By Luo Ruofeng’s side, Qing Shun, Lian Yi, and the others, though all promoted to generals, were originally his personal guards. Most of the time, they adhered strictly to orders. They were perfectly capable of protecting Luo Ruofeng, but in other matters, they were utterly unreliable…

More often than not, the one who could truly assist Luo Ruofeng was Ye Jingyu, and naturally, the strategist at his side was Zhuge Yishi. Luo Ruofeng relied most heavily on these two men. Hearing them both reach the same conclusion, he certainly wouldn't place genuine faith in Sima Xuan…

“Brother Ye, what about General Nangong’s side…” Luo Ruofeng turned to Ye Jingyu. Ye Jingyu was arguably his greatest support…

“Young Master, rest assured. My elder brother has already gone. With his skills, even if he cannot slay Xuanyuan Yu, he will certainly give him a memory he will never forget for all eternity,” Ye Jingyu revealed a wicked smile. Given Liang Xiaoke’s depravity and ruthlessness, anyone plotting against someone, even a Grandmaster, would need to exercise extreme caution…

Luo Ruofeng and Zhuge Yishi, though they had never witnessed Liang Xiaoke’s assassination techniques, both involuntarily shivered at the thought of that figure, pale and utterly bloodless…

At the North City Gate, the four thousand Blazing Flame Army led by Xuanyuan Yu had met the cavalry under Nangong Shang. Relying on their formidable individual martial prowess, they managed to firmly suppress the Shu Yun Army. If Nangong Shang had not arrived at the gate early to secure control, and if Xuanyuan Yu had not been so reluctant to leave, they might have already charged out of the city…

At this moment, the white armor on Nangong Shang’s body had already fallen away; it had been utterly cleaved apart by Xuanyuan Yu’s blade energy, revealing the white under-garments and dozens of sword gashes beneath. Facing the mighty Xuanyuan Yu, even though he was infinitely close to the Grandmaster realm, Nangong Shang was still no match. If Yi Ruoshui hadn't been present, it would have been completely impossible for him to even dream of slaying Xuanyuan Yu with his current capability…

The mask on Yi Ruoshui’s face was also shattered by Xuanyuan Yu’s blade. Upon seeing that pale, terrifying countenance, Xuanyuan Yu let out a mocking sneer. He truly never expected that the woman he once favored would become like this, and a sense of grim satisfaction washed over him. His Blood Soul Blade flickered repeatedly, sending streaks of sharp blade light that tightly enveloped Nangong Shang and Yi Ruoshui, giving them no chance to escape. In this moment, he resembled a cat toying with two badly wounded mice…

Nangong Shang gripped his spear. Despite being covered in wounds, his face remained composed. In contrast, Yi Ruoshui beside him showed clear worry. Although she was also a genius, having entered the Grandmaster realm at such a young age, the sheer depth of her True Essence power was far inferior to Nangong Shang’s. After fighting so intensely for so long, the True Essence within her had long been depleted. If Nangong Shang hadn't absorbed the vast majority of the attacks for her, she might have already been defeated…

She couldn't understand why Nangong Shang was so determined to come and fight when their combined strength was insufficient to hold back Xuanyuan Yu. This was unlike his usual conduct?

Moreover, the cavalry accompanying Nangong Shang lacked any top experts; they were in no position to aid the pair. Why was he so desperate to take revenge on Xuanyuan Yu?

“Since you two are so affectionate, I shall send you on your way today. Watch this move—Soul of Blood Shatter…” At this juncture, Xuanyuan Yu seemed to have grown weary of the game, or perhaps he sensed a slight unease. He suddenly stopped holding back, and the True Essence within his body erupted violently. A blinding streak of blood-colored blade energy slashed directly toward Yi Ruoshui…

“Ruoshui, watch out…” Nangong Shang let out a cold snort, but the momentum within his body suddenly exploded. He gave his long spear a sharp twitch, and the transparent God-Weeping Spear let out a low cry, sounding like a deity lamenting or perhaps a demon howling…

It was utterly mournful, utterly unwilling. A surge of azure light violently burst forth from the spear shaft, and that bleak feeling swept over everything nearby…

“Heartbreak…” Nangong Shang whispered softly…

The tip of the transparent spear gently poked forward, generating a brilliant blossoming spear-flower at the point, which then completely shattered, dissolving into a sky full of luminous motes—so dazzlingly bright, yet imbued with a deep sense of sorrow…

It felt as if one’s own heart had cracked apart…

Xuanyuan Yu’s Blood Soul Blade, which had been aimed at Yi Ruoshui, suddenly froze. The mocking look on his face swiftly vanished, replaced by profound sadness, as if he had suffered an immense wound…

However, in just an instant, he recovered. The blade light of the Blood Soul Blade continued its descent toward Yi Ruoshui, but she had already retreated several meters…

And the tip of the God-Weeping Spear was now hovering directly before Xuanyuan Yu’s heart…

It seemed poised to pierce Xuanyuan Yu’s very core…

A wave of horror surged through Xuanyuan Yu. He had never imagined that Nangong Shang’s thrust would be so bizarre; not only was it incredibly fast, but as he struck, it somehow managed to interfere with his very consciousness. This completely transcended the realm of martial arts…

But he was, after all, a Grandmaster. His power level was a full realm higher than Nangong Shang’s. He swiftly maneuvered the Blood Soul Blade, blocking the attack aimed at his sternum, and instantly condensed all his available True Essence onto the blade’s surface…

“Clang…” A crisp sound rang out. The tip of the God-Weeping Spear lightly touched the Blood Soul Blade, soft and casual, like a lover’s fingertips brushing against skin. Yet, a small indentation appeared on the body of the Blood Soul Blade. Centered on that point, the blade rapidly spiderwebbed with cracks, finally shattering into countless metallic fragments that rained downward…

The immense recoil sent a wave of numbness shooting up Xuanyuan Yu’s arm…

Xuanyuan Yu’s heart lurched again. This Blood Soul Blade was a divine weapon he had commissioned from Lu Lin, the foremost master smith in the world, forged using millennium-old cold iron. It was incomparably sharp, capable of slicing through iron like mud, and it had broken countless weapons. Normally, even nicking it was a difficult feat, yet now it had been pulverized by such a gentle prod. How could this not shock him? Especially since he had just infused it with so much True Essence power… In his eyes, there was only astonishment, and more astonishment…

Never mind him; even Yi Ruoshui, standing nearby, stared at the scene dumbfounded. Although Nangong Shang’s power surpassed hers, he was still firmly within the Grandmaster realm, separated from Xuanyuan Yu by a considerable gap. Yet, he had just shattered Xuanyuan Yu’s weapon with such ease. How could this not be astonishing?

But after the shock, she finally began to grasp why Nangong Shang had rushed here for revenge the moment he learned Xuanyuan Yu was leading troops. With this single spear thrust alone, Xuanyuan Yu was now under a genuine threat…

“Soul Sever…” After shattering Xuanyuan Yu’s Blood Soul Blade with one strike, Nangong Shang did not pause. He strode forward, executing a horizontal sweep with his spear. A streak of azure light instantly sliced out, aiming directly for Xuanyuan Yu’s neck…