Sadly, by the time he finished crossing a tenth of the distance needed for him to leave the royal domain. Thunder roared and reverberated through the atmosphere, accompanied by streaks of light that crossed the starry sky and darted in his direction. The falling stars released dangerous glints that threatened to break the fabric of reality in their maddened break.
"How dare you ignore me?!" A deafening roar reverberated as a gargantuan silver chasm appeared in front of the advancing stars. The same thunderous screech of space turning into shredded pieces reappeared. Anyone who dared to look at the large hole was able to see that someone was standing midair behind the silver-colored black hole that threatened to break the world.
"Sheng! You bastard, how come you didn't die?!"
"Just die already!!"
"Preposterous!" one of the falling stars blinked and came to a stop. The figure of a middle-aged man appeared, quietly stepping on the starry sky with a nonchalant facial expression. The long robe that was donned on his muscular physique was made of rich silk that was infused with spiritual elements, on the long robe could be seen numerous pattern as if thousands of sword marks had been inlaid in the fabric of his dress.
The next moment, several halos of light flashed around his body. They expended outwardly before condensing back around his right arm, and the next moment his thick palm was grasping a large saber that released a macabre red hue. Following that, the large saber was raised high toward the moon and dropped down in a vicious motion that produced a strength akin to an archaic beast unleashing a ferocious bite.
A large howl resounded and accompanied the saber light that left the large weapon. The red colored attack streaked through the black sky, turning into a half-moon shaped guillotine that threatened to execute the dignified man that was once again standing on their path.
The moment the reddish blade light connected with the silver sword strike, a silent explosion arose and time crawled to a stop. Then as if the empty space where the two attacks had connected with each other was hiding a dormant volcano, an eruption came out with a tremendous shortwave that created large gusts of rotating hurricanes and cyclones that spiraled in the sky above the royal domain.
Small specks of red and silver-gold elements danced around them as the two men grasped their weapon and once again readied themselves to send out another killing strike.
"Old Wolf, let us band together and finish his life once and for all!" Another falling star turned into human-shaped figure. The man was dressed in long martial robes that was woven with the same type of material as the one used by the saber user.
"Release your spiritual souls to the utmost and explode with all your might!"
"We have to make sure this bastard dies here and now." One of them answered calmly with halos flashing around his upper body. A large bow appeared in front of him, light gathered seamlessly and formed a blinking arrow of light.
Sheng Tian looked at the men he was stopping with a small smile on his lips. The numerous emotions flashing in his eyes were exposed to the world as he couldn't help but feel mixed feeling when he gazed at the familiar figures he was now fighting.
A long head filled with black colored hair cascaded on the white robe he was wearing, his hair locks danced in rhythm with the wind flow. Giving his being an enticing demonic atmosphere. The silver and golden pattern inlaid on the white silk were hidden by large blood marks that extended all over his body. The number of injuries on his body couldn't be counted on two hands, and one of them was severe to the point where he shouldn't be able to stand up. With the large gash extending from his right shoulder to his hip.
If it wasn't for the spirit energy and vibrant life force coursing through his body, he would have passed away a few times already. But even with his advanced spirit cultivation, it was obvious that the life of the dignified prince from the Sheng Clan was coming to a bitter end.
Strangely, even in this moment, the face of the man who should have been weeping with rage couldn't help but stay serene and calm. It was as if every millisecond he was gaining for the escaping figure were worth more than everything else in the world.
His hand moved calmly and halos of light flashed for a split second. The rings of light quickly amounted to eight visible halos that shone brightly before condensing back around him right arm. A long silver colored sword appeared in the grasp of his hand, and the next moment he swung it toward the plethora of lethal blows that were flying toward him.
The space between his thumb and index finger broke down as an intense backlash of spirit power coursed through his damaged body, breaking and hacking his flesh and bones into oblivion. A pained grunt escaped his dry throat with his white robe tainted even further by the crimson color released from his open wounds.
His mouth opened wide and he coughed out and vomited a large mouthful of blood while dropping down from the sky. In the middle of his free fall, his wrist flashed dozens of times in a row as he used the last bit of spirit energy coursing through his veins to unleash several attacks.
The sword in his hand screamed and released a blinding silver-golden light, the small motion ended up producing a multitude of silver colored hole in the aerial space surrounding him. Every single attack that left his arm was weaker than the other, that didn't stop the dying man from continuing his desperate actions.
By the time his body nearly touched the ground, his calm eyes shone brightly as he twisted his body in a weird angle. A dark-colored spiritual arrow slipped past him, the leftover spiritual energy brushed around his ribs and forced a pained expression to flash on his face.
Even when dodging a spiritualist's attack, the leftover power released during their mystical techniques could produce deadly reaction as shown by Sheng Tian's body that turned into a flying kite, slamming through several trees that decorated the royal palace and its beautiful domain.
It was only after flying through dozens of blossoming trees that his blinking figure came to a stop under the solidity of a three-meter-tall brick wall. Half of his body could be seen enclosed between the orange bricks that formed the large enclosure. The impact clearly showing the ridiculous amount of strength that forced his body to fly to this place.
Clouds of dust rose and quickly formed a dome around the injured royal prince. And for a few moments, his figure disappeared from the eyes of Old Wolf's group of high-level spiritualists.
"Did that arrow land on his face?" asked one of the men with a sharp glint blinking in his vicious wolflike gaze.
The only answer he received was an unsatisfied tongue click coming from the bowman's mouth. The look in the archer's eyes clearly showed that the spirit arrow he shot at Sheng Tian didn't connect with his body.
"Let's go finish him."
"He shouldn't have more spirit power left." Old Wolf ordered as they quickly flew toward the injured prince's position.
By the time they arrived to Sheng Tian, the numerous platoon from the Shenjian Army had formed a circle around the area and stood around in a tight formation that blocked the injured spiritualist's escape.
The man in question could be seen trembling and shivering as he did his utmost in raising his damaged body from the ground.
Pained grunts accompanied the sounds of blood spilling from the numerous injuries and by the time he stood again on his two wobbly feet, a small pool of blood had finished forming under him.
The soldiers' heart tinged painfully as they couldn't help but question the event that had played tonight. Deep black lines marked their grave faces as indignation and disgust flashed in the dept of their eyes.
"Master…" a shadowy figure flashed through the blockade of soldiers. It swiftly ignored the walls of human flesh, and quickly arrived next to Sheng Tian. The hooded figure dropped to one knee on the ground and raised its head toward the royal figure he had always followed.
Sheng Tian gazed tenderly at the figure kneeling next to him. He nodded quietly as he understood that the presence of the shadow knight could only mean that the escape mission was a success.
A small smile appeared on his serene face, and with difficulty he helped the shadow knight rise on his feet.
"Come, Brother Black Night! Let's fight until we fill our heart and soul with the burning passion of blood." A maddened grin flashed on the royalty's calm features.
"Let's fight! Until we die."
The usual calm and dignified Sheng Tian turned into an evil Asura. His face transforming into a mask of viciousness and rage with his hand flashing suddenly and materializing the silver colored sword once again. The cold weapon screeched softly as it lay quietly between his trembling sword grip.
Black Night couldn't help but sigh quietly with a visible tremble traversing his tearing red eyes. The life of the shadow knight was a special existence among the imperial family, he could feel that his journey was too coming to an end.
Like his other kin, they were raised with the intent to follow, live for and protect the royal prince or princess they were assigned to.
Black Night's eyes couldn't contain all the emotions going through his mind. And it was with apparent respect placated on his face as several dark halos flashed around his body.
The next moment, the two courageous spiritualists circulated their energy and roared toward the sky.
Old Wolf's group swiftly appeared above the pair of enclosed spiritualists, and a torrent of spiraling spirit energy collapsed on their positions. The earth trembled vividly with several soldiers losing their footing.
The heart of every single foot soldier from the Shenjian Army thumped in unison. Although all the footed units were well-trained soldiers, the successive attack unleashed by the group of spiritualists would leave the heart of any low-level spiritualist shaking in fear. Let alone when the majority of the soldiers present here weren't even spiritualists to begin with.
Right before feeling his consciousness faded, the dying imperial prince from the Sheng Clan couldn't help but look tenderly in the direction of the figure that managed to escape. And as if his vision had just crossed dozens of kilometers to ascertain the situation far away, he smiled and faced his death with dignity, without feeling any regret.