As Chu Heng ordered everyone to retreat, he waved his hand, and a thick, red-tasseled spear appeared in his grasp.
The spear was surrounded by fragments of Ancestral Dao Realm rules, with the aura of time, space, and the Great Dao swirling around it.
With a single sweep of the spear, a large number of Dark Beings in front of him were instantly annihilated, clearing a path.
The other Dark Beings seemed wary of him and avoided direct confrontation, choosing to retreat quickly.
However, Chu Heng was, after all, a former war god of the Immortal Chu Dynasty. The spear strike carried an overwhelming force, as if the heavens themselves were collapsing. The speed of the strike surpassed time itself, instantly causing one of the Dark Giants to shatter into pieces.
"Gu Li…"
The other Dark Beings exclaimed in shock, seemingly astonished by Chu Heng's strength.
The shattered Dark Giant, however, quickly began to reform. Black fog surged around its broken limbs, and its body rapidly reassembled, healing and reviving.
Chu Heng's expression was grave, his brows tightly furrowed. He had experienced countless battles and faced numerous formidable enemies, but this was the first time he had encountered such a resilient foe. Even after destroying its life essence with his spear, the Dark Being remained unharmed.
"If so many Dark Beings suddenly appear in the chaotic spacetime sea and break out into the Prime-Origin Civilization, it will be a catastrophic disaster for all living beings."
His heart heavy, Chu Heng raised his spear and charged forward, covering the retreat of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's forces.
Apart from him, the others stood no chance against these Dark Beings.
Boom!
The chaotic spacetime sea, which had been calm, once again erupted into turmoil. Chu Heng fought fiercely, clashing with the Dark Beings like an immortal war god.
A sacred light surrounded him, blocking the Dark Matter that surged toward him.
"I'm surprised that a Ancestral Dao Realm expert has suddenly appeared here."
A cold voice echoed from the depths of the black fog, and a ghostly figure emerged, blocking the path of the Dark Beings.
He wore black, ghostly iron armor, his tall and slender figure towering over the others. His face was uncovered, his eyes a cold, eerie green, with two vertical green lines running down from his pupils, covering his entire face.
A pair of pale white bone horns protruded from his forehead, resembling dead branches. Behind him stretched a pair of terrifying wings, as if they had emerged from the deepest abyss, vast enough to blot out the sky.
Chu Heng's expression changed as he felt an overwhelming pressure. The spear strike he had launched was caught bare-handed by this figure. The cold, pale arm, like that of an alien, was as hard as iron, firmly gripping his spear.
"You are strong, but you are no match for me. Why not join the darkness and become one of us?" The figure spoke coldly, his green eyes devoid of emotion, chilling to the bone.
"The Dark Beings bring chaos and disaster to the world. To think you would ask me to join you—what a joke."
Chu Heng sneered, ignoring the figure's words. With a flick of his wrist, a force as vast as the rising tide surged forth, causing the spear to tremble and unleash a power that shook the ages, breaking free from the figure's grip.
"What a pity."
The figure remained cold, his speed so fast that he vanished in an instant, surpassing time and space, reaching an unimaginable level.
He raised his hand and reached for Chu Heng's chest, as if intending to pierce through it and pull out his heart.
Boom!
Chu Heng felt a chilling cold and quickly retreated, swinging his spear to block the attack. In that instant, an indescribable force erupted, as bright as the sun, like raging waves crashing against the shore, tearing through space and time.
The two figures vanished, only to reappear in every corner of the chaotic spacetime, in every shattered fragment of time.
Endless Dao techniques unfolded, and with every clash, chaos silently annihilated, and vast amounts of energy and matter evaporated, collapsing and scattering between the two combatants.
Even fragments of spacetime turned to dust under their blows.
"Ugh…"
However, this scene did not last long. Chu Heng suddenly reappeared, blood spilling from his mouth as he trembled violently. Blood dripped from his spear, scattering into the void.
One of his arms had been shattered, the white bone fragments still clinging to bloody flesh, a gruesome sight. Even more terrifying, Dark Matter was beginning to seep into the wound.
"You are stronger than most Ancestral Dao Realm experts, but you cannot stop me."
Not far away, the figure in black ghostly iron armor reappeared, his hands stained with blood, his gaze still cold. The battle seemed to have cost him nothing.
Chu Heng's expression darkened, his heart heavy. He glanced at his broken left arm, then, with great resolve, endured the pain and spat out a sword aura, cutting away the flesh tainted by Dark Matter to prevent it from spreading further.
"With Lord Wu Yang taking action, this man stands no chance."
The other Dark Beings stood at a distance, not interfering, respectfully waiting on the sidelines. They seemed to have great confidence in this figure named Wu Yang.
"A Ancestral Dao Realm expert who has survived seven Heavenly Decline Tribulations—in today's vast expanse, you should be a top-tier figure, with an exalted status. It surprises me that you would come here personally…"
"Tell me your purpose, and I might spare your life."
Wu Yang's cold green eyes stared directly at Chu Heng, intending to force him to reveal his purpose.
Boom!
However, before he could finish speaking, a terrifying sound erupted.
A brilliant, dazzling light pierced through from the distance, like the first eternal light born since the creation of the heavens and earth.
The entire chaotic spacetime sea trembled as a blinding arrow shot forth, surrounded by fragments of spacetime and intertwined with Dao laws, heading straight for Chu Heng.
It was an ancient arrow, pitch black, with strands of sacred light swirling around it like wind, resembling a true demon-slaying arrow, repelling and driving away all Dark Matter.
On a mountain within the floating continent, a figure stood, drawing a bow without a string and firing this arrow.
"What is this…"
Wu Yang was momentarily stunned upon seeing the arrow, as if he couldn't comprehend it. Reacting quickly, he retreated with the other Dark Beings, seemingly wary of the arrow.
Seizing the opportunity, Chu Heng immediately fled toward the floating continent.
Although he didn't know who had saved him, he understood that this was a rare chance. Staying here any longer would be life-threatening.
"What was that?"
Within the floating continent, Zhu Xuan looked at A'Li, who was slowly putting away her bow, in shock.
He was utterly amazed by her ability to repel the Dark Beings with that arrow.
She actually possessed such an incredible technique.
"That should be the Evil-Warding Arrow recorded in ancient texts. This type of arrow once shone brightly during the Black Calamity Era, dealing significant damage to Dark Beings."
"After the Black Calamity Era ended, the remaining Evil-Warding Arrows were hunted down and destroyed by the remnants of the Black Calamity."
"The method of crafting these arrows was also lost to the river of time, and no one knows how to make them anymore. Every remaining Evil-Warding Arrow is now a rare treasure, with each one used being one less in existence."
An elderly figure beside Zhu Xuan explained in a low voice, equally shocked by A'Li's use of such an arrow.
"Such a treasure actually exists. I wonder how many A'Li has?"
Zhu Xuan nodded, now more inclined to believe A'Li's promise to protect him.
"Such treasures are incredibly rare. She probably only has a few left, saved for critical moments."
"Yet she used one here to protect those outsiders…" The elderly figure shook his head, his expression complex.
Outside the floating continent, the ancient warships of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance hovered, unable to pass through the barrier.
The earlier scene had shocked and terrified the members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
Many of them, upon recovering, expressed their gratitude. Without that arrow, Chu Heng might not have escaped the Dark Beings.
"We are from the Heaven-Slaying Alliance of the Prime-Origin Civilization, sent by our leader to search for someone. We mean no harm…"
Zhuo Fengxie stepped forward from the warship, cupping his hands in salute to the people of the floating continent.
As a former progenitor of the Zhuo Clan, he had lived for a long time and was wise. He didn't reveal their true purpose.
Moreover, with the Dark Beings attacking, he believed the people of the floating continent were also trapped and unlikely to conflict with them.
"The Prime-Origin Civilization?"
The people of the floating continent were surprised. Ling Yuling had visited here many times before, and she was the founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace in the Prime-Origin Civilization.
However, they had never heard of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. Ling Yuling had only spoken with Fairy Qing during her visits and hadn't mentioned anything about the Prime-Origin Civilization.
As the people of the floating continent discussed how to handle the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, a figure descended like a crimson cloud.
It was Shangguan Qing, the spokesperson of the Shangguan Family.
She held a smooth, crystalline jade bead in her hand. The bead flew out and landed on the barrier stretching across the sky and earth, creating a large portal that allowed the Heaven-Slaying Alliance to enter.
The ancient warships rumbled as they quickly passed through.
"Thank you."
Zhuo Fengxie expressed his gratitude with a smile, then helped support the injured Chu Heng as they entered.
The people of the floating continent respected Chu Heng, who had fought valiantly against the Dark Beings. Especially now, as the floating continent faced a similar situation.
The barrier wouldn't last much longer. Once it faded, the Dark Beings would return.
And when that time came, Fairy Qing would stay behind to buy them time…
"Thank you for saving my life earlier."
Although Chu Heng had lost an arm and half his body was shattered, his spirit remained unshaken.
The Dark Matter hadn't corrupted his flesh, and his broken arm was already healing.
He bowed deeply toward A'Li in the distance.
A'Li, however, remained seated on the mountain, offering no response.
Old Man Cold Crow, who had remained hidden in the warship, looked at A'Li with suspicion.
He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something about her that made him uneasy and wary.
When they first arrived in the chaotic spacetime sea, he had sensed the presence of the Heavenly Faction, knowing that Dark Beings had already appeared here.
But he hadn't expected so many, including one that even Chu Heng couldn't defeat.
Old Man Cold Crow chose not to act, fearing that his aura would alert the Heavenly Faction and expose his identity as one of the Eight Follower Tribes.
"The Heavenly Faction has sent so many Dark Beings here. There must be something special about the inhabitants of this floating continent. Could they be the descendants of a certain clan?"
He frowned, deep in thought.
There were many things he didn't dare ask Gu Changge, fearing it might interfere with his plans. Some things were better left unknown.
The arrival of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance sparked curiosity among the people of the floating continent.
Fairy Qing remained in the Sacred Ancestor Mountain, not showing herself. The spokespersons of the six major families spoke with Zhuo Fengxie and the others, while Zhu Xuan and the rest watched from the sidelines.
Upon learning that the barrier would last only two more days, Zhuo Fengxie and the others were shocked. Many turned pale, struggling to accept the news.
With so many Dark Beings outside, including one that even Chu Heng couldn't defeat, once the barrier fell, they would be doomed.
Although the elite members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance were battle-hardened and unafraid of death, they stood no chance against the endless tide of Dark Beings.
Moreover, the Dark Beings' ability to corrupt and transform those they infected into more Dark Beings made the situation even more dire.
Many in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance despaired, feeling that there was no way out and that they would die here.
The people of the floating continent, however, were more resigned, having already accepted their fate. Upon learning that Ling Yuling had a good relationship with the leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, many felt reassured.
Later, the spokespersons of the six major families informed Zhuo Fengxie and the others of their plan.
Before the barrier faded, the Sacred Ancestor's descendant, Fairy Qing, would find a way to send everyone away. Perhaps the Heaven-Slaying Alliance could leave with them.
Zhuo Fengxie and the others were surprised, especially upon learning that Fairy Qing intended to sacrifice herself to buy them time. They felt deep respect for her.
"The person our leader is looking for must be Fairy Qing. I wonder if we can meet her?"
Although Chu Heng had never met Fairy Qing, he felt great respect for her after hearing the people of the floating continent speak of her.
"At this time, Fairy Qing is likely making her final preparations."
Shangguan Qing shook her head, her eyes filled with deep sorrow. "When I went to the Sacred Ancestor Mountain, I didn't see her. I only heard her voice outside her cave, and she sounded exhausted…"
Zhuo Fengxie and Chu Heng exchanged glances, feeling conflicted.
Gu Changge's orders were to capture the mastermind behind the Prime-Origin Covenant, the one responsible for its destruction. But given the current situation, how could they possibly arrest Fairy Qing, who was willing to sacrifice herself for others?
They were already struggling to survive.
"Could our leader be mistaken? If Fairy Qing is willing to sacrifice herself for others, how could she be the one behind the destruction of the Prime-Origin Covenant?"
"Or is the true culprit someone else?"
"But Ling Yuling only interacted with Fairy Qing when she came to the floating continent."
Their thoughts were tangled, but they could only set the matter aside for now.
If they could return safely to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and explain the situation to Gu Changge, he would likely understand and not blame them.
The time for the barrier's collapse came sooner than anyone expected.
Before the third day arrived, the barrier began to thin.
A tide of endless Dark Beings surged once more from the depths of the chaotic spacetime sea, even more overwhelming than before. The black fog filled every corner of spacetime, stretching as far as the eye could see.
The people of the floating continent had already made their final preparations, gathering important belongings, the remains of their loved ones, and various treasures. They stood on the ancient warships with the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, facing the endless Dark Beings beyond the barrier, their expressions resolute.
"The barrier is about to fade, the last protection shielding you will soon disappear."
"Are you prepared to face death?" The Dark Beings appeared outside the barrier, their cold, emotionless gazes sweeping over everyone.