The battlefield roared with energy as the three Rank Five powerhouses clashed. Lord Sky Crane hovered in the air, his feathered cloak billowing, eyes locked onto Gu Yue Ancestor, who stood his ground with a twisted grin, blood-red energy surging around him. Between them, Tie Xue Leng braced himself, his iron aura forming a barrier to protect Tie Ruo Nan.
Sparks flew as their attacks collided—Lord Sky Crane's divine light met Gu Yue Ancestor's blood-tinged aura, while Tie Xue Leng's iron chains lashed out, restraining both combatants in an effort to maintain balance. But the equilibrium was fragile, destined to shatter under the sheer ferocity of battle.
Gu Yue Ancestor sneered, his bloody wight body pulsating with dark energy. "You fools of the righteous path, always struggling in vain! Your end is near!" With a surge of power, he broke through Tie Xue Leng's chains and lunged toward Tie Ruo Nan, his clawed hand poised to tear through her heart.
"Not on my watch!" Tie Xue Leng roared, moving in a blur to intercept. His Ironblood Spear clashed against Gu Yue Ancestor's claws, sending a shockwave through the battlefield. Lord Sky Crane seized the opportunity, raining down a barrage of feathered spears infused with primeval essence, forcing Gu Yue Ancestor to retreat momentarily.
Amidst the chaos, Tie Duo had been struggling against the overwhelming forces at play. Severely wounded, he staggered, blood leaking from multiple gashes. His once-proud figure now hunched in exhaustion, his eyes flickering with despair. But his resolve remained unbroken.
Gu Yue Ancestor's eyes flashed with cruel amusement. "Tie Duo, you are both nothing but an insect in my path." With a mere flick of his wrist, a crimson guillotine manifested in the air, slicing toward Tie Duo with deadly precision.
A sharp cry echoed.
Blood splattered.
Tie Duo gasped, his body trembling violently as the crimson blade carved deep into his torso. He coughed blood, his vision darkening, yet his grip on his weapon remained tight. He glared at Gu Yue Ancestor, his lips quivering as if to utter a final defiance.
But there was no time.
With another flick of Gu Yue Ancestor's wrist, the crimson guillotine severed Tie Duo's life, his body collapsing lifelessly to the cold ground. His blood mixed with the earth, an unsung martyr of righteousness.
"No!" Tie Xue Leng's voice boomed with grief and fury. He turned, his iron chains bursting with newfound rage, lashing out with tremendous force. But Gu Yue Ancestor merely laughed, his form vanishing and reappearing elsewhere, avoiding the attack with ease.
All the while, Fang Yuan lurked in the shadows, observing with cold, calculating eyes. As Tie Xue Leng positioned himself in front of Tie Ruo Nan, determined to protect her at all costs, Fang Yuan moved. Silent as a shadow, he approached from behind.
Tie Xue Leng focused on the enemy before him, unaware of the lurking danger. "You will not touch her!" he bellowed, shielding Tie Ruo Nan with his full strength.
But death did not come from the front.
It came from behind.
A sudden burst of blood filled the air. Tie Ruo Nan gasped, her eyes widening in horror as she felt the cold steel of a blade piercing her back. She struggled to turn, only to see Fang Yuan's dark, smiling face.
"You…" she choked, realization dawning too late. Blood dripped from the corner of her lips.
Fang Yuan twisted the blade, ensuring a fatal wound. "Foolish righteousness," he murmured, watching the light fade from her eyes. As she fell, her body lifeless, he withdrew his weapon, stepping back into the shadows, unseen amidst the turmoil.
Tie Xue Leng turned, sensing something amiss—only to witness Tie Ruo Nan crumpling to the ground, her lifeblood pooling around her.
A beastly roar erupted from his throat. "NOOOO!!" His fury ignited, his remaining strength pushing him into a berserk state. He abandoned all defense, charging Gu Yue Ancestor with reckless abandon. The two collided once more in a ferocious battle that shook the heavens.
Lord Sky Crane, observing from above, smirked. "Such foolishness. The righteous struggle, but they die all the same."
As the two clashed, Fang Yuan moved quickly, his eyes locking onto the Blood Skull Gu in Gu Yue Ancestor's possession. A flicker of golden light flashed in his palm as he activated his technique. With a deft motion, he snatched the Gu before its owner could react, the seal breaking under his control.
Gu Yue Ancestor's face twisted in disbelief. "My Blood Skull Gu!" He roared, lunging toward Fang Yuan in desperation.
But it was too late.
With the Blood Skull Gu now in his possession, Fang Yuan's figure blurred, vanishing into the depths of the battlefield.