The moment that Xu Zhan had bought at the cost of burning his soul—to briefly interfere with the demonic chains—was like a meteor streaking through absolute darkness. Though fleeting, it illuminated the final resolve in the eyes of all members of the "Dawn" squad!
The sound of the sword resonated through the universe—no longer clear and melodious, but carrying a tragic and desolate rhythm! That extreme sword light, fused with all of Liu Yun's essence, blood, life, and sword soul, seemed to transcend the bonds of time and space, ignoring the demonic chains and destructive energy trying to block its path. With a fearless, self-sacrificial posture, it thrust directly at the control node briefly exposed due to Xu Zhan's soul fire interference!
This sword strike was not for killing enemies, not for slaying demons, but solely for—breaking the chains!
"How dare you!!!"
The Demonic Lord's shadow let out a furious shriek. It sensed the resolute will in this sword strike and the terrifying power sufficient to threaten its control over Xu Zhan! It frantically mobilized the demonic source, trying to reinforce the chains, twist space, and block that sword light!
However, Liu Yun's self-sacrificing sword was too fast! Too resolute! Too reckless!
SSSHHH—!
Like a sharp blade severing a taut bowstring, or a red-hot branding iron plunging into snow!
That extreme white sword light struck the invisible control node with perfect precision!
There was no earth-shaking explosion, only a teeth-grinding sound of shattering at the level of laws!
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK—!
Like a chain reaction, the countless thick chains of pure demonic energy binding Xu Zhan issued a dense succession of breaking sounds the instant the control node was severed! One after another, like giant pythons whose seven-inch vital points had been cut, the demonic light rapidly dimmed, their structures snapping inch by inch, finally dissipating into pure demonic energy in the air!
The chains that had bound Xu Zhan for a hundred years, turning him into the Demonic Lord's puppet... were broken!
Though the connection between the Demonic Lord's main body and the demonic source sealed within Xu Zhan remained, the most direct, most powerful external control had been largely severed by Liu Yun's life-risking sword strike!
Losing the support and powerful binding of the chains, Xu Zhan's armor-covered figure trembled violently, his body suspended in mid-air losing its support, beginning to fall downward!
And that white sword light that had fulfilled its mission, after severing the chains, became extremely dim. Like a candle in the wind, it wavered in the air, then completely scattered, transforming into dots of crystalline light that fell like tears, finally... vanishing into nothingness.
The sword light dissipated, meaning Liu Yun's sword soul... had shattered.
The state of unity between human and sword was released. A figure fell powerlessly from where the light particles dissipated—it was Liu Yun. Her face was ashen, her breath weak to the extreme, as if she might completely dissipate at any moment. Her black hair had turned completely white, and her originally sharp, sword-like gaze was now empty, with only the dead silence remaining after her life essence had burned away.
"Third Senior Sister—!!!"
Xiao Qi let out a heart-wrenching cry of grief, watching helplessly as Third Senior Sister, having burned everything to create an opportunity for him, fell from the sky like a bird with broken wings! He wanted to rush over, but his severely injured body felt as heavy as lead—he could only reach out in vain.
Zhao Tiezhu's eyes were about to split with rage as he roared and rushed forward, trying to catch the falling Liu Yun.
Mu Xue and Ao Qin were also shaken to their core, but they knew this was not the time for grief! The opportunity Liu Yun had exchanged her life for must not be wasted!
The Demonic Lord's shadow, because its chains were severed, fell into a brief state of rage and chaos. Its control over Xu Zhan was greatly weakened!
An opportunity!
This was the final opportunity—bought with Third Senior Sister's life—to save Xu Zhan and turn the tide of battle!
Xiao Qi, enduring overwhelming grief and physical agony, fixed his gaze dead on his father's figure falling from the sky, now largely freed from the chains' binding.
He had to... do something!