Several minutes later, the battlefield was already filled with broken swords, and the offensive of the Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect gradually weakened.

Amidst the torrent of flying swords, Nan Cang no longer passively endured attacks and began to actively charge the formation.

With each charge, thousands of flying swords were shattered, only encountering slight setbacks when facing top-grade spirit swords like the Chi Yuan Sword and the Thousand Gold Sword.

Su Yuan and the others watching from the sidelines could clearly sense that Taibai Phecda was slightly struggling.

This was within everyone's expectations.

If Taibai Phecda could defeat Nan Cang single-handedly, why would Su Yuan need to urgently repair the Crown of Corruption?

"Senior Brother Taibai is about to lose and can hold on for no more than ten minutes,"

Ye Muyu, having the sharpest eyes at the scene, sighed softly with a certain tone.

Hearing this, Su Yuan's expression turned a bit solemn.

Ten minutes... where to find a new Nascent Soul Cultivator to kill in ten minutes?

Most Nascent Soul Cultivators had probably already reached the Governor's Mansion by now, and they couldn't just go hunting at the Governor's Mansion; that would be like walking into a lion's den.

But without gathering the blood and Nascent Souls of three Nascent Souls, the Crown of Corruption can't be repaired and won't play a decisive role in the battle with Nan Cang.

Or... lend the Profound Strange Demon Sword to Teacher?

But this Demon Sword is very sinister, with layers of seals on its blade. If these seals are broken, unforeseen changes might occur.

As for the Dragon Emperor Coin?

Nan Cang, this old Deng, had been fighting until now without displaying a single magical treasure, relying purely on personal strength. The Dragon Emperor Coin was useless against such a dedicated player.

Just as Su Yuan was in distress, a calm voice suddenly spoke:

"Su Xiaoyou, you said earlier that hunting two Nascent Soul Cultivators to obtain their bodies and Nascent Souls could reverse the situation. Is this plan still viable now?"

Su Yuan looked at the speaker, who was Ruan Pingcui.

He nodded and said:

"Of course, as long as the materials are complete, the repair speed of the Crown of Corruption is swift."

This is recorded in the Corruption Crown Refining Method. Once the repair materials are gathered, this Immortal Treasure can be restored to a complete state within three minutes.

If Teacher Taibai can hold out during this time, then Nan Cang will be the one to lose next.

After receiving confirmation, Ruan Pingcui nodded slightly and said calmly:

"If so, then use my physical body and Nascent Soul. That way, the materials you need will be complete."

"As for my soul... it doesn't matter whether I become a Soul Cultivator or stay inside your Ten Thousand Souls Banner."

As her words fell, Su Yuan, Ye Muyu, and Chen Nuoyi couldn't help but fix their gazes on her.

To sacrifice oneself?

Why would a selfish and self-serving Sovereign of the Demon Sect make such a choice? It sounded unbelievable.

Facing the three people's incredulous gazes, Ruan Pingcui smiled slightly and said:

"Don't look at me with such strange eyes. I may be the Sect Leader Hehuan, but I'm purely in love with Kongyue."

The three of them remained silent.

A few seconds later, Su Yuan spoke first:

"The situation is urgent, so there's no need for romantic words. In any case, thank you, Senior Ruan, for your contribution."

"After you leave, I will take care of your disciples and sect, so you do not need to worry."

Ruan Pingcui: "..."

Originally, there were no worries, but now suddenly there are.

Su Youlin, that kid is not right!

Plus, I never said I was going to die completely; isn't my soul still here?

Even though she was full of complaints inside, Ruan Pingcui didn't slow down her actions. She endured the pain of soul separation and forcibly extracted her soul from her Nascent Soul, leaving her physical body as an empty shell.

Looking at the solidified soul of Ruan Pingcui that appeared as real as flesh and blood, Su Yuan dared not neglect and quickly stored her soul carefully in the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, instructing his Cyber Brothers to take good care of her.

Then, Su Yuan activated the Tribulation Moon Pearl, and the bodies and Nascent Souls of Jia Fugui and Blood Soul True Monarch appeared before him.

He covered the three Nascent Soul bodies with the power of the Flesh and Blood Dao, causing them to change form rapidly.

Soon, all three, along with their Nascent Souls, transformed into a pool of blood containing endless essence.

This is the best elixir for repairing the Crown of Corruption! No additional additives needed.

After completing these preparations, Su Yuan proceeded to the critical step.

He opened his mouth, and a Golden Core with a faint red glow, having a certain metallic texture, emerged from his mouth.

Under Su Yuan's guidance, the power belonging to the Immortal Treasure within this Divine-Created Outer Pill was quickly extracted, transforming into a ruptured, gold-red crown.

The Crown of Corruption!

After separating this Immortal Treasure, Chen Nuoyi flicked the Dragon Emperor Coin into Su Yuan's Outer Pill.

The two rapidly fused, and in the blink of an eye, a splendid Golden Core was formed, more dazzling than the sun, seemingly containing all the wealth of heaven and earth.

Dragon Emperor's Golden Core!

The Dragon Emperor Coin is a complete Immortal Treasure, so the rank of Dragon Emperor's Outer Pill exceeds that of the Corruption Outer Pill.

However, it won't be long before the two are on equal footing!

Su Yuan swallowed the Dragon Emperor's Golden Core in one gulp, his gaze falling on the Crown of Corruption.

The blood essence of the three Nascent Soul Cultivators, transformed into blood water, descended like a spring from the heavens, forming a crystal-clear line of water that fell onto the center of the crown.

The blood did not pass through the crown and fall to the ground but was firmly held by the crown.

A longing suction emanated from the gap in the Crown of Corruption, swiftly devouring the essence of flesh and blood from the three Nascent Soul cultivators.

The damage that nearly occupied a third of the treasure crown rapidly grew and healed.

Center of the battlefield.

When Ruan Pingcui took his life, much of Nan Cang's attention was on Su Yuan,

and when the Crown of Corruption appeared, his eyes widened.

"An Immortal Treasure... You actually have an Immortal Treasure..."

Initially, Nan Cang was deeply shaken.

Being at the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage, he was well aware of the terrifying power of an Immortal Treasure, almost equal to a limb of a Divinity Transformation powerhouse; if used well, it could easily crush someone of his Nascent Soul Peak level.

But soon, he discovered that the Crown of Corruption was damaged, which explained why Flame River hadn't used this Immortal Treasure against him, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief.

Then, he saw Su Yuan using the flesh and blood of three Nascent Soul cultivators as a sacrifice, causing the Crown of Corruption to be rapidly repaired.

It seemed that in less than three minutes, this Immortal Treasure could reveal its true power.

By then, he would lose all chances of winning.

"First kill that kid, then seize the Immortal Treasure."

In just an instant, Nan Cang determined his primary target.

He decided to abandon the difficult-to-bite Taibai Phecda and instead focus on Su Yuan.

However, it was evident that Taibai Phecda wasn't so easily shaken off.

One after another, dragons made of thousands of flying swords roared toward him, blocking every path he could take to reach Su Yuan, preventing him from escaping the vortex of battle.

One minute passed, two minutes passed...

As the repair of the Crown of Corruption neared completion, Nan Cang's patience was finally exhausted.

"A junior who just broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm can't stop me."

Nan Cang snorted coldly and stomped heavily on the ground beneath him.

An invisible force penetrated the surface, pushing straight toward the underground depths.

Centered on the land where Nan Cang stood, a slight tremor occurred across the Nine Prefectures and Sixteen States.

In places unseen by Su Yuan and Taibai Phecda, hidden locations within the prefecture flickered with ominous dark light from evil arrays.

These arrays connected lines to form surfaces, gradually enveloping the entirety of the Cold Plum World.

And even though Su Yuan and others could not see these sinister arrays, they could infer from various details that Nan Cang was beginning to devour the entire Cold Plum World.

He was preparing to gain greater strength before the Crown of Corruption was fully repaired, to eliminate Taibai Phecda ahead of time.

With less than a minute to spare, for both Nan Cang and Su Yuan's side, it was a race against time.

And in the minds of Su Yuan and others, an unavoidable worry arose.

——In less than a minute, how many people will Nan Cang devour?

Yet no matter how wild Su Yuan's imagination was, he did not anticipate that when the sinister arrays linked together, the first to be targeted were not the ordinary citizens of the Cold Plum World, but the disciples of the Demon Sect.

These Demon Sects were the sects Nan Cang had secretly supported, where he had laid out the most arrays along their mountain gates, with the best effects.

As to why Nan Cang would first take action against his own men?

The reason was simple, his devouring technique was initiated too hastily, requiring the initial elimination of familiar ones to cultivate strength before formally devouring the whole world.

Thus, one by one, disciples of the Demon Sect inexplicably fell, their flesh appearing to turn to steam, transforming into shimmering tiny particles floating to the sky.

Then, these tiny particles were drawn to Nan Cang, rapidly converging above his head as if swept into a tornado's dust.

Upon a thought from the latter, a large amount of flesh was devoured, swiftly enhancing his aura.

Taibai Phecda, already at a disadvantage, struggled even more against the strengthened Nan Cang.

Nan Cang did not use any fancy techniques, merely by punching and kicking, shattered the dragons of swords one by one.

At the same time, his steps began to unfalteringly advance toward Su Yuan's position, closing the distance between them.

Only twenty seconds had passed since the World Devouring Technique was unleashed.

With a torturous amount of time left until the Crown of Corruption was completely repaired, it seemed impossible to drag it out further.

Ye Muyu and Chen Nuoyi instinctively shielded Su Yuan behind them, looking vigilant.

However, just as Nan Cang's forward momentum appeared unstoppable, Taibai Phecda's figure once again stood in front of Nan Cang, holding the Wen Ji Sword, eyes resolute and unyielding.

However, anyone with discerning eyes could see that Taibai Phecda's current state was poor.

Unity of Man and Sword and Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect were both powerful and impressive, but the cost was indeed substantial.

"Flame River, do you really want to die so badly?"

Nan Cang looked displeased at the person before him, but quickly shook his head and said:

"No matter, killing you directly is the same, as once you die, even if the Immortal Treasure is fully repaired, it can only serve me."

As he spoke, he raised his hand slowly, preparing to launch an attack.

But at that moment, a low shout suddenly sounded from not far away:

"Teacher, catch this!"

As the voice rang out, both Taibai Phecda and Nan Cang turned their gazes toward the source of the sound.

Then, they saw Su Yuan's spirited gaze, and the rapidly approaching... Bronze Sword Scabbard flying toward Taibai Phecda.