The Name of Eternity

“Don’t run!!”

The six demon kings were furious when they saw Li Tiangang escaping. If they let Li Tiangang escape, they would not be able to explain to Madam Yin when they returned.

Roar!

They did not care about playing around anymore. They all burst out their true power, revealing their ferocious ten thousand year old true bodies, like six demon species crawling out of the abyss, exuding a monstrous aura.

Bang!

The military flag burst, and the sword energy crisscrossed. The old vine demon roared and killed. Thousands of vines gathered into a vine spear of hundreds of feet, piercing through the void and slashing at the sword energy.

The void shook, and the sword energy collapsed. The sword formation that was comparable to the full force of the Dao Heart Realm was ultimately no match for the full force of the old vine demon in the Ni Ming Realm.

Among the six demon kings, in addition to him, there was another one who was also in the Ni Ming Realm. At this moment, he also burst out his true power and slapped out with one claw, defeating another sword energy.

Li Hongzhuang's face suddenly changed, and she quickly pulled out the battle flags behind her and threw them out one after another.

Bang, bang, bang!

The military flags burst, and sword formations were released one after another. The red-gold sword energy was crisscrossed, tearing the demonic aura between heaven and earth, and killing the six demon kings.

Except for the two demon kings in the realm of reversing fate, the other four demon kings were a little afraid of this sword energy. After all, it was a full-strength attack from the same realm. Even if they used all their strength, they would be injured.

Li Tiangang looked at the red-gold sword energy and was shocked. This sword formation was more powerful than he had imagined!

His Majesty was really gracious. Li Hongzhuang brought a large bundle of such powerful battle flags. If they could be mass-produced, or if this power was handed over to him, the border of Liangzhou might not even be lost!

He sighed secretly in his heart, still a little puzzled.

After all, in his impression, His Majesty was extremely wise and powerful.

"Stop him!"

The old vine demon saw Li Tiangang and Li Hongzhuang flying farther and farther away, and he was furious. He didn't care about blocking the sword formation in the battle flag and chased them at full speed.

Whoosh!

Li Hongzhuang threw out two more battle flags in succession and exploded in mid-air.

The old vine demon waved the vine spear to break the sword energy, roared and shuttled through the sword energy, and rushed towards Li Hongzhuang at full speed.

His body only stagnated slightly, but with the continuous teleportation, he was approaching rapidly.

However, the distance he teleported was not far, and the broken sword energy turned into a sword tide, but followed closely behind him.

Li Hongzhuang threw out military flags one after another.

The sword formation broke out, and the old vine demon was broken one after another. Soon, he was surrounded by the broken sword energy frenzy.

He roared and swung out a dark withered vine, which contained dark thunder and fire, sweeping a large piece of sword energy and breaking it.

But there are still many tiny sword energies coming from all directions, but the damage is very low, hitting like raindrops.

The old vine monster was too lazy to pay attention, but suddenly, his body trembled violently, and he felt a strong omen of death.

"What..."

His pupils contracted, and his heart was horrified.

His vitality was rapidly fading, his strength was also rapidly fading, and his soul was also locked in his body, unable to break free.

He wanted to raise his strength, but he couldn't.

A shadow of death, like an invisible big mouth, was devouring his body madly!

"No!!"

The old vine monster was terrified and suddenly used the opportunity to defy fate.

The dark thunder and fire withered vine suddenly flew out from his head. This was his original body.

Ten thousand years ago, he grew up in the wilderness. There seemed to be some terrible life fighting above his head. The strange phenomenon caused a lightning flash, which split a withered vine into a charred black.

However, tender shoots grew out of the charred withered vines, gradually growing and giving birth to spiritual wisdom, and finally became the old vine monster.

At this moment, his original body suddenly broke free from the trunk and flew out.

And the huge body with countless roots fell to the sky, and the breath disappeared.

The original strange feeling of devouring seemed to be cut off by fate and disappeared.

He survived!

Although he survived, the old vine monster was horrified and looked at his original body in disbelief.

If he hadn't had the opportunity to defy fate, he might have died just now!

He lived for tens of thousands of years, but he almost died!

What does this feel like?

It feels like half a foot is on the gate of hell, and my back is still cold until now.

The other demon kings who chased him were all staring at the old vine monster, and they were obviously shocked by this scene.

Although they had heard of the power of the young battle flag, it was the first time they had seen such a strange situation.

While the six demon kings were stunned, Li Hongzhuang was also shocked, thinking of the sword energy in the battle flag that killed a demon king when she rescued her fifth brother Li Xuanli.

It was also a strange death.

She could also see that the broken sword energy was not very lethal, but it seemed that it contained hidden killing moves that they could not perceive!

Li Tiangang was also stunned. The old vine demon was in the realm of reversing fate, but he actually wasted his life for this?

At this moment, the brother and sister accelerated their escape.

Soon, they caught up with the previous army and ran towards the magic circle on the top of the city together.

Outside the magic circle, Li Xuanli and others had been waiting here for a long time. Seeing that the six demon kings were forced back by Li Hongzhuang's battle flag and could not catch up for a while, they immediately ordered to temporarily close this magic circle node.

Soon, the galloping army rushed straight into the defense line along the suspension bridge.

Li Hongzhuang handed a formation order to Li Tiangang. When all the troops entered the suspension bridge, the magic circle was opened again to prevent the demon king from taking the opportunity to attack.

Li Tiangang and Li Hongzhuang passed through the golden magic circle and came to the defense line.

"Tiangang!"

"Fifth brother!"

When the two brothers saw each other, they were so excited that they came forward to hug each other. Although they were both generals, the feelings between the two brothers had not changed for many years.

Especially since they had just experienced a life-and-death situation, if Li Hongzhuang had not arrived in time, they would have died.

Li Tiangang suppressed the excitement in his heart and quickly calmed down. He turned around and saw the six demon kings approaching again, but the old vine demon who had charged the most fiercely was now shrinking back.

"Hongzhuang, how many more battle flags are there?"

Li Tiangang asked immediately.

Li Hongzhuang quickly checked the battle flag behind her and said, "There are 23 more!"

"good!"

Li Tiangang nodded, feeling relieved in his heart. These battle flags cooperated with his words, and guarding this second line of defense would not be a problem.

"Where's Tianmen Pass? How many more are there?"

He asked quickly as he thought of something.

"There are many more there." Li Hongzhuang said.

These battle flags were pulled out by Li Hao from outside the city. She remembered that they were everywhere outside the city.

"A lot?" Li Tiangang was stunned and immediately asked: "How much is a lot? Is there a specific number?"

"Maybe a hundred?"

Li Hongzhuang was not sure either.

After all, Li Hao only told her how to use the battle flag, but not the quantity.

If all the battle flags in Cangya City were so powerful, then the number of battle flags would be at least a thousand.

But she estimated that this battle flag should be specially made, and the other battle flags were just ordinary battle flags. Otherwise, many battle flags would still be planted on the arrow towers in the city. If they were destroyed, wouldn't the entire Cangya City be destroyed.

"So many?" Li Tiangang and Li Xuanli were both stunned.

"These battle flags should be specially made. They are so powerful. It's impossible to have hundreds of them, right?" Li Xuanli asked doubtfully.

Li Tiangang nodded and said, "Didn't he tell you the quantity?"

"Didn't say."

"This bastard!"

Li Tiangang was angry: "How long has it been? You are still hiding information, so your own people can't believe it?"

Li Hongzhuang continued: "Maybe because I was in a hurry, Hao'er forgot to mention it, but I can feel Hao'er's thoughts. Maybe I misjudged, and he may have only left a small part there."

Li Xuanli nodded slightly and sighed: "Anyway, Hao'er can bring out so many battle flags to help, he really protected half of Liangzhou!"

"This is as it should be."

Li Tiangang snorted coldly: "Now that Liangzhou is in danger, Your Majesty gave him such a secret treasure. If he still keeps it secret, he is not worthy of being called the Li family at all!"

In the crowd, Li Wushuang glanced at Li Tiangang and hesitated to speak.

She still remembers clearly that when the young man faced the world's grandmaster by the Longjiang River in Dayue City, he said personally that his surname was not Li.

He no longer wants to be a member of the Li family... She said silently in her heart.

But facing the majesty of this seventh uncle, she didn't dare to speak out the words, but sighed quietly in her heart.

…

…

Tianmen Pass, Cangya City.

In the small fenced courtyard.

"Crack!"

As a white stone falls, the black stone's last escape route is completely blocked.

When there is no way out.

It's time to admit defeat.

With a smile on his face, Li Hao picked up the tea next to him and took a sip. He looked at Xu Zhouyuan, who looked gloomy and depressed in front of him, and said, "Senior, I accept the offer."

"The young general's chess skills are superb, I am willing to be defeated."

Xu Zhouyuan smiled bitterly.

"Senior is feeling uneasy, so that's it for today."

Li Hao smiled and said that he could see that the military reports that had been sent one after another made the young chess master unable to really immerse himself in the chessboard.

How can we win now that our heart is no longer there?

The heart of chess is the heart of chess. Only with the heart can you have chess.

Isn't it true for people?

Hearing Li Hao's words, Xu Zhouyuan felt relieved. He sighed softly, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, young general."

He stood up slowly and suddenly became concerned. He glanced at Li Hao and said, "Major General, Liangzhou is in danger now, so you must be careful."

Li Hao said with a smile: "Senior, are you planning to leave Liangzhou?"

A flash of red flashed across Xu Zhouyuan's face, and he was a little ashamed, and said: "We are just ordinary people, and we are afraid that staying here will hinder the general."

When Li Hao heard this, he didn't try to stay. He just nodded and said: "In that case, I won't keep you either. However, there have been frequent activities of demons outside the country these days. It might be safer for you to stay in Cangya City. I'm worried that if you are on your way, Instead, you will be in danger.”

Xu Zhouyuan's heart trembled, and then he thought about it and nodded immediately: "Thank you, Major General, for taking care of me."

"You're welcome."

Li Hao smiled and asked Ren Qianqian to see the guests off.

The other party cherishes his life and is not a soldier, so it is not something worthy of blame.

"Thank you, Miss Qianqian." Xu Zhouyuan said to Ren Qianqian in a gentle manner, still with a bit of shame on his face.

Li Hao looked into the distance, and the afterglow of the setting sun shone over, along the protective wall of the small courtyard, and reflected on the corridor, falling on half of the chessboard and half of his body.

Warm, very warm.

"The sunset is infinitely beautiful, but it's almost dusk."

Li Hao sighed softly.

Although the scenery is beautiful, it will disappear in an instant.

After drinking the last cup of tea, he was about to get up and go to practice.

Suddenly, a prompt popped up on the panel in front of him.

Li Hao saw that the number of marks on his Qiankun Map was constantly decreasing.

Beats twice from time to time.

In just a short moment, there were more than ten people reduced.

This shows that more than ten battle flags were damaged.

Li Hao's eyes flickered, and he calculated in his mind, and immediately knew that Li Hongzhuang should have rushed to the battlefield over there.

The situation on the battlefield was not optimistic after losing more than ten battle flags in succession.

I don't know if it was stable.

Whether the fifth uncle was rescued in time.

If the battle flags were damaged a lot and there were no other monsters approaching outside the pass, Li Hao planned to go there in person.

At this time, he saw the dark clone flying back from outside the pass, holding a lot of battle flags in his hands, and returned to the courtyard.

Now that Liangzhou is in danger, Li Hao also asked the dark clone to take back all the battle flags scattered 5,000 miles outside the pass and replace them with ordinary battle flags.

Even if the battle flags are destroyed, it doesn't matter. It was originally a deterrent to monsters. Now sending these battle flags to various battlefields will be more effective.

The land outside the pass can be inspected again at any time after the Liangzhou monsters are driven out.

Whoosh!

Li Hao took a step forward and disappeared in the small fenced courtyard. Not long after, he came to the outside of Cangya City.

He took several steps in succession and flew to a hilltop a hundred miles outside the city.

Li Hao was worried about the noise, so he thought for a while and rushed forward another three hundred miles.

"What are you going to do, kid?"

Feng Boping followed Li Hao all the way and couldn't help but ask curiously.

Li Hao smiled and said, "Practice."

He patted his clothes and stood on a bluestone on the top of the mountain.

He had not had time to practice the many exercises he had seen in the Tianji Tower before, and he had not had time to practice the many body-building techniques.

The most important thing is those meridian-opening methods, which can open up the big meridians.

All his exercises were included in the panel, but he did not practice them, so his body currently still has 98 big meridians.

Li Hao took a deep breath, and did not avoid Feng Lao, but directly practiced.

One by one, the meridian-opening exercises were running in his body.

The exercises that had been integrated into his memory before, under Li Hao's operation, traveled to various big meridians one after another, and then led to those unfamiliar big meridians.

Bang!

Bang!

The great meridians in Li Hao's body were opened up one after another. With his current cultivation level, he was very familiar with rebuilding the great meridians and easily connected them all the way.

As the great meridians were continuously opened up, in a blink of an eye, all 108 ordinary great meridians were unblocked!

As the last great meridian was unblocked, Li Hao felt a shock all over his body, with an indescribable sense of comfort.

It was like countless soft little hands massaging his whole body, kneading his stiff muscles and bones until they made thundering sounds, and he couldn't help but hum softly with comfort.

A breath of immortal energy penetrated the great meridians in his body, drawing in the energy of heaven and earth, filling all the great meridians, including the yin and yang meridians.

In an instant, the great meridians in his body were unblocked and were also exerted at the same time.

Li Hao suddenly felt that the power in the great meridians in his body seemed to flow into an unknown territory.

That territory was like the top of his head, but it was farther away than the top of his head.

It seemed to rush out of the body and run towards a farther and higher place.

Li Hao closed his eyes, but a brilliant golden light seemed to appear in front of him. It was a golden gate that he had vaguely seen when he opened up the Yin-Yang dual meridians.

Seeing the golden light, Li Hao felt like he had turned into a fish and was about to jump over the dragon gate.

And the surging energy in his body was now lifting his "body" and flying towards the golden light.

In a blink of an eye, he passed through the golden light and appeared in a vast world.

This world was dark at first, but soon, star-like light spots appeared one after another.

Then more and more, until they were densely packed and dazzling, as if he was in the vast starry sky, with countless galaxies surrounding him.

Li Hao was a little surprised, and felt light and extremely relaxed.

He moved his mind slightly, wanting to touch the surrounding starlight. As his thoughts turned, the starlight seemed to be summoned and flew towards his body.

Then, all of them were like star-like spots of light, pouring into his body.

A surge of power instantly filled his hands, feet and body.

Boom!

The sky around the top of the mountain where Li Hao stood seemed to shake suddenly.

Feng Boping, who was sitting on the cloud not far away, saw his pupils shrink and his eyes were solemn.

He could see that the power around the world where Li Hao was seemed to become extremely special.

That feeling seemed to be integrated with Li Hao's body!

Control the power of heaven and earth!

Li Hao opened his eyes, and two divine light flashes seemed to shoot out, penetrating the void.

His deep eyes were filled with a vast feeling, as if they encompassed everything in the universe. There were countless power spots flowing in his eyes, and finally all of them were hidden, leaving only a pair of eyes that were as indifferent as seeing the world.

At this moment, Li Hao already understood what the limit of this Zhoutian realm was like.

The 108 Zhoutian meridians, plus the special yin and yang meridians, merged to form a new meridian.

Li Hao called it the Heaven and Earth Meridian!

This meridian runs through heaven and earth!

All the meridians in his body merged into one, and he himself was a big meridian, which could turn the power of the nearby heaven and earth into a part of his body.

This allowed him to control more than ten times the strength!

"So that's it..."

Li Hao muttered to himself.

He felt that this state was somewhat similar to the limit of the Grandmaster Realm, the condensed immortal energy of the Land Immortal Realm, and borrowed the power of heaven and earth.

The heaven and earth meridians were equivalent to a bowl, and the immortal energy borrowed the power of heaven and earth, which was equivalent to holding it.

Before, he didn't have this "bowl", so he could only use his own body to carry it, so when he reached the limit, he would enter the state of immortalization.

If the immortality exceeds 30%, it will lose control and require help from others to block the world to stop it.

But now, he has condensed this bowl.

The veins of heaven and earth allowed him to carry far more than before.

This also means that the critical point of his ability to transform into an immortal will be further improved and will no longer be the original 30%.

Probably around forty, fifty, or sixty!

"If you cultivate all realms to the limit, will you be able to truly transform into an immortal?"

Li Hao's eyes flickered as this thought came to his mind.

If he could become an immortal to the extreme but could not die, what kind of martial arts state would that be like?

In other words, can it still be called martial arts?

Li Hao withdrew his thoughts and felt the majestic power brought by the heaven and earth veins.

His control over power is no longer limited to the major veins in his body, but the world outside his body is his invisible body.

This is the pulse of heaven and earth.

While the power he carries has been greatly increased, it also means that his endurance is stronger, and he can unleash more peak killing moves without restraint, and even practice more extreme and vicious moves.

In addition, this heaven and earth vein has another advantage, that is, it can absorb the power of the surrounding heaven and earth and continuously refine the physical body.

With the continuous refinement of the physical body, the improvement of the three immortal realms is also extremely obvious.

Self-healing in the immortal realm and treasured bodies in the immortal realm are all judged based on the strength of the refined physical body.

They are both in the three immortal realms, but their self-healing abilities and the strength of their treasure bodies are very different. This lies in their different levels of refinement.

Li Hao originally practiced many body-refining methods, and all of them were deduced to the level of high-grade extraordinary, or even the ultimate true state, and his physical body had already been refined to extremely exaggerated strength.

Therefore, even with a body in the Third Immortal Realm, he can fight head-to-head with the Demon King in the Fourth Realm.

But now, his body can be refined again.

If it can be refined to a certain limit, perhaps it can open up the ultimate state of the three immortal realms!

It is just the extreme state of the Zhoutian realm, and it is the powerful effect of the heaven and earth veins. Li Hao is extremely looking forward to it. What kind of state will it bring if the three immortal realms reach the limit?

…

Standing on the top of the mountain, Li Hao began to practice.

Previously in the Tianji Tower, in addition to the pulse opening method, there were also luck methods, as well as many body refining techniques, sword techniques, etc.

Li Hao practiced and practiced one by one.

When he practiced the body training technique, his whole body was like a collapsed cave, frantically absorbing the power of the surrounding heaven and earth.

With the guidance of the heaven and earth veins, Li Hao's physical body was rapidly refining, his self-healing ability became stronger, and his physical body became more terrifying.

As he practiced, Li Hao himself was faintly surrounded by thunder and fire. This was a phenomenon that could only be derived when the physical body was condensed to an extremely terrifying degree.

When Feng Boping saw this scene from the distance, he didn't even bother to drink any more. He looked straight at it and was shocked beyond words.

He watched Li Hao break through and grow again and again, but every time, it seemed to break his imagination.

He had a feeling that the young man in front of him would become the strongest being in the history of the Great Yu Dynasty, surpassing all the strong ones!

Even the real person from Qiandao Palace may not have given him such a strong shock.

After practicing many body refining methods, Li Hao refined his body. At the same time, thunder, fire and lightning appeared in the surrounding heaven and earth, like the release of natural pressure brought about by the extreme compression and condensation of flesh and blood. It was extremely terrifying.

This is the first time that the well-informed Feng Boping has seen such a strange sight.

After completing all the physical refining techniques, Li Hao felt it carefully. The flesh and blood all over his body contained the terrifying power of hundreds of real dragons.

He suspected that Long Xiao Sword would probably not be able to cut his body at this moment.

But at this moment, the Longxiao Sword was in the small courtyard and had not been brought with it, so Li Hao could not try it.

And if he wants to try it, he has to turn off the 1% fatal attack attribute of "Yellow Bird Picture".

Otherwise, if you happen to be lucky enough to trigger this attribute with a slight swipe, it would be quite exciting.

On weekdays when he is not fighting, he basically turns off this attribute.

After all, sometimes touching others may be regarded as an attack.

If you casually pat someone on the shoulder, say hello, or slap someone to death, it will be too late to regret it.

Li Hao did not stop and continued to practice many of his swordsmanship and boxing skills.

On the top of the mountain, there are many visions.

The young man's figure is practicing alone, only the heaven and earth are turbulent, accompanied by wind and thunder.

At dusk and sunset, the bright moon rises into the sky.

The stars are shining and time passes quietly.

…

…

The light of dawn shone across the earth.

A figure flew between the sky and the earth, breathing the moist dew of the morning glow, whistling past.

"Tianji Palace?"

Suddenly, on the road ahead that he passed in a straight line, there was a bird demon waiting here, transforming into a little girl in a green dress, carved with pink and jade.

Seeing the little girl, the old man in dark purple robe frowned slightly and paused.

Knowing that the other party is waiting here deliberately, there must be information to pass on.

This Tianji Palace can transmit information through the Xuanyin Whistle, and with the close intelligence points along the way, the speed of transmitting information is even faster than the speed of rushing in the Juexue Realm.

"I've met Lord Lu Yuan!"

The little girl said respectfully: "The elder ordered me to wait here specially to deliver news to you."

"explain."

"Yesterday, both the east and west borders were breached, but Liangzhou has set up a second line of defense, and families from hundreds of cities are rushing to gather there."

"In addition, Li Tiangang has sent out orders to all parties, seeking help from all parties. It is possible that the old generation of strong men from the God General's Mansion will come."

"The Dayu royal family has already sent troops, and Wuliang Mountain has also sent a Bodhisattva to save the world. As for the movements of the real person of Qiandao Palace, it is not clear yet."

The little girl spoke slowly and quickly, briefly explaining the current situation in Liangzhou.

Then he said:

"At present, there is a call for help in front of the second line of defense. I hope you, Lord Lu Yuan, can go there and quickly destroy the magic circle. The situation over there is currently in a stalemate..."

"Stalemate?"

Lu Yuan was slightly startled and said, "Is the Taixu Realm hiding its weakness? It's such a time, why are you still unwilling to charge?"

"Reporting to Lord Lu, Madam Yin was blocked by the Desert Sword Saint and failed to chase Li Tiangang."

The little girl's attitude remained submissive and unchanged: "It's mainly because the battle flags of that young general rushed to the battlefield. Each battle flag contains a terrifying sword formation, which is comparable to the attack of the Dao Heart Realm. You know all this."

"In addition, I just got another situation. This sword formation contains terrible attacks that can kill people instantly. Even the Ni Ming Realm can't stop it. You can only use your second life to get out."

"Huh?"

Lu Yuan was slightly startled. Hidden killing moves, even the Ni Ming Realm can't stop it?

What kind of magic circle is this? Although the Dayu Divine Dynasty has a magic circle that can kill the Ni Ming Realm, it is also in the Holy Capital Imperial City. How can it appear here?

Not to mention, it was condensed on a small military flag.

"Did that kid go too?"

"No, he's still sitting at Tianmen Pass."

"Since that's the case, since I'm here, let's go and deal with that human kid first."

Lu Yuan snorted coldly: "I want to see how bizarre that kid is. He's said to be a genius of the ages? Humph, I've lived for thousands of years. The former emperor of the Dayu Divine Dynasty had extraordinary powers and fought in all directions, but he was not as mysterious as this kid said!"

The little girl could only bow her head and said nothing after hearing this.

She was only responsible for conveying information, and she didn't dare to say too much to influence the other party, or even make suggestions, because she was not qualified.

Lu Yuan said: "Tell them that I'll be there soon, and then I'll bring the boy's body over and throw it on the magic circle, so that they can see how vulnerable their so-called genius is!"

"Yes."

The little girl nodded respectfully.

Lu Yuan immediately continued to fly forward.

Not long after, he saw a vast ancient road.

He knew that this ancient road was called Longguan Road, which was opened up by the ancestors of the Li family following the emperor.

At this moment, the ancient road was empty, with only one tea stall left.

He glanced and flew straight past.

Soon, he came to the end of Longguan Road, in front of Cangya City.

At this moment, the dawn had just risen, lifting the black veil over the city, and the city had regained its vitality.

Many vendors on the road were selling breakfast, and this lively and peaceful scene fell into Lu Yuan's eyes.

Lu Yuan sneered slightly, and his eyes swept around, and he saw that the top of the city was full of war flags.

He also knew about these war flags, and at this moment, a trace of solemnity flashed in his eyes.

However, he didn't believe that these war flags were specially made. If every war flag could burst out that sword formation, what would happen?

Bang!

He raised his hand and suppressed it suddenly.

On the top of the city, the city defense magic circle suddenly lit up and triggered automatically.

The violent vibration woke up everyone in the city. It was like a thunderbolt in the clear sky, and the earth was shaking.

The soldiers patrolling on the top of the city immediately noticed the silent figure and were extremely shocked. They blew the horn and the whole city was ready for war!

Looking at the flickering divine patterns on the magic circle, Lu Yuan sneered. It was just a five-star mysterious formation. He could destroy it in a blink of an eye!

Bang!

He raised his palm again, and the palm blasted out, and the phantom of a dragon claw shook and fell.