Chapter 784: A Single Blade

The army led by Chen Min was generally at the Third Realm or above; these martial artists had already transcended the scope of ordinary human understanding, and now, as they charged into Green Mountain, their blood and Qi exploded from their bodies one by one, like gods of slaughter.

Every single one of them looked at Li Zhiyi with an expression of extreme coldness.

Their eyesight was excellent; if Li Zhiyi had not pulled back just then, Chen Min would likely have already obtained the Blood Brand.

Zhang Yu blocked Li Zhiyi's front in a panic, looking toward these Great Xia military guards:

"We are all our own people!"

On the battlefield, everyone's killing intent soared to the heavens, and emotions fluctuated violently; Zhang Yu was truly afraid that these people would disregard everything and charge to kill Li Zhiyi.

"Our own people?" someone growled:

"If we are all our own people, why does he insist on holding the Blood Brand and not give it to Commander Chen Min?"

"Scum of the Punitive Battalion, we are going to be killed by you today!"

"Disregarding military discipline, take him down!"

A series of furious shouts rang out, and several military guards had already transformed into streaks of light, charging toward Li Zhiyi.

Li Zhiyi's expression was calm, but his heart sighed; he looked at Zhang Yu, who was blocking his front without a second thought, and raised the Blood Brand in his hand.

The power of will flowed from within his body, reinforcing every part of his physical form.

He looked up and gazed, vaguely seeing those noble figures standing high above the firmament.

Beneath their feet, millions of people fought and killed, yet they only needed a slogan or a glance to dictate the life and death of ten thousand.

"How laughable."

Facing this rapidly changing scene, Li Zhiyi actually laughed suddenly.

The Blood Brand was released by the Five Clans; outsiders did not know, but how could these high-ranking members of the Five Clans not know?

The one holding the Blood Brand was not the master of the Blood Brand, but merely a poor soul destined for a tragic end.

Whether it was Ji Tianhe, himself, or Chen Min, in the eyes of these noble people, they were likely all just jokes.

This Blood Brand, while appearing to be a divine artifact, was in reality nothing more than a devastating beast that chose its victims to devour, yet ignorant people were still fighting for it with their lives, thinking the Blood Brand could change their fate.

High above in the sky, Chen Youqing, in a green dress, stood like a fairy, her eyes looking indifferently at the youth holding the blade on Green Mountain.

At this moment, Chen Youqing suddenly frowned; she sensed that the youth had discovered her.

This displeased her, because the youth's gaze did not contain a single trace of awe.

She respected Chen Yan because Chen Yan had the qualifications to earn it.

But if an ordinary person looked at her like this, she would gouge out the other party's eyes without mercy.

It was just that this Li Zhiyi was the blood-guinea determined by the Blood Brand, and also the blood-guinea she considered easiest to control; now was not the time to kill him.

Watching Li Zhiyi, who was already heavily surrounded by friendly forces, Chen Youqing suddenly spoke:

"Li Zhiyi, there is no path left for you in Great Xia now; if you join my Five Clans, you can be honored as a guest of honor, and the Five Clans will also help you better control the Blood Brand."

Her voice was not loud, yet it was like Kunlun jade shattering, carrying an inherent, indisputable majesty; every word was like a snow-covered mountain peak, pressing down so that no one dared to move recklessly.

In an instant, those Great Xia military guards surrounding Li Zhiyi became even more furious.

Yet their faces were deathly pale, simply because Chen Youqing's single, simple sentence carried boundless majesty that low-level martial artists could not possibly contend with.

"You dare!!!"

A roar resounded; Chen Min was being flanked by three Creation Realm experts, but at this moment he still roared, threatening Li Zhiyi.

Li Zhiyi's expression remained calm, and he did not say a word.

Yet it was also at this moment.

"Shut... shut up!!!"

A trembling, hoarse voice containing boundless anger rang out.

Zhang Yu, who was blocking Li Zhiyi's front with a deathly pale face, was now roaring with all his might:

"Li Zhiyi is a Great Xia military guard; he is my subordinate, he is my comrade-in-arms!

He will not betray the country."

After Zhang Yu finished this sentence, all the strength in his body seemed to vanish completely, and he collapsed to the ground.

Yet his hands still desperately propped up his body, and he shouted, drenched in sweat:

"He won't!!!"

Zhang Yu looked at the surrounding Great Xia military guards:

"I am also a Great Xia military guard of the Punitive Battalion; not one of us will surrender!

I am Zhang Yu, Commander of the Punitive Battalion; I stake my life on it!"

His voice rose, and those Great Xia military guards who had originally intended to take Li Zhiyi down were now silent.

They looked at Zhang Yu's desperate demeanor, and their expressions shifted one by one.

Li Zhiyi stared fixedly at the high heavens, meeting Chen Youqing's gaze.

He sneered in his heart, and killing intent emerged.

A fine "guest of honor," a fine "help him control the Blood Brand."

These high-ranking members of the Five Clans wanted to completely control him, force him to slaughter, and then be devoured by the Blood Brand.

He wanted to know if, in the eyes of the other party, he was even still considered a human being.

And as of now, he could not reveal the truth about the Blood Brand, because once revealed, it would incite the experts of the Five Clans to kill him at all costs.

"Li Zhiyi!"

In front of him, Zhang Yu, who was sprawled on the ground, spoke desperately:

"Speak!

Tell them you will not surrender!

Speak!"

Zhang Yu gritted his teeth, resisting the Eighth-Rank pressure that caused his body to twitch violently, making it difficult to exert any strength.

Yet he wanted to get an answer from Li Zhiyi.

He knew Li Zhiyi's character, he knew Li Zhiyi would not betray the country, but he wanted Li Zhiyi to tell everyone now.

By what right are the soldiers of my Punitive Battalion not considered soldiers?

By what right must my Punitive Battalion be considered inferior to others?

Who said the Blood Brand must belong to Chen Min?

Clearly, the Blood Brand was snatched by Li Zhiyi!

But at this moment, Li Zhiyi had not yet spoken.

A purple flame appeared in the forest, as if emerging from the other side of space, slicing through the void and revealing the pitch-black nothingness within.

A faint pressure struck instantly, shrouding the hearts of everyone with Li Zhiyi.

A woman of extreme beauty walked out from the nothingness, her purple robes trailing on the ground, gold patterns shimmering, and a black jade belt cinched around her slender waist.

Powerful!

The terrifying pressure suppressed them instantly, rendering Zhang Yu and all the others unable to speak.

The bodies of those military guards under Chen Min were as if frozen in the void, unable to move.

The woman tilted her head, a smile playing on her lips; that stunning face was like the most beautiful scenery in the world.

"Chen Prefecture, Chen Zixian."

The woman's vermilion lips parted slightly, her eyes meeting Li Zhiyi's, and she said with a light laugh:

"Our clan's Chen Lord has already issued a decree, bestowing the surname Chen upon the Blood Brand holder, Li Zhiyi.

Bow before the Third Elder of Chen Prefecture as your master, and the clan will pour its resources into helping you reach the Eighth Rank!"

The woman's voice was light, yet carried sincerity.

Coupled with her peerless appearance, it made the Green Mountain at this moment look not like the center of a battlefield, but like a celestial terrace above the clouds.

Zhang Yu and the others were pinned down by the pressure; the arrival of this person did not even take them into account.

Zhang Yu wanted to open his mouth, but he could not speak at all.

"Wretched beast!"

A low roar sounded from above the Azure Heavens.

Chen Min charged alone, like a falling sun, killing toward Chen Zixian.

The next instant, a figure appeared before him; it was Chi Ning.

Chi Ning sneered, lashed out with a leg, and sent Chen Min flying with a boom.

Chen Zixian chuckled, her trailing robes unable to hide her voluptuous figure, her eyes charming as she continued to speak to Li Zhiyi:

"Are you satisfied with the treatment offered by our Chen Prefecture?"

As she spoke, her dimples were shallow, but she was sneering incessantly in her heart.

All that talk of being the Third Elder's disciple and immense opportunities were all fake.

As long as Li Zhiyi left with her, Chen Youqing would manipulate the Blood Brand to completely control Li Zhiyi, turning him into a killing demon that was neither human nor ghost.

All that would be left for Li Zhiyi was endless slaughter, until the Blood Brand was completely unleashed.

High in the sky, Chen Qi revealed a smile and looked at Chen Youqing, saying:

"The Princess is still the most thorough in her considerations."

Chen Youqing nodded:

"The Blood Brand will eventually become my aid; if I don't worry about it, who will?"

Chen Youqing continued:

"Once this matter is concluded, I need to return to Chen Prefecture as soon as possible."

Chen Yan had already promised her that he would awaken the True Martial Dao for her; if the Blood Brand had not encountered problems, Chen Youqing would not have come to the front lines.

Chen Qi knew what Chen Youqing was talking about, nodded silently, but still transmitted his voice:

"I must still advise the Princess: this person, Chen Yan, is truly too dangerous."

Chen Qi always knew one thing, which was that the greatest enemy of Chen Prefecture was not in Great Xia, but within Chen Prefecture itself.

As long as Chen Yan lived for one more day, regardless of his strength, he would be the greatest calamity.

Hearing Chen Qi's voice, Chen Youqing nodded; she might look down on the people of the world, but she would not look down on Chen Yan.

"I will kill him after I awaken the True Martial power."

Chen Qi shook his head:

"He knows all your thoughts; how do you intend to kill him?

Do you think that because you treat him with respect on the surface, he believes you are truly treating him with sincerity?"

Chen Youqing was speechless; the more Chen Qi said this, the more uncomfortable it made her.

If not for the Chen Lord's orders, she would not have approached Chen Yan.

That person appeared harmless to humans and animals, but everyone knew how terrifying he was.

Ordinary people were still easier to toy with.

At the thought of Chen Yan, the way Chen Youqing looked at everyone else became much more contemptuous.

The more this was the case, the more bored she felt.

Compared to Chen Yan, everyone in the world lacked a certain brilliance.

She sighed inwardly, knowing she could never reach Chen Yan's level, yet she had to play along with this group of trash.

It was completely meaningless.

As for Li Zhiyi and the Great Xia military guards on that Green Mountain, they were even more like insects.

Even knowing that Chen Zhixian was merely fooling Li Zhiyi, she did not feel the slightest emotional fluctuation.

Utterly bored, she should not have come here.

It was precisely at this moment.

Zhang Yu lay prone on the ground, endless shame lingering in the depths of his heart.

He could feel that this Creation Realm cultivator named Chen Zhixian treated him like a bug.

In the eyes of the Five Clans, this vast Great Xia was nothing but a group of swine.

They had been like this for a thousand years.

The backbone of Great Xia had always been broken; Lu Xunyang had straightened it up, then Lu Xunyang left.

Chen Yan came, and straightened it up again.

Chen Yan alone made the Five Clans fearful.

When Chen Yan was at the Sixth Rank, existences like the masters of the Five Clans had to personally take action to exterminate him.

They were afraid.

At that moment, everyone was hoping that he could single-handedly uphold the national destiny of Great Xia.

He was the General Star of Fushan, the Heavenly God General!

When Chen Yan entered the struggle of the Five Clans, it was the most dazzling time for the entire Great Xia.

Chen Yan died.

But Zhang Yu saw a new Chen Yan.

This new Chen Yan had a powerful will and turned the tide when it was on the verge of collapse.

He believed that he would definitely witness the birth of a new God General.

This was his dream.

He did not care about his own life or death; he only wanted his descendants to live with dignity.

Li Zhiyi!

Zhang Yu buried his hands into the soil, his reddened eyes filled with anticipation and urgency.

He hoped Li Zhiyi could escape.

He knew Li Zhiyi's strength; Li Zhiyi could slay the Sixth Rank Ji Tianhe who held the Blood Brand.

Then he must be able to escape from the hands of a Creation Realm cultivator.

Run away.

Live on, and avenge us!

But just at this moment.

The woman named Chen Zhixian slowly extended her slender, jade-like hand and said to Li Zhiyi:

"Come away with me."

She blinked her bright, charming eyes, that touch of allure impossible to forget.

Zhang Yu turned his head away desperately.

The next moment, he saw Li Zhiyi behind him actually bypass him and place one hand on Chen Zhixian's hand.

The two held hands, like a loving couple.

Zhang Yu's world collapsed.

"Li Zhi..."

Zhang Yu opened his mouth wide, unable to speak another word.

The Punitive Battalion... had produced a traitor.

The surrounding Great Xia military guards all had reddened eyes, looking at the traitor, killing intent surging.

"How dare you!!!"

Chen Min's roar resounded through the sky, carrying a heaven-burning fury.

Chen Zhixian smiled softly, the mockery in her heart growing ever more intense.

Her charm was irresistible; this was beyond doubt.

Once Li Zhiyi completely became a Blood Gu, she would also have performed a great service.

In her eyes, Li Zhiyi was not a person at all, but a magnificent opportunity.

Her breath like orchids, she bloomed with the most radiant smile at Li Zhiyi:

"I really didn't misjudge..."

Hum!

The smile on her face had not yet changed, but her vision began to spin.

She saw Li Zhiyi's indifferent face, saw his lean figure, saw his long legs and the scarlet long blade.

All the way until... her own headless corpse spraying blood.

Bang!

That beautiful head fell onto the ground, the smile on its face completely frozen.

The wind seemed to have frozen as well.

In the silence, it was as if endless chill descended from the high heavens.

High above in the sky, pairs of terrifying gazes were locked onto Li Zhiyi.

Zhang Yu was still stunned, his eyes still reddened.

Chen Youqing frowned, her eyes gradually widening, an indescribable fury rising in the depths of her gaze.

The next moment.

"Li Zhiyi!!!"

The vast voice rang out like the bells and drums of the universe, suppressing everything in an instant.

Boom, boom, boom, boom!!!

Like brilliant stars manifesting in the world, rays of light the size of stars bloomed, endlessly blinding and supremely majestic.

The Eighth-Rankers of the Five Clans who had been hiding all this time now revealed themselves!

Chen Min was covered in blood, and at this moment, his movements also came to a halt as he looked at Li Zhiyi in astonishment.

Chen Zhixian was, after all, a Creation Realm expert; to think she could be erased by Li Zhiyi so silently.

Chi Ning, who had been locked in battle with Chen Min, now looked at the Blood Brand in Li Zhiyi's hand, drool practically spilling from his mouth.

Li Zhiyi was merely a nobody, yet with the Blood Brand, he could erase a Creation Realm expert.

The Blood Brand, this is a Divine Artifact!!!

At this moment, the people of the Five Clans were as covetous as they were furious.

The might of a Divine Artifact is truly terrifying!

At this moment.

Powerful figures from Chen Province, Chi Province, and Lu Province appeared one after another.

Divine light pulsed around their bodies, just like the brightest stars in the night sky, arranged in sparse patterns, looking down upon the common people, their pressure sweeping across the Nine Heavens.

Every pair of eyes was locked firmly onto the Blood Brand.

Many Eighth-Rankers even erupted with killing intent.

Only Chen Youqing furrowed her brows.

This shouldn't be.

The power of the Blood Brand should not be this overwhelmingly high.

Chen Zhixian was, after all, a Creation Realm expert; how could she be killed like this?

Where did the problem lie?

She stared fixedly at Li Zhiyi, wanting to discern something from him.

Yet at this very moment.

Hum!!!

A sword hum resonated through the air.

"Inverse Nine!"

An indifferent voice rang out, and sword light surged and exploded from another direction.

Shen Yiwei stepped through the void, holding the Inverse Nine Sword, confronting the Eighth-Rankers of the Five Clans one by one.

Eighth-Rankers do not enter the fray.

If the Eighth-Rankers of the Five Clans were to join the battle, then the Great Xia would no longer hesitate.

The human race is like a layer of fragile glass.

Even the Great Xia's castration plan for the Five Clans requires careful execution.

Beside Shen Yiwei, Zhang Ting stood calmly.

And below the high sky where they stood, a vast army was charging, led by the former Second-Rank Star Generals Xi Congyun and Jidao Wu.

High above in the sky, those Eighth-Rankers of the Five Clans who had suddenly appeared all fell silent.