“Disciple, join forces with me to restrain him. We must not let him obtain the Black Gourd.” Venerable Xuhuang stared coldly at Dongbo Xueying in the distance. Legend had it that whoever obtained the Black Gourd could rule the entire world and even leave to explore the vast universe beyond! For either reason alone, he would never allow another powerful being to claim it.
“Yes, Master.” Venerable Jianhuang drew his sword.
“By leaving your disciple here, you’re sending him to his death.” Dongbo Xueying strode forward, gripping his divine sword, each step leaving behind phantom shadows as the distance between them rapidly closed.
“You think you can stop me?” Venerable Jianhuang was brimming with confidence. He knew Dongbo Xueying had slain the Crimson Fire Palace Master of the Three Great Holy Lands, the Tianhuo Palace, in just a few moves. But he believed himself far more adept at survival—one-on-one, he could hold his own against the Flying Snow Advisor for seven or eight strikes. Now, with his master fighting alongside him, he felt even more secure!
**Boom!**
Dongbo Xueying suddenly swung his sword.
“Kill—!” Venerable Xuhuang’s silver hair whipped wildly as countless white threads spiraled outward from his body, forming layers of vortexes that seemed to lead to another world. These vortexes surged toward Dongbo Xueying, seeking to entangle him.
Venerable Jianhuang was far more dazzling—his entire being, sword and all, transformed into a blinding golden light as he lunged straight at Dongbo Xueying.
The white mist within the Ancient God Temple was immensely powerful, suppressing even the natural laws of thunder and fire. As a result, Dongbo Xueying and the others moved relatively slower, as the temple’s restrictions were far harsher than those of the outside world.
“Tenfold—Demon God Form!” At this moment, Dongbo Xueying’s mind was fixed on the Black Gourd. He had no time to waste. Having already revealed his strength by lifting the stone gate earlier, he now unleashed his full power without reservation.
**Boom!**
**Boom!**
Two devastating sword strikes, propelled by the overwhelming speed of his Demon God Form, lashed out in rapid succession. The first strike crashed into the dazzling golden sword light, shattering it instantly. Venerable Jianhuang’s face twisted in horror before his body exploded with a thunderous **boom**. The second strike, equally unstoppable, tore through the layers of vortexes. Though the distorted forces within weakened its momentum, the sheer power behind Dongbo Xueying’s blade forced Venerable Xuhuang to retreat violently, barely managing to disperse the impact. Even so, the shockwaves sent him flying backward, straight out of the temple gates.
Venerable Xuhuang was flung over three hundred miles before stabilizing midair, staring in disbelief at the black-clad youth inside the temple.
“How… how is this possible?”
Just two strikes.
Venerable Jianhuang—dead.
Venerable Xuhuang—sent flying.
Dongbo Xueying glanced at the weapons and belongings left behind by Venerable Jianhuang. In truth, the man had died unjustly. Outside the temple, even if his body were shattered, he could have quickly reformed. But the Ancient God Temple’s inner hall exerted a pressure that was nearly his limit.
At full strength, he could endure it. But once his body was obliterated, his resistance weakened drastically. Under the inner hall’s crushing pressure, he was instantly annihilated—before Venerable Xuhuang could even attempt to save him.
“Foolish to face me head-on,” Dongbo Xueying muttered, shaking his head. “His shattered body couldn’t withstand the temple’s pressure.”
What he didn’t know was that while Venerable Jianhuang had sensed the immense strength required to lift the stone gate, he had no idea just how much. Moreover, in Dongbo Xueying’s previous battle with the Crimson Fire Palace Master, he had never used raw power to obliterate his opponent—merely sent him flying. Confident in his swordsmanship’s ability to disperse force, Venerable Jianhuang had fought with everything he had alongside his master.
He never imagined how wrong he was. Against the Crimson Fire Palace Master, Dongbo Xueying had only used half his strength. This time, he held nothing back.
“The stone gate…”
Dongbo Xueying walked back to where he had lifted the gate, frowning as he looked up. “Once raised, it locks in place—it won’t lower again.”
If he could close the gate, he could safely claim the Black Gourd. After securing it, he could simply lift the gate once more.
But in reality, once raised, the gate refused to descend.
“Flying Snow Realm God!” Venerable Xuhuang’s furious roar echoed from afar.
“Since the gate won’t lower, the only way to ensure you don’t interfere is to kill you.” Dongbo Xueying shot forward like a streak of light. Though both Venerable Xuhuang and Jianhuang had other avatars, they were kept far apart to prevent being wiped out at once. Eliminating the Venerable before him would buy him enough time undisturbed.
Even if the Shadowfiend Mansion Master tracked him through karma and teleported here, it would take considerable time.
**Boom!**
Outside the temple, Dongbo Xueying and Venerable Xuhuang clashed once more!
—
“What’s happening?”
“Why such a commotion?”
The capital of the Xuhuang Kingdom was in chaos. The citizens could clearly see explosions near the imperial palace, and many figures fled in terror, staring fearfully toward the Ancient God Temple.
Two terrifying beings were battling there.
Fortunately, their power was suppressed by both the world’s laws and the temple itself, greatly weakening the shockwaves. Even so, the residual force clashed violently against the palace’s activated defensive formations.
“Venerable Xuhuang, trying to flee? Do you really think you can escape?” A cold voice rang out.
“I won’t stop you anymore! I yield!” Venerable Xuhuang panicked, retreating into his palace in hopes of using its formations for protection.
**Boom! Boom! Boom!!!**
Twelve consecutive, devastating sword strikes tore through the formations.
Dongbo Xueying, now a blazing streak of thunderfire, pursued the fleeing Venerable, who cursed inwardly in regret. “How is he this strong?”
The killing techniques of *Six Severing Swordplay*, combined with Dongbo Xueying’s mastery of the Slaughter Path, made his strikes lethally precise. Even so, Venerable Xuhuang could have held his own—had it not been for the overwhelming physical might of the Demon God Form. Now, he was completely suppressed!
In the Divine Realm or the Abyss, being outmatched in strength alone wouldn’t spell doom—one could still escape through spatial manipulation, infinite endurance, or even call for a Sovereign’s aid.
But in this world…
The laws suppressed everything. Even flight was sluggish, making escape nearly impossible.
**Slash!**
**Pierce!**
With absolute speed superiority, Dongbo Xueying closed in, unleashing his slaughter techniques with terrifying force. Each strike, amplified by his monstrous strength, was devastating. Even the Venomous Candle Guardian, who surpassed him in raw power, would fare far worse now.
“I’ve already stopped opposing you! Why chase me down? Flying Snow Advisor, I acknowledge your strength and status! There’s no need for us to remain enemies!” Venerable Xuhuang pleaded desperately. His confidence had been his downfall—while he kept another avatar in a distant location, his main body carried his most prized treasures.
In this world, who could possibly kill him?
Keeping a backup was already cautious enough—or so he thought.
“You didn’t stop earlier. Now that you’re outmatched, you beg for mercy?” Dongbo Xueying’s sword never faltered. Though Venerable Xuhuang’s defenses were formidable, each strike still wounded him. “Besides, my strength and status don’t require your acknowledgment!”
**Boom! Boom! Boom!**
Relentless sword strikes engulfed Venerable Xuhuang.
After half a cup of tea’s time, his body finally collapsed, his life force exhausted.
Venerable Xuhuang—dead!
—
“Hurry, Shadowfiend Mansion Master! Take the four of us to the Ancient God Temple at once! The Flying Snow Realm God has already slain my disciple, and I won’t last much longer. He’ll claim the Black Gourd soon—we must stop him!” Even as he fought desperately, Venerable Xuhuang had sent out a plea for aid.
The Shadowfiend Mansion Master and the two Palace Masters of Tianhuo Palace were stunned.
A Xuhuang Kingdom Venerable had fallen, and even the ancient Xuhuang himself couldn’t hold out? Just how terrifying was this Flying Snow Advisor?
And now he sought the Black Gourd—the legendary artifact!
Though each of them harbored their own thoughts, the Shadowfiend Mansion Master agreed to gather the four and rush to the temple.
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