From the look in the Fire Crow's eyes, it was clear—those eyes were nearly identical to Mu Guiying's. In fact, this was none other than a battle soul avatar formed with Mu Guiying as the core. Atop the Fire Crow's head, a faint golden flame crown could be seen—like the crown of a supreme ruler among fire crows.
Cawww!!
With a sharp screech, Mu Guiying flapped her wings, bringing a sky full of divine fire, and soared straight into the cloud layer. Even her feathers had turned dark-golden, each one like a massive war sword, exuding terrifying sharpness. The fire she bore now was far more domineering than before. In that instant, the flames she radiated truly resembled an unmatched Fire Crow, threatening to burn the heavens and boil the seas.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Metallic ringing echoed as one fiery feather after another, forged from heavenly fire, slashed through the void like swords.
"Ahhh!!"
From within the clouds came waves of blood-curdling screams.
The fiery feathers pierced through the bodies of numerous Shanling warriors. Under the explosion of divine fire, they instantly turned into giant fireballs—a horrifying sight as swathes of soldiers were swept away on the spot.
"How dare you!"
A Shanling elite warrior's eyes flared with fury. Without hesitation, he waved his hand. Behind him, the Lightning Treasure Tree surged with arcs of electricity, which instantly transformed into lightning spears, striking toward Mu Guiying. Not just spears—lightning turned into savage lightning blades, cleaving toward her with immense force. Each one had the power to shatter a mountain.
Yet, at this moment, Mu Guiying had fused with the power of the Divine Crow Legion. Her strength surged, fearless before the incoming storm. Feathers became war swords, slashing wildly. Spreading her wings, she dove toward the Shanling warrior, her dark-gold flaming talons gleaming as a wave of heavenly fire engulfed the sky.
"Courting death!!"
The Shanling elite coldly snorted. Suddenly, he reached out toward the Lightning Treasure Tree. In the blink of an eye, the massive tree shrank rapidly until he gripped it in one hand. With a casual swing, he swept it toward the charging Mu Guiying.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A dense storm of lightning erupted, completely engulfing the Fire Crow. It poured endlessly, landing on her like torrential rain. Her feathers exploded under the force. It was a tragic sight.
"You dare attack Grandpa Zhang?! Eat my spear!!"
With bloodshot eyes, Zhang Fei roared. Hundreds of thousands of Demon-Breaking Legion soldiers formed a divine war formation. Their power surged into Zhang Fei, causing his body to grow hundreds of meters tall.
That roar alone silenced the entire battlefield—louder than ten thousand thunderbolts.
A serpent spear pierced through the void, aimed directly at the Shanling warrior, seemingly to shatter him into pieces. The spear held a formidable spear intent.
But the Shanling warrior was shockingly quick to respond. The Lightning Treasure Tree once again swung, creating a vast lightning storm that shattered the serpent spear and sent it flying aside. A terrifying torrent of lightning engulfed Zhang Fei.
With a single swing, both Zhang Fei and Mu Guiying were suppressed.
It should be known: both had drawn upon full power through their war formations, momentarily stepping into the Pseudo Nascent Soul realm—a half-step beyond the Dharma Aspect realm, with incredible destructive power. Yet, before this Shanling elite, they were effortlessly subdued.
"Nascent Soul Realm..."
In the Xuanhuang City, witnessing officials all wore grim expressions. It was now clear that this Shanling elder had likely reached the true Nascent Soul Realm.
The difference of a single realm, coupled with a top-tier alien treasure, produced a force far beyond ordinary comprehension.
The Nascent Soul Realm was already a level where one began to condense laws and Dao rhythm.
This Shanling warrior clearly cultivated lightning as his law, and the lightning strikes contained the power of that Dao, dramatically enhancing their might.
"You know nothing of true power. Since you've forced me from my slumber, you must now pay a heavy price."
The Shanling elder swept his gaze toward Zhang Fei and Mu Guiying. The Lightning Treasure Tree in his hand lashed out repeatedly. Each strike unleashed a storm of lightning, overwhelming all in its path. Not even Zhang Fei's superb spear techniques or powerful spear intent could stop it. Blow after blow forced him back, lightning carving deep gashes across his body. The Fire Crow was likewise scorched black and battered.
Before such a foe, they were clearly outmatched.
But defeating them would not be easy.
"Your Majesty, should we dispatch additional forces to assist? General Zhang and General Mu likely cannot hold out much longer. That Lightning Treasure Tree is too overwhelming," Wu Yong said with urgency.
"The Ten Thousand Beasts Court and the foreign tribes have clearly begun deploying their trump cards," Yi Tianxing said, frowning in deep thought.
The appearance of a Nascent Soul Realm expert could easily shift the tide of battle.
It wouldn't be hard for Yi Tianxing to suppress the Shanling elder himself. But if the second gate already required him to act, it would expose the current lack of true high-end combatants in the Great Yi Dynasty.
Indeed, Great Yi had risen too quickly and hadn't yet nurtured enough top-tier powerhouses. Not even one true Nascent Soul Realm cultivator existed within its ranks.
"A Nascent Soul expert from the Shanling dares to meddle in our war? Do they truly think humanity has no one left? Slash!!"
Just then, a cold, furious voice echoed from the void.
This voice clearly belonged to a human cultivator, filled with righteous wrath.
With the words still ringing, a blood-colored sword light tore through the skies from afar. Within the crimson glow, a legendary sword gleamed—and on the blade, two ancient runes stood out: Moye!!
☛ [Moye] — A supreme flying sword, imbued with powerful emotions and sword intent, capable of slaying Nascent Soul experts.
The Moye Sword carried with it an overwhelming sword intent, slicing through the air. That intent contained self-sacrifice, and a love so deep it defied the heavens.
At the sight of Moye, all witnesses felt as if they had glimpsed the legendary sacrifice of forging the sword, a love so earth-shattering it drew their very souls into that ancient tale. Their minds were wholly seized by it.
That sword light was too dazzling.
Even the Shanling elder was entranced—had it not been for the dangerous aura from the Lightning Treasure Tree jolting him back to reality, he would have succumbed, unable to escape even in death.
"Sword Immortal!!"
The Shanling elder cried out in alarm, desperately attempting to resist—but the Moye Sword was far too sharp. In an instant, it tore through the lightning defenses, flashed past his neck, and ended it all.
Sword Immortal—One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Techniques!!
Before a peak Sword Immortal, no spell or divine art could stand.
The sword came too swiftly, too violently. The power behind it was overwhelming.
"A human cultivator… one sword to shatter all arts…"
The Shanling elder murmured as his head detached from his body.
Even his Nascent Soul was annihilated by the sword's power.
⚔️ The Shanling elder—dead on the spot!!
"A terrifying flying sword—this is the might of a Sword Immortal. Truly fearsome… To slay a Nascent Soul Realm expert from a thousand miles away with one strike—it's no wonder the sword path is said to be the most lethal of all cultivation paths."
"He's dead! That Shanling elder, a Nascent Soul cultivator, was slain in just one blow! Are Sword Immortals really that strong?"
"That was a human cultivator… I've never heard of him before. Could he be from one of the human sects? If so, they really are hiding immense power. What a terrifying trump card."
The ministers in the palace were visibly shaken. None had expected a human cultivator to intervene and end the battle in a single stroke. Without doubt, the tide had turned completely.
The remaining Shanling warriors scattered and fled in every direction. The oppressive danger in the air vanished.
Even the clouds overhead dispersed.
"It seems the human sects are expressing goodwill toward the Great Yi, seeking our recognition. It proves that even among the sects, there remain hidden powerhouses," Zhuge Liang remarked, gently fanning himself.
In recent years, sect cultivators had remained low-key within Great Yi. But ultimately, they were part of the human race. To flourish, they needed to embed themselves within human civilization.
After all, recruiting disciples and gathering resources was not something a sect could manage alone. Relying on a dynastic fortune was the wisest path.
With Great Yi now on the brink of unifying the continent, the sects could no longer sit still.
Every barrier they helped break was not just a gesture of goodwill, but a way to showcase their strength and gain favor. A human favor was no small thing.
This the sects understood well.
Show strength.Show goodwill.Earn trust.It was a win-win.
"Yes. We'll handle sect matters after the unification is complete," Yi Tianxing nodded.
He understood the sects' intentions all too well.
But now was not the time to be distracted.
"Issue the order: Demon-Breaking Legion and Divine Crow Legion are to return to the Military Soul Battlefield for rest and recovery. The War Tiger Legion and Vermilion Bird Legion will take over."
This battle had left both Demon-Breaking and Divine Crow legions heavily damaged. Without hesitation, he ordered their swift rotation to recover.
Meanwhile… in Golden City, capital of the Ten Thousand Beasts Court.
Silence hung heavy in the great hall.
That sword light still lingered vividly in their minds.
"A human sect cultivator actually struck… That old man was slain in one sword stroke. That Sword Immortal is terrifying. And that flying sword—definitely not ordinary. I sensed fatal danger from it."
"The human sects have shown their hand now. They won't stop here. They'll surely appear again in future trials. What should we do—should we dismantle the remaining checkpoints?"
An alien tribe leader finally broke the silence.