This elderly man was Zhao Qingcang's teacher, the previous marshal of Great Xia Nation, Marshal Deng Qihe.

Forty years ago, in the Battle of the East Sea.

It was this very man who had severed all its heads and nailed the imperious Yamata no Orochi to the pillar of shame.

How could it ever forget the figure that had once brought it the terror of death?

However, over forty years had passed.

Calculating his age, Marshal Deng Qihe had to be at least over a hundred years old.

Among Classer, this was considered a rare high age. Even for an SS-Rank Expert whose lifespan was longer than that of ordinary Classer, it was hard to escape the erosion of time.

This could not help but surprise Qinze Taichiro.

Facing the gigantic beast that blotted out the sky, a clear sword cry rang out from Marshal Deng Qihe's hand.

"If a long worm like you can come back to life, what's so strange about this old man living a little longer?"

Hearing this familiar mocking tone, Qinze Taichiro did not get angry.

On the contrary.

He smiled.

All seven snake heads burst into deafening, wild laughter simultaneously.

"Hahaha!"

"Good, good, good!"

"Marshal Deng Qihe! To think I would see you again in my lifetime!"

Facing the enemy who had once killed him, Qin Ze did not panic. Instead, he grew increasingly hyperactive and excited. His massive body trembled with excitement, and the surrounding seawater kept sinking under the terrifying aura emanating from him.

"Back then, if I hadn't been careless and held back by those Russkies, you would never have had the chance to kill me!"

The murderous intent in Qinze Taichiro's eyes materialized into something tangible.

"Today is perfect!"

"New grievances and old grudges—let's settle all the scores from back then!"

He looked at Zhao Qingcang, then at Marshal Deng Qihe. The contempt in his eyes had long vanished, replaced by a fanatical look reserved for prey.

"You master and disciple, come at me together!"

"Let me see just how capable the two generations of marshals from Great Xia Nation really are!"

Facing this extremely arrogant provocation, Marshal Deng Qihe snorted coldly.

Taking a step forward, the the void beneath his feet solidified, sending out ripples layer upon layer.

"I could kill you back then, and I can kill you today all the same!"

"It's merely severing a snake's head once again. This old man's skills haven't grown rusty yet."

Before his words had even faded, a staggering Sword Intent erupted from his aged body and surged straight into the clouds, actually tearing open a gap in the thick dark clouds above to reveal the bright moonlight.

Battle Intent towered in Qinze Taichiro's eyes as all seven snake heads raised simultaneously, unleashing a sky-shaking, earth-shattering roar.

"Come at me!"

"I'd like to see if your swordsmanship has made any progress after forty years!"

Inside the temporary command center at Nagato Port.

Through the huge light screen of the long-range monitoring magic array, everyone's gaze was fixed on that churning area of the sea.

When that elderly yet sharp figure descended...

The entire command center fell dead silent.

Everyone's eyes widened and their mouths hung slightly agape, filled with disbelief.

"That... that person..."

"Are my eyes playing tricks on me?"

"Could that person... be... Marshal Deng?"

No sooner had those words fallen than someone spoke up in refutation.

"How could that be?!"

"Don't kid yourself! Didn't Marshal Deng die a long time ago?"

"It's been over forty years! His bones should have turned to ashes by now! Could he have come back from the dead?"

"But... but that build, that aura..."

Discussions rose one after another. All the generals looked at each other in astonishment and confusion.

At this moment, a grey-haired Old General whose face was covered in wrinkles stepped forward trembling.

He stared at the figure on the light screen, tears uncontrollably welling up in his turbid old eyes.

"It's him!"

"It's really him!!"

The Old General's voice was hoarse with emotion, yet firmly resolute.

"I used to be Marshal Deng's personal guard! I could never forget his face and voice in my entire life!"

"I'd recognize him even if he turned to ashes! I definitely haven't gotten it wrong!"

At these words, the command center exploded into commotion.

"What's going on?!"

"Why would someone who has been dead for over forty years suddenly appear on the battlefield?"

"What on earth is going on?"

Everyone was utterly bewildered and completely baffled, their worldviews thoroughly shaken.

"Cough, cough."

Amidst the clamor and chaos, Qi Zhenyun, who had remained silent all this while, coughed softly and stepped forward.

He looked around with a calm expression, his voice clearly entering everyone's ears.

"Everyone, quiet down."

"This Old General is not mistaken."

Qi Zhenyun cast his eyes toward the light screen, his expression a complex blend of emotions and awe.

"That indeed is former Marshal Deng Qihe."

"His Excellency did not die in battle back then. Instead, through certain special means, he has lived on until today."

"This is also one of our Great Xia Nation's ultimate trump cards."

"At a moment like this, we have no choice but to reveal this trump card."

As his words fell, everyone's spirits lifted as a beacon of hope pierced through the gloom shrouding their hearts.

Marshal Deng!

That legend from forty years ago was actually still alive!

"Fantastic! Fantastic!"

The bearded lieutenant general turned flush red with excitement, slamming his fist onto the table as tears glistened in his eyes.

"I knew it! Heaven will not let Great Xia perish!"

"Two marshals joining forces! No matter how formidable that long worm is, it's bound to die!"

"That's right! Two SS-Rank Experts! We're guaranteed to win!"

The long-suppressed despair was ignited, transforming into soaring Battle Intent and hope.

...

Above the sea surface.

Facing Qinze Taichiro's arrogant provocation, Zhao Qingcang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and smiled with relief.

"Teacher."

He gave a slight nod in Marshal Deng Qihe's direction.

Marshal Deng Qihe didn't turn back, merely grunting an "Mm."

"Then let us show this Qin Ze just how powerful we master and disciple are when working together!"

"Kill!"

At the command, two figures—two generations of marshals—moved simultaneously!

Zhao Qingcang moved like a ghost; taking a single step forward, the surrounding space twisted.

He chose not to attack, but instead locked his target onto Marshal Deng Qihe.

"Teacher, I will pave the way for you!"

*Buzz—!*

Marshal Deng Qihe felt a gentle spatial power wrap around him.

In the next second, the scenery before his eyes shifted dramatically.

When he reappeared, he had traversed several thousand meters, arriving right above one of Yamata no Orochi's heads!

What a fast spatial teleportation!

What precise landing control!

Marshal Deng Qihe praised silently in his heart, yet his hands didn't pause for even a moment.

Suspended in midair, the standard-issue longsword in his hand turned into a magnificent rainbow, cleaving down at the mountain-like snake head below!

"First Sword: Mountain Cleaver!"

The sword light poured like a waterfall!

Before the snake head could react, it was split right down the middle by the sword light carrying the ultimate Sword Intent!

Foul-smelling blood shot into the sky, raining down a shower of crimson.

"Roar!"

The excruciating pain caused Qinze Taichiro to unleash a furious roar.

The remaining six snake heads swiveled around at the same time, opening their bloody maws to bite down at Marshal Deng Qihe from all directions!

Six attacks sealed off all possible avenues of escape!

Yet, there wasn't a trace of panic on Marshal Deng Qihe's face.

Because he knew he wasn't fighting alone.

In the instant before those six bloody maws snapped shut—

"Bind!"

Zhao Qingcang's voice echoed.

He reached out with one hand and clenched his fingers.

The space surrounding the six snake heads solidified and hardened!

【Spatial Imprisonment】!

The six massive snake heads were frozen in midair, unable to budge.

Though it lasted for less than a second,

for a swordsmanship Grandmaster like Marshal Deng Qihe, it was more than enough.

"Well done!"

Marshal Deng Qihe let out a long whistle, gracefully pivoting his body in midair.

The longsword in his hand carved out a sword bloom, sweeping the sword light outward.

"Second Sword: River Severer!"

*Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!*

Six uniform dull thuds echoed.

Severed at the neck, the six snake heads frozen in midair fell as soaring pillars of blood dyed the entire sky red.

One strike, severing six heads!

The synergy between two SS-Rank Experts was displayed to perfection.

One was responsible for crowd control and creating opportunities,

while the other dealt damage and executed the final blow.

Relying on Zhao Qingcang's versatile spatial arts and Marshal Deng Qihe's unadorned, mastery-level swordsmanship,

the two of them joined forces to suppress the imperious Yamata no Orochi.

On the sea surface, only the bare snake body remained thrashing about, stirring up massive waves.

However...

Facing this near-certain death scenario,

a deep, wild laugh echoed from inside the snake body.

"Haha... Hahahaha!"

In Qinze Taichiro's voice, there was neither panic nor fear.

Instead, it was brimming with excitement and frenzy.

"As expected!"

"Indeed!"

"A battle like this is what makes things interesting!"