Across the Southern Marches of Great Qi, deep within the earth of the Si Xuan realm, a cultivator with an exceptionally youthful countenance suddenly opened his eyes.

Within those eyes, starlight danced and flowed, like a vast celestial river coursing through the universe. A star chart shifted and reformed, before, in an instant, all returned to stillness. His gaze settled into pupils as dark as ink, concealing infinite mysteries within their depths.

Reflected in his pupils, a single, ancient coin, placed in a distant location, quietly cracked and its spiritual essence faded. Bound to it, all traces vanished, seen no more.

Finally, he closed his eyes, his starlit Daoist robe billowing around him. He sighed, a murmur about the formidable younger generation. It was unclear whether he spoke of Great Qi’s Marquis Wu An or the Master of the Wusheng Cult.

In the giant city of Lin Zi, the Star Viewing Tower pierced the sky. As the tallest structure in all of Lin Zi, even in the entire land of Qi, this tower soared into the clouds. Standing at its zenith felt like reaching out to touch the stars themselves.

And at a certain moment, a graceful figure plummeted from that highest point. Yet, before a whistling sound could even begin, a flash of starlight appeared, and the figure was gone.

Within the Marquis Bo Wang’s estate, Zhong Xuansheng sat at his desk, his plump hands moving with such speed they left afterimages. His small, bean-like eyes darted left and right incessantly.

Spread across the desk was a collection of various intelligence reports, meticulously categorized. Information concerning Zhang Linchuan could almost all be found here. Shadow guards frequently entered and exited, bringing the latest news from various corners of the world.

Shi Si stood silently to the side, only occasionally removing the intelligence reports that Zhong Xuansheng crossed out.

At this moment, Ruan Zhou landed outside the door of the room. “By order of my father, I have important intelligence to report to Marquis Bo Wang!”

From within, Zhong Xuansheng directly pushed aside his chair, stood up, and exclaimed in a loud voice, “Please enter!”

Ruan Zhou stepped into the study. Amidst the piles of intelligence stacked like small mountains, she moved with agile steps to stand opposite Zhong Xuansheng. With a sweep of her hand, starlight flowed forth, and a complex, vast map of the present world unfolded across the desk.

“According to my father’s calculations, Zhang Linchuan possesses a divine ability that substitutes the qi of destiny for his life. His main body is entangled with the You Ming evil god and is difficult to measure. However, his secondary bodies are discernible through destiny and can be partially determined. This individual currently has five lives outside, all simultaneously undergoing tribulation. Should they succeed in crossing tribulation, they will receive the blessing of Heaven’s Will. The future of this person, I fear, will become even more difficult to impede.”

Without waiting for Zhong Xuansheng’s anxious response, she continued, “I shall now point out the locations of these five lives for you.”

Her slender, beautiful white hand, wreathed in starlight, continuously pointed down onto the map. Each place she pointed to saw that section of the map expand and enlarge, revealing specific details.

Ruan Zui did not disappoint as the foremost practitioner of Qi Country’s star divination techniques. Her claim of being able to “calculate and break causality, forever severing the road ahead,” was no idle boast. She had calculated precisely which city, which identity, what surname, what name, what appearance, and what strength each life possessed.

After noting everything down, Zhong Xuansheng stood up and strode away. His person crashed out of the mansion gates, leaving behind only a voice echoing in the room, “Ruan girl, your effort is appreciated. For such a heavy gift, Jiang Qingyang shall surely bestow a generous reward!”

Ruan Zhou merely blinked her eye. The mountain of flesh that had been before her had already vanished.

Instead, the somewhat timid-looking Marquis’s wife, appearing from who knew where, held a cup of plain water. She earnestly maintained the Marquis mansion’s etiquette. “Er, girl, have a cup of tea.”

Zhong Xuansheng crashed out of the Marquis Bo Wang’s mansion in Lin Zi city, rapidly soaring along the road, colliding with the palace city, and rushing directly towards the Political Affairs Hall!

“Marquis Bo Wang, how dare you be so presumptuous!”

Though his corpulent figure was still distant, the purple-robed guards of the Political Affairs Hall sternly rebuked him. Their hands were already pressed against their saber handles, stirring up killing intent.

Flying was forbidden within the palace city. Zhong Xuansheng, from afar, simply broke into a mad sprint. His body’s fat rippled like waves, and he held up both hands, each grasping a Country Marquis seal—the left for Wu An, the right for Bo Wang. He shouted in a high voice, “Where is the duty Grand Master? Can the national enmity of Great Qi be avenged?!”

As this voice fell, a tall and upright figure stepped out of the door. He waved his hand, dismissing the palace guards who were pressing their sabers. The Grand Master on duty at the Political Affairs Hall today was none other than Court Discuss Grand Master Yi Xingchen.

Seeing his own son-in-law so rash, he was about to rebuke him. But then his thoughts shifted, and he suddenly asked, “Is this related to Marquis Wu An?”

Zhong Xuansheng nodded hastily. “Yes, Dad! That Wusheng Cult’s secondary bodies have been calculated by Supervisor Ruan! I need to borrow the channels of the Political Affairs Hall to spread this throughout the world for the sake of eradication. This matter cannot be delayed! Supervisor Ruan said, delay means change!”

This call of “Dad” was even more intimate than addressing Yi Huaimin. It was so familiar that even the True Person Yi Xingchen found his ears buzzing slightly. But ultimately, the content of Zhong Xuansheng’s words captured his attention.

Ruan Zui personally took action to calculate. What was the price? This was the first question that came to his mind.

But the first words he spoke were, “Then what are you standing around for? Quickly come in!”

Since cultivating the “Cheng Chao Tian Que,” in the battles of the divine soul world, Jiang Wang had been almost invincible.

But today, he met his match.

Zhang Linchuan not only remained unaffected by the suppression of the “Chao Tian Que,” but within the mountain of corpses and sea of blood, he sat high upon a throne of white bones and boldly launched a counterattack!

The divine soul power of a top-level god descending was extraordinary. Moreover, Zhang Linchuan himself was a master of manipulating souls and had once ascended to the True God realm.

The mountain of corpses towered high, and the boundless sea of blood surged with wild waves. That giant hand of white bone reached out, covering the sky, and already enveloping the Chao Tian Gate.

And within this gate, Jiang Wang transformed into the Six Desires Bodhisattva. His body was bathed in Buddhist light, his appearance solemn and dignified, as he stepped out of the gate.

With a flip of his palm, the Fan Ge suddenly rose. The Six Desires’ bliss, the sensations of color, thought, sound, and hearing, formed a golden-green, glorious Buddha palm that appeared with a strange and dazzling external form. It directly supported the sky, countering that giant hand of white bone.

*Boom!* A collision!

This time, the collision was between the fundamentals of spiritual knowledge and the essence of the divine soul. At this moment, Jiang Wang’s divine soul was situated within the mountain of corpses and sea of blood. Zhang Linchuan’s divine soul had fallen into the world of extreme desires.

Dao principles intertwined, and spiritual knowledge clashed.

The Six Desires Bodhisattva merely brushed aside the giant hand with a single sweep before already stepping out of the mountain of corpses and sea of blood, reappearing with golden-green radiance and boundless compassion.

Zhang Linchuan, indeed, showed not the slightest fluctuation in his eyes from beginning to end. He merely extended a pair of pale hands, one hand grasping a void to one side, and with force, tore! Flowing light shattered, and glorious bubbles burst. The entire world of extreme desires, along with the Six Desires Bodhisattva, was already torn apart together!

Having once comprehended the means of a True God, a divine soul killing method unleashed against a strong god descending was hard to match for a strong divine soul.

Victory and defeat were apparent.

*Rumble!*

The Chao Tian Que suddenly closed, cutting off Zhang Linchuan’s pursuit of his divine soul.

With his spiritual knowledge injured, Jiang Wang had already withdrawn from the divine soul world. In this critical moment of extreme urgency, he decisively shook his longsword, and both his ears immediately turned a jade color.

The Immortal State of Sound Hearing, activated!

The Contemplate Self Ear, opened!

Facing Zhang Linchuan directly, looking into his pupils, he roared but a single word: “Die!”

The Subdue Outer Dao Vajra Thunder Sound, opened!

This time, what was opened was not only these? With Jiang Wang himself at the center, surging spiritual knowledge erupted like a volcano, spreading out in a sudden, sweeping tide. A formless, qualityless, soundless, odorless spiritual domain world had already opened at this moment!

Within a thousand zhang radius, all sounds would submit to a single monarch.

This was the Sound Hearing Domain!

It was another spiritual domain developed by Jiang Wang outside the Fire Domain. It was also another core fighting method he had prepared for the challenges in the Blessed Land of the Tai Xu Illusion Realm.

He was clear that terrifying opponents like Zhang Linchuan would also have researched him very thoroughly. Therefore, in the crucial moments of successive setbacks, the Fire Domain, which he had displayed multiple times before others, absolutely could not be relied upon. He had to reveal new means to win a chance for himself.

Thus, the initial battle of the Sound Hearing Domain unfolded here.

This time, Zhang Linchuan unleashed a lightning-infused blade light. After splitting open the boundless sword silk, it still rumbled as it chopped towards Jiang Wang.

But at this moment, that rumbling sound suddenly took on a specific form, gaining spirituality. No longer willing to remain attached, it thus produced malice.

This change was too sudden. Sound patterns like fast knives continuously chopped, instantly slicing apart the lightning-infused blade light. The sound of thunder cut down thunder and lightning, and even counterattacked towards Zhang Linchuan.

Zhang Linchuan remained calm in the face of danger. With a counter-sweep of his palm, he unleashed his Rootless divine ability, wiping away the connection between sound and person entirely. Then, with a grasp, he scattered these sound-patterned fast knives.

His response was exceptionally beautiful. But he was very clear that a greater problem already lay before him.

Jiang Wang’s never-before-seen sound pattern spiritual domain could be called a Sound Kingdom, capable of controlling all sounds within the domain’s range. Even with his cultivation vision, it was very difficult to find a method to contend for control of the sound within a short time.

Thus, in the subsequent fight, he could not speak, could not make any noise. Every action had to be silent. But Jiang Wang’s actions could be freely noisy. He not only needed to pay attention to Jiang Wang’s top-tier sword technique but also to sound offensives from every direction.

This was acceptable. Even wearing shackles, he could still kill Jiang Wang.

But it was obvious that once the sound was grasped by Jiang Wang, Jiang Wang would certainly make this life-and-death struggle conspicuous and attention-grabbing. He was someone who could not bear the light, while Jiang Wang was originally a figure standing in brilliant light, who could swagger under the sun.

Of course, the distance here from the Sword Pavilion, the Evening Drum Academy, and even the Yue Country was still significant. But that couldn’t prevent Jiang Wang from making every move with gongs and drums, shaking heaven and earth. Given enough time, he would definitely be noticed by powerful individuals.

And could he instantly kill Jiang Wang? This question did not necessarily have an answer.

Zhang Linchuan, his mind already made up, leaped up without a word. The space around him became hazy, rippling like illuminated water, activating the Qian Kun Lock. In this moment, where he already held the advantage, he chose to leave, retreating to the world’s crevice.

Killing Jiang Wang was a very important matter. Anyone with such a persistent and talented, extremely influential enemy would find it hard to sleep peacefully. But compared to his own safety, compared to the great Dao he pursued, this was nothing.

In the end, he had no love or hate for Jiang Wang, no obsession. Jiang Wang was merely a stone blocking his path to the great Dao, nothing more.

But within the rippling light, red fire suddenly ignited. That firelight, along with the hazy waves of space, leaped together, burning his divine ability power and blocking his path!

People really couldn’t expose themselves too much, Zhang Linchuan thought faintly. Having displayed the Qian Kun Lock in front of people several times, someone had already found a method to interfere with it.

He of course recognized Jiang Wang’s Samadhi True Fire. He had also judged early on that the Samadhi True Fire’s power would strengthen as knowledge deepened. From this wandering fire that trapped his path in all directions, he could completely feel how long Jiang Wang had researched him, and how much he understood about him.

No wonder he could guess his choice today and block his path!

He stopped the Qian Kun Lock, stopped the spatial waves, and turned back, looking at Jiang Wang expressionlessly. “It seems you truly hate me very much.”

He spoke these words so indifferently. He allowed the sound to arise, allowed the sound to be controlled by Jiang Wang’s Sound Hearing Domain, allowed the sound to become knives, swords, daggers, and javelins, cutting at his white bone holy body with extreme sharpness. And then, they were successively annihilated.

At this moment, the Wusheng Cult Ancestor truly possessed divine might like the sea, striking fear into the hearts of onlookers.

But facing such a Zhang Linchuan, Jiang Wang merely said calmly, “I think, in this world, no one understands you more than me.”

He did not say whether he hated Zhang Linchuan, but his hatred was already described very specifically.

Within the Sound Hearing Domain, all sounds came to court. His own voice, of course, was also a weapon. Every word, every syllable, launched an attack towards Zhang Linchuan. Indeed, the defense of that white bone holy body was astonishing, and indeed, in this level of fight, sound killing techniques were still not enough to produce a fatal threat. But even dripping water can wear away a stone. And every attack was also supplementing his understanding of Zhang Linchuan.

He would utilize all that could be utilized, to the limit. Every moment, everywhere, was a fight.

Zhang Linchuan, just like this, under the continuous attacks of sound patterns, began to walk back expressionlessly. “Junior Brother Jiang, perhaps you are truly seeking death with all your heart?”

*Clang clang clang clang clang clang!*

Responding to him was his own voice, turned into a weapon, continuously impacting his body, emitting incredibly loud metallic sounds!

Jiang Wang wanted to make this life-and-death duel known to everyone!

“I have already sworn to Heaven, under the bright moon and sun, you and I cannot coexist! Senior Brother Zhang, what do you say?”

Jiang Wang’s voice was so calm, and he held his sword, without retreating. Even though he had already fallen into an absolute disadvantage in the previous fight, even though the words “fight to the death” were no longer just a possibility, he still actively charged towards Zhang Linchuan!

He needed to delay time, but relying on retreat was absolutely impossible. As long as he showed the slightest relaxation, he was certain that Zhang Linchuan would disappear without a trace in the next moment. Today, there was no other choice but to fight to the death.

He was only certain of one thing: he already understood Zhang Linchuan very well, and he could still understand Zhang Linchuan even more. If Zhang Linchuan could not kill him quickly now, it would become increasingly difficult to kill him quickly in the future! He was indeed finding it hard to defeat Zhang Linchuan now, and the hope of life and death was slim. But time was with him, the light of Heaven was with him, and the great trend was upon him.

Just proceed like this. Just exchange injury for life, exchange for a possibility to let Zhang Linchuan sleep eternally!

With such awareness, Jiang Wang’s shadow leaped, and his sword raised the bright moon! Sword qi roared for dozens of zhang, and the sound of the sword echoed for white thousands of li!

At this moment, Zhang Linchuan finally could no longer hold back. Jiang Wang was clear, and he was also very clear. If he could not quickly kill Jiang Wang today, this lingering ailment would entangle him to death!

So at this moment, the white within his pupils magnified infinitely. This white dyed his eyes, as well as the bridge of his nose, his face, his body, extending to the surrounding space, and then spreading across the entire sky and earth. Of course, this also included Jiang Wang’s Sound Hearing Domain, and Jiang Wang himself!

He had already unfurled the Wusheng World!

This was the foundation of his Dao, his strongest means, his highest achievement. With his past life as a guide, the Qian Kun Lock as a bridge, Rootless as a wall, his Dao as a heaven-supporting pillar, his true understanding of the world as the border of Wusheng, countless faith power as fertile soil, and the souls of countless strong individuals he had personally killed as nutrients…

Dao, God, and Man merged here, bearing an extremely brilliant, extremely glorious Dao fruit.

This was the Wusheng World!