Mutual Destruction

"Activate formation!"

Shen Yan's rooster-like voice rang out again, and the Purple Light Prison Array suddenly rose.

The Great General of the Nation from the Gan Yue Kingdom versus a powerhouse from the Mortal Transformation Realm of the Cang Lan Kingdom!

This was going to be intense.

Everyone was discussing it, and almost unanimously believed Nan Meng would win. This made Qin Jun sigh; this was the advantage of fighting on home turf.

"General Nan will surely win!"

"Are you kidding? When has General Nan ever lost after becoming famous?"

"This guy named Zhen Hun clearly isn't General Nan's match."

"Even if he wins this match, what about the third round? The opponent is the Great General of the Cang Lan Kingdom, Xiao Beilong, whose fame is no less than General Nan's."

"This is bad!"

The murmurs of the common folk and cultivators reached Nan Meng and Zhen Hun. Zhen Hun, however, remained unfazed. He stared at Nan Meng and said coldly, "I've wanted to spar with you for a long time. I hope you won't disappoint me."

"Compared to the three great sects of our Gan Yue Kingdom, you are still far behind. At least they wouldn't stoop to participating in such a fight," Nan Meng said with a disdainful laugh, which caused a flicker of killing intent in Zhen Hun's eyes.

Boom!

A surge of spiritual energy erupted from Zhen Hun's body, causing his robes to billow. He stomped his right foot, and a thunderous sound exploded. He lunged at Nan Meng like an arrow, his right hand forming a claw, and a sinister, inky blackness spread from his sleeve to his fingertips.

Nan Meng raised his right hand, and a black iron saber appeared in it. Facing the aggressive Zhen Hun, he simply swung the saber horizontally. The speed was so dazzling that Zhen Hun, under the force of momentum, slid along the bottom of the blade as he fell backward. Just as they were about to pass each other, he extended a claw.

Clang—

Zhen Hun's claw struck Nan Meng's armor, producing a metallic clang. It was clear that Nan Meng's armor was no ordinary item, as it remained completely undamaged.

Nan Meng's expression was impassive. His right leg lashed out like lightning, forcing Zhen Hun to block with both arms. With a bang, the powerful force sent him flying hundreds of meters away.

"So imposing!"

Qin Jun couldn't help but exclaim. Nan Meng, standing on the Vermilion Bird Stage, had barely moved, while Zhen Hun looked utterly disheveled.

Guan Yu and Daji were indifferent. They were both transcendent beings of the Void Transformation Realm and naturally wouldn't cheer for a battle between two cultivators of the Mortal Transformation Realm.

The Howling Celestial Dog lay at Qin Jun's feet, seemingly asleep.

Qin Jun, however, was extremely nervous. If Nan Meng lost, he wouldn't even get a chance to participate.

"I hope the Gan Yue Kingdom isn't this weak!"

Qin Jun muttered to himself. The surrounding common folk and cultivators were shouting Nan Meng's name with immense fervor, creating a deafening roar.

The officials and generals in the upper levels were also extremely tense. If they lost this duel, the Gan Yue Kingdom would be completely overshadowed by the Cang Lan Kingdom.

"Father, go for it!"

Nan Yu Xin shouted excitedly. In such an important occasion, her voice was inappropriate, but at this moment, no one cared about her impropriety.

Even the Dry Emperor's attention was focused on the Vermilion Bird Stage.

Qin Yu's expression shifted between grim and pleased. He would occasionally glance at Zhu Yishi, lost in thought.

In contrast, Zhu Yishi wore a smile, seemingly unconcerned that Zhen Hun might lose.

Xiao Beilong stared mockingly at Nan Meng, who was in the superior position on the Vermilion Bird Stage. He murmured, "The biggest difference between you and me is that you value personal strength, while I care about the overall interests."

In the military district of the Gan Yue Kingdom, Nan Meng was everything. Military power was held entirely by him, and his subordinate generals were overshadowed by his prestige. In any campaign, he was the one charging forward, his fame resounding in all directions, while other soldiers faded into obscurity.

The higher one climbed in status, the more resources they enjoyed.

The kingdom's resources for the army were basically concentrated on Nan Meng, unlike the military district of the Cang Lan Kingdom.

Perhaps Nan Meng was slightly stronger than Xiao Beilong, but in terms of the overall strength of the two nations' armies, the Gan Yue Kingdom had fallen behind in the past five years.

Boom!

Zhen Hun descended from the sky like a phantom, smashing the stage surface. Nan Meng, who had just dodged, turned and swung his saber, as if to cleave space itself. The speed was incredibly fast. Zhen Hun, unable to dodge in time, quickly pushed with both hands.

Instantly, black spiritual energy coalesced into a shield before him, but it was futile.

"Clang—"

The black shield was shattered by Nan Meng's saber. The immense force sent Zhen Hun sliding backward, his feet grinding against the stage, leaving two shallow trenches dozens of meters long.

After regaining his balance, Zhen Hun felt a sweetness in his throat and couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood. His aura instantly weakened. His hands were bleeding profusely, the blood dripping onto the Vermilion Bird Stage, forming a chilling contrast with the pure white jade stone.

"Weren't they said to be evenly matched?" Qin Jun asked Guan Yu with a strange expression.

"Their cultivation levels are evenly matched, but Nan Meng has been fighting for years. His killing intent has condensed into a force, and coupled with his extremely rich combat experience, Zhen Hun is naturally no match for him," Guan Yu said, opening one eye.

Qin Jun listened with great curiosity and pressed further, "What is 'force'?"

"It's a higher realm of aura. It's best for Young Master to know less about it for now," Guan Yu said with a smile, stroking his beard. However, his smile struck Qin Jun as incredibly annoying.

At this moment, Zhen Hun attacked Nan Meng again.

It was very similar to the first round, a one-sided suppression. However, this time, it was the powerhouse from the Cang Lan Kingdom who was being suppressed.

Even though Qin Jun couldn't see their movements clearly, he could tell that if this continued, Nan Meng would definitely win.

The common folk and cultivators surrounding the Vermilion Bird Stage felt the same as Qin Jun, and the atmosphere at the scene grew even more fervent.

He was continuously blasted away, yet he kept attacking.

Zhen Hun was indeed tenacious.

Qin Jun felt a surge of emotion. He subconsciously glanced towards the Cang Lan Kingdom's side in the pavilion. Crown Prince Zhu Yishi still wore a smile, as if Zhen Hun wasn't from their Cang Lan Kingdom.

"Nan Meng, you are truly strong!"

Zhen Hun wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and gritted his teeth.

Nan Meng's expression was impassive. Blood dripped from the black iron saber in his hand; it wasn't his blood, but Zhen Hun's.

"Even if I lose, you'll pay a heavy price!"

Zhen Hun roared and stomped his foot, charging at Nan Meng. Nan Meng sneered, thinking it audacious to boast when at the end of his rope.

Just as the two were about to collide, Zhen Hun quickly produced a handful of red lotus seeds and threw them directly at Nan Meng. Due to the close distance, Nan Meng could only instinctively raise his saber to block.

Boom! Boom! Boom...

Earth-shattering explosions rang out, and smoke instantly engulfed more than half the space within the Purple Light Prison Array. The common folk, terrified, covered their ears.

"Holy crap! Playing dirty!"

Qin Jun exclaimed. Damn it, if Nan Meng was tricked and lost, how would he get his turn?

In the pavilion, the Dry Emperor and his generals all stood up in unison. In contrast, Zhu Yishi's side remained smiling.

Shen Yan, standing on the Vermilion Bird Stage, was blasted against the Purple Light Prison Array's light barrier. The poor eunuch likely suffered internal injuries from the shock.

"Father!"

Nan Yu Xin cried out in alarm, her heart leaping into her throat.

Why would anyone call this book a saintly mother novel!! What the hell!