Everything unfolded in a flash of lightning.

  Ten breaths.

  The two Saint Ancestor Dao soldiers that had withstood the mighty rules of the Void Heaven... shattered!

  That alone wasn't the most shocking part. After all, while Saint Ancestor Dao soldiers were powerful, they could only resist the rules temporarily. Using them to block the rules meant eventual destruction—it was just a matter of time.

  What truly stunned everyone was... the two Saint Ancestors, stripped of their Emperor weapons, desperately trying to flee the Void Heaven in an instant.

  Gu Mangran reacted first. Deep in his sunken sockets, brilliant light exploded!

  Excitement!

  The tide had turned!

  With his realm, he clearly saw what happened in that moment.

  A massive rift had torn open in the Void Heaven, mysterious beams shooting from within.

  Those beams had aimed to slay the two Saint Ancestors.

  But the Emperor weapons shielded them.

  At the cost of being struck down—the furnace plummeted into the underworld, the mirror crashed into the Heavenly Gate!

  The Saint Ancestors tried to retrieve them but were terrified by the suspected Ancient Emperor auras in the underworld and Gate.

  So they abandoned the weapons and fled.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  As the Emperor weapons lost their glow...

  Unable to resist the rules, the long-brewing forces churned like meat grinders in the Void Heaven.

  Lu gripped the two Saint Ancestors' ankles.

  Demonic energy formed chains, coiling and clashing with thunderous roars.

  "Stay. I'll treat you to a drink."

  Lu's eyes gleamed.

  The rules swept in like terrifying grinders, numbing scalps.

  Even the Saint Ancestors felt death's approach.

  The Void Heaven had buried Ancient Emperors—the origin of that ancient cataclysmic war. A place of great terror.

  Without Emperor weapons, even their Heavenly Dao-tempered bodies couldn't withstand the rules' slaughter.

  They had to escape.

  Never expecting the ant-like Lu Ping'an they had crushed... to start disgusting them.

  Trying to drag them back, preventing escape!

  "Get lost!"

  The Dao Clan Saint Ancestor roared in fury—a thunderous bellow.

  He had lost his Emperor weapon and now fled like a stray dog.

  Emperor weapons were a saint clan's foundation. Losing one would plummet the Dao Clan's status among Upper Realm saint clans.

  All because of the Cloud Clan Saint Ancestor!

  But the Cloud's weapon was lost too, so he couldn't complain.

  Boom!

  Terrifying strikes erupted, aiming to kill Lu.

  The Cloud Clan Saint Ancestor unleashed furious slaughter.

  Lu's demonic energy surged. Indestructible Demonic Body patterns glowed.

  He shifted sideways, spatial profound energy flashing—he vanished.

  The strikes hit nothing again.

  Again?

  "Damn it! He wields the Mobility array word!"

  The Dao Clan Saint Ancestor said coldly.

  They turned without hesitation—no more delays.

  That bastard was purely harassing.

  Stalling to let the rules kill them!

  Lu avoided direct confrontation, using Mobility's flexibility and spatial mastery to annoy them.

  It disgusted the Saint Ancestors utterly!

  "The weapons can wait..."

  "The Void Heaven's rules will fade eventually. Then... we'll return and reclaim them!"

  They exchanged glances.

  Decision made. Weapons recoverable.

  But if trapped here—lives lost.

  Everything gone!

  Lu reappeared, grabbing ankles again.

  Jade talismans flew, forming blocking arrays ahead.

  "Beings in the Void Heaven are hospitable, great conversationalists. No rush to leave."

  Lu said.

  His words echoed.

  Making their faces darken further.

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  Believe you? Ghosts would!

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Rules surged.

  The Saint Ancestors blasted through Lu's arrays.

  No patience for solving—they tore them with raw power.

  Lu's eyes narrowed.

  He knew holding both was unlikely.

  Saint-level might was unmatched.

  "But... one of you stays."

  Lu squinted.

  Boom!

  Demonic Lord Lu, demonic energy towering.

  "Who volunteers?"

  The resounding question shifted their expressions.

  They didn't fear Lu, but if he committed to entanglement... they might truly suffer.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Unrestrained auras exploded like twin stars.

  Ignoring Lu, charging out.

  Lu smiled.

  Next moment.

  He released the Dao Clan Saint Ancestor's ankle.

  The Dao Ancestor lightened, tearing free—escaping the Void Heaven.

  The Cloud Clan Saint Ancestor's eyes reddened.

  Lu's grip tightened, arms clamping legs like tug-of-war, slowing him drastically!

  The Cloud Ancestor's body trembled—with rage.

  "Lu Ping'an!"

  His voice boomed through every corner of the Void Heaven.

  Too disgusting!

  Full Indestructible Demonic Body—Lu pulled like a mountain-shifting hero, dragging the lower half!

  "Come on! Stay!"

  "Void Heaven's scenery is picturesque... perfect burial ground!"

  Lu said coldly.

  Now...

  In the Void Heaven and Lower Three Heavens, cultivators witnessed the bizarre scene.

  Faces turned utterly strange!

  The situation's shift—unpredictable!

  Two Saint Ancestors... fleeing?

  Five Phoenixes' Lord Lu—forcibly detaining them?

  Upper Realm forces found it inconceivable—what was this?

  Watching wave-like rules, grinder-like, closing in.

  Hearts rose.

  Could...

  Today witness a saint's fall?

  Finally.

  The Dao Clan Saint Ancestor escaped.

  Dao Clan forces sighed relief.

  Their ancestor lived.

  Cloud Clan side—far tenser, hearts in throats watching Lu hug their ancestor's lower half, forcibly holding him.

  In the Void Heaven.

  Gu Mangran in his coffin craned his neck.

  Could... they truly slay a saint?

  Pfft!

  Rules like blades swept with unstoppable imperial terror.

  Blood instantly stained the Void Heaven's sky, a churning sea of crimson.

  A wretched scream, an ear-shattering roar.

  Endless killing intent boiled.

  A streak shot from the Void Heaven.

  The Cloud Clan Saint Ancestor escaped after all.

  But in miserable state!

  Lu had dragged his lower half. Given time, saint strength could break free.

  But time... was scarcest now.

  No time.

  So...

  He severed his own lower body!

  Blood sprayed. Only upper torso from waist up remained.

  Lower half lingered in Void Heaven.

  Annihilated by rule ocean—flesh exploding into mist...

  Even his primordial spirit—slashed, gravely wounded!

  Clang! Clang! Clang!

  Countless silver blades stacked.

  Forming the Thousand-Bladed Chair beneath Lu.

  He sat slowly. Demonic energy subdued—black to white robes.

  Chair dimmed but usable.

  Watching rules devour the lower half, Lu expressionless, calm.

  Pity. Failed to slay via rules.

  But no deep disappointment.

  If saints died easily, they wouldn't be saints.

  Of course, no kill—but severing half body and slashing primordial spirit: not a loss.

  Yet Lu regretted.

  The Lower Three Heavens fell deathly silent.

  This battle's twists—beyond expectation. A Saint Ancestor nearly fallen!

  Five Phoenixes' Lord Lu—truly bold.

  Daring to solo-detain two saints!

  Too fast—now seeing the halved, blood-rivering, wretched Cloud Ancestor, they reacted.

  Uproar shook the heavens!

  "My gods, what happened?"

  "A Saint Ancestor—supreme!"

  "Lost half his body. Upper Realm saint clans... that's all?"

  ...

  Lower Three Heavens cultivators thrilled, enthralled.

  The Dao Clan Saint Ancestor felt lingering fear.

  Face colder, staring at Lu on the chair in the Void Heaven.

  Cheek twitched—heartache.

  Emperor weapon... trapped in Void Heaven.

  Vital injury to Dao Clan!

  But glancing at halved Cloud Ancestor—he felt slight relief.

  No weapon—no invasion capability!

  Unless borrowing from other clans...

  But recalling the rift's terror.

  He shuddered slightly.

  "Hmph!"

  Face grim, he flicked sleeve, vanishing in golden light back to Upper Realms.

  Cloud Clan Saint Ancestor bled from waist, rules writhing—wounds unhealing.

  "Lu Ping'an... don't get cocky."

  He calmed.

  This Void Heaven trip—huge loss.

  Twice now: first arm severed, now halved.

  But...

  Not empty-handed.

  Gaze past Lu—to Heavenly Gate and Nine Prisons Underworld.

  Eyes rippled.

  Confirmed...

  Gate and underworld—Ancient Emperor handiwork. That aura unmistakable.

  Underworld's eerie-smiling Buddha.

  Gate's forbidden zones.

  All mysterious.

  Weapon lost, but...

  Upper Realms had more than Cloud and Dao clans!

  This intel—priceless.

  Of course, last resort to trade it.

  Fewer competitors for Emperor chance—the better.

  Cloud Ancestor eyes icy.

  No weapon—no rule resistance—no further attack.

  So halved, he crossed away.

  Upper Realm army exchanged glances—useless lingering—withdrew.

  Against Five Phoenixes sheltered in Void Heaven's shell—even superior strength helpless.

  Lower Three Heavens cultivators watched retreating conquest army, ancient warships departing to Upper continent.

  Faces flushed excitement.

  Upper Realms retreated...

  And this time—no full ascension severance. Lower Three Heavens retained Upper access.

  But cultivators sneered.

  Once no choice—now with options, who'd ascend to slave as dogs?

  They preferred the Heavenly Gate.

  Moreover.

  Saint Ancestor said it.

  Gate, underworld, Five Phoenixes—might hold "Emperor" chance.

  Ascending Gate—perhaps Emperor opportunity!

  Brain-damaged to choose Upper Realms.

  Once lofty Upper Realms—now trash.

  In Void Heaven.

  Lu sat.

  Coffin drifted. Gu Mangran inhaled deeply—speechless.

  Crisis... passed.

  Sunken eyes fixed on Lu—deeply.

  He sensed great secrets on Lu—perhaps tied to the rift's mystery.

  "Next plans?"

  Gu Mangran asked.

  "This battle bought Five Phoenixes development time."

  "But Upper Realms won't let go—especially... two Emperor weapons trapped."

  He queried Lu.

  Lu leaned on chair, expression steady.

  "Weapons fell into Five Phoenixes—henceforth... Five Phoenixes' property."

  Lu said.

  Gu Mangran speechless.

  Emperor weapons—yours because you say so?

  Lu raised hand. Cracked, aura-lost Phoenix Feather Sword hovered.

  "And... for ruining my sword—this grudge... I, Lu Ping'an, remember deeply."

  Lu added.

  "You can't beat a Saint Ancestor—even halved, spirit slashed Cloud one—you can't."

  Gu Mangran hurried, sensing trouble brewing.

  Lu stowed sword, waved: "Five Phoenixes needs growth. I know."

  "I'm not vengeful. After all, I'm a scholar—a gentleman."

  Lu said.

  Gu Mangran relaxed.

  This old body couldn't take more.

  "Gentlemen avenge from dawn to dusk..."

  "Old Gu, you said—if no weapons, us together..."

  Lu squinted.

  Gu Mangran's heart leaped.

  Avenge from dawn to dusk?

  What—invade Upper saint clans?

  Exterminate them?

  "Young Master Lu... don't joke."

  "Rest and recuperate. This was pure luck—not always so lucky."

  Gu Mangran serious.

  "I'm injured too—need recovery."

  Lu felt slight regret.

  Fearing more shocks, Gu Mangran bid farewell, streaking back to Five Phoenixes.

  Planned long recovery.

  Sealed tomb—no emergence.

  Whatever Lu called for—no response!

  He understood Lord Lu's past laments. Young Master once truly small-scale.

  Lu sat in Void Heaven, head up, pondering Gu Mangran's words, gazing void.

  As if rift lingered.

  "Luck?"

  Lu tapped armrest thoughtfully.

  Looked to Gate and underworld.

  Only Lu knew: not Ancient Emperor designs—just his creations for more spiritual energy.

  Spatial energy surged.

  Lu appeared before Heavenly Gate.

  Overlord, Nie Changqing bowed.

  Lower Three Heavens ascenders—eyes fervent—bowed.

  Young Master Lu's deeds shook them.

  Now in Void Heaven—spared rules—they were "insiders" with Five Phoenixes.

  Lu waved slightly.

  Eyes flickered.

  Seeming to pierce Gate—seeing quiet central ancient mirror.

  As if built of Dao essence.

  The more he looked, brighter his eyes.

  "Emperor weapons... seem nice."

  Lu withdrew gaze, impassive.

  Looked to Lu Jiulian, Overlord, Nie Changqing, Sima Qingshan—familiar faces brimming vitality.

  Nodded.

  Vanished.

  Before Gate, fists clenched.

  Battle showed strength gap—they'd grow stronger.

  Especially Nie Changqing—sensed Young Master's disappointment.

  As White Jade Pavilion's top disciple—must strengthen.

  They turned, returning to ascension ground.

  Cultivate diligently.

  Lower Three Heavens ascenders—infected by Five Phoenixes' will—entered cultivation.

  Nine Prisons Underworld.

  Lu in white appeared.

  Soul storm swept.

  Unnoticed, he reached abyss.

  Gazing fallen furnace.

  Side-tilted, flames pouring—threatening infernal sea filling abyss.

  Lu squinted, tapping lightly.

  "Saint Ancestors won't abandon weapons easily."

  Lu's gaze rippled.

  "Two weapons—one in underworld, one in Gate—fated with them. In my, Lu Ping'an's hands—no return."

  "Need a way... to make them take surname Lu."

  Lu pondered.

  But as he did.

  System prompt flashed in eyes.

  Making them ripple.

  Finally... here!

  "Congratulations, Host, on completing [Challenge Mission]. Evaluating..."