At this moment:

The passage of time seemed to freeze.

"Boom... crack!"

The vicious Fierce Spring Divine Palm struck Zhang Yao’s body, unleashing its terrifying power, but was firmly blocked by the Delusional Guard Armor.

The armor shone brilliantly, revealing complex and mysterious Spirit Pattern engravings that distributed the power across all its components, sharing the devastating impact of the palm strike.

Yet, its effectiveness was very limited.

The Fierce Spring Divine Palm was a fearsome Divine Technique capable of severely injuring or even killing a Late stage Golden Core powerhouse, while Zhang Yao’s Delusional Guard Armor was merely equivalent to the Middle stage Golden Core, clearly unable to withstand the destructive force of the palm strike.

"Crack, crack!"

In less than half a moment, accompanied by a series of crisp shattering sounds, the Delusional Guard Armor crumbled inch by inch.

But it ultimately bought Zhang Yao half a moment of time!

After that half a moment passed, Zhang Yao emerged from the daze of penetrating the Magnetic Barrier, instantly regaining his senses, his whole body radiating golden light as he launched a powerful punch at the chest of the ambushing figure!

He hadn’t mastered the unique Combat Techniques Divine Techniques of a Body Refining Cultivator, so instinctively he resorted to using a move from the Mortal Martial Dao’s "Heaven-Flipping Hand" that he had practiced exhaustively.

"Thud!"

The dull sound resonated like a drum, as if hitting an empty ground, suggesting that under the black robe wasn’t a living body.

"Bang!"

The greatly reduced Fierce Spring Divine Palm’s power struck Zhang Yao’s chest, barely breaking the Protective Vajra Secret Mantra, leaving behind a bloody five-fingered mark on his chest.

In the swift exchange, both parties received a punch and a palm before rapidly retreating.

"Cough, cough..."

The Ascendant Tianying, cloaked in a black robe, coughed violently, spitting out blood clots and even pieces of internal organs, yet no blood flowed.

Zhang Yao’s physique rivaled that of a High Level Body Refining Cultivator, making the full-force punch incredibly painful.

Yet such severe injuries seemed to have little effect on Ascendant Tianying, his aura only fluctuated slightly before quickly returning to normal.

"Hiss!"

Zhang Yao took a light breath, under the onrushing Essence Qi like a mighty river, instantly expelling the residual poisonous power of the Fierce Spring Divine Palm from his body.

The situation now was even more dangerous than the deadly fight with Yu Wen Tai back then; opting for a strategy of appearing weak might turn him into a target, swiftly leading to defeat.

"Roar!" "Roar!"

The growls of the Black Death Beast echoed from not far away, yet Zhang Yao did not dare to lose focus.

At that instant, when Zhang Yao was ambushed, Nether Abyss Ancestor was similarly attacked, facing an even more perilous situation!

At the moment of deeper penetration:

Nether Abyss Ancestor hadn’t even regained consciousness from the daze before being surrounded by the Faceless Shadow and seven or eight Black Death Beasts!

This lineup once ambushed and killed Daoist Heisen Sima Yan, posing a fatal threat to Late stage Golden Core powerhouses, yet Nether Abyss Ancestor broke through it by sheer force!

When he regained his senses, he had missed the best chance to evade, seven or eight Black Death Beasts had his body firmly bitten in various parts, and the Faceless Shadow’s all-out attack had slammed onto his forehead!

Just at that instant:

"Bang!"

Nether Abyss Ancestor’s Delusional Guard Armor voluntarily disintegrated, unleashing a powerful impact that sent the seven or eight Black Death Beasts flying away.

"Crackle!"

The Faceless Shadow’s full-force strike landed on Nether Abyss Ancestor’s head, but it was like a mud cow sinking into the sea, without causing any ripples.

Nether Abyss Ancestor’s eyes turned completely into abyssal black, like an undersea whirlpool swirling crazily, and one could faintly hear the sound of a certain power boiling and roaring.

Most of the impact from the strike was decomposed and devoured by the invisible vortex within him, leaving only minor and insignificant injuries.

"This!!"

The Faceless Shadow, or the black-robed Tianying, was shocked.

He had anticipated that Nether Abyss Ancestor, this Soul Tamer, possessed fused power of the Black Death Beast, but never imagined it would be the Devouring Black Tide Power!

This power is like a nemesis to all Black Death Beasts and even Soul Tamers!

"Great opportunity!"

Zhang Yao seized the moment of distraction from Ascendant Tianying, suddenly attacking, engaging in combat with him.

"Get away!"

Ascendant Tianying’s body twisted, immediately retreating swiftly.

Although he mastered the Fierce Spring Divine Palm, he was ultimately not a Body Refining Cultivator, not skilled in close combat, so naturally wouldn’t engage in short-handed assault.

"Splashing..."

The grey-black reflections surrounded like tidal waves, Ascendant Tianying’s figure vanished instantly, escaping Zhang Yao’s lock.

However, to unleash Divine Techniques and confront Zhang Yao fully, he inevitably shifted part of his focus, leaving the Faceless Shadow Avatar to fend off Nether Abyss Ancestor by instinct.

In his view:

Nether Abyss Ancestor’s Devouring Power was indeed strong, but not invincible, possessing considerable drawbacks, and a brief barrage of attacks was enough to overwhelm him.

The move that repelled the Black Death Beast relied on external forces, ineffective after one use; once he resorted to last tactics, the Faceless Shadow Avatar and Black Death Beasts would be enough to finish him.

Conversely, Elder Qingxu, although only at Early Stage Golden Core Realm, was still a formidable foe requiring his full attention.

"Boom!"

The grey-black reflection tide began boiling, Ascendant Tianying’s body floated intermittently within it, appearing and disappearing.

"Qingxu, you should never have colluded with Nether Abyss Ancestor for nefarious ends!"

His voice carried a chilling edge, killing intent undisguised:

"Today is your death day!"

"Hahaha..."

Zhang Yao laughed heartily, his Divine Thought stirred:

```

"Who will win is still unknown, how dare you boast so boldly?"

Before the words had even fallen:

"Swoosh!"

Zhang Yao leapt up, transforming into a dazzling white rainbow, rushing towards Ascendant Tianying.

"Boom!"

With a palm strike, the Purple Thunder Bead exploded, and an overwhelming sea of infinite thunder instantly tore apart layers of gray-black shadowy tides.

Facing the ferocious Annihilation Divine Thunder, Ascendant Tianying’s first response was to temporarily avoid its sharp edge.

He had no need to clash head-on; he only needed to maneuver for a moment. Once Nether Abyss Ancestor was defeated and the Ghost Shadow Avatar was freed to attack, Elder Qingxu would be in a deadly situation.

However, at this moment:

"Boom!"

A mass of dark green light suddenly exploded on his body!

Never would Ascendant Tianying have expected a sudden turn of events at his elbow, catching him completely off guard, unable to use any protective Magical Treasures or Divine Techniques, he took the blow solidly.

"Ah!!"

Ascendant Tianying let out a tragic cry, his chest directly blasted open a bowl-sized hole, his ravaged organs visibly writhing, his breath plunging!

"Is it you?! Sima Yan!!"

His Divine Thought trembled wildly, shock and rage filling him as he identified the attacker’s identity from the aura.

He would never have dreamed that Sima Yan, whom he personally killed, would revive so quickly and stealthily reach his side with unknown techniques!

"Die!"

The dark green glow materialized into a shape, revealing Daoist Heisen, Sima Yan, full of murderous intent, holding a mass of dark green sun, directly aiming at Ascendant Tianying’s head!

"Impressive technique!!"

Zhang Yao laughed loudly, seizing the opportunity, cooperating inside and out with Sima Yan to charge at Ascendant Tianying!

Just at that moment:

Awakening from a daze after breaking through the Magnetic Barrier, meaning Sima Yan also returned to senses, infiltrating Ascendant Tianying’s body with a withered wood form as he punched!

Back then, half of Ascendant Tianying’s attention was focused on controlling the Shadow Incarnation to raid Nether Abyss Ancestor, allowing Sima Yan to successfully exploit a gap.

The situation changed rapidly, and within a moment:

The previously dominant Ascendant Tianying fell into dire straits, besieged by Zhang Yao and Sima Yan!

"Die!"

The dark green sun in Sima Yan’s hand already fell heavily, Zhang Yao’s Annihilation Divine Thunder also broke through barriers, almost engulfing Ascendant Tianying’s body!

"Damn it!"

Anger surged in Ascendant Tianying’s eyes, but he kept calm in his heart, activating his last life-saving technique.

"Whoosh..."

Sima Yan and Zhang Yao’s Divine Techniques fell, but only into emptiness.

The moment Divine Techniques enveloped Ascendant Tianying, the gray-black shadows surrounding him dissipated completely, and his entire being "collapsed" into a dust-sized form unseen by the naked eye.

More precisely, his body transformed into a shadow-like existence, and as a shadow with no form or substance, it could shrink to dust, avoiding the onslaught of Divine Treasure attacks.

He simply vanished, even Divine Thought couldn’t capture his figure anymore.

"’Phantom Wishing Technique’?!"

Daoist Heisen, Sima Yan, changed his expression, clearly recognizing this notorious dark attribute Daoist Skill.

"How could that bastard have mastered so many powerful Daoist skills and branded them all into Divine Techniques? What grade of Golden Core does he possess?"

Though shocked internally, Sima Yan’s actions were quick, immediately altering his Escape Light to head towards Nether Abyss Ancestor.

"Nether Abyss Ancestor is in danger!"

Zhang Yao also realized this, likewise redirecting his Escape Light to assist.

As expected:

Before they could rendezvous with Nether Abyss Ancestor, Ascendant Tianying, lurking in the dark, saw no opportunity for a focused fatal assault, swiftly altering tactics.

"Swoosh!" "Swoosh!"

The Ghost Shadow Avatar, along with seven or eight Black Death Beasts, forced the beleaguered Nether Abyss Ancestor to retreat, then quickly withdrawn, vanishing into darkness.

"Huff, huff..."

Nether Abyss Ancestor panted heavily twice, his aura a bit fluctuating.

In just a fleeting two or three breaths’ time, enduring the siege of the Ghost Shadow Avatar and the Black Death Beasts, he barely managed.

Had it not been for his potent talent of Devouring Black Tide Power, any other late stage Golden Core powerhouse could scarcely have avoided severe injury.

"Fellow Daoist Mingyuan, are you alright?"

Zhang Yao and Sima Yan approached, inquiring with concern.

"I’m fine."

Nether Abyss Ancestor waved his hand, eyes scanning the surroundings with Divine Thought, brows slightly furrowed:

"He still managed to escape!"

This surprise attack, with premeditated schemes, led to both sides reaching a stalemate.

Though Ascendant Tianying suffered severe injuries from Sima Yan’s attack, Nether Abyss Ancestor wasn’t in good shape either, in dire need of recuperation.

Although they had safely weathered the most perilous moment, overcoming Ascendant Tianying’s ambush, Sima Yan’s Yin Wood Dharma Body was exposed, alerting the opponent.

"To succeed in one fell swoop was the best-case scenario, but it was unrealistic."

Zhang Yao calmly analyzed:

"However, he certainly won’t have gone far, especially considering..."