With another flip of the Altar Space, Jue Mingzi finally entered the Seventh Space of the Altar Cave Heaven. By this time, a whole year had passed. Even with his level of spiritual power control, it took nearly a year to reach this point. Honestly speaking, he didn't expect it to be this difficult.

At the same time, he realized that the Seventh Space might not be something he could easily conquer, and he might even stop here like Lao Du.

The Cultivators from Jinxiu might not have enough experience, but this Acquired Spirit Treasure certainly does; it was thrown in from the Upper Realm and has at least a ten-thousand-year history, so how could it be weak?

In the Altar Space, Jue Mingzi discovered that his opponents were not just one, but two. Besides Lao Du, who should've been here, there was another person, Hou Gouzi from Jinxiu, famous for his meddling everywhere.

The Sword Cultivator felt a trace of unease here. If these two were to join forces from the Demon Sect, he would have no chance. But he quickly realized that this was not an alliance, but revenge.

Just as the Wu Sect has been watching the Heartless Dao, the Sword Sect has been watching the Wu Sect, all because of the causality from the Dushan Grand Ritual.

Obviously, their timing couldn't be so coincidental. This was a special arrangement by the Cave Spirit of the Altar Heaven, bringing together the actual leaders of the three factions is the best way to handle it; otherwise, arranging for three people would be impossible.

With a smile, "It seems everyone is gathered, so let's come up with some rules. A single Cave Heaven can't be split into three parts, can it?"

Lao Du's eyes were gloomy, "Sorry, I don't have the habit of sharing with others."

Hou Niao nodded in agreement, "Good habit."

The three of them, each hiding their true intentions, didn't actually want to yield to each other. They were confident in dealing with any one of two opponents, but knew clearly they couldn't handle two at once. This was an awkward judgment.

At this point, teaming up against one was not possible. They were all arrogant figures, unwilling to blatantly undermine themselves; most importantly, there was no foundation for an alliance. Who could trust whom?

In such times, allies could be more dangerous than opponents, a slight mistake could lead to being assassinated, which negates the significance of an alliance.

Lao Du, "The rules of the Cultivation World, the Altar is now at Lotus Mountain, it's mine from the Heartless Dao."

Jue Mingzi, "The Wu Sect possessed the Altar for one or two millennia. How much time have you stolen? It should return to its rightful owner."

Hou Niao, "The Wu Sect ruined a Grotto Heaven of our Sword Sect. It's only right to take one back from the Wu Sect."

Everyone had their reasons, and they were all very valid, making this an unsolvable dilemma in the Cultivation World.

What they said was not meant for the other two to hear, but for the Cave Spirit of the Altar Heaven, at least to act with legitimacy and uphold righteousness.

However, the Cave Spirit showed no reaction. They understood the Cave Spirit's intent: Treasures belong to whoever has the fate, only the capable can possess them. In the Cave Spirit's view, none of them were the owner of the Cave Heaven.

This is somewhat heartless, but is the consistent style of the Acquired Spirit Treasure; they do not get involved in the human struggle, only converse with the victor.

Jue Mingzi released the Golden Jiao Scissors from his hand, transforming into a clear breeze; Lao Du turned his face, revealing the true core heritage of the Heartless Dao—merciless face change. Hou Niao leaped up, sword like a dragon...

The three instantly fought together.

Each attacking the other two while enduring their attacks, simultaneously, seeking weaknesses in their opponents.

Such combat is random but purposeful; chaotic yet ordered; it changes with all sorts of accidental factors, in the blink-of-an-eye changes, it tests each person's foundation and response. It seemed none of them were targeting the other specifically, but if you showed weakness, you would immediately be seized upon, and attacked wickedly.

Jue Mingzi's Golden Jiao Scissors slashed across Lao Du, but Lao Du's face changed with a swipe, transforming into a soaring wild goose, as if becoming another person, even the Golden Jiao couldn't lock him.

At the same time as Lao Du's face changed, Heartless Water rushed down on Hou Niao, forming a sword curtain out of sword light that rejected the all-pervasive Heartless Water outside the curtain, not allowing a drop to pass.

Hou Niao's Flying Sword spiraled across the sky, sword swarms enveloped every direction of Jue Mingzi's movement, but Jue Mingzi's clear breeze rose, transforming into a wind vortex, causing the Flying Swords to fall without control.

This combat continuously tested the nerves of the three, escalating layers of risks with mutual probing;

Jue Mingzi added a soothing pearl to his Golden Jiao Scissors, merging calm and cut, extremely powerful, a slight carelessness could result in being cut in half.

Lao Du's heartless face-change was accompanied by a Water and Fire Barrier covering the Battle Arena, his intrinsic realm, water and fire merciless.

Hou Niao's Flying Swords grew ever more numerous, exceeding a thousand, forming two rivers of five hundred swords each, hanging inverted across the sky.

At the peak of the battle, each felt the urge but couldn't stop.

It's not clear who kept adding force, anyway, if enough force didn't suffice, more was added; one method fails, harsher, more dangerous ones follow, gradually forcing out True Fire rather than actively bringing it forth. If it continues, someone is bound to buckle and reveal their form.

The battle couldn't be stopped.

No one dared to initiate a pause or slow down, meaning they feared, intimidated, bringing worse hits upon themselves.

This was a gamble to only proceed, never retreat, none expected it to turn out this way, but this is the essence of combat, no retreat, even if ahead lies an abyss.

Jue Mingzi regretted a bit, not anticipating such formidable opponents. If it were one-on-one, he felt confident to dull their edge over time and seize a chance for a fatal blow; but now, facing two, the pace wasn't his usual leisurely style. In the intense exchange of tactics, the faster shift of attack and defense disadvantaged him, not his strength.

Initially, in battle, he used Yin Energy to intensify effort, thinking the two opponents would soon fade, but he was disappointed, thus ceased inciting fire, yet once aflame, it couldn't be extinguished, more blazing than ever.

Lao Du also felt regret, he underestimated Jue Mingzi, doubting his courage; cast scorn upon Hou Niao, what background does a rustic Sword Cultivator have? Yet their performances far exceeded expectations.

Jue Mingzi's battle will remained resolute, Hou Niao's depth surprisingly profound, despite lengthy combat, Jue Mingzi was still combative, Sword Cultivator still confident, whereas he knew his endurance was running short.

When Jue Mingzi stopped stoking the fire, he sensed it, thought it was Daoist's fear, hence continued stoking fire, intensifying attacks until he felt something amiss, instinctively stopped imparting flame, yet the blaze was beyond control.

The last advance was Hou Niao's, seeing the other two self-assured, he didn't mind offering his own flame.

Despite knowing he couldn't last long either, the gamble itself held significance, preferring such intensity.

The brink of life and death is the true realm of the Sword Cultivator.

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