"No! Jialie! Wake up!" Jidu wailed in utter grief, tears streaming down his aged face as he clutched the corpse of Sheng Yan Jialie and shook him violently, but received no response.

Jidu had watched Jialie grow up from childhood, witnessing his entire journey from enlisting in the army to becoming an elite Sky Demon Warrior.

At this moment, seeing this young subordinate killed right before his eyes made Jidu's heart feel as if it were being torn apart by knives, driving him to unbearable sorrow.

This desolate sense of powerlessness nearly drove Jidu insane. Even now, Jidu could recall every minute detail of the past forty years spent with these younger generations.

Splut! Splut!

Two sharp sounds yanked Jidu from his stupor—two blazing sword auras, closing in instantly!

"Ah!" Jidu spun around with a sudden move, tossing the body of Huo Yao toward his personal guards who were desperately charging into the fray: "Give him to Jin Yao!" Jidu roared, then swiftly turned back, fixing his gaze on Moluo Zhankong, Moluo Zhanying, and Moluo Tianfeng!

"Moluo Tianfeng." Jidu’s silver eyes were pierced by a trace of eerie scarlet; he stared fixedly at Moluo Tianfeng.

Although Moluo Tianfeng’s face was pale at this moment, the intensely hot magical fluctuations slowly surging throughout his body indicated that his injuries were more than halfway healed.

The three of them radiated murderous intent, their faces grim, their eyes sharp as lightning, locking onto Jidu’s figure!

"Next up is you, old man," Moluo Tianfeng sneered with a trace of cruelty.

"Hmph, Tianfeng, I won't be the one to kill you. That honor belongs to the reborn Fire Sun Sky Demon." A bloody, demonic red flashed in Jidu's silver eyes. With a casual reach, the Frost Condensing Sword flew into the air, returning to Jidu's hand. In this moment, Jidu glared at the three like a fierce wolf.

"The reborn Fire Sun Sky Demon," Moluo Tianfeng threw his head back and laughed wildly. "It seems grief has clouded your mind."

"You'll see soon enough," Jidu's deep voice held a chilling quality that unnerved them, causing the concentration of Moluo Tianfeng and the others to falter slightly.

"Huo Yao! He’s dead." I could barely believe what I was seeing.

"A-Lie." Jin Yao’s usually placid eyes finally allowed two crystal tears to fall. It was the first time I had ever seen the invariably stern Jin Yao weep.

It turned out that Sky Demon Warriors were not all heartless, iron-blooded fighters; they too possessed emotions that were difficult for ordinary people to sever.

Just as I was lost in thought—

"General Jidu's aura is strengthening," Jin Yao Hong suddenly exclaimed.

Ah! Jidu! I quickly looked toward the direction where Jidu and the others were locked in battle, carefully sensing the shifts in energy on the field. It was obvious that an astonishing surge of energy was emanating from Jidu right now.

"Yes, this is General Jidu’s true strength," Jin Yao said gravely. "It seems his power advanced significantly after the Battle of Luojiang. Huo Yao’s death has ignited General Jidu’s resolve to fight to the death. The Jidu of today is the true Silver Demon—the Silver Demon Jidu that strikes terror into all opponents." Jin Yao’s somber face twisted into an even colder, ferocious expression.

"Luojiang." The Jidu before me seemed no different from when he dueled Luojiang before. Even though he wasn't wielding the Blade of Destiny in his hand, that immense aura was uncannily similar to Jidu when he held the Blade of Destiny back then.

"General Jidu!"

Another battle circle on the city wall!!

With a deafening boom, several scaling ladders that had been braced against the rampart during the fierce fighting were pulverized by a terrifying burst of Battle Qi explosion. Dust and smoke, mixed with countless shards of ice and water vapor, enveloped the area in a hazy, gray mist, making it impossible to see clearly—a condition intentionally created by Yanzhao. Seeing that his objective was achieved, Yanzhao suddenly suppressed his entire aura. Years of cooperation meant Galan immediately grasped Yanzhao’s intention, and he too completely stilled his presence.

For a moment, the dense gray fog fell silent. As expected, Moluo Zhantian and Moluo Zhanyun had also suppressed their auras. It was clear their mutual intent: to use the thick smoke to dispatch their opponents.

Galan remained perfectly still, centering his spiritual sense to carefully trace the movements of energy around him, trying to locate Moluo Zhantian and Moluo Zhanyun. But these two were like stones sunk into the sea; their presence was utterly gone, making it incredibly difficult to pinpoint their locations. Galan knew clearly that at this moment, Moluo Zhantian and Moluo Zhanyun were searching for his hiding spot just as he was searching for theirs! If that was the case, he would lure them out first! Rahu Galan resolved himself, quietly picked up a piece of rubble, and tossed it forward with a soft snap. Immediately after, he channeled his Battle Qi, intending to strike with thunderous force the moment the enemy exposed their position.

Whoosh! Two sharp blue sword auras tore through the air, aimed directly at his chest.

"Ah!!" Rahu Galan was staggered. This technique designed to lure the enemy had backfired, exposing his own position instead. In reality, Moluo Zhantian and Moluo Zhanyun were no amateurs; their spiritual perception surpassed Galan’s imagination. The instant Galan tossed the pebble, they had registered the subtle sound, though they couldn't confirm Lan's precise location, as the roaring Battle Qi and explosions in the surroundings also affected their judgment. However, once the rubble landed and made a noise, they immediately realized it was Galan’s lure and pinpointed his hiding spot; the two sword auras shot out instantly. In a flash of thought, Galan sprang up and lunged to his left, simultaneously pinpointing the exact locations of Moluo Zhantian and Moluo Zhanyun. What neither Galan nor the Moluos expected was that under the cover of the smoke, the three of them were astonishingly close. A golden opportunity! Galan, channeling all the energy accumulated in his body, grit his teeth fiercely, determined to endure the cost of taking two sword auras, and unleashed his blade without reservation—a crescent-shaped burst of fire sword energy.

Whoosh! It whistled out, the Battle Qi instantly surging toward the locations of Moluo Zhanyun and Moluo Zhantian.

But a crescent sword aura that materialized out of nowhere accurately blocked the flaming crescent Galan had unleashed.

Clang! Rumble! A dazzling, hazy light flashed within the mist.

However, at that very moment, two gleaming silver wheels suddenly materialized.

Whoosh! Clang! Splut! Galan, who had tried to dodge sideways, was violently thrown against the city wall by the terrifying impact. Yet, before the sword aura could strike his chest, Galan managed to pivot slightly, avoiding the vital area. He was struck only on his left shoulder by the Battle Qi sword. Perhaps due to the proximity, the fire sword aura that hit Galan did not detonate; instead, it passed straight through his shoulder blade and tore into the air beyond!

Clang! Splut!

Clang! Splut!

Simultaneously, two heavy thuds echoed from within the dust cloud.

Amidst the swirling mist and smoke, these three masters of Battle Qi had, by some strange fate, closed the distance between them, unleashing their Battle Qi swords almost simultaneously!

However, Galan’s flaming crescent was intercepted by the lightning-fast response of Moluo Zhantian. Yet, while Moluo Zhantian managed to block Galan's flaming crescent, he couldn't stop the sudden, intangible appearance of the Profound Ice Flying Wheels.

Who could have imagined that Yanzhao, a Mage, had hidden right next to Galan under the cover of the thick fog? The moment Galan was struck, Yanzhao immediately pinpointed the locations of Moluo Zhankong and Moluo Zhanyun and unleashed the Profound Ice Flying Wheels at close range. Furthermore, these two wheels were thrown using a unique attack technique, utterly lacking the piercing sound of air-rending or the strong magical fluctuations that usually accompanied the phenomenal speed of the Profound Ice Flying Wheels. This meant Moluo Zhanyun and his comrade couldn't detect the presence of these wheels at all. By the time they reacted, they had been struck squarely by two Profound Ice Flying Wheels, their heads severed.

It couldn't be said their strength was lacking; it was simply fate playing cruel tricks. Yanzhao and Galan had been too cunning, using such a scheme to trick them.

Thud! Galan, who had been slammed against the wall, slid down the corner and crashed onto the ground. At this moment, Galan could no longer hold back, spitting out large amounts of blood. He forced himself not to pass out, but he lacked the strength to even move, his entire body feeling like it was falling apart. Yet, he couldn't conceal the look of ecstatic joy on his face! He had ultimately won! But as he looked toward the tangle of light and shadow in the east, a bitter smile crossed Galan's face.

"Hah, just missed the heart," Galan grimaced, clutching his chest and looking at Yanzhao, who was similarly slumped on the ground. "I'm always the bait, and you get the kill! Next time, can we switch?"

"Heh! I’d like to, but I’m not as thick-skinned as you," Yanzhao gasped, wheezing the words out.

South Gate Rampart Main Front!

Huo Yao’s personal guards carried his body and knelt before Jin Yao.

"I understand," Jin Yao took a deep breath. "I will absolutely fulfill Huo Yao's final wish." Jin Yao then looked at me: "Your Highness, this is General Huo Yao’s dying wish. Let Your Highness continue the battle in place of General Huo Yao."

"What? Do you mean I have to wear General Huo Yao's Sky Demon Armor?" I could hardly believe what I was hearing.

"Precisely," Jin Yao stated sternly. "Strictly speaking, from the moment Your Highness stepped out of the Sky Demon Holy Hall, you were already a Sky Demon Warrior, merely lacking a Sky Demon Armor of your own. Now that General Huo Yao has fallen, Your Highness is the most suitable candidate to inherit the Fire Sun Sky Demon Armor. I hope Your Highness will not delay."

"This!" For a moment, I was stunned. How could this be? Was I truly required to don the Sky Demon Armor now and become a genuine Sky Demon Warrior?

Not long ago, I had countless times dreamed of the day I could wear the Sky Demon Armor and become a mighty Sky Demon Warrior. I believed this day was not far off.

As long as I participated in the next Sky Demon Hegemony Competition, my wish would be fulfilled.

Yes, I would definitely become a Sky Demon Warrior. After cultivating through the Path of the Summit, I knew this day would come eventually, but I never imagined it would arrive so quickly.

I was almost unable to trust my own eyes.

"Your Highness, you must avenge the General," Huo Yao's personal guards knelt in unison before me. "If it were possible, we truly wish we could be the ones to avenge him." The guard holding Huo Yao’s body looked heartbroken. "But with our current cultivation, there is no way we can control the Sky Demon Armor. So, we beg you, Your Highness."

"Yes! I understand!" At that moment, I had no further hesitation. "I will personally kill Moluo Tianfeng and avenge General Huo Yao!"

And on the other side!

Whoosh! Jidu casually waved out a circular sword aura, sweeping toward the three figures.

"Roar!!" The three figures burst forward simultaneously!! Slicing through Jidu's circular sword aura, they charged in a fierce offensive. Instantly, the four golden figures streaked across the field, chasing and weaving, like countless lightning bolts tearing across the sky, weaving an impossibly vast arc of electric light. Amidst continuous, thunderous roars, countless light explosions enveloped every corner within a thousand meters of the city wall.

Jidu’s Frost Condensing Sword was now enveloped in thick, blazing fire sword energy, resembling a spectacular, exotic seven-colored radiance. Although it wasn't as exaggerated as the five-meter-long great fire sword from before, it still startled Moluo Zhankong and the others. Because Jidu had already attacked them with this incomparably exotic, seven-colored fire sword more than a hundred times. Although the movements were nothing more than the simple 'Po Jun' blade technique, the fire sword energy clinging to the blade never extinguished. The surroundings were beginning to resemble intensely hot whirlpools, making one feel as if they were inside volcanic lava, with even the air they breathed carrying the scent of fire.

What was going on? Did Jidu’s Frost Condensing Sword possess some special attribute? The three were utterly horrified.

Jidu’s Frost Condensing Sword certainly had no special attribute! In reality, this was merely Jidu skillfully utilizing the laws of energy circulation from the Qi Condensation Art to condense the Fire Battle Qi onto the Frost Condensing Sword, thereby causing the fire sword energy clinging to the blade to be contained yet ready to be released. At this moment, Jidu was only condensing a small portion of the Fire Battle Qi, which is why it wasn't as terrifying as the previous great fire sword—it was only about a meter and a half long. However, because only a small portion of the Fire Battle Qi was condensed, it didn't deplete Jidu’s Battle Qi reserves significantly. All he needed to do was maintain the energy intensity of this fire sword.

But this meant that every strike Jidu made was equivalent to releasing a burst of Fire Sword Qi, continuously. It must be noted that while Sky Demon Warriors on the continent today had cultivated vast stores of Battle Qi, the extremely unstable and diffuse nature of Fire Battle Qi made the condensation of Fire Sword Qi an impossibility. Thus, Fire Sword Qi in application only had two simple methods: compression and projection. Otherwise, attempting prolonged forced condensation would result in an explosion. The idea of condensing and maintaining Fire Sword Qi was not new, but no one had succeeded. Furthermore, in a duel, the intensity of Battle Qi energy determined victory or defeat. Therefore, continuous fire attacks were not unheard of, but sustained sword-strikes that all unleashed fire were impossible; no matter how powerful a Sky Demon Warrior, Fire Sword Qi could not be unleashed infinitely. But Jidu, having been forced into a desperate situation, had a sudden flash of inspiration and conceived this opportunistic method! Under the effect of the Qi Condensation Art at this very moment, the Frost Condensing Sword was wreathed in Fire Sword Qi, possessing the characteristic of 'fire in every strike.' The rest was simple: Jidu used very little Battle Qi energy, yet he deployed the terrifying killing move of 'fire in every blow.'

And at this moment, the combination of the Qi Condensation Art and Fire Sword Qi unexpectedly generated another characteristic: under Jidu's continuous, high-intensity attacks of Fire Sword Qi, the surroundings were covered by the astonishing heat of the energy. This was something Jidu hadn't anticipated. He felt as if he were inside a colossal furnace, unbearably hot, even his breathing becoming labored. This made Jidu slightly dissatisfied with the side effects of the Qi Condensation Art, but seeing Moluo Zhanying and the other two also suffering from the searing sword energy field, Jidu felt slightly more balanced emotionally.

What Jidu didn't expect, however, was a special energy stirring within his body—a feeling exactly like the one he had when gripping the Blade of Destiny.

It was the feeling of the Blade of Destiny! There was no mistake. Holding his sword now, it felt less like the Frost Condensing Sword and more like the wondrous sensation of merging souls with the Blade of Destiny during the confrontation with Blood Tiger Luojiang.

Why was this happening? Although Jidu was utterly shocked, he was ecstatic about this familiar sensation.

Yes, that was correct. At this moment, Jidu clearly sensed the existence of the Blade of Destiny. Though he couldn't explain what sort of situation this was, the feeling was undeniably right!

Overwhelmed with excitement, the joy of having regained something lost almost made Jidu want to let out a long roar to the heavens.

Blade of Destiny, you are still alive!

No one knew why tears suddenly welled up in Jidu's eyes—tears of overwhelming joy. No one understood what exactly had transpired in that single moment.

But one thing was certain: Jidu had truly changed now, becoming entirely different from before.

Everyone present was stunned by that single golden figure. Jidu now looked like a completely different person from moments ago. The thick Battle Qi swirling around him, the stern, righteous aura that made everyone’s spirit tremble, felt like that of an aloof deity from a mythical era, looking down upon all sentient beings.

"Silver Demon! This is the true Silver Demon!" Moluo Zhanying's expression changed drastically.