Bi Feng Bi Luo

Chapter 688: The Great Battle (4)

In the real world, at the North and South Fortresses, Shuzi and everyone else stood grimly on the city walls. Below, the invading forces of the Evil Spirits clan stood before the walls. Shuzi's voice rang out, "Brothers, we fight to the death!"

Shuzi's words ignited the passion of all the martial artists. They had no retreat, only one path forward. They could not leave this place. Behind them lay their home city; if it were shattered, their families, friends, and loved ones would face annihilation. To protect those they cherished, to protect those who deserved protection, they were willing to fight with their lives. This was their aspiration.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Everyone roared. Shuzi's expression was grave. Chen Tian's clone had left prematurely due to the attack on the Northern Fortress. The Evil Spirits clan somehow knew this. At this time, without Chen Tian suppressing the Southern Fortress, Shuzi's strength could, at best, result in a draw when fighting one-on-one with the enemy. Indeed, after a period of recuperation, Shuzi's strength had improved considerably. If he were to fight the enemy now, it would be a fifty-fifty situation at best. Shuzi and everyone else stood on the city wall.

The figure of Xie Ku shot towards the sky, standing high above and looking down at Shuzi. He extended his hands, arrogance etched on his face, and declared, "Boy, let's continue our unfinished battle. Let me see how much your strength has grown. I hope you can entertain me and not be a fleeing loser like last time."

Seeing Xie Ku challenge him so directly, Shuzi could not refuse. This battle was crucial for morale. The other two witnessed Xie Ku's actions and felt helpless. This fellow was a pure battle maniac; it was better not to obstruct him, otherwise, it was normal for Xie Ku to do something outrageous. Once, someone had interrupted Xie Ku's battle, and that person's entire world was shattered by Xie Ku's palm.

Xie Ku disliked being interrupted during a fight. Shuzi shot straight into the clouds. Shuzi and Xie Ku stood facing each other. They exchanged a glance, and their figures erupted with terrifying speed. Two streaks of light shot forward, choosing a head-on confrontation. Shuzi's fist collided with Xie Ku's claw. Energy surged through the sky, and the entire firmament trembled. Shuzi and Xie Ku were forced back a step. Xie Ku praised, "Not bad, you've grown quickly. But it's not enough. Let me have more fun."

As Xie Ku spoke, his power surged. Shuzi observed this. This level of strength was comparable to their previous fight. Shuzi had considered that the enemy in this state was not at his full power. Shuzi could only brace himself. Shuzi still had a fifty percent chance of winning, but it would come at a price.

Xie Ku took a step forward, black wings unfurling from his back. A black liquid formed armor that covered his entire body. His claws condensed into a layer of armor. With a single claw strike, light flashed. Shuzi couldn't react in time. A sense of crisis made him turn his head slightly to the left. A gash appeared on Shuzi's neck. Shuzi felt the wound on his neck and poured all his focus into suppressing it. The Evil Spirit energy on the wound would affect his sanity. If it wasn't cleared quickly, the entire battle would be one-sided.

Shuzi was different from Chen Tian. Chen Tian was immune to Evil Spirit energy, but Shuzi was not. Shuzi was human, a living being. As long as a living being was tainted by Evil Spirit energy, their sanity would be slowly eroded and assimilated. Shuzi forcefully suppressed the effects of the Evil Spirit energy on the wound, but the effect was minimal. To completely remove it, Chen Tian's intervention would be needed. Only Chen Tian had a solution for this.

Xie Ku turned his head and gave a sinister smile. The meaning behind this smile was indiscernible. Xie Ku stomped his foot. This time, Shuzi made a decision and prepared his defenses in advance. His entire body was enveloped in light, forming a protective barrier. Constant sounds emanated from around the light barrier. Xie Ku's attack speed increased with each passing moment, to the point where Shuzi could no longer see his figure.

With a crack, the light barrier showed signs of fracturing. Shuzi had no choice but to retreat. *Peng!*

Chen Tian and Xie San emerged from the explosion of sword light. Chen Tian lunged forward, his long sword sweeping horizontally. With a single strike, the light of heaven and earth dimmed. This sword strike was like splitting the heavens, bisecting the void. Facing this strike, Xie San drew his Evil Spirit Sword. The two swords clashed, sparks flying. Chen Tian and Xie San faced each other, both pouring their strength into their weapons. Chen Tian's hands suddenly lifted upwards, and Xie San decisively let go.

The Evil Spirit Sword was knocked away by Chen Tian's long sword. Chen Tian's sword descended. A smile curled on Xie San's lips. The seemingly empty Evil Spirit Sword intent, with extreme speed, shot towards Chen Tian's head. If Chen Tian didn't dodge this sword, he would be impaled.

Chen Tian knew the consequences. This was not the situation he wanted. Helplessly, he had to abandon his offensive and choose defense. His long sword swept past his head, deflecting the descending Evil Spirit Sword. Suddenly, Xie San appeared directly in front of Chen Tian, catching the Evil Spirit Sword with his hand. He thrust forward. Xie San had long anticipated that Chen Tian would choose this method. The Evil Spirit Sword transformed into light, and black rays shot directly at Chen Tian. Chen Tian placed his sword horizontally in front of him with one hand.

*Clang!*

The sword tip and sword body collided. Chen Tian's figure continuously retreated. The Evil Spirit Sword's offense was fierce. Seeing Chen Tian easily resist this move, Xie San swung his arm repeatedly, unleashing hundreds of sword shadows that attacked Chen Tian's sword. Each impact forced Chen Tian's figure back a step. He retreated continuously. Chen Tian's mind raced, calculating how to break this predicament. The entire battle situation was now controlled by Xie San, and Chen Tian had to seize the initiative.

The scene froze. Chen Tian decided to take a gamble. Only then could he gain the upper hand. From a defensive stance, Chen Tian thrust his long sword forward, stabbing repeatedly. Sword shadows met sword shadows. Chen Tian's choice was to clash in terms of swing speed. As long as Chen Tian's speed was faster than Xie San's, Chen Tian's attacks would interrupt the opponent's attack rhythm in advance, thus allowing him to gain the offensive.

Xie San saw through Chen Tian's intention but paid it no mind. He increased his speed, to the point where only flashes of light were visible; the arm and sword were indistinguishable. Chen Tian was the same. As time passed, there was nothing visible before them, as if air was colliding.

Chen Tian and Xie San's speed was so great they were as invisible as air. Chen Tian and Xie San's spirits were taut. At such a moment, one slip-up would lead to a disadvantage. Both dared not be negligent, focusing their attention entirely on the clash.

Long sword and long sword produced melodious sounds like music. A sudden explosion, and sword energy shot out from the blast. Chen Tian and Xie San's expressions turned grim. They took the same action, whirling their long swords to protect themselves. The sword energy was effortlessly deflected by their long swords.

Sword dance in motion, protecting oneself!

Chen Tian and Xie San stopped their sword dance. The explosion dissipated, and the sword energy vanished. The reaction between the sword energy had formed a sword qi storm, mixing the sword qi of both individuals. Chen Tian and Xie San dared not withstand it directly, so they countered with sword qi. This exchange was a draw, and Chen Tian successfully broke Xie San's combat rhythm.

As long as the combat rhythm remained in Chen Tian's hands, Chen Tian could guarantee a seventy percent chance of killing Xie San, provided Chen Tian held the offensive and did not remain defensive.

Chen Tian and Xie San stood quietly in the void, raising their long swords simultaneously. Two streaks of sword light shot out, followed by continuous explosions.

Shuzi and Xie Ku emerged from the explosion of their battle. At this point, Shuzi was at his limit. Shuzi was covered in injuries, and even the spear in his hand showed cracks, its tip seemingly on the verge of breaking.

Shuzi persisted in his fight. Xie Ku's strength far exceeded Shuzi's imagination. Shuzi had initially thought it would be a fifty-fifty match, but he hadn't expected that when the enemy unleashed his full power, he couldn't even last a hundred moves.

"Kid, you are only the third person to force me to use my full strength. You can die now."

"I enjoyed this battle immensely. As a reward, I grant you death. Remember to invoke my name, Xie Ku, in hell."

Xie Ku's claw gathered power. This strike was meant to finish Shuzi. In the sky, a golden-red magic circle appeared. Shuzi looked at the magic circle and recognized the familiar aura. It was a familiar magic circle. She had arrived.

"Has she awakened?"

"Noisy!"

A furious roar echoed from the sky, like a woman's voice. Countless fireballs descended from the magic circle, like a dense rain of meteors, smashing towards Xie Ku's body. Seeing the magic circle's attack, Xie Ku defended himself with all his might. The golden-red fireballs struck Xie Ku's body, forcing him downwards.

The newcomer's strength was on par with Xie Ku's. A figure emerged from the magic circle and appeared before Shuzi, with a playful expression, saying, "Your spear is rusty. It no longer has the sharpness it did thousands of years ago."

"No, it's not my spear that's rusty, but that I am no longer myself. I am no longer the God of Spears."

Shuzi shook his head and explained.

Chen Ling nodded in agreement and then stood before Shuzi, looking at Xie Ku with an arrogant expression, saying, "Spirit God, Chen Ling, has come to face you!"

"Good, good. I haven't had enough fun yet. Let the battle become more intense."

Xie Ku was indifferent to his opponents as long as they were strong enough to entertain him. He didn't care how the fight played out, even if it was one against many. Xie Ku feared nothing; he was a pure battle fanatic.

Chen Ling said to Shuzi, "You go back and rest first. I will help you clear the effects of the Evil Spirit energy later."

"Where is Chen Tian?"

"The invasion of the Spirit Realm by the Evil Spirits clan is more severe. Chen Tian will not be back for a few days. For now, I will guard this place."

Chen Ling was completely different from her usual self. In front of Chen Tian, she was a young girl, but when she took charge, she was like an elder sister, always making one feel at ease.

Shuzi understood this was the charm of the Spirit race. Shuzi turned and moved towards the rear of the city wall.

"State your name, for I, the Spirit God, do not kill the nameless."

Her tone shifted, her expression icy. Xie Ku roared with laughter, "Your opponent is the great general of the Evil Spirits clan, Xie Ku. I hope you can entertain me a little more."

Xie Ku's figure split directly into four figures, each a perfect duplicate of the original, possessing the same strength as the main body. Four against one!

The situation, by all accounts, favored Chen Ling being at a disadvantage. Chen Ling raised her Spirit Mirror Staff high, and the staff began to glow.

A voice from the Evil Spirits clan side rang out, "Xie Ku, that's enough for today. Come back."

Xie Ku listened to the voice, feeling very displeased. His clones dissipated. Before leaving, he couldn't resist saying fiercely, "I look forward to our next battle."

He turned and left. Chen Ling put away her Spirit Mirror Staff and ascended to the city wall.