Spirit energy surged around Xu Zimo’s figure. His voice boomed out majestically, echoing across the heavens and earth of the Great Beyond, rolling on without end.

As his voice resounded, a figure slowly appeared at the edge of the Great Beyond, Dugu Ling.

He still carried his signature Infinite-Samsara God-Eye. His gaze pierced through the world as he smiled calmly, “Three kilometers to the north. We’ve been waiting at Absolute Leaf Valley for quite some time.”

“What a hassle,” Xu Zimo said, waving his hand.

…

At that moment, within Absolute Leaf Valley three kilometers away, countless figures filled the space. Some stood. Some sat cross-legged. Some flew into the air, gazing across the vast Great Beyond.

Among these figures, some stood upside down, swallowing and expelling the radiance of sun and moon, their eyes emanating godly power. Some held enormous bronze bells whose tolls rang out like Death’s approaching footsteps. Others had human bodies with beast heads, radiating bestial might that rolled out in waves, like the low growl of a king of infinite beasts. Their scarlet eyes stared forward intensely.

Some stepped on Seven-Star Swords, wielding Sun-Moon Sabers, their aura soaring straight into the heavens.

There were easily one million such figures, and every single one of them was a Saint Sovereign.

One million Saint Sovereigns.

It was not an exaggeration to say that nearly ninety-nine percent of the Saint Sovereigns in the entire Absolute God Heaven were gathered here.

This was the greatest military strength of the domain, because they belonged to the Ten God-Clans, the Heavensward Tower and their allies.

What drew the most attention, however, were the eight figures standing at the forefront.

The sound of the Grand Dao surrounded them. Dao intent swirled around their bodies, countless powers rippling outward. They appeared like gods, treading upon the universe, holding up the heavens. They stood as tall as the world itself.

Among the eight, the man on the left was Primordial Mountain Sage Monarch, God Lord of the Yue God-Clan. At the center stood Dugu Ling, God Lord of the Dugu God-Clan.

“Who hasn’t arrived?” Dugu Ling asked.

The Ten God-Clans were now only eight. That meant someone had broken the ancient oath, harboring disloyal intentions.

“Nanguo God-Clan and Zhao God-Clan haven’t come,” someone beside him said after glancing around.

The Nanguo God-Clan lay east of the Absolute God Heaven, closest to the Great Beyond. As for the Zhao God-Clan, their recent movements had indeed been suspicious.

Dugu Ling let out a heavy snort. He gazed toward the heavens and said, “You two, are you not planning to show yourselves?”

As his words fell, loud laughter rang out from high above.

“Brother Dugu, your perception is still as sharp as ever.”

“I didn’t sense the two of you directly,” Dugu Ling replied, “but I knew you wouldn’t be absent.”

“What do you mean? Perhaps you’d care to explain?” one of the newcomers said.

“Explain what?” another voice said with a laugh.

The figure on the left was Nanguo Weng of the Nanguo God-Clan, wearing a blue robe, immortal in bearing, long whiskers drifting in the wind.

The figure on the right was the Zhao God-Clan’s God Lord, Zhao Qie, wearing a gold robe, his massive body like that of a God-Demon descended to the mortal world.

As the two appeared, waves of powerful energy rippled outward. Dugu Ling’s aura surged in response, clashing against theirs with deliberate force.

Seeing the tension rise, Xue God-Clan’s God Lord Xue Changfeng quickly stepped forward with a smile. “Everyone, the enemy hasn’t even arrived yet. Why start fighting among ourselves?”

“You should ask them,” Dugu Ling said coldly. “Where are your clan’s ancestors and Saint Sovereigns? Or do you think the two of you alone are enough to deal with the True Martial Sacred Ground?”

“The old ancestors are occupied,” Nanguo Weng replied with a calm smile. “So they sent us in their stead. Brother Dugu, your temper seems to have grown recently.”

“What do you mean by this? Are you planning not to participate?” Dugu Ling asked.

“We’re here, aren’t we?” Zhao Qie replied.

“And what use are just the two of you?” Dugu Ling retorted bluntly.

“This is our clan’s decision,” Zhao Qie said. “Does Brother Dugu wish to dictate our Zhao God-Clan’s affairs?”

Dugu Ling was about to argue further, but Xue Changfeng discreetly signaled him to stop.

Regardless of the internal conflict, now was not the time. The people of the True Martial Sacred Ground would arrive at any moment. Whatever grudges they had could be dealt with after exterminating the sect.

Dugu Ling took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

…

In the sky above, a pair of giant hands tore apart the firmament. Xu Zimo stepped across the distant horizon and descended upon Absolute Leaf Valley in an instant.

Looking down from above, he saw a million Saint Sovereigns gathered below. In the blink of an eye, thousands of gazes locked onto him. Anyone else might have been terrified out of their wits.

But Xu Zimo remained calm and smiled faintly. “Oh? Quite the gathering. Not a bad lineup to kill.”

“You came alone?” Dugu Ling asked, frowning.

“What do you think?” Xu Zimo countered.

“Your True Martial Sacred Ground must still have survivors,” Dugu Ling said. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t dare be so arrogant. Since you’re all here, stop hiding. I want to see who stands behind you.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a cold snort came from the void.

“Dugu Ling, your tone is quite bold,” Saint Sovereign San Dao said as he tore open the void and stepped out. “If your progenitor hadn’t saved you back then, you’d have been slain by me beside the Black Turtle River. Why didn’t you dare act so arrogant then?”

The moment Saint Sovereign San Dao appeared, Dugu Ling’s brows furrowed.

“San Dao… you’re not dead?”

His intuition screamed that something was wrong. Back then, he had personally witnessed the old ancestor cut down Saint Sovereign San Dao at the Black Turtle River, using Saint Sovereign San Dao’s own blade.

“Dead? Your Dugu God-Clan is worthy of killing me?” Saint Sovereign San Dao sneered. “Speaking of which, where is your undefeated old ancestor? I wouldn’t mind experiencing his techniques again.”

“What about the others from the True Martial Sacred Ground?” Dugu Ling pressed.

If Saint Sovereign San Dao was still alive, then the others might also be alive.

The Ten God-Clans were shaken. What exactly was the True Martial Sacred Ground scheming? If they weren’t dead, why hide for hundreds of thousands of years?

“The Great Beyond is indeed an excellent burial ground for all of you,” Saint Sovereign San Dao said with a laugh. “Let World-Weary come out.”

Xu Zimo nodded slightly. With a wave of his right hand, the True Martial Tribulation Tower flew from his palm.

This was no longer the same tower it had been in ages past. Boundless power erupted from its sides, as though its emergence suppressed even the heavens of the Great Beyond.

The Tribulation Tower spun continuously, its aura surging to its peak.

“This… this can’t be…” Dugu Ling stammered. He stared at the tower, shaking his head again and again. “Impossible… how could this be possible?!”