A woman in purple robes sat cross-legged in the void, divine radiance descending and staining the heavens, like a celestial maiden descending to earth.
Her jade-like face was aloof, her beauty unparalleled, as if a banished immortal had stepped out of a painting, seemingly out of place in this world.
Celestial energy swirled around her, but within that energy, dark energy faintly surged, containing a demonic aura that terrified the entire world.
Before her lay an ancient zither, its body adorned with strange bone patterns, its seven strings trembling slightly, emitting a rumbling divine sound like the low growl of a demon, enough to rip one's soul from their body.
"Zi Yan..."
Meng Qi and the others exclaimed in surprise upon seeing the woman in purple robes, but upon closer inspection of her aura, they were filled with astonishment.
Although Zi Yan deliberately concealed her aura, the terrifying demonic energy emanating from her was impossible to hide.
Zi Yan's soul fluctuations were icy cold, filled with murderous aura, completely different from the Zi Yan of the past.
"This aura... Heavenly Demon Harp!"
Qian Ding's voice carried a hint of disbelief.
"Heavenly Demon Harp? One of the Ten Supreme Divine Artifacts, the Heavenly Demon Harp?"
Hearing Qian Ding's words, countless people were shocked. They never expected that two Chaos Divine Artifacts would appear on this small Heavenly Domain Battlefield.
However, upon closer reflection, a single sound blade easily shattered the arm armor formed by the convergence of Qian Dao power; perhaps only the Heavenly Demon Harp, also a Chaos Divine Artifact, could accomplish this.
Zi Yan's appearance stunned everyone present, yet her face remained indifferent. Only when her eyes saw Long Chen in the Nirvana Space did a trace of warmth gradually appear in her gem-like eyes.
"This is a trap. It's still not too late to leave now. However, the power of Qian and Kun has begun to merge. I am no match for it. I can only help you take him away alone." Just then, the voice of the Heavenly Demon Harp rang in Zi Yan's mind.
Zi Yan slowly shifted her gaze from Long Chen to Meng Qi and the others, nodding slightly, a long-lost smile appearing on her lips.
This smile reassured the bewildered Meng Qi and the others that she was indeed Zi Yan and had not been possessed.
"You've seen it yourself, they are all Long Chen's loyal brothers and confidantes. They knew that staying meant certain death, yet not one of them fled.
Not only them, but many people here, even those who have never met Long Chen, are willing to live and die with him. Do you think I would take Long Chen away?
Given Long Chen's character, he would surely risk his life for those who are willing to fight for him.
If I took him away, Long Chen would hate me for life. Senior, please let me be willful this once!" Zi Yan shook her head slightly.
Among the powerful figures from Lingxiao Academy, the Four Directions Alliance, the Thunder Falcon Clan, and many from the Star River Sect, there were many who had only heard of Long Chen's name but had never seen him in person, yet they resolutely stayed here, not one of them retreating.
As the battlefield shifted, they had many opportunities to escape unscathed, but they all gave up their chances of survival, choosing to protect Long Chen with their lives.
Even without the Dragon Blood Legion and Meng Qi, Zi Yan would have fought desperately to protect them.
"Sigh..."
Hearing Zi Yan's words, the Heavenly Demon Harp sighed and said nothing more.
Under its guidance, Zi Yan had obtained a heaven-defying opportunity in the Heavenly Domain Battlefield. It had already shielded Zi Yan's senses, not wanting her to be involved in Long Chen's conflicts.
However, the fusion of the Qiankun Cauldrons shattered the balance of laws, causing an instant imbalance in the laws of heaven and earth. Its shield failed, and Zi Yan instantly sensed Long Chen and attacked immediately.
The Heavenly Demon Harp's sigh carried helplessness; perhaps this was the will of heaven, something even it could not change.
Zi Yan, wielding the Heavenly Demon Harp, blocked Qian Jie, who was still shaken, his eyes fixed on Zi Yan.
He gritted his teeth, unable to comprehend why Long Chen was so lucky. He had the Kun Ding recognized as his master, a mysterious and evil battle blade protecting him, and so many people guarding him, refusing to retreat even a step despite knowing certain death.
Now, a beautiful woman wielding the Heavenly Demon Harp had appeared, and the flames of jealousy nearly burned him alive.
"Don't be afraid. The Heavenly Demon Harp is formless and weaker than the Kun Ding. I now possess a portion of the power of Qiankun. Kill with confidence.
As long as I kill Long Chen, the master of the Kun Ding, I can instantly merge with it. Then, I will directly annihilate the entire Heavenly Domain battlefield. No one is allowed to leak this information." The voice of the Qian Ding echoed in Qian Jie's mind.
"Yes!"
Upon hearing this, Qian Jie's spirits soared. With a wave of his arms, the Qiankun Ding shone with divine light, and runes gathered around Qian Jie, directly forming a suit of armor.
Seeing this, people couldn't help but feel envious. Although Qian Jie was the Qian Ding's slave, he could still wield its power.
Now that the Qianding is devouring the Kunding, and with the fusion of Qiankun power, Qian Jie's power will grow stronger with time.
"So what if it's the Heavenly Demon Zither? It has form but no spirit. You have no right to be arrogant before the great Qiankun Cauldron. Let me show you my Qiankun Battle Armor, a perfect blend of strength and flexibility!"
Qian Jie roared, taking a step forward and smashing his fist down. His fist was tens of thousands of miles away when he raised it, and by the time it landed, it was already in front of Zi Yan.
"Buzz,"
Zi Yan's jade hand caressed the zither, her snow-white fingers lightly plucking one of the strings. As the music played, a light screen appeared.
"Boom!"
Qian Jie's fist slammed into the light screen, and a ripple spread like lightning. That ripple was like a sharp, circular blade, splitting heaven and earth, almost dividing the entire world in two.
People were horrified. Was this the power of a Chaos Artifact? A casual strike could destroy the world.
Fortunately, the ripple didn't spread too quickly, giving people time to dodge; otherwise, countless lives would have been annihilated in one blow.
"Boom..."
After the ripples spread, a violent roar followed.
Qian Jie, clad in battle armor, his power of heaven and earth surging, pressed down hard on the light barrier in front of Zi Yan. On that light barrier, seven-colored divine light flickered, and the five musical notes resonated. This was not only a stalemate between the two forces, but also a clash of the wills of the Chaos Artifacts.
"So that's how it is. You are not the Heavenly Demon Harp at all. You are just a shell that has developed its own consciousness. You are not the original spirit of the artifact." Qian Ding sneered as it merged with Kun Ding.
Through Qian Jie's probing, it had roughly understood the situation of the Heavenly Demon Harp. No wonder it had felt that the aura of the Heavenly Demon Harp was somewhat strange before.
However, through the attack just now, as one of the Ten Great Chaos Artifacts, it instantly understood the true nature of the Heavenly Demon Harp.
"Since that's the case, then there's nothing to hold back!"
Qian Jie's confidence soared. His battle armor glowed, and he slammed his fist hard onto the light barrier again.
With a deafening
boom, the light barrier shattered instantly. However, the instant the barrier broke, a sharp sonic blade sliced through the sky, slashing fiercely towards Qian Jie.
The Heavenly Demon Harp seemed to be enraged as well, its icy voice resounding throughout the heavens and earth:
"Even if it's just a shell, killing a mere weapon slave is no problem."
"Boom!"
Qian Jie slammed his fist down, shattering the sonic blade. But the moment the blade shattered, Zi Yan's jade-like hands began plucking the strings of the harp.
"Zheng zheng zheng..."
The harp's music resounded like a flowing mountain stream, echoing throughout the universe. Simultaneously, countless sonic blades tore through the sky, slashing towards Qian Jie like a raging storm.