"I merely asked for opinions. I didn't say I wanted yours... Heh heh heh!"

As the chilling voice faded, the Great Emperor Elders who had just spoken instantly dissolved, their bodies liquefying into pools of blood and gore. Their forms and spirits were utterly extinguished, their souls denied the cycle of reincarnation.

With a flick of Duanshun Sheng's will, the pools of blood surged into the black mist surrounding him. A look of grotesque pleasure spread across his face, his throat working as he let out a bone-chilling sound. He licked his lips. "Truly, a few foolish delicacies."

The Grand Elder sighed inwardly. Those elders simply hadn't understood their Hall Master. When the Hall Master asked for counsel, it wasn't an invitation for them to offer genuine advice! They had been subtly warned, but those fools were too obtuse to grasp the hint. Their deaths were well-deserved.

Moments later, Duanshun Sheng's figure, like a phantom, returned to his high seat. His gaze was imperious as he coldly surveyed the assembled elders.

"This time, we can secretly approach the Supreme Profound Sect and the Ancient Qin Family. The enemy of my enemy is my friend! Which of you elders is willing to undertake this mission?"

Almost immediately, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Elders exchanged a glance, then stepped out from the crowd. They stood side-by-side, their proximity unnaturally close. "Hall Master," they chimed in unison, "we are willing to go."

As the Thirteenth Elder spoke, his hand, hidden beneath his wide sleeve, was secretly stroking the Fourteenth Elder's hand. The Fourteenth Elder gave a slight, gentle shake, but didn't pull away. The surrounding elders struggled to suppress their laughter.

It was well-known that the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Elders were the Soul Severing Hall's inseparable pair—a pair of 'wonderful people.' They were joined at the hip, sharing a unique preference for the 'Path of the Cut Sleeve,' and they made no effort to restrain their subtle affections, even in the presence of their terrifying Hall Master.

From his high seat, Duanshun Sheng rubbed his forehead, let out a weary sigh, and waved a dismissive sleeve. "Fine. But I expect you two to be a little more restrained out there. Don't let people think the Soul Severing Hall isn't bloodthirsty or vicious enough. Don't tarnish our reputation!"

The Thirteenth and Fourteenth Elders bowed in perfect synchronization. "Your command is our oath!"

Duanshun Sheng simply nodded. "Go."

Instantly, a divine rainbow erupted beneath their feet, carrying the two elders out of the Soul Severing Hall and across the void, their destination the Ancient Qin Family and the Supreme Profound Sect. Watching their distant figures disappear, the Hall erupted in a burst of hearty, uninhibited laughter.

"Hahahaha... I simply couldn't hold it in any longer!" one elder roared.

"Those two effeminate fops!" another cackled.

"But sending them is appropriate. They're better at sweet-talking people, heh heh... The rest of us in the Soul Severing Hall are only good at killing, not at dealing with others."

***

At the Grand Dao Sect's temporary encampment near the Heaven Blade Gate, Elder Mu sat cross-legged. His hands worked a complex series of spirit seals, and around him, brilliant Great Emperor Dao Patterns surged and swirled. Profound Dao Rhyme floated like flowing water, and the scattered spirit runes shot into the sky, forming a colossal pillar of light that illuminated the heavens.

Before him, several Ancient Jade Slips vibrated intensely. Elder Mu was personally imprinting his Great Emperor Dao Patterns onto them.

At the same time, Great Emperors from the Supreme Profound Sect, the Soul Severing Hall, and the Yao Family were also inscribing their own Dao Patterns. Above their respective bases, dazzling divine radiance surged. In the void, the scattered spirit runes of numerous Great Emperors drifted, the aura of 'Dao and Essence' permeating the world. Grand Heaven and Earth Phenomenon rose, as magnificent as a galaxy.

Two days later, Elder Mu exhaled a deep breath of turbid air. With a thought, the floating Ancient Jade Slips settled into his hand. He had successfully imprinted his Great Emperor Dao Patterns into them. These would be given to Ye Chen, Liu Xuan, and Luo Lingkong.

Although the wisp of Dao Rhyme from the Bronze Ancient Palace had already slipped into the Ancient Inheritance Secret Realm, it was still covered in countless seals and restrictions placed by the collective Great Emperors. If Ye Chen and the others were fortunate enough to encounter that wisp of Dao Rhyme, activating the Great Emperor Dao Patterns within the Ancient Jade Slips would give them a seventy to eighty percent chance of capturing it.

With that thought, Elder Mu slowly rose, looking up at the void. Over a dozen brilliant light pillars still shot into the heavens—other factions were clearly still inscribing their Dao Patterns. This struggle for the wisp of Dao Rhyme in the Ancient Inheritance Secret Realm is going to be even bloodier, Elder Mu mused internally. He then walked toward Ye Chen and the other disciples.

Ye Chen was cultivating the Desolate Heaven Art! His eyes were closed, and a massive pile of high-grade Spirit Stones was stacked before him. The spirit seals in his hands shifted constantly, and the Spirit Stones were being consumed at an alarming rate. Around him, a strange and profound martial aura surged. It was an incredibly mysterious energy, filled with a fierce, overbearing power that shook the soul.

Not far away, Liu Xuan, Luo Lingkong, Fang Yan, and the other top true disciples had temporarily halted their cultivation, all watching Ye Chen. Liu Xuan, her long dress flowing around her, placed a delicate hand on her slender leg and smiled charmingly at Ye Chen. "Junior Brother Ye Chen, has your Martial Will gained another insight?"

Luo Lingkong gently shook his head. "More than that. Junior Brother Ye Chen is breaking through to the Profound Venerate realm while gaining insight into his Martial Dao power!"

Fang Yan added, "That's right! Junior Brother Ye Chen was already at Profound Sovereign Late-stage Great Perfection. He only needed a catalyst to enter the Profound Venerate realm! Soon, he will become a One-star Martial Venerate!"

A One-star Martial Venerate! The top true disciples collectively gasped. And he's only sixteen! Not to mention the seven years he spent with his cultivation crippled!

Elder Mu smiled faintly. "Liu Xuan, there's no need for you to feel pressured. Ye Chen has the guidance of a supreme expert behind him. His cultivation opportunities are simply beyond yours. But rest assured, after this Inheritance Secret Realm concludes, I will suggest to the Sect Master that with the Great Era descending, we must increase your cultivation resource support!"

Hearing this, the eyes of Liu Xuan, Luo Lingkong, and the others flashed with excitement. They bowed deeply to Elder Mu. "Thank you, Elder Mu!"

Just then, the Body Tempering Peak Peak Master suddenly pointed at Ye Chen. "Look! Ye Chen is about to break through!"

Boom! Ye Chen's aura exploded, surging violently. The high-grade Spirit Stones before him instantly crumbled into dust, transforming into a torrential sea of spiritual energy that rushed into his body. Furthermore, the ambient Heaven and Earth spiritual energy within several thousand feet was drawn in, forming a massive vortex that swept toward Ye Chen.

"It's not enough, those Spirit Stones aren't enough!" the Body Tempering Peak Peak Master exclaimed. With a flick of his sleeve, a hundred thousand more high-grade Spirit Stones rained down before Ye Chen, who subconsciously absorbed them all. The spiritual energy, vast as the ocean, shimmered and flowed around Ye Chen, pouring into his limbs and bones.

Everyone was shocked. Just to break through to the One-star Profound Venerate realm, he needed to consume this many high-grade Spirit Stones? It was terrifying!

Elder Mu spoke thoughtfully. "The reason Ye Chen needs such a massive amount of Spirit Stones is that he is simultaneously breaking through and comprehending the power of his Martial Will!"

The Qionghua Peak Peak Master nodded. "That Martial Will is extraordinary! Even I feel a deep sense of dread!"

The next instant, Ye Chen successfully stepped into the One-star Profound Venerate realm! Simultaneously, his Martial Will also entered the One-star Martial Venerate realm!

Yet, Ye Chen did not wake. Having recently touched upon a sliver of the Desolate Heaven Art's profound mystery, he was now fully immersed in a state of deep enlightenment. Boom! Behind Ye Chen, his Martial Will continuously gathered, endless brilliant spirit runes swirling like a galaxy, directly manifesting an ancient, colossal Martial Dao Furnace. 'Dao and Essence' flowed across the surface of this furnace. Although it was only a faint outline, the power contained within was utterly terrifying.

In that moment, Ye Chen existed within a virtual space—formless, traceless, undetectable, yet both present and absent. Before him, the towering figure who bore the heavens and stood alone for eternity reappeared. "I am the Desolate Heaven Emperor, destined to Suppress all enemies in the world!" This was a Will. This was the Invincible Stance! The mere projection of this figure from the Desolate Heaven Art exuded a boundless, dominating aura that made the myriad worlds tremble. This man was too strong, too perfect! The moment he appeared, endless stars dimmed, countless minor worlds shattered and were annihilated, his brilliant divine might illuminating the heavens and shattering mountains and rivers. Ye Chen could only grasp a negligible sliver of this 'Stance,' but for a cultivator at the Martial Venerate realm, that sliver was already as vast and boundless as the ocean.

Soon, the ancient, imposing figure began to fade. Ye Chen then started to emulate the 'Dao,' the 'Essence,' and the 'Stance' he had just comprehended. In the virtual space, divine might surged from his fists. With a single punch, his terrifying Martial Will became utterly overbearing. Boom! The force was monumental, capable of splitting mountains, the Stance overwhelming! It was the relentless movement of the heavens! It was the power to shatter all Daos! It was the boundless, ceaseless surge of creation!

Meanwhile, Ye Chen was completely unaware that his moment of enlightenment had utterly stunned Elder Mu and the others. The Body Tempering Peak Peak Master's voice was trembling with excitement, his eyes fixed on Ye Chen. "The aura around Ye Chen... How is this possible? How is this even possible..."

Liu Xuan, Luo Lingkong, Fang Yan, and the other top true disciples all shot to their feet. Ye Chen was now draped in endless divine light, his entire body seemingly singing a Grand Dao mantra, resonating in their hearts like the tolling of a great bell. His physique had become crystalline and translucent, and even his hair shimmered with a profound radiance. Ye Chen sat cross-legged, seemingly just a few feet away, yet everyone felt a distance as vast as the horizon separating them. A terrifying 'Dao and Stance' was flowing around him!

Suddenly, the spirit sword at Luo Lingkong's waist began to vibrate, letting out a sharp hum. Liu Xuan looked at him in shock. "Luo Lingkong, your sword!"

Clang! Luo Lingkong's spirit sword instantly unsheathed, circling rapidly around him. His blue robes billowed as a terrifying Sword Intent surged from his body. His eyes burned as he stared at Ye Chen, his heart filled with fighting spirit. The sword was the ultimate weapon of offense!

Luo Lingkong murmured, "I have one sword, once unsheathed, it is invincible!" He had gained a new insight during his seclusion, and the power of his ultimate technique, the Instant Void Sword, had increased once more. Now, the Martial Will emanating from Ye Chen ignited his own Sword Intent. As a fellow force of Willpower, how could his Sword Intent possibly submit to another?

Driven by this thought, Luo Lingkong raised his right hand and shouted, "Sword, go!"

Shing! His spirit sword, carrying the full force of the Instant Void Sword, slashed toward the Martial Will surging from Ye Chen. The strike was terrifyingly absolute! Liu Xuan, Fang Yan, and the other top true disciples were stunned; Luo Lingkong's Sword Intent had indeed grown stronger.

However, in the next instant, the Martial Dao Furnace behind Ye Chen let out a resonant hum.

Ooom! Golden ripples, vast as an ocean, swept out, crashing directly into Luo Lingkong's spirit sword.

Crack! Luo Lingkong's spirit sword instantly shattered into countless fragments, becoming a thousand shards of broken steel flashing with cold light. "Pfft!" Luo Lingkong spat out a mouthful of vital blood, his body violently thrown backward. The Qionghua Peak Peak Master quickly conjured divine radiance to catch Luo Lingkong, then flicked a healing pill into his mouth.

At that moment, Liu Xuan, her long dress fluttering, stepped forward, her jade feet seemingly treading on petals of divine radiance. Starlight flashed in her eyes, and a faint glow enveloped her body as she moved toward Ye Chen. She unleashed her strongest illusion technique!

In the blink of an eye, Ye Chen's Martial Dao Furnace let out another hum.

Ooom! A thread of blood spilled from the corner of Liu Xuan's mouth, and her body flew backward like a kite with a broken string. Elder Mu quickly sent out a gentle force to catch Liu Xuan and administered a healing pill.

Next, Fang Yan launched a punch toward Ye Chen. Amidst flashes of lightning and fire, the Martial Dao Furnace let out a hum. Fang Yan was injured! The remaining top true disciples rushed forward to confront Ye Chen's Martial Dao Furnace.

But the furnace stood unmoving, seemingly immortal and indestructible, continuously emitting the resonant roar of the Grand Dao!

Ooom! The Dao of the Blade was shattered!

Ooom! The Dao of the Staff was shattered!

Ooom! The Dao of Sound was shattered!

Ooom! Shattered! Shattered! Shattered!

With every resonant blast, a 'Dao' represented by one of the top true disciples was defeated! The sound of the Martial Dao Furnace was the sound of shattering all Daos!

Elder Mu stared at Ye Chen, his voice trembling with shock. "The Martial Dao Roar... I heard the sound of breaking ten thousand laws!"