Silence fell again, and only the sound of the ocean waves could be heard, as if to mask the remnants of the life that had been lost. The sea itself seemed to sigh in relief, as if a great poison had been purged from the world.Eadric Rong floated above the water, his face showing deep exhaustion etched in lines that had not been there before, while he held his chest with trembling hands. His white robes, once immaculate, were now torn and stained with blood—both his own and the emperor's."I'm seriously injured... my internal organs are damaged." His voice was barely a whisper, carried away by the salt-laden breeze. The One-Legged Crane circled above, its movements showing concern for its master.Instantly a brilliant thought appeared in his mind, like a ray of sunlight breaking through storm clouds. His eyes, though dimmed with pain, sparked with renewed purpose as he considered his options."I must repair myself immediately before my meridians collapse completely. Jue Tian Yuan's en

"Open the gate wide! I'll take this thing to the fifth floor!"Eadric Rong's voice thundered through the mountain fortress like an ancient war drum, deep and commanding with the authority of heaven's mandate. His words carried the weight of imperial decree, echoing off the jade-carved walls adorned with mystical dragon motifs.The guards and demonic beasts standing sentinel before Hundun Yaosai Fortress moved with lightning precision. Their bronze armor clinked in perfect harmony as massive iron gates groaned open, revealing shadowy depths beyond where torchlight danced on ancient stone."Open the door immediately! Hunter Guo instructs!"One guard's voice boomed across the courtyard like thunder splitting the heavens. His ceremonial spear, forged from celestial steel, gleamed in the flickering torchlight as he gestured toward the entrance with practiced authority.Hunter Guo's name had become legend within these sacred walls. His reputation now towered above all others like a mountain

That brilliant theory emerged from his mind after careful observation of the gathering machine's intricate mechanisms. The bronze and steel contraption hummed with potential energy, its surface carved with mystical symbols that pulsed with inner light."If I were to use energy from living beings, the process would prove infinitely more complicated," he continued, his midnight robes billowing in supernatural winds that carried whispers of the past. "Because protective barriers surround their mortal forms like shields blessed by heaven itself. Besides, there exists one insurmountable barrier - the weight of ethics that binds the righteous!"Eadric Rong then recalled Emperor Jue Tian Yuan, whose name was spoken in whispers and whose reputation was built upon using human blood to absorb life energy. That tyrant's methods had stained his soul with corruption darker than the deepest abyss.To Eadric Rong, this ghostly approach represented a path infinitely cleaner and more efficient. Like a

The merciless sun hung like a molten gold coin in the cloudless sky, casting its scorching rays upon the endless sea of crimson sand that stretched to the horizon. Heat waves shimmered above the dunes, distorting the distant landscape into a mirage of broken dreams.Suddenly, the sharp sound of birds cawing could be heard, breaking the silence that had settled over the desolate wasteland. Their harsh cries echoed across the barren expanse like omens of impending doom.In the distance, dozens of vultures flew in circles in the air, their black wings spread wide against the azure sky. They looked like they were carrying death signals, patiently waiting for the feast that would soon be theirs."The fishy smell of blood is getting thicker... This is no ordinary battle," Eadric Rong muttered, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword, the Phoenix and Dragon blade that hummed with anticipation. His brow furrowed beneath the shadow of his wide-brimmed hat, woven from desert reed

In the battle that took place on Moye Mountain, when Eadric Rong fought Norzin beneath the ancient pines that had witnessed centuries of martial glory, he met those four Sha Tuo disciples. Their faces were etched in his memory, each detail clear despite the passage of time.Although he didn't say much during that brief encounter, the memory of that meeting was still vivid in his mind, like a painting preserved in perfect detail. Now, when he saw those four young men and women cornered and overwhelmed by the Golden Sun Empire's soldiers, whose numbers seemed as endless as the desert sands, his heart was filled with burning anger that threatened to consume his reason."Finish them all! But that woman, leave her alone in her suffering. She will soon understand that this desert is not only a place of death, but also a place to submit to the rule of our Golden Sun Empire," said an officer with a sardonic smile that revealed teeth filed to points, a barbaric custom of his homeland. His voic