Origin Lake.

  A gentle breeze stirred, light and carefree.

  Lu held the Dao Evolution Mirror. Within it, strands of Dao reserves writhed like swimming dragons.

  The Black Magnetic Minor World—an established Yan Five high-martial—possessed even more Dao reserves than the Hexagram Minor World in Blood Evil Heaven: one thousand eight hundred and sixty, compared to the Hexagram’s one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

  Of course, that slight difference meant little to a Yan Five.

  Sunlight pierced the clouds over the Five Phoenixes, striking the mirror and casting brilliant, dazzling reflections.

  Lu smiled.

  He attempted to extract the Dao reserves into the Five Phoenixes’ origin.

  But he found the mirror seemingly bound by chains—the reserves could not be drawn out.

  “Has an Upper Realm expert sealed the Dao reserves within using some special method?”

  Lu narrowed his eyes.

  The Dao Evolution Mirror originated from the Upper Realm, after all. Tampering by their experts wouldn’t be surprising.

  He set the mirror aside, plucked a chess piece from the box, and summoned the bronze wine cup with a wave. Warm liquor flowed within, crystalline and gleaming.

  He downed it in one gulp, warmth spreading through him.

  The Upper Realm…

  If they wanted to pluck the peaches, let them come.

  But the peaches of Lu Ping’an… they would need the life to harvest them.

  …

  Yuan Magnetic Heaven.

  The Immortal Ascension elder, crushed to his knees on the vast Black Magnetic land by the terrifying spiritual pressure beam, stared blankly, focus lost from his eyes.

  He felt as though the entire Black Magnetic Minor World had lost its soul.

  Lu’s words still echoed in his ears.

  “You wager, you accept the loss.”

  The elder had no rebuttal.

  But what chilled him most was Yuan Magnetic Heaven’s proximity to the Upper Realm—everything here must be crystal clear to them.

  Yet the Upper Realm made no move.

  Why?

  Kneeling on the vast earth, the elder let out a low, bitter laugh.

  He understood now.

  The Upper Realm… coveted these Dao reserves too.

  One thousand eight hundred and sixty strands from Black Magnetic alone—a considerable sum even for them.

  The Nine Heavens had rules; Upper Realm experts dared not plunder freely, maintaining a delicate balance.

  But Lu Ping’an’s appearance, wielding the Dao Evolution Mirror, knew no such restraint. A high-martial from the Nihility Heaven existed outside those rules. His actions shattered the equilibrium.

  He stripped Black Magnetic’s reserves—and the Upper Realm was happy to let him.

  Once enough accumulated in the mirror, they could intervene “in the name of rules,” reclaim it—and all the plundered reserves would fall into their hands.

  “Hahaha…”

  The elder laughed lowly.

  From ancient times to now, the Upper Realm hadn’t changed much.

  None of them were any good.

  Aboard the ancient warship,

  Sima Qingshan and the others stood as terrifying winds suddenly whipped through Yuan Magnetic Heaven, billowing their robes.

  Lu Jiulian returned serenely, sitting cross-legged at the prow, eyes calm.

  This was Young Master Lu’s reckoning.

  Nie Changqing, blade slung over his shoulder, gazed coldly and mercilessly at the Black Magnetic crowd.

  He felt the Young Master had grown far more magnanimous.

  In the old days, back in Beiluo City, with his temperament, he might have slaughtered the entire Black Magnetic world.

  After all, in that war, had the Five Phoenixes lost, every living soul might have been butchered—rivers of blood, mountains of corpses.

  But a world stripped of Dao reserves would soon decay, weaken, and collapse in helplessness and despair.

  Such an end might be even more hopeless than outright slaughter.

  The Young Master… still had that same wicked temper.

  Yuan Magnetic Heaven had fallen deathly silent.

  No one had foreseen Black Magnetic’s fate—over one thousand eight hundred Dao reserves,

  stripped away by the Five Phoenixes!

  Boom!

  After long silence, gasps echoed endlessly through Yuan Magnetic Heaven.

  They truly hadn’t imagined this.

  So this… was the Five Phoenixes’ reckoning!

  Far more terrifying than expected!

  The ancient warship shifted through the void.

  Everyone in Yuan Magnetic Heaven clearly saw the eight figures kneeling at the prow, gazing coldly and calmly across the heaven.

  Creak… creak…

  Lu Jiulian steered the warship forward slowly.

  Ignoring the plummeting auras of the Black Magnetic world, his gaze locked on another high-martial in Yuan Magnetic Heaven.

  The reckoning… continued.

  …

  Blood Evil Heaven.

  With the Hexagram Minor World’s team battle lost, individual battles loomed.

  Yet suddenly,

  the Hexagram Immortal Ascension ancestor’s expression shifted.

  Light surged in his eyes—he seemed to glimpse the horrors unfolding in Yuan Magnetic Heaven.

  He saw a brilliant star dimming and dying there!

  A Yan Five high-martial world withering!

  “Black Magnetic Minor World… lost?! Stripped of all Dao reserves?!”

  Trembling, the Hexagram ancestor absorbed news from Yuan Magnetic Heaven.

  What changed his expression further: individual battles had begun.

  His chosen combatants filled him with growing dread.

  Boom boom boom!

  The Hexagram continent quaked. Mountains shattered; vast deserts emerged on the land, scorching sands rolling.

  From a deep crater, a towering, burly figure rose—skin purple, demonic energy swirling fiercely.

  Sharp eyes blazed with boundless killing intent.

  Boiling vital blood thundered like gods and demons beating war drums.

  Tang Yimo, six meridians fully opened, in an invincible stance, had slain the Hexagram’s contestant.

  Back when he first entered Unity realm, he had nearly defeated a Yan Six Holy Lord.

  Now a Tribulation Transcender with six meridians open—Immortal Transformation-level power—he crushed a near-Immortal Transformation opponent with one kick.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Next.”

  His voice was ice-cold.

  Tang Yimo now seemed an ancient demonic god.

  Ten zhang tall, demonic energy coiling over his skin, black arcane patterns dense across his body.

  The Hexagram Immortal Ascension ancestor’s unease deepened.

  Was Hexagram… to follow Black Magnetic’s fate?!

  Second battle: Five Phoenixes still fielded Tang Yimo.

  Hexagram sent an Immortal Transformation expert.

  This fight was more spectacle than the first—but spectacle only.

  With six meridians blazing, Tang Yimo matched the expert blow for blow, continents rising and sinking, mountains whipped like dragons.

  Cultivators across the vast Hexagram gazed in horror toward the battle.

  After long,

  it ended.

  Tang Yimo, drenched in blood, black ichor spraying from pores, looked battered.

  But…

  ten zhang before him,

  in a crater nearly a thousand meters wide, lay the Immortal Transformation expert—reduced to bloody pulp.

  Second battle: Five Phoenixes victorious again!

  Tang Yimo limped back, laughing.

  Aboard the ancient warship, Overlord descended to retrieve him.

  The outcome held no suspense.

  The Hexagram Immortal Ascension ancestor felt the world lose its color.

  Overlord’s final axe ended it.

  Hexagram Minor World—a Yan Five high-martial—crushed utterly in defeat.

  Lost one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine Dao reserves!

  “No!”

  At last, the ancestor could not accept it.

  He unleashed terrifying aura.

  “Lu Ping’an… your actions disrupt the Nine Heavens’ rules! The Upper Realm will not tolerate you—nor will the Nine Heavens!”

  He roared.

  “Past cause, present effect.”

  “You once sent armies against the Five Phoenixes. This reckoning… is karma.”

  “Besides, this young master gave you a chance.”

  Lu’s calm voice resounded.

  Boom!

  “Stay—all of you!”

  Murderous intent flared in the ancestor’s eyes.

  He stared at Overlord, Tang Yimo, and the others aboard the warship, raising his hand sharply.

  Dragon-like energies surged from him.

  Forming a razor-sharp blade of light that illuminated Blood Evil Heaven, carrying devastating waves as it slashed toward the warship!

  He would detain them—even knowing Lu could strike through space profound.

  He acted without hesitation!

  Black Magnetic’s tragedy showed him: the Upper Realm would not intervene.

  So he would do it himself!

  Above the heavens,

  the Dao Evolution Mirror began stripping Hexagram’s Dao reserves.

  But the ancestor’s killing intent had already locked the warship.

  Overlord’s demonic energy boiled; he roared like a fiend at the skies.

  Tang Yimo’s aura exploded in six successive waves—six meridians open, demonic energy surging.

  Du Longyang, Ye Shoudao, and others readied for battle.

  Luo Mingyue and Ximen Xianzhi’s eyes sharpened.

  “Let me.”

  Yet to everyone’s shock,

  Aru, standing quietly at the stern, unslung his longbow.

  Thud!

  The bow slammed the deck, cracking the ancient planks.

  Boom boom boom!

  Overlord and the others braced against the Immortal Ascension strike.

  The Hexagram ancestor’s killing intent remained cold.

  Sizzle sizzle…

  Aru drew the bow.

  As he pulled, three energies Lu had stored in the Five Phoenixes Bow stacked relentlessly. At the bow’s tip, an arrow formed—collapsing the void around it!

  Boom!

  Aura waves surged skyward!

  The terrifying presence sent chills through Overlord and the others; they stared in disbelief.

  The targeted ancestor felt his scalp numb, heart gripped by an invisible hand!

  What was this?!

  He sensed Aru’s strength—barely a mighty expert. How could he pose such mortal threat?!

  Disbelief filled the ancestor’s eyes as he fixated on the Five Phoenixes Bow.

  The spinning arrow—formed from energies exhaled by three phoenix heads—radiated death.

  Whoosh!

  Aru released.

  In that instant, he felt drained, the bow’s recoil splitting his flesh with blood.

  The arrow flew.

  Void collapsed inch by inch.

  Time and space slowed to a crawl.

  The three energies within—primordial spirit power, chaos power, and Dao intent power—were Lu’s doing.

  The arrow shot forth.

  Overlord, Tang Yimo, and others scattered explosively.

  None dared be caught in its terrifying wake.

  This arrow was too dreadful.

  Indiscriminate.

  The Hexagram Immortal Ascension expert paled in horror.

  He soared skyward, speed at maximum, dodging across Blood Evil Heaven, flickering endlessly.

  How fast was Immortal Ascension?

  Fast enough to cross world barriers effortlessly.

  Yet…

  the arrow locked on as though fated.

  Pfft!

  It struck his body.

  Immortal energy swirled as he tried to block.

  But upon contact, his arms turned to bloody mush in an instant.

  Blood sprayed endlessly.

  The arrow’s force pierced him, hurling him into the vast Hexagram continent.

  BOOM!!!!!

  A heaven-shaking explosion.

  The three violent energies broke free of the array word binding.

  Devastating blast waves swept like apocalyptic tides.

  A massive dome of light—like an upturned bowl—engulfed half the Hexagram continent. Oceans evaporated; mountains vanished into steam.

  Sizzle sizzle…

  Scorching heat rolled.

  The Hexagram Immortal Ascension ancestor never imagined dying on his own world’s soil—shot by an Emergence realm cultivator.

  The arrow’s terrifying power shattered his primordial spirit.

  An Immortal Ascension expert… fallen.

  Terror spread through Blood Evil Heaven.

  Aboard the ancient warship,

  Tang Yimo and Overlord stood stunned.

  This… was their substitute teammate?

  When Lu called Aru a substitute, they hadn’t thought much. But after this arrow, their view changed utterly.

  Aru knelt, gasping heavily.

  His body trembled; hot tears rolled from his eyes.

  “Master… this bow is so strong!”

  His trembling hand caressed the Five Phoenixes Bow—Gongshu Yu’s life’s masterpiece.

  Unmatched in slaughter.

  So strong.

  Aru knew it would be powerful, but this exceeded expectations.

  Most shocking: he, a mere Yang God realm unsuited to combat, had slain an Immortal Ascension expert!

  What monstrous weapon had Master forged?!

  The Dao Evolution Mirror finally stripped all Hexagram reserves.

  Hovering in the heavens, it blazed with light.

  The Five Phoenixes’ projection showed thousands of writhing Dao reserves—leaving onlookers dazed.

  Just as all thought it ended,

  Overlord steered the warship toward another Yan Five in Blood Evil Heaven.

  The reckoning continued.

  …

  Pingyang Heaven.

  Little Thunderclap Buddha Realm, pagoda.

  Joyful Venerable’s face was ashen; his usually jovial features held no smile.

  Domineering, unreasonable, barbaric…

  That was the Five Phoenixes’ stance now!

  A completely unreasonable reckoning!

  “G-Great Venerable…”

  Joyful Venerable swallowed hard, inwardly admiring the Great Venerable’s decision.

  Swallowing pride to apologize to the Five Phoenixes Holy Lord had spared Pingyang Heaven this catastrophe.

  “Project… project these scenes. Let every world in Pingyang Heaven see clearly.”

  Great Venerable closed his eyes slowly.

  His lips trembled as he instructed Joyful Venerable.

  He knew recent discontent in Pingyang Heaven—many felt no need to yield to Lu Ping’an.

  Great Venerable had never explained.

  Now…

  let the dissenters open their eyes wide!

  Could they withstand the Five Phoenixes’ reckoning?!

  Joyful Venerable hurried to comply.

  Dong dong dong!

  Ancient Buddhist bells tolled, resounding vast chimes raising brilliant Buddhist light across Pingyang Heaven.

  The illuminating light shone into every temple in every minor world.

  Every expert and Holy Lord noticed.

  Then, within the light, scenes projected:

  The two ancient warships campaigning through Blood Evil Heaven and Yuan Magnetic Heaven.

  The Black Magnetic Immortal Ascension ancestor forced to kneel under spiritual pressure.

  The Hexagram ancestor slain by one arrow—horrifying!

  Pingyang Heaven fell deathly silent.

  So this was the terror of the Five Phoenixes’ reckoning.

  Many Holy Lords felt lingering fear. Had they not heeded Great Venerable and apologized…

  they might now be the ones stripped.

  Compared to losing all Dao reserves, high-grade spirit stone mines and herbs meant nothing.

  Mines and herbs could be recultivated.

  But lost Dao reserves… the sky would fall.

  Watching the two warships rampage unchecked through Blood Evil Heaven and Yuan Magnetic Heaven,

  Pingyang Heaven held deathlike silence.

  Every Holy Lord knew.

  The Five Phoenixes Minor World—once utterly beneath notice—

  had become hegemon of the Lower Three Heavens.

  …

  Blood Evil Heaven.

  Aboard the ancient warship,

  Tang Yimo poured a bottle of body-tempering pills into his mouth, chewing and swallowing.

  Wounds split across his body sprouted buds, wriggling and healing swiftly.

  “Pills refined by Lady Ni Yu… truly effective.”

  Tang Yimo said.

  Below the warship,

  Overlord’s demonic energy surged as he returned.

  Looking up, they saw the Dao Evolution Mirror plundering all wagered reserves…

  “How many now?”

  Overlord asked.

  “Including what Lu Jiulian’s group won in Yuan Magnetic Heaven, the Five Phoenixes have claimed nearly ten thousand strands this time.”

  Nie Changqing replied.

  “Nearly ten thousand…”

  “And the Upper Realm shows no reaction?”

  Overlord’s eyes narrowed.

  “Our actions have shaken the storms—severely wounding Blood Evil Heaven and Yuan Magnetic Heaven.”

  “Given the Upper Realm’s nature, they cannot sit idle.”

  Overlord landed on the warship, staring into distant darkness, eyes squinted.

  “Or perhaps they’re waiting to reap the fisherman’s profit.”

  “Ten thousand strands—that’s the accumulation of a Yan Four high-martial. The Upper Realm must covet it.”

  Tang Yimo stood, ruffling his hair.

  Looking at Overlord: “So you think the Upper Realm will act?”

  “They must maintain balance in the end. We cannot truly strip every world in Blood Evil Heaven as Young Master Lu said.”

  Overlord said.

  “Thus, once reserves exceed ten thousand, the Upper Realm will no longer watch.”

  Aboard the warship,

  everyone tensed.

  In truth, after defeating Yan Five high-martials in Blood Evil Heaven, further battles held no pressure—pure one-sided domination.

  They knew it was nearly time to return.

  Those who offend the Five Phoenixes, though far, must be punished.

  They had achieved that.

  But Overlord’s words made clear…

  returning might not be so simple.

  Blood Evil Heaven.

  The ancient warship rose and fell.

  Every high-martial expert trembled, fearing the warship looming overhead.

  Forcing them—through “reason”—into Grand Competition wagers.

  Suddenly,

  experts across Blood Evil Heaven and Yuan Magnetic Heaven felt the world grow eerily still.

  In the endless voids of both heavens,

  the two ancient warships hovered.

  Suddenly,

  every probing primordial spirit shuddered.

  The warships streaked into light, shooting frantically through Blood Evil Heaven and Yuan Magnetic Heaven.

  As though fleeing in panic!

  Instantly, experts in both heavens realized:

  The Upper Realm… had finally acted!

  “Go!”

  Aboard the warship,

  light scattered in Overlord’s pupils.

  The moment reserves exceeded ten thousand in the mirror,

  he steered the warship into explosive flight.

  Boom!

  Indeed.

  As it sped away,

  terrifying aura surged in Blood Evil Heaven.

  Suddenly, Tang Yimo and others stared ahead fixedly.

  They saw it.

  At Blood Evil Heaven’s end, a rift tore open. Beyond, dense immortal energy poured forth, vast and ancient emerging faintly.

  As though connecting to an immortal realm!

  The rift widened; light shone down.

  Chasing the warship.

  Not only Blood Evil Heaven.

  In Yuan Magnetic Heaven,

  Lu Jiulian sat at the prow, robes whipping, steering into burst speed.

  At Yuan Magnetic Heaven’s end,

  a continent emerged—vast beyond sight, half the size of Yuan Magnetic Heaven itself!

  “The Upper Realm.”

  Terrifying gales assaulted.

  Lu Jiulian gazed expressionlessly at the continent, speaking calmly.

  Sima Qingshan unfurled his scroll abruptly, using spiritual energy as ink, fixating on the vast land.

  As though to depict the Upper Realm.

  But the moment his brush touched,

  terrifying will rolled from the continent.

  Sima Qingshan felt his brush weigh like the continent itself—immeasurably heavy.

  Rip!

  The hovering scroll tore to shreds by unknown force!

  Light projected from the Upper Realm.

  Chasing the warship.

  The light’s speed was too great; despite the warship’s flight through Yuan Magnetic Heaven, it gradually closed.

  Endless radiance like tidal waves from an ocean, threatening to devour all!

  Aboard both warships,

  Overlord and Lu Jiulian drew jade talismans, ready to crush them.

  The talismans bore the “Travel” Array Word—for tearing space profound to return to Nihility Heaven.

  Once there, special rules barred Upper Realm power.

  Crack crack!

  Both crushed the talismans.

  Silver-gray spatial profound surged violently.

  Yet…

  Overlord and Lu Jiulian’s expressions shifted.

  For within the Upper Realm’s projected light, silver-gray radiance fell too—smoothing the fluctuating space around them!

  From the vast, ancient Upper Realm,

  a figure in loose robes emerged, a “Travel” mark in his palm, half-smiling.

  “The fake, meeting the real—can’t be arrogant anymore.”

  …

  Origin Lake, central island.

  Infinite lines danced in Lu’s eyes.

  His brows raised slightly.

  Tap!

  He gently stroked the board, placing two pieces in succession.

  With the fake, one can still confound the real.

  Boom boom!

  In the voids of Blood Evil Heaven and Yuan Magnetic Heaven,

  beams descended from the heavens.

  Vast silver-gray radiance poured forth, dense beyond measure.

  Behind each warship, massive abyss-like rifts tore open.

  The expert bearing the true “Travel” mark in his palm lost his composure.

  For… he discovered his “Travel” Array Word had lost effect!

  Could it be… the one in his hand was fake?!