Chen Yin's cultivation was still a notch below Xindu's. The only reason he had managed to hold out this long was because he had spent most of his life's savings forging the sharp spirit sword now in his hand, while the other side also had little desire to get injured and lacked any real fighting intent.

Yet with just a single glance, Chen Yin's heart instantly sank to rock bottom, Why are they coming for me?!

The four Merciful Ones in the sky exchanged glances, each harboring their own thoughts. After hesitating briefly, they all followed Daisi down on the wind in unspoken agreement.

Cold sweat instantly drenched Chen Yin's back as a sense of impending catastrophe descended upon him!

You expect me to hold off a lineup like this?!

Without the slightest hesitation, he withdrew his sword and retreated, empowered by Mansion Water divine ability. But how could Xindu possibly let him leave? His eyes secretly settled on the spirit sword in Chen Yin's hand as greed surged wildly within him.

No wonder they say Jiangnan is wealthy. Even a sword cultivator with no obvious backing can own a spirit sword! If I can seize that thing, who knows how many treasures I could trade it for?!

Thus, empowered by divine ability, he hurriedly gave chase and tightly entangled Chen Yin. The Merciful Ones immediately closed in as well, preparing to form a formation and trap him.

Only Daisi kept a smile on his face while not daring to move forward at all. He merely lurked at the edges, furtively watching while constantly keeping track of Ning Wan's position.

There was no other reason. He was simply terrified of the [Frosty Absolute Sword]!

I also need to watch out for the sword intent sealed within that spirit artifact. Compared to those northerners, the people in front of me might hate me even more. It would be better to let these immortal cultivators fight amongst themselves, just like they have for thousands of years, and let them exhaust each other instead...

Chen Yin only had time to raise his hand and slash upward with the spirit sword in his grasp. Layers of chilling white radiance burst forth turbulently, barely managing to dissolve the incoming attacks. Even so, his face immediately turned pale, and he nearly coughed up blood.

But the awkwardness of his situation went far beyond that. His hastily unleashed sword strike swept across and hurriedly cleaved the white-robed devil cultivator before him in two, splitting apart the opponent's dharma body. Yet the devil cultivator's expression did not change in the slightest. His body dispersed and reformed before charging forward once more.

Chen Yin clearly understood what was happening. Whether it was Xindu or Daisi, the reason they had singled him out was simple, it was because he lacked powerful trump cards and was easier to target. On top of that, he had just forged a new spirit sword, naturally attracting covetous eyes. But how many difficulties did Chen Yin himself carry?

Unlike Li Ximing, Chen Yin had achieved his divine ability during the height of the Supreme Yang's dominance, yet he lacked a favorable position like Xiao Chuting's. In truth, he had long existed as part of an immortal family established through the Supreme Yang Dao lineage. Although those pressures had eased somewhat in recent years, the restraints binding him were still far greater than those on Li Ximing.

There was no avoiding this muddy water. After all, the sword in my hand was forged using materials I just received from others. How could I possibly refuse? But once my life is truly at risk, who could keep guarding the Supreme Yang for him any longer?!

The ruthlessness in his eyes deepened further. He no longer cared about anything else. Raising the spirit sword upright before him, he struggled to lift it upward!

Hundred-Light Dividing Form Sword Art!

The deep-blue spirit sword in his hand instantly split into eight. As his two fingers lifted upward, the spirit swords formed a massive arc around his body, each radiating brilliant white sword light.

Immediately afterward, the old man's pupils flared brightly. "Kill!"

This was a calamity that could cost him his life. Chen Yin held nothing back and showed not the slightest hesitation. He had clearly begun fighting desperately. The radiance of the eight spirit swords grew increasingly intense, each blade as large as a door panel as they shielded him from the front. Inferior Water surged around him, sweeping away every spirit wind divine ability in its path.

Chen Yin naturally possessed genuine skill, and the Mansion Water Dao lineage itself was rather peculiar. Now that he was fighting at full force, the divine ability beneath everyone's feet was swept away together. Boundless pulling force surged from the Inferior Water below, dragging them downward uncontrollably.

Just as the eight spirit swords erupted with dazzling radiance, something suddenly shot out from the great void.

It was a purple bowl ringed with two black bands. Its opening was pitch-black, while the purple glow had reached an almost blinding intensity, completely suppressing the Inferior Water below!

It was the [Kongsijiang Demon Bowl]!

Daisi had originally forged this treasure specifically to suppress water and fire. With the Inferior Water divine ability temporarily restrained, the surrounding cultivators quickly reacted and simultaneously activated their divine abilities to break free!

"What a divine ability!"

The first to escape was naturally Xindu. This devil cultivator always prioritized survival above all else. The boots beneath his feet were actually spirit embryos, flickering with layers of radiance as they freed him from the divine ability long before the others. Forming seals with both hands, he was overjoyed inwardly!

There truly are fine treasures to be found in the south!

His strength had already been formidable to begin with. Now that he saw a chance to seize a spirit artifact, his greed flared uncontrollably. Holding nothing back, his eyes turned crimson as two pale golden streaks of light emerged within his pupils, darting toward Chen Yin like venomous hornets.

Chen Yin pushed his divine ability to the limit and gritted his teeth, completely disregarding everything else as he prepared to step into the great void. Yet he suddenly saw that the [Kongsijiang Demon Bowl] had already risen high within the great void itself, and a dazzling stream of purple light came rushing straight toward him.

Pfft!

The situation instantly took a disastrous turn. Clear hesitation flashed through Chen Yin's eyes. Even in his urgency, he had no choice but to temporarily avoid the attack.

As his spirit sword swept back upward, he heard Xindu laugh. "Hand over the spirit sword, and I will spare you!"

How could Chen Yin possibly agree? This sword had been forged from spirit items gathered over most of his lifetime. It had also consumed countless opportunities and ancestral treasures. Even if the entire Chen Family were sold off, it still would not equal the value of this sword!

And though the man was smiling, all his divine abilities still came crashing down mercilessly. The golden artifacts of the surrounding Merciful Ones followed immediately after, battering Chen Yin until he coughed up blood once more.

His eyes reddened slightly as he clenched his teeth inwardly, The more dangerous the situation, the calmer I must be. Only by finding an opening can I leave safely. Otherwise, I will merely continue fighting within the great void!

But just as he was being overwhelmed from every side, a disturbance erupted within the great void. A halberd suddenly swept across the sky, purple flames surging wildly as divine abilities exploded into chaos!

Boom!

Dense white divine ability exploded along the halberd. The crescent-like side blade hooked several golden artifacts at once, instantly relieving much of Chen Yin's pressure. Slightly stunned, he glanced at the figure before him, yet the divine ability in his hands did not slow in the slightest. He tore open the great void once more, only for that dazzling purple light to shine into his eyes again.

This time, however, he was no longer trapped between attacks from both front and back. Someone was already holding off the pursuers behind him, so he no longer needed to fear being chased relentlessly. As long as he endured this light and suffered only minor injuries, he could definitely escape!

Yet Chen Yin hesitated for a brief instant. The spirit sword in his hand dimmed before flaring bright once more. In the end, he did not take that step. Instead, he thrust his sword at astonishing speed, intercepting a divine ability aimed at Li Zhouwei's flank with a sharp clang.

Chen Yin's actions also caught Li Zhouwei off guard for a moment, drawing a faint smile from him. Without the slightest hesitation, both his arms suddenly exerted force. The halberd reversed with a ringing clang before thrusting back out, its blade instantly locking onto Xindu!

A trace of anger clearly surfaced within the devil cultivator. It was unclear whether it was directed at Murong Yan or Li Zhouwei, but the rage and greed clouding his mind quickly diminished once he measured the difference in strength. If there was no profit to be gained, why fight this battle at all?

Where is Murong Yan?! He cannot even hold him down?!

No sooner had he cursed inwardly than Murong Yan's [Dawnless Deceit] swept over from afar. It had already merged into the flames filling the sky, moving to suppress Zhusheng and Ning Wan!

Xindu stared darkly at the two of them. Yet just as Li Zhouwei drew back his halberd, a golden ring suddenly burst from the great void and shot toward him. It was none other than Daisi's new treasure artifact.

The golden ring radiated imposing might, expanding and shrinking unpredictably in the air. With a metallic clang, it contracted around the crescent branch of Da Sheng before swaying violently. Li Zhouwei held the halberd in one hand, yet the weapon was unexpectedly restrained by the ring and could not break free for the moment.

Excellent!

Xindu was overjoyed and immediately lunged toward Chen Yin once again!

Boom!

Flames flickered across the sky. The intermittent snowfall that had blanketed the area finally dissipated, leaving only the white formation flags fluttering weakly in the air.

Ning Wan and Zhusheng are at their limit. The northerners want to sweep everyone aside in one go. They seek to suppress everyone here and seize at least some spoils.

Li Zhouwei's expression darkened as he raised his brows and planted the halberd beside him. The golden ring still could not be removed, suppressing many of the weapon's wondrous abilities and preventing them from being unleashed. His eyes suddenly turned icy as they swept over Daisi, who was quietly stepping into the great void, and the nearby Xindu. At the same time, rumbling thunder had already begun echoing through the clouds.

[Heaven-Venerating Gate]!

The moment the might of this divine ability began to reveal itself, the cautious Merciful Ones nearby all paled in alarm. Even Daisi cast a wary glance toward Li Zhouwei and noticed the Brilliant Yang King's Axe at his waist.

After all, Li Zhouwei was currently one of the most watched figures around, especially among Buddhist cultivators. Who among them had not studied him carefully? The group immediately scattered apart. When Xindu realized the target was once again himself, his expression changed drastically as he laughed in anger.

What does any of this have to do with you? I have never heard that your Li Family is particularly close with the Chen Family! You even let Murong Yan's spirit artifact go, yet you insist on ruining my plans!

Daisi's treasures were all occupied within the great void, while this Heaven-Venerating Gate was clearly meant mainly to force opponents back. Reluctant and unwilling, Xindu retreated with lingering anger and turned his head back.

Only then did he realize that Li Zhouwei had already burst out from the encirclement of his three opponents and charged straight toward him!

At that moment, Xindu finally understood. He was being singled out precisely because he lacked backing. Even though he already knew Li Zhouwei possessed an illustrious bloodline, after being targeted again and again like this, he could not help but laugh in fury. "You really think I am easy to bully?!"

His eyes suddenly blazed brightly as white qi spread across his face. Directly revealing his trump card, he lunged forward the moment [Heaven-Venerating Gate] failed to land, sneering coldly in his mind, Your spirit artifact is restrained, and your divine ability has missed. Let us see how you deal with my divine ability now!

Yet Li Zhouwei seemed utterly unconcerned that his weapon had been entangled. He merely stood there coldly before him, flicked his sleeve, and unexpectedly unfurled a painting out of thin air.

What kind of spirit artifact is this?!

Xindu's heart jolted as he unleashed the white light in his hand with full force, only to realize that the painting before him appeared completely ordinary. Although it carried a faint trace of Pristine Water qi, there was no sign of mana radiance at all. It was merely a painting of a single person.

The figure was unfamiliar as well. Clad in green robes with green hair, he possessed an unmistakably sinister appearance, likely some kind of fiendish overlord... 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Thinking it was some defensive spirit artifact, he did not restrain his divine ability in the slightest. The overwhelming force instantly shredded the painting to pieces before slamming directly into Li Zhouwei, sending him flying backward over a dozen meters as blood burst from his mouth.

That is it?

Xindu froze slightly. His first instinct was to mock him, yet suspicion rapidly flooded his mind. His gaze swept swiftly across the battlefield and met Murong Yan's expression in the distance. He looked as though he had just seen a ghost and was on the verge of tears.

But the sight lasted only an instant. Murong Yan, the True Fire filling the sky, Shilou Yingge, even the drifting snow, instantly vanished into the distance as they fled as fast as they could.

Hm? Why are they flying on their own?

Every hair on his body stood upright. His spiritual sense flickered for a brief moment before realization finally struck him, sending an icy chill from the top of his head all the way down his spine.

The great void could no longer be connected to. The Merciful Ones below still remained unaware and burst into mocking laughter so infuriating that it nearly made him cough blood. Their voices sounded especially piercing in the suddenly silent sky. He instantly spun around at lightning speed, only for his movement to stop dead midway.

His pupils dilated to their absolute limit as they reflected a pair of green-purple eyes. He felt as though a snake-dragon was staring back at him, mocking him with a cold smile.