Innate yin and yang—the two primordial energies.

  A massive black-and-white millstone enveloped the Dao Saint Ancestor. Under its grinding pressure, deafening roars thundered.

  This was a divine ability!

  An extraordinarily powerful one!

  The Dao Saint Ancestor felt utterly wronged. Normally, divine abilities were trump cards—saved for desperate, life-or-death moments.

  Yet this girl unleashed hers over a single sentence.

  Starting the fight with her ultimate move...

  Was there no sense of fair play?

  Boom!

  The world flashed to blinding daylight, then plunged into pitch-black night. The entire upper realm alternated between black and white in that instant!

  The Dao Clan fell into deathly silence.

  Primordial Unity experts who had risen to join the battle and aid their ancestor hesitated, sensing the terrifying millstone shrouding him. They abandoned their ascent.

  Mountains and rivers crumbled; the earth cracked.

  The Dao ancestral ground teetered on collapse.

  Already stripped of a million years' dao reserves without their imperial weapon, it couldn't withstand this onslaught.

  Boom!

  Void collapsed inward; endless chaos currents surged across the heavens.

  Primordial Unity experts felt chills of helplessness.

  Watching the girl in imperial-weapon armor—eyes closed again, hair settling calmly—their fighting spirit drained away bit by bit.

  Day and night cycled relentlessly.

  The chaos and destruction dragged on.

  Finally, the vast, terrifying energy began to dissipate.

  A figure emerged in the void: clothes tattered, hair wild, face charred and battered, blood seeping from every pore.

  Heavy gasps roared like gales through mountains and rivers.

  The Dao Saint Ancestor hovered, chest heaving like bellows.

  The Dao Clan remained silent for a long while.

  Then, faint cheers rose.

  Their ancestor... had survived!

  He endured that horrifying divine ability!

  They weren't defeated yet!

  There was still hope!

  Blood blurred his vision as he forced his eyes open, gazing at the floating Zhulong.

  For the first time, gravity settled in.

  "Lucky you haven't reached saint realm. Your divine ability lacks full power—otherwise... I would have fallen to it today."

  He rasped.

  So close—truly so close.

  No wonder Lu Ping'an sent her alone: she wielded such a devastating ability.

  Without his body tempered by Nine Heavens' Dao, he might have been ground to pulp by the yin-yang millstone.

  Divine abilities were rare in the Nine Heavens—possessed only by a handful of innate prodigies.

  Even Saint Ancestors might never gain one; it was an inborn gift.

  He stared at the serene, autumn-leaf-like girl, eyes closed once more.

  Killing intent thickened in his gaze.

  "You call Lu Ping'an 'Father'?"

  "So you're his daughter? Perfect... kill you, and soon father and daughter will reunite!"

  Saintly might surged from him.

  It was transformed Heavenly Dao power.

  His form blurred into a thread, flashing across the void.

  Appearing before Zhulong.

  She was weakened post-ability—he had to strike fast and end her.

  Or once recovered, another millstone would crush him!

  Zhulong swayed, eyes closed, unflinching.

  She simply punched.

  That's right—any grudge, come at her.

  Boom!

  Her fist shattered void inch by inch.

  The Dao Saint Ancestor glanced at the crumbling, fire-ravaged ancestral ground.

  Continuing here would flatten it.

  Though not saint realm, Zhulong's combat power rivaled one.

  Saint-level clashes wrought horrific destruction.

  So he dragged her into the outer void battlefield!

  "All Dao clansmen—slaughter the lower three heavens, the void heaven, every living being in Five Phoenix!"

  As the rift sealed...

  His icy command echoed.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Dao Primordial Unity auras erupted; they soared, eyes blazing.

  The army assembled swiftly: Primordial Unity, ancient immortals, great beings...

  Powerhouses emerged.

  Dao warships sailed from the ancestral ground, exiting the upper realm continent—to invade below.

  The Cloud Clan was already in fierce battle.

  Even sending distress signals skyward.

  Aboard an ancient warship, a formidable Dao Primordial Unity expert sneered toward the Cloud ancestral ground.

  "It's all a conspiracy. Our ancestor said the Cloud Clan colluded with Five Phoenix long ago. This battle is staged—to lure us into aiding them, only for our forces to be ambushed by Five Phoenix and Cloud armies..."

  "Our imperial weapon was sabotaged by the Cloud Clan! They are the disgrace of saint clans! One day, we'll exterminate them all!"

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  He ignored the Cloud distress signals.

  The fleet swept forward, crushing void, charging out of the upper realm.

  Beyond Yuan Magnetic Heaven.

  Lu watched the Dao army emerge, surprised.

  In the lower three heavens, many holy land experts paled.

  Most ancestors were assaulting the Cloud Clan—leaving defenses thin.

  "Cunning Dao Clan..."

  Lu's eyes narrowed gravely.

  Upper realm cultivators were far more ruthless than he'd imagined.

  Cloud distress was obvious; Lu was sure the Dao had seen it.

  Yet they ignored it.

  Opting for a feint: open path one way, strike another.

  With lower heavens' ascendants attacking Cloud, it was the perfect moment for vulnerability.

  Good thing he'd held back.

  Sleeve rolled, piece taken.

  Clack!

  It fell on the board.

  Void rippled.

  Rumble!

  The Netherworld materialized above Yuan Magnetic Heaven.

  Countless wails of undead echoed chillingly.

  The Yellow Springs surged endlessly; the Bitter Sea stretched boundless.

  "The Netherworld?!"

  A Dao Primordial Unity expert's expression shifted.

  Worse: deathly yin aura spread.

  Ten undead cities emerged, looming over the Netherworld.

  Creak...

  Gates opened.

  The ten city lords sat enthroned like Yama judges.

  Dan Taixuan in armor, eyes sharp and cold—yet excited.

  His day had come.

  He raised his hand.

  Boundless karma cascaded like a waterfall.

  "Where are the Netherworld yin soldiers?"

  He commanded.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  From the gates...

  Orderly figures in cold armor marched out.

  Karma crisscrossed; soul power swept terrifyingly.

  Yuan Magnetic Heaven's skies darkened instantly.

  A force rivaling any upper saint clan!

  "Those who invade Five Phoenix—hunted to the ends, no matter the distance!"

  Dan Taixuan rose, roaring.

  Slamming his armrest.

  Pointing at the Dao army.

  "Charge! Kill them all!"

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Yin soldiers borrowed the path; yin qi shrouded Yuan Magnetic Heaven.

  Karma surged; they clashed with the Dao army.

  Nine city lords struck—cold chains lashing Dao Primordial Unity experts.

  Clashing, karma tangled with immortal qi—evenly matched!

  Beigong Saint Lord, blood boiling, joined the fray.

  Once of the lower three heavens, he knew how upper realm experts viewed them: lowly trash.

  "Who is born lowly? Without strength, who is truly noble?!"

  His roar shook as he charged from the Netherworld.

  Now with power—he'd vent it all!

  Lower three heavens.

  Cultivators in Pingyang, Blood Evil, Yuan Magnetic watched the battle—blood surging.

  Who wished to be born lowly?

  Beigong's words struck their souls.

  Once, the lower three weren't weaker than any.

  All beings had been equal.

  Now, equality demanded strength.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  From high-martial worlds, holy land lords unleashed soaring auras.

  More responded.

  Some laughed wildly—then charged out!

  "If the upper realm lacks dao... then overthrow it!"

  The Dao army, tangled with yin soldiers, paled.

  The lower three heavens... uniting to assault the upper realm?

  Few top experts, but gathered great beings and lords formed a terrifying flood!

  Dan Taixuan stepped into the Netherworld abyss.

  The Buddha statue gleamed eerily in flames.

  Karma cloaked him like a Netherworld deity.

  He raised his hand.

  Karma poured into the abyss.

  Impacting the trapped Cloud imperial weapon—the Supreme Furnace.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Interwoven dao flames erupted—scorching hot, threatening to melt void.

  Dan Taixuan laughed.

  Drawing fire, he soared toward the Dao army in Yuan Magnetic Heaven!

  His karma neared river-like; strength immense.

  Though inexperienced in cultivator battles, his foundation let him tank perfectly!

  Boom!

  Furnace flames poured down.

  Dao forces screamed under imperial might.

  Many shattered to dust!

  "It's the Cloud imperial weapon! Supreme Furnace aura!"

  "Damn it! Hateful Cloud Clan! Ours shattered—they keep theirs intact and attack us?!"

  "Cloud Clan—have dogs eaten your hearts?!"

  Warships burned; cultivators wailed.

  Primordial Unity experts emerged ashen, cursing in anguish.

  Not defeated by enemies...

  But betrayed by trusted saint allies!

  Infuriating!

  With furnace aid, Dao forces crumbled—countless fell, blood staining Yuan Magnetic skies.

  Many retreated to the upper continent.

  But lower heavens ancestors assaulting Cloud sensed the sneak attack and rushed back with forces.

  Meeting the withdrawing Dao army.

  Eyes red with rage.

  The Dao suffered pincer annihilation!

  Puchi!

  Dao Primordial Unity experts bled rivers; ancient immortals died in droves, corpses raining.

  The great elder watched clansmen fall—heart twisting.

  Grief exploded!

  Burning his primordial spirit, he cried to the heavens.

  "Ancestor! Those destroying our Dao Clan aren't Five Phoenix or lower realms—it's the Cloud Clan!"

  "Ancestor, avenge us!"

  Boom!

  Terrifying explosion followed.

  His blood-soaked words echoed across the upper realm.

  Cloud ancestral ground.

  Defeated Cloud cultivators heard it—staring blankly.

  What had they done?!

  Just sent distress—no aid came, now slander?!

  They were barely surviving—how destroy Dao?!

  This framing was shameless!

  Cloud experts nearly spat blood.

  ...

  Outer void battlefield.

  The lifeless realm beyond Nine Heavens.

  No life, no nurturing energy.

  Drifting bald stones—some continent-sized, once life-bearing but annihilated, exiled here.

  This was life's forbidden zone, death's end.

  Boom!

  Terrifying clashes!

  Ripples spread across the dead silence—like stones shattering a calm lake, plunging deep.

  Two figures separated, hovering.

  Just stabilized—then reeled, erupting in brilliance.

  One north, one south!

  Clashing again in the void!

  The Dao Saint Ancestor bled heavily, eyes shocked. Far off, serene Zhulong stood like an autumn leaf, chest rising—evidently strained.

  He'd expected weakness post-ability.

  Yet her power hadn't dipped.

  "With imperial armor, your body rivals a Dao-tempered saint's. You wield saint-level combat!"

  He declared gravely.

  Staring at her, he inhaled deeply.

  "Lu Ping'an didn't come himself—sent you alone... treating me as a whetstone for his little girl!"

  Icy words, lips curling in murderous sneer.

  A grand saint ancestor—reduced to practice tool.

  Pathetic!

  With imperial weapon intact, would Lu Ping'an dare step here?

  All because Cloud sabotaged their weapon!

  Zhulong silent.

  She charged again—candle dragon shadow vast behind.

  Boom!

  Clashing fiercely!

  As he countered...

  He shuddered, sensing something.

  Visions: falling corpses, wailing Primordial Unity elder!

  Burning spirit cries!

  He staggered.

  Seeing clansmen die, plummeting.

  "Ancestor! Destroyers aren't Five Phoenix or lowers—Cloud Clan!"

  Each word blood-drenched!

  His eyes reddened instantly.

  Zhulong's attack landed.

  Puchi!

  Saint blood sprayed.

  He took the hit, smashing into a dead continent.

  But his aura brewed like an exploding sun.

  Boom!

  Weakened from lost dao reserves—it surged back to peak!

  "Treat me as whetstone?"

  Eyes crimson, killing intent boiling.

  Zhulong grew wary—endless murder.

  Boom!

  Outer battlefield lit up—his full eruption.

  Her lashes trembled; eyes snapped open.

  Black-white pupils spun yin-yang.

  Forming massive millstone!

  Behind, ethereal human-headed serpent candle dragon coiled protectively—like armor guarding her!

  Enhanced by swallowing Five Phoenix Dao, the ability's power terrified!

  But...

  Boom!

  Golden light burst from the millstone.

  The blood-soaked Dao Saint Ancestor emerged—burning aura for overwhelming strike!

  To kill her in one blow!

  Boom!

  He flashed like lightning, palm slamming the protective candle dragon.

  Massive explosion rippled.

  Both flew back.

  On shattered continent.

  He lay supine, aura crumbling like falling stones.

  Zhulong stabilized, slightly unsteady.

  Eyes closed again; her armor cracked, on verge of shattering.

  His killing blow—blocked by imperial armor.

  "Thanks to Father's gift. Without it... I'd have bled a bit."

  She said gravely.

  Then her aura rose anew.

  Gazing at him, body twisting...

  True form emerged.

  Crimson scales, stunning face with long serpentine body.

  Beautiful features, black hair flying, red lips parting—head tilted as if drinking.

  Heavenly Dao source faintly appeared.

  Tail raised—turning golden.

  Whipping toward him!

  On shards.

  He stood.

  Aura plummeting.

  Seeing her true candle dragon form—pupils contracted, death's grip on him.

  Soon, bitter laugh.

  "Defeated... I am defeated!"

  "Sabotaged our weapon, slaughtered our people!"

  "Cloud Saint Ancestor! Even in death, I swear by Heavenly Dao—become a curse! May you live forever in pain and guilt's torment!"

  He gazed around.

  "Lu Ping'an, I know you're watching..."

  "Don't gloat. Colluding with Cloud—you'll meet bad end!"

  "Five Phoenix doomed, you Lu Ping'an too wi—"

  Boom!

  Words cut off.

  Zhulong's true form tail swept.

  Terrifying strike crushed his head mid-sentence.

  "I said—grudge with me, come at me."

  "Threaten Father—I kill you."

  She stated.

  "You..."

  Worthy daughter—killing and twisting the knife!

  Unwilling to the end, head exploded; primordial spirit rose venomously.

  Resonating with Nine Heavens Dao.

  Turning lifelong grudge into heaven-shaking curse.

  ...

  Boom!

  A void stone shattered!

  Lu Jiulian's body smashed into it, coughing blood that stained his robes.

  Far off, radiant figure approached—ruthless, cold, murderous.

  Dong!

  The stone exploded.

  Cloud Saint Ancestor stood atop, hair wild, glaring.

  "Why run?"

  "Weren't you here to slay me?"

  "Come on!"

  Boom!

  Saintly might surged; he charged as light, energy exploding—annihilating shards.

  Lu Jiulian blocked with green lotus sword.

  Imperial might vast—but with scant fragments, far from Lu's gift to Zhulong.

  Unable to unleash true terror.

  Puchi!

  Sword bent, slamming him—more crimson blood.

  Fortune wove around him; eyes electric.

  He charged.

  Cloud Saint Ancestor too strong—Dao-tempered body invincible.

  Unlike weakened Dao Ancestor—peak with full reserves!

  Without fragment weapon, he'd have fallen long ago.

  Clashing in outer void.

  Nine of ten exchanges: defense for him, offense for the ancestor.

  Half-step Mysterious Immortal—body not true one; still inferior against saint.

  So: strike once, miss—flee far.

  Entangling.

  But victory impossible this way.

  Slaying a saint—too hard!

  Unlike Overlord, he didn't grow stronger beaten.

  He needed a flaw!

  Boom!

  Cloud Saint Ancestor blazed like a sun—dazzling, aura shattering all.

  Suddenly...

  Cold, venomous voice drifted.

  "Cloud Saint Ancestor! Even dead, I swear by Dao—become curse! Eternal pain and guilt!"

  Dao Saint Ancestor's curse?!

  His sun-like aura faltered.

  Eyes reddened!

  Utter confusion and rage!

  What pig teammate?!

  He was fighting—why curse him?!

  What grudge?!

  Hm?

  Sword-wielding Lu Jiulian—eyes lit!

  Opportunity!

  As aura disrupted...

  Illusory green lotuses bloomed.

  Nine petals—each ringing!

  Lotuses merged into one sword.

  Fortune like surging river crashed down.

  Enveloping the strike.

  Thunderbolt flash—heavenly immortal descent, killing intent piercing the Cloud Saint Ancestor!

  This sword...

  Slay the saint!