Chapter 19: The Final Farewell

Lì Fēngshuǐ pulled out a flexible sword with his reverse hand, and with a wave, he unleashed a rain of sword lights. In an instant, he clashed with the Eastern Peak countless times and finally overpowered it, forcing the blade to heavily plunge into the ground. From this exchange alone, it was evident that Lì Fēngshuǐ’s sword skills were far superior to those of Xǔ Làng and others.

Although he had temporarily repelled Qiān Yè, Lì Fēngshuǐ spat another mouthful of blood. He grabbed Night Pupil and quickly retreated, shouting, “Stop him! Stop him now!”

Countless warriors surged forward, forming a barrier before Qiān Yè with their bodies. The piercing alarm finally sounded, shattering the silence of the Eternal City.

Despite seeing Qiān Yè surrounded, Lì Fēngshuǐ felt no sense of security. He dragged Night Pupil back, retreating all the way out of the courtyard and onto the street outside.

Qiān Yè grasped the Eastern Peak, slowly pulling it from the ground. Then, with a flick of the blade, he lifted the burly man, whose arms had been severed, in front of him. “What is the Chaos Millstone?”

The edge of the Eastern Peak rested under the man’s chin, momentarily making him forget the pain of his lost limbs. His throat moved up and down, eyes bulging, staring fixedly at the blade as he blurted out everything he knew: “The Chaos Millstone is a cultivation technique specifically designed to torment the Blood Clan. It can tear apart a Blood Clan’s soul, and the deeper the cultivation, the slower and more painful the process. Most Blood Clan members can’t withstand it for more than half a day and end up revealing everything.”

“Shredding the soul?” Qiān Yè now understood why Night Pupil often appeared confused and hesitant, and why in the true vision, she seemed like a faded painting.

With a thud, the burly man’s head flew high, blood spurting from his neck like a fountain, as the Eastern Peak’s blade trembled!

Lì Fēngshuǐ’s heart skipped a beat. During the execution of the burly man, Qiān Yè’s gaze remained fixed on him, unyielding.

Seeing the numerous warriors layering defenses, blocking Qiān Yè’s path, Lì Fēngshuǐ still felt no sense of security. Since Qiān Yè’s attack on the military outpost, the burly man was the first one he had killed.

But that head, flying high, marked the beginning.

As Lì Fēngshuǐ retreated, he shouted, “Qiān Yè, if you turn back now, there’s still time! If you dare to harm the empire’s warriors, it will be treason!”

He tried to drag Night Pupil away, but she, finding some unknown strength, dug her feet into the ground, immovable. No matter how many times Lì Fēngshuǐ exerted force, he couldn’t move her.

A fierce light flashed in Lì Fēngshuǐ’s eyes as he slapped Night Pupil’s back. Six long spikes, stirred by the origin power, turned a burning red, the refined silver glowing like the sun’s true fire, instantly searing the surrounding flesh black!

Night Pupil screamed, but she bit back the cry. Weakened, she was dragged back by Lì Fēngshuǐ.

Qiān Yè suddenly calmed, the flames in his eyes extinguished, his aura completely withdrawn, as still as a lifeless object. Only his eyes, fixated on Lì Fēngshuǐ, gradually filled with a blood-red hue.

“Xiǎo Wǔ, stop!” came Zhào Yǔyīng’s distant shout, but to Qiān Yè, it sounded too ethereal and faint.

Facing the rows of warriors, Qiān Yè spoke in a cold, emotionless voice, “Get out.”

But these were seasoned warriors, following orders, charging forward even against a dark lord. They did not retreat; instead, they stood firm, advancing step by step, like a steel wall, slowly pressing in on Qiān Yè.

Qiān Yè took one step, and in a blur, his speed increased to the point where he could hardly be seen. Like a meteor, he charged into the army formation!

With a thunderous boom, the earth trembled, and dozens of warriors were flung into the air. Despite their combined efforts, they could not withstand Qiān Yè’s charge. With a long whistle, the Eastern Peak’s blade swept forward, sending the last dozen warriors flying. Qiān Yè stepped forward, breaking through the battle formation!

A window shattered on the side of the street, and a figure as swift as smoke brushed past Qiān Yè. Several soft thuds later, several bloody holes appeared on Qiān Yè’s body. He staggered but continued towards Lì Fēngshuǐ.

The figure reappeared dozens of meters away, a skinny man with a dagger, sharp yet inconspicuous, which had pierced even Qiān Yè’s flesh. But he felt no joy, only fear, as he looked down at his body. A red line appeared between his chest and abdomen, and then his body split along the line.

In the brief moment of passing, Qiān Yè endured several strikes, only retaliating with a single slash that cut the man in half.

Two muscular warriors, a man and a woman, wielding giant axes and heavy swords, clearly relying on brute strength, approached the street.

Qiān Yè quickened his pace, reaching the two warriors in a few steps, and charged!

Another boom, and Qiān Yè bore two deep, bone-deep wounds. But he had already passed through the two warriors, leaving them behind.

The axes and swords clattered to the ground, and the warriors, weakened, fell to their knees, heads bowed, never to rise again. Blood silently pooled beneath them, soon filling the street.

Qiān Yè saw Lì Fēngshuǐ ahead, retreating under the protection of dozens of personal guards. The distance was well within the range of void flash.

Just as Qiān Yè was about to move, he paused, glancing at a nearby house. Behind the window stood a young man, clean and fair, holding a short-barreled origin gun with a bayonet. Though his origin power was strong, his eyes were filled with fear, his hands trembling. Upon meeting Qiān Yè’s gaze, his face turned ashen, and he retreated, shaking.

After witnessing several battles, the young man knew well that Qiān Yè absorbed attacks with his body and then struck back with lethal force. So he knew facing Qiān Yè meant certain death. Having served in the military for years, with countless lives on his hands, he thought he was used to death. But now, facing it clearly, he realized the terror between life and death was no empty phrase.

Qiān Yè looked away, ignoring the cowering enemy, his eyes shifting from blood-red to sapphire as he stared at Lì Fēngshuǐ.

Now, with loyal subordinates either injured, dead, or frightened, Lì Fēngshuǐ found himself with no reliable fighters. He roared, “Red Scorpion, hold him back at any cost!”

Several Red Scorpion officers and soldiers rushed at Qiān Yè, ready for a mutual destruction. Qiān Yè’s pupils narrowed, the Eastern Peak dancing lightly, deflecting the Red Scorpion warriors. Facing former comrades, he hesitated to kill.

Suddenly, Lì Fēngshuǐ, like a ghost, approached, slapping a Red Scorpion soldier’s back. The two fused, hurling themselves at Qiān Yè.

Caught off guard, Qiān Yè blocked with his arm, feeling icy origin power stab into him, aiming for his heart. Lì Fēngshuǐ’s origin power, extremely vicious, seemed to counteract blood energy, making it difficult even for Qiān Yè’s dark golden blood. Fortunately, the Dawn’s Light origin power effectively countered this, protecting his heart and vital organs. But the blood core was not within its protection, and several origin spikes hit it, causing Qiān Yè to pale and cough up blood.

Lì Fēngshuǐ, having struck, retreated like a specter, grabbing Night Pupil’s neck, “Qiān Yè, surrender or I’ll kill her! You, break Qiān Yè’s hands!”

Qiān Yè did not move, instead, he gazed at the Red Scorpion officer. The officer, now a channel for Lì Fēngshuǐ’s attack, had his insides and muscles destroyed, bones turning to pulp. He collapsed, his face frozen in agony.

Dozens of elite warriors surrounded him, cautiously approaching. Two brave ones, wielding axes, aimed for Qiān Yè’s hands.

Qiān Yè exhaled, and with a wave, the Eastern Peak circled, enveloping the frontmost warriors.

Blood mist rose as the warriors fell, disbelieving that Qiān Yè would truly kill them.

“Any who obstruct me, die.” Qiān Yè’s voice was calm, but everyone felt the clear intent.

Even the Fallen Angel and Red Scorpion warriors hesitated, understanding the difference between a fight to the death and a suicide.

Qiān Yè raised his head, locking eyes with Lì Fēngshuǐ. Lì Fēngshuǐ, sensing danger, suddenly slapped the long nails embedded in Night Pupil’s body!

Blood mists rose on the street, and the warriors, though not yet fallen, were drained of life. Qiān Yè, like a phantom, passed through the mists, appearing before Lì Fēngshuǐ and Night Pupil.

Lì Fēngshuǐ’s hand froze, unable to strike. As a seasoned warrior, he pulled Night Pupil in front of him, blocking Qiān Yè’s gaze and dispelling the invisible force controlling him.

Immediately, Lì Fēngshuǐ, ruthless, struck Night Pupil’s neck, ready to decapitate her.

At that moment, Qiān Yè looked into Night Pupil’s eyes. Her eyes were clear, determined, and full of unhidden passion and love.

“Trust me,” Qiān Yè whispered, and the Eastern Peak pierced Night Pupil’s abdomen, hilt-deep.

Lì Fēngshuǐ’s expression froze, his hand suspended in mid-air. Looking down, he saw the Eastern Peak’s blade pierce through Night Pupil and into his own abdomen. Endless blood energy flooded into his body.

Staggering, Lì Fēngshuǐ held his abdomen, pointing at Qiān Yè, his voice hoarse, “You, colluding with the Blood Clan, unforgivable! No one can save you, not even the Zhao Clan! There’s no place for you in the empire! Even if you save Night Pupil, her soul is half-destroyed. She will forget you, forget the past, forget everything!”

Carefully, Qiān Yè withdrew the Eastern Peak from Night Pupil, bandaging her wound with his torn shirt, then looked at Lì Fēngshuǐ.

The alarms still blared, and the Eternal City awoke. People began to gather, including nobles, military, and the Zhao Clan. They watched in shock, unsure of what had transpired.

“Colluding with the Blood Clan?” Qiān Yè, holding Night Pupil, suddenly sliced open his chest, revealing his pulsating blood core. His voice echoed across the city, “Here, there’s another Blood Clan!”

Lì Fēngshuǐ, stunned, his face changing colors, suddenly couldn’t contain the blood energy, and his chest and abdomen exploded, half his body shattered. Reaching out, he grasped at nothing. Lì Fēngshuǐ finally fell, his eyes remaining open until the very end.

“Qiān Yè, you…”

Before Night Pupil could finish, Qiān Yè said, “I’ll take you out. No one will separate us again!”

The Eastern Peak whistled, and Qiān Yè, carrying Night Pupil, soared into the sky, a meteor streaking through the deepest darkness, casting a brilliant glow.