Inside Yangxin Hall, Emperor Zhou and Ren Piaomiao flank the Dao Ancestor.

Outside the hall, the Nine Dragon Sky Array gathers the Dragon Vein, sealing off Yangxin Hall. The Northern Zhou Dragon Vein, once severely damaged by the Heavenly Cluster Cloud Sword, has recovered due to the Emperor Martial Art, and its power now far surpasses its past glory.

This is—Absolute Kill.

"I wondered why your true body hasn't appeared yet. So, you believe this trump card is sufficient."

The Dao Ancestor flicks his finger with his left hand behind his back. "Just relying on this great formation cannot withstand your force or mine, let me add another."

Outside Yangxin Hall, streams of light descend from the sky, intertwining with the nine Divine Dragons formed by the Nine Dragon Sky Array, giving the golden dragons threads of silver.

"Roar—"

A somewhat awkward dragon roar echoes in their ears. Emperor Zhou feels his connection with the Dragon Vein weakening—not completely severed, but noticeably diminished from before.

If previously Emperor Zhou stood at the core of the Northern Zhou Dragon Vein, with Dragon Energy seemingly infinite like an ocean, now his connection to the Dragon Vein is like a gentle stream—continuous, yet the absorption rate is dismally slow.

Emperor Zhou is affected as such; Ren Piaomiao suffers even more. He feels completely isolated from the Primordial Energy, unable to summon it as readily as before.

Techniques like Innate Qiankun Skill and Ten Directions Strange Move, which require massive Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, have greatly diminished in power, and Thirteenth Sword cannot be executed.

This maneuver by the Dao Ancestor weakens both Emperor Zhou and Ren Piaomiao, though not fatally, it significantly reduces their combat power.

"To set a formation quietly within the Imperial Palace, Dao Ancestor indeed lives up to the title," Emperor Zhou frowns slightly.

This palace is the core of Northern Zhou and the place where Emperor Zhou's senses are most acute. Normally, not only setting a formation but even sneaking in should be impossible to keep hidden from him.

But the reality has already occurred: the Dao Ancestor not only infiltrated but also set a great formation unnoticed, sealing the Nine Dragon Sky Array and blocking Primordial Energy. His astounding skill compels even Emperor Zhou to admire him.

"Take the sword!"

No more words needed, Ren Piaomiao draws his sword, "True Mysterious Void· Flying Annihilation."

The eight forms flow in tandem, swift as fleeting shadows, arriving in an instant. The fierce sword edge even faintly pricks the Dao Ancestor's skin, the relentless sword light coming from all directions.

"Supreme Unbeaten."

Again, it is the Supreme Unbeaten. The Dao Ancestor swings both palms, flaring his sleeves, the formless and intangible Piaomiao Absolute Style dissolves under transformative Qi force, scattered into fragmented Qi force.

In one move, the first eight forms of Piaomiao Swordsmanship are defeated.

"Ren Piaomiao, your swordsmanship is strong, but it's not as pure as the Sword God's, and since your sword forms have been exposed many times, I can break them."

The Dao Ancestor raises his hand to meet the incoming Qi force, "Emperor Zhou, I once helped the Human Emperor evolve the Emperor Martial Art. Relying on this skill to defeat me is difficult!"

"Boom—"

Xuan Yuan One Qi collides with the palm force, crushing it forcefully. The Dao Ancestor flares his sleeve, Xuan Yuan One Qi grinds the void, causing the space to emit sounds of unbearable strain.

"With this level of strength, the Nine Dragon Sky Array seals not me, but you all."

In an instant, the entire great hall feels like a void, leaving nowhere to exert force, with endless Primordial Energy pressing in. Emperor Zhou and Ren Piaomiao seem trapped like insects in amber, firmly suppressed by the omnipresent Xuan Yuan One Qi.

This is the strength of the Dao Ancestor. After reaching the realm, when Qing Yu cannot break through by force, the Dao Ancestor's Xuan Yuan One Qi is frighteningly strong.

"Twelfth Sword: Unfinished."

The pure Sword Intent gathers upon Nirvana, the momentary spanning sword shadow is unparalleled in sharpness.

This move is a strike of Sword Intent; even the Supreme Unbeaten cannot break it, only face it head-on.

Simultaneously, Emperor Zhou attacks, with Qi force cracking the floor of the hall into a divine character, a massive light wheel rotates radiantly, erupting with extreme brilliance, "Divine Kill Shock."

The Soldier Armor Martial Scripture is a Martial Arts the Dao Ancestor has never seen, and it's not the first time he strives to break this move of Supreme Unbeaten.

"Kill!"

The two shout in unison, Sword Intent and radiance initiate together, striking at the Dao Ancestor at the center of the hall. The pulsation from the Qi force clash causes the entire Yangxin Hall to tremble incessantly. However, due to the Nine Dragon Sky Array's Dragon Vein support, the hall remains intact despite the impact.

But Cold Eunuch standing beside Emperor Zhou is not so fortunate; his stiff body flies like a ragdoll, crashing heavily into the wall, directly embedding into it.

"Xuan Yuan Three Qi, Three Pure Ones Transformation."

At the conflict's core, three streams of Qi burst forth, transforming into Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, resisting the Qi force from both sides.

Three flowers bloom, three strands of Primordial Qi fly out, transforming into three figures.

One is brimming with Spiritual Energy, naturally wise, a purple-clothed youth.

One is Supreme Heartlessness, solemn in Dao authority, a white-robed youth.

One is void and emptiness, formless and shapeless, with silver eyes faintly visible.

The Supreme Taoist Sect's secret technique "One Qi to Three Pure Ones," is revealed again before their eyes.

"Primordial Qi Dao Truth, Supreme Righteous Path."

In the haze, Transforming Origin Skill unfolded, myriad energies returned to Xuan Yuan, mysterious Daoist essence invoked, bringing great shock to Emperor Zhou and Ren Piaomiao.

It is Qi, all Qi is under Dao Ancestor's control, between Heaven and Earth, Qi Mechanism is everywhere, and all these Qi forces have become Dao Ancestor's limbs, for him to use.

"Boom boom boom——"

Emperor Zhou and Ren Piaomiao raised Qi Shield, resisting the omnipresent Qi Force, the hall constantly trembled, as if weathered sand and stones fell into flying ashes, even Dragon Vein Qi could not forcibly preserve this hall.

Outside, a pure white figure stepped out into the void, lifting a hand to mobilize Qi, aiming to break open the controlled Nine Dragon Sky Array from outside.

"Qing Yu——"

Amidst the pervasive Demonic Qi, a Divine Demon-like figure emerged, "You have finally appeared."

Indeed, Qing Yu appeared, in his true body.

This also signifies, he is slightly at a disadvantage, forced into emergence.

"Yes, this humble Daoist has appeared," Qing Yu slightly closed his eyes, the colors in them indiscernible, "Dao Ancestor is indeed Dao Ancestor. This humble Daoist originally thought his tricks were merely to play with schemes, never expecting his greatest reliance was returning to the strongest realm of power."

The situation within Yangxin Hall, Qing Yu knew perfectly, Dao Ancestor's "One Qi to Three Pure Ones" was beyond Zhang Yuanchu's reach, beyond Heavenly Master Zhang's reach, and beyond Xuan Du before being possessed.

Three Avatars, along with Dao Ancestor's true body, their strength was formidable, for a time fiercely suppressing Emperor Zhou and Ren Piaomiao.

Due to the Nine Dragon Sky Array being restrained by Dao Ancestor's setup, banning Primordial Energy and suppressing Dragon Vein, Qing Yu's two avatars could not exert full power.

'Originally thought Dao Ancestor was playing schemes, but he directly played strength, a kettle emptied from the base, it's my obsession with past impressions that led to my perspective being limited by Northern Zhou's internal chaos, unable to respond timely.' Qing Yu secretly introspected.

Last time, Dao Ancestor was strongly suppressed by Qing Yu, even a third of Xuan Yuan Qi was snatched, fleeing in panic. It was because of that impression, Qing Yu believed Dao Ancestor now was merely a fallen phoenix, powerless against others, resorting only to schemes.

However, in reality, Dao Ancestor did use some petty tricks, but the overall plot was likely not his doing.

He exerted effort, but the instigator of Northern Zhou chaos may not have been him.

If Qing Yu had realized this sooner, he wouldn't have been forced to emerge now. When he believed the instigator of Northern Zhou chaos was Dao Ancestor, he was already one step below Dao Ancestor.

Because the adversary he perceived was merely Dao Ancestor's pawn.

"Can you tell this humble Daoist, who the scheming groundhog is?" Qing Yu opened his eyes, looking towards the Demon Lord.

Though somewhat humiliating, Qing Yu also wanted to know who the meticulous schemer capable of trapping him was.

"Haha, want to know? This one will tell you the truth in front of your corpse."

The Demon Lord chuckled lowly, Heaven-Supporting Demon Image manifested, in the cover of demon clouds, revealing a mountain-like demon form, "Heavenly Madness Strike."

The Demon Image punched down, Qi Rings burst forward at the fist's edge, an overwhelming force pressing Qing Yu in mid-air, fatefully facing the strong strike.

This strike, Qing Yu couldn't dodge, or rather, he didn't want to dodge, lazy to move.

The massive demon fist, seeming slow yet fast, instantly reached Qing Yu's face, sweeping Qi Force blew his snow-white hair, about to contact Qing Yu's head, but was blocked by a raised right hand.

"——"

Just like that lightly, silently blocked. Not stirring a sound, nor moving Qing Yu a step. Even the blown hair fell quietly.

"Demon······"

White clothes stained black, yet white hair stood out more, six black feathered wings' shadows spread behind, Qing Yu spoke, "What allows you to dare strike me?"

Mild words fell, the overwhelming Qi Force rebounded from the palm, the fist pressing on Qing Yu's hand instantly fractured, cracks spread from the fist, swiftly reaching the elbow.

Then, shattered.

"Demon Lord," Qing Yu looked at this former rival, "The gap between you and me is too great."

At Sword God Lake, Qing Yu relied on powerful recovery to entangle with Demon Lord, but now, how could Qing Yu's strength compare to back then?

He progressed rapidly, while Demon Lord remained stagnant.

Even more so, due to losing Formless Demon Energy, Demon Lord's strength regressed.

Of course, if it were Qing Yu from a few months ago, it might not have been so easy to block this move. But the Qing Yu after secluded cultivation now······

"Primordial Demon Splitting Sky."

Wounded in a strike, Demon Lord didn't speak further, but instead urged Demon Qi, launching an Extreme Move. Shocked, disbelieving, were not in Demon Lord's consideration range, for he knew, these unnecessary emotions only depleted the chance of survival.

Today, if careless, he might fall here.

That figure more terrifying than Divine Demon, possessed ancient Demon Power stronger than Primordial Demon Qi, overly restraining for Demon Path.

Also at the moment the Demon Lord acted, a sword light, like a comet striking earth, like Asura emerging, fastest, fiercest, with killing intent and hatred nearly impossible to cleanse with the waters of Three Rivers, cut through the sky, directly targeting Qing Yu's back.

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