The fall of Lock Dragon Pass was an event waiting to happen.

The Kingdom of Zhuang’s three hundred thousand strong army pressed their assault with utter disregard for casualties, while the Kingdom of Yong’s relief forces from various regions were unable to immediately join the battle.

However, the capture of Lock Dragon Pass did not signify the end of the war.

Large numbers of Zhuang soldiers flooded into the city, engaging the Yong garrison in fierce street battles.

The war continued.

High in the sky, beyond the reach of ordinary eyes, Han Yin pressed his attack on Zhuang Gao Xian.

Han Yin’s aggressive and domineering style made his offensive formidable. However, Zhuang Gao Xian was like a resilient reed in the wind, always managing to stand up again, even after being repeatedly knocked down.

At that moment, Li Ying, who had slain He Ba Dao, the commander of the White Feather Army, soared into the sky.

“Your Majesty, Li Ying arrives late!”

He clasped his hands together, preparing to join the assault on Zhuang Gao Xian.

As a present-day True Immortal, Han Yin was acutely aware of everything happening on the battlefield at Lock Dragon Pass, even as he engaged Zhuang Gao Xian in a life-or-death struggle.

He had noticed Li Ying crippling Duan Li, the commander of the Nine River Black Armor Army, and slaying He Ba Dao. He also knew that Lock Dragon Pass had been breached by the Zhuang army.

He had initially been reluctant to allow others to interfere in the battle, because even if he ultimately killed Zhuang Gao Xian, his strength would be questioned. Besieged on three sides as they were, the Kingdom of Yong could not afford such doubt.

But with Lock Dragon Pass fallen, the symbolic significance far outweighed the actual impact. He could wait no longer!

Thus, he shifted aside, opening up space for Li Ying to participate. At the same time, he unleashed a punch, pushing the Nine Dragons Overlord Codex to its limit. Golden dragon apparitions roared to life, gradually solidifying into tangible forms.

Without hesitation, Li Ying separated his palms, and within his Divine Concealment Palace, his primordial spirit mirrored the action.

Spinal Column Sea within the Palace Reaching the Heavens, Torso Sea within the Five Mansions, Limb Seas within the Starry Towers, Head Sea within the Divine Concealment Palace!

Spinal Column Sea, Torso Sea, Limb Seas, Head Sea, also known as Sea Reaching the Heavens, Sea of Five Mansions, Sea of Hidden Stars, Sea of Primordial Spirit.

These Four Seas within the human body can only be fully connected upon reaching the Divine Proximity Realm.

Even for Li Ying, a renowned Divine Proximity expert, influencing the battle between present-day True Immortals required every strike to be delivered with maximum force.

Now, his primordial spirit resided within the Divine Concealment Palace, uniting internal and external energies. One palm supported the heavens, the other covered the earth. Then, heaven and earth converged, shaking space and crushing towards Zhuang Gao Xian.

“Han Yin, you old dog! Your spirit is extinguished, you’re as good as buried!”

Zhuang Gao Xian dodged, and with a flip of his hand, reversed Heaven and Earth.

A starry river surged beneath his feet, and the battlefield on the horizon hung upside down.

Everything was being inverted.

Li Ying’s palms struck towards Han Yin, while Han Yin’s fist hurtled towards Li Ying.

“Hmph!”

Han Yin clenched his fist and snorted coldly. In an instant, heaven and earth returned to their normal positions. His fist, entwined with golden dragons, smashed down once more upon Zhuang Gao Xian.

Unable to evade in time, Zhuang Gao Xian countered with a fist of his own.

His fist was simple and unadorned.

Like a stone buried in the earth for a thousand years, silent and persistent.

But finally, the dirt was washed away, revealing it to the world.

It was hard, unyielding, and brave!

Fist against fist!

Aggressive and domineering, against relentless advance.

The clash of two present-day True Immortals stirred the clouds in the sky.

A terrifying tremor shook the very foundations of heaven and earth.

Horrific starlight churned the starry river, and the terrestrial dragon turned in the human realm.

If they continued to fight at this level, the entire Yi Yang Prefecture would be unable to withstand it.

At that moment, a pair of flesh palms, like cast steel, capable of overturning the heavens, slammed into Han Yin’s back… so sudden!

It was Li Ying!

Han Yin had already broken the inversion and restored order. But Li Ying’s palm strike did not revert; instead, it landed firmly on Han Yin.

Han Yin could never have anticipated this attack.

Marquis Chengde Li Ying, whose ancestors had been loyal subjects of Yong for three generations. Moreover, this man had fought under his command during the Rebellion of the Three Kings. By all accounts, there was no possibility of him betraying Yong and siding with Zhuang.

And in the previous battles, he had fought valiantly for Yong, personally eliminating Zhuang’s two most promising Divine Proximity aspirants, crippling one top-tier Outer Palace expert and severely injuring another.

How could such actions indicate betrayal?

Yet, the deed was done.

Han Yin had to admit that a chill ran through his heart.

Zhuang Gao Xian, this rising star, was truly terrifying, no less so than the Zhuang Cheng Qian of yesteryear. His talent, resolve, and schemes were all of the highest caliber, coupled with an utterly ruthless heart.

How loyal were Duan Li and He Ba Dao?

These two generals had fought with their lives on the line, betting everything to delay Li Ying for as long as possible.

But Zhuang Gao Xian had intended for them to sacrifice themselves from the very beginning!

Sacrificing two top-tier Outer Palace experts to create an opportunity for Li Ying to strike!

Even more terrifying was that, having paid such a heavy price, Zhuang Gao Xian surely had contingency plans in place to overturn the battle!

Han Yin immediately considered these factors. Ignoring his injured body, he lashed out with a grab as he spat out blood.

A ruthless warlord, he was acutely aware of the danger thanks to countless battles and reacted decisively with his full strength. This grab mobilized the power of the Yong Kingdom!

Li Ying was undoubtedly a powerful Divine Proximity cultivator, difficult to instantly kill when on guard. But he was also the Marquis of Yong. He enjoyed the benefits of his position, but he must also bear its responsibilities!

Unless Zhuang Gao Xian immediately used the power of the Zhuang Kingdom to shield him, Li Ying would be affected – but that was precisely what Han Yin wanted to see.

Using the power of the Yong Kingdom to suppress him was the most appropriate and direct means at present.

Such keenness and decisiveness were beyond ordinary men.

Han Yin wanted to crush this traitor Li Ying first, severing the variable, and then deal with the impending changes.

However, this grab…

Missed!

Han Yin was startled. Ignoring everything else, he turned to flee.

It was not because he had made a mistake, but because when he tried to mobilize the power of the Yong Kingdom, the endless stream of state power was suddenly cut off, failing to support him at the critical moment!

There was only one explanation: someone at the Celestial Destiny Mansion had severed his connection to the power of the Yong Kingdom.

Something had happened at the Celestial Destiny Mansion!

While Lock Dragon Pass was important, the Celestial Destiny Mansion was the foundation of the Yong Kingdom.

He had to return immediately!

However, with the situation having evolved to this point, how could Zhuang Gao Xian let him leave?

With a raised brow, his aura transformed completely.

From a seemingly ordinary and wealthy gentleman, he became a truly majestic and domineering ruler.

Displaying the might and edge of an Emperor.

At this moment, the giant stone buried deep in the earth exploded, crashing out and about to shatter the mountains and rivers.

“Die with me!”

With a grab of his left hand, he sealed the space. With a punch from his right hand, he directly pierced through space, appearing before Han Yin!

These two strikes seemed simple and direct, yet they were domineering and powerful, profoundly showcasing the True Immortal’s grasp of the essence of Heaven and Earth.

Han Yin was never short on courage, but he was unwilling to engage in a senseless battle under such circumstances. With a grab, he tore open the seal and moved to leave.

But at this moment, the magnificent armor he wore, the invincible armor inherited from his brother Han Zhou, suddenly glowed with runes and countless characters floated on its surface.

It actually held him in place!

In that instant, Han Yin recalled a scene.

It was before he had broken through the siege and decisively come to Lock Dragon Pass.

His son, the current ruler of the Yong Kingdom, knelt before him, tears streaming down his face: “Your son is incompetent and cannot share the burden of my father. I will dress you in this armor, hoping that you will return victorious and safe!”

He had personally donned this armor… for him!

In that instant, Han Yin understood everything.

Besides Yong’s ruler Han Xu, who could cut off his connection to the Yong Kingdom’s power? Besides Yong’s ruler Han Xu, who could make Marquis Chengde betray them?

It was not that he could not think of it, but that he subconsciously… did not want to think of it.

And at this time, in the suddenly silent world, Zhuang Gao Xian had pierced through space and approached Han Yin.

“Han Xu asked me to convey a message to you…”

Zhuang Gao Xian said softly, “For those who rule the world, how can they be without power for a hundred years?”

He punched through his chest and abdomen!

Shattering his inner palace, outer tower, palace reaching the heavens, and divine concealment palace all with one punch!

The Nine Dragons collapsed and were annihilated.

The once-great Han Yin, warlord of his time, died in battle before Lock Dragon Pass!