"What's going on?"
"What happened just now?"
The blazing sun vanished without warning, plunging the entire world into darkness. Panic spread through the crowd as everyone looked up in shock.
No one knew what was happening. Fear of the unknown drove people to huddle together, seeking comfort in numbers even if it didn't ease the dread pressing down on their hearts.
Across every major sect and clan, disciples were being summoned back in haste. It was as if they'd all sensed something ominous approaching.
"Strange signs have been appearing everywhere lately. We already guessed something big was coming, and sure enough, here it is!"
"Yeah, tell me about it. My heart's been pounding for no reason all day!"
"Why hasn't the Ancestor come out yet? Still in seclusion at a time like this?"
The elders of the Gu Han Sect gathered together, faces tense and restless.
Every one of them looked anxious and uneasy.
Luo Hantian stood silently, saying nothing.
He didn't dare tell them the truth—that this disturbance had everything to do with the Ancestor. Nor could he reveal that the Ancestor's current mission was perilous beyond words.
Everyone was already worried enough. If they knew the full story, the entire sect might fall into panic.
In the crowd, Leng Qingzhu and Liu Lanyi exchanged uneasy glances. Without a word, they quietly approached the Sect Master, their eyes silently asking for confirmation.
Luo Hantian let out a sigh. He didn't answer outright, but he didn't deny it either.
That was all it took for them to realize this strange phenomenon was connected to Song Wanníng. A heavier sense of dread rose in their chests. The two women left the hall and stepped outside.
The sky was still pitch black, so heavy it felt like it might collapse at any moment, pressing suffocatingly on everyone's hearts. That oppressive unease spread among the crowd as countless cultivators looked up at the heavens, powerless and terrified, praying that whatever this was would end soon.
In the lower realm, at the Song Family estate.
The faces of the Song Family members were grim. The monsters hadn't been completely wiped out, and now strange omens were appearing one after another. Rumors were spreading everywhere. And now, the whole world had fallen into darkness. Panic gripped the cultivators' hearts, and chaos reigned outside.
Song Qingyun had no choice but to gather the disciples together, trying his best to calm them down. But deep down, he wasn't calm at all. He just stood there, staring blankly out the window.
"I wonder if Wanníng's alright. The Spirit Realm shouldn't be affected by this, right?"
He muttered under his breath.
Beside him, Mu Yuan's expression was distant. The world felt like it was on the brink of collapse.
"I wonder if we'll ever see Wanníng again," she thought sadly.
If the world really did collapse, they'd vanish with it. By then, there'd be no chance to reunite with their daughter.
"We'll be fine," Li Ruo said softly, trying to comfort them. "Master's still waiting for us in the Spirit Realm. We'll ascend soon enough. This phenomenon will pass any moment now!"
She said it to reassure them, but even she didn't believe it completely.
Everyone's eyes stayed fixed on the endless darkness above, hoping and praying that this would all end soon.
That nothing worse would happen.
A roar shattered the silence.
"Roar!"
The monsters' cries grew louder and more violent as they charged at the formation like mad beasts.
Song Wanníng and her two companions threw themselves forward without hesitation. Even though they were wounded, fear never crossed their faces.
By now, most of Yun Yangzi's group had poured their energy into the formation. After several rounds of coordination, they'd already mastered how to keep their energy flow perfectly synchronized.
Even the slightest imbalance could cause the formation to collapse.
So no one dared to lose focus. Even when monsters lunged at them, they didn't flinch or turn. They simply trusted the three guarding their backs completely.
That kind of trust couldn't be faked.
Song Wanníng gritted her teeth as another claw tore across her arm. She looked down. A chunk of flesh had been ripped clean off. Her eyes hardened. Her strikes turned sharper, more vicious.
Maybe the monsters sensed that the formation was nearing completion, because more and more of them appeared, swarming until the three could barely keep up.
Their arms ached from swinging their swords nonstop, their bodies covered in wounds.
Fortunately, Song Wanníng still had her spirit companions fighting alongside her—Xiao Hong, the crimson lotus, and the others were doing everything they could to help. Without them, the pressure on the three would've been unbearable.
For now, at least, no monster had managed to break through to Yun Yangzi and the others. The formation was still running smoothly.
Then, another roar cut through the battlefield.
"Roar!"
This one was deeper, heavier, more terrifying.
The monsters in front suddenly froze, then began to retreat to the sides as if something far worse had arrived. In moments, a path opened before them.
From the darkness came a small figure, surrounded by the other monsters like a ruler among soldiers. The creature's body glowed faintly, its eyes a terrifying crimson. Two fangs jutted out of its mouth, shining faintly with a blue light.
"That's their leader?"
Baili Shang's expression darkened. This one was clearly different. Its aura alone screamed danger.
"Everyone, stay sharp!"
Song Wanníng's voice rang out, firm and commanding. "We can't let any of them get near the formation!"
Her eyes blazed with determination as she tightened her grip on her sword. She didn't care how strong it was. She'd never let it pass.
"Roar!"
The monster's blood-red eyes locked onto her, and it let out an enraged bellow. The air around them began to shake violently.
A wave of pressure surged forward.
Song Wanníng shouted, charging first instead of backing away. This time, she didn't use her sword. She went straight in with her fists. Her punch landed with explosive force.
The monster swung its claws to meet her strike.
At the same time, other monsters rushed toward Xuan Yan and the others, plunging the battlefield into chaos once more.
"Roar!"
Boom!
A series of violent crashes echoed out. Both Song Wanníng and the monster were thrown back. Where her arm met its claws, a wound opened and black toxin began to spread.
Her heart sank. She quickly pulled out an antidote pill, swallowed it, and darted back toward the creature like an arrow fired from a bow.
The monster howled in pain, its red eyes blazing with fury as it lunged at her again.
The two clashed head-on, neither holding back. Every blow carried murderous intent.
At that moment, Song Wanníng felt like she'd gone back to the days she'd spent training inside the Beast King's Illusion.
Techniques, instincts, and movements she'd learned from countless battles with beast kings flashed through her mind. She focused completely, her senses sharpening.
Suddenly, the creature's movements became crystal clear in her eyes.
With a roar, she rose into the air.
"Roar!"
A dragon's cry echoed through the sky as she transformed into a golden dragon and dove toward the monster. The pressure radiating from the dragon bloodline was suffocating. Even from afar, anyone watching would've felt their knees weaken.
The monster froze in shock.
It had never faced anything like her before.