Yet even so, completely annihilating two peak Cosmos-level experts was still a massive victory for the Heaven Alliance. Though their physical bodies were destroyed, as long as their primordial spirits remained intact, restoring their bodies would be effortless with supreme spiritual medicines. But just then, Hei Ming Shixuan, who had been closely attending Yan Senxu, suddenly launched an attack, striking directly at Xuan Yuanjing’s last remaining martial brother, Daoist Xuan Mo.

Daoist Xuan Mo’s physical body was ruined, his cultivation greatly diminished. He never imagined that this seemingly adorable young girl would suddenly move against him! She was a member of the Heaven Alliance, wasn't she? Not only was Daoist Xuan Mo bewildered, but Yan Senxu and Ying Kongshi were also momentarily stunned; none of them understood why Hei Ming Shixuan would suddenly attack Daoist Xuan Mo.

No one could react in time. The Purple Moon Blade in Hei Ming Shixuan's hand sliced through Daoist Xuan Mo's primordial spirit, and a terrifying purple celestial flame erupted, instantly reducing him to ash.

No one knew the depth of Hei Ming Shixuan's rage when she spotted the Xuanyuan Water Control Banner outside Sky City. That was the personal artifact of Sister Jiu Feng, and who was Sister Jiu Feng? She was the woman of her most beloved elder brother, Ye Jingyu.

It seemed that from the very first moment she laid eyes on Ye Jingyu, Hei Ming Shixuan had regarded him as her dearest elder brother. When he was around, she never had to worry or concern herself with anything; she could eat when hungry and play when she wished—life was incomparably joyful. But as time wore on, her father king and her sister had both left her; Ye Jingyu had become almost her sole remaining kin.

She absolutely would not allow anyone to harm Ye Jingyu, nor would she permit anyone near him to be harmed. Although she outwardly appeared to be just like any other young girl, she was no longer the naive child she once was. She understood that Xuan Yuanjing must have seized the Xuanyuan Water Control Banner from Jiu Feng; offending Sister Jiu Feng meant offending her. Still, she also knew she was no match for Xuan Yuanjing, so she had suppressed the fury in her heart, waiting for the perfect opportunity.

Now, the chance had arrived. While she couldn't kill Xuan Yuanjing, killing his senior martial brother was a form of vengeance, perhaps?

In Hei Ming Shixuan’s heart, there was no absolute good or evil; she was good to those who were good to her. Battles between the Heaven Alliance and the Earth Alliance meant nothing to her.

Hearing his martial brother’s tragic and despairing cry, Xuan Yuanjing became utterly furious. It was one thing that Daoist Xuan Qing was killed by a demon's self-detonation—he died fighting for the Heaven Alliance, a hero. But Daoist Xuan Mo died at the hands of his own companion. How could Xuan Yuanjing endure that?

Ignoring the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree hurled by Yuan, he charged toward Hei Ming Shixuan with all his might. He must kill this traitor and avenge his martial brother.

Seeing Xuan Yuanjing intending to kill Hei Ming Shixuan, Yan Senxu, though feeling Hei Ming Shixuan had erred, owed his current achievements entirely to Hei Ming Ba's past support. Furthermore, he was publicly betrothed to Hei Ming Shixuan’s sister; how could he possibly let Xuan Yuanjing actually kill her?

Ignoring his own injuries, he rushed to intercept Xuan Yuanjing. Witnessing Yan Senxu engage Xuan Yuanjing, Ying Kongshi, who had always fought alongside them, naturally had no other choice; he also grasped his long spear and joined the fray.

The other two Heavenly Monarchs of the Heaven Alliance, Daoist Tian Ling and Daoist Di Ling, dared not linger; they transformed into streaks of light and fled into the distance, unwilling to be caught in the crossfire.

Seeing the Heaven Alliance's Heavenly Monarchs suddenly descend into internal conflict, Yuan was overjoyed. He ceased attacking Yan Senxu and Ying Kongshi and lunged directly at Xuan Yuanjing. Consequently, Xuan Yuanjing found himself attacked simultaneously by three figures, two of whom had been his comrades moments before.

With Yuan entering the fight, Ying Kongshi and Yan Senxu, who had just been sent flying by Xuan Yuanjing, were not foolish enough to remain where they were. They understood that against Yuan and Xuan Yuanjing's current power levels, they stood no chance. They pulled Hei Ming Shixuan along and, disregarding the soldiers under their command, sped toward the Southern Cloud Empire.

They had now completely broken ties with the Tianyuan Empire. Their only hope was that nothing catastrophic had befallen that fellow, Liang Xiaoke; with the Immortal Slaying Formation Diagram in his hands, as long as those old powerhouses didn't intervene, their current strength meant they had nothing to fear, even if a full-scale war erupted with the Tianyuan Empire.

No one had anticipated this final outcome, especially Xuan Yuanjing. He never expected that his side, initially the stronger one, would end up with all four of his senior martial brothers falling. This was an enormous blow to him.

Xuan Yuanjing, now completely driven to madness, directly summoned Sky City. Disregarding the fate of the tens of thousands of lives within it, he treated the entire city as a magical artifact and hurled it at Yuan.

He would kill this man, and he would kill that traitor.

The Five Directions Divine Banners surrounding Sky City activated fully, channeling the power of the Five Elements continuously. Combined with the golden pagoda at the center constantly emitting golden lightning, the entire city transformed into a solid, massive, supremely powerful artifact—one no less potent than the Kongtong Seal—as it hurtled toward Yuan.

Seeing the majestic Sky City bearing down on him, Yuan instantly released his Buddhist Kingdom. But upon initial contact, his world shattered; the Bodhisattvas and Arhats exploded, utterly unable to withstand such a collision.

Yuan's face turned deathly pale. The Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree in his hand flashed out, striking heavily against Sky City. This tree, famed for being able to brush away all things, had no effect whatsoever. The Sky City continued its merciless impact upon Yuan.

His four-faced, eight-armed divine form shattered instantly. Three of his heads exploded, and his eight arms were smashed into pieces. Just as Yuan was about to be utterly destroyed, a massive golden club suddenly materialized in the sky and swept fiercely toward Sky City.

With a deafening "Boom..." the Sky City, protected by the Five Directions Divine Banners, was swept away as easily as a baseball. The immense force pulverized the tens of thousands of Heavenly Soldiers and Generals within; at least ninety percent of them were reduced to ash by that single blow...

Yuan, who had narrowly escaped death, dared not linger. He turned and fled west. He fled so fast that he didn't even bother retrieving the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree that had been knocked away, taking only the Abi Sword and the Yuantu Sword as he vanished without a trace...

(To all my stars, I apologize for the long wait. The War Soul series is approaching its conclusion, and much needs careful consideration. I've felt extremely drained these past few days, hoping for your understanding. Rest assured, as promised, I will deliver four chapters daily this month, without fail!)C