Upon hearing that stern reprimand, Shu Han couldn't help but draw a sharp, cold breath.

Had they caught up so quickly? Hadn't the old ginseng failed to close the Earth Goddess's light tunnel, allowing Shangguan Ruotong to depart so easily?

At that moment, the old ginseng was leisurely lounging upon the Celestial Soil of Earth Goddess, reviewing a formula, "A weak arm can't outmuscle a strong leg. Better to release that harbinger of disaster sooner, and then this old man can live in peace. Ungrateful brat, may fortune be with you now."

Anxiety surged within Shu Han. It was futile to consider the situation now. Shangguan Ruotong, with her suppressed pseudo-core realm abilities and the high-level spells of the Sky Palace Sect, moved at a speed that far surpassed a regular Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivator, and was even faster than his Shrinking Earth into Inches technique.

Shangguan Ruolin urgently said, "Shu Han, use the Sixfold Shadow Escape! Although its efficacy might diminish the second time we use it against her, we don't have any other options."

"No!"

Shu Han immediately rejected the idea.

"Using that technique, I can't control our direction. The Immaculate Sacred Mountain is fraught with peril. If I inadvertently lead you into danger, we can't expect the same stroke of luck we had in the Earth Goddess's divine light."

With his Clear Bright Spiritual Eye, Shu Han looked behind. Through its vast range of vision, Shangguan Ruotong's figure had already appeared, rapidly magnifying in sight. Gritting his teeth, Shu Han declared, "We must stall her for a while. Only then can you break free from her pursuit."

...

Fury made Shangguan Ruotong's lips quiver. At such close proximity, the empathetic bond between the two sisters was immensely strong. The sensations transmitted when Shu Han passionately kissed Shangguan Ruolin almost made her falter mid-air.

Feeling this, both jealousy and rage ignited in Shangguan Ruotong. The Golden Core within her spun wildly, nearing the highest level of cultivation that the Immaculate Realm could withstand.

Suddenly, she saw a golden radiance bloom in the distance. As she approached, she astonishingly perceived eight pairs of sword wings charging at her. Following this, a bolt of golden lightning struck directly at her.

"Hmph! Mere child's play!"

With a flick of her sleeve, Shangguan Ruotong dispersed the incoming lightning.

The sword wings abruptly retracted, spiraling in mid-air, and wave after wave of sword rain swiftly followed.

"Phoenix Feather Falling Flower Needles!"

A resonant cry of a phoenix echoed at the foot of the mountain.

Once the golden sword rain entered the vast rain formed by the Phoenix Feather Falling Flower Needles, it was cleansed away. At that moment, Shangguan Ruotong once again confronted Shu Han. Standing amidst the rain, her face was cold as ice. Staring at the golden luminous sword in Shu Han's hand, she gritted her silver teeth and exclaimed, "The Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword! She even gave you that sword?"

"In my hands, the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword can protect her better. Isn't that better than left with you to harm her?"

Shangguan Ruotong's fists clenched tightly, her entire body shaking in anger. "Bastard! Die!"

Suddenly, the surrounding rain grew heavier, accompanied by wandering streaks of lightning.

Shu Han stood in the rain, wielding the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword. Torrential rain pelted his eight-winged sword, causing it to dim in the rain's onslaught. Shu Han quickly channeled more magic power into it, but it did little to halt its decline.

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Shangguan Ruotong had yet to attack, but he was already overwhelmed.

With a laugh tinted by disdain, Shangguan Ruotong taunted, "Sacrificing yourself to help her escape? Young man, you've got guts! But you won't delay me for even a moment!"

"Enough with your prattling! I'll never let Linlin fall into your hands!"

In an instant, the torrential rain transformed into a tornado, lunging directly at Shu Han. Caught off guard, Shu Han channeled all his power into the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword. The luminous swords forming the wings shot out to meet the tornado. However, they only momentarily obstructed the tornado before being swallowed whole. Shu Han quickly raised his sword to parry.

A bone-chilling pain emanated from his arm and spread throughout his body. Within the whirlwind, the droplets of rain revealed themselves as sharp silver needles.

"Ah..."

With no strength to resist, Shu Han unleashed the Black Claw and the Pursuing Sword, causing both magic treasures to explode. Only by doing so did he manage to tear a hole through the tornado, allowing himself to escape.

After evading the tornado, Shu Han assessed his condition and realized he could barely grip the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword. With a single casual strike, Shangguan Ruotong had already pushed him to the brink of collapse.

Gasping for breath and resisting excruciating pain, Shu Han supported his right hand with his left, gripping the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword.

Only now did he recognize the insurmountable gap between them. Even with Shangguan Ruolin's suppressed powers, her every move effortlessly dominated any Foundation Establishment cultivator. She could have ended him with that single attack, but she chose to torment him slowly.

Shu Han laughed and looked scornfully at Shangguan Ruotong, "I can sense your emotions. Are you jealous of me?"

"What did you say?" Shangguan Ruotong's eyes were cold, her brows furrowing, "A mere ant like you, why would I ever be jealous?"

Shu Han said, "I heard what you said in your dream just now. No wonder Linlin said you're clingy. Not only are you clingy, but you're also jealous. Your behavior is like that of a mischievous child, causing trouble to get attention from their parents!"

"Shut up!" Shu Han's words made Shangguan Ruotong so angry that her face turned red. She shouted, "What do you know! I have to get rid of her to survive!"

"It's too late!"

Shu Han lifted the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword.

Clang! Clang! Clang...

Eight echoing walls descended from the sky, enclosing Shangguan Ruotong. Three music magic treasures were fixed at the three points of the array. Sound waves burst forth, bouncing and amplifying off the echoing walls, attacking Shangguan Ruotong from three directions.

"Hehe! Linlin was right; you've always had a weakness for being impulsive and easily angered. Let my Silent Heartbreak Formation cool you down!"

The sound waves trapped Shangguan Ruotong, making it impossible for her to escape the invisible attack.

However, Shangguan Ruotong just stood there, protected by her Golden Core's glow, unaffected by the sound waves.

"Is this... is this even fair?!"

Although he didn't expect the Silent Heartbreak Formation to defeat Shangguan Ruotong, he also didn't expect it to be completely ineffective!

In a low voice, Shangguan Ruotong said, "To enter this Immaculate Realm, I suppressed my realm by a hundred years of cultivation. If I can't kill my sister, all this effort will be in vain. Your array can't do anything to me!"

"Damn!"

Seeing the unfavorable situation, Shu Han quickly turned around and threw the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword. The sword turned into a streak of golden light, shooting towards the horizon.

Shangguan Ruotong vibrated, and the sound waves immediately bounced back. The eight echoing walls distorted, the Soul Snatcher suona was knocked away, the strings of the Frost Edge Harp all broke, the drum face of the Rolling Thunder Drum exploded, and the Silent Heartbreak Formation instantly collapsed.

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, Shangguan Ruotong appeared in front of Shu Han, gripping his neck, and coldly said, "You did well, distracting me with your nonsense and a useless array. However, she still can't escape my grasp."

With his face turning red, Shu Han smiled, "That's good. Falling into your hands is one thing, but the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword, a gift from Linlin, should never fall into your hands."

Suddenly, cracks appeared all over Shu Han's body, with dazzling golden light shining through.

"Trying to self-destruct?!"

Shangguan Ruotong pointed at Shu Han's forehead. Instantly, the cracks on Shu Han's body started healing, and his internal magic power was all controlled by Shangguan Ruotong.

Shu Han was taken aback, "You won't even let me die? Don't show mercy just because I'm your future brother-in-law! I don't want to be captured by you."

"Hmph!" Shangguan Ruotong laughed, saying, "You're more useful alive than dead. With you in my hands, I'm sure she will come to me."

"What are you thinking? After all my efforts to send Linlin away, there's no way she'll come back!"

A sinister look appeared on Shangguan Ruotong's face, "You probably don't understand your worth in her heart. We sisters share a bond, and I know she'll come back to save you. I'll make sure you die in front of her, letting her taste the pain of utter despair!"

Meanwhile, the real Shu Han, holding Shangguan Ruolin, flew in the air and caught the returning Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword. He smiled at Shangguan Ruolin and said, "I successfully fooled your sister with an avatar! But, I guess the Silent Heartbreak Formation is gone now..."