When he was previously investigating Su Tu, he knew Su Tu had a master named Zhou Wuliang. At the time, he merely found the name familiar but couldn't recall where he'd heard it, so he didn't bother much.

But now, upon seeing Kong Tao's respectful demeanor, everything suddenly came back to him.

An elder with cultivation less than a Celestial Being, possessing the prowess to instantly kill a Venerable, and commanding such respect from a diplomat—who else could it be but the rumored last inheritor of the Heaven-Reaching Dao Lineage?

Thinking of this, Zi Chen hurriedly spoke up, "Old Zhou, it's truly a misunderstanding. Someone is sowing discord. In such times, our Seven Alliances would never commit such acts!"

"Especially regarding the descendants of the Heaven-Reaching Dao Lineage, we hold them in the highest respect!"

Kong Tao chimed in from the side, "Indeed, Old Zhou, Daoist Master Cong Yun personally reenacted the scene and conducted a mind search of everyone involved with the airship's safety. He even performed a brain extraction surgery on key personnel. It truly was an accident!!"

Kong Tao wasn't speaking up for inter-civilization harmony; he simply wanted to negotiate more rewards afterward.

However, Zhou Wuliang sighed as he watched the two prattle on.

Just as they expected him to say something.

"What are you babbling about?"

BOOM!!!

With a flick of his fingers, tumultuous waves erupted once more, engulfing even Kong Tao and the Star Fortress in the terrifying surge.

Both Kong Tao and Zi Chen's expressions changed instantly, each trying to tear through space to escape.

However, with the appearance of the bead, the surrounding space seemed frozen by an immense power, leaving them unable to break through.

In an instant of the wave's rise, Kong Tao was crushed into a mist of blood... no, mist is inaccurate—it was more like splattered fat.

For such greedily corpulent fellows, with loyalties swaying toward the Foreign Race, Old Zhou had little qualms about sending him off early; living was unnecessary for him.

Zi Chen felt extremely stifled. He hadn't expected there to be someone like this, who disregarded reason and evidence, choosing instead to attack directly. This individual, having fallen from Celestial Being, could wield a treasure to effortlessly kill Mountain Qiu. It was too preposterous!!

But thankfully, he discovered Zhou Wuliang's secret. Just after flicking the bead, the man had become glaringly weak, proving the heavy price of using such a treasure.

Yet, it made sense that a treasure of such power would surely entail great expenditure.

"Damn it!!! Fight him to the end! He's a decrepit elder fallen from Celestial Being, who must pay a huge price to wield such a treasure!"

Resolved, Zi Chen charged towards Zhou Wuliang, feeling confident as he detected the other's frail aura, breaking into a prideful smile.

He guessed right!! This old coot, after killing Kong Tao and Mountain Qiu using the treasure, surely bore a hefty toll and was already withering...

Just as these thoughts crossed his mind, Old Zhou lifted his head, a mocking smile curling his lips, the weakness in his aura vanishing entirely.

"It's a trap!!"

Zi Chen instantly realized the deceit, but the next moment, a crimson bead gradually descended from above, pressing down on Zi Chen himself.

Suddenly, Zi Chen felt as though the world itself weighed down upon him, causing his body to disintegrate inch by inch.

"You didn't activate the treasure, it's the sealed power within the Treasure Bead, and you merely released it..."

Zi Chen stammered in terror, then saw three beads floating behind Zhou Wuliang.

He couldn't fathom what kind of foundation could enable such audacious acts. These beads weren't powerful in themselves but served as storage, capable of sealing power within them.

Each bead contained an exalted life-form's final ultimate sublimation.

This was the last brilliance of the sages, even within the depths of the Seven Great Alliances, there were only three to five such sealed items, but Zhou Wuliang casually wielded three...

"Thankfully... only three..."

Zi Chen's aura dissipated entirely, still recalling Zhou Wuliang's target being the General Alliance. These sealed items were too terrifying, akin to the final outburst of a powerful being unafraid of death. Fortunately, Zhou Wuliang expended them on them.

Otherwise, the General Alliance would be imperiled.

RUMBLE!!!

The Star Fortress, engulfed by the waves, erupted violently, churning the entire starry sky. All seven tribes seeking escape were obliterated by the waves.

The rest could only wail within the collapsing, exploding Star Fortress.

There's no denying, Zi Chen indeed sacrificed everything for the Seven Great Alliances, thinking of the General Alliance's safety even in his last moments.

Fortunately, all plans were set, so even with his death, the aftermath wouldn't be hampered.

Yet, just as Zi Chen was about to fall peacefully...

Old Zhou caught words of his soliloquy.

"Three items?"

"Who told you I only had three?"

Old Zhou teased, and in the next instant, Zi Chen's eyes brimmed with boundless fear and despair, seeing twenty-four beads slowly hovering behind Zhou Wuliang.

"No!! No!!! No!!!"

Zi Chen's eyes nearly burst as he cried out in despair, but the next moment, his final breath also dissipated, and he... was dead.

The Star Fortress perished, casting shadows over Old Zhou's frail figure.

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