Before the battle commenced, Yi Shengfeng, initially close behind Zhou Xiong, had advanced with a synchronized stealth, one in the open, the other concealed. Their objective was singular: to eliminate the Jiangwang with the utmost speed and absolute certainty.

Though an unexpected turn had unfolded, with the sudden appearance of Yi country’s Yan Yan, successfully barring Zhou Xiong’s path, Yi Shengfeng harbored no hesitation, nor any thought of retreat. Precisely *because* Zhou Xiong was stalled, a colossal chink in their defense had appeared – could one not see the Jiangwang remained utterly oblivious to the impending danger, still leisurely engaged in rescue?

Seizing the opportunity, he expertly brushed aside the Jiangwang’s innate caution, launching a sword strike from beyond the reach of the senses, intent on his swift demise. To be clear, he naturally wouldn’t have minded a concerted effort to surround and slay the Jiangwang; in battle, the only criterion is life and death, with no room for notions of fairness. Yet, this did not imply he lacked the courage to face the Jiangwang alone, nor the confidence to end him unaided!

Having cultivated the sword for sixteen years, the act of wielding it had long become an instinct. As a disciple of the Venerable Seven Kills, from childhood to the present, he had endured countless life-and-death struggles, slaying innumerable powerful foes. Lu Shuanghe adhered to the Heavenly Dao’s impartiality; he believed Yi Shengfeng possessed the chance to kill his opponent, and if Yi Shengfeng failed to do so, he would simply watch him perish. The disparity in their strengths, no matter how stark, was irrelevant!

The so-called “sword strike beyond the senses” was a unique sword technique crafted by Yi Shengfeng, born of his ability to traverse natural spiritual awareness. It was a complete sensory bypass on the level of the opponent’s five senses, allowing for a hidden approach and sudden, lethal attack. This technique bore no name. Because he had no intention of passing it to anyone, there was also no need to introduce it to the deceased.

The Jiangwang’s hardened, hundred-refined combat instinct, in a situation of complete absence of danger, actually birthed a premonition, thus triggering this very sword strike prematurely with a Condensed Fire Realm technique. This caused its ten percent killing intent to manifest at less than eight percent. The remaining killing force was then entirely consumed within the Fire Realm.

In future confrontations, when facing such opponents with peak combat talent, it would be wise to allow them a sliver of awareness of the danger; only then would it be more authentic. This was a lesson Yi Shengfeng gleaned from this single exchange – if there were to be a next time.

The moment the Fire Realm bloomed was a marvel to behold. The choice of the Fire Realm’s explosion was divinely inspired. And then, this “bright moon passing through the sky” sword, seeming to descend like rain…

As Yi Shengfeng dispelled his opponent’s instinctive awareness, he himself felt a chilling intent pierce through his very being. Ten thousand threads of sword qi, like moonlight pouring down, carried within them the intent of lovesickness, causing Yi Shengfeng to fully comprehend that emotion – the countless times a child awakens from nightmares, shaken to the core! It was an inability to let go, a disbelief, a shock of pain!

In the age when trust should have been forged, he had shown the Jiangwang the chilling reality of the human world. This kind of coldness, now poured entirely into the sword light, was a gift returned to him. This was a belated recompense, sixteen years in the making.

Its technique bordered on the divine, its sword intent was cold as iron! In every sense, this was a sword that killed without flaw. Especially when it brought with it the piercing, shocking pain of that moment.

The heart of the observer was wounded by this sword. But Yi Shengfeng’s heart remained unmoved. He had felt that emotion; that year, when he had pushed the Jiangwang into the water with a single palm, he had already witnessed that kind of emotion and remained unmoved. He had never known regret, nor did he need forgiveness.

When the sword was already upon him, his only response was with his own blade. Clutching “Thin Luck Lang” in a reverse grip, he retreated, then retreated again, and again! His steps were not excessively swift, but each one landed in the subtle space between welcoming and unwelcome sword, pulling at the opposing Qi energies and influencing the sword’s momentum. This was the “Heavenly Machine Step,” a technique passed down by the contemporary Venerable Ren Qiu Li, renowned for its unpredictable steps and its ability to preempt the enemy’s intentions.

After three such steps, he suddenly advanced again, his sword sweeping upwards to meet the Jiangwang’s blade head-on! This single upward strike split heaven and earth. This single upward strike stirred the winds and clouds. This single upward strike seemed to wish to lift that bright moon, and of course, it included that endless “moonlight.” This single sword seemed to shatter the boundaries of space, connecting this realm to another… In that distant, unknown place, there was a beautiful world of harmony, devoid of harm, where bliss could be enjoyed forever.

This single sword was like an invitation, welcoming you to that place, bringing the smoke and fire of the mortal world, yet also possessing the Buddhist compassion of universal salvation. This single sword was named “Ascension”! It was a true transmission from the Southern Dipper Hall, a sword technique capable of being cultivated from the Outer Building Realm all the way to the Dao Derivation Realm – the Southern Dipper Kill Life Sword! According to ancient legends, the Southern Dipper governs birth, yet this sword was named Southern Dipper Kill Life!

This was a technique passed down through the ages, in no way inferior to the Karma Blade or the Eight Desolations No Return Halberd, an absolute peak move. With this sword unleashed, the boundless moonlight would be swept up. Countless threads of sword qi whistled sharply in the sky above Yi Shengfeng, piercing through cloud caves and wind, yet not a single one fell upon his body. The sky was filled with shimmering silver threads. Beneath them, his jade crown bound his long hair, which floated in the night.

He held the long sword, which flickered into and out of sensory perception, moving against this brilliant “moonlight.” The momentum of the Ascension sword continuously climbed higher, surged forward, heading straight for the Jiangwang. The meaning of “Ascension” was to ascend to the celestial realm. A single sword to welcome a new enemy, to welcome them into a new world beyond this one. Such a sword originally needed no further explanation.

But he suddenly spoke, “It’s been sixteen years since we parted ways at Fengxi! After so long, do you have nothing you wish to say to me?” His voice was exceedingly light, yet his tone was exceptionally cold. The content of his words was sharp, each one aimed directly at a wound.

The Jiangwang’s gaze remained calm. Without a word, he suddenly turned, his sword carving a line between heaven and earth, dividing life and death! The sharp sword light cleaved apart heaven and earth, momentarily slicing open the boundary between reality and illusion, landing precisely on a tightly shielded Tortoise Tiger! The shell shattered into a thousand pieces. Behind the unfortunate Tortoise Tiger, that was exactly where Touch Pity had been cut out!

If Lin Xian could cleave the Tortoise Tiger with a blade on a previous day, facing the Jiangwang, this particular Puppet Construct was naturally even more incapable of withstanding a single strike, even though it had undergone several enhancements. How could the progress of a mere Puppet Construct compare to that of a true chosen one of heaven?

Touch Pity had originally intended to turn back and lead his army, deploying forces from various directions to join Wei Guangyao and the others in a coordinated assault on the Qi army. According to the plan, the Nine Sons Ringing Mountain Array would first be unleashed to deter the enemy’s momentum and disrupt their formation. Then, Zhou Xiong and Yi Shengfeng would launch a sudden attack to kill, eliminating the Jiangwang first to break the enemy’s morale. Immediately thereafter, a multi-directional army encirclement would allow for the general’s demise and the army’s rout to be completed in one swift stroke.

However, the enemy army also concealed a God-Attainment Realm figure in Yan Po. The plan’s crucial step of killing the Jiangwang was thus thwarted. After Zhou Xiong and Ge Po’s successive strikes, the Jiangwang could still leisurely press his sword and patrol. Touch Pity immediately realized that without absolute military suppression, even if the Qi army was destined for a major defeat today, this person, the Jiangwang, could very possibly escape. Because the Jiangwang today was already among the strongest few figures below the God-Attainment Realm, he truly had no confidence in Yi Shengfeng. Although their side possessed superior military force, within the main army and with the soldier array surrounding the situation, victory was easy, but killing was difficult!

So he temporarily decided to use his Smoke Bird ability to conceal his presence, waiting for an opportunity to join the battle and help Yi Shengfeng secure a quick victory, hoping to end the fight before the two armies fully clashed. If Yi Shengfeng could stand evenly with the Jiangwang, he dared to ask himself, standing at the third floor of cultivation, he was absolutely capable of influencing the balance of victory with significant weight. How could the name of Touch Pity, a chosen one of Xia country, be absent?

But he never imagined that the consequence of his Smoke Bird ability helping him evade the Jiangwang’s detection, only to attack unsuccessfully and be met with a counter-attack, was an instant step into the precipice of life and death! The Jiangwang’s sword was too powerful! A single sword sweep around his body had already cleaved open the Tortoise Tiger. His footsteps were like leisurely steps on green clouds, but he was already near, and his sword Qi was already near! The sword in his hand seemed to vanish for an instant, then a cold light again passed through the sky!

Touch Pity was greatly shocked! As he hastily retreated, he suddenly flung his face to the side, and a fierce, single-clawed, ghost-faced rat-bat flew out from his ear, its head held high, its single claw like a hook. That rat-like sharp mouth suddenly opened…

“Die!” the Jiangwang roared, unleashing the Outer Dao Vajra Thunder Sound! The momentum of the fierce, single-clawed, ghost-faced rat-bat was shattered before it could even utter a sound. Its body became completely stiff, and thunderous light spat out from its ears and mouth, sending it plummeting. The Vajra Thunder Sound today was different from when he had challenged Zhong Xuan Zun at the General Pointing Platform. At that time, he had barely mastered it, but now he could say he was proficient. Against the divine and brilliant Zhou Xiong, its power might have been insufficient, but against this strange beast rat-bat, it was an effortless success.

After the Tortoise Tiger was broken, another towering mechanical iron man, the Red Heaven Slave, instantly revealed its steel body, firmly blocking in front of Touch Pity. There was also a metallic round ball that rolled out from his sleeve, its blade-like wings unfolding to reveal a pitch-black iron eagle! Touch Pity possessed the Mohist Puppet Construct technique and the Touch Clan’s ancient beast-controlling technique, almost allowing him to become an army in himself.

But two fingers, like swords, clipped two pieces of talisman paper and lightly shook them in front of Touch Pity’s eyes – there was no visible change in Yuan force, no wave of Qi and blood, but two majestic Immortal Palace warriors had descended onto the battlefield! One Immortal Palace warrior seemed to grab the Red Heaven Slave as if it were a small chicken, seizing and pressing it down, throwing it heavily to the ground! Another Immortal Palace warrior stepped directly onto the feathers of the pitch-black iron eagle’s back. The iron eagle, just expanding its body, had not yet moved when it was already trampled into dust!

Touch Pity’s pupils rotated, a Smoke Bird pattern appearing within them. As the divine light dimmed, his body materialized. But at this very instant, the Single Ride Breaking Array Diagram unfolded, and vast, boundless divine soul power surged forth – the Divine Soul Flame Sparrow! The Divine Soul Hidden Serpent! The Dry Yang Red Pupil Falling West! All were disciples of famous sects, and of course, they did not lack protection for their divine souls. Coupled with the protection from the Through Heaven Palace, it could basically be said that within the same realm, they could sleep soundly. Even if the Jiangwang attacked with divine soul power far surpassing Touch Pity’s, with the aid of the Through Heaven Palace, it was like holding a fortified city and guarding it as steadily as a mountain.

But first came the broken puppet, then the dying strange beast. These linked divine soul existences caused Touch Pity to inevitably suffer damage. In a precise timing that could not have been more perfect, the divine soul setting sun crashed upon the Through Heaven Palace! Within the violent divine soul turbulent flow, Touch Pity was perhaps only stiff for a thousandth of an instant, perhaps shorter, but it was no longer important – a sword pierced through his heart!

With the Voice Hearing Immortal State and the Observing Self Ear overlapping, what secrets could Touch Pity’s body possibly hold at this moment, where could he hide? Whether real or illusion, Long Xiang Si pierced through. What was shattered was not merely that single beating heart! It also encompassed his entire body’s intention, soul, and spirit. The roaring sword Qi stirred and broke the Five Mansions, overturning the ocean within his body!

Once ascending the Observing River Platform, charging into the inner courtyard of the Yellow River Meeting, defeating Dong Guo Bao to claim one of the eight strong spots, a figure nearly on par with the Jiangwang… Now, he couldn’t even release several more puppets! He originally possessed a stronger Buddhist Construct, and he also had other strange beast options. He was even highly skilled in the art of poison, yet he had no opportunity to display any of it. This single combat, avoiding the bird’s fall, began and ended too suddenly. From Yi Shengfeng’s deliberate words to attract the Jiangwang’s attention, to the Jiangwang turning and unleashing a horizontal sword with a storm-like offensive to kill Touch Pity, it had not even been a single breath of time! Yi Shengfeng’s Ascension Sword was still on its way!

The Jiangwang, having thoroughly grasped his true self, his techniques, his sword skills, even his Puppet Constructs, was now unbound in countless ways, responding according to his heart. He had not yet displayed his strongest state, but every strike was perfectly timed, firmly suppressing all possibilities for Touch Valve. Touch Pity’s eyes instantly scattered… His death was far too anticlimactic! This once stunning, heaven’s chosen figure, perhaps should have had a grand and fiery demise, not like this, where a sneak attack and encirclement failed, and he was killed by a single sword, seemingly like slaughtering a chicken. He originally could have had a brilliant future, yet he tragically stopped here today. He also had too many stories that were never heard. What he had experienced, how he balanced the art of puppet fabrication and beast control, who he had loved, who he had hated… but there was no opportunity.

Death grants everyone but one opportunity; the end is forever. Whether you are mediocre or excellent, whether you are great or base. The meaning of death is simply that everything that “could” be done, can no longer be done.

Of course, the Jiangwang no longer looked at him. Drawing the long sword from Touch Pity’s heart, its momentum unchecked, carrying a string of blood beads, the ten years of life and death, one stroke hooking enmity, with this scholar’s sword, precisely meeting Yi Shengfeng’s Ascension sword! Two sharp lines intersected precisely. Long Xiang Si blocked Thin Luck Lang at the optimal moment, as if everything was predestined! This kind of sword technique truly transcended the divine!

And the Jiangwang’s eyes, flowing with a crimson gold light, confronted Yi Shengfeng’s deep, ancient-well-like eyes, and he uttered only one sentence: “You should have reached the God-Attainment Realm before coming!” With this sentence, he answered the previous question. This continued conversation had an abnormal calmness, a cruelty, as if Touch Pity had never even appeared. His progress was not slow, but now, facing him, was the world’s most peak chosen one. The gap that existed during the Yellow River Meeting had now been widened! No matter what kind of determination he held, in this level of battle, he could indeed no longer stir even a ripple.

Yi Shengfeng had asked, and the Jiangwang had answered after killing Touch Valve. How many people in the world possessed such spirit? The sound of sword edges grating against each other was so sharp it caused hearts to palpitate. Yi Shengfeng originally had nothing more to say; he had opened his mouth merely to cover Touch Pity’s sneak attack. Now that Touch Pity had died a meaningless death, he could only continue to fight.

But as if guided by ghosts and spirits, he still spoke in a low voice: “If you do not die, my God-Attainment will be marred. Are you not also waiting for me, regretting that you haven’t reached the God-Attainment Realm until now?”

The Jiangwang was momentarily silent. Long Xiang Si and Thin Luck Lang were each pulled to their limit. Where sparks flew, they simultaneously unleashed killing moves! The Jiangwang seized the opportunity to unleash the “Standing Ground Holding Sky” character sword. It swept away all dust, its extreme intent embodied within. And Yi Shengfeng’s sword swept horizontally, like the hand of a supreme deity, wiping across heaven and earth, seeking to flatten all the suffering in the world. Divine ability light scattered, heaven and earth were reset. The wind should be calm, the clouds should part, all heart knots, all hatred, death has already revealed the emptiness of all things! The Southern Dipper Kill Life Sword’s Degree of Misfortune!

“Come!” Amidst the intersecting swords, Yi Shengfeng’s voice was as cold and severe as a weapon, his entire being filled with killing intent. The Jiangwang was even more silent, and he seemed to want to see into his opponent’s pain: “Let’s see how you cut through your heart demon!”

The Jiangwang only said one sentence: “You think too much!” The man advanced, the sword advanced, the “Standing Ground Holding Sky” character sword advanced. The vast sword momentum surged like a river, countless ancient figures passing by without stopping. In the brilliant collision, Yi Shengfeng, man and sword, were sent flying! Life is full of suffering. How can you, from above, seeking to achieve a Degree of Misfortune, claim to deliver all the people in the world? Please: