Martial Emperor City.
Du Longyang personally greeted at the gates, ushering Great Qian's entourage.
Opulent sedan, silk tassels swaying, carried by Golden Core cultivators.
Du smiled; city experts welcomed.
Sedan halted; red petals ceased.
Two Golden Core maids lifted curtains—a regal beauty emerged, pinnacle nobility.
No ornate jewels, but aura screamed long-seated ruler.
"Empress."
Du cupped fists.
"City Lord Du, pleasure."
Warm, mature voice in his ear.
Du's eyes flashed desire, smiled.
"This way."
Disciples lined streets, curious at Great Qian's famed beauties—ultimate allure.
But one disciple blinked.
An monk amid the beauties?
Calm, unruffled—out of place yet composed.
"This is?"
Du to Empress.
Tall as him, cascading black hair to waist. Glanced monk, red lips curved: "Void gate infiltrator. Steady monk."
Infiltrator like Nie Changqing.
"Heard Master Yuan Shang here—brought him. Planned kill, but your alliance with white-robed young master... spared to avoid discord."
Smiled.
Street end: Yuan Shang beaming.
Wary of her—ascended, sent armies on Bitter Buddha Temple.
Seductresses in battle—dances, exposures...
Broke Great Brahma Art's no-lust—temple suffered.
Thus caution.
"Master Yuan Shang."
Lips curved.
"Void escapee—yours."
Laughed.
Red-nailed wave.
Golden Core females tossed Ding Jiudeng.
Yuan Shang palm upright—qi wave steadied him.
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Ding panicked at first—unknown city.
Then calm—bored even.
Palms together, bowed.
"Amitabha."
Yuan Shang stunned—steady lad!
Entered inner hall.
Empress seated, legs crossed—pale thighs glimpsed under robes.
"That young master—trustworthy?"
"Strength?"
"God-slay mishap—death, oblivion."
Lips parted gravely.
Yuan Shang, Du relayed Lu talks.
"I sense 'immortals' play chess—we pawns, even fodder. This world caps us, dangles ascension—likely slaughter post-flight."
"Post-ascension unknown."
Du inhaled.
"Ancestors warn: ascension lie."
"Ally unknown—like skinning tiger."
Frowned.
"No choice..."
"Escape board, flip it—need external aid."
Du deep.
Yuan Shang joined.
Three debated fiercely.
...
Beiluo, Lake Heart Island.
Lu unaware—leaned railing, wind; bronze cup, plum wine—content.
Little Yinglong strained rings, heaving.
Lake: tower front crowded—silent study.
Rare chance—ravenous learning, especially geniuses reaping more.
Lu scanned.
Methods, arts—inspirational.
Hoped not rote—own paths.
Month end: closed.
Hard re-entry.
Overlord, Bai Qingniao, Jiang Li, Sima Qingshan studied—expected own daos.
"Five Phoenixes mid-martial entry... growth stalled."
Wheelchair ponder.
Mini-Lu in Tianyuan: scouting. Similar—factions, frictions.
Tianyuan richer species, cultivation beings.
Squinted.
Chin rub—danger: Demon Domain.
Demon lands—even city experts avoid deep.
Heavenly Demon Tower.
City, Great Qian etc. crusade to contain.
Fingers tapped.
Inspiration.
Five Phoenixes mid-martial—lost pressure. Overlord, Nie strong—no foes.
"Pressure..."
Tapped Phoenix armrest.
Forbidden zone unsuitable for masses.
Can't flood Great Xuan troops—city, Absolute Blade intervene.
"Native pressure."
Pondered.
"Create... demons?"
Murmured, eyes bright.
No demon experience—no rash creation.
Bestow—but soul points: exhaust for few.
Tianyuan demo.
Viable.
Plan action—mini-Lu there.
Leaned Thousand Blades, eyes rippled.
But first—mind stirred.
Head to South Prefecture Dao Pavilion.
...
Tiandang Mountain, Dao Pavilion.
Vortex clouds swirled.
Star Plucking Peak.
Disciples seated positions—guided qi flows; faint array enveloped.
Xie Yunling beard fluttered, grave.
Center: pained Li Sansi—guided array, surged power.
"Sansi, hold!"
Unsure heard.
Tried—can't let demon devour.
Disciples echoed.
Voices boomed.
Li Sansi mind: fierce battle—one-sided crush.
Body Storage vs. Nascent—boat vs. cruiser.
Near extinction—heard Xie, others...
Voices clarified, empowered.
Painful, excited.
Roared—struggled control.
Wills clashed—lone boat ramming cruiser.
Battered, unyielding.
"Give up—gap vast..."
Seductive.
"Others not abandon me—why self?"
Gnashed.
Waves collided.
"Futile."
Laughed.
Flashed scenes—complex.
Realized reckless entry irresponsible.
Kin: Li Sansui; peers, master...
Felt useless.
Sought strength—drew Zhu Long, worried all.
Failed.
Worried, frantic Li Sansui—self-blame.
Array or peers—woman noted resistance.
No worry—gap huge.
Aid useless.
"Know?"
"Entered for strength—you killed idea."
"Friend trades life for power—laughed silly. Now understand—not him, me silly."
Words—woman uneasy.
Indeed.
Array-seated Li Sansi eyes snapped— to Xie, resolute whisper: "Lord! Array fire!"
Stunned.
Sharpened eyes—five elements stabilize soul; fire? Give!
Bit finger, blood sprinkled—two positions pressed; fire qi surged!
Simultaneously: soul flames erupted—burned, twisted agony.
Soul burn—worst pain, beyond blades.
"Mad! Stop!"
Cold roar—frenzied.
Flames spread—to fused soul.
Burnout: even stronger, soul-bound—extinction.
Suicide?
Before: no capital.
Now: peers gave.
Burned soul—mutual destruction.
Who fears death more!
"Lunatic!"
Shriek.
No death—by ant.
Unkilled Ye Shoudao—no!
Li Sansi smiled.
Pain fading will.
Sizzle...
Flames touched.
Screeched.
Tore fusion—exited body.
Peak plaza.
Disciples opened eyes.
Xie gleamed—incredulous, shocked.
Out?
Above: lower vine-wriggling woman phantom.
Pressure crushed breathing.
Beyond Golden Core, Heavenly Lock.
Soul alone—irresistible.
Center Li Sansi collapsed.
Resentful shriek chilled.
"You all!"
"Ruined palace... ants die!"
Shrieked.
Translucent vines—spears from sky, piercing disciples.
Beiluo Island.
Lu surprised—soul burn forced out.
Impressive.
Woman...
Humphed.
Dare pluck his peach...
Huff.
Tiandang, peak.
Screaming woman stiffened.
Head up.
Sky: clouds—giant palm overhead!
