Star Martial Soaring Cloud

But just as his palm strike was about to land, an extremely firm voice rang out again! That voice was like a demonic sound from the deepest hell, lingering and resounding throughout the heavens and earth!

"No... Absolutely not!"

The mournful cries drifted on the eerie wind, carrying a chilling melody.

Like a cuckoo crying blood under the setting sun, or a requiem in the twilight of hell, it carries endless sorrow and despair.

Immediately following was an extremely clear phoenix cry! The sound pierced through the clouds and resounded throughout the heavens, causing the tiles of the Xuanyuan Mansion to rattle and the eardrums of everyone around to ache, their blood surging.

Xuanyuan Hong's attack was actually deflected by an invisible force! The ground instantly turned crimson, thousands of flames danced like lava, and the dazzling light was comparable to ten suns in the sky, illuminating the entire Xuanyuan Mansion as if it were daytime.

"Boom—"

The ground suddenly cracked open, and a huge pillar of fire shot into the sky. A phoenix reborn from the flames spread its wings from the crack, with raging flames and rolling lava, like long rivers of red rushing towards the sky.

The phoenix's cry resounds through the heavens, and fire burns the sky. The fiery phoenix spreads its wings, its divine feathers shining with sacred brilliance, its majesty inviolable.

The fire phoenix circled in the air, surrounded by clusters of divine fire that burned intensely—a cathartic release of extreme anger, a final burst of life, its divine radiance so dazzling that it was impossible to open one's eyes.

The pitch-black night sky was painted with a crimson glow, sacred and solemn.

At the same time, a crimson beam of light flew out from the Fire Phoenix's body and rushed straight into Wang Xiao's body.

Wang Xiao, who was originally extremely weak, gradually began to show signs of life, but his injuries were too severe, and even with this power, it could only slightly alleviate his pain.

At this moment, Kung Pao Chicken, seemingly invincible, was actually at its last gasp. Its transformation wasn't due to its own strength, but rather a forced regeneration of its bloodline triggered by Wang Xiao's blood—it was gambling its life for the outcome of this battle!

"Phoenix?" Xuan Yuan Hong's pupils shrank, and a look of fear finally appeared on his face. As a core member of the Xuan Yuan family, he naturally knew how terrifying the Phoenix Clan was.

The astonishing combat power emanating from the fire phoenix before him made him feel a deadly threat.

His divine senses expanded, and he instantly perceived the anomaly. His face immediately turned icy cold, his ferocious expression sending chills down one's spine: "So it was merely a forced revival of bloodline, not a true rebirth! In that case, I'll kill you first, so I can taste the pleasure of slaughtering a phoenix! Then I'll extract your essence to sacrifice for my Xuanyuan family's banner!"

Before the words were finished, a huge, pitch-black hand appeared silently above the fire phoenix, surrounded by black mist that rumbled and crashed down like a world-destroying meteorite.

This was an extremely terrifying divine power, a dark and overwhelming force that captivated the soul. As the giant hand swept across the sky, it completely blocked out the moonlight and even enveloped the radiance emitted by the fire phoenix, rendering the night to its extreme, as if a black ocean was surging and crashing down!

"Black Cloud Palm!" Xuan Yuan Hong unleashed his most powerful divine ability, a forceful strike that enveloped the Kung Pao Chicken like Mount Tai pressing down.

"Get out of here!" Wang Xiao shouted hysterically as her strength recovered slightly. The veins on her forehead and neck bulged, and tears streamed down her face, mixing with the blood on her face, making it impossible to distinguish between blood and tears.

During his previous drowsiness, his mind and senses were not impaired. He clearly perceived everything that Kung Pao Chicken had done for him—that selfless protection was like a series of sharp knives, piercing his heart.

But it was all too late! The revival of Kung Pao Chicken's bloodline was not due to its own power, but rather the result of forcibly stimulating its essence and blood.

It has only survived until now thanks to its unwavering belief in "not allowing it." Transforming into a phoenix may seem glorious, but it is actually a perilous path with a slim chance of survival. Moreover, this forced transformation without any preparation is akin to navigating a cycle of life and death, with every second filled with excruciating pain.

"Bang!"

Blood splattered everywhere as the fire phoenix was slammed to the ground, its divine light instantly dimming. It coughed up dark red blood, its feathers falling in large swaths, yet it did not yield. Trembling, it rose again, its indistinct voice coalescing into a resolute vow: "No... absolutely not!"

"No!" Wang Xiao felt his heart bleeding. "Why...why did this have to happen!" He didn't know how much courage he needed to bear all of this!

"You two, die!" Xuan Yuan Hong stood in mid-air, his black palm condensing once more, pressing down with earth-shattering power!

"No!"

Like a bolt from the blue, the roar of Kung Pao Chicken was no longer indistinct; it resounded through the heavens and earth like rolling thunder. Accompanied by a clear and melodious phoenix cry, it transformed into a crimson rainbow of fire and charged towards Xuan Yuan Hong without hesitation!

"No! No!" Wang Xiao went mad from extreme pain, howling at the sky like a wounded beast.

He knew, of course, what choice Kung Pao Chicken had made—its tail was slowly melting away, and the melting had not stopped; it was still spreading along its body.

It is willing to be shattered to pieces to exchange for a promise; to be annihilated to exchange for true affection! The falling gunpowder is its declaration of no regret for this choice.

The phoenix's cry shook the heavens, and the fiery phoenix soared into the sky. Suddenly, forty-nine blazing streams of fire appeared beside Kung Pao Chicken, like waterfalls of crimson flowing backwards, filling the sky with crimson light, and even the void itself was distorted and deformed by the heat.

The artificial hill that stood in the center of Xuanyuan Mansion collapsed in an instant, and the grass and trees on the hillside turned to ashes in an instant, leaving not a trace.

"The mortal world is ever-flowing, yet the bond remains eternal; a single word of brotherhood lasts a lifetime!"

Kung Pao Chicken defied the odds and pounced on Xuan Yuan Hong.

"boom--"

Two extremely powerful energy streams collided violently, instantly creating a howling wind and causing the heavens and earth to collapse.

The brilliant sunset illuminated the entire night sky, completely dispelling the darkness.

The body of Kung Pao Chicken slowly melts away in the rosy light, gradually transforming into the purest energy.

"No!" Wang Xiao cried out in anguish, desperately trying to rush forward. Just as he was about to touch the illusory figure, the Kung Pao Chicken vanished completely, as if it had never existed in this world, leaving nothing behind.

"ah--!"

Wang Xiaoxue's hair stood on end, he looked like a madman, and his heart was breaking.

Blood and tears blurred his vision; he refused to accept the outcome and dared not face the truth.

That last glance, the lingering reluctance in Kung Pao Chicken's eyes and the satisfied smile on his face, were clearly imprinted in his mind, but now... everything had vanished into nothingness.

"Why...why!" Wang Xiao cried out in tears, roaring at the sky from the pool of blood.

Since embarking on the path of cultivation, he had already hardened his heart like iron, but at this moment, all his strength collapsed, leaving only heart-wrenching pain.

"That damned brat...!"

"This great one..."

"..."

The sounds of those playful fights still seem to linger in my ears—the arrogant Kung Pao Chicken, the lecherous Kung Pao Chicken, the Kung Pao Chicken who loved roast chicken… and just like that, it's gone.

It... just died like that!

Just then, a sweet fragrance wafted over, and a shower of colorful petals fell from the sky.

The phoenix has departed, and heaven and earth grieve together!

The chanting and ethereal music came from the heavens, truly enveloping the entire city of Lishan, as if performing a lament for the end of the world.

I long to sever my soul, yet it is hard to do so. The mirror reflects the moon's reflection, untouched by dust, while the wind stirs the heart of the zither. I fear to harm my spirit, yet it does. The drifting clouds cannot understand the traces of the past, and the old friend has become a dead person.

Wang Xiao knelt in the center of the room, completely distraught, no longer crying or making a scene, surrounded by an aura of death.

He could no longer feel pain—only because the pain had reached its extreme, had become numb, and had caused him to lose consciousness!

Perhaps at this moment, Wang Xiao finally understood what true strength is—the ability to protect everything one wants to protect is the mark of a true strong person.

But this realization came too late!

The only thing that could be seen clearly was that his eyes had turned blood red—a terrible red, a shocking red, burning with endless grief and raging fury.

The death of Kung Pao Chicken brought unbearable grief, mixed with endless anger.

He felt a deep desolation in his heart, clearly sensing that he had lost something more precious than life itself. He could almost hear the sound of his heart shattering, and the world before him turned completely gray and lifeless.

"Xiao'er, you must remember, never sacrifice your blood to the Seven Star Sword! Although you may gain several times, or even dozens of times, more power, you will cut off your path of cultivation and may even become a sword puppet of the Seven Star Sword!" His master's warning echoed in his mind, but it had become meaningless.

"What joy is there in life, what fear is there in death! I do not seek to be remembered for a hundred generations, nor do I contend for eternal life in heaven and earth. I only ask to offer my blood as a sacrifice to my friend, and with my flesh and blood, present the head of all my enemies!" The heavy oath resounded through heaven and earth, striking Xuan Yuan Hong's heart like a hammer.

Wang Xiao cast aside all distractions; all he knew was that doing this would grant him power—power to avenge Kung Pao Chicken, and that was enough.

He let out a long roar, his mind surging, and recklessly urged the burning of his inner energy.

Burn his blood, burn his life!

"I do not seek immortality, nor do I contend for a hundred generations; I only desire to shed blood on the enemy's head to atone for my friend!"

"promise!"

An ancient and majestic response emanated from within the Seven Star Sword.

In an instant, the world fell silent, and time stood still!

Wang Xiao's eyes completely lost their luster and became utterly empty.

A blurry golden figure appeared behind him. The figure stood there quietly, without being shrouded in mist or shrouded in celestial light, yet it seemed to be one with heaven and earth, making it impossible to see its face clearly, only to feel a majestic aura that stood tall and looked down upon eternity.

Dead silence! Utterly dead silence!

Only a single drop of cold sweat slowly slid down Xuan Yuan Hong's forehead, down his cheek to his chin, and then dripped to the ground with a "plop".

The sound of that drop of sweat, in the silence, was as loud as thunder.

The moment the golden figure appeared, the entire world seemed to freeze.

The sun and moon have lost their light, the stars have disappeared, and even the air has stopped moving.

With a slight movement of the golden light, the Seven Star Sword flew out on its own and landed in his hand.

The Seven Star Sword emitted a series of resounding sword cries, as if a divine artifact that had been sleeping for thousands of years had finally awakened.

Two ancient seal characters slowly emerged on the sword. As if they had a life of their own, they moved across the sword and attracted chaotic energy and primordial energy to spread around the sword.

It was right in front of me, yet it felt like an eternity had passed between us.

Countless ancient totems flickered and flowed on the sword, revealing countless scenes of nature—pavilions and towers, jade palaces and palaces, mountains and rivers, lakes and seas, immortals dancing, gods and demons fighting, thunder roaring, flames burning the sky, dragons and tigers galloping, phoenixes singing in unison… everything in the world seemed to be engraved on this sword.

The blade is clearly visible: one side is engraved with the sun, moon, and stars, exuding the primordial energy of the universe; the other side is engraved with mountains, rivers, grasses, and trees, embodying the spirit of life and creation.

On the hilt of the sword, one side is inscribed with the techniques of farming and animal husbandry, reflecting the hardships of the people; the other side is inscribed with the strategy of unifying the world, demonstrating the ambition of a world of great harmony.

Wang Xiao's movements were perfectly synchronized with the golden figure in the air, as if one person was the shadow of the other, or as if the two were one.

"Impossible... This is absolutely impossible!" When he saw the patterns on the sword, Xuan Yuan Hong's face turned pale, and his voice trembled with fear.

As a member of the Xuanyuan family, he knew better than anyone what such sword patterns represented.

As the sword patterns became clearer, Xuanyuan Hong felt that his power and supernatural abilities were being inexplicably suppressed!

The vital energy within his body leaked out like a burst dam, and his cultivation level declined at a visible rate.

The Dragon Gate Divine Realm has reached its peak!

Minor Success in the Dragon Gate Divine Realm!

Entering the Dragon Gate Realm for the first time!

The Fish Leap Realm has reached its ultimate perfection!

……

In the blink of an eye, his cultivation level plummeted to the initial stage of the Fish Leap, and his vital energy was almost completely depleted!

Just then, the golden figure slowly raised his sword and gently swung it.

There was no earth-shattering roar, only an extremely dazzling sword light soaring into the sky!

The sword light was pure and condensed, as if it contained the primordial power of the beginning of heaven and earth, and it directly split the sky before dawn in two!

Wherever the sword light passes, nothing is spared, nothing is indestructible!

Whether it was Xuanyuan Hong's desperate figure, or the Xuanyuan Mansion, Lishan City, and even the entire Lishan Mountain that stood in front of the sword light, they were all silently split in two by this sword light!

Ten thousand golden rays emanated from that narrow sliver of sky, mingling with the rising sun in the east, creating a dazzling spectacle that made it difficult to discern where the sun was rising.

The sword's momentum dissipated, and the golden shadow vanished.

The tall figure behind Wang Xiao vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.

At the same time, a pair of phoenix wings blooming with divine brilliance sprouted from his back, shimmering with seven-colored light, sacred and majestic.

At this moment, Wang Xiao slowly woke up! He could clearly feel everything happening around him, but he was unable to speak or move.

A magnet the size of a thumb slowly rose up and hovered in front of him.

Wang Xiao understood that the mysterious person was waiting for him to make his final decision.

No one knew better than him how much of a storm this black magnet could stir up in Kyushu—it contained not only his conversation with Lianhua Gongzi, but also every arrogant remark of Xuanyuan Hong.

As long as he infuses his vital energy into the magnet, its contents can spread throughout the entire Lishan City, and even further afield.

But Wang Xiao slowly closed his eyes, stretched out his right hand, and tightly grasped the magnet in his palm.

Immediately afterwards, black powder slipped through his fingers. He slowly opened his right hand, and a gentle breeze blew by, causing the black magnet to completely vanish into nothingness and dissipate into the air.

The evidence that proved his innocence and exposed the Xuanyuan family's conspiracy was destroyed by his own hands.

From the karmic fire deep within his heart, a voice, so faint it was almost imperceptible, quietly arose: "You brat, you're not qualified for blood sacrifices... Anyway, thanks. It's been a very... happy to have met you..."

The phoenix wings on his back flapped gently, and a spiral vortex formed beneath his feet, stirring up a cloud of dust.

Wang Xiaochong soared into the sky, and as the distance increased, his figure gradually faded into a black dot, finally disappearing completely into the horizon.

Only a cold yet resolute vow remained, echoing long afterward in the sky above Lishan City, lingering there.

"As long as I, Wang Xiao, live, the Xuanyuan family will never have a moment of peace—until I die!"