"Haha, today I will tear you all apart."
"Only a sky and earth stained with blood can be the most beautiful sight."
The Dark Giant, who had been severely injured by Chu Heng and later reassembled, was the first to appear outside the light barrier.
Its massive, star-like body was shrouded in thick Dark Matter, a dense, black fog. It grinned widely, its fists slamming down one after another, each strike causing ripples that seemed to tear through the heavens and earth.
The already thinning light barrier trembled violently, on the verge of shattering.
Behind the Dark Giant, an endless tide of Dark Beings surged forward, like a black flood, blotting out the sky. The chilling, eerie aura they exuded made it seem as if the deepest abyss had returned to the world.
This scene made everyone in the floating continent feel as if they were suffocating, unable to breathe.
The overwhelming pressure was utterly despairing, leaving no room for hope.
Both the inhabitants of the floating continent and the members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance felt their hearts tremble.
Zhuo Fengxie and the others finally understood the despair and horror that the world had faced during the Black Calamity.
"At this point, there's no other choice. We can only pray that our leader, with his vast powers, can somehow protect us."
"Fairy Qing still hasn't appeared. We can't pin our hopes on her anymore…"
The members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance stood solemnly on the ancient warships, their expressions grave as they faced the endless tide of Dark Beings beyond the rapidly thinning light barrier.
Chu Heng, Zhuo Fengxie, and the others had made their preparations, ready to fight to the death.
Although the people of the floating continent had informed them of their plan to escape, Fairy Qing had yet to appear. The light barrier was on the brink of collapse, and it could no longer protect them.
No one knew if the escape would succeed.
Although Zhu Xuan and the others were deeply moved by Fairy Qing's self-sacrifice, they couldn't help but feel anxious as the light barrier twisted and cracked, and the Dark Beings prepared to charge.
Boom!
Just as everyone was ready to fight to the death, a radiant light filled the depths of the floating continent.
The gates of the Sacred Ancestor Mountain reappeared, larger than before. Fairy Qing's figure emerged, slender and graceful, clad in green armor that covered even her face, leaving only her clear, water-like eyes visible.
In her hand, she held an ancient green sword, exuding an eternal, timeless aura.
With a soft shout, countless swords resonated in the void, as if responding to her call. Sword lights appeared in every corner of spacetime, endless and boundless, swirling around her.
She seemed to have become the embodiment of the sword, the very essence of the Dao of Swords.
If one looked closely, they would see a glimpse of an ancient, mysterious world behind Nan Qing, vast and boundless, filled with endless light and shadow. On cliffs, rocks, lakes, mountains, and rivers, countless ancient swords were embedded—golden, purple, crimson, a kaleidoscope of colors. It was a real world of swords.
Each ancient sword was a real sword forged and refined by her will and spirit, numbering in the millions, uncountable.
"The True Interpretation of the Sword Dao…"
"The Sacred Ancestor's most proud technique…"
Many of the elderly figures in the floating continent nearly cried out, their voices trembling, noses tingling, and tears falling.
"I have opened a stable spacetime tunnel in the Sacred Ancestor Mountain, which can briefly support your escape."
Nan Qing's black hair cascaded like water as she stood in the sky, leaning on her sword, her calm gaze falling on the endless Dark Beings beyond the barrier.
She didn't hide her intentions, directly informing the people of the floating continent to flee to the Sacred Ancestor Mountain, as if she had absolute confidence in her strength.
As soon as she finished speaking, she moved, slashing her sword through the air. Countless sword shadows followed, like an ocean of swords, surging from the heavens and spacetime, overwhelming everything in their path.
At this moment, Nan Qing's eyes were as cold as ice, and she charged toward the Dark Beings outside the barrier, her strength and determination contrasting sharply with her delicate appearance.
The members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance were stunned by this breathtaking scene.
"Is this Fairy Qing?"
Even Chu Heng and Zhuo Fengxie couldn't help but feel a deep sense of admiration.
"Fairy Qing…"
The people of the floating continent, realizing the urgency, quickly composed themselves and rushed toward the Sacred Ancestor Mountain.
The Heaven-Slaying Alliance also drove their ancient warships swiftly toward the mountain. As they passed through the gates of the Sacred Ancestor Mountain, a vast spacetime fluctuation emanated.
A glowing portal stood there, shrouded in chaotic energy, as if connected to another universe.
"It seems you plan to escape, but where can you run to? No matter how far you go, you cannot escape."
Outside the rapidly thinning light barrier, a Dark Being sneered, seemingly unconcerned, as if playing a game of cat and mouse.
"The world will once again be shrouded in darkness. You cannot escape the gaze of our master…"
From the thick black fog, the figure clad in black ghostly iron armor reappeared. His name was Wu Yang, and his cold green eyes flashed like lightning, striking toward the light barrier, intending to tear it apart.
At the same time, he raised his hand, a grayish-green light surging as he countered Nan Qing's sword strike.
In an instant, an unimaginable force erupted, destroying everything in its path. The blinding light grew brighter before gradually dimming, the countless sword shadows breaking and decaying.
Nan Qing's figure was engulfed in the explosion of light, her slender yet resolute form surrounded by countless sword shadows. Alone, she faced the endless tide of Dark Beings.
Witnessing this scene, everyone rushing toward the Sacred Ancestor Mountain felt their hearts tremble, their noses tingling.
"Kill!"
The powerful Dark Beings followed behind Wu Yang, their overwhelming pressure like mountains and seas collapsing, suffocating and despairing.
The already crumbling light barrier finally shattered, turning into dust.
The endless black fog surged forward, engulfing the floating continent.
Within the fog, the Dark Beings let out eerie, chilling cries, chasing toward the Sacred Ancestor Mountain, intent on annihilating everyone.
"Ping Luan Zhi Ge Jue (The Art of Quelling Chaos and Ending War)."
Nan Qing's voice was calm and clear as she spoke again.
At this moment, she seemed to have become one with the sword in her hand, her boundless sword intent radiating from her, as if piercing through distant spacetime and ancient dimensions.
Above her, a massive sword shadow appeared, as if it had cut down countless stars from beyond the heavens. It descended with overwhelming force.
In an instant, countless sword lights flew out, crisscrossing the sky, slicing through the Dark Beings that charged forward, reducing them to pieces.
Before her, a no-man's land formed. No Dark Being could take a single step forward, as they were all annihilated by the sword lights. Even the black fog was obliterated.
Chaos reigned. The black fog poured down from the sky, filling every corner. The chaotic spacetime sea seemed completely overtaken.
Sword lights crisscrossed the heavens and earth, slashing down from every dimension. Nan Qing's figure blurred, as if merging with time itself, continuously charging forward, clashing with the powerful Dark Beings. Her overwhelming aura swept through the surrounding void and spacetime.
This battle was no longer a simple exchange of techniques and divine abilities. It was a clash of rules, order, and the Great Dao, a collision of unimaginable power and mystery.
As the battle continued, the scene became blurred and hazy, as if returning to the primordial state of the universe. The most primal substances evaporated, then intertwined and evolved, giving rise to the cycle of life, the end of reincarnation, and finally the deathly silence of the world.
This scene of evolution was beyond comprehension, surpassing the imagination of ordinary Ancestral Dao Realm experts.
This was the realm of the Dao Ancestor, the understanding and control of the Dao at this level.
Boom!
Suddenly, a grayish-green hand, covered in strange patterns, appeared above the Sacred Ancestor Mountain and slammed down, aiming to sever the spacetime tunnel.
Wu Yang's figure suddenly appeared there, having somehow bypassed Nan Qing, who was holding off the Dark Beings to buy time for the others.
His eyes were cold and deep, and some parts of his body were injured, with black blood boiling like eerie flames.
"What? How did he suddenly appear here?"
Those fleeing into the spacetime tunnel felt their hearts tremble with fear. The tunnel seemed on the verge of collapsing under Wu Yang's strike.
Many of the ancient warships that had already entered the tunnel began to destabilize, on the brink of being crushed by the collapsing spacetime.
Chu Heng and the others, their expressions changing, acted without hesitation, rushing to intercept Wu Yang.
The elderly figures from the floating continent, their life force nearly depleted, had originally planned to stay behind with Nan Qing to buy time.
Seeing this, they quickly flew out, their bodies glowing as they ignited their remaining life force to fight Wu Yang.
Boom!
A bright blade light slashed through the air. A'Li, who was on one of the ancient warships, rose from her True Howler and appeared before Wu Yang, swinging her black heavenly blade to meet his attack.
However, facing Wu Yang, clad in ghostly iron armor, she was no match. In the next moment, she was sent flying, crashing onto the warship.
Zhu Xuan and the others' expressions changed drastically.
"You cannot escape."
Wu Yang repelled all who came at him. He looked at the spacetime portal and spoke coldly, stepping forward.
With each step, spacetime trembled and collapsed, the rules shattered.
His skull glowed, and a terrifying black aura surged through his armor. The sheer force of his presence froze the entire spacetime, forcing the ancient warships attempting to pass through to halt in mid-air.
Wu Yang's power and terror made the people of the floating continent and the Heaven-Slaying Alliance tremble with fear.
Chu Heng, still severely injured, felt a deep sense of helplessness. At this moment, even escape seemed impossible.
Then, a blazing, golden sword light, bright as the sun, descended from the sky, forcing Wu Yang back several steps.
Nan Qing, who had been holding off the Dark Beings, returned. She struck at Wu Yang with her sword and, without hesitation, stabilized the collapsing spacetime tunnel with a wave of her hand.
She then stood alone at the entrance of the portal, her body blocking the way, buying the others their last chance to escape…
"Fairy Qing…"
Zhu Xuan and the others' voices trembled, their eyes red.
The last thing they saw was Fairy Qing forcing Wu Yang back, only to be engulfed by the endless tide of Dark Beings. She coughed up blood, staining her armor, as the black fog surged toward her, completely enveloping her.
The sky turned completely dark, devoid of any light. The other end of the spacetime tunnel gradually closed, until it was no longer visible.
The ancient warships sped through the spacetime tunnel, leaving the chaotic spacetime sea behind. But the ships were silent, the atmosphere heavy with grief. No one spoke.
A sense of mourning permeated the air. Even though they had escaped, the people of the floating continent felt no joy.
Everyone's faces were filled with deep sorrow and pain.
Chu Heng, Zhuo Fengxie, and the others from the Heaven-Slaying Alliance were also deeply shaken by what they had witnessed, standing in stunned silence for a long time.
"Where is Xiao Die?"
"Did she not leave either?"
Zhu Xuan's hoarse voice suddenly broke the silence. He seemed to have just remembered, looking around for the young girl who had always been by Nan Qing's side, teaching on her behalf.
"Xiao Die must have stayed with Fairy Qing, accompanying her to the end."
Shangguan Qing, the spokesperson of the Shangguan Family, spoke in a similarly hoarse voice, her face filled with sorrow.
The group fell silent again, their hatred for the remnants of the Black Calamity burning like wildfire.
"If you want revenge, becoming stronger is your only option," A'Li's calm voice rang out. She looked at Zhu Xuan, as if seeing through his thoughts.
"I will avenge my family, my master… Fairy Qing, and everyone from the floating continent," Zhu Xuan said, his eyes red with hatred, his fists clenched tightly.
"Although we've escaped, we're not safe until we confirm our spacetime coordinates."
"The Dark Beings could pursue us at any moment," A'Li added, nodding slightly.
Her words immediately made everyone uneasy again.
"When we came to the chaotic spacetime sea, we left a spacetime node. We can use that coordinate to return to the Prime-Origin Civilization. The Dark Beings wouldn't dare invade the Prime-Origin Civilization."
Chu Heng spoke up. Although he had been severely injured by Wu Yang, he wasn't disheartened.
What he had witnessed today—Fairy Qing's heroic sacrifice—filled him with deep admiration. Such selflessness was something he could never achieve.
Thus, he didn't want the people of the floating continent, whom Fairy Qing had sacrificed herself to save, to face any further danger, rendering her efforts in vain.
Moreover, hadn't Fairy Qing's actions also benefited the Heaven-Slaying Alliance?
Hearing Chu Heng's words, the people of the floating continent felt a glimmer of hope.
No matter what, they had shared hardships. Now, the Prime-Origin Civilization seemed like a good destination.
The thick black fog continued to spread. As the spacetime portal on the Sacred Ancestor Mountain closed, the floating continent was completely engulfed in darkness, the sky pitch black, like the deepest night, the most silent abyss.
Nan Qing stood calmly on the mountain, her slender, snow-white neck tilted slightly as she watched the floating continent crumble in the distance.
Behind her was the vast, surging black fog, teeming with endless Dark Beings.
"These were the people you once wanted to protect. Have I not sent them all to safety?"
She seemed to recall something, a mocking smile curling her lips. For a moment, the dark, gloomy surroundings seemed to brighten.
"Miss, this is a letter A'Li asked me to deliver to you."
Not far away, Wu Yang, clad in black ghostly iron armor, stood respectfully, holding a letter sealed with dark golden patterns.
Nan Qing didn't turn around, only nodding slightly, her eyes calm and unreadable.
A young maid with her hair tied in a bun quickly presented the letter, unfolding it before Nan Qing.
"News unrelated to the Pool of Creation?"
Nan Qing glanced at the contents of the letter, slightly surprised.