The endless horde of Dark Beings seemed impossible to exterminate, surging from the other side of the embankment like an unending tide.
The sky was battered by black mist, wave after wave, creating a scene that was suffocating and despairing.
Lan Xin and her fellow disciples and elders had rushed here to defend the frontlines, fighting desperately without retreating a single step.
But as time went on, she watched as her fellow disciples and elders fell one by one, their blood staining the sky as they were swallowed by the Dark Beings, disappearing without a trace.
The aid they had been waiting for never arrived.
Although Lan Xin was not afraid of death, she was filled with sorrow and bitterness, feeling as if they had truly been abandoned by the Alliance of Righteous Unity.
They had been told to hold out for seven days, after which the Alliance of Righteous Unity's reinforcements would arrive.
But now, half a month had passed, and news of embankments falling and territories being lost was everywhere, yet there was no sign of the promised reinforcements.
"Senior Sister, don't think too much. We will definitely survive."
Gu Xian'er stood in the air, her sword at the ready. Her usually lively and carefree demeanor was replaced by a solemn expression.
Streaks of sword energy gathered behind her like a river of light. With a single slash, the heavens trembled, as if billions of swords had been unleashed, crisscrossing the cosmos.
Large numbers of Dark Beings fell before her, disintegrating into black mist.
The world was filled with sword intent. At this moment, she resembled a true sword immortal, sharp and powerful. With a light cry, her sword energy shot through the void like lightning, like a fleeting shadow, boundless and vast, as if it could swallow rivers, suns, and moons.
This was the first time she had displayed her true strength in front of others. Even against ordinary Dao Realm beings, she seemed capable of holding her own.
Although Lan Xin had seen this before, she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of admiration and awe.
"If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have brought you here. With your talent, you should have a broader sky, not be stuck here with us, defending the embankments and shedding blood."
She sighed bitterly.
As the senior sister, it should have been her duty to protect Gu Xian'er.
But who could have guessed that in this war, it was Gu Xian'er who had saved her multiple times, as well as her fellow disciples.
Gu Xian'er's strength was far greater than they had imagined.
In ordinary times, she had simply kept a low profile, not revealing her true abilities.
"Senior Sister, don't say that. The Alliance of Righteous Unity may have already decided to abandon us. Why continue to hold out here? I sense a powerful and terrifying aura approaching from afar. It's likely that a major figure among the Dark Beings is about to descend."
"When that happens, even the elders won't be able to protect themselves."
Gu Xian'er approached Lan Xin, her small face filled with seriousness.
"Why would the Alliance of Righteous Unity abandon us? Even our master was killed by them..." Lan Xin's face was filled with even more sorrow and bitterness.
Gu Xian'er shook her head silently. She had never believed that the Alliance of Righteous Unity was as righteous and noble as the rumors claimed.
Now that the Alliance of Righteous Unity had made such a move, she was not surprised.
"Holding out here is ultimately not a wise decision. If I had the ability, I would protect everyone, but unfortunately, even I am struggling to protect myself."
Gu Xian'er couldn't help but sigh softly in her heart.
It wasn't that she was cold-hearted and indifferent to the lives of her fellow disciples.
But her cultivation level was simply not enough to make a decisive difference in a battle of this scale.
If this were the Dao Prosperity True World, she might still have the power to turn the tide.
But the vast expanse was not the Dao Prosperity True World. Here, even Dao Realm beings were at risk of falling at any moment.
"Without reaching the Dao Realm, one is ultimately an ant."
At this moment, she became even more determined in her Dao heart. Her desire to break through to the Dao Realm had never been more urgent.
Boom!
Suddenly, boundless black energy appeared, like a tidal wave pushed by a giant, surging and crashing, piercing through stars.
In the distant cosmos, star systems trembled, and rocks flew through the void, as if a vast and mighty river had appeared. A figure clad in dark iron armor emerged.
His cold, indifferent gaze swept across the scene, his eyes like two green moons hanging in the void. His true form was so massive that it seemed the universe could not contain him.
As this figure appeared, all the Dark Beings let out a deafening war cry, prostrating themselves in his direction with fanatical fervor.
All the cultivators and beings on the embankment felt as if the coldest winter had descended. Their bodies grew cold, and their souls seemed to freeze, trembling to the core.
The terrifying figure's gaze swept across the heavens, causing the star systems to tremble. Thick chains of Dao laws appeared beneath his feet.
With each step he took, the resonance of the kingly Dao echoed, as if a dark king was surveying the heavens.
"So powerful..."
Gu Xian'er felt suffocated, as if she could barely breathe.
That figure was still far away, separated by at least one universe, yet his oppressive aura had already reached them, as if the heavens were about to collapse and crush everyone.
"My premonition has come true. The Dark Beings are about to launch a fierce attack."
Lan Xin's face turned pale, and she trembled uncontrollably. Her delicate face was filled with sorrow and bitterness. "Master, your disciple is coming to join you."
In the distant cosmos, black mist surged, and terrifying phenomena appeared. One after another, Dark Beings emerged.
Each of their auras was incredibly terrifying, like ancient deities from a bygone era. They seemed to be chanting some ancient sacrificial text, and the sounds of offerings and prayers from the ancient times echoed through the heavens and earth.
A blurry blood-red altar appeared in that shattered, distant universe.
The towering blood light was like a dragon sucking in water, or like rolling smoke, rising from various star systems and converging toward that blurry altar.
These were the essences of the cultivators and beings who had died in this war, their blood and energy becoming the purest form of power.
"The great sacrifice begins..."
Faintly, everyone heard a cold, emotionless voice, like the whisper of an ancestral demon, sending chills down their spines and freezing their souls.
All the beings on the embankment were horrified, feeling as if their souls and energy were being pulled away, drifting toward that altar.
Many people's minds became muddled and confused, no longer under their control. They began to leave the embankment, walking toward the altar like mindless corpses.
"Leave, now!"
A loud shout suddenly rang out, filled with rage.
A middle-aged man flew over on his sword, his thin and stern face filled with anger.
Lan Xin and the others, who had been momentarily dazed, suddenly snapped back to reality, horrified. They had almost dropped their weapons and left the embankment.
"Elder Zhou..."
Many disciples of the Crescent Moon Sect looked at the middle-aged man who had arrived, their faces filled with excitement.
This was a renowned elder of the Crescent Moon Sect, a master of the sword.
"The Alliance of Righteous Unity has abandoned us. They intend to make peace with the Dark Beings, willingly ceding territory and using us as sacrificial offerings for the Dark Beings."
Elder Zhou's face was grim, his voice trembling with grief and anger.
He looked at all the cultivators and beings who had been holding their ground here, the brutal scene causing his body to shake with rage.
These were the disciples of the Crescent Moon Sect and the surrounding civilizations—living, breathing lives.
They had been ordered to hold their ground here, fighting desperately and shedding blood without retreating. But now, they had been betrayed and abandoned by the Alliance of Righteous Unity.
"What?"
Everyone who had thought reinforcements had arrived was now frozen in place, unable to believe their ears.
Even Gu Xian'er was no exception, her clear eyes widening in disbelief. This was too unbelievable.
Had the Alliance of Righteous Unity truly abandoned everyone? Were they really planning to make peace with the Dark Beings, ceding territory and lives?
This was too cruel for them.
Many cultivators and beings who had still held onto a sliver of hope now stood frozen, their last bit of hope shattered, nearly collapsing to the ground.
"It's over... it's completely over..."
"Hahaha, this is the Alliance of Righteous Unity we've been defending. So righteous."
Many people laughed bitterly, stumbling around, their spirits broken, their eyes empty.
Others held blood-stained clothes and shattered armor in the corners, silently shedding tears.
Their fellow disciples and elders had thrown themselves into the fray like moths to a flame, sacrificing themselves to buy time for the others to survive.
Lan Xin's face was pale, and her body trembled uncontrollably.
Although she had suspected this, she never imagined the Alliance of Righteous Unity could be so cold and cruel. Were they really going to abandon everyone?
"Everyone, leave now. There's no need to hold out here any longer."
"The Alliance of Righteous Unity has likely already been infiltrated by the Dark Beings. The Dark Beings are planning to begin a great sacrifice."
Elder Zhou's voice was filled with grief, his face also showing anger and deep helplessness.
When he had learned of this news, he too had been stunned, unable to believe his ears.
The various factions and civilizations had been ordered to hold their ground at the embankments, using their lives to resist the Dark Beings.
But the higher-ups of the Alliance of Righteous Unity had turned around and made peace with the Dark Beings, abandoning them and ceding territory.
This was too heartless.
Despair and anger spread across the embankment. Everyone had lost their will to fight. But where could they escape to?
If the embankments fell, how could the factions and civilizations behind them survive? Their families, friends, loved ones, masters, and fellow disciples?
If they retreated even a single step, who would protect those behind them?
"You must return to the Crescent Moon Sect. The sect master and the elders are discussing a plan to preserve our legacy. If the Crescent Moon Sect is to survive, we must preserve the flame of our inheritance. You are the hope of the sect's future. You have bright prospects ahead. Do not fall here."
Elder Zhou looked at Gu Xian'er, Lan Xin, and the others, his voice heavy.
He had a deep impression of Gu Xian'er. Although this little girl was said to be tainted by misfortune, her talent in the sword path was exceptional, and he couldn't help but feel a desire to nurture her.
Now that the sect had suddenly encountered this calamity, it could only be fate, a destined tribulation.
He did not want such a seed of the sword path to fall here.
She should shine brightly in a broader world, spread her wings, and write her own glorious chapter.
As for the other disciples of the Crescent Moon Sect, their ability to hold out until now in such a situation was proof of their excellence.
"The Dark Tide is coming again."
"You must leave now. The future of the Crescent Moon Sect depends on you."
Elder Zhou turned around, saying no more. He stood with his sword, coldly gazing at the distant cosmos. With a slash, a spatial rift appeared.
At the same time, he took a step forward, and a brilliant sword light swept out, clearing a path through the surging Dark Beings.
The spatial rift continued to expand, forming a portal. With a wave of his wide sleeve, he sent many cultivators and beings through it.
"Elder Zhou..."
The figures of Gu Xian'er, Lan Xin, and the others quickly disappeared into the portal.
As Elder Zhou's figure grew increasingly blurry, they felt a deep sadness and sorrow, their noses tingling with emotion.
This Elder Zhou was usually taciturn and serious. Although he had always admired and pursued Lan Xin's master, he had never received a response.
Despite this, he had never said a word, always using his actions to protect Elder Chen Yi.
Even in this situation, after learning that Elder Chen Yi had fallen to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, he still remained true to his original intentions, protecting Elder Chen Yi's disciples and the members of the Crescent Moon Sect.
On the other side of the embankment, the blood-red altar became more solid and towering, as if it were covering the entire universe.
The black mist surged endlessly, far more intense than before.
Elder Zhou's expression was cold as he stepped forward, his sword, which had been nurtured for countless years, unsheathed with a light cry.
The sword's hum shook the heavens, and boundless sword energy, billions of strands, filled the starry void, vast and endless.
"The heavens and earth are vast, and my Dao prospers day by day."
A clear and angry shout echoed through the heavens and earth. He strode forward, like the sword in his hand, unstoppable, charging into the endless black mist, determined to tear it apart.
In the thick black mist, Wu Yang, clad in dark iron armor, watched coldly.
Beside him, a young girl with her hair tied in a bun held a green, lotus-leaf-like oil-paper umbrella, shielding them from the endless black mist falling from the sky.
"The path of humanity is vast, the path of immortals is boundless, the path of ghosts is joyful! When one enters the gate of life, the path of immortals values life, the path of ghosts values death..."
Under the oil-paper umbrella, a graceful and delicate woman, as if from the water towns of the south, smiled softly, her red lips like flower petals parting as she chanted.
The news that the Alliance of Righteous Unity had chosen to abandon the border defenses and make peace with the Dark Beings quickly spread across the vast expanse, causing endless waves and uproar.
No one could have expected the Alliance of Righteous Unity to make such a move.
Making peace at such a time, abandoning the border defenses—wasn't this equivalent to sending those civilizations and beings to their deaths?
How was this any different from the Heaven-Slaying Alliance? What happened to the unity and mutual aid they had promised?
Why were they going back on their word now?
The actions of the Alliance of Righteous Unity naturally caused an uproar and backlash.
Their reputation and prestige plummeted, and they were met with endless condemnation and scorn.
But even in such a situation, the Alliance of Righteous Unity paid no heed. They continued to shrink their territory, ceding unimportant lands.
At the same time, powerful figures emerged, seeking to negotiate with the high-ranking leaders of the Dark Beings to reach a peace agreement, and for this, they were willing to agree to many of the Dark Beings' demands.