The rumbling continued, as thunder and sword gleams intertwined above the clouds, time slipped by.

In the void hundreds of meters away, Zong Qingsheng warily stared at his former master, who had suddenly become motionless, his brows involuntarily knitting together.

He assumed this former master was scheming something, yet this kind of silence seemed like a good thing for them right now.

When Xu Yuan had displayed the means to devour others, many among them fell into despair, for it was clear that this was an irreversible and upward transformation.

They were unable to counteract this method.

But fortunately, the arrival of those ’Reformers’ caused Xu Yuan to stop using it.

Perhaps it was some kind of hope or bond.

But this semblance of beauty was laughably absurd on this battlefield, for they had all wagered everything, yet the opponent actually chose not to use that ultimate killing technique!

However....

This also gave them an opportunity.

Xu Yuan being unkillable was already an established fact, but making someone disappear completely from the world required more than just death.

The sealing technique was almost ready,

they just needed to stall for a bit longer!

As he was thinking,

Zong Qingsheng’s will-spirit suddenly sensed that Xu Yuan seemed to have sent a transmission of unknown destination, and just as his brows furrowed.....

Buzz ————

Without warning,

the Female Saint beside Zong Qingsheng suddenly shattered!!

Many noticed the changes at this spot, and amidst surprise and doubt, Feng Jiuxuan’s uncharacteristic urgent shout came from afar:

"Changtian! The Sect Alliance is moving!"

"...."

The pitch-black sky was darkened unpredictably by thunder.

After a brief silence, more and more people looked towards the ancient, heroic pass lying in the southwest.....

As far as the eye could see,

the heavy giant stone door had already opened,

Sect Alliance armies were streaming out,

and ahead of the military formation,

a dozen or so Saints of the Sect Alliance were already speeding towards this Saint Battlefield!

But watching this scene, Xu Yuan merely smiled softly.

Amidst the splattering blood of the Female Saint, his gaze turned to that former ’elder’, and his tired voice echoed:

"How ironic, isn’t it?"

"..."

Silence ensued, pupils constricted.

As someone who had faced the Sect Alliance countless times, Zong Qingsheng obviously knew that what shattered the body of the comrade beside him was the Array Pattern Weapons of the Sect Alliance’s top cultivators.

At that moment,

many doubts surged in Zong Qingsheng’s heart.

But as a battle-hardened Commander, he still rationally judged that the entire battle situation had now completely reversed.

The Sect Alliance’s sudden wager,

threw the thunderous heavens into an eerie silence.

Zong Qingsheng stood motionless,

for a long while,

he somewhat complicatedly asked the former master:

"May I ask... what promises did you make to them?"

"Nothing at all."

"Nothing at all?"

Suspicion surfaced in Zong Qingsheng’s eyes, and his voice was helpless, feeling that the other’s words rang false:

"Young Master, if it’s truly nothing, why would they choose to betray us?"

The fall of over twenty Saints created a Holy Source Tide causing clouds in the sky to gather continuously, forming a massive cloud vortex in the sky.

Standing beneath it, surrounded by terrifying blood aura, Xu Yuan’s voice carried a sense of relieved sigh.

He, softly said:

"Zong Qingsheng, no matter how political orders and systems change, this world always needs many people to collaborate in governance.

"After your deaths, many positions will become vacant."

"..."

Zong Qingsheng was suddenly stunned, then incredulous:

"Can you trust them? No... why are they so certain it’s we who will lose? The current situation is clearly in our favor, with the Sect Alliance’s style, they would help whoever wins....."

As he said this,

Zong Qingsheng abruptly paused, looking up at the sky, murmuring to himself:

"Is it... because Emperor Bai left?"

Xu Yuan did not answer, quietly looking at him.

"How utterly laughable!"

Zong Qingsheng laughed, incensed by the Sect Alliance’s betrayal, his beard trembling, his voice deep as thunder spreading:

"Do they really think our entire Dayan Imperial Court is inferior to a single Emperor Bai? Think we’ve exhausted all our means?! Such brats aren’t fit to deliberate with me! What shortsightedness...."

"Enough."

Xu Yuan cut off the old man’s anger, voice weary:

"It’s getting unbecoming, Zong Qingsheng."

"..."

Zong Qingsheng instantly fell silent.

Under the gaze of this former master, he lightly smiled.

He knew the answer, he just did not want to admit it.

No matter how favorable the Saint Battlefield appeared to them, no matter how the direct lineage of Xu Yuan suffered deaths and injuries, it did not change the fact that they, these old-world nobles, were the ones struggling to survive.

When Xu Yuan showcased that terrifying transformation by consuming others, the button to end this war had actually always been in his hand.

The only variable was Emperor Bai.

Besides the woman with an unclear stance, he was the only one present who could match Xu Yuan.

If Emperor Bai were willing to gamble everything like them, to wager everything in the Ancient Abyss, the scales of victory indeed might tilt towards them, but this... was a reality destined not to happen.

With Emperor Bai’s choice to leave, the Sect Alliance’s defection was as natural as breathing.

After all, years ago, when the Sect Alliance began to show a downturn, there had always been a faction of surrender within, only hindered by the Imperial Court not offering them a good price to sell themselves.

Now, this internal chaos of the Imperial Court was undoubtedly their best opportunity.

To whom they sold mattered not.

Whoever won, they sold to.

After a long while,

Zong Qingsheng took a breath, slowly said:

"Young Master, paths diverge, even in death, Zhong would not agree with you."

Xu Yuan shook his head:

"Does it matter?"

Zong Qingsheng was taken aback for a moment, then he laughed, stroked his beard, and said loudly:

"A defeated dog indeed is not worthy."

Saying so, he bowed deeply to Xu Yuan:

"In light of my years of service to the Prime Minister and you, Young Master, will you fulfill one request for Zhong."

"Speak."

"Give my family a quick end."

"I can."

Xu Yuan granted the promise, then asked softly:

"Should I do it personally?"

"...No need to trouble you."

"Alright."

With those words, Xu Yuan directly left.

This was his final respect to the former Black Scale Commander.

In the silent void,

Zong Qingsheng watched the young man heading to the next battlefield, he glanced up one last time at the sky, a trace of hesitation appearing in his usually unwavering eyes.

A question arose....

How should he face the Prime Minister now?

With a sigh, Zong Qingsheng suddenly laughed:

"Prime Minister, this guilty minister is too ashamed to see you."

With that,

This Black Scale Commander, without any hesitation, shattered his own Divine Soul with a single strike...

"....."

Feeling the ripple behind him, Xu Yuan sighed softly in his heart, but then his eyes gradually hardened, transforming into Escaping Light and heading towards the last battlefield ahead...

...

...

Autumn of the 19th year of Yong’an,

The Sect Alliance fell, the world unified.