Zhang Yong pressed his feet against the ground and burst through the roof, landing on top of the hall.
He swept his gaze in all directions, then looked down at the map and noticed a presence running swiftly away — immediately, he gave chase.
He moved his hands and quickly released Kuro, commanding, "Kuro, move ahead and try to stop him!"
'Got it!'
Kuro shot forward, slicing through the air, her wings flapping powerfully as she launched blades of compressed air toward the shadowy figure.
The shadow waved his hand, cutting through the blades with ease, continuing to run without slowing.
Flames ignited in both of Zhang Yong's fists — a golden light enveloped his right hand while a white one covered his left.
He aimed his fists forward, and in an instant, his entire body was cloaked in twin-colored fire.
Zhang Yong accelerated sharply, pursuing the shadow, who seemed to grow faster with every passing second.
This person wasn't ordinary — he could easily block Kuro's attacks, meaning his strength was terrifying.
Within moments, both figures had left the borders of the Proud Light City, and the terrain beneath them shifted into red, rocky desert.
"I won't let you escape!" Zhang Yong roared in anger. In an instant, he gathered the flames in his palms and fired a blazing strike toward the shadow.
The shadow didn't stop — instead, he suddenly spun around and leapt into the air with incredible speed, narrowly dodging the attack.
As he did, he waved his hand, summoning a wave of fierce wind that clashed against the fiery palm strike.
Zhang Yong's eyes widened. "Wind path!" he muttered, eyes narrowing in disbelief.
The shadow stopped moving and stood suspended in midair, his eyes glowing faintly and a light smirk curving his lips. Suddenly, a powerful spiritual aura erupted beneath his feet.
When Zhang Yong used his Eye of Judgement on him, his disbelief deepened further:
(Name: Zhang Guan
Age: 47
Level: 63 [Third Layer of the Exalted Realm]
Trust: -50 [Enemy]
Body: Part of a Dragon's Body [1/1000])
'Zhang Guan? That name… it can't be!' Zhang Yong thought, feeling the weight of the revelation. 'That's the same name as the brother of the Zhang Family's patriarch… could it be…?'
Kuro flapped her wings again, releasing more air blades. Zhang Guan swiftly leapt forward, and the air around him rippled as a blade of wind formed in his hand — aimed straight at Kuro!
Zhang Yong instantly compressed the air beneath his feet, launching himself forward. "Kuro! Move back!"
Caught off guard, Kuro barely had time to react before Zhang Guan appeared right before her.
ROAR!
With a thunderous slash, the air blade struck Kuro's wing. If she hadn't pulled back at the last instant, her wing would've been severed completely.
Kuro plummeted toward the ground, but Zhang Yong reached her in time and pulled her back into his pet space.
Zhang Guan stood midair — he wasn't flying; flight was reserved only for those in the King Realm and above. He was using his mastery of the Path of Wind to maintain his position.
He raised his wind blade, pointing it toward Zhang Yong. "You will die here!"
Zhang Yong's blood boiled with rage. He launched himself upward, fists blazing, each punch wreathed in divine flame. Zhang Guan's face remained calm and cold.
In a flash, they clashed.
The fiery fists collided with the wind blade, and with a single swing, Zhang Guan sent Zhang Yong crashing downward, gouging a deep trench into the ground.
Air surged around Zhang Guan, forming dozens of razor-sharp spikes that plummeted toward Zhang Yong.
At that very instant—
RUMBLE!
Thunder roared, and lightning crashed down from the heavens, striking Zhang Guan's head. But he raised his blade effortlessly, blocking the bolt.
When the lightning hit the ground, it condensed into the shape of a man.
Zhang Yong let out a harsh laugh. "Hahaha! You're late, bastard."
It was Su Ming. His body was encased in dazzling purple armor — fierce, spiked, and crackling with violet lightning.
In his hand, he held a long sword radiating with celestial purple light.
Lightning King Armor — an enhancement ability created from his origin flame. It formed armor of pure lightning that could even withstand attacks from someone a full realm higher.
But even that wasn't enough to stop Zhang Guan.
The winds exploded around him, blasting Su Ming backward.
Air rapidly gathered around Zhang Guan's sword, forming a massive tornado. With a swing, he launched it directly at Su Ming.
Su Ming raised his sword, golden light surging around it.
Golden Twilight Sword Intent!
Golden waves of sword energy surged forward endlessly, colliding with the tornado. In an instant, the tornado absorbed the golden energy, transforming into a radiant golden storm that slammed toward Su Ming with overwhelming pressure.
The impact was devastating.
The golden tornado struck Su Ming, hurling him through the air and leaving a massive crater in his wake.
Even with his lightning armor, the force shattered parts of his defense, exposing his ribs.
Su Ming slowly stood up, fury burning in his eyes. His spiritual Qi raged uncontrollably, lightning still crackling faintly over his body. He looked up at Zhang Guan, who hovered midair surrounded by roaring winds, as if they were part of him.
"Forgot about me already?" a powerful voice thundered from behind Zhang Guan. Spiritual stones in the air began to glow, linking into mysterious symbols. "Void Law Killing Array — Bind!"
A dome materialized around them, sealing Zhang Guan inside.
Spatial laws resonated through the formation, generating immense gravity that pinned him in place as if his body had suddenly become a thousand times heavier.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
The entire formation exploded, and Zhang Yong spat out blood from the backlash.
"You're strong, boy," Zhang Guan said with a cold laugh. "Not many can use arrays of the Void Law. But it's unstable — you're still weak."
He raised his hand slightly, and air wrapped tightly around Zhang Yong. In seconds, Zhang Yong felt the air being sucked from his lungs — he was suffocating.
CLAP!
Spears of lightning-serpents shot toward Zhang Guan — launched by Su Ming.
Zhang Guan immediately defended, diverting his focus. The pressure around Zhang Yong eased, and he broke free, retreating instantly to Su Ming's side.
"Any brilliant ideas?" Su Ming said dryly, clearly in no mood for jokes.
"I have one, but I need time," Zhang Yong said, analyzing the situation carefully.
"How long?" Su Ming asked, stepping forward, teeth clenched.
"One-third—no, one-fifth of a stick of incense," Zhang Yong replied, striking his fists together. "Take this — you can deal with him using it." He handed Su Ming a small card.
<>
Just then, both felt danger approaching. They jumped back as a deep slash carved the ground — invisible wind blades!
The attacks had become unseen and deadly.
The two exchanged a look and nodded.
In an instant, Zhang Yong vanished, leaving Su Ming alone.
"Heh, looks like your friend abandoned you," Zhang Guan sneered coldly.
"that idiot doesn't have the guts to not return" Su Ming replied, gripping his sword. "As for you… let's find out who's will still standing."
Lightning erupted around him, his body turning into a storm of violet arcs as he shot toward Zhang Guan.
The collision was fierce — Zhang Guan raised his hand, but Su Ming's lightning-coated punch slammed into his chest, sending him crashing to the ground.
"What?! How did you—?" Zhang Guan's face twisted in shock.
Su Ming raised the card. "Zhang Yong gave me this — called it a Disruption Card. Your spiritual power won't work."
Zhang Guan scoffed coldly. "It's not over yet." He pulled a sword from his space ring. "I still have enough to kill you."
Su Ming charged, his sword shining with purple lightning. Their blades clashed violently — sparks flying everywhere.
In this field, neither could use spiritual Qi; it was pure swordsmanship, flesh against flesh, will against will.
Their swords struck repeatedly — clang, clang, clang! — until Su Ming drove his fist into Zhang Guan's jaw.
CRACK!
Zhang Guan staggered back, dazed, and Su Ming struck again, forcing him further backward.
Zhang Guan countered with a heavy downward slash, which Su Ming barely blocked. Then Zhang Guan kicked him squarely in the chest, sending him skidding back.
"Stop right there!" Zhang Yong's voice thundered as he appeared before them.
Zhang Guan froze when he saw who was beside Zhang Yong — the Third Prince, bound hand and mouth, eyes blazing with fury.
"You'd better stop, or say goodbye to your young master," Zhang Yong threatened icily.
Silence fell. Zhang Guan's expression grew grim. He had been ordered by the Third Prince to eliminate Zhang Yong and Su Ming, but now he was a hostage.
"Zhang Yong, release the prince immediately, or you'll regret it."
Zhang Yong smirked coldly. "Do you think I care? He wanted me dead — I'll return the favor." He intentionally pressed his sword against the prince's throat, drawing a thin red line of blood.
"Stop! I'll give you my head, but spare him," Zhang Guan shouted, panic breaking through his composure.
Zhang Yong chuckled. "Your head? Not interested. Hmm… actually, there is something I want. Do it, and I'll let him go."
He gestured for Su Ming to approach. Su Ming moved cautiously, eyes locked on Zhang Guan.
"What do you want? I'll even offer my life," Zhang Guan said seriously, realizing there was no room for negotiation.
"I want you to lower your spiritual sea defenses for a moment — don't resist," Zhang Yong said flatly.
Zhang Guan froze. That was as good as handing over his life. He didn't fear dying, but soul manipulation was a fate worse than death.
"Don't even think about it," Zhang Yong warned. "You have one choice — or I'll slit his throat."
"…Fine," Zhang Guan finally said. "But swear upon your soul that you'll release him afterward."
"Oh, sure." Zhang Yong raised three fingers. "I, Zhang Yong, swear upon my soul not to kill the prince if you do as I say."
A faint sting rippled through his soul — the oath was bound.
He handed the prince to Su Ming and approached Zhang Guan. The man closed his eyes, allowing Zhang Yong into his soul sea.
Zhang Yong placed his palm on his forehead. "Soul Seal."
As soon as the words left his lips, Zhang Guan felt a chilling energy pierce into his being, spreading through his soul sea.
(Progress: 40%)
When Zhang Guan opened his eyes again, his face was calm but grim. "I've done as you asked. Now release the prince."
Zhang Yong tapped his own forehead and smirked. "Hmm, let me think… no. Killing him sounds better."
In an instant, both Zhang Guan and Su Ming shouted, "What?!"
Zhang Yong's eyes turned blood-red — demonic and blazing. His sword slashed through the prince's neck effortlessly. The body fell lifeless to the ground.
The world fell silent. Then Zhang Guan roared in fury, lunging toward him. "You fool! What have you done?!"
Zhang Yong caught his punch effortlessly, his crimson eyes burning — then they shifted to pure gold.
"Zhang Guan," he said coldly, "do you know Zhang Zi?"
The name froze Zhang Guan in place. His fury turned to shock. "Z–Zhang Zi?! How do you know that name?"
Zhang Yong didn't smile this time. "Zhang Zi once saved my life. That's the only reason your head is still attached to your body."
Zhang Guan's mind reeled — no one knew about his brother. It was a secret he'd buried long ago.
"My… brother…" he whispered, memories flooding back.
Zhang Yong used that pause to speak firmly. "Now, stand down."
Zhang Guan clenched his fists, but he knew — with the artifact in Su Ming's hand and the death of the prince — that he had no advantage left.
He had lost.
He stepped back slowly, eyes filled with bitter rage. "Zhang Yong, you don't understand what you've done. This will bring disaster upon the Zhang Family."
Zhang Yong smirked coldly. "Don't worry. If it's about the Third Prince, I may have a way to handle it. As for you… we'll talk later. There's much to discuss."