Suddenly, a thunderous crash echoed, and a deep crater appeared on the ground. Old Lushen, covered in blood, emerged within the pit, looking desolate.

But what was even more despairing was that, even though he had collapsed to the ground, he remained kneeling!

A Half-step Tribulation—before a true powerhouse, even surviving one eye's glance is impossible!

This was the pinnacle power of the Tribulation Era, the most formidable strength under Heaven!

Seeing Elder Lu Shen's wretched state, the other elders from the great sects held their breaths, not daring to make a sound!

As they raised their heads toward the heavens, it seemed as though they were kneeling to worship a god. Together, they cried out toward Yang Tian: "Hail the Immortal!"

Yang Tian, once he reached the summit of the mountain, commanded the reverence of tens of thousands!

...

At the heart of the Northern Region.

Among the Four Great Sects, aside from the "Three Gates," one stood poised at the mountain gate of the Shenjian Sect.

A woman dressed in white, with a delicate and serene face like the girl next door, held a wooden sword in her hand. The famed Sword Blade of the Divine Sword Sect left her enthralled.

"Chen Xue, are you homesick?"

Suddenly, a voice came from behind the woman, startling her as she turned around quickly.

Behind her stood a middle-aged woman clad in regal court attire.

But strangely, the woman in courtly dress resembled a manifestation rather than a living being.

For those with keen observation or spiritual acuity, it was clear at a glance: the elegantly dressed woman was merely a shadow. Within the shadow, there lay a woman of stunning beauty, holding an infant on her lap who bore a strikingly similar face!

This breathtaking woman was none other than Yuan Ying, the physical manifestation of the Three Sages!

"Mistress!"

The white-robed Chen Xue immediately bowed respectfully upon seeing the beautiful woman. "I… I just felt a bit lonely."

"Lonely? Ah, the path of cultivation is bound to be solitary, not to mention you are the Vessel of the Jianxin. It is through this path that your success will manifest."

"But… do you truly intend to visit the Sword Sect?"

While the Yun Han Immortal and her Sword Masters were deliberating strategies to capture Chen Xue and open the path to the Lower Realm by obtaining the Soul Stabilizing Grass—

They remained unaware that the path they sought, along with Elder Lu and his disciples, had already been annihilated by Yang Tian.

Even the elders participating in the Mystical Kingdoms Gathering of various clans had submitted to Yang Tian, for Yang Tian had sown the art of Soul Extraction within them!

More significantly, Yang Tian had brought Murong Yan straight to the mountain gate of the Divine Guardian Sect.

Listening to Murong Yan, Yang Tian began walking slowly toward the Shenjian Sect. Suddenly, his expression turned cold, and he muttered, "Why is it that stubbornness refuses to yield?"

Yield? No?

At this moment, Murong Yan's trepidation was evident!

Let alone questioning whether Yang Tian would show the Divine Sword Sect the respect an ordinary person would. After all, Yang Tian had already killed his way through the Northern Region.

Not only did Yang Tian seize the Soul Stabilizing Grass that had been safeguarded by the Shenjian Sect, but he also massacred Yanyang Jianlu Shen, Elder Lu Shen, Song Cheng, and Lin Jingyun.

If Yang Tian ascended, what awaited him would undoubtedly be the wrath of the Sword Sect God!

By then, not even Yang Tian's mastery during the Tribulation crossing could shield him from the consequences!

After all, even within the gate of God's Sword, there were Tribulation powerhouses—and more than one of them!

But having observed Yang Tian closely over this period, Murong Yan knew that even if she reasoned, Yang Tian wouldn't listen.

After contemplating, she shifted to persuasion: "Before you reach the gate of the Divine Sword Sect, have you truly considered what you're trying to accomplish? Have you thought about Chen Shimei's feelings?"

"How does Chen Xue's heart feel?" Yang Tian asked with a faint smile.

"Her! The snow you speak of!"

Murong Yan nodded and said, "Chen Shimei is our Sword Sect God's disciple. After all the people you've killed in the Divine Sword Sect, how can you expect Chen Shimei to remain outside its gates?"

"And what's more—Chen Shimei's body is the heart of the sword. My sect holds her in great regard. The elders even dispatched Brother Song to the Mystical World to find her and seek the grass that could stabilize her soul! I can't fathom what you're thinking! All this for Soul Grass—and you killed Mr. Song for it?"

As she spoke, Murong Yan grew visibly agitated.

She could not, for the life of her, understand Yang Tian's actions amid the Mystical World.

In the past, she might have believed Yang Tian's strength fell short, leaving him no choice but to retaliate under Song Cheng and Lin Jingyun's aggressions.

But in the fight against Elder Deer God, Yang Tian had displayed immeasurable might during the Tribulation crossing!

With such strength, Yang Tian could have easily subdued Song Cheng within the Mystical World and clarified matters thoroughly!

This way, everyone would have had a shared goal—to aid Chen Xue in finding the Soul Stabilizing Grass. Wouldn't that have resolved everything?

Yet Yang Tian suddenly sneered coldly: "A shared goal? Do you even understand its true function?"

"Its function? Naturally, it's to stabilize Chen Shimei's soul, ensuring she can cultivate without impediment!"

Murong Yan answered without hesitation.

"Is that so?"

Yang Tian let out a cold laugh but didn't reply to Murong Yan's query.

For at this moment, they had already arrived at the mountain gate of the Divine Guardian Sect!

The Shenjian Gate, being one of the Four Great Sect forces in the Northern Region—apart from the "Three Gates"—was unparalleled in its majesty.

Upon first glance, its main gates towered nearly dozens of meters high, sculpted entirely from the finest gemstones. On each jade column were intricate formations that gathered Spiritual Auras of Heaven and Earth, channeling them into the mountain gate, enabling the cultivation of all its disciples.

Standing guard outside the entrance were two disciples at the Late Yuan Dynasty level.

Understand this: Among other sect clans, the strongest of elite disciples during pivotal events like Mystical Clan Gatherings typically reached no higher than the Late Yuan Dynasty.

For the Shenjian Sect to station disciples at the Late Yuan Dynasty as gatekeepers spoke volumes about its strength as the Northern Region's hegemon.

As Yang Tian gazed at the Divine Guardian Sect's mountain gate, the two disciples stationed outside caught sight of Yang Tian and Murong Yan approaching.

Although they couldn't perceive Yang Tian's boundless strength, Murong Yan's cultivation—a mere Middle Yuan level—was entirely within their grasp.

One of the disciples immediately snorted arrogantly, "Who dares trespass!" This is the gate of our Divine Sword Sect. If you don't leave at once, prepare to be slaughtered!"

As he spoke, the disciple's hand moved to the sword at his waist, his tone smug with murderous intent.

Old Gu? Really?

At this moment, deep within the Divine Sword Sect's grand hall, Murong Yan suddenly felt a pang of bitterness in her heart as the Sword Master's words echoed.

The Soul-Stabilizing Grass no longer seemed to matter—she was the only one sent by the Shenjian Sect to the Mystical Realm.

Meanwhile, the precious, heart-stirring grass was securely in Yang Tian's possession, right behind her.

This hesitation gnawed at Murong Yan.

As her Sword Master narrowed his brows slightly in displeasure, the other elders approached and scolded her: "Yan'er, the Sword Master asked you a question! Why haven't you answered? Didn't Elder Lu instruct you to bring back the Soul Stabilizing Grass first thing?"

"Master, I…"

Murong Yan stammered under her master's prodding.

Otherwise, seeing Murong Yan hesitate despite being an ordinary disciple, the Sword Master furiously flung his sleeves as though ready to storm away in anger.

Yet the matter of the Soul Grass concerned not just the Yun Han Immortal's cultivation but also the opening of the Lower Realm and the fate of the Jinhong Sword Path and Yuns life itself.

Thus, the Sword Master maintained his patience and asked, "Speak! What has happened? Why have you returned alone? Where are Elder Lu and his disciples?"

"They… they…"

Clearly, though the swordsmanship master's questions loomed, Murong Yan's breaths quickened, a suffocating weight overwhelming her. In the end, she blurted out, "They… they're all dead."