The barrier still exists, indicating that Uncle and Marshal have encountered enemies and are unable to assist. It must be Ling Tu and the Chancellor of the Southern School? Zhang Yuanqing extended his hand forward, probing through the barrier—just like Xiahou Aotian—only to find nothing. The Red Dance Shoes have tracking capabilities, as stipulated by the rules, enabling them to interact with the barrier's presence. Others, however, lack this ability and thus the barrier remains effectively invisible. Su Feiya also attempted it and discovered she could not touch the barrier, immediately stating, "I will request assistance from Vice-Chairman Pan Xi. As a Void specialist, he can generally overcome most restrictions, including rule-based ones." If even touch is impossible, how can the barrier be broken? In her view, the "Return of the Dead" campaign's revenge battle can now be declared a failure. Though they have successfully eliminated one Void-being, their four Dominants now face serious difficulties. Without seeking aid from higher-ranking figures, they may suffer total losses. It's a defeat: four for one! The Lady of the Yin is no mere goddess—she truly deserves her title as a half-deity. Despite the Master's tireless efforts in planning and strategy, she still manages to secure no tangible gains. At this moment, the most swift and reliable course of action is for Vice President Pan Xi to step in. The Nine-Level Masters have now reached the level of touching the rules themselves—indeed, they can be considered equivalent to the rules. Deng Jingguo and Xia Hou Aotian nodded in silence upon hearing this. The latter pulled out his phone. "I've saved his contact information." "Why do you need to save his contact?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. "Businesspeople are major suppliers," Xia Hou explained. "Of course, I need to reach out—being the CEO of the company, I'm constantly worried about its operations." "Unlike you, who's always playing the hands-off game, showing absolutely no sense of responsibility." "If you do business with him, your company will eventually go bankrupt," Zhang Yuanqing muttered, pressing down on the protagonist's phone with a smile. "My sense of responsibility isn't with the company—it's with..." Suddenly leaping into the air, the fresh, elegant dance shoes on his feet emitted a soft, deep red glow. In midair, Zhang Yuanqing twisted his body, bent his knees, and delivered a powerful side kick that struck the invisible barrier. "Crack!" The sound was like a burst of firecrackers underwater, and the barrier was forcefully torn open, the crack spreading rapidly and then fading into darkness. Zhang Yuanqing smiled, pointing to the spot. Xiaohou Aotian, Deng Jingguo, and Su Feiya all turned to the Prime Immortal, suddenly realizing that the master's strategy and planning were far more solid than they had initially thought. ... Within the Yunmeng Immortal Realm. "Prime Immortal, do you truly believe that merely becoming a Day-Wandering Immortal will allow you to compete with the leader?" The figure of the sixth elder of the Dark Night Rose shifts constantly from left to right, adapting to the relentless downpour. As she accelerates the spread of the illness, she simultaneously speaks to rouse the enemy, undermining their morale and enabling the Pure Yang Master's emotional guidance to unfold more smoothly, amplifying the impact of the drumbeats. "Isn't it true that by summoning multiple Masters and having a half-divine figure backing you, you can now retaliate against the Southern School? Hmph. The leader is a half-divine—by his standing, even a fellow half-divine would be within his observation. He must have anticipated your intent to target the third elder from the very beginning." The sixth protector sneered, her voice sharp with scorn. "Your true form isn't here, is it? From the moment you began until now, you've never used any artifact—this proves you're merely a duplicate. You deliberately summoned Masters with causal entanglements to the leader, while your true form has been targeting other senior figures in the Southern School. Such a clumsy strategy is even visible without needing the art of stargazing. Now, guess what—what hidden cards do the Southern School's elders hold in their hands Her words successfully stirred concern and irritation among the Zheng Sha Palace master, Ms. JOJO, Sayuri, and the King of the Mysterious Eyes—exactly as Yuan Shi had intended. At this moment, the drumbeats surged in succession, layer upon layer, until Ms. JOJO was completely incapacitated, her back arched and fur standing on end, like a startled bird. Sayuri struggled to hold on. As the master of music, the Palace master fared slightly better. The King of the Mysterious Eyes remained resolute in spirit, though he had lost his fighting zeal—this loss of spirit was profound, as it amounted to the soul of a legendary warrior. Now, with his vitality drained, he was effectively reduced to a mere vessel for the King of Extinction. Without the periodic infusion of life essence from the Zheng Sha Palace master’s Jing Yao Pot, he would have already returned to the spiritual realm. Zhang Yuanqing drew his golden great bow and shot an arrow that repelled the pure-yang master who had attacked Miss JOJO. His eyes followed the ever-shifting six protectors, asking, "Has your leader considered who exactly the true body is facing? Has he calculated how quickly the true body can resolve the battle? Has he accounted for the number of assistants who have no causal connection to him, and—most importantly—has he assessed the true combat strength of the true body?" As soon as he finished speaking, the rain curtain suddenly trembled, and an invisible ripple spread from the night sky, as if the mirror-world had shed an invisible layer of clothing. Both sides engaged in fierce combat simultaneously halted, raising their heads and surveying the surroundings. The Dark Night Rose Protector's tone shifted: "The rules of Yunmeng Sacred Realm have been broken." Rules broken? The third senior elder of the Southern School stopped drumming, while the Pure-Yang Master and the Extinction Emperor both frowned. Yet Zhang Yuanqing's duplicate, having shed the earlier gravity, smiled with ease. "He didn't anticipate the true condition of the phantom divine artifacts, nor did he guess that I was truly targeting someone specific—much less the subtle details about those who bore no causal connection to him." Raising his hand, he snapped his fingers crisply. "Come on—this time, it's you, my true self!" As the words rang out, a golden five-clawed divine dragon burst through the night, pierced through the rain, and struck straight toward the third senior. At once, the third senior raised his dense, pale thigh bone, ready to strike the drum surface. But as he watched, the golden dragon closed his eyes and collapsed, snoring deeply. The four sovereigns riding on the dragon staggered, rising into the air just in time to avoid falling. Such a spectacle was easily lost in the moment—perhaps it would be better to use it only when truly needed. Zhang Yuanqing then activated his combined technique of "Day's Ascension" and "Fierce Sun War God," drawing forth the "Form and Spirit Annihilation" blade, and surged forward like a streak of light, aiming directly at the third senior. The host and its duplicate share the same soul. Once the barrier is broken, they reestablish connection, and all events unfolding within the Yunmeng divine realm are relayed back to him through the duplicate. This drum is the decisive factor in the battle—without eliminating it, the host side finds it difficult to secure victory. The drumming must continue—no one could move against the drummer. Zhang Yuanqing immediately raised his voice: "Seal the drum first." Xue Hou Ao Tian opened his inventory, summoning a towering metal spear over a meter high and hurling it forcefully at the third elder. At the same time, various steel components surged from his inventory, attaching themselves to his body, transforming him into a three-meter-tall mech. With his left hand, the mech unleashed focused beams of light, and with his right, launched piercing anti-armor arrows, raining down upon the Pure Yang Master, the Sixth Protector, and the King of Extinction, effectively containing and pressuring the three sovereigns with his single presence. "Dram, dram, dram!" The third elder of the Southern School continuously struck the drum surface, sending waves of sound so powerful they seemed like mountain collapses, filling the mirrored realm. The sovereigns who had returned from the realm of the dead stiffened simultaneously, their faces pale. Xue Hou Ao Tian, now in mech form, felt growing fear, instinctively retracting his weapons and raising an energy shield, shifting from offense to defense. Yet his launched metal spear remained undeterred by the sound waves, steadily advancing toward the leather drum As a tool for a bachelor's career, and as a sealing artifact, it inherently possesses immunity to attacks from other artifacts. "Whoosh!" The inscriptions on the metallic obelisk illuminate one by one, activating the incantations that symbolize the seal—waves of invisible energy ripple outward. "Thud... thud... thud..." The third elder of the Southern School continues drumming, his rhythm growing noticeably sluggish and resonant. The Supreme King of Extinction kicks the Magi-Eye aside, ignoring the shattered armor arrows, and moves swiftly to the side of the elder, his eight hands grasping the metallic obelisk. Zhang Yuanqing dons her purple-gold armor and charges headlong into the Supreme King's arms, riding atop her, then swings her fists in powerful blows. "Thump! Thump!" With the force of resonant impact, the Supreme King's mandible fractures, sending several blood-streaked teeth flying. "Thud!" The drumming, now slightly stiffened, resumes. Zhang Yuanqing stiffens—her purple-gold armor, as if encountering a formidable foe, begins to melt. The King of Extinction delivered a single punch to his face, splashing golden liquid in all directions, sending him staggering to one side. With his six arms gripping spears, swords, halberds, and lances, all weapons simultaneously plunged forward. At that moment, the five-clawed golden dragon finally awoke to the drumming rhythm, sensing his master in peril, and swiftly arrived, coiling around his right arm. The golden circular shield suddenly launched forth. The King's weapon struck the shield, yet its inherent armor-piercing capability failed to penetrate the shield's defense. She immediately withdrew her weapons, switching to shield strikes, and unleashed eight powerful punches directly onto Zhang Yuanqing's chest. Zhang Yuanqing's mind buzzed with a sudden roar, and he lost consciousness, his body thrown violently backward by the force of the punches. As the King of Extinction prepared to follow up with a finishing blow, Sophia in the air caught a wind blade several dozen zhang long with both hands and suddenly cleaved it down. Crackle! The blade struck the King of Extinction's cranial dome, sparking brilliant flashes of fire. Though it did not breach the ancient war god's unyielding bronze and iron armor, the powerful impact left The King of the Magician's Eye, his body riddled with holes, saw himself as a projectile and delivered a powerful blow, sending the King of Extinction reeling into unconsciousness. "Thud!" The drumbeat resumed, disrupting the rhythm of the battle among the returning souls. Suddenly, Sophiya in the air began to cough violently, her forehead blazing hot, her limbs weak, and the frail wind mage became a breeding ground for disease. Six elders appeared silently behind her, each holding a master-tier artifact, the "Water Blade," and advancing to strike at her back. "Boom!" A thunderclap erupted, and a tree-like lightning bolt descended from the sky, striking the six elders. While the water spirit could withstand physical attacks, she was vulnerable to lightning; her body surged with misty vapor as she screamed and plummeted. Zhang Yuanqing and the King of the Magician's Eye fought valiantly, surrounding the King of Extinction. "This woman is that strong, isn't she? One punch and I've crushed my dinner from last night," Zhang Yuanqing remarked. "A tier-eight ancient war god. You can't say she's not impressive," replied the King of the Magician's Eye. While the enemy's masters were still engaged, Xiao Yuan swiftly extended her right hand, probing and grasping—her fingertips now holding a palm-sized, fragmented copper coin, which she then flicked toward the leather drum. At that very moment, starlight surged upward before her, accompanied by a piercing, wild shriek. Her mind buzzed with a sudden roar of pain, as if splitting open; blood gushed from her nostrils. Through the starlight, she saw the Master of Pure Yang rising, his form expanding until he became a towering giant, standing as if against the heavens. To her, she was now but a speck of dust in his vast palm. With a gentle clap of his hands, she would surely be crushed. As she prepared to surrender and give up her resistance, a warm current surged suddenly into her consciousness, steadying her spirit and calming her fears. The giant form of the Master of Pure Yang then transformed into starlight and vanished. "Did I disappear?" asked Feng Yuanqing, her duplicate, without pursuing. He, like Deng Jingguo, had the duty of supporting the battle and protecting his teammates—offering help wherever needed. Just then, he calmed Xiao Yuan's emotions and attempted to strike the Pure Yang Master, but the old rogue proved agile and failed in his attack. The old rogue had been night-wandering, hiding all along, seizing the opportunity to attack Xiao Yuan—only to retreat instantly after failure, using the Star-Darting technique. With the combination of the Illusionist and the Night-Wanderer, he proved exceptionally difficult to defeat. Xiao Yuan took a deep breath, steadying herself, focusing on the leather drum, and then launched the bronze coin. Throughout the process, she continuously manipulated her hand seals, closed her eyes, and offered simple prayers for blessings. "Ding!" The bronze coin was sent back again, failing to strike the leather drum—despite its weakened state, the drum's status remained superior to the Falling Treasure Coin. At that moment, dense red threads surged forward, encircling the coin. After a flash of red light, the threads whipped the coin toward the leather drum. The golden coin roared forward, its crack restored. The Stiller of the Stop-Killing Palace, wielding the authority of the Spirit-Training Cauldron, temporarily repaired the coin, restoring it to its peak condition. The rain around suddenly coalesced into a wall of water, blocking the copper coin just in front of it. But in the very next instant, the water wall dissolved into nothingness, collapsing with a rush. "Ding!" The copper coin struck the drum body cleanly, leaving a dark spot—like ink—spreading rapidly, emitting a foul odor that seeped across the entire drum surface. The white, dense leg bones of the third elder landed upon the drum, unable to produce the resonant, soul-stirring drumbeats anymore. The master-tier, high-quality artifact had finally been sealed. The spirits of the Mage King and others were instantly energized; the suspended gate blades above their heads finally lifted. At that very moment, a dozen techniques—thunder columns, wind blades, red threads, golden arrows, armor-piercing crossbows, laser beams, depleting fortune, mental assaults, vine entanglements, and purple spherical lightning—simultaneously converged upon the third elder. The water wall rose and then vanished as swiftly as it had appeared. The third elder, his face pale with shock, donned his earth-yellow robe, only for his defensive barrier to shatter the moment it formed. No one could survive the concentrated attacks of so many masters, not even the eighth-rank masters. The Third Elder was devoured by a lightning pillar, then cleaved by a gust of wind blade, pierced through by arrows, his physical form reduced to dust, his spirit severely wounded—only a fragile remnant of his soul managed to break free and attempt to flee. "Ha ha ha..." A figure blocked his path—not an enemy, but the serene yet grimly scornful Master of Pure Yang. He had been waiting all along; as soon as the Third Elder's spirit began to detach, he immediately stepped forward. "You..." The Third Elder sensed the malice in Master of Pure Yang's gaze. "Your spirit is shattered, your body obliterated. Even if you survive, your strength will be greatly diminished. No, you won't survive. The Primordial Sovereign will not forgive you. Then, why not make it easy for me? I will take up your cause and avenge you." The Master of Pure Yang's eyes glistened with thick, dark energy. He opened his mouth and drew in, swallowing the Third Elder's fading spirit whole. Zhang Yuanqing did not immediately pursue the remnants of the third elder's spirit, as he had chosen to protect his spoils—specifically, that drum.