The Gold Elemental God recognized Lu instantly.

  Both the Gold Source Beast Ancestor statue and the Fire Source Beast Ancestor statue had been stolen by this very guy.

  So... the thief he'd been searching for all this time had been right under his nose, hiding in this newly born immortal martial world.

  Rage surged through him uncontrollably.

  The Gold Elemental God could no longer contain his emotions. He wanted nothing more than to tear Lu apart. This damned scoundrel had stolen his Gold Source Beast Ancestor statue and brought him endless misery.

  "What do you think you're doing?!"

  Seeing Lu racing toward the imprisoned Hunyuan Immortal Domain's Immortal Source with the black-and-white beast in tow, the Gold Elemental God grew instantly wary.

  He shot forward, shattering space with his ferocious charge.

  He knew Lu had his eyes on that Immortal Source and intended to snatch it away.

  The Gold Elemental God would never allow that to happen.

  Falling into the same trap twice? That wasn't something a mighty Elemental God would do!

  "Stay right there!"

  The Gold Elemental God roared in fury.

  His bellow thundered like explosive lightning, causing the void to rumble and fracture inch by inch.

  He clenched his fist in the emptiness, and brilliant golden light erupted—dazzling rays like razor-sharp blades.

  A golden spear pierced through the void.

  It aimed to impale Lu in one deadly thrust.

  Lu sped onward with the black-and-white beast.

  At this moment, the Hunyuan Immortal Domain's Immortal Source was what drew him most. In fact, Tonggu Daoist, Elder Xuancang, and the other human experts had all seen the ancestral human land's Immortal Source captured by the gods and demons.

  But they were already under immense pressure and had no chance of reclaiming it.

  Now, Lu's actions made Tonggu Daoist's eyes light up.

  Tonggu tore through space and charged in.

  From afar, he burst out of the void and unleashed a devastating punch. The terrifying fist force exploded even the spatial currents.

  The punch barreled straight toward the Gold Elemental God.

  It collided with the golden spear.

  Pfft!

  Blood sprayed from Tonggu Daoist's body, his face paling.

  Yet he let out a wildly exhilarated laugh.

  "Brother Lu! Hurry and seize that Immortal Source! Take it back and honor the spirits of our fallen human experts!"

  Tonggu gritted his teeth as he shouted at the Gold Elemental God.

  Lu hovered in the void, glancing at Tonggu who was desperately holding the line. A slight ripple stirred in his heart.

  But his mouth couldn't help but say, "Actually, there's no need to block him. Senior Tonggu, save some strength... otherwise, you'll be dragging us down later..."

  His words made Tonggu's body stiffen mid-battle with the Gold Elemental God.

  A flush of embarrassment crept up his face.

  This brat—was he messing with his own side's morale now?!

  How could a peak human Quasi-Saint like him possibly drag anyone down?!

  Still, Tonggu wasn't foolish. If Lu said that, it meant he had absolute confidence.

  Perhaps... some hidden trump card?

  Could it really be the Saint Killing Array?!

  Tonggu's eyes darted around. Should he bet on it?

  He took a deep breath.

  Hesitation gripped him—bet or not?

  Bet that Lu had truly mastered the Saint Killing Array? And could deploy it?!

  In the end, Tonggu decided to gamble.

  Because he believed Lu would never act without certainty.

  Boom!

  He unleashed one final strike.

  "Screw this—I'm done!"

  Instead of continuing the fight, Tonggu tore space and returned to the front of the Nine-Layered Heaven passage.

  "Kill!"

  He roared immediately.

  The crowd, who had been focused on Lu's battle, was stunned.

  Was Tonggu picking on the weak now? Unable to beat the Gold Elemental God, so he came back to bully regular Heavenly God-tier gods and demons?

  "Why are you back?"

  Elder Xuancang asked urgently.

  "That kid has a plan. We'll do our part!"

  Tonggu locked his gaze on the many Heavenly God-tier and Great Dao-tier gods and demons charging into the passage's formation.

  Upon Tonggu's command, Luo Yang didn't hesitate. Gripping his Flame-Tipped Spear, he charged out.

  The Five Phoenixes army and the human army surged forward, slaughtering the gods and demons within the formation.

  The ferocious momentum of the humans—dragging half the Earth Elemental God's skull—shook the gods and demons' morale.

  The Water Elemental God was still shrieking in agony.

  The Gold Elemental God pursued Lu.

  Now, only the Wood Elemental God could maintain control of the overall situation.

  As the human forces launched their assault at the passage, the Wood Elemental God immediately gave the order.

  "Attack!"

  He had no choice. Withdrawing now would render all their prior efforts meaningless.

  So, the Wood Elemental God knew: no retreat!

  "No retreat?!"

  Elder Xuancang laughed. He began coughing blood but activated the formation.

  Xuanyue, as a master formation expert and Xuancang's descendant, had her own insights into arrays.

  With her help, Elder Xuancang felt much relieved.

  The formation's operation granted massive boosts to the human experts, strengthening every one of them!

  Overlord, Tang Yimo, Tantai Xuan, Sima Qingshan, and other Five Phoenixes cultivators joined the fray.

  Gods and demons clashed with human experts.

  The area before the Nine-Layered Heaven passage turned into a meat grinder.

  Terrifying slaughter and combat raged on.

  Boosted by the formation, the humans matched the gods and demons in momentum. Though outnumbered and forced to retreat repeatedly, each retreat was followed by an even fiercer counterattack.

  There were many Heavenly God-tier gods and demons, but the human Quasi-Saints' aura was overwhelming.

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  Guided by powerhouses like Tonggu Daoist and Elder Xuancang...

  The tide slowly shifted toward human victory.

  At this moment, the Wood Elemental God ignored this battlefield.

  His gaze fell on the Gold Elemental God.

  Though puzzled why Tonggu had abandoned the fight, for the Gold Elemental God, it was at least not bad news.

  He could now pursue Lu unhindered.

  He despised Lu—stealing his Gold Source Beast Ancestor statue alone was a capital offense!

  Gripping his golden spear, he closed the distance rapidly.

  After all, Lu's speed couldn't compare to an Elemental God—an invincible existence below Saints.

  But thanks to Tonggu's earlier interference, Lu had already reached the Immortal Source.

  Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

  Guarding the source was one Heavenly God-tier god and demon, plus seven Great Dao-tier.

  The instant Lu appeared, they unleashed killing intent.

  Lu flung out the black-and-white beast, which grew massive mid-air and tangled with the Heavenly God-tier.

  The black-and-white beast felt awkward. Since its debut, it had always acted ferocious, but it hadn't killed a single worthy opponent.

  Heavenly God-tiers could go toe-to-toe with it—this enraged the beast.

  It needed to kill!

  As for the Great Dao-tiers, Lu—now with his Four-Row Indestructible Demon Body activated and Quasi-Saint-level power—handled them effortlessly.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Lu swept through, exploding the physical bodies of Great Dao-tier after Great Dao-tier.

  Their primordial spirits scattered in panic, offering no resistance.

  But just as he finished them, the Gold Elemental God's terrifying aura closed in.

  "Die!"

  The Gold Elemental God blazed golden, like a blazing sun at full radiance.

  His spear swept horizontally. Lu met it head-on with his Indestructible Demon Body!

  Boom!

  Lu felt overwhelming force smash him flying, slamming him hard into the Immortal Source.

  Innate purple qi circulated, stabilizing his churning blood.

  Against a peak Quasi-Saint like an Elemental God, the Indestructible Demon Body alone was insufficient—he wasn't truly a match. In a real fight, three moves would kill him.

  His qi refining level was only the twelfth layer; facing such foes was too strenuous.

  Even with the Four-Row cheat, the gap remained.

  He exhaled slowly.

  Lu lay atop the Immortal Source, rich immortal essence flowing around him.

  This source's power far surpassed the little phoenix in the Five Phoenixes origin universe.

  It was, after all, the essence of the ancestral human land cultivated over countless eons—a top-tier immortal martial world's source.

  Lu felt he had to find a way to take this human treasure, or the gods and demons would eventually devour it.

  Their growth relied on consuming such sources.

  Boom!

  Seeing Lu sprawled on the source after one strike, the Gold Elemental God felt unease and pressed forward, killing intent thick.

  Was this bastard trying to steal the source right under his nose?

  Impossible...

  If Lu truly took it, the Gold Elemental God would destroy it without hesitation.

  Lu narrowed his eyes.

  With a thought...

  Clang!

  The Phoenix Feather Sword soared out—nine segments swirling, three thousand silver blades gleaming.

  Behind him, they stacked into a red-and-silver sword shield.

  Boom!

  The Gold Elemental God's spear smashed into it.

  The shield shattered instantly—the Gold Elemental God's power was overwhelming, pure domination.

  Among the five Elemental Gods, his offensive might was unmatched.

  Gold inherently ruled attack.

  Still, the shield bought Lu one second.

  In that second, his palm pressed against the ancestral Immortal Source.

  His mind linked to the Five Phoenixes origin universe.

  Next moment, the ancient starry sky tore open a rift—then another behind it.

  Vast origin aura flooded out.

  A phoenix spread its wings, flying endlessly within the origin universe.

  Atop its head perched Little Yinglong.

  Lu slapped the source, intending to stuff it into the Five Phoenixes origin space.

  Sensing it, Little Yinglong transformed into a massive dragon, wings unfurling to eclipse the entire space.

  It clawed the source, dragging it slowly into the Five Phoenixes universe.

  Hm?!

  The Gold Elemental God flew into a rage.

  Sensing the ancestral source truly being stolen, uncontrollable fury exploded.

  This familiar face-slapping scene—he couldn't contain his killing intent!

  This bastard dared make him fall twice in the same pit?!

  "Leave it!"

  The Gold Elemental God roared in fury.

  His body shrouded in terrifying killing intent, he closed in on Lu—and the source.

  On the other side...

  The Water Elemental God, whose chest Lu had blasted open, snapped back to reality. She let out a shrill, furious roar.

  Her Quasi-Saint body had been breached by Lu!

  "I'll kill you!"

  Killing intent rolled from her like a heavenly river, merging with the Gold Elemental God's in a cataclysmic surge.

  Like an endless desert sandstorm, it bore down on Lu as he dragged the source.

  "Hurry up!"

  Lu shouted urgently at Little Yinglong.

  Little Yinglong roared, exerting every ounce of strength. Its massive body hugged the source, wings flapping furiously as it raced into the Five Phoenixes universe.

  Lu turned back, surging primordial spirit power.

  Clang clang clang...

  Silver blades returned, Phoenix Feather Sword forming arm guards, stacking into a wheelchair.

  Lu sat slowly. His four-colored robes shifted to white.

  Hair flying, his expression turned ice-cold.

  Facing the combined killing intent of Gold and Water Elemental Gods—like a deadly double-team...

  Lu's cheek twitched.

  Then, a strange, sinister smile spread across his face.

  "Compare killing intent? Who's afraid of whom!"

  Lu said.

  As his words fell...

  The Spirit Pressure Chessboard rose before him, glowing faintly.

  His movements lightning-fast, he plucked a piece from the box.

  The situation allowed no leisurely posturing.

  He had to place it quickly.

  Snap!

  The black piece landed instantly.

  The Gold and Water Elemental Gods closed in, deadly moves primed.

  At that exact moment, Lu completed his placement.

  A crimson bloom spread across the board.

  Next, endless scarlet erupted from the piece—like mandrake flowers blooming on the road to the underworld.

  Symbolizing death.

  Sky-soaring killing intent swept from Lu.

  Gold and Water Elemental Gods—and every living being in heaven and earth—froze, breath caught, bodies rigid.

  The killing intent from the chess piece...

  Like a sleeping lion suddenly opening its eyes—razor-sharp.

  When a Saint unleashes killing intent, heaven and earth overturn!

  "This killing intent!"

  "The Saint Killing Array!"

  In that instant, disbelief and horror filled the Gold Elemental God's eyes!

  The Water Elemental God snapped from her rage.

  Never imagining this guy had mastered the Saint Killing Array!

  The leaked intent oppressed even their Elemental God souls—undoubtedly the human race's clan-suppressing formation: the Saint Absolute Heaven Array!

  The moment Lu revealed it...

  They understood: the Earth Elemental God was likely truly dead.

  With the Saint Killing Array, escape was impossible.

  Lu remained calm.

  His finger pressed the piece, slowly pushing it forward with a grinding sound.

  Like a heartbeat echoing through the ancient starry sky.

  Next...

  The chessboard domain, carrying the killing array, expanded rapidly...

  Expansion still took time.

  But Gold and Water were too close.

  No time to flee.

  Water was enveloped first...

  Gold retreated desperately, but half his body was caught.

  His eyes cracked with fury.

  He'd been tricked!

  Lu had schemed against him from the start.

  If revealed earlier, he'd have escaped!

  But Lu provoked him, holding the array until the brink of annihilation—then activating it.

  Denying escape!

  And allowing the source to be taken intact...

  What cunning!

  "You insidious bastard!"

  The Gold Elemental God seethed.

  He should have known Lu was treacherous.

  "Want the source? Dream on!"

  Madness twisted his face.

  Staring at the ancestral source—half already pulled into the Five Phoenixes universe—he gripped his spear with frenzied desperation.

  He hurled it viciously!

  Even Lu paled.

  Golden light streaked—the spear plunged into the source.

  Panic flashed across Little Yinglong's face.

  Lu looked up.

  As the array fully engulfed the Gold Elemental God, he saw the rift to the Five Phoenixes universe healing.

  In that final instant—the source shattered by the self-detonating spear.

  The ancestral human Immortal Source... utterly destroyed!

  Lu withdrew his gaze, ignoring the fragments. Whatever became of them, now wasn't the time to care.

  He had instantly cast the Saint Killing Array—his full focus was required.

  Gold and Water Elemental Gods were trapped.

  Terrifying killing intent wove together.

  Boom!

  Immense weight bore down on them. Water showed fear; Gold panicked inwardly.

  Never expecting Lu capable of this—unleashing the array in such desperation.

  "Instant cast..."

  Disbelief clouded the Gold Elemental God's eyes.

  Truly instant.

  Who could have foreseen?

  Outside... chaos erupted.

  The moment the Saint Killing Array appeared, its terror sweeping heaven and earth.

  Every being in the ancient starry sky trembled under the Saint's killing intent.

  Powerful races felt chills, disbelief, fear, panic—and relief.

  "No wonder he dared encircle the entire army alone... this was his confidence!"

  "So this human Heavenly Emperor mastered the Saint Killing Array! The humans let an unremarkable Heavenly Emperor wield it, catching the gods and demons off guard... brilliant!"

  "Did you notice? This Saint Killing Array... was instant!"

  ...

  Noisy discussions exploded in the void.

  Quasi-Saint-level experts from many races gasped.

  Instant cast!

  The ancient starry sky's ultimate killing array—instant?

  Was this a joke?!

  An instant array—who could defend against it...

  Unprecedented in history!

  The Wood Elemental God's body shook, face full of panic...

  "Holy shit!"

  "It really is the Saint Killing Array! I knew it! I knew the humans had something up their sleeve!"

  "A mere human Heavenly Emperor daring to encircle an entire army—how without a trump card! Old Earth must have died to this array!"

  The Wood Elemental God cursed, unable to calm.

  Buzz buzz buzz...

  What unsettled him more:

  The array was still expanding!

  With each echoing piece placement in the starry sky...

  The chessboard domain grew, reaching toward him—his eyes bloodshot!

  Unlike Gold and Water, he was far enough for reaction time.

  Though pressure immense, he fled desperately.

  Back when Xiaoyao Zi activated half the array, it nearly trapped four Elemental Gods. Now a full one—he'd be a fool not to run!

  Without hesitation—he bolted!

  Many Undying-tier, Great Dao-tier, and even Heavenly God-tier gods and demons couldn't escape in time and were enveloped!

  At the Nine-Layered Heaven passage...

  Blood-soaked human experts saw the array activate.

  Their morale soared!

  "Worthily Brother Lu!"

  Tonggu's eyes reddened—it worked!

  Xiaoyao Zi, you old fart!

  See that?!

  The Saint Killing Array... revived!

  Elder Xuancang and the human Quasi-Saints felt the burden lift from their shoulders—like a massive weight finally removed.

  "Kill!!!"

  Luo Yang roared.

  Battle intent peaked as never before. Though countless human geniuses lay dead, the counterattack horn sounded!

  Heavenly God-tiers were shaken by the humans' tsunami-like momentum.

  Forced back relentlessly.

  Overlord battled Great Dao-tiers, blood-drenched. Under extreme pressure, he broke his shackles—stepping into Daluo Immortal by proving the Dao through force alone!

  Tang Yimo, after opening eight meridians, blasted a Great Dao-tier apart. His aura ascended.

  Entering Daluo Immortal—and surviving the breakthrough.

  Human battle intent raged like towering waves, ready to overturn heaven and earth.

  All suppression, all blood, all tears—erupted now, repaid in full!

  Buzz...

  The Saint Killing Array fully enveloped, spreading past the Nine-Layered Heaven passage.

  Elder Xuancang's formation crumbled before it—but he felt utter exhilaration.

  All gods and demons were trapped within.

  Inside the array...

  Dead silence fell.

  Lu exhaled slowly.

  White robes fluttering.

  He raised his head, scanning the panicked gods and demons—lingering on Gold and Water.

  A smile spread across his face.

  He rolled up his sleeves and placed another piece.

  The leisurely snap echoed.

  Next moment...

  Killing intent surged within the array.

  It flew like crimson falling leaves, accompanied by bone-chilling wails—a dirge prelude to death.

  "Kill."

  Lu placed the piece. The board's situation shifted—instant killing intent erupted.

  Behind Undying and Great Dao-tier gods and demons, intent-formed leaves stacked into blood-red figures.

  The figures' blades rested on their necks.

  Then... sliced.

  Pfft!!!!

  In an instant...

  Gods and demons—corpses rained down.