Forge a path to success.

Chapter 246 Time Flies By (Part 2)

A frozen world, a silent killing intent. The memory of her previous defeat flashed through her mind, and Qingye froze, gripped by the pain of the past. Instinctively, she wanted to unleash Thousand Nights Instant Star, hoping to break through time with a burst of willpower, but her martial arts instincts prevented her from acting.

Not yet.

Startled by the sudden sword strike, he panicked. How could he be considered at his peak? Even with the Instant Star Technique, all he achieved was a dim light. Now, he was using…!
She stood frozen, letting the short blade sever her head. Just before the blow, her body transformed into an unyielding mist; the Mist-Transfer Technique ensured her safety for that moment. Simultaneously, the impact of the slash caused Mian Sheng to move, creating a short, curved arc. Qing Ye, relying on a sliver of light to accelerate time, gained the freedom to move.

She turned sideways in the light, shifting her position with the treacherous ease of walking on concrete. Then, time, which had seemed to stand still, began to flow again. A short blade grazed past Qingye's ear, the condensed killing intent creating the illusion of being pierced through. Qingye rolled away hastily to avoid the attack, but the night's slash came without mercy.

Raising her crown, she barely managed to block the attack, but the irresistible force sent her flying backward. Qingye used her shadow threads to pull the castle's protrusions back onto the battlefield, but Yexing severed them before she could even begin. She swung her sword, speeding through the accelerating time to a safe position, but Yexing, as if prescient, turned and slashed down. Qingye hastily countered with her own sword; in the instant her long and short blades crossed, her wrist involuntarily trembled.

Nightwalker's spirit flowed along the blade, like an invisible rage. That rage solidified the scattered swordplay, making Nightwalker as terrifying as a demon!
"As expected of Mr. Nightwalker...!"

"Shut up!" Nightwalker roared. "Why are you still saying such things now! Didn't your defeat last time make you understand the truth?!"

"I completely understand now." Qingye struggled to maintain her composure. "That's precisely why I—"

"I thought you had grown up, but you are still so foolish..." Nightwalker's voice trembled with anger. "You have gone down the wrong path. What's the use of achieving great things if you have not done so?"

"Light and Night, you have truly disappointed me!!!"

The strike fell like a meteor. Mian Sheng tilted helplessly.

Faced with the all-out night's advance, Qingye's defenses were easily shattered. The blade slashed towards the girl's brow, carrying the wielder's regret, sorrow, and rage. The girl's gaze was reflected in the blade, which flowed like water.

Then, the passing gazes were severed by the shadows, and a second short sword slashed down from mid-air, striking the night traveler's weapon squarely!
"—Mr. Nightwalker, you're the one who's in the wrong! Get your act together!"

The Shadow Blade, held in Qingye's hand, shattered instantly upon impact. The Black Blade Technique of the Sinful Souls was no match for the Shadow Blade of the Disciplined Knight; at best, it was a disposable weapon for emergencies. Qingye gripped a new Black Blade, her long and short blades clashing in a diagonal cross. She faced the Nightwalker's rage head-on, unyielding, confronting him with her own emotions.

"Isn't that enough? Hundreds of years have passed! The Nightmare King is long dead, and you're a figure from history books now. Even Lord Mingwu is a respected patriarch!" Qingye exclaimed excitedly. "You could have... forgiven yourself long ago!"

"You don't understand anything!"

"I see!"

With an air of superiority, Qingye shouted.

“I saw it during the ascension. Crown Ascension is… your sword!”

The black blade shattered once more, and Nightwalker cleaved through frozen time. There was still no way to break the spell, but Nightwalker refused to yield.

So she used all her strength to slash out an accelerating arc. In the almost frozen spacetime, the stagnant black and the vibrant white collided with opposing wills.

Intense emotions raced across the blade. Long-dormant longing was awakened by the shared passion of both parties.

And so, in the instant their own timelines collided, memories of the past surfaced in their minds.

—That was a horrific sight of mountains of corpses and rivers of blood.

The mysterious souls, seen as the hope for the future, die the moment they come into contact with it.

The core of the force, which prided itself on its endurance and mental fortitude, cried out and begged for mercy amidst its maniacal laughter.

The spirit was shattered. Courage was crushed. Faced with irrational power and overwhelming madness, the mere existence of an individual is a luxury.

A hymn played in the Land of Despair, and the Demon King stood atop Mount Corpse, laughing at those who had been deliberately left behind.

"It's something to look forward to, everyone. It was worth the long journey I took to get here. You've persevered to this point; you truly are promising newcomers of the Zanshin clan!"

"Can you unleash even more power? Can you stand up again? Can you challenge me again?"
That's how it should be, so why are so many people crying?

This won't do, this won't do!

It, that thing, magnified in everyone's eyes, was like a terrifying beast crawling out from the bottom of an abyss.

"I have no choice but to be the bad guy this once."

That's settled then. If no one challenges me in three seconds, I'll kill half of you.

If not everyone stands up after six seconds, then your beloved family members will also be put to the test.

Spread nightmares, unleash demons, conduct amusing experiments—imagine it however you like, you'll witness it all. Don't doubt it, I am the Lord of Demons, I am omnipresent.

"So, are you scared?"

"Then stand up."

"stand up."

"Fight me with all your might!"

He knelt on the ground, staring at the crazed shadow and listening to its smug laughter. A surge of anger welled up from the depths of his being, but it was crushed by the overwhelming terror. His spirit stood pale and lifeless, while his body wailed in a pool of blood.

Can't do it.

No way.

That was absolutely not an opponent they could defeat. Reason told him he had to act, but his heart trembled and hesitated. 1, 2, 3, time was up. He couldn't make a sound.

But a brave man stood up. He took his twin swords and once again stood on the opposite side of the Demon King.

"—Mingwu, do you still remember your idea?"

He heard his brother's calm voice.

"Lead everyone together, and use your skills."

Of course he remembered it, his casual conversation with his brother not long ago. The accelerating light and the still shadow, if their contradictions were merged by a circle of willpower, could unleash a power beyond limits. It was, as always, a whimsical thought, something he himself hadn't taken seriously, but his brother remembered it; he had genuinely been contemplating it.

"Victory or defeat is a matter of life and death; let's gamble one last time!"

Mingwu stood up. His companions wanted to join the battle, but they had lost their strength. His sword shattered, so his brother tossed him a new one. The Demon King laughed excitedly, as if expressing his expectations. He didn't listen; he gripped his brother's sword, determined that even in death, he would not betray those expectations.

He unleashed a bright arc of light, sweeping across the battlefield. Time seemed to flow a thousandfold, and the overactivated photons swept everyone back. He slashed out with all his might, creating a crooked circle. He ran towards the Demon King amidst the fleeting light.

But he couldn't reach the Demon King. He encountered a pitch-black line. His brother's final strike was aimed behind him, forming a barrier of time. Time outside the barrier flowed a thousandfold, while time inside the barrier moved slowly, almost stagnant.

That infinitely magnified time makes a fleeting moment become eternal.

"Brother..." he murmured to himself, "Brother!! Night travel!!!"

Beyond the unreachable reaches of time, Yagyou smiled silently at him. Only then did he notice Yagyou carrying a short sword. How could he not have noticed? Long swords were for killing enemies; carrying a short sword was for seppuku. He heard the Demon King's roar, feeling the rage of being fooled even beyond the reach of time.

He looked back at Ye Xing, then raised his sword and slashed at the Demon King.

This was the last time he heard his brother's voice in his life.

"—Come, King of Nightmares."

I'll be your opponent!

Regret, failure, sacrifice, bravery—all have been diluted by time, becoming stories from long ago. Only the blade remains as bright as ever, sealing away the regretful cries of men from hundreds of years ago.

Thus, the two swords separated.

Crystalline tears fell, dissipating and blurring in the hazy passage of time.

"Lord Mingwu once said that Lord Yexing, as a general, did not achieve victory in the war, and as a man with a broken heart, did not die a worthy death. Yet he gave everything to save everyone's lives. He is my forever beloved and best elder brother!"

Qingye gripped her long sword tightly, not even wiping away her tears. Yexing gripped his short sword, seemingly still wanting to rebuke him, but ultimately swallowed his words silently. He covered his mask, his pale hand trembling slightly.

“You saw it,” Nightwalker sighed. “You felt moved. You admired the general’s sacrifice back then. But you only saw that scene, but you don’t know what happened afterward.”

"The man with a broken heart saved 543 people on that day when he walked at night."

"And the lives slaughtered by the Nightbringer of Fear are simply countless!"

He gripped the hilt of the knife tightly, roaring at Qingye and at himself.

How could you possibly aspire to such a foolish decision!
That's the opposite you must learn from, Qingye!!

His response was a flurry of sword flashes.

Without another word, the weeping girl simply swung her sword. Nightwalker slid past the strike, dodging to the side, the hilt of his blade aimed at Qingye's side. Qingye dodged, but Nightwalker gained the upper hand. A regretful dagger slashed down, and Qingye braced herself against the blade with her palm, desperately withstanding the force of the blow.

"Yes, life is more important than dignity. As long as you're alive, you can find a way. That's certainly the right idea. But have you ever thought about why the older generation teaches you about meaningless 'dignity' and why they admire the idea of ​​dying on the battlefield?!"

"Because in this cruel world, even surviving doesn't mean there's hope! If you want to live, you'll sacrifice the lives of others. You think sacrificing yourself will save more lives, but you're just becoming a new butcher out of malice!!"

"A choice made out of arrogance, a sacrifice made out of arrogance, has led to a mistake that a thousand deaths cannot undo!"

Night Walker's voice was hoarse, filled with anger tinged with deep sorrow. He understood Qingye's personality all too well, knowing the kind of heart that lay beneath this girl's immature exterior.

They value life, but they also value the safety of their companions.

They wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice their own lives for the sake of others' survival.

This is correct. Even noble. Yet, it is also the last thing one should be on the battlefield. To win, one must be ruthless; if one is heartless, one must fight to the bitter end. One cannot have empathy, one cannot be blinded by sacrifice; the one who can defeat heretics is the madman who dares to lead the masses to hell.

"With such wishful thinking, even if you become stronger, it will be meaningless!"

"--some."

The blade trembled violently.

It wasn't just because of my own anger.

Furthermore, it was the soaring will emanating from the opponent's weapons.

“It makes sense, Mr. Nightwalker.”

I know this better than anyone else. Therefore, I will absolutely not allow you to slander yourself like this!

The heel slammed violently into the ground, and the bones briefly came together as a single unit under the impact.

Using this powerful support, the sword, which had been moving through the night, was knocked away. A new black sword was instantly created, its black and white blades carving intricate patterns, no longer concerned with hitting its mark or achieving a flawless strike. It simply swung stubbornly, carving out unwavering strikes with its own will.

"Among the 543 people you saved, there were patriarchs who later became famous, teachers who educated and nurtured students, and soldiers who are still fighting on the front lines today, fighting for the lives of others."

And there were many more ordinary people, unrecorded in history. They returned to that small island, and their descendants formed the large family we know today. One of those ordinary people was my ancestor.

Take a step back while traveling at night.

There was no clear path to a perfect breakthrough; the only option was to retreat and seek the variables of the next round. However, Qingye seized the opportunity to press her advantage, and Gao Liang's Mian Sheng slashed down with incredible speed. He had never seen such swordsmanship before, nor had any of the guys he had encountered possessed such a sword. Was it her own self-developed style, or merely a chaotic flurry of blows thrown in a fit of intense emotion?

However, it was unstoppable.

Just like the last duel.

Even a master swordsman cannot withstand such a sword.

"Without your sacrifice, there would be no light and darkness today."

Those slain by the messenger of fear will surely curse your existence.

But because of this, I can never deny your actions!

Forehead, arms, chest, neck, waist, legs. Eight unconnected sword lights slashed out simultaneously. Qingye, walking amidst the eight beams of light, unleashed his sword, delivering simultaneous strikes in real time.

There was still no opening to dodge. He still couldn't break through her sword's momentum.

Therefore, those who travel at night retaliate with slashing blows.

All the "locks" within him were unlocked, and the concentrated energy was sealed within the blade, merging the short sword with the stillness of time. The moment the eight rays of light touched his clothes, he silently drew his sword. The essence of the Thousand Nights Instant Star technique was contained within this single strike, blurring the lines between consciousness and reality in the flash of the blade.

It was an irresistible thrust, just as death was inescapable. The profound skill that Hikari had cultivated throughout his life, even weakened to its current state, was still a sword technique that guaranteed death.

Wuxiang Nixinliu: Zhulu Sword.

The swirling blade of light was resolutely pierced by the thrust, like a spear piercing a shield, like a blade cutting through flesh. The prison of eight slashes was decisively destroyed; even the mist could not stop the fatal blow. Qingye stared at the blade's edge, slowly lowering her longsword and placing Miansheng to her side. The flying blade of light shattered into streams of light before her, and in the instant the last blade of light shattered, Qingye charged towards the demonic sword!

The crown emitted a blinding light, and the shattered blade fragments swirled and danced, returning to their original form. The superphoton acceleration zone superimposed, and the passage of time reached its limit in this single sword strike. She met the thrust with her own, unleashing a dazzling blade of light towards the line of death!
The Flow of No Thoughts and Reincarnation Blade.

The Martial Venerable's personally passed-down secret sword technique. A brand-new swordsmanship born in the post-Night Walker era.

Then, the light and shadow faded, leaving only the sound of the wind.

The two stood back to back.

Qingye clutched her stomach and knelt on the ground. She hadn't completely dodged the demonic sword; the Night Walker's blade had struck, albeit slightly off target. She gritted her teeth, struggled to her feet, and turned to face the man whose back was to her.

He sighed softly as he walked at night.

"Is swordsmanship more important, or technique?"

“Equally important,” Qingye said.

"Is life more important, or dignity?"

"Life is more important," Qingye said.

"What is the profound meaning of the 'No Thought Reversal Flow'?"

"Listen to unpleasant advice to hone yourself." Qingye blinked hard. "Stay true to your heart's desires and move forward fearlessly and without ambition."

Nightwalker released his weapon, and the short sword "Longyu" rolled down the eaves to Qingye's feet. He still had his back to Qingye, so it was impossible to see the man's expression at that moment. Only the mask symbolizing fear shattered and fell to the ground.

His figure vanished in the light, leaving only a final, gentle word.

You are on your own path...

Keep moving forward.

Qingye picked up the dagger and wiped away her tears. Shadows flickered on the blade, carrying the lingering thoughts of those who had once been wounded. She clearly sensed that the fighting throughout the City of Nightmares had subsided, and her comrades, some severely wounded and others exhausted, were heading towards the only remaining building.

She pierced the roof, revealing a bottomless abyss beneath the black stone. She leaped into the castle at night, rushing towards the final battlefield.

Operation Dawn, fourth battle: Night against Night.

The victor will reign supreme through the night.

(End of this chapter)