Staring at the desiccated corpse lying on the ground, Sima Xuan’s eye twitched slightly; it seemed he had arrived too late. Glancing at the still-clashing Flame Legion, he waved his hand gently, and the personal guards behind him immediately charged forward, unleashing a slaughter upon the Fiery Legion...

He himself dismounted, a wide smile spreading across his face as he walked toward Nangong Shang...

“Congratulations, General Nangong, for achieving this remarkable feat—assassinating Xuanyuan Yan and eliminating one of his major pillars...” Xuanyuan Yu had never met Nangong Shang, but observing the scene, he could easily deduce his identity...

Nangong Shang started, not recognizing the man at all. However, seeing the arrival of reinforcements and the subsequent culling of the remaining Flame soldiers, his heart settled slightly...

“My lord flatters me. I wonder who you might be...” Nangong Shang raised his eyebrows slightly...

“Oh, I am Sima Xuan. I have recently pledged allegiance to the Third Young Master and was dispatched by him to assist General Nangong in eliminating Xuanyuan Yu. I certainly did not expect General Nangong’s martial prowess to be so high as to have already slain this villain...” A faint smile played on Sima Xuan’s lips, yet his eyes covertly scrutinized Nangong Shang and the Yi Ruoshui beside him, filled with suspicion. Given Nangong Shang’s capability, it seemed improbable that he could have killed Xuanyuan Yu; moreover, the corpse looked strangely slain...

“Heh heh, so it is Lord Sima. I offer my respects. While I wished to kill Xuanyuan Yu, I am no match for him. He was killed by Elder Brother General Ye...” Nangong Shang made no attempt to claim credit, stating calmly...

“Oh? I see...” Sima Xuan nodded lightly...

“Lord Sima, since we are now aligned, I urge you to quickly quell the remaining fight so we can return and report our success...” Nangong Shang’s internal Zhenqi was completely depleted, leaving him with no combat strength. He had no desire to linger with a city lord who had only just switched sides...

“Indeed...” Sima Xuan nodded, while his personal troops accelerated their slaughter. Nangong Shang began gathering the remnants of his force, preparing for their return to the City Lord’s Manor...

As the battle on this side neared its conclusion, Luo Haitian and Luo Muyan’s armies subsequently entered the city. However, the price they paid was more than double that paid by Luo Ruofeng. Most of these casualties were inflicted by the Silver Armor Army and the Flame Legion...

Yet, they were joined by a contingent of the rebel army, offsetting these losses...

However, Luo Ruofeng was the first to enter the city and the first to seize the City Lord’s Manor. According to the agreement among the three, Luo Ruofeng would hold absolute authority over the administration of Lingyan City—a reality the others had to accept...

The two hurried toward the City Lord’s Manor while dispatching scouts to ascertain the situation in Lingyan City. Even though Luo Ruofeng controlled the city, provisions and supplies still needed to be prepared for them, didn't they?

Inside the City Lord’s Manor, Luo Ruofeng, with the assistance of Zhuge Yishi, was already beginning the process of taking over Lingyan City. Ye Jingyu, however, made his way to the secret chamber in the rear courtyard—the chamber where Sima Xuan practiced martial arts...

Outside the chamber, Chi Yixiu led two hundred of the most elite Chi Yi tribe warriors standing guard. When not on the battlefield, they shed their armor and set aside their four-meter-long spears, instead gripping their massive battle-axes, surrounding the chamber in disciplined ranks...

Hu Yanzhi and Hu Yanmeng commanded one hundred of the sharpest Hu Yan archers, concealed in various corners of the courtyard. Occasionally, the tip of an arrow would flash with cold light; anyone attempting intrusion would certainly be riddled with shafts... Meanwhile, Ni Bo lay quietly nearby, his pair of ink-black eyes occasionally drifting toward the sky...

Add to this the presence of Bing Ming, whose exact location was unknown, and this defensive perimeter was potent enough to halt a Martial Saint...

All of this was solely for Liang Xiaoke, who was on the verge of advancing within that secret chamber...

Inside the chamber, two prayer mats were laid out. Ye Jingyu sat on one, his eyes fixed on Liang Xiaoke before him, filled with palpable anxiety...

Liang Xiaoke was cross-legged on his mat. His upper garment had been shredded by the violent energy he had just expelled, exposing a torso devoid of flesh, extremely emaciated. Around his neck hung a pale-green jade pendant...

A force of immense magnitude surged relentlessly within his body. Liang Xiaoke used his formidable mental strength to direct this energy toward his glabella, yet a portion remained uncontrollable, erupting outward and ravaging his physical form. Immediately, a trace of death energy wrapped around the damage, attempting to mend his body...

As this energy was absorbed, his withered physique slowly began to swell, much like a balloon being inflated—becoming fuller and more robust by the moment...

A flush of color spread across his pale face, growing deeper and redder, resembling freshly drawn blood...

His body continued to expand. In mere moments, he transformed from a figure as thin as dry kindling into a portly man, and this inflation was still ongoing...

A look of sheer agony contorted Liang Xiaoke’s features; clearly, this influx of power was too vast for him to fully control at once...

Seeing that his body was on the verge of explosion, a wave of worry washed over Ye Jingyu, yet he knew of nothing he could do except wait...

With a sharp crack, Liang Xiaoke’s arm ruptured first. Pale yellow blood and nearly decomposed flesh sprayed outwards, leaving only the stark, white bone...

“Hmph...” Liang Xiaoke let out a cold snort, sending a wisp of death energy toward his arm. But since the rotten tissue had already been blasted away, repair was impossible...

Crack... A second sound followed as Liang Xiaoke’s other hand exploded, scattering fragments of flesh across the floor. Even his ashen face showed a flicker of movement...

Crack... A third sound signaled the simultaneous rupture of his chest, followed immediately by his abdomen, then his thighs. One agonizing scream after another tore from his throat, yet he kept his eyes tightly shut, ceaselessly spewing forth black death energy that coiled around his body, obscuring the terrifying sight of his internal organs...

This death energy struggled to restore his form, but with his entire body shattered, immediate repair was unattainable. The colossal power then began surging toward his neck. Ye Jingyu’s apprehension deepened; all the vital energy of a Jiangshi was concentrated in the glabella. If that point were destroyed, even a Jiangshi would suffer total annihilation...

It was at this critical juncture between life and death that a pale-green light emanated from the azure jade pendant hanging upon Liang Xiaoke’s chest...