Three consecutive strikes had caught the Imperial Tutor off guard, forcing him to retreat steadily.
However, Yan Shouyi's true killing blow was hidden for this final moment!
He abandoned his Zanpakuto, using it to secure a fleeting opportunity for the Ancestral Dragon Sword.
A chance to kill the Imperial Tutor!
At this moment, Yan Shouyi's heart was a whirlwind of emotions.
He recalled the faces of many people.
General Qing Jiang, Princess Yu Shu, Lian He, Zou the Blind, Old Celestial Master Zhang Yin, Abbot Yan Song, Sect Leader Lu Jing...
And Long Feicheng.
The voices and smiles of everyone transformed into the deepest sorrow and rage within Yan Shouyi's heart, finally coalescing into the terrified face of the Imperial Tutor before him!
"With blood as the guide, spirit as the medium, the heavens and earth vast and boundless, bear witness to my sword heart!
All things in heaven and earth shall be divine swords, obey my command, subdue demons and vanquish evils!"
Yan Shouyi's voice, like a booming bell, echoed through the heavens and earth!
True Dragon Purple Qi erupted from his body, condensing into a purple, sinuous dragon that coiled around the Ancestral Dragon Sword!
Before the Imperial Tutor, an invisible thread appeared.
Changbai Mountain vanished, the Imperial Tutor's face vanished; in Yan Shouyi's eyes, only that single thread remained.
As long as it was severed, the Imperial Tutor, devoid of causality, would surely die!
"A thousand years of grievances, dissipated today!"
"Imperial Tutor, your time has run out!"
"This strike, I ask the heavens!!!"
Amidst Yan Shouyi's roar, the Ancestral Dragon Sword fiercely cleaved at the thread.
It was as if a dragon's roar echoed through the world!
On the Imperial Tutor's face, terror surfaced, and he cried out involuntarily, "No... no! No!!!!"
Boom!!!
As the Ancestral Dragon Sword descended, the Imperial Tutor's body suddenly exploded!
Countless strands of black malevolent energy transformed into a whirlwind, engulfing the surroundings, and finally coalescing into streaks of black light that shot towards the sky!
"He... he killed him?"
Jiang Qingxue's eyes widened as she searched the sky for the Imperial Tutor's figure.
But the Imperial Tutor seemed to have turned to ashes, not a single fragment could be found.
"It seems... Shouyi won!"
The Dog Daoist and Miao Ji were also overjoyed. With the Imperial Tutor gone and Yan Shouyi still floating in mid-air, the victor was clear!
"Wonderful!"
Er Ya, Shan Ji, and Shan Pao let out heavy sighs of relief, then slumped to the ground, exhausted.
The battle had been so terrifying that they had even forgotten to breathe, holding their breath for a full five minutes without exhaling.
The ground was already a wasteland after the intense battle.
Yan Shouyi, swaying in the sky, finally gritted his teeth and forced himself to land, retracting all his malevolent energy.
"Shouyi!"
Jiang Qingxue quickly rushed over, supporting Yan Shouyi and asking about his condition, "Are you alright?"
Yan Shouyi let out a long sigh.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Qingxue suddenly had a foreboding feeling.
"I couldn't cut that thread," Yan Shouyi said self-reproachfully, "The Imperial Tutor escaped at the last moment."
"Escaped?"
Jiang Qingxue calculated with her fingers and realized that today was not the decisive battle. She gently comforted him,
"Although the Imperial Tutor escaped, you severely wounded him. He won't be able to make a comeback anytime soon. We have more time to prepare, and the lower volume of the Lu Ban Book can be disseminated... Regardless, we have achieved a great victory this time!"
Yes, the Imperial Tutor had lost his best opportunity.
Next, Yan Shouyi only needed to recuperate, gather his strength, and launch a final assault on the Imperial Tutor to completely eliminate this demon of the human world.
For others, this was a great victory, something to celebrate.
But for Yan Shouyi...
He hung his head, looking not like someone who had won a battle, because he had lost a very, very important friend.
"Mom, Xiao Long he..."
Yan Shouyi's eyes reddened, and he choked, unable to finish his words.
Whether it was Xie Qingcang from a thousand years ago or Long Feicheng in this life, they had both willingly sacrificed everything for Yan Shouyi, even their lives.
Yan Shouyi didn't know how to repay this debt of gratitude, and he no longer had the chance to.
Jiang Qingxue understood her son's self-blame. She gently patted Yan Shouyi's back, looking at his scarred and weary appearance, her heart filled with concern.
She softly comforted him, "Xiao Long's soul is still here, that's the only solace."
"Yes..."
Yan Shouyi closed his eyes, adjusting his mindset.
After a while, he finally recovered from his grief, his eyes regaining their firm resolve.
Xiao Long had risked his life for him, and he couldn't remain immersed in sorrow.
Now was not the time for sadness.
He and Jiang Qingxue first went to visit the Dog Daoist and Miao Ji, then took out pills from the Eastern King's gourd to temporarily suppress their injuries.
Afterward, Yan Shouyi dispatched San Yuan to search for the whereabouts of the others.
All six disciples of Maoshan had been intercepted by the Imperial Tutor along the way without exception.
Fortunately, Chang Shan had not failed Yan Shouyi's trust; he protected Old Jin, though he himself was heavily wounded.
After settling everyone else, Yan Shouyi used his malevolent energy to form wings and directly caught up with Old Jin and Chang Shan.
They had managed to hold on until they reached a place with cell signal.
Old Jin was treating Chang Shan's injuries. As for other matters, Yan Shouyi decided to handle them himself.
He walked to the side of the road, sat directly on the accumulated snow, and then reached into his pocket.
There was a cigarette that Long Feicheng had given him earlier.
The cigarette was now covered in blood, but Yan Shouyi didn't mind. He put it in his mouth, lit it, and took a deep drag.
He took out his phone, looked at his contact list, hesitated for a moment, and then dialed Lin Zhitong's number first.
Although it was the middle of the night, the call only rang twice before Lin Zhitong answered.
"Big idiot?"
Lin Zhitong's voice from the other end of the phone was soft and sweet, yet full of warmth. She seemed to have been in a deep sleep, but woke up instantly upon hearing the phone ring.
Thinking of his wife and child, a smile appeared on Yan Shouyi's face.
He said gently, "Stinky girl, it's me. I... I survived."
Survived?
Upon hearing these words, Lin Zhitong's heart skipped a beat. She realized that something significant might have happened tonight.
She hadn't been able to contact Yan Shouyi since morning, but this was normal. Although worried, Lin Zhitong had decided to try and adjust her mindset for the sake of her child's health and not worry about Yan Shouyi.
"What happened?" Lin Zhitong's voice trembled, her concern evident.
Yan Shouyi took a puff of his cigarette and slowly recounted the events.
"...Xiao Long sacrificed himself, Old Huang is also dead, and I gave my all, only managing to severely wound the Imperial Tutor before he escaped."
Towards the end, Yan Shouyi could not hide his regret.
The Imperial Tutor had missed the best chance to kill him, and he had also missed the best chance to kill the Imperial Tutor. To Yan Shouyi, this battle was merely a draw.
Despite the vast distance, Lin Zhitong could completely empathize with Yan Shouyi.
Upon learning of Long Feicheng's sacrifice, Lin Zhitong could not suppress her grief.
"You... come back quickly," Lin Zhitong said with a hint of a sob, "I want to see you."
It was less that Lin Zhitong wanted to see Yan Shouyi, and more that Yan Shouyi desperately needed Lin Zhitong now.
Lin Zhitong knew how fragile Yan Shouyi was without Long Feicheng, and she knew he needed her companionship right now.
Yan Shouyi took a deep breath, agreed, then adjusted his state and said,
"I'll hang up now, the next call will be to Dad."