Origin Space.

  Lu Fan sat in perfect stillness. For an entire year, he had poured every ounce of focus into fusing and evolving the world origins.

  There was no other way. Merging a weaker origin into stronger ones was inherently perilous, fraught with deadly risks at every step.

  He could not afford the slightest lapse in concentration. One mistake, and everything could collapse into catastrophe.

  Rumble…

  A colossal vortex churned before him, vast as a galaxy.

  Golden Body, Prajna, Tian Luo, and Tian Yuan—the four origins spun within like planets orbiting a newborn star.

  An exquisite, mysterious balance.

  Tian Yuan’s origin was manageable, but the other three were titans.

  Fusing them had pushed Lu to his limits.

  And even after the fusion was complete, he still had to keep the vortex spinning…

  Throughout the process, Lu felt his spiritual sense being tempered and refined, growing stronger with every heartbeat.

  Rumble!

  When the fusion finally finished, his spiritual sense would reach an astonishing height—possibly surpassing ordinary primordial spirits.

  With a single thought, he could probably condense a true primordial spirit right now.

  A primordial spirit was the ultimate manifestation of soul power, far beyond raw spiritual sense.

  But Lu did not do so.

  He was still in the middle of the fusion; he could not spare the focus.

  Besides, there was no rush.

  Buzz…

  In the origin space, Lu slowly opened his eyes.

  Gravity filled his gaze.

  “Something breached the Overturning Sky Array…”

  He raised a brow, then shook his head.

  He paid it no mind for now. The Overturning Sky Array was not easily broken, and the intruder’s aura felt… underwhelming.

  That was precisely why Lu remained unconcerned.

  “One year already…”

  He exhaled slowly.

  Staring at the origins still slowly merging, anticipation flickered in his eyes.

  Almost there.

  Soon, the Five Phoenixes would have the qualifications to ascend to high martial.

  “One year outside means ten years inside the relic. I poured countless resources in there. Don’t disappoint me.”

  Lu smiled faintly.

  Then he closed his eyes again.

  Vast, terrifying spiritual pressure surged forth once more.

  …

  Bloody Battlefield.

  The stench of blood hung thick in the air.

  Crimson sand rolled across the frozen ground, scraped by a biting wind.

  The bronze war chariot plowed forward, carving cold scars into the earth.

  The Heavenly Dragon Holy Son stood atop it, clutching a radiant orb—a saint-tier artifact.

  He flung the crushed corpse of the academy student to the ground and flicked the blood from his fingers without expression.

  He surveyed the entire Bloody Battlefield.

  Desolate. Frigid. Lifeless.

  The mud and gore made him wrinkle his nose in disgust.

  He stomped the ground; the earth shuddered.

  “To enter the world proper, I still have to cross this damned battlefield… How troublesome.”

  His twin horns glinted with icy sharpness.

  Every guide on the battlefield had already been slaughtered by him, leaving him momentarily stumped.

  How was he supposed to cross now?

  Force his way through?

  His eyes narrowed and slid toward the ruins of the fortress he had flattened earlier.

  There had been a jade talisman array there.

  With a thought, the chariot rumbled forward.

  Eight cracked jade talismans hovered silently, spiderweb fractures glowing across their surfaces—damaged by his earlier pressure.

  “Some kind of teleportation array…”

  “A passage between realms?”

  He studied it briefly, then drove the chariot straight in.

  Nothing happened.

  His face darkened.

  “Strength restriction… The weak can’t cross.”

  “Trash.”

  Boom!

  His aura erupted.

  The jade talisman array—originally duplicated by Xie Yunling—shattered into glittering fragments under his overwhelming presence.

  Terrifying energy poured from his body, whipping the crimson sand into a howling storm.

  “Break for this holy son!”

  With a roar, a golden halberd appeared in his hands—another saint-tier weapon, forged from divine gold and pulsing with strange ripples.

  Standing on the scarred bronze chariot, a cold smile curved his lips.

  He urged the chariot skyward.

  Then he swung the halberd with all his might, smashing it down onto the Bloody Battlefield.

  The earth quaked violently.

  He intended to rip the entire battlefield apart and tear open a path straight into the Five Phoenixes.

  …

  Rumble!

  The sky over the continent turned leaden. Black clouds rolled in, and cold rain began to fall.

  Tantai Xuan stepped out of the palace hall and extended a palm.

  A raindrop struck his skin—icy, and stained red with blood.

  Inside the hall, dead silence reigned.

  The surviving academy student knelt on the floor, tears streaming down his face.

  His heart was shattered. The moment he had been hurled into the jade talisman array, he had watched that golden dragon claw sweep across the sky. Tian Sai Pass and every brother inside had been pulverized in an instant.

  Every breath felt like knives in his lungs.

  The atmosphere was suffocating.

  Generals who had rushed over upon receiving the news stood grim and silent, sensing the gravity of the disaster.

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  Tantai Xuan stared at the blood raining from the sky. His eyes turned red.

  That blood belonged to his Xuanwu Guards. To his Great Xuan academy students!

  “Tian Sai Pass… has fallen.”

  “One hundred Xuanwu Guards, countless Great Xuan cavalry, nineteen academy students… all dead.”

  His voice came out hoarse, as though something inside him had broken.

  The generals froze in disbelief.

  Tian Sai Pass—the first and most crucial line of defense against invaders from beyond the heavens.

  Built to repel the heavenly demons of old.

  Now… fallen?

  “A terrifying expert has descended from outside the world. One strike destroyed the entire pass.”

  Tantai Xuan’s gaze lifted to the sky.

  The unease that had gnawed at him these past months finally had a face.

  So the crisis had come after all.

  Dark clouds before the storm.

  A year of peace had merely been the calm before the catastrophe.

  An enemy capable of obliterating an entire fortress in one blow was terrifying beyond measure.

  “Summon General Jiang Li.”

  “Understood.”

  An attendant bowed and hurried away.

  The generals remained silent, faces ashen.

  This was too big.

  Tian Sai Pass had stood peacefully for so long—how could it fall to such calamity in an instant?

  Boom!

  Thunder cracked overhead.

  Everyone looked up, expressions grim.

  Jiang Li arrived clad in silver armor, footsteps ringing like iron.

  He already knew what had happened at Tian Sai Pass.

  A tragedy that made the heart bleed.

  “My king… my deepest condolences.”

  He drew a heavy breath.

  He had entered the immortal relic half a year ago but left soon after. His talent was decent, but not exceptional. Without finding his own Dao, true breakthrough was impossible.

  Heavenlock perfection might be the limit of this lifetime.

  So he had left the relic to seek the Dao of the soldier.

  Tantai Xuan looked at him, grief and fury burning in his eyes.

  “My king, what is your will?”

  Jiang Li asked calmly.

  Facing such a foe, he needed to know Tantai Xuan’s decision.

  An enemy who could erase Tian Sai Pass in one strike was likely Infant Transformation—or higher.

  Jiang Li’s question silenced Tantai Xuan.

  He stared at the blood-red deluge, his gaze gradually hardening.

  “Years ago, when the Five Barbarians invaded Zhou… my creed was simple: those not of our race must harbor different hearts. Kill.”

  “Today, demons from beyond the heavens invade and slaughter my Great Xuan soldiers. This is a blood debt.”

  “My stance remains the same: whoever offends Great Xuan will be executed!”

  His voice rang like hammered iron through the hall.

  The generals’ blood surged.

  “Whoever offends Great Xuan will be executed!”

  Even the palace attendants and eunuchs clenched their fists, faces flushed, roaring the words with iron resolve.

  Jiang Li inhaled deeply.

  “If the king chooses war… then we war!”

  His eyes blazed.

  …

  The blood rain continued to pour.

  Jiang Li mounted his horse and rallied the troops.

  Three thousand Xuanwu Guards—all Body Storage realm—assembled in the storm, armored and arrayed in perfect formation.

  Tantai Xuan donned a straw raincoat and passed through the Dragon Gate, personally riding to Tian Dang Mountain in Southern Commandery.

  He climbed to Plucking Star Peak.

  In the bamboo tower, Xie Yunling greeted him. A year had addeded more white at his temples.

  He seemed surprised by the emperor’s visit.

  “I greet His Majesty.”

  Now that Great Xuan ruled the world, Tantai Xuan was the Human Emperor, bearer of Imperial Dragon Qi—worthy of respect.

  Tantai Xuan removed his raincoat and told Xie Yunling everything.

  He wanted another jade talisman array forged.

  “Does Your Majesty truly intend to return to the Bloody Battlefield?”

  “What if we are only moths to the flame?”

  Xie Yunling asked gravely.

  “I will lead the campaign myself. They slaughtered hundreds of my soldiers. I cannot swallow this insult.”

  Tantai Xuan clenched his fist until it trembled.

  “Even if we cannot win, I must personally tell those fallen warriors that Great Xuan has not abandoned them.”

  Xie Yunling fell silent.

  After a long moment, he sighed softly.

  “Your Majesty… why not summon help from the immortal relic?”

  “Call upon Overlord and the others. Perhaps they could turn the tide.”

  Tantai Xuan shook his head.

  “Overlord and the rest entered an immortal-grade formation. They cannot break out easily, and we cannot reach them.”

  “I have already requested aid from the Tian Yuan holy lands. They did not refuse—they sent many disciples and even Infant Transformation elders.”

  “Protecting the Five Phoenixes is our duty.”

  Xie Yunling nodded slightly.

  “And… have you sought Bai Yujing?”

  “Young Master Lu sees all beneath the heavens. If he wished to intervene, he would.”

  Tantai Xuan shook his head again.

  “But since Young Master Lu took Bai Yujing into seclusion, his intent was for us to learn to stand on our own. This crisis… we must face it ourselves.”

  “Old Xie, I beg you.”

  Xie Yunling did not refuse.

  He entered the bamboo tower and, half a day later, emerged with a new jade talisman array.

  “I will accompany Your Majesty.”

  “As you said—when the world is at stake, every man bears responsibility.”

  He smiled.

  …

  Southern Commandery.

  The aging Tang Xiansheng read the message and surprisingly smiled.

  “Lord, shall we notify the young mistress in the relic?”

  A general asked solemnly.

  “No. Do not disturb Yimo.”

  “The king leads the campaign himself. These old bones cannot sit idle.”

  Tang Xiansheng rose slowly from his rocking chair.

  The general was stunned.

  “Assemble the troops. Three thousand Southern Prefecture soldiers—march to support the king.”

  The commander of the Southern Prefecture Army felt pressure rolling off the old man like he was young again.

  …

  Northern Commandery, Tai Ridge.

  Torrential rain hammered down.

  Cold droplets struck armor, splashing into red mist.

  Iron-clad soldiers stood motionless in the downpour.

  Jiang Li galloped through the ranks.

  On the drill ground, Xie Yunling—clad in daoist robes—struck jade talismans one by one into the earth.

  Thick mist surged upward like a vortex.

  The improved jade talisman array linking to the Bloody Battlefield reappeared.

  Tantai Xuan stood among the troops in full battle regalia, sword drawn, horse ready.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Amid the roar of rain, war drums thundered.

  Every raindrop bouncing off the drumheads seemed to roar with fury.

  “Forward!”

  Jiang Li bellowed from atop his horse.

  Iron ranks advanced, banners snapping in the storm.

  Hooves thundered, splashing water high.

  Boom!

  Jiang Li charged into the mist first.

  Three thousand Xuanwu cavalry followed.

  Tantai Xuan’s war chariot, pulled by armored horses, carried him and Xie Yunling through the array.

  Old Tang Xiansheng, hunched but resolute, rode another chariot at the head of three thousand Southern Prefecture troops.

  Tian Yuan holy land cultivators—Infant Transformation elders leading Golden Core and Foundation disciples—stepped through the mist as well.

  Killing intent soaked the air.

  When the drill ground finally emptied…

  The war drums still echoed in the sky.

  …

  Boundless sea.

  A lone boat drifted silently.

  Rain veiled the horizon.

  Nie Changqing stood aboard in white robes, having emerged from ten years inside the relic.

  He quietly sensed the changes in heaven and earth.

  A black blade hung at his waist.

  He closed his eyes.

  Sea and sky merged into one gray.

  After a long while, he opened his eyes and looked upward—cold light flashing within.

  The blade at his waist shot skyward.

  He leaped after it, riding the sword, tearing through the curtain of rain.

  …

  Bloody Battlefield.

  The Heavenly Dragon Holy Son was growing irritated.

  He had carved countless horrific gashes into the crimson earth, yet still could not breach the battlefield.

  It infuriated him.

  Suddenly, he stopped.

  Standing atop his chariot, halberd in hand, he gazed into the distance.

  “Oh?”

  Interest flickered across his face.

  His spiritual sense detected another jade talisman array activating.

  The ants… were coming again.

  “These ants dare take the initiative?”

  A cruel smile spread across his lips.

  In the void, the withered old man on the barren continent opened his deep eyes in faint surprise.

  He peered through the bloody mist and saw the natives of the Five Phoenixes stepping out of the array.

  Even he was taken aback.

  These people dared face the Heavenly Dragon Holy Son head-on?

  The blood in this world’s veins ran hotter than he had imagined.

  Mist rose from the jade talisman array.

  Jiang Li charged out first on horseback.

  Behind him poured ranks of Xuanwu Guards clad in dark iron.

  He reined in, lifted his gaze, and finally beheld the enemy—a horned man standing on a bronze chariot, golden halberd gleaming.

  So this was the butcher who destroyed Tian Sai Pass.

  The Heavenly Dragon Holy Son watched with amused interest.

  He did not strike immediately—just observed, curious what tricks these ants would try.

  Three thousand Southern Prefecture troops, three thousand Xuanwu Guards, plus the Tian Yuan holy land cultivators.

  An impressive force.

  “The strongest among them is merely Infant Transformation… Truly nothing but ants.”

  His spiritual sense swept over them; he yawned in boredom.

  Tantai Xuan stood on his chariot, sword raised, staring at the holy son.

  So this was the murderer who slaughtered his men.

  “Kill!”

  Jiang Li’s face was ice as he drew his sword and pointed it at the holy son.

  The Infant Transformation elder from Martial Emperor City looked grave.

  Too strong…

  The pressure from this Tian Yuan holy son was suffocating!

  “King of Northern Xuan, retreat at once! This battle is hopeless!”

  The elder shouted.

  “Hahaha! Since you came, none of you are leaving!”

  The Heavenly Dragon Holy Son threw his head back and laughed.

  Numbers meant nothing.

  As he laughed, terrifying aura exploded from his body.

  Rumble!

  Crushing pressure blanketed the entire battlefield.

  Every cultivator felt their breath seize.

  The Infant Transformation elder from Martial Emperor City paled.

  “My king, we cannot fight! He is at least as strong as a holy master! We must summon the holy masters from the relic!”

  His body trembled beneath the Spirit Severing pressure.

  On the chariot, Tantai Xuan shook his head.

  He leaped down, seized the drum mallets, and began beating the war drums himself.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  The drums thundered.

  Jiang Li’s eyes sharpened.

  He spurred his horse forward!

  Three thousand Xuanwu Guards advanced under the holy son’s crushing pressure, step by measured step.

  Their unified footfalls rang across the battlefield like rolling thunder.

  Hm?

  The Heavenly Dragon Holy Son’s brows rose in genuine surprise.

  These Foundation realm ants… were resisting his pressure?

  “Courting death.”

  Cold light flashed in his eyes.

  The scarred bronze chariot groaned ominously.

  He swept his halberd horizontally.

  A tidal wave of golden energy surged forth.

  “Form array!”

  Jiang Li roared.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Heavy shields slammed into the ground as the soldiers crawled forward.

  Jiang Li charged at the vanguard, horse thundering.

  Fierce light blazed in his eyes.

  The Dao of the soldier!

  He would carve his own path!

  The battlefield was where he would prove his Dao!

  He clamped his legs around the horse and gripped his sword with both hands.

  With a battle cry, the morale of three thousand Xuanwu Guards fused into one!

  Rumble!

  Behind Jiang Li, a colossal blood-colored war god materialized—forged from the combined spirit of every soldier.

  Raising its massive sword, it slashed down.

  The blood-colored sword energy collided with the golden halberd wave.

  BOOM!

  Pfft!

  Every Xuan39;anwu Guard coughed blood.

  Cracks spiderwebbed across countless suits of armor.

  The blood-colored sword seemed on the verge of shattering.

  Jiang Li’s eyes bulged with fury. Blood sprayed from every pore.

  Yet he did not retreat—he held the line.

  “Three thousand Southern Prefecture troops—merge with the formation!”

  Tang Xiansheng watched the battlefield, his aged, hunched body suddenly straightening as though youth had returned.

  Roar!

  The Southern Prefecture troops poured their spirit into Jiang Li’s formation.

  Tantai Xuan, beating the drums, felt his blood boil.

  “Great Xuan has no cowards!”

  “I lend you my strength!”

  Golden Imperial Dragon Qi erupted from him, coiling around the blood-colored war god.

  The war god, moments from crumbling, suddenly solidified.

  The Infant Transformation elder from Martial Emperor City stared in disbelief.

  Something ignited within him.

  “This… this is the courage I have always lacked! The reason I could never break through to Nascent Soul!”

  His eyes blazed.

  He shot into the sky, unleashing his strongest attack, merging it with the war god’s strike.

  Unstoppable!

  The golden halberd wave was forced back!

  BOOM!!!!!

  A cataclysmic explosion rocked the Bloody Battlefield.

  Crimson storms howled.

  Even the Heavenly Dragon Holy Son could scarcely believe it.

  A swarm of ants… had blocked a Spirit Severing strike?!