46: Chapter 46: Yi's Arrow Burns the Sky, A Clash of Kings Decides the Fate of the World

Atop the main peak of Blood Shadow Mountain, the crimson sky churned like a raging sea. The Blood Demons True Body, a hundred-zhang-tall body, stood at the center of the array eye. Its massive, blood-red eyes stared fixedly at Lin Zhou. The King-level pressure radiating from its body felt tangible, stifling the million-strong army below, and even the air seemed dyed a viscous crimson.

"Ant! Do you think you can contend with this King just by borrowing a sliver of King-level power?" the Blood Demons True Body roared with laughter, its voice making the Void Realm hum and vibrate. With a wave of its hand, the sky-full of crimson energy spheres instantly exploded, transforming into countless streaks of blood-colored silk that coiled toward Lin Zhou like venomous snakes. These crimson streaks contained a bizarre power that devoured life force; wherever they passed, rocks shattered and vegetation instantly turned to ash.

Lin Zhou was bathed in ten thousand zhang of golden light as the power of Hou Yi flooded his limbs and bones. Under the enhancement of this King-level power, his mid-stage Pseudo-King body actually withstood the Blood Demon's pressure. He gripped the sun-shooting bow tightly with both hands; the golden patterns on the bow's body shone brilliantly, and True Sun Fire flowed along the bowstring like lava, making a sizzling sound.

"Blood Demon, you slaughtered a hundred thousand lives to refine this sinister grand array. Today, I shall act on behalf of Heaven and slay you here!" Lin Zhou's voice boomed like a great bell, echoing through the clouds.

The Eye of Evolution operated at full capacity, its pale purple gaze piercing through the crimson streaks to accurately capture the trajectory of each one. With a light flick of his wrist, the bowstring hummed, and three golden arrows—condensed from True Sun Fire and Hou Yi's power—shot through the air. Their tails trailed long plumes of flame, appearing like three falling stars.

"Divine Arrow of Sun-Shooting: Three Stars Aligned!"

The arrows collided violently with the crimson streaks, and golden flames erupted instantly with a deafening explosion. The crimson streaks dissolved rapidly as if meeting their natural nemesis, turning into wisps of black smoke. The arrows, their momentum undiminished, headed straight for the Blood Demon's three vital points: its eyes and its heart!

"Trivial tricks!" the Blood Demons True Body roared. It slammed down a hundred-zhang-wide palm, the wind from the strike carrying overwhelming Blood Devilish Qi, forcefully shattering the three arrows. Golden light splattered and blood mist churned as the shockwave spread outward, flipping rocks on the main peak several zhang into the air and revealing the deep black array eye runes beneath.

[Ding! Detected that the Blood Demons True Body has extremely high defensive strength; ordinary Divine Arrows of Sun-Shooting cannot break its defense!]

[Ding! Remaining time for Hou Yi's power is less than three minutes. Host, please complete the kill as soon as possible!]

[Ding! Triggered Desperate Mission: Fall of a King. Mission Requirements: Slay the Blood Demons True Body and destroy the core of the Blood Demon Grand Array. Mission Rewards: 1,000,000 points, Celestial Fox Physique Awakening progress increased to 90%, and unlock the sun-shooting bow's ultimate skill—Starfall!]

The System's notification tones rang out urgently, making Lin Zhou's heart tighten. The duration of Hou Yi's power was limited; the longer this dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for him. He took a deep breath, a flash of resolve crossing his eyes. The mid-stage Pseudo-King spiritual energy within him circulated frantically, merging with Hou Yi's power. The temperature of the True Sun Fire soared abruptly, faintly possessing the might to incinerate the sky and boil the sea.

"Su Ye! Qin Yue! Zhao Lie! Block the energy transmission to the array eye for me!" Lin Zhou shouted loudly.

Hearing this, the Sun-Shooting Squad below responded in unison. Su Ye's Berserker Bloodline went completely berserk as his muscles bulged. His Mountain-Opening Axe cleaved out a sky-full of raging flames, forcefully carving a path to the array eye. Qin Yue executed the Azure Cloud Sword Technique with all her might, her green sword Domain enveloping the area around the array eye as sword light slashed down on the runes like a rainstorm, attempting to cut off the energy flow. Zhao Lie hid within the clouds, his Demon-Breaking Arrows firing with pinpoint accuracy at the rune nodes; every arrow caused the crimson light of the array eye to dim slightly.

"You seek death!" Seeing the three dare to damage the array eye, the Blood Demons True Body flew into a rage. It stomped its foot violently, causing the main peak to tremble intensely. Countless crimson tentacles erupted from the ground, coiling toward the trio. These tentacles were incredibly tough and contained a poison that corroded spiritual energy. When Su Ye's Mountain-Opening Axe struck them, it could only leave a shallow mark.

"Spiritual Power Purification Domain! Open!" Seeing this, Lin Zhou activated his newly unlocked Domain without hesitation. Golden True Sun Fire instantly spread across a hundred-meter radius, enveloping the Sun-Shooting Squad and the array eye area. As the crimson tentacles touched the golden light, they immediately made a sizzling sound, shriveling rapidly like melting snow. The runes that had been eroded by Devilish Qi also began to grow dim.

"Thanks, Captain!" The spirits of Su Ye's trio were bolstered, and their offensive became even more fierce.

The Blood Demons True Body was so furious its eyes nearly split. Its crimson eyes stared fixedly at Lin Zhou, killing intent boiling within them: "Little beast, you have thoroughly enraged this King! Today, this King shall grind your bones to dust and scatter your ashes!"

It suddenly opened its massive maw, and a crimson light pillar containing King-level pressure shot forth. Wherever the pillar passed, the void distorted as if even space itself were being devoured. This was one of the Blood Demon's strongest killing moves, known as Blood Demon Devouring the Heavens, sufficient to instantly kill a Pseudo-King level expert!

Lin Zhou's expression was grave; he could feel the terrifying power of this light pillar. He no longer held back, pouring all the spiritual energy and Hou Yi's power within him into the sun-shooting bow. The bow was drawn into a full moon, and True Sun Fire condensed into a thousand-zhang-long golden giant arrow. Ancient runes were inscribed on the arrow's body, radiating a Kingly aura that looked down upon the world.

This arrow condensed everything Lin Zhou had learned; it was the strongest strike he could currently execute!

"Divine Arrow of Sun-Shooting: Starfall!"

With a roar, Lin Zhou released the arrow. The thousand-zhang giant arrow shot through the air, its golden light instantly illuminating the entire world, even tearing a massive hole in the crimson sky. Wherever the giant arrow passed, the crimson light pillar was instantly pierced through. The True Sun Fire burned frantically, devouring the pillar's energy completely.

"No—this is impossible!" For the first time, a look of extreme terror appeared in the Blood Demon's eyes; it could feel that this arrow contained the power to kill it. It hurriedly mobilized all its Blood Devilish Qi to condense a thick crimson shield in front of itself. The shield was covered in dense runes and emitted a bizarre luster.

However, in the face of the Starfall arrow, all defenses appeared utterly pathetic and powerless.

Boom!

The golden giant arrow slammed violently into the crimson shield, producing a sound that shook the universe. The shield shattered instantly, and golden flames surged into the Blood Demon's body like a tsunami, frantically incinerating its flesh and spiritual energy. The Blood Demons True Body let out a shrill, miserable scream as its hundred-zhang body twisted and shriveled within the flames, crimson energy spilling out like a tide.

"I am not reconciled! I am the Ancient Blood Demon, how could I die at the hands of a junior like you!" the Blood Demons True Body roared frantically. It actually attempted to detonate its own Primordial Spirit to perish together with Lin Zhou.

"Too late!" Lin Zhou's gaze was cold. His Eye of Evolution locked onto the core of the Blood Demon's Primordial Spirit, and he fired another golden arrow from the sun-shooting bow. The arrow hit the core with the precision of a meteor.

Puchi!

The Primordial Spirit core was pierced, and the Blood Demon's roar came to an abrupt halt. Under the scorching of the True Sun Fire, its body rapidly turned to ash, leaving only wisps of black Devilish Qi that were completely devoured by the Spiritual Power Purification Domain.

With the fall of the Blood Demons True Body, the Blood Demon Grand Array atop the peak instantly collapsed. The crimson sky shattered like glass, revealing the azure sky. Sunlight spilled down, dispelling the gloom of Blood Shadow Mountain. The million-strong army at the foot of the mountain erupted into earth-shattering cheers.

"We won! We won!"

"Long live Lord Lin Zhou! Long live the Sun-Shooting Squad!"

Su Ye, Qin Yue, and Zhao Lie slumped to the ground, gasping for air, their faces filled with the joy of victory. Lin Zhou slowly descended as the power of Hou Yi gradually faded. His face became incredibly pale, and the spiritual energy in his body was almost entirely exhausted, making him stagger as he stood.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the Desperate Mission: Fall of a King!]

[Ding! Slayed the King-level Blood Demons True Body, rewarded with 1,000,000 points!]

[Ding! Celestial Fox Physique Awakening progress increased to 90%, unlocked new ability: Celestial Fox True Form!]

[Ding! sun-shooting bow ultimate skill Starfall is unlocked; next use will not require consuming Hou Yi's power!]

[Ding! Blood Demon Grand Array destroyed, Blood Shadow Mountain crisis resolved. Host has obtained the title 'guardian of blue star', Reputation +1,000,000!]

As the System notifications rang out one after another, a warm current welled up in Lin Zhou's heart. He looked up at the sky; the sunlight falling on his face felt warm and pleasant.

Just then, the sound of something breaking through the air came from the distant horizon. Dozens of streaks of light were seen flying toward Blood Shadow Mountain. Leading them was an old man dressed in a white Daoist robe, possessing an ethereal, immortal air and radiating King-level pressure.

"Young friend Lin Zhou, congratulations on slaying the Blood Demon and saving all living beings!" The old man's voice was gentle and kind, falling on everyone's ears like heavenly music.

Lin Zhou recognized this old man as the Alliance Leader of the Martial Arts Alliance, one of the few King-level experts on Blue Star. Behind him followed the Commander-in-Chief of the Military, the Sect Masters of various Sects, and countless Martial Artists who had come to support.

"The Alliance Leader is too kind," Lin Zhou said, cupping his fists.

The Alliance Leader smiled slightly, his gaze falling on Lin Zhou with eyes full of admiration: "Young friend Lin Zhou, for you to have such strength and sense of responsibility at such a young age is truly a blessing for Blue Star. Although the Blood Demon is destroyed, there are still countless alien races eyeing us from beyond Blue Star. On behalf of the Martial Arts Alliance, I officially invite you to join the Alliance's Council of Elders. What do you think?"

Lin Zhou was stunned for a moment, then felt a surge of joy. Joining the Martial Arts Alliance's Council of Elders meant he would become one of the top experts on Blue Star, possessing higher status and resources. This would be of great help in improving his strength and protecting those around him.

"I am willing!" Lin Zhou nodded solemnly.

The Alliance Leader laughed heartily and patted Lin Zhou's shoulder: "Good! From now on, you are an Honorary Elder of the Martial Arts Alliance! After the battle of Blood Shadow Mountain, your name will surely resound throughout all of Blue Star!"

Sunlight spilled down as the cheers atop Blood Shadow Mountain continued without end.

Lin Zhou looked up toward the distant horizon, a flash of determination in his eyes. He knew that the destruction of the Blood Demon was only a beginning. The alien races beyond Blue Star were the true threat. But he was fearless; with the sun-shooting bow in hand and the Celestial Fox Physique upon him, he would surely protect this land and all the living beings upon it.

A new journey had only just begun.