In the desert.

  Sand-laden winds whipped through the air, kicking up scorching grains of sand.

  The sun blazed with a fierce heat.

  Yet, the hearts of many grew icy cold.

  Zhou Haisheng had lost an arm, but with the regenerative power of the Nascent Soul realm, he quickly staunched the bleeding.

  The Overlord's body stood unmoving, like a statue in the desert—headless, evoking a chilling desolation.

  The Overlord had fallen.

  Under Zhou Haisheng's terrifying onslaught, he had been defeated.

  Even after breaking through the Five Extremes Heavenly Lock at the critical moment, unleashing his long-accumulated assault and reaching Nascent Soul-level attack power... he still lost.

  Zhou Haisheng's sword, channeling all his strength, had severed the Overlord's head.

  The cultivators of the Five Phoenixes Continent fell silent.

  The Overlord was dead, and White Jade Capital had not appeared—not even a word from Young Master Lu.

  This left the cultivators of the Five Phoenixes Continent feeling a sudden weight in their chests, a pang of unease.

  Before, the Tianyuan Domain cultivators had been overwhelmingly dominant and aggressive, but those from the Five Phoenixes Continent hadn't panicked.

  Because behind them stood White Jade Capital.

  White Jade Capital represented the pinnacle of the Five Phoenixes' strength.

  No matter how many powerhouses Tianyuan had, they wouldn't dare provoke White Jade Capital. Though it had vanished into hiding... it remained the backbone of the Five Phoenixes cultivators' confidence.

  Now...

  That confidence seemed to waver.

  Even the Overlord's death hadn't drawn White Jade Capital's intervention...

  Deep down, everyone felt a twinge of panic, like losing their pillar of support.

  "This is Young Master Lu's intention."

  In a corner of the desert.

  Jiang Li, dressed in scholarly robes, gazed at the battle from afar. He saw the barely concealed fear on the faces of the Five Phoenixes cultivators.

  Perched on Bai Qingniao's head was Little Phoenix One, while Little Phoenix Two and Three peeked curiously from her collar.

  "What does Young Master Lu intend?"

  Bai Qingniao asked, puzzled.

  "The cultivators of the Five Phoenixes Continent... they've lacked real pressure for too long. Young Master Lu took White Jade Capital into hiding largely to impose some on them."

  "White Jade Capital isn't what lets them grow complacent; true strength comes from within..."

  "The cultivators from the Tianyuan Foreign Land are generally stronger than those from the Five Phoenixes. If I'm right, Tianyuan is under Young Master Lu's control—or at least, he holds sway there."

  "Using such a force for training is perfect..."

  "It won't overwhelm them but will apply just the right pressure. Two birds with one stone."

  Jiang Li explained.

  Viewing it through the lens of a military strategist, he had picked up on the clues.

  Bai Qingniao and Chi Lian suddenly understood.

  So that was why Young Master Lu had gone into hiding.

  But Jiang Li's expression remained grave. He glanced eastward, toward where White Jade Capital had vanished.

  From his soldier's intuition, he sensed that Young Master Lu's strategy hid deeper purposes.

  In Jiang Li's view, the Tianyuan cultivators weren't enemies—just rivals.

  The true enemy... had yet to emerge!

  Mo Beike watched from afar the lonely silhouette of the Overlord standing headless in the desert.

  His heavy eye bags twitched, revealing deep sorrow.

  The Overlord... he had watched him grow up. Sadly, their paths diverged over differing ideals.

  And now...

  The Overlord had fallen in this barren wasteland.

  How tragic?

  More importantly, to Mo Beike, the Overlord's death signaled upheaval and massive shifts in the world's balance.

  Compared to the grief among the Five Phoenixes cultivators...

  The powerhouses from Tianyuan showed no excessive mockery.

  The Overlord's strength had earned their respect.

  If someone had claimed before that a fifth-turn Golden Core cultivator could nearly slay a minor-completion Nascent Soul...

  They'd have laughed it off as impossible.

  But the Overlord had done it.

  He had come perilously close to killing Zhou Haisheng at the peak of essence, spirit, condition, and combat prowess.

  "A worthy opponent to respect."

  Zhong Nan, with his plain blade slung across his back, sighed.

  Xiao Yue'er nodded in agreement. Given enough time, the Overlord could absolutely have reached their level—no question.

  Feng Yilou shook his head: "It's a pity. No matter how monstrous your talent, if you don't grow, it's all for nothing."

  "That's the cruelty of the cultivation world."

  "The people of the Five Phoenixes Continent... they've grown too comfortable. They know nothing of cultivation's harsh reality."

  Zhong Nan and Xiao Yue'er had to admit Feng Yilou had a point.

  ...

  Xu Chu's eyes bulged, his body rigid with cold. The spiked iron ball slipped from his grip, thudding into the sand.

  "The King... has fallen."

  His lips trembled as he whispered.

  In the next instant...

  Rage and grief flooded his eyes like a tidal wave.

  "Ah!!!"

  "My King!"

  Xu Chu roared.

  Overwhelming sorrow crashed against his chest like raging waves.

  He hefted the spiked iron ball, eyes bloodshot, and charged forward.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  The yellow sands quaked.

  The ball swung, whipping up terrifying gusts.

  Xu Chu madly rushed at Zhou Haisheng—he would avenge his king!

  In his life, Xu Chu admired two men most: the Overlord and Young Master Lu.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  The Overlord had influenced him deepest, like an elder brother.

  But now, the Overlord was gone!

  He couldn't control his emotions.

  It wasn't just Xu Chu.

  The cultivators of the Xiang Family Army went berserk!

  Shouts tore through the desert skies.

  "Kill!"

  "Avenge the King!"

  The Xiang Family Army bellowed.

  Body Storage realm leaders charged first, following Xu Chu, their eyes red with grief.

  Finally, sneers erupted from the Tianyuan side.

  "Against a Nascent Soul, numbers mean nothing..."

  "Charging in? That's just suicide."

  The foreign land cultivators' voices carried mocking amusement.

  These soldiers of the Overlord were moths to the flame.

  Zhou Haisheng, one arm gone, picked up the bloodied Cangsheng Sword from the ground.

  Leaning on it one-handed, he glanced at the charging Xu Chu and the others.

  He had no interest in tangling with them.

  The Overlord was already dead.

  Next, he would hunt the Black Dragon Cult leader, Liu Yuanhao, who had incited Zhou Liu against the Overlord!

  "Get lost!"

  Zhou Haisheng didn't strike to kill Xu Chu and the rest.

  This was his way of giving the Overlord face.

  Fighting him as a Golden Core, even severing his arm—the man had his admiration.

  Boom!

  Zhou Haisheng bellowed.

  Nascent Soul pressure radiated from him, rippling outward like waves.

  One by one, the charging Xiang Family Army soldiers were flung back.

  Xu Chu braced against it, howling as he inched forward.

  Muscles like coiled dragons bulged across his body; neck strained, face flushed, eyes burning with hatred—he advanced step by step.

  Zhou Haisheng raised his hand.

  Hum...

  A flick of his finger sent sword qi flying.

  Pfft!

  Xu Chu's legs exploded in blood, sending him tumbling back.

  Suddenly...

  Zhou Haisheng froze.

  He turned to the Overlord. His spiritual sense was sharp—illusion or not, he felt... the Overlord's cold, headless corpse... twitch!

  ...

  "What are you doing?!"

  Kong Nanfei stared at Mo Tianyu, whose aura suddenly exploded with overwhelming power, his breath catching.

  "Old Kong, guard me!"

  Mo Tianyu glanced at Kong Nanfei, bloodshot veins climbing his eyes.

  "This is what you owe me!"

  Mo Tianyu roared.

  Kong Nanfei fell silent.

  "Don't get yourself killed."

  Kong Nanfei took a swig of wine.

  Mo Tianyu laughed wildly.

  The intent of Defying Fate surged endlessly.

  "Lucky it's the Overlord. If it were you, Kong Nanfei, no saving you."

  "Defying Fate intent meeting Unyielding intent... a perfect match!"

  Mo Tianyu grinned.

  He held three copper treasures, fingers forming a lotus seal, striking them and causing cascades of light to fall.

  Rumble!

  Clouds gathered overhead.

  "Overlord!"

  "Today, I'll defy your fate!"

  Mo Tianyu howled.

  In the next moment...

  He would shatter the Heavenly Lock and reverse the Overlord's destiny!

  Faintly...

  Gray-white light emerged in Mo Tianyu's eyes. Defying Fate intent lashed his body like whips.

  Mo Tianyu grunted in pain.

  Then, he saw...

  A city—the Necropolis in the Nine Prisons Secret Realm. Lost souls wandered outside, dazed, entering the gates.

  "Souls, return!"

  Mo Tianyu bared his chest and bellowed.

  Suddenly!

  In the Necropolis...

  Terrifying auras awakened.

  Towering figures sat on thrones, overlooking Mo Tianyu from behind the city.

  Pfft!

  Mo Tianyu felt his soul tearing apart.

  He hastily withdrew from that horrifying state.

  Back in reality, he spat blood.

  His body burned like fire; half his face darkened, cursed with ill omen.

  He grabbed his head—a fistful of hair came out...

  "Damn it, what a loss!"

  "Defying fate... not for mortals!"

  Mo Tianyu cursed inwardly.

  His once carefree image faded further.

  If he failed to break the Heavenly Lock this time, the cost would be immense!

  Boom!

  But the effects were immediate.

  In the distance, black demonic qi began seeping from the Overlord's headless body.

  Mo Tianyu's bones cracked thunderously. Defying Fate intent enveloped him... his cultivation skyrocketed.

  He crossed into the Heavenly Lock realm!

  But that was just the start!

  Rumble!

  Kong Nanfei's heart pounded in shock.

  What had Mo Tianyu done?!

  He glanced at the distant Overlord—demonic qi rising, a spark of life blooming in endless darkness.

  Mo Tianyu's work?

  This guy... not only read hexagrams backward but reversed his own fate?

  To the point of defying heaven and changing destiny?!

  Kong Nanfei inhaled deeply. He grew more convinced: his own failed Heavenly Lock breakthrough, yet survival—it must have been Mo Tianyu severing the path of yin and yang.

  Pulling him back from death!

  But seeing Mo Tianyu's hair falling out, body wracked with backlash pain...

  Kong Nanfei understood: defying heaven demanded a price.

  Even so, it was astonishing.

  ...

  "Am... I dead?"

  The Overlord heard someone calling him.

  It cleared his muddled consciousness a bit.

  Then, he awoke. He remembered... Zhou Haisheng had beheaded him.

  He should be dead.

  So why?

  The Overlord focused. He felt as if trapped in the Nine Prisons' gates.

  Dense demonic qi surged, forming a vast cage that crashed down.

  Chains dangled, icy cold, freezing the soul.

  A yin envoy stepped forth with shackles.

  Watching the Overlord coldly from afar.

  But in his ears, the calling and pulling grew louder.

  "Souls, return!"

  Mo Tianyu's voice!

  The Overlord recognized it.

  "You walk the demonic path. Dead, you enter purgatory."

  The yin envoy intoned.

  His voice boomed, blasting waves of air.

  Cold chains whipped to bind and escort the Overlord.

  He realized: Mo Tianyu was saving him!

  Defying heaven to alter fate!

  The Overlord drew a deep breath.

  Was Mo Tianyu's divination this terrifying?

  Of course, with Mo Tianyu's cultivation, he couldn't directly pull the Overlord out—but the Overlord could follow the voice and escape purgatory!

  Boom!

  Fierce demonic qi erupted from the Overlord's form.

  "Insolence!"

  The yin envoy roared.

  A soul-lashing chain struck.

  The Overlord bellowed, punching flat to smash the shackles.

  He dispersed them.

  Soul-rending pain drew a growl from him.

  Enduring it, he broke free and fled swiftly along the voice.

  Rumble!

  The yin envoy vanished.

  The Overlord suddenly felt insignificant.

  A terrifying colossal figure appeared in the heavens.

  Seated on a throne, holding a ledger, brows furrowed in cold fury, eyes glaring.

  This fearsome being slapped down, eclipsing the sky, to capture the Overlord.

  He refused to surrender. No one wanted death.

  If he could live, the Overlord would live!

  He didn't know the chaos in Western Liang after his fall.

  Perhaps...

  Western Liang warriors would fight Zhou Haisheng to the death.

  With Zhou Haisheng's Nascent Soul power, they'd be slaughtered!

  The Overlord had to escape!

  He had to!

  But...

  The throne figure's aura was overwhelming.

  The Overlord recognized it—similar to the throne in King Qin Guang's city!

  Despair cloaked his heart.

  No hope would be bearable, but Mo Tianyu had given it—and now he refused to let it shatter!

  The Overlord roared, as if burning his soul.

  Unyielding intent surged in soul flames.

  Black demonic qi rolled.

  An idea struck—he burned soul fire, demonic qi coalescing into a blurry figure.

  One he knew well...

  The Demon Lord!

  Heaven-shaking demonic qi swept, forming a phantom above the Overlord's head.

  Wrapped in black robes.

  Facing the throne's palm strike.

  The Demon Lord slowly turned.

  Hm?

  The throne figure felt its palm burn like fire, retracting sharply.

  The Demon Lord's glance evoked familiar awe.

  Hum...

  Seizing the chance, with Unyielding intent's aid, the Overlord burst from boundless purgatory.

  ...

  Demonic qi coiled around the Overlord's headless corpse.

  It coalesced into a blurry silhouette.

  On the severed head, torrents of demonic qi surged, faintly forming a vague face.

  Soul flames danced within, wrapped in demonic qi—like a devil crawling from hell.

  Everyone around gasped in shock!

  "What's happening?!"

  "He's alive again?!"

  "No head and still living? Impossible!"

  Tianyuan's genius list prodigies were stunned.

  Five Phoenixes cultivators were shocked too—but excitement followed.

  Xu Chu, legs bleeding, saw the headless body stir and burst into laughter.

  Nie Changqing's brows arched.

  He thought of something, glancing toward Kong Nanfei—there, Mo Tianyu's essence, qi, and spirit exploded!

  "That guy... reversed a hexagram to break through again?"

  Nie Changqing inhaled sharply.

  But what shocked him: Mo Tianyu pulled back even the dead Overlord?

  Revive the dead with one divination?

  What kind of hexagram?!

  This was god-tier!

  In truth, Nie Changqing overthought it. Mo Tianyu's Defying Fate intent guided, but the Overlord's escape and revival came from manifesting the Demon Lord phantom in a flash of inspiration.

  "Alive?"

  "Unbelievable..."

  Zhou Haisheng drew a deep breath.

  Alive? Then kill him again!

  Sword in hand, his Nascent Soul reemerged overhead.

  The Headless Overlord Remains a Demon!

  The Overlord sensed control over his body. Headless, but spiritual sense substituted—no issue.

  Yet, just regaining it...

  Demonic qi burning, soul burning pain crashed down.

  Like mountains crushing him.

  The Overlord roared; his burly frame bent slowly, demonic patterns etching his skin.

  Spine like a dragon, vital blood mixed with demonic qi, turning black.

  Fresh from Five Extremes Heavenly Lock, he now tempered himself with purgatory fire drawn forth.

  Two more extremes in succession!

  Seven Extremes Heavenly Lock!

  The Demon Lord phantom floated behind.

  His massive body unleashed a silent roar.

  Grabbing the square shield and axe forged by Gongshu Yu, he charged, exploding an invisible shockwave—like a burning black flame.

  Toward Zhou Haisheng.

  "Thought you dead. Since you're back... I'll kill you once more!"

  Zhou Haisheng snarled.

  His Nascent Soul glowed.

  Cangsheng Sword gathered massive fluctuations.

  One slash!

  Sword light tore the sands; the desert's glow dimmed under it.

  Boom!

  The headless Overlord raised his shield.

  Blocked the strike.

  Explosion rang out.

  Blood burst from him; he flew back.

  But like nothing happened, he flipped up and charged again.

  Zhou Haisheng kept snarling.

  Slash after slash...

  At Seven Extremes Heavenly Lock, the Overlord grew tougher.

  Covered in wounds, but with Unyielding intent, he fought fiercer!

  Demonic patterns blanketed him; each seemed to pulse with Unyielding intent.

  As if his body had become a demonic vessel!

  Undefeatable?!

  Zhou Haisheng refused to believe!

  One-armed, he swung relentlessly, hacking the Overlord flying!

  Yet the Overlord rose again and again, growing deadlier!

  "Demon!"

  "You're a demon!"

  Zhou Haisheng said complexly.

  Unyielding intent fused into flesh—if he couldn't end the Overlord in one blow, the backlash would slay him instantly.

  Zhou Haisheng shook his head. His Nascent Soul blazed ultimate light.

  Crack...

  Cracks spidered across it.

  It shattered, energy flooding Cangsheng Sword!

  The sword radiated brilliant white!

  Black demonic qi clashed with white sword qi!

  Terrifying blasts ripped; a massive crater formed in the desert.

  Even sand grains were sliced finer by sword qi.

  Silence reclaimed the world.

  Zhou Haisheng swayed, blood-soaked.

  No longer young, aged beyond years, he dragged his frail body step by step from the desert.

  In the crater...

  Cangsheng Sword pierced the headless Overlord, pinning him.

  Zhou Haisheng staggered hundreds of meters.

  Exhausted.

  He stopped.

  Sat cross-legged, gazing at the crater, and smiled faintly.

  Watching it.

  From the crater, a wounded figure pulled free the sword and climbed out slowly.

  In Zhou Haisheng's eyes, it morphed into his grandson Zhou Liu.

  But...

  Zhou Liu's face shattered, becoming the headless Overlord, gripping Cangsheng Sword, standing at the crater's edge, staring at Zhou Haisheng.

  "Even without White Jade Capital..."

  "For Tianyuan to dominate the Five Phoenixes as overlord... it won't be so easy now."

  The Four Great Holy Lands used him as a pawn, but... through this battle, Zhou Haisheng saw the Five Phoenixes cultivators' unbelievable potential!

  He smiled.

  With vindication and release.

  Finally, his head drooped. Already near the end of his lifespan, that final strike exhausted it.

  The demonic qi on the headless Overlord receded fully...

  He crashed rigid into the sands.

  But...

  That heavy, thunderous heartbeat echoed across the desert.

  All around... dead silence.

  Tianyuan cultivators, Five Phoenixes cultivators—none spoke, digesting the shock.

  The headless Overlord...

  Had outlasted a Nascent Soul!