Drip.

The dark radiance in the sky deepened further as fine droplets of rain began to fall across the land. The rain itself was not heavy, yet it carried a chilling coldness that seeped into the body. Just a few drops were enough to make one feel sluggish and unbearably weighed down.

Bathed in the rain, Suiguan instead appeared relaxed and at ease. Xindu, however, trembled violently within his grasp.

Streaks of darkness slid down his cheeks. His black hair was rapidly washed away, exposing a sparse, pale skull beneath. Flesh and skin writhed as they dissolved into white vapor streaming down the sides of his face, while both his hands clung tightly to Suiguan's wrist in weak, futile struggle.

Even though his struggle was utterly meaningless, his overwhelming will to survive still drove him to clamp tightly onto the bronze sparrow in his mouth, endlessly pouring divine ability mana into it in search of a single sliver of hope.

Countless gazes watched silently from every direction, deep and deathly still. The dense dark radiance completely obscured the heavens, plunging the entire battlefield into a darkness as black night. The only things that still shone were the four massive golden bodies standing in different corners of the sky, doing nothing but laughing.

Before long, everything sank into a suffocating darkness so thick one could not even see a hand before their face.

That should be [Heavy Murk]!

After an unknown length of time, Ning Wan lowered her head slightly. The water mist beneath her feet had already fallen completely still. From the banks of the great river all the way to the vast lands of White River Stream, there was no movement whatsoever. The silence resembled an abandoned wilderness devoid of all human life.

The four massive golden bodies all began to waver. Their enormous forms trembled amidst the black qi as though those majestic statues had been struck by heavy hammers, releasing deep, muffled groans. Violent cracking sounds followed, like countless giant boulders collapsing at once.

Crash...

The rustling of sand and gravel mixed together with the sound of shattered glass, becoming the only noise within this darkened world. Yet within that pitch-black heaven and earth, there remained a single source of light, the bronze sparrow clenched within Xindu's mouth.

A strange look entered Suiguan's eyes as he laughed softly. "To think you even prepared a [Star-Gazing Bronze Sparrow] for yourself!"

The moment she heard that name, disbelief flashed through Ning Wan's eyes. She abruptly lifted her head and stared blankly at the tiny bronze sparrow in the devil cultivator's mouth.

At last, Suiguan released his grip and stood silently in place. Xindu's body fell apart like a sheet of paper that had been torn to pieces. Dense white light gathered upon the jade-like object, and endless clouds and mist finally drifted out from his body, swirling upward toward the heavens.

The phenomenon of a cultivator's fall surged skyward, stirring wave after wave of disturbances. Rolling clouds drifted through the air, yet amidst this dark Pristine Water qi they appeared especially yin and gloomy, devoid of any trace of divine wonder.

Rumble!

A deep rumbling rose from the earth veins. Clear spring water burst forth beneath their feet, and fierce winds instantly swept across the battlefield. The water mist that had once blanketed the entire region was now surging northward at astonishing speed.

Suiguan stood quietly amidst the roaring mist rushing northward, his sinister green-purple eyes narrowing in satisfaction. The land before him revealed itself like the shore after the ebbing tide of a dark ocean. Inch after inch of barren earth was mixed with clear spring water and endless white bones in every imaginable posture.

The vast lands north of the great river had become utterly lifeless.

Some of the white bones still held dharma artifacts, while others remained kneeling upon the ground. Their bones glimmered with a faint, gentle luster. Yet farther away, across the entire White River Stream basin, countless corpses still stood upright upon the land, reflected within the fragmented pools of spring water.

Over the past few years, the Great Desire Dao had relocated millions of temple tenants and commoners from the north. Yet within mere dozens of breaths, all sound of life had vanished. White bones covered the area, while spring waters surged in endless waves.

The divine ability radiance that had constantly enveloped Suiguan finally dissipated as well, and the familiar great void once more appeared within everyone's sight.

Whether it was the boundless golden light or the layered Buddhist lands, all had already vanished without a trace. Yet every Purple Mansion Realm cultivator present stood frozen in silence, staring wordlessly into the great void.

Within the eternally dark and silent great void, a different kind of transformation finally appeared. A faint gleam of light emerged before everyone's eyes. This light resembled a newborn crescent moon, forming a shallow arc with blue above and white below. It hung suspended within the great void, sometimes blurred and sometimes clear, yet it irresistibly drew everyone's gaze.

The arc of light seemed to be suppressed by some invisible force, flickering endlessly between brightness and darkness. At times, other portions would briefly emerge, only to sink back into darkness so quickly it seemed as though they had never appeared at all. But everyone present was a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. How could they possibly fail to see clearly?

They could all vaguely make out countless Daoist temples and palace halls hidden within the radiance. Every pavilion and tower shone in pristine white and deep gray-black hues. Dense rows of long feathers swaying gently with the wind beneath the eaves.

Everything within the great void was reflected quietly within Suiguan's green-purple pupils as a low laugh drifted from his lips.

"As expected of its reputation... truly worthy of its name. The Wanlin Upper Sect is indeed extraordinary difficult beyond measure... The light of Prime Magnetism, the aura of Merging Owl, the qi of Floating Clouds... and even now they still refuse to enter the mortal world. But... as long as they reveal their traces... everything becomes much easier."

Li Zhouwei's five fingers tightened abruptly around his halberd, understanding already dawning in his heart.

[Wanlin Heaven].

His gaze quietly settled upon Suiguan's back clad in azure robes as the words from that day echoed once more in his ears, Now, I intend to cross the river to handle a matter... and tidy up the scenery along the way.

Suiguan's words were not wrong... or rather, how could Pristine Water ever truly be the kind to contend directly against Mount Luoxia? From beginning to end, Suiguan had merely been making use of everything. He had likely already coordinated everything with the Pavilion Viewing faction long ago...

Ever since arriving with the scroll and failing to see Ch'i Lanyan and the others, Li Zhouwei had already sensed something amiss. After secretly observing the great void, he finally understood Suiguan's scheme in making his move... It had merely been the final act of the grand drama unfolding across Jiangbei.

Those who remained on the northern shore... Xindu had been marked as a sacrifice from the very beginning. Murong Yan, Shilou Yingge, and the others were all targets meant to be removed or beaten into line...

Why was it that throughout all those wars in Jiangbei, despite the fertile land and abundant spiritual energy, strict decrees repeatedly forbade any damage to the earth veins and spirit veins? Everyone believed it was for Li Qianyuan's reincarnation, but the truth was the complete opposite... Even Li Qianyuan's presence in Jiangbei had all been for Mifan.

Everything surrounding Mount Tangdao had been arranged long ago... True Monarch Taiyuan himself may well have been one of the great powers orchestrating this matter... He alone controls all Dui Metal beneath heaven. If a hidden danger of Prime Magnetism existed at his doorstep, how could he possibly leave it unresolved?!

Li Zhouwei lowered his gaze toward the countless bones strewn across the land beneath his feet and silently bowed his head.

Kuiqi... Did Kuiqi understand this all along? In those cries before his death, had he already foreseen the scene unfolding today? His willingness to die upon Mount Tangdao... was it compromise, or helpless resignation...

Meanwhile, that blinding light continued to drift through the great void, and was reflected within Ning Wan's eyes. At that instant, her heart tightened as understanding finally dawned upon her.

So that's how it is! 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

A chill burrowed from her lungs straight into her mind. The woman hesitated, her lips trembling slightly as though she wished to say something.

Yet Suiguan seemed completely unaware. He merely stood there quietly, admiring everything before him. Soon, he lifted his head with a faint smile and continued observing the grotto heaven within the great void.

The world remained dim and overcast. Ning Wan slowly closed her eyes. After hesitating for a brief moment, she said in a faintly trembling voice, "My lord... now that White River Stream has been stabilized... Senior Tinglan and Senior Houfu are still battling within Xuanmiao's territory... I ask that you go reinforce them..."

Her trembling yet beautiful voice drifted away with the wind, but Suiguan merely continued staring into the great void without responding. Only after an unknown amount of time did he finally turn back with a smile.

There was no trace of ruthlessness or malice upon his face. From beginning to end, there had only been that faint smile and the sinister aura of a snake-dragon as he said, "What does that have to do with me?"

Boom!

A thunderous explosion erupted like a crashing heavenly bolt as torrential rain poured down from the sky. Streak after streak of lightning rolled through the clouds, illuminating Ning Wan's already pale face until it became deathly white.

Within the dim gloom, the cultivators from the south gazed up at the divine abilities overhead and cautiously began crossing the river. One or two stepped upon the clear waters, only to stand blankly amidst the endless sea of white bones, utterly at a loss.