His explanation was utterly irrefutable; even Gu Han harbored such suspicions in his own heart. But how could he possibly admit it aloud?

"This prophecy originates from your Xuan art's progenitor, the First Young Master of the Nine Nether!" This time, Chuangshang Beida spoke with a silvery, bell-like female voice, laced with profound disdain and mockery. "I have always held deep respect for your venerable ancestor, from beginning to end. In fact, our entire Shenri Clan reveres this great being immensely. We only ever acknowledge the strong—the truly powerful! Conversely, how many of you so-called noble humans of the Continent have ever genuinely held such reverence for the First Young Master of the Nine Nether?"

Gu Han shuddered, involuntarily taking a step back, his face draining of color.

"You cultivate the techniques he disseminated, using his mental cultivation methods to grow stronger. Yet, you consistently refuse to acknowledge his status as the progenitor. At the very least, you refuse to respect the First Young Master of the Nine Nether as your true patriarch. For what reason? This is something I have never been able to comprehend."

Chuangshang Beida, with the female voice, murmured softly, "There is a saying on your Continent: 'To betray one's master and destroy one's ancestors' (Qī Shī Miè Zǔ). I do not know if your behavior qualifies as such. Or perhaps I misunderstand the meaning of that phrase?!"

Gu Han froze upon hearing this, then became vacant. A moment later, he broke out into a cold sweat, covering his entire body.

It was true that the First Young Master of the Nine Nether had conquered the entirety of the Xuanxuan Continent, establishing his cultivation methods across the land—an achievement monumental enough to shake antiquity. But how many people on the current Xuanxuan Continent genuinely revered the First Young Master of the Nine Nether as one would their own founding ancestor?

The accusation of Qī Shī Miè Zǔ might be slightly excessive.

But in essence, it was close enough.

Currently, the Continent possessed no ancestral hall dedicated to the First Young Master of the Nine Nether.

It was quite laughable, really: this legendary figure who left behind so much for this Continent didn't even have a temple for veneration.

The reason was simple: although the First Young Master of the Nine Nether was overwhelmingly powerful, unmatched by any. He was always someone from another world! He remained perpetually external to the native Xuanxuan realm!

Furthermore, he was a conqueror, and this Continent was the object of his conquest.

Due to this irreconcilable conflict, as long as the First Young Master of the Nine Nether existed, the Continent remained under his dominion. But the moment he was gone, everything would fade.

No one would constantly remind later generations that a man who conquered their entire Continent once existed in this world.

Aside from the necessity of mentioning him due to the inheritance of Xuan Arts, truly few people across the whole Xuanxuan Continent even knew the name 'First Young Master of the Nine Nether' anymore…

"Is that not the case?" Chuangshang Beida mocked. "Where we come from, anyone who is strong receives respect, the most absolute form of respect! Yet you, cultivating the methods of the First Young Master of the Nine Nether, use them to hunt down the descendants of his homeland. Even we would not do such a thing. But you do it, and you do it with clear conscience, mastering the skill with ease. I do not know, or perhaps cannot comprehend, is this your way of showing gratitude?"

Gu Han’s face turned ashen. "Nonsense! What do you know?"

In his heart, he pondered: These outsiders have never personally set foot on the Continent. How could they know these things? Even if there were spies, they absolutely could not have transmitted this information.

"We only know that the people of your Continent are ungrateful traitors who betray their masters and ancestors! That is enough!" Chuangshang Beida chuckled darkly. "We have come to annihilate you; it is merely an act of righteous retribution on behalf of Heaven!"

"Go to hell!" Gu Han finally exploded. "Chuangshang Beida! If you have the guts, show yourself and fight me to the death!"

"Fight to the death? No, no, it is not yet time." Chuangshang Beida changed his voice again, shifting to that eerie, sinister male tone. "My visit today is purely out of curiosity, just to observe. I have no other intentions."

He paused abruptly, glancing over the armies of the Heavenly Punishment and the Holy Lands within a thousand-mile radius with an expression of disdain, before finally asking, "Gu Han, what was the matter with that terrifying, world-crushing pressure that suddenly appeared over the past three days?"

Over the preceding three days, not only were the experts on this side immobilized, but even the experts of the foreign race could not approach! Even Chuangshang Beida himself could only arrive here after the heavenly might had completely subsided. This event had caused widespread panic among the entire foreign race.

"So that is why you came," Gu Han laughed suddenly, finally grasping his intent. "Are you terrified? Finding it impossible to resist? Are you afraid?"

He never expected to gain the upper hand on this topic.

"Indeed, that kind of heavenly might is terrifying. I believe no one can deny that. That is why I came to ask. Why did such a thing occur?"

Chuangshang Beida did not deny it; he was indeed somewhat fearful. His visit was purely for this matter. If the oppressive aura just now was caused by a single person undergoing tribulation, then facing such an individual, the entire Shenri Clan would have no recourse other than being slaughtered unilaterally. They might as well remain quietly within their clan, waiting for the next opportunity, the long eons spanning ten thousand years having accustomed the foreign race to waiting.

"Do you really want to know?" Gu Han laughed heartily.

"Nonsense. If I didn't want to know, why would I travel this far to find you? Do you actually think I miss your company this much?" Chuangshang Beida became somewhat agitated and impatient.

"Since you want to know so badly…" Gu Han suddenly burst into laughter, "…I just won't tell you!"

"Bastard!" Chuangshang Beida was thoroughly enraged. He had been the one playing games moments ago, and now the tables had turned, finding himself toyed with. The female voice cursed sharply and lunged forward, preparing to attack.

But for some reason, the attack never landed. The air overhead stirred violently, vibrating, and then Chuangshang Beida’s voice suddenly turned heavy: "Was someone undergoing tribulation?"

Gu Han snorted, neither confirming nor denying. "Can't you tell whether it was a tribulation or not?"

The airflow above seemed to solidify, suggesting Chuangshang Beida had fallen silent. Then, the airflow suddenly began to churn more violently, swirling and undulating, the air seeming to writhe like dragons and tigers in the mid-air.

"Gu Han, we shall meet again! On the battlefield, we shall each use our own means!" Chuangshang Beida coldly threw down his parting shot. Immediately, with a 'whoosh,' he strangely gathered into a whirlwind, spiraling high into the sky, leaving behind a vacuum-like void, then transforming into a roaring hurricane. In the air, he resembled a monstrous dragon overturning rivers and seas, instantly stretching out shadows spanning hundreds of feet! His imposing aura and dominance were simply beyond comprehension!

However, as he passed the Heavenly Punishment contingent, he couldn't help but utter an appreciative remark: "What magnificent Heavenly Punishment warriors! I presume the losses from the past few days were caused by them? Besides them, I truly cannot imagine what other fighting force could achieve such a glorious victory against a disparity of more than thirty to one!"

Then, spotting Mei Xueyan cautiously watching the sky at the front of the formation, he praised, "What a beautiful woman!"

Mei Xueyan snorted, a cold light flashing in her eyes. Suddenly, with a wave of her jade-like hand, the Blood of Yan Huang roared forth, its sword light piercing straight into the Ninth Heaven!

A cry of surprise echoed from mid-air, followed by several sharp clangs of clashing weapons. The Blood of Yan Huang emitted an annoyed sword-cry, and then its brilliance flared fiercely, its sword radiance surging across the sky to instantly form a luminous screen! The screen billowed and swept horizontally, directly manifesting a Mountain of Swords in the air! The sword-energy was chillingly sharp, making countless people below feel an icy chill throughout their bodies!

"A magnificent sword!" Chuangshang Beida's dual male and female voices exclaimed in unison, revealing deep apprehension mingled with adoration. Then came two long cries—one deep and sinister, the other sharp and melodious—as a silhouette faintly materialized in the air, then vanished in a flash. A tornado suddenly shot straight up into the heavens, bending sharply at high altitude, and disappeared without a trace!

A single message was left hanging in the air: "Gu Han! In three days, watch me break through you with a legitimate army! I will defeat you personally! And let your Xuanxuan Continent submit willingly!"

Break through you! Defeat you personally!

This foremost expert of the foreign race possessed truly soaring, cloud-piercing valor!

The Blood of Yan Huang’s sword-energy sang a long, mournful tune, its brilliance flowing, its tip trembling as it condensed into a vast, hundred-foot-long torrent of sword energy, like a surging great river, ready to pursue instantly!

"Return!" Mei Xueyan urgently commanded, reaching out to beckon it back.

The Blood of Yan Huang let out an unwilling sword-howl in mid-air, but after a long while, it reluctantly descended, resting quietly in Mei Xueyan's pure, jade-like hand. The sword body still shimmered with cold light, appearing extremely dissatisfied and unwilling.

Such an exceedingly powerful and delicious 'tonic' had just slipped away right under its very nose! The Blood of Yan Huang felt utterly dejected. Why wouldn't she let it have a proper feast? If it could absorb this twin-headed monster... how much stronger would it become? The Blood of Yan Huang idly fantasized, its blade rattling with metallic sounds. Mei Xueyan assumed this was because its battle intent had not yet subsided, unaware that the Blood of Yan Huang was greedily drooling... just as a human salivates profusely when confronted with exquisite food... the desire to feast was overwhelming...

Watching the formidable enemy depart, Gu Han could not help but sigh deeply.

The enemy's words still echoed in his ears.

Would the Xuanxuan Continent truly face grave peril this time?

"Break through you with a legitimate army! Defeat you personally!" Gu Han muttered the phrase, thinking: Is this declaration a challenge, or merely a feint to sow confusion?

But regardless of the case, this coming battle was fraught with extreme danger!

Recalling Chuangshang Beida’s parting words, "A magnificent sword!" Gu Han now also couldn't help but utter inwardly, "A magnificent sword!"

He looked at Mei Xueyan, and a strange light flashed in Gu Han's eyes. Now, he finally noticed a slight clue. Could this sword attack independently, rather than being controlled by someone? If not, how could Mei Xueyan possibly hold off Chuangshang Beida on her own? Moreover, how could remote sword manipulation allow her to fight Chuangshang Beida to a standstill?

Thinking this through, Gu Han’s heart suddenly tightened: A single sword, capable of stopping the peak Third-Rank Saint Monarch Chuangshang Beida? Then this sword must truly be a genuine... Divine Sword?

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