The void was silent as an abyss.

  The atmosphere was heavy, with undercurrents surging like hidden river flows.

  The rift remained as before—unhealed. Figures shrouded in strange mist stood at its edge—like gods gazing down upon mortals.

  The golden spear was gone. None of them had expected the affair to end this way.

  “Lu Ping’an… as insidious as ever.”

  “I never thought he’d dare use four nascent Emperors as bait—lure us into releasing the imperial weapon—only to snatch the Devouring Yuan Spear. His heart is truly filthy.”

  Divine souls collided—exchanging thoughts.

  “What now?”

  Many divine souls turned toward the rift depths—seeking solutions.

  “The Five Phoenixes has grown—no longer the weak existence it once was…”

  “Especially that Lu Ping’an—he has completely escaped our control—even daring to provoke us.”

  “The Five Phoenixes has birthed four nascent Emperors. When that Lu Ping’an unleashes his secret art—he can match even Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s level.”

  “Give him enough time—he will surely reach Extreme Emperor. Then… even if we emerge from the rift—we may not be able to deal with him.”

  Divine souls intertwined—filled with wariness. Lu had reached a level that truly threatened them.

  After a long silence—divine soul fluctuations came from the rift depths.

  The many Emperor discussions fell quiet.

  “No matter…”

  “Since the Five Phoenixes severed Void Heaven—becoming an independent heaven—naturally… it must bear what it should.”

  “The Five Phoenixes can no longer shelter under the nine heavens. Lu Ping’an no longer qualifies to hide safely behind us.”

  The calm voice echoed.

  The words lifted the spirits of the many powerhouses.

  They seemed to guess the intent of the one deep in the rift.

  “Could it be…”

  “Yes… exactly. Since the Five Phoenixes became its own heaven—birthing its own Heavenly Dao—there is no reason for it to enjoy our protection.”

  “The nine heavens guard the Primordial Starry Sky. Now that the Five Phoenixes stands alone—how can we help it fend off those ferocious divine demons?”

  “Those divine demons are no easy foes. If one Extreme Emperor-level innate divine demon appears… the Five Phoenixes will be destroyed.”

  Their exchanges grew excited—imagining the Five Phoenixes crumbling under divine demon assaults.

  None understood the terror of innate divine demons better than they.

  “By the way—we failed to seize Heavenly Spirit’s soul fragments. If the memories in them are exposed—it could be detrimental to us.”

  One Emperor seemed to recall—speaking up.

  From the rift depths—divine soul fluctuated faintly.

  “No need to worry. I sealed his memories with the ‘Dou’ Character Array Rune. Any external interference will shatter his soul—even the intruder will suffer backlash from the ‘Dou’ Character Array Rune.”

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  The voice echoed—unconcerned.

  The many Emperors laughed.

  Losing the Devouring Yuan Spear pained them.

  But to them—an imperial weapon was replaceable.

  They controlled the entrance between Primordial Starry Sky and nine heavens.

  Besides terrifying innate divine demons—the starry sky held countless ancient stars—rich with supreme materials for forging imperial weapons.

  Reforging another Devouring Yuan Spear—though troublesome—was within their means.

  Boom!

  Soon—terrifying rumbling echoed.

  The massive rift in the void slowly closed—vanishing once more.

  …

  In the void starry sky.

  Four streaks of light tore through the void abyss—rushing back.

  Boom!

  Their speed was too great—uncontrolled force shattered an uninhabited star.

  Zhu Long—eyes closed—long lashes trembling—cheeks flushed—dimples like ripples from spring rain on a calm lake.

  She breathed lightly—clutching the Heaven-Stealing Tower—heart racing.

  Stealing an imperial weapon and running—too thrilling.

  Meanwhile—Tantai Xuan held Gu Mangran. After the divine herb—the wounds healed gradually under its energy.

  But the lost cultivation—hard to recover.

  Blood robes fluttered—face weary.

  Yet beneath the fatigue—excitement of rebirth.

  Lu Jiulian and Micah ignored him—Gu Mangran’s survival was enough. They looked at the Heaven-Stealing Tower in Zhu Long’s arms—recalling the scene—expressions shifting.

  “Young Master Lu’s arrow… truly unfathomable.”

  Micah drew a deep breath.

  “That was the Five Phoenixes Bow—the Five Phoenixes’ foremost killing weapon—endless potential to overcome the greater with the lesser.”

  Lu Jiulian said.

  “That arrow’s power—terrifying. Even we had no confidence to withstand it.”

  “Clearly—Emperor realm also has tiers…”

  Micah said gravely.

  This clash with the rift’s Ancient Emperors made them realize the gap with those millions-year-old existences.

  “Emperor lifespan averages eight million years. Such long years—allow Ancient Emperors to walk unimaginable distances on the Emperor path.”

  Micah said.

  Lu Jiulian nodded—even his Seven-Colored Fury Lotus could not harm those in the rift.

  This made them understand—the opponents’ overall strength surpassed theirs.

  It fueled their cultivation drive even more.

  Emperor realm—was not the end.

  Beyond Emperor—lay Great Luo Immortal.

  Of course—to reach Great Luo—they must first reach the end of the Emperor path.

  Instantly—Micah and Lu Jiulian felt motivated—burning with ambition.

  Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

  Under the furtive gazes of powerhouses on countless life stars—

  The four Golden Immortals returned to the Five Phoenixes.

  Placing Gu Mangran on solid ground—Tantai Xuan patted his shoulder—then tore open an Underworld passage—yin qi surging—returning to the Underworld under Hell Hound’s escort.

  Returning to the Underworld—Tantai Xuan planned to forge an Emperor-realm weapon.

  This battle’s gap—was not only in strength—but in weapons.

  Lu Jiulian returned to the Ascension Land—continuing to guard it—lecturing Immortals—while—like Tantai Xuan—conceiving his imperial weapon.

  After deciding—Micah bid Gu Mangran farewell—striding away—vanishing into the mortal dust.

  He would continue with his “Extreme Dao Cultivation Method”—reaching Emperor’s end—becoming Great Luo Immortal.

  Zhu Long—upon returning—hugged the Heaven-Stealing Tower—running off.

  Rushing across the vast sea—soon arriving at Origin Island.

  Like presenting a treasure—she handed the Heaven-Stealing Tower to Lu—leaning on the railing.

  Lu smiled—accepting it.

  Buzz…

  The Heaven-Stealing Tower shook—golden spear fragments from the shattered spear spilled out.

  Clinking before the pavilion.

  Ni Yu, Ning Zhao, and Yi Yue curiously gathered.

  The golden spear fragments radiated strange energy—astonishing.

  “Hm… this material is interesting.”

  Lu picked up a fragment—crystalline—exuding faint devouring suction—as though drawing blood.

  Clearly refined from special treasure ore.

  Unlike previous holy clan imperial weapons—obtainable in the nine heavens.

  This spear’s material—was hard to find.

  “Could it be Primordial Starry Sky ore?”

  Lu’s mind stirred—guessing.

  He knew little of the Primordial Starry Sky—but someone knew more.

  Confirming if it was Primordial Starry Sky ore—was simple.

  With a thought—

  His divine soul crossed vast distances—instantly descending to the mortal realm.

  …

  Prince Yu’s Mansion.

  After the maid’s healing pills—the Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s wounds healed quickly. This mistake planted a karmic seed with the young princess—leaving him emotionally complex.

  Today—the shy young princess invited him to spar swordplay again.

  The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor did not refuse—how could he?

  In the small courtyard—flowers bloomed—sunlight brilliant—beauty like a painting.

  He and the young princess—like a perfect pair—wielded swords under sunlight.

  Involuntarily—the millions-year-old virgin Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor—watching the sunlit young princess—felt his icy heart stir.

  But…

  In that moment of stirring—

  Terrifying—familiar—divine soul pressure swept over again!

  The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s pupils contracted—his stirring heart instantly became… cardiac arrest.

  Boom!

  His mind plunged into chaos once more.

  The young princess—uncontrolled—stabbed her sword into his body again.

  The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor felt hot tears nearly flow.

  He was truly dead this time.

  That damn Lu Ping’an…

  Still messing with his mentality!