Zhang Zhiyuan saw death coming at him at full speed. If he abandoned the array, he could survive but the other three people might die as a result. The honorable Longjing Palace master upheld hundreds of years of unwavering loyalty toward the Heavenly Empire.
This reputation must not be shattered in his generation!
Gritting his teeth obstinately, Zhang Zhiyuan gripped his sword hard and thought about the wife and son who he was about to leave behind.
And then, the son he just thought about came flying at him like a swallow dipping at the water’s surface.
"Crimson Judgment Damnation...!!!"
Zhang Fengxi screamed when he drilled at the Seventh Demon King’s attack with his Three Realm Spear and faced it heads on.
The huge white energy ball clashed against the scorching tip of the Three Realm Spear.
The heavy impact of Crimson Judgment Damnation scattered the white energy ball into smaller fractions that flew off in all directions.
The biggest fraction pushed through and hit Zhang Fengxi square in the chest. Zhang Fengxi spit out a mouthful of blood and dropped to the ground.
"Fengxi...!!!"
Zhang Zhiyuan was shaken from fright. His son was not moving. He wanted to break away from the array to take a look at how his son was doing, but he was unable to.
"Brother Zhiyuan, please concentrate," Song Weiyang had blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. "Just a little more. Please."
"Aaaaaaarggghhhhh...!!!"
Zhang Zhiyuan cried out of sorrow. His grief provided an additional boost to the array.
The three Demon Kings too increased their momentum and attacked with heightened tenacity.
Zhang Fengxi lay on the ground helplessly. He remained conscious, but his body did not feel like his own. Even lifting his head took a lot of effort.
Father, he thought as he looked at Zhang Zhiyuan.
Uncle, he thought as he looked at Song Weiyang.
The Xiyu Palace Master, Li Haoran.
And lastly, the youngest of them all, the Crown Prince, Xie Jianyu.
Only a little more.
Please hold on.
Zhang Fengxi dug his fingers into the moist soil beneath his body.
Anytime now...
[The Demon Kings had fallen into a sinful practice in Human Realm. Punishments shall be dealt.]
Zhang Fengxi heaved a sigh of relief.
The God of War and Destruction, Li Guang, was finally there. With him came a lot of other gods and deities from the upper layer of heaven.
[Li Guang, you scum!]
[Stop announcing yourself and fight, you pathetic god!]
As soon as Li Guang arrived, the burden on the four palace masters decreased significantly.
"Fengxi? Fengxi! Are you okay???"
Zhang Fengxi pushed himself from the ground and groaned. He looked at his worried father and gave him a slight nod.
It was alright now.
Li Guang’s arrival marked the end of the war, as the historical record duly noted.
"The Crescent Mayhem Sect Leader has fallen!!!" General Fu cried out.
This man was always the first one to make an announcement, although the achievement was not his at all.
Wu Shenxia stood some distance away. She withdrew her sword from the Crescent Mayhem Sect Leader’s corpse, causing the body to fall to the ground with a thud.
[Shit.]
[Why is no one protecting him?]
The Fourth Demon King sighed. He was not foolish.
The only reason why he was able to step foot into the Human Realm and enter this war was to "assist" his ally, the Crescent Mayhem Sect. Once the sect was destroyed, there was naturally no reason to stay in the Human Realm any longer.
Quick as the wind, the three Demon Kings disappeared in thick black smoke and escaped back to the Demonic Realm with their demonic forces.
[Heavenly troops, do not get too cocky...]
[We will meet again...]
Relief washed over Zhang Fengxi. Having achieved his main goal, he fell unconscious and hit the ground without further delay.
"Fengxi...!!!"
Zhang Fengxi barely perceived the pair of gentle hands that lifted him from the ground.
Zhang Fengxi did not know how much time passed before he woke up again.
He opened his eyes to the unfamiliar ceiling of a small tent. His head weighed at least a ton. Even turning his head to the side took a remarkable amount of effort.
"Commandant Zhang, you are finally awake."
The attendant who waited by his side jumped from his seat and wiped traces of saliva off the corners of his mouth.
"I will get someone."
"Wait. Can you get Wu Shenxia for me?"
The attendant looked puzzled for a brief moment, but then he quickly agreed.
"Of course! Commandant, please wait for a moment!"
Zhang Fengxi lifted both his hands and rubbed his face.
Soon, Wu Shenxia entered his tent and whistled at him.
"Hey, Zhang Fengxi. Are you alright? You had a direct confrontation with the Demon King. How was it?"
Wu Shenxia was always interested in hearing about battles with strong people or entities.
"I almost died, but thank you for asking."
Wu Shenxia roared in laughter.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You can brag about it to your children and grandchildren in the future."
Zhang Fengxi pursed his lips.
"Did you do what I asked you to?"
"Ah, yes. I shot fiery cannons down the cliff at the southern border. Why, though? At most, you hit the lairs of low-level demons."
Zhang Fengxi smiled but gave no answer in return.
He did not aim at their lairs but at their gardens.
The low-level demons at the southern border were known to trade supplies with both Human and Heavenly Realm.
When Supreme General Zhang Fengxi chanced upon these gardens during one of his conquests, he destroyed them without hesitation.
"Oh, we also found a few spots from where the lesser demonic creatures climbed up to the Human Realm. We already destroyed those spots as well."
Zhang Fengxi grinned at his capable colleague.
"Thanks. I knew that I could count on you."
Zhang Fengxi’s momentary happiness disappeared when an attendant came into the tent to make an urgent report.
"Commandant Zhang, the Longjing Palace Master is heavily injured. He is waiting to see you."