Chapter 79: The War's End
The heart of Ironfang's capital glowed with the fading embers of resistance, the air thick with the acrid sting of smoke and the coppery tang of blood, the late morning sun casting a triumphant light over cobblestone streets littered with debris and the fallen. The allied forces faced the last pockets of Ironfang resistance, their ranks bolstered by the recent victories, as Lin Xuan led the final assault. His crimson eyes burned with victorious intent, the power of his 9th Layer Qi Transformation peaking as he unleashed Severed Crimson Unity Slash, the crimson arc slicing through the air with a resonant hum. The energy struck a 6th Layer Qi Transformation officer, shattering his qi shield and felling him with a spray of blood, his body crumpling amidst the rubble. "Their end is now!" Lin Xuan shouted, his voice rough with exertion, wiping sweat from his brow as he pressed the advance.
Liu Yue, her 9th Layer Qi Transformation qi flowing with Frost Phoenix Cry, and Liu Yang, his 7th Layer Qi Gathering qi robust, secured the city, her snowflake mark blazing as she froze a retreating squad, his blood-forged glaive flashing to cleave through a warrior, blood gushing. "City's ours, Senior Brother—keep them running!" Liu Yang called, his young face alight with focus, the glaive's weight a grounding force. Ji Yunjing, at the peak of the 4th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, declared victory, his silk robes fluttering as he addressed the troops, his voice resonant with authority. "The war is won—Dawnriver stands triumphant!" he proclaimed, his brow furrowed with the weight of command as soldiers cheered, the air thickening with the clink of dropping weapons.
Bai Ningxue, her 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm aura a serene yet potent force, purified the region with her Thousand Lotus Seal Art, her seals shimmering as she neutralized lingering demonic qi, her senses noting Black Tomb's growing presence—a faint, ominous pulse from the north. "The land is cleansed, but something stirs deeper," she said, her tone calm and alert, her hands steady as she wove the seals with precision. The assault stretched into the afternoon, the air lightening with the scent of victory and the murmur of relief, the last resistance crumbling as Ironfang's spirit broke. Lin Xuan gathered his team in the war camp later, his breath heavy but his spirit high. "The war is over—we've won," he said, his voice proud. Liu Yue nodded, her breath ragged but her resolve firm. "Together, Senior Brother, we've brought peace," she replied, her hand brushing his arm. The camp buzzed with the clink of celebratory cups and the hum of rebuilding, the war's end a triumph, yet a new threat loomed.