jing.

Kacha… With a sharp sound, the strike Xuanyuan Jing had launched was shattered by the Abi Sword. However, the Yuantu Sword passed clean through Xuanyuan Jing’s body—but it was merely an afterimage.

Just as Yuan recalled the Yuantu Sword and stabilized the Abi Sword, streaks of brilliant sword light ignited across the sky. Each streak was dazzling, magnificent, and carried the sound of tearing air as they lunged toward Yuan.

Yuan tried to dodge, but these sword beams assailed him from all directions. The Yuantu Sword and Abi Sword flew out of his grasp, whirling around him, weaving into an intricate, tight net of blades that completely enveloped him.

Pata pata pata pata… Those sword streaks were continuously batted away by the Abi Sword and Yuantu Sword, yet more and more beams pierced through their defense, striking Yuan’s body. Initially, these sword energies merely sparked fire on his form, but as their power increased, some beams began to pierce through his flesh.

Wounds appeared on him one after another, and dark-golden blood flowed out. Yuan’s expression grew increasingly grim.

Shua… Suddenly, a golden radiance erupted from Yuan’s body. Then, a staff began to grow rapidly, soon forming a colossal tree—a tree emitting seven-colored light. The Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree (Qi Bao Miao Shu)…

The seven-hued radiance cascaded down, completely enveloping him, rendering the incoming sword energies incapable of inflicting harm.

The Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, known for purifying all things, was now being used purely as a defensive artifact. It had to be admitted that compared to Ye Jingyu and Xuanyuan Jing, Yuan was rather more modest in his means.

Seeing Yuan resort to using the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree for protection, Xuanyuan Jing let out a cold huff. With a flick of his wrist, the Tai Chi Diagram appeared in his hand. The primal forces of Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire surged out, immediately trapping Yuan within their vortex…

The Xuanyuan Sword transformed into a streak of purple flowing light, soaring into the heavens, instantly vanishing into the void…

By the time the four primal forces unleashed by the Tai Chi Diagram countered the seven colored rays of the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, the Xuanyuan Sword had already appeared precisely at Yuan’s heart. Giving Yuan no chance to react, it pierced straight through his chest…

A fountain of dark-golden blood spurted from Yuan’s heart. The light from the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree instantly dimmed, and even the Abi Sword and Yuantu Sword wavered momentarily.

Watching Yuan’s heart pierced by the Xuanyuan Sword, Xuanyuan Jing’s body manifested instantly from the void. He grasped the returning Xuanyuan Sword and hurled it directly at Yuan’s brow… the Heaven’s Doom Sword (Tian Jue Jian)… D