Upon hearing the veiled mockery in Zhuge Mingyue's words, Li Chen's expression remained unchanged, indifferent.

His current state of mind has been tempered to resemble the water in an ancient well, unaffected by even the largest storms.

Li Chen narrowly avoided a blood sword attack, stepping into the void, his steps blossoming into lotuses, soaring straight into the clouds.

"Roar!"

A soul-shattering dragon's roar echoed through the mountains and forests.

Suddenly, a Five-Colored Divine Dragon could be seen coiled within the Seven-star Dragon Abyss, raising its head in a prolonged cry.

"Break for me!"

Li Chen shouted explosively, as the refined and unmatched Divine Dragon on the sword's body swept towards the countless Sword Shadows that formed a Shura Blood Curtain.

The blood sword and dragon shadow collided in mid-air. The power released instantly was terrifying beyond measure, seemingly about to destroy the entire world.

If it weren't for the protective defense restriction surrounding them, hundreds of miles of forests would have been razed in an instant.

"Crack!"

After a deadly duel, the Shura Blood Curtain was no match for the dragon's roar-like Sword Shadows and was forcibly torn open.

Immediately, it collapsed like a mountain.

This Blood Shadow Shura was connected to Zhuge Mingyue's Divine Soul.

With the Blood Shadow Shura's mid-air destruction, his Divine Soul suffered a heavy blow.

"Pfft!"

Zhuge Mingyue's face, already pale, turned even paler—like that of a corpse, not a hint of blood visible.

Seeing her master injured, Butterfly ceased combat with Lian Hongshang, feigning a sword swing before rushing over.

"Master, are you hurt seriously?"

Zhuge Mingyue wanted to say he was fine, yet as he struggled to speak, another mouthful of blood surged out.

Seeing that the outcome was decided, Lian Hongshang refrained from pursuing Butterfly further, quickly approaching Li Chen.

Li Chen handled the Seven-star Dragon Abyss, speaking softly, "Mr. Zhuge, how did you find the taste of my sword?"

This was the irony Zhuge Mingyue threw at Li Chen earlier, now returned in full measure.

Zhuge Mingyue gritted his teeth in anger but had no retort.

Initially, he held a slight advantage, but Li Chen had the capability to counter with certainty.

Now, Li Chen had secured the victory, and Zhuge Mingyue was severely injured, struggling to turn the tide.

Gritting his teeth, Zhuge Mingyue wiped the blood from his lips and growled fiercely, "Immortal Master Li, do not be complacent. Today's victory remains undecided!"

As he spoke, he summoned a jade talisman inscribed with ancient runes, soaking it in blood and setting it aflame.

As the jade talisman burned fiercely, a golden chair suddenly appeared, drawing in all the spiritual power within the surrounding mountains, rivers, and vegetation as if summoned.

Then, seated on the chair, a middle-aged man with a face full of authority appeared.

Without anger yet commanding, his eyes flashed challenging brilliance, exuding a domineering pressure that compelled submission, even kneeling.

Upon spotting the figure, Zhuge Mingyue immediately bowed respectfully.

"Mingyue pays respect to Master!"

Butterfly and the others knelt down, performing the ritual of obeisance, "Subordinates greet the Ancestor!"

However, the middle-aged man on the golden dragon chair ignored them, staring directly at Li Chen and Lian Hongshang.

Lian Hongshang felt uncomfortable under his gaze, her pretty face turning pale, instinctively looking at Li Chen.

Li Chen frowned slightly, tightly grasping Lian Hongshang's small hand, and whispered comfortingly, "It's alright, just a phantom image, not to worry!"

Li Chen was correct; the figure was the current helmsman of the Demon Sect, Heng Mountain Ancestor.

Many referred to him as Heng Mountain Unoccupied Seat.

Sixty years ago, led by the True Immortal Alliance, righteous forces launched a massive attack against the Demon Sect, led by the Holy Sect.

In that battle, the True Immortal Alliance overwhelmingly crushed the opposition, reaching the Holy Sect's stronghold at Heng Mountain.

Even the then Holy Sect Master, this same Heng Mountain Ancestor, was forced to have his body destroyed by nine Nascent Soul Experts from the True Immortal Alliance, escaping narrowly with just his Divine Soul.

To evade pursuit from the True Immortal Alliance, Heng Mountain Ancestor's Divine Soul hid within the sect's forbidden area, atop a seemingly ordinary chair.

Who could have guessed that upon entry, his Divine Soul could never escape?

This seemingly ordinary chair turned out to be a top-grade magical treasure. Thus, in misfortune, he found luck; his body was destroyed, yet his strength didn't diminish, rather it surged unexpectedly.

Since then, he could never appear as himself, manifesting only as the chair's image.

Subsequently, Heng Mountain Ancestor reorganized the Demon Sect, reunited its fragmented remnants, and with fierce techniques, slew two True Immortal Alliance Nascent Soul Experts and heavily injured five, elevating his prestige to unprecedented heights.

The battle from that time left many participating righteous disciples with psychological shadows, fearing chairs until this day, trembling at the sight.

Hence his renowned title, Heng Mountain Unoccupied Seat!

Heng Mountain Ancestor scrutinized Li Chen and Lian Hongshang for a long time, finally speaking in a hoarse yet authoritative voice.

"Those who follow me thrive; those who oppose me perish. Considering your talents and the difficulty of cultivation, I offer you a chance to live. Would you two be willing to join my Holy Sect?"

Lian Hongshang remained silent, gazing intently at Li Chen.

On such major decisions, she always deferred to Li Chen. Even if it meant death, she would unhesitatingly follow.

After contemplating a moment, Li Chen suddenly chuckled coldly.

"Swoosh!"

Li Chen's wrist flickered, suddenly raising the Seven-star Dragon Abyss, the tip directed at Heng Mountain Ancestor, laughing firmly, "Were it your True Body here, I might have feared threefold. But now, you're merely a shadow of a clone, greatly weakened, unworthy of my attention!"

Heng Mountain Ancestor, having led the Demon Sect for over a century, was always decisive with no objections. Now attempting to recruit this young disciple himself, not only to be refused, but strongly rebuked, immediately aroused his anger.

He laughed furiously, shouting, "Truly youth brings arrogance. Today, I will see what Divine Skills you, proclaimed first in the Mortal World, possess?"

With these words, a surge of rampant violent True Yuan erupted from the dragon chair, tearing through the void with exceptional terror.

Though only a shadow, at that instant, silence enveloped the world.

"Hongshang, step back!"

Li Chen pushed Lian Hongshang away, raised the Seven-star Dragon Abyss with his left hand while his right hand slit across the blade, letting the essence blood soak into the sword edge.

"Those who oppose me, die!"

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