Beyond the heavens.

As numerous factions flooded the battlefield.

A massive coffin floated amidst the stars.

Countless Buddhist chants permeated the surroundings, with innumerable chains connected to the coffin.

At the other end of these chains stood rows of bald monks clad in kasayas.

Like conscripted laborers.

They stood upon the void, slowly transporting the enormous coffin from the Western Paradise Heaven.

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

The Heaven-reaching Peak had fallen.

The collapse of Mount Shushan's highest peak resounded through the land.

To the onlookers, it seemed as if the giant that had stood tall in Zhongzhou for centuries had finally toppled.

"Mount Shushan has fallen!!"

"Charge inside!"

"A new era begins!"

"Kill!!!"

Now, Mount Shushan swayed precariously in the storm.

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

Goushengzi was on the verge of reaching the highest realm through Dao fusion.

Three Tribulation Transcendence disciples guarded his breakthrough, but at this critical moment.

Goushengzi suddenly spat blood, his qi in turmoil as his expression drastically changed.

"What..."

"Hahaha, senior brother, your calculations still fell short."

Within his mindscape, the voice of Greenstone echoed.

Goushengzi grinned, though his smile was strained.

Ultimately forced to retreat from the battlefield in disarray.

Greenstone's remnant soul chuckled lightly, tapping the void with his finger.

"Gentlemen, this old man shall take the first step."

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

Beneath the throne of the Ascension Emperor.

Deputy Sect Leader Wushangzi and Great Bamboo Peak Master Wang Yushu had successively destroyed ten of the emperor's life-bound treasures.

The Ascension Emperor laughed softly, "I possess hundreds of life-bound treasures! For you two to destroy ten already proves your remarkable strength."

Suddenly, the emperor leaned forward, shaking his magnificent golden dragon robe.

In an instant, overwhelming power surged forth like raging tides, a golden ocean reversing its flow, crashing toward Wushangzi and Wang Yushu with mountain-toppling force.

Facing this tsunami-like assault, Wushangzi and Wang Yushu showed no fear.

Simultaneously swinging their swords to cleave through the golden onslaught.

The Ascension Emperor truly lived up to being the longest-surviving supreme expert of this era.

His peak cultivation and centuries of refinement had produced treasures beyond ordinary comprehension.

Any single artifact he wielded could serve as a life-bound treasure for a Tribulation Transcendence expert.

Yet this Ascension Emperor possessed no fewer than a hundred such treasures.

"......."

The Great Sui Empire.

Empress Zhao Lu watched as a Tribulation Transcendence expert entered her court, pondering momentarily.

"Though I am a disciple of Mount Shushan, I am now the ruler of a nation. I understand where priorities lie."

The visiting expert from beyond Zhongzhou bowed respectfully before departing.

Zhao Lu gazed into the distance, her eyes profound.

Countless factions were converging, not just from beyond Zhongzhou.

With the fall of Heaven-reaching Peak, those waiting in the shadows finally revealed themselves.

Thus the battlefield descended into greater chaos.

Mount Shushan disciples instinctively formed sword formations—some with over a dozen members, others with just three or two.

Even single disciples could maintain formations.

The surrounding enemies multiplied.

The dozen Shushan disciples forming the sword formation found themselves rapidly encircled.

Yet none could breach their defensive array.

Despite outnumbering the Shushan disciples ten to one, the attackers suffered devastating losses.

Often requiring a dozen cultivators' lives to claim one Shushan disciple.

At this moment, the Southern Border's Gu King struck his demonic drum, disrupting minds.

The Mount Shushan sword formation abruptly faltered.

Disciples felt their blades crawling with venomous insects.

Some saw fellow disciples suddenly attacking them, forced to defend against their own.

As formations broke, enemies eagerly surged forward.

Martial artists rained blows upon the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, shaking its foundations.

Yet even after breaching the disciples' defense.

None could inflict substantial damage upon the pagoda itself.

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

Within the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

Countless demons stirred restlessly, sensing the upheaval outside.

Shangguan Suiyun's chest heaved—this crisis.

Was greater than the last!!

Though unclear of specifics, the pagoda's violent tremors spoke volumes.

"Hahaha, heaven has eyes!"

The Asura Hall's protector shouted excitedly.

"Mount Shushan is finished!!"

He gripped Shangguan Suiyun's hand eagerly, the renowned protector nearly jumping for joy.

While Shangguan Suiyun remained grim-faced.

Would his sister be safe?!

Anxiety burned within him.

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

"BOOM—!!!"

Over Mount Shushan, an enormous shadow enveloped all.

The coffin painstakingly dragged by countless monks now approached the mountain.

The Six Paths of Rebirth arrived beside the Buddhist Sage, exclaiming: "Master, this..."

The sage chanted, "All for the sake of mortal lives."

As solemn Buddhist chants continued, the scriptures covering the coffin began fading.

Revealing the coffin's true appearance beneath.

Suddenly, the extraterrestrial demon corpse within seemed to awaken, thousands of eyes snapping open simultaneously.

Each eye glowed with eerie crimson light, like damned radiance from hell's abyss.

The chains binding the coffin shattered explosively, ringing sharply.

Rent apart by overwhelming force, scattering in all directions.

Seeing this, Wang Yushu urgently moved to intercept.

But golden light enveloped her, rapidly eroding both lifespan and cultivation.

The Ascension Emperor aimed a gleaming bronze mirror at her.

Smiling as his gaze lingered on her exposed legs.

"None shall leave. Serve me, and I may make you my handmaiden."

"Your grandmother maybe!!"

Wang Yushu retorted with a laugh.

Wushangzi severed the light with his sword, shielding her from the mirror.

Wang Yushu flashed away.

Attempting to intercept the coffin, her sword strike.

Created countless spatial rifts around it, chaotic energies reducing everything to dust.

Wang Yushu's figure flickered violently, half her face obliterated.

Yet she paid no heed, staring in horror at the coffin.

With thunderous explosions, the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda was breached.