Dragon blood rained from the heavens.

  Shredded azure scales scattered through the sky, accompanied by a heaven-shaking, heart-wrenching dragon roar.

  Grief settled over every heart present.

  Heaven and earth mourned together; sun and moon lost their light.

  On the blood-colored battlefield, every cultivator felt a lump in their throat. The Azure Dragon’s colossal body bled profusely as it was sent hurtling back from the void, scales shattering one after another.

  How tragic it looked!

  Yet the Azure Dragon refused to yield!

  With every ounce of strength, it thrust out a claw. As a heavenly dragon, it had its pride.

  It… fought back!

  Come on!

  Hit me!

  The Azure Dragon seemed to roar in defiance.

  Then, under the furious and sorrowful gazes of countless cultivators on the blood-colored battlefield, the fearless dragon let out a mournful cry and was flung backward once more.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Its massive body swayed violently, bursting into clouds of blood mist.

  Nie Changqing and the others paled, tension written across their faces.

  The little dragon perched atop Ni Yu’s head—who had grown noticeably plumper—lifted its head. Its big eyes spun as it watched the wailing Azure Dragon shedding scales as though its tendons were being ripped out.

  It snorted once, then flopped back down.

  Clever as ever, it had already seen through the act.

  The blood-colored battlefield seemed to weep a rain of blood.

  Dantai Xuan stared in stunned silence at the dragon that appeared to make heaven and earth grieve with it.

  Ten years had passed in the immortal legacy ruins.

  Not only had the Azure Dragon grown stronger—its acting had reached perfection.

  The spraying blood, the shattering scales…

  Everything was perfectly measured.

  Holy Son Qingling, seated calmly in his spirit vessel, was utterly baffled.

  That didn’t make sense. Earlier, when he and the Azure Dragon had been holding back in their “fight,” he’d sensed the dragon wasn’t this weak.

  That Out-of-Body cultivator was strong, but wounding the Azure Dragon this badly in one blow? Impossible.

  What on earth had happened?

  A strange look crossed Holy Son Qingling’s face as realization dawned.

  Could it be… the Azure Dragon was deliberately playing pathetic to gain sympathy and avoid the rest of the fight?

  Tsk tsk. Holy Son Qingling nodded to himself. Lesson learned.

  The other holy sons and maidens, however, grew excited.

  The death of Holy Son Beigong had weighed heavily on them.

  But now an Out-of-Body expert had bloodied the Azure Dragon in a single strike—this restored their morale.

  Of course, none of them knew that the Out-of-Body cultivator who had “struck” was currently speechless.

  The Azure Dragon was far from weak. As a heavenly dragon, its physical defense surpassed most Spirit Severing cultivators.

  To shatter its scales and gravely wound it in one blow would require his full power.

  Yet… he hadn’t even touched it.

  “Could it be… this old man has grown that strong?”

  The Out-of-Body cultivator glanced at his hand, his mind drifting.

  The next instant, the corner of his mouth twitched.

  “No!”

  “I never landed a hit!”

  The dragon’s bloody state was pure theater!

  Furious, the expert shot forward through the void in pursuit.

  The Heaven-Covering Formation churned like misty Jiangnan rain. The Azure Dragon’s body crashed into it, sending shockwaves rippling outward.

  Protected by the mysterious formation, even the enraged pursuer dared not press deeper.

  The sudden reversal turned the atmosphere in the void deathly heavy.

  In the distance, the wanderers trembled.

  So many Out-of-Body cultivators…

  Only high-martial worlds could produce them—yet so many had appeared at once.

  The wanderers barely dared to breathe, terrified of drawing attention and being erased.

  But what truly made their blood run cold was Holy Son Beigong’s death.

  A holy son from a Yan Seventh-grade high-martial world…

  Dead in a world that hadn’t even stepped into high-martial status.

  This would shake the heavens!

  Like a noble’s heir murdered in some backward village—the village would face annihilation.

  The wrath of a Yan Seventh-grade world’s mighty beings and holy lord would burn everything to ash.

  Those wanderers who had hoped to scavenge scraps lost all courage. Many turned and fled.

  So many Out-of-Body experts… this world was truly finished!

  Though the Five Phoenixes had repeatedly shattered their expectations, producing genius after genius capable of fighting holy sons and maidens…

  It was, after all, only a newborn high-martial world.

  On the blood-colored battlefield, a lotus formed of vast energy bloomed—untouched by the filth around it, like a cyan lotus rising from mud.

  The young woman’s eyes were closed, her lashes trembling slightly.

  She raised a pale hand. A warm drop of dragon blood fell into her palm.

  In her ears echoed the Azure Dragon’s mournful wail.

  So tragic…

  As if it were being flayed alive.

  Zhulong’s brows furrowed faintly. No emotion showed on her beautiful face.

  Lu Jiulian raised his hand and caught a drop of dragon blood.

  He sighed softly, complexity in his gaze.

  “It’s the Demon Lady of Buzhou Peak!”

  Cultivators from the Tian Yuan domain recognized the newcomer—Zhulong.

  After ten years in the immortal ruins, she seemed unchanged—still the gentle-looking maiden.

  But the Tian Yuan cultivators knew the terror hidden beneath that gentleness.

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  This was a great demoness who killed without blinking!

  As for Lu Jiulian, few recognized him.

  He was, after all, merely a talented student from the Great Xuan Academy.

  Many not knowing him was normal.

  “That’s Jiulian?”

  Dantai Xuan recognized him and froze.

  How could he not know the most outstanding student of the Great Xuan Academy? After one year outside and ten inside the ruins, who knew how far the greatest genius in history had progressed?

  The Overlord reattached his head, sharp light flashing in his eyes.

  He stepped out from the ruins.

  The sprinkling dragon blood made the killing intent in the air grow colder.

  A tough battle was coming.

  Nie Changqing, Feng Yilou, and the others descended one by one.

  Nie Changqing’s white skirt fluttered. After the fierce battle, she seemed unruffled.

  Ni Yu, carrying her black pot, sneaked over and quietly handed Nie Changqing a pill.

  Cultivators of the Five Phoenixes continent gathered one by one.

  Sima Qingshan carried his book box on his back, ever more refined.

  Beside him, his disciple An Miaoyu held a paper umbrella, like a noble lady in Jiangnan mist.

  Mo Tianyu bared his belly, fiddling with his copper coins, half-smiling.

  Kong Nanfei, disheveled in his scholar’s robe, gulped wine.

  Outside the heavens.

  One Out-of-Body cultivator after another hovered.

  Terrifying auras crisscrossed, as if the entire Five Phoenixes were enveloped.

  Three streaks of light flashed.

  The Empress, Ye Shoudao, and Du Longyang stepped out with their yang gods, ancient bell fragments hovering above their heads. They blocked the way, faces grave.

  There were too many yang god enemies.

  Immense pressure weighed on them.

  Blood rain fell.

  The Azure Dragon landed and transformed into a pale-faced youth, lips purple, body trembling.

  He clutched his chest, green robes soaked in blood, staggering with every step.

  A flash of light.

  Zhulong vanished like teleportation and reappeared beside the youth.

  Feeling the Azure Dragon’s weakened aura…

  Her little brother…

  Had been bullied again.

  The terrifying pressure radiating from Zhulong grew ever more horrifying.

  In the silent void, on a withered continent.

  Qi Liujia sat cross-legged, his withered body trembling slightly. His deep, abyss-like eyes flickered as they landed on Zhulong.

  His primordial spirit quivered.

  After a long moment, Qi Liujia suppressed his shock and fell silent once more.

  It seemed…

  It was not yet time for him to act.

  His profound gaze turned to the Five Phoenixes. The continent’s origin was nearly complete—on the verge of stepping into high-martial.

  The old man exhaled slowly, staring into the boundless void.

  These Out-of-Body cultivators were just a warm-up. The true terror had yet to arrive.

  He did not relax. Snake-like formation runes coiled endlessly around him.

  …

  “Kill!”

  The armored Out-of-Body cultivator’s eyes were ice-cold.

  Small flags floated around him as he roared.

  Boom!

  Holy Son Beigong’s death filled him with despair. If he returned like this, the Holy Lord Beigong would never forgive him.

  His only choice was to destroy this world and redeem himself through slaughter!

  The surrounding Out-of-Body cultivators did not refuse. They attacked.

  The fury of a Yan Seventh-grade high-martial world was not something they could withstand. If they showed no loyalty, they might be caught in the fallout.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Piercing rainbows tore through the heavens.

  In an instant, myriad lights flowed. The dark void became dazzlingly bright—like night turning to day.

  Du Longyang, Ye Shoudao, and the Empress roared.

  Their yang gods seated on dao lotuses stepped forward.

  Behind each rose a colossal phantom striking the ancient bell. Bell waves rippled outward.

  The combined assault of so many Out-of-Body cultivators swallowed them whole.

  Dong! Dong! Dong!

  The Heaven-Covering Formation activated. Mysterious runes rapidly intertwined.

  The oppressive might released by the attackers threatened to erase everyone on the blood-colored battlefield.

  Yet…

  The Heaven-Covering Formation held!

  As the light faded, the hovering Out-of-Body cultivators wore shocked expressions.

  Du Longyang, the Empress, and Ye Shoudao crashed back onto the battlefield, clothes stained with blood, auras weakened.

  They had nearly been annihilated resisting the onslaught.

  Fortunately…

  The formation had held!

  “This array…”

  The Empress wiped the blood from her crimson lips, her beautiful eyes shining.

  “As expected of Brother Lu! Brother Lu’s formation… is invincible!”

  Admiration filled her voice.

  She truly admired Lu more and more!

  To block the combined attack of so many Out-of-Body cultivators—this defensive array was monstrous!

  Du Longyang and Ye Shoudao also exhaled in relief.

  They had thought the crisis insurmountable.

  Who would have imagined…

  Young Master Lu’s formation would be this strong.

  But hiding behind it wasn’t a solution. With so many Out-of-Body experts, they would surely find a way to break it.

  Once the formation fell…

  The consequences would be unthinkable.

  The armored man’s expression shifted when he saw the combined assault blocked.

  “A earth-tier defensive formation!”

  He sucked in a cold breath.

  Many Out-of-Body cultivators looked equally stunned.

  Then the armored man turned toward the withered old man on the desolate continent.

  “Qi Liujia!”

  “Break the formation!”

  “Otherwise, the wrath of Beigong Holy Land will fall upon you!”

  His voice was low and cold.

  Among them, the only master array expert was Qi Liujia, sect leader of the Liujia Array Sect.

  Qi Liujia hung his head, aura feeble, looking like a desiccated corpse.

  He ignored the armored man.

  “Qi Liujia!”

  The armored man’s face grew darker.

  “Cough cough cough…”

  “This old man cannot break this formation.”

  “If you don’t believe me, come here. I’ll explain it to you properly…”

  Qi Liujia’s hoarse voice echoed.

  He seemed to invite the armored man onto the desolate continent.

  The armored man froze, his expression turning even colder.

  “This old man’s flesh is withered, his primordial spirit weak… no need to fear.”

  Qi Liujia added.

  The armored man’s face turned livid, yet he dared not step onto the continent. This old fox was treacherous!

  Buzz…

  Suddenly, shocked exclamations rang through the void.

  The armored man turned and stared.

  The misty rain of the Heaven-Covering Formation surged. Then—a figure stepped out from behind it.

  Someone from that world actually dared to show themselves?!

  On the blood-colored battlefield, every face changed.

  Zhulong moved.

  She walked forward unhurriedly, step by step, toward the outer heavens.

  Beside her walked Lu Jiulian in his green lotus robes.

  Together they ascended through the air.

  “Don’t go! Come back!”

  Empress Ni Chunqiu’s expression shifted as she shouted.

  There were too many yang god experts out there!

  Zhulong was Brother Lu’s precious little darling—she couldn’t come to harm.

  Moreover, the aura Zhulong revealed was only Spirit Severing.

  Du Longyang and Ye Shoudao’s faces also changed.

  Yet neither Zhulong nor Lu Jiulian halted.

  The Heaven-Covering Formation swirled.

  They stepped out into the void.

  “They actually came out?”

  “Looking to die?”

  “Are the Spirit Severing cultivators of this world this arrogant?”

  In the distance, the holy sons and maidens sneered.

  Yet the burly man seated on his ferocious bird felt chills for the first time.

  The Out-of-Body expert who had “passively” wounded the Azure Dragon frowned.

  Though Zhulong’s eyes were closed, he could feel her aura locked onto him—filled with killing intent.

  Boom!

  Suddenly, the void trembled.

  Zhulong moved.

  Her figure became a streak of white, still as a virgin, swift as a startled hare.

  In an instant, she appeared before the Out-of-Body cultivator who had bullied the Azure Dragon.

  “He’s my little brother.”

  Her crimson lips parted. Her cold voice rang like plucked strings.

  The expert understood—she had come to settle the score for the dragon.

  “Just you?”

  A mere Spirit Severing…

  He laughed.

  Killing intent exploded. His spiritual sense blazed like a sun, bursting from his body. Terrifying pressure wove together, making the void groan.

  “Die!”

  He struck with his full power, a palm that shook the void like thunder.

  Zhulong’s eyes remained closed, black hair dancing. Strands brushed her flawless skin.

  Then—fearlessly—she pointed a jade-like finger toward the incoming palm.

  A strand of milky-white thread coiled around her fingertip.

  Pfft!

  Under countless gazes…

  The young woman’s single finger shattered the palm, then pierced straight through the expert’s forehead as if nothing stood in her way.

  Bang!

  His head exploded like a watermelon beneath a boulder, bursting apart.

  Until the moment it burst, a cold smile still lingered on his face.

  What?!

  Every Out-of-Body cultivator who had been watching for fun froze.

  “What just happened?!”

  “What kind of power was that? Unstoppable!”

  “Who… is this woman?!”

  Coming back to their senses, they all sucked in cold breaths.

  The watching holy sons and maidens felt their hair stand on end.

  This world was poisoned!

  A Spirit Severing girl instantly killing an Out-of-Body cultivator?

  “Is she the lord of this plane?”

  Suddenly, one holy son spoke in shock and uncertainty.

  Everyone paused. Right—who was this world’s plane lord?

  Could it be this overwhelmingly powerful girl?

  The armored protector of Holy Son Beigong paled. He hadn’t expected her to be this strong!

  Was this woman the plane lord?

  The mysterious lord of this world… had finally appeared!

  “Stop her!”

  The armored man barked coldly.

  The surrounding experts snapped out of their daze. Some hesitated, some attacked.

  The expert whose head Zhulong had exploded—his spiritual sense emerged, face twisted.

  He hadn’t even understood how he lost!

  Panic gripped him, but Out-of-Body cultivators were hard to kill; their spiritual sense could flee.

  He tried to escape.

  The others closed in.

  Lu Jiulian moved.

  Lotuses bloomed. Alone, he stood before the many attackers.

  The lotuses spun silently.

  Every ounce of power was perfectly controlled—not a single strand wasted.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Several strikes landed on the green lotuses, sending ripples outward.

  The attackers stood unmoved.

  Lu Jiulian retreated half a step, one hand behind his back, the other brushing his sleeve.

  It looked as though he had slightly lost, yet the attackers stared in horror.

  “What kind of monster is he? Perfect control of power—no waste at all?”

  The experts exchanged glances, eyes filled with dread.

  Elsewhere…

  Two Out-of-Body cultivators closed in on Zhulong, unleashing terrifying slaughter.

  The sky flashed blindingly bright—like two blazing suns!

  On the blood-colored battlefield…

  A black-robed figure stirred, ready to soar upward.

  He had finally found a chance to help her.

  Yet before he could act…

  In the void…

  Zhulong’s lashes trembled. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

  Left eye black, right eye white.

  The blazing sunlight dimmed. The fleeing spiritual sense let out a wail.

  Pfft—it was tyrannically extinguished!

  A massive black-and-white millstone descended.

  The two attackers were enveloped. Their bodies erupted in rapid cracking sounds—da-da-da-da.

  The next instant, bloodied and mangled, they were sent flying.

  The young woman opened her eyes—peerless grace in that moment, becoming the center of the universe.

  As her hair danced…

  She revealed an aura of invincibility.

  Heaven and earth fell silent.

  After a long time, the burly man atop his bird finally swallowed hard and murmured in utter shock.

  “Divine… ability?!”

  …

  Blood-colored battlefield.

  The black-robed figure trembled. The withered vines hanging from him limply retracted.

  It seemed…

  She still didn’t need me.

  In the end, it was because I’m not strong enough.

  Beneath the black robe came a soft sigh.

  The sigh carried only loneliness.

  …

  Golden Body Continent.

  Bu Nanxing sat obediently across the chessboard, face bitter.

  He had noticed the young woman displaying invincible might in the void.

  He too had once guessed she was the plane lord.

  But now, gazing at the terrifying vortex of origin appearing on the chessboard…

  A sudden clarity struck him, as if he alone were sober while the world was drunk.

  Everyone had guessed wrong!

  Bu Nanxing’s obedient body shook uncontrollably.

  The true lord of the plane…

  Was right here!