BOOM!

  Terrifying auras churned the vast sea, sending up heaven-shaking waves.

  The giant whale raised its tail high. The immortal island on its back was shrouded in dense origin qi.

  Countless gazes fell upon it—filled with awe!

  “White Jade Capital…”

  “White Jade Capital has reappeared in the world!”

  “Since Young Master Lu took White Jade Capital into seclusion, how long has it been since we last saw it?!”

  Cultivators of the Five Phoenixes spoke with complex emotions.

  But behind the complexity burned fanaticism and uncontainable excitement!

  To the Five Phoenixes’ cultivators, White Jade Capital was more than an island—it was faith.

  Back when the Five Phoenixes was still a low-martial continent, White Jade Capital had descended from the heavens. Young Master Lu, peerless and unmatched, had changed the era.

  He had led the world into a golden age of cultivation.

  Thus, White Jade Capital was faith to every cultivator.

  Though it rarely appeared, though Young Master Lu seldom showed himself—he was forever a legend in their hearts.

  And now, when the Five Phoenixes faced conquest from all realms, when crisis loomed—

  That once-brilliant island reappeared.

  Atop White Jade Capital’s tower, the youth sat calmly.

  With the island’s return, all pressure on the Five Phoenixes vanished completely.

  Clearly, the slender youth bore the weight of the hundred thousand troops alone.

  “Young Master!”

  Ni Yu stuffed a handful of pills into her mouth, eyes rippling with pride.

  Ning Zhao’s dress fluttered. Her long lashes trembled as she bit her red lips.

  Across the Five Phoenixes’ mountains and rivers—

  Cultivators stood, gazing at the sky.

  Nie Changqing’s hand gripped Dragon Slayer at his waist, knuckles white.

  Sima Qingshan painted in his tower, brush flowing, then looked out the window.

  Bai Qingniao sat atop Little Phoenix One, now a fire phoenix, chin raised proudly.

  Kong Nanfei drank turbid wine. Seeing this, he recalled the Master who once held off ten thousand alone—sorrow and pride filled him.

  Every cultivator in the Five Phoenixes felt excitement and sorrow in that moment.

  This was an unprecedented crisis for the Five Phoenixes.

  Yet…

  No one in the Five Phoenixes was willing to accept it.

  Every cultivator clenched their fists, faces twisted with unwilling rage.

  What had they done?

  Why did all realms seek to conquer them?

  They had done nothing but fight with all their strength to win the Grand Tournament.

  Was that wrong?

  Tang Yimo had fought until unconscious, yet the Star-Moon Saint Lord still tried to kill him after surrender—was their resistance wrong?

  Every cultivator in the Five Phoenixes wanted to roar these questions.

  But they knew—it was useless.

  From the start of the tournament, the Upper Realm had oppressed the Five Phoenixes. Their goal had always been destruction.

  The Star-Moon Saint Lord incident had merely torn away their masks!

  Sometimes, existence itself was the crime!

  Many chests heaved with fury.

  It was all because the Five Phoenixes were too weak!

  Atop Buzhou Peak—

  On the cyan stone, the young girl stood. Wind whipped her hair. Her closed eyes trembled beneath pale lids.

  She raised her head as if to see through everything.

  As if she saw the white-robed youth standing alone against ten thousand.

  …

  Ancient Tomb.

  Lu Changkong’s movements paused. He sighed slowly.

  He set down his work and sat on the ground.

  Bu Nanxing fell silent.

  He understood why Lu Changkong stopped researching divine herbs—his heart was no longer calm.

  He looked beyond the tomb at the sky, seeing the terrifying army like black clouds pressing down.

  Before the army—

  The giant whale carried the immortal island. The white-robed youth sat alone.

  That youth was Saint Lord Lu.

  Lu Changkong’s son.

  Bu Nanxing understood the old man’s feelings. He thought of his own Saint Lord father…

  Which father didn’t worry for his son?

  Deep in the tomb—

  In the first palace, Luo Mingyue, who had received the Piano King inheritance, opened her eyes.

  Beside her, the red-skirted skeleton leaned against the city wall, gently stroking an ancient zither.

  Feeling Luo Mingyue’s gaze, the skeleton looked up and smiled.

  Luo Mingyue was dazed—as if seeing a peerless beauty smiling at her.

  In the second palace, yellow sand stretched endlessly.

  Corpses wrapped in horsehide, battlefield wails.

  Yin soldiers stood in neat formation.

  The armored skeletal War King stood atop the wall, gazing at his troops.

  As if conducting one final muster.

  In the third palace—

  Mo Liuqi in tight clothing opened his eyes and exhaled.

  Behind him, a skeleton lurked in darkness, ghostly flames dancing coldly in its sockets.

  In the fourth palace—

  Ximen Xianzhi bowed behind the skeletal daoist with the rusted sword, inwardly shocked.

  He sensed a terrifying sword intent from this emaciated figure—capable of cleaving anything.

  Deep in the palace—

  The ever-burning lamp trembled.

  “Go… aid Young Master Lu well.”

  BOOM!

  The words fell.

  Four skeletons knelt as one, armor clashing.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  …

  BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

  Terrifying killing intent surged like a sharp spear ready to pierce everything.

  Ten thousand infantry wielding long halberds and spears marched forward—armor clashing, killing intent boiling.

  Facing the suddenly appearing whale and immortal island blocking their charge, not one soldier faltered.

  The hundred thousand Upper Realm troops all wore bronze masks carved with ferocious totems.

  BOOM!

  Ten thousand Nascent Divinity infantry charged.

  Behind them—archers nocked arrows to sacred-tier greatbows.

  As they drew, an aura that could pierce anything erupted.

  Even Transcendents would pale before it.

  Yet…

  The giant whale carried the immortal island.

  All was serene.

  The white-robed youth sat calmly.

  The chessboard before him glowed.

  He picked up another white piece.

  BOOM!

  Suddenly—

  The chessboard before him seemed to expand instantly.

  Like a domain, it spread, covering the entire Five Phoenixes sky.

  Like a heavenly curtain.

  The crisscrossing lines on the board rapidly extended.

  “Kill!”

  The ten thousand infantry roared. Halberds swept. Nascent Divinity auras linked into a rainbow piercing the sun.

  Sharp and unstoppable, they slammed into the chessboard as if to shatter it!

  The youth smiled faintly.

  The piece in his hand slowly fell. White pressed black. His middle finger pushed forward.

  Plop!

  The moment the piece landed—

  Spirit pressure erupted.

  Thousandfold spirit pressure—like a storm of wind and rain, mountains and rivers roaring.

  Like a gentle breeze passing.

  The ten thousand Upper Realm Nascent Divinity troops were swept by the breeze. Ripples passed over every body.

  They exploded into clouds of blood mist!

  Bronze armor was crushed into scrap by the terrifying pressure!

  These were Nascent Divinity experts—no primordial spirits yet.

  Wretched soul screams filled the air.

  A bloody storm raged in the Void Heaven.

  Ten thousand infantry—annihilated in the time it took a piece to fall!

  Lu Fan looked up at the scene and smiled warmly.

  One hand rolled up his sleeve. The other gently beckoned the floating souls.

  As if plucking early spring tea leaves.

  He flicked them toward the Five Phoenixes.

  BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

  The souls became streaks of light, sucked in by terrifying force, falling into the Five Phoenixes.

  The Ninth Prison Secret Realm appeared.

  Cities rose. Behind them, towering figures like wrathful vajras.

  Clanking cold chains shredded the souls that fell into the Five Phoenixes.

  BANG! BANG! BANG!

  Countless souls became fragments, scattering across the Five Phoenixes’ land.

  Like fertilizer, strengthening its beings.

  Even in killing enemies, Lu Fan never forgot to work for the Five Phoenixes’ growth.

  The world fell silent.

  The Five Phoenixes’ Saint Lord was truly extraordinary.

  This was the Upper Realm Sacred Clan’s merciless punitive army.

  Yet the Saint Lord sat calmly in his tower, placing pieces that moved wind and clouds.

  In laughter and conversation—annihilation.

  On the blood-colored battlefield—

  Five Phoenixes cultivators watched, dazzled.

  This was Young Master Lu. This was White Jade Capital!

  The foremost expert of the era!

  Below—

  Jiang Li, excited, donned silver armor, representing conquest.

  He clenched his fist.

  “Kill!”

  His roar.

  Behind him, the hundred thousand Great Xuan iron riders roared in unison!

  “Kill!”

  Their voices united as one.

  The Upper Realm army’s momentum was overwhelming. The iron riders had been shaken—this was shame!

  Young Master Lu had won back their pride. They could not lose it again.

  Even if they were ants before the Upper Realm army—many ants could kill an elephant!

  “Archers!”

  Ten thousand Nascent Divinity infantry crushed by one piece.

  The scene was indeed shocking.

  Even the Upper Realm army’s commanders fell silent for a moment.

  Then—more terrifying roars erupted.

  Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

  Archers with sacred-tier greatbows locked on with hawk-like eyes—blinding and sharp.

  They released their bowstrings.

  The sacred bows blazed with dazzling light.

  Countless streaks of light tore across the void.

  Like shooting stars leaving trails, converging into a river!

  Like the Milky Way falling from the Ninth Heaven!

  The energy beyond the Five Phoenixes seemed drained. The void itself seemed ready to shatter!

  On the blood-colored battlefield—

  Qi Liujia’s eyes filled with blood.

  No mercy, no quarter!

  His body trembled with rage. How hard was it for a high-martial world to emerge in the Void Heaven?

  Yet all sides sought to eradicate them—even the Upper Realm sent troops!

  Though much of it was due to the Blood-Robed General Gu Mangran’s tomb—

  Trampling the Five Phoenixes was still their goal.

  “Why must you drive us to extinction after the Void Heaven has declined for countless ages?!”

  Qi Liujia didn’t understand. He was unwilling.

  He had once tried to build a high-martial world, enduring mockery and resistance, failing due to his own inadequacy. He had accepted it.

  But the Five Phoenixes had succeeded, even reaching Seventh-grade—yet the Upper Realm wanted to crush them.

  He had always been cautious, wanting the Five Phoenixes to develop quietly.

  Now he understood…

  Young Master Lu had been right.

  Caution changed nothing. Bullies would still bully!

  Only resistance—only making them hurt—could earn respect and a moment’s peace!

  Qi Liujia inhaled deeply. His turbid, aged eyes closed.

  When they opened again—

  The once-timid gaze was gone. Only killing intent remained!

  Countless arrows streaked forth like a waterfall.

  The void seemed ready to tear.

  The giant whale beneath let out a terrified cry.

  Lu Fan raised his hand and gently stroked it.

  The whale calmed.

  He picked up another piece from the box, movements fluid, arm swinging in an arc.

  Plop!

  The piece fell.

  Terrifying pressure crushed down like mountains and rivers.

  The streaking arrows—

  Before reaching the whale—

  All fell…

  Like a raging river suddenly turning, crashing into the endless abyss below!

  Though explosions rang endlessly, they harmed neither Lu Fan nor the Five Phoenixes.

  They even fell into the boundless abyss, vanishing without trace.

  He countered each move.

  Effortlessly.

  …

  Beyond the Void Heaven—

  At the border with Pingyang Heaven—

  Terrifying auras stood. Some twisted the void. Some collapsed mountains and rivers.

  From the luxurious chariot pulled by five true-dragon-blood dragon-horses, faint laughter drifted.

  From the ancient warships, sharp gazes shot toward the immortal island blocking ten thousand troops.

  Lu Fan casually placing pieces to block the Upper Realm army piqued many experts’ interest.

  “This is the Saint Lord of the only high-martial world born in the Void Heaven? His cultivation is shrouded in mist—can’t see through it.”

  “That chessboard is nearly a Heaven-tier artifact… Pity. One man changes nothing.”

  “Using a chessboard as a weapon, wanting to become the chess player who controls heaven and earth? Laughable… Not even an Ascended Immortal, and he dares play chess master.”

  Sneering voices drifted from the ancient warships.

  Experts from Blood Evil Heaven, Yuan Magnetic Heaven, and Pingyang Heaven—even Ascended Immortals—dared not speak.

  “No matter. We came for the Blood-Robed General’s tomb. We cannot let Gu Mangran revive.”

  “As for the Five Phoenixes—ignoring Upper Realm rules, trampling our Sacred Clan’s dignity… flatten them.”

  A calm voice drifted from the dragon-horse chariot.

  Laughter immediately rang from the ancient warships.

  “As the Young Master commands.”

  Next moment, primordial spirit fluctuations spread.

  The Ascended Immortals from Yuan Magnetic and Blood Evil Heavens who had summoned armies lit up.

  Five true-dragon-blood dragon-horses pulling a chariot—this person’s status was far above the previous envoy.

  This was a true noble of the Upper Realm Sacred Clan!

  Befriending him might earn entry to the Upper Realm—even joining the Sacred Clan!

  “Kill! Crush the Five Phoenixes!”

  An Ascended Immortal roared.

  Under primordial spirit command—the ragtag armies from Blood Evil and Yuan Magnetic Heavens charged.

  Vast and endless.

  Nascent Soul, Body Integration, Divinity Transformation armies rushed into the Void Heaven.

  The laws creaked but did not exceed limits!

  A million troops surged like a flood.

  The Upper Realm army’s beast cavalry masked gazes swept over and actually halted.

  The archers drew their bows again.

  Terrifying auras crisscrossed—killing intent bared.

  A million troops entered, vast and mighty.

  Many were shocked but also watched Lu Fan with mocking glee.

  This wasn’t a million mortals—a million Nascent Soul and Divinity Transformation experts!

  Even Ascended Immortals could be swallowed by such a tide.

  How would Lu Ping’an deal with this?

  The million troops charged neatly through the Void Heaven toward the Five Phoenixes.

  Like a heaven-shaking wave.

  Lakeheart Island was a lone boat before it—ready to be swallowed and shattered!

  Origin qi seemed ready to scatter.

  Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

  On the blood-colored battlefield—

  No Five Phoenixes cultivator retreated. No fear.

  They rose into the air, hovering above the battlefield, standing behind Lakeheart Island.

  The hundred thousand Great Xuan iron riders rose too, auras linking into one!

  Facing a million troops, they did not retreat.

  Ready to live and die with Young Master Lu!

  Lu Fan glanced at the people behind him, eyes gleaming strangely.

  “Glory of the Five Phoenixes—even before a million troops, not one step back. Life and death together, united as one. Reward: 100 strands of origin dao essence (claimable after the Heaven and Earth Grand Tournament ends)”

  Hmm?

  Lu Fan saw the flashing prompt and paused.

  The tournament… wasn’t over?

  He turned calmly to the million-strong flood.

  White robes fluttering, a mocking smile on his face.

  “So many people?”

  Lu Fan said softly.

  His voice echoed through the Void Heaven, reaching every corner.

  This time, he did not place a piece.

  He raised his hand.

  And snapped his fingers.

  A massive sundial appeared, array patterns weaving…

  Next moment—

  A rolling river of time poured from the sundial, forming a divine dragon that swept out.

  It circled, forming a moat around the Five Phoenixes.

  Like a city-protecting river.

  PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!!!

  Figures from Blood Evil and Yuan Magnetic Heavens crashed into the river of time.

  Wretched screams rang endlessly.

  Those who entered didn’t get far before turning to bones—aged to death, decayed…

  Even Nascent Divinity experts couldn’t last long.

  Upper Realm archers fired.

  Arrows fell into the river, raising waves.

  But when they emerged—covered in rust, powerless, decayed, broken!

  The million troops suffered countless casualties in an instant!

  “The power of time?!”

  “He used the Ancient Emperor’s ‘Lin’ array rune?!”

  “Withdraw the armies!”

  In Pingyang Heaven, the Ascended Immortals commanding the million troops roared, pupils shrinking.

  But…

  This time, Lu Fan had no intention of letting them leave.

  “You kill when you want, retreat when you want… Do you truly think the Five Phoenixes weak and easy to bully?!”

  Lu Fan’s smile vanished.

  Coldly spoken.

  The sundial fell. Lu Fan slapped it with one palm.

  THUD!

  Like a heartbeat.

  The river of time circling the Five Phoenixes suddenly expanded…

  The million coalition troops that had avoided it were swallowed whole!

  Wretched screams exploded!

  Expert after expert had their lifespan and lives severed by time.

  They fell from the river as bones—dead with expressions of terror and despair, floating in the Void Heaven like decayed wood.

  The million troops—before even forming a charge—were utterly broken!

  Experts from Blood Evil, Pingyang, and Yuan Magnetic Heavens stared in shock, trembling.

  The Upper Realm punitive army—

  Every member felt their hair stand on end!

  Facing the river of time—

  They retreated in unison!

  The unstoppable army… recoiled!

  “Hahahaha…”

  On the second-floor balcony of Lakeheart Island—

  The white-robed youth’s laughter rang out.

  Free and unrestrained.

  Like slaps across the faces of the ancient warships crushing Pingyang Heaven and the noble in the luxurious chariot.

  They fell silent, but terrifying, furious auras surged.

  The river of time flowed quietly.

  Separating inside from outside.

  The Five Phoenixes cultivators and hundred thousand iron riders floating behind Lu Fan were flushed with excitement, blood boiling.

  They had been ready to die.

  Yet against a million troops—Young Master Lu alone was enough!

  Jiang Li’s eyes blazed with uncontainable excitement.

  What grace!

  Even if greater sieges awaited—

  So what?

  With Young Master Lu—

  The Five Phoenixes’ spirit would never die!

  Even if weak now—

  One day, they would storm the Ninth Heaven!

  Jiang Li’s aura surged. He roared.

  The cultivators and iron riders joined as one:

  “With one thought, he slays a million troops!”

  “All hail Young Master Lu!”