The Ruler Sweeps the Eight Directions, Smacking Zhunti; Pure Yang's Might Suppresses Daluo

Zhunti proclaimed loudly, yet his hands did not dare slacken in the slightest.

He forcibly withdrew the hand reaching for the Treasure Gourd. Golden light blazed around him, and the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, which he had held all along, finally revealed its power!

With a backhanded sweep, Zhunti sent the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree brushing out seven-colored divine light—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet!

The treasure light flowed. Rather than clashing head-on with the Sky Measuring Ruler, it coiled around it like a spirit serpent, using softness to overcome hardness. It wrapped, guided, and deflected, truly dissolving the ruler's immense force layer by layer, abruptly slowing its downward strike.

The treasure light flowed, soft yet concealing needles, fully displaying the supreme profundity of the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree's ability to disperse force and redirect power.

Seeing this, Zhunti inwardly relaxed, and a flicker of delight crossed his eyes.

Though this Primordial Sky Measuring Ruler was formidable, and the merit upon it could not be violated, East King Duke only knew how to wield brute force! It seemed he could safely weather this trial.

Yet just as the thought arose in Zhunti's mind, a sudden change occurred!

Pure Yang Daoist seemed to have anticipated this. At the very instant the Sky Measuring Ruler appeared to have exhausted its strength and its trajectory began to veer, violet-gold divine light flashed in his eyes. His vast Quasi-Saint Magic Power surged forth without reservation, pouring into the Primordial Sky Measuring Ruler like a roaring river!

"Break!"

With a cold shout containing the majesty of the Dao, the ruler's black-yellow merit light suddenly flared. An unprecedented violet-gold divine radiance streamed from its hilt to its tip, dazzlingly bright and staining half the sky violet-gold!

The Sky Measuring Ruler, which had been entangled and guided by the seven-colored treasure light and had slowed slightly, seemed to have been imbued with supreme will as it let out a clear, ringing hum.

The next moment, it no longer passively followed that entangling, guiding force. Instead, with the most tyrannical and direct momentum, it transformed itself into the first sharp edge that had split heaven and earth apart!

"Rip!"

A sound like tearing silk rang out. The dense, resilient seven-colored branches cast forth by the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, which could dissipate the force of ten thousand jun, were forcibly torn apart by that suddenly erupting violet-gold divine radiance!

The Sky Measuring Ruler broke free of every restraint. It flew even faster and fiercer than before, bearing an unstoppable resolve as it continued to cleave mercilessly toward Zhunti's crown like violet lightning ripping apart the heavens!

"What?!"

The ease on Zhunti's face instantly froze, turning into utter shock and disbelief!

"Misfortune!"

Zhunti had no time to react at all. He only felt the wind above his head tighten sharply as violet-gold light completely filled his vision.

"Smack!"

A crisp, resounding impact echoed through the valley.

The Primordial Sky Measuring Ruler struck Zhunti squarely on the crown, producing a dull thud that made hearts tremble!

Although the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree had dispersed most of the force, how could an attack from a supreme treasure infused with Quasi-Saint Magic Power be taken lightly?

Zhunti's protective Mysterious Light shook violently. The barrier formed by his spiritual treasure gave a mournful cry beneath its burden, its radiance rapidly dimming as its spirituality suffered grave damage.

As his protective spiritual treasure shattered, Zhunti seemed to have been struck by lightning. He staggered backward several steps before barely steadying himself.

A huge bump swelled atop his head at a visible rate, making him look both comical and pathetic.

Piercing pain shot straight into his Violet Palace, shaking his Nascent Soul. Golden stars danced before his eyes, and sweetness rose in his throat as he spat out a mouthful of golden blood.

With that single blow, Zhunti had not only suffered injuries to his Dao Body, but also lost all face.

Since taking form, when had he ever endured such a humiliation?

"Fellow Daoist!"

Daoist Jieyin cried out in shock and grief. Seeing Zhunti's miserable state, a resolute expression appeared on his sorrowful face.

In a flash, this great Western cultivator, always known for his calmness, made a startling decision. He did not even glance at the nearby gourd shimmering with treasure light. With a flicker, he appeared at Zhunti's side.

He swept his sleeve, formed a hand seal with his right hand, and chanted:

"Sumeru Mustard Seed, Escape the Great Thousand!"

In an instant, hazy golden light rose around Jieyin. His entire body seemed to transform into a mote of dust, and Zhunti's figure in his arms blurred at the same time.

This was no ordinary Evasion Technique, but a Supernatural Ability containing laws. Before everyone's eyes, they directly fled into the distance!

This series of movements flowed as smoothly as clouds and water. From appearing to casting the spell, it took no more than the blink of an eye.

By the time the others reacted, the two had become an almost imperceptible streak of gold. In an instant, they crossed the sky above the valley and were about to vanish into the boundless horizon.

Such a decisive retreat drew sidelong glances from everyone nearby, yet not a single person moved to stop them.

Only the Treasure Gourd on the rock wall continued to shimmer with flowing light, as though recounting the thrilling battle for treasure that had just taken place.

Taiyi, who had just used the supreme might of the Chaos Bell to scatter the Pure Yang Thunder Sea, was about to urge the supreme treasure into a relentless attack when he happened to witness the entire sequence: Pure Yang Daoist striking Zhunti with his ruler, Jieyin rescuing him, and the two fleeing in defeat.

Taiyi's gaze abruptly narrowed, and extreme astonishment flashed through his golden eyes.

Originally, he had intended to take advantage of East King Duke's conflict with the two Westerners and use the Chaos Bell's might to make him lose face on the spot.

But he had never expected East King Duke to be this powerful!

Not only could he divide his attention during battle with Taiyi, but with thunderous means, he had reduced the cunning Zhunti to such a sorry state in a single strike, forcing Jieyin to abandon the spiritual treasure that was nearly within his grasp and flee in panic with his companion.

It was enough to show just how formidable he was.

The surging Solar True Fire around Taiyi unconsciously drew inward slightly, while the Chaos Bell suspended above him emitted a low hum.

As he looked at Pure Yang Daoist standing in the distant void, violet qi curling around him, the disdain and calculation in his gaze had entirely turned into unprecedented gravity—and even... a trace of awe that he himself had not noticed.

This fiend possesses such Supernatural Ability!

Having succeeded with one move, Pure Yang Daoist recalled the Sky Measuring Ruler as it became a streak of light and hovered at his side.

He stood with his hands behind his back, Pure Yang Qi steaming around him. His calm gaze swept over the fleeing Zhunti and Jieyin before finally colliding with Taiyi's in midair. Though he said nothing further, the invisible pressure he exuded had already enveloped the entire scene.

For a time, heaven and earth fell silent. Only the lingering ripples of space bore witness to that earth-shattering exchange from moments before.

"If any fellow Daoists remain dissatisfied, why hide yourselves? Step forward and settle matters with me."

Pure Yang Daoist's voice was like cold spring water striking jade, every word clear yet carrying an unusual penetrating force. It rang not only beside everyone's ears, but also swept over the entire valley like an invisible ripple, causing even the air to congeal.

His calm gaze passed over Taiyi's gloomy face, swept across Di Jun's deep eyes, and finally settled upon Laozi's contemplative expression.

That gaze appeared indifferent, yet it carried a sharpness that pierced the void, as though he had already seen through every calculation hidden within the hearts of those present.

Though he did not state it openly, the warning in that calm gaze pressed upon everyone's hearts as tangibly as substance.

The instant his words fell, the atmosphere changed abruptly!

Hearing this, Taiyi laughed rather than grew angry, but a chilling coldness lingered within that laughter.

He took a step forward. The Chaos Bell above his head blazed with light, and the innate Dao inscriptions upon its surface lit up one after another, releasing low roars.

"East King Duke!"

His voice rang like clashing metal as Solar True Fire soared into the sky once more.