The tall, big black Demon quickly slit his finger, and the fresh blood dripped onto the black mask.

He drew with force, leaving three shocking blood marks on the mask.

As the blood seeped in, the black mask immediately emitted a strong blood light, and an extremely sinister aura erupted like a storm.

Within this sinister aura, besides the fluctuations of mana, there was also a strong mix of Desire Power, as if countless creatures were shouting and praying.

Immediately after, the tall black Dharma manifestation turned into a dark light, like a black lightning bolt, that instantly merged into the mask on his face. At the same time, Tie Xuan and Shen Xiu executed the same move, each offering their own Dharma manifestation into their masks without hesitation.

As the Dharma manifestations of the three merged, the six black concentric circles around Yuan Ming stabilized and unleashed even greater power.

A massive black Light Pillar shot straight up into the sky, its might seeming to tear the heavens and earth apart, directly engulfing Yuan Ming's figure.

At this moment, the strange Power of Dao increased several times over, like a surging torrent, completely suppressing the Power of Dao fluctuations on Yuan Ming.

Under the suppression of this power, Yuan Ming seemed to become a trapped beast, unable to break free from the restraints.

Sima Changqin witnessed this scene, and his previously raised arm slowly lowered, a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes, as if everything was under his control.

"That is the mask of the Six Extremes Evil God, indeed extraordinary. To eliminate Wan Tianren, Qin Demon, you are even willing to let three Black Demons take such a great risk. Such decisive slaughter, worthy of a Guardian." Not far away, Wu Yu said.

"Hehe, Her Majesty the Empress overpraises me." Sima Changqin clapped and laughed.

As the two were conversing, Master Tantai and others attacked Yuan Ming again.

He and Long Hou once more activated their Dharma manifestations, brilliant starlight and golden breath intertwined, like two torrents, suddenly rushing towards the black Light Pillar.

At the same time, Yang Fan, Long Yinkong, and Long Yuhuan, these three young ones, were not to be outdone, each summoned their Dharma manifestations and performed Divine Skills, following closely behind to attack Yuan Ming inside the Light Pillar.

For a moment, on the stairway, various lights intermingled, like magnificent fireworks, engulfing the black Light Pillar that enveloped Yuan Ming's figure.

Under this intense onslaught, Yuan Ming's Dharma manifestation instantly collapsed, and his body seemed to be blasted into pieces, with not a trace of breath detectable.

The three Black Demons' eyes flashed with a hint of joy, yet in the next moment, their bodies suddenly trembled uncontrollably, violently shaking as if sieved, and their aura rapidly declined.

Sima Changqin noticed and quickly walked along the stairway, soon arriving beside the three Black Demons.

His palm emitted a black light that split into three, enveloping the masks of the three, and then he pulled hard.

The blood light on the three masks surged, being extremely difficult to remove.

It was seen that the faces of Tie Xuan and the others were now a bloody mess, as if something had gnawed on them, looking rather bloody and hideous.

Sima Changqin expressionlessly waved to take out three talismans, sticking them on the masks, causing the blood light on the masks to finally recede a bit.

He promptly put away the three masks, then sent out three strands of green light into the bodies of Tie Xuan and the other two.

Only then did the trembling of their bodies cease, and their aura stabilized.

At this moment, that black Light Pillar shattered with a crash, turning into dots of light that scattered and vanished, revealing the situation inside.

However, contrary to everyone's expectations, there was nothing there, as if Yuan Ming had been blasted into bits and had completely vanished from this world.

Master Tantai, Long Hou, and the others initially felt joy at the sight.

Their meticulous planning and cooperative efforts had finally ousted Yuan Ming from the trial.

Then Master Tantai's face suddenly turned stern, feeling something amiss, his gaze swept towards the bottom of the stairway, where only a crowd of Returning to Void Cultivators and Level 5 Demon Race stood, with no trace of Yuan Ming.

"Could it be that the attack was too heavy just now and that boy was killed directly?"

At this moment, a point of black light appeared on the staircase where Yuan Ming had just stood.

Immediately, a small black tree sprouted from it, firmly rooted on the staircase.

Soon after, flesh rapidly regenerated on the small black tree, and in an instant, Yuan Ming's form was reconstructed.

This scene left Master Tantai and others greatly astonished, staring in disbelief at Yuan Ming, who had seemingly risen from the ashes.

"How is that possible!" Sima Changqin also showed a look of surprise.

He knew well that the material of this stairway was the World Tree, and he had just tried it, finding that neither mana nor Divine Sense could penetrate it.

Yet Yuan Ming seemed to possess some miraculous means, able to resurrect on the stairway of the World Tree.

Once Yuan Ming's body was consolidated, he immediately lifted his foot and stomped down with all his strength.

The steps beneath everyone suddenly sank downward, then abruptly bounced up again.

The force generated between this sinking and bouncing made everyone unstable, and they quickly cast spells to stabilize themselves.

"It's rude not to return a blow when one's given; take this from me!" Yuan Ming shouted lowly, raising both arms abruptly, his hands blurring for a moment.

The people from Daluo Sect, Heavenly Dragon Hall, and Sima Changqin saw a flash before their eyes, as hundreds of fist shadows appeared instantly, striking fiercely on their protective light screens.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" A series of loud crashes sounded, and Long Hou and others, who had just stabilized themselves, were caught off guard by Yuan Ming's attack, getting hit one after another by the fist shadows, their bodies lifted from the stairs.

At the peak of the altar, Jie Cha expressionlessly waved his sleeve.

In mid-air, several emerald spirit lights streaked across like meteors, and the figures of Master Tantai, Yang Fan, Long Hou, Long Yinkong, and Long Yuhuan flashed and were transported below the steps.

At the same time, Sima Changqin and three Black Demons also came under attack.

However, Sima Changqin reacted swiftly; the ancient zither in his hand flew like a spiritual snake to the front of several people, and the virtual shadows of zither strings traced elegant arcs in the air, turning Yuan Ming's fist shadows into nothingness with the zither strings' gentle brush.

"Fellow Daoist Sima, since you want to stop me from taking the treasure, why use such underhanded means to incite others to act? Wouldn't it be more convenient for you and me to compete directly?" Yuan Ming looked at Sima Changqin with not much fluctuation in his tone.

Sima Changqin chuckled lightly and said openly, "Fellow Daoist Wan possesses the Undying Body, and the rules here favor body cultivation, how could Changqin be careless? I just didn't expect that even with Fellow Daoist Tantai and the others joining hands, they still aren't your match."

Yuan Ming was somewhat surprised that Sima Changqin admitted his scheming so frankly.

"Fellow Daoist Wan, don't misunderstand. The earlier matter was truly not a petty dispute. The Three Realms Immortal Boat is a treasure that can alter the battle situation between the Chuyun Realm and the Demon World; its importance is self-evident. The current Chuyun Realm seems calm on the surface, but underneath there are undercurrents, with external threats from the Demon Clan and internal concerns from the Demon Clan and Three Realms Sect. The existence of the Three Realms Immortal Boat provides the Human Clan with an extra chance at victory in the coming storm. Therefore, it should be in the hands of the Guardian of the Realm. Fellow Daoist Tantai and the others assisted me with this intention. However, the prior situation was indeed our fault, and I ask Fellow Daoist Wan for forgiveness." Sima Changqin clasped his hands in a sincere gesture.

Yuan Ming laughed heartily, dismissively saying, "Qin Demon, you truly are a Guardian of the Realm, your words are remarkable, able to paint your ambush in such a righteous light. Unfortunately, I, Wan, don't buy it. If you want the Three Realms Immortal Boat, then come and take it based on your own abilities!"

With those words, his arms blurred again, thousands of fist shadows instantly gathered, transforming into clusters of intense red light, crashing down on Sima Changqin like meteors.

Instantly, the air was filled with deafening sounds of rupturing air.

Sima Changqin's expression turned slightly grim, his fingers plucking rapidly across the ancient zither, leaving trails of afterimages.

A blue spirit light suddenly shot out from the zither, bursting with a bang in mid-air, transforming into a large net woven from countless blue threads to meet Yuan Ming's dense fist shadows.

At the moment of collision, a continuous thunderous rumble erupted nonstop, as Yuan Ming's fist shadows exploded one after another, sending surging waves of air in all directions, yet that blue net was exceptionally resilient, blocking all the fist shadows.

Yuan Ming wasn't discouraged at all, elevating his Qi Blood Power to the extreme, slicing fiercely in front of him with his palm like a blade.

A sharp blood light broke through the air, like a bolt of lightning, cleaving towards the blue net.

With a loud booming sound, the spirit light on the blue net dimmed, unexpectedly split into two by the blood light, scattering in mid-air.

Sima Changqin was secretly astonished, yet didn't panic, gently brushing his fingers over the zither strings again.

A melodious zither sound arose, transforming into an invisible sonic wave that rushed towards Yuan Ming.

As soon as this sonic wave entered his ears, Yuan Ming felt as if his internal organs were being pounded, the pain unbearable.

Yet Yuan Ming seemed unaware, silently turning his internal organs into a flowing Qi-Blood state, resisting the zither sound's assault, while his body swiftly moved forward, stepping forcefully on the stairs, quickly closing the distance with Sima Changqin.

Sima Changqin knew the frightening nature of a body cultivator's close combat with the Undying Body, but with the trial of the steps prohibiting Flying Escape, he had to retreat with all his might, widening the gap between him and Yuan Ming.

At the same time, he quickly formed a spell with his hands, slapping down on the ancient zither.

"Zheng! Zheng!" The zither sound echoed, full of chaos and tumult.

Spirit light flickered wildly from the zither's body, as a blue hurricane shot out, filled with densely packed blue Wind Blades, like knives and swords, slicing towards Yuan Ming.

Yuan Ming initially intended to let the Wind Blades slash at him, but to his surprise, these Wind Blades could actually extinguish his Qi-Blood.

In just a moment, his entire body was lacerated, blood spraying out, making him seem as if he had emerged from a Blood Pool.

His Qi Blood Power was cut down by as much as two-tenths at that moment.

A chill ran through Yuan Ming's heart, realizing instantly that these Wind Blades contained some kind of special True Intent.

He did not retreat because of this, instead accelerating, charging through the hurricane to Sima Changqin's front.

He clenched his right fist, aiming straight for Sima Changqin's face, seemingly intending to kill this Guardian of the Realm with one strike.

Seeing this, Sima Changqin quickly formed another spell, pointing at the ancient zither.

In an instant, countless blue spirit lights enveloped his body, causing his form to vanish from where he stood.