Westheid’s sharp, solemn question echoed over the fields, reaching the ears of every Qinghui Warrior in their gleaming Armor.

Following this crystal-clear inquiry was a tsunami-like response.

"Victory is certain!"

"With Your Majesty leading us, we are invincible!"

"Long live Your Majesty! Your Majesty is unparalleled under the heavens!"

"Your Majesty will surely desecrate that Corrupted Holy Tree!"

"Victory! Victory! Victory!"

"Qinghui! Unparalleled under the heavens!"

The Purity People, once cool and aloof by nature, had been persistently influenced and reshaped by Westheid. Now, every one of them roared with frenzied cheers, like a bloodthirsty arena crowd.

They raised their weapons or slammed them against the ground, producing a thunderous rumble. The sound spread from one formation to the next, finally converging into a roar that seemed to shake the very earth.

The Qinghui Legion present here consisted of either veterans who had followed Westheid to reclaim their territory, or new elites raised under an education of extreme loyalty. Regardless, they all had two things in common: they were Purity People, and they held an unparalleled reverence for Duke Qinghui.

At the very center of this tsunami of cheers, Westheid showed no restraint. He spread his arms wide, a gratified smile on his face.

"That’s right, that’s right... This is how it damn well should be!"

"With me leading you, what the hell is there to be afraid of! All you have to do is trust me! Worship me! Love me!"

"No matter what lies ahead, nothing can stop the advance of the Purity Blade! Conquer! Ravage! Destroy! I am here to lead you to victory, and then to victory again!"

Westheid tore away his usual disguise of humility, self-reflection, and courtesy to his subordinates, revealing his true arrogant and conceited nature.

Yet, the more he acted this way, the more excited the Qinghui Legion became, shouting Westheid’s name with twice the fervor.

"Yes! This is it!"

"Loyalty! Faithfulness!"

"Ooh... My lord, we adore you!"

"..."

Once the cheers died down slightly, Duke Qinghui turned to the tall, flaxen-haired girl and said:

"Shamuel, please have your chariot units lead the charge. The Floating Fleet will provide support from the rear."

"Understood! Duke Qinghui, leave it to me!"

Shamuel had also been infected by the frenzied atmosphere. The tall girl’s pretty face was flushed as she covered one cheek with her hand and muttered:

"The Great Chaos Enemy has corrupted the flesh and blood of the Holy Tree that blessed us, turning it into its own cold minions. It has sullied all that is sacred and glorious. How tragic!"

"Such filth should be burned to ashes by merciless karmic fire! The combination of Shadow Fire’s black and Qinghui’s purity... Whoo-hoo!"

Shamuel didn’t delay. Still muttering to herself, she leaped onto the platform of the Crown of Fire. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

The several dozen Shadow Fire Technicians that the Shadow Flame Duke had lent to the Qinghui Territory seemed to have become permanent residents. They hadn’t returned even after the reclamation was complete, claiming they were under orders from the Shadow Flame Duke to remain here indefinitely.

Westheid naturally accepted this with a smile. After all, the Technician Path was a true rarity.

While the Qinghui Territory could rapidly build its combat strength by plagiarizing the Knight Path, the research, development, and manufacturing of war machines within the territory still relied on these Shadow Fire Technicians.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM—

Countless brilliant volleys of cannon fire spewed from fire support platforms, armored vehicles, and Floating Battleships, like a torrential downpour.

Even though they hadn’t even seen the enemy’s face, the merciless barrage of shells and bullets covered nearly every inch of land.

Westheid had always believed that lives were more important than anything, especially those of his own Purity People. ’After all, every death means one less fanatic, and the lives of all my subjects are incomparably precious.’

Therefore, trading ammunition for lives was an extremely worthwhile exchange.

Westheid leaped straight off the cliff, passing by the legions on both sides as he gave his orders:

"Continue. Although Winter Fall has only just fallen, the corrupted Little Holy Tree will contaminate the entire system. This land could be filled with traps, poison pools, and ambushes."

"Show no mercy! If it moves, it’s an enemy! If it doesn’t move, it’s a well-trained enemy!"

By the time he reached the very front lines, surrounded by his Qinghui Guard, the continuous artillery fire had mostly ceased.

After such a frantic bombardment from the Qinghui Legion, the Corrupted Holy Tree in the direction of Winter Fall finally reacted.

Wave after wave of enemy troops began to surge forward.

However, unlike the Chaos Demon Army, the Monsters nurtured by the Corrupted Holy Tree were dark purple, twisted Tree Spirits, completely mutated humans, and giant beasts.

Their forms were very distinct, not abstract like the manifestations of Chaos Undivided.

This was normal. After all, corrupted products were corrupted products, and Chaos Creatures were Chaos Creatures. The two could not be mentioned in the same breath.

But for that very reason, the corrupted army was more rational than the Chaos Demon Army, even managing to advance in actual formations.

Westheid gazed at the corrupted things, so completely different from the Chaos Hundred Forms, and noticed the expressions of excitement or fear on the faces of the Guard around him.

So he smiled, and as all eyes fell upon him, he raised his hand:

"Gentlemen! Why do you fret?"

"I shall lead the charge and accomplish three things for you."

"Break their ranks! Slay their general! Seize their banner!"

"I invite you to bear witness!"

He dared to make such a bold boast because he had the confidence to back it up. Compared to when he had just ascended to the Hero Tier, the current Westheid was terrifyingly strong.

The reason for this was his contract with Wan Qi.

The Master of Extinction had established the core of their contract within Westheid’s body, allowing him to draw upon pure Demon Power at will.

Of course, this didn’t make him invincible. The flow of Demon Power he could draw was limited, after all. But did you really think all that time Duke Qinghui spent pounding away at the Witch was for nothing?

Westheid had already aggressively pushed his link with the Evil Magic Vein to its highest state. It was likely that no one in the entire Ring of Clear Skies was more attuned to this vein than he was.

And absorbing so much Power of Extinction did more than just raise his Energy Level.

He hadn’t watched Wan Qi’s memories for nothing. Contained within them was a trove of combat data from the first Ascender of a bygone era.

Those transcendent skills and techniques had left a deep impression on Westheid.

’What’s this? Since our powers come from the same source, I can copy the Combat Techniques Wan Qi uses?’

’I can be a master of technique, too?!’

’I’m copying it. And I’ll keep on copying it!’

"Hooo—"

Westheid took a deep breath, raised Shadow-Born high above his head, and threw himself body and soul into imitating Wan Qi.

He had to merge his mindset, his Status, and his movements with that of the Ascender, the ancient Warrior. For Westheid, who had observed and personally experienced countless of Wan Qi’s battles, this was not difficult.

"The cage of destiny, the Illusion of bygone days—I shall sever them!"

CRACK—

The instant he drew Shadow-Born, the sound of thunder enveloped the land, and crimson lightning seemed to freeze time and space.

And when Westheid opened his violet eyes, they were consumed by a flame of absolute resolve.

The next moment, his figure vanished, streaking past the entire corrupted army as far as the eye could see.