Xu Fu kept coughing and gasping, clutching his chest with both hands. I saw his skin begin to shrivel, making gurgling noises, as Tan Tian continued to drain his blood. Blood-red particles drifted through the air.
Lord Shenyan collapsed to the ground, his ghostly aura rapidly fading. The Ten Swordmasters gathered around, each with a grim expression. They had endured the same violent injuries as Lord Shenyan, and it was a miracle they could even maintain their ghost forms for now.
Some of the Blue Wraiths—I could barely sense their ghostly presence anymore. A portion of them were fading away, and the situation was still extremely unfavorable for us.
Lord Shenyan let out a relaxed chuckle, looking at ease. Xu Fu’s blood had almost been completely drained by Tan Tian, leaving him like a shriveled corpse, his black skin resembling old tree bark.
"This is bad."
Tan Tian kept his mouth closed, surrounded by swirling blood-red particles. He himself didn’t look much better.
With a splattering sound, a spurt of blood tinged with dark red erupted from Tan Tian’s mouth. Luna Quay immediately sprang into action, raising a hand. A buzzing roar and sizzling filled the air as the black blood columns instantly evaporated, yet the blood-red particles remained.
"Step back."
Watching the swirling, rising blood-red particles, Tan Tian pulled the barely conscious Xu Fu backward. Luna Quay stretched out her hand, forming a silvery, transparent barrier.
"Impressive—able to swallow the Bloodbane Power without being affected. That one’s strength..."
Lord Shenyan quietly watched Tan Tian in the distance. Madam Gongsun pulled him up, and he stood.
"As expected, utterly insidious—the Bloodbane Power. Whether human, animal, or ghost, anything with blood will have its blood destroyed by this force, causing total collapse. I’m not able to suppress it, and I haven’t made direct contact. I..."
Tan Tian spoke coldly. At that moment, the blood-red particles drifting in the sky began swirling toward us, slowly gathering together.
"Everyone, looks like it’s mutual destruction. Xu Fu, how does it feel? Enjoying yourself?"
In an instant, everyone’s eyes widened. I stared in disbelief at the red humanoid shape forming before us, its outline slowly taking shape. That voice—I knew it all too well.
"John Chou..."
Xu Fu shoved Tan Tian’s hand away, straightening up and glaring fiercely at the red figure speaking before him.
"It’s Huixiang."
Lord Shenyan said, and I nodded. As expected, John Chou hadn’t perished.
"Truly unbelievable. He should be dead by all rights, and Xu Fu’s handiwork is flawless."
Tan Tian looked at John Chou with a puzzled expression, and John Chou burst out laughing.
"It truly is flawless. But even if the plan is perfect, no one is. Enough talk about all that."
John Chou turned and walked toward me, step by step. I struggled to get up. He nodded to me, then looked at Lord Shenyan.
"I told you long ago—until our agreement is fulfilled, I won’t die. And you must live, no matter what."
With a sharp clap, their hands met. I watched in astonishment as a deep understanding flashed in the eyes of Lord Shenyan and John Chou. Words could no longer describe it—their relationship was both rival and friend, yet held a bond beyond mere friendship.
Perhaps they are the only ones in this world who truly understand each other.
"Shouldn’t you show your sword, as the only one among us seven who can take on six at once?"
Lord Shenyan shook his head, gazing intently at the Sinblade in his hand.
"I am already dead, and I broke my promise to my teacher long ago. I’ve muddled through these years, unable to accept even those behind me. Maybe that’s our greatest difference—you refuse to live in the past, but I can’t move on, John Chou."
I quietly watched John Chou, seeing the helplessness in his eyes.
"We are all dead—just like those behind you. Everything is built on death; only then can your existence continue, and I know that, Lord Shenyan. After all these years, you still pursue justice, believing in its victory. To witness such pure justice—maybe it’s a miracle. There’s nothing wrong, not for you or for me. Everything we’ve done, everything we carry—though different, they intertwine on our separate paths. I want to see it again, the you from back then."
John Chou laughed warmly and turned away. Xu Fu’s body gradually recovered, and he revealed a wicked smile.
"Ah, John Chou... No matter how the chosen path deviates, it must still be walked."
Lord Shenyan nodded to Madam Gongsun, then walked out with the Sinblade in hand. At that moment, his ghost aura was so faint it was barely perceptible.
"Justice? Ha, that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard."
Xu Fu walked slowly toward us.
John Chou floated into the air, looking toward Tan Tian. The Ten Swordmasters followed behind Lord Shenyan, ready to strike at any moment.
"Feeling any lighter?"
John Chou smiled faintly, and Lord Shenyan nodded.
"Perhaps."
Then Lord Shenyan turned to look at me, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.
"Thank you, Ethan Zhang."
Unconsciously, I began to understand Lord Shenyan a little. The burning flame within him made me feel warmth—a belief that had never wavered.
"You’ve worked hard, brother."
John Chou said, and I looked at him. The blood-red particles slowly faded, surging into my body.
"Even if you’re not human, watch closely. This battle—a battle of the fallen—even if we turn to bone and our forms vanish, some things never die."
John Chou’s words echoed in my mind. I nodded. Tan Tian and Luna Quay came over with Xu Fu, but Xu Fu shook his head.
"Just wait. I’ll personally end this battle. After all, I despise people like him the most—justice, ha, the funniest thing I’ve ever heard."
Lord Shenyan let out a cry and, with a ringing sound, stabbed the Sinblade into the ground.
"Then come and see for yourself—whether my justice is truly, as you say, the funniest thing."
A cracking sound rang out as Lord Shenyan gripped the hilt of the Sinblade. The red substance, solidified like molten lava on its surface, began to dissolve and evaporate.
A glimmer of blue light shone through. I stared wide-eyed at Lord Shenyan before me—what I sought was right here.
"Already a dead man, yet you still preach about justice. Don’t you find it ridiculous?"
With a swift motion, Lord Shenyan tossed the Zhanlu he had just snatched from Xu Fu.
Lord Shenyan said nothing, but drew the Sinblade before him. In an instant, a burst of blue light exploded forth, enveloping all of Swordspire City.
When the light faded, the Sinblade in Lord Shenyan’s hand had become a sword with a blue blade, flawless and radiant. On both sides of the blade ran long grooves, giving the sword a simple, unadorned look. But what stunned me most was the pure power emanating from it.
Xu Fu started running toward us, his eyes flashing with emotions I’d never seen before—anger tinged with sorrow, sorrow mixed with a smile. It was so complex, as if his very soul was in turmoil.
With a ringing sound, Xu Fu stabbed at Lord Shenyan with the Zhanlu. Blue light flashed as Lord Shenyan easily parried the attack.
"Victory is justice..."
With a boom, Xu Fu suddenly pressed down hard. Lord Shenyan stepped back, smiling and shaking his head.
"Victory is necessary for justice..."
Two utterly different beliefs—yet what I saw before me were two opposites colliding.
The sound of clashing swords grew louder as the fight intensified. Xu Fu attacked relentlessly, while Lord Shenyan did not strike back—only blocking Xu Fu’s blade.
It was as if they were both testing something. Every move Xu Fu made seemed false, while Lord Shenyan only defended, never retaliating. Neither used their full strength—each waited for the chance to deliver a fatal blow.
Xu Fu was soon gasping for breath. Though he’d recovered, the Bloodbane Power still affected him. Lord Shenyan was also exhausted—his ghost aura nearly gone, relying only on the sword to keep blocking Xu Fu’s attacks.
With a swift motion, Xu Fu suddenly circled to Lord Shenyan’s side and slashed horizontally. Lord Shenyan quickly raised the Sinblade to block the attack.
"So that’s how it is? I’m no match for you!"
Just as Xu Fu finished speaking, with a flash, I watched in astonishment as Lord Shenyan unleashed an unbelievable strike—reversing his grip on the Sinblade and slicing upward. Xu Fu’s head flew high into the air.
The ground rumbled, mud splattered everywhere. Lord Shenyan leapt back lightly, while Xu Fu was swept into the earth. When he reappeared, he twisted his neck, making a cracking sound.
"Don’t go. We can’t defeat him as we are now."
Xu Fu stopped Tan Tian and Luna Quay from advancing.
"Why?"
Luna Quay asked. Xu Fu tilted his head back and smiled easily.
"He isn’t one of the fallen—how interesting, truly interesting. I’ll admit it, Lord Shenyan: justice does exist."