Chapter Three: The “Inner Demon” Takes Control of Wei Xiaofan

Wei Xiaoping thought: As long as Yang Shengtian can leave the enemy nation and return to my side, even taking three blows from him would be worth it. Moreover, my brother said that these three strikes are for the soldiers of his who were killed by my men. In that case, he is still a man of honor—he’s only ended up like this because he was led astray!

“Brother, a gentleman’s word is as binding as four galloping horses—will you keep what you just promised?” Wei Xiaoping stepped aside and paused to ask Yang Shengtian.

At this moment, the voice of his hallucination spoke again in Yang Shengtian’s mind: “Yang Shengtian, tell him: A gentleman’s word is as binding as four galloping horses. Whoever breaks his word is no man!”

Yang Shengtian also halted, faced Wei Xiaoping, and declared, “A gentleman’s word is as binding as four galloping horses. Whoever breaks his word is no man!”

“Good!” Wei Xiaoping replied. He then tossed his Demon-Slaying Sword behind him, and the mysterious blade floated back, shrinking and vanishing on his back.

Wei Xiaoping gathered his energy in his dantian, threw a few phantom strikes up, down, left, and right, then withdrew his hands and clenched his fists tightly. With both feet hovering in mid-air, he said, “Come on, strike me!”

At that moment, Da Huang, who was fiercely battling Xiao Hei with bursts of fire and bites, heard his master volunteer to take three blows from Yang Shengtian and immediately flew over, roaring at Wei Xiaoping.

Wei Xiaoping gently stroked Da Huang’s nose, comforting him softly, “Da Huang, don’t worry, I’ll be fine. My brother is my only family in this world! Now that he’s come to his senses and wants to return to me, I won’t let this opportunity slip by! I’m protected by armor forged from divine iron fallen from the heavens, and the Nine Heavens Divine Shield covers my body. Nothing will happen to me!”

Da Huang roared a few more times, shook his head, and tried to pull Wei Xiaoping away by biting his arm.

Wei Xiaoping continued to soothe him quietly, “Da Huang, be good, I’ll be all right, trust me! Go and hold back my brother’s mount—don’t let it come over and cause trouble!”

Da Huang howled a few more times, took a gentle tug at Wei Xiaoping’s hand, and shook his head again.

Wei Xiaoping said sternly, “Go now! If you don’t, I’ll be angry! Keep Xiao Hei from interfering. After all these years by my side, do you still not trust my strength? Go, I’ll be fine!”

Reluctantly, Da Huang left, howling and shaking his head in worry.

“I’m ready. Do as you please—strike however you wish, I won’t fight back!” Wei Xiaoping energized the Nine Heavens Divine Shield to enclose his body as he spoke to Yang Shengtian.

“However I wish? Wei Xiaoping, you said it yourself. If you die or are gravely injured, don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Yang Shengtian replied.

At that moment, the hallucinated voice in Yang Shengtian’s mind spoke again: “Yang Shengtian, this is a rare chance. You must use it to eliminate Wei Xiaoping and end the hatred in your heart! Avenge your fallen lieutenant and soldiers!”

Upon hearing this, Yang Shengtian leapt fiercely into the sky, rising a dozen yards above Wei Xiaoping’s head. He raised his golden halberd and, with the force of Mount Tai crashing down, struck toward Wei Xiaoping from above.

Wei Xiaoping watched as Yang Shengtian hurtled down upon him, quietly maintaining the Nine Heavens Divine Shield around himself.

The golden halberd, descending at tremendous speed, sparked illusory flames wherever it passed.

“Does my brother hate me so much? At this speed, he truly wishes to kill me! But with the Nine Heavens Divine Shield, no matter how great the impact, I will not be harmed. Even if I am, as long as it brings my brother back to me, it’s worth it,” Wei Xiaoping thought, closing his eyes to await the blow.

In the blink of an eye, a thunderous crash resounded—the sound of metal striking stone—as Yang Shengtian’s halberd slammed into an invisible, massive, arched barrier a meter above Wei Xiaoping’s head. From the impact point, a flash of mystical light shot out like lightning.

Yang Shengtian had poured every ounce of his strength into this strike.

Ordinarily, with such power, even a punch could shatter a boulder the size of a house. Now, wielding the halberd as a weapon, striking with all his might and the added momentum from his leap, the force was devastating—enough to pulverize a small mountain.

“Three strikes, you say? I’ll send you to the underworld with this one!” Yang Shengtian thought with a trace of triumph as he struck, convinced that Wei Xiaoping would die or at least be so gravely injured he could never again lead troops into battle.

Standing in mid-air as Yang Shengtian attacked, Wei Xiaoping, though protected by the Nine Heavens Divine Shield, still felt a tremendous force crash into him through the shield. The pressure brought a dull ache to his body, his face flushed, and he nearly lost his breath.

Wei Xiaoping could not help but secretly praise Yang Shengtian’s remarkable strength.

After all, the Nine Heavens Divine Shield was one of the most powerful defensive techniques in the Celestial Realm, and since mastering it, few had ever managed to injure Wei Xiaoping.

Having unleashed his first strike, Yang Shengtian landed nearby and watched Wei Xiaoping intently.

He saw that Wei Xiaoping remained unharmed.

Impossible, Yang Shengtian thought. He had used all his strength, and with the halberd’s own divine power, even a small mountain would have been shattered. Could Wei Xiaoping have used some miraculous protective technique?

“Come, brother, two more moves. Use all your might. As long as you keep your promise after three strikes, leave the enemy nation, and return to the right path, I will have no regrets, even if you kill me!” Wei Xiaoping continued to channel his Nine Heavens Divine Shield, eyes closed, awaiting Yang Shengtian’s next attack.

At this moment, the hallucinated voice in Yang Shengtian’s mind said, “Yang Shengtian, Wei Xiaoping is protected by the Nine Heavens Divine Shield. Ordinary weapons and techniques cannot harm him. You have two strikes left—if you follow my instructions, Wei Xiaoping will surely die! First, aim the sharpest point of your halberd at Wei Xiaoping as you attack; then drive it with all your might into his heart. Although the Nine Heavens Divine Shield is formidable, its weakness is sharp weapons. Only a sharp weapon can pierce it. Once you breach the shield, Wei Xiaoping will have no protection, and since he’s bound by his word not to strike back, you can drive the halberd into his heart. The halberd is a magical artifact with its own power. Once it pierces his heart, his strength will swiftly drain away, and with the halberd’s magical assault, he will soon perish.”

Hearing the voice, Yang Shengtian gripped his halberd tightly, pointing its sharpest tip at Wei Xiaoping, who stood enclosed in the Nine Heavens Divine Shield. He began to circle Wei Xiaoping slowly, searching for the perfect moment to strike.