The Dao Yuan Old Ancestor was utterly spent, his strength failing. Without his full support, the Grand Dao Bell's power plummeted.
Above the void, that familiar rift tore open once more, wider and more menacing than before! The entire Grand Dao Sect was frozen in place, a collective gasp of horror echoing through the air. The disparity between them and the Demon Court was simply too vast! They had temporarily borrowed the momentum of heaven and earth, yet they were still no match for the Demon Court.
Titan Demon Mountain sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “Is this all the Grand Dao Sect amounts to? I wonder who gave you the courage to defy our Demon Court?”
At that moment, the Dao Feng Old Ancestor and Dao Shan Old Ancestor surged forward, flames erupting around them as they initiated Soul Combustion! Other Half-step Supreme Old Ancestors followed suit, their bodies igniting with desperate power.
Titan Demon Mountain's sneer widened. “One last strike!”
In an instant, the numerous great demons understood. They unleashed the full force of their blood essence, preparing to deliver the most terrifying blow. Seeing this, the Dao Feng Old Ancestor and the others’ faces turned ashen. How could they possibly withstand such an attack? Despair washed over everyone.
“Boom!”
The Demon Court’s most terrifying attack descended, like a star river crashing down from the heavens, illuminating the void. It was the combined, full-power strike of over a dozen great demons, a force that shook the very foundations of the world, causing the sky to lose its color and the great sun to dim.
In just a single breath, the Dao Feng Old Ancestor and his companions were sent flying, their Dao patterns shattering, their blood essence weakening further. The Grand Dao Bell was also flung away, severely damaged and utterly incapable of fighting on.
Witnessing this, the Grand Dao Sect disciples were petrified. Even with the Old Ancestors sacrificing themselves and wielding the Grand Dao Bell, they couldn't hold them back? Was the Grand Dao Sect truly doomed to be annihilated today?
Titan Demon Mountain, holding his Ancient Iron Hammer, looked down upon the Grand Dao Sect. “Begin the extermination!”
The horde of great demons surged forward, ready to breach the array's crack and flood into the sect. Titan Demon Mountain brought his hammer down, aiming directly for the array crack, and specifically, Azure Mystery Peak.
“Boom!”
“Crack!”
With a muffled thud, a shattering sound ripped through heaven and earth. The Ancient Iron Hammer in Titan Demon Mountain’s hand disintegrated instantly, turning into countless fragments that rained down. Azure Mystery Peak, however, suddenly expanded, growing massive until it pierced the clouds, its surface intricately woven with complex, dense Dao patterns.
Titan Demon Mountain was utterly stunned. His hammer was a One-rotation Quasi-Dao Supreme tier weapon! It just… shattered? It wasn't just him; everyone was dumbfounded. Who could have imagined that at the most critical moment, Azure Mystery Peak held such a profound secret?
The Dao Yuan Old Ancestor, lying weakly on the ground, gasped, “Could this be the White Robe Daoist Friend’s arrangement? Did he foresee our Grand Dao Sect’s calamity?”
The Grand Dao Sect disciples erupted in cheers. “The White God is invincible!”
“The White God is terrifying!”
“Just how strong is the White God? If he were here, perhaps he could turn the tide!”
Azure Mystery Peak stood like a sharp blade piercing the firmament, its spirit patterns surging, communicating with the momentum of heaven and earth, unyielding. Even Titan Demon Mountain couldn't comprehend it.
After a moment of silence, Titan Demon Mountain commanded, “Change to another array node. This spirit peak is too strange.”
The great demons quickly moved to a distant node. With the Grand Dao Sect’s Old Ancestors unable to fight and the Grand Dao Bell severely weakened, it was only a matter of time before they breached another array channel.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
Titan Demon Mountain directly swung his fists, using his raw physical strength to break the array. Seeing this, the Grand Dao Sect disciples, who had just been filled with hope, once again turned ashen. How would they stop this? Despair. Utter despair.
***
Meanwhile, in the Bronze Ancient Palace.
Lu Xuan had gathered everyone. Today was the day the Bronze Ancient Palace would reopen.
Chen Changsheng spoke up. “Master, I wish to continue cultivating within the Bronze Ancient Palace.”
Lu Xuan nodded. “Very well.”
Xuan Shang Old Ancestor, Dao Yang Old Ancestor, and the others chuckled, patting Lu Xuan’s shoulder. “Once we leave the Bronze Ancient Palace, remember to remind us that you and that ‘Daoist Friend’ are one and the same.”
“I will,” Lu Xuan replied.
Lu Xuan ruffled the Silver-haired Loli’s hair. “Are you coming back to Azure Mystery Peak with me?”
The Silver-haired Loli pouted. “No.”
The Green-skirted Girl stated, “I need to enter a period of slumber. Then, I will initiate the Heaven and Earth Change and open the Domain Gates.”
Lu Xuan nodded. “Alright.”
Xuanji Holy Lord, her white hair flowing, stood alone in the distant void, her figure exquisitely beautiful, radiating a faint divine glow. She did not join Lu Xuan’s group.
Ye Chen looked towards Xuanji Holy Lord and called out, “Senior, we shall meet again if fate allows!”
Xuanji Holy Lord merely nodded slightly, not turning around, leaving them with her elegant back.
Lu Xuan turned to Ye Chen. “Oh, right. Once we return to Azure Mystery Peak, I have a surprise prepared for Old Yao.”
Yao Chen’s voice echoed from within the jade pendant. “Peak Master Lu, how could I possibly accept such generosity?”
Lu Xuan smiled faintly.
Then, Chen Changsheng sat cross-legged, his gray robes billowing. His spirit arts shifted, and profound power flowed out like a tide, brilliant Dao patterns emerging and transforming into starlight that swirled around everyone. Immediately after, an invisible force spread outwards from Chen Changsheng, affecting all three regions of the Bronze Ancient Palace.
In the next instant, “Boom!”
Everyone’s figures blurred. A vortex appeared within the Bronze Ancient Palace. A heaven-reaching power, the power of Rules, enveloped them all! In a matter of breaths, the memories in their minds began to be erased!
Except for Lu Xuan, Ji Fuyao, and Ye Chen.
Soon, Lu Xuan and the others reappeared in the void. The Bronze Ancient Palace had vanished. Xuan Shang Old Ancestor and the others looked around in confusion. “What happened?”
“Is the Bronze Ancient Palace over?”
They noticed the changes in their own bodies, and Lu Xuan’s face twitched slightly.
Ji Fuyao said with a hint of surprise, “Master, Third Junior Brother can control this power.”
Lu Xuan replied, “Indeed. That kid.”
At this moment, Chen Changsheng’s voice entered Lu Xuan’s ears. “I haven’t fully mastered the power of the Bronze Ancient Palace. Don’t blame me, Master!”
Lu Xuan: “…”
Beside him, the Green-skirted Girl poked Lu Xuan’s clothes. “Lu Xuan, I’m leaving.”
Lu Xuan gently stroked her hair. “Goodbye.”
Xuan Shang Old Ancestor and the others walked towards Lu Xuan. The Dao Yuan Old Ancestor asked, “White Robe Daoist Friend! Was it you who helped us in the Bronze Ancient Palace?” They knew that with their strength, they couldn’t have acquired so many Star Stones and such a vast amount of cultivation resources!
Lu Xuan nodded. “Actually, I am Lu Xuan.”
They didn’t believe him.
Lu Xuan wore a helpless expression. “…”
Just then, the System’s voice rang out.
“Ding! System Mission issued: Rescue the Sect from Crisis! Annihilate the invading forces of the Demon Court, Holy Alliance, and Dark Shadow Island!”
The System then transmitted the situation at the Grand Dao Sect to Lu Xuan. Lu Xuan frowned slightly and told Xuan Shang Old Ancestor and the others, “Return to the sect! Something has happened!”
Xuan Shang Old Ancestor and the others asked, “What’s going on?”
Lu Xuan said, “The Demon Court has attacked the sect.”
Everyone’s faces changed dramatically.
Lu Xuan immediately activated his Spatial Array Patterns.
“Boom!”
A profound power surged, enveloping Lu Xuan and the others, and they vanished from their spot.
***
At the same time, at the Grand Dao Sect.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
Another array channel was ripped open by the Demon Court! A chasm, hundreds of li long, appeared in the Grand Dao Sect’s Protective Sect Array!
Titan Demon Mountain sneered, his killing intent surging. “This will be a slaughter!”
Seeing this, the Grand Dao Sect disciples were filled with immense terror. At this moment, who could possibly save the Grand Dao Sect? Everyone’s faces were pale with despair.
The Sect Master and the others forcefully activated the Grand Dao Bell, raising their arms and shouting, “We cultivators, what fear of death?!”
“Fight!”
Since it had come to this, they could only fight! Instantly, the defensive arrays of numerous spirit peaks were deactivated, and many elders charged out.
Just then, “Boom!”
“Crack!”
The void tore apart! Space twisted violently! From within the spatial rift, Lu Xuan’s voice echoed.
“I’m back.”