Fire Cloud Ancestor pushed Zhang Lingshui out, and he himself, like an enraged lion, raised his vigorous blade and slashed toward Jian Hee.

Jian Hee hadn’t anticipated Fire Cloud Ancestor’s madness, his brows furrowed slightly.

He shifted his body, narrowly dodging.

Fire Cloud Ancestor, seeing his strike missed, changed to a sweeping motion, intending to slice Jian Hee directly in half.

However, Jian Hee was prepared, directly wielding his sword to block.

"Clang!"

As the sword collided with the blade, a deafening sound erupted in the air.

With only one arm left, Fire Cloud Ancestor’s combat strength had greatly diminished; the impact caused his muscles to momentarily go numb, losing sensation.

Seeing this, Jian Hee keenly seized the opportunity, slashing towards Fire Cloud Ancestor’s only arm.

"Crack!"

The sharp sound of bones breaking suddenly exploded, as Fire Cloud Ancestor’s arm was neatly severed, blood gushing forth, the scene was too tragic to behold.

"Ah!"

Fire Cloud Ancestor let out a piercing scream, uncontrollably retreating backwards.

Seeing that Fire Cloud Ancestor was now completely incapacitated, Jian Hee let out a cold, sinister laugh.

"Ha, I said it, you are no match for me. Today, I won’t just kill you, but slaughter everyone in the Star Pavilion to avenge my sect’s destruction!"

Despite losing his arms, Fire Cloud Ancestor faced Jian Hee without any fear.

His eyes widened, fixing a fierce gaze on Jian Hee, revealing a gruesome smile.

"You still don’t know, do you? My master has returned, the Four Great Tribe Alliances, their million-strong army has been entirely wiped out. I believe it won’t be long until it’s your turn. Jian Hee, I’ll wait for you on the Netherworld Road!"

After saying this, the True Yuan within him began to violently tremble, and his whole body started swelling at a visible pace.

Seeing this scene, Jian Hee was struck by a great shock.

Damn, this guy actually wants to self-destruct!

Fire Cloud Ancestor wanted to perish together with Jian Hee, but Jian Hee didn’t want mutual destruction with Fire Cloud Ancestor.

Thus, at the first sign of Fire Cloud Ancestor’s intention to explode, Jian Hee immediately retreated.

Just as he exited the grand hall, an ear-splitting explosion resonated.

In an instant, the whole hall collapsed into ruins.

True Immortal Alliance disciples heard the commotion and gathered around.

"Senior brother, all the Star Pavilion Disciples have been cleared. But Li Chen’s female disciple Zhang Lingshui escaped, what should we do now?"

With a fierce gaze, Jian Hee shouted hysterically: "What else can we do? Chase her down! We can’t let her escape under any circumstances!"

Hei Xin and Heu Lei were stunned by Jian Hee’s sudden outbreak, completely perplexed about the situation.

After a moment of silence, Heu Lei first spoke: "Senior brother, although Zhang Lingshui is Li Chen’s disciple, her cultivation isn’t high, she is a minor figure. We don’t need to waste effort on her, we should quickly plunder the Star Pavilion’s treasury and leave this place lest we face retaliation!"

However, before he could finish, Jian Hee erupted once more.

"Li Chen has returned, and where can you escape?"

Jian Hee might not realize how much his voice trembled with terror upon mentioning Li Chen’s name.

His fear was mirrored by the other True Immortal Alliance disciples.

After all, ten years ago, Li Chen single-handedly created havoc in Jiuzhou with unparalleled prowess, claiming the throne as the first of his time.

Now, after a decade, who knows to what terrifying extent he’s grown?

They dared operate so brazenly, plotting to destroy the Jiuzhou Branch of the Star Pavilion largely because they believed that monstrous figure, Li Chen, had left Earth and may never return.

If they knew Li Chen had traveled the universe and returned, they wouldn’t dare entertain such thoughts about the Jiuzhou Branch of the Star Pavilion!

"Senior brother, is this information accurate?"

Hei Xin asked with a trembling voice.

Jian Hee, somewhat calmer, replied: "Fire Cloud Ancestor told me before he died, whether it’s true or not, I’m unsure!"

Heu Lei interjected: "Senior brother, Fire Cloud Ancestor could have deliberately frightened you, it’s not reliable. Li Chen opened the Path to Ascension, traveled the universe, how could he return so soon?"

Hei Xin quickly agreed: "Heu Lei is right, the universe is vast and perilous, possibly Li Chen’s soul has perished, never to return to Earth!"

Hearing his two junior brothers, Jian Hee felt they made sense and realized he’d been somewhat irrational earlier.

This self-consolation eased his anger and fear considerably.

"No matter what, Zhang Lingshui is Li Chen’s disciple and holds high status within the Star Pavilion. Capturing her will shake the Star Pavilion Headquarters!"

After speaking, he turned to Heu Lei, saying: "Hei Xin, lead people to the Star Pavilion’s treasure vault, take as much treasure as possible!"

"Heu Lei, take a few people and come with me to pursue Zhang Lingshui. Under no circumstances should she escape!"

Heu Lei acknowledged and selected seven masters to join Jian Hee’s pursuit of Zhang Lingshui.

Meanwhile:

At Heavenly Sword Mountain’s cliff, Zhang Lingshui suddenly heard an ear-piercing explosion behind her.

She turned back to see the entire hall had collapsed into ruins.

Realizing this, she understood that the elderly Fire Cloud Ancestor, who always called her little senior sister despite his grandfatherly age, might have met with tragedy.

"Rest in peace, Fire Cloud junior brother. Master will surely avenge you!"

After a monologue, Zhang Lingshui resolutely turned, transforming into a beam of light escaping downward over the cliff.

Yet, as she descended halfway down the mountain, a figure blocked her path.

The person obstructing her was Jian Hee!

Seeing this, Zhang Lingshui was shocked, urgently trying to turn back.

But at that moment, a burly black-faced man stood behind her, carrying a giant axe on his shoulder.

Lightning seemed to swirl around the giant axe, with its blade glistening sharply, extremely menacing.

At this moment, Jian Hee regained his usual calm.

He held a folding fan, smiling sinisterly, silently watching Zhang Lingshui.

"Miss Lingxiu, where else do you think you can escape?"

Realizing she was surrounded, Zhang Lingshui understood she was doomed this time.

After all, as an Alchemist, her cultivation was only at the Golden Core level, completely unable to escape from Jian Hee of the Nascent Soul Perfection Realm...