52: The eighth level of bloodshed is an iron wall that is difficult to cross!

"Bastard!!!"

Grom's eyes were splitting with rage. The Black Iron Guard was his greatest reliance, the core of the Royal City's defense! But now, this elite force had been utterly crushed in a single encounter by a method he had never heard of!

No! He had to stop them, and first, it was that existence in the sky! If he could just kill him, this battle might still have a chance!

The bloody energy of the Festival Day Formation surged wildly into Grom's body. His already burly physique expanded another size, the veins beneath his skin bulging like writhing earthworms, and his single eye burned with a madness that sought to destroy everything.

"Die—!!!"

He stopped giving orders, concentrating all his power into the crimson long spear in his hand. He stomped fiercely, shattering the city bricks, and launched himself like a cannonball, soaring into the air, directly at Bai Xiao, who was suspended mid-air!

The spear tore through the air, letting out a sharp whistle. Dense bloody energy condensed on the spearhead, as if it wanted to punch a hole in the sky!

This spear strike gathered all of Grom's power as an eighth-tier expert, along with the Violent Blessing of the Festival Day Formation. Its might even subtly surpassed his own limits!

However, just as Grom was about to reach Bai Xiao, with the spearhead less than a hundred meters from its target—

"Boom!!!"

A dull, heavy sound echoed.

A burly figure, like a mountain rising from the earth, suddenly appeared in Grom's charge path.

It was a warrior clad in heavy fire-crystal armor, wielding a massive shield burning with molten flames.

It was Stone Rock!

"I say, this road is impassable!" Stone Rock growled in a booming voice, holding the Molten Lava Shield firmly in front of him. Flames blazed on the shield's surface, scorching the air until it warped.

"Get lost!!!"

Grom roared. At this moment, his eyes only saw Bai Xiao, and he paid no attention to this suddenly appearing "iron can." His spear continued its momentum, crashing fiercely into the burning giant shield!

"Clang—!!!!!"

A deafening clang of metal, accompanied by a violent energy shockwave, spread outwards!

Grom felt an unimaginable force rebound from the spearhead, numbing his arm and abruptly halting his forward momentum!

That seemingly ordinary Molten Lava Shield was unbelievably sturdy. Not only did it completely block his full-power strike, but the flames burning on the shield also spread along the spear shaft, scorching his arm and armor, making a "sizzling" sound.

What shocked him even more was that the opponent's strength was in no way inferior to his own, which was currently enhanced by the Festival Day Formation!

"You…" A hint of surprise flashed in Grom's single eye.

Just as Grom was firmly blocked by Stone Rock, falling into a momentary stalemate.

Bai Xiao, who had been indifferent, seemingly oblivious to the fierce battle below, finally made a move.

He slowly raised his hand.

He didn't draw a sword; instead, he spread his five fingers, palm facing upwards.

An indescribable, cold, and vast aura suddenly spread out, centered on him!

Halo: Ashen Extinction Ring — Activated!

Buzz—!

An invisible ripple swept across the battlefield.

The next moment, all Infinite City soldiers, whether they were charging infantry, cavalry rampaging through enemy lines, or archers firing arrows—the surfaces of their weapons, be they halberds, greatshields, long spears, or bows and arrows—all ignited with a layer of pale white flame!

These flames were not hot; instead, they emitted a bone-chilling coldness, as if directly affecting the soul!

"Soul Scorch!"

Any Goblin struck by a weapon entwined with pale flames not only suffered physical damage and fire burns but also clearly felt an unbearable, deep-seated pain from their soul! As if their soul was being ignited and burned by an invisible fire!

The screams became even more shrill. Many Goblins, stimulated by the Festival Day Formation to be fearless of death, after enduring this soul-level attack, saw the madness in their eyes rapidly replaced by a deeper fear, and their movements showed obvious sluggishness and confusion.

Grom, who was wrestling with Stone Rock, naturally also felt this terrifying aura that suddenly descended and covered the entire battlefield.

He could clearly see his Goblin soldiers struggling in pain after coming into contact with that pale flame.

This… this is… a domain? No! It's a halo! Similar to that cavalry commander, but even… even more terrifying!

Two heroes?!

Grom's heart clenched violently, a cold chill shooting up his spine to the crown of his head, instantly overpowering the fanaticism brought by the Festival Day Formation.

He stared intently at the white-clad figure still suspended in the air, radiating a pale glow, like a deity presiding over souls. He then glanced at the commander in the back, who had unfurled a massive cloud-thunder battle flag and was leading the cavalry charge, and then at the heavily armored warrior in front of him, who possessed absurd strength and was wrestling with him, wielding a Molten Lava Shield…

Grom's single eye was bloodshot, mixed with madness. Power! More power!

The blood in his body seemed to burn. The bloody energy of the Festival Day Formation surged into his body without restraint, pouring all its power into the crimson long spear in his hand!

The crimson spear glow erupted again, smashing fiercely into Stone Rock's Molten Lava Shield!

He had to tear a path! If he could just kill this iron can in front of him and then rush through to take down the one in the sky… perhaps there was still a sliver of hope!

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Rapid and furious crashing sounds merged into one, making the air hum. Each clash of spear and shield erupted with dazzling sparks and distorted heat waves.

Grom's crimson long spear constantly sought gaps in the shield's defense, the bloody energy brought by the spearhead almost boiling.

Stone Rock's feet were planted on the ground like nails, unmoving. All his strength was concentrated in his arms and the burning giant shield.

The flames on the surface of the Molten Lava Shield flickered and erupted due to the violent impacts, scorching the tip of Grom's spear to a faint red.

He grunted, feeling the immense impact force on his arm, but his gaze remained unwavering.

The more Grom fought, the more his heart trembled, and not just because of the opponent's unreasonable defensive power.

What made him even more uncomfortable was that with every weapon collision, a chilling, soul-freezing power would spread along the long spear, piercing deep into his spirit.

This was the halo effect from the white-clad man—Soul Scorch!

Grom tried to ignore this discomfort. However, the moment spear and shield clashed again, a sharper soul-piercing pain suddenly struck, causing a imperceptible pause in Grom's movements, and his concentrated power dissipated for an instant.

Now!

A sharp glint flashed in Stone Rock's eyes.

He seized this fleeting opportunity, his full power erupting. The giant shield, burning with flames, suddenly thrust forward!

"Shield Reverse Impact!"

"Clang—!!!"

A sound louder than any previous impact exploded!

Grom felt an irresistible force shatter his spear's momentum and break his accumulated power. The immense recoil surged along the spear shaft into his arm, almost making him lose his grip on his weapon.

His body, pushed to its limit by the Festival Day Formation, was actually lifted off the ground by this incredibly fierce strike, sent flying backward, his chest defense wide open, completely exposed to attack!

"Hoo!" Grom was in mid-air, his single eye filled with horror. He tried to adjust his posture, but the sensation of weightlessness and intense pain made it difficult to control his body.

Stone Rock, however, would not give him any chance. With a successful strike, his rugged face remained expressionless. He stomped his right foot heavily, making a dull "thud" sound. While stabilizing himself, the muscles in his left arm bulged, the molten patterns on the giant shield's surface suddenly lit up, and a strange ripple of vibration began to gather.

"Resonance Shield Strike!"

Buzz—! The shield suddenly thrust forward, and a distorted, air-warping ripple of vibration shot out from the shield, accurately blasting towards Grom, who had lost his balance in mid-air!

"Puff—!" Grom felt a heavy blow, as if his internal organs were being shredded by this vibrational force. He spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with internal organ fragments.

And at this moment, on the other side of the battlefield, Zhui Yun, who had been holding back, his eyes flashed with a sharp glint.

Opportunity!

The bowstring twanged softly, and an arrow, entwined with a pale green wind vortex and silver-white electric arcs, shot from the string like a ghost. It had no earth-shattering momentum, but it carried a sharpness that could tear through anything. It arrived later but struck first, accurately piercing through the chaotic airflow created by the shockwave, shooting towards Grom's wide-open chest.

"Ugh…" Grom's body suddenly stiffened. He looked down at his chest, where an arrow fletching was deeply embedded, only the tail feathers trembling slightly outside. The wind and thunder power contained within the arrow instantly erupted, raging wildly within his body.

Life force rapidly drained away like a tide. The fanaticism and power brought by the Festival Day Formation quickly dissipated, replaced by boundless coldness and darkness.

Grom's consciousness began to blur, the madness in his single eye fading, leaving only bewilderment and despair. His last glimpse caught the white-clad figure who had not once looked at him, his light wings spread, drifting past the area where he and Stone Rock had been fighting, towards the depths of the city.

'Great King… Grom, has disappointed you…'

With endless unwillingness, Grom's body crashed heavily onto the shattered city wall, utterly silent.