The many warriors who had previously been lost in confusion were struck by a sudden realization, their anger mounting with every passing second.
"What! The Seal of Heaven was destroyed by Taishu Xu?"
"The Heavenly Demon King was released by the Human Emperor?"
"Then who killed the heads of our Jun and Leng clans, as well as the elders of the Twelve Families?"
"And my young master, whose fate remains unknown!"
"Millions of my men from Fengtian City died in battle. If the Human Emperor was behind all of this, then wasn't their sacrifice for nothing?"
In the pile of corpses at the execution ground, a man covered in blood twitched the corner of his mouth and smiled weakly. "I knew it—Commander Yeyun could never do anything to harm the people of this world. Our Seventh Army are not demons, nor are we rebels threatening the world. Father, Asu did not take the wrong path, nor did I follow the wrong person. It is only my own actions that have caused you all to lose your lives because of me! Lord Huaixi, may I ask a favor of you?"
Qin Su swayed as he stood up. His wounds were gruesome, the flesh torn open, yet he seemed not to feel the pain as he walked step by step toward Huaixi. No one blocked his path; even the remaining warriors moved aside to let him pass.
When he was less than a meter away from Huaixi, he stopped and bowed. "I implore you, Lord Huaixi, to convey the truth of the Human Emperor Palace to the people of the world. Clear the name of my Seventh Army, and clear the name of Commander Yeyun. Cough, cough..."
A mouthful of blood sprayed out. Qin Su could hold on no longer. He collapsed to the ground, yet he stubbornly raised a hand, his gaze burning as he looked at Huaixi. "Please... my lord... wash away the shame of my Seventh Army."
The corners of his mouth tugged slightly, as if he wanted to smile one last time. But then his strength failed, and his raised hand dropped powerlessly.
*Brothers, Qin Su is coming to hell to join you.*
This scene deeply moved the warriors who had survived the execution ground. Everyone knew that the Seventh Army had once guarded the world and suppressed the Blood Demon. They had also heard rumors of how the Human Emperor later ordered them branded as colluders with demons, leading to the brutal massacre of two hundred soldiers in Zhongdu City, whose corpses were even whipped as a warning to others.
Now, the truth was laid bare before them all. These were true heroes who had received no respect, only a tragic, unjust death.
All because of that man in a high position of power! And they themselves had been nothing but the blades in that murderer's hands.
When Qin Su’s soul was drawn into the light screen, Li Qing was driven nearly to madness. Although he had always believed the Seventh Army and Junior Sister Yeyun were innocent, he never imagined that the Human Emperor had orchestrated everything.
Because of the Human Emperor, his academy was gone, and countless fellow disciples had died under the butcher's knife.
Because of the Human Emperor, countless cities in the Three Realms Heaven had been destroyed, with tens of millions dying every day.
Because of the Human Emperor, Master Lishang had gone missing, and the other instructors of the Alchemy Institute had all died in battle while protecting their students!
Because of the Human Emperor, the widows of the Seventh Army soldiers who died on the battlefield were hunted down as accomplices, their families broken and slaughtered. He had seen a three-year-old child sitting on a field of corpses, crying, only to be killed by a single strike. He had also seen his fellow disciples, who were captured with him, being hacked to pieces and thrown into the dungeon because they refused to identify Yeyun as the culprit, leaving no remains behind.
And now, he had watched Qin Su hold on to his last breath just to clear the Seventh Army's name.
"Why? Why are good people never rewarded?" Li Qing gripped his sword so tightly his knuckles turned white, muttering to himself. The eyes that once shone like starlight were now filled with hatred.
He activated a forbidden technique, pouring every ounce of his strength into it, and screamed: "Human Emperor, you son of a bitch! I’ll drag you to hell with me, even if it’s the last thing I do!"
Li Qing had prepared himself for death; this was nothing more than a final, desperate gamble.
*Given the Human Emperor's cruelty, this will probably hurt, won't it? Big blockhead, I’m actually most afraid of pain.*
But the expected pain never came. Instead, a figure lunged toward him, accompanied by an urgent cry: "Junior Brother! No!"
A blinding red light made it impossible for him to open his eyes. When the light faded, he saw a young man spitting blood, looking at him with a miserable smile. In the man's chest was a gaping hole, almost deep enough to see through...
It was Li Mo who had used his body to shield him, taking the full force of the Human Emperor's attack.
"Block... head, you..."
Tears welled up in Li Qing’s eyes, his nose turning red. "Why are you so stupid! Who told you to block it!"
Li Mo collapsed against him, his breathing faint. "I am your Senior Brother. When I first joined, I promised Master that I would protect the junior disciples. A senior brother protecting his junior is only right... cough, cough... It’s just... I won't be able to stay by your side anymore."
"Stop talking! Where are the pills?" Li Qing was frantic, rummaging through his spatial ring for any bottle or jar that might hold a life-saving elixir, feeding him everything he could find.
"It's useless, Junior Brother... Li Qing..."
"I'm here."
"Ah Qing!"
"Blockhead, please, stop talking."
"Ah Qing! Listen to your Senior Brother—don't be so impulsive in the future."
Li Mo struggled to raise his hand. Seeing he couldn't reach, Li Qing took his hand and placed it on his own head. "Senior Brother, do you want to pet my head?"
Li Mo curled his lips and gently stroked his hair. "I can't stay with you anymore. Take good care of yourself, and... you must survive."
"I don't want to!"
"Live for me, will you?"
The injuries were too severe; no matter how hard Li Qing tried, he could not save him. Holding Li Mo’s corpse, he wept until his heart felt as if it were tearing apart. "It's all my fault... it's all my fault... if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have died. I’m the one who killed you. Senior Brother! Please, just come back to life!"
On this side, Li Qing wept for his lost senior brother. Taishu Xu, however, had no intention of stopping the slaughter, especially not for someone who wanted to drag him to hell.
He sneered immediately, "What a display of brotherhood. As expected of students from Qianji Academy, truly full of sentiment and loyalty. Since that’s the case, I will kindly send you brothers to reunite in hell!"
An attack descended, but it was blocked by Huaixi.
Taishu Xu frowned. "Huaixi, you probably can't hold on much longer, can you? Have you considered the consequences of acting so recklessly? I have already allowed you to save Ren Woxiao; I have already shown you enough respect."
"Stop while you're ahead."
"Hahahaha... 'Stop while I'm ahead.' Since I’ve reached this point, there is no stopping!"
Taishu Xu’s second attack fell. Huaixi’s expression darkened. He had to ensure Ren Woxiao’s safety, resist the invasion of the demonic formation, and face a cultivator who was about to shatter the void. Getting out of this unscathed was extremely difficult!
Seeing the sea of sword shadows, Taishu Xu understood Huaixi’s intent and sneered, "It seems you are determined to wade into these muddy waters. But... you couldn't fully stop me even at your peak. Now that you're burdened with a dead weight, you dare to try and block me? I must say, Huaixi, you really have lost all self-awareness."