# Chapter 1957: Jade Shatters, the Golden Crow Dies
Amid the vast Canglan divine radiance, Mo Beichen's downward momentum abruptly halted. The sudden, immense force slammed him violently toward Yun Che, and the rock barrier formation pressing firmly against the Heaven-Defying Demon Emperor Sword let out a wail that split the soul sea itself.
*Sssssssss~~*
Crack after crack spread across the rock barrier formation that, just moments ago, had radiated boundless despair, turning it into a fine spiderweb.
*CRACK!!*
This heavy sound seemed to ring out in everyone's hearts.
Amid an even more soul-rending screech, the Heaven-Defying Sword thrust inward, piercing straight through the rock barrier formation... When it stopped, it was barely two inches from Mo Beichen's heart.
"Ugh~~!"
A hoarse growl escaped Mo Beichen's throat. His eyes bulged as if about to explode. No longer bothering to break free from Cang Shitian's restraint, he unleashed his rock profound force like a madman, while his protective artifact radiated increasingly chaotic profound light, desperately shoring up the rock barrier formation that was already covered in cracks and nearly pierced through.
Yun Che's arms, supporting the Heaven-Defying Sword, had their flesh turned outward, and the exposed bones were covered in fine cracks.
All his will was concentrated in his eyes, transforming into a demonic light even deeper than the Eternal Calamity Demon Flame.
No matter what, he would not allow his body and power to collapse and lose control.
Because this was the final hope that Cang Shitian had bought with his very existence and the future of Canglan.
"Cang Shitian..." Mo Beichen's voice was distorted, just like his completely twisted features. "You... stupid... mad dog!"
The rock barrier formation once again barely halted the Heaven-Defying Sword. By now, Mo Beichen was desperately channeling all his power, holding back nothing... yet he still could not push the Heaven-Defying Sword back even a single inch.
He could not understand Cang Shitian's actions.
Cang Shitian had clearly chosen to submit, and he had accepted.
An Abyss Knight's word was worth a thousand gold. When the Abyss descended in the future, Cang Shitian could survive safely, and the Canglan bloodline could also survive, and their status in this world would only be higher.
Why, at this very moment, would he not hesitate to destroy himself and the lifeline of Canglan to fight for his life!?
"Heh... heh... I am... a mad dog!"
The words came to his ears, each syllable a maddened scream from Cang Shitian.
And this mad dog would bite his throat and drag him down to hell together... the crazed ruthlessness that could destroy even himself and the future of his clan would never let go of the fangs sunk into his throat, even if he descended into the underworld.
"Yun... Che! If you... can't pierce through him..."
"Then I... will haunt you... even as a ghost!"
Almost every syllable Cang Shitian uttered was distorted, his deep blue body shattering and collapsing with each moment, but the power binding Mo Beichen never weakened in the slightest.
"Bro...ther..." Cang Shuhe's cheeks were already drenched with tears.
As Cang Shitian's howls rang out, a purple flash abruptly shone in Yun Che's eyes, followed by an ancient dragon shadow.
*Caw——*
A cry pierced the sky—the Golden Crow Illusion God!
And appearing simultaneously with the Golden Crow Illusion God was the Dragon God's Shadow, overlooking the world with pride!
Forcing out the Arcane Firmament Illusion God in such a state would undoubtedly come at a great cost.
*Zheng! Zheng!*
Two Nanming Divine Sources annihilated in the same instant.
The dragon shadow soared proudly, unleashing a roar that shook all souls.
*ROAR—————*
In the primordial heaven and earth, the dragon roared and the crow cried.
Forcibly opening the Divine Ashes and exceeding the limit—this was a berserk surge of Yun Che's profound power, but the amplification to his soul power was far weaker.
Against a demigod's soul, the Dragon God Domain released by Yun Che in his current state had no chance of completely shattering his soul sea, let alone controlling it for long.
But after all, it was the Dragon God's Soul!
Even with a vast level difference, it would not be completely useless.
And just as the Dragon God's roar resounded through the sky, Chi Wuyue, who had been waiting for the opportunity, suddenly unleashed her Nirvana Wheel Demon Soul.
The roar in his ears instantly scattered the world before Mo Beichen's eyes. His vision rapidly dimmed, but two azure dragon pupils, radiating ancient heavenly might, clearly reflected there.
In this fleeting, perfect moment, the Nirvana Wheel Demon Soul pierced straight in, like thrusting an incredibly savage ancient giant demon into Mo Beichen's soul sea, madly tearing at his soul.
"Sii—Ah——!!"
His soul, cruelly torn apart, caused Mo Beichen to let out a miserable shriek like a ghost.
With his consciousness scattered and his soul torn, the rock profound force he was frantically releasing, as well as his control over his protective artifact, naturally drained away like a torrent.
It directly collapsed by nearly sixty percent.
At that very moment, the Golden Crow Illusion God formed by Arcane Firmament scattered its burning annihilation flames, burying Mo Beichen and Cang Shitian in a sea of golden flames that blotted out the sky.
The black flame on Yun Che's body burned another hundred feet higher. The Heaven-Defying Sword, accompanying his throat-tearing shout, erupted with sword might that broke past its limits. *Ssss sss sss...*
*BOOM CRACK!!!!*
Amid a cracking sound like the earth splitting and the sky collapsing, the rock barrier formation that had once brought such profound despair shattered and broke apart amidst scattering withered light.
Accompanied by the abruptly stopping heartbeats of everyone, the Heaven-Defying Sword fiercely thrust and struck Mo Beichen's heart.
*CLANG!!*
Blood and flesh splattered from Mo Beichen's chest, but the sound that rang out was not the tearing of cloth as a body was pierced—it was a metallic collision sound that everyone was a thousand times familiar with, and ten thousand times terrified by.
Against his chest and abdomen, the distinctly sunken silver armor had actually opened up another rock barrier formation!
A... complete rock barrier formation.
The tip of the Heaven-Defying Sword came to a dead stop at Mo Beichen's heart, unable to advance another half inch.
"...!" Yun Che's clenched teeth shattered, spitting out flakes of bloody foam.
"Urgh... urgh... heh... hahahaha!"
Mo Beichen slowly raised his head. His soul still struggled and trembled in pain, but his eyes were rapidly clearing, and the corners of his mouth twisted into a pained, sinister grin.
"Des...pair, isn't it!" he hoarsely murmured. His scattered profound power quickly recovered in his gradually stabilizing mind.
He was a Guardian Knight among the Abyss Knights, with protection as his mission.
But to protect others, one must first protect oneself.
The "Eternal Rock" bestowed upon him by the Divine Official was not just the arm shields covering his forearms; it was a complete set of full-body soft armor.
The arm shields on his arms existed to protect others, while the silver soft armor covering his body was meant to protect himself—undoubtedly possessing equally powerful defensive capabilities.
Moreover, it contained a rock barrier formation that would automatically trigger when danger was encountered.
But since he had donned this "Eternal Rock," the rock barrier formation sealed within it was being triggered for the first time.
He would never have imagined that this first triggering in his life would be not in the Abyss, not in the Mist Sea, but in this humble world.
What an utter humiliation!
Yun Che's pupils dilated wider and wider, his teeth shattering one by one... but no matter how the Golden Crow Flame burned and the Eternal Calamity Demon Flame consumed, the sword tip lodged at Mo Beichen's heart could not advance another half inch.
The newly formed rock barrier formation began to crack with fissures... but with the four remaining Nanming Source Forces on his body, it was almost impossible for Yun Che to break it before they all extinguished.
"In your place... you despicable maggots... how dare you!!"
"AAAAAAAH!"
He let out a furious, humiliated, venting roar. The shock from the Dragon Soul and Chi Wuyue's Nirvana Wheel Demon Soul were forcibly expelled by him.
As his pupils returned to normal focus, his protective profound power surged forth once more, causing the final rock barrier formation to erupt with an even denser guardian divine light.
The spread of cracks slowed again, leaving only the sound of cracking that could easily be completely drowned out.
Chi Wuyue's body shook violently, her soul sea roaring. Fortunately, the Calamity Heart and Calamity Spirit caught her from left and right in time.
Nine inches of fine steel could hardly withstand ten thousand feet of withered wood. The immense backlash from a demigod's soul dealt unprecedented damage to Chi Wuyue's demon soul.
"AAAAAAAH!"
Cang Shitian roared with all his might, wishing he could shatter every inch of his remaining body and turn it into power that could devour Mo Beichen.
But his remaining spiritual sense could not perceive the Heaven-Defying Sword approaching Mo Beichen's heart.
*Zheng!*
The fifteenth Nanming Divine Source annihilated.
The final three Nanming Divine Source pearls flickered urgently with tragic golden light.
"It's over... completely over."
Whispered murmurs, as feeble as the bleak autumn wind.
Those who had already resigned themselves to fate and submitted now felt something more like a profound sorrow stirring within their souls.
Cang Shitian's roar was like countless sharp blades, piercing their bent knees and cowering souls, and shining a deep blue star of hope in their eyes.
At that moment, they no longer wanted to accept fate and submit. Instead, they yearned for Yun Che and Cang Shitian to slay this invader from another world.
Even if they could only gain a brief respite, even if the ending was destined to be devoured by the Abyss.
At least, this world they had dedicated their lives to had once witnessed fierce resistance... and victory.
Not just a kneeling without any dignity.
But now, this awakening Canglan divine light... was still extinguished.
...
At the edge of the battlefield, in a corner no one had spare attention for.
"It seems... it's still not enough," he murmured, as if talking to himself, looking into the distance.
His clothes were blazing red, crisscrossed with brilliant golden patterns.
Deep in his pupils shone golden flames, like two blazing suns in the distant sky. With the appearance of a youth, he was the Realm King of the Yan Shen Realm.
Huo Poyun.
He turned, facing Yan Wancang, Yan Juehai, and Huo Rulie. All three simultaneously sensed something, their flame-flickering eyes narrowing amid the chaos.
"So, there are things even he cannot do."
"Then it's my turn," Huo Poyun smiled. But perhaps no one else in the world knew the infinite complexity contained within that smile.
He had thought he would lose this "opportunity."
"Poyun, you..." Huo Rulie raised his hand, his voice hoarse and trembling.
His gaze swept over the three of them one by one. Huo Poyun turned back and said slowly, "Master, Sect Master Yan, Sect Master Yan. I'm leaving now. From now on, the Yan Shen Realm will be entrusted to you."
"The grace of your teachings, the guilt of my failure... I will repay in my next life."
"Poyun!"
"Poyun!!"
Two overlapping cries rang out as Yan Wancang's and Yan Juehai's arms simultaneously gripped Huo Poyun's shoulders tightly.
"Poyun, you are different from everyone else," Yan Wancang said, his hand tightening as he shook his head forcefully. "Even if this world is doomed to endless calamity, you... will be taken by him to the Abyss, become an Abyss Knight powerful enough to make all the world look up to you... ascend to a higher plane, and have a future that no one would dare hope for!"
"Even if it is a disaster for everyone, for you alone, it is an unparalleled opportunity!"
"Everyone can risk their lives, but you alone cannot, for no reason!"
*Zheng!*
Another Nanming Divine Source scattered and extinguished on Yun Che's body.
Only the last two Nanming divine lights flickered weakly, still unable to shatter the withered yellow rock barrier formation.
"..." Huo Poyun did not move, nor did he look back. His gaze fixed on the distance, frozen on the figure burning with black flames. "In this life of mine, I have known untold confusion, hesitation, panic, loss of heart, impulsiveness, regret, fear, trepidation, resentment, indignation..."
His voice was gentle and calm, almost without any ripple.
"But this time alone, I feel no fear, no regret. Completely."
"It seems a voice is telling me that my life exists for this very moment."
"..." Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai stood there, speechless.
At that moment, two hands grasped their wrists from left and right, trembling but resolute, pulling them away from Huo Poyun's shoulders.
"Poyun, go," Huo Rulie said, his voice hoarse as sand. "From childhood to now, I have watched you grow. I have felt countless moments of pride, and also experienced anger and disappointment time and again."
"But in one thing, I have never changed."
Huo Rulie's eyes, which eternally burned with flames, were now clouded with a misty light that the fire could not dispel in time: "You are the greatest pride of this teacher's life."
"..." Huo Poyun's hand pushed backward.
*BOOM—*
A scalding wave of wind blasted the three of them, along with the nearby profound practitioners, far away.
He rose on flames, flying into the distant sky, charging toward the space where Yun Che was.
Golden flames ignited on his body. The flames were not immense, but they were incomparably dense and unbearably dazzling.
The blazing golden light dispelled the darkness, pierced through the battlefield saturated with demigod power, and shone upon the sky and the earth. In the blink of an eye, it turned the entire vast world into the color of gold.
Everyone's gazes turned eastward... pairs of eyes belonging to Divine Lords and Divine Sovereigns were stabbed so brightly that they could hardly open.
"What... is that!?"
The golden flame continued to burn.
But the carrier of the flame was not Huo Poyun's profound power...
It was his body, his bloodline, his soul, his faith... everything.
His gaze dropped. On his hands, the fingers had already disappeared, turned into flame light.
His entire body grew increasingly indistinct in the wildly blazing flame light.
*Yun Che...*
*Remember this...*
*In this life...*
*After all, you owe me.*
*And...*
*Forever...*
*Forever...*
*Don't even think about repaying it!!*
All the source blood and source soul bestowed upon him by the Golden Crow Soul Spirit... along with all the pride of his life—he burned them all, without reservation.
His final soul entwined itself around Mo Beichen's body.
But his final gaze was still fixed on Yun Che's back.
His final voice was like a judgment incantation from the ancient Golden Crow True God:
*"Nine Heavens... Crow... Dies... Jade... Shatters... Cry——"*