“They didn’t say it outright, but they should step in to help us when danger comes,” the voice in the darkness replied.

“The Ten God-Clans are essentially one body. If we’re destroyed, how can they survive? They understand perfectly well that without the lips, the teeth grow cold.”

Hearing this, the shadow in the dark nodded slightly. “Then we wait. And we prepare. We’ll give them a nice gift.”

…

Within the True Martial God-Empire, dusk was slowly settling in. After handling the matters of the banquet, Willow Ancestor came to report to Xu Zimo.

He said, “Ancestor, the banquet is over and everyone has been sent off. You don’t know, those people were like flies, buzzing around me nonstop.”

“You didn’t agree to anything, right?” Xu Zimo asked with a smile.

“How could I?” Willow Ancestor shook his head. “Aside from Primal Mountain Emperor and a few others, we don’t need anyone else.”

“How did things go with the Zhao God-Clan members?” Xu Zimo asked again.

“They want an alliance and say they can provide information, but I feel it’s not very useful,” Willow Ancestor replied. “And I don’t trust the Ten God-Clans. So I just humored them for now. We’ll see if the information they provide later is useful before deciding whether to cooperate.”

“You handled it well. We don’t need the Ten God-Clans in the first place,” Xu Zimo said with a nod. “And from now on, keep a high posture when speaking to others. The True Martial Sacred Ground is no longer the same as before. You don’t need to put faith in me. The Sacred Ground has its own people who will save it, including those who fight silently behind the scenes. I’m just a passerby,” Xu Zimo said, waving his hand. “Get ready. We set out tomorrow.”

Willow Ancestor nodded, then added, “Ancestor, in the treasury of the Ancient Dragon God-Empire, we found a dragon ship. It’s perfect for carrying our disciples.”

“Good. I was worried they wouldn’t be able to keep up with my speed,” Xu Zimo said.

…

The night passed without words. Although it seemed peaceful, the entire Absolute God Heaven churned with hidden currents. Countless forces and countless people were moving in secret.

The next morning, the sun rose. The sky was a pure, unmarred blue, and the heavens carried a streak of violet dawn rising from the east. The disciples of the True Martial Sacred Ground were dressed in matching robes, blue garments fluttering in the wind. Their faces were filled with excitement, and at the front stood Willow Ancestor and Wang Hengzhi. At their sides were Primal Mountain Emperor, Ouyang Qi, and Zhang Wu. Directly ahead, the dragon-shaped treasure ship lay across the open space like a living dragon.

“Depart!” someone shouted. Under Willow Ancestor’s lead, everyone began boarding the ship. Xu Zimo walked through the air and landed at the dragon’s head.

With a thunderous rumble, the treasure ship sped toward the Yue God-Clan. To the onlookers, it might have seemed amusing, a small treasure ship daring to claim it would destroy the Ten God-Clans.

…

The ship’s speed was extremely fast, one of the fastest ancient warships left behind by the Ancient Dragon God-Empire. It traveled across the sky for nearly three weeks. On this day, as usual, the ship raced forward above the heavens. The surrounding skies were cloudless for miles, but the weather grew gloomy, and a light drizzle fell. The disciples stood on deck, gazing outward.

Suddenly someone pointed at the distant horizon and shouted, “Look! There’s a mountain, Pupil Mountain!”

“Have we arrived?”

Everyone was drawn to the sight and moved to the rail. Because the sky was dim, a faint silhouette of a towering peak appeared on the horizon through the thick clouds. Pupil Mountain was known as the tallest peak of the northwest, so it could only be that.

“We’ve reached the Yue God-Clan’s territory? I wonder what the Ten God-Clans look like.”

Everyone felt both curious and nervous. After all, these were the Ten God-Clans, the peak of this world.

Xu Zimo, however, remained seated at the dragon’s head with his eyes closed, unmoved even as fierce winds battered him during the ship’s flight.

“Be careful,” he warned calmly.

The moment the words left his mouth, thunder exploded across the sky. A gray bolt of lightning struck down, shattering the heavens. The blast broke off a corner of the ship.

“Everyone stay alert!” Willow Ancestor shouted. “Who dares ambush us!?”

His sharp gaze swept across the sky, but no one appeared. Only endless thunder churned above.

More bolts roared, as if trying to completely destroy the treasure ship.

Xu Zimo slowly opened his eyes. He raised his right hand, power surging in his palm, and with a single strike he shattered the void. Several figures tumbled out from the broken space, some wearing yellow robes, some white, some purple. And more continued emerging from deeper within the void.

Seeing them, Willow Ancestor’s eyes narrowed. He recognized most of the faces.

“Supreme Golden City… Hidden Immortal Palace… Qilin Villa… Dark Holy Sect…”

These were the sects affiliated with the Yue God-Clan, its subordinate forces. Their presence here needed no explanation. They were here to intercept the True Martial Sacred Ground.

Still, Willow Ancestor asked, “What is the meaning of this, everyone?”

“Willow, long time no see,” someone said with a laugh. It was Wang Quanshang, the city lord of Supreme Golden City. “This road is closed. Best to turn back.”

“You intend to block us?” Willow Ancestor asked.

“We’re not blocking anything. But if the True Martial Sacred Ground insists on its foolish path, we’ll simply destroy you,” said Ming Junzi of Tiangang Sect.

“Then try it,” Willow Ancestor replied coldly.

“Willow, it’s not that we look down on you, you’re just too weak. Have your ancestor come out,” Wang Quanshang said.

As he spoke, Grand Emperor pressure burst from his body, soaring into the sky. One after another, the leaders of the seven other sects unleashed their own imperial auras. Eight Grand Emperors, these were the strongest attached to the Yue God-Clan.

Seeing this, Willow Ancestor and the others stiffened inwardly. It was overwhelming. For the current True Martial Sacred Ground, aside from the ancestor, they were no match at all.

Willow Ancestor looked toward Xu Zimo.

“Kill them all,” Xu Zimo said mildly.