No more words were needed—indeed, no more words were necessary.

Above this stretch of the Empty Sea, heavy killing intent suddenly filled the air.

The moment her words fell, Jian Chou didn’t hesitate to channel spiritual power into her axe, then gave it a gentle shake.

Blazing golden light immediately flared up.

The Void-Cleaving Slash that Jian Chou had long since mastered was now executed with perfect ease, instantly unleashed.

But what was different was today’s Ghost Axe.

In the Fish-Eye Tomb, the Ghost Axe had already awakened a gifted dao seal. Among the myriad ghostly auras, several threads of bright golden light had emerged, adding a sense of righteous magnificence, as if it wanted to cleave through all demons and evil in the world, washing clean all filth from heaven and earth.

A layer of axe shadow flew directly from the Ghost Axe, striking toward Xiahou She’s direction!

Xiahou She was also charging toward Jian Chou, and a two-zhang-four battle disc was slowly emerging beneath his feet. Kun lines lit up one after another, subsequently connecting the dao pieces that brightened in succession.

He flew up, and the entire battle disc flew up with him.

In an instant, it was as if billions of stars had been lit in the sky above this endless deep sea.

Everyone who saw this battle disc couldn’t help but widen their eyes in shock!

Xiahou She wasn’t a fully-lit Tianpan, but he had illuminated almost all the dao pieces…

Dao piece after dao piece connected to each other with almost no gaps—the entire battle disc was full of dao seals!

The gloom on his face completely dissipated, leaving only a hint of melancholy in his eyes, but his entire being seemed to transcend, expressionless.

A blazing light immediately shone from beneath his feet.

Dozens of dao pieces lit up one by one, forming a complex dao seal. Thus, amid a halo of light, the phantom of an ancient, crude giant axe slowly appeared…

At this moment, Jian Chou’s axe shadow had already drawn near.

As the axe shadow cleaved out, Jian Chou had already pressed in close.

Xiahou She didn’t look at her, but could feel that imposing aura—

The Ghost Axe that had once shaken both the Yin and Yang Sects was naturally incomparable to ordinary axes. The moment it appeared, it carried such pressure, which was completely within Xiahou She’s expectations.

What exceeded his expectations, however, was Jian Chou’s cultivation level.

Clearly just a Foundation Establishment cultivator, even approaching great perfection, she shouldn’t give such overwhelming pressure.

Interesting.

Seeing the axe shadow already approaching, about to strike the phantom axe head he had just summoned, Xiahou She ignored the fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead and simply raised his right hand, his fingertips trembling slightly.

Boom!

A layer of misty blue light appeared from thin air in his palm, as if he were grasping something.

Between his palm and Jian Chou’s axe shadow was precisely the phantom axe from the battle disc.

Xiahou She could hear his own violently beating heart.

In his cold body, there was an unprecedented feeling of hot blood surging.

He still reached out his hand.

Beneath the misty blue light were his fingertips still warm with fresh blood. In just a flash of thought, as if passing through an eternal river of time, his five fingers finally touched that phantom.

“Bang!”

His five fingers closed, and the misty blue light in his palm immediately transformed into a spreading giant net, directly passing through the phantom axe and completely enveloping Jian Chou’s cleaving axe shadow.

Like finally catching a fish, the giant net contracted the moment it captured its prey.

“Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss…”

Like cold water splashing into a hot oil pan, the blue light carried by the giant net directly strangled Jian Chou’s axe shadow. Under violent contraction, it turned into countless fragments of spiritual power and scattered completely!

The moment his five fingers touched the phantom axe, an attack against Jian Chou’s Ghost Axe was already activated.

As the Ghost Axe phantom dissipated, the scene before Xiahou She’s eyes suddenly changed.

Warm fingertips touching the cold Ghost Axe handle—instantly, it was like countless star streams flowing into the void of night sky, the entire phantom solidifying just like the previous Desolate Thunder Halberd.

Thus, what had been a void form instantly became substantial.

Due to the excessive speed of movement, the oncoming sea wind became blade after blade of cold steel, scraping against Jian Chou’s face.

She saw from afar that axe which had suddenly appeared on the battle disc, in Xiahou She’s hands…

An axe!

It was indeed a beautiful axe.

Unlike the jet-black and coldly carved Ghost Axe, this one could be called brilliant.

Its deep blue surface was engraved with forest-white patterns, carrying a flowing, ethereal quality that seemed vaguely indescribably illusory when looked at closely.

They were like clouds floating in the night sky—soft and ethereal, dreamlike and fantastical.

If the Ghost Axe represented heaviness, clumsiness, and great skill without artifice,

Then this axe represented illusion, exquisiteness carved upon the atmosphere, and supernatural craftsmanship.

In that instant, even though she had seen so many stunning magical treasures in Yashan’s armory, Jian Chou couldn’t help but feel admiration, murmuring softly: “It’s a fine axe.”

The appearance of this axe seemed to bring an indescribable gentleness to Xiahou She’s eyes.

His gaze toward the axe was dark but not cold.

A hint of smile hung at his lips. Those pale, thin lips curved as his fingers caressed the dreamlike cloud patterns on the axe handle, like touching a part of his own body and soul, or touching scars from the past.

“This axe is called Phantom Dream Guide. It was forged three hundred years ago by the master craftsman Ou Hengzi before his death. Unfortunately, when it came time for tempering, his strength was already exhausted. So Phantom Dream Guide is only a mid-grade spiritual treasure.”

Of course, to become Xiahou She’s axe, “Phantom Dream Guide” was obviously more than just a “mid-grade spiritual treasure.”

He didn’t elaborate, only looked up at Jian Chou.

Then he revealed a meaningful smile—

“Phantom Dream Guide can create beautiful dreams and nightmares. I wonder what kind of dreamscape Fellow Daoist Jian Chou of Yashan would like to possess?”

Dreamscape?

Jian Chou was stunned.

Xiahou She’s words reminded her of her experiences in the Fish-Eye Tomb.

In that instant, her eyes suddenly turned ice-cold. Seeing Xiahou She already raising the deep blue “Phantom Dream Guide” high, she didn’t hesitate to sweep her axe around her body, immediately creating a crescent-shaped black shadow. Roaring evil ghosts flew out from the Ghost Axe, charging toward Xiahou She ahead of her.

However, Xiahou She acted as if he couldn’t see them.

He simply continued to raise his axe high, his voice carrying an already dream-entered ethereal quality: “One slash, dream born!”

The whisper-soft voice seemed to awaken something sleeping.

The entire “Phantom Dream Guide’s” forest-white patterns seemed to suddenly come alive.

They flowed like water across the axe’s surface, and wisps of white smoke slowly rose from the axe. Under Xiahou She’s slash, they expanded into endless white clouds, immediately enveloping the approaching endless evil ghosts and also enveloping Jian Chou behind them.

All the dozens of evil ghosts showed confused expressions on their faces, swaying unsteadily in midair before slowly closing their eyes. Without any warning, they dissolved like smoke in this patch of “white clouds.”

Jian Chou’s heart turned cold, already knowing that this “Phantom Dream Guide” was probably quite different from ordinary axes.

Most cultivators’ magical artifacts focused on attack, and purely physical force-based attacks at that. Those that targeted the human mind and spirit—Jian Chou had only seen this on Gu Qingmei before.

Coincidentally, Xiahou She’s axe was extremely similar.

The evil ghosts residing on the Ghost Axe were actually just remnant wisps of souls, only fragments of vague consciousness, not truly sentient beings. Yet they completely dissipated in this patch of “white clouds”…

Then what about…

Things without life or consciousness?

Void-Cleaving Slash was simple but might lack power; Red Sun Slash was a dao seal she had only recently comprehended. While she was completely confident in executing it, the activation time was somewhat too long. If the white clouds surged forward, everything would become troublesome.

With a thought, Jian Chou didn’t hesitate. Her moon-white long robe fluttered in the wind as she directly leaped up, stirring the fierce sea wind on the water’s surface.

Buzz!

In that instant, the entire sea surface seemed to tremble along with her.

Endless spiritual energy, the moment the dao seal under Jian Chou’s feet lit up, was continuously drawn from the sky, from above the clouds, from beneath the great sea… like hundreds of rivers returning to the sea, pouring into that suddenly appearing phantom.

On the other side, Lu Xiangleng’s body had originally been completely drained of spiritual power, her Invincible Domain long since tottering.

Now with Jian Chou’s “Heaven-Overturning Seal” stirring up the spiritual energy of this entire stretch of the Empty Sea into complete chaos, in just an instant, the three-zhang Invincible Domain wavered and then collapsed with a crash.

Young Master Ruhua, standing on the floating sea island, also immediately frowned.

Although he had already experienced Jian Chou’s Heaven-Overturning Seal technique during the Hundred and Twenty Heavenly Platforms, only when truly caught within it could one understand its terror.

Moreover, compared to before, the Heaven-Overturning Seal she was now executing in this crisis was not only concentrated without dispersing, but even more refined in power.

How long had the Left Three Thousand Small Assembly been going on?

Just from this Heaven-Overturning Seal alone, one could glimpse her amazing progress.

Such a female cultivator who had barely entered the Nineteen Continents and joined Yashan for only two years possessed terrifying potential…

Young Master Ruhua’s thoughts churned, but he ultimately stood aside with folded sleeves, silently watching without a word.

In the blink of an eye, the spiritual energy gathered into a storm, actually forming a phantom even larger than the white clouds.

They were unaffected by the “white clouds'” erosion and couldn’t prevent the “white clouds” either. Like mutually independent entities, they directly passed through this misty area and struck toward Xiahou She, who still held “Phantom Dream Guide”!

Xiahou She absolutely hadn’t expected Jian Chou’s reaction to be so swift and decisive, immediately frowning.

His right hand gripped “Phantom Dream Guide” while his left hand simultaneously reached into the void.

The bronze shield that had previously blocked Lu Xiangleng’s attack immediately materialized, growing with the wind until it became like a three-zhang-tall wall, completely shielding Xiahou She!

“Boom!”

Almost the moment the bronze wall-shield appeared, Jian Chou’s Heaven-Overturning Seal had already crashed into it.

Devastating!

After a tremendous sound, the entire bronze wall-shield actually shattered completely into pieces!

The Heaven-Overturning Seal’s remaining force continued unabated, directly crashing into the axe-wielding Xiahou She. The phantom passed through his body and crashed straight into the endless deep sea behind him, immediately exploding into waves nearly ten zhang high and spreading endless ripples!

Xiahou She immediately became unsteady, feeling as if his internal organs had been crushed by a giant stone.

His left arm, which had been maintaining the bronze wall-shield’s spiritual power supply, now had completely shattered meridians and blood flowing freely!

Losing his footing, he nearly fell headfirst from midair.

At the critical moment, the giant axe “Phantom Dream Guide” emitted waves of soft white light that climbed up the handle and penetrated into Xiahou She’s body.

He immediately felt surrounded by warm water, as if returning to the safest realm.

Endless pain seemed to vanish instantly under the nourishment of this soft white light…

Xiahou She reopened his eyes, which had been tightly closed from pain, but his complexion was extremely pale.

Ahead, despite unleashing a Heaven-Overturning Seal, the sentient and conscious Jian Chou still couldn’t escape that patch of white clouds where dreams were born.

She was completely enveloped.

A hint of indescribable smile immediately appeared at Xiahou She’s lips: Phantom Dream Guide, phantom dreams born. It could be used not only on opponents but also on oneself. For instance, his arm.

Actually, there was no healing of any injuries—the dreamscape simply made him forget such pain.

Dreams were sometimes good, sometimes bad.

Thread after thread of white light traveled through the white clouds, weaving before Jian Chou.

An illusory voice drifted from this patch of white light.

“This is your dream…”

Thus, the scene before her eyes suddenly changed.

An endless vast plain suddenly appeared.

She traveled through patch after patch of white clouds. On the ground below, countless cultivators prostrated themselves, bowing toward her as she passed overhead, seeming to hold infinite respect and infinite fear.

Beneath her feet, endless mountains also flattened their undulating curves into a vast plain the moment she flew over, trembling with humble submission.

Even the sky seemed to lower its posture as she passed.

Ahead, layer after layer of white clouds parted, clearing a smooth, unobstructed path without the slightest trace of cloud vapor.

Looking forward, there was bright openness ahead.

Jian Chou was stunned for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh heartily: “Phantom Dream Guide, Phantom Dream Guide—the dreams you create are nothing more than this!”

Never had her thoughts been so clear.

Jian Chou’s spiritual platform was completely clear as she casually swept away all these myriad dream illusions—

The endless layers of clouds twisted, the azure sky rippled as if suddenly stirred by a hand, and the earth beneath her feet seemed torn apart by a giant hand, revealing endless void cracks below.

The thousands of cultivators kneeling and kowtowing on the ground turned into wisps of smoke, sucked into those cracks.

The originally magnificent scene completely crumbled and dissipated under Jian Chou’s sweep!

Splash, splash…

The sound of surging seawater reappeared in Jian Chou’s ears.

That patch of white clouds interwoven with white light, blown by the salty sea wind, finally disappeared without a trace.

Jian Chou stood unharmed and without a scratch in the void, holding the Ghost Axe, looking toward the deathly pale Xiahou She.

“…How is this possible…”

Xiahou She looked at her almost incredulously, instinctively glancing at the giant axe “Phantom Dream Guide” in his hand.

“You…”

“Dreams are what one thinks by day and obtains by night.”

Jian Chou flexed her wrist, casually turning the Ghost Axe, only saying: “The dreams born from your Phantom Dream Guide are not the dreams I dream. On what basis can they disturb my mind and destroy my clarity?”

“But don’t you want to reach the pinnacle, to become someone that everyone in these Nineteen Continents respects and worships?!”

Xiahou She was soaked in blood, his fingers gripping Phantom Dream Guide tightly, yet he still couldn’t understand.

“Why would I want that?”

Jian Chou found it somewhat amusing.

Xiahou She gave a cold laugh, actually looking toward the endless sky.

This glance seemed to penetrate the sky, looking toward countless people in the outside world, toward countless cultivators at the foot of Kunwu Mountain, toward the many elders on the mountainside who already had status and reputation, toward those great powers who were watching this Left Three Thousand Small Assembly through spiritual consciousness or other means…

Outside, countless people fell into silence at this mocking glance.

“Why not want it?”

Xiahou She looked at Jian Chou, his emotionless eyes filled with endless mockery.

“Why do cultivators in the world cultivate? Nothing more than for longevity, for power, to rise above thousands of mortals, above all things in the world. Once they step onto the path of cultivation, there are struggles between factions, which is why these Nineteen Continents have so many sects standing in opposition. If people had no desires or demands, where would the pursuit of longevity come from, where would the pursuit of power come from, where would these various sects representing authority come from, where would—”

“Your Yashan’s lofty status come from!”

His voice like thunder immediately shook all of Kunwu.

Countless cultivators standing at the foot of the mountain revealed expressions of shock and horror: How dare this Xiahou She of the Fengmo Sword Sect say such things?

Many cultivators also showed displeasure in their eyes.

Of course, more people, after their initial shock and anger, simply raised their gazes toward Fudao Shanren and Hengxu Zhenren on the mountainside.

As the two largest sects in the Central Domain, as the undisputed leader sects, although Xiahou She’s words were like knives and spears, weren’t they truly piercing the hearts of those with the highest reputation in the Central Domain’s cultivation world?

Hengxu Zhenren looked at the Empty Sea area where the conflict was occurring overhead, his expression calm and quiet.

Fudao Shanren, however, chuckled and pointed at Xiahou She’s figure with his chicken leg, deliberately making his voice shrill and strange: “Oh my, oh my, listen to this boy’s words that don’t know the height of heaven and earth. How is it that just one sentence is targeting our Yashan? If we’re talking about leadership, Kunwu is the undisputed first leader with lofty status in our Central Domain! Right, old monster Hengxu?”

“…”

How could Hengxu not hear the teasing and mockery in these words?

Xiahou She’s statement mentioned Yashan but not Kunwu, clearly indicating that in his subconscious, he felt “Yashan was stronger than Kunwu.”

But when Fudao Shanren said this, it had two meanings.

First, it mocked that although Kunwu’s reputation and status were currently strong, they were still a line behind Yashan in certain subtle aspects, and this line was the gulf between Kunwu and Yashan.

Second, it satirized that Kunwu’s current status was gained through seeking fame and reputation, without completely severing desire and ambition—this was mocking Kunwu and mocking him personally.

After a long while, Hengxu Zhenren finally said: “This child’s cultivation has rather strange aspects.”

“…”

Instantly, Fudao Shanren rolled his eyes: Old monster Hengxu’s ability to change the subject was truly impressive…

However, Xiahou She…

He thought, and those eyes embedded in his aged face narrowed slightly, revealing several traces of wisdom as they fell upon the Empty Sea.

Jian Chou and Xiahou She now stood facing each other across a small stretch of sea.

His questioning was like hammer after hammer, striking at everyone’s hearts.

Even Young Master Ruhua couldn’t help but begin contemplating this serious question.

Unexpectedly, in this seemingly long silence, Jian Chou spoke lightly: “Cultivators in the world cultivate for longevity, power, and status, but I cultivate only for an obsession in my heart. I cultivate precisely because I have obsession. Thousands of cultivators cultivate also because they have obsession. Having obsession—what’s wrong with that?”

“…”

Having obsession—what’s wrong with that?

Everyone who heard this was completely stunned.

Jian Chou had no intention of explaining further.

In her view, others’ cultivation had little to do with her.

She might like powerful strength, might have things she wanted to protect and guard, might have grudges she wanted to settle personally, but if she lost such power, she wouldn’t become hysterical because of it.

“Ultimately, Phantom Dream Guide creates dreams. But everyone’s dreams are not my dreams. Even if everyone in these Nineteen Continents suffers through cultivation for longevity for countless eons, I will not be one of them.”

Her ring finger moved slightly, tapping once on the Ghost Axe’s rough patterns.

Because Jian Chou was speaking, except for Young Master Ruhua standing behind her, almost no one noticed this tiny movement.

A thread of spiritual power silently drilled into the axe handle.

At the same time, Jian Chou’s voice became increasingly calm and clear: “Fellow Daoist Xiahou uses ordinary people’s dreams to measure my dreams, so naturally it goes in the opposite direction. You and I originally had no grudges or enmity. This battle has already been exhausting, and the black dragon’s whereabouts are completely unknown—I only fear someone else will benefit from our conflict. Won’t Fellow Daoist Xiahou consider stopping here? You and I shake hands and make peace, wiping our grudges clean?”

Shake hands and make peace, wiping grudges clean?

Xiahou She also held a giant axe, his wide robes instantly billowing, filled with wind: “Wiping grudges clean—how can that compare to settling everything cleanly with one axe stroke?”

As he spoke, he lowered his body, and endless forest-white cloud patterns, like traveling through the ink-blue night sky, soon became illusory again.

This was a posture preparing to strike.

Unfortunately…

Jian Chou was faster than him!

In that instant, she stepped down in the void, and the sea surface dozens of zhang below actually caved in a large area in response, the tremendous force of churning seawater transmitting back almost instantly!

Swish!

Fast as a gust of wind!

This step of Jian Chou’s actually borrowed force from the sea across empty space, instantly rushing toward Xiahou She!

Too fast, both in reaction and speed.

It wasn’t like she acted after Xiahou She prepared to strike, but rather like she had been prepared all along and just happened to strike at this moment.

Lu Xiangleng stood quietly to the side, her calm and peaceful gaze constantly focused on the battle situation. Though she seemed motionless, in reality, the purple-gold light in her hand kept flickering continuously.

Young Master Ruhua on the other side, seeing this, felt an indescribable complexity…

Just now, he seemed to see Yashan’s eldest senior sister Jian Chou, while delivering that righteous and thought-provoking speech, lightly tap the Ghost Axe’s handle with her finger at an angle others couldn’t see—she had already prepared her attack then.

This was completely standard “saying one thing and doing another”!

She had a gentle and kind face, and her actions gave people a feeling like spring breeze, rarely making mistakes others could pick at. But in battle, every word she spoke required thinking ten steps ahead. Her thoughts weren’t malicious but were deep and meticulous, her actions decisive and crisp.

Such a woman?

Young Master Ruhua couldn’t quite see through what kind of exquisite heart lay beneath that gentle face.

Everyone at the foot of Kunwu Mountain was completely unexpected.

Wasn’t Jian Chou’s reaction a bit too fast?

When you’ve planned ahead, of course it’s fast.

Before her was only endless cold wind; in her eyes, only her opponent’s figure.

Due to her sudden attack, Xiahou She’s eyes inevitably showed a trace of surprise.

The smile at Jian Chou’s lips immediately curved up…

Caught off guard?

Perfect.

That burning feeling spread again from her palm, like a prairie fire, following her meridians and burning throughout her body.

On the jet-black axe, the myriad ghost patterns forged from blood came alive again.

Layer upon layer of faint golden light replaced the original black aura, like flames, instantly burning the entire Ghost Axe red-hot, like blazing fire, like rolling blood!

Gone was the clumsy Ghost Axe; gone were the fierce patterns; gone were the exaggerated curves…

In Jian Chou’s hand, in her heart, there was only what she held—

A round red sun!

On the azure sea surface, blazing red light, the moment this “red sun” appeared, covered the entire sea surface.

Red and blue colors interwove and blended, actually creating patches of varying shades of purple.

The entire Empty Sea was suddenly filled with brilliant colors, dazzling and mesmerizing.

All of Xiahou She’s attention was captured by it.

Nothing could be more brilliant than this red sun.

The “Red Sun Slash” that had appeared before Xu Lan’er in battle finally appeared before his eyes again.

Previously, watching this red sun attack had already been shocking and heart-stopping; now seeing this red sun slashing toward himself created an even more overwhelming sense that all surrounding mountains and rivers would completely collapse!

Xiahou She felt unprecedented oppression.

The crimson Ghost Axe drew closer and closer, like mountains and valleys pressing down.

Phantom Dream Guide was also a remarkable axe, containing three dao seals called “Three Phantom Guides.” He had only had the chance to activate the first guide, “Dream Born”—would he not have another chance to use it?

Ghost Axe…

Ghost Axe…

Xiahou She repeated in his mind, feeling a bloody taste gradually spreading in his throat.

Those cloud patterns that had been winding and meandering out were actually completely suppressed under the approaching “Red Sun Slash,” all pressing back against the axe body, as if unable to resist the Ghost Axe’s might and having to curl up and prostrate.

The vast expanse of red seemed to sweep away all emptiness.

Thus, only a “pff” sound was heard, and all the forest-white cloud patterns completely shattered at this moment!

Xiahou She’s mind was immediately severely shaken.

Phantom Dream Guide, guiding phantom dreams.

In that instant, he felt severe pain in his forehead, and endless scenes, like overwhelming waves, swept over him and buried him in memories long sealed…

It was backlash.

He knew it clearly, yet for the first time felt so powerless, unable to escape.

In the deep valley behind the Fengmo Sword Sect, a headless demon waved heavy shackles and laughed toward the sky, wildly arrogant.

“Foolish mortal, with the whole world as your enemy, who can stand beside you? Accept my weapon seed, and you will be the new Weapon Master…”

“No friends, no enemies, ten thousand weapons will follow your command!”

No friends, no enemies.

Ten thousand weapons following his command…

That was a demon’s voice, but also a tempting voice.

A barefoot youth stood alone on ground covered with broken stones, looking at the headless demon with panicked eyes in the terrifying night, his body covered with purple and blue bruises, appearing emaciated.

Mountain wind blew, and he shivered—whether from cold or fear, who could say?

Only a broken wooden plaque hanging at his waist could represent his identity as a Fengmo Sword Sect disciple.

…

Endless phantoms flashed and then vanished like smoke.

His body was like an endless abyss, with countless pains buried in his memory crawling up from the abyss’s depths.

…

The youth prostrated on the ground, a deep red mark deeply branded on his forehead.

Thus, a long sword carrying a line of blood traces pierced through endless void, leaving a deep wound on his forehead that extended to his nose bridge…

Pain.

Heart-rending.

After the sword phantom disappeared, the deep red mark finally sank into his forehead, dyeing both his eyes red.

Rip—

In that instant, countless weapon phantoms—knives, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, forks…

Regardless of form, they all stabbed out from deep within his body.

The immense agony made the youth arch his body, revealing a twisted face…

“Ah—”

Xiahou She suddenly opened his eyes.

Before him was only endless red light, filling his entire field of vision.

Cold.

Trembling with cold.

Despite such blazing light, he felt nothing, only endless cold.

No friends, no enemies.

Weapon Master Xiahou She.

He was now in this endless Empty Sea, and the Empty Sea had granted him a new ability: triple amplification…

Jian Chou held the Ghost Axe, her form also hidden in this endless red light. This was her Ghost Axe, her Red Sun Slash.

Everything was under her control, so everything was under her observation.

The moment Xiahou She opened his eyes, she seemed to sense something and immediately looked over.

Thus, a clear and indifferent gaze met a melancholy and painful gaze.

Xiahou She suddenly curved his lips, revealing an indescribable smile.

In that instant, Phantom Dream Guide rekindled endless brilliance in his hand.

Flash, flash, flash.

No longer the illusory white clouds from before, but blue closer to Phantom Dream Guide’s axe body color.

That was the color of dreams.

The most dangerous dreams…

A bone-chilling feeling!

Jian Chou frowned, and a problem she had always overlooked suddenly surfaced in her mind: she had the ability to control islands in the Empty Sea, Young Master Ruhua had the ability to detect the Empty Sea, so…

What about Xiahou She?

What did he have?

The Red Sun Slash continued forward relentlessly!

On the entire deep blue sea surface, endless blood color immediately spread.

However, no one noticed Jian Chou’s fingers trembling slightly.

A point of golden light suddenly appeared, then suddenly disappeared.

The deep red axe shadow had reached Xiahou She’s eyes.

Though clearly immense, it seemed to target Xiahou She’s forehead!

That sword scar running from his forehead to his nose bridge!

His finger moved slightly, but his body felt endless stabbing pain everywhere.

Maybe knives, maybe swords, maybe something else…

They urgently wanted to drill out of his body and see daylight again!

Triple attack amplification.

He had thought he would use it in this Empty Sea, but absolutely not on Jian Chou!

…

He clenched his fingers, and a fierce aura suddenly appeared.

But…

Use it?

Or not?

His gaze fell on Jian Chou, on that female cultivator shrouded in endless red sun, and for the first time, a hint of obscure emotion appeared in his eyes…

Hesitation that shouldn’t exist!

All illusions, all pain, lasted only an instant.

When he looked up again, all opportunities had vanished!

The huge red sun immediately obscured his entire field of vision—red everywhere.

Bang!

Every meridian in his body felt like rivers flooded with seawater!

Tremendous force surged out, immediately creating devastation.

Xiahou She spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and fell straight to the sea surface like a lifeless stone!

A splash of waves rose, immediately dyeing the sea surface blood red.

Jian Chou, still maintaining her axe-wielding posture, was suddenly stunned for a moment.

Had she seen wrong, or…

“Look out!”

From the floating sea island nearby came a sudden cry of alarm!

Young Master Ruhua’s mind, originally immersed in that axe’s mighty power, completely withdrew when he saw a light spot suddenly flash on the sea disc!

It was the person with teleportation ability!

In the blink of an eye, that light spot appeared at Jian Chou’s position!

Young Master Ruhua was horrified: “Be careful!”

Before Jian Chou could react, just as she turned around in the endless red light, she saw rippling waves appear before her.

A black figure appeared before her without warning!

Clear features, deep contours!

Northern Domain, Tang Buye!

“Fellow Daoist Jian Chou, I’ve long admired you!”

He curved his lips in a seemingly friendly smile, but struck without hesitation, directly launching a heavy palm strike!

The surging palm power even forced back some of the endless red light!

Such a surprise attack, at such close range!

Jian Chou had no time to counterattack and was already struck by the palm!

“Bang!”

A tremendous sound!

Tang Buye still wore a smile, thinking this perfect opportunity as a fisherman was flawless, but the moment his palm pressed against Jian Chou, an indescribably familiar feeling struck his heart.

Under his palm, beneath the soft moon-white robe, were patch after patch of patterns.

Hard, smooth.

Like countless armor scales.

A sense of danger inexplicably rose in Tang Buye’s heart. He immediately looked up, meeting a pair of indifferent eyes, a pair of…

Light golden pupils!

Dao seal, Dragon Scales!

The moment Tang Buye’s palm struck Jian Chou, light flashed at her forehead, and endless golden dragon scales began spreading from her forehead across her fair skin!

One scale, another scale…

In the blink of an eye, Jian Chou’s entire body was covered in golden dragon scales.

Her originally pure black pupils were also tinted with light gold.

Indifferent, without fluctuation.

“Long admired?”

She curved her lips.

“Jian Chou has also long admired you!”

What?

Tang Buye couldn’t understand!

These dragon scales appearing on Jian Chou were so familiar—he had encountered them not long ago!

That time, it was Dragon Gate, Zhou Chengjiang!

“You…”

Abruptly cut off.

As if not seeing the shock in Tang Buye’s eyes, Jian Chou showed no hesitation or mercy, raising her zhang-high Ghost Axe and, like swinging a board, struck directly at Tang Buye!

“Bang!”

How could Tang Buye, still in shock, react in time?

Despite his high cultivation, he was struck squarely at this moment!

Caught completely off guard!

With a “boom,” the dark figure immediately crashed toward the sea surface, splashing up waves identical to those from Xiahou She’s earlier fall!

And in countless people’s hearts, it stirred up tremendous waves!

Between sea and sky, the waves had not yet settled. In the center of the red curtain stood that figure that made people feel stern and imposing.

The golden dragon scales covering her body glittered brilliantly under the endless red light…

Mysterious and eerie.

The entire Empty Sea was silent.

The entire foot of Kunwu Mountain was also silent.

Only countless Dragon Gate cultivators suddenly stood up, staring at that figure covered in dragon scales, endless confusion and anger suddenly appearing in their eyes!