Chapter 378: The Inspiration of King Zhanyu

"Heh, old man, you don't have an ounce of magic energy left. Do you really think you're in a position to speak to me like that?"

King Zhanyu remained perfectly calm. "If you don't believe me, feel free to test your so-called parasitic technique on me. Everyone, do not interfere!"

King Zhanyu's authority in the kingdom was unparalleled. His calm declaration instantly commanded obedience from everyone present. For a moment, no one in the palace dared to move arbitrarily; all eyes were fixed on the black shadow that had completed its parasitic transformation.

The figure, a cruel smile twisting its face, lunged at King Zhanyu, who now appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary, unremarkable old man.

*Thump!* A cone-shaped dagger pierced the old man's chest, startling everyone present.

"Master!" "Your Majesty!" The empress and the surrounding officials were about to rush forward, but in the next instant, everyone was utterly stunned. King Zhanyu's wound was emanating an incredibly brilliant golden light. Even Xu Yang couldn't help but send a portion of his soul perception to observe.

A miracle unfolded. The golden light acted like a guiding holy radiance, drawing countless golden particles from the surrounding void towards his body. In a flash, the wound had completely healed.

"What?! How… how is this possible?" This sight bewildered even powerful figures like the empress and Xu Yang. It was a display of near-divine, immortal power!

King Zhanyu's expression remained serene. "I told you, while the Beast Tribe is indeed formidable, your evolution goes against the Three Nguyên Laws of cultivation. Ultimately, this world will discard you, and you will never reach true peak power!"

The black-cloaked figure let out a chilling, cruel laugh. "I don't understand what trick you're playing, but even if I can't kill you, with my parasitic power over others, I can exchange my single life for the lives of everyone in your Flame Kingdom. Let's see which is the better bargain!"

King Zhanyu remained silent, his face impassive as he closed his eyes in concentration. The familiar golden light reappeared around him.

A faint, thread-like light began to shimmer again, but this time, it was different. Instead of drawing external power into his body, King Zhanyu himself was radiating power outwards. Within moments, millions of people throughout the entire Flame Kingdom's capital were enveloped by this immense golden glow.

This time, the black-cloaked figure was utterly panicked. He clearly felt his body gradually losing connection with everything around him, as if he were becoming an anomaly existing outside the Flame Kingdom's system. And in fact, that was precisely what was happening.

This light appeared to specifically repel the power of the Beast Nguyên lineage, yet it could merge with the strength, attributes, and states of others nearby. It was strikingly similar to how the peerless Princess Consort had previously absorbed the power of faith!

Finally, after King Zhanyu completed this extraordinary feat, his body seemed to age visibly. However, in return, the last remaining threat to the entire Flame Kingdom had been completely neutralized by him alone.

"You ancient wretch, you've ruined all my efforts! I'll tear you to pieces!"

"You've run out of chances!"

This time, the empress didn't hesitate for a moment. Her entire being ignited with ferocious demonic flames as she hurtled downwards, shielding King Zhanyu. With a single punch, she sent the foreign entity flying.

Before the empress, the powerful black-cloaked figure had no ability to resist. He thrashed weakly at her feet, like a dying fish, his fate sealed to be crushed.

"Die!"

*BOOM!* The next moment, the empress stomped, crushing the hidden head of her opponent and obliterating his soul, thereby ending everything.

The physical body, now without its host soul or the replenishment of life force, rapidly began to decay, eventually dissolving into a formless black void and vanishing completely.

"It's over..."

"Long live! Long live! Long live!" In the great hall, the officials prostrated themselves before King Zhanyu and the empress, shouting praises. This was the triumph and acclaim they had rightfully earned.

As she had stated, the Flame Kingdom's crisis was entirely resolved from that moment forward.

"You may all withdraw. Return to your quarters, rest, and prepare. In three days, my Master will be reinstated as king, and everyone under the Flame Kingdom's royal authority must be present. That day will mark the dawn of a new era for the Flame Kingdom! And from this day forward, our opponent will no longer be the Divine Kingdom, but the Endless Sea!"

"Understood!"

The officials did not hesitate further, quickly exiting the grand hall one by one. King Zhanyu, looking somewhat pale, was helped by the empress back onto the throne. He gasped for breath for a moment, and only after the empress channeled her powerful essence into his body to clear his meridians did his condition barely stabilize.

"Master, what exactly just happened? How did such a power appear to heal your body after you were so gravely wounded? Was that truly a power exclusive to the gods?"

King Zhanyu shook his head with a wry smile. "I was merely inspired by that young man. I tried using my soul power to connect with the human soul aura around me, and to my surprise, I actually managed to mobilize a portion of it. What astonished me was that a single type of source energy doesn't cause significant change, but when multiple sources merge, they can generate certain life elements. It was that immense life force that healed my injuries."

As he spoke, King Zhanyu sent a wisp of his soul perception into Xu Yang's Celestial Eye, sharing the invaluable experience he had inadvertently gained with his guide.

The two could be described as mutually guiding and empowering each other, bound by a relationship of profound admiration.

In fact, Xu Yang had already received similar inspiration when King Zhanyu first displayed his power. More importantly, King Zhanyu's soul power was limited by his own soul realm, capable of covering at most a little over half of the Flame Kingdom. Xu Yang's Celestial Eye, however, allowed his mind-state to encompass any corner of the entire continent — that was his most formidable advantage!

If King Zhanyu's theory could be fully implemented, it would mean Xu Yang could simultaneously harness the power of all living beings in both the Flame Kingdom and the Divine Kingdom! This immense power would undoubtedly become his ultimate trump card in the final battle against King Heijiao!

Of course, Xu Yang's understanding was currently theoretical; he couldn't immediately put this into practice. Even his mastery over the Celestial Eye's power was still rudimentary. These were all challenges he needed to overcome before the decisive battle.

Fortunately, with the aid of the Three Nguyên Unification Formation, Black Rose's life was saved, and the decaying beast energy belonging to the crushed entity was completely purged from her body.