With a deep breath and a surge of determination, Zhang Dong unleashed the full extent of his power. His attacks became more relentless, his movements more precise, and his resolve unbreakable. The throne room became a battleground of epic proportions, with energy blasts and shockwaves shaking the very foundations of the city. The transformed Long Qing, now a monstrous force of destruction, roared in defiance as it fought back with all its might.

Their energies collided with such force that it created a shockwave that rippled through the entire throne room, shattering everything and causing the very Goliath to quake. The fate of the city, the empire, and countless lives hung in the balance.

As the battle between Zhang Dong and the transformed Long Qing reached its climax, the throne room became a chaotic maelstrom of energy and destruction. The very air crackled with power as the two adversaries unleashed their most devastating attacks against each other. The throne itself crumbled into dust, and the grandeur of the room was reduced to rubble.

The entire Azure Palace quaked as the formidable figure of the Azure Emperor grew increasingly powerful. He stood on the precipice of breaking free from this chamber, putting Zhang Dong’s people outside in grave danger. The monstrosity born within these walls had no semblance of reason; it attacked him solely because he was the sole living person nearby. If he were to retreat, his people would be at risk of being devoured by this entity, which was evidently more formidable than a typical Great Circle Nascent Soul Master.

Zhang Dong knew that he couldn't afford to hold back any longer. He had to end this once and for all, even if it meant risking everything. The transformed Long Qing, now a nightmarish amalgamation of his former self and the corrupting power of the Goliath, lunged at him with a ferocity that was beyond human comprehension.

In that critical moment, Zhang Dong channeled all of his energy into a final, devastating attack. His body glowed with an intense, blinding light as he summoned the full power of his Dao of Heavenly Lightning, his martial prowess, and his mastery of all other paths that he had taken. With a thunderous roar, he unleashed a devastating strike and directed it at the creature’s chest area where the soul also resided. This being of malice and corruption could not be harmed in any normal way, its soul needed to be eradicated.

The transformed Long Qing let out a deafening, agonized scream as the light engulfed his chest. The energy that had corrupted his being began to dissipate, and for a brief moment, the true Long Qing shone through. Zhang Dong could see the pain and regret in his brother's eyes as the corruption was instantly purged along with his very soul.

“I’m sorry it had to come to this…”

Zhang Dong was discontented with the way things had unfolded. He had exerted every effort to avoid the scenario that the Overseer had orchestrated for them. It was evident that the Empress had likely been influencing Long Qing from the very beginning. She was the true instigator and might have been observing the battle from a distance. His initial hope had been to resolve this without resorting to violence, but it had become clear that this was the only means to rescue the citizens trapped in the capital city.

The Azure Emperor's expression appeared serene as he attempted to whisper something in Zhang Dong's direction. However, before long, the light in his eyes faded, and his body started to disintegrate before Zhang Dong's eyes. A colossal hole had emerged in the Emperor's chest as Zhang Dong poured his entire being into the final strike. Beyond the gaping chest wound, a clear path had been created, blasting through the entire throne room and revealing a breathtaking view of the azure sky.

As the transformed Long Qing disintegrated, the oppressive presence of the Goliath began to wane. The energy cage surrounding the city gradually dissipated, and the citizens who had been trapped and controlled by the malevolent machine began to regain their freedom. Outside, Zhang Jin and the fleet watched as chunks of rocks started falling down to the ground. A cascade had begun as the monstrosity was no longer being controlled by anything and could no longer sustain its massive body.

The city, once concealed beneath a heavy shroud of rocks, began to reemerge. Within its confines, the trapped citizens gradually awakened, with some already assembled in the square, having been rescued by Zhang Liena and the other elders. With the absence of the Azure Emperor, all the constructs and bizarre entities within the city started to fade into nothingness.

Inside the crumbling throne room, Zhang Dong stood amid the ruins, his chest heaving with exhaustion. He had given his all in that final, decisive strike, and it had cost him dearly. But it was a sacrifice he was willing to make to save his people and put an end to the chaos that had gripped the Azure Empire.

As the dust settled, Zhang Dong noticed a faint, ethereal glow in the center of the destroyed chamber. It was the remnants of Long Qing's soul, a small, shimmering light that had somehow survived the destruction of his physical form. With a sense of sadness and regret, Zhang Dong reached out in an attempt to gently cradle the fading soul fragment.

“I wished there was another way…”

He apologized again as the soul fragment pulsated weakly. For a moment their souls connected and Zhang Dong could see some of the memories of the man that he had defeated.He saw the young Long Qing, full of hope and ambition, the protector of his clan and his people. He saw the love and warmth that Long Qing had felt for his family, and the burden of responsibility that had weighed on his shoulders. But he also saw the darkness that had consumed Long Qing, the corruption that had twisted his soul and led him down a path of destruction.

With a heavy heart, Zhang Dong released the soul fragment, watching as it faded into nothingness. He didn’t know if Long Qing's soul was at peace or if it could even be saved. The damage that he delivered to it was significant but he hoped that it was so. The victory felt hollow but his people had come out on top. With this feat, all was now over and the United Element Sect reigned supreme, or at least that would be how it looked on the outside.

‘It’s her… she really appeared…’

Before he could rejoin his people to revel in their victories, the entire area underwent a dramatic transformation. The clouds ceased to move, and all sound gradually faded away. It wasn't the first time Zhang Dong had experienced this phenomenon; it had been the same when he confronted Wang Long. Time was being suspended. The true adversary who had orchestrated events behind the scenes was about to reveal themselves, and he harbored doubts about whether he could confront them in his current weakened state.

‘I need to remain calm and pretend that I’m under their technique…’

As time came to a standstill, Zhang Dong's senses remained sharp. He knew that the Overseer, the mastermind behind the chaos in the Azure Empire, was about to reveal herself. He had to stay calm and play along with her illusion, pretending to be ensnared by her technique.

Before his eyes, a door materialized in the midst of the crumbling room. Stepping through it was the person he had feared to confront - the Azure Empress. She appeared much as she had during their last encounter, with one striking difference. Her neck bore a gaping wound, and blood had seeped into her robe.

‘Did she make him kill her?’

He recalled how the Azure Emperor's demeanor had shifted upon mentioning his family. As he gazed at the wound on the Azure Empress's neck, it occurred to him that Long Qing might be the one responsible. However, it was evident that she was not dead, as her form started to undergo a transformation right after walking through that spatial door.

‘What is that… A puppet?’

With Long Qing's demise and the annihilation of the Long Clan, there seemed to be no purpose in maintaining the facade of the Azure Empress any longer. The Overseer had reverted to its original form, resembling a humanoid puppet devoid of facial features or fingers. Its body was immaculate white, bearing joints akin to those found on typical dolls and puppets used by cultivators.

The puppet-like Overseer moved gracefully, floating towards Zhang Dong. Despite its lack of features, he could feel the intensity of its gaze, as though it were scrutinizing him. Zhang Dong maintained his pretense of being ensnared by the time-stopping technique, hoping to gather as much information as possible while staying hidden.

While he had contemplated the Dao of time, he did not master it. If he intended to confront this being then he needed to wait for an opportunity. Thanks to his system and Bob he would not be discovered and that was his plan. When the Overseer approached him, he would deliver the strongest blow that he could muster while its defenses were down. Even an expert of formidable might was susceptible to hidden attacks, as long as he could perform it while its defenses were down, it would be possible.

The puppet appeared to be more fixated on the dissipating soul that had once belonged to Long Qing. It drifted in their direction before eventually zeroing in on the man who had vanquished the Azure Emperor. It moved slowly toward him without saying a word, almost as if it were analyzing the aftermath of the battle.

There it was, a peculiar automaton that appeared devoid of a soul. Zhang Dong was uncertain; he couldn't utilize his system or spiritual sense without risking discovery. The enigmatic entity hovered above him, seemingly conducting its own examination. If it happened to discern that he was manipulating the rules of the world, he might be regarded as an adversary. Nevertheless, if the Overseer remained oblivious to his tampered system, perhaps there was no immediate need for a confrontation…