Defeated… they were actually defeated?!

  The skies above the Hexagram continent fell into utter silence.

  Every cultivator from the Hexagram stared in sheer horror.

  Many had witnessed the Heaven and Earth Grand Competition—the team battle between the Five Phoenixes and the Star Moon Minor World.

  That fight had been anything but easy.

  Ye Shoudao had even corroded his remaining arm down to bare white bone.

  Yet how much time had passed since then?

  Without someone like Jiang Li who could command army formations, they still achieved such an overwhelming, crushing victory?

  Many gazes shifted to Luo Mingyue and Ximen Xianzhi.

  The unexpected factor—it all came down to these two!

  The experts of the Hexagram continent, and those watching from Blood Evil Heaven, drew sharp breaths.

  Yes, Du Longyang and Ye Shoudao were strong, but their gap with ordinary Tribulation Transcenders wasn’t insurmountable. Three against four—they might hold for a while, but defeat was inevitable in a prolonged fight.

  The true game-changers were Luo Mingyue and Ximen Xianzhi.

  “Inheritors of the Zither King and Sword King under the Blood-Robed General!”

  That was likely the main reason these two were so monstrous!

  The Immortal Ascension elder of the Hexagram continent narrowed his eyes.

  He had been careless.

  He had forgotten that the Blood-Robed General’s ancient tomb had opened in the Five Phoenixes, allowing the Four Kings’ legacies to continue.

  The Four Kings… at their peak, they rivaled ancient Sacred Ancestors!

  How could legacies from such beings be weak?!

  The team battle…

  Just like that, they had lost!

  A flicker of reluctance passed through the elder’s eyes.

  This single loss had pushed the Hexagram continent to the edge of a cliff!

  This was a wager involving all of the Hexagram’s Dao reserves…

  And with the Dao Evolution Mirror as witness, defeat would mean unimaginable consequences—all their Dao reserves truly stripped away!

  If that happened, centuries of accumulation would vanish like bursting bubbles.

  “Reckoning… so this is your reckoning, Lu Ping’an.”

  “What a cunning plan!”

  “You intend to destroy the foundations Blood Evil Heaven has built over countless ages!”

  …

  Origin Lake.

  On the lake’s central island, a gentle breeze stirred.

  Lu sat in the pavilion, white robes fluttering.

  As expected, they won.

  Leaning back in his Thousand-Bladed Chair, he toyed with a chess piece but did not place it on the board.

  If Luo Mingyue and Ximen Xianzhi had just emerged from the ancient tomb, they might not have achieved this. Though they inherited the two kings’ legacies, their mindset had been lacking.

  They needed tempering, baptism in blood.

  The time-reversal secret realm Lu created forced them to experience a desperate war alone, squeezing out their full potential.

  That was why Lu had confidence in this campaign.

  “The Four Kings… Gu Mangran once said that at their peak, mere Immortal Ascension experts were nothing to them.”

  Thus, this victory was entirely within Lu’s expectations.

  Was it too overpowered?

  Not really. Back then, the Sword King—drained of vitality and blood essence, sustained by less than Yin God-level spiritual energy—had stunned the world by slaying an Upper Realm Immortal Transformation emissary aboard the ancient warship with a single strike.

  Compared to that, Ximen Xianzhi’s performance today still fell far short.

  A breeze swept across the lake.

  In stark contrast to the bloody storm in Blood Evil Heaven,

  the Five Phoenixes continent remained peaceful and harmonious.

  Lu gently lifted a chess piece. White lines danced in his pupils as his gaze shifted, turning to the other front.

  The forces had split into two paths—one ancient warship to Blood Evil Heaven, the other to Yuan Magnetic Heaven.

  Blood Evil Heaven was making quite the commotion now.

  As for Yuan Magnetic Heaven, Lu had sensed no fluctuations.

  With the team battle concluded in Blood Evil Heaven, Lu could now direct his attention there.

  But upon looking, his brows raised slightly.

  The situation… was somewhat beyond his expectations.

  …

  Yuan Magnetic Heaven.

  Black Magnetic Minor World—a Yan Five high-martial on par with the Hexagram.

  Aboard the ancient warship, the phoenix pattern blazed like flames, wings spread as though roaring through the void.

  Surrounding the vessel, countless auras locked on coldly.

  Terrifying pressures warped the void itself.

  Yuan Magnetic Heaven seemed even less welcoming than Blood Evil Heaven.

  The warship from the Five Phoenixes had pressed straight into its depths, locating the Black Magnetic Minor World.

  On the deck, figures sat cross-legged.

  Lu Jiulian’s robes fluttered as he gazed calmly at the Black Magnetic world.

  Sima Qingshan, Nie Changqing, and the others sat similarly, eyes indifferent.

  They stated their purpose—coming in the name of reckoning.

  Yet…

  Yuan Magnetic Heaven treated them as nothing.

  “Get lost!”

  Boom boom boom!

  An Immortal Transformation expert blocked the void, his colossal dharma body radiating brilliant golden light, looking down imperiously on those aboard the warship.

  From various high-martial worlds, cultivators watched with mocking smiles.

  “Settling accounts through the Heaven and Earth Grand Competition format?”

  “Laughable.”

  “A mere Five Phoenixes dares to ‘reckon’ with us?”

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  As the heaven closest to the Upper Realm, Yuan Magnetic Heaven matched Blood Evil Heaven in overall strength but far surpassed it in arrogance.

  Thus, upon learning the Five Phoenixes had come for reckoning, they all laughed.

  Waves of mockery threatened to drown the warship.

  Li Sansui’s eyes surged with icy killing intent, dense array words weaving around him.

  Compared to Overlord’s group, this warship’s expedition force was far more restrained.

  Sima Qingshan watched calmly. Kong Nanfei smiled faintly, while Bai Qingniao stroked Little Phoenix Jiu’s head in her lap.

  They remained unfazed by the ridicule.

  But then Lu Jiulian stood.

  “I don’t actually enjoy fighting. I prefer quiet cultivation…”

  His gaze was serene.

  Mocking eyes rained down, fixed on the blocking Immortal Transformation expert.

  Lu Jiulian clasped his hands behind his back and stepped forward. A green lotus bloomed beneath his foot as he walked step by step toward the expert.

  Aboard the ancient warship, Sima Qingshan and the others stirred, watching him.

  They knew Lu Jiulian’s realm: Heavenly Human.

  But his combat power far exceeded Immortal Transformation—his score in that secret realm had been terrifying.

  What exactly this ruthless man had done in that war remained unknown.

  Lu Jiulian stepped off the warship. What was he planning?

  Sima Qingshan, Nie Changqing, and the others grew curious.

  Was Lu Jiulian going to reason with them?

  How would he persuade the Black Magnetic Minor World to accept the Grand Competition?

  Soon, they were stunned.

  A radiant green lotus bloomed in the void—untouched by mud.

  But as it spun, it gradually stained with blood—the blood of the Immortal Transformation expert radiating his golden body dharma idol.

  The fight was over in an instant. The expert was enveloped by the lotus, and in the next moment…

  He was utterly dead!

  Not even his primordial spirit escaped!

  Sima Qingshan and the others stared, then couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

  Doesn’t enjoy fighting… my ass!

  “Audacious maniac!”

  The instant the Black Magnetic Immortal Transformation expert was erased, every powerhouse in the world erupted in fury!

  Three more Immortal Transformation experts soared into the sky, glaring coldly at Lu Jiulian.

  Beyond them, countless Tribulation Transcenders filled the void.

  Lu Jiulian emerged slowly from the blooming lotus.

  “Wager all Dao reserves. Compete in the Heaven and Earth Grand Competition… or not?”

  He asked calmly.

  Behind him, the blood lotus spun, raining crimson droplets.

  Boom boom boom!

  From every corner of Yuan Magnetic Heaven, terrifying auras rose.

  Immortal Transformation Holy Lords from Yan Six worlds, Immortal Transformation experts from Yan Five—all unleashed pressure to suppress Lu Jiulian.

  No one had expected that, surrounded by enemies, Lu Jiulian would strike first and kill an Immortal Transformation expert!

  Boom!

  From the Black Magnetic Minor World,

  a ten-thousand-zhang giant rose—the Immortal Ascension expert’s golden body dharma idol.

  “Dare to kill an Immortal Transformation expert of my Black Magnetic world…”

  The Immortal Ascension expert acted!

  A strand of immortal energy shot skyward, forming a whip that lashed toward Lu Jiulian.

  It was like a signal. As he moved, experts from all sides charged the ancient warship with overwhelming killing cries.

  To them, high-martial cultivators from the Nihility Heaven were mere insects crawling in ruins!

  How could they compare to cultivators of Yuan Magnetic Heaven, bordering the Upper Realm?!

  Yuan Magnetic Heaven was a place steeped in territorial superiority.

  They looked down even on Pingyang Heaven—let alone the Nihility.

  Aboard the ancient warship,

  countless Dao patterns surfaced around Li Sansui.

  Even surrounded by a sea of enemies, they feared nothing.

  But ultimately, they didn’t need to act. A massive silver-gray rift tore open the heavens.

  Lu’s faint chuckle emerged.

  “What a fine Yuan Magnetic Heaven.”

  As the words fell,

  the Phoenix Feather Sword shot forth from the rift, splitting into nine fiery streaks across the void.

  Pfft pfft!

  Expert after expert exploded under the onslaught, bodies shattering—only primordial spirits fleeing in terror.

  Holy Lord Lu!

  Holy Lord Lu of the Five Phoenixes?!

  Space profound!

  He could strike from such vast distance…

  Those who had intended to reinforce quickly retreated. Yuan Magnetic Heaven’s experts knew well the terror of this ruthless Lu Ping’an.

  After all, he had even dared to shatter an Upper Realm divine son!

  Lu did not interfere in Lu Jiulian’s battle with the Black Magnetic Immortal Ascension expert.

  That terrifying clash seemed ready to collapse the darkness itself.

  Blood lotuses enveloped the fight, raising heaven-shaking uproar.

  Heavenly Human realm, plus third-sequence Dao intent…

  Finally,

  amid widespread shock, the Black Magnetic Immortal Ascension elder coughed blood and staggered back in defeat.

  Lu Jiulian’s robes were torn, blood trickling from his mouth.

  But…

  Yuan Magnetic Heaven fell instantly silent.

  Third-sequence Dao intent?!

  What kind of monster was this? More importantly—an Immortal Ascension expert had truly been defeated!

  Expressionless, Lu Jiulian formed an energy lotus in his hand and gently tossed it.

  Terrifying energy, carrying astonishing aura, rained down as though to obliterate the entire continent!

  Not even Yuan Magnetic Heaven’s Immortal Transformation experts dared block it.

  They could only watch as the lotus hovered above the elder’s head.

  “Wager all Dao reserves. Compete… or not?”

  Lu Jiulian asked again.

  The elder’s eyes held sorrow. To be defeated by a junior—if this youth were an Upper Realm Sacred Clan divine son or heaven’s chosen, it might be acceptable. But he was merely a lowly being from the Nihility Heaven’s Five Phoenixes.

  Faint light flickered in the elder’s eyes.

  “Since I’ve lost, what right do I have to refuse?”

  He was unwilling, but in the end, valuing his life, he agreed.

  Who reaching Immortal Ascension didn’t cherish their life?

  Besides, if they competed, they could stall for time—until Upper Realm experts arrived. Then whatever Black Magnetic lost, the Five Phoenixes would repay in full!

  “Very good.”

  Lu Jiulian dispersed the lotus hovering above the elder.

  Hands clasped behind his back, he drifted serenely back to the ancient warship.

  The nine Phoenix Feather Swords vanished with silver-gray spatial energy, but the lingering terrifying aura kept many frozen.

  Holy Lord Lu Ping’an of the Five Phoenixes could kill even in Yuan Magnetic Heaven!

  After agreeing,

  the Black Magnetic elder withdrew into the continent, dispatching all remaining Immortal Transformation experts according to Grand Competition rules.

  Three left—he assigned them all to individual battles.

  “This one fought me and was injured! In individual battles, your task is to stall… stall endlessly!”

  “Aside from him, the rest of the Five Phoenixes are nothing to fear!”

  “As long as you outlast him, we win!”

  In the Black Magnetic palace, the pale, blood-coughing Immortal Ascension ancestor instructed the three.

  The three felt immense pressure.

  They had no confidence—Lu Jiulian was too strong, having battled and even defeated their ancestor.

  Even injured, he far surpassed ordinary Immortal Transformation experts.

  Still, the ancestor’s plan was their only chance.

  Per Grand Competition rules,

  if Lu Jiulian could fight, he could battle through individual rounds to the end.

  Yet…

  when the competition began,

  every powerhouse in Black Magnetic felt their hearts sink to the depths.

  In the team battle, without an Immortal Transformation expert, Black Magnetic was easily crushed by five relatively unknown Five Phoenixes cultivators!

  They hadn’t even needed full strength.

  Sima Qingshan unfurled his scroll, splashing ink to shift mountains and seas.

  Kong Nanfei suppressed with vast righteous aura.

  Under their pressure, Nie Changqing drew his blade and reaped lives effortlessly!

  Faintly, Black Magnetic’s Tribulation Transcenders saw a colossal dragon cleaved in half, dragon blood splashing their faces.

  In the next instant, their consciousnesses were extinguished!

  Mo Liuqi and Bai Qingniao hadn’t even acted—the team battle was over.

  Losing the team battle left Black Magnetic no retreat. With the Dao Evolution Mirror as witness, they couldn’t renege.

  Defeat meant Dao reserves stripped away!

  The Immortal Ascension ancestor began to panic.

  In individual battles, Lu Jiulian hovered a green lotus, crushing all three Immortal Transformation experts effortlessly.

  Ordinary Immortal Transformation experts had only primordial spirit and golden body flowers. Entering Heavenly Human, Lu Jiulian added a third-sequence Dao intent flower.

  With three flowers gathered, his strength was supreme—ordinary Immortal Transformation experts were no match.

  Black Magnetic Minor World…

  had lost!

  Yuan Magnetic Heaven fell so silent one could hear a pin drop.

  Other Yan Five high-martial worlds trembled.

  Who could have imagined…

  that Black Magnetic—a Yan Five with ages of accumulation—would fall to the Five Phoenixes from the long-ruined Nihility Heaven?!

  As the Dao Evolution Mirror rose, casting terrifying light,

  stripping Black Magnetic’s Dao reserves strand by strand, transferring them to the Five Phoenixes,

  the Immortal Ascension ancestor let out an unwilling roar.

  “No!”

  His eyes reddened.

  That was all of Black Magnetic’s accumulated wealth!

  Boom!

  From the sacred ground,

  the ancestor’s colossal dharma idol emerged. He knelt fiercely toward the Upper Realm.

  “Great lords of the Upper Realm Sacred Clans!”

  “The Five Phoenixes disrupt the balance of the Nine Heavens! Developing through plunder! Great lords, intervene!”

  Eyes bloodshot, coughing blood, he wailed to the Upper Realm.

  He refused to hand over Black Magnetic’s thousand Dao reserves to the Five Phoenixes!

  Yet…

  to his despair,

  despite his kneeling cries,

  the Upper Realm showed no response!

  Why?!

  Blood vessels filled his eyes in disbelief. The Upper Realm clearly had the power to stop everything the Five Phoenixes were doing!

  But… why weren’t they intervening?!

  Boom!

  Black Magnetic’s Dao reserves were fully stripped.

  Its cultivators panicked.

  Short-term, little would change—but without Dao reserves, Black Magnetic would soon decline, possibly dropping from Yan Five all the way to Yan Nine.

  It might even fall from high-martial to mid-martial…

  Countless cultivators clutched their heads, unable to accept this!

  “Why doesn’t the Upper Realm care?!”

  The ancestor coughed blood endlessly. Then he rose from his kneel, erupting with terrifying aura.

  A world-shaking strike aimed at the Dao Evolution Mirror.

  He would shatter it—stop the stripping!

  He reneged!

  He refused the bet!

  …

  Five Phoenixes, Origin Lake.

  White Jade Pavilion.

  Lines danced wildly in Lu’s eyes as he held the chess piece.

  He smiled.

  Then, pinching the piece, he arced it onto the board.

  “Thousandfold spiritual pressure.”

  Instantly,

  in Yuan Magnetic Heaven,

  a terrifying spiritual pressure beam surged from spatial profound—like a meteor piercing the sky—slamming into the Black Magnetic Immortal Ascension ancestor.

  The ancestor’s pupils contracted sharply.

  His world-shaking strike hit the Dao Evolution Mirror—leaving it unscathed.

  His body, struck by the beam, hurled backward, crashing into the continent, pulverizing dragon-like mountain ranges, forcing him to his knees.

  On his back, the beam pressed down from the heavens, carrying incomparable crushing pressure.

  This pressure…

  left him gasping, drenched in cold sweat.

  Holy… Holy Lord Lu!

  “If you wager, you must accept the loss.”

  Lu’s light voice drifted through.

  In the void,

  the Dao Evolution Mirror fully stripped Black Magnetic’s Dao reserves.

  Dragon-like reserves churned within.

  Then silver light flashed, tearing space as it vanished.

  Yuan Magnetic Heaven fell into deathly silence.

  On the lake island,

  Lu grasped the Dao Evolution Mirror, sensing the terrifying reserves within. His brows raised slightly.

  He lifted his hand, lines dancing in his eyes.

  “Something is indeed strange.”

  “Why… has the Upper Realm not intervened? This young master was ready to tear faces with them, yet they make no move.”

  “Why is that?”

  Lu slowly furrowed his brows, gently tapping the mirror.

  “The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind…”

  “Or perhaps the Upper Realm is also eyeing these Dao reserves?”

  “Planning to pluck the fruit… from this young master’s hands?”