The Cloudsoaring Peak hummed with an unprecedented, suffocating density of spiritual energy.
For the first time in three centuries, the Azure Sword Sect had officially sealed its mountain. Seven overlapping layers of supreme-tier defensive arrays formed a brilliant, impenetrable dome over the peaks, fueled entirely by the stolen mountains of supreme-grade spirit stones from the Righteous Alliance’s central treasury.
Inside the Sect Master’s hall, Zhao and the elders were frantically gorging on thousand-year medicinal pills, desperately trying to break through their bottlenecks before the inevitable retaliation arrived.
But in the serene, isolated master courtyard at the very peak of the mountain, there was no panic. There was only absolute, domestic tranquility.
Yan Shuo reclined lazily on a chair carved from warm, profound jade, resting beneath the shade of the ancient peach blossom tree. He wore a loose, comfortable white silk robe, his eyes half-closed as he enjoyed the cool mountain breeze.
Deep within his dantian, his newly formed Golden Core was rotating with flawless, rhythmic perfection. The massive influx of energy he had absorbed was completely digested, acting as a perfect, shining shell to hide the terrifying, pitch-black Abyssal Star-Core resting inside it.
"Husband, open your mouth."
Yan Shuo obediently parted his lips.
A perfectly peeled, translucent slice of a Nine-Color Spirit Lychee was gently placed onto his tongue. The fruit—a legendary treasure that could easily trigger a bloodbath among rival sects in the outside world—dissolved instantly into a rush of sweet, refreshing Qi.
Tantai Zhi was kneeling gracefully beside his chair, a silver plate resting on her lap. She looked entirely radiant. Her terrifying, world-ending aura was completely retracted, leaving only the soft, devoted presence of a doting wife.
"Is it sweet enough, Husband?" Tantai Zhi asked, her golden eyes sparkling with pure affection as she carefully peeled another priceless fruit. "If it is too tart, I will go to the southern valleys and uproot a sweeter tree for our courtyard."
"It is perfect, Zhi’er," Yan Shuo murmured, reaching out to gently stroke her dark, silky hair. "You spoil me. If I eat too many supreme fruits without exercising, my Golden Core might become lazy."
At the mention of his Golden Core, a brilliant, scorching blush instantly swept across Tantai Zhi’s flawless cheeks.
Her mind immediately flashed back to the deeply intimate, soul-baring dual cultivation they had shared on the flying ship. The sensation of his dark, heavy foundation wrapping around her pure Yin Qi still made her heart hammer wildly against her ribs.
"If... if Husband’s core feels sluggish," Tantai Zhi stammered, completely abandoning her task of peeling the fruit. She looked down at the silver plate, her face burning red. "I am always ready to... to help you cycle your meridians again. We could return to the inner chambers. The jade bed is very comfortable."
Yan Shuo let out a soft, genuinely amused chuckle. He loved how easily the most terrifying woman in the mortal realm could be reduced to a flustered, stammering maiden just by mentioning their spiritual connection.
"My foundation is perfectly stable for now, Wife," Yan Shuo smiled, trailing his fingers down to gently cup her warm, flushed cheek. "The Yin Qi you gave me was incredibly pure. I do not need to trouble you for another session just yet."
Tantai Zhi leaned into his palm, her eyes fluttering shut as a soft, contented sigh escaped her lips. "It is never a trouble, Husband. My Qi belongs entirely to you."
While the apex predator of the cultivation world happily allowed her husband to pet her like a tame cat, a sudden, heavy ripple echoed through the ambient spiritual energy of the courtyard.
Su Mei stepped through the moon gate. The fox maid was entirely out of breath, clutching a glowing, blood-red jade slip in her trembling hands.
She took one look at the incredibly intimate, domestic scene under the peach tree, quickly averted her eyes, and dropped to one knee.
"Forgive this servant for interrupting your rest, Lord Yan, Saintess," Su Mei said, her voice shaking. "But the shadow operatives I placed in the western merchant towns have just sent an urgent spiritual transmission. The Central Continent has made its move."
Yan Shuo didn’t look surprised. He casually withdrew his hand from Tantai Zhi’s cheek, his lazy demeanor sharpening into the calculated coldness of a sovereign.
"Let me guess," Yan Shuo said, accepting a silk napkin from his wife to wipe his fingers. "Bai Chen did not march the Righteous Alliance army to our gates. He issued a decree."
Su Mei’s fox ears twitched in shock. "Y-Yes, My Lord! How did you know?"
"Because my old friend prefers to kill with borrowed knives," Yan Shuo murmured, extending his hand. "Bring me the slip."
Su Mei hurried forward, keeping her head bowed low, and placed the blood-red jade slip into his palm.
Yan Shuo injected a microscopic thread of Qi into the jade. Instantly, the blood-red text of the Karmic Blood Writ projected into the air above the courtyard.
It detailed the exact coordinates of the Azure Sword Sect. It declared Yan Shuo an "Ancient Anomaly." And floating at the very bottom of the projection was the promised bounty for his head: The Heavenly Dao Relic.
Tantai Zhi read the projection. The soft, doting flush on her cheeks vanished in a fraction of a microsecond.
The temperature in the courtyard plummeted to absolute zero. The blooming peach blossoms above them instantly crystallized into solid ice.
"He dared to put a price on your life," Tantai Zhi whispered. Her voice was no longer sweet. It was a terrifying, melodic hum that vibrated with apocalyptic killing intent. The crimson sword materialized in her grip, practically screaming for blood. "I will shatter the Central Continent. I will tear the Faceless Scholar’s soul into a thousand pieces and feed it to the abyss!"
"Calm down, Zhi’er," Yan Shuo ordered softly, reaching out to gently grasp her wrist.
The absolute authority in his voice paused her rampage, though her golden eyes were still swirling with a feral, protective madness.
"Look at the bounty," Yan Shuo instructed calmly, pointing his closed paper fan at the glowing red text. "He did not send this to the Righteous Alliance sects. The Alliance considers the Heavenly Dao Relic a myth. The only people who know its true value are the ancient monsters hiding in the dark."
Su Mei swallowed hard, terror gripping her throat. "Lord Yan is correct. The reports say the Blood-Bone Valley in the desolate west has unsealed its gates. The Phantom Blade Sect in the southern swamps has mobilized. They are all ancient, demonic factions that have been hiding from the Alliance for centuries! They are all marching toward the Azure Sword Sect as we speak!"
"A proxy war," Yan Shuo stated, a dark, bloodthirsty smile slowly spreading across his face.
Bai Chen wanted to use the ancient demonic sects to whittle down Tantai Zhi’s strength and force Yan Shuo to reveal his true demonic foundation. It was a flawless, cowardly strategy.
But Bai Chen had made one critical miscalculation.
He had forgotten who the absolute, undisputed sovereign of all demonic cultivators used to be.
"Miss Su," Yan Shuo said, standing up from his jade chair. The pristine white robes fluttered around him, but the aura leaking from his newly forged Golden Core felt heavier than a collapsing mountain. "Tell Sect Master Zhao to keep the defensive arrays fully powered, but he is not to send a single disciple outside the gates."
"M-My Lord?" Su Mei stammered. "But thousands of slaughter-cultivators are coming! We cannot just let them surround the mountain!"
"They are not coming to fight a war, Miss Su," Yan Shuo smiled, his dark eyes devoid of all warmth. "They are simply a delivery service. They are bringing me the blood and souls I need to forge my Nascent Soul."
He turned to his wife.
Tantai Zhi was staring at him, utterly captivated by the terrifying, ancient majesty radiating from his body.
"Wife," Yan Shuo murmured, reaching out to gently trace the side of her face. "It seems we are going to have some very rude guests arriving at our doorstep soon. Shall we go down to the foot of the mountain and greet them properly?"
Tantai Zhi leaned into his touch, her terrifying killing intent merging flawlessly with her obsessive devotion.
"Whatever Husband wants," she smiled, a beautiful, blood-chilling expression. "I will cut off their heads, and you can use their cores as stepping stones."