Chapter 119 The Battle's End
In the midst of the battlefield, Shi Huang clearly outmatched Xiong Zhu. Their strengths differed significantly, with Shi Huang being a cultivator at the sixth level of the Golden Core realm, while Xiong Zhu was only at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm.
Stab!
Shi Huang's sword pierced Xiong Zhu's body.
Xiong Zhu's eyes widened in disbelief, but before he could utter a word, Shi Huang withdrew his sword and thrust it into his throat.
Blood flowed, yet Shi Huang's expression remained cruel and vengeful. "You will spend your eternity in hell," he said coldly.
With that declaration, he pulled his sword out again and swiftly beheaded Xiong Zhu.
In a single stroke, Xiong Zhu's head was severed and fell to the ground, followed by his lifeless body.
Shi Huang's gaze was as cold as ice, his face twisted with genuine cruelty.
"You can rest in peace, my son. I promise to crush the remnants of the Golden Star Sect," he said, his tone filled with determination.
With those words, he leaped high into the air, closing his eyes. A few seconds later, a red aura emanated from his body, accompanied by countless threads of boundless energy.
The next moment, these countless threads descended, each one entering the bodies of the fallen, both from the alliance and the Golden Star Sect.
Once all the connections were made, he opened his eyes. "Kill and destroy anything related to the Golden Star Sect!" he declared coldly.
With that command, the corpses ressurected and slowly rose, grabbing the nearest weapons. Their eyes glowed with a fiery red hue.
"W-what is this?! They are coming back to life?!" one person exclaimed in disbelief.
"Don't lower your guard! They might attack us!" another responded.
Many people were astonished and shocked by this turn of events. Yet, the resurrected corpses immediately rushed toward the remaining members of the Golden Star Sect.
Witnessing this, the alliance forces shouted in triumph.
"We've gained many allies!"
"Kill them!"
"Destroy the Golden Star Sect!"
With these battle cries, everyone grew enthusiastic once more, mercilessly slaughtering every member of the Golden Star Sect that remained.
---
Meanwhile, outside the Wudang Sect's territory...
A deafening crash echoed as lightning struck a masked man, followed by a swift sword strike that severed his head from his body.
Long Tian calmly sheathed his sword, his expression composed amidst the chaos.
Behind him, Wu Gang, one of the Elders of the Wudang Sect, applauded his remarkable display. "Truly exceptional, Young Master Long Tian. Your strength is extraordinary. Without your assistance, we might have struggled against those infiltrators."
Turning around, Long Tian offered a smile in return. "Since Master Shi honored me with an honorary medal, I felt a profound responsibility for the sect's safety," he explained.
Wu Gang's smile widened at his words. "He will be pleased to hear that. Have you ever considered joining us?" he inquired.
"Unfortunately, no," Long Tian replied, regret lacing his tone.
"Well, that's a shame. Anyway, let's return to the sect's area. The infiltrators should all be eliminated by now," Wu Gang suggested.
"It seems I won't be staying here any longer. It's already late at night; I will be heading home," Long Tian replied.
"In that case, allow me to escort you to the gate," Wu Gang offered.
Long Tian nodded appreciatively, and the two of them departed from the area together.
---
Back on the battlefield, the resurrected corpses had returned to death's embrace, leaving only a handful of surviving members of the Golden Star Sect. They all surrendered.
Victorious cheers resounded across the battlefield. Out of the initial 500 combatants, only 278 remained, with nearly half of them falling in the intense war.
Yu Zhong descended to the ground, holding the head of an Elder he had slain. "Don't celebrate victory just yet. Find the stolen imperial treasures. We must recover the Heartblade of Guo Jian and the Thunder Spear!" he said loudly.
Upon hearing his command, the remaining fighters nodded in understanding and dispersed to various locations, searching for the stolen treasures.
Many of them headed directly to Xiong Zhu's residence pavilion.
Every building they passed was mercilessly torn down, as nothing of value was found inside.
Most of these fighters hailed from the Wudang Sect, and prior to engaging in battle, they had received explicit orders to obliterate all standing structures belonging to the Golden Star Sect.
In the end, the fighters were divided into two groups. The imperial forces diligently scoured for the stolen treasures, while the Wudang Sect members razed any remaining structures to the ground.
---
The night deepened, shrouded in darkness without the comforting presence of the moon and stars. It was a profound silence, accentuated by the aftermath of the war.
Qin Chen could only walk, his energy completely depleted.
However, he suddenly saw Shi Huang destroying the remaining buildings.
"Hey, Master Shi," he called out.
Shi Huang noticed him and immediately appeared in front of him. Shi Huang raised an eyebrow. "You look utterly exhausted," he remarked.
"Well, I fought against many elite members of the Golden Star Sect, even against an Elder with five shadow hands. Fortunately, I managed to survive," Qin Chen replied.
Upon hearing this, Shi Huang smiled. "It seems heaven favors you. Despite all the dangers, you are still alive," he said.
"Well, Master Shi, I just want to repay the kindness to the Wudang Sect that provided me with shelter and food," Qin Chen said sincerely.
Shi Huang nodded, increasingly impressed with Qin Chen. "Anyway, I can sense your energy is depleted. Do you want me to help?" he offered. "Yu Zhong and the others seem to be gathering near the pavilion."
"Alright, Master Shi," Qin Chen responded.
Shi Huang nodded and then placed his hand on Qin Chen's shoulder, flying with him towards the pavilion.
In a matter of moments, they landed amidst the crowd, drawing the attention of everyone present.
"How is the progress, Yu Zhong? Have you recovered the stolen imperial treasures?" Shi Huang inquired, his voice carrying authority.
Yu Zhong's expression darkened as he responded, "We have located the Thunder Spear and several other artifacts. However, the most crucial treasure, the Heartblade of Guo Jian, remains elusive."
"There are no buildings left. Are you sure you haven't found it?" Shi Huang asked again.
Yu Zhong shook his head, his frustration palpable. "Indeed, we have scoured every inch, yet it remains missing. However, I have a plan; each person will surrender their spatial rings, and I will inspect them individually," he proposed, determination etched on his face.
Upon hearing this plan, Qin Chen's heart raced, his palms growing clammy. If he was caught with the Heartblade of Guo Jian, he would be in deep trouble. This concerned the empire; imprisonment was not the end, death might be waiting for him.
He swallowed hard, his sweat starting to trickle down. Now, the only way out of this situation was to hand over the Heartblade, but he hesitated because he longed to meet Li Yue'er. He wanted to see her.
"Well, if it satisfies you, I don't mind," Shi Huang replied.
Yu Zhong nodded, while Qin Chen grew increasingly panicked.
However, a sudden cry disrupted the tension. "We have found someone!"
The cry captured the attention of the crowd, their eyes turning towards the source of the commotion. Two men were dragging a short, reluctant figure forward.
Qin Chen's eyes widened in shock; the short man was Ah Wong, the treasure room guard he had encountered previously.
In contrast, Yu Zhong wore a grim expression. "He is insignificant; just kill him," he ordered, his impatience apparent.
"But sir, he claims to be the treasure room guard. He might possess valuable information," one of the men argued, urging caution.
Yu Zhong raised an eyebrow, a glimmer of interest crossing his eyes. "Well, that's intriguing. Bring him here," he instructed.
The subordinate pushed Ah Wong, forcing him to approach Yu Zhong. Ah Wong walked hesitantly, his eyes darting around nervously.
Meanwhile, Qin Chen's panic escalated; if Ah Wong revealed the truth, he would face certain death.
His gaze remained fixated on Ah Wong, the urge to silence him growing stronger. He quietly gripped the dagger hidden within his spatial ring.
In a swift and decisive motion, he lunged forward, appearing before Ah Wong. His dagger moved with lethal precision, swiftly slicing Ah Wong's throat.
In the next moment, Ah Wong's head fell to the ground, followed by his lifeless body.
Shock and disbelief gripped the onlookers as they stared at the lifeless body of Ah Wong. His head lay severed from his body, indicating he was dead.
Yu Zhong, his fury undiminished, grabbed Qin Chen by the collar. "What madness possesses you, young man?!" he thundered, his voice cutting through the tense air.
Qin Chen met Yu Zhong's enraged gaze with unwavering calmness. "I beg your pardon for my extreme actions. However, it was a necessary precaution, sir. That man possessed a dangerous hypnotic power. I fought against him and ended up hypnotized. In the end, I killed many of our allies. If he could control someone as mighty as you, the consequences would be catastrophic. I acted in the interest of our collective safety," he explained earnestly.
"Are you suggesting he could have ensnared me?" Yu Zhong questioned, his anger still smoldering beneath the surface.
"Indeed, sir. I saw him hypnotize a nascent soul cultivator with my own eyes," Qin Chen affirmed, his conviction unshaken.
Upon hearing this , Yu Zhong loosened his grip, recognizing the validity in Qin Chen's words. As a cultivator in the nascent soul realm himself, he comprehended the potential peril if he had succumbed to the same influence.
"That... that does make sense. I regret my earlier outburst," Yu Zhong conceded, acknowledging the soundness of Qin Chen's reasoning.
"No apologies are necessary, sir. Moreover, I believe there's no need to infringe upon everyone's privacy by inspecting their spatial rings. Each of us values our privacy, and I trust none of us would dare to pilfer the imperial treasures. Do my fellow allies agree with this stance?" Qin Chen addressed the crowd, seeking their consensus.
A chorus of nods and murmured agreements resonated through the group. Qin Chen's logic found resonance with them, dispelling the need for invasive searches.
"I echo Qin Chen's assessment, Yu Zhong. We stand united in our purpose – to eradicate the Golden Star Sect and reclaim the lost imperial treasures," Shi Huang declared, his voice unwavering in its resolve.
Yu Zhong sighed, a mix of relief and frustration clouding his features. "Very well, I suppose that won't be necessary," he conceded, recognizing the wisdom in their collective decision.
Shi Huang nodded in agreement. "With this matter settled, the battle has concluded, and we emerge victorious!" he proclaimed, his voice carrying the weight of their triumph.
The crowd erupted in triumphant cheers, celebrating their hard-earned victory. Amidst the jubilation, Qin Chen felt a profound sense of relief – he had successfully get out of that difficult situation. Now, he just needed to exchange the Heartblade with Long Tian.
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