The overwhelming surge of blood energy turned half the sky crimson, forcing the wind and snow to alter their course, unable to intrude.
HUM!
In the next second, this vast expanse of blood energy violently retracted, converging back into Chen Yang's body.
"This..."
This sudden turn of events left everyone speechless, their mouths agape.
Soon, on both banks of the Qingyuan River and throughout the Four Seas and Eight Wastelands, countless people clenched their fists and roared.
"Chen Yang, stand up!"
"Commander, stand up!"
BOOM! BOOM!
War drums thundered, resonating through the universe like muffled thunder. One by one, the Python Sparrow Devouring Dragon banners were slowly raised amidst the bitter winds and snow, as if aspiring to rival the very heavens. The war drums and the banners were once symbols of Chen Yang. Now, their return to the battlefield sparked hope for the king to rise again.
However, the war blade in Dugu Hanxiao's hand once again emitted an overwhelming, murderous intent without warning. Before anyone could react, it streaked straight for Chen Yang.
"Dugu, you old bastard, you're courting death!" Chen Shangwu burst into a rage. Having nearly witnessed Chen Yang's death once, how could he allow the tragedy to happen again?
BOOM!
He struck out with a palm, clashing head-on with the opponent's war blade. The blade's aura, like the Milky Way spilling down, disintegrated to dust beneath his palm. It was a terrifying sight; what was clearly a mere hand now shone like a blazing sun.
"Don't you even know whose territory this is? Barging in so recklessly... do you take me, Chen Shangwu, for a pushover?"
BANG!
Chen Shangwu's fingers formed a blade, and he swung them fiercely in a cutting motion across the sky. This seemingly simple gesture triggered a shocking change. The Ancestral Sword hovering above his head trailed a silvery streak like a bolt of silk, tearing through the sky as it shot toward Dugu Hanxiao. In that instant, the face of the world itself seemed to change.
SWISH!
Dugu Hanxiao pulled back his war blade and met the attack head-on, not bothering to dodge. A sudden explosion erupted like a startling thunderbolt from a clear sky, accompanied by a shower of sparks.
Using this surging impact, Dugu Hanxiao leaped into the air. Like a fired projectile, he headed directly for Chen Yang with unstoppable momentum. Of course, to leverage this power, Sovereign Dugu paid a terrible price. The web of his hand split open, blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, and his face was ashen.
But at this moment, he was less than ten meters away from Chen Yang.
"Boy, I told you, even if a Daluo Golden Immortal descends today, it won't change the fact that you will die!" Dugu Hanxiao roared. "You are an ill omen! Your existence is a scourge upon this great era! Die!"
He held the blade with both hands and, from dozens of meters in the air, chopped down with all his might. The ground split open and the river water surged to both sides, revealing the muddy riverbed below as it exploded upwards.
Chen Shangwu rushed forward furiously, his eyes bloodshot. Not far away, from inside a sedan chair, a delicate, boneless hand reached out, wielding a three-inch knife that glinted with a chilling light.
"Eh?" The woman seemed to notice something. She let out a cry of surprise, and the knife that was about to be thrown halted in mid-air.
She saw Chen Yang, who had been lying on his back, push himself straight up. His blood-red eyes dazzled like gemstones, and behind him, a colossal blood-colored Dharma Golden Body stretching hundreds of feet tall had risen. At the same time, the entire area became shrouded in roiling dark clouds, the sky turning gloomy at a visible rate.
Wind and snow, massive waves, and jagged ice all raged beneath the overcast sky. From within the clouds, a colossal blood-colored being extended its right hand, slamming it down from above with incredible speed. It moved like a whirlwind, carrying with it the aura of endless eras, as if an ancient deity had arrived by traversing time and space.
"This..."
"This oppressive aura is suffocating."
A rumble echoed through the heavens, as if a legion of Martial Guards was traversing the void. Then, a blood-colored palm print descended upon Dugu Hanxiao's head.
Is this... an Ancestral Awakening? Dugu Hanxiao's face drained of color. He lifted his left hand to brace the other end of his war blade and met the attack head-on. He had no way to escape. Moreover, this was his only chance to kill Chen Yang. If Chen Shangwu arrived, it would become a much more troublesome matter.
"That's right! This is an Ancestral Awakening!" Chen Shangwu laughed heartily, his expression filled with excitement. It was rumored that only a person of exceptional talent could stimulate the phenomenon of an Ancestral Awakening when absorbing their ancestor's blood essence. Without a doubt, Chen Yang had achieved it. Even for Chen Shangwu, this was a tremendous and unprecedented surprise.
BOOM!
The blood-colored palm fell. The world seemed to warp as the sky broke apart. The ground shattered first, a huge pit caving in. At the center of the storm, Dugu Hanxiao and his war blade were slammed into the deep pit, his blood erupting in a violent spray. A massive five-fingered palm print, its lines perfectly clear, was left impressed upon the sandy riverbank.
SPURT!
The blood-colored Dharma Golden Body dissipated. Chen Yang spat out a large mouthful of blood and staggered, nearly collapsing to the ground. Although the drop of blood essence had restored his Bloodline Power and the surging energy had healed some of his injuries, the previous blow he had taken was a killing move from a Heaven Saint expert. At that moment, Chen Yang was utterly exhausted.
He gasped for breath, blood seeping not just from his seven orifices but from every pore in his body. His face was ashen white.
"Ahhh!"
In the next second, a furious roar exploded from within the pit. Dugu Hanxiao surged out from the ground, his eyes filled with viciousness as he stared at Chen Yang. He had been so close to killing this piece of trash, just a little bit more!
Blood streamed from his head and his body was covered in deep cracks. Seven or eight wounds were so deep they revealed bone, and blood trickled down from them like small streams. Of his war blade, only a small half remained in his hand. It was this middle-grade Treasure Weapon that had blocked most of the impact and saved his life.
"Don't you get smug!" Dugu Hanxiao pointed at Chen Yang and said coldly, "The other two Sovereigns will soon arrive. With you on your last legs, I'd like to see how long you can hold on."
"Tang Jinyuan and Li Jiangong have already turned back!" Chen Shangwu walked over, his mouth twisted in a ferocious grin. "And Tang Jinyuan is critically wounded, on the verge of death. They are probably cowering in a corner somewhere, shivering in fear."
Dugu Hanxiao was speechless.
"Heh!" After a moment of stunned silence, Dugu Hanxiao scoffed, "Chen Shangwu, are you not ashamed to be playing such petty tricks with me at a time like this?"
"Why not verify it for yourself?" Chen Shangwu was in no hurry. Right now, Dugu Hanxiao was nothing more than a fish on the chopping block.
"Hmph!" Dugu Hanxiao immediately tried to make contact.
"What?!" Within a few moments, the Sovereign's expression changed dramatically, his face a mask of disbelief. He had not only confirmed that Red Lotus Valley had intervened, forcing Li Jiangong and Tang Jinyuan to turn back, but he had also learned that eighty thousand Martial Guards had surrounded the entire Dugu Family.
This... this...
Suddenly, what little momentum Dugu Hanxiao had left completely vanished, and his gaze lost focus.
How could this be? I was fighting to the death here, only to end up with this result?!
"No!" Dugu Hanxiao's eyes widened in fury. Lifting his hand, he struck fiercely toward Chen Yang. He was unwilling, refusing to accept such an outcome. The palm print descended from dozens of meters high, viciously targeting the top of Chen Yang's head in a desperate, final strike. The heavens trembled, and the wind roared.
"A cripple still wants to make waves in front of me?" Chen Shangwu raised the Ancestral Sword, causing the void to thunder.
But Chen Yang was a step ahead of him. He brandished the Traveling Dragon Sword, cleaving diagonally. The palm print instantly flickered and grew unstable. Gritting his teeth, Chen Yang charged forward in a powerful stride.
BOOM!
Dugu Hanxiao, already at the end of his strength, had half his chest caved in by the punch.
Chen Yang pursued. His hands shot out, fingers curved into talons.
Then, with his bare hands, he tore at the azure sky.
...