Chapter 20 — From Ruins to the Dharma Lord's Throne

Dịch Phàm walked closer to the gate of Blood Moon Tower, each step echoing on the cold stone floor. When he was less than ten steps away from the gate, a pale blue light signal flashed from his wrist — the small communication bracelet that Vũ Khanh had improved, emitting a signal that only those in the group could recognize.

At that moment, Tuyết Nhi acted. She summoned all the accumulated Ice-Water spiritual energy, creating a fierce snowstorm that suddenly covered the entire valley, obscuring vision for a few precious seconds. At the same time, Tịch Dao launched a series of bright fireballs into the sky, creating a dazzling fireworks display that caused maximum visual disturbance.

In the midst of that chaos, taking advantage of the high-speed movement ability that had been trained over many months, Tuyết Nhi glided like a ghost on the newly fallen snow, flying straight up to the balcony where Hắc Diễm was standing, using self-created icicles as temporary stairs.

Black Flame, despite the quick reflexes of a seasoned warrior, could not react in time to the speed and surprise of this attack. In the moment he had to distract himself to avoid a sharp ice pillar rushing straight at him, the blade in his hand left Liễu Thanh Hà's neck in just a split second.

That's all Dịch Phàm needed. He burst at speed, put all his spiritual energy into his legs, rushed straight through the open tower gate, through the main corridor, using the tower's architectural map that Vũ Khanh had analyzed from intelligence notes, rushed straight up the spiral staircase leading to the balcony.

Outside, the snowstorm and chaotic fireworks display continued to blind the Hắc Toái army, while the commando force and a number of elite warriors of the White Wing Alliance quickly approached, clearing a safe path so that no one could interfere in the upcoming confrontation on the balcony.

When Dịch Phàm rushed to the balcony, he saw Tuyết Nhi fighting fiercely with Black Flame, her icy attacks were constantly being broken by him with a powerful dark magic. Tần Hạo Nguyên and Liễu Thanh Hà, although still chained, were pushed back to a safer corner thanks to the chaos of the battle.

"Tuyết Nhi!" Dịch Phàm shouted, rushing into battle, joining forces with her.

Hắc Diễm, despite being surprised, quickly regained composure, his eyes shining with cruel amusement when he saw them both appear. "Interesting. I didn't expect you guys to dare to be so reckless. But unfortunately, recklessness doesn't always pay off."

He swung the jet-black greatsword, a huge stream of evil energy swept across, forcing both Dịch Phàm and Tuyết Nhi to jump back to avoid. The battle on the balcony took place with unprecedented ferocity, far exceeding anything Dịch Phàm had ever experienced before, including the battle with the Blood Hell Demon Dragon.

"You are stronger than I thought," Black Flame admitted that after Dịch Phàm dodged a fatal blow, he counterattacked with a stream of five-colored light that forced him to take a step back, and the black armor where he was touched began to crack. "The Mixed Origin Spirit Root is indeed not just a rumor."

"You will pay for what you have done." Dịch Phàm growled, coordinating with Tuyết Nhi to form a harmonious two-person formation. She used ice to control and slow down Black Flame's attacks, while he took advantage of the gaps to launch attacks to purify evil spirits, gradually weakening the dark power surrounding him.

At one moment, Black Flame unleashed a taboo dark move, summoning dozens of dark blades surrounding the balcony from all directions. Tuyết Nhi erected a protective ice dome in an instant, but the force of the attack was so great that the ice dome cracked after just a few seconds, forcing both of them to constantly move and dodge between the dark blades that were tightening the siege.

"If we only rely on defense, we won't last long!" Tuyết Nhi screamed, cold sweat broke out because she had to continuously maintain high-intensity spiritual energy.

"I have an idea," Dịch Phàm replied quickly, his eyes scanned the entire balcony in an instant, recalling every tactical lesson that Vũ Khanh had taught about taking advantage of the terrain. "When I say, jump towards the left pillar!"

At the exact moment a series of dark blades rushed from all directions, Dịch Phàm shouted the signal, both of them rolled to avoid the large stone pillar, causing the blades to crash into each other, some deeply embedded in the pillar itself, creating a moment of chaos in the Black Flame's attack line. Taking advantage of that moment, Dịch Phàm counterattacked with a powerful purifying stream aimed straight at the source of magic controlling the dark swords, causing them to shatter into pieces before they could cause any more damage.

The battle lasted, every passing minute was a life and death exchange. At one point, Black Flame almost completely overwhelmed them, forcing them both to retreat to the edge of the balcony, just a few steps from the abyss below. But their smooth coordination, forged through months of hard training together, has helped them always find a way to turn the situation around at the last minute.

"Why do you believe that war can solve injustice?" Dịch Phàm shouted in the middle of the fight, trying to both fight and shake his opponent. "You have already suffered, so why do you want to spread more suffering to millions of other innocent people?"

"Because no one ever gave me another choice!" Black Flame roared, a rare genuine anger revealed behind his usual cold shell. "I have begged for righteousness, I have begged for justice from those in power, and in response there has been only whipping and contempt! War is the only language that people like your parents truly listen to!"

"So you have become exactly what you once hated," Tuyết Nhi spoke up, her voice sharp through the howling wind. "An oppressor in the name of fighting oppression. That is not justice, Black Flame. That is just a never-ending cycle of hatred."

Those words seemed to touch something deep within Black Flame, causing him to pause for a brief moment — short enough for no one to notice except Dịch Phàm, who was observing his every expression with absolute concentration.

That's the opportunity you need. Pouring all his remaining spiritual energy, combined with Tuyết Nhi's powerful ice attack to block Black Flame's movement in an instant, Dịch Phàm jumped straight forward, placed both hands on his chest, releasing all of the most powerful purification power he had ever created.

The five-colored light exploded violently, penetrating the black armor and evil energy surrounding Black Flame's body. He screamed in pain, the dark strands of evil energy in his body burned and gradually disappeared. This is not an attack that causes direct damage, but a purification attack that targets the very source of dark power that Black Flame has relied on for the past twenty years.

Black Flame collapsed, his strength weakened significantly, but still not completely defeated. He raised his head and looked at Dịch Phàm with complicated eyes, both hatred and something almost admiring.

"You... you truly could become the greatest threat I have ever encountered," he whispered, blood pouring from the corner of his mouth.

At that moment, Tần Hạo Nguyên, although still chained, took advantage of the chaotic opportunity to use all his remaining strength, using his weak Fire spiritual root to burn the binding chains, freeing himself and Liễu Thanh Hà. The couple, although exhausted, still stood up together, standing side by side with their son for the first time after seventeen years of separation.

"Son," Tần Hạo Nguyên said, his voice shaking with both emotion and exhaustion, "I'm proud of you."

Dịch Phàm turned back to look at his parents, tears rolling down his eyes, but he knew the battle was not over yet. The Black Flame, although weakened, is still dangerous, and the entire Black Tortoise army below is still waiting for orders from their leader.

"It's time to end this," Dịch Phàm said, standing up straight, his eyes firmly looking straight at Hắc Diễm kneeling in front of him. "Not by killing you, but by permanently ending your ability to sow war."

"Are you going to forgive me?" Hắc Diễm laughed dryly, a laugh mixed with blood and bitterness. "After everything I've done to your parents, to countless other innocent people?"

"I didn't say forgive," Dịch Phàm replied, his voice filled with majesty that he did not expect to be able to express in this moment. "You will have to answer to the justice of the entire alliance of powers on this continent for the crimes committed. But I will not lower myself to your level by taking the life of someone who has lost all his strength and is no longer able to resist."

Tuyết Nhi quickly took advantage of the opportunity, summoning strong ribbons to bind Black Flame, completely neutralizing his ability to resist. From the bottom of the valley, seeing that their leader had been controlled, the ranks of Hắc Toái's army began to disorder, some dropped their weapons and surrendered, others tried to flee in panic.