Hearing the piercing, desperate cry of the Star-Plucking Ghost, Xiao Yan was first startled, then his heart suddenly tightened—this Hu Dun indeed still concealed a powerful being here! Moreover, even the Star-Plucking Ghost, himself the Heavenly Sovereign of Hu Dun, had to address him as "Mr.!" "Clearly, Hu Dun has been well-prepared!" A thought flashed through Xiao Yan's mind. His gaze flickered with determination, and a fierce aura surged. Regardless, he would first eliminate this Star-Plucking Ghost, who had repeatedly opposed him. "Screech!" As the surge of murderous intent flowed through him, the black aura expanded at an astonishing pace. The terrifying suction force, now so close, sent the Star-Plucking Ghost reeling, his cries growing even more desperate. "An incompetent! Reduced to this state by a mere junior—what face do you have to be the Heavenly Sovereign of Hu Dun?" Just as the light circle was about to reach the body of the Elder Star-Plucker, a voice, calm and emotionless, suddenly rose softly across the sky. Immediately thereafter, a crack appeared in the space behind the Elder Star-Plucker, and a blue figure stepped forth slowly. As the figure emerged, the air around the realm instantly grew moist, and fine raindrops began to fall gently from the sky. This unusual transformation naturally caught Xiao Yan's attention, and his heart sank—he could now see that this person had the ability to stir the very energies of nature with the vast power of his inner qi. Such strength was truly astonishing. Based on his assessment, this so-called Nine Heavens Sovereign must have reached at least the Seven or Eight-Star level. Though the calm voice had caused the Elder Star-Plucker to feel embarrassed, clearly, his life was more important than his dignity. He quickly called out, "Sir, save me!" A figure in blue glanced faintly at Xiao Yan, then furrowed his pale blue brows, gazing at the rapidly expanding black aura, murmuring, "A heavenly-tier combat technique—what a fortunate young man." As he spoke, he swept his sleeve, and the rain droplets drifting through the sky gathered at an astonishing pace, coalescing within moments into a swiftly rotating rain curtain that hovered before Zhaixing the Old Ghost. At the same time, he grasped Zhaixing's shoulder firmly and launched himself backward with lightning speed. Seeing that this figure intended to rescue Zhaixing, Xiao Yan's eyes grew cold, and his inner qi surged forth in a frantic flow, causing the black aura to expand at an even faster rate—within a blink, it collided with the rain curtain. "Crash!" The impact shattered the rain curtain instantly, and the raindrops poured in all directions, fully absorbed into the expanding aura. A black aura pierced through the rain, gaining speed rather than slowing down, and swiftly closed in on the old ghost who was staring in terror. The black aura directly reached his feet. "Ah!" As the black aura surged upward, the old ghost burst out with a piercing, agonized cry. "Hmph!" The blue figure coldly snorted, paying no heed to the old ghost's agonized cries, gripping his shoulders and swiftly retreating—speeding up the pace of his retreat as he went. Only as the blue figure accelerated did he manage to carry the old ghost forward a short distance, then glanced back at the old ghost's feet. Frowning, he saw that the old ghost's legs were now completely severed—the cut surface smooth as glass, with not a single drop of blood appearing. It seemed as though, at the very moment of contact, the blood from the old ghost's feet had been entirely absorbed by the black aura. Turning his gaze to the old ghost's face, he found it now pale as snow, his breathing growing weak and labored. With both legs and one arm gone, the old ghost was effectively half-disabled! "What a powerful heavenly-tier technique!" A subtle seriousness flickered across the blue figure's face before he shook his head, stepping back swiftly with a point of his foot against the void. Even with his prowess, he didn't wish to endure that vast, celestial palm directly—should he take it, it would inevitably impose some cost, something he certainly didn't desire. "We have to leave that old man behind!" Seeing the blue figure accelerate, Xiao Yan sneered, clenched his hands tightly, and unleashed a surge of powerful qi that spread out in all directions. The black circular aura instantly reached its peak velocity, shooting forth with a sharp *whoosh*, expanding like lightning, and then closing in with astonishing speed to catch up with the elder star-harvester, whose shoulders were being held by the blue figure. Finally, the aura struck the elder directly, reaching his chest, as he stared in sheer terror. *A soft hiss!* A faint sound resonated, and the old ghost's eyes, wide open, instantly froze. Blood seeped slowly from his lips, his face dry and withered like an old tree, his life fading away as if merely blinking would be enough. The luminous circle that had engulfed the area of the old ghost's chest finally ceased expanding as it reached its full extent, then, with a final tremor, slowly faded away under the countless pairs of astonished gazes. Xiao Yan said nothing, merely keeping a vigilant gaze upon the elder ahead. The elder wore a robe of deep blue, his hair and eyebrows also tinged with a pale blue hue. In his eyes, an endless flow of vast aquatic energy seemed to ripple endlessly, creating a sense of dizziness in the onlookers. Though the elder appeared ordinary at first glance, Xiao Yan knew well that his strength was no less than that of Black Qing, the representative of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan he had encountered earlier. Xiao Yan furrowed his brow, slightly puzzled. According to the old man's words, the Xiao family must have had some history unknown to him from a long time ago. Yet, as for the bloodline power—over these many years, he had truly felt nothing of it. All the progress he had made thus far, beyond relying on the Burned Technique to absorb the strange flames, had come entirely from his own steady, step-by-step cultivation. There had been no contribution from his bloodline strength at all. "There's no need to be concerned—when you arrive at the Soul Palace, someone will explain everything to you..." Noticing Xiao Yan's expression of doubt, the Ninth Heaven Sovereign offered a gentle smile, glanced at the ancient star-wielding elder in his hands, whose body remained only from the chest up, and slowly shook his head. A rich, deep blue energy surged from his palms, enveloping the elder's remaining form completely, transforming it into crystalline blue ice. With a simple flick of his fingers, the ice gradually cracked, finally exploding into countless fragments, and the ancient star-wielding elder's body dissolved into fine powder. "Although the Elder of the Star-Seeking has failed several missions and deserves such a punishment, the person carrying out this execution is not you. Therefore, you will still need to bear some responsibility for his passing." The Ninth Heaven Sovereign's blue eyes fixed upon Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan sneered, his inner qi surging rapidly, and the Strange Fire beginning to coalesce within him, ready to once again engage in a full-scale battle against the Ninth Heaven Sovereign. "I know you possess a fire lotus comparable to a celestial stage technique, but that's not enough. Before my true form, you won't have the chance to unleash such attacks. Therefore, follow me—my mission is to bring you back alive, but as long as you have a breath, that counts." The Nine Heavens Sovereign gently tapped his long, slender fingers against his robe, speaking with an expressionless demeanor. At the very instant the Nine Heavens Sovereign's form vanished, Xiao Yan's entire body bristled with cold. Yet as his eyes blinked, he saw the blue figure already standing less than two feet away before him. "I've already stated this—these... are of no use," the Nine Heavens Sovereign said, his face remaining as calm and detached as ever. With a gentle sweep of his right palm, mist surged upward, coalescing into an intense wave of profound cold, like a lightning bolt, and swiftly charged toward Xiao Yan. Though the Sovereign's palm moved with such serene grace, devoid of any earthly vigor, Xiao Yan's expression immediately grew serious. Purple-brown flames rapidly gathered in his right hand, forming a serpentine, coiling dragon that crashed into the Sovereign's palm with solid force. "Shhh—" The impact did not produce a thunderous sound, but rather a steady exchange of scorching heat and icy cold, releasing a thick plume of white vapor with a continuous hissing. "Boom!" "This interplay didn't last long. Suddenly, a deep voice echoed through the white mist, and then a disheveled figure was launched backward with a series of stumbling steps, crashing hard against a mountain wall. The force was so great that it instantly carved deep fissures—wide enough to span an arm's breadth—across the solid rock. "Phwooo!" Xiao Yan wiped the blood from his lips, spitting out a mouthful of blood as well. His expression darkened as he gazed at the blue figure floating above. Though he could still hold his own against the Old Ghost of Star-Clad Peaks, he found himself utterly powerless against the Nine Heavens Sovereign. "Come with me," the Sovereign said, glancing at Xiao Yan. With a simple movement, he appeared before him, extending his hand gently toward Xiao Yan's shoulder, his voice calm and detached. Xiao Yan stared intently at the Nine Heavens Sovereign extending his hand, a streak of cold determination flashing across his eyes. As he was about to give it his all, making a final, desperate stand, an arm suddenly extended from behind him, calmly seizing the Nine Heavens Sovereign's hand. At the same time, a soft, gentle, elderly voice quietly echoed from behind.