Chapter 695: Divine Mansion Aura

As King Wu's chilling voice, brimming with murderous intent, echoed across the Duanlong River, the soldiers of Great Zhou on the city wall collectively stiffened, fury blazing in their eyes. This King Wu clearly held their Great Zhou in utter contempt! For Zhou Qing to be forced to commit suicide before both armies would be an indelible disgrace that Great Zhou could never wipe away!

"Wu Xuan, do you truly believe my Great Zhou will be at your mercy?! If you wish to destroy us, then let's see how many lives your Great Wu must sacrifice!" Wei Canglan's face was contorted in fury as he roared. The other generals roared in unison.

However, King Wu paid them no heed, his gaze coldly fixed on Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing's expression was grim. He slammed his long spear against the ground and declared, "My Great Zhou might perish in a bloody war, but we will never surrender! Wu Xuan, cease your machinations!"

Upon hearing this, King Wu merely smiled, a hint of pity in his voice. "You remain as foolishly stubborn as ever," he said. "Since that's the case, then your Great Zhou is doomed to fall..."

King Wu spread his arms wide. In the next instant, an unrivaled torrent of source energy erupted from his body like a storm, its fiery red hue appearing ready to set the very heavens ablaze. The temperature of the world around them instantly soared.

King Wu's form slowly ascended, taking his position at the apex of the battlefield. Behind him, vast source energy coalesced, gradually forming a brilliant halo. The halo radiated five-colored light, hovering behind King Wu, appearing profound and unfathomable. Simultaneously, an overwhelming pressure spread outwards, enveloping the entire battlefield.

Under this immense pressure, the Primeval Stage experts on Great Zhou's side all dramatically paled. Gritting their teeth, they muttered with difficulty, "Divine Dwelling... Halo!" They were well aware of the halo that had appeared behind King Wu, for it was the most distinct mark of the Divine Dwelling Stage, a realm they themselves aspired to reach.

Upon entering the Divine Dwelling Stage, source energy manifests externally, forming a halo – the so-called Divine Dwelling Halo. This Divine Dwelling Halo was not merely ornamental. Once formed, it allowed its wielder to sense the ambient source energy with far greater acuity. Moreover, during cultivation, the Divine Dwelling Halo possessed the ability to amass, absorb, and refine the world's source energy. Such cultivation speed was far beyond anything the Primeval Stage could achieve. In essence, possessing a Divine Dwelling Halo provided an immense aid to one's cultivation.

Beyond this, the Divine Dwelling Halo also offered protective capabilities. Provided the wielder's internal source energy was not depleted, should a crisis arise, the halo would automatically manifest to intercept threats. During combat, the Divine Dwelling Halo would continuously draw source energy from the surroundings to sustain its wielder. Without exaggeration, it could be said that the greatest aspiration for countless cultivators seeking the Divine Dwelling Stage was precisely this Divine Dwelling Halo.

Similar to Qi Dwellings, Divine Dwelling Halos also varied in grade, determined by how many layers of Divine Dwelling were cultivated upon entering the realm. For instance, King Wu's Divine Dwelling Halo currently radiated five colors, indicating that he had cultivated five Divine Dwellings when he first entered the Divine Dwelling Stage, hence the five-colored brilliance. Naturally, the more colors a Divine Dwelling Halo exhibited, the higher its grade and the greater its inherent profundity.

A five-colored Divine Dwelling Halo, while considered exceptional among the major sects on the Holy Continent, was virtually invincible on this remote Barren Continent. Thus, when King Wu stood majestically in the air, revealing his Divine Dwelling Halo, the Primeval Stage experts on Great Zhou's side all turned pale, their morale taking a considerable hit.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Qing knew King Wu intended to sow discord within their ranks. With a stern cry, the source energy within his body burst forth with full force. Over the past few years, Zhou Qing had also cultivated diligently. His current strength had reached the Eighth Heaven, making him the foremost fighting force of Great Zhou. He understood he could not allow King Wu to demoralize their troops.

Zhou Qing let out a fierce roar. His long spear shot violently upwards, carrying vast source energy directly towards King Wu, who hovered in the distant sky. This attack was his full power.

However, in response to Zhou Qing's attack, King Wu merely cast an indifferent glance, standing motionless in the void. As the streaking spear light arrived, the five-colored Divine Dwelling Halo behind King Wu suddenly expanded, enveloping him within its radiant embrace, and began to spin like a protective barrier of light. The brilliant spear impacted heavily upon the Divine Dwelling Halo, and a crisp clang reverberated as the space around them rippled faintly.

Immediately after, countless spectators watched in horror as the long spear shattered instantly, utterly failing to budge the Divine Dwelling Halo in the slightest, much less harm King Wu, who was protected within.

A mocking smile played on King Wu's lips. He suddenly extended a finger and flicked it. A fragment of the long spear, struck by his flick, shot back instantly, emitting a piercing sonic boom as it hurtled straight towards Zhou Qing on the city wall. Seeing this, Zhou Qing's internal source energy surged. He unleashed a punch, sending out rolling waves of source energy. His fist collided with the fragment, unleashing a violent burst of source energy.

However, he had underestimated the might of the Divine Dwelling Stage. The fragment, carrying King Wu's formidable source energy, tore directly through his punch's aura and grazed his fist. Zhou Qing's body staggered, forcing him back a dozen steps. A gash appeared on his fist, blood trickling down his palm. With just a single exchange, Zhou Qing was wounded, while King Wu had merely delivered a casual attack. The vast gulf between the Primeval Stage and the Divine Dwelling Stage was glaringly evident.

"Your Majesty!" Wei Canglan and others rushed forward. From Great Wu's direction, a roar of triumphant cheers erupted.

"King Wu is invincible!""King Wu is invincible!"

On Great Zhou's city wall, a heavy silence fell. The sheer power of the Divine Dwelling Stage filled them with despair. Zhou Qing wiped the blood from his hand and waved Wei Canglan and the others back. His face remained grim, but a flicker of sorrow passed through his eyes. After all these years, he found himself still completely outmatched when facing King Wu.

Beside him, Qin Yu's eyes brimmed with tears, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to let them fall, knowing she couldn't distract Zhou Qing at this critical moment.

High in the sky, King Wu's gaze swept down, his indifferent voice resonating. "Zhou Qing, have you still not grasped the immense disparity between us? You are inferior to me in every way; why do you still contend with me?" He continued, "I'll give you one last chance: commit suicide before both armies, otherwise, today, I will bathe Great Zhou in blood!"

Zhou Qing clenched his jaw and once again drew a long spear. He declared sharply, "My Great Zhou may fall, but we will never surrender!"

On the city wall, Wei Canglan and the other generals, their eyes bloodshot, roared in defiance, "Never surrender!" The countless soldiers of Great Zhou swung their weapons, roaring: "Never surrender!" "Never surrender!" Their voices shook the heavens.

High above, King Wu shook his head with a look of derision in his eyes. "A bunch of fools who don't know their place," he sneered. "Since you insist on obstructing the inevitable, then today, I will utterly obliterate your Great Zhou!" He then bellowed, "All forces, heed my command! Attack! Annihilate Zhou!"

Boom! Boom! The thunderous beat of war drums once again reverberated across the land. The Great Wu army roared in unison. Warships, one after another, cut through the waves, forming a vast, overwhelming shadow as they sped towards Duanlong City. A deadly aura permeated the air.

On Duanlong City, Great Zhou's army, their eyes bloodshot, braced themselves for the inevitable final battle, as innumerable streams of source energy surged within them. Though they all knew Great Zhou had no hope of victory in this decisive battle. After all, Great Wu was simply too strong, and King Wu, even more so.

From the battlements, Zhou Qing's face was grim as he watched the Great Wu army, a vast, roaring shadow, surging towards them. He then turned to Qin Yu, whose eyes were filled with tears, and reached out to grasp her hand. "Ah Yu, it's all my fault for being so useless..."

Qin Yu, her eyes brimming with tears, shook her head. She whispered softly, "Yuan'er has grown up. I have no regrets, even in death."

Hearing this, Zhou Qing nodded in relief. "Yes," he said, "Yuan'er is grown. We have nothing left to worry about. Today, let us walk this final path with Great Zhou." His gaze swept towards the army surging across the distant river, and a look of fierce resolve appeared in his eyes.

Countless warships howled as they cut through the waves, carrying a torrent of murderous intent, charging towards Duanlong City. However, just as the myriad warships drew ever closer to Duanlong City, a strange sound suddenly echoed through the heavens and earth.

Boom! Boom! It sounded like massive waves churning. From Great Wu's direction, some hovering Primeval Stage experts sensed it, their eyes filling with surprise and doubt. Zhou Qing, Wei Canglan, and the others on the Duanlong city wall were also startled. King Wu, high in the sky, also sensed the unusual disturbance. He frowned instantly, then sharply cast his gaze towards the distant surface of the Duanlong River. Immediately, countless eyes from both armies turned towards that direction.

A stir rippled through the ranks. For on the distant river, massive waves, colossal like a surging flood, had inexplicably begun to churn, roaring across the vast Duanlong River and rushing directly towards the battlefield.

"What's happening?!""What is that?" A flurry of bewildered exclamations erupted from the Great Wu army, and some Primeval Stage experts, their expressions shifting, murmured, "Is there someone at the forefront of that immense wave?"

By now, many clearly distinguished a figure treading the river ahead of the colossal wave. Its pace appeared slow, yet each step covered a hundred zhang. From the city wall, Wei Canglan, Wei Qingqing, and others gazed intently at the distant phenomenon. They too spotted the figure striding across the river, and for some inexplicable reason, a sense of familiarity stirred within them...

Meanwhile, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu, standing nearby, froze. Despite the vast distance, how could they not recognize that figure? Qin Yu's delicate frame trembled, tears glistening in her eyes. "That's..." she whispered, her voice trembling.

Zhou Qing murmured, "It seems to be... Yuan'er?"

Around them, Wei Canglan, Wei Qingqing, and others instantly stiffened, exclaiming, "Prince Zhou Yuan?!"

Boom! Boom! Under the horrified gazes of both armies, towering waves rolled in from the horizon. Ahead of them, a young figure strode over the waves, a mottled black great brush seemingly strapped to his back. The youth, bearing his brush, rode the colossal waves, advancing across the river.

Amidst the roaring waves, a calm voice, like a long peal of thunder, boomed across the heavens and earth:

"Wu Dog...""You wish to annihilate my Great Zhou...""But have you ever bothered to ask this Prince... if I agree?!"