When the Heaven-Burial slash came down, the endless blood mist was momentarily torn apart.
The skull hidden within looked on in shock.
Then, as the Shadow Tyrant was raised again and slashed down, the skull was directly suppressed in place.
The surrounding space had already been completely torn apart by the blade aura, and the curved blade loomed ever closer.
The skull screamed.
With a loud boom, Xu Zimo’s long blade, carrying endless momentum, cut through like a ship through waves.
At the moment of impact, a scream of agony echoed out.
Xue Zeyuan was blasted out of the blood mist.
The skull shattered, and the blood mist slowly dissipated.
Xu Zimo, holding the Shadow Tyrant, walked step by step toward Xue Zeyuan.
Xue Zeyuan stood up again. His body was like a squirming worm, torn into broken pieces.
It looked terrifying. Despite the severe injuries, he was still struggling to survive.
“You’re really tenacious,” Xu Zimo smiled.
He stomped on Xue Zeyuan’s abdomen, knocking him back to the ground and pinning him underfoot.
“I heard you like pain?” He raised the Shadow Tyrant and began slicing flesh off Xue Zeyuan piece by piece.
“You dare kill me?” Xue Zeyuan screamed in pain.
After all, a Holy Son was the core of a lineage, far more important than a core disciple.
Especially now that Heaven's Will had emerged, if a lineage’s Holy Son died, their chance of competing for Heaven's Will was gone.
That meant all the effort of an entire era would be wasted.
And for an imperial lineage, the loss would be immeasurable.
“Forget being a Holy Son, even if the Blood Nether Sacred Ground’s ancestors came, even if it were the war general under Grand Emperor Xue Ming himself, I’d still kill them,” Xu Zimo snorted coldly.
Without hesitation, he continued slicing off pieces of flesh.
Screams of agony echoed throughout the courtyard, chilling to the bone.
After a long while, the screams weakened and finally faded into silence.
Xu Zimo sheathed the Shadow Tyrant and walked out of the courtyard.
“Holy Son,” Feng Tianhe cautiously greeted him.
“If the Blood Nether Sacred Ground comes to investigate, just say I killed him. No need to hide it,” Xu Zimo said calmly.
“Shouldn’t we let the lineage handle this?” Feng Tianhe asked carefully.
“If even something like a minor dispute requires the lineage to step in, then what’s the point of me competing for Heaven's Will?” Xu Zimo replied blandly.
Feng Tianhe quickly bowed his head and dared not speak again.
Dominance and confidence, that was his first impression of Xu Zimo.
“Holy Son, City Lord, that young man just woke up,” the old steward from the city lord’s residence suddenly reported.
“Little Gui’s awake?” Xu Zimo nodded.
“Let’s go check on him.”
They went to the guest room. Yao Shengnan was chatting with Little Gui.
“Senior Brother,” Little Gui greeted Xu Zimo the moment he saw him.
“Long time no see,” Xu Zimo smiled and sat by the bedside.
Seeing this, Feng Tianhe, Yao Shengnan, and the others quietly exited the room.
“Sorry for causing trouble again,” Little Gui said with guilt.
“There’s no such thing between us. The Blood Nether Sacred Ground isn’t worth worrying about,” Xu Zimo replied. “How are you feeling now?”
“The injuries are almost healed. With a day of rest, I should be able to walk,” Little Gui replied.
“Good. After all, you used to roll with me. My people aren’t the kind to get bullied,” Xu Zimo said.
“Senior Brother, I kind of regret not staying with you back then,” Little Gui said after a pause.
“Why’s that?” Xu Zimo asked, confused.
“This world ultimately belongs to the strong. Sometimes I want a peaceful life, but it won’t let me,” Little Gui shook his head. “If I’d stayed by your side, maybe I wouldn’t be this weak. I feel like I’ve disgraced you.”
“Everyone chooses their own life. Once you make a choice, there’s no need to regret it, no matter the outcome. You and Ruhu are among the few real friends I have. When I become Grand Emperor, I’ll protect you both for life. No need to overthink it,” Xu Zimo stood up and smiled.
“All right, I won’t disturb your rest. I’m heading back to the lineage today. Once you’re recovered, return with Yao Shengnan.”
As Xu Zimo walked away, Little Gui suddenly called out, “Senior Brother.”
“What is it?” Xu Zimo turned and asked.
After a brief silence, Little Gui said seriously, “Please take care of yourself.”
Xu Zimo nodded, then pushed open the door and walked out freely.
After leaving the room, Feng Tianhe stood ready to follow.
Xu Zimo waved his hand. “Go tend to your business. I’m heading back to the lineage, no need to follow.”
Watching him leave, the old man in green robes beside Feng Tianhe sighed, “This generation’s Holy Son is truly unfathomable.”
“That’s a blessing for our imperial lineage,” Feng Tianhe smiled. “If he can bear Heaven's Will in this era, it’ll benefit us all.”
Yao Shengnan entered the room. Little Gui was already struggling to sit up, leaning against the wall.
His eyes were unfocused, as if lost in thought.
“What are you thinking about?” Yao Shengnan waved a hand in front of his eyes and asked curiously.
“Thinking about the days following Senior Brother,” Little Gui gave a bitter smile.
“Really?” Yao Shengnan said. “We really owe Brother Xu this time. Otherwise, neither of us would’ve escaped. Don’t take such risks next time.”
“Senior Brother is really lonely,” Little Gui said after a pause. “I can feel it. He carries a lot in his heart. But he never talks about it, always bearing it alone.”
…
Leaving Phoenix River City, Xu Zimo continued riding the Darksky Tiger back toward the True Martial Sacred Ground.
After more than ten days of travel, he finally arrived in front of the lineage.
This colossal power in the Western Region always seemed so serene.
Shrouded in mist, surrounded by all sorts of celestial trees.
Xu Zimo walked along the tree-lined avenue, heading straight to the lineage gate.
When the two gatekeeping disciples saw him, they quickly greeted, “Greetings, Holy Son.”
Xu Zimo waved his hand slightly, signaling the Darksky Tiger to head toward Green Mountain, where his father was.
Once he was out of sight, the two disciples finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Our Holy Son is really mysterious. I haven’t seen him once in half a year,” said the one on the left.
“Totally normal. With Heaven's Will forming, he’s probably back to prepare for battle,” the other nodded.