The atmosphere above the pitch-black volcanic rock field grew dense and viscous. The sea breeze blew past, carrying the metallic stench of blood and the acrid smell of freshly detonated metal, but it was all suppressed by the terrifying coercive pressure radiating from the master of the Sacred City.
He hovered in mid-air, his black robes fluttering violently. His eyes were not emerald flames like the Evil Spirits, but a fathomless pitch-black, utterly devoid of emotion, resembling two black holes capable of sucking away the souls of those who looked upon them. The ten Shadow Guards stood behind him, as silent as true shadows, forming an invisible killing array that firmly locked down all of Tran Kien's paths of retreat.
"You are more courageous than I imagined," his ancient voice rang out without a shred of emotion. "Daring to set foot upon the Sacred City alone, and even daring to destroy my divine cannon. Are all descendants of Lac Viet nowadays as arrogant as you?"
"To traitors who turn their backs on their roots and twist the legacy of our ancestors into tools for evil," Tran Kien wiped the streak of blood from the corner of his mouth, tightening his grip on the Lac Hong Saber, "there is no need to waste breath on moral principles."
He was desperately trying to buy time. Every breath, every passing second, was an opportunity for Uncle Sword's forces on the other side.
"Hahaha, traitors?" The old man threw his head back and laughed loudly, his laughter carrying a mix of sorrow and madness. "What do you know? You are merely the lucky ones who inherited a hollow shell! Do you know how powerless your ancestors, the final Hung Kings, were in the face of an era's decline? It was they who entrusted us, their most loyal Imperial Preceptors, with the mission to find the path to eternal survival! The path you walk leads only to annihilation! Only the path of my Sacred Dynasty, fusing with the power of the void, represents true eternity!"
"Exchanging the lives of the common folk for the eternity of a select few?" Tran Kien sneered. "That is not eternity. That is pure selfishness."
"Arguing with a dying man is truly tasteless," the old man lost his patience. "Shadow Guards, capture him alive. Remember, I require a perfect bodily vessel."
"Understood!"
Without a sound, the ten Shadow Guards simultaneously dissolved, transforming into ten black shadows that lunged toward Tran Kien from completely unforeseeable angles. Their speed was as fast as lightning, their attacks devoid of any spiritual energy fluctuations; they contained only sheer, unadulterated, lethal sharpness. "Shadow Kill Array"!
Tran Kien dared not underestimate them. His Divine Soul was injured, and his Primordial Chaos Qi was at less than seventy percent. He could not confront them head-on.
"Solar Essence Guardian!"
An illusory sun manifested behind his back, radiating a golden light that enveloped his entire body. As the ten black shadows charged in, their speed instantly plummeted. The black qi upon their bodies seemed to be incinerated, emitting sizzling sounds. Yet, they did not retreat. Ten pitch-black daggers thrust forward in unison. Tran Kien activated "Unhindered Lac Feathers," his movement technique ethereal as he glided through the lethal dagger-arcs like a butterfly. He did not attack. He solely defended and evaded, desperately trying to buy time.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the island. Uncle Sword's forces had successfully infiltrated the mountainside. The secret path was treacherous, but it posed no challenge to these elite warriors. However, as they neared the palace, the sole path was blocked by a colossal stone gate. Flanking the gate were two massive Black Jade Guard statues; emerald flames ignited in their eyes as they slowly came to life.
"Leave them to me!" Ly Tin roared, charging forward with ten Sea Dragon Guards to form a battle array and confront the two stone puppets.
"The rest of you, follow me!" Uncle Sword commanded. This stone gate was protected by an ancient restrictive spell; ordinary blades and swords could not shatter it. He looked toward Lam Vy. "Mistress, it is time."
Lam Vy nodded. She stepped forward, retrieved her Lac bird token, and pressed it into a small recess in the center of the gate.
HUM...
The thousand-jin stone gate slowly, very slowly, began to open.
Tran Kien had reached his limit. He had sustained several new wounds, fresh blood dyeing his robes red. He was forced to the very edge of a cliff, an ink-black abyss yawning below.
"The game is over, descendant of Lac Viet," the master of the Sacred City said coldly. He had struck personally. A colossal hand of black qi descended from the heavens, intending to capture him alive. Tran Kien looked at the demonic hand crashing down; his eyes held no despair, only sheer madness. He was prepared to self-detonate his Golden Core; even if he died, he would drag this old man down to the Yellow Springs with him.
But at that exact moment, he suddenly sensed it. From the direction of the palace atop the mountain peak, an incredibly familiar, overwhelmingly powerful aura abruptly erupted!
The Array Heart had been destroyed!
The master of the Sacred City sensed it as well. He froze, snapping his head back.
"NO!!!"
The entire island quaked violently. The Black Water Divine Cannons, losing their energy supply, simultaneously went dark. The four patrolling flood dragons let out roars of bewilderment. And the hand of black qi grasping at Tran Kien also disintegrated.
A golden opportunity! Tran Kien did not hesitate in the slightest. He channeled every last ounce of his remaining strength.
"Saber Intent - A Thousand Hammers, A Hundred Refinements: Thunder Dragon Shatter!"
A black dragon wreathed in lightning did not strike at the old man. Instead, it plunged straight into the ten Shadow Guards who were stunned by the sudden turn of events! An absolute, desperate counter-slaughter had begun.