Perish Together

"Raise the array!"

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

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

A real pee-break moment.

Everyone discussed it, and nearly all of them believed Nan Meng would win. Qin Jun could not help sighing. This was the advantage of home turf.

"General Nan will win!"

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

"That fellow called Zhen Hun clearly isn't General Nan's match."

"Even if we win this round, what about the third? Their side has the Cang Lan Kingdom's Great General, Xiao Beilong, whose reputation is no less formidable than General Nan's."

"This is bad!"

The discussions of the commoners and cultivators reached Nan Meng and Zhen Hun's ears. Zhen Hun remained unmoved. Staring at Nan Meng, he said coldly, "I've wanted to fight 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 inferior. At least they wouldn't lower themselves to participate in this," Nan Meng said with a disdainful smile, a flash of killing intent passing through Zhen Hun's eyes.

Boom!

Surging spiritual power erupted from Zhen Hun's body, making his robes billow loudly. He stomped his right foot, and thunder exploded as he shot toward Nan Meng like an arrow. His right hand curled into a claw, sinister inky-black energy spreading from his sleeve to his fingertips.

Nan Meng raised his right hand, and a black iron saber appeared in it. Facing the charging Zhen Hun, he swung horizontally without hesitation. The strike was so fast it dazzled the eye. In that instant, Zhen Hun leaned backward and, carried by momentum, slid beneath the blade. Just as they were about to pass each other, he thrust out his claw.

Clang—

Zhen Hun's claw struck Nan Meng's armor, producing a metallic ring. Clearly, Nan Meng's armor was no ordinary item; it was completely undamaged.

Nan Meng remained expressionless. His right leg lashed out like lightning, forcing Zhen Hun to block with both arms. With a bang, the tremendous force kicked him hundreds of meters away.

"So domineering!" Qin Jun could not help exclaiming. Nan Meng had barely moved from his position on the Vermilion Bird Stage, while Zhen Hun looked utterly wretched.

Guan Yu and Daji were unimpressed. Both were transcendent Void Transformation Realm experts, so naturally they would not cheer over a battle between two Mortal Transformation Realm cultivators.

The Howling Celestial Dog was even lying beside Qin Jun's feet, seemingly asleep.

Yet Qin Jun was extremely nervous. If Nan Meng lost, he would not even get a chance to take the stage.

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

Qin Jun muttered. The surrounding commoners and cultivators shouted Nan Meng's name, their voices vast and thunderous.

The officials and generals in the pavilion were equally tense. If they lost this duel, the Gan Yue Kingdom would be crushed beneath the Cang Lan Kingdom and unable to hold its head high.

"Father, you can do it!"

Nan Yu Xin cried out excitedly. Her voice was inappropriate for such an important occasion, but at this moment, no one cared about her breach of etiquette.

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

Qin Yu's expression kept shifting. From time to time, he glanced at Zhu Yishi, as though pondering something.

Zhu Yishi, on the other hand, wore a broad smile, seemingly unconcerned that Zhen Hun might lose.

Xiao Beilong stared mockingly at Nan Meng, who held the upper hand on the Vermilion Bird Stage, and murmured, "The greatest difference between you and me is that you value individual strength, while I care about the interests of the whole."

In the Gan Yue Kingdom's military districts, Nan Meng was the sky itself. He held military power entirely in his own hands, while the generals beneath him were overshadowed by his brilliance. No matter the campaign, he always charged at the front. His reputation spread far and wide, while the other officers faded into obscurity.

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

The kingdom's military resources were basically concentrated on Nan Meng. This differed from the Cang Lan Kingdom's military districts.

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

Boom!

Zhen Hun descended from the sky like a ghostly shadow, smashing the stage and shattering its surface. Nan Meng, having just dodged aside, turned and slashed with his saber. The strike seemed capable of cutting space itself, and it was unbelievably fast. Unable to dodge in time, Zhen Hun hurriedly thrust both hands forward.

In an instant, black spiritual power gathered into a shield before him, but it was useless.

Clang—

Nan Meng's saber shattered the black shield. The overwhelming force sent Zhen Hun sliding backward, his feet scraping across the stage and leaving behind two shallow trenches dozens of meters long.

After steadying himself, Zhen Hun felt sweetness rise in his throat and could not help spitting out a spray of blood. His aura instantly withered. Blood streamed continuously from his hands, dripping onto the Vermilion Bird Stage. Against the pristine white jade rock, the red was chilling to behold.

"Didn't you say they were evenly matched?" Qin Jun asked Guan Yu with an odd expression.

"Their cultivation levels are evenly matched. However, Nan Meng has fought in wars for many years, and his killing intent has gathered into force. Combined with his incomparably rich combat experience, Zhen Hun is naturally no match for him," Guan Yu said, opening one eye.

Qin Jun grew curious and pressed, "What is force?"

"A higher realm of aura. It is better for you to know less about it for now, Young Master." Guan Yu stroked his beard and smiled, though that smile looked incredibly punchable to Qin Jun.

At that moment, Zhen Hun charged at Nan Meng again.

It was very similar to the first match: one-sided suppression. Only this time, it was the Cang Lan Kingdom's expert who was being suppressed.

Although Qin Jun could not see their movements clearly, he could tell that if this continued, Nan Meng was certain to win.

The commoners and cultivators surrounding the Vermilion Bird Stage felt the same way as Qin Jun, so the atmosphere grew increasingly heated.

He was sent flying again and again, yet he continued attacking without pause.

Zhen Hun truly was tenacious.

Qin Jun was deeply moved. He subconsciously looked toward the Cang Lan Kingdom's group in the pavilion. Crown Prince Zhu Yishi still wore a smile, as if Zhen Hun had nothing to do with the Cang Lan Kingdom.

"Nan Meng, you truly are strong!"

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

Nan Meng remained expressionless. Blood dripped from the black iron saber in his hand. It was not his blood, but Zhen Hun's.

"Even if I lose, you'll have to pay a terrible price!"

Zhen Hun roared and immediately stomped toward Nan Meng. Nan Meng smiled disdainfully. At the end of his rope, and he still dared to talk big?

Just as they were about to collide, Zhen Hun swiftly produced a handful of red lotus seeds in his right hand and hurled them at Nan Meng. The distance was too close, so Nan Meng could only instinctively raise his saber to block.

Boom! Boom! Boom...

Earth-shaking explosions rang out, and smoke instantly engulfed more than half the space within the Purple Light Prison Array. The commoners were so frightened that they covered their ears.

"Damn it! That's underhanded!"

Qin Jun shouted. Damn it, if Nan Meng got tricked into losing, how was he supposed to take the stage?

The Dry Emperor and the generals in the pavilion all stood up at once, while Zhu Yishi's group still wore smiles.

Shen Yan, standing on the Vermilion Bird Stage, was blasted into the Purple Light Prison Array's barrier. The poor chief eunuch had likely suffered internal injuries from the shockwave.

"Father!"

Nan Yu Xin cried out in terror, her heart instantly rising into her throat.

Why are people saying this book is a Holy Mother story?! Damn it!