Chapter 0121

Chapter 121: I want to watch my beloved become a hero who stands tall!

All across the field, people straightened with fresh hope as they shouted: “It is the Dragon Vein!” When a nation’s fate weakens and monsters appear, the Dragon Vein must rise to turn the tide.

The golden dragon roared, shaking the world. It twisted its long body and blasted the array with a breath. With a thunderous boom, the formation shivered and stalled. Zhao Wu Tian gasped: “Impossible!”

Zhou Tong gave the order without delay: “All units, attack together!” In an instant, light filled the sky and wind and thunder raged. Everyone who still had full combat power unleashed everything to erase the human traitor.

Panicking, Zhao Wu Tian cried toward the two devils at his side: “Save me!”

They did not move. Their eyes were locked on the Dragon Vein. That was their true goal. If they seized the Dragon Vein, the Devil Race could build a base in human lands and then nibble away at humanity piece by piece. Now that the target stood before them, Zhao Wu Tian’s life meant nothing.

Blood splashed across the sky. No matter how strong he was, Zhao Wu Tian was only at the half saint level now. Surrounded by so many, he had no chance to resist. In a flash, he was cut down. People cheered that the scourge was finally gone.

But it was not over. The void rippled, and Zhao Wu Tian’s shattered pieces pulled back together into a whole body again.

Someone shouted in anger: “A Golden Cicada Shedding Talisman. He had a life saving trick!”

Curses flew. Teeth ground. Many wished they could tear him apart with their bare hands.

Zhao Wu Tian’s eyes flashed with killing intent as he glared at the devils. Exposed to the wrath of all, he stood in extreme danger.

A leader in the crowd yelled, ignoring the Devil Race to focus their hate: “If we killed him once, we can kill him twice. Do not let up!”

Suddenly the sky went dark. A vast black net fell, pouring out heavy demonic qi. People’s faces turned pale as someone gasped: “Another saint artifact, and it is from the Devil Race!”

Laughing loud, the Heavenly Devil Venerable cast the net and shouted: “Under the Heaven Net Devil Web, you can only surrender.” The golden dragon was caught and thrashed wildly. In moments, its eyes went blood red and a violent aura spread.

The Heavenly Devil Venerable jeered: “Give up. This is a sacred treasure of our Devil Race. You, a mere Dragon Vein, cannot resist. Obey, and you will be kept safe.”

Another earth shaking boom rang out. Without the Dragon Vein’s suppression, the grand array began turning again. Blood light rained down and formed a shield around Zhao Wu Tian, making him untouchable once more.

A wave of despair rolled through even the half saints. Many thought, [Are we about to fail at the last step?]

Then a clear, regal woman’s voice rang from the sky: “You cannot lay a finger on the Dragon Vein. I do not allow it!”

Gold light streamed in, revealing a peerless beauty at its heart. It was the Empress of the Empire, Qian Miao Yu. Because of the Dragon Vein, the formation did not affect her. Even so, she looked terribly weak. Bound to the Dragon Vein, she was harmed when it was harmed.

Zhou Tong reached up and caught her as she stumbled. The moment he touched her, her strength gave out and she fell against him. Her body was ice cold, her life ebbing, like an elder at the end of her days. Faced with the nation’s crisis, she could do little. But as the ruler, she would never flee. A fierce certainty filled her heart: [As long as I live and rush to the field, I can still be of use. There must be something only I can do.]

Zhou Tong’s eyes brightened and the corner of his mouth lifted as he teased softly: “Why did you come? Are you here to live and die with us?”

The empress shook her head and met his gaze, her eyes steady and pure as she said: “No. I want to watch my beloved become a hero who stands tall.”

Zhou Tong’s heart trembled at her words.

The Heavenly Devil Venerable snorted in scorn and drove the black web down at the pair as he said: “Still flirting at death’s door? I will grant you your wish.”

Human experts scattered like birds and beasts. Even half saints dared not fight a saint artifact head on.

“Guest elder, we should…” Qian Miao Yu began, but Zhou Tong caught her by the arm. Warmth brushed her wrist, and a matched pair of Phoenix Bracelets appeared, one on each of their wrists.

She stared and asked in surprise: “This is…”

Zhou Tong answered with a small smile: “The gift I promised you. I keep my word.”

Above them, the sky grew even darker. Thick darkness seemed ready to swallow them whole. Qian Miao Yu tensed to flee, but Zhou Tong pressed her shoulder and said, calm as a quiet lake: “Do not run. Running will not help.”

He looked her in the eyes and spoke low: “I have a way to break this crisis and free you from the Dragon Vein’s control in the future. But the risk is great. If we fail…”

“I agree,” the empress said at once, without a hint of doubt.

“Then let us begin,” Zhou Tong replied. He touched his fingertip to her brow. A vast tide of spirit power poured in, clothing her in a shining veil, the only protection he could give her now.

At that very moment, the Heaven Net Devil Web had already fallen completely and was no more than half a zhang above their heads. It was too late to run.

“Die,” the Heavenly Devil Venerable cried, his face alight with excitement. In this operation he would earn great merit. He would not only capture the Dragon Vein but also kill a human saint. With such credit, becoming a Devil King would be within reach.

Zhou Tong’s light chuckle shattered his dream as he said: “Not even close.”

His wrist turned, and a stone stele appeared. It swelled in the wind until it seemed to prop open heaven and earth. This was the nameless stone that Long Ling Yun and the Holy Heart Devil Sovereign had brought back.

Decades ago, the Heavenly Dao had dropped eighteen steles. Nine were the heavenly rankings, and nine were nameless with unknown use. In this life, after long study, Zhou Tong had found a clue: each nameless stele sealed a heaven defying constitution. To awaken one, you needed a fated person and extremely harsh conditions.

Sensing the call, Qian Miao Yu set her palm on the stele. Holy light flowed out at once.

Zhou Tong smiled and told her: “Just as I thought. Remember, from now on, you are the Dragon Marrow Phoenix Body.”

Heat rushed through her. The stele merged into her form. At the same time, the Phoenix Blood inside the bracelets condensed, and the nearby Dragon Vein turned ethereal. Both streams poured into her body.

The empress threw back her head and cried out. Waves of power swept in all directions. With a ripping sound, the demonic net was blown apart, its light dimming to a shadow.

“This cannot be real,” the Heavenly Devil Venerable whispered, his face contorting as his whole body trembled.