"Perhaps, did the Heavenly Dome’s plan change?" The Eternal Life Sect Leader’s mind was suddenly filled with a bad thought.

...

The stone house of the Heavenly Dome has always been regarded by the Heavenly Fire Clan people as a watching window into the human world’s "sick village."

Qing Yangyu was slouched on a large chair, instructing Mr. Yan, who resembled a maggot,

"Little Yan, you must watch carefully, Zhou Xuan’s matter cannot afford the slightest mistake. Your eyes aren’t just eyes; they’re what hold my life."

Qing Yangyu threw a fat worm into his mouth, chewing it until juice flowed everywhere, clearly enjoying himself.

Beside him was a table piled high with such worms, filling a large bucket.

Mr. Yan was overlooking the human world, saying: "Palace Master, the news from Bai Yujing was clear: as long as Zhou Xuan can refine good elixirs, he’ll be spared even as a Colorful Play Master."

"Orders have changed from above. If Zhou Xuan can summon the ’Human World Play God,’ then kill him without mercy."

"Human World Play God? He likely doesn’t have that capability; even the past Wind Horse Sparrow couldn’t achieve it."

Mr. Yan said with a sycophantic smile.

"I know he doesn’t have that capability... but watch carefully to ensure no mistakes are made."

With those words, Qing Yangyu popped another elixir into his mouth, under whose effects those writhing worms appeared to him as delicacies, each dish visually delightful and of supreme quality.

...

On the theater stage in Mingjiang Prefecture, eyes from all factions were turned towards it, heated with anticipation.

Mr. Yan was scrutinizing the strange occurrences of the stage; the incense fire Taoist was focused on locating Zhou Xuan.

Meanwhile, the audience was still immersed in the grief over the successive deaths of "Li Changxun" and "Yun Ziliang,"

and several individuals from the Buddha Country and Dun Jia Taishang were also searching for Zhou Xuan, to prevent his concealed counterattack,

with their eyes focusing on particular aspects, rather than noticing—the places where Li Changxun and Yun Ziliang perished, appeared a profusion of peach blossoms and willow wisps amid the shocking pools of blood.

The Hulu Taishang’s flying sword had first cut down Yun Ziliang and then severed Li Changxun’s wind; indeed, it was a remarkably sharp presence,

At this moment, he was even more pleased, with his flying sword hanging three feet above his shoulder, making a clear chiming sound.

"Zhou Xuan, all your helpers have been cut down by our Tunnel Armor Sect, especially that Li Changxun, crushed to death alive by the Well Array, dying so tragically."

"And you... can only behave like a cowardly turtle?"

"You managed to preserve your life, surviving by clinging on."

At this point, the Hulu Taishang felt a subtle dissatisfaction and raised his hands high, waving them towards the eyes of the audience with a cold laugh: "Look, the self-righteous folks of Mingjiang Prefecture,

This is your esteemed Mr. ... This is the figure you regarded as your faith and elegance, abandoning his companions to escape alone, how is it different from us Tunneling Armor disciples?"

"Every word you cursed at us, you directed at Zhou Xuan."

The audience fell into a speechless silence,

But soon, a voice stirred them into renewed excitement.

"I, Zhou Xuan, have never left."

"Thud."

With the sound of a gavel knock, Zhou Xuan’s figure emerged openly on the stage.

At this moment, he no longer concealed his incense battle power—it was as potent as nine sticks of incense.

"Oh, nine sticks of incense?"

Zhou Xuan’s aura was not restrained; the Hulu Taishang could naturally perceive it.

Zhou Xuan knew that Li Changxun and Yun Ziliang’s deaths were staged, part of the "anticipated demise" in his script,

Yet he acted as though the two dear friends had truly died, his eyes turning red with genuine emotion, he said,

"I was breaking through the realm just now, couldn’t save Lao Yun or Li Shanzu, but I, Zhou Xuan, never live ignobly alone, today, either I slay all of you, or you step over my corpse, to leave this theater stage."

"How arrogant."

The Hulu Taishang said smugly: "We know Zhou Xuan is undefeated among equals, but without your helpers, we have many people on our side, no matter how brave you are, what can you do?"

"I will show you the courage of Jing Country—even knowing we cannot win, we will fight to the death with all our might."

Standing in the cold wind, Zhou Xuan’s mask at his waist was rattled by the wind,

He retrieved the "Tao Ancestor Mask," gently secured it onto his face, and declared: "The Vajra, Heavenly King, Bodhisattva of Buddha Country, Taishang of Tunnel Armor, come fight!"

Zhou Xuan alone faced the Taishang and Buddha Country individuals, exuding an aura of authority without anger.

"Raise your sword."

The Hulu Taishang pointed with his right hand towards Zhou Xuan, causing the miracle-performing flying sword to shoot towards Zhou Xuan.

Before the sword arrived, Zhou Xuan’s figure was enveloped in waves of deep blue light, this was the "Star Transformation" technique of the Star Law.

Turning himself into void to evade physical attacks,

However, the peerlessly sharp flying sword upon piercing through Zhou Xuan’s body did not simply pass through,

The sword body flickered with Daoist talismans, projecting numerous blood threads that reached into Zhou Xuan’s body, attempting to entwine his soul.

"Your Star Law can evade the hardest of the mortal world... but my flying sword, nurtured with Vast Righteous Qi, can capture souls, what if you are void?"

"What if? I can cut down the dog beside you."

Then Hulu Taishang noticed that not far away, "Zhou Xuan" was still entangled with the red silk of the flying sword, but behind his junior—Banana Taoist—another Zhou Xuan appeared.

This Zhou Xuan was accompanied by a Bone Teeth spinning around him rapidly, like lightning it charged towards the back of the Banana Taoist.

The Banana Taoist reacted swiftly, maneuvering a palm leaf fan towards Zhou Xuan and Bone Teeth.

Zhou Xuan immediately activated the Divine Armor, blocking in front of Bone Teeth,

The fan created by the Palm Leaf Fan was Gang Feng, and within the powerful wind seemed to be hidden many sharp blades.

The Banana Taoist intended to use these sharp wind blades to block Bone Teeth.

Zhou Xuan anticipated his technique, using his flesh to block those blades to prevent Bone Teeth from retreating, losing the chance to kill Banana.

Using his body against the wind, using teeth to slay enemies—this reckless fighting style made the once high-spirited Banana Taoist immediately feel some fear.

"You... you’re mad... lunatic."

"Mad? The madness is yet to come."

Zhou Xuan not only shielded Bone Teeth from wind blades, but also reactivated Divine Armor, like a stubborn fish opposing the wind blades, swimming upstream.

As his figure was just one foot away from the Banana Taoist, Zhou Xuan’s hands clamped onto the Taoist’s arms like iron pliers, holding fast,

He roared: "Bone Teeth, Divine Weapon Protection."

Bone Teeth was summoned, immediately darting at high speed in front of Zhou Xuan.

Wind blades scraped against Zhou Xuan’s body, while Bone Teeth also quickly penetrated the Banana Taoist’s body.

"Let’s see whose life is tougher!" Zhou Xuan said with near madness...