255: The Sword Master's Lament, Unexpected Obstacles

The purple-gold streamer that Ji Changkong had transformed into arrived instantly, carrying the majestic heavenly might capable of suppressing an entire era.

The Spatial Turbulence twisted under his oppressive might, emitting a groan of unbearable strain.

In his eyes, ecstasy and cruelty were no longer concealed, transforming into substantial flames of greed.

It was as if he could already see the Prodigy kneeling before him, along with the Dao Artifact armor on his body that was on the verge of shattering, being completely reduced to dust by his thunderous strike.

And that heart of chaos origin, which carried supreme fortune and could drive Soul Transformation cultivators mad and tempt even those in the Void Return Stage, would belong to Ji Changkong!

This would be the greatest achievement of his life!

With this item, he could easily step into the long-desired Void Return Stage, and furthermore, he could present it to the Immortal Emperor to help the Great Qian nation's destiny reach new heights, forging an eternal, immortal legacy!

When that time comes, historical records would be written about him, and all people would sing his praises; the name Ji Changkong would coexist with the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty and shine as brightly as the sun and moon!

All the sacrifices and all the waiting would, at this moment, receive the most abundant reward.

However, just an instant before his Purple-Gold Dragon Claw, which was capable of killing an ordinary Soul Transformation cultivator, was about to crush Shen Yuanmo's skull.

Time, at this moment, slowed infinitely.

Shen Yuanmo, who had been half-kneeling on the ground and seemed to struggle even to lift his head, suddenly raised it.

On his paper-pale face, there was none of the fear or despair Ji Changkong had anticipated, nor the subservience of begging for mercy.

There was only a frenzied Battle Intent, burned to the extreme, as if it intended to completely ignite his Divine Soul, flesh and blood, and every trace of his existence!

"You want to kill me?"

Shen Yuanmo's voice was hoarse and dry, yet it carried an unyielding pride.

"Then... let's die together!"

A hint of resolution flashed in his eyes.

Deep within his Dantian, in the sea of spiritual energy that was already dry and even crisscrossed with cracks, his Half-step Nascent Soul Dao Fruit suddenly burst forth with a destructive, ominous light.

He was actually planning, at the final moment, to burn his Divine Soul and Dao Fruit at all costs for this last desperate struggle!

Even if he were to vanish completely after this strike, his Divine Soul nonexistent, he still intended, before death, to rip off a chunk of flesh from Ji Changkong, this arrogant True Dragon!

Ji Changkong's pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart inexplicably skipped a beat!

From those eyes burning with madness, he saw a resolution that made even his heart palpitate!

The counterattack of a madman who fears nothing, even death, is often the most terrifying thing!

But the arrow was already on the string; it had to be loosed!

How could he, the dignified Imperial Uncle of Great Qian, a supreme powerhouse of the Great Perfection of Soul Transformation, be frightened away by the gaze of a dying man?

That would become the shame of his entire life!

"In front of this Venerable One, you don't even have the right to self-destruct! Death throes!"

Ji Changkong roared, his killing intent intensifying. He increased the force in his hand by thirty percent. Above the massive purple-gold hand seal, the Human Emperor Dragon Qi condensed into substance, crashing down like a purple-gold divine mountain!

He intended to use absolute power to completely crush him into nothingness before he could self-destruct!

However, at this critical juncture, this instant between life and death.

Whoosh—

A streak of Sword Intent slashed in from the side without any warning.

This Sword Intent was neither fierce nor overbearing, nor did it cause violent fluctuations of magical power, making it seem utterly out of place amidst the surrounding chaotic Annihilation Storm.

Yet, it was sharp to the extreme, and pure to the extreme.

It was as if nothing between heaven and earth could resist its cut.

Following a trajectory of perfect subtlety, this Sword Intent positioned itself precisely and impartially between Ji Changkong's Purple-Gold Dragon Claw and Shen Yuanmo's head.

"Hmm?!"

Ji Changkong's expression changed drastically. He felt an extreme sharpness locking tightly onto his wrist.

His Divine Soul felt a sharp pain, and he clearly foresaw that if he continued his strike, although he could crush Shen Yuanmo into paste, he would definitely lose his arm and half his body!

Furthermore, that Sword Intent, pure enough to terrify him, would flow up his arm's meridians, moving against the current to strike directly at his Divine Soul!

Of two evils, choose the lesser!

Ji Changkong let out a roar mixed with shock and fury. The Purple-Gold Dragon Claw that was suppressing its target actually paused mid-air, forcibly twisting its direction to viciously strike toward the source of the Sword Intent!

Boom!

The Purple-Gold Dragon Qi and the pure Sword Intent violently collided, exploding into a blinding halo of light that pushed back the surrounding Annihilation Storm, creating a massive void.

Ji Changkong stumbled mid-air, actually being forced back half a step, his protective Dragon Qi churning violently.

Stabilizing himself, he looked toward the source of the Sword Intent with a mix of shock and rage.

"Solitary City Ye! What is the meaning of this?!"

Without knowing when, the White-Robed Sword Venerable, who had always lingered on the edge of the battlefield like an outsider, had arrived nearby.

Holding an ancient longsword, he stood between Shen Yuanmo and Ji Changkong, his posture straight as a sword, deep and imposing.

On his perpetually frozen face, there was now an extremely complicated expression.

There was admiration, regret, and a hint of mutual appreciation for a worthy opponent.

His gaze rested quietly upon Shen Yuanmo, who was half-kneeling, his aura weak, but still using his sword for support, refusing to fall.

"Solitary City Ye! Are you insane?!"

Ji Changkong's roar echoed through the storm, filled with uncontrollable fury and confusion.

"This fiend is at the end of his rope, his lamp oil gone! Do you intend to become an enemy of Great Qian at this moment just to snatch the final reward?!"

He couldn't understand!

Why would this aloof, arrogant madman, who only cared for the Dao of the Sword, interfere at the most crucial moment!

Did he also want a piece of the pie?

On what grounds?

He was the one who forced this brat into desperation; what right did Solitary City Ye have to swoop in and steal the fruits of victory?!

However, facing Ji Changkong's questioning, Solitary City Ye didn't even spare him a glance from the corner of his eye.

In his eyes, this powerful Imperial Uncle of Great Qian was no different from the scattered rocks beneath his feet.

Solitary City Ye's gaze remained fixed on Shen Yuanmo.

He looked at the young man's crazy Battle Intent, the spirit of preferring death to defeat, and looked at the Gray Mist Longsword in his hand, which still radiated the Dao charm of destruction even though its master was utterly spent.

After a long silence, Solitary City Ye slowly spoke.

His voice was as cold as ever, yet it lacked some of its usual aloofness and carried a hint of respect that he himself might not have recognized.

"I have cultivated the sword my entire life, and I believe my Sword Heart Clarity is pure, and my Sword Intent is unblemished."

"My only pursuit is to advance fearlessly and defeat all worthy opponents in the world."

"Seeing your sword today, I finally know what the Dao is, and what the Sword is."

Solitary City Ye's voice paused, and a flash of heartfelt admiration appeared in his sharp eyes.

"Using heaven and earth as the sword, using Law as the blade, dancing in desperation, creating possibility from the impossible."

"A person like you, a sword like yours, if it were to die at the hands of a mere clown who only takes advantage of others..."

Reaching this point, Solitary City Ye finally gave a faint glance at Ji Changkong behind him, whose face had turned the color of a pig's liver.

"...that would be a disgrace to us Sword Cultivators."

As his voice faded, he sheathed his sword, clasped his hands toward the half-kneeling Shen Yuanmo, and performed a Sword Salute, treating him as an equal.

"This heart of chaos origin was obtained by you, with the sword in your hand, snatching food from the tiger's mouth amidst a massive army."

"I, Solitary City Ye, will not steal it."

"I benefited greatly from today's battle. Thank you."

"Farewell."

Having finished speaking, Solitary City Ye paid no further attention to Ji Changkong behind him—who was trembling with rage, his fists clenched so tightly his fingernails dug into his palms—nor did he look at Shen Yuanmo again.

His body flashed, transforming into a brilliant sword rainbow that pierced heaven and earth. Turning without looking back, he tore through layers of Spatial Turbulence and decisively departed toward the edge of the Annihilation Storm!

Elegant.

Resolute.

Without any hesitation.

Only Ji Changkong remained standing dumbfounded, his face initially filled with shock, which then turned into boundless fury.

And Shen Yuanmo, thanks to Solitary City Ye's completely illogical action, gained that extremely precious, life-or-death moment of respite.