“W-what have you done to me? How is this possible…”

“Oh I didn’t do much, it was your fault for attempting that stupid technique next to me. Did you think that you were the only one versed in soul arts?”

“Y-you…”

The angered self-proclaimed Obsidian Emperor mustered all his might to charge at Zhang Dong. To his dismay his movements were quite sluggish, it was as if he was neck-deep in tar. Each time he wanted to land a hit on his enemy there was something stopping him from connecting with the hits. It was as if something that was deeply ingrained into his very being wasn’t allowing him to kill this man.

“I think that’s about it, regretfully even the little trick I did won’t last forever, so this will be it for you…”

After letting his little spell take over his opponent Zhang Dong decided that he needed to finish this. During the fusion of the two flames that had a basis in soul arts, he managed to interfere with the process. It was similar to putting a person under a soul-binding contract where they couldn’t go against the contract holder. This process was forced and done rather hastily so it wouldn't last forever. Cuilu Kong was still at the pinnacle of power and not inferior to Zhang Dong in any way, a forced soul-binding technique wouldn’t last but it would keep him in place long enough for the final finish.

What was supposed to be a fight of a century was ending up being a letdown. People that were down on the ground could only watch with fear in their eyes as Zhang Dong pulled out his golden sword. After going into a stance with the blade above his head he started to charge up.

“Why isn’t the Emperor moving?”

“Is he under some kind of technique?”

“S-shouldn’t we help him? But how are we supposed to get through that thick cloud of spiritual energy?”

The generals from the Emerald Phoenix Empire started murmuring among each other. Even if they wanted to aid their leader there was a mass of metallic puppets blocking their way. They weren’t the only ones as the armies from the Heavenly Crane Sect saw this as a chance to drive them back. Their master was winning and this was the time to strike. Whenever the strongest cultivator from an enemy troop was losing, it was time to shift the tide.

“No, I refuse to die! I can’t die! I won’t die! What are you blubbering idiots doing, protect your Emperor!”

Cuilu Kong was angry, he had plotted for hundreds of years for this very moment. When Zhang Dong appeared and showed his power against his sister his long plan could finally commence. He had retreated and gave his father a good excuse forcing him to arrive in this place. During the clash, he took over all of the emerald flames that were usually passed down as the Emperor was dying. Now that he had forcefully taken them, he was supposed to be the next god among men.

Instead, he found himself at the mercy of the man in white armor and the blade above his head. Normally as someone baptized by the phoenix flames, he would not fear death, as long as some connection to them remained he could be reborn multiple times. This attack that was being built up, wasn’t simple, it contained something that caused his very soul to tremble in fear. He knew that if the sword energies collided with his body, his life would be over.

“Calling for help now? Why would the people that you so tyrannized help you out now? Wouldn’t they be joyful that they don’t have to fear the overbearing Emperor anymore?”

“What are you talking about, they live to serve… they belong to me and the dynasty, it has always been like this!”

“Is that so… how about before you die we ask them?”

“What are you?”

Zhang Dong raised the sword even higher while gathering all of his holy power. His voice was enhanced by all of this spiritual energy and with an addition of his soul power was able to resonate with everyone gathered here.

“People from the Emerald Phoenix Empire, You might have heard my name while coming to those lands, some call me the Golden Dragon and others Long Dong.”

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Some people were ready to charge up and even others were still fighting as the inborn fear of the Emerald Phoenix Emperor was still very real. They could not see their Emperor ever losing and if he remembered the faces of the people that didn’t act, all of them would die. Nevertheless, they stopped as the master of the opposing force started talking directly to their souls. For some reason they got the feeling that he was on their side, his presence was just as mighty as that of their late Emperor but much gentler in comparison.

“Hear me out, your Emperor has died and his son will follow suit. You have two options now either you continue with this pointless battle where you will surely lose or… you leave. On my name as the Golden Dragon, I will guarantee your safety and I will make a soul oath that no harm shall befall you.”

“This… how is a soul contract being formed at such a scale…”

The words echoed through their minds as a contract was being established. Something like this was inconceivable but there it was. Though they couldn’t trust in Zhang Dong’s words they could at least trust in the pact that was made. Perhaps it was some type of rouse but it looked believable, if they just retreated they would not be harmed. The only thing that they needed to do was offer up the new Emperor that was shouting at them in a rabid voice.

“What are you idiots doing? You’re not actually considering his proposal? I shall kill all your clans if you betray me! You lowly bugs belong to the Empire and I am that Empire, you serve me!”

“Hah, is this the Emperor you wish to follow? Turn back, your families are waiting for your return, let this madness end with the death of this man.”

“I… My grandchild has just been born, I was not able to see her because of the conscription…”

“My son has recently married, I have not been able to see his face in many years…”

“Me too…”

“I…”

The scary-looking cultivators started slowly inching away to the other side. For some reason the moment the soul contract was being formed they were reminded of their loved ones. A lot of these people were leaders of their own clans, sects, and factions. They had been forced to work under the Emperor and fight in this battle for supremacy. While they also had their own selfish reasons for being here, all of those started going out of the window as they started getting nostalgic.

“What are you doing? You dare retreat? I will have your heads!”

“You can stop, they can’t hear your words anymore.”

“What did you do?”

“Nothing much, I just reminded them of things that matter more than power. I’m sure you think that every person is as selfish as you are but everyone has a small sentiment somewhere deep inside, I just inched it to the forefront.”

Zhang Dong used a combination of techniques to tug on the people's heartstrings. They were more likely to retreat if they remembered their family and friends, or other things that would go away if they continued this fight. Even the stronger masters started getting sentimental which left the lesser ones open to his little suggestions even more. Soon enough they started retreating while their new Emperor was shouting up a storm. To finish this he needed to deliver the killing blow and perhaps all of this would be finally over.

“Farewell, I don’t know what happens to people like you when they die, but I sure hope that if there is an afterlife they won’t make it easy for you.”

“No…NO!”

All the energy that he gathered was pushed into his blade which started shining. The glow was blinding and mostly white as it packed a lot of soul power behind it. The trick to killing a phoenix was in destroying its soul and this was what this attack was aimed at. With a quick downward swing, the blade started cleaving down even though it took only a fraction of a second for an attack to move down, for the Obsidian Emperor it was like a century.

Zhang Dong wasn’t sure what was flashing through his enemy's mind before he died. Were there any good memories in this monster's mind? Could his father be the true villain in this instance that had led his son to crave power this much? He didn’t know but too many people had died by this man’s hand for him to feel any amount of pity. To end this war early his head needed to roll and he would be the executioner.

A beam of light flew into the sky and exploded into a radiant shower of light. It looked like a swarm of falling stars dispersing everywhere. Cuilu Kong’s body had been cleaved into two equal halves and the black body that he was so proud of began to crumble. Black flames appeared from within but quickly started turning white as they started to be cleansed from inside of his body.

The soul that kept the technique going was being destroyed and the rebirthing flames could not activate. Without the soul to stabilize the form, Cuilu Kong had died and his body started to vanish. The Obsidian Crow that was destined to black out the sun was now gone, he did not live even for one hour and his legacy would never be remembered.

From within the broken flames, one of them remained intact. It was not part of the man but similar to the triple horn that the Demi-Human Emperor’s body dropped after he was defeated. The item in question looked like a black feather made of flames, what was supposed to be emerald green had become corrupt and it term given him a little bonus. Bob’s robotic voice resounded inside of his head the moment he beckoned the black feather over.

‘The item is compatible with the user’s system, do you wish to absorb it?’

‘Yes go ahead, absorb it.’

The Dao absorption had become, what he thought would be two paths turned into three. His body was washed over by three distinct energies, Fire, Wind, and then Darkness…