Chapter 108: Breaking the Shadow

Zhou Qing stepped forward, the crimson tip of his spear pointing at the golden figure. His expression was resolute, as if determined to shatter the shadow that had lingered in his heart.

"Zhou Qing, Zhou Qing, you truly won't give up until you face the grim reality," Qi Yuan sneered, his eyes filled with scorn as he watched Zhou Qing prepare to face the King Wu's shadow alone.

"If you were in your prime, this golden imperial edict's shadow might not be able to stop you. But now you're merely at the third level of the Grand Initial stage. How dare you be so arrogant?"

Zhou Qing seemed not to hear Qi Yuan's mockery. His gaze remained fixed on the blurred golden figure, as if no other enemy could occupy his attention.

"Since you're so eager for death, I'll grant your wish!"

Qi Yuan sneered. He was more than happy for Zhou Qing to overexert himself. If he could kill Zhou Qing here, any disadvantage they faced could be overturned.

With that thought, Qi Yuan shook the golden imperial edict in his hand. A formidable surge of Origin Qi erupted from within the golden figure, radiating a fierce aura.

Zhou Qing stomped his long spear, and a crimson Origin Qi, interwoven with thunderous roars, surged unreservedly from the top of his head.

"Boom!"

The crimson Origin Qi swept forth like a hundred-zhang-long ribbon, directly targeting the King Wu's golden shadow. The Qi was so hot and violent that it seemed to set the very air ablaze.

However, the King Wu's golden shadow showed no sign of retreating from the fiercely approaching crimson rainbow of Origin Qi. Instead, it shot forward, meeting the crimson beam with a single punch.

The violent Origin Qi exploded under the golden shadow's fist, and the crimson rainbow directly disintegrated.

The power of this King Wu's golden shadow was enough to overwhelm anyone at the third level of the Grand Initial stage.

Zhou Yuan and the others naturally saw this clearly, and worry appeared in their eyes.

Boom! Boom!

The King Wu's golden shadow stepped out, moving like lightning, and its fist shadows whistled as they enveloped Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing did not flinch, choosing to meet force with force.

However, after more than ten exchanges, he was sent reeling backward, a trace of blood appearing at the corner of his mouth. Clearly, he had gained no advantage in their direct confrontation.

"This Zhou Qing must be insane," Qi Yuan sneered. Indeed, it was madness to directly contend with a fifth-level Grand Initial stage opponent while only at the third level.

Beside him, Zhao Tianlun and the other two nodded. It seemed Zhou Qing had been provoked by the appearance of King Wu's golden shadow and had lost his composure.

In the sky, the two figures continuously clashed. No matter how severely he was suppressed, Zhou Qing seemed utterly unfazed, repeatedly charging forward to confront the King Wu's golden shadow head-on.

Bang! Bang!

A dull thud echoed in the air, the sound of the King Wu's fist imprints landing on Zhou Qing's body.

Creak!

Zhou Yuan stared intently at the scene in the sky, his fists clenched so tightly they creaked.

In just a few minutes, the King Wu's golden shadow remained completely unharmed. In contrast, Zhou Qing was utterly dishevelled, his single arm gripping his spear, blood streaming down his body.

Yet, even severely wounded, the Nine Flames Spear in his hand did not tremble. He slowly raised it, pointing it resolutely at the King Wu's golden shadow.

The scene was tragic and heroic.

However, Zhou Yuan and the others knew that Zhou Qing was not challenging the King Wu's golden shadow before him, but rather the imprinted shadow in his heart, left there when King Wu severed his arm.

"Again!"

Blood flowed down the crimson long spear as Zhou Qing looked at the King Wu's golden shadow, his voice slightly hoarse.

Qi Yuan's expression was grim. Zhou Qing's tenacity made him feel a subtle unease. He then said coldly, "Fine, if he wants to die, I'll grant his wish. It's better than living so wearily under the shadow of King Wu."

He shook the golden imperial edict in his hand vigorously.

The King Wu's golden shadow paused, then clenched its hand. Potent Origin Qi converged, finally condensing behind it into a golden halo roughly tens of zhang wide, shimmering with golden light.

From within the halo, golden lights emerged and hovered in front, revealed to be golden sword shadows formed by Origin Qi.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The next moment, thousands of golden sword shadows erupted, overwhelming everything and covering all of Zhou Qing's escape routes. This assault was a true killing move.

As golden sword shadows filled his vision, Zhou Qing let out a roar. The Nine Flames Spear in his hand rotated, forming a fiery red halo, wreathed in flames and lightning.

Clang! Clang!

The sword shadows whistled down, colliding with the fiery lightning halo. Each collision unleashed astonishing Origin Qi fluctuations.

The crimson halo desperately held its ground, but the golden sword shadows were too numerous and too sharp. Some still pierced through his defense, embedding themselves with a 'thump' into Zhou Qing's body.

After more than ten breaths, the countless golden sword shadows in the sky gradually dissipated.

Countless gazes turned towards Zhou Qing's direction. There, Zhou Qing stood with his head slightly bowed, his single arm gripping the Nine Flames Spear. Golden sword shadows were embedded in his body, with blood trickling down alongside them.

Yet, despite such severe injuries, he still stood perfectly straight, like the spear in his hand.

This sight left everyone on both sides speechless. Even the soldiers from the Great Qi direction were stunned by Zhou Qing's unyielding and proud stance.

Zhou Yuan's eyes suddenly reddened. He seemed to vaguely recall that more than ten years ago, when he was just born, that same figure had stood on the city wall, using all his strength to defend him against King Wu.

Although he ultimately failed, he had clearly given his all.

"Surely he's dead now?" Qi Yuan stared grimly at the terribly wounded Zhou Qing, sensing that the latter's Origin Qi was gradually weakening.

All eyes, both within and outside the city, converged on Zhou Qing.

Blood slowly dripped from the long spear.

However, Zhou Qing's slightly closed eyes slowly opened. His body trembled, and the golden sword shadows embedded in him shattered into pieces.

His eyes, at that moment, became extraordinarily bright, as if the dust that had covered them for many years was gradually clearing away.

The bloody holes on his body also began to heal gradually.

He stared at the King Wu's golden shadow. Although he knew this golden shadow only possessed power and no sentience, he still spoke slowly, saying, "In that battle all those years ago, you did win."

"And I always thought I had lost to you."

"But... now I suddenly realize that I didn't lose after all..."

"Because I saved my son."

"You won the territory of my Great Zhou, and you won the Saint Dragon's fate... But one day, you will understand that all these external things are not worth a single hair on my son's head."

"He will take everything back!"

"The struggle between Zhou and Wu is not over!"

Just as his last words fell, a crimson Origin Qi suddenly erupted like a volcano from within Zhou Qing's body. His eyes became as dazzling as the blazing sun, and the Origin Qi within him rapidly surged.

Fourth level of the Grand Initial stage!

Fifth level of the Grand Initial stage!

In just a few breaths, Zhou Qing's strength soared from the third level of the Grand Initial stage to the fifth level!

Qi Yuan, Zhao Tianlun, and the others immediately paled with shock and terror.

"Your Majesty... he has shattered the shadow in his heart, and his strength... is slowly recovering!" Wei Canglan also trembled as he watched the scene, his eyes suddenly turning red.

The Zhou Qing before them seemed to shed years of compromise and forbearance, once again becoming majestic and formidable.

Just like the mighty king he was when the Great Zhou flourished.

Zhou Qing gripped his crimson long spear, and potent Origin Qi erupted like a volcano. The next instant, his figure vanished, a streak of crimson meteor streaking across the sky.

The speed was imperceptible.

On the crimson long spear, nine fiery pythons seemed to intertwine, and lightning crackled at its tip.

Whoosh!

Zhou Qing's figure appeared behind the King Wu's golden shadow. A crimson ray had pierced through the golden shadow's chest. Zhou Qing, with his back to it, clenched his hand, and the Nine Flames Spear returned to his grip.

The King Wu's golden shadow trembled violently, then slowly collapsed, turning into a myriad of golden lights.

The golden imperial edict in Qi Yuan's hand also shattered at that moment. He, along with Zhao Tianlun and the others behind him, turned ashen, staring at Zhou Qing in the sky with terror, trembling all over.

They never imagined that the shadow that had plagued Zhou Qing's heart for years would be shattered today, with the help of the King Wu's golden shadow.

"Now... it's truly over."

Despair rose in Qi Yuan's eyes.