Chapter 2855: Pursuit and Killing

**The Wind Rises in Kyushu**

Just like in the battle of the Starlit Chessboard back then, the Heavenly Revolving Sword was shattered by Ba Qiu, and all its inherent mysteries were absorbed by Shang. Ba Qiu had been famous for many years, and he had shattered more than just the Heavenly Revolving Sword. Of the items Lu Ye knew about, there was also the Bright Moon Wheel, and he could only guess how many more he didn't know of.

And Liao, having devoured Shang, could be said to have instantly stood on the shoulders of giants; its grade was simply incomparable to the Nine Profound Heavenly Thunder Seal. In such a situation, even with its purifying power, the Nine Profound Heavenly Thunder Seal would find it difficult to dispel the combined power of Liao and Shang. This was a disparity in potency between supreme treasures, not a simple matter of counter-effect.

"What grade are you now?" Lu Ye asked, his interest piqued.

"Roughly Grade Four or Five," was the reply.

Lu Ye wasn't sure exactly how powerful a Grade Four or Five supreme treasure was, but he was certain that after Liao's promotion to supreme treasure status, his own strength could be further enhanced. This was because he could now nurture a supreme treasure! He had ascended to the Dao-Integration realm with the Immovable Mountain Blade as his foundation, so the Dao Armament's enhancement was an intrinsic part of his core strength. Unless the Dao Armament were to shatter one day, but Liao was now a supreme treasure; how could it easily shatter?

Previously, Liao's limit was 256 Dao marks, and the power increase it provided Lu Ye was of that magnitude. Compared to his current overall strength, an increase of 256 Dao marks wasn't negligible, but it was merely a fraction. Liao's greatest significance to Lu Ye was its perfect responsiveness, like an extension of his own arm. After years of companionship, Liao was no longer just a simple weapon; it was a companion that could share life and death, just like Shang and Ba Qiu. However, 256 Dao marks was Liao's limit as a subordinate treasure. Now that Liao was a supreme treasure, and a Grade Four or Five one at that, Lu Ye was very curious to know its new limit.

Within the fragment, time and space were still. Lu Ye dedicated himself to cultivation, his Dao power rapidly depleting. He would occasionally take out Dao fish to refine and consume, replenishing his Dao power reserves. He hadn't even begun cultivating the ninth level of the Lesser World Secret Art, and all his Dao power was being used to nurture the Immovable Mountain Blade.

Then, at a certain moment, Lu Ye suddenly stirred and slowly opened his eyes. The expansion of his lesser world had reached its limit, which meant the construction of the World Pillar was complete. Lu Ye silently examined his inner world, feeling more and more that it was like a true world. In fact, he had noticed something long ago: as he practiced the Lesser World Secret Art, the changes in his inner world became increasingly profound. He couldn't articulate what these changes were, but they were undoubtedly positive. It was only now that he clearly understood that if he were to die one day, this inner world could still persist and transform into a true realm. This was a realm capable of nurturing life and future.

After the World Pillar was erected, the consumption of Dao power became even more severe. Nurturing the Immovable Mountain Blade was already a colossal undertaking, not to mention having to cultivate the ninth level of the Lesser World Secret Art, carving Dao marks within his inner world, which was particularly draining on Dao power. Lu Ye gradually realized that the current Immovable Mountain Blade seemed to have a very high limit, which was likely related to Liao's grade. He had already nurtured Liao to 800 Dao marks, but it still hadn't reached its limit. The power of 800 Dao marks was a significant improvement even for his current strength. For him, Liao definitely held great promise for the future!

Lu Ye largely understood why Ba Qiu, also one of the Ten City Lords, was significantly stronger than the others. His innate aptitude and talent were one factor, but the enhancement from his Dao Armament was definitely another. The power Shang had brought him back then was not to be underestimated. Only when Lu Ye could nurture Liao to the level Shang had once reached would he consider it a minor accomplishment, and even if Liao one day reached Shang's level, there would still be room for further improvement.

During this time, Lu Ye even managed to find time to refine and absorb the Nine Profound Heavenly Thunder Seal. This supreme treasure had fallen into his possession after his final strike severed Zong Shenliang's arm, and Lu Ye naturally didn't hesitate to claim it. None of the existing fruits on his Talent Tree particularly needed an upgrade, so he simply let the Talent Tree bear a fruit of the Nine Profound Heavenly Thunder Seal. Currently, the fruits on his Talent Tree had increased to five, or six if one counted the small protrusion from the Black Coffin. Lu Ye couldn't help but imagine that if things continued this way, one day his Talent Tree might be completely covered in supreme treasure fruits. Then he could effortlessly wield the power of various supreme treasures, how unrestrained that would be. However, if that were truly the case, the consumption of his own Dao power would undoubtedly be immense.

Gathering his thoughts, just as Lu Ye was about to redouble his efforts, hoping to nurture Liao to its limit and fully cultivate the ninth level of the Lesser World Secret Art within this fragment, sudden changes occurred around him. The endless emptiness vanished, replaced by the dense aura of the Star Abyss. Lu Ye was slightly startled, then realized that the fragment he was in had completely merged into the Star Abyss. The entire process was abrupt; he hadn't felt any precursors.

He immediately looked in one direction! There was a faint sensation emanating from there. It was the combined power of Liao and Shang! Zong Shenliang was in that direction! This was an unexpected delight. His previous confrontation with Zong Shenliang had ended in failure at the last moment, leaving him filled with frustration and unwillingness. However, with the shattering of the Starry Sky, he and Zong Shenliang had each fallen into different fragments and were separated, which was truly beyond his control. He hadn't expected to detect his whereabouts again now.

It was not surprising for this to happen. After the Starry Sky shattered, both of them were likely trapped in fragments. When the fragments fully merged into the Star Abyss, both Lu Ye and Zong Shenliang would return to the Star Abyss. Time and space within the fragments were static. Zong Shenliang would likely have tried to dispel the various abnormalities within his body. However, with a severed arm and the loss of many Dao Bones, his strength would undoubtedly be compromised. In such a state, the erosion by the combined power of Liao and Shang would be difficult for him to dispel quickly. That was why Lu Ye could sense him at this moment.

"Clan Leader!" Lu Ye called out quickly, and Soul Void immediately attached itself to him. The next instant, Lu Ye's figure flickered, enveloped by spatial power, as he sped towards the source of the sensation. Zong Shenliang wasn't too far from his location, but he was constantly on the move. And after their previous battle, this City Lord of Senluo City was clearly shaken to his core, now somewhat flustered and panicked.

After about half an hour, as Zong Shenliang fled through the void, his heart leaped, and a tremendous sense of crisis suddenly surged within him. He quickly turned to look behind him and immediately saw a figure constantly breaking through spatial restraints, rapidly approaching him.

"Lu Ye!" Zong Shenliang nearly ground his teeth to dust, his face contorted with hatred and malice. To think that he, a dignified City Lord among the Ten, had roamed freely in the Inner Realm for countless millennia, and had never suffered such a great loss, not even at Ba Qiu's hands. But in his last battle with Lu Ye, not only was the newly acquired supreme treasure snatched away, but one of his arms was severed. For a strong individual like him, any injury could be healed, but the severed arm wound could affect his foundation, because what he lost was not just an arm, but numerous Dao Bones, painstakingly refined with immense effort and focus. Even if he could regrow his arm in the future, refining Dao Bones was not something that happened overnight; it required a significant amount of time and energy.

Beyond the malice, there was more dread and apprehension. He hadn't expected Lu Ye to be able to track him, as he had thought he had already shaken him off. He suddenly realized that the strange power lingering around his waist and severed arm not only hindered his recovery but also seemed to possess other profound properties. The reason Lu Ye could find him so precisely must have been the guidance of that power lingering at his wound. Yet, he was powerless to dispel it. While he was in the Starry Sky fragment, he had continuously tried to do so, but failed to completely eradicate it. His heart burned with immense hatred! Fundamentally, he had no deep-seated enmity with Lu Ye, so he couldn't understand why this rising human prodigy had targeted him, creating an immediate life-or-death situation.

Currently, he was gravely wounded and his strength was compromised, while Lu Ye was approaching with overwhelming momentum. How could he possibly be a match? Even though he had activated a secret art to flee, the distance between them continued to close. In this situation, he would be caught within the time it took for an incense stick to burn, and would undoubtedly face death.

Just as his mind was in disarray, a Dao-Integration City slowly came into view in the distance. Judging by its scale, it was clearly a Grand-tier city. Zong Shenliang's eyes lit up! That was one of his subordinate Dao-Integration Cities! He almost couldn't help but laugh maniacally. This was truly a case of Heaven never closes all doors. He had never expected to encounter such a Dao-Integration City at the most desperate and helpless moment of his life. On second thought, it wasn't surprising. This was, after all, Senluo City's territory, and its domain was filled with subordinate Dao-Integration Cities. Even if he hadn't encountered this one, Zong Shenliang would have encountered another. He flew directly in that direction.

Lu Ye, who was pursuing him, undoubtedly also spotted the Dao-Integration City and couldn't help but curse under his breath. "Zong Shenliang... his luck is simply too good." Previously, facing a dead end, the shattering of the Starry Sky allowed him to narrowly escape. Now, he had actually encountered another Dao-Integration City. Lu Ye now only hoped that it wasn't a Dao-Integration City under Senluo City's command; otherwise, this pursuit might have to be abandoned midway again. But he knew in his heart that such a hope was almost a luxury. The Starry Sky that had previously shattered was within Senluo City's domain. Although the fragments scattered after the shattering, most would still fall within this area. That Dao-Integration City would, in all likelihood, belong to Senluo City. His spatial power was pushed to its extreme, but it was still a step too late. Before Lu Ye could reach the Dao-Integration City, he saw from a distance that the city's defensive array had opened a gap, welcoming Zong Shenliang inside. The Dao-Integration City indeed belonged to Zong Shenliang. Almost immediately, Lu Ye's figure swept up to the front of the Dao-Integration City.

Inside the defensive array, Zong Shenliang stood there, grinding his teeth as he glared at Lu Ye: "Lu Ye, human, I will remember this humiliation! One day, I will slaughter all your loved ones and repay my pain a hundredfold!" Around him, the Dao-Integration cultivators looked on in terror, glancing between him and Lu Ye, their minds utterly bewildered.