Zhu Yunwu’s pupils suddenly shrank, his four wings bristled, and the smile froze on his face.

As Lu Yang’s adversary in battle, he was deeply aware of just how formidable an existence Lu Yang was.

If Lu Yang were to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage, Zhu Yunwu feared even burning his Essence Blood wouldn’t be enough to defeat his opponent!

Lu Yang took measured steps towards Zhu Yunwu, the sound of his footfalls echoing dah-dah-dah, each step marked by a slight pause. It was as though his footsteps were not just landing on the Heavenly Altar but also stamping on Zhu Yunwu’s spiritual essence.

He was at ease, strolling leisurely as if he were in his own backyard, not taking Zhu Yunwu seriously at all.

Already at the cusp of the Golden Core Stage Nine Heavens realm, Lu Yang could break through at any moment, but his plan had been to visit the Demon Nation and then return to the Seek Dao Sect to ascend slowly—after all, it was a major realm breakthrough, and it warranted a sense of ceremony.

Unfortunately, plans had changed.

Seeing the dire situation, Zhu Yunwu let out a low shout and launched the first strike to seize the initiative!

He absolutely couldn’t let him succeed in ascending!

With his wings vibrating and hooves treading the sky, the space around them shook as Zhu Yunwu fought desperately, like a tsunami of mud and rocks pouring down!

Boom—

Caught off guard, Lu Yang was rammed by Zhu Yunwu, crashing against the railing of the Heavenly Altar.

"Huff huff, so he’s at the end of his tether."

Zhu Yunwu burst into wild laughter, suddenly relaxed.

That’s right, the previous Overarching Heaven Hand Imprint had already drained all of his spiritual essence. Where would his opponent get the strength to break through the realm? He realized he had been too anxious.

Ptooey.

Lu Yang spit out a smear of blood, which starkly contrasted against the immaculate lustrous jade of the altar, attractively visible.

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he stood up and walked toward Zhu Yunwu, still with that confident smile on his face.

"Come at me again."

Zhu Yunwu’s eyes turned bloodshot in an instant, fear spreading through his heart. He attacked Lu Yang with the frenzy of a crazed bull.

With every attack, Lu Yang didn’t dodge or avoid, facing Zhu Yunwu’s impacts head-on. However, with each of Zhu Yunwu’s strikes, the distance Lu Yang was forced back shortened.

This last time, Lu Yang had only retreated a half step.

Amid the repeated collisions, cracks appeared on the surface of the Golden Core. A milky glow began to escape through these fissures, quickly healing Lu Yang’s injuries.

Boom—

Zhu Yunwu once again charged up for an attack, but this time Lu Yang finally moved; he thrust out his right palm, forcefully pushing out, and pinned down Zhu Yunwu’s head, stopping the blow dead in its tracks!

Zhu Yunwu’s face was filled with disbelief, looking up at Lu Yang, only to be met with an overflowing smile... and Lu Yang of the Nascent Soul Stage.

Bones crackling, he underwent a swift bone refinement process, his physical condition now starkly different from before.

Spirit, energy, and soul fused into one, drawing upon the momentum of the Invincible Elixir as a catalyst, interweaving within his Dantian, giving birth to a mysterious power.

The Invincible Elixir shattered completely, the surging spiritual essence bursting forth, coursing through all the meridians in his body. A formidable vortex of spiritual essence formed above the Heavenly Altar, madly rushing into Lu Yang’s body, reinvigorating his withered meridians and filling the nascent child being born.

In his Dantian, a Nascent Soul the size of a fingertip curled up, radiating a tranquil milky light. It absorbed the surrounding spiritual essence, growing in size until it was three inches tall and freely moving, ceasing to assimilate the energy.

Unlike a real newborn child, the Nascent Soul was pale and tender, its face brimming with excitement and joy.

"Is that all?"

Lu Yang tensed his muscles, his body like a great dragon, pulsing with strength as he threw a punch right in Zhu Yunwu’s face!

"How is this possible?"

Zhu Yunwu couldn’t believe it, not only was his opponent able to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage at any time, but where did he get such strength right after the breakthrough? Didn’t he need to solidify his foundation and refine his Nascent Soul?

Typically, cultivators spend time consolidating their cultivation after entering the Nascent Soul Stage.

But Lu Yang, as the strongest Golden Core holder, remained undefeated throughout hundreds of battles in the Golden Core Stage, achieving a streak of victories that solidified his foundation without any need for seclusion to consolidate his cultivation level!

Zhu Yunwu had never encountered such a situation before. Lu Yang’s series of unexpected moves caught him off guard and made him lose his advantage. Lu Yang didn’t even have to use his swordsmanship; he could suppress Zhu Yunwu just with his bare hands and feet.

"I must win!"

Driven mad, Zhu Yunwu burned his Essence Blood without regard to the consequences, temporarily boosting his combat power.

The onlookers gasped in astonishment. Zhu Yunwu’s foundation was unstable, and burning Essence Blood at this moment for a breakthrough—even if he won this round—would likely complicate future advancements!

The Illusory Shadow of Zhu Tian loomed behind Zhu Yunwu, barely visible. As the Di Jiang Clan’s ancient ancestor and most powerful being, Zhu Tian was the source of their bloodline, and the appearance of his Illusory Shadow was one of the signs of burning Essence Blood.

To borrow strength from an ancestor in order to defeat a powerful enemy!

Roar—

Zhu Yunwu let out a beastly roar, completely losing his sanity. Lu Yang produced an elixir, and while Zhu Yunwu roared, flicked it into Zhu Yunwu’s mouth with his fingertip.

Zhu Yunwu wanted to spit it out, but Lu Yang stepped forward, lifted his chin upwards, and Zhu Yunwu swallowed the elixir instinctively.

"What did you give me to eat!" Zhu Yunwu exclaimed in shock.

He felt the power he gained from burning his Essence Blood rapidly disappearing; this elixir had forcefully interrupted the process.

Lu Yang explained with a smile, "A Breakthrough Pill, which can help someone break through from the Foundation Establishment Stage to the Golden Core Stage, or from the Nascent Soul Stage to the Golden Core Stage."

This was a gift from the Seventh Elder, who had just successfully made a Breakthrough Pill and gave one to Lu Yang as a celebration while concocting the Revitalizing Pill for him.

Zhu Yunwu felt a lump in his throat. Indeed, not only was the power from burning Essence Blood fading, but his realm was also falling!

He completely lost his composure. How could he continue to fight like this?

"Worthless!"

Venerate Zhu Tian was furious. He was now sure that the one on the Heavenly Altar was the real Young Sect Master Lu. Otherwise, where could such a peerless genius come from?

No matter what, Zhu Yunwu must not lose here.

This was a matter of face!

The first battle in the foundation of the Demon Nation; should he be defeated by the Heavenly Court Sect, it would become a lifelong laughingstock!

He sent a strand of his spiritual essence to possess Zhu Yunwu.

"Master..."

"Waste, let me do it!"

Venerate Zhu Tian temporarily took control of Zhu Yunwu’s body, halting the fall of his realm.

"Rise!"

With a light command, Zhu Yunwu’s realm miraculously returned to the Nascent Soul Stage!

Lu Yang had just learned from Fairy Eternity that his opponent had changed from Zhu Yunwu to Venerate Zhu Tian.

He was quite helpless. It was bad enough that the Demon Nation officials were biased, but to have an official enter the fight?

Fairy Eternity couldn’t stand it and rolled up her sleeves, ready to charge, "Zhu Tian, this rascal, has always been sneaky ever since I’ve known him. He dares to go this far, step aside, I’ll take over!"

Lu Yang invited the divine presence, allowing Fairy Eternity to strike at will.

Meanwhile, Venerate Zhu Tian was scolding Zhu Yunwu within the Spiritual Space.

"You useless thing, unable to defeat such an opponent, forcing your master to intervene. Watch how I fight!"

Venerate Zhu Tian, controlling Zhu Yunwu’s body, geared up to fight back when suddenly Lu Yang’s fist landed heavily on his face, leaving him dazed and confused.

In a daze, he also heard something about the "Immortal Fist Technique."

Zhu Yunwu, witnessing this scene, kept silent and humbly absorbed the lesson.