Ye Jingyu brought Liang Xiaoke and Chi Yixiu to Tongtian Mountain, but they found no sign of the Patriarch Tongtian. The Eye of Samsara swept across the vast peak, yet the entire place was deserted—even the young Taoist acolytes left to manage the estate had vanished. What had happened? Why was he gone?

Ye Jingyu knew better than anyone the profound depth of Tongtian’s cultivation. Was there anyone left in the Three Realms capable of taking him away?

The figures of Jiu Feng and the others soon arrived. Seeing the desolate state of Tongtian’s dojo, everyone froze. What was going on? Why had everything disappeared? Could someone have stirred Tongtian enough to spirit him away?

Just then, Ye Jingyu felt a piercing agony in his heart, as if a piece of flesh had been brutally sliced away by a knife…

A look of suffering contorted his face, and beads of cold sweat immediately broke out. He clutched his chest tightly, the pain so intense.

“Jingyu, what’s wrong?” Seeing Ye Jingyu like this, Jiu Feng, Luo Ling'er, and the other women were instantly filled with worry. The women rushed towards him, Jiu Feng and Xiyang flanking him to offer support.

“I don’t know what happened. I just feel like something vital has been torn away from me!” Ye Jingyu managed to say, his lips pale.

Hearing his words, everyone looked toward Liang Xiaoke and Chi Yixiu lying on the ground. They noted that although the life force flickering within them was faint, they hadn't completely lost their vitality; for the moment, they were not in mortal danger.

“Let’s save them first,” Ye Jingyu forced back the pain in his heart, pointing at Liang Xiaoke and Chi Yixiu on the ground.

They had initially assumed that with Tongtian present, saving the two would be effortless. Now that Tongtian was absent, they were forced to take on the rescue themselves.

Fortunately, he had someone like Jumang by his side. Although Jumang’s cultivation was far inferior to Tongtian’s, he was not far behind when it came to healing, and Ye Jingyu himself possessed the Chaos Body, meaning his blood was the finest spiritual medicine.

As soon as Ye Jingyu spoke, everyone quickly helped carry the two inside, even bringing the injured Ying Kongshi into the secret chamber. Jiu Feng, wielding the Flag of Chiyou, established the Twelve Heavenly Witch Extinction Grand Array around Tongtian Mountain. Meanwhile, Gongsun Lu deployed the Immortal Slaying Sword Array that Liang Xiaoke had left behind, setting it up within the boundaries of the Twelve Heavenly Witch Array. Though deeply concerned for Liang Xiaoke’s well-being, she understood that haste was the enemy now.

With Tongtian suddenly gone and the Monkey also captured, all the heavy burdens now rested squarely on Ye Jingyu’s shoulders. Looking at the unconscious Liang Xiaoke and the others, Ye Jingyu’s brow furrowed deeply.

Has it all begun? So early? Have they already made their move? Are they unwilling to grant him even a chance to recover and consolidate his strength? Did they fear him that much?

Wait. The Nine Dragons Tongtian Ladder could bring down nine people at once. Yang Jian and Nezha accounted for two slots. What about the remaining seven? His faction represented a significant force; they had only deployed two. Where were the other seven? Could it be…

Suddenly, Ye Jingyu thought of Bing Ming at the Earth Alliance, and the distant Dugu Bachan and Xue Ling in the Northern Underworld…

The realization struck him with visceral horror, and he faintly understood the source of his recent agonizing pain. But now, with Liang Xiaoke and Chi Yixiu hanging on by a thread, he couldn't even leave to check on them…

“Bing Ming, Master, you must hold on!” Ye Jingyu prayed silently in his heart before beginning to cooperate with Jumang in tending to Liang Xiaoke and Chi Yixiu.

He had already made up his mind: if anything dire had truly happened to Bing Ming and Dugu Bachan, he would bring ruin upon the world to obliterate those so-called master strategists above.

The scene shifted back to the Earth Citadel of the Earth Alliance. Ksitigarbha slammed out a palm strike. The colossal Immeasurable Divine Seal descended like the hand of an ancient giant, crashing down upon Bing Ming.

Bing Ming’s physical body, tempered by countless streams of frigid essence, had achieved ultimate resilience, yet under that single blow, he was sent flying like a common fly. Blood sprayed from his mouth like a fountain—no longer the crimson hue of a human, but blood tinged with pale yellow, like that of a zombie.

The sound of cracking bones accompanied the impact, and it was impossible to tell how many had shattered. He slammed heavily onto the ground; his iron sword and the Kongtong Seal skittered away, leaving him utterly unable to stir.

Ksitigarbha strode forward and placed a heavy foot directly onto Bing Ming’s head…

“Are you willing to convert to my Buddha?” The voice, thick with lethal intent, issued from Ksitigarbha’s mouth.

“No…” Bing Ming’s bones were nearly pulverized. He struggled to rise but could not muster any strength.

“Truly unwilling?” Ksitigarbha stomped down viciously, crushing half of Bing Ming’s ear. The immense pain nearly rendered him unconscious, yet he showed no inclination to yield.

“I will die before I ever…” Bing Ming ground out through clenched teeth…

Ksitigarbha erupted in fury, repeatedly stamping down on Bing Ming. Each step carried tremendous force. After every few strikes, he would repeat the question, “Are you willing to convert to my Buddha?” But each time, Bing Ming rejected him with indomitable willpower.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Bing Ming’s body was on the verge of complete collapse, his inner strength beginning to leak out. Only then did Ksitigarbha cease his torment, looking down upon Bing Ming.

“Since you refuse to embrace my Dharma, then this humble monk shall usher you to another world…” Ksitigarbha’s voice was sharp with menace, and he slowly raised his right hand, summoning a staff into existence.

“Ksitigarbha, mercy!” Just as Ksitigarbha was about to raise his staff to utterly erase Bing Ming, a voice intervened. Ksitigarbha fixed his gaze on the newcomer: another man in a saffron robe, riding a turquoise lion, floating toward him.

“What use is keeping him?” Ksitigarbha asked flatly.

“He serves a purpose…” The newcomer smiled faintly…

Ksitigarbha said no more. He delivered a final, powerful kick to Bing Ming’s body, which resembled minced meat. The newcomer directed his azure lion to gently pick up Bing Ming, then turned and vanished.

Watching the man disappear, Ksitigarbha’s face remained impassive. He turned toward the demons engaged in fierce combat, a flash of brutal intent suddenly crossing his eyes.

Lay down the butcher's knife, and achieve Buddhahood instantly. Since they could not lay down their blades, he would personally intervene. Once dead, they would surely put things down, wouldn't they?

With that thought, Ksitigarbha’s form shimmered, expanding to a height of millions of feet. Wielding his massive staff, he charged toward the demon army…

A slaughter had begun…

Meanwhile, in the distant Northern Underworld, Dugu Bachan had instructed Xue Ling to cease her daily cultivation and simply sit quietly before him.

Gazing at Xue Ling’s resolute face and her now somewhat icy eyes, Dugu Bachan sighed inwardly. Had this harsh training been for her benefit or not?

“Xue Ling, what do you think a blade is?” After a long silence, Dugu Bachan suddenly spoke.

Xue Ling started. What was a blade? Since becoming Dugu Bachan’s disciple, she seemed to have dealt with blades every day, but what was a blade, truly? A weapon? A killing instrument? If so, why would Dugu Bachan ask such a shallow question?

She was confused, uncertain, and ignorant…

“To a swordsman, the blade is his life. To a butcher, it is a tool. To a soldier, it is his weapon. The blade holds a different meaning for every person. I am a swordsman, so to me, the blade is my life—my life is the blade. But you are not a swordsman… so you do not understand the blade.” Seeing the blankness in Xue Ling’s eyes, Dugu Bachan continued.

Xue Ling nodded stiffly. She was indeed not a swordsman. She didn't even understand what a swordsman needed to be. She only wanted to increase her strength, only to gain the ability to help Ye Jingyu—nothing more. Practicing blade techniques was merely one path to advancing her cultivation…

Therefore, she was not a swordsman…

“It’s not your fault you don’t understand the blade, but you must understand why you are doing this. A person needs a goal to have direction. Tell your master, what is your ultimate purpose?” Dugu Bachan said calmly.

“To increase my cultivation, to help Big Brother…” Xue Ling answered without hesitation. This was the persistent thought and obsession in her heart—everything for him, for the one who had pulled her back from the brink of death.

“To help him? Then are you willing to become his blade?” Seeing Xue Ling’s response, Dugu Bachan showed little surprise, his tone remaining utterly placid.

Xue Ling paused, not fully grasping his meaning, but then she nodded firmly again. As long as it could help him, what did it matter if she became just a blade, a blade without independent consciousness?

Seeing her determined nod, a slight smile touched Dugu Bachan’s usually cold face. But the stone blade resting by his side suddenly transformed into a streak of light, shooting out instantly to pierce Xue Ling’s heart. Crimson blood sprayed out, dyeing the stone blade red.

Xue Ling felt a sharp pain in her chest, but there was no accusation in her expression; she knew he would never harm her.

Her blood was continuously absorbed by the stone blade. Her consciousness faded into fuzziness, and finally, the entire stone blade turned a deep blood-red. Xue Ling’s body slowly collapsed, her very soul drawn into the stone blade…

Watching Xue Ling fall, Dugu Bachan sighed softly. With a single touch, the stone blade became a streak of light and shot into the abyss whose depths could not be seen.

Xue Ling, I had planned three hundred years to nurture you, but time truly runs short. This is the only thing I can do for you now. I hope that by the time you understand, you will have become a blade—a blade that exists solely for him…

Sighing internally, Dugu Bachan slowly turned around, facing the figure that emerged from the void…