CHAPTER 916: CHAPTER 573: NO ONE ANSWERS

All the pain and humiliation are worth it.

And this mask...

He reached out and gently touched the silver mask on his face, its cool surface resembling a fierce ghost.

He wanted to use Tang Fei’s blood to restore every damaged inch of skin.

When Tang Fei and Shen Xinglan were battling, Phoenix, Shen Qingping, and others retreated far away.

The two had long broken through the mountain gate, advancing to the rank of Grandmaster, and were outstanding among the lesser Grandmasters.

When these two fought, although it couldn’t equal a battle of Great Grandmasters which could destroy the heavens, within a hundred meters there would be wind blades and frost swords hard to resist.

Seeing the Evil Dragon conjured by Tang Fei being ignited and incinerated by the nine Fire Birds, Shen Qingping expressed concern and urgently said, "Should we go up and help?"

He was afraid Tang Fei would suffer.

More afraid that Tang Fei’s life would be in danger.

He deeply regretted it, feeling that Tang Fei shouldn’t have been allowed to fight in his stead.

It should be known that Tang Fei was now the leader of the Righteous Army, the Lord of multiple forces.

He represented not only himself but also a faction.

If he were killed by Shen Xinglan, then...

The Righteous Army would undoubtedly collapse.

Apart from him, no one could perfectly integrate these several forces.

The Qin and Lu clans each had their own agendas, remnants of the Tang Family remained loyal to Tang Fei, and the Princess Faction power represented by Phoenix...

Very complicated.

"Trust Tang Fei." Phoenix stared intensely at the battle, but her words were calmly spoken.

She trusted Tang Fei.

She believed Tang Fei would fight if he could win, and run if he couldn’t.

He’s not Shen Xinglan.

Oh, not like the Shen Xinglan of before...

The current Shen Xinglan... she couldn’t comprehend.

Shen Qingping glanced at Phoenix’s calm and determined expression, and lowered his long sword.

Yet, he secretly remained vigilant, prepared to rush forward at the first sign of trouble...

At this time, battlefield etiquette could no longer apply.

No matter what, Tang Fei had to live.

This is the advantage of being in a high position; sometimes you represent not just your own interests but the interests of a group.

So, not only do you feel concerned for your own safety, but many others care about your security too.

Those around didn’t favor the Evil Dragon, which seemed to lack spirit itself.

Under the burning of the nine Golden Crows, most of the Evil Dragon’s body and several claws disappeared without a trace.

As it descended, it crashed with a ’boom’ onto the ground.

A large pit appeared on the reddish-brown earth.

Then, something strange happened.

Countless black gases gathered toward the pit.

From the sky, from the sea, from deep underground...

"It’s attracting..." Shen Qingping exclaimed.

"No, it’s devouring," Phoenix corrected.

The Yellow Spring is not water; it’s where thousands of ghostly obsessions accumulate, and the sword technique Tongyou invites calamity.

Now, it is devouring the obsessions of thousands.

These creatures who died on the battlefield, which of them did not carry obsessions or grievances?

Their bodies instantly vaporized, but their souls...

They had homes, love, parents and family they longed for, and wives and children hidden within their hearts.

They could never return, never see them again.

How could they be reconciled?

In Feng City, at Liyu Port, how many soldiers perished in just this war?

The obsessions of tens of thousands were drawn by Sword Qi, then surged toward the Evil Dragon.

To mend the Evil Dragon’s broken body, to become part of it.

To continue fighting, continue slaughtering.

To vent the air of resentment.

Roar!

The Evil Dragon dragged its massive body, soaring to the heavens.

With claws bared, murderous intent rampant.

Through the black mist surrounding its dragon mouth issued an angry roar that shred everything.

Once again, it madly and courageously lunged toward the nine Golden Crows.

With Ghost Mansion energy, it battled against the Divine Buddha Light.

Rumbling...

Yet another collision.

Yet another slaughter.

Yet another wailing of ghosts and howling of wolves...

Amid it, could be heard the cries of the Golden Crows.

The first clash of Sword Qi shattered the thunderclouds within a hundred-mile radius.

Though the sky was bright, the color turned a strange black-red.

As if the sun had been shrouded in a layer of black gauze.

Seeing the situation change, Shen Xinglan once again waved the Taia Sword in hand.

The golden flames bursting from the sword condensed into a three-legged divine bird, swooping down to claw at the Evil Dragon’s eyes.

This was the tenth great bird.

The sword wielder stepped on crimson haze, traversing the void, sword momentum like an ancient god patrolling, weaving myriad golden lights into a prison cage that covered the sky.

Shen Xinglan wanted to use the sword momentum to bind the Evil Dragon, then purify it with the Divine Buddha Light.

Filthy things from the land of Evil Ghosts cannot endure the light.

Tang Fei’s body equally maneuvered and leaped, wielding the Yin Erosion Sword to slash out eighty-one consecutive strikes.

Each strike released countless ghostly spirits, countless black Ghost Energy flew onto the Evil Dragon.

The world says evil cannot triumph over righteousness, but I insist on defying destiny.

Receiving nourishment from vast Yin Yang Qi, the Evil Dragon surrounded by black mist, its onslaught intensified fiercely.

It swallowed two burning Golden Crows in one gulp.

The Golden Crows screeched miserably, struggling on the brink of death.

Their golden bodies turned from red to pale, then transformed into black smoke, becoming a part of the Evil Dragon.

Even the Divine Buddha Light can be absorbed and devoured by the Nether River.

The Master of Taia Sword drew symbols in the air, and myriad rays of light poured down from the Nine Heavens.

Reinforcing the Prison Cage.

The Evil Dragon rampaged within the cage, breaking free with wild fury.

With one gulp, a Fire Bird was swallowed into its belly.

One gulp after another, it swallowed the sky full of golden flames into nothingness.

In the blink of an eye, it gnawed at the nine Suns until they were shattered and fragmented.

Tang Fei once again swung the sword, the tip of the Yin Erosion Sword pointing out a black vortex.

Spiraling and whirling, it swiftly flew towards the Evil Dragon.

The vortex merged with the Evil Dragon, forming a tornado stretching across the heavens and earth.

Rumble...

It crashed fiercely towards Shen Xinglan.

Shen Xinglan, realizing the imminent danger, knew this wind was fierce and unstoppable.

It was too late to dodge.

While retreating rapidly, he still slashed out 361 Sword Qi to block.

Alas, it was in vain.

Bang!

Shen Xinglan was hit in the chest by the tornado.

Pfft...

A mouthful of blood spurted out.

His body, like a kite with a broken string, flew towards the unknown with countless times the acceleration.

"General..."

"Save the General quickly..."

Countless people flew towards where Shen Xinglan was falling.

Shen Annan led the entire Dragon Camp pouncing towards Shen Xinglan.

At this moment, not to kill the enemy, but just to protect the master.

Shen Xinglan’s body fell into Shen Annan’s arms, but because the force of the tornado’s impact was too great, the two still tumbled continuously in the air.

"General..."

Shen Annan saw Shen Xinglan’s pale face and urgently called out.

Pfft...

Shen Xinglan tried to speak but unexpectedly vomited another mouthful of blood.

Lost!

He lost again!

He was growing, and so was Tang Fei.

He had trained the Great Sun Buddha Sword Technique to its peak, but Tang Fei...

What kind of evil Secret Book was he practicing?

At this moment, Shen Xinglan was in utter despair.

So-called fame and fortune, none of them mattered anymore.

The so-called Crown Prince, none of it mattered anymore.

There was only one thought, one voice in his mind:

Lost!

Lost again!

He couldn’t understand where he had lost.

He was very diligent, very hardworking, very dedicated...

And very talented.

He had even been disfigured, one could say he had already died once...

But why couldn’t he defeat Tang Fei?

By what right did he keep winning over him, keep taking everything he had?

It’s said that men don’t shed tears lightly, but at this moment, right here and now, Shen Xinglan’s eyes reddened...

He really wanted to cry.

Why, just why?

"General..."

"General..."

Shen Annan shouted loud.

Shen Xinglan was the battlefield commander, and now with him injured like this... what to do next?

Should they stay or leave, fight to the death or retreat, he had to say something.

Shen Annan himself didn’t dare to make a decision.

What if they were to be held accountable afterward?

His back was too weak, unable to bear such a heavy burden.

It could easily fracture.

"Artillery..."

Shen Xinglan knew the situation was critical and weakly said, "Order the Beihai Fleet... to shell Feng City..."

If the Beihai Fleet shelled Feng City, they could withdraw with ease.

The Beihai Fleet was their strongest backup.

"Yes." Shen Annan received the order and immediately used the encrypted communication system to call the Beihai Fleet’s commanding officer, Chen Binghan.

"Commander Chen Binghan..."

"Calling Commander Chen Binghan..."

"Requesting communication... requesting communication..."

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Over and over.

No response.