Chapter 2851: Great Battle of the Ancestral God Realm

"Excellent!" Zong Shenliang's expression quickly turned to delight. Although he couldn't fathom why Lu Ye would appear here, since he had arrived, he wouldn't be allowed to leave. Simply by Lu Ye siding with Ba Qiu, their positions were naturally adversarial. Moreover, Lu Ye was clearly not here with good intentions. Having just subdued the Nine Profound Celestial Thunder Seal, a supreme treasure, his power had significantly increased. How could he fear a mere junior like Lu Ye? He secretly vowed to keep this young man here today, no matter what.

As he finished speaking, he held the Nine Profound Celestial Thunder Seal with one hand, while with the other, he drew forth a lightning bolt as fine as a strand of hair from the treasure. It instantly struck towards Lu Ye's glabella. This lightning bolt was pure power from the supreme treasure, activated by a formidable expert like Zong Shenliang. When it approached, Lu Ye's glabella felt an intense, stinging pain. Such an attack was already enough to threaten Lu Ye, making him feel a sense of life-or-death crisis.

The Pan Shan Blade instantly unsheathed, held vertically in front of him, blocking the strike by a hair's breadth. However, the intense feeling of life-or-death crisis did not dissipate; instead, it grew even stronger. In his sight, Zong Shenliang still stood in place, holding the Nine Profound Celestial Thunder Seal, but a killing intent inexplicably assailed Lu Ye from behind. The long blade sliced diagonally downwards, and with a soft "eh," the Pan Shan Blade blocked the lethal attack from behind. The Zong Shenliang who had been standing in place had vanished without a trace at some unknown point.

Beside Lu Ye, a black shadow, ethereal as a phantom, moved evasively. From time to time, a faint light would gleam from it. That was the light of death. If Xue Jiu was the Lord of the Blood Race, then Zong Shenliang was the Lord of the Ghost Race, the expert most proficient in stealth and assassination within the Star Abyss. In an instant, the two exchanged blows hundreds of times. Their Dao weapons clashed, sending sparks flying, and Dao power surged, causing the surrounding lightning to become chaotic.

Zong Shenliang suddenly retreated, returning to his original position as if he had never moved. But Lu Ye's expression was grim. This momentary clash made him clearly feel that Zong Shenliang was even more difficult to deal with than Xuan Wuzong, mainly because his movements were too fast, almost overwhelmingly so.

"You truly are a freak!" Zong Shenliang scrutinized Lu Ye, a deep sense of bewilderment flashing across his face. During the previous battle to encircle Ba Qiu, he had observed Lu Ye's confrontation with Xuan Wuzong and found it somewhat strange. Lu Ye seemed to show no signs of relying on external forces, but because he wasn't fighting him directly and also had to contain the Dragon Lord, his perception wasn't very clear. Only now was he finally certain: Lu Ye indeed did not rely on external forces. It seemed all his power originated from within himself! But... how could that be possible? If that were true, wouldn't it mean Lu Ye's own foundation was almost equivalent to the combined total of his three Dao Integration resonances as one of the Ten City Lords, plus the amplification from his Dao Integration Orb? If so, how terrifying would the true disparity in their foundations be? Zong Shenliang absolutely refused to believe such an absurd thing could exist. He merely vaguely felt that Lu Ye's method of utilizing external forces must be different from his own, which was why he couldn't clearly perceive it.

Lu Ye, however, had no time for idle chatter. Almost the instant Zong Shenliang finished speaking, he surged forward to attack, a faint green glow shimmering on his blade. "How audacious, junior!" Zong Shenliang was almost amused by his own exasperation. Undeniably, Lu Ye was indeed powerful, capable of confronting the Ten City Lords. In a different place and time, he might not have been willing to entangle himself with Lu Ye, as there wasn't a significant power gap between them, and continuing the fight offered no particular advantage. But here and now, this was his home ground! Not to mention Lu Ye, even if Ba Qiu came, he was confident he could fight him!

A flash of light emanated from the Nine Profound Celestial Thunder Seal in his hand, and a thick bolt of lightning appeared out of thin air, striking directly at Lu Ye. Lightning was inherently swift, and this strike was far more powerful than the previous one. Zong Shenliang was confident he couldn't take this strike head-on, and since Lu Ye was his equal in strength, he certainly wouldn't be able to either. Therefore, this human junior would undoubtedly dodge, just as before, and as long as he chose to dodge, Zong Shenliang would have an opportunity to launch a surprise attack. Zong Shenliang's divine sense surged, his mind clear and alert, preparing to seize that fleeting opportunity.

However, he soon looked astonished, because Lu Ye, facing the fierce lightning bolt, showed no intention of dodging at all; he simply charged headfirst into it. "This guy..." Zong Shenliang was dumbfounded. Was he looking for death? Suddenly, a glint of mirror light flashed within the lightning. The lightning, which had already engulfed Lu Ye's figure, actually changed direction, bouncing sideways like a ball. In that direction, one of the Dao Integration cultivators Zong Shenliang had brought was glaring at Lu Ye from the side, quietly awaiting a chance to strike. Unexpectedly, disaster suddenly befell him. Only when the terrifying lightning struck him did he suddenly react, letting out a scream as his flesh and blood exploded, and his life force dissipated. The power of a supreme treasure activated by one of the Ten City Lords like Zong Shenliang was indeed extraordinary; cultivators below the Cosmos-tier City Lord level would perish almost instantly upon contact.

"The Firmament Mirror!" Zong Shenliang immediately recognized the profound artifact. After all, during Lu Ye's last battle with Xuan Wuzong, he had already wielded the power of this supreme treasure. Currently, the Ten City Lords unanimously believed that Xue Jiu had either been harmed by Lu Ye or encountered some unforeseen accident, which was why the Firmament Mirror had fallen into Lu Ye's hands. Zong Shenliang was not unprepared; he had no intention of repeating Xuan Wuzong's mistakes. However, he hadn't seen Lu Ye summon the Firmament Mirror from beginning to end, so how was the other party activating the supreme treasure's power?

"You're asking for death!" Zong Shenliang roared in fury. The Dao Integration cultivator he had brought dying from the power of the supreme treasure he himself had activated was a severe blow to his reputation. Immediately, he unleashed the power of the Nine Profound Celestial Thunder Seal even more fiercely. Bolts of lightning, like a swarm of dragons emerging from their lair, snarled and roared as they lunged at Lu Ye. Lu Ye's figure was like a canoe cutting through waves against the wind on the vast sea. Mirrors flashed wildly beside him. The lightning dragons, still a distance away, were already thrashing their claws and teeth, scattering in all directions. Screams echoed, and someone even cried out, "My Lord, save me!"

After Zong Shenliang finished his furious onslaught, he was left dumbfounded. Every single one of the Dao Integration cultivators he had brought was annihilated, all perishing under the power of the supreme treasure in his own hands. He knew, of course, that this was no coincidence. Lu Ye had used the power of the Firmament Mirror to kill those Dao Integration cultivators through his own hand. Ordinarily, Lu Ye might not have cared much about the number of these Dao Integration cultivators, but now that he was about to engage such a formidable opponent as Zong Shenliang, any external interferences needed to be eliminated. He couldn't risk being ambushed by this group of Dao Integration cultivators and getting distracted when he was in a fierce battle with Zong Shenliang. In a flash, he was once again in front of Zong Shenliang.

Zong Shenliang was trembling with rage. Activating the power of a supreme treasure consumed a vast amount of Dao power and also placed a certain burden on oneself. The reason he could unleash the Nine Profound Celestial Thunder Seal's power so recklessly was primarily due to the advantageous terrain. This was the Thunder Pool, the birthplace of the Nine Profound Celestial Thunder Seal. Here, activating the treasure was inherently easier. That was why he could activate it repeatedly. But how could Lu Ye activate the Firmament Mirror's power so wildly? As a junior of the Human Race, how could he bear such a burden and the consumption of his own Dao power?

Before he could think further, Lu Ye had already reached him, the Pan Shan Blade descending with a fierce chop. Zong Shenliang hastily retracted the Nine Profound Celestial Thunder Seal. He realized that his newly acquired supreme treasure was completely countered by the Firmament Mirror. His Dao Integration cultivators were all dead; if he continued to unleash the treasure's power, the Firmament Mirror's reflection would likely turn the attack back on him. He certainly didn't want to experience the power of that lightning. Reaching out, two short daggers appeared in his hands, and he lunged forward. He refused to believe that after cultivating for countless millennia, he still couldn't defeat a mere youngster.

In an instant, the two figures clashed. Blade light and dagger glints flashed ceaselessly, Dao power collided, and sparks flew from their respective Dao weapons. A splash of blood suddenly appeared, and Lu Ye's fierce backward chop, however, hit nothing. His expression was solemn, his mind taut as a bowstring, not daring to relax even for a moment. Unlike his previous encounter with Xuan Wuzong, this battle with Zong Shenliang put immense pressure on him. Xuan Wuzong had engaged him in a direct confrontation, which, even with slightly weaker strength, allowed for a response. Zong Shenliang was different; the Ghost Lord's movements were phantasmal and erratic, leaving no discernible trace. He constantly found Lu Ye's weaknesses and unleashed sudden, ferocious attacks. If Lu Ye hadn't reacted quickly enough, he would likely have been in grave danger long ago. Even so, after a moment of intense fighting, he had sustained multiple injuries. Fortunately, they weren't severe; his Talent Tree's "Incinerate" ability purged the invading Dao intent, leaving only flesh wounds, which his physical constitution allowed him to recover from quickly.

As he concentrated, a cold glint darted towards his neck. Lu Ye showed no intention of dodging; instead, a fierce look appeared on his face as he slashed his long blade diagonally outwards. *Pfft*... As blood spurted, Lu Ye stumbled backward. A bloody hole had appeared in his throat, and half of his neck was almost severed. Such injuries were truly horrifying. Yet, his eyes shone brightly as he stared at the black shadow that had darted away.

Zong Shenliang revealed himself, looking at the injured Lu Ye with an unwilling expression. For a typical Dao Integration cultivator, that previous strike would have been enough to sever their head and annihilate their soul. However, cultivators at his and Lu Ye's level had long since refined all their bones into Dao Bones. Without breaking the Dao Bones, how could one be decapitated? So, while Lu Ye looked dishevelled, he was actually fine. On the other hand, Zong Shenliang silently assessed himself, a look of apprehension appearing on his face. "What kind of poison is this?"

After the battle to encircle Ba Qiu, he had learned from Xuan Wuzong that Lu Ye's long blade carried a highly potent poison. Since that battle, Xuan Wuzong had been in seclusion, trying to neutralize the venom within him, and had not emerged to this day, leaving his condition unknown. Therefore, throughout his current battle with Lu Ye, Zong Shenliang had been constantly avoiding injury. However, the opportunity just now was too perfect; Zong Shenliang couldn't resist, allowing Lu Ye to find a chance to exchange injuries. Experiencing it firsthand, he finally understood the terror of this poison. This was clearly a virulent poison that even the Ten City Lords found difficult to resist.