Of course, Ye Jiuyou is not an ordinary Imperial Realm Third Layer...

She let the Sword Qi penetrate her lower abdomen, yet her jade-like hand was already pressing against Han Wubing’s forehead. Perhaps this strike would injure her, but as long as she could touch the Heavenly Spirit, this White Tiger would become her Corpse Puppet. It was worth it.

However, at the same time, a misty purple Qi arose between her and Han Wubing. The sword stabbed into layers of obstruction, as if there were endless rivers and mountains ahead, impossible to pierce through. Ye Jiuyou’s palm too fell upon cotton, the force of life and death permeated into the boundless earth, invisible and without a trace.

A stunning figure appeared next to the two, calmly saying, "You deliberately trapped me and Changhe in the Jiuyou Abyss just to make him miss this battle... But, unfortunately, Changhe was aware from start to finish."

Piaomiao.

The White Tiger in Ye Jiuyou’s grasp flew away, and she angrily said, "So this is what they called him helping me?"

Piaomiao said lightly, "You first played tricks on him, so wouldn’t need his help... Who else can you blame now? Moreover..."

She paused, smiling slightly, "He might not want you to get hurt. You’d best abandon your idea of getting injured to gain the White Tiger."

Ye Jiuyou retorted angrily, "Whether or not I get hurt is none of your damned business! Don’t think that just because you stand here that I can’t deal with you. Step aside, or I’ll fight you too!"

Piaomiao ignored her, turning her head to look at Han Wubing. At this moment, Han Wubing had paused his actions, somewhat dazedly watching Zhao Changhe’s figure slashing at the Sword Emperor, neither speaking nor fleeing.

In a flash of Fire and Stone, the situation on that side also changed. The Sword Emperor personally cleaved the Snow Eagle, and the chaotic battle suddenly turned silent.

The sun peeked over the mountain peaks in the distance.

Everyone stared at Yue Hongling. Blood still stained the corners of her mouth, her face pale, but she still smiled freely, "The nuisance has been dealt with, shall we continue, elder?"

All present were well aware that Yue Hongling’s injury was not a defeat; instead, it should be considered a victory. Because this injury was caused by the Sword Emperor instinctively using a stronger force, signifying he was at a disadvantage, prompting the Sword Emperor to instinctively muster greater strength to break through.

Purely from the perspective of Sword Intent competition, the Sword Emperor’s Intent oppresses the sunrise, while Yue Hongling’s Intent rises with the dawn. The sun rising over the mountains also means that in the comparison of Sword Intent, Yue Hongling had slightly the upper hand. Though this slight advantage harnessed the natural course—she merely needed to follow nature and people; the Sword Emperor committed an act against the heavens, thus making her effort simpler.

But regardless of reason, she was indeed in an advantageous position. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Of course, being in an advantageous position did not mean victory was assured; in a contest, momentum often shifts, and there’s still a long way between gaining the upper hand and achieving victory. The Snow Eagle’s ambush brought the contest to a halt, and whether it would continue depended on what the Sword Emperor thought.

The Sword Emperor, too, was lost in contemplation, gazing at the bloodstain on Yue Hongling’s lips. After a moment of silence, he slowly said, "What’s the point of continuing? Since you managed to make me instinctively use power beyond our agreement, of course, you have already won."

If in a contest within the Worldly Society, anyone with some gallantry would indeed consider it a victory like this.

However, what the Sword Emperor sought seemed very significant; setting up doubts, linking with the Snow Eagle, burying entire epoch ideas—would it really end in such a frivolous manner?

Yue Hongling asked with mild surprise, "But elder, what you sought..."

The Sword Emperor glanced once more at Ye Jiuyou and Han Wubing, then turned and left, saying: "What I sought has already been accomplished. Integrating my will with the White Tiger, is it not something you’ve already achieved for me? As for how to further grasp the White Tiger’s will, that is now up to you. Did not your Sword Intent already reveal to me that you are the emerging dawn, and this world is yours?"

"Elder..."

The Sword Emperor did not respond, waved his hand with his back turned: "Your husband carries the legacy of Lie, yet possesses the Intent of Ye Wuming... This matter is indeed intriguing. In the late autumn, in the lands of the Southwest, we shall meet again then."

With those words, he disappeared in a flash.