Summoning the Gods: Start by creating the Eternal Night.

On the battlefield of the Fallen Immortal Mountain Range, smoke filled the air, blood and demonic energy mingled, and the lingering spiritual energy fluctuations were still chilling.

Yan Guiren stood leaning on his halberd, his black armor stained with blood, yet his upright posture remained undiminished.

Although his head-on collision with Xue Wutian had left both of them injured, it also temporarily deprived them of the strength to continue their offensive.

At that moment, Yan Guiren and Xue Wutian looked up almost simultaneously, gazing at the distant horizon.

Several powerful auras of the Celestial Realm were approaching at an astonishing speed.

"Oh no!" Yan Guiren thought to himself.

Their confrontation was ultimately too big a commotion, and it alerted others.

Who is this newcomer? Is he friend or foe? Both sides are currently exhausted of spiritual energy. If the newcomer is hostile, the consequences could be dire.

He and Yan Shisan had come to investigate clues, so there was no need for them to fight Xue Wutian to the death here, and they didn't want to be dragged into unknown trouble by a suddenly appearing powerful figure.

Without any hesitation, Yan Guiren and Xue Wutian stopped moving at the same time, and the battlefield fell into an eerie silence.

Yan Guiren ignored Xue Wutian and shot towards Yan Shisan like an arrow.

"Thirteenth Brother!"

He swept his halberd horizontally, a burst of mysterious light flashing, carrying an immense force that forcefully forced back Chi Yuan, who was frantically attacking Yan Shisan, and Ming He, who had lost an arm.

"Clang! Clang!"

With two sharp cracks, Chi Yuan and Ming He were sent flying several miles away. The two looked at Yan Guiren with surprise and uncertainty.

Yan Guiren swayed and landed beside Yan Shisan, saying in a deep voice, "Brother Shisan, let's stop fighting for now."

Yan Shisan sheathed his longsword, its blue light fading. He glanced at the disheveled Chi Yuan and Ming He: "Good!"

On the other side, Xue Wutian also shouted sharply, "Leng Ming! Luo Mie! Stop!"

Leng Ming and Luo Mie, who were besieging Qian Yuan and Yingzi, were stunned upon hearing this. Although they were unwilling, they dared not disobey Xue Wutian's order.

Leng Ming glared fiercely at Qian Yuan and sneered, "Next time, I'll definitely take your dog's life!"

They then quickly retreated behind Xue Wutian, together with Luo Tian.

Qian Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, supporting the equally badly injured Shadow, and watched Xue Wutian and his group warily. His spiritual energy was almost exhausted, and he was even unsteady on his feet.

Xue Wutian looked up at Chi Yuan and Ming He, who had been sent flying by Yan Guiren's attack, and gestured for them to come over.

Chi Yuan and Ming He quickly gathered behind him.

Chi Yuan covered her slashed cheek, staring at Yan Shisan with venomous eyes, wishing she could devour him alive.

Minghe clutched his severed arm, black blood still slowly seeping out, his breath weak and feeble.

Xue Wutian glanced again at Youming, who lay unconscious and barely breathing not far away.

"Luo Mie, take Youming with you, let's retreat!"

Luo Mie stepped forward and carried the unconscious Youming on his back.

Blood was still seeping from the wound on Xue Wutian's chest. The power of Yan Guiren's "Swallow Goes, Swallow Returns" attack far exceeded his expectations.

Xue Wutian turned around, his scarlet eyes fixed on Yan Guiren, his voice as cold as ice:

"Boy, I, Xue Wutian, will remember this humiliation."

"Next time we meet, you won't be so lucky. I will make sure you are utterly destroyed and never reincarnated!"

Yan Guiren brandished his halberd, his black armor clanging, his fighting spirit undiminished.

"I'm ready anytime! I'm waiting for you to come and die!"

Their eyes met in mid-air, sparks flew, and an invisible tension spread out.

"Hmph!" Xue Wutian snorted angrily, said no more, and turned to Leng Ming and the others, shouting, "Let's go!"

The group quickly disappeared into the thick fog of the Fallen Immortal Mountains, leaving behind only a trail of lingering demonic energy and the stench of blood.

Once Xue Wutian and his group had completely disappeared from sight, Yan Guiren withdrew his gaze, turned to look at Yan Shisan, and spoke with a hint of concern:

"Thirteenth Brother, how are you?"

Yan Shisan raised his hand to brush the wound on his cheek, a trace of blood staining his fingertips. He shook his head, his voice remaining calm:

"It's nothing, just a minor scratch, it won't affect anything."

The two walked side by side toward Qian Yuan and Yingzi.

At this moment, Qian Yuan was leaning against the rock wall, his face as pale as paper. Although he had temporarily suppressed the wound on his lower abdomen with his spiritual power, blood was still seeping out continuously.

A thin layer of white frost had formed on the spot on his back where Leng Ming's "Minghan Palm" had struck him, and his breath was faint.

Shadow knelt to one side, the poison wound on his shoulder blade causing his body to convulse; the black toxins were still coursing through his veins.

He forced himself to stand up and looked at Yan Guiren and Yan Shisan who were walking towards him, his eyes filled with gratitude and awe.

Qian Yuan struggled to lift his head, looked at Yan Guiren, his lips moved a few times, and his voice was hoarse:

"Thank you both... for your help earlier. The Great Qian Dynasty is deeply grateful."

Yan Guiren's gaze fell on Qian Yuan, his tone indifferent yet carrying an undeniable power:

"Prince Yuan, there's no need for further words. Our actions are simply to fulfill our previous agreement."

"Twenty million low-grade spirit stones. Someone will come to collect them in a month."

He paused, his gaze suddenly sharpening like a drawn sword:

"Let me make this clear from the outset: if the Great Qian Dynasty cannot produce the spirit stones a month from now, or if they intend to breach the contract..."

The words were not finished, but the meaning was clear.

Qian Yuan's face was pale. Although he was indignant, he dared not refute her.

If it weren't for these two people taking action today, he and Shadow would have already become nourishment for Xue Wutian.

He nodded with difficulty:

"Rest assured, both of you, the Great Qian Dynasty has always kept its word."

"Twenty million low-grade spirit stones will be paid in full within a month, without any delay."

"That would be for the best." Yan Guiren stopped looking at him and said to Yan Shisan, "Brother Shisan, let's go."

"Hmm." Yan Shisan nodded, and together with Yan Guiren, they turned into two streaks of light and quickly left the Fallen Immortal Mountain Range.

Watching the two figures disappear, Qian Yuan collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, the shadow weakly spoke:

"Your Highness, what are the origins of these two? Their strength is so formidable, yet we have never heard of them in the martial world."

Qian Yuan raised his hand and swallowed a healing pill. The pill melted instantly in his mouth, and a gentle spiritual energy slowly repaired his damaged meridians.

He shook his head, his eyes full of doubt: "I don't know either."

"The Shadow Guards control all intelligence in the land. You had prior contact with them, yet you were unaware of it. How could I possibly know?"

Shadow pondered for a moment and said, "This was the first time I had seen them in Tianfeng City."

He looked at the shadow, his tone grave: "It seems that the martial world is far more complex than we imagined, with hidden dragons and crouching tigers."

"The strength of these two is unfathomable, especially that Xuanjia cultivator; his combat power is simply terrifying. He was at the peak of the Celestial Realm and was able to withstand the combined forces of Xue Wutian and Youming..."

"Moreover, his style of doing things is eccentric; he seeks neither fame nor fortune."

"He is obsessed with spirit stones... If you encounter them again in the future, you must act with caution."

Shadow nodded and took an antidote pill; the black aura on his face gradually dissipated.

"Your Highness, let's leave here as soon as possible."

"Although the Netherworld Sect has retreated, we don't know whether those approaching experts are friend or foe. Staying here could lead to unforeseen changes," Shadow warned.

Qian Yuan took a deep breath, struggled to his feet, leaned against the rock wall, and nodded:

"Alright. Take the Imperial Clan's body and let's return to the Great Qian Dynasty first."

"As for the origins of those two people... we can investigate them later."

The two supported each other, carrying the dried corpse of Zongzheng, and headed towards the direction of the Great Qian Dynasty.

On the open ground of the Fallen Immortal Mountain Range, only a mess and the lingering stench of blood remained, bearing witness to this breathtaking battle.