The Ninth Step.
As he took the final step, Gu Qingzhou swayed and abruptly appeared before the skeleton.
At that moment, Gu Qingzhou's aura reached an utterly terrifying level. Towering sword intent blanketed the entire secret realm, making even heaven and earth within it tremble.
Sensing the terrifying aura emanating from Gu Qingzhou, Mo Shang and the others, who had been locked in fierce battle, involuntarily halted their movements.
"What a terrifying aura. Old Gu is clearly not right in this state. Nothing bad will happen, will it?" Chen Tian asked worriedly.
"I don't know either..." Mo Shang shook his head slightly. He had never seen such a terrifying method before.
Gu Qingzhou had always been Loyal and Righteous. Now that something had happened to Guo Jingjing, he was likely just as he had been in Cangyun City with Jiang Shuyu—upon seeing someone die for him, he was prepared to perish together with heaven and earth.
"This is impossible! You're only in the Spirit Condensation Realm. You can't possibly possess such an aura! Who exactly are you?!"
The flames in the skeleton's eyes flickered violently, its voice filled with panic and disbelief.
Facing Gu Qingzhou in this state, the skeleton was utterly terrified. It had never imagined that he could unleash such horrifying power in such a short time!
Gu Qingzhou said nothing. He slightly raised the Kangjin Spirit-Slaying Sword in his hand and swung it at the skeleton.
There was no dazzling Sword Qi, no violent collision. There was only stillness—deathly stillness...
Beneath this sword, the skeleton that had remained utterly unscathed despite the others' repeated attacks was split in two. A smooth, even sword mark ran from top to bottom, cleaving through its entire body.
"Th-this is impossible..."
The scarlet flames in the skeleton's eyes gradually scattered. Its