"You said they had been lured away!" Yu Ci bellowed in a low growl, directing his anger at the one who had remained out of sight. His rage was not without reason; the person currently locked in fierce combat with the Heavy Weapon Sect Leader was none other than Yu Zhou—who had been confirmed as lured away.

Seeing the white-haired Old Daoist, his hair stark against his dark robes, engaged in a sword fight with the formidable Heavy Weapon Sect Leader, Yu Ci's heart nearly burst from his chest with anxiety.

"I led him away, but I couldn't guarantee he wouldn't return. In the unpredictable state of the Boundary River, how long could we really keep him deceived?"

The person replied indifferently, perhaps feeling a bit irresponsible, and then added reassuringly, "Yu Zhou's swordsmanship and cultivation level are much more refined than yours. Besides, the Heavy Weapon Sect Leader is merely a projection here, without any real advantage in terms of level..."

Yu Ci pursed his lips tightly, his right hand clutching the scabbard of the Xuan Huang Killing Sword, his gaze fixed on the intense battle unfolding among the mountain peaks, falling silent.

At that moment, Old Daoist Yu Zhou's hoarse yet unexpectedly calm voice rose, "You all forcefully opened the Void Tunnel, destabilizing this realm. What is your purpose?"

No one answered him; both parties essentially adopted an attitude of complete disregard. The Heavy Weapon Sect Leader's offensive suddenly tightened, and on the surface of his Metallic Heavy Armor, countless rune patterns circulated, weaving through the void with curse energy that was elusive and unpredictable, forming an invisible net intent on trapping Yu Zhou within.

In this dire situation, Yu Zhou maneuvered his sword with agility, his form as elusive as smoke and mist, his tone betraying no obvious change, "The destruction of the Void Structure will bring suffering to billions of living beings. Can you truly bear to proceed with such actions? Moreover, one of my sect's disciples has been captured by you; where have you taken him?"

"So, it's the Lichen Sect again," someone behind the Heavy Armor seethed with a cold murderous intent, "Enough!"

With a flash of thought at the spiritual level, it was as if a storm had arisen, or as if a demon's hand had reached directly into the darkest recesses of the heart, stirring with force. The Ten Orientation Hell Ghost Shaking Technique was unleashed!

A direct hit.

The Old Daoist took a heavy blow, his entire body stiffening, the Passing Water Sword materializing in the void, while his eyes dimmed to the point of losing all light.

In the midst of the high-speed battle, the Old Daoist was momentarily petrified, falling rigidly, completely unable to counterattack. Fortunately, the Heavy Weapon Sect Leader, mindful of his own status, was unwilling to strike a dying man. He let several potentially fatal opportunities pass lightly, even turning away without a second glance:

"...Huh?"

Suddenly, amidst the snow-capped peaks, there was the sound of a sword's song on the wind, a soft hissing whistle. She pivoted, and her Metallic Heavy Armor transformed into a streak of light, retreating a hundred yards away in an instant. Yet behind her, the Sword Energy spread silently like mist weaving through the valleys, already enveloping a five-mile radius without a sound. Even with her speed, she could not immediately escape its bounds.

The mist was omnipresent, seeping into every crevice. When it came into contact with the Heavy Armor, the once lustrous surface instantly dulled—a sign that both the Body-Protecting True Sha and Talismanic Curse Power defenses had been breached, and the metallic armor eroded by the Sword Energy.

Whirling around, the Heavy Weapon Sect Leader did not see the Old Daoist re-engaging in swordplay, soaring into the sky. Instead, on a spiritual level, within a desolate expanse stretching for thousands of miles, she beheld a solitary flame burning fiercely!

"Excellent Sword Mist, remarkable Taoist!" she exclaimed.

Her rare praise elicited no response. Old Daoist Yu Zhou no longer engaged her in combat. His Sword Light veered, aiming for the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave perched above. His objective was clear: to disrupt the spellcasting and ensure the stability of the Spatial Structure. For reasons unknown, the Heavy Weapon Sect Leader hesitated for a moment and did not pursue. This gave Old Daoist Yu Zhou the opportunity to deftly manipulate his Sword Energy, striking decisively towards his target.

As the Sword Light bore down upon him, the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave did not even spare it a glance, instead emitting Bloodthirsty Qi and intermittently Casting Spells with Talismans, which he directed into the gradually forming Void Tunnel. In response, from the other end of the passage, an indescribable stench wafted through, reminiscent of the putrid rot and burning filth from a poisonous marshland swamp—a smell that tested the limits of one's olfactory endurance.

This was the unmistakable scent of the Blood Purgatory Ghost Mansion.

Old Daoist Yu Zhou, a veteran of the Great Battle of the Sky Rift Valley ninety years prior, was all too familiar with this odor. Its presence here could only mean that the Void Structure was becoming increasingly chaotic. The one-way passage was no longer living up to its name, as certain aspects of the Blood Purgatory Ghost Mansion—like its distinctive smell—were beginning to permeate through.

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Once the passage truly fused both worlds together, blending the vastly different environments on a large scale, it would be akin to flames meeting boiling oil—a volatile mixture bound to explode!

The Old Daoist let out a soft whistle, his figure seemingly vanishing into the void, leaving only the chillingly sharp aura under the starry sky to signify his presence.

As a certain someone once said, the Old Daoist's swordsmanship was seasoned and sophisticated, far beyond the reach of the younger generation. With a singular thrust of his sword, the residual waves of Sword Energy swept over the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave. Yet, when the true strike descended, it did not target any vital point on the Master's body, nor did it seek to inflict a fatal wound. Instead, it aimed for the hands that were channeling the Bloodthirsty Qi and forming the Talismans.

"The individual's cultivation level is profound and inscrutable, with an enigmatic origin. Sword energy sweeps are rendered useless against them; it's as if they possess a True Form Immortal Body, with Vajra Indestructibility. The only way is to cause them to falter, to prompt self-inflicted harm..."

With the thought of the sword's arrival, a clanging sound resonated, akin to the clashing of metal, as the bloodthirsty qi pulsed continuously. The crimson hue flared like ignited fire, with dozens of talismans exploding amidst, sending shockwaves that disturbed the void, rippling incessantly.

The old Daoist's figure emerged from the mist, his frosty eyebrows slightly furrowed. This strike was ineffective; the aura of the Blood Purgatory Ghost Mansion grew even denser. As the scent accumulated, the surroundings worsened, inevitably affecting the flow of his energy meridians.

However, compared to the deteriorating environment, the old Daoist was more perplexed by a subtle sensation within: rather than attributing the foul and toxic nature of the surroundings to the Blood Purgatory Ghost Mansion, it seemed more apt to say it originated from the strange being radiating the bloodthirsty qi.

"This is... the stench of a high-level demon!"

As he contemplated, he attempted to mobilize his sword aura to renew the offensive, but his eyes suddenly met a pair of deep purple irises, rimmed with a golden edge, more befitting of a fierce beast or raptor. As their gazes locked, his sword heart trembled slightly, and a heavy punch was already hurtling toward him, landing squarely on his face with a "pomf," scattering his head as if it were blown apart.

"Oh?"

The Master of the Sunken Sword Cave, still in his punching stance, was somewhat surprised. Under his fist, the old Daoist Yu Zhou's body had astonishingly transformed into a layer of tangible yet intangible sword energy, scattering in all directions and merging into the surrounding mist. The intricacy of it was comparable to a top-tier illusion technique.

From afar, an expert commented, "The sword energy is pure and refined... a pity there's a flaw in the intent."

"Shut up!" Yu Ci rebuked coldly and without courtesy.

Such a minor act failed to catch the attention of the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave, who was more concerned with other matters. He called out to his temporary ally who had just flown over, "Hey, this isn't what you promised."

The Heavy Weapon Sect Leader hovered in mid-air, facing him head-on. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke:

"...Who are you?"

His words caused a twinge in the hearts of the onlookers. The Master of the Sunken Sword Cave was momentarily taken aback before bursting into loud laughter. However, before the laughter could subside, a sharp screech suddenly erupted from his throat:

"You've broken the agreement..."

"Presumptuous!"

From the same throat, the ensuing words carried a starkly different meaning. The Master of the Sunken Sword Cave played dual roles, and a farcical scene unfolded, though it did not last long. With a heavy thump to its own chest, everything temporarily came to an end. It slightly turned its face, as if observing the state of the passageway between the two realms, while indifferently stating:

Everyone was in the same boat, each with their own agenda, and for the Heavy Weapon Sect Leader, it was the passageway leading to the Blood Purgatory Ghost Mansion that mattered. To whom she gave it made no difference... What followed was crucial!

Casting a glance at Yu Zhou, who had just made an appearance in the distance, the Sect Leader nodded in acknowledgment:

"Very well."

As her voice fell, she pivoted her form and charged towards Yu Zhou. Midway, she raised her hand towards the heavens, and the Rune Patterns on her armor, once dim, suddenly brightened. Invisible curse power scattered into the sky, and above the snowy peaks, several stars began to shine one by one within the patchwork of void that made up the night sky, casting down their clear light.

"Stellar secret technique?"

Yu Ci, who had once severely injured Tu Du with the "Mysterious Celestial Star Major Refining Technique" and had been continuously exposed to the "Heavenly Flying Stars" Talisman, was particularly sensitive to such talismanic curse techniques that harnessed the power of the stars. At a glance, he could tell that the Heavy Weapon Sect Leader's proficiency in such curses far exceeded his own. In such a complex astral environment, without any need for calculations, the power of the stars was summoned effortlessly, operating within the void, yet he had no idea what moves she was using.

At this moment, the "Master of the Sunken Sword Cave" began to concentrate fully on presiding over the Corridor Red Halo, symbolic of the path to the Blood Purgatory Ghost Mansion. It had expanded to a radius of thirty feet, with layers of the surrounding void collapsing. The source region of the Boundary River began to shake noticeably. Even Yu Ci, an outsider to these affairs, could sense that the Spatial Structure here was under severe assault.

Initially, Yu Ci was distracted by Old Daoist Yu Zhou's battle, but gradually, he became singularly focused, his gaze fixed on the movements of the figure atop the snowy peak. His attitude was so apparent and resolute that one who wanted to persuade him ended up saying only:

"You are overestimating your abilities."

"When all this is done, death awaits us all..."

As he spoke, an unprecedented shockwave swept through the entire source region of the Boundary River. Yu Ci turned his head sharply, only to see the vibrant red edge of the two realms' passageway becoming fragmented and shattered. An invisible force radiated out, drawing in more of the native realm's Primordial Qi for a fundamental exchange.

The source of the Boundary River seemed to darken abruptly.

Yu Ci's gaze was icy and determined as he took a large stride forward, bursting out of the chaotic flow of the void in an instant. He hadn't covered half a mile when he felt a heat above his head. Looking up, he saw a pair of deep purple eyes rimmed with gold—it had spotted him!

Yu Ci began to accelerate.