The burly man felt a chill crawl up his spine under the giant’s stare.

  When it came to a strong body, only he qualified.

  His cultivation was the Indestructible Golden Body; at Spirit Severing realm, his flesh was practically immortal.

  Carrying the “Lin” Array Word into the world to destroy the array eye was perfectly reasonable—he was the ideal candidate.

  But he didn’t want to.

  He wasn’t stupid. This formation was terrifyingly profound. What if the “Lin” word failed?

  Even with his golden body, he could slowly be ground to dust inside.

  He might not die, but the outcome would be miserable.

  So the burly man—Tulang—refused.

  The giant was mildly surprised.

  He hadn’t expected the brute to have some brains.

  A late-stage Spirit Severing cultivator, actually afraid.

  Of course, the giant understood. Tulang feared the mysterious formation—possibly ground-tier.

  Monk Wuxing said nothing to persuade him.

  He had no right to push someone into death.

  They weren’t even friends.

  “Tulang, there is no other way to break the formation,” Wuxing said, frowning.

  “Then we grind it down slowly! The formation has cracks. In a hundred, a thousand years, those cracks will allow Spirit Severing to enter. We can break it then.”

  Tulang waved dismissively.

  He was not going in.

  The world was too strange. Fu Tianluo had entered first and vanished without a ripple—likely in deep trouble.

  If even Fu Tianluo was in danger, Tulang wasn’t stepping into the same trap.

  Silence fell.

  After a long moment, the giant spoke.

  The “Lin” Array Word spun in his palm.

  “Here’s the deal. I’ll protect your three spiritual souls and seven mortal forms with my array. If your body falls, your souls will return. You’ll be weakened for a time, but the Liujia Array Sect will personally forge you a new body. How’s that?”

  He had to succeed.

  He represented the Liujia Array Sect, had promised the Venerable One of the High-Tier Buddhist Realm and his own master.

  Repeated failures had worn his patience thin.

  Tulang wavered.

  Guaranteed survival, plus a new body forged by the Liujia Array Sect—rumored to rival High-Tier Martial powers.

  It might even surpass his current golden body.

  A tempting offer.

  He hesitated for a long time.

  Finally—

  “Fine!”

  “I’ll carry the Array Word in, find the array eye, destroy it, and break the formation fast!”

  “Excellent,” the giant nodded.

  Wuxing smiled faintly. Indeed, everything in the world boiled down to profit.

  Wasn’t their invasion also for profit?

  The giant began forming seals.

  Light from his third eye enveloped Tulang.

  The “Lin” Array Word appeared above Tulang’s head.

  Power surged through him—he felt two, three times stronger, on the verge of shattering his own shackles.

  This was the might of a Liujia Array Word!

  Tulang took a deep breath.

  If all nine words empowered him… he could probably punch a High-Tier Martial expert.

  “You have three days,” the giant warned gravely.

  “Your body is strong, but even with the Array Word, you cannot withstand the world’s protective force and the formation’s resistance for long.”

  “Three days. If you cannot find and destroy the eye, leave immediately—or your body will truly collapse.”

  “With your strength and the Array Word, you are invincible in that world. But time is your greatest enemy. Three days.”

  Tulang laughed, blood vitality roaring.

  “No problem.”

  “I’ll find the eye and smash it!”

  He stepped into the void, the “Lin” word blazing above him, radiating divine might.

  “The Array Word will guide you. Don’t waste time.”

  The giant turned away, resuming his bombardment with the eighteen stone slabs.

  Tulang shot forward like a golden meteor, plunging into the swirling mist.

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  …

  Blood-colored battlefield.

  Outside the blood-soaked earthen walls, war raged.

  Jiang Li charged at the forefront in silver armor, spear on his back, leading formations against endless bronze warships.

  Xuanwu Guards fell in droves, corpses piling high.

  Li Sansui sat atop the wall, molding blood-soaked clay into bricks, building defensive arrays.

  Her formations allowed the defenders to hold against superior foes.

  Suddenly—her hand trembled.

  The battlefield fell eerily silent.

  Everyone looked up.

  The sky tore open.

  A golden figure descended, radiating terrifying pressure.

  BOOM!

  The earth quaked. Soil crumbled under the pressure.

  Li Sansui coughed blood, staring in disbelief.

  “So strong… Someone actually broke through Young Master Lu’s formation?!”

  Despair gripped every Five Phoenixes cultivator.

  How could they fight this?

  Nascent Soul?

  No—this aura felt apocalyptic.

  Stronger than even the overlords of Tianyuan’s four holy lands!

  Tulang landed.

  The blood-colored ground rippled like waves beneath his feet.

  He released his full Spirit Severing presence, tearing the air.

  He glanced at the despairing natives and sneered.

  He had seen that look countless times on worlds he destroyed.

  That helpless terror before annihilation—it thrilled him.

  Tulang knew he wasn’t a good person.

  He was the Venerable One’s blade, sent to destroy worlds that defied the Buddhist faith.

  No point pretending like that bald donkey Wuxing.

  “Just ants.”

  He looked at the wall with contempt.

  Then the blood-colored earth writhed and swallowed him whole.

  He had no time to waste on insects.

  The invading Foundation Establishment cultivators were endless—they would grind these ants to dust.

  His priority: the array eye.

  The battlefield fell deathly quiet.

  …

  Origin Lake, Lake Heart Island.

  Lu watched Tulang vanish into the earth.

  “He can pass through the Heaven Covering Formation…”

  Interesting. The “Lin” word did have merit.

  But Lu was curious—why was this man bold enough to enter carrying it?

  “Wait… didn’t this guy curse at me?”

  Lu rubbed his chin.

  Normally, he’d just cut the fellow down.

  But he had grown kinder, more forgiving.

  Take Fu Tianluo—arrogant, even tried to harm Little Zhu Long.

  Yet Lu had been merciful, built him a nice little ice tower for fun and games.

  What a perfect plan: use the “Lin” word to locate the array eye, destroy it, collapse the formation.

  Lu tapped his armrest thoughtfully.

  After a long moment, he sighed.

  Mercy shone in his eyes.

  …

  BOOM!

  The sky turned blood-red, as though a great terror had awakened.

  Outside the ice pagoda.

  Zhu Long, cultivating atop the red dragon, looked up.

  Du Longyang, consolidating his realm, opened his eyes—sharp light slicing the sea.

  “Such terrifying presence… stronger than the one Young Master Lu imprisoned!”

  Ye Shoudao inhaled deeply.

  “Another Yin Spirit realm expert!”

  Inside the pagoda, Fu Tianluo’s gloomy face lit up.

  “That aura… Tulang! He’s gotten so much stronger! You’re all dead!”

  Hope surged.

  He slammed against the ice walls, roaring for rescue.

  A mental transmission rang in Du Longyang and the others’ ears.

  “Young Master Lu!”

  Their eyes blazed brighter.

  “A new… tool?”

  Their expressions turned strange.

  Fu Tianluo froze mid-collision.

  Hope snuffed out.

  With that white-clothed monster—possibly Soul Projection—still around, why was he getting excited?

  Soon, Zhu Long, Du Longyang, and the others left per Lu’s orders.

  The ice pagoda sank into the Boundless Sea.

  …

  BOOM!

  Above Dongyang Commandery, the sky ripped open.

  A towering figure stepped out, the “Lin” word trembling above his head, pointing the way.

  Tulang hovered, laughing thunderously.

  All of Dongyang Commandery fell into panic.

  Nascent Soul ancestors from the four holy lands shot into the sky.

  “So weak…”

  Tulang sneered coldly.

  So few Nascent Souls.

  His gaze swept over them.

  Every ancestor felt their souls freeze—suffocating despair.

  Too strong!

  Even City Lord Du Longyang of Martial Emperor City couldn’t compare!

  Tulang slowly lowered his hands.

  BOOM!

  Invisible pressure exploded outward.

  Nascent Souls crashed to their knees, coughing blood.

  Every cultivator in Dongyang stared in horror.

  “This is how ants should look at a god.”

  Tulang laughed, then followed the “Lin” word’s guidance toward the Boundless Sea.

  He had no time to waste on trash.

  Three days to find and destroy the eye.

  Any delay was unacceptable.

  BOOM!

  He strode into the sea, parting the waters with sheer physical force.

  Huge waves exploded in his wake.

  He sensed faint traces of Fu Tianluo’s aura.

  “Where’s that guy…?”

  But finding the array eye was more urgent.

  Unseen beneath the waves, Fu Tianluo desperately headbutted the ice walls, screaming Tulang’s name.

  Useless.

  He could only watch in despair as Tulang flew away, confused.

  Heart-wrenching.

  Tulang soared on.

  The “Lin” word trembled harder.

  An island appeared.

  He crashed down, nearly shattering it.

  Two figures shot up—the Empress and Young Master Tianxu.

  The Empress in crimson robes, red silk ribbons dancing.

  Tianxu surrounded by floating metal swords.

  “So this is the sparring partner Brother Lu prepared?”

  They exchanged grave looks.

  Insanely strong.

  Yet their blood boiled.

  BOOM!

  Behind them, the island exploded.

  The pristine Heaven Covering Sword—the array eye—hovered.

  “Found it!”

  “No need for three days—haha!”

  Tulang’s eyes blazed.

  He charged.

  The island shattered beneath him.

  The Empress and Tianxu attacked.

  “Scram!”

  Two half-step Spirit Severing ants.

  BOOM!

  Their attacks shattered against Tulang’s casual palm.

  They coughed blood and flew back.

  Tulang ignored them, reaching for the sword.

  “Stop him!”

  The Empress sent red silk flying.

  Tulang’s aura shredded them.

  Tianxu’s swords became a sky-blotting blade—sparks flew off Tulang’s skin.

  Useless.

  They gave everything, yet couldn’t slow him.

  Tulang stepped closer.

  Suddenly—the Empress roared.

  She had learned inscriptions from battling Fu Tianluo in the ice pagoda.

  Inscriptions fused with silk and Dao Intent—massive power.

  BOOM!

  A strike drew blood on Tulang’s body.

  He paused, eyes narrowing.

  “Inscriptions?”

  “So Fu Tianluo fought you lot?”

  But the Empress was stunned—she had touched the Yin Spirit barrier!

  “Tianxu—run!”

  Tianxu fled into the sea like a fish.

  The Empress followed.

  Tulang roared in fury.

  Hit and run?!

  Again?!

  He wanted to chase—but the Heaven Covering Sword shot away.

  Chase the ants or the eye?

  He chose the eye.

  The ants could wait until the formation fell.

  He blasted after the sword.

  Hundreds of li later.

  Ye Shoudao stood on a reef, blade drawn.

  A stunning slash carrying heartless blade intent tore the sky.

  “Dao Intent?!”

  Tulang punched.

  Dao Intent meant nothing—he crushed with raw power.

  Ye Shoudao’s eyes burned. He fought furiously, blade intent and strength rising.

  One glorious slash opened a gash on Tulang’s chest.

  In return, Tulang nearly punched through his.

  Ye Shoudao fled.

  Tulang roared—again?!

  The sword escaped while he was distracted.

  He gave chase, nearly vomiting blood.

  Played again!

  More pursuit.

  Du Longyang appeared, spear ready.

  They clashed.

  Early Yin Spirit + Dao Intent held against Tulang briefly.

  One full-power thrust drew a tiny drop of blood.

  Then Du Longyang was blasted away and fled.

  Tulang clutched the insignificant wound, roaring in mental anguish.

  What kind of people were these?!

  The Array Word guided on.

  An island.

  A quiet girl with closed eyes seemed to be waiting.

  “Another one?!”

  Tulang exploded.

  He punched—air twisted, black cracks forming.

  Zhu Long opened her eyes.

  Divine ability: Black-White Millstones.

  BOOM!

  The sea evaporated.

  When the light faded, Tulang stared at his mangled fist.

  He looked up.

  The girl was already sneaking onto the red dragon and fleeing.

  The sword shot away.

  Tulang punched the island into dust.

  “When I break this formation, I’ll slaughter every last one of you!”

  He chased again.

  Not far—

  A giant whale carried an island.

  On the island, a white-clothed youth leaned against the railing, playing chess, sipping wine.

  The Heaven Covering Sword hovered calmly above his head, casting gentle light.

  “Again?!”

  “Have you damned natives had enough?!”

  Tulang’s killing intent boiled.

  His golden body blazed, blood vitality sealing the area.

  “Come on! Run again!”

  He roared at the whale island.

  The youth seemed startled by the shout.

  His fingers holding a chess piece froze mid-air.

  He looked up slowly.

  “Why are you yelling…”

  The youth said.

  Then he slammed the piece down.

  Tulang, mid-step in the sky,

  was suddenly struck by colossal force.

  BOOM!

  He plummeted, smashing a bottomless crater into the sea!