Chapter 822: Duan Wuya's Death
Two days later, in the void, Duan Wuya's face had turned somewhat pale. Over these two days, no matter what methods he used, he couldn't shake off Lin Feng.
Lin Feng was determined to kill him. They both understood that only one of them could survive. If Duan Wuya escaped, Lin Feng would die; if Lin Feng caught up, Duan Wuya would die. There was no exception.
Another palm strike landed on the Yin Sha Gourd. Light swirled as the sacred mark power on the gourd was activated. Duan Wuya flickered again, appearing over a dozen miles away, while simultaneously using his true essence to propel the gourd forward. Unfortunately, his true essence was too weak to fully activate the gourd's power; otherwise, the speed would have been far greater. Under this dual consumption, Duan Wuya was already on the verge of collapse.
"At this terrifying speed, it'll still take two hours to reach the floating island of the East Sea Dragon Palace, and my true essence can only last about two hours at most." Duan Wuya tried to control his true essence output, but the moment he did, his speed immediately slowed, and the Heavenly Demon Roc's speed was too fast, closing the distance in an instant. Now, it was all a matter of fate.
Lin Feng still stood on the Roc's back, his entire body like a sword. For two days, he hadn't changed in the slightest, not moving an inch, even closing his eyes, maintaining this posture. His resolve to kill Duan Wuya was unshakable. Duan Wuya had to die—for past grudges and for his own life.
The two had long since crossed into the territory of the East Sea Empire. Duan Wuya deliberately kept his flight altitude low, hoping to attract attention. Countless people on the ground looked up at the two figures, but when they sensed the terrifying demonic aura released by the Heavenly Demon Roc, no one dared to meddle. A single gust of wind from the Roc could sweep them away.
Duan Wuya himself didn't dare to descend and reveal the secret, because he feared that even a moment's delay would bring death. He, Duan Wuya, had schemed and struggled to reach his current position—how could he die? One day, he would control the East Sea Dragon Palace and become the overlord of the East Sea Empire.
A series of floating islands appeared before him, vast and boundless. A glimmer of hope appeared on Duan Wuya's face. He was now gasping for breath, using the last of his true essence. He couldn't even maintain a normal breathing rhythm. He wanted to shout out, but he feared that even that shout would drain his remaining strength. He didn't dare.
"Whoosh..." Terrifying gale-force winds raged as the Heavenly Demon Roc stirred up a whirlwind above the floating islands. On the islands below, many people looked up at the two figures in the sky.
"Ah..." Duan Wuya pushed the last of his true essence, activating the sacred mark one final time. With a whoosh, the Yin Sha Gourd shot forward again. Soon, he would reach the northernmost of the East Sea Dragon Palace's five islands. Once there, powerful Heavenly Martial cultivators would be present.
"Whoosh, whoosh!" The Heavenly Demon Roc didn't retreat. It carried Lin Feng directly into the airspace above the islands, truly entering the core territory of the East Sea Dragon Palace. If they failed, it would mean death. They had to give everything to kill Duan Wuya.
"Hmm? Duan Wuya." Finally, as the two crossed onto the northern island, someone recognized Duan Wuya. Several figures soared into the air and asked Duan Wuya, "What's going on?"
Duan Wuya's face was already as pale as paper. Without saying a word, he flew past them. Duan Wuya knew that these reckless fools were doomed.
Sure enough, within two breaths, the Heavenly Demon Roc behind him arrived with a terrifying gale. Its sharp claws directly tore their bodies apart, killing them.
"Save me!" Duan Wuya used every last bit of his true essence to roar with all his might. As the words left his mouth, he collapsed onto the Yin Sha Gourd, while his voice echoed far into the distance.
"Hmm?"
"What's going on?" Some Heavenly Martial cultivators were jolted awake by the sound. Their bodies shot into the sky instantly. Seeing Duan Wuya, they were stunned. Duan Wuya had gone to the secret realm and returned—alone, and being hunted.
"Stop right there." Several figures blocked the Heavenly Demon Roc's path. The Roc's demonic aura surged skyward, its speed undiminished. Its sharp wings lashed out, and with a booming sound, a Heavenly Martial cultivator was sent flying.
At that moment, Lin Feng stepped forward into the void, leaping off the Roc. Thousands of sword qi surged wildly, as if his entire body was about to transform into a sword.
"Who dares to cause trouble at my Dragon Palace?" A furious roar came from afar, shaking Lin Feng's eardrums and making them ring. Yet his sword intent remained as fierce as ever, unstoppable.
Heavenly One Sword Art, Man and Sword as One. Lin Feng's body once again became a sword, as if completely merging with it, transforming into an infinitely sharp blade.
"Lin Feng, he obtained the jade..."
"Shriek!" A terrifying sword qi pierced from behind, causing Duan Wuya's entire body to tremble violently. His voice could no longer escape. Then, a sword light flashed, and his body was completely torn apart, obliterated into nothingness by the sword qi.
"You're asking for death." A voice came from afar, filled with intense fury. Someone had dared to charge into the East Sea Dragon Palace and kill one of its members. When had the Dragon Palace ever suffered such humiliation?
"Boom!" The Roc blasted several Heavenly Martial cultivators away, reaching Lin Feng's side. It caught Lin Feng's body and immediately reversed direction, flickering back the way they came.
"Where do you think you're going?" The approaching figure's palm trembled, and a burst of azure wood light shot out, transforming into vines that rolled toward Lin Feng, trying to entangle him.
The Roc's wings spun sharply, slicing through the vines that were about to grab Lin Feng. Though it didn't submit to Lin Feng, it knew the situation. Lin Feng had a close relationship with the young lady. If Lin Feng died, the demonic beasts of the Snow Demon Tower would likely face the mistress's wrath.
The azure wood light flared, and countless vines seemed to turn into creepers, wrapping around the Roc's wings and rendering them powerless.
"Beast, break!" The vines entangling the Roc's wings emitted a dragon's roar, shaking the air. They transformed into phantom flood dragons, tearing and shredding the Heavenly Demon Roc's wings.
"Shriek, shriek..." Blood splattered. Feathers continuously fell from the Roc's wings, floating in the void. Both wings were covered in bloody wounds, torn apart by the flood dragon formed from the azure wood.
"Screech!" The Roc roared in fury, releasing a dazzling light. Its wings trembled violently again, flickering forward at an incredible speed.
"Hmm?" The figure in the azure wood dragon robe narrowed his eyes. This Heavenly Demon Roc was truly formidable. Despite such severe injuries to its wings, it could still maintain its terrifying speed. The Roc excelled at flight; at full speed, even he couldn't catch it. But he didn't believe the Roc could hold out for long.
He stepped forward, intending to pursue the Roc, but a voice came from behind: "Azure Wood, what happened?"
"The Roc is severely wounded and won't last long. It still carries residual azure wood dragon qi. Those of the Purple Gold Island, why aren't you pursuing?" Azure Wood Dragon King roared to the sky below. Immediately, many figures shot out, chasing into the distant void.
After saying this, Azure Wood Dragon King's body blazed with azure wood light, capturing the Yin Sha Gourd in the void and pulling it toward him. He turned to look at the few people he had been playing chess with and said, "Someone charged into the East Sea Dragon Palace and killed a disciple under Purple Gold Dragon King's command."
"What audacity." The others' faces darkened. Purple Gold was one of the five islands of the East Sea Dragon Palace. How dare someone be so bold?
Azure Wood rolled the Yin Sha Gourd in front of him. The moment he looked down at it, his body trembled violently.
The others' eyes also fell on the gourd, narrowing. What a formidable treasure.
"This is..."
Azure Wood Dragon King muttered to himself, then raised his head and exchanged glances with the others. They all said simultaneously, "A secret realm treasure."
The disciple who had just been killed was one of those who entered the secret realm. They had come out!
But why was he being hunted? And why was he alone? What had happened?
"Lin Feng, he obtained the jade..." Azure Wood Dragon King suddenly recalled Duan Wuya's unfinished words before his death. His gaze trembled.
The one pursuing him was named Lin Feng. That meant he was also someone who had entered the secret realm. He had obtained the jade...
"Jade... Emperor!" The others spoke at once, their hearts pounding wildly. Yes, what Duan Wuya had wanted to say was that Lin Feng had obtained the Jade Emperor's treasure—either a powerful artifact or a formidable technique.
They didn't know that Duan Wuya's complete words should have been: Lin Feng, he obtained the Jade Emperor's Palace!
PS: Damn, I fell asleep again yesterday. Sorry, everyone. I'll make it up this morning!