As the battle raged on, Zhang Dong desperately searched for a way to sever the connection between the corrupted Long Qing and the strange entity that was the Goliath. This thing was sapping away the energy from all the citizens in the city and also probably all of the Long Clan members. There was a reason why his opponent had gotten a large power boost as he was getting it from the monstrous construct.

Zhang Dong's opponent proved nearly unbeatable. Even when he landed some powerful blows, the damage he inflicted was swiftly regenerated. Long Qing was evidently harnessing the energy and possibly even the lives of the city's residents to sustain himself. Each strike he delivered to his brother's face and body could potentially result in the deaths of a few people still trapped within the palace or the main city. The longer this conflict persisted, the more lives would be lost due to his actions, and this was something Zhang Dong could not bear.

Both combatants possessed a similar level of skill and techniques. Zhang Dong, thanks to his Divine Dao, had the ability to heal himself continuously after sustaining injuries. However, he had one glaring weakness compared to the Azure Emperor: he didn't possess an almost limitless supply of spiritual energy to draw from others. It was impossible to outlast his opponent; he needed to defeat him outright or find another way to make him cease his actions.

This was the point where the soul fragments he had harvested from the corrupted crystals came into play. There had to be a way to use them to bring Long Qing back to his senses. However, infusing these fragments into an opponent who was moving at supersonic speeds presented a considerable challenge. First, Zhang Dong needed to immobilize him for at least a moment and conduct a few tests to determine if the infusion was even possible.

Drawing upon his extensive knowledge of cultivation techniques, Zhang Dong began to weave a complex array of energy manipulation. His golden lightning aura crackled and surged as he channeled it in a specific pattern, creating a barrier of spiritual energy that surrounded Long Qing. This barrier acted like a mirror, reflecting the dark azure energy back towards its source.

The corrupted Emperor's attacks grew increasingly frenzied as his power was turned against him. He roared in frustration as his own energy battered against the barrier, causing cracks to appear in the once-magnificent throne room.

But Zhang Dong knew that this was only a temporary solution. To truly free Long Qing's mind he needed to wrestle him from the grasp of the Goliath's influence, he needed to find a way to disrupt the connection at its source. As he continued to deflect Long Qing's attacks, he concentrated on probing the Emperor's spiritual aura for any signs of vulnerability through which he could make his move.

It was during one intense clash that Zhang Dong sensed a faint thread of energy connecting Long Qing to the Goliath. It was like a thin, pulsating thread of light that seemed to be feeding energy from the Goliath into the Azure Emperor. Through this connection, he could sense millions of tormented souls, likely the people from whom Long Qing was siphoning energy and those who were trapped within the city.

Zhang Dong's heart sank as he realized the extent of the Goliath's malevolence. It was not only a destructive force but also a twisted machine that fed off the suffering of countless souls. The torment of the trapped citizens fueled Long Qing's newfound power but also caused him to become a monster with no remorse. Zhang Dong could clearly see that Long Qing was beyond reason. Millions of tormented souls screaming directly into his own soul was an overwhelming force, something that one couldn't simply overcome on their own.

The thread connecting Long Qing to the Goliath remained stubbornly immovable. Even when Zhang Dong attempted to force his spiritual energy into the cage he had created, the thread showed no sign of yielding. Nevertheless, a glimmer of possibility emerged when he approached the problem from a different angle. By infusing his energies with the soul fragments and applying pressure against the connection, he could feel a reaction taking place.

As Zhang Dong continued to apply pressure to the connection, he noticed a subtle shift in Long Qing's demeanor. The once-raging Emperor began to twitch, his movements becoming erratic and uncoordinated. The dark azure energy that had surrounded him started to waver, and for a moment, a flicker of recognition passed through his eyes.

"Long... Dong?"

Long Qing muttered, his voice strained as if he were battling against an invisible force. The treatment administered by Zhang Dong had provided a brief opportunity, during which the man had regained a semblance of sanity. However, this moment was short-lived as the Azure Emperor's eyes clouded with corrupted energy once more, plunging him into a state of intense rage.

‘Shit, he is breaking free… I can’t hold him!’

Zhang Dong seized the opportunity and intensified his efforts, attempting to infuse more soul fragments into the thread. He channeled his energy into the barrier, determined to disrupt the connection between Long Qing and the Goliath. The souls trapped within the Goliath cried out, sensing the intrusion into their tormentor's control, which made the process significantly more challenging.

The battle between Zhang Dong and the corrupted Long Qing continued to rage on as the struggle for control of the connection intensified. The throne room trembled with the force of their clashes, and the very air seemed to crackle with the energy of their confrontation. With each passing moment, the barrier Zhang Dong had created strained against Long Qing's relentless assault.

But Zhang Dong couldn't afford to relent. He had a glimmer of hope that he could sever the connection and free Long Qing from the Goliath's influence. The souls within the Goliath cried out in agony as their tormentor's control was challenged, and their collective suffering fueled Long Qing's rage.

‘I… I can’t do this alone, he is breaking through…’

Zhang Dong realized that his power had its limitations, unlike Long Qing, who didn't suffer from this constraint. The barrier he had created began to crack, and the corrupted azure energy was now seeping through. It was evident that the man trapped within would soon break free. Once that happened, it would likely be impossible to contain him within the same barrier. Techniques once seen were unlikely to be effective against someone of Long Qing's caliber twice. It seemed that the only way to end this battle would be through his defeat.

As the barrier cracked and Long Qing's corrupted energy surged forward, Zhang Dong unleashed a torrent of golden lightning. The lightning arced and crackled, merging with the soul fragments he had infused into the connection thread. It created a blinding, pulsating light that surged towards Long Qing like a celestial wave.

“Not…enough…”

Despite utilizing all the resources his new, peculiar cultivation method offered, it still proved insufficient. The corrupted energy began to resist his golden wave of energy, and Long Qing was breaking free. It became apparent that it would be impossible to restrain him long enough to inject more soul fragments, assuming he was truly alone in this battle. As the corrupted energy seeped out, its intensity began to fluctuate, and the Goliath was suddenly losing power.

It seemed that his friends and companions wouldn’t let him face this problem alone. Just as the Azure Emperor was about to go free the Goliath stopped moving, the whole center portion of him began shaking and chunks of rocks started falling. On the outside the ships moved in to seize the moment and started blasting as if there was no tomorrow. The corrupted energy that made up the beast’s shield started flickering as it had trouble in mustering up its own defenses.

‘I see, Liena and the others must have found a way to cut off the energy source…’

The Goliath was having trouble supporting its own weight and the capital city that was surrounded by thick rock started to become revealed. Zhang Dong could sense that something was happening outside but at the moment he needed to focus on the Azure Emperor. He once again mustered up his power to guide more soul fragments and attacked that connection that had now weakened.

Pouring all his spiritual energy into the assault, Zhang Dong unleashed a final, desperate surge of golden lightning toward the connection thread. The blinding light enveloped Long Qing, causing him to convulse in agony. The Azure Emperor's roars of torment filled the throne room as the connection between him and the Goliath strained and faltered. For a brief moment, Long Qing's corrupted form seemed to flicker, and his eyes regained a glimmer of clarity.

"Brother...help...me...I…"

Long Qing's voice, laced with despair, reached out to Zhang Dong. He now knew that Long Qing was still in there, buried beneath the layers of corruption and torment. With renewed vigor, he channeled every ounce of his spiritual energy into the attack, pushing it to its limit.

The connection thread between Long Qing and the Goliath began to fray, like a thin rope on the verge of snapping. The Goliath's power waned further, and the energy cage surrounding the city grew even more unstable. It was a race against time, with the fate of the Azure Emperor and all the citizens trapped inside the city hanging in the balance.

Long Qing's body convulsed violently as the corruption within him fought to maintain its hold. But the combined efforts of Zhang Dong and his allies on the outside were taking their toll on the Goliath. Chunks of rocks continued to break away from the colossal construct, and its once-impenetrable energy shield flickered and waned.

“Hold on Long Qing, just open yourself up to the soul fragments!”

Long Qing's body convulsed violently as the corruption within him fought to maintain its hold. But the combined efforts of Zhang Dong and his allies on the outside were taking their toll on the Goliath. Chunks of rocks continued to break away from the colossal construct, and its once-impenetrable energy shield flickered and waned.

Outside the energy cage, Zhang Jin and the fleet continued their relentless assault on the weakened Goliath. The creature's struggles had intensified, and it was clear that it was on the brink of collapse. The energy cage that had trapped them for so long was beginning to disintegrate, giving them a glimmer of hope…