CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: UNEXPECTED HELP, NUCLEAR EXPLOSION

The battlefield shook under the weight of destruction. Huge blasts erupted one after another, shaking the earth as clouds of smoke and fire swallowed the plains. A wild stampede spread among the royal army, men screaming in terror as chaos overtook their ranks. Fear clung to the air like poison.

Above the sky, three colossal figures soared with divine arrogance—the Guardian Beasts of the Sanatan Flame Sect. Their shadows stretched across the battlefield like the hands of gods bringing judgment.

Dragzard roared, unleashing his Hyper Breath, a devastating blue beam that cut through the clouds and swept across the ground, blasting soldiers into dust. Blazejet hovered beside him, its pecks opening wide before releasing a torrent of blazing fire, flames pouring like a waterfall of destruction, reducing armored men into nothing but charred ash. The third, Arcarine, surrounded by blue aura as thunder gathered. With every flap, streaks of electric-blue lightning crackled through the heavens, striking the army in endless booms that lit the land like doomsday.

The battlefield turned into a scene of pure annihilation. The Sanatan Flame Sect members, though bloodied and exhausted, let out sighs of relief as the beasts rampaged. Hope flickered in their eyes. The battle, for the moment, was being handled by the mighty trio.

But then—

The scene shifted.

Standing amidst the chaos, Ye Xuan remained motionless, his eyes closed as though untouched by the destruction. On his right hand, a purple formation circle began to glow, pulsing with mysterious energy. Slowly, he opened his eyes, their gaze sharp and unyielding, before raising his hand toward the sky.

With a guttural growl, his voice thundered:

"Beast Suppression Formation!"

A ball of condensed purple energy formed in his palm before shooting upward like a spear of divine light. It pierced the heavens, reaching above the beasts before erupting in a violent blast.

A colossal formation bloomed across the sky, etched in ancient lines of violet fire. The beasts instantly sensed its danger. With defiant roars, they unleashed their combined might upon it. Dragzard’s beam, Blazejet’s inferno, and Arcarine’s lightning surged upward.

But before their strikes could touch the formation, a crushing spiritual pressure descended. The air trembled violently. Purple waves collided with the beasts’ attacks, swallowing them whole until nothing remained.

Shaurya, who had been watching, staggered backward in shock, his eyes widening in disbelief.

From the formation, countless chains emerged, glowing in a sinister purple flame. They writhed like serpents before snapping forward, binding the three Guardian Beasts. The ground trembled as the mighty creatures screamed in pain, their roars echoing like mountains collapsing.

Shaurya’s heart pounded.

"Hey Systu, what is going on?" he cried.

A translucent system window shimmered before him, words flowing in cold brilliance.

[This is a forbidden formation. Called Beast Suppression Formation. That is made to suppress any beast. And by its power it can suppress any beast which is below Nascent Soul.]

Shaurya’s breath caught. His face tightened in shock.

"What should I do now?"

The System replied without hesitation:

[You have to retreat your beasts or otherwise that formation will damage their cultivation.]

Panic flashed in Shaurya’s eyes.

"Then retreat them!"

[It will take 50 Dharma points.]

"I don’t care, just bring them back!" Shaurya barked urgently.

The system chimed.

[Ding... Beasts retreated successfully. 50 Dharma points deducted. 100 Dharma points left.]

A dazzling blue radiance enveloped the beast trio, followed by streaks of golden light. In an instant, the mighty guardians vanished from the battlefield.

Ye Xuan’s composure faltered. His eyes widened in disbelief as the beasts disappeared from his trap.

Shaurya let out a heavy sigh, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"I didn’t expect he have such kind of things."

The disciples and elders of the Sanatan Flame Sect stood frozen in confusion, whispers spreading among them.

Wang Tian clicked his tongue.

"Tsch. This kingdom is not that useless."

Luo Chen frowned, his voice trembling with curiosity.

"What do you mean and what is that formation? And why did master retreat the beasts?"

Wang Tian’s eyes narrowed as he spoke with a grave tone.

"That formation is a forbidden ancient formation for this time. People like you would not know it. In my era, this technique was mainly used by beast tamers or sects. They caught or tamed beasts with the help of it."

Luo Chen’s eyes widened as realization struck.

"Oh. Now I understand."

Wang Tian stretched his neck with a crack, his expression sharpening as he walked forward.

"Let’s see who kills more enemies."

Excitement sparked in Luo Chen’s gaze.

"This time I will not lose."

Both men rushed into the fray, blades flashing as they tore through the remaining royal soldiers, crimson blood splattering under their strikes.

The scene then shifted once more.

Ye Xuan returned to his throne, sitting with calm arrogance as though nothing had happened. The Queen beside him gazed at him with unease.

"I didn’t thought we have to use an ancient technique."

Ye Xuan merely smiled in silence.

From the dust of the battlefield, two figures emerged—Lu Fang and Sheng Lu. Their bodies battered yet unbroken, their eyes sharpened with determination.

In front of them stood twelve imposing figures radiating royal arrogance. The air around them seemed heavier, charged with noble pressure.

They were the seven princes and three princesses of the kingdom.

Lu Fang’s eyes locked onto them. Behind the group, upon a towering boulder, stood two figures—a prince and a princess—watching from above with regal authority.

Sheng Lu narrowed his eyes.

"Those two standing behind them on the rock. Why are they looking like their leaders?"

Lu Fang’s expression hardened.

"They are the children of the Queen."

A grin stretched across Sheng Lu’s lips.

"You have a personal grudge with them, so tell me. Would you lose from them?"

Lu Fang closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. The battlefield’s smoke filled his lungs, before he exhaled slowly, his lips curling into a confident smile. His eyes opened, sharp as blades.

"Nah. I’d win."

Sheng Lu laughed boldly, his voice ringing across the battlefield.

"Then leave the rest to me."

Lu Fang’s gaze hardened, his blade glinting with suppressed intent.

"Would you handle ten at a time?"

Sheng Lu’s lips stretched into a wide grin, his eyes flashing with madness.

"Child’s play."

Before the words could settle, a soft female voice drifted through the smoke and dust, carrying with it an edge of amusement.

"Can I join you?"

Both men froze, confusion flashing across their faces as they turned toward the haze. Slowly, a figure stepped forward from the swirling dust.

Lu Fang’s breath hitched. His eyes widened in shock, his jaw falling open as though struck by lightning.

Sheng Lu noticed his companion’s trembling expression.

"Hey, what happened? Why are you shocking like you saw a ghost?"

Through the fading haze, a woman emerged, her presence radiating both elegance and lethality. She was dressed in a light-green full robe that flowed with the wind, layered with a dark-green floating robe that shimmered faintly under the moonlight. Long sleeves wrapped around her arms, covered by dark green handwear. A black belt cinched her slender waist, and white armor guarded her shoulders and biceps. Her raven-black hair framed her face, and her piercing green pupils gleamed like gemstones. Her skin was pale as moonlight, glowing faintly under the battlefield’s scattered fires. She stood at 5’4, wielding a long sword resting within a green scabbard in her right hand.

Her lips curled into a mocking grin as her voice cut into the silence.

"Lu Fang, do I look like a ghost to you?"

Lu Fang staggered back, fear flashing in his eyes. His voice cracked as he stammered out an apology, utterly taken aback.

Sheng Lu stood there, utterly lost in confusion, his gaze darting between the two.

Then Lu Fang spoke, his voice shaking.

"She... She is Jun Hua, my ex-fiancée."

For a moment, Sheng Lu’s face remained blank, until the realization struck him like a thunderbolt. His eyes widened in shock.

"Your ex-fiancée?" He suddenly screamed, spinning toward Lu Fang. His hands clamped down on his companion’s shoulders, shaking him violently. "You are saying this angel-like girl is your fiancée?"

Lu Fang’s voice cracked under pressure, his face burning red.

"Ex... Ex-fiancée."

Before either could speak further, another roar split the air. From atop a towering rock, the Crown Prince stood with the Crown Princess beside him, his expression twisted in fury.

"Jun Hua! What are you doing here? Don’t forget you are now my fiancée. Our engagement is after this war!"

Jun Hua smirked, her eyes narrowing in disdain.

"Who agreed to marry you? From the start, I only agreed to marry Lu Fang. It’s my sect which agreed to my marriage with you, not me."

Lu Fang’s heart thumped violently in his chest. His face flushed as he froze, staring at her in disbelief.

The Crown Prince roared again, his aura bursting forth in rage.

"Are you betraying your sect by going against their order?"

Jun Hua tilted her head, her confidence unshakable. She shook her shoulders as if brushing off a burden, then replied with a calm smile.

"I already left that sect. So their rule is not applied on me now."

The words sent a wave of shock through the battlefield.

Lu Fang stepped forward, disbelief written across his face.

"Hey Jun Hua, what are you saying?"

Jun Hua winked at him playfully.

Before the silence could settle, two figures leapt from the dust—Xiao Rui and Lee Bie—landing in front of Lu Fang with sharp glares. A moment later, Zong Bu joined them.

Lee Bie shouted first, his voice full of betrayal.

"We thought you are a member of our Single Mingle Organisation!"

Xiao Rui pointed at him accusingly.

"You have a fairy-like girlfriend!"

Zong Bu crossed his arms with a scowl.

"You traitor."

Lu Fang’s face twisted into an awkward smile as he tried desperately to calm them down.

But the atmosphere darkened as the Crown Prince unleashed a wave of killing intent. His aura roared like a storm, forcing them all to turn toward him.

Sheng Lu snorted.

"Oh, we forgot about them."

Jun Hua stepped forward, her voice sharp as her blade.

"They are not important to be remembered."

Her words struck the Crown Prince like an arrow to the heart, his rage boiling over. He pointed a trembling finger at them, his voice erupting like thunder.

"Kill them all!"

The remaining seven princes and three princesses roared, charging forward.

Jun Hua drew her sword from its scabbard, the blade glowing faintly with emerald energy.

"Leave the princesses to me."

She darted forward with a swift step, heading straight for the three princesses.

Sheng Lu grinned wildly.

"And leave the princes to me."

With a surge of speed, he rushed forward, his aura crackling around him.

Lu Fang remained behind, his eyes locked on the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. His expression hardened, fury burning in his gaze. Then, with a roar, he charged straight at them.

At the same time, Cheng Fang descended near Xiao Rui, Lee Bie, and Zong Bu.

He landed casually, dust rising around his feet. His face carried a lazy grin as he spoke.

"We should go and finish the remaining soldiers."

The three exchanged glances, then nodded before rushing off together.

The scene split into chaos.

Jun Hua dominated her battle, her movements sharp and elegant. With a swift strike, she blew the three princesses backward. They crashed into the ground, coughing blood.

Jun Hua sneered, her voice dripping with mockery.

"What a piece of trash you all princesses are."

Her green aura flared violently, enveloping her sword. Raising it high, she screamed:

"Emerald Vortex Slash!"

The blade cut horizontally through the air, releasing a devastating vortex of green energy. The princesses raised their swords in desperation, but the instant their blades met the attack, steel shattered into fragments.

The vortex crashed into them with a roar.

Swoosh!

Blood splattered across the air, crimson raining onto the battlefield. The upper and lower halves of their bodies separated grotesquely, collapsing into pools of red.

Jun Hua sheathed her sword with elegance, a smile gracing her lips as if nothing had happened.

On the other side, Sheng Lu gripped the severed head of a prince, his grin twisted with delight. The corpse fell behind him with a heavy thud.

The six remaining princes screamed and charged together, their blades flashing. Sheng Lu stood calm, his body radiating crimson energy. With a snap of his fingers, a Crimson Barrier formed, halting their blades in a shower of sparks.

Then, with a surge of aura, he repelled them backward like leaves in a storm.

In the next heartbeat, he vanished with aerial steps, reappearing before a purple-haired prince. His bare hand pierced through the man’s chest, blood spraying as the prince coughed violently before collapsing lifeless to the ground.

The five remaining princes shook with terror, but still they attacked. Sheng Lu vanished again, reappearing before a white-haired prince. He grabbed the man’s face and slammed him into the earth, shaking the ground.

With merciless brutality, Sheng Lu smashed his fist into the man’s skull, crushing it into gore.

The four left froze midair, trembling uncontrollably. Sheng Lu looked up at them with a smile.

"Next."

They panicked, attempting to flee.

But Sheng Lu’s form blurred. He appeared above a black-haired prince and struck his head with a brutal fist, sending the man crashing to the earth. His aura surged, his fist glowing pink as he screamed:

"Bizarre Fist!"

He struck downward. The earth shattered, dust surging in waves. When the air cleared, only blood remained—the prince’s body reduced to pulp.

Another prince tried to run, but Sheng Lu grabbed his ankle mid-stride. The prince screamed, tears spilling from his eyes as Sheng Lu spun him like a tornado before hurling him into another, both bodies colliding and tumbling into the dirt.

Descending before them, Sheng Lu smiled wider as the two trembled and cried.

"Please... Don’t kill us. Please."

His smile only grew darker.

One of them, a yellow-haired prince, lowered his head in despair—until a warm splash hit his face. Slowly, he lifted his gaze and saw the horrifying sight beside him: the other prince’s head had been obliterated, blood pouring like a waterfall.

In desperation, the yellow-haired prince pulled a dagger from his waist and lunged. The blade bent the moment it touched Sheng Lu’s skin.

Sheng Lu burst into laughter.

"Fool. You really thought a normal dagger could pierce through my iron-like body?"

His hand clamped onto the prince’s face. The man screamed and cried, struggling in vain. Sheng Lu’s devilish smile widened as he tightened his grip, crushing the prince’s skull into a shower of blood.

Wiping his hands with a handkerchief, Sheng Lu strolled to a nearby boulder. He sat down, taking a slow breath, and gazed upward at the sky where sparks of energy flared violently.

There, Lu Fang fought the Crown Prince and Crown Princess together.

His blade clashed against the Crown Prince’s, sparks exploding in bursts of light. With brute force, he pushed him backward, forcing the princess to catch him midair. Both siblings were bloodied, panting heavily, their eyes filled with disbelief.

The Crown Princess screamed in fury.

"How? How is this possible? You surely are weak from both of us, then how?"

Lu Fang’s lips curved into a confident smile.

"I am never weak from both of you. I lost last time just because you had more support. Even in training duels, I never showed my power. Otherwise, you are no match for me in one-on-one battle. And after joining the Sanatan Flame Sect, I became more powerful. Now, I am going to kill you both!"

His roar echoed like thunder. A brilliant yellow aura erupted around him.

"Core Formation, Level Ten!"

Shock painted the faces of the Crown Prince and Princess. Even Jun Hua, watching from afar, widened her eyes in disbelief.

In her heart, she thought, Lu Fang... when did you become this strong? He was two levels behind me, and now he stands at my level?

Back in the fight, Lu Fang’s sword glowed with surging blue energy. He closed his eyes briefly, his aura rising like a storm. Then he opened them—his gaze blazing with arcs of thunder.

"Thunder Storm Strike!"

His sword cleaved forward, lightning exploding outward.

The Crown Prince and Princess screamed, raising their blades.

"Jade Imperial Slash!"

A crimson slash burst forth, colliding with Lu Fang’s thunder strike. Sparks tore across the battlefield, shockwaves ripping through the ground.

But the crimson slash shattered.

Their eyes widened in horror.

Swoosh!

Blood filled the air as both the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were beheaded, their bodies spraying crimson fountains before collapsing lifelessly.

Lu Fang exhaled heavily, his shoulders relaxing. He descended beside Sheng Lu. Their hands clapped in a fierce high-five, both smiling with battle-born pride.

Jun Hua approached, placing a hand on Lu Fang’s shoulder with a soft smile.

"You did really good job."

Lu Fang’s face flushed red, his heart racing. Sheng Lu laughed loudly at his friend’s reaction.

But above the battlefield, fury erupted like a storm.

The Queen’s face twisted with rage, her aura flaring dark and violent.

"My beloved children... That damn bastard killed both my children!"

Her purple aura exploded, shaking the palace walls. The Emperor grabbed her hand tightly.

"Calm down."

The Queen’s eyes burned with madness as she screamed.

"How could I calm down when they killed my children?! They are also your children! Your future heirs! They killed all of them!"

Ye Xuan’s voice broke through, his tone low and serious.

"When did I say I don’t care? I will avenge all of my children and concubines. But for now... enjoy the war. I never felt this type of feeling for ages."

The Queen, still trembling with grief, clenched her teeth, trying to calm herself under his words, though her fury remained burning within.

The scene shifted again to the vast battlefield, where thousands of soldiers stood gathered in a dense formation. The air was thick with dust, and the heavy silence trembled with the anticipation of slaughter.

From within the swirling haze, a resounding thud echoed as a foot slammed down on a massive rock jutting out of the ground. The dust parted slightly, revealing Xiao Rui, standing tall and confident, a faint smile curving his lips. His figure radiated assurance, as if he had already claimed victory.

Behind him, silhouettes emerged one by one through the drifting fog—Cheng Fang, Zong Bu, and Lee Bie. They too were smiling, their eyes fixed on the sea of soldiers awaiting them, their faces alight with a mixture of arrogance and hunger for battle.

Xiao Rui broke the silence, his voice cutting through the air with calm certainty.

"This much should be enough."

Lee Bie stepped forward slightly, his tone casual, though his words carried weight.

"Our kill count is forty-five thousand."

Zong Bu’s lips twisted into a grin as he added,

"So if we kill them all... then we can be in the top three."

Cheng Fang cracked his knuckles, the sound sharp and heavy in the tense atmosphere.

"Probably, we can even take first position."

Xiao Rui’s eyes gleamed with greed as he smirked.

"If we reach first place, then that Gold Tales is ours."

The four of them stood side by side, their smiles dark, their hunger for power dripping from their expressions. The desire for glory and greed burned visibly on their faces.

[System Note: This scene revolves around a competition organized by the disciples themselves. The challenge is simple—whichever team kills the most enemies will be declared the winner. Disciples form groups, like the four standing here. The top three teams will be rewarded, and the prize is Gold Tales, provided by Shaurya.

Shaurya frowned, crossing his arms.

"Wait... why should I be the one to pay? The competition is theirs."]

The scene shifted once again.

Xiao Rui, Lee Bie, Zong Bu, and Cheng Fang all released their auras simultaneously. The ground quaked faintly beneath them, cracks spiderwebbing outward as the pressure surged. Their fists glowed brilliantly with golden energy, illuminating the dust around them like shards of sunlight breaking through a storm.

Xiao Rui glanced at the others, his smile unwavering.

"We are trying this for the first time."

Zong Bu frowned slightly, uncertainty flickering in his tone.

"Will it work?"

Lee Bie exhaled, a hint of tension in his voice.

"Hope so."

Cheng Fang’s eyes narrowed with determination as he stepped closer.

"Let’s try and find out."

The three of them—Cheng Fang, Lee Bie, and Zong Bu—moved behind Xiao Rui, positioning themselves in perfect sync. Their golden fists pulsed like miniature suns.

Lee Bie raised his arm and spoke firmly,

"On the count of three."

Xiao Rui bent his right leg slightly, shifting his stance as he drew his fist backward, his body preparing to channel what was to come.

Lee Bie’s voice rang out first.

"Three..."

Cheng Fang continued, his tone deep and resonant.

"Two..."

Then Zong Bu roared, his voice carrying like thunder across the field.

"One!"

In unison, they all screamed, thrusting their golden fists forward. A radiant surge of golden energy erupted, converging into a single beam of pure brilliance. The torrent of power slammed into Xiao Rui, who stood as the focal point, absorbing every fragment of their combined might.

His entire body was immediately engulfed in blinding golden light. Sparks of energy crackled around him, arcs dancing wildly across his skin. His silhouette shone like a war deity descending upon the battlefield, his aura expanding outward in a violent shockwave that scattered the lingering dust.

Meanwhile, from a distance, Shaurya observed with narrowed eyes, his expression caught between confusion and disbelief.

"Now what are they doing?" he muttered, his voice laced with irritation and curiosity.

The scene came back to the battlefield.

Lee Bie’s voice tore through the chaos as he screamed,

"Do it, Xiao Rui!"

Xiao Rui’s eyes snapped open, blazing with intensity. His fist shimmered, turning completely golden as energy surged through his body. With a roar that shook the air, he screamed,

"Quadra Dragon Fist!"

He raised his fist high, straightening his arm as though delivering a devastating punch. Behind him, the other three—Cheng Fang, Lee Bie, and Zong Bu—also screamed in unison, their voices merging with the roar of power.

A monstrous aura erupted. From Xiao Rui’s fist, a colossal dragon-shaped energy burst forth, four times larger and stronger than any dragon aura they had ever conjured before. Its sheer pressure shattered the ground in jagged lines as it surged forward, ripping apart everything in its path.

The Royal Army standing before them froze in terror. Their eyes widened, jaws slack, as the overwhelming dragon aura bore down upon them. Soldiers stumbled backward, many collapsing in fright, crushed by nothing more than the weight of its pressure.

The dragon aura did not stop. It ripped straight through the soldiers, annihilating them with suffocating force, and barreled directly toward the massive Chariot at the heart of the battlefield.

From atop the chariot, Ye Xuan’s eyes widened in horror. In an instant, he seized the Queen’s hand, his voice sharp with urgency.

"Teleportation!"

A talisman flared in his palm. Light enveloped them both, and in the blink of an eye, they vanished from sight.

The golden dragon aura slammed into the chariot.

BOOM!

A cataclysmic explosion erupted, an earth-shattering detonation so massive it resembled a nuclear blast. The impact tore the battlefield apart, a towering mushroom-shaped cloud rising like a tree of destruction.

The earth split, the ground caved in, and dust rolled outward in a storm like a raging sandstorm. The shockwave was so powerful that even the distant mountain peaks trembled. Trees at the edge of the dense forests were uprooted and wiped away as if they had never existed.

Xiao Rui blinked, sweat trickling down his temple. His lips twisted into an awkward smile.

"Oh oh... we messed up."

Behind him, Lee Bie, Cheng Fang, and Zong Bu stood frozen, their jaws dropped, their eyes bulging in disbelief. Without hesitation, they threw up crimson barriers as the explosion’s overwhelming force swallowed them whole.

From the sidelines, Shaurya’s eyes widened, his jaw dropping in utter shock. Across the field, Wang Tian, Luo Chen, the elders, Lin Shu—everyone—watched in stunned confusion.

The blast expanded across twenty miles, blanketing the battlefield in chaos. Cracks ripped across the land, spiderwebbing violently. The entire world seemed to collapse under the scale of destruction.

---

Time passed.

Amidst the choking cloud of dust, faint lights began to flicker. Slowly, the thick haze started to fade. Figures emerged, battered but alive.

Shaurya grit his teeth, his aura flaring outward in a burst that scattered the dust around him. His eyes blazed with frustration as he roared.

Other sect members emerged as well, having protected themselves with defensive barriers.

From beneath a heap of shattered rocks, Wang Tian stumbled out, his robes torn. Anger twisted his face as he shouted,

"Those fools! Do they want us dead?!"

Luo Chen descended beside him, exhaling sharply with relief.

"Saved by a hair’s breadth..."

The scene shifted again.

The dust finally cleared, revealing the battlefield in its entirety. What had once been solid ground was now an apocalyptic wasteland. A massive crater stretched before them—two miles wide and ten miles deep—as though a meteor had fallen from the heavens. The land was cracked in every direction, boulders reduced to rubble, and the entire royal army obliterated without a trace.

From beneath the rubble, Xiao Rui burst free, shoving rocks away with a loud grunt. His body was battered, but his spirit still burned. Lee Bie, Cheng Fang, and Zong Bu soon followed, dragging themselves out.

The four of them turned to face the crater, their expressions stunned.

Lee Bie’s lips trembled before he spoke, his voice weak with disbelief.

"Did... did we...?"

Xiao Rui gave a stiff nod. His silence said more than words.

They glanced around at the total devastation. The battlefield was destroyed beyond recognition. Spiderweb cracks stretched endlessly, massive boulders shattered into dust. Not a single soldier remained alive.

Moments later, Wang Tian, Luo Chen, Sheng Lu, and Lu Fang descended in front of them, fury etched into their faces.

Sheng Lu cracked his knuckles, his voice low and dangerous.

"Don’t you think you should have told us earlier?"

Lu Fang’s face darkened as he snapped,

"You almost killed us!"

The four disciples could only laugh awkwardly, sweat dripping from their foreheads—just before the elders smacked them across the head in unison.

---

Shaurya, brushing the dirt from his shoulders, approached Lin Shu with concern in his eyes.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Lin Shu gave a small nod.

"Yes, I’m fine. What about you?"

Shaurya grinned brightly, as though nothing had happened.

"Fine, like always."

But Lin Shu’s gaze hardened as she glanced at the field of corpses.

"The whole army is dead... What about the Emperor and Queen? Did they die too?"

Shaurya shook his head, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"No. They’re alive."

Lin Shu tilted her head.

"You’re sure?"

Shaurya smiled confidently, looking upward.

"Damn sure."

Following his gaze, Lin Shu’s eyes widened in shock. Floating high above the battlefield were Ye Xuan and Ye Le, untouched, their figures unharmed by the cataclysm.

"How... how did they even survive that explosion?" Lin Shu whispered in awe.

Shaurya’s tone turned sharp with insight.

"Just before the blast, Ye Xuan used a teleportation talisman. That’s how they escaped."

Lin Shu glanced at him with admiration.

"Wow... your eyes are very sharp."

Shaurya puffed his chest proudly, the corner of his lips curling into a smug smile.

Above, Ye Xuan gazed down at the battlefield, his eyes narrowing at the devastation. His once-mighty army lay in ruins, the earth cracked like shattered glass, and the massive crater gaped like the wound of a fallen world.

His gaze finally locked onto Shaurya. Their eyes met. Shaurya stood tall, smiling with an unshakable confidence.

Ye Xuan’s lips curved into a grin. He turned to the Queen beside him.

"It’s time for the final war."

She nodded firmly, retreating back.

Shaurya’s aura surged faintly as he turned to Lin Shu, his tone sharp and commanding.

"Take everyone to the Dark Pearl."

Lin Shu nodded and immediately called out.

"Everyone, go to the Dark Pearl!"

Hearing her words, the survivors rushed toward the artifact. In moments, the sect members gathered around the Dark Pearl, their cheers echoing as they looked upon Shaurya.

He smiled brightly and gave them a reassuring thumbs up before turning back to the battlefield. His body flickered, and in an instant, he was airborne, facing Ye Xuan directly while keeping a measured distance.

Ye Xuan’s aura burst forth, oppressive and heavy, his grin filled with menace.

"Shall we start?"

Shaurya’s golden aura flared in response, his eyes blazing.

"I’m waiting."

Their eyes locked, power crashing against power, their auras rippling and clashing in the air.

Both men roared simultaneously and launched themselves forward, charging straight at one another.

---

To be continued...