In the Inner World, Xiyue and I faced off. Tension pulled taut like a bowstring; distant Origin Realm onlookers forgot to breathe.

Her right hand tightened on the long sword, then eased, like frost melting under a weak sun. She choked back the urge to strike.

I might not beat her in this state. But she can't do anything to me, even if she calls every Origin Realm in the Inner World.

Xiyue, could you stop attacking the Worldgate? Honestly, it’s annoying. I don’t want to waste time grinding this out with you.

She kept silent. Resignation settled like stale dust. The Inner World is worse than the Prime Realm, sure. She’s lived here for years; she should be used to it.

Xinuo, you’re still the same. That calm mask of yours—I hate it.

She sighed and refused, firm as stone. It’s a pity. I’ve labored countless years to return to the Prime Realm. I won’t quit. I may not sway you, Xinuo, but you may not sway me either. Patience, I have plenty.

You’re as stubborn as ever.

Trouble pressed in like a brewing storm. I never expected Xiyue to meekly abandon invading the Prime Realm. So what now?

It’s not stubbornness. I’m taking back what’s mine. How about this—give me half the governance of the Prime Realm. You keep your carefree life. The Prime Realm is rich on every front; it shouldn’t be stagnant and backward. If you’re too lazy to manage it, let me manage.

Honestly, I don’t want to be your enemy, Xinuo. Let’s end this peacefully.

Humor me—what would you do after you gained the Prime Realm’s reins?

The Inner World looks prosperous, but it’s burning its lifespan for growth. Resources are thinning to ash. Disasters climb year by year. Even the climate has gone weird. The air chafes; I hate being here.

If the Inner World were just a plane, there’d be hope. Xiyue stands at the Pinnacle of Origin Realm. But this is a true world. Not even I can save it—the Primordial Source core shrinks day by day, unable to bear the overdevelopment she drives.

Once the resources die and people turn to the Primordial Source core, the Inner World will be a step from ruin.

First, abolish the Mizumi Clan. Then liberate the Central Continent. Then I’ll pick a new hegemon to drive the Prime Realm’s growth. There will be wars; that’s the price of development. Without war, there’s no rapid rise.

Her thinking is still twisted. If she gets her way, the wars will dwarf the cataclysm from a thousand years ago.

An era of war sparked by a Pinnacle of Origin Realm— even the Prime Realm can’t bear that. It would follow the Inner World into decay.

I was foolish to ask such a dumb question.

I had hoped time would sand down Xiyue’s warped values. Mountains may shift; natures rarely change.

So you’re rejecting my offer, Xinuo?

Isn’t it obvious.

Then we have nothing to discuss.

Her words barely fell when she flashed to my face, blade raised. Her cut tore past like lightning. Space around us cracked like thin ice.

I expected her to strike without warning. Fine. I wanted to see how strong she is now.

I condensed an Origin Sword and met her with the World Sword. I blocked it. The blade in my hand shattered to dust.

An Origin Sword can’t compare to an Origin Artifact. At this rate, one of her strikes costs me one sword. I’ll keep condensing Origin Sword Qi into blades. Annoying.

No time to brood. Xiyue lunged again, no longer testing. She went all in. Purple-black Origin Sword Qi surged like stormclouds, tied to slashes faster than time or space could hold.

Outmatched in weapons, I could only slip away and defend.

I hate this reactive stance. If melee won’t work, go ranged.

I opened distance and released Sword Aura at its peak. Origin Sword Qi turned into a host of blades and filled the void. I summoned every Origin Sword and drove them at her in a crushing wave.

Night of the Purple Moon!

An eerie purple moon bloomed from nothing and hung high. The world dimmed; only the violet moonlight stabbed down.

The sword rain pouring toward Xiyue faltered under a strange force. Its speed dropped hard, letting her pull out whole.

I wouldn’t let her slip so easily. I seized an Origin Sword and hurled it at the purple moon.

She ghosted behind me at that instant. Her black blade rose. Origin Sword Qi blasted out, savage and breaking. Too late to dodge. I had to take it.

I forged two Origin Swords in a heartbeat, spun, and swung the Reversal Sword and the World Sword together. Reversal canceled her cut. The World Sword drove her back.

She took my World Sword head-on too? Perfect.

I used the stalemate. I recalled the remaining Origin Swords and sent them at her again.

Boom!!

The sword rain hit. The ground heaved and the mountains shuddered. Dust roared up like a sandstorm.

A slash of cold sword-light burst through the thick haze and lunged straight for me.

Was that sword rain only for damage? Of course not. I never expected to hurt Xiyue. The main point wasn’t attack, but—

Origin Sword: Lock.

The blade-light stopped inches before me. The wind sheared away a couple strands of hair from my brow.

Xiyue was trapped inside the sword formation, a little ragged.

It will hold only two heartbeats, but that’s enough—

Above her, a sky-blotting Origin Sword formed in silence, dragging endless, crushing pressure.

Origin Sword: Annihilation.

At my word, the colossal blade dropped. It fell like a predator swallowing heaven and earth, crushing and devouring all space nearby.