Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

As the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter, Li Yuan felt a chill in his heart and sensed the approach of death.

The violent demonic power distorted the surrounding air, and all the houses on both sides of the street cracked open.

The Crimson Serpent King grinned maliciously, and the light from its horn transformed into a crimson pillar of destruction, shooting towards the three of them with a deafening roar.

"Boom!"

Wherever the beam of light passed, the stone slabs on the ground vaporized, and the houses collapsed instantly; its power was earth-shattering.

There's no way to avoid it!

"Stop it!"

Li Yuan's eyes were bloodshot, and his inner energy erupted without reservation. He held the nameless blade horizontally in front of him, the crimson runes on the blade flashing wildly, trying to withstand the attack head-on.

"I'll help you!"

Shen Lian roared and stood in front of Li Yuan.

Chu Yunhe gritted his teeth and leaped up to protect Li Yuan on the other side.

In the face of life and death, both of them unhesitatingly abandoned their own defenses and chose to protect Li Yuan.

However, the difference in strength was too great. The crimson beam of light paused only slightly before completely annihilating Chu Yunhe's sword light. Its remaining momentum did not diminish as it slammed heavily into Li Yuan's blade.

"boom--!"

A massive explosion resounded through the sky, and Li Yuan was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing violently into the fortress behind him.

The nameless knife flew out of his hand and plunged deep into the ground.

Shen Lian was the first to be hit, swept by the aftershocks of the beam of light. His entire body was instantly charred black, blood gushed out, and countless bones were broken. His fate was unknown.

Chu Yunhe was also thrown back and crashed heavily to the ground. He struggled for a few moments but couldn't get up, clearly indicating that he was also seriously injured.

"Hahaha! This is what happens when you resist!"

Seeing the three people lying on the ground, the Crimson Serpent King let out a triumphant laugh. His huge serpent body slowly swam up to Li Yuan, looking down at him with cruel pleasure in his eyes.

"Boy, your physical body is indeed impressive, but it's still utterly useless before me!"

The Crimson Serpent King opened his blood-red maw, dripping foul-smelling venom from his fangs. "This king will send you on your way, draining your life essence; perhaps it will even help me break through to a higher level!"

The shadow of death has never been so close.

Li Yuan lay amidst the ruins, his body wracked with pain, his spiritual energy depleted, unable to even move a finger.

He could only watch helplessly as the hideous snake's mouth loomed larger before his eyes, his mind completely blank.

Am I really... going to die?

And so, he died in this unknown world, in this so-called ancient time and space?

Do not!

I can not be reconciled!

A frenzied killing intent surged from the depths of his soul, carrying an indomitable fighting spirit, like a volcano suppressed for millennia, erupting with a deafening roar.

He has not yet discovered the secret of the bronze palace, nor witnessed the great fortune Mr. Mo spoke of, nor led his companions out of this prison...

"I!"

"No!"

"allow!"

"May--!"

A silent roar erupted in Li Yuan's heart!

A murderous intent surged forth, and the nameless sword stuck not far away seemed to sense his indomitable soul, suddenly emitting a clear and crisp hum.

"Zheng—!"

The crimson runes on the blade stopped flashing and instead burst into flames, as if an ancient will that had been dormant for countless years was being completely awakened by Li Yuan's indomitable killing intent.

The originally dull blade instantly turned as red as a branding iron, and a blurry figure slowly emerged from the hilt, emitting a clear cry that only Li Yuan could hear.

"cracking!"

The spirit of the artifact has finally awakened.

The venomous fang that the Crimson Serpent King was about to bite down on suddenly stopped in mid-air, a fear from the depths of its soul causing it to tremble all over.

It stared intently at the knife, at what was inside it…

"Buzz!"

The nameless sword flew into Li Yuan's hand automatically.

Li Yuan felt a warm power instantly flow into his broken body, continuously.

He suddenly stood up, his eyes burning with golden flames.

"You... what are you?" the Crimson Serpent King roared in terror, feeling himself completely locked in place by an overwhelming pressure, unable to move.

Li Yuan did not answer; he simply gripped the knife tightly with both hands and slowly raised it.

This strike had no fancy moves, no dazzling light, only the simplest and purest sword intent.

cut!

The knife fell.

A dark blade of light seemed to cleave the heavens and earth in two. Without a sound or an explosion, the Crimson Serpent King's enormous serpent body, along with the demonic aura surrounding him, silently crumbled and vanished before this blade of light!

From head to tail, the Red Serpent King was neatly cut in two.

Even in death, boundless fear lingered in his enormous snake eyes as he stared at Li Yuan in disbelief, letting out a mournful roar with his last strength.

"This is...his sword? You're his successor?...No...impossible..."

Before he finished speaking, the Crimson Serpent King's body turned into ashes and vanished inch by inch with the wind.

Li Yuan landed a successful blow, but could no longer hold on. His vision went black, and he collapsed heavily to the ground.

Just before he lost consciousness, he heard a deep voice in his mind.

"My name is Yan Ji!"

As his consciousness relaxed, he felt as if his soul had detached from his body and been swept into the boundless void.

In this void, a colossal figure slowly emerged.

The enormous golden vertical pupils stared at him silently.

It is the Serpent King.

He floated silently in the void, looking down at the tiny Li Yuan.

Li Yuan tried to speak, but no sound came out.

The Serpent King's eyes seemed to contain the stars of the universe, quietly watching him, yet also seemingly looking through him into the distant past.

After a long while, the Serpent King's ethereal voice resounded deep within his soul.

"Finally... awake?"

"Very good, you have passed the test."

The Serpent King looked at him quietly, "In despair, do not lose your true self; in the face of temptation, do not change your will. Humanity may be weak, but it will never yield."

So, is this really a test?

The Serpent King slowly opened its mouth, and a vast spiritual energy flowed into Li Yuan's body, nourishing his parched sea of ​​consciousness.

Li Yuan felt warm all over, very comfortable, and his tired soul was quickly recovering.

"Senior, regarding Dragon Lock City, is it your memory or an illusion?" He looked up at the Serpent King and asked the question that had been on his mind.

The Serpent King's enormous tail swayed gently: "It's just a fragment of my will that I left behind. Its strength is less than one percent of my true form. I left it behind simply to wait for an opportunity."

"The trigger?" Li Yuan pressed. "Do you mean the spirit within that knife? What exactly is it?"

The Serpent King was silent for a moment: "I cannot tell you. Some answers you must find for yourself."

"I am very pleased that the human race has not been annihilated after tens of thousands of years of evolution, and that inherent courage has finally been preserved."

Li Yuan wanted to ask him more about the Bronze Palace and the Heavenly Ladder, but the Serpent King's figure began to become transparent.

"There's no time left," the Serpent King's voice quickened. "My will is about to be exhausted; I'll send you back now."

"Wait! Those people..."

Li Yuan thought of Grandpa Mu's kind smile, Rong'er's lively figure, and his comrades who fought side by side in the fortress, and a feeling of reluctance rose in his heart.