Human Clan Defender-Chapter 726 - s The Holy Slaying Blade, Defeating the Emperor (Four-in-One, Seeking Monthly Tickets)

BOOM!!

A terrifying strike descended, causing the void to annihilate and shatter. However, just as that force was about to consume the incarnation, its body dissipated, transforming into a streak of blood-light and fleeing. This sudden turn of events left Ran An stunned; he had never seen an incarnation escape in such a manner.

Just then, the void before him silently cracked open, and a person stepped out. In an instant, a terrifying aura swept through Heaven and Earth, pervading the void. At that moment, the Saint Rank Defender Envoy's Domain, as if encountering some terrifying existence, shattered and disintegrated inch by inch. The Domain was violently destroyed.

The powerful backlash caused Ran An's flesh to tremble, his qi and blood surged uncontrollably, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. With the blood expelled, the pressure on his entire body dropped sharply. Despite this, his mind found no relief; instead, it grew exceedingly solemn.

"Shen! Chang! Qing!" Seeing the newcomer, Ran An's face was a mask of shock and horror.

Compared to the incarnation from moments ago, Shen Changqing's aura was now terrifyingly more intense by an unknown multitude of times. He simply stood there, yet it was as if he could suppress Heaven and Earth itself. Ran An did not understand why there had been such a monumental change in his opponent in a mere breath's time.

While Ran An was still reeling in shock, Shen Changqing stood with one hand behind his back. In the palm of his other hand, a golden droplet of blood, now much dimmer, rested quietly.

"I didn't expect that after only a year or two, Defender Ran would have already broken through from Venerable Rank Defender to attain the Saint Rank. This is indeed a cause for congratulations!"

Ran An remained silent, his gaze filled with uncertainty as he watched the other man. Even now, he still couldn't comprehend what had just transpired.

At this time, Shen Changqing opened his mouth and swallowed the golden droplet of blood, his expression remaining calm.

"To be able to fight my Essence Blood Incarnation to such an extent, Defender Ran, your strength likely ranks within the top five in the world today. Given more time, you might well have had a chance for further breakthroughs. However, it is truly a pity—"

He shook his head slightly, his words laced with regret.

These words caused Ran An's expression to change drastically.

"Essence Blood Incarnation!"

What did that mean? The opponent he had battled so fiercely for so long was merely an incarnation formed from a single droplet of Essence Blood?

From beginning to end, he hadn't sensed anything amiss.

His first reaction was to think Shen Changqing was deliberately trying to unsettle his mind. However—the sheer aura that could cause his own Domain to instantly crumble sent shivers of terror through his soul.

If what the other party said was true, then what terrifying level had his true self's strength reached?

Meanwhile, after swallowing the Essence Blood, Shen Changqing looked at Ran An calmly, as if gazing upon a dead man.

"Defender Ran, you have helmed the Great Liang Demon-Subduing Division for many years, suppressed Demon Evils across various regions, and safeguarded peace. Although Great Liang is not Great Qin, it is still part of the Human Clan. Therefore, I will give you one chance. If you can withstand this next attack, I will let you live. If not, then you have no one to blame but yourself."

Upon hearing this, anger at being so flagrantly underestimated surged within Ran An, yet alongside it was a desperate desire to live. Facing the current Shen Changqing, he had absolutely no confidence in resisting. A true fight would undoubtedly leave him with no hope of survival. But, if it was merely a matter of enduring a single move, then perhaps there would be no problem.

Ran An was not afraid of death. However, having just broken through to the Saint Rank, he did not wish to perish here, before Fallen Saint Pass. Moreover, with Shen Changqing's appearance, the allied forces of Great Liang and Dayue were as good as defeated. If he were to fall here, Great Liang's strength would be severely crippled, and the nation would inevitably be thrown into turmoil. This was not an outcome Ran An desired. No matter what, he could not die.

Steadying his mind, he mustered all his power, his originally waning aura surging back to its peak.

Seeing this, Shen Changqing said no more. His hand gripped the scabbard at his waist, his thumb pressing against the saber hilt, pushing it slightly forward.

Half an inch of the blade emerged from the scabbard.

A saber light, as if capable of sundering the heavens and splitting the earth, manifested in the void. The void twisted and shattered. Heaven and Earth seemed to plunge into utter stillness. Everyone froze, instinctively looking up at the void, their vision completely filled by that single streak of saber light.

It felt as if a mere moment had passed, yet also an eternity. When the saber light finally vanished, everything returned to calm.

In the void, Ran An's face bore a complex expression—a mixture of tears and laughter, as if a great burden had been lifted from him. After a long pause, he slowly asked, "Can you spare the others?"

"Yes," Shen Changqing nodded.

At those words, Ran An closed his eyes. His body split into two halves and plummeted from the void.

"What a pity!" Shen Changqing's expression was indifferent.

Ran An's strength and talent were truly commendable. But since he had invaded Great Qin, Shen Changqing, as a Great Qin Defender, had no reason to stand idly by. In that final saber strike, he had already held back considerably. The Holy Slaying Saber had not been fully unsheathed; merely a fraction of its might had been unleashed. Yet, even that fraction of its power was more than Ran An could withstand.

His death was a foregone conclusion.

Watching the body fall from the void, Shen Changqing glanced indifferently at the army below before stepping into the air and vanishing.

Below, the scene was deathly silent.

Beiming Wang stared in utter disbelief at Ran An's falling corpse, an endless tide of fear engulfing his heart.

Impossible, it's impossible—

He still couldn't believe that Ran An, who had broken through to become a Saint Rank Defender Envoy, had been instantly killed by Shen Changqing.