“BOOM !!”

Thunder rumbled, the world darkening as if in an instant.

Though it was day, everything grew pitch black.

Rain poured down, yet the fighting raged on.

Zhao Zhen, clad in armor, was drenched. He looked up at the sky as if waiting for something.

He raised his hand, holding a Talisman. With a flick, it burst into flames.

“ROARRR!”

A Dragon’s Roar seemed to echo beside his ear.

Only he could hear this roar.

“Clang!”

Zhao Zhen drew his sword, tugging the reins.

“Hyah!!”

His warhorse charged. In his twilight years, Zhao Zhen felt a surge of unstoppable power.

He swung his long sword, fighting fiercely through blood and rain.

Joy surged through Zhao Zhen. Remembering decades of reviewing troops from his tent, watching battles, he had always regret growing old.

“Hahaha, hahaha…”

Zhao Zhen laughed heartily. As thunder crashed, his sword never ceased its motion.

Fleetingly, it felt like those early days of endless battle—a memory burned into his soul for life.

Shang Lu tugged his reins and charged forward.

“BOOM!!!”

Another thunderbolt struck.

The two met: black and white, like opposing pieces on a cosmic board.

Shang Lu gripped his Long Saber, watching Zhao Zhen. “Long time no see.”

Battle lust filled Zhao Zhen’s eyes. “Do you regret saving my life back then?”

“Not at all.”

Shang Lu grinned. “Without that day, how could today happen?”

“Good!!”

Zhao Zhen laughed, pointing his sword at Shang Lu. “I borrow fortune from the Son of Heaven to reclaim my past! We are destined for this fight!”

Wind howled around them. Rain pelted down. Thunder rolled. Darkness and fear choked the whole battlefield.

The rain came down in sheets, battering their faces. The gale screamed, churning water into froth. Waves crashed repeatedly like a drumbeat. Each raindrop felt like a sharp arrow, soaking their clothes to the skin.

Their gazes locked—sharp, filled with killing intent.

They stared across the distance.

A bolt of lightning struck behind them, illuminating both faces.

Shang Lu violently yanked his reins. His startled horse reared, hooves slamming water. Leaning low, gripping the Long Saber, he lunged at Zhao Zhen.

Zhao Zhen’s gaze burned. He tugged the reins. As the horses charged, saber and sword collided. Each splash of water seemed to carry murderous energy.

Saber and sword—neither gave ground.

But when the horses finally stopped, both men instinctively looked at their weapon hands.

Their palms were split open!

Their eyes narrowed sharply at each other.

“Come!!”

With a mighty shout from Zhao Zhen, following that clash, he felt his blood boil.

Shang Lu faced him squarely.

In martial skill, Shang Lu surpassed Zhao Zhen.

But in sheer battle aura, Zhao Zhen held a slight edge.

Zhao Zhen’s sword style came from Beixiang. Its patterns were open and sweeping, emphasizing overwhelming offense over cautious defense. Yet, it seemed tailor-made for him.

That sheer spirit—came at the peak moment!

They exchanged blows many times, neither gaining advantage.

Raging wind roared past their ears. Thunder cracked incessantly as if the sky itself was splintering apart.

Their movements were sharp. Blade gleams and sword flashes sparkled through the rain, tangling and dancing—briefly dodging, slashing, clashing.

Zhao Zhen’s sword path flowed wild. Shang Lu’s saber style seemed low-key and simple, yet was strangely complex and ever-changing. Every swing brimmed with deadly energy.

“Whoosh.”

The long sword slashed close to Shang Lu’s face. It skimmed past him, leaving a faint bloody mark.

Meanwhile, Shang Lu scored a slash on Zhao Zhen’s shoulder. The shock force pierced his armor, leaving a wound.

“Clang!”

They locked weapons again.

Shang Lu leaped onto his horse, then vaulted off, bringing his saber straight down towards Zhao Zhen.

Zhao Zhen yanked his reins, slapped his horse’s back, and raised his own sword.

Both landed, splashing muddy water.

Battle cries filled the sky. The Ying River ran crimson with blood.

This torrential rain brought darkness, seemingly trying to shroud the tragedy unfolding below.

The stench of blood hung heavy, thick with endless carnage.

Spotting an opening in Shang Lu’s defense, Zhao Zhen charged, unleashing a furious barrage of attacks.

His sword lunged forward, piercing Shang Lu’s saber defense effortlessly. It struck solidly on his shoulder.

Gritting his teeth, Shang Lu grabbed Zhao Zhen’s sword blade.

Blood oozed between his fingers.

Their gazes clashed again.

Seizing the moment, Shang Lu twisted his body, launching a fierce punch.

Caught off-guard, Zhao Zhen took the blow squarely.

A grunt escaped him. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, which he defiantly swallowed.

He also lost grip on his sword.

Where the sword and saber landed, neither knew now.

In the deep gloom, they couldn’t begin to search for them.

Shang Lu clenched his fist. He surged forward again, fists flying. He tangled with Zhao Zhen wildly.

Fists met flesh. Blood Qi erupted all around them.

“THUD!”

Zhao Zhen threw a punch that swept past Shang Lu’s side.

Shang Lu used Yuan Taigu’s momentum, grabbing his robes with a claw-like grip. He tore down, leaving deep gouges.

“Spirited!!!”

Zhao Zhen laughed wildly.

Suddenly, he launched himself at Shang Lu. Fist drove deep.

Zhao Zhen’s punch sent Shang Lu staggering back. But he quickly regained his footing. Then he struck back. His leg hooked viciously toward Zhao Zhen’s knee.

Zhao Zhen twisted aside. Shang Lu didn’t relent. He unleashed a rapid salvo of jabs and punches. Breath catching, Zhao Zhen shifted into defense. He couldn’t counter just yet.

Then Zhao Zhen exploded forth with both fists driving towards Shang Lu. Shang Lu dodged instinctively. But Zhao Zhen moved with unprecedented speed this time. His strike slammed into Shang Lu’s abdomen with brutal force.

Shang Lu felt his insides shudder sharply. His breath rushed out violently.

Shang Lu scanned Zhao Zhen’s movements hungrily, hunting for vulnerability. Waiting. Finally, in the instant Zhao Zhen changed guard to attack… his chance came.

Shang Lu seized Zhao Zhen’s wrist suddenly. He yanked fiercely, pulling Zhao Zhen forward off balance. At that moment a hard sweep kick lashed from below.

Zhao Zhen crashed backwards landing heavily several strides away in the muddy runoff.

Shang Lu immediately bounded toward him clearly seeking a finishing blow. But just as he verged upon finishing it… Zhao Zhen’s hand clamped like lightning upon his ankle.

“COME DOWN!!!”

And violently hauled him backwards and down. Thrown off balance Shang Lu sprawled heavily across Zhao Zhen’s torso. Immediately Zhao Zhen shifted trapping him beneath and began to rain brutal blows down upon his head and chest.

Shang Lu flailed madly fighting to break Zhao Zhen’s pin. However with dominating leverage above him now Zhao Zhen drove raining fists harder and harder making escape seem impossible soon. Strikes resonated sickeningly.

“ZHAO ZHEN!!!!”

Ultimately fury consumed Shang Lu. He exploded upwards shattering Zhao Zhen’s hold upon him. Wildly shouting he surged forward maraudingly once more bringing devastating attacks against Zhao Zhen utterly unbridled now.

Life-or-death struggle resumed instantly. Locked again evenly neither yielded an inch until Shang Lu erupted rabidly relentless seeking to tear Zhao Zhen’s throat out with bare hands it seemed increasing ferocity until Zhao Zhen now barely holding.

Zhao Zhen faced annihilation yet desperately refused yielding. Gathering last reserves he unleashed one desperate counterattack. Violently twisting his back suddenly towards Shang Lu then exploding fists backwards with crushing force.

Shang Lu attempted evading but already clearly too late. Teeth jarring impact echoed as Zhao Zhen’s blow crashed solidly against his breastbone.

Shang Lu grunted sharply staggering several paces struggling to steady himself.

Yet following this ultimate exertion…

Zhao Zhen was finished. His strength evaporated. He collapsed backwards heavily onto flooded earth.

“SPLASH.”

Mud-caked water swirled skywards blinding Zhao Zhen as it landed into his eyes.

“Truly stirring…”

The words murmured across Zhao Zhen’s lips faintly.

Rain pummeled his upturned face. His expression glazed wistfully momentarily. Merely an instant later not a trace of black remained within his now entirely silvered hair.

The last flush of vigor faded away from his face entirely.

Power forcibly borrowed from Heaven… inevitably exacts its toll.