A wave of destructive energy rippled out through the void. In the night sky, space itself seemed to ripple. Not far away, the roof of the royal palace exploded with a deafening crash. The fractured edges gleamed like a polished mirror.
Scorching three-colored flames exploded across the dark sky like a tidal wave of fire, engulfing the heavens.
In an instant, the entire world seemed to heat up dramatically.
Up above the city walls, where Jia Xingtian, Yue Mei, and others were in the middle of battle, all suddenly froze mid-air and turned to stare at the royal palace.
Shock and disbelief spread across every single face.
Gu He, Mo Yan, and Yue Nu on the city wall were all sent flying by the sheer force of the flame-induced shockwave.
Gu He crashed into the palace wall, spewing blood uncontrollably.
Mo Yan, in his sword form, continued to surge toward Gu He, seemingly unaffected by the blast.
Yue Nu and the serpent-woman guards suffered even worse. Not only did they vomit blood, but they also lost the ability to continue fighting.
As for the hundred-meter-long ice dragons closest to the blast—they were instantly vaporized. The devastating fire wave swallowed Hai Bodong entirely.
He was sent flying like a kite with its string cut, smashing violently into the scorched earth.
His body looked as though it had been nearly torn apart. Fresh blood oozed from every wound, and beneath his shattered robes, hideous gashes crisscrossed his flesh.
They ran across almost his entire body—one could even faintly see white bone.
He had completely lost consciousness. The firestorm had destroyed half his body. Even if he lived, he'd be crippled.
Chen Mo, too, wasn't unscathed. His face was pale, and traces of blood clung to the corner of his mouth.
Casually wiping the blood away, he took a breath.
The wounds on his body were already healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
This was the self-healing ability granted by the Human Emperor Bloodline.
Chen Mo hadn't expected that the terrifying explosion would spread so far.
If it hadn't been for his Bronze Body, he might have been severely injured himself.
Looks like next time he used the Buddha's Fury Flame Lotus, he'd have to put a little more distance between him and the target...
Or he'd end up "hurting one thousand enemies but losing eight hundred himself."
Just as Chen Mo was preparing to finish Hai Bodong off—
Gu He, relying on the protection of his Azure Beast Flame, forced Mo Yan back, then pulled a jade bottle from his storage ring and poured its contents into his mouth.
Moments later, he shot toward the palace again.
Gu He believed the battle at the capital was already swinging in their favor. After all, with two Dou Huangs on their side, it was only a matter of time.
As long as he could interrupt Queen Medusa's breakthrough, they would still win—and the Heavenly Flame would be his.
"You still haven't given up?!"
Chen Mo's face darkened. He directed his mind to Tian Yuan, which was embedded in the ground.
In a flash, he swept forward, catching the knocked-back Mo Yan in midair.
With Mo Yan in his right hand and Tian Yuan in his left, he flared his Kunpeng Wings, crossing the blades in front of him as he charged toward Gu He.
Gu He's face changed dramatically.
Although his current strength wasn't much different from Hai Bodong's weakened state, it had been enhanced mostly through pills. In truth, his combat power barely matched a One-Star Dou Wang.
Seeing Chen Mo still had the strength to chase him down, Gu He panicked.
Unable to outrun Chen Mo, he could only turn and defend.
Waves of pale blue flame surged toward Chen Mo.
Chen Mo slashed with his sword. The radiant blade aura cut cleanly through the flames and continued onward.
Like a tracking ultimate move, his strike locked onto Gu He and came crashing down.
Suddenly, a pale yellow beam of energy tore through the sky from a distance.
Though Chen Mo sensed it and tried to defend, the powerful force still knocked him flying.
Like a cannonball, he smashed into the palace wall, embedding himself deep inside.
Pfft! A mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips. Looking at the robed figure hovering in the night sky, Chen Mo's expression darkened.
"You're finally here, Elder Jia!" Gu He exhaled in relief. Just moments ago, the killing intent radiating from Chen Mo had made him feel like death itself was approaching.
"Those three old guys' joint technique was a pain. Took me a while to shake them off."
Jia Xingtian's aged face forced out a smile, then he asked, "Where's the Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong?"
Gu He pointed downward with his chin.
Jia Xingtian followed his gaze. His pupils contracted sharply when he saw Hai Bodong's miserable state. Then, his eyes shifted to Chen Mo, still embedded in the palace wall.
He raised an eyebrow. "This kid did that?"
Gu He nodded. "Hai Bodong wasn't lying. This kid really is dangerous. But since you're here, we can forget Queen Medusa. The Heavenly Flame is on him—take him!"
He pointed at Chen Mo.
Jia Xingtian's eyes narrowed. He glanced at the palace, where the fading energy storm clearly signaled Queen Medusa's breakthrough was nearly complete.
He nodded, then flew toward Chen Mo. "Kid, someone paid me to do this—so you'll be coming with me."
"But I don't want to go with you."
Chen Mo pulled himself out of the wall and pointed at Jia Xingtian. "Mo Yan—go!"
At his command, Mo Yan, still embedded in the palace wall, trembled violently—then exploded into countless fragments that shot toward Jia Xingtian.
Jia Xingtian frowned. "What the hell is that?"
A second later, something even stranger happened—the fragments merged into a black humanoid figure with indistinct features.
A ghostly blue light surged upward as Mo Yan the sword spirit, wielding Tian Yuan, radiated a chilling and commanding sword intent and charged at Jia Xingtian.
"What is that thing?" Jia Xingtian's face twisted in confusion.
He casually formed a pale yellow light seal and sent Mo Yan flying.
Not bothering to waste time, Jia Xingtian reached out to grab Chen Mo.
Meanwhile, Gu He had landed beside Hai Bodong. Upon finding he was still alive, he wrapped Hai Bodong's body in Dou Qi and prepared to leave with Jia Xingtian once Chen Mo was secured.
But just as Jia Xingtian was about to grab Chen Mo—
A terrifying pressure erupted from the royal palace.
At the same time, a dazzling red figure broke through the palace roof, transforming into a flaming serpent, and streaked toward Jia Xingtian like lightning.
Jia Xingtian's face changed drastically. Immediately, he halted and braced himself to defend, not daring to show the slightest carelessness.
In that split-second, Queen Medusa appeared before Chen Mo.
"Your Majesty, you finally broke through! If you hadn't come out just now, I'd be dead already!"
Seeing her appear, Chen Mo let out a breath of relief, then began tearfully complaining.
[Ding! Favorability +1. Gained 2 Favorability Coins.]
Though Queen Medusa had been breaking through, she was fully aware of what had been happening outside.
Hearing his words, a murderous intent surged within her usually calm and icy eyes.
"How dare you! You dare lay a hand on someone that belongs to this queen?!"
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