Chapter 68: The Victor Claims the Throne

"Mo Xingyun, are you trying to rebel?" As soon as Jiang Taixu spoke, he slapped a heavy accusation on Mo Xingyun.

Ten years ago, at the peak of their fabled duel, Jiang Taixu emerged victorious, but it was a pyrrhic victory. Even to this day, his wounds had not fully healed. Yet feeling the surge of Mo Xingyun’s sword aura, he had no choice but to rush over from the Imperial Martial Academy. For he was not only the head of the academy, but also a scion of the royal family of Great Qian.

The Four Great Clans were the pillars of the dynasty; he could not simply stand by and watch Mo Xingyun slaughter the Nangong Clan.

"Jiang Taixu, you are as false as ever," Mo Xingyun retorted with a cold snort. When enemies meet, their eyes burn with hatred. The enmity between him and Jiang Taixu ran far deeper than that between Jun Wushuang and the Nangong Clan.

"Dean Jiang, you must uphold justice for me!" Nangong Qing quickly spoke up upon seeing Jiang Taixu. The Nangong Clan could not withstand Mo Xingyun. In the entire imperial capital, only the Emperor and Jiang Taixu were capable of stopping him.

"Justice?" Mo Xingyun sneered, his disdain for Nangong Qing palpable. "Your Nangong Clan ambushed the disciples of my Qingyun Martial Academy and gravely wounded my student. You dare speak of justice?"

Clutching the Sun and Moon Dao Sword, Mo Xingyun showed no sign of relenting despite Jiang Taixu’s arrival.

"Mo Xingyun, you dare make a move in my presence?" Jiang Taixu’s entire being radiated golden light, his aura surging as he fixed his gaze intently on Mo Xingyun.

"I have little time left. Whoever stands in my way, I will make sure they suffer," Mo Xingyun replied icily, utterly ruthless.

Boom!

A colossal figure a hundred meters tall suddenly coalesced behind him. This manifestation of heaven and earth bore Mo Xingyun’s likeness, yet its sword intent was overwhelming, as though a peerless sword god had descended, ready to cleave the sky and rend the heavens.

"Manifestation Merge!" Mo Xingyun’s murderous resolve was set. The gigantic apparition swiftly fused into his body.

In that instant, a wild, terrifying aura erupted from within Mo Xingyun, chilling the world with a deadly intent. Everyone felt a mortal dread, as if Death itself had cast its gaze upon them, threatening to drag them into an endless hell.

"Earth-rank advanced martial art: Sun and Moon Reincarnation Slash!"

Jiang Taixu’s pupils contracted. He hadn’t expected Mo Xingyun to be so reckless, unleashing his mightiest strike from the outset. This was Mo Xingyun’s trump card—every use exacted a price in years of his life.

Ten years ago, in their legendary battle, Mo Xingyun’s defeat had come from burning too much of his own lifespan.

Now he had only two years left. Yet here he was, burning away a whole year without hesitation to unleash the terrifying Sun and Moon Reincarnation Slash once more.

Madness! He truly was mad!

Alarmed, Jiang Taixu did not dare to underestimate him. He quickly reached out and drew a golden Dao spear. Merging his own manifestation, golden light blazed around him, transforming him into a golden-armored war god, his battle spirit soaring.

Crack!

Mo Xingyun’s gaze was merciless, his killing intent earth-shattering. With a single slash, the sky suddenly manifested a golden sun and a silver moon.

The golden sun was forged from boundless sword energy; the silver moon, from vast spiritual power. As Mo Xingyun’s sword descended, the two merged into a single cycle of sun and moon—a strike that could level Jiangning City to the ground.

"Earth-rank advanced martial art: Dragon Battle in the Wild!"

Jiang Taixu let out a long roar like a dragon’s cry. Wielding the golden spear, he unleashed an earth-rank technique; with a thrust, a colossal golden dragon nine hundred meters long surged forth.

At that moment, all eyes turned skyward. The cycle of sun and moon collided with the golden dragon—a clash of gods.

Thunder rumbled, brilliance blinded, and terrifying energy waves swept out in a storm, devastating everything in their path. Many in the Nangong Clan were killed outright by the shockwaves. Even Jun Wushuang, protected by the aura of wine and sword, was struck so heavily that blood trickled from his mouth and nose.

This strike was too powerful, too terrifying.

Buildings collapsed, the ground caved in, over a thousand were wounded, and screams filled the air.

Mo Xingyun staggered back a step, blood at his lips. Jiang Taixu, though standing firm, was ghostly pale.

"Mo Xingyun, you now have only one year of life left. Will you continue?" Jiang Taixu gripped his golden spear and stared down Mo Xingyun. He, too, had suffered internal injuries from that exchange, but he believed Mo Xingyun would dare not fight on; with only a year of life left, another Sun and Moon Reincarnation Slash would mean certain death.

"Old fool, do you think I’m afraid of you?" Mo Xingyun wiped the blood from his lips, his eyes fierce, ready to gamble everything.

Jiang Taixu’s heart skipped a beat. He was shaken by Mo Xingyun’s madness. His own wounds had not yet healed, and that last blow had only worsened them. If Mo Xingyun risked everything, even if he could withstand him, he would be left with irreparable injuries.

"Dean!"

Just as Mo Xingyun prepared to go all out, Jun Wushuang suddenly spoke.

"In my eyes, even ten Nangong Clans are not worth a single finger of yours. There’s no need to risk your life for such a clan—they are not worthy!"

Nangong Qing’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets; Jun Wushuang’s public humiliation of the Nangong Clan only deepened his hatred.

"The vengeance against the Nangong Clan does not require you to risk your life, Master. I will take care of it myself. Within one year, I will utterly destroy the Nangong Clan. Please trust me!"

Jun Wushuang truly wished to wipe out the Nangong Clan, but he would not let Mo Xingyun risk his life. The Longevity Elixir had yet to be refined; another burning of his lifespan would mean Mo Xingyun’s death for sure.

What’s more, he preferred to exact his own revenge. Whether it was Nangong Tianxuan, Nangong Xiong, or the entire Nangong Clan, he wanted to send them all to hell himself. Since their fate was already sealed, why let Mo Xingyun risk his life needlessly?

Mo Xingyun looked at Jun Wushuang, silent for a moment, then finally sheathed the Sun and Moon Dao Sword.

"I believe you," he said.

Mo Xingyun did not fear death. But if he died, there would be no one to protect Jun Wushuang, nor anyone to teach Lin Mengyao. So he chose to trust Jun Wushuang.

Seeing Mo Xingyun put away his sword, both Nangong Qing and Jiang Taixu breathed a sigh of relief. They truly feared Mo Xingyun’s desperation—the consequences would have been disastrous.

Yet Jun Wushuang’s arrogance left Nangong Qing’s face so dark it seemed to drip with malice.

Destroy my Nangong Clan within a year? I will see whether you destroy my clan, or whether you die with your body in pieces!

"So, you are Jun Wushuang?" Jiang Taixu’s gaze was like lightning as it fell upon Jun Wushuang. Though he had been secluded in healing, he had heard of Jun Wushuang’s deeds. Now, seeing him in person, he was just as arrogant as rumored.

"Youthful pride is understandable, but the tallest trees in the forest are the first to be felled," Jiang Taixu said coldly.

"I know nothing of youthful recklessness. I only know that the victor is king," Jun Wushuang replied, meeting Jiang Taixu’s gaze without flinching.

"Well said, 'the victor is king.' But before you boast about a year from now, survive the Life-and-Death Duel first. Let’s see just how you become king!" Jiang Taixu laughed in anger, thinking Jun Wushuang far too arrogant and ignorant.

He stared at Jun Wushuang, making no effort to conceal his murderous intent.

"The Life-and-Death Duel—I’ll be waiting for you to come and meet your end!"