Chapter 279: Lord of the Iron Crow

Remnants of the Northern Han allied forces collapsed under the combined encirclement and annihilation by the Chen army's infantry and cavalry; wailing and pleas replaced battle cries, and like a receding tide they scattered away from Gold Prefecture.

The shouts of killing on the battlefield gradually subsided, replaced by victorious cheers and the groans of the wounded.

The golden Fortune Momentum halo still shrouded the battlefield, warm and majestic, dispelling the last trace of chill from the nether energy.

However, Chen Wen did not relax.

He stood firm in place, his eyes sharp as a hawk's, piercing through the lingering smoke and dust and the gradually thinning battle lines, locking firmly on the deepest part of the enemy camp.

There, where three crystal stone formations had once stood, now only a desolate scorched earth remained, with scattered remnants of blue energy.

But at the center of that area, space exhibited an extremely unnatural distortion and depression.

Light there grew dim, sound seemed to be swallowed, and even when the golden Fortune Momentum halo spread over it, it encountered an invisible obstruction, becoming thin and gloomy.

A will far colder, purer, and more frenzied than before was emanating from that distorted point, spreading like a tangible substance.

It was no longer merely an ethereal perception; it carried a heavy pressure that almost solidified the air, making all those with keen perception—including Chen Wen, who had just broken through and greatly heightened his spiritual sense—feel a pang of palpitation.

"Finally… can't hold back anymore?"

Chen Wen murmured softly, his hand gripping the hilt of the Fixing Karma blade, his knuckles tightening slightly.

He could feel that the distorted point was becoming a "passage," a "coordinate" allowing some entity to interfere more strongly in this place.

"Your Majesty!" Li Wu stepped forward quickly, his face solemn as he gazed at the abnormal area, and said in a low voice, "The aura there… makes one very uncomfortable; I feel as if something is staring at me, leaving me breathless."

Zhao Lao'nian also reported with a hint of fear: "The Disturbing Crystal Tower detected an ultra-high-intensity nether energy reaction gathering there! Its strength… far exceeds that of the previous crystal stone formations! Moreover, its nature is completely different, more… more 'ordered,' and also more dangerous!"

Chen Wen gave a slight nod, indicating he understood.

His entire mind and spirit were now focused on the opponent about to manifest.

Finally, under everyone's gaze, the light at the center of the distorted space went completely dark, forming a dark point that seemed able to devour everything.

Immediately after, a point of scarlet light flared from that dark point.

Like hell opening its eyes.

The scarlet light rapidly expanded and stretched, outlining a vague humanoid shape.

It was not a true flesh-and-blood body, but rather a projection condensed from the purest nether energy and some cold rule.

Tall in stature, it was shrouded in a dark robe that seemed woven from flowing shadows, its face unseen; only the two scarlet points beneath its hood glowed like burning blood diamonds, emanating endless coldness and madness.

It hovered several feet above the ground, with no violent energy fluctuations about it, yet it instantly solidified the atmosphere of the entire battlefield.

Even the Chen army soldiers who had been cheering and pursuing felt as if an invisible chill had clenched their throats; their cheers cut off abruptly, and they stared in bewilderment at the suddenly appearing eerie entity.

Iron Crow Army Venerable

Or rather, it is the strongest projection it can manifest under the rules' allowance.

Those scarlet eyes ignored everything on the battlefield, pierced the distance of space, and fell directly upon Chen Wen.

No words.

But an immeasurably vast, bone-chilling will, like an invisible tsunami, bearing the posture of crushing everything, slammed into Chen Wen's mind and spirit!

This was not a physical attack, but the most direct and perilous collision of spirit and will!

Within this will brimmed hatred for "variables," fury at "deviations," and an absolute aloofness that loftily regards all beings as pawns.

It sought, with this icy will accumulated over untold ages that represents the "established rules," to directly erase Chen Wen, this greatest "error," completely from the mental level!

"Hmph!"

Chen Wen let out a muffled grunt, his body swaying slightly.

That will impact struck like an ice pick, viciously piercing his sea of consciousness, attempting to freeze his thoughts and shatter his beliefs.

Had he not yet broken through, facing such a pure and massive will impact, he would likely have suffered severe injury instantly.

But now, he was no longer a mere nobody.

His Level 6 formidable strength, together with his profound understanding of the essence of Fortune Momentum, made his will as firm as a rock, and even more tightly bound to the dynasty's fate!

"I am the Son of Heaven of Great Chen!"

"My will is the will of the dynasty!"

"My path is the prayers of all the people!"

"With your kind of hiding your head and showing your tail, playing with fate, you demons and monsters, do you even deserve to shake my heart?"

Chen Wen let out a silent roar in his heart!

He did not retreat, but boldly mobilized his own vast will, guiding the splendid Fortune Momentum that shrouded the battlefield, transforming it into an invisible yet radiant golden heart-sword, which he swung upward against the icy will tsunami.

"Boom——!"

A silent thunderclap exploded in the void between them!

Though there was no substantive energy burst, everyone on the battlefield—whether Chen army soldiers or fleeing Northern Han troops—felt a wave of dizziness, as if their souls had been violently struck by some immense force!

Visible water-ripple-like undulations appeared in the air, centered on Chen Wen and that Venerable's projection, spreading outward in all directions!

Golden light blazed all around Chen Wen; the ground beneath his feet slightly sank, cracking with fine lines.

Yet his tall, upright body stood unmoving like a mountain!

And that Venerable's projection had its surrounding shadows violently twist and fluctuate, the two scarlet points flickering unpredictably, obviously not gaining any advantage either!

This clash of wills ended in a draw!

"Rules……protect……"

A dry, cold, metallic screech, as if countless metals were grinding together, echoed directly in Chen Wen's mind, carrying a barely concealed shock and anger… and… confusion.

"You……should not……exist……"

"Variables……must……be eliminated……"

Chen Wen's eyes turned icy, and through the clash of wills he transmitted his own thought.

"Whether I exist is decided by myself, and by all the people of this world!"

"Not by you, who dare not show your true face and only hide behind the scenes manipulating fate, a coward!"

Fate……script……

That icy voice sounded again, carrying a kind of rigid obsession.

Deviation……mistake……

Cleanup……maintenance……

Your existence……caused……node collapse……backlash……

The fragmented words were filled with inhuman logic.

Chen Wen's heart stirred, and he caught the key information.

Script? Node? Cleanup? Backlash?

These words seemed to confirm some of his earlier vague guesses.

This world seemed truly bound by some predetermined 'script'.

And the Iron Crow Army were the 'janitors' maintaining this script.

His own soul from an anomaly, and the dynasty he founded, were undoubtedly the greatest deviation from the 'script,' thus suffering the fiercest 'cleanup.'

And the successive failures seemed to have also inflicted some 'backlash' on this 'janitor' itself, making it increasingly frenzied.

So, you have failed again and again.

Chen Wen's thought was like a sharp sword, laced with mockery.

The so-called script, the so-called fate, are nothing before Us and Our people!

Today, I shall let this so-called 'Venerable,' together with your ridiculous 'script,' vanish into thin air!

Feeling the unwavering resolve in Chen Wen's thought—even a determination to turn and destroy them—the scarlet eyes of the 'Venerable' projection suddenly became extremely ferocious!

Arrogant!

Rules……restrictions……

Otherwise……you would have already……been obliterated……

But……cleansing……must……be completed……

The shadows around it surged violently again, the two points of scarlet light suddenly contracting, then erupting violently!

A vaster, more frenzied will, mixed with a screech as if to tear the soul, launched another assault on Chen Wen!

At the same time, its arm formed of shadows rose, pointing at Chen Wen.

At its fingertip, space twisted slightly, a point of utter darkness began to coalesce, emitting a terrifying fluctuation that made even Old Zhao and the 'Disturbing Crystal Tower' emit sharp alarms!

It seemed willing to pay any price, employing some power beyond the current rules' allowance!

Chen Wen's pupils contracted, feeling a deadly threat!

His body's sixty-fourfold power operated at full throttle, the Fortune Momentum's golden light contracting and gathering, ready to meet this earth-shaking blow!

However, at this critical moment——

Pfft!

As if something had been forcibly cut off, a sound rang out.

The arm of the 'Venerable' projection that had just been raised twitched violently, the darkness condensed at its fingertip instantly dissipating.

Its surrounding shadows became extremely unstable, flickering violently like a bad signal image.

In those scarlet eyes, for the first time appeared a crystal-clear, instinctive fear and……pain!

No……possible……

Anchor point……collapse……

Backlash……rules……rejection……

It emitted fragmented thought waves filled with unwillingness and disbelief.

Chen Wen clearly saw within its shadow-formed body countless fine, bright-golden chain phantoms appearing, frantically contracting and tightening!

It was the power of Fortune Momentum! It was the dynasty's order instinctively rejecting and backlashing against this chaotic, cold rule!

Having lost the crystal array as a stable 'anchor point,' and forcibly manifesting its projection while using power beyond limits, it finally drew the world's 'rules' to correct and reject itself!

Looks like your time is up.

Chen Wen coldly regarded it, his 'Dingye' blade slowly drawn half an inch, the icy edge reflecting the opponent's constantly flickering, about-to-collapse projection.

The 'Venerable' projection stared fixedly at Chen Wen, its scarlet eyes brimming with the most vicious curse and reluctance.

Variable……

Cleanup……will not……stop……

Master……will……personally……

Apocalypse……descend……

Its figure, under the strangling of the bright-gold chains, grew ever fainter and more blurred.

Finally, in a soundless shriek filled with utter venom, the shadow-and-scarlet-formed projection, like green smoke blown away by wind, completely dissipated into the air.

Along with the icy will that had shrouded the battlefield, it too vanished without trace.

As if it had never appeared.

Only a patch of space remained, still somewhat distorted but gradually returning to normal, bearing witness to the earlier soundless yet perilous confrontation.

Chen Wen slowly sheathed his 'Dingye' blade, gazing at the spot where the projection had vanished, his brows slightly furrowed.

Master……personally?

Apocalypse……descend?

He softly repeated the other's last threatening words; his heart did not relax but grew heavier.

The 'master' behind the Iron Crow Army, the one who might truly control the 'script,' has not yet appeared.

And the two words 'apocalypse' carry an ominous portent.

Destroying the crystal stone array, defeating the "Venerable" projection, seemed merely to unveil the prelude to a greater crisis.

He raised his head, gazing toward the hazy sky.

This fated showdown is far from over.