As the bright moon crashed down, countless frost spread across the land.

In an instant, the entire Mount Shushan seemed to plunge into a world of ice and snow.

The spiritual springs that had been continuously gushing from the earth veins were now covered in ice-blue frost.

At the same time, as the disciples of Mount Shushan circulated their cultivation cycles, their manifested spiritual energy showed signs of freezing.

The Demon-Suppressing Pagoda's surroundings were also corroded by the icy force.

Within Zhongzhou, fifteen Tribulation Transcendence experts and over forty Fusion Transcension cultivators had arrived at Mount Shushan's outskirts.

Goushengzi, Zhongzhou's top astrologer, draped in a green robe, stood with his hands behind his back.

Gazing toward Mount Shushan, a faint smile curled at the corners of his lips as he couldn't help but recall his master's words from years past:

"You see how your junior brother Greenstone was accepted into Mount Shushan? You'll probably never set foot there in this lifetime."

Goushengzi stroked his chin and murmured to himself, "Master... your eldest disciple has come today."

Meanwhile, within Mount Shushan, the Greenstone Peak Master seemed to sense something.

"Junior Brother, it's been a while. Why so flustered today?" Goushengzi said with a laugh.

The Greenstone Peak Master's brows furrowed deeply. "Senior Brother... you!?"

"Well? How do you like my gift to Mount Shushan?"

Veins bulged on Greenstone's forehead, his fists clenched so tightly they emitted cracking sounds.

"BOOM—!!"

The sounds of spell collisions continuously resounded across the heavens.

Several major forces from beyond Zhongzhou were launching full-scale assaults against Mount Shushan's Sword Formation.

Meanwhile, Goushengzi led fifteen Tribulation Transcendence experts and forty Fusion Transcendence cultivators in besieging Mount Shushan from within Zhongzhou.

Greenstone swept his gaze across the scene, his expression cold as frost.

Goushengzi casually waved his hand.

When Greenstone focused his vision, he saw distant tremors shaking the earth as tremendous rumbling approached.

Mountains were being lifted and hurled forward—not moving slowly, but racing ahead with terrifying speed.

These mountains clearly didn't originate from Zhongzhou. They lined up one after another, forming a raging torrent of slaughter, an unstoppable force sweeping toward them.

Hmm?

Greenstone stared intently, his eyes widening in shock.

The mountains were completely covered with countless blood corpses.

The grotesque, twisted corpses hung densely across the mountain surfaces, wrapping around them entirely.

"You disgrace our master's teachings, Goushengzi! Have you no shame before our master!?" Greenstone roared.

"Hahaha!!" Goushengzi laughed heartily.

"Junior Brother, look closely—these weren't refined by me."

Greenstone raised his sword and commanded, "Disciples of Mount Shushan, heed my order!"

His spiritual sense probed outward, yet he couldn't discern what exactly those mountains had been refined into. He only sensed extreme danger—they couldn't be allowed near Mount Shushan.

The Sword Formation couldn't afford attacks from both front and rear.

Currently, it had to withstand assaults from beyond the heavens.

Thinking this, Greenstone prepared to slash apart the blood mountains with his sword.

His figure flickered—

Only to be blocked by a golden Dharma Body as a Buddhist chant echoed.

The Six Paths of Rebirth, the reincarnation of the Western Buddhist Holy Child.

Greenstone recognized his opponent.

Without another word, Greenstone thrust his sword forward.

The other met it with a palm strike.

"BOOM—!!"

Goushengzi watched with amusement.

"Senior Brother, I'm afraid you can't stop this."

While Mount Shushan's Sword Formation held back enemies from beyond the heavens, the other cultivators surged out, each carving their own battlefield to engage the sudden enemies surrounding Mount Shushan.

When it came to combat experience, none could rival Mount Shushan.

Goushengzi narrowed his eyes slightly as he observed the connected range of blood-soaked mountains.

Greenstone had now created his own domain, single-handedly battling three opponents.

His two flying swords hovered within this space.

He wanted to sever the blood mountains but found himself unable to break free.

The Six Paths of Rebirth's strength far exceeded his expectations—truly worthy of being the Buddhist Holy Child's reincarnation.

As the blood mountains rapidly approached Mount Shushan, Greenstone clearly sensed the overwhelming evil energy radiating from them.

No... this isn't right!!

"What exactly is this!?"

Greenstone glared at the Six Paths of Rebirth, who sighed while chanting a Buddhist mantra, visibly conflicted.

Mountains from the Western Sect!?

Greenstone realized.

The Western Sect belonged to the Buddhist Great Ascension tradition, ruling over the Western Buddha Kingdom.

That land had once been invaded by Outer Realm Demons—no cultivators could survive there.

A hundred thousand years ago, a Buddhist Sage attained enlightenment and comprehended the Dharma.

He traveled widely to spread Buddhist teachings, yet none could grasp them.

Ultimately, this Sage entered the Western Chaos Lands.

That region, tainted by Outer Realm Demons, became a place from which no cultivator ever returned—neither alive nor dead.

Thus, both humans and demons considered it forbidden territory.

Everyone assumed the Buddhist Sage had perished.

Yet not only did he survive, he propagated his teachings in the West, established a kingdom, and expelled the Outer Realm Demons.

As for the demons' origins, none knew for certain.

Some said they embodied resentment from before creation itself.

Others claimed they were amalgamations of cultivators' inner demons that gained sentience.

There were even those who believed them remnants left behind by ascended beings.

Having to simultaneously maintain the Sword Formation, Greenstone couldn't unleash his full power.

He could only trade injuries to break through the encirclement.

Sending forth a sword strike, the raging sword energy slashed toward the blood mountains—only to be neutralized by the surrounding force before making contact.

What is that!?

A suspicion formed in Greenstone's mind, yet he dared not confirm it.

"Stop them!!" he bellowed.

At that moment, a finger pierced through his back and emerged from his chest.

Goushengzi chuckled. "Still as careless as ever, Junior Brother."

Greenstone's eyes widened in disbelief.

"A clone!?"

Goushengzi instantly refined the clone while scanning with his spiritual sense.

Greenstone's true form was already charging toward the blood mountains, sword raised.

Yet in the next instant, Greenstone found himself plunged into endless illusions—as if thrown into a realm of inner demons.

Outer Realm Demons!?

He realized—but it was too late.

Meanwhile, the blood mountains kept advancing.

Upon contacting the Sword Formation—

"CRACK—!!!"

A thirty-thousand-mile fissure split the sky.

Under the combined assaults of the Ink Pool Sect, Star Palace, and Hongmengzhou's Ascendant Remnants, Mount Shushan's Sword Formation had to focus entirely on resisting the attacks from beyond the heavens.

Yet at this critical moment, those seemingly harmless connected blood mountains were suddenly infused with the power of Outer Realm Demons.

The Sword Formation emitted agonized buzzing, like cicada cries of distress.

Within the Sword Pool, countless blades became tainted with blood.

".........."

Beyond the heavens:

"Now!!"

"Full assault on the Sword Formation! Charge through!!"

The Ink Pool Sect Leader's hoarse roar echoed as countless floating war vessels began moving.

Their final trump card deployed in full force.

Only by breaking through could they gain the right to fight.

".........."

Outside Mount Shushan:

Countless observing factions crowded the mountain peaks.

Distant figures hovered in the sky, watching the unfolding events.

They witnessed the once-invincible Mount Shushan Sword Formation being torn apart before their eyes.

"The Sword Formation... it's broken!!" someone shouted.

"Mount Shushan is finished!?"

"Mount Shushan is finally done for."

"Not necessarily."

"Nonsense! Look at all these forces attacking simultaneously—no way Mount Shushan can withstand this."

"Hahaha, serves them right for their arrogance."

"Once they breach the defenses, we'll rush in too."

"Isn't that too dangerous?"

"Mount Shushan's treasures—just one could set us up for life."

Amid the crowd, Di Nü Feng blinked, gazing toward Mount Shushan.

Huh? Where's Li Xuanxiao?