Supreme evil demons always possessed the ability to escape through heaven and earth. From the downstream of the Underworld to Bafang City should have been merely a matter of a single thought.

However, the development of events was somewhat beyond Fu Chaosheng’s expectations.

With a single thought, he escaped from that heavy darkness in the downstream of the Underworld. Yet halfway through his teleportation, he unexpectedly found himself unable to sense the existence of Bafang City, as if such a special city had never existed within the magnificent seventy-two cities of the Extreme Domain!

With no other choice, he manifested his physical form in the void, landing at Fengdu City on the fourth defense line of the Extreme Domain.

Before he could even react, the entire city seemed to sense his arrival!

The sudden change that occurred in this instant completely exceeded his original understanding of the Extreme Domain—

“Rumble!”

The cities below his line of sight began to shake violently in unison, as if some powerful force beneath them was stirring, pushing, forcing these cities to rise toward higher ground!

Like mountains and cliffs that had suddenly shot up!

The already dim sky above was immediately covered by layer upon layer of heavy shadows. The original Extreme Domain had practically transformed into a primordial jungle constructed of cities!

The original Bafang City was protected at the very center of this “jungle.”

Fu Chaosheng’s path was naturally blocked by this sudden change. He could clearly see this expanse of cities with his eyes, yet he couldn’t perceive them with his demonic consciousness, causing his brows to furrow.

This enormous change left all the ghost cultivators in the cities deeply shaken.

But since they were still within the inner perimeter of the defense lines, the news hadn’t spread outward yet.

On the Nineteen Continents cultivators’ side, having broken through the Mao City defense line and completed their reorganization, they were preparing to gather their forces to advance toward Chongyang City, the most important city on the third defense line. They remained completely unaware of the changes occurring in the inner depths of the Extreme Domain.

Xie Buchen sat upright at his desk. The simple room was filled with various books and jade slips, inevitably appearing somewhat chaotic during such urgent wartime.

His fingertips were stained with light ink as he slowly dotted and marked on the paper pages.

He frowned slightly, his eyes full of calculating intensity as he gazed at the array formations depicted in the spread books, deducing the changes within them. Whenever he made progress, he would record it on the blank jade slips placed beside him.

The recent conquest of Mao City, and even the unexpected destruction of the Mao City watchtower array, had all benefited from the array formations in this room and his exhaustive research.

However, the array formations of each city in the Extreme Domain varied, with no method of drawing inferences from one case to another.

So even though the Nineteen Continents cultivators were about to depart, Xie Buchen remained buried in the countless ancient texts and records taken from the old residence in Wangsi City.

When Qu Zhengfeng entered from outside, there were already seventeen jade slips beside Xie Buchen’s hand.

Jade slips in the cultivation world were not ordinary books.

No matter how large or thick books might be, their content capacity was limited. Though jade slips were small, their content capacity far exceeded that of books, to an extent difficult for ordinary people to imagine.

Xie Buchen’s seventeen jade slips were truly frightening.

The doors and windows weren’t closed, and Qu Zhengfeng made no effort to hide the sounds of his approach, so the moment he stepped through the door, Xie Buchen’s slender fingers pressed against the paper pages quietly paused.

He raised his head from the scrolls and looked toward Qu Zhengfeng.

Then he rose from his desk, picked up a clean snow-white silk handkerchief from the side, wiped away the ink stains on his hands, and smiled lightly with some confusion: “Sword Emperor Qu seems to have something on his mind?”

“I was passing by before departure. I heard that Fellow Daoist Xie of Kunwu has gained fame as the ‘Purple Micro Dao Child’ in recent days, and discovered many essential ancient scrolls of array dao from an old residence in Wangsi City. Since you’ve already broken through the Mao City watchtower array, I imagine the Chongyang City watchtower array shouldn’t be too difficult either, so I came to take a look.”

Qu Zhengfeng could be considered a figure capable of summoning wind and rain.

Since joining forces with the Nineteen Continents cultivators, his formidable strength and cruel methods had been fully displayed before other cultivators, earning heartfelt awe and fear from everyone.

It was easy for everyone to notice his difference from the past.

Especially the great powers and elders who had also participated in the Yin-Yang Realm War eleven cycles ago all keenly noticed that Qu Zhengfeng’s attacks had become more ruthless and merciless, killing all he could.

Not only did the Extreme Domain fear him, but even the Nineteen Continents’ own people had some criticism.

Since betraying Yashan and dominating Xinghai, he had always been too lazy to show false courtesy to Kunwu, often not even bothering with surface pleasantries, making it clear he didn’t think much of them.

For such a person to suddenly come in for a look, Xie Buchen didn’t believe it.

But since the other party had said as much, he wouldn’t expose it, only saying: “The seventy-two cities of the Extreme Domain become increasingly difficult to breach the deeper you go. Chongyang City’s array formation already has some peculiar aspects. It seems to be not merely an array formation but something more complex. I’m not completely confident I can break it. I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint Your Majesty the Sword Emperor.”

“Why would it come to that?”

Qu Zhengfeng acted as if he were standing in his own home, strolling to the window with complete ease.

“From what I can see, your esteemed teacher, True Man Hengxu, appears not to worry about this war at all. I heard that just the day before yesterday, he formally handed over most of Kunwu’s affairs to Fellow Daoist Xie. So I’m puzzled and could only come to ask you.”

“What puzzles Your Majesty the Sword Emperor?”

Xie Buchen had always been wary of Qu Zhengfeng.

This was because when they had jointly explored the hidden realm of Qingfeng Nunnery years ago, this person had nearly destroyed the foundation of his cultivation with a single palm strike. If his cultivation hadn’t already surpassed Foundation Establishment, he would have died in that realm.

Now that Qu Zhengfeng had betrayed Yashan, this old grudge could no longer be pursued.

Yet Qu Zhengfeng seemed completely unaware of the old enmity between them, brushing back his wide sleeve of gold-woven dark black robes behind him, looking toward Xie Buchen with pointed meaning: “This battle has already eliminated nearly half of the Extreme Domain’s defense lines and approached the third layer. According to Kunwu’s intention, are we to continue unchangingly like this?”

Xie Buchen’s ink-like indifferent brows and eyes revealed no emotion as he said: “If not, what insights does Your Majesty the Sword Emperor have?”

“Tch.”

Hearing this, Qu Zhengfeng actually let out a cold laugh.

“Do you really not understand my meaning?”

Who among the Nineteen Continents cultivators couldn’t feel the recent abnormalities?

After the battle at Ghost Gate Pass, those strange puppets had appeared again atop Mao City’s walls. Not only the great powers and sect elders who had experienced the Yin-Yang Realm War, but even ordinary cultivators could sense something was wrong.

These soul puppets had little power yet appeared nonetheless.

The Yashan cultivators were an extremely important force in the Central Domain and even throughout the Nineteen Continents. Their days of gloom and anguish were witnessed by all other cultivators.

Others might not understand how serious this matter was, but Qu Zhengfeng had personally experienced all of that—how could he not know what changes these soul puppets would bring?

And Xie Buchen, with his insight into human hearts, naturally understood very well.

He was one of the few among Kunwu’s disciples who, though not told the truth, could deduce it through calculation.

In his view, the purpose of the Bafang Yama Hall was intimately connected to the “internal troubles” faced by the Nineteen Continents cultivators.

Ultimately, it was all about psychological warfare.

The Extreme Domain side held the strategy of “divide and conquer.”

Each appearance of a soul puppet would make Yashan cultivators recall the thousand Yashan cultivators who had fallen years ago, and then remember the causes and consequences of their deaths.

In the human world, emotions arise from circumstances.

Once or twice could still be endured, but what about repeatedly?

Essentially, the heroic souls of the thousand Yashan cultivators hadn’t fallen at the hands of Extreme Domain ghost cultivators. If accounts were truly to be settled and blood debts repaid—

Kunwu bore primary responsibility!

So if this war dragged on, or if those strange soul puppets appeared several more times, the rift between Yashan and Kunwu would inevitably grow larger. The original intention was to “expel external threats first,” but what if they endured past a certain limit and finally, in anger, drew their swords to “secure internal peace” first?

However…

If anyone else brought up this matter, even Fudao Shanren, Xie Buchen wouldn’t find it strange.

But now, it was actually Qu Zhengfeng.

He lowered his eyes, contemplated for a moment, slowly set down the handkerchief, and when he raised his eyes again, he looked directly at him with undisguised scrutiny in his gaze, smiling: “Your Majesty the Sword Emperor actually wants a quick battle and decisive victory? But I had thought that having experienced the realm war and though you betrayed Yashan, your old deep hatred remains difficult to dispel. You should be pleased to see the grudges between Yashan and Kunwu reignite, even stirring up disaster until they fight to the finish… It seems I was blind and ignorant, with mistaken judgment, failing to understand Your Majesty the Sword Emperor’s true intentions?”

“…”

What amazingly intricate and meticulous thinking!

And what amazingly audacious courage!

First, others might not be able to discern his true attitude toward the old grudges between Kunwu and Yashan. Second, even if they guessed, they wouldn’t dare speculate wildly, much less dare to question his stance and purpose in this great war to his face!

Yet the Xie Buchen before him had done both.

Kunwu’s heaven-favored “Purple Micro Dao Child” indeed…

Qu Zhengfeng’s pupils contracted slightly, his entire body radiating dangerous aura as he looked at Xie Buchen. For an instant, the depths of his eyes seemed to flash with blade light and sword shadows.

But ultimately, he took no action.

Because from his observations, the relationship between this master and disciple pair of Kunwu might not be as harmonious as it seemed. Heaven knew who harbored ulterior motives.

He finally smiled composedly: “Though I betrayed Yashan and indeed resent your Kunwu’s past conspiracies and calculations that harmed fellow cultivators, this is ultimately the critical moment of the war between the Nineteen Continents and the Extreme Domain. How could I interfere with any schemes? I only wish to eliminate the Bafang Yama Hall as soon as possible and restore our Nineteen Continents’ path of reincarnation. Besides, I heard that Kunwu probably can’t wait much longer either?”

“Your Majesty the Sword Emperor’s words are incomprehensible.”

Xie Buchen’s eyes flickered, but his words remained airtight.

Beside the massive sand table placed in the center of the room, entirely formed from condensed smoke, displayed the shapes and positions of the Extreme Domain’s seventy-two cities. The outer two rings had already turned silver-white, indicating these two defense lines had been occupied by the Nineteen Continents, while the inner two rings and the central Bafang City remained deep crimson.

Qu Zhengfeng walked around this sand table once, his smile undiminished as he said: “How could Fellow Daoist Xie not understand? After all, if Kunwu didn’t have a centennial great tribulation to overcome, how could True Man Hengxu have traveled far to a human world isolated island to take you as his thirteenth true disciple…”

Their gazes met, both deep and dark, concealing infinite hidden meanings.

Xie Buchen finally vaguely sensed an extraordinary atmosphere, generating many new speculations in his mind, but he voiced none of them.

After contemplating for a moment, he also looked toward the sand table.

Regarding this Yin-Yang Realm War, too many thoughts swirled in his mind, too many things required consideration, so even though Hengxu had delegated authority, he never spoke unnecessarily where he shouldn’t intervene.

But this didn’t mean what he did was what he thought.

In fact, beneath his surface composure, a shadow had always lingered in his heart—the Extreme Domain’s response methods.

If a person originally had ten parts strength to fight an enemy, why would they divide it part by part to fight an opponent with the same ten parts strength?

It was impossible to win.

And this person was the Extreme Domain in this realm war.

Was the Bafang Yama Hall making such foolish moves merely by coincidence, or was there a plan behind it, using this to delay and numb their opponents?

Xie Buchen’s gaze moved from Chongyang City directly behind Mao City on the third defense line of the sand table, following that ring of defenses in rotation, finally stopping at a small city in the southeastern corner. His slender, jade-like finger lifted and flicked!

“Poof!”

A rice-grain-sized silver light immediately flew from his fingertip, striking that small city’s phantom and turning that deep black to white, yet its momentum stopped there!

Like a small flying sword!

Breaking through two defense lines consecutively, penetrating from a direction completely different from the previous Nineteen Continents’ troop movements, directly reaching Bafang City!

He watched as this rice-grain silver light instantly dyed the entire sand table silver-white, then calmly turned back to Qu Zhengfeng: “Would this be acceptable?”

Since the restart of the Yin-Yang Realm War, the Nineteen Continents cultivators’ attacks had followed a straight line.

As if to demonstrate their fearless determination and upright righteousness, starting from Ghost Gate Pass, then Mao City, then Chongyang City.

No one had considered taking a roundabout route for the attack.

Because this was a war between cultivators, where victory and defeat mostly depended on absolute strength. Even if there were clever tactics and methods, they wouldn’t serve much purpose.

But now Xie Buchen’s meaning…

Qu Zhengfeng’s brow peaked slightly, already guessing that the person before him must have a plan in mind, and was about to respond.

Who would have expected that just as he was about to speak, the ground suddenly began to shake.

Initially quite slight, then violent, quickly reaching a degree that made standing difficult!

Both immediately frowned, and almost the moment they confirmed this tremor was unusual, they simultaneously flew out, standing on the nearly ruined walls of Mao City to look toward the deeper parts of the Extreme Domain!

They were instantly horrified!

The shadow of that rising massive city had somehow broken through the sky’s gloom, revealing its ferocious visage to everyone in a vast and magnificent manner!

Yet by the Underworld riverside, it seemed like another isolated space.

Heavy darkness enveloped this corner of heaven and earth, preventing any external disturbances from spreading out.

The battle between Jian Chou and Wu Guan Wang and Taishan Wang was at a critical juncture.

Though Wu Guan Wang had seen through Jian Chou’s scheme, such schemes weren’t easily broken ones. No matter how clearly Wu Guan Wang understood, he couldn’t gain any advantage in this battle.

He simply had no way to ignore Taishan Wang.

And even after being exposed, Jian Chou continued her relentless pursuit of the silent Taishan Wang. One had extremely strong defense, completely ignoring all attacks from behind; the other recovered extremely quickly, enduring the greatest and heaviest injuries without showing any sign of pain for reasons unknown to others.

Such combat was truly rare and truly terrifying!

Wu Guan Wang kept trying to use his powerful attacks to completely end Jian Chou’s life, thereby ending her endless torment of Taishan Wang. But his strength was insufficient to crush Jian Chou as Fu Chaosheng had once crushed him. So after a fierce battle lasting two quarters of an hour, he still couldn’t pose any fatal threat to Jian Chou.

On the contrary, the more anxious he became, the more flaws appeared.

Though he warned himself to remain calm and rational, the shock to his spirit couldn’t be suppressed, always giving Jian Chou opportunities to counterattack.

Once, twice, three times…

After numerous instances, his advantageous position gradually disappeared.

Originally, it seemed their side held the advantage, but as the fight continued, they fell into disadvantage.

As the opponent they were surrounding, Jian Chou’s attacks were fierce and sharp, able to simultaneously use soul power and spiritual power. She fought with increasing vigor and strength, displaying the momentum of “one man holding the pass against ten thousand”!

Utterly chilling!

Even with the “Reincarnation Code” refined by Qin Guang Wang as their support, the dampening of fighting spirit and depletion of strength were unavoidable.

Even their endless variety of techniques gradually ran out and were seen through by their opponent.

Fighting to this point, they had almost reached the stage where when he raised his halberd, Jian Chou would know what kind of attack he would use next.

Completely suppressed!

If not for experiencing it personally, Wu Guan Wang could hardly believe such a formidable and unyielding opponent existed in the world!

Continuing like this, there was only one word: “defeat”!

Risking injury, he forcefully summoned a surge of soul power, threw back his head in a long howl that wasn’t human voice but a white fox’s whimper!

The piercing cold wind instantly penetrated clothing.

Nine-layered pupils rotated, creating layer upon layer of phantoms of wild mountains and desolate villages, which then transformed into the majestic and forbidding Yama Hall, emanating deep blue dark light. From within emerged a manifestation that directly descended toward the approaching Jian Chou!

In an instant, heaven and earth transformed!

Jian Chou had thought it was time for harvest, having gained some confidence in delivering a fatal blow, and was waiting for an opportunity to strike. Who would have expected her vision to darken, and when she looked around again, the blood-red Underworld River and the bone-white mortuary had all disappeared.

At this moment, she found herself completely within a massive Yama Hall.

Her original opponent Wu Guan Wang now sat high on the Yama throne at the far end of the hall, dressed in the Yama King’s majestic robes, wearing a twelve-tassel crown, holding a dark gold bamboo scroll in his hands, glaring at her with eyes that gave an inexplicable sense of oppression.

Jian Chou immediately frowned.

Wu Guan Wang’s features were hidden behind those hanging tassels, his originally deep blue cat eyes now transformed into bewitching fox eyes, utterly captivating.

With a push of his hand, he slowly unrolled the bamboo scroll.

The three seal characters “Book of Life and Death” on the edges appeared extraordinarily dark.

He looked down at Jian Chou below, the corners of his lips curving into a bewitching smile: “Don’t you want to know where your unborn child is now?”