On the other side, Fang Dai tightened his grip. His breath began to quicken. He was ready to move, but a light, sturdy arm on his shoulder stopped him.“Calm yourself, Senior,” Xiao Tian said softly but firmly, like the sound of flowing water but carrying an unstoppable force. “He intentionally concealed his cultivation. He is not the sixth rank of the Grand Supreme Realm… but the eighth. So, let me deal with him.”Fang Dai's eyes widened. He glanced at the young man beside him. He didn’t doubt Xiao Tian’s words, but the news was too shocking. The Yan Clan Patriarch… the eighth rank of the Grand Supreme Realm? A figure with such strength should have long left the Zuwu Realm. They usually went to the Starry Sky Realm, seeking rare resources and opportunities that were only available there.For experts at that level, the Zuwu Realm was too narrow, too poor in energy to support their next breakthrough.But that fact made his heart even heavier. The Yan Clan Patriarch was still holding on

Spiritual energy from hundreds of thousands of Yan Clan members soared into the sky. Streams of purplish blue light formed pillars of energy that merged into the core of the protective formation.In the sky, the giant formation began to fully activate—ancient circles appeared and rotated slowly, one after another. The patterns of the formation were not just carvings of symbols, but representations of the laws of heaven and earth that had been sealed thousands of years ago by the Yan Clan founder.The air began to whistle.The ground began to shake violently.The Yan Clan Patriarch did not waste that momentum. He waved his hand, throwing dozens of additional formation flags in various directions. The flags immediately stuck in the air, like sky-binding poles strengthening the defensive structure being built.His hand moved quickly, forming hundreds of seals in a matter of seconds. Each moving finger emitted a golden light that flowed into every node of the formation.“Awakening Formati

Voices filled with anger began to flood the air. Those who had been lying on the ground, with severe injuries on their bodies, now began to rise slowly. They did not stand because they had recovered, but because of the burning hatred that ignited in their chests, burning away the pain and replacing it with unbridled rage.The remaining Elders, with trembling bodies and blood-stained faces, began to point at their Patriarch with trembling fingers.“Damn you! You are not human… You are a demon in human form!”The Yan Clan Patriarch’s eyes turned sharp. But not out of regret—on the contrary, he smiled with pride. A demonic smile celebrating his own moral ruin.“Hahaha… I am a demon! But I am the demon who saved you! Thanks to my power, this clan can survive in the Zuwu Realm! Thanks to my power, the name of the Yan Clan is feared! If you are considered noble, it is not because you are great, but because you are mine! All praise is for me!”His voice boomed, full of false pride. For him,

Xiao Tian smiled faintly. In his heart, the decision was made.“Old beast, since you said that… I won’t hesitate.”He gave his permission silently, and at that moment, the spirit of the mysterious rusty sword roared with joy within the emptiness of the sword. The demonic aura surrounding the sword suddenly surged—wild, like a storm that had been held back for a long time.On the other side, the Yan Clan Patriarch was completely unaware of the turmoil within Xiao Tian. From his perspective, the young man seemed hesitant because he was out of options, like a cornered animal about to be torn apart.Seeing that, he didn’t waste any time. With a booming shout, he raised his blood-red sword high. His two hands gripped it tightly, then lowered it with a force that tore through the air.ZRAAAK!!!The slash carried incredible pressure, enough to crush a small mountain in one stroke.But Xiao Tian didn’t move back. He stepped forward, then raised the mysterious rusty sword to meet the attack he

A hushed voice arose from the crowd of people watching from afar. Those standing far from the Yan Clan, lifted their heads, gazing at the ladder that had just been assembled in the silent night. Their eyes were filled with longing. There was hope they couldn't hide, a desire to also tread a higher world, leaving their limitations behind.Yet at the same time, they were aware. The realm above did not accept everyone. Those standing there were the pinnacle of many realms, a gathering place for true cultivators, where great clans and grand organizations competed to dominate the starry sky. They knew, the Huangfu Clan was just one of many small clans there. And they themselves, were not yet strong enough to become servants of the figures there.Xiao Tian turned to Fang Dai and the figures standing around him. He clasped his hands, bowing slightly."I take my leave."The sentence was simple, but it contained a great separation. He knew, not all farewells could be expressed in words. There