One became two, and two became four. In an instant, seven or eight phantoms appeared, closing in on Qin Xuan from different directions. Each one’s aura felt so real it could disrupt one’s Divine Sense.

Star Technique: Illusory Phantom God-step!

Wei Qingyi sighed with emotion.

’It seems our Holy Sect still has its share of fools,’ he thought. ’To think they’d try to get a piece of the action from Senior Brother Liu.’

Liu Mobai, Wei Qingyi, and Xiao Dinglan...

None of those who had obtained Positional Divine Techniques made a move to confront Qin Xuan head-on.

They weren’t stupid.

Anyone with eyes could see that Shen Xiyue, the Shen Fairy whose power was second only to Qin Xuan’s, clearly favored him.

If they dared to make a move...

...Shen Xiyue would immediately side with Qin Xuan!

Unfortunately, most of them lacked this foresight, their minds seemingly clouded by the allure of opportunity.

The crowd below could already picture Qin Xuan’s fate: torn to pieces and his treasures plundered.

Qin Xuan’s expression remained perfectly calm, the corner of his mouth even twitching into a barely perceptible, mocking smile.

"Anyone else planning to ambush me? Just come at me all at once."

The words had barely left his mouth.

Dozens of Star Mansion Cultivators surged onto the thousandth step like moths to a flame!

Two Righteous Dao cultivators and one Demon Cultivator launched vicious and cunning attacks, seemingly sealing off all of Qin Xuan’s escape routes.

Qin Xuan didn’t even try to dodge. He just scoffed.

"You insignificant gnats. Face my blade."

With his sword in one hand, Qin Xuan swung it without hesitation.

It wasn’t some exquisite Sword Technique, just a simple move to channel the immense Bing Fire Divine Power of his Chixiao Monarch Position.

The Great Sun Illusion formed by the Chixiao Monarch Position blazed with magnificent light.

BOOM!

A majestic and vast Great Sun Illusion slowly rose above Qin Xuan’s head, its light illuminating the land for miles around.

It bathed the entire thousandth step in a pure, golden-red light!

The tangible power of the Bing Fire Dao Principle—supremely Yang, and capable of purifying evil—permeated the area.

"Don’t be afraid! If we’re bound by the rules, then so is he."

Zheng Shenggu, bluffing to hide his fear, said through gritted teeth:

"It’s just a Positional Divine Technique! He can’t kill all of us before his Demonic Essence runs out!"

"How adorably naive..."

Qin Xuan couldn’t help but shake his head.

The reason he dared to descend to the thousandth step was because he relied on more than just his Magical Techniques!

Facing the Geng Metal Sword Qi that reached him first,

Qin Xuan neither dodged nor evaded, merely taking a deep breath.

VMMMM!

Beneath his skin, ancient, dormant inscriptions instantly flared to life.

A terrifying Qi and Blood Power—heavy as a mountain and brutally immense—erupted from his body.

Star Monument Body Refining Technique!

Qin Xuan stood his ground, intending to block the Geng Metal Evil Qi—a power that specialized in piercing defenses—with nothing but his own Flesh Body.

"Idiot! You’re asking to die!"

Zheng Shenggu’s face twisted into a vicious grin.

PSSSH!

The unstoppable Geng Metal Sword Qi struck Qin Xuan squarely in the chest.

But the expected scene of it piercing his heart never happened.

The unstoppable Geng Metal Sword Qi merely left a faint white mark on Qin Xuan’s skin before shattering with a sharp clang, like metal striking metal!

It failed to even break the skin.

"???"

The vicious grin on Zheng Shenggu’s face instantly froze, replaced by utter horror.

’What a powerful physique! Even a Tier Three Great Demon would have been gushing blood from that hit.’

’Is Liu Mobai’s body tougher than a member of the Demon Race?!’

In the instant Zheng Shenggu’s focus wavered, Qin Xuan moved!

He moved like a ghost, taking a single step that shattered several phantom images and brought him instantly before Zheng Shenggu.

"A body as strong as a demon’s... How is that possible..."

Terrified out of his wits, Zheng Shenggu subconsciously tried to retreat.

But it was too late. Qin Xuan’s fist, carrying enough terrifying force to pulverize a mountain, slammed into his chest.

BANG!

Zheng Shenggu’s Protective Demonic Light shattered like paper.

His chest instantly caved in as a spray of blood mist erupted from his back!

At the same time.

Cold Crow Ascendant’s Netherworld Soul-Catching Hand finally came down.

The pitch-black ghost claw, carrying an unnatural chill that could freeze one’s very qi and blood, clamped down on Qin Xuan’s head!

A hint of triumphant joy had just appeared on Cold Crow Ascendant’s ashen face when his expression froze solid.

He felt as if his ghost claw had grabbed onto a piece of red-hot, ten-thousand-year-old Profound Iron.

His opponent’s qi and blood was blazing with such fierce Yang energy that it felt like a scorching sun!

The ghastly green flames on the claw were instantly extinguished, and a powerful backlash surged up his arm!

"AHH—!"

Cold Crow Ascendant let out a bloodcurdling scream as his entire arm was instantly carbonized.

The backlash of Supreme Yang Power surged into his body, clashing violently with the Magical Power of the Profound Yin Bone Killing Technique he cultivated.

In an instant, his meridians ruptured and his Dantian collapsed!

"Supreme Yang True Flame... it purifies evil?"

Cold Crow Ascendant’s eyes bulged. He spat out a mouthful of black blood laced with ice shards, his gaze filled with despair and regret.

He fell backward, stiff as a board, his life force extinguished.

Meanwhile, the true body of the unidentified Holy Sect Demon Cultivator using the Illusory Phantom God-step had only just closed to within thirty feet of Qin Xuan!

He had just witnessed the horrifying sight of Zheng Shenggu being blown apart by a single punch and Cold Crow Ascendant dying from the backlash.

Scared out of his mind, he no longer had any thought of a sneak attack.

"Master Demon Child, spare me!"

The unidentified Holy Sect Demon Cultivator cried out for mercy, turning to flee with his Body Technique.

"Heh. You provoked me, and now you think you can just come and go as you please?"

Qin Xuan’s voice was ice-cold.

The Great Sun Illusion above his head suddenly pulsed.

"Chixiao Monarch: Great Sun Golden Flame!"

A Golden Sword Aura, formed purely from the Purifying Evil Golden Flame, materialized from the void and appeared instantly behind the unidentified Demon Cultivator.

Feeling the terrifying, all-consuming heat behind him, the unidentified Demon Cultivator was paralyzed with fear.

He frantically activated his Illusory Phantom God-step, his body splitting into dozens of afterimages.

Unfortunately, the Sun Golden Flame was infused with the Purifying Evil Dao Principle.

It was the perfect counter to all forms of illusion.

FWOOSH!

The Golden Sword Aura accurately pierced the unidentified Demon Cultivator’s true body, and all his phantoms shattered at once!

"No, I am..."

The unidentified Demon Cultivator looked down at the large, charred hole in his chest.

His eyes were filled with indignation and terror.

Before he could finish, golden flames erupted from within his body, instantly incinerating him into a cloud of ash.

Even his black Demon Cultivator robes vanished without a trace.

The remaining cultivators, terrified beyond belief, scrambled to retreat.

They stared at the figure on the thousandth step, who looked like a Fire God incarnate, their eyes filled with nothing but boundless terror.

They didn’t dare take another step forward.

In the blink of an eye, three waves of attackers had been dealt with: two dead, one gravely wounded, and over a dozen Star Mansion Cultivators slain!

Qin Xuan still stood in the same spot, not having moved a single step.

The roiling qi and blood around him slowly subsided.

The Great Sun Illusion flowed with light above his head, wreathed in the Purifying Evil Golden Flame, making him look like an invincible Fire God.

His cold gaze swept over the cultivators below, who were utterly paralyzed with fear.

"Who else wants to test my Positional Divine Techniques?"

The entire area fell deathly silent. You could have heard a pin drop.

The might of the Chixiao Monarch Position stunned the crowd into submission!

Every cultivator was pale and trembling, not one of them daring to meet Qin Xuan’s gaze.

They all lowered their heads, wishing they could dig a hole and crawl into it.

Vast reserves of Demonic Essence. An incredibly powerful Flesh Body.

He took a Geng Metal Evil Qi attack head-on and was completely unharmed!

And his Positional Divine Technique was terrifyingly powerful, a perfect counter to demonic arts, capable of instantly killing a Purple Mansion cultivator!

How were they supposed to fight that?!

"He’s invincible."

Someone whispered, their voice trembling with fear.

At this point, no one dared to harbor the slightest trace of greed.

"No, there’s still Prince Xiao Dinglan!"

Someone, clinging to a final sliver of hope, glanced furtively at Xiao Dinglan.

Qin Xuan let out a dry laugh.

"Fellow Daoist Xiao, would you like to test your strength against mine?"

At this moment, Qin Xuan seemed like a true god descended to the mortal realm, his eyes containing twin suns.

Wherever his gaze landed, flames seemed to sear the air with a SIZZLE, and all traces of gloom and evil were wiped away.

Xiao Dinglan’s expression flickered, but he remained silent.

All the Daqian Cultivators below felt as if an invisible hand were choking them. They stared, wide-eyed and in disbelief, at Xiao Dinglan’s cowed posture.

"That’s for the best."

Standing atop the thousandth step, Qin Xuan suddenly erupted with an indescribable, brilliant divine might!

He withdrew his Lifebound Longsword, and the Sun Golden Flame around him slowly receded. The Great Sun Illusion remained high overhead, illuminating everything.

The undisputed number one.

Wei Qingyi suddenly clasped his hands in respect. "Congratulations, Senior Brother Liu, on being unrivaled among the Star Tiers!"

Hou Qi immediately followed. "Master Demon Child is mighty!"

"Master Demon Child is mighty!"

A tsunami of voices echoed throughout the Star Ruins.

As his aura merged with the vast Star Power, Qin Xuan shook his head and smiled.

"I’d prefer not. Everyone, just call me Senior Brother Mei."

The real Liu Mobai froze, his face a mask of confusion.

???

The expression on his face froze, looking fouler than if he had just swallowed a fly.

’I’m still fucking standing right here!’

’You son of a bitch, you’re not even going to pretend anymore?!’