Chapter 590: Falling Crown

"They say a phoenix in a chicken coop is worse than a chicken. Today, I truly understand the meaning of that saying. It's truly sad that a noble lineage of divine phoenix beasts now has a waste like you to inherit it!"

Not content with merely crippling Long Kun, Empress Yu sought to psychologically crush him, relentlessly mocking him and kicking him while he was down. However, Long Kun was not as easily defeated as she had imagined.

Although this instant-kill power was incredibly strong, a true explosion of divine-level energy, the greatest strength of Long Kun's phoenix blood lay in its vitality. After taking this ultimate attack, Long Kun was sent flying backward, but the moment he landed, he immediately shifted into the phoenix's Nirvana state, regenerating from fire.

Each rebirth through Nirvana brought forth a stronger new life!

The phoenix, also known as the immortal bird, possesses a potential for life recovery unmatched by any other divine beast lineage.

In fact, a phoenix power inheritor in the Nirvana state is at their most vulnerable, and this moment represents the only chance to truly defeat them.

If the Nirvana state cannot be interrupted, once it is complete, Long Kun will not only regain his peak strength but also emerge even more powerful than before.

"You two protect Long Kun; I'll handle the rest."

Xu Yang suddenly grew much more serious. After giving these instructions, he lightly waved his palm, and the Asura Divine Sword reappeared in his hand.

"The power of angels is mighty, but as I've said before, wielding such power in your hands is nothing but a waste."

Clearly, Xu Yang's words indicated he had found a way to break the Angelic Domain.

In fact, given Xu Yang's reaction speed, he could have intervened to prevent Long Kun's recent attack. However, Xu Yang chose not to.

For one, he fully understood the mechanics of the phoenix blood's Nirvana potential; every rebirth for Long Kun amplified his bloodline.

On the other hand, Xu Yang used the momentary burst of Empress Yu's power to pinpoint weaknesses in her temporarily manifested Angelic Domain.

As expected, Xu Yang ultimately found the answer he sought.

"Just a word of warning, you vile woman, don't bow your head later, or your crown will fall!"

The moment Xu Yang's words ceased, he distinctly felt a fierce tremor deep within Empress Yu's soul.

"How is this possible? Could he have discovered the secret that my Angelic Domain originates from this gem?"

This thought flashed through Empress Yu's mind, creating an irreparable crack in her previously flawless state of mind.

"Now, Moon Shadow Asura!"

The bright moon totem rapidly coalesced behind him. Xu Yang ascended into the air, enveloped from head to toe in an incredibly translucent silver radiance.

"Slice - Cloud Sky Moon Shadow!!"

In a single instant, above the White Feather Clan's grand hall—specifically, the open section of the palace's uppermost level—a blood-red full moon totem swiftly materialized in the sky.

Everyone looked up at the crimson full moon, feeling an immensely powerful spiritual tremor rapidly emerge. This blood moon represented the strongest spiritual profound meaning Xu Yang could currently unleash.

Indeed, the moment this blood moon appeared, the transparent and sacred radiance emanating from the almost perfect Empress Yu suddenly, without warning, became dotted with speckles of crimson light.

The holy angelic totem was defiled by the crimson hue, and the angelic power it emitted rapidly weakened within a very short time!

Witnessing this scene, the astute Master Ling Yun, already possessing the "nine-orifice exquisite heart," finally revealed a knowing smile of relief.

"So that's it! Boss saw through this fatal flaw from the very beginning. Empress Yu was only able to activate the Angelic Domain by relying on that gem, not through her own power.

When Boss uttered the words about her crown falling, it had already destabilized her originally unyielding Dao Heart, creating cracks deep within her mental state.

Furthermore, with the spiritual interference of this blood moon, Empress Yu's mental vulnerabilities were continuously magnified. The angelic lineage, above all, emphasizes the pure and flawless nature of the heart. Once there is an issue with one's mental state, it becomes impossible to unleash the full power of angelic force, much less an esoteric domain within that lineage!

The Angelic Totem represented the embodiment of angelic power within Empress Yu's heart and the perfect rhythm of her mental state. The crimson blemishes on it unequivocally demonstrated her psychological condition: with her holiness compromised, she was no longer qualified to control the Angelic Domain, and the divine light bestowed upon her would vanish."

Master Ling Yun's interpretation helped Long Kun and Ling Yao understand Xu Yang's elaborate strategy.

After all, a subtle reversal had occurred in the battle. The crux of the entire situation lay with the Angelic Domain. By severing the connection between the domain and Empress Yu, their troubles would naturally dissipate.

"No! How can this be? Stop!"

Watching the divine light on her body rapidly disintegrate, Empress Yu finally panicked.

She had staked everything on this gamble. Without the protection of the Angelic Domain, she would be utterly defenseless against Xu Yang.

"I told you not to bow your head, or your crown would fall! Now that you've lost the protection of the Angelic Domain, do you still believe you're worthy of this crown?"

*Swoosh!*

Xu Yang spoke with chilling resolve. With a flick of the divine sword in his palm, a roar like a dragon from the nine heavens erupted, coiling around the Asura Divine Sword and unleashing an irresistible aura of slaughter!

No!

The instant this sword light erupted, Xu Yang had already locked onto Empress Yu's body. No matter what tactics she employed, she would not escape death.

No one could have predicted that at this critical juncture, the already heavily injured Yu Zun would suddenly leap forward, shielding his beloved, and use his own body to block the fatal sword.

*Rumble!*

Xu Yang's sword was utterly merciless, giving his opponent no chance. The instant the divine sword pierced Yu Zun's body, the residual sword energy exploded, instantly consuming all of Yu Zun's flesh and blood, leaving not even ashes behind.

"No! Oh my god, that man was so foolish! Couldn't he see that Empress Yu, a dignified member of the Seven Great Historical Demons, was merely using him from beginning to end? Not just him, but the entire White Feather Clan was nothing but pawns in her hands..."

Outsiders could clearly see the truth, so how could Yu Zun not understand? His love for this woman was truly profound and mutual. He knew he couldn't stand by and watch his beloved die before him. Since he was no match for Xu Yang and powerless to alter the inevitable, he could only offer his life as a sacrifice, protecting her until his last breath.

This scene did not provoke any excessive emotion in Xu Yang. He even felt a pang of pity for the deeply loyal Yu Zun, believing his sacrifice was somewhat undeserved.

"To tell you the truth, you've just lost your most precious possession: that man's devoted protection. In the end, you've lost everything, and the hope you pursued was nothing but an empty dream. This outcome is entirely your own doing; you have no one else to blame."

Xu Yang did not continue to punish the crazed woman. He could already clearly hear the sound of Empress Yu's shattered spirit. Having lost her Dao Heart and her obsession, the Empress could no longer pose any threat to the four of them.

"Was I... truly wrong...?"