Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 698 The Power of the Bone Spear
“BOOM Boom Boom Boom!!!”

The sky seemed to be torn apart by an invisible giant hand, and the deafening thunder was no longer a distant rumble, but exploded right above our heads!

A new thunderstorm, carrying the might of heaven and earth, finally descended upon this ravaged land.

Thick, dark clouds churned like ink, with lightning flashing wildly within them, intermittently illuminating the dim world with a ghastly white light.

Accompanied by an exceptionally sharp, soul-piercing, earth-shattering crack, a ghastly white bolt of lightning, as thick as a giant python, suddenly cleaved down from the depths of the clouds!
However, to the dismay of everyone who was hoping for the lightning to temper the divine tree, the lightning bolt did not strike the towering tree as expected. Instead, it veered off course and struck a giant owl flying high nearby!

"Crackling—Sizzling!!!"

The giant owl, along with the fierce owl warrior on its back, didn't even have time to utter a scream before being instantly carbonized by the high temperature of tens of thousands of degrees, turning into a charred and twisted mass, emitting thick smoke and a pungent burnt smell.

Like a stone with a broken string, it plummeted straight down from the sky, kicking up a small cloud of dust in the burning city below.

This horrifying scene terrified the other owl warriors circling in the air. They all lowered their mounts' flight altitude in fear, no longer daring to exceed the area covered by the sacred tree's canopy, for fear of becoming the next unlucky ones to trigger divine punishment.

Meanwhile, the guards of Yaoshui Kingdom on the sacred tree were extremely anxious upon seeing this situation!
"Lightning! If the lightning doesn't strike the divine tree, the Lightning Strike Fruit won't be able to absorb enough lightning essence and won't be able to fully ripen!"

"The Lightning-Struck Fruit is the last hope of our Yaoshui Kingdom! We must not lose it!"

"Quick! Use arrows to drive away these damned owls! We can't let them draw away the lightning that belongs to the sacred tree!"

"Sacrifice! Quickly prepare a human sacrifice! If no offering is made when the lightning-struck fruit ripens, the tree god will surely be enraged and bring down calamity!"

……

The guards shouted at the top of their lungs, firing arrows wildly into the sky in an attempt to disperse the dark figures that were getting in their way.

Warriors from various tribes that were allied with the Yaoshui Kingdom also joined the battle with red eyes.

Even the warriors of the Demon Extermination Conference temporarily abandoned their thoughts of escape, relying on their martial arts skills to either maneuver among the branches to deal with the owl army, or to vigorously cut down the burning branches in an attempt to stop the fire from spreading further in the lifeblood of the divine tree.

Huge, flaming tree branches, severed and engulfed in flames, fell from the sky like burning meteorites, crashing through the fragile roofs of houses below and igniting more buildings, burying terrified residents in flames and ruins.

To protect the sacred tree, and for that last hope, the lives of ordinary people on the ground were no longer of concern.

In an instant, the ancient city resembled a giant beast trapped in flames, emitting painful cries, about to be completely swallowed up by the merciless sea of ​​fire.

The sky, however, was just thundering and flashing lightning wildly, but the anticipated downpour was nowhere to be seen.

The air was thick with the smells of burnt food, blood, and the earthy odor unique to before the rain, creating a suffocating oppressive atmosphere.

No one knows whether, even if the heavy rain eventually falls, it will be enough to save this land that is wailing in flames and slaughter, and the innocent people of the city.
Even the relatively secluded little restaurant where Liang Jin was was no longer safe.

One after another, the surrounding houses were ignited by falling embers, the flames greedily licking at everything flammable, and scorching heat waves rushed in through the cracks in the doors and windows.

On the streets, the surviving people fled in terror like headless flies, with cries for help and the roar of collapsing buildings filling the air.

But where in the city is there a safe corner?
Burning branches, charred corpses, cold arrows... death rained down from the sky and from all directions, omnipresent.

But this is far from the most terrifying sight tonight!

The true torrent of destruction has already breached the city gates!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The earth trembled violently, accompanied by the terrifying sound of heavy footsteps that seemed to pound on everyone's heart.

The demonic elephants, transformed by the Gu worms and with bodies as large as small mountains, had bloodshot eyes and corrosive saliva dripping from their fangs. Like living battering rams, they ruthlessly smashed through the broken city gate tower, trampling over the corpses and rubble of the guards, and charged into the city!

The rubble at the point where the city wall collapsed crumbled like brittle clay bricks under the elephant's hooves! Along with the wounded soldiers and women and children who couldn't crawl out of the ruins, they were instantly turned into minced meat!
They charged!

The long-nosed creature, like a giant python wrapped in thorns and chains, swept wildly! The mud-brick barricades and hastily constructed wooden fences scattered and flew away like toys!

On the back of the demonic elephant stood a roaring army of demons, hurling poisonous spears!

Behind the demonic elephant, even more demonic beasts—expanded and mutated rhinoceroses, tigers, giant bears…—let out bloodthirsty roars and surged in like a black tide bursting its banks!

The demon soldiers followed closely behind, their eyes numb and cruel, brandishing their weapons and killing anyone they saw, whether they were soldiers fighting desperately or unarmed women, children, and the elderly.

They spread through the streets like a plague, leaving behind only devastation and pools of crimson blood in their wake.

"Wow—Mom!!"

The toddler huddled behind the restaurant counter was startled by the sight of a burning branch suddenly crashing down from the window! The distorted half-face in the flames made him scream in terror! He collapsed into the equally pale arms of the restaurant owner!
The adults were all pale-faced and had empty eyes, as if they had already seen the end of the world.

Death! Never has it felt so real! So close!

Feng Wu stood by the window, peering through the crack at the familiar yet unforgettable scene of destruction outside—homes burned, people slaughtered… The tragedy of the Wuli tribe seemed to be repeating itself in Yaoshui City.

Her fingernails dug deep into the rough window frame! Several clear finger marks were left on the wooden surface! Her resolute face was now a stark white in the flames!
She suddenly let go, then clenched her fist again, her breathing rapid and her chest heaving violently.

finally.

She suddenly stood up from her seat, her eyes now a resolute crimson.

Liang Jin seemed to have expected this, and without even turning his head, he simply asked:
"Can't sit still anymore?"

Feng Wu clenched her teeth so tightly that her lower lip almost bled.

She took a deep breath, as if using all her strength, her voice trembling uncontrollably:
"Great Teacher! I... I cannot stand by and watch Yaoshui City follow in the footsteps of my Wuli tribe! I cannot bear to see these innocent people, like my people... slaughtered to death by the demon army!"

"If...if I am to die in battle this time...then our agreement will be null and void! Feng Wu...I will repay your kindness in the next life!"

With that, she drew her feather-shaped golden bronze longsword, which had been with her for many years, with a clang. The blade reflected her resolute face in the flickering firelight.

She turned and was about to rush toward the wooden door that separated the inner and outer hells.

Seeing this, Liang Jin finally shook his head slightly and let out a barely audible sigh.

This sigh caused Feng Wu's hand, which had already touched the door bolt, to suddenly stop as if it had been burned.

She yearned for battle, for saving people from dire straits, but the silent demeanor of the mysterious man behind her carried immense weight, making it impossible for her to ignore him.

Liang Jin slowly put down the rough ceramic teacup in his hand. The bottom of the cup touched the table and made a crisp "tap" sound, as if it had struck Feng Wu's heart.

He still didn't turn around, and analyzed the situation calmly, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself:

"With your fourth-grade cultivation level and the explosive power of that stunning sword strike, if you were to charge out now, you could indeed save the people of one or perhaps two streets. I have no doubt about that."

"But that's all."

"Your strength will eventually be worn down by the relentless onslaught of demonic armies and beasts. The final result will be nothing more than collapsing from exhaustion, being hacked to pieces, or being trampled into mincemeat by some demonic beast. What good will adding another forgotten corpse do to the overall situation?"

His words were cold and realistic, like a sharp knife, dissecting the cruel truth beneath the passion.

"But what you truly want to save are the tens of thousands of panicked people in this city..."

Liang Jin paused slightly, seemingly giving Feng Wu time to think:

"Then you should cherish your useful body even more. The deal you proposed before, your bargaining chip, is the only hope that can truly tip the scales of this war, get me to take action, and possibly save more people."

"A moment of reckless courage may bring you temporary peace of mind, but it is of no use in this dire situation."

Upon hearing this, Feng Wu's delicate body trembled violently, as if all her strength had been drained away, and the resolute look in her eyes was replaced by immense sadness.

yes……

Wasn't that exactly the purpose she initially sought out Liang Jin?

He was willing to sacrifice his future and everything to secure the intervention of this powerful ally, hoping to gain a glimmer of hope for the Yaoshui Kingdom and for revenge.

But why, when she witnessed the demon army breaching the city and saw that familiar tragedy repeat itself, did she lose her composure so easily that she almost lost her mind and ruined her last hope with her own hands?
She turned her head away in anguish and looked out the window again.

This hellish scene was like countless red-hot steel needles piercing her heart. How could she ignore it? How could she wait in peace?
“BOOM Boom Boom Boom!!!”

Another thunderous roar that shook the heavens and the earth exploded!

This time, the twisted and violent lightning bolt finally struck the towering canopy of the sacred tree with pinpoint accuracy!

A blinding flash of lightning illuminated the entire world in an instant. The massive tree trunk and branches trembled violently in the thunder, groaning in pain. The purple radiance surrounding the tree's surface suddenly became dazzling!
Following closely behind—

“Crash!!!!”

After a long period of brewing and accumulating endless moisture, the dark clouds finally could no longer bear it, and large raindrops poured down like a celestial river pouring down!

A dense curtain of rain instantly connected heaven and earth, enveloping the entire Yaoshui City.

Rain fell on the burning sacred tree, hissing and steaming up large plumes of white vapor; it also fell on the raging flames throughout the city, finally bringing the fires to a stop.

It also poured onto the muddy streets, littered with corpses and blood, mixing with the scarlet blood to form shocking rivers of blood that gurgled in the low-lying areas.

However, the war did not stop because of the torrential rain.

The demon army and the soldiers of Yaoshui Kingdom continued to fight and tumble wildly in the mud and blood, each step landing on mud and death. The roars, the clash of weapons, and the dying cries sounded even more muffled and desperate in the rain.

Liang Jin finally got up and walked over to Feng Wu, who was still standing stiffly at the door, struggling internally.

His voice, clear as a ghost's whisper amidst the roar of the torrential rain pounding the roof, reached Feng Wu's ears:

"A merciful general cannot command an army. Queen Yaoshui understands this principle better than you. The reason she has not yet shown herself is not because she is afraid of battle, but because she is waiting."

"She's waiting for the perfect moment. Look, the battle on Monk Beikong's side seems to be nearing its end. Once they win and are free, the Demon Lord Wuxu, who has been holding back all this time, will inevitably be forced to reveal himself."

"After the Demon Lord of Wuxu has exhausted some of his power fighting others, she can then make her move. This will naturally increase her chances of winning. This is the way of a king, regardless of right or wrong, only for victory."

Feng Wu's gaze involuntarily followed Liang Jin's words, piercing through the vast rain and mist, passing over the chaotic battlefield, and landing on the top of the giant tree, where the magnificent building, appearing and disappearing in the rain and lightning, resembled the palace of the moon goddess.

The trees are raining fire!
The city is bleeding and weeping!
But the true King of Yaoshui...

Her aura remained hidden deep within the highest clouds! Cold! Indifferent! Like a hunter awaiting the final blow! Waiting for the pieces below to bleed to death…

She had already experienced Her Majesty the Queen's calmness, even her cold indifference, many times before.

In an attempt to secure reinforcements, she knelt outside the palace gates for three whole days, but to no avail, even receiving a single audience.

But at this moment, she couldn't feel much resentment.

Those beings who are high above and hold the fate of billions of lives in their hands may have to be heartless and make choices that seem cold and ruthless to ordinary people.

What they had to weigh was the outcome of the entire war, the survival of the entire kingdom, and the future of the Southern Continent. Only by winning this war could they fundamentally save more people, and even prevent the entire Southern Continent from being shrouded in the shadow of the Demon Kingdom.

The only ones who truly determined the final outcome of this war were the two people at the pinnacle of power and force—Queen Yaoshui and Demon Lord Wuxu.

Liang Jin's voice rang out again, carrying a hint of barely perceptible indifference:

"I will intervene after the two of them have fought."

Feng Wu's heart skipped a beat, and she abruptly turned to look at the unfathomable man beside her.

perhaps……

The variables that determined the outcome of this war were not limited to those two individuals.

And then there's this person beside me, seemingly detached from worldly affairs, yet possessing the power to change the course of the battle—a third party!

Just then, the terrifying collision and explosion of energy belonging to third-grade martial artists that had been going on for a long time above the divine tree suddenly stopped, as if it had been abruptly cut off by an invisible hand!

The high-level battle has finally come to a conclusion!

The monk Beikong and the two third-rank martial artists from Yaoshui Kingdom, though both were injured, their breathing disordered, and their robes and armor stained with blood, still stood steadily on the thick tree branches.

Their opponents, the three third-rank martial artists of the Demon Army, one of whom was already dead, his charred body falling from the sky; another was seriously injured and had lost his fighting ability; the only one left, seeing that the situation was hopeless, did not hesitate to carry his seriously injured companion and flee the battlefield in a panic, like a stray dog, heading out of the city.

This crucial victory for Yaoshui Kingdom at the level of top experts was like a shot in the arm for the dying defenders!

"We won! Our strong warriors have won!"

"Kill them! Drive the demon army out!"

"For the Yao River! For our homeland! May the sacred tree protect my Yao River!"

……

In an instant, deafening cheers and shouts erupted from the city walls and inside and outside the sacred tree!
The Yaoshui soldiers, who had been suffering repeated defeats, seemed to have been ignited with their last bit of fighting spirit. With bloodshot eyes, they launched a fierce counterattack against the demon army that had stormed into the city, disregarding casualties!
However, amidst the cheers, Feng Wu's heart leaped into her throat. Instead of joy, she was filled with unprecedented tension!
She knows it all too well!
The defeat of the Demon Kingdom's third-rank warrior means that the nightmare-like being is about to be completely enraged and personally descend upon the battlefield!

really.

Almost at the very moment when the cheers from the Yaoshui Kingdom reached their peak—

day!
It suddenly became extremely high!

Extremely black!

A terrifying black spot!

Beneath those thick, churning clouds, interwoven with the afterglow of lightning...

Like the demon's eye that tears through space!
Rapid expansion!
As the black dot drew closer enough to make its outline visible, an indescribable, heavy, and terrifying pressure, like a tangible tide, spread from the sky to the earth!
This oppressive aura contains endless violence, coldness, and an absolute will that regards all things as worthless!

All the noise!
All the shouts!
All the cries of the dying!
The clanging of all the weapons clashing!

At that moment!
It felt like being gripped tightly by an invisible giant hand! Extinguish it!

The entire noisy and chaotic world suddenly fell into an eerie and chilling silence!

Everyone instinctively looked up, their eyes filled with fear, awe, or hatred, at the uninvited guest.

As the rain was pushed aside and the lightning illuminated the scene, everyone finally saw clearly—it was a magnificent, giant night owl, far larger than any of its kind!

A wingspan that blots out the sun! Feathers that seem cast from refined iron! Claws that reflect a chilling glint! Only the eyes of this Night Owl King burn with pure, destructive flames!
It was carrying a person.

Seated atop the saddle on its back is a warrior clad in armor with a grotesque design that appears to be made of living insect armor!

The armor gleamed with a dark, cold metallic luster in the rain, yet it also subtly exuded a strange, writhing feeling, as if it were alive.

Crimson lines of blood flowed and writhed between the gaps in the dark armor plates!

Rainwater washed over it, but was baked by the high temperature inside the armor, causing pale smoke to rise and distort the view.
Beneath the masked armor, a pair of cold, indifferent eyes surveyed everything with icy indifference.
The sacred tree stained with blood!

The earth is scorched by fire!
And countless other lives!

He didn't even need to reveal his identity.

At that moment, everyone who saw him—whether soldiers and civilians of the Yaoshui Kingdom, or the ferocious demon army—clearly recalled the same name:

Wuxu Demon Lord!

In the entire Southern Continent, only he, with just the aura he exuded, could make the victorious monk Beikong and the Yaoshui Kingdom warriors change their expressions drastically, their eyes uncontrollably revealing deep apprehension and fear, and even subconsciously taking a half step back!
Not only the enemy feared him.

Even his demon army was terrified of him to the core!
When the unique and terrifying pressure of the Demon Lord of Wuxu enveloped the battlefield, the remaining Owl Warriors in the sky were like sparrows seeing their natural enemy. Terrified, they frantically rode their mounts and fled in all directions, not daring to approach within a hundred feet of him, let alone let their flying height exceed his!

Many of the demon soldiers on the ground were so frightened that they lay prostrate in the muddy pools of blood, trembling and not daring to lift their heads, even though the Yaoshui Kingdom soldiers were right in front of them and could be killed at will!

Those demonic elephants that had been conquering cities and seizing strongholds were now filled with pure terror, their bloodshot eyes filled with fear!

Under the whip of the elephant handler, it could only let out a low moo like a mournful cry and frantically back away!

The ferocity of the behemoth was crushed by absolute power!

The Demon Lord of Wuxu maintained his rule through absolute terror and force.

In the Demon Kingdom, everyone is his slave, whom he can take whatever he wants.

This natural oppression of slaves by masters, originating from the depths of their souls, has long been etched into the marrow of every citizen of the Demon Kingdom.

And he never bothered to hide this fact.

He firmly believed that as long as he remained the strongest being in this endless mountain range, the slaves would be like weeds; once cut down, a new crop would quickly grow back!
In stark contrast to the deathly silence of the demon army, born of fear, was the unwavering will to die burning in the eyes of the Yaoshui Kingdom's defenders!

They exchanged glances, seeing the same resolve in their companion's eyes, and then unleashed a thunderous roar:

"Protect the sacred tree! Protect the Queen!"

"Everyone, attack together! Even if we can only weaken him by a little, it will create an opportunity for the Queen!"

"For the Yao River! For our families behind us! We will fight to the death!"

"The Yao River will never run dry! The divine tree will never fall!"

……

In an instant, all the guards on the divine tree who were still able to fight turned their bows and crossbows, and countless arrows flashing with cold light were locked on the black figure in the sky that was approaching slowly but with an aura of destruction!
Even some of the Yaoshui Kingdom's experts who were fighting the demon army's minions on the ground did not hesitate to abandon the enemy in front of them. They used their lightness skills and rushed up the thick branches of the divine tree like moths to a flame, preparing to fight the final demon!

Many of them were acutely aware of how insignificant their strength was compared to the enemy's, and that going there would most likely mean certain death, a pure suicide mission.

However, they were even more convinced that as long as their sacrifice could only cause the Demon Lord of Wuxu to expend a little more true energy and create a momentary opening, it would increase Her Majesty the Queen's chances of winning the final battle by even one percent. Then, it would all be worthwhile! Their blood would not have been shed in vain!

"Shoot the arrow!!!"

With a hysterical command, countless arrows, like a swarm of locusts swimming against the current, shot towards the Demon Lord of Wuxu with a shrill whistling sound, blotting out the sky!

However, these arrows, which were powerful enough to pierce through heavy armor, seemed to hit an invisible and intangible yet indestructible wall of air when they approached within a certain range of the Demon Lord of Wuxu. They made a series of crisp "clanging" sounds, were deflected and broken, and fell helplessly into the rain below.

Not a single weapon could get close to him!
"kill--!!!"

Seeing that the arrows were ineffective, the assembled experts from Yaoshui Kingdom, including the two wounded third-rank martial artists who had just fought a fierce battle, let out a tragic roar, pushed their life's power to the limit, and transformed into streaks of light of different colors. Like moths drawn to a flame, they rushed headlong towards the Wuxu Demon Lord in the sky!

Only the monk Beikong chanted Buddhist mantras loudly, but his movements were noticeably slow, and he quietly fell to the back of the group, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

The Demon Lord of Wuxu didn't even glance down at the incoming arrows and the crowd of people.

His eyes were fixed only on the three Thunderstruck Fruits that hung high atop the divine tree, gleaming brilliantly in the storm, flowing with the power of immortal lightning!

he!
Moved!

Just by raising his arm!
He grabbed a bone spear that had never appeared before and held it in his hand!

The spearhead was no ordinary object! It resembled the vertebrae of some colossal beast! Pale white! Twisted! Layers of bone rings like the gates of hell!

The bone spear was thick with blood!
One stab!
simple!
rough!

Like traversing endless ages! Piercing through the barriers of time!
There was no earth-shattering explosion!
There is only one...

Space was torn apart by extreme brute force, a deafening screech that nearly shattered eardrums!
“Buzz——!!!”

The entire spacetime seemed to freeze and distort under this spear!
The sky was filled with countless spear shadows, which were not illusions, but each one contained a terrifying power that could tear everything apart, like blooming flowers of death, enveloping all the experts who rushed forward!

The two third-rank martial artists from Yaoshui Kingdom, who were at the forefront, roared and unleashed their strongest techniques. Their powerful true energy transformed into a giant palm print and blade energy, fiercely meeting the countless spear shadows in the sky!
however--

"Puff! Puff! Puff!"

Like a red-hot iron piercing through ice and snow, their all-out attack was utterly fragile before the spear shadow that contained absolute destructive power!
The spear shadows pierced through their true qi defenses with overwhelming force, and then through their resilient physical bodies!

The bodies of the two third-rank martial artists were instantly pierced by countless spear shadows, turning them into sieves!
The light in their eyes quickly faded, and they fell from the sky with disbelief, horror, and despair.

And this is just the beginning!
The spear pierced through their shadows, its momentum undiminished, and soon engulfed the dozens of Yaoshui Kingdom experts who were rushing forward without regard for their own safety!
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!..."

A series of dull thuds of flesh exploding sounded particularly clear and terrifying against the backdrop of the rain!
There were no cries of anguish! There was no resistance!
only……

Thick plumes of blood mist, a mixture of bone meal, minced meat, shredded entrails, and charred steam!
Like an invisible paintbrush splashed on a torrential downpour... scarlet graffiti!
It was as if a rain of blood and flesh was falling from the sky!
Dozens of elite experts from the Yaoshui Kingdom, along with the two third-rank martial artists, were unable to withstand even a moment of this seemingly casual spear thrust.

They were all torn to pieces by the raging spear shadows, turning into a sky full of blood mist and broken limbs, which mixed with the rain and fell miserably down on the city and the sacred tree below!
Just one spear!
Just one blow!
They then slaughtered and wiped out dozens of high-level combatants gathered by the Yaoshui Kingdom, including two third-rank martial artists!
The Demon Lord's power is terrifying!
Only the monk Beikong, who had been hiding at the very back and turned and retreated without hesitation when things went wrong, managed to escape into the depths of the sacred tree's dense foliage, barely avoiding the devastating blow and saving his life.

He hid behind a tree trunk, and the edge of his violently heaving chest betrayed a hint of the intense trembling he had experienced after surviving a close call!

At this moment, this bloody and cruel scene was deeply imprinted on the soul of every survivor on the battlefield!
Under the sacred tree.

Those Yaoshui defenders, who had just been ignited by passion, now felt as if all their bones had been removed.

Their countless mouths remained poised to shout...

But it could no longer utter a sound!

There was only deathly silence!
The sound of rainwater rushing across the ground...

It became the only lament!
(End of this chapter)