Zhang Yu attained the Dao of a Golden Immortal

"Ten Thousand Swords—Return to One!"

At that critical moment, a cold voice suddenly rang out.

With that clear shout, a cold star suddenly shone between Zhang Yu and the impending World-Destroying Divine Thunder!

Then came ten points, a hundred points, a thousand points, ten thousand points... countless fine Sword Qi, as thin as cow hair, seemed to be born out of thin air, frantically converging on that one point of cold star from all directions!

In an instant, a giant sword phantom, formed purely from endless Sword Intent, materialized out of thin air.

A giant sword lay horizontally above Zhang Yu's head, its tip pointing diagonally towards the sky.

Mysterious and unpredictable sword Runes flowed across the blade, exuding an aloofness and decisiveness that seemed to say, "With one strike, all laws are broken!"

"Buzz--!"

The giant sword phantom trembled slightly, and an invisible sword domain instantly unfolded, enveloping the area where Zhang Yu was located.

Within the domain, Sword Qi crisscrossed, and Principle retreated.

Even the terrifying pressure of divine punishment was temporarily forced back by this pure and ultimate Sword Intent.

"Sizzle--!"

Zilu's purplish-black lightning, imbued with the power to destroy the world, crashed down and struck the massive sword of Sword Qi that stretched across the heavens and earth!

There was no deafening explosion, only an extremely sharp, piercing friction sound and a hissing sound of energy annihilation!

The purplish-black destructive lightning and the silvery-white, chilling Sword Qi collided, annihilated, and neutralized each other!

The phantom of the giant sword trembled violently, and the light on its surface dimmed at a visible speed, even revealing fine cracks.

But it stood like the most impregnable dam, firmly blocking this fatal blow without retreating an inch!

The aftershocks of the thunder were firmly blocked by the Sword Qi domain, failing to harm Zhang Yu below in the slightest.

"Jian Jiu?"

Zhang Yu suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils filled with a mixture of pale golden light and endless grief and anger.

He looked up at the massive sword with its Sword Qi that stretched across the heavens and earth, the one that had blocked the fatal blow for him.

A tall, aloof figure suddenly appeared in the air, blocking his path between him and Zilu.

It was none other than the leader of the Sword Sect— Jian Jiu!

Zhang Yu was deeply shocked and filled with disbelief.

He never expected that at this critical moment of life and death, when everyone else was either defeated or dead, or powerless to save him, the one who stepped in to save him would be the leader of the Sword Sect, who had always been a loner and indifferent to worldly affairs!

They had no close relationship; in fact, they had only met once and made a few transactions.

Why would he take such a perilous risk, even risking becoming an enemy of a Golden Immortal who controls the power of the world?

Jian Jiu stood with his back to Zhang Yu, his posture as straight as a pine tree, like a peerless divine sword about to be drawn from its sheath and cleave the sky.

He didn't turn around, but his clear, cold voice carried a barely perceptible hint of weariness and... a faint sadness.

"Get through this quickly, don't get distracted."

I can only buy you three breaths.

Don't let that Little Girl... sacrifice herself in vain.

When he said the words "Little Girl," a barely perceptible fluctuation appeared in Jian Jiu's usually indifferent tone, as if nothing bothered him.

A deep sense of sorrow and sadness flashed across the depths of his eyes.

He spent ten years with Tiantian, feeling her pure and innocent naivety, and sharing her occasional troubles and joys.

Ten years is a long time for Mortal, but it is just a blink of an eye for cultivators.

But that familial companionship and bond had already left an indelible mark on Jian Jiu's aloof and cold heart, which was devoted solely to the way of the sword.

He followed secretly not only because he was worried about Tiantian, but also because... he couldn't let go of her.

Heavenly Dao Incarnation, Tiantian, chose to sacrifice himself and merge with Zhang Yu, Jian Jiu was in the shadows and witnessed everything.

His decision not to intervene was not due to cold-bloodedness.

Rather, he knew better than anyone that this might be the only way to fight against Zilu and save this world.

Tiantian's choices are made with both resolve and hope.

His stepping forward at this moment might not be entirely for Zhang Yu's sake, but more to fulfill Tiantian's last wish.

"Jian Jiu, how dare you oppose me?"

Zilu saw Jian Jiu suddenly appear, the anger and Killing Intent in his eyes instantly soared to their peak.

He shouted sternly:

"Since you are determined to die, I will grant your wish today."

After dealing with this traitor, I will personally go to the Sword Sect and slaughter your entire clan!

May the name of the Sword Sect be erased from this world!

Zilu's threat was filled with bloodshed and violence.

He was truly determined to kill, not only Jian Jiu, but the entire Sword Sect.

Jian Jiu completely ignored Zilu's threats, not even lifting an eyelid.

All his energy, all his Sword Intent, and all his mind were focused on the massive sword with Sword Qi that stretched across the heavens and earth in front of him, and on maintaining the Sword Qi domain that protected Zhang Yu.

He seemed to have transformed into an emotionless sword statue, with only the chilling Sword Intent that constantly rose from his body and merged into the giant sword proving the immense pressure he was enduring.

Although Jian Jiu's swordsmanship is divine and he has touched the supreme Origin of Supreme Sword Dao, his Combat Power is comparable to that of an ordinary Golden Immortal.

However, when facing Zilu, a "pseudo-world lord" who had initially refined the Heavenly Dao Origin and could mobilize a portion of the world's power, they were still at a significant disadvantage.

All he could do was burn his Sword Intent and even overdraw his Origin to buy Zhang Yu that extremely limited time.

"Break!"

Zilu Jian Jiu ignored him, Zilu's anger intensified. With a fierce shout, he suddenly clasped his hands together!

The vortex of lightning in the sky spun even faster, unleashing even more destructive lightning that bombarded the greatsword of Sword Qi!

Not only that, he even began to invoke the Heaven and Earth Principle of this world, forming invisible shackles in an attempt to entangle, bind, and wear down Jian Jiu's Sword Intent and Sword Qi domain.

"Click... click..."

Under the relentless bombardment of Zilu and the dual suppression of the power of heaven and earth, the giant sword with its thousand-foot-long Sword Qi trembled even more violently.

The cracks on the sword became more numerous and deeper, and its luster grew dimmer.

Jian Jiu's face turned pale at a visible speed, and a trickle of blood even spilled from the corner of his mouth.

But he gritted his teeth, straightened his spine, and held on with all his might.

One breath... two breaths...

Time seemed to stretch out infinitely, each moment feeling like an eternity.

Just as the second breath was about to end and the third breath had not yet arrived—

"Snap--!!!"

A crisp, heartbreaking cracking sound echoed throughout the heavens and earth!

The massive sword, which stretched across the heavens and earth and had shielded Zhang Yu from countless Sword Qi of lightning, finally succumbed to its strain.

Under the bombardment of Zilu's enhanced version of the World-Destroying Divine Thunder, it shattered with a deafening roar!

Jian Jiu's body trembled violently, as if struck by a heavy blow, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Amidst the blood, there were tiny, crystalline fragments, like tiny Sword-Ray.

That was a sign that his Origin was damaged.

He staggered back several steps, the soaring Sword Intent around him instantly weakened, his face turned ashen, and for the first time, a trace of exhaustion, helplessness, and resentment appeared in his eyes.

"In the end... I overestimated myself and underestimated the world power controlled by this thief who stole the heavens..."

Jian Jiu gave a bitter laugh, his voice tinged with a hint of hoarseness and self-mockery:

"They promised three breaths... but only lasted two and a half..."

He slowly closed his eyes, seemingly ready to accept this final outcome with equanimity.

However, just as the destructive lightning was about to engulf Jian Jiu and continue bombarding Zhang Yu below, who seemed to still be in the process of breaking through—

A figure appeared before Jian Jiu without warning, as if a ghost had appeared, or as if teleported.

He had his back to Jian Jiu, facing the devastating torrent of thunder.

The newcomer wore Black Emperor Robe, which, though slightly tattered, fluttered and rustled even without wind.

He wasn't particularly tall, but standing there, he seemed to be the sole pillar supporting the world.

A vast and powerful aura, like an ancient dragon that had been sleeping, suddenly awakened and erupted!

Faced with the world-destroying lightning that could annihilate stars, he didn't even raise his head. He simply pointed his fingers like a sword and lightly slashed at the torrent of lightning pouring down.

"Laugh--!"

There was no earth-shattering momentum, no dazzling brilliance.

Only a single, perfectly condensed Sword Intent silently emerged from his fingertips.

Wherever the Sword Intent passed, the raging, incomparably destructive, purplish-black cataclysmic lightning was instantly shattered, as if it had encountered its nemesis.

With a single sword strike, the World-Destroying Thunder was severed!