Embers of Sword

Chapter 726 Friend and Enemy
In the sky, a massive, pitch-black Dao Domain stretched out—

That was the Dead Phoenix's [Domain of Withered Life]. Wherever the domain covered, wild grass withered rapidly, and even the swirling snow was dyed red, creating a gloomy and desolate hellish scene!

"escape!"

Xu Qi led his cavalry in a rapid charge.

Fortunately, the battle on the snowfield had long ended, and the iron cavalry was very close to Jiayong Pass, reaching the foot of the city wall in just a few dozen breaths. The garrison on the city wall immediately set up a great formation, and countless formation masters desperately activated their Yuan power and ignited Yuan stones, quickly forming a huge azure barrier above Jiayong Pass!
"珰!"

"珰!!"

Xu Qi, Tie Tong, and the elders of Qiantian Palace escorted the iron cavalry back to Jiayong Pass safely. Before they could even breathe a sigh of relief, a piercing sound of metal clashing rang out above them!

Everyone looked up.

Countless golden sword energies streaked through the air, colliding with the Dao Domain and bursting into dazzling flames like fireworks!

A burst of sword energy exploded out!

Xie Xuanyi took a deep breath and steadied himself.

Once it was realized that the Heavenly Phoenix Palace and the Paper Doll Path might be connected, the battle lost its meaning and became pointless to continue.

Xie Xuanyi knew that even if he used his most powerful weapon, he would not be able to kill Shi Feng.

Continuing to fight will only expose all of their "trump cards".

In this way...

That leaves only one option.

That is escape!
They fled back to the Great Wall in the north, back to Jiayong Pass!
Xie Xuanyi hadn't expected that the Dead Phoenix would dare to venture so far alone and pursue them all the way here.

The two stopped outside Jiayong Pass, only twenty or thirty li from the Great Wall.

For a Yang God, this distance is so small that he can break through the void and arrive in an instant with just a thought!

"You're quite an interesting person. You've clearly comprehended the 'Way of Life,' yet you're unwilling to use it..."

Dead Phoenix narrowed his eyes, staring at the young man's arm not far away, and sneered, "Is he deliberately being wary of me, or is he admitting defeat in advance and simply giving up?"

"Ah……"

Xie Xuanyi chuckled softly and lowered his head slightly.

Under the relentless onslaught of the Dead Phoenix, his right arm was accidentally struck, and blood was flowing out continuously.

Crimson drops of blood drifted from the cuff, forming a thin line.

"Don't try to provoke me, it won't work."

His resolve is not something that can be shaken by a few words.

When a yin spirit battles a yang spirit, it's normal for the yin spirit to lose.

There's nothing shameful about not being able to beat the dead phoenix.

"Why would I need to use the Dao of Life realm to deal with you?"

Xie Xuanyi shook his head and said with a sneer, "Dead Phoenix Venerable, I have already given you a chance. From the snowy mountains of the Northern Border to Jiayong Pass, it's nearly a hundred miles, and you failed to kill me. After today... you will have even less of a chance. Go back and tell your Grand Palace Master that I look forward to meeting the new 'Throne' of the Heavenly Phoenix Palace."

"..."

The dead phoenix looked grim.

The Grand Palace Master had instructed her that if she were to meet Xie Xuanyi, she must use every means to test the authenticity of the Paper Doll Sect's information.

She used almost every trick in the book.

Unfortunately.

Xie Xuanyi is truly formidable; in a one-on-one fight, I really couldn't hold him back!
They thought that a single [Desolate Dao Domain] would be enough to cut off Xie Xuanyi's retreat.

Unexpectedly, this kid's sword energy was so fierce... He gathered the [Destruction Dao Intent] into a single point, and then, relying on that strange divine power that could suppress Dao intent, he shattered his own [Withered Cage] with a single sword strike.

After that, it became a chase and an escape, which evolved into the current situation.

According to the rules of the Heavenly Phoenix Palace, she shouldn't pursue them any further. They were already quite deep in the area, and if they continued, she would be in great danger when the Great Chu Yang God arrived. But if she let Xie Xuanyi leave like this, the Death Phoenix would find it hard to let go of her anger.

"Don't think you're safe just because you've escaped to Jiayong Pass."

Dead Phoenix sneered and said in a low voice, "This great formation cannot stop me."

Say it.

She raised her palm.

The boundless Dao of withered energy spread through the void, transforming into thunder that trembled and roared!

She decided to disregard the Grand Palace Master's precepts... and use her own Great Dao Domain to directly break through the Jiayong Pass Formation, and completely kill Xie Xuanyi here!
Rumble!
Countless strands of the Dao of Withering intertwined and spread.

Two enormous fiery wings sprouted from the back of the dead phoenix, and its face became ferocious and terrifying... This was a sign that it was about to unleash its innate demonic form!
Xie Xuanyi's expression was solemn as he silently pressed down on the [Chronic Illness].

Just as he was about to use his divine sense to notify the garrison at Jiayong Pass to retreat.

Suddenly, a thunderclap resounded from the very top of the sky!
"boom!"

The thunderbolt, shaped like a dragon, surged within the dark clouds filled with the Daoist intent of withered branches. In the distance, one could vaguely see a towering figure in a bright yellow robe standing at the dragon's head.

That figure exuded an indescribable aura of majesty. Accompanied by a thunderous roar, a powerful wave of energy cascaded down to the ground like a waterfall, spreading outwards!

Rumble, rumble——

"Fellow Daoist Feng, aren't you underestimating Da Chu a bit too much?"

A deep, resonant voice rang out.

"Yuwen Biao?!"

The dead phoenix raised its head, looking at the bright yellow figure in the clouds, its expression one of surprise and uncertainty.

The two were old acquaintances.

In the previous North-South war, Death Phoenix had already fought against Yuwen Bo!

The Great Venerable of the Demon Kingdom most enjoys close combat with human cultivators, but Yuwen Bo is an unusual existence that gives all the Great Venerables a headache. This is not only because he has cultivated the Martial Saint Body, but also because of another very important reason... The Qian Tian Palace possesses the "Dragon Descendant Inheritance" from a thousand years ago. This inheritance allows human martial artists to use some of the demon race's supernatural powers without exception, and even to unleash special "True Body Dharma Forms"!
"Senior Yuwen!"

Upon seeing the familiar figure, Xie Xuanyi breathed a sigh of relief and immediately shouted.

Above, Yuwen Bo looked down and cast a gratified glance.

"Young Master Xie, we meet again."

The Palace Master of Qiantian Palace nodded slightly to Xie Xuanyi, a smile on his face.

This was the second time the two had met...

Last time, Yuwen Bo arrived in the southern border in a cloud ship to kill Xie Xuanyi.

This time, Yuwen Bo did it to save Xie Xuanyi.

The two finally became comrades-in-arms and could fight side by side!

"Crash!"

Beside Yuwen Bo stood an old servant in black, his hands and feet bound by iron chains, which clanged together with a crisp cracking sound.

This old servant was none other than Ya Zi.

During the last great battle in the Southern Frontier, with the guidance of "Xuanming", Yazi finally broke through the "Great Dao Barrier" that had bound him for many years and successfully condensed his Dao... becoming a genuine "Yang God Realm" great demon!
At this moment, he stared intently at the dead phoenix not far away, his eyes filled with killing intent.

We're just waiting for the order!
"Go and kill him."

Yuwen Bo stood with his hands behind his back, his yellow robes fluttering in the wind. He looked down at the dead phoenix with cold indifference in his eyes, showing no intention of taking action himself.

An order was issued.

Ya Zi burst forth instantly, like a heavy arrow shot from a crossbow, crashing powerfully into the dead phoenix!
at the same time!

The Chaos Dao Domain unfolded and collided with the Withered Dao Domain!
(End of this chapter)