Chapter 57: The Final Blow

Xiang Yingtian suddenly sank his teeth into the neck of the Phantom Demon. Black blood spurted out with a hiss, its salty stench flooding his mouth.

Everyone stared in shock at the scene before them, unable to believe Xiang Yingtian had descended to such depravity. The only one who remained calm was Crane in the Clouds; he knew that Xiang Yingtian, with nowhere left to turn, would inevitably make such a choice. He had merely accelerated the moment. Crane in the Clouds had no wish for a venomous serpent lurking in the shadows, waiting for a chance to strike. That perpetual unease was something he detested.

Everyone present was stunned, watching as Xiang Yingtian drained the Phantom Demon’s blood and slowly rose to his feet. Only then did they realize the gravity of the moment. A chilling, sinister aura emanated from him, his beast-like gaze sweeping over the crowd and sending shivers down their spines.

Suddenly, his gaze settled on Crane in the Clouds. He grinned, blood still dripping from the corners of his mouth, “It seems your obsession with me runs deep.”

Crane in the Clouds met Xiang Yingtian’s eyes without a trace of fear. “Very well, let me put an end to you once and for all.”

Sensing danger, Snow Crimson stepped forward to block Crane in the Clouds, frowning at the creature Xiang Yingtian had become. “Brother Crane, do not underestimate him. Xiang Yingtian is now fully corrupted, his power greatly increased. You may not be able to handle him alone.”

Snow Crimson’s eyes flashed with apprehension as he looked at Xiang Yingtian in his monstrous state.

Crane in the Clouds remained unperturbed, patting Snow Crimson’s shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Brother Snow. Leave it to me.”

Snow Crimson watched Crane in the Clouds’ calm demeanor and gradually relaxed his tense posture.

“Please step aside. I wouldn’t want you caught in the crossfire,” Crane in the Clouds warned.

Did Crane in the Clouds have some secret weapon? With this thought, Snow Crimson moved to the side, quietly on guard and ready to act at the slightest sign of trouble.

Xiang Yingtian, his gaze wild and beast-like, watched Crane in the Clouds’ smiling face and instinctively sensed danger. He could not afford further delay. He dropped to all fours like a wild animal, his body arched, jaws wide, lunging at Crane in the Clouds.

But Crane in the Clouds was prepared. As soon as Xiang Yingtian moved, Crane in the Clouds sidestepped, easily evading the attack. Stabilizing himself, he spun around. In his palm appeared an object, about an inch long, cylindrical at the base and sharply pointed at the tip.

Mist-Waves Wanderer instantly recognized its origin. His suspicions about Crane in the Clouds’ identity deepened. That object was the treasure of Peacock Manor; how could it possibly be in Crane in the Clouds’ possession?

Indeed.

Crane in the Clouds had produced the legendary Peacock Plume, one of the seven famed weapons from Gu Long’s novels. When he received it as a reward from the system, even Crane in the Clouds himself was stunned. This was the source of his confidence.

Infused with his inner strength, the Peacock Plume radiated a pale blue glow, an overwhelmingly powerful and dangerous aura spreading outward. Anyone with a discerning eye recognized what Crane in the Clouds held. None had expected Crane in the Clouds to be connected to Peacock Manor—intimately so, it seemed. Otherwise, the Peacock Plume would not be in his hands.

Could it be…?

A wild, absurd thought surfaced in everyone’s mind.

At that moment, Xiang Yingtian, standing within the range of the Peacock Plume, felt its terrifying power most intensely. His beast-like pupils contracted sharply, his hair stood on end, and he let out a low growl as the heavy scent of death enveloped him.

“You should be grateful to die at the hands of the Peacock Plume, the greatest hidden weapon in the world,” Crane in the Clouds said, his face pale as paper, his voice tinged with anticipation.

He was curious just how terrifying the Peacock Plume’s true power could be.

But to fully activate the Peacock Plume required vast reserves of inner strength. If Crane in the Clouds had not absorbed the powers of Ding Chunqiu, Jade True Master, and Boundless Master in succession, his pallor would have been the least of his concerns—he would have been drained to a husk.

Even so, it was still not enough to fully awaken the Peacock Plume.

Let’s see just how much you can absorb!

Clenching his teeth, Crane in the Clouds squeezed out every last drop of energy, pouring it into the Peacock Plume.

As the Peacock Plume received this surge of energy, its glow intensified, flickering rapidly.

Just as everyone expected to witness its power, the light suddenly vanished, as if nothing had happened.

“What?” Crane in the Clouds stared, dumbfounded at the Peacock Plume’s abrupt failure.

Damn it! Was this some kind of joke? Didn’t the system guarantee premium quality?

Disappointment was written across everyone’s faces. It had looked so impressive, but after all the anticipation, it turned out to be a dud.

“I told you, Crane in the Clouds couldn’t possibly possess the Peacock Plume.”

“Well, that backfired. I wonder how Crane in the Clouds will get out of this now.”

“…”

Even Xiang Yingtian, previously intimidated by Crane in the Clouds’ display, realized it had all been a bluff, utterly harmless.

“Hahaha!” Now transformed into the Phantom Demon, Xiang Yingtian’s laugh was hoarse, as grating as glass dragged across a blackboard.

After his brief laughter, he locked eyes on Crane in the Clouds, the black mist swirling violently around him.

But just as Xiang Yingtian was about to strike, the Peacock Plume, which had earlier fizzled out, began to shimmer with subtle light.

In just a few breaths, the pale blue points of light flared up, enveloping the entire Peacock Plume like a wildfire.

A clear, resonant peacock cry rang out.

With the sound, an even greater power than before began to awaken from its slumber.

As everyone marveled at this force, they were even more astonished to witness a massive peacock phantom slowly materializing behind Crane in the Clouds.

The peacock’s image grew increasingly solid, its tail unfurling in dazzling colors.

Seeing this, those who had doubted Crane in the Clouds fell silent, their eyes wide with amazement.

They had not expected the Peacock Plume to unleash not only immense power, but also such beauty.

At this moment, Xiang Yingtian could no longer laugh. His expression turned utterly grim.

He felt the overwhelming aura of death pressing upon him.

If he were struck, he feared his soul would be destroyed.

Xiang Yingtian wanted to escape, but as the Peacock Plume fully activated, it locked onto him with unyielding force.

With escape impossible, only a desperate struggle remained.

He swept his hands, gathering powerful energy into his palms.

A golden fist-mark appeared.

But even then, the deathly aura persisted, undiminished.

Without hesitation, he bit off his own arm, blood spraying everywhere.