When Men Forsake the Dao, Heaven Punishes Them
This man who suddenly appeared seemed to have been lurking in Chuzhou City for a long time, just waiting for this moment to seize the Zhenguo Sword.
He wore a blue robe, and his long, black hair was tied up with a crude jade hairpin.
Although he had an ordinary face, when he held the national treasure sword and faced six top masters alone, his calm and composed demeanor and his unrestrained gaze made everyone who was watching him naturally acknowledge his strength.
This is a person who can rival six top masters.
Damn it, not only does the Prince of Zhenbei want to refine the Blood Pill, but he has also arranged so many backup plans, gathering such a number of top experts to ambush me and Zhu Jiu. The leader of the Qingyan tribe's expression changed drastically, and he staggered back, then stretched out his palm.
A vortex of air rose from his palm, and on the distant city wall, weapons, some broken and some intact, converged on Jilizhigu like a school of fish.
The steel fish, composed of hissing weapons, melted into bright red molten iron the instant they touched the cyclone.
The molten iron continuously solidified, removing impurities, and reformed into a giant sword the size of a door panel, which was unusable by ordinary people.
"The Great Feng royal family has another high-ranking martial artist? One who was promoted to high rank after the Battle of Shanhai Pass? Impossible, the Great Feng royal family doesn't have such a person. But if you're not a member of the royal family, how could you possibly wield the National Protection Sword?"
The giant python Zhujiu slithered, knocking down houses one after another, and propped itself up on the edge of the city wall, observing the man in blue with apprehension.
Zhu Jiu voiced what everyone was thinking, and they all turned their gazes to the young man in blue.
But they were met with silence.
The wizard, whose body was brimming with Blood Qi and whose head was adorned with illusory battle spirits, cast a divination on the spot. Afterward, he discovered that the King of Zhenbei, Jili Zhigu, Zhu Jiu, and the head of the Earth Sect were all watching him.
The high-ranking wizard opened his mouth, then slowly said, "Divination cannot reveal it; he possesses a magical Law Artifact that shields him from celestial secrets."
A magical Law Artifact for shielding celestial secrets?
The powerful figures scrutinized the man in blue, filled with apprehension and growing increasingly curious about his identity.
He carried the aura of the fragments of the Earth Book; he was the owner of those fragments. In the center of the black lotus, the black humanoid figure, oozing viscous pus, suddenly sensed the familiar aura. The oil-like liquid propelled him away from the lotus, and he stood high in the sky, his malevolent gaze fixed on Xu Qi'an, roaring:
Who are you? Who are you?
The assembled experts were taken aback by the sect leader's attitude. Judging from his words, he seemed not to know this person, yet he also seemed to know him.
The high-ranking wizard frowned and asked, "You know him? What's his background?"
The dark figure ignored him, its eyes, filled with depravity and malice, fixed on Xu Qi'an. Looking down at him, it roared, "Where is Jinlian? Where is Jinlian?"
Golden Lotus?!
"Isn't that Jinlian?" The high-ranking wizard Jinlian, now possessed by demonic possession, frowned.
This person not only took up the Zhenguo Sword, but also seemed to have a great connection with the Dizong Sect. Judging from the attitude of the Dizong Sect leader, he seemed to be an enemy rather than a friend. Jili Zhigu and Zhu Jiu were unaware of the secrets of the Dizong Sect, and only felt that the identity of this uninvited guest was becoming increasingly mysterious.
The woman in the white dress stared intently at him, also becoming interested in the matter. She had no idea what connection Xu Qi'an had with the leader of the Earth Sect.
At this moment, Xu Qi'an slowly said, "Jinlian once begged me to help him cleanse his sect and defeat the leader of the demonic path. I did not refuse, but only said that I would help him when I had some free time in the future. Jinlian readily agreed."
"!"
The pitch-black humanoid figure suddenly retreated dozens of feet, staring at him fiercely like a ferocious beast ready to devour its prey, yet also wary of the hunter's power.
Black Lotus was the leader of the Earth Sect, a peak second-rank expert. This person so casually uttered the words "clean house" and Zhu Jiu and Jili Zhigu felt their hearts sink. Even as powerful as they were, they dared not relax in the slightest.
It wasn't just because the other party wielded the national sword, but also because his own mystery and power made the two northern experts feel troubled.
Is he really not just boasting? Hmm, judging from Black Lotus's attitude, it seems Golden Lotus hasn't completely fallen into demonic possession. Although he doesn't know the specifics of what happened, the Golden Lotus Black Lotus mentioned, since he pleaded with this mysterious powerhouse, means he truly possesses such strength. Thinking of this, the high-ranking wizard felt a sense of crisis.
Every shaman skilled in divination loses their sense of security when they discover that things are developing in ways that are not what the divination indicates.
The fierce fighting ceased, and the commotion attracted the attention of the surviving martial arts practitioners and the city's garrison soldiers.
As the main city of a continent, Chuzhou City has seen countless martial arts practitioners flock there over the past month. Although a large number of them died in the battle just now, a small number still survived.
The city of Chu was vast, and they couldn't see the battle scene, but the terrifying shockwave suddenly stopped and returned to calm, which aroused speculation among many survivors.
"The fight is over? Who won, the barbarians or the Prince of Zhenbei?"
"It must be the Prince of Zhenbei, absolutely the Prince of Zhenbei! If the Prince of Zhenbei loses, none of us will survive."
"Shall we go take a look?"
"Are you out of your mind? By the way, what's going on with all these people in Chuzhou City?"
The barbarian cavalry and Demon Race army entangled the Great Feng army, but the battle was not fierce because the city walls had been breached, and their respective leaders and princes were engaged in fierce fighting within the city.
They no longer need to fight to the death; their relationship is more about mutual restraint.
Even seasoned veterans or fierce barbarians cherish their lives and refuse to make unnecessary sacrifices.
Therefore, soldiers from all sides were able to take some time to observe what was happening inside the city.
Que Yongxiu stood on the city wall, looking somewhat uneasy at the man in blue who had suddenly appeared. He couldn't tell if it was the man's clothing, which was extremely similar to Wei Yuan's style, that made him instinctively wary.
The intervention of a high-level expert will bring many unstable factors.
It's probably a combination of both.
"Chuzhou City must be reduced to ruins, and all the survivors in the city must die, including the delegation. Only in this way can I cover up the truth of the massacre. As long as there is no evidence, with the Prince of Zhenbei protecting me, plus my title of First-Class Duke, the son of a founding general, and my merits in guarding the northern border over the years, even Wei Yuan and Wang Zhenwen cannot do anything to me."
"Hopefully everything goes according to plan. Who exactly is this person, and why is he able to wield the Zhenguo Sword? Does the royal family have such a powerful figure? I wonder what his attitude is. Hmm, Prince Huai is a prince of the Great Feng Dynasty, and his promotion to the second rank is more important than anything else. Since this person can wield the Zhenguo Sword, it means he is from the Great Feng camp."
"They will surely be pleased with the Prince of Zhenbei's breakthrough and will offer their support."
Que Yongxiu's thoughts raced as he continuously analyzed the pros and cons.
On the other side, Yang Yan leaped onto the rooftop and gazed at the battlefield in the far distance.
Even from a great distance, his eyesight allowed him to clearly see the changes taking place, including the unknown man in blue who had grasped the national sword.
Yang Yan stared at the figure, his eyes clearly dazed.
"Yang Jinluo, what happened? Why did the fighting stop? What did you see?"
Under the roof ridge, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review shouted at the top of his lungs.
The guards and soldiers in the delegation were on high alert to prevent any Demon Race, barbarians, or even soldiers of the King of Zhenbei from attacking.
Yang Yan withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "A mysterious expert has appeared, and he has grasped the Zhenguo Sword."
"What?"
The two censors and the vice minister of the Court of Judicial Review were taken aback.
When did the Zhenguo Sword appear in Chuzhou? Wasn't it always in the Yongzhen Shanhe Temple to suppress the fortune?
Furthermore, a mysterious master has grasped the national treasure sword?
How could that be?
When Emperor Yuanjing personally handed the Zhenguo Sword to the Prince of Zhenbei, it was not only because the Prince was already an unparalleled warrior, but also because only members of the royal family could gain the Zhenguo Sword's approval.
The Zhenguo Sword was the personal sword of the Great Feng Dynasty. It accompanied him in his conquests and gradually accumulated the fortune of the Great Feng Dynasty.
The divine sword possesses a spirit.
"Who... who is that person?" the Dali Temple official asked in a trembling voice.
Yang Yan shook his head and said in a low voice, "He reminds me of Duke Wei from back then, Duke Wei during the Battle of Shanhai Pass."
After saying that, he fell silent, offering no further explanation.
"Is that mysterious expert friend or foe?" Imperial Censor Liu asked.
"I don't know." Yang Yan shook his head, then added:
"But since he can wield the National Protection Sword, perhaps, perhaps it's one of the Northern King's backup plans."
The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review's eyes dimmed.
Imperial Censor Liu gritted his teeth and said, "So, the massacre of the city was planned long ago, just to give Prince Huai a push and promote him to the second rank. For this, we were willing to use the National Sword and sacrifice 380,000 civilians."
"Three hundred and eighty thousand people! They had elderly parents and young children, wives and husbands, children and grandchildren—and they all died like that, all of them were killed!"
"How can this be? How can this be? I am not satisfied!"
Witnessing firsthand the blood sacrifice of the city's inhabitants was far more impactful than seeing official documents.
It almost became Liu Yushi's inner demon.
The Prince of Zhenbei narrowed his eyes, then smiled and said:
"You've come at the perfect time, breaking our stalemate. The northern barbarian and demon tribes have repeatedly harassed the borders of our Great Feng, burning, killing, and looting. Now is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Kill them, and the northern border of Great Feng will be forever at peace."
Regardless of who the other party was, since they had gained the approval of the National Guardian Sword, they couldn't possibly be from the demon or barbarian races.
By stirring up hatred and using the old grudges between the Great Feng and the Demon Barbarian races, they persuaded this mysterious expert to join forces with him to kill Jili Zhigu and Zhu Jiu first.
As for the massacre of the city, he'll deal with that after he finds a way to retrieve the Zhenguo Sword.
Upon hearing the words of the Prince of Zhenbei, Jili Zhigu and Zhu Jiu were on high alert, shifting most of their attention to Xu Qi'an, wary of him coming to kill them with the Zhenguo Sword.
I'm here to kill you!
The man in blue's next words stunned the top experts present, who showed expressions of astonishment.
The smile on the Prince of Zhenbei's face slowly faded, and he stared sharply at him. "What did you say?"
Xu Qi'an ignored him, slowly floated into the air, and then a dark, flame-like rune appeared between his brows.
His body began to swell, tearing his clothes and exposing his inhumanly black skin, which looked as if it had been forged from black iron and was filled with explosive power.
At this moment, Xu Qi'an was even more evil than the leader of the Earth Sect, his whole body engulfed in black demonic flames, appearing both god and demon.
"Who... who exactly is this person?"
The high-ranking wizard's face was filled with shock.
When did Kyushu produce such a top-tier martial artist?
On the city walls and inside the city, surviving martial artists, barbarians locked in combat, northern soldiers, and Demon Race all simultaneously sensed this evil and powerful force.
This nearly caused them to drop their weapons, and the thought of fleeing welled up in their minds.
"Prince Zhenbei, you deserve to die!"
In the air, black flames swirled around Xu Qi'an, who appeared both god and demon, his voice booming like thunder, as if a command was being proclaimed by a celestial being.
"Prince Zhenbei, in your pursuit of promotion to the second rank and for your own selfish reasons, you slaughtered 380,000 people in Chuzhou City. Countless lives have been lost because of you."
"The people of the North revere and love you, they worship you as a god, believing you protected the border and spared them from the barbarian hordes. But how have you treated them?"
"You colluded with the Witch God Cult, turning them into walking corpses, and used the Witch God Cult's Secret Method to refine their Essence Blood, which took a month. Such atrocities are heinous crimes."
"King Zhenbei, do you have any respect for the people of Dafeng who love you? Do you have any respect for the Great Feng emperor who struggled to establish the dynasty? Do you have any respect for the spirits of your ancestors? Do you have any respect for the 300,000 wronged souls?"
You beast.
The shouts echoed through the sky.
As Xu Qi'an spoke these words, images of civilians falling to the ground, wounded by arrows, flashed through his mind, as he cried out for mercy only to have their hearts pierced by sharp knives.
The hot-blooded scholar shouted a question, and even after being brutally murdered, he still stared intently at the butcher.
That gaze was filled with despair and indignation.
The young mother's eyes were filled with despair and pain as she tried to shield her child with her body, but was unable to protect him, and both she and her child were pierced through.
The image flashed past Zheng Buzhengshi's second son, his face contorted in pain and weeping before his death; then it flashed past Zheng Xinghuai's wailing and sobbing.
The wronged souls are howling, roaring, and wailing.
Xu Qi'an's values were crumbling amidst the wailing of the vengeful spirits; he would never be at peace until he killed the Prince of Zhenbei today.
Tens of thousands of soldiers in the North stirred, wondering if they had misheard.
"He said the Prince of Zhenbei massacred the city? He said the people of Chuzhou were killed by the Prince of Zhenbei in collusion with the Witch God Cult?"
"That's impossible. The people of Chuzhou City were alive and well before. They only died when the barbarians and Demon Race attacked the city. They clearly used insidious Law Technique to kill all the people in the city."
Whispers arose and echoed among the soldiers.
Some cursed and swore, some were bewildered, and some excitedly tried to explain for the Prince of Zhenbei, unable to accept this fact.
Limited by their status and knowledge, the lower-ranking soldiers had no idea about the Prince of Zhenbei's plans, let alone the secret of refining the Blood Pill. Even though they had just witnessed the strange phenomena in the city, they simply did not have the insight to understand what they were seeing.
The soldiers who massacred the city that day were originally corpse soldiers under the command of a high-ranking wizard.
The Witch God Cult can manipulate corpses and souls, and can stimulate Qi and Blood, so it naturally also controls the methods of refining Essence Blood. But the prerequisite is that those people must be dead; living people cannot be controlled by witches.
The method of using corpse control to refine Essence Blood is both concealed and safe, which is why it was not discovered by the barbarians and Demon Race. Even Warlock were kept in the dark.
Because wizards inherently possess the ability to interfere with celestial secrets and destiny.
Even those who had already died had their souls sealed within their bodies, only realizing they were dead when the blood elixir was completed.
How could ordinary soldiers possibly understand the profound mysteries within?
Aside from these soldiers, the surviving martial arts practitioners stood dumbfounded as they listened to the repeated questioning.
Then, strong doubts arose, with people believing that the fierce and powerful figure was slandering the Prince of Zhenbei.
The Prince of Zhenbei guarded the border for more than ten years, resisting the barbarians and protecting the territory. He was the strongest martial artist in the Great Feng Martial Dao. His achievements were witnessed by all the people of the world.
Suddenly, a mysterious expert appears, accusing the Prince of Zhenbei of massacring the city; no one would believe it.
"He's spouting nonsense. I truly hope the Prince of Zhenbei will execute him."
"If the situation turns bad, we, as ordinary people, will do our part for Chuzhou. The people of Chuzhou are not afraid to die."
"But that man was carrying the National Guardian Sword. I've heard that only members of the royal family can gain the sword's approval. Could what he said be true?"
"Well said! You've spoken my mind! So what if he's a prince? Such atrocities are no different from those of beasts!" Imperial Censor Liu trembled with excitement, spittle flying from his mouth.
"This person must be a hidden master of our Great Feng royal family. He has come to act on behalf of Heaven and to punish the Prince of Zhenbei."
"Speak your mind! If sacrificing the people is the only way to gain a second-rank official, then my Great Feng to perish. The Prince of Zhenbei is wrong, terribly wrong!" the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review said indignantly.
The civil officials were surprised to find that a powerful figure had actually stood up to denounce the Prince of Zhenbei, expose his crimes, and threaten to execute him.
Despite not having been good people for many years, at this moment, as this mysterious and powerful figure denounced the King of Zhenbei, they felt a surge of joy, believing that "good will prevail over evil."
"The common people may die in war, at the hands of barbarians and Demon Race, but we can always fight back. If they slaughter a city of our Great Feng today, our Great Feng will annihilate a part of theirs tomorrow. We are mortal enemies, and our feud will never end."
Officer Chen clenched his fists and gritted his teeth:
"But the people shouldn't have died at the hands of the Prince of Zhenbei. Even in their dying moments, they believed that the Prince of Zhenbei was the pillar of the Great Feng, their protector and hero. Yet this hero turned his blade against them, stealing their Essence Blood, all for his own advancement to the second rank. How tragic!"
"How could the Prince of Zhenbei do such a thing? He's a treacherous scoundrel, a cold-blooded and heartless beast."
Warriors have their own spirit, and Officer Chen completely disregarded the prince's status, feeling that the Prince of Zhenbei deserved to die.
As for what will happen to the northern border after the death of the Prince of Zhenbei.
Ha, a prince who would sacrifice an entire city for his own selfish desires—if he doesn't die, is he going to wait until he's promoted to the first rank and then sacrifice ten cities?
Although the barbarians engaged in burning, killing, and looting, they actually killed fewer people than the Prince of Zhenbei.
After the Battle of Shanhai Pass, the barbarians recuperated for more than ten years. Although they repeatedly invaded the border, these were only small-scale raids and no large-scale wars occurred.
And what about the Prince of Zhenbei?
Three hundred and eighty thousand civilians were killed without hesitation, and the entire city was massacred without a second thought.
What will happen if he wants to be promoted to the first rank in the future?
Everyone else understood this principle as well, which is why the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, in his grief, said fiercely, "I hope the barbarians will win this battle."
The Prince of Zhenbei remained unfazed and said loudly, "Who are you, and why do you dare to slander me with such baseless accusations?"
Que Yongxiu's expression changed, and he suddenly gripped the hilt of his sword. This man was an enemy, not a friend; he had come to kill the Prince of Huai.
"Damn it, damn it, he deserves to die! What kind of bastard is this? Why did he have to ruin my important plans, ruin the Prince of Huai's important plans?" Que Yongxiu was furious.
Upon hearing the words of the Prince of Zhenbei, Que Yongxiu's heart stirred. He stepped onto the parapet and shouted, "Soldiers, everything today is a conspiracy between the demon and barbarian races. They want to harm our Prince of Zhenbei!"
Upon hearing this, the soldiers in the North suddenly understood and were filled with righteous indignation.
"The Demon Race and barbarians not only want to harm the Prince of Zhenbei, but also want to tarnish his reputation. How hateful! I wish I could kill all these scoundrels."
"The Prince of Zhenbei has been guarding the border for many years and has not returned to the capital. He is a hero in our hearts. Don't be misled by that man."
"The Prince of Zhenbei cannot die. He is the Great Feng Dynasty. The Great Feng needs him, and the people need him."
"We swear to protect the Prince of Zhenbei with our lives."
The soldiers of the northern border were filled with Blood Qi; they were prepared to die rather than surrender, but they would pave an escape route for the Prince of Zhenbei with their corpses.
At that moment, high in the sky, Xu Qi'an threw out the Zhenguo Sword in his hand, letting it pierce the ground with a "clang".
"King of the North, the Sword that protects the nation possesses a spirit; it can distinguish between loyalty and treachery, and understand people's hearts. If you have a clear conscience, then ask it whether it will choose you."
Xu Qi'an faintly heard the sound of a sword, as if it were aggrievedly accusing him of abandoning her.
In that instant, the shouts and curses from afar suddenly stopped.
The soldiers standing on the city wall looked down intently at the Prince of Zhenbei in the distance, staring at the Zhenguo Sword, not daring to blink.
The soldiers below the city walls, unable to see anything, were frantic with worry, wishing they could sprout wings and fly to the city walls immediately.
At this point, apart from a few scattered battles still ongoing, most people had ceased fighting. Barbarians, Demon Race, and Great Feng soldiers alike kept their distance from each other while simultaneously keeping their attention focused on the situation.
The Zhenguo Sword only recognizes destiny, not people. As the Prince of Great Feng, my reputation is still intact, so my destiny is still intact. How could I be unable to use the Zhenguo Sword? The Prince of Zhenbei raised the corner of his mouth and reached out towards the sword of the Emperor Gaozu.
The qi (vital energy) pulls the sword hilt, so it must be pulled out.
Seeing this, Zhu Jiu, Ji Lizhigu, and the woman in the white dress changed their expressions slightly and instinctively wanted to stop it, but they had already retreated too far away.
It was too late to stop it then.
"Buzzing."
Suddenly, the bronze sword emitted a pale golden light, which actually shook off the pull of the Prince of Huai's energy, preventing him from touching it.
The Sword of the Nation refused the Prince of Huai
Jili Zhigu and Zhu Jiu exchanged a glance and communicated telepathically:
"This person's identity is unknown, but his background is far more powerful than we imagine. We must not be careless. Even if he is targeting the Prince of Zhenbei, he most likely will not let us go."
"We don't care whether the Prince of Zhenbei lives or dies; our purpose in coming here is to seize the Blood Pill."
In the center of the lotus, a dark-skinned figure stared at Xu Qi'an with surprise and suspicion. It was true that this person had great fortune, but he was not a person of great destiny. How could he make the Zhenguo Sword discard the Prince of Huai like trash?
"King Zhenbei, who exactly is he? Does your royal family have such a master hidden away? Is he perhaps an ancestor of your Great Feng royal family?" The high-ranking wizard was startled.
I haven't felt a chill down my spine for many years.
The Prince of Zhenbei's face turned ashen, and he said in a deep voice, "From Emperor Gaozu to Emperor Wuzong, which peak martial artist could live forever? He is not a member of my royal family."
As he spoke, he flashed into view of the Zhenguo Sword, reaching out to draw it.
"Buzz!"
A pale golden light exploded instantly, and a shockwave surged like a tidal wave, pushing the Prince of Zhenbei away. Streams of Sword Qi shot into the body of the third-rank martial artist, scattering dense sparks.
The Sword of National Protection. This divine weapon that suppressed the destiny of the Great Feng, this divine weapon that once accompanied the King of Zhenbei in the Battle of Shanhai Pass, slaying countless enemy chieftains.
Surprisingly, the approach of the Prince of Zhenbei has triggered such an overreaction.
A clamor arose from the distant city walls.
At this moment, there were tens of thousands of soldiers on the city wall. They saw this scene from afar, and saw the Zhenguo Sword reject the Zhenbei King and resist his touch.
Something seemed to collapse in the hearts of the soldiers.
"What am I seeing? I must be under an illusion. I'm seeing the Sword of National Protection resisting the King of the North."
Did the Prince of Zhenbei really massacre the entire city?
"This isn't real, this isn't real."
Weapons clattered to the ground, and many soldiers clutched their heads in pain, muttering to themselves. Some couldn't believe what they were seeing and angrily questioned their comrades, hoping for a different answer.
But to his surprise, his comrade had already broken down.
The belief collapsed.
The Zhenguo Sword is a divine weapon of the Great Feng Dynasty, a powerful artifact passed down from the founding emperor. In the eyes of military personnel, it holds an incomparably lofty status.
During the Battle of Shanhai Pass, His Majesty the Emperor held a grand ancestral worship ceremony and personally presented the Zhenguo Sword to the Prince of Zhenbei.
This history is still talked about and discussed in the military, becoming part of the many accolades associated with the Prince of Zhenbei.
That is why the scene of Zhenguo Sword refusing Zhenbei King was an unbearable shock to the soldiers.
The soldiers below the city wall couldn't see that far. The moment a commotion erupted overhead, countless people looked up, and what they heard wasn't cheers, but a roar of despair.
What I saw were not smiling faces of my comrades, but faces of utter despair.
this.
The truth is easy to guess: the Zhenguo Sword made a choice, and that choice was a huge blow to them.
This means that what the mysterious powerful figure in the sky said was true: the Sword of the Nation rejected the King of the North because he had committed an unforgivable crime.
He massacred the people of Great Feng, and he became estranged from the Zhenguo Sword.
"When men act immorally, Heaven punishes them. Prince Zhenbei, today is your death day."
Xu Qi'an swooped down, carrying boundless rage and trailing towering demonic flames.
call out.
The sword that guards the nation flies up automatically and hands itself over to Xu Qi'an. He is domineering and arrogant, majestic and awe-inspiring, like a god or a demon. In reality, he is just a voice actor.
The sword that guards the nation burst forth with dazzling golden light, slashing fiercely towards the King of Zhenbei.
The Great Feng's number one warrior had a gloomy face, showing no fear of the Zhenguo Sword's sharpness, and swung his long saber in a backhand motion.
"Boom!"
It was as if hundreds of cannons had exploded; the terrifying shockwave swept everything away, obliterating all the collapsed ruins of the surrounding houses.
Soldiers looking down from the city wall could clearly see a circular shockwave spreading out, rippling outwards. Everything it touched was reduced to dust.
This scene can only be described as a natural disaster.
The long sword in the hands of the Prince of Zhenbei turned to dust. This was a top-grade magical Law Artifact forged by the Bureau of Astronomy. It could cut through iron like mud and was extremely tough. Even in a battle between third-rank soldiers, it could still display its sharpness and cut through enemies.
But it is extremely vulnerable under the protection of the national sword.
The crimson python seized the opportunity, its vertical eye on its forehead swirling, unleashing a beam of dark light faster than lightning and quicker than a thought, striking the Prince of Zhenbei in a flash.
The Prince of Zhenbei's body inevitably stiffened, his joints became awkward, and he watched helplessly as the bronze sword fell.
"Die!"
Suddenly, the wizard in the distance reached out his hand, aimed at Xu Qi'an, and squeezed it tightly.
Curse-killing technique.
The immortal body wreathed in demonic flames was struck, sustaining some damage, and its slashing motion was interrupted.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, the Prince of Zhenbei unleashed over a hundred punches in an instant. The punches were so dense and fast that only one sound was heard from them: bang!
Xu Qi'an shot out like a cannonball, his chest slightly dented, but instantly returned to normal.
Nine fox tails spread out like a sky-covering barrier high in the sky behind Xu Qi'an, blocking his decline.
Just as he stopped high in the air, the wind howled below, and a jet of black, viscous liquid, like an oil fountain, shot up, carrying the power to corrode and pollute everything, and splashed towards Xu Qi'an.
Boom! Boom! Boom! The azure giant charged forward, then suddenly leaped up, pouncing on the black lotus with the ferocity of an eagle hunting a rabbit.
The giant sword in his hand transformed into a blinding, blazing sun, and he cleaved down with all his might.
The black lotus collapsed amidst the uncontrollable sword energy, turning into wisps of black smoke that reassembled in the distance.
The ground of Chuzhou City cracked open under this sword strike, splitting open into deep fissures that stretched for miles.
I hate it when people punch me.
This time it was the voice of God Himself.
Behind the black demonic body, twelve unreal, jet-black arms grew out, their muscles bulging, each arm clenched into a fist.
Twelve fists landed simultaneously, their speed as fast as a blur.
Each punch creates a fist imprint several feet in diameter on the ground.
The Prince of Zhenbei moved with lightning speed, sometimes charging forward, sometimes turning around, relying on his martial arts instincts to dodge each punch.
A fierce and chaotic battle ensued in the city. Due to the imbalance of numbers, the fights were no longer one-on-one, and both sides focused more on teamwork.
The Law Technique from various systems intertwined and clashed, leaving almost no part of Chuzhou City unscathed.
Houses turned into ruins, ruins turned into deep pits, rivers changed course, and ponds were filled in.
Since the Battle of Shanhai Pass, the land of Kyushu has enjoyed two decades of peace, and this is the first time such a large-scale civil war has occurred.
For these masters who were almost at the pinnacle of their abilities, human cities were reduced to rubble after a single battle.
At this moment, while his three allies were holding off their opponents, Jili Zhigu leaped to the Blood Pill and picked up the pill, which contained a huge amount of life essence, from the ruins.
"You, a mere barbarian, dare to claim this blood pill, formed from the life essence of the people of my Great Feng?"
Xu Qi'an was the first to attack, slashing the blue giant's arm with his sword, revealing the white bone beneath, causing the blue giant to roar in pain.
The blood, reddish-blue in color, gushed out like a fountain, a horrifying sight.
This sword strike nearly severed the arm of a third-rank martial artist, demonstrating its extraordinary power.
It's a pity that the Confucian School sage's carving knife is far away in the capital and sealed by the academy; otherwise, I could take on ten of them. Xu Qi'an felt regretful.
The blood pill soared into the sky, and nine fox tails coiled around it. The giant python then pounced, its crimson body blotting out the sky, as if it wanted to swallow the blood pill whole.
The King of Zhenbei, the avatar of the leader of the Earth Sect, and the wizard all made their moves to compete for the Blood Pill.
"Click."
After much competition, the Blood Pill shattered on the spot, breaking into seven small fragments.
Without the slightest hesitation, Zhu Jiu and Jili Zhigu devoured the Blood Pill, and their injuries were completely healed. Their auras rose steadily, and their physiques and energy levels even improved.
With things having come to this point, the wizard could only absorb vital Qi and Blood to maintain his condition and prepare for the upcoming battle.
The Prince of Zhenbei's face was gloomy, veins bulging on his forehead, and he was about to explode with anger.
This was originally his fortuitous opportunity, and everything he had painstakingly planned ended up being shared by others.
Now, not only have they lost the princess, but they've also lost their blood pills.
They truly lost both their wife and their army.
The Prince of Zhenbei tossed the Blood Pill into his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it, his chewing muscles bulging as if he were eating Xu Qi'an, not the Blood Pill.
"Great, Master. These, these are the Essence Blood of my Great Feng people." Xu Qi'an communicated with the divine power in his heart and instinctively resisted swallowing the blood pill.
"I have a secret technique that can burn my immortal body, allowing my power to briefly reach its peak, but it requires a vast amount of Essence Blood as fuel. It will help you end this battle sooner."
Xu Qi'an's heart skipped a beat. "Was it your peak in life?"
Shen Shu was silent for a moment. "No, but that's enough to deal with them. Also, I'm not dead."
Xu Qi'an stared at the blood pill in his hand, and a sentence flashed through his mind: The boy who slays the dragon will eventually become a demon.
Seeing his silence, Shen Shu no longer hesitated and swallowed the fragments of the Blood Pill.
"Such powerful energy! No wonder it's a Blood Pill refined from the sacrifice of 380,000 people. Tsk tsk, Prince Zhenbei, why don't you tell me the secret technique for refining the Blood Pill? How about we slaughter a city together and advance to the second rank together?"
Jili Zhigu stretched out his body, feeling the immense energy spreading within him, and his mood reached its peak of joy.
"Indeed!"
Zhu Jiu spoke in human language, teasingly saying, "Neither of us knows how to refine this kind of blood pill. Randomly devouring living beings will at most provide some nourishment, but it won't have this effect. As for you, Prince Zhenbei, you can secretly slaughter a city, but any more than that and you'll be killed by the Supervisor. How about the three of us join forces to refine a second and a third blood pill?"
As it spoke, it twisted its body, seemingly itching and about to shed its skin.
The high-ranking wizard sneered, "It's still too early to tell who will emerge victorious."
The woman in the white dress glanced at Xu Qi'an and giggled, "This lord will play with you a little longer."
The leader of the Earth Sect disdained to say more. The Blood Pill was of little use to him, so he didn't consume it and hid it away. Fortunately, it was only an avatar; he had already obtained what he wanted beforehand.
The atrocity of massacring a city!
I've already made a profit either way, so I don't mind playing another match with them.
After consuming the Blood Pill, everyone's aura surged, and they were all brimming with confidence.
Having surpassed his own peak, his fear of the national treasure sword has also lessened considerably.
The Prince of Zhenbei tore open his armor, revealing his bronze physique, and said calmly:
"I too have broken through to the peak of my life. Since the Blood Pills are divided equally, you have achieved your goal. Zhu Jiu, Ji Lizhigu, why don't we join forces and take this guy down first?"
Jili Zhigu and Zhu Jiu immediately looked at Xu Qi'an, their three eyes filled with deep apprehension.
The Prince of Zhenbei is shifting the blame eastward, diverting the pressure onto them.
But this is an open conspiracy.
This person has a mysterious background and can wield the Zhenguo Sword. In the battle just now, he also harbored hostility towards them. If the Prince of Zhenbei dies under the Zhenguo Sword, it is conceivable that this person's next target will be them.
The existence of the National Protection Sword also poses a substantial threat to them, as it possesses real lethality.
On the other hand, the Prince of Zhenbei has already been rejected by the Zhenguo Sword, and his strength is no greater than theirs, so he poses little threat.
Zhu Jiu and Ji Lizhigu exchanged a glance, then grinned maliciously, "Fine."
The Prince of Zhenbei smirked, his smile chilling, "The alliance is formed."
After killing this man and reclaiming the Zhenguo Sword, I will join forces with the Zhenbei King to kill Zhujiu. If this hidden danger is not eliminated, the Zhenbei King is very likely to die. After weighing his options, the high-ranking wizard made a compromise.
In an instant, the King of Zhenbei, the wizard, Black Lotus, Zhu Jiu, and Jili Zhigu all turned their gazes toward Xu Qi'an.
The five masters formed a tacit agreement and worked together to kill this man.
The sudden turn of events caught the soldiers, spies, and military experts watching from the city walls completely off guard.
The soldiers looked at the mysterious man standing alone, holding the national sword, with complicated expressions.
The woman in the white dress did not intervene, instead elevating herself to a detached, indifferent stance.
Her eyes, brimming with tears, gazed at Xu Qi'an, a look that seemed to hold both joy and sorrow.
Shen Shu, show us just the tip of the iceberg of your true combat power.
PS: The previous chapter was originally 6,000 words, but I revised it and added details, bringing the word count to 7,500 words. However, the price remains the same as the standard 6,000-word chapter.
I'll dedicate a separate chapter to thank the Silver Alliance later. Leaving it at the end of the chapter feels insincere.