Chapter 1674: The Collapsing Commander

"Half-step Ancient Saint Divine Weapon?"

"Correct, I am an Ancient Saint Divine Weapon. Once my master reaches the Ancient Saint level, the seal can be undone, granting combat power comparable to an Ancient Saint... Between the Great Saint and the Ancient Saint, there is the Half-step Ancient Saint. This weapon is exactly at that level. Once unleashed, even Immortal Realm experts cannot withstand it!"

The Dragon Bone Divine Spear explained.

Zhang Xuan's expression turned grave.

Given the power of this weapon, if it were used for a sneak attack, even if Xing and Meng Sword Saints joined forces with their formidable weapons, they would surely fall into the trap.

"How despicable!"

He had thought they dared not attack, but they had hidden such a powerful means.

"I cannot let him succeed!"

In his previous life, he was an orphan and never experienced parental affection. In this life, after recognizing his kin, Xing and Meng had shown him boundless love, treating him as family. How could he let this fellow use a Heavenly Fate treasure to launch a sneak attack? Since he had seen it, how could he allow it to happen?

But... with his current strength, unless he used the Ancient Saint corpse, it was nearly impossible to defeat the one before him!

Yet if he used the Ancient Saint corpse, his soul power would be drained instantly, and with Spirit Clan members everywhere, he wouldn't even be able to escape.

Whoosh!

As he was pondering how to deal with this fellow, he saw the commander take a deep breath, his internal power surging. Gritting his teeth, he reached for the demon blade.

Zzzzz!

The skull on the demon blade's hilt flickered with an uncertain light. The blade trembled violently, repelling him, and a fierce aura surged straight toward him.

The commander's face instantly turned pale. He stepped back twice, his internal true energy churning like rivers and seas. It took a long while before he recovered.

"I don't intend to refine you; I just want to borrow your hand to kill two people!"

After a pause, the commander spoke.

A weapon of this level already possessed a weapon spirit, which could be negotiated with.

Buzz buzz buzz!

The skull seemed to ignore his words. It twisted slightly and remained silent, as if to say: if you want my cooperation, you must first pass the strength test. If not... no deal!

"Since you won't cooperate, don't blame me for being forceful..."

Seeing the blade's arrogance, the commander's face darkened. His eyes narrowed, and he activated some martial technique. A transparent film of light formed on his palm as he reached for it again.

Zzzzzz!

The demon blade refused to yield. The two forces clashed, causing cracks in the surrounding space.

Thanks to the Heavenly Fate treasure and the special formation, the immense power of the man and the blade did not leak out at all.

"This fellow hasn't refined the demon blade..."

Zhang Xuan realized.

It seemed these mirrors served two purposes: first, to aid in sneak attacks by concealing Heavenly Fate, and second, to mask the power of this Half-step Ancient Saint Divine Weapon, preventing detection.

If the weapon had been refined, it could simply be stored in a storage ring; there would be no need for such trouble.

This commander wanted to tame it. Once successful, with his own strength and such a formidable weapon, even without a sneak attack, Xing and Meng Sword Saints would find it hard to resist.

"I just need to stop him from refining it..."

He had been thinking of how to stop him. Since it wasn't refined yet, things became much simpler.

Seeing the man and the blade locked in a stalemate, the commander's face shifting between light and dark as if he was exerting all his strength, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up. His figure creaked and changed, transforming into a completely different appearance in the blink of an eye.

...

Within the environment shrouded by mirrors.

Knowing the terror of the demon blade, the commander dared not be careless. He poured his mighty power into it, struggling against it, not daring to lose focus. Just as he felt he was gaining the upper hand and might earn the blade's acknowledgment, a flurry of footsteps suddenly approached.

Then a figure appeared not far away—it was the "General Ai He" who had just left. Upon arriving, he immediately bowed with cupped fists: "Commander, I have passed down your orders as instructed, forbidding anyone from disturbing you. You can now cultivate in peace!"

"..." The commander's body swayed.

Resisting the demon blade was not just a contest of strength but also a mental battle. This was when he needed quiet most, which was why he had given those orders earlier. But this fool came to tell him he had obeyed...

If you obeyed the order, why are you here?

How can I be at peace with you babbling here?

"Leave!"

Suppressing the urge to slap him to death, the commander snorted.

Whoosh!

As his mental fluctuations intensified, the demon blade's fierce aura invaded his mind, causing him to stagger and nearly spit blood.

"Yes..." "General Ai He" nodded, then paused and bowed again: "Commander, it's almost mealtime. Would you like... beef noodles or hot and sour noodles? I'll have the kitchen prepare it!"

"Beef noodles? Hot and sour noodles?"

The commander was stunned. Did they even have those here?

Besides, at their level of cultivation, as long as there was sufficient spiritual energy, they could go without food or drink for years... They were in the middle of a war; who had time to eat beef noodles?

"I'm not eating. Get out!"

Needing quiet and not wanting to be disturbed, this fellow kept chattering. The commander was about to explode.

As his attention shifted, the demon blade, which had been at a disadvantage, surged its fierce aura into him, making him dizzy, his chest feeling like it would burst, cold sweat pouring from his head.

"Not eating? Then... would you like some water?"

"General Ai He" looked at him with concern: "Look, you're sweating so much..."

"..." The commander.

Damn it! Why hadn't he noticed before that this fool was so talkative?

You're a general, not a chef... Cooking and fetching water—what are you doing? Can't you see I'm busy?

"Get lost..." Unable to hold back, he roared. Before he could finish, the other's voice rang out again: "Not drinking water either? Then... how about soup? I heard the freshly made bone broth is delicious. How about I bring you a bowl..."

"Pfft!"

His vision went dark. The demon blade's fierce aura surged into his body. The commander's face turned pale, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Damn it, will this ever end?

Are you blind? Can't you see I'm busy taming the demon blade?

Don't you have any sense?

Suppressing the churning in his chest, he clenched his teeth, his eyes filled with murderous intent: "I don't eat, I don't drink water, and I don't drink soup... Now get the hell out and don't disturb me..."

"Commander, rest assured, I have informed everyone that no one will disturb you. If anyone dares to disobey the order, even without your command, I will personally kill them..."

Waving his hand grandly, "General Ai He" spoke with righteous indignation.

The commander's chest ached.

Are you sick? I wasn't talking about others disturbing me; I was talking about you!

Just as he was about to curse, he saw the "Ai He" before him look over again: "Commander, since you won't eat or drink, then... would you like to sing? Or I could sing for you?"

"Pfft!"

The commander spat out blood again.