A massive chessboard phantom materialized from thin air. The moment the terrifying blade qi entered its range, it instantly shattered.

  Beyond the board's edge, a figure hovered silently, not stepping in—wary, solemn.

  Ye Shoudao's black robes whipped; empty sleeve of his severed arm fluttered. Weathered, rugged face; one hand gripped a broad blade, qi lashing voids like whips.

  "Your Excellency, the demoness possesses this youth's body to break her shackles and ascend further. If she escapes or succeeds, endless calamity."

  Ye Shoudao said.

  He stared across the board—knew who intervened.

  The mystery who stole Du Longyang's tribulation.

  Who warned Absolute Blade Nascent Souls off.

  Now returned.

  Ye Shoudao knew not his location.

  But words met silence—ignored!

  Face chilled.

  One-handed slash.

  Qi waves surged, overwhelming.

  Wave upon wave!

  Seven slashes—torrents!

  "Stacking Waves!"

  Low roar.

  Boom!

  Spirit Pressure Chessboard phantom trembled, near collapse.

  Yet.

  Faint laugh within.

  Then—piece fall.

  Clack!

  Ye Shoudao's waves exploded.

  Board vanished.

  He hovered, staring empty air—trouble.

  Never expected the valley-sealed demoness to possess for escape.

  Eyes rippled long; retreated, vanished.

  ...

  Beiluo.

  Lake Heart Island.

  Lu leaned in wheelchair, sipped plum wine, calm.

  Collected Spirit Pressure pieces into box.

  Sensed bustling Beiluo City.

  Pilgrims converged.

  Lake: boats queued for Scripture Tower.

  First entrant discovered cultivation methods, battle arts—madness.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Methods no secret, but myriad varieties—choices galore.

  Sought fits.

  Battle skills—for martial-era stuck cultivators, boon.

  Tower packed daily.

  Some found matches—studied obsessively.

  Greedy memorized—to transcribe post-exit.

  But leaving: memories wiped clean.

  Lü Dongxuan ignored order.

  No one dared violate White Jade Capital rules.

  Fished idly.

  Mo Beike arrived.

  Lu Changkong greeted; long talk.

  Lu secluded—no disturb.

  Entered tower.

  New world—immersed, lost.

  Boom!

  Dragon gate.

  Uproar.

  Little Yinglong bounced like ball, splashing waves.

  Lü Dongxuan readied for fresh grilled fish.

  Yellow streak—fish gone.

  Fumed—naughty dragon back.

  Zhu Long emerged, pinching Li Sansi's head, stepping out.

  Lü stunned.

  Li Sansi's misery—hiss.

  Forbidden zone so perilous?

  Li Sansi, soon after—thus?

  "To island."

  Lu's voice.

  Zhu Long dragged, hesitant—boarded.

  Distant: Little Yinglong gnawed fish, feigning presence.

  "Turn you to grilled fish?"

  Island cough.

  Stiffened—swallowed whole, bones crunched—reluctant to island.

  Island.

  Comatose Li Sansi wretched—wounds everywhere, tortured.

  Zhu Long closed eyes, restrained aside.

  Wheelchair rolled.

  Lu on Thousand Blades, approached.

  Glanced Li Sansi, Zhu Long, finally Little Yinglong.

  Wings flapped, innocent grin.

  Lu smiled.

  Raised hand.

  Three spirit rings bound Little Yinglong.

  Face changed—struggled.

  "Your punishment. Escape daily—play. Fail—stay."

  Smiled.

  Stunned—rolled like ball.

  Rings not strong—push limits to break.

  Daily intensify.

  Must strengthen—neighbor Tailong's little azure dragon nearly beats him.

  Angry—strained, face yellow to purple—failed.

  Rage, despair, acceptance...

  Gave up, lay, legs up, claws twitched—played joyfully.

  Lu: ...

  Hopeless dragon.

  Sought freedom? Self-amused with paw!

  Iron not steel.

  Added function.

  No escape—rings tighten.

  Doubt he'd idle to death.

  Ignored.

  To Zhu Long.

  Lips thin, uneasy.

  Pitiful—scolding withheld.

  "Li Sansi—no concern."

  "Train hard."

  Obedient nod.

  Relieved—dashed to gate, vanished.

  Afraid reversal.

  Finally Li Sansi.

  Raft.

  Lü Dongxuan conical hat, raincoat—boarded.

  Saw bound, struggling Little Yinglong—no pity, schadenfreude.

  "Your day!"

  Humphed.

  To Li Sansi.

  "Young Master... him?"

  "Possessed—resisting soul devour."

  Lü stunned. "Possession?"

  "Forbidden perilous? Demons?"

  Glance. "Not—exception, bad luck."

  "Fetch Dao Pavilion Lord..."

  "His soul weak—can't intervene; win, soul dies."

  "Array aids soul strength. Live or die—fate."

  Lü bowed: "Yes."

  Left.

  Lu raised hand—spiritual energy wove array, bagua runes.

  Shrank—finger to brow.

  Boom!

  Light surged.

  Struggle intensified.

  Aid qualified resistance—no longer one-sided.

  Win? Hard.

  Body Storage soul vs. likely peak Nascent/Infant Transformation.

  Vast gap.

  As said—self-fate.

  Waved—body floated under skyward chrysanthemum, soul war.

  Lu to pavilion second floor.

  Day later.

  Li Sansui first via gate—saw alive Li Sansi, relieved.

  Situation told—heart sank.

  Xie Yunling, Dao disciples arrived—for tower, but saw—mood complex.

  No study—took Li Sansi via Cloud Dragon gate to Dao Pavilion.

  Star Plucking Peak plaza.

  Li Sansi center.

  Bloodless, corpse-like.

  Xie, disciples circled in rings, meditating.

  Knew his ordeal.

  Supported thus.

  Li Sansui secluded—frantic symbols, arrays in study.

  Only kin—refused death.

  Young Master said self-rely—but try!

  ...

  Martial Emperor City outskirts.

  Cave near Bodhisattva Temple, fire flickered.

  Outside: snow.

  Nie Changqing by fire, aura swirling.

  Mo Tianyu cultivated—three bronze treasures spun.

  Suddenly.

  Nie opened eyes.

  Rose; Mo followed, treasures pocketed.

  Exited—sky: massive avian army to city.

  "That?"

  Nie frowned.

  "Great Qian female nation..." Mo, informed from city time.

  "Great Qian?"

  "Empress rivals Du Longyang!"

  Nie inhaled.

  Action begins?

  Knew plan: god-slay with Young Master.

  Success unknown—thrilling.

  God-slay...

  Immortals lofty—mortals defy?

  Exhaled—felt small.

  Young Master god-slay; he can't beat inner disciples...

  "Old Mo, challenge city inner rank 15."

  Mo eyes lit.

  "Wait—divine first."

  "Good."

  Mo pinched treasures, tossed shell—clanged inside.

  Spiritual surge—treasures floated, gold flips.

  Caught on back—stacked.

  Squinted, shook head.

  "Old Nie... minor auspicious. Skip—train more."

  "Minor good—fear what?"

  Hand on Dragon Slayer, smiled.

  Stepped to city.

  "No."

  "Don't fool by divination!"

  Pulled.

  "Listen."

  Serious.

  Can't say reverse readings—remind.

  Nie smiled—polite.

  Mo's divinations? Beiluo none accurate.

  Never believed.

  Opponent: rank 15, three-revolution Golden Core.

  Second Stage Heavenly Lock—confident.

  Left.

  Mo mouth covered, worried eyes.

  Waved—vanished in snow.