Chapter 752: Death's Final Moment

"The Eye of the Demonic Sky!" Zhuxie Chixin's face was solemn. "Everyone, don't look into her eyes!"

Unfortunately, it was already too late. Many Embroidered Uniform Guards' eyes had already turned purple. They then turned their weapons and began attacking their comrades.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards never expected their comrades, with whom they had faced life and death, to suddenly turn on them. In an instant, they suffered heavy casualties.

Immediately after, the Embroidered Uniform Guards with glowing purple eyes howled and charged towards Zhuxie Chixin.

Zhuxie Chixin was both shocked and enraged. He quickly dodged and blocked, as these were elite Embroidered Uniform Guards, and he didn't want to harm them. Therefore, he held back his attacks.

Unfortunately, the Embroidered Uniform Guards controlled by the Eye of the Demonic Sky showed no mercy, repeatedly striking at his vital points.

These men were already skilled in coordinated formations. Even with Zhuxie Chixin's profound cultivation, being restrained forced him into dangerous situations.

After a moment, he let out an angry roar, realizing that if this continued, he would perish there. He then unleashed his full power without restraint.

He transformed into a red blur, swiftly weaving through the ranks of the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

His speed was incredibly fast, making it impossible for others to keep up. Soon, they were all sent flying with screams of pain.

In short order, all the Embroidered Uniform Guards on the field fell, clutching their legs and hands and wailing on the ground.

Zhuxie Chixin did not kill them but broke their limbs, rendering them unable to act for a short period.

Although severely injured, their lives were spared, and they could return to duty after a few months of recovery.

However, this would create a several-month void in the Embroidered Uniform Guards' strength. He glared furiously at Yun Yuqing, "Bitch, you're asking for death!"

With a flick of his hand, a terrifying Soul-Reaping Rope continuously extended from his sleeve. At its end was a pitch-black scythe, whose bloody aura and the resentment of the deceased could be felt from a distance. Clearly, this scythe had claimed countless lives of masters.

Yun Yuqing's expression was grim, and her eyes glowed with intense purple light. A faint purple hue also appeared in Zhuxie Chixin's eyes.

After a moment, however, his eyes cleared, and he scoffed, "If your cultivation were higher, your Eye of the Demonic Sky might have controlled me. Unfortunately, you're still far from that!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the pitch-black scythe suddenly appeared behind Yun Yuqing.

Yun Yuqing tapped her toes, runes flashing beneath her feet as she quickly dodged. At the same time, her fingers began drawing runes, attempting to counterattack.

Unfortunately, her opponent was Zhuxie Chixin, a Half-Step Grandmaster, who would not give her such an opportunity.

The scythe, like a maggot clinging to bone, appeared repeatedly from incredible angles, forcing Yun Yuqing to interrupt her rune writing and hastily dodge.

Yun Yuqing tried more than a dozen times, but each attempt was interrupted; she couldn't even complete a single rune.

Beside them, Zu'an's frown deepened. He noticed that Yun Yuqing's space for dodging was shrinking, and he knew that in less than an incense stick's time, she would be cornered by the Death Scythe with no escape.

He sighed inwardly, acknowledging that he was not a man of stone.

With a flash, he appeared beside Yun Yuqing, swinging his sword to block a fatal blow from the Death Scythe on her behalf. He quickly said, "I'll hold him off for you; quickly draw your runes."

Fragile mages like her needed a tank like him to stand in front.

Yun Yuqing opened her mouth, tears glimmering in her beautiful eyes. However, she said no more polite words and quickly began drawing her runes.

She knew that Zhuxie Chixin's cultivation far surpassed both of theirs; only by fighting with all their might did they stand a slim chance of survival.

Witnessing this, Zhuxie Chixin was both shocked and enraged. "Zu'an, do you know what you're doing?!"

Zu'an sighed. "Thank you for your concern, Grand Commander, but she saved my life twice. I can't just stand by and watch her die."

"This is treason!" Zhuxie Chixin snarled. "From now on, you'll have no place in the Great Zhou, or even in all of human society. Is it worth it?"

Even Yun Yuqing instinctively looked at him, wanting to hear his answer.

Zu'an sighed again. "Many things in this world cannot be measured by whether they are 'worth it' or not. I only know that if I don't save her today, I'll live a lifetime of guilt and pain."

Zhuxie Chixin's expression instantly turned cold. "Since you're ruining your future for a woman, then die with her!"

His aura surged, and the Soul-Reaping Rope in his hand instantly transformed into countless strands, with innumerable Death Scythes attacking Zu'an.

Zu'an put all his effort into defending, but he couldn't dodge, or Yun Yuqing behind him would be instantly torn to shreds.

His face was grave as he used everything he had learned to defend against the scythes attacking from all directions. Soon, he was wounded all over, blood gushing from countless cuts.

The disparity in their cultivation levels was too vast; no matter how he responded, it was futile.

Fortunately, his Primordial Chaos Sutra circulated rapidly, mending his injuries. Otherwise, he would have been sliced into countless blood mists by that terrifying Death Scythe.

Zu'an sighed inwardly, recalling how effortlessly and gracefully Yun Jianyue had handled this scythe in the Eastern Palace. Facing it himself now, he truly understood how terrifying it was.

"Rain of Regret, Cloud of Sorrow * Slay Evil!" At that moment, Yun Yuqing's voice, tinged with a sob, came from behind him. She had witnessed how much pain this man endured to protect her, yet never retreated a single step. She cursed herself for not having an extra hand, completing the rune formation at an unprecedented speed.

Various bizarre runes flickered in mid-air, then emitted countless purple lasers, all targeting Zhuxie Chixin in the field.

Zhuxie Chixin's expression changed. With a flick of his hand, he retracted the Soul-Reaping Rope, then spun it rapidly above his head to form a shield, forcefully blocking the purple light attacks.

Yun Yuqing's forehead was covered in fine sweat. While struggling to maintain the runes, she said to Zu'an, "This move can't hurt him, only delay him temporarily. You must leave, or we will both die here."

Zu'an said in a deep voice, "Not necessarily!"

With a flash, he charged towards Zhuxie Chixin. Seeing him approach, Zhuxie Chixin sneered, "You're seeking death!"

The scythe in his hand, like a meat grinder, blocked Zu'an's path. He would be shredded before even getting close.

Zu'an raised the Tai'a Sword and, word by word, declared, "Domain of Authority!"

At that instant, a powerful pressure emanated from the Tai'a Sword. As the Sword of Authority, this was its domain.

However, this skill had a cooldown of approximately one month, so Zu'an almost never used it unless absolutely necessary.

"What is this..." Zhuxie Chixin was completely unprepared for such terrifying pressure. His entire body instinctively trembled; it was a soul-deep shudder, a desire to surrender. The Soul-Reaping Rope he controlled faltered slightly.

Zu'an had been waiting for this precise moment. He moved directly to Zhuxie Chixin's side, pulled out the Fatal Dagger, and slashed across his neck.

"You..." Zhuxie Chixin clutched his neck, but black runes spread from the wound. Soon, he crashed to the ground, utterly lifeless.

Zu'an let out a sigh of relief and went to Yun Yuqing, catching her as she collapsed from exhaustion. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Yun Yuqing said, looking at him tenderly. "A'Zu, you're so good to me."

Zu'an gave a wry smile. "Let's leave now. The commotion here has probably alerted others."

There might not even be time to say goodbye to Chuyan now. His only consolation was that he was alone; Chu Chuyan was nominally no longer connected to him, so his actions wouldn't implicate her.

Just then, an even more terrifying pressure descended. "Trying to leave?"

Zu'an's eyes narrowed. He whipped around to see a figure in dragon robes standing on the rooftop. Who else could it be but the Emperor?

"How could it be him!" Zu'an's heart turned cold. It was over, completely over. Although he possessed an unyielding spirit, he knew his limits. He needed time to grow, and the gap between him and the Emperor was simply too vast now.

The Emperor surveyed the entire scene, seeing the fallen Embroidered Uniform Guards everywhere, especially Zhuxie Chixin's corpse. He erupted in fury. "You dare betray me! I will have you sliced into a thousand pieces!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand, and simultaneously, a gigantic illusory palm appeared in the air, pressing down.

Zu'an and Yun Yuqing immediately found it hard to breathe. They wanted to escape but were completely paralyzed. That terrifying pressure plunged them into utter despair.

Yun Yuqing looked at him desolately. "A'Zu, give up. The Emperor is the strongest in the world; no matter how we resist, it's useless. My only comfort is that I can die with you. Though we couldn't share a bed in life, we can share a grave in death. I have no regrets in this life. On the road to the underworld, you must hold my hand tightly so that in the next life, we can be true husband and wife..."

Zu'an frowned. He had felt something was wrong from the beginning, but hadn't had time to think. Now, imprisoned by the terrifying pressure, in the final moments before death, he suddenly had an epiphany. He looked up sharply, completely ignoring the giant hand descending upon them, and stared at the dragon-robed man in the sky. "You are not the Emperor!"

Then he slapped Yun Yuqing, who was clinging tightly to his arm.