Chapter 67: The Purge's End
Dawnriver City pulsed with the tense hum of a city on the brink of order, its cobblestone streets gleaming under the soft light of the late afternoon sun, the air carrying the faint scent of smoke from distant skirmishes and the nervous sweat of gathered crowds. The clatter of chains and the sharp commands of guards filled the air as Lin Xuan led the final phase of the purge against Prime Minister Zhao Heng's remaining allies, his crimson eyes burning with commanding resolve, the power of his 9th Layer Qi Transformation a formidable presence. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed faintly, a quiet guide as he moved through the streets, his voice firm. "We root out the last of the traitors—show no mercy!"
He confronted a 6th Layer Qi Transformation noble leading a last-ditch resistance, the man wielding a qi-infused saber with desperate ferocity. Lin Xuan parried with a swift qi burst, the clash sending sparks flying, the noble's blade shattering as Lin Xuan closed the distance, striking with a precise elbow to the chest that sent the man crashing to the ground, gasping for air. "Your fight's over," Lin Xuan said, his tone cold, binding the noble with a qi restraint as guards dragged him away. Liu Yue, her 7th Layer Qi Transformation qi flowing with Icy Skin mist, coordinated with Soul Lamp Hall recruits, her snowflake mark glowing as she froze a side alley where rebels attempted an ambush, her moonlight eyes scanning with authority. "Seal that route—don't let them regroup!" she ordered, her raven hair swaying as she directed the troops with a steady hand.
Liu Yang, his 6th Layer Qi Gathering qi robust and growing, patrolled with his blood-forged glaive, its crimson edge flashing as he engaged a fleeing guard in a tense duel. The guard swung a heavy mace, the impact ringing against the glaive, but Liu Yang countered with a spinning strike, the blade slicing through the guard's armor, blood spraying as he fell with a groan. "No escape, Elder Sister—got him!" he called, his young face alight with focus, the glaive's weight a testament to his evolving skill. In the Ji Clan palace, Ji Yunjing, at the mid-4th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, declared victory over internal threats, his silk robes rustling as he addressed the assembly, his voice resonant with authority. "The purge is complete—Dawnriver is ours again!" he proclaimed, the hall responding with bows, the air thickening with the clink of celebratory armor.
Bai Ningxue, her 8th Layer Qi Transformation aura a serene presence, moved through the palace with her Thousand Lotus Seal Art, her seals shimmering as she purified the lingering qi taint from traitor strongholds, the air clearing with each weave. "This restores balance—order returns," she said, her tone calm and resolute, her hands steady as she worked to mend the palace's spiritual fabric. The team reconvened in the halls, the air light with the scent of incense and the murmur of relief, Lin Xuan's breath heavy but his spirit high. "We've ended the purge—now we turn to Ironfang's heart," he said, his voice proud. Liu Yue nodded, her breath steady but her eyes alert. "Together, Senior Brother, we'll face them next," she replied, her hand brushing his arm in quiet support. The palace echoed with the hum of restored order, the purge's end a foundation for the war to come.