Chapter 535: The First to Exit
A bloodfiend aura erupted from Zhan Wuji, his Heaven-Splitting Spear humming as if a beast thirsting for blood. Xiao Chen's earlier taunt had completely unleashed the arrogance and brutality deep within his bones.
"Kill!"
He roared low, transforming once more into a blood-red lightning. His spear struck like a dragon, countless cold stars blotting out the sky as they surged toward Xiao Chen. Each thrust contained earth-shattering power and a soul-corrupting killing intent, speed and strength surpassing his previous attacks.
Xiao Chen's gaze turned heavy as Longevity Realm mana surged through him without reservation. He knew his opponent's terrifying strength and dared not be careless in the slightest.
His longsword summoned divine thunders as brilliant sword light clashed violently with blood-red spear shadows.
"Clang! Clang! Clang—!"
The two fought from the city wall to mid-air, their figures flashing and crossing at a dizzying speed. Blood-red spear light and purple electric bolts continuously tore through the sky, scattered energy impacts carving bottomless trenches into the earth below. Cultivators near the battle zone retreated in horror, terrified of being drawn into this terrifying killing field.
Zhan Wuji fought with growing astonishment. He had already unleashed his true strength, even employing combat consciousness and techniques from the Immortal Venerable Realm. His spear art was unpredictable, sometimes opening wide with force to break mountains, sometimes tricky and precise, targeting vital points.
Yet the Xiao Chen before him was like a boulder, like thunder, always using exquisite swordsmanship and majestic thunder force to dissolve his attacks. His occasional counterattacks were so sharp they forced Zhan Wuji to defend.
He still couldn't defeat him! And he could faintly sense that under this immense pressure, the other's sword intent was constantly refining and strengthening!
This feeling of being unable to control or crush his opponent made the humiliation and anger in Zhan Wuji's heart nearly boil.
He couldn't accept that he had been pushed to this point by a mob from the lower realm!
Just as he was about to unleash some secret technique at any cost—
"Woo—woo—woo—"
A low, long horn suddenly sounded from behind the Holy Dynasty army.
This was not the horn of attack, but... the golden call for retreat!
The sound reached the fiercely battlefield. Though the Holy Dynasty's well-trained soldiers didn't understand why, military orders were absolute. Their assault began an orderly withdrawal, leaving a devastated battlefield and shocked Anti-Holy Alliance cultivators.
Zhan Wuji's frenzied attack suddenly faltered.
His brows furrowed, clearly furious at this sudden command. He glared fiercely at Xiao Chen, who still held his sword with focused concentration, breath slightly disordered but battle intent soaring. His voice was cold and filled with resentment: "Xiao Chen, I remember you!"
"Good riddance!"
Stimulated by Xiao Chen's calm demeanor, Zhan Wuji was brimming with rage and turned to leave. But then, as if sensing something, his gaze shifted toward the rear of the Holy Dynasty army.
Instantly, the resentment and anger on his face transformed into extreme excitement, nearly a cruel sneer.
He turned back to look at Xiao Chen, his laughter wild and triumphant: "Hahaha! Xiao Chen! No need to regret, another 'gift' will be delivered shortly!
You must accept this gift well! I'm sure you will... never forget it!"
Finished speaking, he didn't hesitate, transforming into a streak of blood light that returned to his formation.
Xiao Chen stood holding his sword in mid-air, brow furrowed, a strong unease rising in his heart because of Zhan Wuji's final words and strange attitude. He looked in the direction Zhan Wuji had just been gazing.
He saw the Holy Dynasty army retreating like a tide, leaving an empty space before their formation. And in that empty space stood a solitary figure, standing quietly there.
The figure was slightly thin, dressed in clean gray robes, standing out among the brightly armored Holy Dynasty soldiers.
When he saw that person's face, Xiao Chen's heart sank as if grasped by an invisible hand!
It was Ye Fan!
It was really him! Standing so calmly before the enemy army!
Although Han Yu had already brought news, and reason continued to analyze all possibilities, deep in Xiao Chen's heart, he had retained a sliver of hope—that it was all a misunderstanding, that Ye Fan had his own reasons.
But now, seeing Ye Fan standing peacefully before the enemy army, this scene was like the coldest iron hammer, shattering his last shred of wishful thinking.
"Ye Fan..." Xiao Chen murmured lowly, his grip on the sword tightening unconsciously.
On the city wall, Han Yu saw Ye Fan's figure, and a bone-chilling cold light and killing intent erupted in his eyes. If the other party hadn't been positioned so deep within the formation, he would have charged out again.
Chen Xingcai's face turned deathly pale, her delicate body trembling as she stared fixedly at the disciple she had once taught, nails digging into her palms until blood seeped out.
Yet, what happened next sent their shock and pain instantly to a peak, transforming into monstrous astonishment and disbelief!
Two elite Holy Dynasty soldiers escorted a person from the army formation, walking to Ye Fan's side.
It was a woman in simple clothes that couldn't hide her graceful figure. Her hair was slightly disheveled, her face pale, seemingly restricted and unable to move, but her eyes remained bright, carrying an unyielding pride.
When they clearly saw the woman's face—
Xiao Chen was struck by lightning, his entire body trembling violently as he cried out in shock: "Junior Sister Lingxiu?!"
Han Yu's pupils constricted, and for the first time, intense emotional fluctuations appeared on his ice-cold face!
Chen Xingcai covered her mouth with a muffled cry, her eyes filled with despair!
The person being escorted was actually their fellow disciple they had searched for desperately—Ji Lingxiu!
She had truly fallen into the hands of the Holy Dynasty! And right here, right now, she had been brought to the front of the formation, standing together with the traitor Ye Fan!
What Ye Fan was about to do next was almost self-evident!
Under the gaze of countless eyes, with the Holy Dynasty soldiers watching coldly and the Anti-Holy Alliance cultivators watching with mixed shock and anger, Ye Fan slowly turned to face Wangzhou City. His expression was devoid of any emotion, unnaturally calm.
He spoke loudly, his voice carrying through the battlefield with mana, clearly reaching everyone's ears:
"Today, heaven and earth may bear witness! I, Ye Fan, forsake darkness for light, henceforth serving the Holy Dynasty and pledging loyalty to the Holy Emperor! By the Holy Emperor's grace, I am taken as his foster son, his favor as great as rebirth!"
These words were like a thunderclap, making Xiao Chen and the others' scalp tingle!
To become the Holy Emperor's foster son?! What kind of utter betrayal was this?!
Ye Fan paused, his gaze seeming to sweep over the wide-eyed Xiao Chen, Han Yu, and Chen Xingcai on the city wall, finally landing on the restricted Ji Lingxiu beside him, his eyes cold and emotionless.
"To prove my determination and clarify my intentions—" he slowly raised a hand, a longsword gleaming with cold light appearing in his hand—"I shall personally slay this beast to set an example!"
"Ye Fan! How dare you!!" Xiao Chen's furious roar was like thunder, his body about to rush down the city wall regardless of everything!
Han Yu's sword aura surged, wishing he could tear Ye Fan to pieces instantly!
Chen Xingcai closed her eyes despairingly, unable to watch any longer.
But it was all too late.
Under the gazes of countless shocked, angry, and unbelieving eyes, under the watchful eyes of Ji Lingxiu, which still contained pride yet seemed to flash with complex emotions—
Ye Fan's longsword, without the slightest hesitation, moved like lightning, piercing through Ji Lingxiu's chest from behind with precision and cruelty!
"Thwack!"
The sound of the blade piercing flesh was exceptionally clear and piercing at this moment.
Time seemed to freeze.
Ji Lingxiu's body stiffened. She looked down at the blood-stained sword tip protruding from her chest. Her face showed no pain, instead revealing an extremely faint, complex expression—part mockery, part relief.
The next moment, under the wide-eyed stares of Xiao Chen, Han Yu, and Chen Xingcai, a faint but pure spirit light suddenly rose from the Baihui point at the top of Ji Lingxiu's head. Within that spirit light, an extremely small, phantom figure identical to Ji Lingxiu could vaguely be seen!
The phantom seemed to glance back at the Wangzhou city wall, then transformed into a streak of light, shooting toward the distant horizon at an unimaginable speed, disappearing without a trace.
All that remained was Ji Lingxiu's slowly collapsing body and the rapidly expanding, shocking blood flower on her chest.
Ye Fan expressionlessly withdrew his longsword, blood droplets sliding down the blade. He turned, facing deep within the Holy Dynasty formation, and knelt on one knee:
"The traitor has been executed! Please, foster father, inspect the result!"
The entire battlefield was deathly silent.
Only in the Holy Dynasty camp came Zhan Wuji's triumphant and wild laughter, particularly grating.
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