The deafening shouts of battle had not yet fully faded. On the wilderness outside Petrichor, the Eight Trigrams Formation—once an intricate, impenetrable barrier that had trapped thousands—had collapsed. The stone ramparts, earthen walls, talismans, and banners, once erected in accordance with cosmic principles and the shifting of yin and yang, now lay mostly in dust and ruin. The air reeked of gunpowder, dirt, and faint blood, mixed with the scorching stench of violently torn residual energy.
Lü Bu reined in his horse at the formation's core, his Sky Piercer Halberd slanting toward the ground. Its tip glinted coldly, reflecting his mask, hard and unyielding as a demon god's. The dark red aura around him blazed like tangible fire, warping the air and distorting the scenery around him. His Red Hare pawed restlessly, snorting, its eyes glowing with a violent red light.
"Kongming's formation… is nothing but a farce."
Lü Bu's voice rumbled through his mask, deep and unchallengeable, like grinding metal.
"Gongtai, you did well."
A short distance behind him, Chen Gong coughed lightly, his face pale. Clearly, the reverse deduction and forced breaking of the formation with esoteric arts had drained him greatly. The jade ruler in his hand bore fine cracks. He stared at Lü Bu's towering, destruction-wreathed back, his gaze complex—relief mingled with an unspoken anxiety.
"Your might is unparalleled, General. I merely did what little I could to find the fleeting shift in the formation's living gate. Without your peerless strength shattering the dead gate's core, success would have been impossible."
Lü Bu did not turn. He only snorted, his eyes sharp as lightning, fixed on the regrouped Shu army ahead. Before the ranks stood five figures, unshakable as five mountains, blocking his final path to Petrichor.
The Five Tiger Generals of Liu Bei—renowned across the realm.
Guan Yu wielded his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, his long beard flowing, his phoenix eyes narrowed, his red face etched with solemn resolve. Zhang Fei brandished his Serpent Spear, his beard bristling, his roar thunderous, his battle fury nearly tangible. Zhao Yun stood in silver armor and spear, heroic and sharp-eyed, steady as a mountain. Ma Chao, in brocade robes, exuded the arrogance and edge of a Xiliang warrior. Huang Zhong, though white-haired, remained vigorous, his bow drawn full, arrowheads glinting and aimed at Lü Bu's vital points.
"Lü Bu! Cease your arrogance! This road is closed!"
Guan Yu's voice boomed, breaking the standoff.
Lü Bu laughed wildly, shaking the earth.
"Hahaha! Is Liu Xuande only fit to send you to your deaths? Very well! Today, you dogs shall learn what it means to be invincible under heaven! Come at me all at once—spare me the trouble!"
Before the words faded, Red Hare neighed and surged forth like a scarlet lightning bolt. The Sky Piercer Halberd sliced through the air with a wail that chilled the soul, charging straight for Guan Yu in the center.
"FIGHT!"
The Five Tigers roared in unison, fearless. They raised their weapons, urged their horses forward, and from five directions—like five colored meteors—charged headlong at the demon god from the abyss.
In an instant, the clash of steel shook the world.
Guan Yu's blade struck with overwhelming force, its aura sweeping forward. Zhang Fei's spear struck with treacherous speed, roaring and surging from the flank. Zhao Yun's spear moved like a dragon, stabbing so fast it left only afterimages, targeting gaps in Lü Bu's strikes. Ma Chao's spear was ruthless, carrying the will of Xiliang's iron cavalry. Huang Zhong, though not yet charging, loosed deadly arrows infused with energy-shattering force at the most critical moments, forcing Lü Bu to divert his attention.
These five were unmatched heroes, their coordination seamless, their offense and defense fused into an unbreakable whole. Blades, spears, and arrows wove a net of death around Lü Bu and his steed.
Yet Lü Bu did not dodge or block. His halberd moved as if alive—slashing, hacking, lifting, sweeping, stabbing—wide and domineering. Each swing held the power to split mountains, forged into an ultimate, unadorned martial art.
The halberd's wind whipped up sand and stone into small tornadoes. Red Hare, divine steed, weaved nimbly through the encirclement, granting Lü Bu perfect leverage.
Clang!
Halberd and blade clashed, sparks flying. Guan Yu's arm numbed.
"GET LOST!"
Lü Bu's backhand blow sent Zhang Fei's thrust flying, shaking his blood. Zhao Yun's rain of stabs was deflected by the halberd's prongs. Ma Chao's fatal strike was blocked solid. Huang Zhong's arrow came from behind—Lü Bu spun his halberd and knocked it mid-flight as if he had eyes in the back of his head.
The battlefield became a forbidden zone of death. Energy raged, ground tore open, dust blotted the sky. Ordinary soldiers dared not even approach, only watching from afar as superhumans clashed.
Ten exchanges. Thirty. Fifty.
Lü Bu grew fiercer. His endless power erupted, dark red aura surging to the heavens, even overwhelming the combined might of the Five Tigers. His strikes grew wilder, each carrying the will to annihilate all.
Seventy exchanges.
Guan Yu's blade slowed. Zhang Fei's roar weakened. Zhao Yun sweated, his speed fading. Ma Chao's hands split open, blood staining his spear. Huang Zhong's quiver empty, he drew his blade and joined the fray.
Eighty exchanges.
Lü Bu let out a earth-shaking howl. Red light exploded from his halberd.
"Peerless… Chaos Dance!"
BOOM!!!
A storm of halberd shadows erupted, forcing the five generals back.
In that split second, Lü Bu spotted a flaw.
Red Hare reared and lunged.
"The first!"
His halberd became a deathly arc.
Pfft—!
Huang Zhong, slower by a breath, took the full brunt. His defense shattered like paper. Blood erupted.
"General Hanzhong!" Guan Yu roared, eyes bloodshot.
But Lü Bu gave him no chance. His halberd twisted, parried the Green Dragon Blade, and its crescent hook slashed back.
"Ugh!"
Guan Yu grunted. His shoulder armor shattered, a deep wound bleeding heavily, nearly disabling his arm.
"Second Brother!" Zhang Fei charged wildly, stabbing at Lü Bu's back.
Lü Bu seemed to predict it. The halberd's butt slammed into the spear tip. Zhang Fei's arms burned, his spear nearly torn from his grasp.
In that hesitation, the main blade stabbed upward from under his arm.
Pfft!
It pierced his heavy armor, bursting from his chest.
"Third Brother!!!" Guan Yu wailed.
Zhao Yun and Ma Chao charged, eyes blazing.
"Trapped beasts' struggle!" Lü Bu roared, flinging Zhang Fei's body at Ma Chao while sweeping his halberd to meet Zhao Yun's Hundred Birds Facing the Phoenix.
Clang!
Zhao Yun's hands split, his spear nearly lost. Ma Chao, struck by the body, faltered—then drowned in halberd light.
"Xiliang's splendid Ma Chao? Pathetic."
Cold words accompanied searing pain.
Zhao Yun fought desperately, his spear a flurry of blossoms. But against absolute power and speed, skill meant nothing. In less than ten exchanges, his spear broke.
A hero's end.
Ninety exchanges.
The mighty Five Tiger Generals of Shu—all dead at Lü Bu's halberd.
Bodies littered the field. Blood dyed the earth.
Lü Bu stood panting, his aura solidifying into murderous intent. Blood dripped from his halberd. Even he was drained after breaking the formation and slaying five legends. Yet his bloodlust burned brighter.
Chen Gong watched from afar, staring at the demon-like figure. His lips moved, then fell silent in a wordless sigh.
Then—sudden change.
The sky darkened. Clouds converged, swirling. Golden lightning snaked within. An immense, ancient, majestic pressure descended, covering the entire battlefield.
"Hm?"
Lü Bu looked up.
From the darkest clouds emerged a tall, elegant golden shadow—unimaginably powerful.
Antlers, camel head, rabbit eyes, snake neck, clam belly, fish scales, eagle claws, tiger paws, ox ears.
Scales shimmered like gold and jade.
A dragon.
A true golden dragon, radiating divine majesty.
Its golden pupils locked onto Lü Bu, filled with endless rage and cold killing intent. A grand, deep voice boomed across heaven and earth:
"Lü Bu… we meet again."
Lü Bu froze, then laughed even more wildly and cruelly beneath his mask.
"Hahaha! So it's you! Zhongli! I never thought you'd survived Liyue Harbor! Playing dead? Or just stubborn? Perfect! I'll finish what I started—today, you perish, body and soul!"
He understood at once.
At Liyue Harbor, he thought he'd killed this world's strongest guardian. But the dragon had only fainted from agony, its body sinking deep into the earth to slumber—until today's violent energy and the tragic death of the Five Tigers roused it fully.
"ROAR!!!"
The golden dragon—Zhongli—let out a earth-splitting howl and dove from the sky, wrath incarnate. Its claws tore through clouds, carrying mountain-splitting force. The pressure alone cracked the earth.
"COME!"
Lü Bu showed no fear. He urged Red Hare upward, defying the heavens.
Dark red aura swirled violently around man and steed. He raised his halberd high, its tip condensing a blinding, destructive crimson light—like a miniature star of annihilation.
"Heavenly Demon… Descending Slash!"
BOOM!!!!!!!!
Dragon claw versus halberd.
Ultimate power versus ultimate skill.
They collided.
Heaven and earth seemed to shatter.
A shockwave rippled outward. Petrichor's remaining walls shook. Stones fell. Soldiers were thrown aside.
Golden and red light clashed, devoured, annihilated each other.
The clouds were torn apart.
After a brief standstill, a pained, disbelieving roar echoed across the sky.
Golden dragon blood poured down like a waterfall.
Lü Bu's slash, infused with his life's cultivation and endless killing intent, had split the dragon's claw, shattered its godlike toes, and buried itself deep in the limb.
"Mortal demon… how dare you wound my divine body?!"
Zhongli roared. His tail swept like a mountain, warping space itself.
Lü Bu, emboldened, rode Red Hare through the air as if on solid ground, dodging the tail. His halberd swung again, sending blood-red arcs slamming into the dragon's body.
Scales shattered. Dragon blood sprayed.
This battle surpassed mortal comprehension.
One soared the skies, commanding Geo, summoning stone spears and meteors.
The other stood (or briefly flew), halberd breaking all magic, defying the divine with martial supremacy.
Lü Bu merged power and technique to perfection.
His halberd became a sky-splitting axe, a precise needle slipping between scales, a storm shattering every projectile.
He moved like a fearsome dragon slayer, weaving around the massive body, each strike opening a new wound. Golden blood rained down, dying the earth gold.
Zhongli was strong, but still wounded from Liyue Harbor. Facing an even more terrifying Lü Bu, he was repeatedly outmaneuvered. His attacks seen through, his defenses torn open.
"ROAR—!"
A mournful howl of pain and resentment.
Lü Bu seized his chance.
Red Hare kicked off a falling stone spike, launching like a cannonball toward the dragon's neck—its fatal reverse scale.
"It ends here, worm!"
All dark red aura converged at the halberd's tip, turning it pitch-black, devouring light.
"God-Slaying… Break!"
PFFT—!
The dull sound of metal piercing flesh cut through the chaos.
The halberd struck perfectly beneath the reverse scale—all the way to the hilt.
"Ugh…"
Zhongli's massive body froze. All movement stopped. Golden eyes contracted, then dimmed. His huge form fell helplessly from the sky.
BOOM!!!
The earth shook. Dust erupted.
The golden dragon crashed into the wilderness, forming a huge crater. It could no longer rise, only wheeze weakly. Dragon blood flowed from countless wounds like streams.
Lü Bu landed calmly before the dragon's head. He pulled his halberd free, releasing a spray of hot blood. He stepped toward the lifeless golden eyes.
"Guardian of Liyue? Morax? Tch."
Lü Bu's voice was cold and cruel, indifferent in victory.
"Before this general, you are nothing but a long worm."
He placed his boot on the dragon's snout.
Then, he dragged his halberd down the dragon's spine.
The motion was practiced, savage—as if he had done this countless times.
"ROAR…!"
Zhongli let out one last weak, desperate whimper. His body shuddered, then went still.
Lü Bu exerted all his strength and tore.
RIP—!
A sickening, spine-chilling sound.
A dragon tendon—glowing faintly gold, brimming with primal energy, like jade marrow—was ripped entirely from the corpse.
As the tendon left the body, the dragon's last glow faded. It turned gray, lifeless.
Lü Bu held the dozens-zhang-long, still-trembling tendon, feeling its surging power. A satisfied, bloodthirsty chuckle rumbled beneath his mask. Dark red aura wrapped around the tendon, absorbing it.
He turned toward the silent, unguarded town of Petrichor. He raised his halberd again, pointing at the tallest building.
"All troops!" His voice cut like ice. "Slaughter the town! Leave none alive—not man, nor beast!"
The Bingzhou Wolf Riders recovered from their shock and roared fanatically, surging like a black tide toward the doomed town.
Chen Gong watched Lü Bu absorb the dragon tendon, watched his dark aura grow deeper and more terrifying. His anxiety finally solidified into a heavy, unheard sigh.
The path of the demon god…
It seemed no one could stop him now.