The fierce battle over the sea had lasted for almost a two-hour, and as the time dragged on, the more Soul Splitter fought, the more frightened he became.

"Why are you so strong?"

Was Chasing Soul strong?

To Soul Splitter, he was already extremely strong. They both shared the same roots, so why could he fight one against six?

Doesn’t that mean he himself is useless?

"Why am I so strong? Have you ever thought, after all these years, whether you’ve worked hard enough, whether your cultivation has improved?"

Chasing Soul sneered. In just this one month, he was able to fight six clones, which could only mean that Soul Splitter was simply too weak.

Perhaps Soul Splitter had been standing still, which is why he always ended up at the bottom!

"I don’t believe it!"

Six clones roared in unison, and in an instant, six arms were raised to the sky simultaneously.

Heaven and Earth Four Division Skill.

In an instant, the six clones blurred and split into four, creating a total of twenty-four clones to surround Chasing Soul.

He was going to use the price of brief explosive power to destroy Chasing Soul in one blow!

Chasing Soul watched the familiar scene in front of him, and instead of being alarmed, a smile appeared on his lips.

This was so similar to his Heart Inquiry Pass.

Was he really encountering the same thing again?

"Die for me!"

The twenty-four clones charged forward aggressively, ready to strike, but someone was faster than them.

Chasing Soul transformed into a ghostly shadow, flashing continuously in the void, his finger shadows pointing out almost as fast as lightning.

The twenty-four clones froze, displaying expressions of disbelief.

Cang Xuan Finger?

"This is clearly my technique!"

The method of trapping enemies was also a technique of his clones, but how could it have such power in the hands of the opponent?

"It’s over!"

Chasing Soul wanted to put on a mocking expression, but in the end, he could only face it with a twisted face.

"No!"

All twenty-four clones spoke simultaneously.

"You can’t kill me, merge with me! Let’s become one again."

Even if Chasing Soul were the dominant one.

He didn’t want to die!

If it weren’t for experiencing the Heart Inquiry, perhaps Chasing Soul would really have been tempted by such words.

But now!

Chasing Soul shook his head and lifted a finger lightly.

Everything had been answered during Heart Inquiry.

He wanted to be Chasing Soul, not a split soul.

Thunderous explosions shook the sea, causing an uproar, and amid the rolling waves, Chasing Soul’s heart rarely found peace.

Northeast of Central Continent, Xin Zui traveled alone through the mountains and soon arrived at the foot of one.

With a light stomp, the earth collapsed to reveal a staircase.

Descending down the winding path, he finally reached an underground plaza.

The area was lined with stone columns exuding a faint glow, and at the farthest end stood a large empty altar.

The altar was engraved with various mysterious runes, which began to light up one by one as Xin Zui approached, stopping just a foot away.

It seemed as if he didn’t even want to touch the power from above.

After confirming the altar’s integrity, Xin Zui made no further move and quickly retreated.

Exiting the mountain, he continued northeast.

Now that the formation was open, it only needed activation to be fully functioning, and the sacrificial materials were conveniently close by.

Inside the Nanli Sword Studio, Xia Wuyou, for some reason, had been restless since returning.

Could there be a mistake somewhere?

He asked the Elders nearby again, not feeling reassured.

Elder Luo was present, frowning thoughtfully for a moment. It seemed everything necessary had been done.

First, they had recalled all the disciples from outside and strictly ordered them not to leave randomly.

To the outside, cultivators willing to come were welcomed, and those unwilling were told to remain hidden and not to show themselves lightly.

"What about the disciples?"

Xia Wuyou anxiously asked.

"Yuo Li is taking care of them. If anything happens or if it’s absolutely necessary, that girl Yuo Li will lead the disciples away."

Elder Luo replied solemnly.

This was probably the consensus within the Nine Sects; if overwhelmed, they would protect the disciples and safeguard the future.

There should be no more problems, but Xia Wuyou’s heart was still uneasy and restless.

Until a breath emerged above the Nanli Sword Studio, Xia Wuyou and Elder Luo’s expressions changed.

This terrifying aura could only be sensed by those of the Divine Platform Realm, while Elders who hadn’t reached Transcendence were still clueless at this point.

These damned ones were after them too, and already above the Nanli Sword Studio, they must be targeting them.

"Send a message to Sea Stone City, and you try to escape first!"

After hastily leaving this message, the two disappeared from the spot.

Above the Nanli Sword Studio, Xin Zui had just arrived, preparing to strike, but unexpectedly felt two murderous auras rising from below.

When the two emerged, he curled his lips into a peculiar smile.

"A Divine Platform Realm appearing in Central Continent? How interesting!"

He hadn’t expected such a barren land to produce a Divine Platform Realm.

But they were still insignificant—two mere Initial Realm juniors were not worth mentioning.

Xin Zui looked down on them with a transcendent stance.

However, Xia Wuyou and Elder Luo were secretly shocked. Initially, the aura wasn’t intimidating until they faced it in person and were immediately suppressed by his presence.

Unbeatable!

This thought almost occurred simultaneously to both of them.

"Could senior perhaps retreat?"

Xia Wuyou suppressed his shock and pretended to be calm.

Xin Zui laughed proudly and said condescendingly, "What if I don’t retreat?"

"Nothing much. We are not lambs to be slaughtered."

Elder Luo spoke coldly, his body already full of Sword Intent.

"Such an annoying feeling."

Xin Zui squinted, the Sword Intent reminded him of those bastards from the Celestial Dao Sect, but it was merely similar in tone.

"Neither fish nor fowl!"

After making such a comment, a beam of light descended from the sky, first pinning down Elder Luo.

They couldn’t even see how their opponent acted before falling into the trap.

Elder Luo felt it the most vividly, a burning sensation spreading throughout his body, resisting it with his sword intent was utterly insufficient. And when he redirected all his spiritual power, it was like being pierced with needles after the burn.

"Come, sword!"

With frost on his face, Xia Wuyou summoned, and through the use of spiritual power and divine techniques, metal from several miles around quickly condensed into a giant sword three yards wide.

Sword Slash!

The giant sword, brimming with Sword Intent, slashed towards the Light Fixing Skill, shattering the light.

Elder Luo’s figure stumbled out in disarray, already stained with blood in such a brief moment.

"You do look somewhat commendable."

Xin Zui glanced a few more times at Xia Wuyou, commenting with an air of cloud and wind.

This condescending demeanor made the two gnash their teeth, yet they were helpless against him.

"What shall we do?"

Elder Luo asked, his voice trembling.

"There’s no escape, fight to the death!"

Xia Wuyou’s face was grim, shaking his head heavily.

Even if they could escape, only the two of them could, while the Sect behind them would be sacrificed.

They couldn’t flee; they must fight to the death!

The giant sword shattered at that moment, turning into countless fragments. With the Sword Intent imbued, they launched like a thousand arrows at Xin Zui.

"Stop!"

Unfortunately, such means still appeared like child’s play in Xin Zui’s hands.

The Light Fixing Skill enveloped him, halting all incoming fragments before they fell.

How is this possible?

Unyielding, Xia Wuyou recondensed a long sword and attacked again, his Sword Intent turning into a rainbow piercing through the heavens.

Elder Luo drew a sword and followed closely, their pincer attack shown indifference, or rather, he dismissed it outright.

The rainbow barely advanced three feet into the light before stopping, and Elder Luo fared even worse, his painstaking Sword Intent shattered the moment it entered the light.

This is when Xin Zui acted again; two beams of light descended from front and back, and before them, a Ghostly Realm manifested, encapsulating them.

Countless fierce ghosts emerged, continuously crossing before the fixed duo.

In the next moment, several Ghost Shadows broke through the light, lunging at the two.