Volume 3 Chapter 58: The End (2)

Concurrently, Nangong Qingshan began forming hand seals. Moments ago, he had thought dealing with someone like Xu Qingfan wasn’t worth using any mystical techniques, but now all he wanted was to make sure Xu Qingfan met a terrible end. Hence, he disregarded his usual "expert demeanor" and joined the attack personally, alongside his three tails.

This attack by Nangong Qingshan’s three tails was vastly different from before. Besides being much sharper and more agile due to the closer distance, his tails emanated a powerful chill. As they swung, a thick layer of frost rapidly formed on the ground within a hundred feet.

However, before meditating, Xu Qingfan had infused a large amount of Spirit Qi into the "Green Spirit Arm Protector," so despite the increased power of the tails, they couldn’t break through the defense quickly.

But these three tails were one of Nangong Qingshan’s deadliest weapons, and the intense cold they released was formidable. Under the influence of the cold, the green dragon guarding Xu Qingfan began to slow down, its defense weakening. The terrifying chill also made the dragon’s once-hard scales fragile, causing micro-cracks under the continuous attacks of the tails.

To Xu Qingfan, however, Nangong Qingshan himself posed a far greater threat than his three tails. Based on the Spirit Qi fluctuations emanating from Nangong Qingshan and the time he took to cast the spell, it was clear that the technique he was using was incredibly terrifying.

"Alas, you won’t have a chance to use your magic."

Xu Qingfan suddenly opened his tightly shut eyes, looking at Nangong Qingshan not far in front of him, and thought.

The moment Xu Qingfan opened his eyes, a red glow burst from his body, and a hairpin shaped like a tree branch suddenly flew out, rapidly enlarging in mid-air. In just an instant, it grew more than three feet long. As it grew, fierce flames began to emerge from the branch, and a faint phoenix cry echoed between heaven and earth.

This tree branch was Xu Qingfan’s "Spirit Control Object"—the Wutong branch.

At the same moment the Wutong branch underwent a strange change, Nangong Qingshan, who was casting a spell, suddenly paused, spewing a mouthful of bluish blood. The attacking three snake tails also retracted simultaneously behind Nangong Qingshan, trembling continually.

Phoenixes are fond of eating snake galls; they are natural foes of all serpents. This is particularly true for the Xuwei Snake, as the Phoenix not only dominates it but its innate Phoenix Spirit Fire counters the Xuwei Snake’s icy aura.

Nangong Qingshan’s fusion technique with the Xuwei Snake is indeed marvelous, granting him all the energy and abilities of the snake. Yet, it also brought with it the Xuwei Snake’s deep-seated fear of the Phoenix.

At the moment Xu Qingfan activated the Wutong branch, a powerful Phoenix Spirit Qi surged from both the Wutong branch and Xu Qingfan’s body. Sensing this aura, Nangong Qingshan felt an overwhelming fear arise from deep within, suddenly surfacing from the depths of his heart. It was inexplicable and irresistible, as if this fear had been etched into his soul for generations.

Under the influence of this terror, Nangong Qingshan’s magic faltered, ultimately suffering a backlash from his own spell, leaving him with significant internal injuries.

But Nangong Qingshan could not care about his internal injuries now. The waves of terror rising from his heart had completely taken over his body and mind, causing him to step back involuntarily.

At this moment, Xu Qingfan’s eyes emitted two dazzling red beams, and he spat out a mouthful of vital blood, spraying it onto the Wutong branch. With the help of Xu Qingfan’s vital blood, the Phoenix Spirit Fire on the Wutong branch grew even more intense.

From within the raging flames, the cry of a phoenix became clearer. A phoenix spread its wings and emerged from the fire, swiftly swooping towards Nangong Qingshan under Xu Qingfan’s control.

Seeing the phoenix take shape, Nangong Qingshan’s pupils contracted tightly. For a moment, he couldn’t even speak, only letting out constant hissing sounds of terror, much like a frightened snake.

"Boom…"

"Hiss… Hiss…"

With Nangong Qingshan unable to move, the fiery phoenix instantly collided with him, and his body was enveloped in a sea of Phoenix Spirit Fire.

The sound of roaring shook the air, accompanied by the anguished cries of a serpent.

Yet, mingling with these sounds was Xu Qingfan’s sigh.

"It’s over."

Yes, it’s over.

A forty-year-long feud, a secret within a master’s sect, a cycle of revenge and more revenge, a clash of extreme views and right and wrong, a seemingly destined confrontation.

All of this has finally come to an end.

But the truly fierce battle has only just begun.