The room was simple, containing only a table and a chair. Yè Tóng sat there, her gaze fixed on the Broken Years’ gun barrel. When she appeared, the Blood Throne seemed to tremble slightly, revealing his inner shock.
Yè Tóng’s eyes opened slightly, her faintly red pupils staring at her opponent. “You know me, as a fellow ancient bloodline, why do you wish to kill me?”
The Blood Throne fell silent for a moment before replying, “It is truly shocking, Your Majesty, that you have inherited all of his appearance. As a scion of holy blood, I extend my highest respect here. But it is a pity, for you will be the most exquisite work of art to be destroyed by the Broken Years. The humans do not wish to see you return to the Twilight Continent.”
“Humanity…” Yè Tóng’s eyes gradually changed, the red in her pupils becoming more vibrant and captivating. She lifted her head and looked at the Blood Throne, asking, “Why do you serve humanity?”
The Blood Throne smiled slightly and said, “I thought you would ask why humanity insists on stopping your return to the Twilight Continent. The price they offered me was not low, and now, two more human kings have arrived in the outer void, specifically to intercept you.”
Yè Tóng followed up with a casual inquiry, “Oh, why is that?”
The Blood Throne let out a long laugh, “Do you really want to know? I just don’t feel like telling you! Hahaha, time is up, it’s time to send you back to the river of blood!”
His words still echoed in the void when the Broken Years roared!
A brilliant, multi-colored light burst from the gun barrel, hurtling toward the small wooden cabin where Yè Tóng sat. The light expanded rapidly as it left the gun, reaching the cabin as a several-meter-wide sphere, filled with countless, multicolored fragments, resembling a dazzling meteor shower, crashing down on the cabin.
Each fragment was like an incredibly sharp blade, instantly cutting the cabin into countless tiny pieces, which then disintegrated in the void. More fragments surrounded Yè Tóng, cutting wildly around her.
Yè Tóng stood, extending one hand to form a crimson shield, blocking the countless fragments outside.
“Futile!” the Blood Throne laughed maniacally. His laughter was wild, and as he fired two more shots, the red in his eyes dimmed, showing the great toll these attacks took on him.
By the third shot, the fragments surrounding Yè Tóng nearly engulfed her. The relentless cutting made her crimson shield waver, on the verge of collapsing.
But her face remained calm, as if nothing could move her, even death.
The Blood Throne’s face twisted further, his eyes flashing with madness. He murmured in a nearly song-like whisper, “Yes, that’s right, that’s right! Tear apart this ultimate beauty, and my Broken Years can achieve true perfection…”
Deep in the void, the battle continued.
Zhang Boqian held back many foes with his strength alone, while the fight between King Jizhi and the Eternal Flame was beyond the reach of ordinary strongmen. Even princes dared not get close, and dukes and their fleets kept a safe distance.
At this point, King Jizhi had gradually gained the upper hand, fighting more confidently. Though the Eternal Flame was somewhat passive, defeating him was still a distant prospect.
Both Zhang Boqian and King Jizhi displayed the pinnacle of combat art, making any mistakes almost impossible. In the long, drawn-out battle, they would likely be the ones smiling in the end. The Great Dukes of Evernight could only rely on their innate racial advantages and greater original force reserves to match Zhang Boqian and King Jizhi in endurance.
However, after gaining the advantage, King Jizhi did not press further, instead maintaining his lead firmly without seeking to expand it, which was puzzling.
The Eternal Flame suddenly said, “Ji Wentian, it’s futile. If you want to help Zhang Boqian, you must defeat me first.”
“Does he need my help?” King Jizhi smiled.
“Not necessarily. Zhang Boqian is strong, but he’s too young, even for your short-lived race. This time, we brought people specially chosen, including some who can counter his spatial abilities. Perhaps soon, we can surprise you.”
King Jizhi remained unperturbed and laughed, “Perhaps so, but Zhang Qingyang’s initial attack was heavy. I think your people are a bit scared of him. At such a distance, any attack would likely fail.”
Now, Zhang Boqian’s battlefield against Lothar and Mephisto was surrounded by Evernight strongmen, with the three princes still relatively close, and the dukes further away, each at their maximum attack range.
The void differed from inland, and long-range attacks lost much of their power in the unpredictable void. At this distance, those below the level of Great Duke or King could barely control the transmission of their power. Even if the Evernight strongmen had special attacks, the essence of their power wouldn’t change, making them ineffective against Zhang Boqian.
Clearly, Zhang Boqian’s opening move was a powerful secret technique, instantly killing a duke and intimidating the Evernight strongmen, even the cautious princes.
In fact, each prince had the power to match a Great Duke. The two experienced princes here, aside from Habus, were not naturally timid. Zhang Boqian’s attacks, though not fatal, would be very painful.
Now, even Mephisto was hesitant, giving Zhang Boqian the upper hand. Otherwise, he would have been at a disadvantage long ago.
Currently, both King Jizhi and Zhang Boqian were in a favorable position, able to fight or retreat. Neither seemed eager to harm the other, only maintaining the advantageous situation. But this could be a ruse, and if given the chance, neither would hesitate to strike.
Even if the battle ended in a draw, Evernight would still be at a loss, having lost a duke.
The Eternal Flame suddenly said, “Do you think keeping us here will stop us from picking up our charge?”
King Jizhi replied leisurely, “You can certainly pick up your charge, but this route is necessary. As long as you pass through here, I am willing to pay a price to keep you.”
The Eternal Flame snorted coldly, “If you know who she is, you should understand the deep connection between her and your race. Yet, you still dare to attack her?”
“Letting her return is like letting a tiger back to the mountains. Before the greater good, the past connection is nothing. Even I, and Qingyang, must follow the greater flow.”
The Eternal Flame sneered, “How noble! Your race is just a bunch of cunning and ruthless people!”
“Enough talk, let’s just fight. I’m quite idle lately and don’t mind a few days or weeks.”
“Do you think you can stall until the new world gate opens? Don’t dream about it.”
King Jizhi smiled, “Can’t we just try and see?”
Just then, Zhang Boqian asked, “Who exactly are we trying to stop?”
Before King Jizhi could answer, Mephisto sneered, “After all this time, hasn’t Qingyang Wang figured it out yet? It seems you’re not very popular with the royal family.”
“Shut up, you trash!” Zhang Boqian shouted, turning Mephisto’s face red as if it would bleed. Gritting his teeth, Mephisto didn’t dare engage in a melee, being ill-suited for close combat, especially with his weakened state.
After silencing Mephisto, Zhang Boqian said, “Old King, you’ve never said who we’re stopping. Now I’m curious, what is going on?”
King Jizhi sighed, “What use is knowing? Better to remain in the dark. Anyway, entangling here for a few days is enough.”
Zhang Boqian grew suspicious and pressed on, “If it’s so insignificant, why bring me here? Hasn’t the battle on the floating land already begun?”
This statement was straightforward. With five Great Dukes and Kings from both sides, plus many Evernight princes and dukes, this was no small matter.
King Jizhi remained calm, “When the time comes, you’ll know.”
Seeing King Jizhi’s reluctance, Zhang Boqian frowned but didn’t push further, his mind racing with thoughts.
Zhang Boqian had spies in the neutral territory and knew Qian Ye and Song Zining would soon set out. But he couldn’t think of any other significant figures. King Jizhi’s reluctance made Zhang Boqian suspect a connection to his own position, but the Dark Duke’s silence only deepened his confusion.
Lothar sneered, “You think the Council has only this much? We’ve already sent someone to bring the Princess back!”
King Jizhi was unperturbed, dodging the Eternal Flame’s counterattacks, “Really? You’ve sent someone… But even if you pick her up, you still have to pass through here. Do you think I’ll let you take her alive?”
After a pause, King Jizhi added, “Fine, to make you give up, I’ll tell you something. Your people can go to the neutral territory, so can mine. The person sent to end her life is probably already there.”
The Eternal Flame’s face darkened, “No, all the empire’s experts are accounted for. Who else can you send to the neutral territory?”
After a moment, the Eternal Flame paled, exclaiming, “The Blood Throne!”
King Jizhi was mildly surprised, smiling, “Indeed, the Eternal Flame is wise. We did hire the Blood Throne. At this moment, he should still be in the neutral territory. If he’s still there, she won’t stand a chance against the Broken Years.”
The Eternal Flame intensified his attacks, his face grim, but not as panicked as King Jizhi expected.
King Jizhi parried, lost in thought. With the pieces set, he could only wait and see.
On the floating island, everything around Yè Tóng had been annihilated, save for her crimson shield, which was barely holding against the countless colored fragments.
The Blood Throne’s eyes flashed, “Surviving three strikes from the Broken Years, you truly live up to your name. But without rescue, you’ll be its prey.”
Just then, a green light emerged from the void, striking the Blood Throne. He cried out, spewing a ruby-like blood bead, colliding with the green light.
The green light shattered, and the ruby dimmed, returning to the Blood Throne. The exchange seemed evenly matched.
As the Blood Throne fought the green light, a giant hand emerged from the void, plunging into the colored fragments, pulling Yè Tóng out.
The fragments shifted, targeting the green light left behind, forming a ball of colored shards.
A thunderous explosion scattered the fragments, each lethal.
One fragment zipped past, almost hitting the Blood Throne, leaving a thin line of blood on his cheek.
Unaware of the wound, the Blood Throne stared at the newcomer, an elegant, middle-aged man with a gentle gaze.
The Blood Throne’s eyes fixed on the man’s right hand, which had saved Yè Tóng and cleverly detonated the remaining power of the Broken Years.
The man paid a price, as green blood dripped from his fingertips.
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