Ao Qiong never understood why Gao Xuan thanked him, even in death.

Gao Xuan didn't need Ao Qiong's comprehension; he had expressed his gratitude according to etiquette.

Thus, taking the Yuan Gui Xuanbing Divine Sword became legitimate without any guilt or unease.

Gao Xuan examined the Yuan Gui Xuanbing Divine Sword in his hand with keen interest. After it fell into his grasp, it continuously struggled and resisted.

The Yuan Gui Xuanbing Divine Sword was nearly sentient. Though it lacked true wisdom, it could sense the change of masters. Moreover, this Sword Master had no traces of the Dragon Race.

The Yuan Gui Xuanbing Divine Sword was forged by the Dragon Race, and its core law required a direct bloodline of the North Sea Dragon Race to wield it.

Without the North Sea Dragon Race's bloodline aura, one would instantly be repelled by the Sword Intent of the Yuan Gui Ice Divine Sword.

Earlier, Gao Xuan was suppressed by the Yuan Gui Ice Divine Sword, and even his own Innate Primordial Unity Divine Soul was restrained by its Sword Qi, luckily, he had the Ninth Consciousness to perceive the sword's changes.

Furthermore, the Innate Primordial Cross-Training Golden Body detected the anomaly. This time, it was due to the Golden Body being of a higher level, being less restricted by the Immortal Realm Law. Facing such a Sword Artifact as the Yuan Gui Ice Divine Sword, it could suppress the opponent.

Therefore, the Primordial Cross-Training Golden Body was hardly affected by the Sword Qi of the Yuan Gui Ice Divine Sword.

With Ao Qiong's capabilities, even if the Sword's power were ten times stronger, it posed no threat to him.

Gao Xuan easily subdued the Yuan Gui Ice Divine Sword's agitation with the brute power of his Golden Body. Regardless of how the Sword Artifact twisted or shone, it couldn't escape his control.

However, indeed this Divine Sword was formidable. Gao Xuan could suppress it with his Golden Body, but he couldn't put the Sword Artifact away.

Just then, the Profound Turtle and Water Patrol Yaksha regained consciousness.

The two Great Demons were also frozen by the Ice Sword Qi earlier, unaware of what transpired. Until Gao Xuan controlled the Yuan Gui Ice Divine Sword, the Sword Domain filled with Ice Sword Qi dispersed.

The Profound Turtle and Water Patrol Yaksha immediately noticed Ao Qiong's corpse. After being slain by Gao Xuan's sword, Ao Qiong returned to his original form, transforming into a gigantic white dragon several hundred feet long.

The massive body of the white dragon stretched freely, quietly floating in the celestial wind, devoid of any life force.

Familiar with the Dragon Race's true form, the Profound Turtle immediately recognized Ao Qiong's posture as evidence of certain death.

No powerful dragon reveals their true form in such a casual pose, especially not belly-up.

The Profound Turtle was both enraged and pained; despite Ao Qiong's immature disposition, he grew up under his watch. The child was genuinely kind to his own kind, which was partly why the Profound Turtle followed him.

Ao Ying favored Ao Qiong for similar reasons, due to Ao Qiong's kindness toward her.

Watching Ao Qiong being slain stirred intense sorrow in the Profound Turtle's heart. Yet, he knew that if Ao Qiong, bearing the Yuan Gui Xuanbing Divine Sword, was killed, they would face certain death against Gao Xuan.

The Profound Turtle urgently pulled the furious Water Patrol Yaksha, "Hurry, let's go."

Disregarding whether the Water Patrol Yaksha followed, the Profound Turtle activated a Dragon Talisman to flee swiftly.

He knew he needed to return to the Dragon Palace immediately to report the news, not die here in vain.

The Water Patrol Yaksha reacted more slowly, and he didn't consider escape. He understood that with Ao Qiong dead, regardless of the reason, as Ao Qiong's general, he wouldn't survive.

At this point, he decided it was better to fight Gao Xuan desperately. If he could kill Gao Xuan, perhaps he could find a chance for survival.

Brandishing his Iron Fork, Water Patrol Yaksha charged toward Gao Xuan.

High above the Nine Heavens, the Water-Splitting Iron Fork's abilities were ineffective. Yet with the force drawn from Qiong River's water veins, it exuded significant power when fully activated.

The Iron Fork thrust forward like a surging Yangtze River, surprisingly displaying a grand and majestic momentum.

With a glance, Gao Xuan acknowledged that in terms of martial arts, this Water Patrol Yaksha far surpassed Ao Qiong. He even outmatched demons like Iron Horn and Golden Horn.

But the power levels were too disparate.

In Gao Xuan's deep azure eyes, a golden flash appeared, through the Celestial Dragon Eye the thunder struck heavily.

The charging Water Patrol Yaksha instantly transformed into a blazing blue-white glow.

With the Water-Splitting Fork raised, the Water Patrol Yaksha convulsed slightly before exploding into countless charred fragments within the Thunder Light.

The celestial wind of the Nine Heavens swept in, taking away the ashes, merging them into the boundless sea of clouds.

Gao Xuan killed the Water Patrol Yaksha to test the power of the Celestial Dragon Eye. As things stood, a full-force strike could kill a Spirit Immortal Great Demon of Four Tribulations.

As for Demon Kings like Golden Horn, killing them might prove much more challenging.

After dealing with Ao Qiong, transforming the True Dragon Essence Blood Divine Soul, the Celestial Dragon Eye would inevitably gain enhanced power.

Slaying all the true dragons of the Cyan Celestial Realm might elevate the Celestial Dragon Eye to unknown heights...

Gao Xuan chuckled at the thought, such rapid upgrading was hard to resist.

However, true dragons are highly intelligent beings. Killing dragons without reason just for upgrading isn't justifiable.

Additionally, upgrading a magical artifact like the Celestial Dragon Eye surely has limits.

The same true dragon might elevate the Celestial Dragon Eye the first time, but later on, even killing ten might struggle to enhance its power.

Hence, exterminating the Dragon Race merely for upgrading the Celestial Dragon Eye isn't reasonable.

Nonetheless, the Dragon Race is evidently wealthy.

Even one small Six Prince of the North Sea Dragon Palace like Ao Qiong possesses a Dragon Pearl and the Yuan Gui Xuanbing Divine Sword.

However, this Dragon Pearl alone is exceedingly formidable. In terms of power, it's comparable to the Celestial Dragon Eye. The robust Ice Power within the Dragon Pearl left Gao Xuan in awe.

This Dragon Pearl itself is stronger than the Golden Horn King in cultivation.