Apocalypse: Blood-Sworn Solitary Sun! A Sudden Turn!

Nangong Xuandu glanced sideways at Li Guanqi and muttered inwardly to himself, *He could clearly walk across the Six Domains unchallenged, yet the Domain Master forces him to rely entirely on his own strength for everything...* *Still, it's lucky the boy understands this in his heart. Otherwise, merely borrowing the master's name and waving that banner would be enough for him to throw his weight around anywhere he pleases.* With that thought, Nangong Xuandu drew back his gaze, took a sip of wine, and turned his eyes toward Cao Yan, the corner of his mouth curving slightly upward. *Lad, can you endure this time...?* *Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!* Both Lu Yun and Cao Yan were blasted back hundreds of zhang! Their feet shattered the green flagstones atop the Dao platform as they arrested their momentum, their eyes filled with deep solemnity. Evidently, neither had anticipated that the other possessed such formidable strength. *Whoosh! Roar!* "Keep it up, brother!" "Smash him to pieces, brother!" The once-silent crowd erupted into roars of encouragement once again. The rhythm of the war drums gradually slowed. Lu Kangnian alone directed the tempo of the crowd, yet that slow, deliberate beat conveyed an ominous stillness—the calm before the tempest. A storm was brewing! Li Guanqi kept one hand behind his back, his expression entirely placid. He had faith in Cao Yan. Even if Cao Yan lost, it would not matter; he would win. At the Six Ancient Sacred Sect, the disciple previously tasked by Gu Huai now bowed respectfully beside Zhou Shiyu, continuously reporting on the battle. "At the very last moment before the incense stick burned down, Cao Yan and Xiao Chen returned. In the first round, Cao Yan is facing Lu Yun of the Lu clan, and the battle is locked in a fierce stalemate. "However... Ye Feng has still not returned. It seems someone ambushed them on their way, and his fate is currently unknown." Zhou Shiyu's shoulders trembled slightly, his tightly shut eyes remaining closed. Only after the disciple departed did he let out a faint sigh of relief. At least Cao Yan and Xiao Chen had made it back. If Cao Yan, Xiao Chen, and Li Guanqi could win... *Boom! Boom! Boom!* Ye Feng raised his hand and wiped away the blood blurring his vision, gasping for breath back-to-back with Li Changqing. The old man asked in a low, grim voice, "Lad, how are you holding up?!" Dark demonic qi swirled menacingly around Ye Feng's right hand. Having absorbed his blood, the Nu Sha sword took on a profoundly sinister glow, humming in vibrant resonance as it trembled. "Don't worry, I can still hang on!" Right now, the entire spatial dharma artifact was choked with demonic qi, which churned incessantly like boiling water and blocked out the sky. Endless phantoms of Abyss Demons surged forth from within, blotting out the firmament in their thirst to tear the pair apart and devour their flesh. Ye Feng was badly wounded. Even with Li Changqing's protection, sustaining injuries was unavoidable. After all, he was facing two genuine Body Integration Realm cultivators! Though not on par with the four assassin ranks of Chi, Mei, Wang, and Liang, their strength was by no means negligible. Now, the two had completely concealed their figures within the demonic mist. The demonic domain they had combined forces to unleash was extraordinarily troublesome! Their objective was simple: wear the pair down, drain their strength to a certain threshold, and then deliver the fatal strike! Ye Feng and Li Changqing had their nerves stretched to the absolute limit. Outside, Gu Yong and Meng Jiangchu wore exceptionally grim expressions. The enemy's spatial dharma artifact was constantly on the move, and its teleportation speed was astonishingly rapid. With a flick of his hand, Gu Yong unfurled a hundred-zhang-wide scroll! This scroll was none other than a replica of the Tianji Chart. In an instant, brilliant spiritual light enveloped the emptiness for a hundred li around. Yet when the old man opened his eyes, he shook his head with a dark face. "Nothing..." Meng Jiangchu slowly withdrew his divine sense and spoke in a sunken voice: "Keep searching!" Back at the Great Xia Sword Sect, hearing Meng Jiangchu's report through his transmission, Li Guanqi could not help clenching his fists. He turned a gaze brimming with murderous intent toward Lu Wuhen. Lu Wuhen seemed to sense it. When their eyes met, his gaze was dripping with playful mockery. Li Guanqi slowly raised a hand and drew it across his throat. Seeing this, Lu Wuhen burst into laughter. His lips parted without a sound, but his mouth shaped the words: *I'll be waiting for you.* Meanwhile, the battle on the platform had reached a fever pitch! Ever since Lu Yun activated his ocular technique, Cao Yan's actions seemed to be laid bare before him. Before every punch landed, Lu Yun foresaw it and countered with his sword, causing Cao Yan no small amount of trouble. Fresh wounds covered Cao Yan from head to toe. Watching this unfold, Lu Kangnian's eyes grew solemn, and his hands drove the drumsticks with even greater vigor. The rapid rhythm of the drums shifted, turning impassioned, resolute, and chillingly fierce! *Boom!!* Cao Yan blasted Lu Yun away with a heavy fist, then threw his own body backward a hundred zhang. How could Lu Yun let this chance slip and grant him room to catch his breath? Circulating his movement technique, he forcefully checked his retreat, spring-stepping forward in an instant! Watching Cao Yan, Li Guanqi's lips suddenly curled into a faint smile. He murmured softly, "It's time..." As if sharing a telepathic connection while leaping back, Cao Yan whispered beneath his breath: "Dragon Elephant Prison-Suppressing Art—Open!!" *Boom!!* Boundless vitality surged throughout his entire frame, and within a single breath, Cao Yan's physical strength skyrocketed. His entire presence was transformed, as though he had become a primordial savage beast! *Dual cultivation of spirit and martial paths!!* The concept instantly flooded everyone's minds. "Apocalypse—Blood-Sworn Solitary Sun!!" *Boom!!* The gauntlets, which originally bore sleek azure contours, suddenly erupted with blood-red spikes. The intricate patterns carved across them shifted into a vivid crimson. If one thought about it carefully, they would realize that the ruins artifacts of Xiao Chen and Ye Feng were all somewhat tied to crimson. Including... sword spirits! Because every one of them was a bona fide slaughtering weapon! *Boom!!* Lu Yun's face fell drastically. Forcing his body around, he retreated violently. *Thump!!* Just as he tried to pull away, Cao Yan's face materialized right before his eyes, followed a beat later by the delayed rumble of the Dao platform shattering behind him. Without a second thought, Lu Yun instantly unleashed his Sword Ruins, roaring furiously, "Soul Release—Golden Descent!!" *Boom!!* His longsword swept back to parry. The terrifying gale of the punch ripped bloody gashes across Lu Yun's face. The ferocious, spiked gauntlet slammed violently against the spine of the blade, draining the color from Lu Yun's face. The webbing between his thumb and forefinger tore open, and his thumb exploded under the concussive force! Primal energy manifested like silk ribbons, lashing his hand firmly to the hilt, and the longsword bent like a drawn bowstring! *Bang!!* The instant the blade's spine crushed against his chest, an irresistible, horrific force poured through completely! All the spectators could see was Lu Yun's body hurtling down from midair like a cannonball, crashing straight toward the Dao platform! A terrifying blast of flaming fist energy, laced with wisps of crimson hostility, slammed down upon the stage. *Boom!! Crack, crack, crack!!* The thunderous roll of war drums peaked at that exact moment. Under the release of that terrifying power, Lu Yun's body bounced violently off the platform, shattering every green flagstone within a radius of a hundred zhang into dust! Cao Yan stood suspended in midair, panting raggedly and swallowing hard to compose himself. He had expended an enormous amount of primal energy just rushing back in time, and now he had fought in high-intensity combat without pause... Yet right then... As he stood proud in midair, Cao Yan's face suddenly turned deathly pale, and he sprayed out a mouthful of fresh blood! The primal energy inside him began to leak erratically. Cao Yan hurriedly reined in his power, desperately suppressing the demonic qi that had abruptly run rampant within him! "Heh... heheh... ha... hahahaha!!" *Boom! Swish!* A streak of sword light surged violently out of the dust. Cao Yan dodged frantically, yet a chunk of flesh was still cleaved from his shoulder. Emerging through the haze, the jade pendant in Lu Yun's hand shattered, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he fixed his eyes on Cao Yan.