AZI Volume 3 Chapter 57

*Klang! Klang! Klang!* as Long Hua continues to exchange hits with Ye Chen and Shao Tianming, the Tai Xuan Emperor says—

(*-laoban, using them as your whetstone is fine and all, but get the crystal first!)

Despite having shrouded his entire body in Sword Armor, a few hits still managed to connect—causing blood to flow.

"…"

As the scent of his own blood fills the air around him, Long Hua smiles beneath his helmet.

Every strike that he managed to land onto Ye Chen and Shao Tianming would require an extra layer of effort—due to the gravitational field, that is constantly pushing down on him. This feeling of having to fight, while placing his own life on the line is both familiar, and—

(Wrong.)

Narrowing his eyes, the smile on Long Hua's face vanishes.

*Klang! Siiiiiii!* blocking off Ye Chen's blade, Long Hua slides Bai Zhe against it—while closing the gap.

"Uh!"

Grabbing Ye Chen by his neck, Long Hua rotates the Tranquil Heart Incantation, while the sword Qi—that shrouds his left-hand, cuts into the former's neck, causing blood to spew!

"Surnamed Ye!"

As Shao Tianming approaches, Long Hua tosses Ye Chen aside, and turns to the former.

*Boom! Boom!* performing two Martial Emperor's Steps, Long Hua swings Bai Zhe.

Towards the sofa sword's approach, Shao Tianming swings his halberd with great force!

"…"

*Pah!* as Bai Zhe's shattered blade fills the air in front of him, Long Hua rotates the Immortal Suppression Palm, and proceeds to drop the sword's handle—prior to clenching his right hand into a fist, that is pressed onto Shao Tianming's chest!

*Boom!!!* manifesting a dark handprint with this strike, Shao Tianming is thrown backwards!

"…"

As Ye Chen kicks off the ground, and closes in, Long Hua thought—

(My killing intent—in my past life, wasn't formed for hedonistic reasons.)

Shaking off the mountainous weight—that is placed onto him, through gravity manipulation, Long Hua turns his attention to Ye Chen.

And performing another Martial Emperor's Step, Long Hua clenches his left hand into a fist, while thinking—

(Selfish. I'm a very selfish person.)

*Boom!!!* in the next instance, Long Hua's fist lands onto Ye Chen's face, but the latter's blunt blade—also manages to land a hit in, on the former's chest.

As his feet slides backwards from the impact of Ye Chen's attack, Long Hua thought—

(I'm… I'm someone who never knew the face of their own mother.)

Digging the heels of his boots into the ground, Long Hua halts the slide—before closing the gap between Ye Chen and himself.

Picking Bai Zhe's handle off the ground, Long Hua repairs the weapon through the Divine Weapon of Tai Xuan, while loosening the grip of his left hand—forming a Heart Sword within his grasp.

(Due to my mother's absence, I was raised by my father. But… By the time I appeared in the Zang Luo Realm, my father was already dead.)

With lightning like swiftness, Long Hua swings both swords at Ye Chen—forcing the latter to take a step back with every exchange.

(I do not hate the killer of my father… That person… Is a realm's ultimate existence.)

As both the Heart Sword and Bai Zhe shatters—amidst his blade dance, Long Hua crushes the Heart Sword's handle in his grip, to form a fist.

(He told me… To become a selfish existence because…)

"Ugh!"

Pushing Ye Chen back with a punch, Long Hua continues to recall his personal history.

(Because… Becoming a selfish existence was and still is the only way that I could continue—to hope, for a chance at living…)

Detecting the presence of Shao Tianming behind him, Long Hua doesn't do anything to respond, but instead—

(Hence, I became an existence—that could sacrifice thousands, for the sake of personal gains!)

...…

(What is that…?!)

Despite the enemy having their back wide open to him, Shao Tianming abruptly freezes—amidst the process of cleaving his halberd down.

Emanating from the enemy's body is a dangerous air; and within the blink of an eye, this air—

"…?!"

Assumes the form of a colossal serpent—that lunges its head towards him, with the intent to swallow him whole!

"Dammit…!"

Instinctively, Shao Tianming leaps back.

Planting his feet onto the ground, Shao Tianming exhales a long breath.

Beneath his armor, cold sweat flows from every pore—causing Shao Tianming to pant with a pale complexion beneath his helmet.

...…

Having felt the same sort of dread as Shao Tianming—

*Thud…* Yu Ji falls onto her knees, and mutters—

"…This is an Immortal?"

(Immortal? What exactly is an Immortal? That's nothing more than a monster…)

Similarly, Qing Yue reacts in the same manner, as a bead of cold sweat—rolls down the side of her head.

...…

"…"

Further away from the scene, Li Xue's right arm trembles with fright.

She has seen many Immortals on the frontlines, but this one in particular—feels very different from those, that she had encountered in the past.

...…

"That Immortal is at least level three, but he's extremely close to falling into the category of level four…"

"…Un."

Watching from a distance as well, Li Zi Xiang feels a chill creeping down her spine, whereas Chen Lan—who had woken up a few moments ago, gulps down his own spit.

...…

"…"

Straightening his back, Long Hua repairs Bai Zhe's shattered blade through the Divine Weapon of Tai Xuan.

Being able to regain a small portion of his previous life's killing intent can only be seen as—

(*-laoban, are you happy now? So long as you're happy, things are…- Not good at all! There's less than two minutes left on that talisman! Hurry up, and get the crystal!)

"…Tch."

Towards the Tai Xuan Emperor—who had ruined his mood with these words, Long Hua clicks his tongue, as he turns towards the direction of the crystal cluster.

*…!* performing a Martial Emperor's Step—while rotating his cultivation base, along with the Tranquil Heart Incantation, Long Hua slides two fingers across Bai Zhe's blade.

(For the sake of survival…)

Rearing his killing intent plainly, Long Hua swings his sword repeatedly—causing numerous flower petals to manifest around him, which in turn, creates a ring of petals to hide his figure away from sight!

And giving Bai Zhe a final swing—

"Kill!"

Long Hua sends the ring of petals forward!

Amidst this swing, the friction—that is created from Bai Zhe rubbing against the air, causes its blade to be gradually shaven off.

However, to Long Hua, this minor inconvenience is more than worthwhile, as the ring of petals gradually takes on the form of a colossal serpent—that soars through the air, and coils itself around the crystal cluster's base!

*Siiiii!!!* as the sword Qi—in serpent form, tightens itself around the cluster's base, shards of crystal rain from above; and upon severing the mass away from its base completely—

*Guuuuu!!!* the cluster falls from the city's ceiling!

Responding to the crystal cluster's fall, Long Hua immediately breaks off into a run.

"After him! Zi Xiang, Chen Lan, find out what happened on Yongning's side!"

Following Shao Tianming, Ye Chen chases after Long Hua as well.