Chapter 707: Fighting to the End
Inside the ancient black palace, Xiao Ze stepped forward, his senses sharp to the oppressive atmosphere within. Waves of battle intent greeted him immediately, but unlike the inspiring aura of a noble army, this intent was tainted, rotten with decay.
Lifting his gaze, Xiao Ze saw a battalion of nearly a thousand soldiers. Their armor was corroded, their faces disfigured and hollow.
He sighed softly. This army must have clashed with the extraterritorial demons in the past, their bodies and minds consumed by the invading force's corruptive energy. Even after eons, they remained prisoners of that foul influence.
The army's battle intent surged anew, perhaps stirred by a recent fight with Blood Tiger. Amid the waves of intent, a spirit of battle coalesced into existence, its form flickering with ancient battle runes.
Xiao Ze's attention shifted to the source a decayed figure standing at the heart of the battalion. This was their leader, clad in battered armor that bore the scars of a fierce and desperate struggle.
The figure opened its mouth, a rasping voice spilling forth:
"Protect… the Great Thousand… until death…"
With these words, the decayed army's battle intent roared to life, fierce and unyielding.
Xiao Ze's heart stirred. Protect the Great Thousand, even in death. These ancient warriors had given their lives to fend off the extraterritorial demons, and even now, their corrupted remains carried the resolve to guard their world.
"Until death… even after death, you continue to fight for the Great Thousand. I salute you, seniors," Xiao Ze murmured, his tone filled with respect. He clasped his hands solemnly, a gesture of profound reverence.
Then, without hesitation, his figure blurred as he evaded the charging spirit of battle, moving directly to confront the decayed leader.
Cleansing the Corruption
Standing before the leader, Xiao Ze channeled his vast spiritual energy into the withered body. The purifying energy coursed through the leader, expelling the invasive corruption.
The decayed figure trembled as its hollow eyes glimmered with a fleeting spark of clarity. For a brief moment, its face softened, and a faint smile graced its lips.
"Thank you… The Great Thousand still stands… We are content," the leader whispered.
"Seniors, your sacrifice will not be forgotten. Rest now," Xiao Ze replied, his voice steady yet filled with emotion.
The decayed leader's body began to disintegrate, its lingering will fading away into nothingness. But before it vanished entirely, it spoke once more.
"If you are able… aid my master… grant them release as well…"
Xiao Ze nodded solemnly. "If it is within my power, I will do everything I can."
The leader's smile deepened as it dissipated, leaving behind nothing but a faint echo of its resolve.
Xiao Ze turned to the rest of the battalion. With the leader gone, the corrupted army had no guiding will. As his spiritual energy swept through them, their bodies crumbled into dust, releasing bursts of strange energy.
With a wave of his hand, Xiao Ze summoned golden flames to refine the energy, condensing it into a multitude of Fallen Source Pills. He stored them away before setting his gaze deeper into the black palace.
Deeper into the Palace
Moving forward, Xiao Ze encountered three more decayed armies along the way. Each carried the same signs of recent battle, likely due to Blood Tiger's passage.
Xiao Ze didn't delay. He swiftly cleansed each leader's corruption, granting them peace before continuing onward.
At last, he reached the palace's depths. Here, an immense spiritual array surrounded the central chamber.
Within the array stood a vast, intimidating army, their presence emanating unparalleled strength even without actively summoning their battle intent. This was a force of terrifying power.
At the army's center was a stone throne, upon which sat a cloaked figure. Its eyes were twin abysses of darkness, radiating a cold, malevolent aura.
Blood Tiger stood outside the array, his gaze snapping to Xiao Ze as the latter entered.
"Heh, you're late," Blood Tiger sneered. "This senior has already agreed to work with me. Once I free them, they'll help me deal with you!"
As he spoke, Blood Tiger raised his hand, his palm glowing with blood colored energy. The energy surged forward, smashing toward the array.
The figure on the throne revealed a glimmer of joy, its dark aura intensifying. Finally, this cursed array will break, and I shall be free!
However, before the attack could land, Xiao Ze's figure appeared behind Blood Tiger, his fist brimming with terrifying power as it aimed for the elder's back.
Blood Tiger sensed the danger and twisted desperately, redirecting his blood energy to block the strike. Fist and energy collided with an earth shaking explosion, sending Blood Tiger crashing into the array.
"Can't you see that thing has already been corrupted by the extraterritorial demons?" Xiao Ze growled.
Blood Tiger coughed but sneered. "So what? They promised to help me destroy you!"
"You're a fool," Xiao Ze snapped, his eyes narrowing.
Without giving Blood Tiger another chance to act, Xiao Ze struck again, this time aiming for the elder's head.
Blood Tiger's face twisted in desperation. "Even if I die, I'll drag you with me!" he roared, unleashing another devastating attack against the array.
CRACK!
Two sounds echoed in succession one was the array fracturing, the other was Blood Tiger's skull shattering under Xiao Ze's blow.
"Finally, you fools of the Great Thousand tear yourselves apart!" The figure on the throne stood, its malevolence surging.
However, before it could fully rise, the massive army around it erupted with battle intent. The intent manifested as chains of battle runes, binding the figure back to the throne.
"Escape? Far too soon for that!" Xiao Ze's voice rang out coldly as hundreds of spiritual seals flew from his sleeves, repairing the broken array.
The demonic figure writhed in fury, its eyes burning with abyssal light. Its sinister aura surged, causing the chains to groan under pressure.
"Damn you! A spiritual array master?!"
Xiao Ze ignored its curses, focusing entirely on restoring the array. Despite the array's ancient and damaged state, it still held considerable power.
As the array regained functionality, Xiao Ze's hands moved faster, reinforcing the damaged sections. The chains, bolstered by the restored array, tightened further, holding the figure in place.
"You've lost," Xiao Ze declared, his voice calm but resolute.
The figure snarled, its struggles growing weaker. For the first time in millennia, it tasted despair.
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