From the grand arena’s western ingress and egress, a pair of elegantly attired youths emerged.

Leading the way was the woman, her bearing noble and dignified. Phoenix eyes gazed out from beneath delicate willow eyebrows, framed by a goose-egg face. Her figure was tall and slender.

Trailing behind her was the young man, shorter by half a head. His demeanor was pure, his features bright and handsome. Though the vestiges of youth still clung to his face, it was clear that with the passage of a few more years, he would undoubtedly become a rare paragon of handsomeness.

As they walked, he grumbled under his breath, “I told you I didn’t want to come! Why must you drag me to watch? What’s so interesting? It’s disrupting my cultivation…”

The woman ahead tugged at him. “Hurry up!”

“Hey, don’t pull my hand!” The young man, somewhat bashful, lowered his voice urgently. “There are so many people here.”

The woman at the front abruptly turned, fixing the youth with a stare.

He instinctively flinched, but his hand was held fast, leaving him nowhere to retreat.

The beautiful woman raised a slender, smooth index finger and pressed it to her lips, hushing him with a soft “Shh!”

Then, shifting her finger, she pointed towards the Six Harmonies Pillar that stood beside the towering supreme Dharma image. Her finger traced the intricate patterns of the vermilion dragon robe, the very one worn by the Chu Emperor.

She conveyed to the youth, silently, that the Son of Heaven of Chu was present, and therefore, no reckless words should be spoken.

Continuing to lead him forward, she skillfully navigated them into the midst of the Chu Kingdom’s viewing contingent.

Reluctantly, the youth followed, his head bowed, his eyes downcast, wishing with all his might that he would go unnoticed by the world.

But suddenly, he heard the cry of a Flame Sparrow.

That familiar sound…

He abruptly snapped his head around, his gaze drawn to the martial arts platform. A vibrant, fiery world blossomed within his vision.

His eyes, in that instant, blazed with light!

It was not only this youth who was thus captivated.

Within the vision of the assembled spectators.

Xiang Bei unleashed the West Extreme Halberd Style. This single halberd strike was a declaration of dominion, claiming that “from here to the west, all falls beneath this halberd.”

It was truly overbearing and peerless.

A move that left no room for escape, pursuing to the very ends of the road, demanding a head-on collision.

Even with the Step on Blue Clouds immortal technique, Jiang Wang found himself unable to evade.

But in the very next moment, scarlet flames enveloped the entire martial arts arena.

The flames, seemingly alive, flowed with vibrant energy, catalyzing all things.

Heaven and earth united, fierce fire forging a realm!

Xiang Bei’s world-encompassing halberd could reach to the West Extreme, but in that same instant, he was already consumed by the world of fire. The very concept of the West Extreme was now contained within this fiery domain.

As the single halberd descended, countless streams of fire parted.

Flame Sparrows pecked, meteors rained down.

All manner of derived fire-element techniques assailed the massive halberd with a frenzy, making every inch of its advance a struggle that demanded immense courage.

It was as if he were “crossing mountains and rivers” simply to approach his opponent.

Had he not manifested the Swallow Thieves Overlord Body, benefiting from the boon of no external invaders, this strike would have almost certainly perished!

When Xiang Bei’s West Extreme Style finally reached its culmination, arriving at the westernmost edge of this fire realm, Jiang Wang’s retreating steps halted. He no longer retreated, nor did he evade. Instead, he advanced.

He took a single, light step forward. With his left hand raised, he held Longxiangsi before him, meeting the halberd with its sheath.

As the God Dragon Wood sword sheath collided with the world-encompassing halberd, his footfall settled.

This seemingly light step, as it landed on the martial arts platform, produced a resounding impact!

And his raised left hand, holding the sheathed longsword, was as if forged from iron and stone, extending where it willed, halting where it settled, firm and unyielding.

The end of a powerful crossbow, yet its arrow could not pierce gossamer silk.

With the might of the Swallow Thieves Overlord Body, the strength of the Eight Wastelands No Return Halberd Method, and Xiang Bei’s innate physique, this world-encompassing halberd striking the God Dragon Wood sheath could not even cause it to tremble!

And once more, Jiang Wang drew his sword!

His left hand raised the sheath to block, his right hand drew the sword, pushing forward.

The sword of a swordsman.

Sheathed, it is nurtured; unsheathed, it kills.

A flash of cold light erupted, then faded like the setting sun, its final glow a tragic and heroic spectacle.

This was the first style of the Human Dao Sword Style, “Old General’s Twilight”!

This was the most sorrowful sword in the Human Dao Sword Style, yet also the most explosive and fastest. Jiang Wang often employed this style to initiate his attacks.

Facing a top talent like Xiang Bei, the un-elevated Human Dao Sword Style truly lacked sufficient power.

However, the situation was different now.

Longxiangsi’s blade, white as snow, bore a line of scarlet fire along its ridge.

The power of the fire realm was held within the sword’s body!

Red and white, a striking and vivid contrast.

This sword was heavy with bravery.

As if narrating the story within this fire world!

This vibrant, fierce fire world held a stirring history, a sense of narrative that undoubtedly enriched the realm’s foundation, making it more real, more vivid.

There once was such a white-haired old general, his body frail, who went to die for his country.

That person had perished, but his spirit endured.

Even his foes on the battlefield could not help but respect him.

His backbone supported a broken world.

His courage was the setting sun of the fire realm.

This sword, imbued with the great momentum of the fire realm, arrived with sudden force. Xiang Bei returned his halberd to block horizontally.

The sword tip struck the halberd’s body, sending Xiang Bei recoiling several zhang!

Many outside the arena widened their eyes, some even letting out involuntary gasps.

This was Xiang Bei under the influence of the Swallow Thieves Overlord Body!

Yet he was struck back by a single sword!

How terrifying was this sword?

Before their surprise could fully register, the green-robed, carefree talent of the Qi Kingdom already stepped upon shattered blue clouds, giving chase.

The world-encompassing halberd in Xiang Bei’s hand spun, its tip lifting.

Such a heavy halberd, yet in his grip it felt as light as straw.

Nevertheless, its momentum was that of stirring seas and moving mountains, shaking a thousand li.

The Eight Wastelands No Return Halberd Method’s “Overturn Heaven” style!

This style was fierce and unmatched. Xiang Bei’s eyes blazed with fury. He confronted all, battling in all eight directions.

If Heaven wished to suppress him, he would overturn this Heaven!

Jiang Wang’s figure, moving on clouds, suddenly swayed, drifting like duckweed in the strong wind.

From extreme bravery to extreme powerlessness, the transition was so natural, so light, so wondrous!

He drifted unsteadily within the momentum of the Overturn Heaven halberd, yet always refused to be extinguished.

Not only did he refuse to be extinguished, but amidst the powerlessness and drifting, a cold light suddenly surged!

Though his body was not fully under his control, he did not forget to struggle!

Such a magnificent confrontation captivated the spectators, leaving them as if intoxicated.

“This halberd’s power is somewhat weakened, not like Xiang Bei’s usual strength. Did he sustain too many injuries? Even the Swallow Thieves Overlord Body can’t suppress them?”

On the ring-shaped viewing platform, within the Chu Kingdom’s contingent, a young man of medium build frowned, uttering these words.

Catching sight of two figures in the corner of his eye, his brows relaxed, and he said joyfully, “Shunhua, Guangshu, you’ve come too?”

Qu Shunhua still held Zuo Guangshu’s hand, her other hand with index finger pressed vertically to her lips: “Shh.”

She squeezed forward a few steps and sat beside the one who had spoken. Their camaraderie was evident.

And Zuo Guangshu, allowing himself to be led, followed and sat down, his eyes fixed firmly on the martial arts platform, completely lost in the spectacle.

In this present world, at an occasion like the Yellow River Assembly, to personally witness the blooming of a fire realm left him, who had long cultivated water realm techniques, momentarily stunned, as if intoxicated.

This technique was truly too exquisite, too vivid. The more one pondered it, the more one felt its endless potential.

In the eyes of some outside the arena, Xiang Bei’s offense seemed significantly weaker than before, attributing it to his injuries.

But likely only Xiang Bei himself, on the platform, could truly comprehend the difficulty he faced.

He had indeed suffered severe divine soul damage, but under the Swallow Thieves Overlord Body, he could temporarily ignore it. This merely limited his divine soul abilities, not affecting his other capabilities – and this was inconsequential, as he would absolutely not attempt to breach Jiang Wang’s Heavenly Palace again; that was merely a stratagem using the Dragon Demon Soldier Diagram to enhance his ability to seize battle opportunities.

However, the entire fire world was resisting him, suppressing him.

The Swallow Thieves Overlord Body greatly weakened this suppression, but within the swirling black smoke, Xiang Bei could still feel immense pressure.

The West Extreme style was easily intercepted, the Overturn Heaven style was simply broken. All due to the suppression exerted upon himself and the enhancement bestowed upon his opponent.

It was simply unimaginable how long he could endure in this fire world at this moment, had he not manifested the Swallow Thieves Overlord Body.

This feeling was precisely like his previous intrusion into the Heavenly Palace with the Single Rider Enter Array Diagram.

Heaven was about to fall, earth was about to overturn, the entire world was against him!

The situation might be similar, but Xiang Bei absolutely refused to accept a repeat of the outcome.

Facing the sword that Jiang Wang thrust forth from the Overturn Heaven style.

Xiang Bei released his grip on the world-encompassing halberd!

In that instant.

Black smoke swirled around his two-zhang tall figure suspended in the air, the world-encompassing heavy halberd seemingly floating before him.

That green-robed figure was already advancing with a leisurely, floating grace.

Xiang Bei brought his palms together!

Behind him, the spectral form of a nine-headed, human-faced bird flashed into existence.

Before him, an iceberg surged from the ground!

Within the fire realm, in a situation where water elements had been completely expelled, an iceberg rose from flat ground!

Had it not been for the Swallow Thieves Overlord Body’s “internal thieves do not die,” this would have been utterly impossible.

This mountain was named “North Extreme Heavenly Cabinet.”

This Dao technique shared the same name as the mountain.

In legends, the divine bird Nine Phoenix perched on this very mountain.

The techniques of the Chu Kingdom were unparalleled in the world, and within the Inner Mansion realm, this Dao technique could be considered among the strongest defenses.

This iceberg seemed to support the sky of the fire realm, and it naturally clashed fiercely with this fiery domain.

Jiang Wang’s sword, struggling amidst the drifting, struck the North Extreme Heavenly Cabinet Mountain, emitting an incredibly crisp, sharp sound.

Longxiangsi, with its flowing line of fire, pierced the iceberg by merely an inch, and Jiang Wang already withdrew his sword!

Longxiangsi’s penetration of the North Extreme Heavenly Cabinet Mountain by that single inch allowed Jiang Wang to perceive the defensive strength of the iceberg before him.

He quickly made a decision, halted the momentum of his body being out of control, withdrew his sword, and changed his move.

Cold light flashed.

After his body was no longer drifting uncontrollably, he delivered two consecutive sword strikes.

One sword, a graceful horizontal cut, one sword, a proud, direct thrust!

“Famous Scholar in Adversity”!

“Youthful Arrogance”!

These two elevated styles of the Human Dao Sword Style, enhanced by the power of the fire realm, how strong were they precisely?

In the fire realm where Flame Sparrows soared and Flame Flowers bloomed, the cold, hard iceberg rose from the ground, standing firm.

And between heaven and earth, a horizontal line was drawn.

On that seemingly indestructible iceberg, cracks spread like spider webs… then a hole opened!

North Extreme Heavenly Cabinet Mountain collapsed!

But the clash of heavenly talents meant each possessed their own means.

While employing the North Extreme Heavenly Cabinet Mountain technique to block his foe, Xiang Bei was also not idle.

He erected the iceberg, yet simultaneously propelled himself to the high heavens.

He could not prevail in the divine soul contest within Jiang Wang’s Heavenly Palace, nor could he defeat Jiang Wang in the fire realm.

This was because of the disparate forces of heaven and earth, the entire world arrayed against him.

Now, he admitted, against opponents like Jiang Wang, he absolutely could not burden himself and still win.

Therefore, he would naturally withdraw from unfavorable terrain.

However, this fire realm was vibrant, self-formed, operating as a unified entity. Even with the assistance of the Dragon Demon Soldier Diagram, in a short time, he could fundamentally perceive no flaws.

He chose to attack forcefully.

Inverting his grip on the world-encompassing halberd, his tall and sturdy figure rapidly ascended towards the sky.

Black smoke billowed, resisting the rolling heat.

Countless Flame Sparrows chirped and dived down, blocking his path. Rumbling Flame Fire meteors fell like rain.

Feeling the lag in the Swallow Thieves Overlord Body, Xiang Bei gripped the long shaft tightly.

On the two crescent blades of the world-encompassing halberd, a touch of verdant light suddenly flashed in this moment.

The entire world-encompassing halberd’s snow-bright blade was instantly dyed a smoky green. The halberd point did not move, yet the space it faced already faintly showed signs of black marks… the manifestation of imminent tearing!

Divine ability, Break Law Green Blade!

This divine ability possessed only one very simple effect—

“Chop and shatter techniques”!

The world-encompassing halberd casually swept, and groups of Flame Sparrows scattered and collapsed!

Those falling Flame Fire meteors from the sky, still high above, were cleaved into two halves by the edge of the world-encompassing halberd.

Falling stars rained down, all averting the world-encompassing halberd and passing by, falling past Xiang Bei’s body without touching him at all.

The tall and mighty figure emitting black smoke, the Swallow Thieves Overlord Body, rapidly ascended through the noisy and hot fire world.

Along his path, meteors were extinguished, Flame Sparrows turned to flying ash.

The world-encompassing halberd, enhanced with the Break Law Green Blade, was unimpeded wherever it went. The various fire-element techniques that had evolved within the fire realm fundamentally could not even slow it down.

The world-encompassing halberd was like a sharp knife cutting through thin paper, encountering no resistance. Nothing could block it, no technique could stop it.

This scene was truly like a deity descending, that person was majestic to this extent!

The Swallow Thieves Overlord Body cooperating with the Break Law Green Blade—these two divine abilities combined possessed simply invincible potential.

North Extreme Heavenly Cabinet Mountain collapsed at the same time.

Xiang Bei also rapidly rushed to the extreme heights of the fire realm, his single hand raised the heavy halberd, fiercely stabbing the dome!

Rumbling!

A sound like world-ending thunder suddenly erupted!

Endless fire rain surged around Xiang Bei’s mighty figure and passed by, as if also fearing him.

The Flame Fire meteors constantly crossing the sky abruptly halted.

The Flame Flowers blooming throughout the world withered one by one.

The Flame Sparrows dancing everywhere collapsed one by one.

The entire fierce flame world began to disintegrate!

The fire realm was broken!

Manifesting the Swallow Thieves Overlord Body, enhancing the Break Law Green Blade, he forcibly shattered his opponent’s fire realm, standing proudly in the high heavens.

At this moment, Xiang Bei was undoubtedly at the peak of his momentum.

Brave and unmatched, world-encompassing and unparalleled!

Outside the arena, the people of the Chu Kingdom were almost ready to erupt in cheers for him.

But Xiang Bei, on the platform, appearing like a god or a demon, suddenly lowered his head. He already saw—

In the withering Flame Flowers, in the collapsing fragments of Flame Sparrows, in the swirling light of the flames filling the sky and ground, within the collapsing fire world… a human figure suddenly surged forth.

A pair of calm and clear eyes, utterly unshaken.

A clean and neat, well-fitting green robe.

A sword with a hilt like the black night, a blade like the bright moon!

That person was clearly rushing with such speed, such urgency, yet he possessed a peculiar aura of leisurely immortality, like strolling through a courtyard.

Group after group of blue cloud prints appeared and shattered.

This person ascended high and came forth.

His feet stepped on a blue clouds heavenly ladder, and behind him was the scattered fireworks qi of the entire fire realm.

The fire line had disappeared from the sword’s ridge, indicating it had lost the enhancement of the fire realm’s power.

But Xiang Bei’s double pupils clearly saw that the sword’s moon-white hue had a touch of frost!

Moon-white and frost-white, both were white, almost indistinguishable.

Perhaps the only difference was that moon-white was clearer, while frost-white was colder.

This minute difference did not deceive Xiang Bei’s double pupils.

But…

Frost?

Jiang Wang’s speed in breaking the North Extreme Heavenly Cabinet Mountain exceeded imagination.

Within the collapsing fire realm, he had also completely concealed his tracks.

This was a sword with timing that was incredibly precise.

This sword was too fast, too absolute, almost upon him the moment Xiang Bei saw it!

Thus, he was astonished!

He subconsciously inverted the world-encompassing halberd, his body instinctively making the fastest response.

The Earth with its thick virtue bears all things.

If the Earth is without virtue, I shall overturn it!

The Eight Wastelands No Return Halberd’s “Overturn Earth” style had already descended.

At this time, the fire realm had already collapsed. In a situation with no suppression, he, wielding the Eight Wastelands No Return Halberd Method under the control of the Swallow Thieves Overlord Body, feared no challenge.

He faced a familiar sword.

This was the “Youthful Arrogance” sword.

This was the proud sword that ascended step by step after stepping upon the blue clouds ladder!

He had already experienced and recognized the power of this sword.

Outside the fire realm, responding with the Overturn Earth style, he was filled with confidence.

Halberd and sword met.

This scene was as if frozen.

The world-encompassing halberd and Longxiangsi met in the high heavens.

One descending from above, world-encompassing and overturning the earth; one ascending from below, rising step by step.

Xiang Bei’s tall and sturdy figure, like a god or a demon; Jiang Wang’s calm and composed figure, never looking back.

Behind Jiang Wang was the destruction of the fire realm, the collapse of an entire brilliant world.

Before him was the brave and unmatched, world-encompassing and unparalleled Swallow Thieves Overlord Body.

But he ascended, he advanced!

His momentum was unstoppable, his sharpness unbeatable!

I have come to the Yellow River, my body ascends the blue clouds ladder!

I will not allow the mortal world to be without heroes; I will make the world know my name!

In that instant, flames scattered, flowing fire filled the sky.

The birth and destruction of a brilliant world, the head-on confrontation of two absolute top talents.

This scene was incredibly beautiful, incredibly shocking, making people almost forget to breathe.

And then, a sound like wind seemed to emerge.

That sound was too faint, it should have been buried in the terrifying noise of the halberd and sword collision.

But that wind sound was also too chilling, sending shivers down one’s spine, lingering, and yet it was clear within the loud din.

That was the desolate sound of vitality withering.

At the moment of the halberd-sword collision.

A wisp of frost-white wind detached itself from Longxiangsi’s sword body, blew over the world-encompassing halberd’s vital point, transformed into an entirely black, tip-frosted long nail, and pierced Xiang Bei’s abdomen.

The Swallow Thieves Overlord Body’s principle of “internal thieves do not die, external thieves do not invade”; a mere manifested long nail, even the Not Zhou Wind divine ability could not…

Xiang Bei’s mind had just formulated this thought.

He raised his head and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

What he expelled was not only fresh blood, but also whistling, endless black smoke.

That was his beginning to collapse Swallow Thieves soul!

The Killing Life Nail was extinguishing his life soul!

The Swallow Thieves Overlord Body was actually broken by a single nail, and his previously suppressed injuries simultaneously erupted!

A clear light enveloped Xiang Bei.

It halted the Killing Life Nail still rampaging within Xiang Bei’s body and helped stabilize his life soul.

True Monarch Yu Xi had made his move, the victory and defeat decided.

But Jiang Wang still stepped forward, closing in on Xiang Bei, as if to attempt to break through Yu Xi’s barrier and kill him forcefully here!

However, he only extended one hand.

In his palm, a single Flame Flower bloomed.

That beautiful, exquisite… but at this level of battle, utterly unremarkable Flame Flower.

The one created by the great Chu talent Zuo Guanglie, now already imitated by the world… the Flame Flower!

This incredibly vibrant Flame Flower, piercing through the hazy clear light, pressed against Xiang Bei’s arrogant face.

Pressing him, sending his entire person plummeting.

“You know what this is.”

Jiang Wang said faintly.

Then, casually reaching out, he retrieved the Killing Life Nail that had pierced the Swallow Thieves Overlord Body, gripped it into wind, and absorbed it into his body.

He returned his sword to its sheath, calmly turned around, and strolled down from the high heavens.

That figure enveloped in clear light, a Flame Flower blooming on his face, black smoke still continuously dissipating from his body, plummeting in a straight line… Xiang Bei.

He became the fixed background within this picture, for the green-robed youth.