Morigen rode astride his Azure Wind Howler.

He was a martial saint specializing in mounted combat, excelling in agility and speed, standing out even among martial experts of the same realm.

Especially in long-distance raids or breakouts, he was arguably unmatched among cultivators of equal rank.

Even Daoist Great Vehicle masters who had ascended to the Immortal Realm and begun cultivating the earth’s vast energy at the third layer of the ninth heaven wouldn’t dare claim to surpass Morigen in movement speed.

Among the Daoist masters present, the only one Morigen truly feared in a one-on-one duel was Shen Xi, leader of the Southern Jin Shushan Sect, a scattered immortal who had reached the fifth layer of the ninth heaven and achieved the Small Carefree state.

Before becoming an immortal saint, Morigen couldn’t guarantee he could overwhelm Shen Xi in speed.

Also, Chu Kun, a Great Vehicle master of the Daoist Talisman Sect, made Morigen wary.

If Chu Kun managed to capture him with his Great Vehicle Daoist realm, whether Morigen could escape was uncertain.

Since Shen Xi was reluctant to fight and had no intention of attacking now, and Chu Kun hadn’t come to rush ahead, Morigen felt somewhat relieved.

Among the rest, even facing Mu Chunyang, the True Warrior Temple leader who also reached the fifth layer of the ninth heaven and had perfected the five energies, Morigen was not hopeless.

If he couldn’t win, he could still consider fleeing.

But this was all under the premise of one-on-one combat.

Now, Mu Chunyang, Zhu Junjie, and others had already surrounded him three layers deep from all sides, leaving Morigen with no chance of escape.

So many top experts silently closed in and encircled him, and he failed to detect it in time;

his attempt to break through first had sealed his fate today.

Shen Xi guarded the perimeter without moving. Zhang Taigang and Chen Lingfeng, two Great Vehicle masters of the Daoist forging sect, merged their immortal souls with their magical treasures to roam the battlefield. Mu Chunyang personally struck for a swift conclusion.

With the arrival of eighth and seventh heaven cultivators, they joined forces with the remaining Song loyalists to sweep through Luoyang, clearing out the Canglang Khanate cultivators under Morigen.

On one hand, the Song restored Luoyang.

On the other, they cleaned up various letters and items of the Canglang Khanate, searching for further clues about Zholigetu of the Canglang Khanate.

“Unfortunately, Zholigetu’s seclusion place is not here,” Zhu Junjie said regretfully.

Beside him stood Fei Zhengfu, the recently sheathed Sword of the Bloodied Blade, the Grand Secretary of the Song Dynasty.

Fei Zhengfu looked at Luoyang before him with a somewhat complicated expression.

Luoyang had been reclaimed, the nomadic tribes suffered heavy blows, and many Daoist experts almost swept through effortlessly.

Among the Song loyalists, opinions varied.

Overall, most were joyful, feeling as if the clouds had finally cleared and misfortune turned to fortune.

But some felt uneasy.

If the Daoist dragons truly eliminated the Golden Khanate and the Canglang Khanate threats and restored the lands, that was good.

But then whose lands would these be? That was uncertain.

“Grand Secretary Zhu...” Fei Zhengfu glanced around to ensure no Daoists were nearby, his face showing deep concern.

Zhu Junjie remained calm: “We have known each other for years, enduring many trials together as ministers. Speak freely.”

Fei Zhengfu nodded and said solemnly, “It’s easy to invite the gods, but hard to send them off. What to do?”

Zhu Junjie: “The Tang Emperor and Celestial Master Lei are no ordinary figures. The current situation of the Han and the two Jin dynasties proves this.”

“Indeed, Grand Secretary Zhu.”

Fei Zhengfu nodded, then added, “But other Daoists may not agree. If the Daoist sect overall grows strong and the incense burns brightly, it will inevitably affect the imperial court.”

His gaze drifted afar: “I heard that Mu Chunyang of the True Warrior Temple actively spreads the True Warrior Temple’s incense widely among humans.”

Zhu Junjie remained composed: “In this situation, only by strengthening ourselves can we resolve it. Otherwise, if the nomadic invaders run rampant and the mountains and rivers are shattered, what then? Now with the help of various Daoist masters, whatever happens in the future is a result of our previous failures to restore the land.”

Fei Zhengfu silently nodded upon hearing this.

Although Zhu Junjie refuted Fei Zhengfu’s concerns, his distant gaze still lacked focus.

He was thinking about the inevitable human convergence.

When that happened, what would the human world look like?

What would become of the Song Dynasty? Could it continue to survive in a corner or fade away?

The seemingly hopeful scene now—was it just a fleeting afterglow?

Without human convergence and the interactions among various human realms, the Song’s recovery of its lands wouldn’t be possible.

But as convergence approached, would that hope vanish in an instant?

Zhu Junjie sighed softly.

Fortunately, even after ascending to the Immortal Realm and leaving the mortal world, Celestial Master Lei still cared for the people.

If the ordinary people of the old Song lands could be safe, then the fate of the Song royal family mattered less...

Frankly, over these years, Zhu Junjie, who supported the Song remnants, had developed a bond through shared hardships.

But internal strife often erupted among the Song loyalists whenever dawn appeared.

Repeated cycles of conflict weighed heavily on Zhu Junjie’s heart.

Now with human convergence near, and the chance for the Hua Xia people to drive out the nomads and restore their land, he felt a slight relief deep inside.

But Zhu Junjie wouldn’t reveal this mood in front of the other Song loyalists.

“Grand Secretary Zhu, Senior Brother Qi and Elder Chu of Longhu Tianshi Mansion request your presence for discussion.”

At this moment, a Daoist dressed in a black-and-white robe approached Zhu Junjie and bowed.

Zhu Junjie nodded: “Thank you, Daoist Chai. I will go immediately.”

As he spoke, he glanced once more at the Daoist opposite him.

His name was Chai Bin, born into the Song royal family and now cultivating at the Song Pure Yang Palace.

Currently, Chai Bin was the most talented young disciple second only to Qi Yicheng.

His master was a former elder of Pure Yang Palace, now competing with Qi Yicheng for the position of Pure Yang Palace leader.

However, everyone knew that the position largely depended on the Senior Elder Zheng Chen’s wishes.

It would also be influenced by Longhu Tianshi Mansion.

Although the current Celestial Master claimed to avoid interfering in sect affairs, if a Pure Yang Palace leader candidate fell out with Longhu Tianshi Mansion, no one in the palace would support them.

When Longhu Tianshi Mansion had already become a presence connecting the heavens and surpassing the human realm, even doing nothing could affect everything around it.

From the information Zhu Junjie had, when the Han Dynasty decided on the new crown prince and emperor, Qin Prince Xiang Sheng prevailed over Jin Prince Xiang Zhen due to the contest between Longhu Tianshi Mansion and the Vajra Realm’s Diamond Realm Buddha Division.

Zhu Junjie walked ahead, with Chai Bin following.

The Grand Secretary didn’t look back but a thought flashed in his mind:

What were Chai Bin’s true intentions, born of the Song royal family and now here?

Chai Bin silently followed behind.

He was unsure of Zhu Junjie’s thoughts but decided to maintain good relations with the Grand Secretary.

Not because Zhu Junjie was the top minister of Song, but because...

It was said that Zhu Junjie had private ties with the previous two Celestial Masters of Longhu Tianshi Mansion, Tang Xiaotang and Lei Jun.

This was almost unique among the old Song human realm.

Although Qi Yicheng represented Pure Yang Palace to meet the Celestial Master, it was mostly official.

Chai Bin clearly saw that even Qi Yicheng contacted the Tianshi Mansion through Zhu Junjie as an intermediary before going to the Tang Dynasty.

As for the Daoist sect’s prosperity affecting the Song imperial succession, that was not Chai Bin’s concern.

He had decided to dig deep in Pure Yang Palace.

On one hand, his talents were mainly in Daoist lineage rather than civil or martial arts.

More importantly, if human convergence occurred, he saw no possibility for Song to compete with the Tang Dynasty.

If anything unexpected happened, there would be no chance, not even to become a wealthy duke after submission.

But cultivating deeply in the Daoist sect meant being close to Longhu Tianshi Mansion.

With the future Daoist sect flourishing, their status in the human empire would be exalted.

If Chai Bin had regrets, it was entering Pure Yang Palace instead of Longhu.

But the situation was as it was, and he wouldn’t try to change sects, only continue cultivating at Pure Yang Palace.

Meanwhile, he would strive to draw closer to Longhu Tianshi Mansion.

Qi Yicheng was faster now, but Chai Bin wasn’t discouraged and slowly accumulated strength.

The many Daoist masters united like a tidal wave, sweeping away everything along the way.

Following the possible location of Zholigetu’s seclusion, they destroyed one stronghold after another.

Soon, even the former Golden Khanate capital was taken by Mu Chunyang and others.

But Zholigetu’s hiding place was still not found.

“The characteristics of mounted martial cultivation dictate he must choose a suitable location to gather morale. He wouldn’t quietly operate in some desolate wilderness,” Chu Kun analyzed.

“Either south, near the sealed Kong Sang portal, where remnants of the Golden Khanate reside.”

Over the years, mounted martial cultivation had gradually grown in scale in the Tang human realm, so Tang cultivators could roughly guess Zholigetu’s current situation.

Song cultivators like Zhu Junjie had dealt with him for years and understood: “Besides that, there are two other possibilities: north and west.”

To the north lay the deep northern border, the Great Wilderness portal.

But when the portals were seized, the Golden Khanate moved faster and occupied it.

To the west was the main activity area of the Canglang Khanate, their old capital.

“Let’s go south first,” Mu Chunyang said. “Although the Kong Sang portal is there, it has remained closed since before. If we move now, we can restore the Jiangnan lands of this human realm.”

As for the risks, everyone looked at Chu Kun.

Chu Kun nodded: “The Sect Leader is paying close attention to Kong Sang’s movements.”

Zhu Junjie and the others breathed easier.

They headed south.

The Kong Sang portal did not reopen.

Though many Golden Khanate experts were in Jiangnan, the top mounted martial saint Haritana was absent.

This abnormal situation immediately awakened Zhu Junjie and the others:

The Golden Khanate had cooperated with the Canglang Khanate.

Previously, relations between the two were hostile with frequent battles.

Years ago, when Golden Khan Ongqinfu was in seclusion, the Canglang Khanate and the Bailu Khanate even jointly attacked the Golden Khanate capital.

Now the Golden Khanate was weakened but had never bowed to the Canglang Khanate.

Suddenly such an abnormal situation showed that the Kong Sang Buddhist Sect had intervened.

Not just sending messages from afar, but likely some heavyweight figures quietly came to the human realm to personally mediate.

“The Golden Khanate will not retreat endlessly. The Great Wilderness is their last fallback and won’t be easily given up. So, Zholigetu is probably on the western grasslands, with Kong Sang Buddhist Sect persuading Haritana and others to guard his gate,” Chu Kun speculated.

Except for Zhu Junjie, the other Song loyalists stayed in Jiangnan to handle aftermath and cleanup.

The Daoist masters headed northwest.

In the vast grasslands of the Canglang Khanate’s old capital, Hasen, leader of the Vajra Realm’s Lotus Division, remained calm.

They had received news from the central lands.

What must come, would come.

But even if they were alert now, they couldn’t retreat easily.

After Golden Khan Ongqinfu and his demon tiger Arata died, Haritana, the current top Golden Khanate expert, sat silently, eyes closed, calm and expressionless.

Opposite her was another female expert from a different tribe, the Canglang Khanate’s martial saint Haorihua.

In the previous war among the Canglang, Bailu, and Golden Khanates, all suffered losses.

Though Canglang Khanate didn’t face direct devastation like Bailu Khanate from Ongqinfu who reached the Martial Immortal realm, their losses were still heavy.

Now with Morigen dead, the top experts of Canglang Khanate were even fewer.

Though Haorihua didn’t trust Haritana, she had no choice but to believe in Kong Sang Buddhist Sect’s arrangements.

Suddenly, a crimson golden light appeared in the sky.

Then a dazzling golden sun swiftly crossed the horizon and hovered above the grasslands.

Inside the brilliant sun was a plainly dressed middle-aged Daoist wearing a moon-white robe.

Haritana, Haorihua, Hasen, and others all found him unfamiliar.

But from recent reports, they soon connected him with Zhang Haipeng, the rarely appearing Sect Leader of the Kunwu Sect who dwelled in Kunlun among the ninth heavens and had reached the fourth layer of the ninth heaven with the four energies perfected.

Alongside Zhang Haipeng, many Daoist masters occupied other directions.

All eyes turned to the vast grasslands below.

Numerous camps dotted the endless plains, appearing ordinary.

But inside the camps gathered many top experts including Haritana, Hasen, Abbot Danta, and Haorihua.

Inside and outside the camps, Zholigetu’s whereabouts remained unknown, and his famed mount, the demon wolf Bo Ritiechena, comparable to a ninth heaven human cultivator, was absent.

Suddenly a voice sounded: “Underground.”

Haorihua’s eyes flashed sharply.

She looked up but saw no one speaking around.

Yet a transparent human figure flickered faintly in the sky.

Beside the figure stood Shen Xi, leader of the Southern Jin Shushan Sect. He nodded slightly: “Correct, we found the right place, but it’s very deep.”

The faint figure began to solidify, revealing the form of Mu Chunyang, True Warrior Temple leader—but not his physical body, rather his out-of-body primordial spirit.

“Thank you, Daoist Shen, for your efforts.” Mu Chunyang nodded at Shen Xi, then his primordial spirit swiftly returned to his physical body and clapped both palms toward the distant grasslands.

Immediately, an immense and heavy True Warrior Heavy Water began to flood and soak the grasslands.

The previously ordinary grasslands suddenly roiled, golden Buddhist light flaring from all directions, forming magical seal barriers.

Mu Chunyang remained expressionless as the True Warrior Heavy Water continuously froze and permeated the golden Buddhist light.

Other Daoist cultivators also began to take action.

Haritana, Haorihua, Hasen, and others hurried forward to stop them.

Golden light flickered as if a great sun was falling.

Zhang Haipeng descended from the sky, palm glowing with golden flames, sweeping toward Haritana.

Haritana moved with extraordinary speed to evade.

Zhang Haipeng did not pursue but used the golden blazing flames on his body to attack the Buddhist light barrier.

Haritana vanished and reappeared behind Zhang Haipeng.

He stood firm, golden flames enveloping the surroundings, skillfully intercepting Haritana’s attack while continuing to burn the Buddhist light barrier.

Kunwu Sect’s founding ancestor never formally joined Pure Yang Palace but had heard teachings there.

With successive ancestors refining and innovating, Kunwu Sect gradually became what it was today, further elevated by Zhao Chanyang into a sacred place.

Though their internal cultivation was pure Daoist alchemy, their external combat magic differed greatly from Pure Yang Palace’s traditions.

They did not cultivate Pure Yang True Fire.

But through continuous Kunlun cultivation, they had gradually developed another fire technique: Solar True Fire.

Its subtleties resembled Lei Jun’s Heavenly Celestial True Fire and the innate divine powers of the Golden Crow tribe in Canghuan.

Besides, Zhang Haipeng’s strikes were less forceful and less fluid than Pure Yang’s true transmission.

What he excelled at was his entire body shimmering with a faint metallic luster, every movement sharp and piercing.

His Great Vehicle primordial core seemed angular and edged, full of aggression and destructive power, unlike the harmonious and smooth.

Among the five elements of creation, metal and fire were especially abundant in Zhang Haipeng and other Kunwu disciples.

If Pure Yang Palace’s orthodox alchemists, including True Warrior Temple and Sanchun Palace descendants, were like furnaces or cauldrons, Kunwu disciples were more like forging themselves into divine weapons.

Haritana had often fought with Daoist alchemists and even faced Li Hang, former Pure Yang Palace leader of the Song, gaining rich combat experience.

Yet she was surprised by Zhang Haipeng’s fierce counterattack.

Besides obvious speed advantage and freedom in movement, Haritana found herself helpless against him.

If the fight dragged on, Zhang Haipeng’s stamina would outlast hers.

Normally, she wouldn’t fight a static battle but rather guerrilla tactics.

But Zhang Haipeng’s Solar True Fire was burning the Buddhist light barrier nonstop.

Haritana had no desire to risk her life for Zholigetu, and the situation was already dire.

She scanned around and saw Haorihua, Hasen, and others equally troubled.

The Daoist cultivators came without dividing forces, their combined number of top experts overwhelming.

Suddenly, the grassland beneath cracked open, releasing invisible transparent wrathful flames that blazed fiercely, spreading in all directions and rushing upward to the sky.

Where the Wrathful Flames reached, they first enveloped Chen Lingfeng, leader of the Han Shushan Sect.

Originally wielding the treasured Jiuxiao Yuanyang Staff, Chen Lingfeng was surrounded by flames, unable to evade, and trapped within the void by the flames.

He hurriedly summoned his life treasure, the Radiant Sun Robe, forged during the Upper Three Days.

The Radiant Sun Robe, mainly defensive, now shone brightly, blocking dangers from all sides and protecting Chen Lingfeng at its core.

Yet the Wrathful Flames, invisible and colorless but fierce and violent, silently burned the sunlight itself and continued closing in.

Suddenly, an icy blue crystal appeared in the void, piercing the sealed space from outside.

Zhang Taigang, leader of the Tang Shushan Sect, arrived with his Beiming Divine Spear to aid.

Although the blue ice crystal was also burned by the Wrathful Flames, concentrated at a point it held for a moment.

Seizing the chance, Chen Lingfeng withdrew the Radiant Sun Robe, placed his immortal soul on the Jiuxiao Yuanyang Staff, turning into golden light and swiftly escaping the Wrathful Flame’s encirclement.

The Wrathful Flames condensed further in midair, revealing a transparent yet deadly Great Bright King Divine Sword.

Zhang Taigang and Chen Lingfeng quickly dodged.

Only a ninth heaven cultivator perfected in the Buddhist hand seal lineage could master such a divine power.

Then, from the cracked grassland, a monk dressed in white inner robes appeared.

He looked young and was none other than Vairochana, leader of the Buddha Division of the Vajra Realm.

No wonder Haritana was here—indeed, a heavyweight from Kong Sang Buddhist Sect had quietly come to the human realm.

Vairochana’s Great Bright King Divine Sword slashed toward Chen Lingfeng and Zhang Taigang, while his other hand formed the great Vajra Wheel seal.

With his pale perfected Vajra body, he struck sideways with a palm.

In that direction was a dim crescent moonlight, seemingly a crescent moon, blocked by Vairochana’s palm.

From the Jiuxiao Yuanyang Staff came a muffled grunt from Chen Lingfeng, who halted, nearly sliced by the Great Bright King Divine Sword.

That was his other life treasure, the Illusory Moon Sword.

Chen Lingfeng, leader of the Han Shushan Sect, had been a ninth heaven Great Vehicle cultivator for years.

Besides maintaining his treasured Jiuxiao Yuanyang Staff, he had forged three life treasures during the Upper Three Days: Radiant Sun Robe, Star Binding Ring, and Illusory Moon Sword.

One for defense, one to trap enemies, one for offense.

The Illusory Moon Sword often paired with the Jiuxiao Yuanyang Staff, one bright and one dark, complementing each other, leaving enemies defenseless.

But Vairochana, having attained the Buddha Eye, keen in perception, immediately detected the Illusory Moon Sword.

His Great Bright King Divine Sword attacked relentlessly while his palm struck the Illusory Moon Sword away.

Yet suddenly, Vairochana’s heart tightened.

A seemingly peaceful but vast sword light suddenly appeared from nowhere, abruptly blocking Vairochana’s Great Bright King Divine Sword for Chen Lingfeng and Zhang Taigang.

The sword light flowed like water, like time transforming into a long river, origin unknown, end unknown.

Since arriving in the old Song human realm, Shen Xi, leader of the Southern Jin Shushan Sect, rarely acted.

He now wielded the Morning and Evening sword to intercept a strike meant for Zhang Taigang and Chen Lingfeng, then took the initiative to attack.

The winding sword light flashed, and the next time it appeared, it was in front of Vairochana himself.

Facing the sword, Vairochana dared not relax, condensing his white Vajra body and forming the Dharma preaching seal, Buddhist light shining everywhere to block the sword light.

But his defense failed.

The sword light flowed like time, hard to grasp, capture, or stop.

Vairochana’s seal failed, and the sword cut deeply into him.

His originally white Vajra body instantly transformed, reverting to a golden shining form.

Despite Vajra body’s strong defense, it could not withstand Shen Xi’s sword.

The sword’s edge grazed him, and his Vajra body showed signs of erosion and damage.

When Shen Xi was at the fourth layer of the ninth heaven, he had faced Master Baoneng, a fifth layer Great Vehicle cultivator, head-on with the Morning and Evening sword.

Now at the fifth layer perfected, his sword was even more unpredictable and sharper.

Unlike Zhang Taigang and Chen Lingfeng who forged many life treasures, Shen Xi had only forged the Morning and Evening sword, which channeled the flow of time, embodying his entire cultivation in that single blade.

After taking the sword strike, Vairochana thought he should have brought the Great Sun Leo along.

But such thoughts were quickly suppressed.

He joined his palms, golden light flashing as his white Vajra body reappeared, flames of the Wrathful King erupting, forming a sea of fire that blocked all directions.

Above his head, an eye seemed to open, observing all directions, discerning ultimate truth.

Like the elusive flowing sword light, time seemed clearer in Vairochana’s eyes at this moment.

Time appeared to slow.

Shen Xi and sword became one.

He thought that among the two saints of the Southern and Northern Jin human realms, the Buddha Division leader Vairochana surpassed the Southern Jin’s Baoneng Abbot of the Little Western Paradise.

As Buddha Division leader, he was above Karma Division leader Shedila, former Diamond Division leader Galatu, Lotus Division leader Zongga, and Treasure Division leader Fandatu.

Buddha Division’s hand seal powers combined the Diamond Division’s solidity, Lotus Division’s sensitivity, Treasure Division’s skill in forging magical tools, and Karma Division’s mastery of karmic fire—the five divisions’ best traits in one.

But Vairochana also felt a headache.

The treasures of the Treasure Division were useless against an opponent like Shen Xi.

His Buddha Eye’s perception struggled to track Shen Xi’s moves.

The Diamond Division’s defense had already proven unable to withstand Shen Xi’s sword.

He had no choice but to use the Wrathful King Flames swirling around to slow Shen Xi’s time-flow sword light while secretly activating karmic fire for counterattack.

Yet under the flowing sword light of the Morning and Evening sword, his counterattack became harder to predict.

The terrifying karmic fire endured like the passage of countless reincarnations.

But Shen Xi suddenly reversed the sword light, as if the river of time flowed backward, bypassing the karmic fire and slicing through the Wrathful King Flames, striking Vairochana again.

On Vairochana’s Vajra body surface, golden flashes appeared, reverting much of the white back to gold.

Seeing this, Vairochana had no choice but to retreat repeatedly.

Though he had heard Shen Xi was a hidden talent, seeing him now made Vairochana helpless.

Another Great Vehicle master from the Daoist forging sect, Shen Xi was stronger than the late Diamond Division leader Galatu had described the Shushan Sect leader Ji Yao of Huangquan to be.

At this point, Vairochana knew Zholigetu’s seclusion would fail.

He needed to cooperate to leave now.

By himself, he couldn’t escape Shen Xi’s time-flow sword light in the scattered immortal realm.

Below, the grassland cracked open.

Vairochana appeared but was immediately engaged by Shen Xi.

Mu Chunyang remained focused.

He had previously cooperated with Shen Xi to fight Master Baoneng and Master Duming of Thunderclap Monastery and knew their abilities.

So Mu Chunyang concentrated on using True Warrior Heavy Water to freeze and soak the land.

Zhu Junjie, Yue Xiling, Zhang Haipeng, Zheng Chen, Chu Kun, and others continued besieging Haritana, other alien experts, and Hasen with the Buddhist monks, while destroying the Buddhist light barrier.

Shen Xi held the initiative and maintained the upper hand, but Vairochana still had strength to counterattack.

After brief thought, Zhang Taigang and Chen Lingfeng redirected their attacks downward.

Abbot Danta of the Vajra Realm Lotus Division struggled to resist Chen Lingfeng’s Jiuxiao Yuanyang Staff, but could no longer withstand Zhang Taigang’s Beiming Divine Spear, which pierced and shattered his Perfected Moon Wheel.

Before he could react or retreat, Yue Xiling appeared before him, his Pure Yang Mother Fist transforming into Yang Pole Primordial Qi, piercing a point and utterly breaking through Abbot Danta’s Dharma body.

In Penglai, on the observation platform, Lei Jun watched calmly.

Now even without the Jade Pure Zhou Tian Mirror, he could observe the old Song human realm in all directions.

When Chu Kun left, he had taken Lei Jun’s Jade Pure Zhou Tian Mirror along.

Currently, high above the old Song human realm, the Jade Pure Zhou Tian Mirror silently drifted in the sky, overlooking the earth.

At the grasslands below, the fragile Buddhist light barrier suddenly stilled.

The next moment, the entire barrier collapsed.

Golden light flowed, forming a huge magical seal, enveloping the surroundings.

Mu Chunyang stood at the forefront.

The seal’s Buddhist light condensed into a floating pagoda tower, ready to suppress everyone beneath.

“Fellow cultivators, be careful,” Mu Chunyang warned calmly.

He himself remained expressionless.

Around him, vast primordial energy gathered.

The energy manifested the five elements, swirling ceaselessly, making Mu Chunyang’s figure appear much larger.

He raised one palm, immediately supporting the suddenly appearing pagoda tower.

With his other hand, he protected his front, blocking a massive dark shadow’s attack emerging from underground.

The pagoda tower was not a trap but an auxiliary ritual protecting Zholigetu’s seclusion.

But now, Zholigetu could no longer stay seated.

The Buddhist ritual power erupted in a final burst, manifesting the pagoda tower.

Taking advantage, Zholigetu and his mount Bo Ritiechena broke free.

His first attack was on Mu Chunyang.

But Mu Chunyang was prepared;

his five energies perfected body had an extremely powerful defense, and he had additionally constructed a five-element creation Dharma body, enduring Zholigetu’s strike.

The pagoda’s power would soon dissipate.

Zholigetu coldly glanced at Mu Chunyang, refraining from further attack, instead commanding Bo Ritiechena to run wildly outward.

The gigantic black wolf surged toward Zhu Junjie, who was attacking Haorihua.

Its speed was swift and sudden, making Zhu Junjie barely able to locate its exact position.

But having dealt with alien warriors often, Zhu Junjie was ready, drifting backward.

However, this inevitably opened a path.

Though Haorihua regretted her Khan’s interrupted breakthrough to the Immortal Realm, she seized the chance to break through together.

Yet the path Zhu Junjie left was immediately filled by an old Daoist in a black-and-white robe.

They clashed once, and Haorihua’s steps halted, falling back into the encirclement.

It was Pure Yang Palace’s Senior Elder Zheng Chen.

Just as Zheng Chen blocked Haorihua, a black shadow flickered before him.

Breaking mountains and rivers, shattering the famed desolate wild martial Dao truth assaulted.

Zholigetu, atop the giant wolf Bo Ritiechena, wielded a spear and stabbed directly at Zheng Chen.

Zheng Chen’s body glowed golden, surrounded by a shining orb that expanded outward, like opening his great primordial core to defend against the terrifying attack that could pierce the void.

At the same time, Chu Kun arrived in time.

Stars danced, countless star talismans flowing, forming a sea of stars that covered Zholigetu and his giant wolf.

The stars then exploded, dazzling as countless suns, blinding all sight.

Zholigetu, as a martial immortal, had extremely strong defense and stubbornly resisted Chu Kun’s barrage of talismans.

His eyes flashed cold light, his gaze locked tightly on Zheng Chen.

But...

When the spear struck, Zholigetu suddenly shuddered.

The expanding orb was not the great primordial core Zheng Chen opened for defense.

It was another attack with overwhelming explosive power and destructive force!

Originally formless and trace-less, the attack erupted from a single point and spread outward.

The golden light on the orb’s surface was added by the attack’s owner, making the invisible attack appear as a glowing golden orb.

Now, as the golden orb collided with the spear, the spear trembled instantly.

Zholigetu’s heart filled with a strong sense of danger.

Within the expanding golden orb, other powers formed.

Pure Yang Palace’s Senior Elder had earlier condensed Pure Yang True Fire, which circulated through the Primordial Qi, suddenly transforming into Pure Yin True Fire.

Simultaneously appeared Pure Yang Immortal Thunder.

On the golden and silver Taiji diagram, the Primordial Qi continued circulating, shifting the Taiji diagram to pure black and white.

Following the explosive dispersal of the Origin Pearl, a brilliant and graceful light burst forth.

Innate Dragon and Tiger Joint Strike!

As a martial immortal, Zholigetu was not skilled at external reconnaissance but was highly alert.

Sensing danger, he immediately commanded the giant wolf to retreat before the black-and-white Taiji light erupted.

But his opponent created an illusory bridge beneath his feet.

Once stepping onto this bridge, the owner of the black-and-white Taiji diagram caught up with the martial immortal Zholigetu’s speed.

Moreover, from this center, vast Primordial Qi spread like an ocean, surrounding Zholigetu and the giant wolf.

Zholigetu instantly felt his speed slow considerably.

This delay made it hard to avoid the brilliance of the Innate Dragon and Tiger Joint Strike.

Bo Ritiechena was the first to suffer, enveloped by subtle light that wore away its flesh and blood.

Zholigetu’s eyes widened in agony.

He no longer saw the previous “Zheng Chen” but instead a tall woman wearing a purple-gold Daoist robe.

“...Tang Xiaotang of Longhu!” Zholigetu groaned.

Tang Xiaotang laughed aloud: “Finally, you’ve come to us! I was nearly suffocated waiting!

I said I couldn’t handle Lei Jun and the others’ style,

But now seeing your face, I feel enduring all this was worth it! Ha ha ha ha!”

The surrounding starlight dissipated, but before Zholigetu was no longer the human world but a strange vast universe.

In the black cosmos, huge twinkling stars rose and fell.

In the distance was a peculiar enormous continent, both awe-inspiring and tempting.

The Great Vehicle Daoist realm of the Talisman Sect cultivator appeared, but not Tang Xiaotang’s own realm... Zholigetu forced himself to remain calm.

“You hid well just now.”

Tang Xiaotang laughed: “Try hiding again this time.”

As she spoke, the black-and-white Taiji diagram above her head flashed again.

But this time no light burst from it.

Yet Zholigetu sensed a greater crisis than before.

He didn’t know where the danger came from but dared not hesitate and quickly dodged.

A strong light seemed to arise from nowhere, exploding directly before Zholigetu with no distance.

Though Zholigetu was a martial immortal moving at near-ignoring space and time speed, the instant reaction still failed to completely avoid Tang Xiaotang’s attack.

He narrowly dodged the vital chest area.

But his right shoulder exploded with blood, pierced through on the spot.

Light burst out from behind him, shooting forward as if he was the source of the light.

“...Tongxuan Bridge?!” Zholigetu stared at Tang Xiaotang in horror.

Under her feet, the Tongxuan Bridge had vanished.

In the void, the bridge’s position flickered unpredictably but seemed to connect everywhere.

At the same time, it made Tang Xiaotang’s Innate Dragon and Tiger Joint Strike not only supremely powerful but also elusive and unpredictable.

She refused to let the Tongxuan Bridge be only for her own movement.

Instead, she incorporated it into her attack, combining it with her divine power.

This combination was not unprecedented.

Historically, some had tried.

But only now, under Tang Xiaotang’s Primordial Qi blessing, did it succeed.

This move surpassed even her previous impersonation of Pure Yang Palace elder Zheng Chen, catching Zholigetu off guard and injuring him on their first clash.

However, Zholigetu’s tenacity made him immediately thrust his spear toward Tang Xiaotang, who lacked the Tongxuan Bridge.

But the Primordial Qi diffusion delayed him.

Above Tang Xiaotang’s head, the Doumu Star God’s law emblem flickered with profound light, helping her foresee Zholigetu’s moves.

Though injured and without the Tongxuan Bridge, Tang Xiaotang, with the Doumu Star God’s law emblem and life merit blessing, easily avoided Zholigetu’s attack with a step.

Her black-and-white Taiji diagram flashed again.

Outside, Haorihua and others saw only Chu Kun’s Great Vehicle Daoist realm capturing Zholigetu and “Zheng Chen” together.

Mu Chunyang overturned the pagoda tower as the Buddhist light gradually dissipated.

He wanted to first enter Chu Kun’s Great Vehicle Daoist realm but found no opening and instead aided Shen Xi to defeat Buddha Division leader Vairochana.

Vairochana didn’t believe Chu Kun and “Zheng Chen” alone could capture Zholigetu.

But now, he had no choice.

His life hung in the balance.

With Mu Chunyang and Shen Xi working together, Vairochana had no chance to escape.

Vairochana formed hand seals: “I am incompetent, please forgive me, Honored One.”

A soft sigh seemed to echo in the void.

Then Vairochana’s Vajra body burst into flames far fiercer than before.

The Wrathful King Flames spread everywhere, making Shen Xi and Mu Chunyang wary.

Vairochana himself couldn’t withstand the flames, his face showing pain as his Vajra body cracked.

But at this moment, the Wrathful King Flames seemed to burn through the void.

Though not opening a void portal directly, they could guide Vairochana back to Kong Sang.

This was the work of Venerable Shanzhihui.

After occupying Kong Sang and combining its resources, he devised this new method, though it harmed himself.

Feeling the deaths of Galatu, Zongga, and Fandatu, Venerable Shanzhihui personally intervened.

The fierce Wrathful King Flames swept all directions.

But then, the Jade Pure Zhou Tian Mirror, hanging silently in the sky, suddenly lit up.

Lei Jun, standing calmly on the observation platform over the Penglai Sea, formed a hand seal with one hand at his chest.

After his reforging, the Jade Pure Zhou Tian Mirror had gained the divine power of the Yin-Yang Heavenly Punishment Mirror.

On the mirror’s surface, two divine talismans, one purple and one black, simultaneously glowed.

The combined brilliance of the Xuanyao Five Thunder talisman and the Thunder Law Celestial Book talisman fused, purple and black lightning intertwining in Yin-Yang harmony, forming a divine beam descending from the heavens.

It seemed to split heaven and earth vertically.

The Yin-Yang Divine Thunderlight pierced through the Wrathful King Flame sea at its center, striking Vairochana who was about to disappear into the void.

Vairochana trembled violently as the divine light pierced his body on the spot!

His already cracked Vajra body now erupted lightning and fire from the wound, setting his flesh ablaze.

Mu Chunyang, Shen Xi, and others afar were shocked.

“...Celestial Master Lei?!” Zhang Taigang, Yue Xiling, and others exclaimed upon recognizing the technique.

The surging Wrathful King Flame sea suddenly paused, then reacted like a living thing, desperately concentrating at the center and surging upward, trying to block the Yin-Yang Divine Thunderlight.

But the dazzling brilliance was refined to the extreme, piercing the Wrathful King Flame sea, burning Vairochana’s body, and restoring the distorted void below.

The light continued downward, penetrating the earth.