Zhou Qianfu Falls!

Amidst the chaos of battle, many assassins saw an opportunity to target Orion, but the elite Shadow Guards made it impossible for any of these semi-saint level warriors to get even within a thousand meters of him.

"Sigh... I wonder how things are going in the Void Battlefield," Orion murmured, his mind shifting to thoughts of Xu Chu and the others.

The battlefield in this world wasn't vast enough to contain the immense powers of those beyond the Martial Saint level. Because of this, the combat between Half-Emperors and Martial Emperors had been transported into the void—a realm beyond normal space. Orion, standing outside, had no way to know what was happening there.

Zhou Linglong, on the other hand, shared similar anxieties, though hers ran deeper. She clasped her hands together, her lashes quivering as she whispered a prayer under her breath, "Emperor... Lord Envoy... you must win."

Her entire hope, the fate of her kingdom, rested on the Void Battlefield. In the grand scheme, the outcome of battles between top-tier experts was far more consequential than any army clash. A saying often echoed in such moments: An army of thousands may be defeated, but a general is hard to replace.

A powerful expert, such as an Emperor with mastery over martial energy, could decimate entire armies with a mere gesture. Despite the dire state of the lower-level battle, Zhou Linglong clung to the hope that victory in the void could still turn the tide.

As the fierce clashes raged on beneath the city walls of Chang'an, a loud crack suddenly echoed from the sky. The very fabric of the void trembled, and with a violent burst, it split open, releasing two figures.

"Look! Who's emerging?" The eyes of both Orion and Zhou Linglong darted skyward, filled with tense anticipation. Whoever stepped from the void would signify the victor of the battle.

From the darkened sky, a broken figure fell—his once formidable aura all but drained. His body, battered and bloodied, descended helplessly through the air. Trailing close behind was another figure, scarred but still emanating fierce, unyielding power.

"Hahaha! I knew it!" Orion's laughter echoed loudly as he saw the two figures clearly. "Zhou Qianfu, that dog of a defeated emperor, was never a match for Luo Yi!"

Orion had predicted this outcome all along, and now his joy was boundless. It was unmistakable—the battered figure was none other than Zhou Qianfu, the once-mighty ancestor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Meanwhile, Luo Yi, still standing strong, had triumphed.

On the other side, Zhou Linglong's face turned ashen. Her scream pierced the air, "Emperor!"

Zhou Qianfu had been utterly defeated, barely clinging to life. But even in his dying state, Luo Yi showed no mercy. He charged forward with the Emperor-Killing Spear in hand, aiming to finish the job.

"Die!" Luo Yi roared, his spear gleaming coldly as he thrust it toward Zhou Qianfu's heart.

"NO!" Zhou Linglong's cry was filled with terror, but her plea went unheard.

In his final moments, Zhou Qianfu's eyes flickered with a sinister resolve. I won't die alone, he thought bitterly. If I must fall, I'll take them all with me. With a cruel grin, he began to reverse the flow of his spiritual energy, preparing to self-destruct.

Luo Yi's eyes widened in alarm as he sensed Zhou Qianfu's intention. "Damn! He's going to blow himself up!"

Zhou Qianfu's body radiated with violent energy, ready to explode at any second. But Luo Yi was faster. Without hesitation, he hurled the Emperor-Killing Spear, putting all his strength into the throw. The spear flew through the air like a dark shadow, finding its mark in the center of Zhou Qianfu's chest.

Blood sprayed across the sky as the spear pierced Zhou Qianfu's heart. He looked down in disbelief at the gaping wound. His strength drained rapidly, his hopes for a final act of destruction slipping away like sand through his fingers.

"P-Possible... this can't be..." Zhou Qianfu muttered, blood dripping from his mouth. He tried to summon the last of his power, but it was no use. His self-destruction failed. The once-great emperor fell from the sky, defeated in body and spirit.

Rain began to fall lightly, as if mourning the loss of a once-mighty ruler. The world seemed to weep as Zhou Qianfu, the half-emperor, perished.

On the city wall, Zhou Linglong collapsed. Her mind spiraled into a daze. Her ancestor, the foundation of the Zhou Dynasty, was dead. With him, millions of elite soldiers had been lost. What remained of her kingdom? What was left for her to fight for?

Nothing.

Even if Orion chose to retreat, the Great Zhou Dynasty would never return to its former glory. Zhou Linglong, now a lone figure amidst the ruins, felt an overwhelming wave of fear. Her kingdom had fallen, her enemies had won.

Luo Yi wiped the blood off his spear with a dismissive flick. The death of a half-emperor, an act that should have shaken the heavens, left him unaffected. His gaze fell on Zhou Qianfu's lifeless body, and a smirk tugged at his lips.

Zhou Qianfu had dared to attempt self-destruction in front of him, but Luo Yi had already survived one such explosion in the past. He wouldn't be fooled twice.

The battle was over.

The Great Zhou had been crushed.