Everyone was utterly bewildered.

  This time, whether it was the gods and demons, the many races watching from the sidelines, or the human race itself...

  Upon hearing Lu's words, they were all stunned.

  En... encircle them?

  One man encircling an entire army of gods and demons led by three Elemental Gods... Was he that insane?!

  Tonggu Daoist nearly spat out a mouthful of blood and choked himself to death.

  What kind of move was Brother Lu pulling now?

  One man encircling an entire army of gods and demons?

  Did he think he was a Saint?!

  Elder Xuancang and the many human Quasi-Saints all had slight changes in expression. Lu's identity and significance to the Five Phoenixes were immense—he was the spiritual leader of the Five Phoenixes. If anything happened to him, it would be a devastating blow to the entire world.

  So, nothing could happen to Lu.

  "How did he get behind them?"

  "Does he plan to fight the entire gods and demons army alone? That's impossible..."

  "This kid isn't even a Quasi-Saint—how can he be so reckless?"

  The Quasi-Saints shook their heads one after another.

  The newly arrived Five Phoenixes army and the human geniuses were also somewhat shocked.

  Yet, they still held unwavering trust in Lu.

  Xuanyue and the surviving formation masters watched the scene with fanatical fervor.

  "Pah! What do you old fogeys know?!"

  "Young Master Lu is unparalleled under the heavens! Young Master Lu is invincible!"

  Xuanyue shouted.

  Her frenzied enthusiasm made her seem like the ultimate fangirl, rivaling even the Empress Ni Chunqiu.

  On the other side, Luo Yang, who had just become a Quasi-Saint, gripped his Flame-Tipped Spear with firm resolve.

  "Elders, trust Young Master Lu."

  "The Earth Elemental God invaded the Five Phoenixes... and was slain by Young Master Lu..."

  Luo Yang said.

  These words made Tonggu Daoist's eyes widen instantly.

  "The Earth Elemental God is really dead?"

  Elder Xuancang and the many Quasi-Saints were all greatly shocked.

  The Earth Elemental God was truly dead!

  Among the Elemental Gods, the Earth Elemental God's tenacity ranked near the top—its impenetrable defense was something ordinary experts couldn't breach.

  Yet Luo Yang claimed that Lu had killed the Earth Elemental God?

  They knew Luo Yang's straightforward character well; he wasn't the type to lie to deceive them. That meant Lu had truly slain the Earth Elemental God.

  "How did he do it?"

  Elder Xuancang frowned.

  But Tonggu Daoist's eyes lit up.

  "The Saint Killing Array?"

  Tonggu Daoist murmured.

  Then, he looked toward Xuanyue, as if seeking confirmation.

  As the current head of the Immortal Array Tower, Xuanyue would definitely know about the Saint Killing Array.

  Xuanyue nodded frantically, her face full of fanaticism.

  "Yes!"

  "Young Master Lu comprehended the killing array in a single moment of insight, borrowing the will of a Saint to slay the Earth Elemental God..."

  "He has brought glory to our human race!"

  "He is the role model for all us formation masters!"

  Xuanyue declared.

  When it came to comprehending the Saint Killing Array, Xuanyue couldn't stop talking. She recounted how the Earth Elemental God had invaded the Five Phoenixes and caused massive slaughter.

  She also described how the many formation masters had burned their primordial spirits, desperately holding off the Earth Elemental God to buy time for Lu to gain enlightenment.

  As Xuanyue rambled on...

  Tonggu Daoist, Elder Xuancang, and the many human Quasi-Saints fell silent.

  Xuanyue spoke lightly, glossing over the heavy parts.

  But they could imagine how brutal that battle had been. So many formation masters—the accumulation of the human race over countless years—now only Xuanyue and a scattered few remained.

  It was tragic...

  Yet, it was precisely because of these formation masters' desperate protection that dawn had come for the human race!

  Yes, dawn.

  Lu had comprehended the Saint Killing Array—that was the greatest ray of hope!

  "Hahahaha!"

  "Worthily the man I, Tonggu, have taken a fancy to!"

  Tonggu Daoist burst into laughter.

  "Elders, rest and recover. Leave these gods and demons to me..."

  Luo Yang said, gripping his Flame-Tipped Spear as the profound meaning of fire began to boil around him.

  Zhu Long remained silent, swinging her Yin-Yang Millstone.

  "No need. We old bones don't need protection from you youngsters yet..."

  "Fight!"

  "This time, we'll make sure these gods and demons come but never return!"

  Murderous intent flickered in Tonggu Daoist's eyes.

  If there truly was a Saint Killing Array, it was time for the human race to counterattack.

  "But... even if he comprehended the Saint Killing Array, setting it up still takes time. Young Master Lu is being too hasty..."

  Elder Xuancang, who understood formations better, couldn't help but speak up.

  These words caused Tonggu's arrogant aura to falter slightly.

  Right, the Saint Killing Array hadn't been set up yet, and Brother Lu was already charging in to raid the gods and demons' rear. That was a bit much.

  But at this point, they had no other choice.

  Tonggu felt that since Lu dared to do this, he must have confidence.

  Brother Lu was just like him—birds of a feather... no, kindred spirits. He was a steady and cautious man, just like Tonggu himself.

  "Perhaps... Brother Lu has already set up the Saint Killing Array?"

  Tonggu murmured.

  Though he thought it unlikely, it wasn't impossible.

  While the human experts were still puzzled...

  The gods and demons reacted first.

  The Gold Elemental God wore a strange expression.

  "We... are surrounded?"

  "And he wants us to surrender?"

  The Water Elemental God and Wood Elemental God were equally stunned, their gazes falling on Lu.

  "A mere human Heavenly Emperor... where does he get the confidence to demand our surrender? A single Heavenly Emperor dares to boast about encircling our grand army? What gives him such audacity?"

  The Water Elemental God said coldly.

  To the gods and demons army, a Heavenly Emperor was like a firefly—something that could be swatted out in an instant.

  "Be careful... the direction he came from is where Old Earth went."

  The Wood Elemental God was more vigilant and spoke up.

  He felt that for a human world to appear here, there had to be some tricks up their sleeve.

  "Could Old Earth really be dead? How else could a human Heavenly Emperor slip out..."

  The Wood Elemental God was puzzled. If the Earth Elemental God had truly fallen, they should have sensed it.

  "Send ten Great Dao-tier gods and demons to slay him..."

  The Wood Elemental God said.

  He was cautious and didn't want to act personally. If Lu had some suicidal trump card, he could escape in the chaos.

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  The Gold Elemental God nodded.

  He glanced toward the Nine-Layered Heaven passage, frowning.

  The human race had gained two new Quasi-Saints, and the Earth Elemental God was suspected dead—this stalemated the situation once more.

  "No matter. Even if the humans hold on, it's just a slow death."

  "Two newly ascended Quasi-Saints won't change much."

  The Gold Elemental God smiled faintly.

  Under the Wood Elemental God's primordial spirit guidance, the ten Great Dao-tier gods and demons sped toward Lu.

  Great Dao-tier gods and demons were no weaklings, especially elite ones from the Elemental Realm—their combat power was immense.

  Lu sat calmly in the starry void.

  He gently stroked the black-and-white beast lying on his lap, grooming its fur like petting a cat.

  "Ten Great Dao-tier..."

  The corner of Lu's mouth twitched. These gods and demons clearly hadn't taken his warning seriously.

  "In this day and age, kind reminders never earn genuine respect."

  "Little Black-and-White, go."

  Lu patted the black-and-white beast and spoke slowly.

  The beast, squinting in comfort from Lu's grooming—which had opened a whole new world of pleasure for it—opened its eyes in slight annoyance.

  It hadn't enjoyed it enough when these damned, meddlesome gods and demons interrupted.

  This time, the black-and-white beast had no complaints. It needed to vent its pent-up fury.

  Whoosh!

  The void tore open as the black-and-white beast shot forth like a streak of black-and-white light.

  The ten Great Dao-tier gods and demons didn't underestimate Lu. Daring to appear alone behind the gods and demons army...

  This youth... likely had some terrifying trump card.

  Suddenly, their vision blurred.

  When it cleared, an oppressive pressure bore down on them—like something ingrained in their bloodline.

  It left them gasping for breath.

  A massive maw emerged like a black hole in the ancient starry sky. Terrifying suction erupted, swallowing all ten Great Dao-tier gods and demons whole.

  The black-and-white beast roared toward the ancient stars, its eyes filled with savage ferocity.

  "The Black-and-White Beast?!"

  "Is that the chaos creature from the Boundary Ruins?"

  "Why is the Black-and-White Beast here? And from the looks of it, it seems to have acknowledged that white-robed youth as its master?"

  The many races watching from the void were dumbfounded.

  At this moment, many experts suddenly understood. No wonder this youth had the confidence to raid their rear—he had the black-and-white beast as backup.

  But...

  Relying solely on one black-and-white beast wouldn't be enough.

  Though it possessed Quasi-Saint-level combat power among humans, it still fell short compared to Elemental Gods.

  So, if this human's only trump card was the black-and-white beast...

  The outcome would likely be tragic.

  "Oh? The Black-and-White Beast?"

  The Gold Elemental God, standing atop the Kun Realm Beast, raised an eyebrow.

  The Water Elemental God exhaled, a scornful sneer on her face.

  "I thought it was the Black-and-White Empress herself. It's just the beast... nothing to worry about."

  The Water Elemental God said lightly.

  Yet the Wood Elemental God still felt something was off.

  "The Black-and-White Beast doesn't submit easily, especially not to a human far weaker than itself. He might have means we don't know about..."

  The Wood Elemental God took a deep breath and spoke gravely.

  This made the Water Elemental God unhappy: "What exactly are you afraid of? A mighty Elemental God cowering before a mere human Heavenly Emperor..."

  The Wood Elemental God opened his mouth, unsure what to say.

  But he was also somewhat annoyed.

  Was it wrong to be cautious?!

  The Gold Elemental God spoke up now: "Old Wood, your caution isn't wrong, but... as Elemental Gods, we must display the presence and dominance we deserve."

  He glanced around—the starry void held many strong experts from other races watching this battle.

  The corner of the Gold Elemental God's mouth curved up as he said faintly, "We can't let the surrounding races look down on our gods and demons."

  The Water Elemental God sneered disdainfully.

  Her voluptuous, seductive figure—rivaling even the Black-and-White Empress—moved instantly.

  It was as if vast oceans manifested in the starry sky, endless currents surging.

  Whoosh! Whoosh!

  Two Heavenly God-tier gods and demons, guided by her primordial spirit, followed closely.

  A terrifying aura instantly made the entire firmament oppressively heavy.

  The Water Elemental God was making her move!

  And she brought two Heavenly God-tier gods and demons who had withdrawn from the Nine-Layered Heaven passage...

  The Wood Elemental God was speechless.

  Weren't you the arrogant one?

  Weren't you fearless of death, threats, or his trump cards?

  Then why bring two Heavenly God-tier gods and demons along?

  To deal with one human Heavenly Emperor, mobilizing one Elemental God plus two Heavenly God-tiers...

  And you have the nerve to call me, the Wood Elemental God, a coward?

  Boom!

  Endless oceans swept through the starry sky, raising waves that blotted out the stars.

  The black-and-white beast thumped its chest, letting out a heaven-shaking roar.

  The two Heavenly God-tier gods and demons charged swiftly, tangling with the black-and-white beast.

  Their role was to pin it down.

  The black-and-white beast was strong, but it lacked Elemental God-level power. Against two Heavenly God-tiers, it was inevitably held back.

  The Water Elemental God ignored the beast.

  She didn't want to kill it—after all, it was closely tied to the Black-and-White Empress. Slaying it might provoke her, dooming their plan.

  She guessed the human before her shared the same thought.

  "I've seen through it all..."

  "Trying to use the Black-and-White Empress as a weapon... humans are truly cunning!"

  The Water Elemental God sneered coldly.

  In an instant, she turned into flowing water, bypassing the black-and-white beast and closing in on Lu.

  The terrifying pressure of an Elemental God made the starry space creak under the strain.

  Inside the Nine-Layered Heaven passage...

  Tonggu Daoist's eyes sharpened.

  He punched out, shattering space, intending to rush to Lu's side and aid him.

  "Tonggu, what's the rush?"

  Yet the Gold Elemental God laughed loudly.

  He grabbed at the void barehanded—a golden spear instantly pierced toward the space Tonggu had shattered.

  A muffled collision echoed in the hidden space. Terrifying shockwaves exploded, accompanied by a grunt. Tonggu was forced back.

  He had fought too many Heavenly God-tiers for too long; his condition had declined, and he was repelled by a single move from the Gold Elemental God.

  Killing intent surged in Tonggu Daoist's eyes.

  Endless water enveloped Lu, forming a massive water sphere.

  In the void...

  The Black-and-White Empress materialized out of nowhere, arms crossed, watching with great interest.

  The arrogant gods and demons of the ancient starry sky were about to suffer—she was happy to enjoy the show. Before leaving, witnessing such entertainment...

  Was worth it.

  Black-and-white energy condensed in the void, forming a throne. The Black-and-White Empress sat gracefully, crossing one long, fair leg over the other, leaning back leisurely to watch the spectacle.

  As for Lu's safety, she wasn't worried—and didn't need to be.

  Instantly unleashing a Saint Killing Array...

  Even the Black-and-White Empress found it shocking.

  It was a Saint Killing Array, after all...

  And this kid could cast it instantly!

  Simply... monstrous.

  In the starry sky, the experts of many races all believed Lu was doomed.

  The Water Elemental God—the only female among the Elemental Gods—was a peak existence in the ancient starry sky, invincible below Emperors and human Saints.

  Even peak human Quasi-Saints like Tonggu Daoist or Xiaoyao Zi had no confidence in slaying her.

  Enveloped by boundless oceans, Lu remained calm.

  His white robes fluttered.

  As he watched the Water Elemental God's massive form gradually condense, Lu slowly withdrew his gaze.

  Facing the Water Elemental God, Lu was truly composed.

  After all... it was just an Elemental God. As if he hadn't killed a few already.

  Lu's attention had been fixed on the Immortal Source of the Hunyuan Immortal Domain, bound and escorted by the gods and demons.

  That was the Immortal Source of the Hunyuan Immortal Domain...

  The essence of an immortal martial world!

  Now, it seemed captured by the gods and demons, likely to be devoured.

  Seeing it, Lu couldn't help thinking of the little phoenix in his Five Phoenixes origin universe—that one that only knew how to fly around.

  He felt he had to do something.

  Sky-soaring killing intent radiated from the Water Elemental God, drawing Lu's attention back.

  Boom!

  A terrifying palm formed from water fiercely clenched around Lu, exploding the currents.

  The Water Elemental God's scornful laughter echoed through heaven and earth.

  A mere human Heavenly Emperor—in her grasp, he should be crushed instantly.

  Suddenly...

  The Water Elemental God's eyes narrowed.

  Because...

  She discovered Lu hadn't been crushed...

  An invisible force slowly pushed back against her water currents.

  She was the Water Elemental God, controller of all waters. The power of water was infinitely terrifying, capable of destroying all things.

  Yet in this moment, a fearsome force pushed it apart.

  No...

  "With physical body alone?"

  The Water Elemental God was astonished.

  Blazing radiance surged. Lu's perfected Fire Indestructible Demon Body erupted, turning him into an ancient fire god.

  His clothes turned crimson, his hair crimson.

  The water currents evaporated endlessly, thick steam clouding heaven and earth.

  Water counters fire, but sufficiently powerful fire can counter water!

  Lu narrowed his eyes. Soaring flames surged as the Five Phoenix Bow appeared in his hand...

  Fire source, wood source, gold source, earth source...

  Four profound meanings poured into the Five Phoenix Bow, entwined with boiling innate purple qi around him.

  Hundreds of strands of innate purple qi—Lu stuffed them all in at once.

  The five phoenix eyes on the Five Phoenix Bow lit up.

  Red, green, gold, brown, and deep purple...

  Five colors converged.

  Finally forming a spiraling arrow.

  "One arrow—part the seas!"

  Lu drew the bow to a full moon. In that instant, his battle intent boiled.

  He released.

  The arrow shot forth abruptly.

  "A mere human Heavenly Emperor with such strength... and presence!"

  The Water Elemental God was somewhat shocked.

  A human prodigy?!

  Yet as an Elemental God at the peak of the ancient starry sky, she didn't react much. Even with a supreme treasure, Lu likely couldn't harm her.

  Creak... creak...

  The vast oceans seemed to freeze at her thought, forming massive icebergs in the ancient starry sky.

  The icebergs stood tall, chilling to the bone, their freezing temperature seemingly capable of sealing everything.

  An iceberg transformed into a shield, blocking in front of the Water Elemental God.

  Boom!

  The arrow collided with the iceberg...

  The terrifying impact slightly surprised the Water Elemental God.

  In an instant, the iceberg was pierced—cracks spiderwebbing across it. The arrow accelerated, terrifying energy fluctuating.

  Lu fired calmly.

  He didn't rush to unleash the Saint Killing Array. Though he could cast it instantly, expanding it still took time. If the Elemental Gods escaped during that window...

  The loss for Lu would be immense.

  Boom boom boom!

  The iceberg shattered completely.

  The Water Elemental God raised her hand abruptly, pushing forward slowly, colliding with the arrow from the Five Phoenix Bow.

  Attempting to catch it barehanded.

  At the Nine-Layered Heaven passage...

  Seeing this, Elder Xuancang's stern face broke into a rare smile after so long.

  Catching it barehanded?

  Back then, when Lu's arrow only fused two sources, it was already terrifying. Now, with two more profound meanings, the power... was absolutely greater!

  That arrow had nearly capsized Elder Xuancang himself.

  So he knew—the moment the Water Elemental God tried to catch it barehanded, she was in trouble!

  Pfft!

  Indeed.

  The ancient starry sky fell instantly silent.

  The sound of an arrow piercing flesh echoed in everyone's ears.

  The Gold and Wood Elemental Gods' eyes shrank sharply.

  Even the Water Elemental God couldn't believe it.

  Her hand gripped the arrow, but its momentum overwhelmed her defenses—the arrow pierced through her proud, towering chest, punching clean through...

  The arrow's high-speed spiraling force twisted her expression in pain.

  In truth, the instant she tried to catch it, unease had stirred in her heart.

  The terrifying power within the arrow made her palpitate.

  Lu was also surprised—she actually dared catch it barehanded. Were Elemental Gods... all this arrogant?

  Naturally, Lu was delighted to see it.

  The corner of his mouth curved up.

  He raised his hand and clenched fiercely.

  "Explode!"

  BOOM!!!!!

  A terrifying explosion erupted instantly.

  Scorching heat, heavy weight, razor sharpness...

  White brilliance—so dazzling it turned the dark ancient starry sky bright as day.

  Countless rays burst from the Water Elemental God's body.

  Boom boom boom!

  That heart-palpitating energy made all watching experts from other races gasp in shock.

  This arrow... was shot by a human at the Heavenly Emperor level?

  Far too terrifying!

  Even an Elemental God would suffer greatly under it!

  On the other side, the black-and-white beast was stunned.

  It felt even more touched.

  So when Lu had dealt with it, he had held back so much.

  An arrow like this—it would have killed the beast instantly.

  Yet Lu hadn't. He had been so gentle with it!

  The black-and-white beast was deeply moved.

  When the light faded...

  Countless icebergs reduced to powder floated in the void.

  The Water Elemental God's face was deathly pale, her appearance utterly wretched.

  At the Nine-Layered Heaven passage...

  The many human Quasi-Saints inhaled sharply.

  Elder Xuancang's mouth twitched, a lingering fear in his heart.

  Tonggu Daoist smacked his lips and murmured.

  "Brother Lu, are you this ruthless to women too?"

  "Though... the Water Elemental God doesn't really count as a woman..." Tonggu muttered again.

  All the gods and demons—including the Gold and Wood Elemental Gods—felt a chill down their spines.

  The chest the Water Elemental God had once prided herself on now bore a gaping hole, viscous fluid pouring out...

  The terrifying energy release left the once-beautiful Water Elemental God looking like a demon, her body covered in ghastly wounds...

  A shrill scream escaped her mouth.

  Her cherished beauty and figure... ruined!

  The two Heavenly God-tier gods and demons fighting the black-and-white beast were similarly horrified.

  But suddenly, they sensed danger.

  Space tore open.

  Lu, having activated his Four-Row Indestructible Demon Body, charged out instantly.

  "Little Black-and-White, kill!"

  Lu said lowly.

  The Preaching Platform smashed out, stunning the primordial spirits of the Heavenly God-tiers.

  Then, Lu and the black-and-white beast struck, exploding the two Heavenly God-tiers' physical bodies!

  As for their primordial spirits, Lu showed no mercy—he dragged them into the Preaching Platform and suppressed them!

  Having done this, Lu didn't look back or spare the still-shrieking Water Elemental God a glance.

  He sped toward the location where the Hunyuan Immortal Domain's Immortal Source was imprisoned.

  The Gold Elemental God suddenly snapped back to reality. Watching Lu's rapidly departing figure heading for the Immortal Source, a sense of familiarity hit him.

  Back then, his Gold Source Beast Ancestor statue had been lost the same way!

  And now, the familiar scene replayed!

  This bastard... what was he planning?!