The Murim Alliance's declaration of war spread like wildfire. One by one, all orthodox sects and clans dispatched their martial artists to the battlefield. The world drowned in carnage, corpses piling high as chaos swallowed the land.
And then, as if the heavens themselves had turned cruel, the Northern Tribes descended upon the empire. One war ignited another. The world was stained crimson.
At first, the Murim Alliance cunningly sent only the small and medium sects to the battlefield. Their martial artists fell like stalks of wheat before the scythe, their sects shaken to the very core, some brought to the brink of extinction. Only after the sacrificial pawns had bled enough did the great sects and clans finally send their elites.
For a moment, the tides shifted in the Alliance's favor. But when the Devil Matriarch herself stepped into the battlefield, leading the full force of the Great Devil Sect, the balance was shattered. Sect Lords and commanders of her unorthodox army clashed against the finest orthodox warriors. The war reached a dreadful standstill.
Finally, the ultimate battlefield was chosen. On one side stood the leaders and elders of the Ten Great Sects, the Five Great Clans, and the Queen of War, her aura like a blazing sun. On the other stood the Devil Matriarch, dark and imposing, surrounded by her sect's elders and lords.
The two great figures stepped forward.
The Devil Matriarch sneered. "It has been a while… Queen of War."
The Queen of War's expression was firm, her voice calm yet cutting. "Why do you insist on this destruction? Can't you see your own people die too?"
The Devil Matriarch's lips curved into a dark smile. "Ha! This is for conquest. Once I defeat you, I will rule Murim and destroy the hypocrisy of orthodox sects."
The Queen of War raised her blade. Sword intent surged like a dawn sun, flooding the battlefield with light. "Then let us settle this duel once and for all."
The Devil Matriarch unsheathed her own blade, her Black Empress Sword. Her sword intent poured out like pitch darkness, devouring the very light around them.
Light and darkness collided. The clash was so fierce the earth quaked, the skies split, and even seasoned masters were forced back by the shockwaves.
Then the armies moved. On both sides, warriors roared and charged, steel and qi colliding in a storm of death.
The Queen of War moved first, her blade slashing down like a ray of sunlight tearing through clouds. Each strike carried radiant sword intent, capable of burning away corruption. Her aura inspired the orthodox warriors, who rallied behind her brilliance.
The Devil Matriarch answered with darkness. Her sword devoured techniques, absorbing the essence of the martial arts used against her. Each swing of the Black Empress Sword seemed to bend the battlefield to her will. Her aura spread fear among the orthodox ranks, her warriors fighting with renewed frenzy.
For three days and three nights, the two titans clashed. Their strikes shattered mountains, carved trenches into the earth, and split rivers. Neither yielded.
On the third night, both warriors staggered. Their breathing was ragged, their robes torn and soaked in blood. Suddenly, blood spurted from their lips. Both fell to their knees, faces pale.
"Poison…" the Devil Matriarch hissed, disbelief flashing in her bloodshot eyes. "Impossible… I reached a stage where no poison could harm me!"
The Queen of War clutched her chest, realizing the same. "This… this can't be…"
From the smoke, Namgong Chunying emerged, her steps calm, her smile sharp as a blade.
"It is possible… if it is one of the Tang Clan's greatest poisons, which we have given you regularly in every drink and every meal. This poison is odorless, tasteless—you would never sense it. It only awakens when one's qi is depleted. Now that you can no longer gather qi, this poison shall devour your very life."
The Queen of War stared at Chunying, shock flashing in her eyes. Never had she imagined Chunying would betray her—let alone the other sects and clans. With a heavy voice she demanded,
"Why…?"
The Chief Elder stepped forward, his expression cruel as he declared,
"You were always a thorn in our side! How dare you raise lowly medium sects to stand as equals within the Murim Alliance? For that insolence… you deserve this fate."
The Devil Matriarch trembled with rage, her voice breaking. "Then… how did you poison me? Who—"
A familiar voice cut her words. "It was me… Sister."
From behind her, Tie Roumei stepped out, followed by Devil Matriarch's closest subordinates.
The Devil Matriarch's eyes widened, betrayal stabbing deeper than any sword. "Roumei… how could you? I treated you as my own child!"
Tie Roumei's face was unreadable, her tone cold. "Sister, to erase this secret, we must destroy the Great Devil Sect… not the Murim Alliance."
The battlefield froze in silence.
The Devil Matriarch clenched her trembling hands, fury and sorrow tearing her apart. The Queen of War, too, forced herself to stand, gripping her sword tightly.
Side by side, mortal enemies stood together, their eyes blazing with defiance.
The Queen of War raised her sword. "We're not going down so easily."
The Devil Matriarch snarled, lifting her blade as well. "Even poisoned… I'll take you all with me!"
Chunying scoffed. "Why resist? I'll give you a painless death."
The two charged.
The Queen of War unleashed her Reverse Star Martial Arts, her blade tracing arcs of light that adapted and countered every orthodox strike. Her eyes blazed with sorrow and unyielding will.
The Devil Matriarch swung the Black Empress Sword. Its darkness devoured techniques, feeding her blade with the strength of her enemies even as poison ravaged her veins.
Together, they carved a path of destruction. Every strike forced back sect leaders and elders; every clash of their swords sent shockwaves that toppled entire battalions.
Blood sprayed. Screams echoed. And yet, neither woman yielded.
By the end, both sides were left staggering, warriors dropping weapons, unable to continue.
The Chief Elder stared, sweat dripping down his brow. "Monsters… the both of them. Alone, they rival the strength of all Murim."
The Devil Matriarch dropped to her knees, paralyzed by poison, her breath shallow.
The Queen of War, pale and trembling, looked down at her rival. A faint, bitter smile curved her lips. "…I win."
She coughed blood, but before anyone could react, she unleashed a final surge of qi. Light exploded from her blade, blasting back every sect leader, elder, and warrior on the battlefield.
With her last strength, she lifted the Devil Matriarch into her arms.
Gasps filled the field as she leapt away, fleeing the battlefield, vanishing into the smoke of war.
They landed on a ruined battlefield not far away. There, kneeling over a corpse and weeping bitterly, was a woman. Her tears stained the bloodied ground.
The Queen of War's eyes widened. The Devil Matriarch's weak gaze followed.
That woman was none other than Sima Ruyan.