(First update of the day!) As he spoke, Jun Mo Xie pointed at Gu Han’s hand clutching his lapel and roared, "Let go!" "What did you say? Just playing around?" Gu Han’s gaze instantly sharpened, becoming dangerously pointed as he scrutinized Jun Mo Xie’s eyes.

Jun Mo Xie met the challenge with a defiant stare, a cold, indifferent smirk playing on his lips. Yet, in a flash, Gu Han merely chuckled, releasing his grip.

With surprising ease, he said, "Since you say it's just for fun, then let's have some fun. Keep playing!

The supreme ruler of evil wants to play a game; what can an old man on the verge of death do? Can I fight fate?" Jun Mo Xie was stunned dumbfounded, utterly unprepared for such a response.

He couldn't help but blurt out a curse, "Damn your ancestors! What kind of talk is that?!

That’s your daughter!" "Human speech. Does Lord Jun not comprehend?" Gu Han smiled.

"I have nothing more to say now, nor will I continue to argue here with you." Gu Han snorted, "One more thing: she is not my daughter. Please remember that, and never let her know that she is my daughter!

This is my final request to you!" With that, Gu Han abruptly deactivated the spatial lock and strolled out leisurely. Two strides carried him into the midst of the assembled experts of the Holy Lands.

Though his hair and beard were entirely snow-white, his demeanor had become remarkably relaxed! His innate bearing regained a touch of towering nobility, as if he had suddenly transformed into a different person.

While he hadn't yet returned to the peak status Jun Mo Xie had first witnessed, the contrast with his previous (decadence/dejection) was stark. Right or wrong, the merits and demerits of a lifetime had been settled clearly and lucidly within the confines of that spatial lock with Jun Mo Xie.

Even if flawed, even if guilty, he had guarded the continent for ten thousand years! Even if correct, even if meritorious… he had committed far too many deeds that were utterly wrong!

But now, none of that mattered anymore! The only thing that mattered was this battle before them.

The idea that he would treat the confrontation with Jun Mo Xie as "just for fun"—Gu Han openly scoffed at it! If the Ruler of Evil truly was such an irresponsible person, then Gu Han would have to admit he had misjudged him completely!

Just as he had stated earlier: "No matter what you do, I will not know!" Faced with a man who could transition from being extremely responsible to extremely irresponsible in a single second, Jun Mo Xie was left speechless, caught between laughter and tears! What in the blazes was this situation!

What kind of person was this! But Jun Mo Xie also knew that whatever pain, guilt, or shame Gu Han might have felt moments ago, it had all dissolved into nothingness the instant he walked out of that spatial lock.

Because he had completely transferred everything that transpired here onto himself! Gu Han truly no longer wished to live.

Similarly, the Holy Lands were destined to become but a phantom in this coming battle, a mere entry in the annals of history! This was their sole pursuit now, their greatest aspiration!

Jun Mo Xie felt certain that even if he knelt down now and begged them, they would not change their minds. Their hearts were already dead!

Their deaths were something Jun Mo Xie could not stop, and more importantly… he had no intention of stopping them! As he had stated before, if they were to die, they must extract the greatest possible price for it!

This was Jun Mo Xie’s only demand. This demand might appear cold-blooded, utilitarian, or even cruel.

But… it was the only demand he could possibly make! Only in this way could this battle possess significant, positive value!

Only in this way could it be considered a responsible stance toward the Xuan Xuan Continent! If these masters were to simply self-destruct while fighting mere small fry, Young Master Jun would truly be weeping tears of utter despair!

Men of war: live gallantly, and die magnificently! Rest easy, with no regrets in this life!

Even if they ultimately vanish into wisps of smoke, let it be a spectacular sunset glow! This—this is what makes a man!

This—this does not betray the name of ‘man’! This statement was not limited solely to Jun Mo Xie’s demand of the three great Holy Lands; it was also his requirement for all his subordinates, for every warrior under Heavenly Punishment, and ultimately, for himself!

A rumbling sound suddenly echoed in the distance. The main reinforcement contingent from Heavenly Punishment had finally arrived!

All flying Xuan Beasts of level seven and above had been mobilized simultaneously to transport the troops. Although their individual strength was lacking, necessitating frequent stops, they had managed to ferry a large body of vital manpower to this crucial moment.

When Jun Mo Xie arrived, Mei Xueyan was busy taking inventory of the forces. She also delivered good news to Jun Mo Xie: aside from the Peng Clan and Monkey Clan, whose fighting strength was relatively weaker and were still en route, the warriors of the Lion Clan, Leopard Clan, Eagle Clan, and Wolf Clan—four major tribes, five thousand warriors each, totaling twenty thousand strong—had already reached the encampment!

This provided immense relief to their dangerously stretched fighting strength! Up to this point, Heavenly Punishment’s total combat strength reached thirty-four thousand men, while the Holy Lands still commanded seven thousand.

The total number of deployable combat personnel on both sides summed up to forty-one thousand, and every single individual’s minimum combat power was at the Venerable tier. All were fully prepared for battle!

At noon, led by Gu Han, the contingent from the three great Holy Lands, including Mo Wu Dao, brought their seven thousand fighters in ten orderly formations to the Heavenly Punishment camp, agreeing to submit to Jun Mo Xie’s unified command. Jun Mo Xie did not refuse this gesture from the Holy Lands, accepting their cooperation.

Regardless of past grievances or grudges, at this moment, they were comrades standing in the same trench. The only exception was the five individuals originally following Xia Chang Tian; they absolutely refused to group with the others from the Holy Lands and remained lingering outside separately.

Even after Gu Han appealed to them emotionally and reasoned with them logically, they remained steadfastly unyielding. "We will certainly participate in this world-ending catastrophe, but we will absolutely not fight alongside you!

We fight our own battles; whether we live or die is none of your concern. Since you stood idly by when we were sought for revenge, why should I listen to you now?" "Likewise, we will never accept unified command, especially not from an enemy…" They did not state this attitude explicitly, but their expressions and actions conveyed it clearly enough.

In response, Jun Mo Xie completely ignored them. He even stopped those who attempted to persuade them.

Just let them be; if they wanted to self-mutilate or self-destruct right now, no one would stop them. A massive war involving hundreds of thousands of combatants could erupt at any moment here; a few more or a few less made no difference!

Do you think throwing a petty tantrum like this will earn you coddling? This Young Master has no time for such games!

The Palace Master of the Escaped Immortal Palace… or perhaps, the former Palace Master Mo Wu Dao, entered with a grim face. He said nothing, merely staring fixedly at Jun Mo Xie, his gaze unusually complex.

Unfortunately, Jun Mo Xie still had no time to spare for him. No matter how complex his stare, it held no further significance for the immediate situation!

Instead, Jun Mo Xie spoke warmly to a stationed guardian from the Battlefield of Seizing Heaven. "Senior Leng Tong, long time no see.

How have you been?" Leng Tong managed a wry smile, unable to suppress a surge of emotion. "Lord Jun, your speed of ascent can truly be called unprecedented in history!

I am deeply impressed." The unprecedented speed he referred to was naturally not Jun Mo Xie’s movement speed, but his rate of cultivation advancement. Jun Mo Xie’s progress was utterly demonic.

Even the legendary First Young Master of Nine Nether did not advance this quickly. A youth not yet twenty years old had reached the legendary peak of the fourth level of the Saint Monarch realm.

What was most unbelievable was that three years ago, this young man hadn't even truly qualified as a Xuan Practitioner, merely a dissolute wastrel! Jun Mo Xie laughed heartily, his sincerity evident.

"Senior Leng Tong, I must always thank you for distinguishing right from wrong that day. I recall your bearing back then and still cherish the memory." Leng Tong smiled.

"Nonsense. At that time, I was merely going with the flow.

I believe even if I hadn't chosen that path, you would have found a way to resolve that crisis successfully without suffering any harm. Besides, you already held the advantage then, ha ha…" "Though you say that, I still owe you a favor, Leng Tong," Jun Mo Xie smiled, his expression then growing solemn.

He slowly asked, "Will you be acting alongside the Holy Lands this time?" This question was essentially inquiring whether Leng Tong had come with the fixed intention of dying. "Of course.

To spill my blood here is my greatest honor! It is the lifelong aspiration of my existence!" Leng Tong stated solemnly.

"In my entire life of cultivation, all I sought was this very battle!" "Good!" Jun Mo Xie nodded slowly, letting out a long sigh. "Leng Tong, you truly are a real man, a true hero!

In terms of quick wit, smooth talking, self-preservation, or advancing Xuan Qi and martial arts, you are inferior to me. But when it comes to discerning right from wrong, chivalry, and this kind of effortless resolution, I am inferior to you!" When these words were spoken, even Gu Han was moved.

Although Leng Tong's cultivation was not low, he was only a Saint. Why would he receive such high praise from the Ruler of Evil?

With the accumulation of wisdom and experience spanning countless ages, everyone present could discern that the tone in Jun Mo Xie’s voice was one of heartfelt emotion, completely devoid of flattery. While these words were praise and deference toward Leng Tong, they also served as a summation for Jun Mo Xie himself.

Only he truly understood himself. Jun Mo Xie was clearly aware of the countless weaknesses he possessed.

A peculiar personality, self-centered, and extremely radical. If it weren't for the existence of the Hongjun Tower—that heaven-defying cheat item—in this world where might makes right, he believed he would have died countless times already!

Without the Hongjun Tower, Jun Mo Xie believed that relying solely on his own relentless perseverance, reaching the Earth Xuan level within this year would have been an optimistic estimate. As for achieving the current peak of the fourth level of the Saint Monarch realm, even dismantling his bones and flesh piece by piece for total reconstruction would have been absolutely impossible!

Even if he had survived, the highest peak he could have reached in his life would probably have been perpetually entangled with Li Youran in Tianxiang City and Tianxiang Kingdom, until the very end of his days.