Collapse Iron Live Broadcast Connects All Worlds, Scares Wuzhan Away at the Beginning Chapter 162

「“…”」

「Suddenly, Huanlong’s spine-chilling laughter echoed once more within the Scalegorge Waterscape: “It doesn’t matter. The death throes of ants are exceptionally poignant…”」

「One of Huanlong’s large hands suddenly parted the smoke and dust, summoning two Xuan lotuses beneath Jing Yuan’s feet and above his head. Almost simultaneously, countless roots of the Creation Tree shot out, firmly binding Jing Yuan’s limbs.」

「From beginning to end, Huanlong’s target had been only one person.」

「–Jing Yuan!」

「After being slashed by the General’s Light with a single strike, half of Huanlong’s body was nearly shattered. Although a confident smile still hung on her ruined face, the anger beneath her brows and eyes could not be concealed no matter what.」

「After absorbing the Abundance energy of the Creation Tree, she had not expected the battle to be so deadlocked. Fortunately, the Abundance was still continuously healing her body. The outcome of this battle had been decided from the start—」

「“In the next act, I will turn you all into Mara-Struck Soldiers. Let the power of Destruction corrode your flesh and blood, and forge you into the chess pieces of Lord Nanook!”」

「Before the words could fade, the two Xuan lotuses closed together, instantly erupting with an astonishing collision. The shockwave swallowed Jing Yuan, who was trapped within.」

“——Jing Yuan!!”

Seeing Jing Yuan so severely injured, Keqing subconsciously bit her lip. “Damn it, why doesn’t he use the General’s Light to cut off these vines immediately? The General’s Light can shatter Huanlong’s main body, so cutting these Creation Tree roots should be easy, right?”

“And… where is his General’s Light? If Jing Yuan dies in battle, the General’s Light will also dissipate, right?”

“…Probably.” On the Jadeite Chamber, Ganyu, who was also watching the battle, frowned as well. “If he doesn’t use the General’s Light at this time, could it be…”

A “bang” was heard, and the violent shockwave in the light curtain interrupted their thoughts. Looking towards the sound, they saw Jing Yuan falling from mid-air like a broken kite, crashing heavily onto the ground.

Most of his gilded armor was destroyed, and almost no part of his body was intact. He knelt on one knee, barely supporting himself with his Argent Blade.

He will lose.

An incredibly terrifying thought flashed through Keqing’s mind.

Although she had expected Huanlong to gain the upper hand, Jing Yuan had the help of Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae and the Astral Express Crew, so the battle might be a hard one… but in the end, the general would still be the victor.

But right now—

“We must send the general away to regroup. If he dies… even if Huanlong doesn’t act personally, the Luofu will fall into great chaos.” Keqing subconsciously judged. “…As for Huanlong, we will probably have to unite the generals of the other Xianzhou to exterminate her.”

“Don’t be anxious, Keqing.” On the stone table behind her, Píng’ér, who was also watching the battle, smiled gently. She patted the stone stool beside her. “Sit down and have a cup of tea first, wipe the sweat from your forehead. The more critical the moment, the more you must trust Jing Yuan.”

“But he’s already…” Keqing couldn’t bear to look at what was about to happen next.

“Crisis often hides opportunity.” Píng’ér gently sipped her tea. “…If this Lord Ravager takes the bait.”

——

「“I’ve decided, I’ll start with this arrogant and conceited Xianzhou general…!”」

「Huanlong raised her hand, and a huge suction force lifted Jing Yuan into the air, suspending him like a puppet beneath her fingers.」

「In an instant, countless golden auras began to emerge from around Huanlong, being transmitted one by one into Jing Yuan’s body.」

「This was the first step of the transformation, and the beginning of losing one’s mind before becoming a Mara-Struck Soldier—Huanlong slowly approached, observing with interest the scarred Xianzhou general who was still trying to struggle in his death throes.」

「“I wonder if turning a Xianzhou general into a Mara-Struck Soldier will cause another internal strife on the Luofu?” Huanlong found this very interesting and couldn’t help but chuckle: “Such Destruction is more interesting…”」

「Suddenly, the heavily injured general in her palm slowly raised his head.」

「“Haha…”」

「Even on the verge of death, the calm smile on Jing Yuan’s lips never truly faded.」

「Huanlong, who had been complacent just a moment ago, now had all the smile wiped off her face. She finally realized that the General’s Light that had been missing all along…」

「–Was behind her!」

「The waters behind her, which should have been empty, suddenly split open. A golden light burst forth like an ancient dragon breaking out of the abyss, thunder cracking. A blinding ray of light erupted from the suffocating wind and water, like ten thousand thunderclaps roaring their anger in unison!」

「Huanlong turned her head sharply. She finally caught a glimpse of that brilliance behind her with the corner of her eye, but it was too late… too late!」

Death—

Within the Soul Society.

“——The surprise attack worked!”

Accompanied by Toshiro Hitsugaya’s voice, the entire First Division’s meeting room erupted in thunderous cheers. Seeing Huanlong’s eyes rolling back after being stabbed by the General’s Light, many female Soul Reapers were overjoyed and relieved for Jing Yuan’s survival.

Some members of different divisions outside the door wiped the sweat from their foreheads in unison. Some even exclaimed: “Phew… I wasn’t even this nervous when fighting the Wandenreich. I was scared to death. Fortunately, Jing Yuan was one step ahead…”

But soon the discussion gradually quieted down, because someone noticed the blind spot.

“Wait, hasn’t Huanlong lost consciousness? Why is Jing Yuan still being restrained in the sky?” Renji Abarai frowned, realizing that things were not over yet.

「“Ugh…!”」

「In mid-air, Jing Yuan looked pained, his jaws clenched. He was desperately trying to break free from Huanlong’s control.」

「This was a golden opportunity, a chance for victory that he had lured out by using himself as bait!」

「“Dan Heng! Now——”」

「Exhausting his last bit of strength, Jing Yuan clenched his right fist. He didn’t look back, because he had already entrusted his back to him… just like hundreds of years ago.」

「At this moment——」

「A cyan light broke through the air!」

「Like a verdant dragon emerging from a book, a meteor crossing the wilderness! The Cloud-Piercer spear, wrapped in the vast hydro power of the Scalegorge Waterscape, not only shattered the restraints on Jing Yuan’s body, but also severed the connection between Huanlong and the Creation Tree!」

「“Clang——!!!”」

「A shattering sound came from the air. Almost simultaneously, the General’s Light behind Huanlong acted again. The dazzling golden lightning tore open Huanlong’s back like a dragon’s teeth, piercing through her chest!」

「Like the collapse of a mountain peak, Huanlong, who had lost the regenerative power of the Creation Tree’s mystic roots, fell heavily. The purple aura that permeated her body began to dissipate, and her body shattered like glass.」

「In the aftermath, all Jing Yuan could hear in his ears as he fell rapidly was a sharp buzzing.」

「It was as if someone was driving a red-hot steel needle into his eardrums. The Scalegorge Waterscape was stripped of its sound in that instant, leaving only blurred, distorted afterimages.」

「…Like Master, and like Yingxing.」