Crimson Shadow Sword and Cheng Xiao Sword—two mortal-forged blades comparable to divine artifacts—continuously shattered the attacks of the two remnants of the god.
"Now!"
In the midst of the relentless assault, Jun Mo Li spotted a fleeting opening and shouted loudly.
Jun Bai instantly understood. Scorching fire elemental power gathered on Crimson Shadow as he matched Jun Mo Li's familiar opening stance.
"Waterfall Sever!" ×2
A blade of flame and a streak of sword qi slashed out simultaneously, following the opening and breaking through the pitch-black domain formed by the fusion of the two remnants of the god.
The domain dissipated, reverting into two separate remnants of the god.
One wreathed in crimson flames, the other covered in blood and wounds—already heavily injured.
"Round two begins. Are you ready, remnants of the fallen god?"
Jun Mo Li raised Cheng Xiao Sword and walked toward the remnant before him.
"Dream God—this time, it's my win again."
Jun Bai gripped Crimson Shadow, the blade dragging a trail as he too advanced toward the remnant of the god.
"The outcome isn't decided yet, Phenex/mortal—you're celebrating too soon!" ×2
The remnants of the god spoke in unison. Their hands transformed into scythes as each faced their respective god or mortal.
But in a clash of equals, it came down to whose momentum was stronger.
They were merely two remnants—how could their momentum compare to Jun Bai, bolstered by his brother's aid? How could it compare to Jun Mo Li, who had fulfilled his elder's wish and obtained the greatest sword in the world?
From the very start of the battle, the remnants of the god had been on the back foot. Their defeat was only a matter of time.
Flames and sword qi intertwined across the battlefield, suppressing the black qi that represented god remnant. The demonic shadows formed by the remnants of the god suffered wound after wound.
The remnants tried to use their authority, but the dream authority activated by only two remnants couldn't shake Jun Bai or the enlightened Jun Mo Li.
The two brothers unleashed their respective sword techniques, suppressing the remnant of the god before each of them.
"Final strike, remnant!" Jun Bai began channeling fire elemental power into Crimson Shadow.
"Are you excited, Cheng Xiao? A remnant of a god as your first blood offering." Jun Mo Li raised Cheng Xiao and smoothly assumed his opening stance.
"Not yet—not yet!" ×2
The two remnants of the god rapidly converged, intending to fuse once more for a final desperate struggle.
But at that moment—
"Rock Shatter Fist—Explosion!"
A pillar of fire descended from the sky, splitting the remnants that had begun to merge.
"Second brother, third brother—now!"
Li Tonghui—riding Little Flame—shouted as he arrived.
"Phoenix Cry!" Jun Bai gripped Crimson Shadow tightly, swinging the crimson blade and unleashing his new technique.
A phoenix cry rang out. Crimson Shadow's blade extended, instantly coiling around the remnant wreathed in flames.
"Mountain Severer!" Jun Mo Li poured all his strength into the strike, using Cheng Xiao Sword in place of Mountain Severer to deliver this devastating blow.
A flash of sword light passed. Cheng Xiao's blade carried the weight of a thousand jin as it cleaved into the remnant of the god.
"Ah!" ×2
Crimson flames surged upward. Azure sword light flashed like a shooting star. The remnants of the god melted away like ice and snow under spring sun.
Wisps of black qi rose, then vanished completely.
As if they had never existed.
Little Flame landed. Li Tonghui rushed impatiently toward his two sworn brothers.
"Second brother, third brother! You two are seriously incredible! If the storytellers hear about this, they'll have material for the next hundred years!"
Jun Mo Li and Jun Bai smiled as they were hugged by their eldest brother. They didn't resist, simply enjoying the post-battle leisure.
This was a privilege reserved for the victors.
Soon, Li Tonghui released them.
"I think instead of praising us right now, what we need most is to congratulate second brother on becoming the greatest swordmaster in the world." Jun Bai pointed at Cheng Xiao in Jun Mo Li's hand.
"Yeah, second brother—this counts as fulfilling your wish, right?" Li Tonghui laughed.
Jun Mo Li raised Cheng Xiao Sword, gazing at the clear azure blade, and smiled: "I don't know if I've become the greatest swordmaster in the world. I've simply become this sword's master."
"I'm not a swordmaster, so I don't get what you mean. But to me, you're the greatest swordmaster in the world." Li Tonghui gave Jun Mo Li a light punch on the shoulder.
The three looked at each other and smiled.
"By the way, eldest brother, shouldn't you and Little Flame be cleaning up the monsters attacking Qingce Village? Have all the monsters already been dealt with?" After the laughter died down, Jun Bai asked.
"Hm? Oh—after second brother left, those monsters retreated almost immediately. I thought you and second brother had taken care of the mastermind..." Li Tonghui suddenly fell silent.
The three realized something was wrong.
The monsters had retreated while the remnants of the god were still fiercely battling Jun Mo Li and Jun Bai.
It wasn't until Li Tonghui and Little Flame arrived that the two remnants were finally slain.
So what reason could the monsters have had to retreat so suddenly?
There was still a mastermind behind this!
The thought flashed through all three of their minds.
But it was already too late.
A massive pitch-black palm erupted from underground, trapping the three like a cage and slowly closing in, intending to crush them in its grasp.
Without any hesitation, Jun Bai spread his flame wings and used them to halt the palm's closure.
As a fellow god, Jun Bai immediately sensed not only the aura of the Dream God on the palm but also another god's aura—one he didn't recognize.
Fortunately, Little Flame hadn't been caught in the trap. She paced anxiously outside, growling low.
A round of applause rang out. A man dressed in black with refined features stepped out from the darkness.
This entrance made Jun Bai feel as though he had returned to the Dream God of a hundred years ago. Not only the entrance was similar—the aura and appearance were too.
It was almost like a male version of the Dream God.
But he definitely wasn't the Dream God—that other god aura was proof enough.
"Who are you?"
Jun Bai asked.
"Who am I? Good question." The man who looked exactly like the Dream God smiled. "I am neither living nor dead. I am neither the Dream God nor an Abyss monster."
"You and your companions may call me by my former name—Chi."
"Chi? You're saying you're Chi?" Jun Mo Li, who had grown up in Qingce Village, reacted first.
"Impossible. Chi was clearly slain by Rex Lapis. His body was dismembered by Rex Lapis and sealed in various places around Qingce Village." Li Tonghui, who had grown up alongside Jun Mo Li, was equally incredulous.
Only Jun Bai remained calm: "Because of the Dream God's remnant?"
"As expected of Rex Lapis's close friend—truly sharp." Chi praised. "I was slain by that Rex Lapis. Even my body was dismembered and sealed away."
"My remnant soul would have gradually worn down in the seal until it perished."
"But not long ago, the Dream God's remnant accidentally intruded into my seal. I realized this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I made a pact with the Dream God."
"I nourished his remnant with my remaining body, and he helped me break the seal. Mutual assistance."
"Just now, the seal imprisoning me finally shattered. I have regained my freedom at last."
"What excites me even more than breaking the seal is that the moment I emerged, the Dream God's remnant was slain by you. This allowed me to reclaim the power I used to nourish the remnant, along with the authority it carried. Now I've recovered my initial strength."
"If I devour you as well, I can return to my peak—lacking nothing."
"And after slaying your two companions, I can easily reclaim my territory and launch a counterattack against Rex Lapis!"