Chapter 75: The Ironfang Collapse
The heart of Ironfang's capital pulsed with the chaos of a final assault, the air saturated with the acrid sting of smoke and the coppery tang of blood, the late afternoon sun casting a grim light over cobblestone streets littered with debris and the fallen. The allied forces breached the city gates, facing the last stand of the Ironfang Sect, their defenses led by a 7th Layer Qi Transformation elder wielding a qi-infused staff that sent shockwaves through the ranks. Lin Xuan stood at the forefront, his crimson eyes burning with victorious intent, the power of his 9th Layer Qi Transformation peaking as he unleashed Severed Crimson Unity Slash. The crimson arc sliced through the air with a resonant hum, shattering the elder's staff and striking his chest, blood spraying as he fell with a guttural scream, his body crumpling amidst the rubble. "Their wall breaks here!" Lin Xuan shouted, his voice rough with exertion.
Liu Yang, his 6th Layer Qi Gathering qi robust, disrupted Fangsteel Clan warriors with his blood-forged glaive, engaging a 8th Layer Qi Gathering cultivator in a fierce duel. The enemy swung a heavy qi-charged mace, the impact ringing against the glaive, but Liu Yang parried and countered, the blade slicing through the warrior's side, blood gushing as he collapsed with a groan. "Supply line's mine, Elder Sister—keep them busy!" he yelled, his young face alight with focus, the glaive's weight a testament to his skill. Liu Yue, her 9th Layer Qi Transformation qi flowing with Frost Phoenix Cry, froze the gates, her snowflake mark blazing as she encased the reinforced wood in ice, the structure groaning under the pressure before shattering under allied strikes. "Gates are down, Senior Brother—push forward!" she called, her moonlight eyes scanning the battlefield, her raven hair streaked with frost.
Ji Yunjing, at the peak of the 4th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, commanded the Azure River Guards with a commanding presence, his silk robes fluttering as he clashed with a retreating officer, his sword flashing in a series of precise strikes that felled the man, blood pooling beneath. "For Dawnriver—break their spirit!" he called, his voice resonant, though his brow furrowed with the strain of leadership. Bai Ningxue, her 9th Layer Qi Transformation aura a serene yet potent force, sealed retreating forces with her Thousand Lotus Seal Art, her seals shimmering like a net as she trapped a squad, the energy dissipating in a burst of light. "No escape—hold them here," she said, her tone calm and resolute, her hands steady as she wove the seals with precision.
The assault stretched into the evening, the air thick with the relentless clang of steel, the guttural cries of the wounded, and the occasional crash of collapsing structures, Ironfang's leadership fracturing as panic spread. Lin Xuan gathered his team at the war camp later, his breath heavy but his spirit high. "We've breached their core—their end is near," he said, his voice proud. Liu Yue nodded, her breath ragged but her resolve firm. The camp buzzed with the clink of victorious cheers and the murmur of consolidation, the Ironfang collapse a pivotal victory, the war's conclusion within grasp.