Chapter 911: The Most Decisive Attitude
In a sense, Chen Changsheng's sword path was somewhat unreasonable.
As long as he could break through his opponent's Star Domain, even if that opponent far surpassed him in cultivation level, they would find themselves in great trouble. This was the principle behind what happened three years ago on the day snow fell in the capital, when he charged sword in hand into the Northern Military Command's alley, and even with experts like Xiao De on the Unfettered List and dozens of high-level assassins from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion and the Qingli Department attacking him simultaneously, they could do nothing to stop him.
A trace of regret appeared in the White Tiger Divine General's eyes, then was shattered by the sword light.
He knew he had underestimated his opponent.
But he would not give up. While swinging his iron spear to weave layers of iron curtains before him, he squinted, fixing his gaze on Chen Changsheng's eyes.
Everyone knew that the more flying swords one controlled, the more intense the consumption of true essence and spiritual sense.
In his estimation, no matter how vast Chen Changsheng's true essence was, no matter how serene his spiritual sense, it was impossible for him to sustain hundreds of swords falling like a rainstorm for long. He believed that if he could hold out for just a little longer—even just a few breaths—Chen Changsheng's true essence and spiritual sense would be exhausted, and then it would be time to counterattack.
The iron spear in his hand swung faster with a fierce momentum, his defense growing tighter. He even stopped caring about the sword lights slashing at his legs and arms, focusing only on protecting his vital points. He blocked Chen Changsheng's hundreds of swords and the enemy whose position he couldn't pinpoint, waiting for the moment to strike back.
This line of thinking was not wrong; in fact, it was the safest tactic. But after a few breaths, he was shocked to discover that Chen Changsheng's true essence and spiritual sense showed no signs of depletion—not even a hint of decline! What was going on? Even if he had started cultivating, meditating, and achieving inner illumination from the womb, he couldn't possibly possess so much Star Radiance true essence! And why was his spiritual sense so calm? It felt less like a young man and more like an old priest who had been in seclusion for centuries in a Daoist temple!
Sword light filled the sky, endless and unbroken.
The sound of swords cutting through the air rang without pause.
The White Tiger Divine General was speechless with shock, then a great sense of alarm arose within him.
If earlier, he had been willing to suffer injury and forcefully retreat, he might have been able to escape this rain of swords.
But he had chosen to defend and counterattack, thus missing the best opportunity. Now, he could no longer find a chance to leave.
It was like a water snake in a stream. As winter came and the water temperature dropped, it lingered because it coveted the fish that might be slowed by the cold. After hesitating several times, it didn't leave the mountain stream. In the end, it didn't catch the fish but was frozen into the ice, losing its life!
What seemed like a very long process was, to the onlookers, only a few short breaths.
A cup of tea was still scalding hot; an incense stick had just begun to burn.
The White Tiger Divine General knew he had to fight for his life.
He wildly channeled his true essence, swinging his iron spear horizontally in a strike, unleashing his most powerful Mountain-Questioning Attack, hoping to force Chen Changsheng to recall his swords for defense.
The rain of swords suddenly gathered, hovering in the air around Chen Changsheng. Countless sparks flew as they barely managed to block this spear strike.
After the rain came the clearing sky.
A flash of green light passed by, and two hands covered in black fur landed on the back of the White Tiger Divine General's neck.
The White Tiger Divine General let out a muffled groan. His iron spear slammed heavily into the ground, and the violent true essence rebounded through the terrain, striking behind him.
But then, the sword hummed again!
Countless extremely sharp sword intents severed the rock veins beneath the cliff ledge, forcibly cutting off his spear momentum!
The White Tiger Divine General let out a sharp howl. Using the residual spear momentum, he tried to leap up and escape the pincer attack.
A blindingly bright sword light flashed before his eyes, then vanished into the high sky.
Ten streaks of green light suddenly appeared above his head, then faded into the air.
The White Tiger Divine General's sharp howl came to an abrupt halt!
The cliff ledge fell silent.
A sword pierced his chest.
A hole appeared there, and blood gushed out.
With a soft crack.
A pair of hands twisted his neck.
His head hung limply to one side.
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The Zhou Dynasty's Second Divine General, White Tiger, was at the peak of the Star Gatherer realm, his cultivation and strength already close to that of Xue Xingchuan in his prime.
From any perspective, he should have been stronger than Chen Changsheng or Zhe Xiu.
But today, under their combined attack, not only did he fail to win, he couldn't even find a single chance to counterattack.
He fell onto the cliff ledge, splattering blood everywhere, and died with unwillingness, despair, and bewilderment.
The cliff ledge remained deathly silent.
Too many things had happened today, and the situation had shifted too quickly. Even now, many people still couldn't process it.
The Southern Creek Sect had decided to merge and held a grand ceremony, inviting the court and various sects and mountain gates to observe. The Pope, Chen Changsheng, had vetoed it with extreme force. But then Chen Changsheng suddenly became the hidden mastermind behind Bie Tianxin's death, making him the target of revenge for the couple Bie Yanghong and Wuqiong Bi.
Just as Wuqiong Bi was about to kill the Pope Chen Changsheng, the Holy Maiden Xu Yourong suddenly emerged from seclusion. Their combined sword technique shocked the entire assembly. When Bie Yanghong broke their combined sword technique but was blocked by Xu Yourong's Tong Bow and Wu Arrow, the White Tiger Divine General seized the opportunity to ambush Chen Changsheng. Wang Po's strike from beyond the heavens tried to save him but was intercepted by Wuqiong Bi.
At that moment, the mysterious strongman from the Great Western Continent, the Azure-Clad Guest, launched what seemed like an unstoppable thunderous strike at Chen Changsheng. It seemed unstoppable because, at the time, it appeared that anyone present who could stop him was either blocked by someone else or had no reason to intervene.
Bie Yanghong was the latter. His intervention directly changed the situation on the field and revealed the true mystery.
The Azure-Clad Guest's plot was exposed, and then he died. Logically, the story should have ended there, but it didn't.
If the White Tiger Divine General's initial attack represented the attitude of the court and the Daoist Lord Shang Xingzhou.
Then the White Tiger Divine General's death naturally represented the attitude of the National Religion and the Pope Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng personally killed this man.
There was no clearer attitude in the world than this.
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Prince Xiang narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Chen Changsheng and said, "Your Majesty, you just killed him like that?"
Chen Changsheng did not speak. The one who answered Prince Xiang was Hu Sanshier.
This bishop shouted sternly, "This man plotted to assassinate His Holiness the Pope, an act of high treason deserving of ten thousand deaths."
It was just like a few days ago in the old mansion of Wenshui City.
Tang Thirty-Six demanded that the Second Master of the Tang family must die, must die immediately, before the sun set.
The White Tiger Divine General dared to strike at Chen Changsheng, so he too had to die, had to die on the spot, under the gaze of the multitude.
Prince Xiang said no more.
Bie Yanghong looked at him and said, "When I go to White Emperor City to kill Mu Jiushi, I will go to the capital and ask the Daoist Lord if he knew about this."
Then he looked at Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong and said, "I'm sorry."
Finally, he exchanged nods with Wang Po, then left with Wuqiong Bi.
Watching the somewhat desolate figures of this couple as they soared into the sky and disappeared into the sea of clouds, the people on the cliff ledge felt a mix of emotions. Some even felt a trace of sympathy.
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(I've been a bit tired lately, and time is tight. For the next half month, I'll try my best to post two chapters a day, but I might not have time to revise. There will definitely be more errors and omissions, so I ask for your understanding.)