The next day, daylight broke.
High atop a mountain, a muffled blast rang out like thunder.
Time seemed to stand still.
After a long moment, the enormous peak split in two halfway up its slope.
Two masses of light, one black and one white, touched and sprang apart.
The lifelike phantoms of two enormous beasts-a black python and a white silver fox-stood facing each other.
The silver fox was covered in blood, more than half its pure, sacred white fur stained red. Though its gaze remained calm and tranquil, its aura had weakened considerably.
The black python opposite it was scarcely any better off.
The scales on its massive body had shattered, exposing stark white bones beneath. Two cold, emotionless slit eyes stared indifferently across at its opponent, and its pitch-black forked tongue flicked out.
The next instant, its enormous body shattered into a cloud of black mist and swiftly vanished.
At this sight, the silver fox likewise scattered on the wind, disappearing into the air.
The Northern Yan army camp.
The central command tent.
Zhang Sanyang watched the black mist flash over the camp like a dark cloud, his heart tightening.
The other Grandmasters in the tent seemed to sense something too. Noticing this strange sight, they exchanged glances.
Clearly, they all understood what this meant: King Yan had returned.
"General-in-Chief, as things stand, we can no longer contend with Southern Qi. I wonder how His Highness King Yan fared against Tang Chong this time?"
A tall, thin officer with a fair, somewhat feminine face spoke.
His name was Bi Jiang. He was not from the Military Department, but had been transferred from the Sky Rainbow Pavilion. Though a Second Realm Grandmaster, his combat prowess was quite extraordinary.
In the current camp, he was the strongest apart from Zhang