"The Zanpakuto is a peerless divine blade, but unfortunately, it never found a suitable wielder. That's why it has always been a step below other peerless weapons. If the Zanpakuto had a wielder, it would undoubtedly be the most terrifying, peerless deadly weapon in the world!"
"Rest assured, General. After the malevolent energy enters your body, not only will the ghost patterns help you maintain your sanity, but the Zanpakuto can also do so!"
"General, I can't hold on much longer. The situation outside is critical. Shall I transfer all the malevolent energy to you now?"
Xie Qingcang knew he couldn't stay by Yan Shouyi's side for long. Thus, as his soul was about to dissipate, he had to lend Yan Shouyi one final strength.
Yan Shouyi looked at the National Preceptor still attacking fiercely outside. His heart was as calm as still water, and he slowly extended his hand, grasping Xie Qingcang's.
"Whether you are Xie Qingcang or Xiao Long, you are both my brothers, forever and eternally!"
Hearing this, Xie Qingcang seemed to recall the days when he followed General Qing Jiang onto the battlefield.
He smiled knowingly and nodded wordlessly at Yan Shouyi.
Brotherhood needed no words; it was all understood.
Xie Qingcang's body gradually faded, transforming into wisps of powerful malevolent energy that flowed into the ghost patterns on Yan Shouyi's forehead!
As the malevolent energy entered his body, Yan Shouyi felt an splitting headache, but he did not struggle or resist, nor did he make any sound.
He merely stared intently at the National Preceptor outside.
Xiao Long had sacrificed his life, absorbing half of the National Preceptor's malevolent energy, greatly suppressing the National Preceptor's strength.
This absorbed malevolent energy now resided within Yan Shouyi's body, meaning he too possessed the power to fight the National Preceptor!
The malevolent energy coursed through his body, and his severed limbs rapidly healed.
Yan Shouyi picked up the Zanpakuto, slowly rose, and a layer of fine scale armor covered his body, with black malevolent energy swirling upon it.
"General! You must kill the National Preceptor and avenge the countless soldiers of our Qing Jiang Kingdom!"
In his dying moments, Xie Qingcang left his final wish and then completely dissipated, his soul scattered.
What remained before Yan Shouyi was only the soul of Long Feicheng. Because his soul was too weak, Long Feicheng had not yet regained his senses, remaining merely a lost and aimless wandering spirit.
Yan Shouyi waved his hand, collecting Long Feicheng's soul into the Yin Wood.
Then, he clenched the Zanpakuto, feeling the surging power within him.
"Xiao Long, I will not let your sacrifice be in vain."
Outside the black barrier, Erya's half-body had already sunk into the soil.
In her eyes, their side's defeat was a foregone conclusion. Once the National Preceptor killed everyone else, it would be their turn, the few remaining clowns.
Jiang Qingxue also saw no hope of a comeback and quietly told Erya and the others,
"You should leave first, and remember to spread the news of our fallen in Changbai Mountain."
She harbored regrets, but in the face of greater righteousness, these were insignificant.
If her son were to die here, how could she, as a mother, continue to live?
The dog Taoist and the monk Miaoji were both severely wounded, unable even to move. They could only watch with pale faces as the National Preceptor attacked the black barrier, silently awaiting death.
The National Preceptor furiously attacked the black barrier. Although his strength had greatly diminished, his terrifying pressure had not lessened at all!
"Come out, come out!!!"
The black malevolent energy continuously struck the black barrier, which finally could not bear the strain and showed a slight crack.
A flicker of excitement crossed the National Preceptor's face. He gathered his strength again, preparing to shatter the barrier directly and kill Yan Shouyi.
Bang!!!
However, before the National Preceptor could act, the black barrier unexpectedly shattered on its own!
From the fragments of the shattered black barrier, Yan Shouyi emerged, completely unharmed!
Holding the Zanpakuto, he swung it diagonally. The National Preceptor, unable to dodge, had half his body sliced off!
"Shouyi?!"
Jiang Qingxue and the others were both shocked and delighted. They had thought Yan Shouyi was at his last breath, only to find him unharmed, and his strength seemed to have grown even further.
What exactly had happened?
Severely wounded, the National Preceptor immediately retreated dozens of meters.
Malevolent energy began to repair his damaged body, and the National Preceptor's expression was uglier than ever before.
He glared intently at Yan Shouyi.
At this moment, Yan Shouyi also possessed a pair of black wings behind him, helping him to hover in mid-air. His entire body was covered in black scale armor, the ghost patterns on his forehead blazed like black flames, and his eyes were crimson—this was the true appearance of a god of slaughter!
"General Qing Jiang?"
For a fleeting moment, the National Preceptor even mistook him for General Qing Jiang.
But he quickly confirmed that General Qing Jiang's soul had long since dispersed. The person before him now was Yan Shouyi.
The National Preceptor gritted his teeth, "Long Feicheng stole my malevolent energy and gave it all to you?"
Yan Shouyi nodded faintly.
"Damn it!!!" the National Preceptor roared in fury, "This ant-like existence has ruined my plans! I had countless opportunities to kill him, yet I never did!"
To the National Preceptor, Long Feicheng was an insignificant figure.
His life or death would not affect the grand scheme.
Therefore, he hadn't even bothered to kill Long Feicheng.
Yet, in the end, it was such an inconspicuous minor character who had ruined his grand plan!
"Xiao Long is not some minor character," Yan Shouyi said coldly. "He is my brother, Yan Shouyi's brother!"
He paused, then continued, "And you, having killed my closest brother, will pay the price!"
The National Preceptor's fighting spirit was also ignited, and he declared arrogantly, "Even if you now possess strength equal to mine, so what? I have accumulated for millennia, and I rely on more than just this malevolent energy. Do you think you can kill me with this alone?!"
"You think I cannot?"
Yan Shouyi silently drew the Ancestral Dragon Sword with his other hand.
The National Preceptor could be considered invincible in this era, an untainted corpse puppet with no weaknesses.
But the Ancestral Dragon Sword could also be called invincible, for it could sever karma with a single strike, regardless of who the opponent was!
Even the National Preceptor, facing the Ancestral Dragon Sword, would have no escape from death!
Upon seeing the Ancestral Dragon Sword, a flicker of panic crossed the National Preceptor's eyes.
But he also knew in his heart that this was the best opportunity to kill Yan Shouyi.
If he didn't kill Yan Shouyi this time and let him escape, once Yan Shouyi returned to Rong City, he would undoubtedly make a comeback, and at that point, the National Preceptor's control of the world would be severely hindered.
Therefore, even at the risk of having his future severed by the Ancestral Dragon Sword, the National Preceptor had to brace himself and attack!
"A mere Ancestral Dragon Sword!"
The National Preceptor bluffed, as if to intimidate Yan Shouyi, and also to bolster his own courage.
He transformed into a black light, like a sharp sword qi, and lunged at Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi, not to be outdone, mobilized the malevolent energy throughout his body, also transforming into a black light, and collided with the National Preceptor!
This was truly the battle of the strongest in this era!