Chapter 368

Chapter 368: The Explosive Entrance

In the Western Desert, the Crimson Flame Dynasty was one of the three great dynasties. Over countless years, they had repeatedly risen to challenge the pinnacle of the Western Desert, enduring numerous major crises along the way. Now, once again, their power had grown strong enough to rival their historical heights. However, in terms of external influence, they seemed overshadowed by the might of the Taixu Dynasty, whose overwhelming presence made the Crimson Flame Dynasty appear less significant outside the Western Desert.

The capital of the Crimson Flame Dynasty was also one of the largest and most prosperous cities in the region. Even the surrounding small towns bustled with activity. Liu Town, located northwest of the capital and only thirty miles away, was a popular stop for travelers heading north, west, or northwest, making it vibrant throughout the day.

On this particular busy day, a sudden surge of energy erupted from a usually quiet courtyard whose gates were always tightly shut. The space distorted, and in an instant, Zhang Yang, Bing Yuyan, Demon Sword Yi, Cold Thief Tian, Tiger Howl Wind, and Ironback Blue Bull materialized there.

This was one of three secret strongholds Cold Thief Tian maintained in the Crimson Flame Dynasty, and the only one situated right next to the capital. According to him, he had lived here for ten years, all for the sake of taking revenge on Night Jiuli, a sage of the Crimson Flame Dynasty. At that time, Night Jiuli had not yet become a sage, but Cold Thief Tian had watched helplessly as he ascended to sagehood, creating an inner demon that prevented Cold Thief Tian from advancing on his own path. It had become a vicious cycle.

Now, back in this familiar place, Cold Thief Tian was filled with complex emotions. Zhang Yang reassured him, “Don’t worry, you’ll get your revenge. This time, we’ll pay Night Jiuli a visit.”

Zhang Yang showed no hint of fear, even though they were in the sage’s territory. If he had shown this attitude in the past, it might have drawn skepticism or ridicule from Cold Thief Tian, Demon Sword Yi, or Tiger Howl Wind. But now, they understood why Zhang Yang was so confident.

According to Demon Sword Yi, Zhang Yang was like another Yaoruoxian, except that he embodied compassion for all beings, even while looking down on saints, scorning Eternal Night, and disregarding the immortal path. He stood among the people, roaring from the clouds, while Yaoruoxian was the opposite, remaining rooted to the earth, firm and unwavering.

Of course, in the battle at Heavenly Reaching Mountain, Zhang Yang had personally slain nine saints, regardless of the special circumstances. That was the undeniable truth, and his capital.

Having walked over the corpses of saints, why would he fear them?

“Are you sure just a few of us can take down Night Jiuli?” Demon Sword Yi asked, filled with doubt.

Zhang Yang laughed. “How about betting a year of your time? Let’s go another round.”

Demon Sword Yi’s lips twitched. He didn’t want to be reckless; the last time he had rushed into a wager just to shed the stigma of being a hired hand, it had cost him an entire year of servitude.

He took a deep breath to steady himself and scanned the group. Among them, Bing Yuyan was undoubtedly the strongest. She might be capable of facing a sage, but defeating one? That seemed impossible.

Still, after some thought, he found it feasible.

“Alright, I’ll take that bet. I don’t believe we can’t handle Night Jiuli,” Demon Sword Yi said, his confidence returning.

Zhang Yang smiled. “If we can’t deal with Night Jiuli, you’re free. But if we succeed, your one year becomes a hundred. Don’t say it’s unfair. Night Jiuli is a sage, and this is his home turf. We don’t have a single sage on our side. With a gap that massive, a hundred years is more than reasonable, wouldn’t you say?”

A hundred years!

Demon Sword Yi grinned, hesitated for a moment, then clenched his teeth and agreed.

They struck palms together three times, sealing the wager.

The terms were set: the bet would be resolved the day they left the Crimson Flame Dynasty.

Demon Sword Yi was thrilled. He felt that freedom was finally within reach, that the shame of being a hired hand might soon be lifted. The mere thought of liberation filled him with exhilaration, and he let out an excited howl toward the sky.

To his shock, something responded.

A terrifying, overwhelming hand surged down from above, radiating endless holy light. It blocked out the sun and sky, as if the world itself were collapsing.

“A sage is launching a sneak attack!” Demon Sword Yi screamed.

Panic spread as Liu Town fell into chaos.

That dreadful holy hand was clearly aimed at them, but the sheer destructive force could easily wipe out the entire town.

Zhang Yang’s expression darkened, not from fear of the saint’s attack, but from fury. How had the enemy predicted their arrival so precisely?

His mind raced back to the ambush at the Spirit Saint Stone Mine. He strongly doubted this strike had come from a Taixu Dynasty saint. Despite its power, the Taixu Dynasty was in a precarious state. Even if they were planning something, they would never casually deploy a saint. Doing so would risk a catastrophic conflict, especially now, during their weakest historical period, though even diminished, they still stood stronger than most sacred lands.

That left only one likely suspect: the hidden assassin from the mine ambush.

A saint’s strike could tear the heavens apart. Unlike the restricted space of Heavenly Reaching Mountain, there were no limitations here—this was full, unrestrained power.

Cold Thief Tian let out a snarl and hurled his blade into the sky. The weapon blazed with radiant light, reminiscent of a Sword Saint’s assault. It was his Protective Power. As someone who had dominated the Western Desert for decades and ranked third among the Thirteen Great Thieves, Cold Thief Tian had deep reserves of strength, and with his master Lie Qingshan now recovered and supporting him, he was more formidable than ever.

The sword tore through the sky, colliding with the incoming holy hand. Above Liu Town, a thunderous explosion split the heavens. The town trembled violently as terrified screams rang out.

Yet this was only the beginning.

The attacking saint, undeterred, struck again. This time, a mountainous finger descended, aiming to crush them where they stood.

Zhang Yang’s fury exploded, not only because of the blatant attempt on their lives, but because of the total disregard for the authority of the Crimson Flame Dynasty. Did the attacker fear no retaliation from their saints? They were mere miles from the imperial capital, a trivial distance for saintly intervention.

“I’ll handle this!”

Dazzling light burst from Bing Yuyan, blinding all who looked. Liu Town was instantly bathed in icy brilliance as she rose like a war goddess, summoning waves of radiant energy that converged into her Ice Spirit Holy Sword.

She slashed upward, her blade meeting the descending finger with divine force. Where the saint’s strike embodied pure destruction, her counterattack combined devastation with ethereal beauty.

Bing Yuyan’s sword clashed with the immense finger.

Clang!

Sparks like lightning erupted from the collision. She was driven earthward, but the massive finger disintegrated into mist. A furious roar echoed from the skies above. Then, heavenly holy light poured down like blades, aiming to annihilate all life in Liu Town.

Bing Yuyan landed gracefully. With a spin, she dispersed the falling light with a frost-laced gale crackling with thunder. Then she surged upward once more.

Sword Soaring Immortal!

With celestial grace, she merged with her blade and shot skyward like a divine comet piercing the ninth heaven. Her sword cleaved through the storm of light, shattering it as she reached the heights above.

Gasps of disbelief rippled through the crowd.

Demon Sword Yi shouted in astonishment, “How is she facing a saint without backing down?!”

Zhang Yang remained calm. Ever since the battle at Heavenly Reaching Mountain, Bing Yuyan had possessed the strength to challenge saints. She had been tempered by the Slaughter Sacred Thunder, refined through the trials in the Chaos Demon Graveyard, and enlightened by Yaoruoxian’s Becoming Ordinary epiphanies. With all that, it was no surprise she could now battle a saint head-on, especially a non-elite one.

Demon Sword Yi gritted his teeth. “Another deception! Night Jiuli just barely broke into the saint level, he’s weaker than this guy!”

“Don’t forget, one hundred years,” Zhang Yang said coolly.

“Catch Night Jiuli first before you start bragging!” the swordsman shot back.

Their exchange ended just as the sky-shaking battle did, not due to Bing Yuyan’s efforts alone, but because reinforcements had arrived.

A divine aura far more powerful than the attacker’s surged onto the battlefield.

Yan Donghuang, the Crimson Flame Dynasty’s second saint, second only to the Star Flame Saint, had entered the fray.

Cold Thief Tian whispered with reverence, “Yan Donghuang himself.”

Zhang Yang’s cold smile sliced through the aftermath. “They’ve handed me a blade.”

Without another word, he turned sharply and entered his chamber, sealing the door behind him.

Watching this, Demon Sword Yi’s cheek twitched. This felt like the prelude to yet another meticulously laid trap.