Amidst the crimson lightning, time and space plunged into a strange dimness.

It wasn’t just the corrupted army before him.

Even dust, gravel, and water droplets froze in an instant, locked within the emergent lightning Domain.

The very air seemed to ignite. In a flash, the corrupted army was shattered by countless slashes, dissipating like a thin mist under a blazing sun.

It felt like hours had passed, but it was all over in an instant.

"Hmph. Just another soul for my blade."

Westheid withdrew Shadow-Born. As the crimson blade spun back into its sheath, the twisted Tree Spirit that had been behind him collapsed with a crash. Its body was rapidly consumed by crimson embers, turning into flying ash.

This Tree Spirit had been the most conspicuous member of the corrupted army’s wave. Over fifty meters tall, its body was covered in dark purple and eerie green thorny vines. It even wielded a longsword made of amber, wrapped around its arm.

It looked absurdly strong, but sadly for it, it just served as a target for Duke Qinghui to display his power. It was killed in an instant (no mercy).

Westheid had personally witnessed Wan Qi use this Combat Technique to annihilate the Chaos Demon Army countless times. Now, attempting to replicate it himself, he confirmed it was just as terrifying as he remembered.

’Of course, I can’t compare to Wan Qi, but I’m satisfied just to achieve a passing resemblance. The power I displayed even surpassed that of an ordinary Legend.’

The only problem was the side effects.

Westheid looked at his arm. On his forearm, suffused with the Power of the Extinction Demon, scarlet cracks had appeared, sending a stinging, burning sensation through him.

The Combat Techniques Wan Qi developed were all double-edged swords that inflicted eight hundred points of damage on the user for every thousand dealt to the enemy. But with the souls of hundreds of millions of his people as fuel, he could use them without any burden.

Though Westheid had the devouring attribute of the [Dragon Soul Furnace], sustaining the technique’s cost was a significant strain. He couldn’t use it frequently.

The Duke of Qinghui adjusted his breathing and slowly turned around.

Even the trusted Warriors, long accustomed to seeing Westheid’s devastating power, were struck silent by the might of that single, army-clearing slash.

In the vast expanse between Westheid and the frontline legion, there was only a barren wasteland, torn asunder by crimson lightning and embers.

"What are you all still waiting for? Your Majesty is already leading the charge! How can his retainers still be cowering back here?!"

Yolanda was the first to react. The platinum-blonde young woman raised her Glowing Blade high and shouted with excitement,

"Qinghui Legion, advance!"

The ranks at the rear began to sweep across the battlefield, advancing toward the Corrupted Holy Tree. Following the [Crown of Fire] were the Qinghui Guard.

The objective of this battle was clear: to take out the Corrupted Holy Tree entrenched in the capital of Winter Fall with a single, decisive blow.

A war of attrition was unwinnable. They were at a disadvantage in terms of both resources and time.

Whether for tactical reasons or for his own advancement, finishing the job in a single, decisive battle was the best option.

"Teacher West, are you all right?"

Mivana’s voice came from beside him. The Wolf-eared Maiden glanced at Westheid’s arm, her elegant brows furrowing in concern.

"I’m fine. It will heal on its own."

Westheid shook his head and grabbed the scabbard of [Shadow-Born].

’Even if I can’t use Wan Qi’s Combat Techniques, I have plenty of other cards up my sleeve.’

He’d just had the complete [River of Qinghui] shared with him by Yolanda. ’Even though I’ve always had my reservations about my own family’s ancestral skills, thinking them flashy but impractical,’ he mused, ’I don’t think I’ve ever really used any of the Qinghui Series Combat Techniques.’

’The Qinghui Guard also use the [River of Qinghui]. As Duke Qinghui, it would be inexcusable if I couldn’t lead by example.’

With Westheid at the fore, war constructs and the Qinghui Guard formed the vanguard, tearing through the thorny thickets outside Winter Fall’s capital like a sharp dagger and advancing straight for the Corrupted Holy Tree.

Although the plans for this new path had been made long ago, this was the first time the Qinghui Guard had taken to the field as a fully formed unit. Only the most zealous and talented Warriors were fortunate enough to share in their Monarch’s very blood and bone. They were the most loyal of elites, and with their Monarch leading the charge, the Qinghui Guard would not be left behind.

Even if they lacked the ability to protect their Monarch, they considered it an honor to pave his way.

Westheid and Mivana were in the first echelon, advancing steadily alongside the Qinghui Guard.

When commanding from the rear, the Duke of Qinghui had a thousand things to consider. But here on the front lines, Westheid only had to focus on one thing: slaughtering the enemy.

A pure, bright radiance flickered outside Winter Fall’s capital as a dazzling variety of Qinghui Combat Techniques annihilated any enemy that dared to stand in their path. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Whether they were corrupted plants and beasts, raptors diving from the sky, or man-eating monstrosities from the toxic swamps, nothing could stop the advance of the radiant blades.

Advancing with such unstoppable momentum, they pushed on without rest and broke into the capital of Winter Fall within two days, arriving at the foot of the Corroded Giant Tree.

"Did we really break through their defenses this easily?"

Yolanda said in disbelief, after leading the Qinghui Guard on a patrol throughout the corrupted, fallen capital.

"So, is the resistance inside the city actually weaker?"

"That’s normal. The corrupted army didn’t have many reserves to begin with; they deployed most of them on the perimeter. Once we broke through, their troop-spawning speed couldn’t keep up."

Westheid said calmly, then ordered the Qinghui Guard to clear out the crimson fungal clusters growing on the ruins.

The Corrupted Holy Tree’s power was indeed comparable to that of the [Dirt World Desolate God], but most of its strength lay in its potent corruption and growth abilities. As long as it wasn’t completely eradicated, the tree could endlessly generate a massive corrupted army.

Its style could be described in a single word.

Turtle.

It turtled at the start and in the early game. It turtled through the mid-game and into the late game. Its entire strategy was to play defensively and macro up. It was a master of the build-and-defend playstyle.

Therefore, the key to dealing with the Corrupted Holy Tree was a blitz. If they could launch an all-out assault within the one-month window of the Little Holy Tree’s reversal, the threat would be minimized.

However, after they broke through, the Corrupted Holy Tree’s defense mechanisms were daunting:

Its roots and massive trunk were encased in countless thick vines, thorns, and plant-based Barriers. It looked like a fragile structure made only of vegetation, but it withstood innumerable cannonades and Magic spells, remaining completely unshaken.

"This turtle shell... is going to be a pain to crack."

Westheid clicked his tongue. This was the Corrupted Holy Tree’s final defense mechanism: one of the best "bunker" defenses in the entire Mortal World.

Countless people had made it to the foot of the Corroded Giant Tree, only to meet their bitter end at this very Barrier.

As long as the Corrupted Holy Tree stood, the toxic miasma surrounding it would continue to spread. The Qinghui Guard could resist it for the time being, but over a long period, even ordinary High-tier Transcendents would be gravely affected.

Just then, the Lady Knight volunteered,

"Leave it to me."

"Hm? You’re going to...?"

Though Westheid was puzzled, he still stepped aside to make way for her.

Mivana took a step forward and raised her Knight’s Silver Sword. After gathering her power for several breaths, she brought it smashing down.

"BOOM—"

A brilliant flash of white, bright enough to cause temporary blindness, scattered the gloomy miasma. A torrent of power erupted from the tip of the Silver Sword, washing over the roots of the Corroded Giant Tree.

The Light Cannon-like torrent of Magic Power resembled a flowing stream of countless molten Gold, pure silver, and colored gems, all fused together. It radiated with incredible heat and might.

The daunting, tangled thorns and shrubs, along with the thick oaken Barriers, were washed over by the torrent and began to soften at a visible rate.

"[Annihilation Light Punishment]... You already know how to use that."

Westheid remarked in surprise.

The Light Cannon Mivana had unleashed was none other than the signature, high-skill Combat Technique of the Yonglan Knights: [Annihilation Light Punishment].