Chapter 6221 - 6225

“Kai!”

Ning Zhi’s voice was icy cold, filled with endless killing intent and resentment. “Today is your death day! I will personally end your life, leaving you without a burial place, your soul scattered to the winds!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the demonic blade in his hand slashed down!

The blade’s light was as black as ink, carrying a world-destroying power, cleaving down towards Kai. The void itself was torn apart by this strike, revealing dark cracks. If this strike landed, Kai would surely die!

At this critical moment…

“Stop!!!”

A roar rang out, and Long Zhan instantly appeared in front of Kai. Covered in blood, he held a broken sword, using his last ounce of strength to meet the terrifying blade’s light head-on!

Boom!!!

A deafening explosion erupted, golden and black light clashing wildly. Long Zhan’s figure was struck as if by a heavy blow, blasted away.

Blood gushed from his mouth as he crashed heavily onto the city wall, creating a huge crater, from which he could never rise again.

“Dragon Battle!!!”

Kai roared, his eyes filled with grief and rage, but his severely injured body prevented him from even standing.

“Kai!”

Chen Wanqing rushed forward, shielding Kai, her spiritual energy surging, her eyes filled with determination.

“And me!”

Ming Li, wielding a ghost blade, soared into the sky from below, his ghostly aura chilling, blocking Kai’s other side. Even though he was already severely injured, even though he knew he was no match, he would never retreat a single step.

“Young Master Chen, we’ll protect you!”

Yun Yao and Liu Qianqian also rushed forward. Although they were exhausted and could barely stand, they still exerted all their strength to shield Kai.

Four severely injured and dying people used their last strength to protect Kai behind them, using their bodies to form the last line of defense.

Ning Zhi watched this scene, a cruel smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

“A bunch of ants, daring to block my way?”

He spoke coldly, his tone full of disdain. “You think you can stop me with just a few defeated soldiers? What a joke.”

He raised his hand and waved it lightly behind him.

“Long Yuan, take the demonic dragons and keep these ignorant fools occupied. I want to kill Kai with my own hands, to let him die by my blade.”

Long Yuan accepted the order, and with a single command, thousands of demonic dragons roared in unison, their massive wings flapping as they swooped down!

Long Zhan struggled to his feet from the ruins and charged forward again;

Chen Wanqing, Ming Li, Yun Yao, Liu Qianqian, and everyone else fought with all their might against the demonic dragon army.

They were no match for them; every clash was fraught with danger, and new wounds were constantly being inflicted upon them.

But not one of them retreated, not one of them flinched, holding their positions tightly, using their lives to buy Kai the last bit of time.

Ning Zhi didn’t even glance at them; his eyes were only on Kai.

He walked towards Kai step by step, each step intensifying the demonic energy around him and fueling his killing intent.

“Kai, do you see that?”

Ning Zhi’s voice was filled with boundless smugness. “Your woman, your brothers, are all risking their lives for you. But so what? None of them can save you. Today, you must die by my hand!”

Kai calmly looked at him, even though he was covered in blood and barely breathing, there was no fear in his eyes.

He slowly stood up, gripping the Dragon-Slaying Sword tightly, its tip pointing at Ning Zhi.

“Want to kill me?”

Kai’s voice was hoarse and weak, yet carried an indomitable pride. “Then try.”

Ning Zhi sneered, refusing further words. In a flash, he appeared before Kai, his demonic blade slashing down!

Kai fought with all his might, parrying with his sword!

Clang!

Swords clashed, sparks flew, and a terrifying shockwave swept in all directions!

Kai was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, spitting out blood as he crashed to the ground, creating a huge crater.

He struggled to his feet, but Ning Zhi gave him no chance to catch his breath, slashing down again!

Clang!!!

Kai was blasted away once more, his wounds reopening, blood staining the ground red, but he gritted his teeth and stood up again.

“Kai!”

Chen Wanqing’s shrill cry rang out. She tried to rush over, but was tightly bound by several demonic dragons and couldn’t break free.

“Young Master Chen!”

Yun Yao also cried, her sobs heart-wrenching, but she was also bound by the demonic dragons, helplessly watching Kai being blasted away time and time again.

Ning Zhi watched Kai fall and rise again and again, his smile growing increasingly cruel.

“You’re quite tenacious,”

he said coldly. “But so what? In your current state, you can’t even withstand one of my strikes, yet you think you can resist? You’re simply courting death!”

Before he finished speaking, he attacked again. This time, the blade’s edge was even sharper and more ruthless, aimed directly at Kai’s vitals! Chen

Ping desperately swung his sword to block, but his heavily injured body couldn’t withstand the force. The Dragon-Slaying Sword flew from his hand, and he was blasted away again, crashing heavily to the ground, unable to rise again.

Ning Zhi walked step by step to Kai, looking down at him with mockery and smugness in his eyes.

“Kai, you’ve finally met your match.”

He slowly raised the demonic blade in his hand, the tip aimed at Kai’s throat. “Back then, you defeated me time and time again, forcing me to flee in disarray. Did you ever imagine that this day would come? That you would die by my hand?”

Kai looked at him, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, yet he smiled.

That smile was filled with mockery, disdain, and an arrogance that refused to yield even in death.

“Ning Zhi…you think…you’ve won?”

Kai’s voice was weak, yet each word was crystal clear. “You…will always…be my defeated foe…always…”

Ning Zhi’s face instantly darkened, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.

“Still daring to talk back when you’re about to die!”

He roared, his demonic blade slashing down fiercely!

The blade’s light was as black as ink, carrying the power to destroy everything, aimed straight for Kai’s head!

Kai quietly closed his eyes, Su Yuqi’s face appearing in his mind, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

Yuqi…

if there is an afterlife, I will find you again, I will love you again…

At this critical moment—

a dazzling black light suddenly bloomed before Kai!

The light was dense yet not blinding, carrying a faint aura of the underworld, instantly enveloping Kai.

Clang!

A deafening clang of metal clashing exploded, and a terrifying shockwave swept in all directions!

Ning Zhi’s demonic blade was firmly blocked by a long, jet-black sword, unable to fall even an inch further.

“Who?!”

Ning Zhi’s pupils shrank sharply, and he looked up abruptly.

The light dissipated, revealing a figure standing steadily in front of Kai.

It was an extremely beautiful woman.

She wore a long black dress, her long, ink-black hair cascading over her shoulders, fluttering gently in the wind, her skin as white as snow, her eyebrows and eyes exquisitely beautiful, her features refined to the extreme, and her aura both cold and eerie. A faint ghostly aura emanated from the woman, yet she showed no ferocity, like a ghostly fairy emerging from the underworld. This

was Yun Xi, the princess of the Ghost Clan.

Holding a jet-black longsword, her aura was vast and boundless, her gaze fixed coldly on Ning Zhi, her eyes filled with rage and killing intent.

“Touch him?”

Yun Xi’s voice was icy and chilling, each word sharp and piercing, “Did you ask me?”

Ning Zhi’s pupils contracted, and he instinctively took a step back.

He could sense that this suddenly appearing woman was incredibly powerful!

“Yun Xi…”

Kai’s weak voice sounded behind him, his eyes filled with shock and surprise, “You… how could you…”

Yun Xi didn’t turn around, but gently said, “Don’t be afraid, I will protect you.”

After speaking, she looked at Ning Zhi again, the gentleness in her eyes instantly turning into icy killing intent.

“Dare to hurt him, you’re courting death!”

Before the words were even finished, Yun Xi’s figure vanished from the spot!

The next moment, she appeared before Ning Zhi, her longsword, imbued with overwhelming ghostly energy, slashing down fiercely!

Ning Zhi’s expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly swung his sword to block!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The two clashed fiercely in the void, sword light and blade light crisscrossing, terrifying shockwaves sweeping in all directions, distorting and shattering the void! The

more Ning Zhi fought, the more alarmed he became.

This woman who had suddenly appeared was so powerful; he had no way to defeat her quickly!

Moreover, her ghostly aura carried a strange power that could corrode his demonic energy, making him feel restricted!

Just then, Kai forced himself to stand up.

He raised his hand, and the Dragon-Slaying Sword flew back into his hand.

Even though he was severely injured and on the verge of death, even though his breath was weak, his eyes still burned with an indomitable fighting spirit.

“Yun Xi, I’m here to help you!”

Kai shouted, forcibly circulating the remaining spiritual power in his body, and golden light shone around him again, though weak, it still carried the majesty of the Dragon Emperor.

He held the Dragon-Slaying Sword and launched a fierce attack on Ning Zhi!

Yun Xi and Ning Zhi worked in perfect harmony, their attacks relentless from either side, gradually suppressing Ning Zhi!

Ning Zhi’s expression grew increasingly grim.

Yun Xi alone was already a problem, and now, with the addition of Kai, who, despite being severely injured, was still recklessly aggressive, he was slowly falling into a disadvantageous position!

What angered him even more was that the demonic dragon army led by Long Yuan was also tightly bound by Long Zhan and the others, unable to break free to help him!

“Damn it!”

Ning Zhi gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with resentment and rage.

He was so close to killing Kai, so very close!

But this damned ghost woman had to appear at this crucial moment, ruining his plans!

“Kai!”

Ning Zhi roared, “You’re lucky today! But don’t be so smug, next time, you won’t be so lucky!”

Before he finished speaking, he swung his sword, forcing Kai and Yun Xi back, and instantly retreated.

“Retreat!”

he roared, turning and speeding away into the distance, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Long Yuan and the demonic dragon army ceased their fighting, soaring into

the sky to follow Ning Zhi, disappearing in the rolling demonic energy in the blink of an eye. The demonic energy gradually dissipated, and sunlight shone again, illuminating the ravaged Yunxian City.

Kai could no longer hold on and fell backward, caught by Yun Xi.

“Kai! Kai!”

Yun Xi called out twice.

Kai looked at her weakly, a faint smile forcing a smile.

“Yun Xi… thank you… you saved me again…”

Yun Xi smiled slightly: “You owe me two lives…”

Kai smiled, but his gaze involuntarily drifted into the distance, towards the direction Su Yuqi had gone.

There, it was empty, nothing was left.

Yuqi…

where did you go…

when will you… remember me…?

His consciousness blurred, his vision went black, and he completely fainted.

Seeing this, Chen Wanqing rushed forward and hugged Kai tightly, tears silently streaming down her face. “Kai, rest well. No matter how long it takes, I’ll stay with you until you wake up.”

In the distance, Ning Zhi frantically chased after her, finally catching up with the purple figure a thousand miles away from Yunxian City.

“Senior Sister! Senior Sister!”

He blocked Su Yuqi’s path, his face full of anxiety and confusion. “Why did you leave?! Why did you let Kai go?!”

Su Yuqi looked at him quietly, her eyes eerily calm.

“Junior Brother,”

she said softly, “I don’t know what’s between him and me, I don’t know why my heart aches. But I know I can’t lay a hand on him again.”

Ning Zhi’s expression changed, a flicker of panic in his eyes.

“Senior Sister, listen to me, he’s an enemy, our enemy!”

Su Yuqi shook her head.

Without saying anything, she walked past Ning Zhi and continued forward.

Ning Zhi stood there, staring intently at her back, his eyes filled with resentment, anger, and a hint of panic he himself didn’t realize.

Kai wasn’t dead, and Su Yuqi began to waver.

Everything seemed to be heading in the direction he least wanted to see.

He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms, drawing blood.

Kai…

next time, I will definitely kill you with my own hands!

I definitely will! Above Yunxian City, the demonic energy finally dissipated completely, and the long-awaited sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating the ravaged city.

But that sunlight could not illuminate the devastation and sorrow within.

Most of the city walls had collapsed, leaving behind charred marks and deep, unfathomable cracks.

Piles of rubble and stones lay everywhere; the once bustling streets were now ruins, and the air was thick with the pungent stench of blood and acrid heat.

The cultivators staggered out of their hiding places, their eyes filled with a mixture of relief at surviving the calamity and profound grief as they gazed upon the ruins.

Yunxian City had suffered devastating losses in this battle.

Countless cultivators had perished, countless families shattered, and this once-mighty city, standing for so many years, was almost completely reduced to rubble.

Long Zhan stood atop the ruins, covered in blood, his wounds still bleeding, but he had no time to tend to his injuries.

He took a deep breath, forcing his exhausted body to stand firm, and loudly commanded:

“All Tianlong Clan members, heed my order! Immediately begin clearing the battlefield, treating the wounded, and collecting the remains of our fallen brothers!”

His voice was hoarse, yet carried an undeniable authority.

The surviving Tianlong Clan warriors readily obeyed, dragging their wounded bodies to begin clearing the ruins and searching for survivors.

Long Zhan then turned to the still-shaken cultivators in the city and said in a deep voice: “Gentlemen, the demonic dragon has retreated, but the casualties in the city are heavy. I implore you all to lend a helping hand, to treat the wounded, and to rebuild Yunxian City!”

The cultivators nodded, suppressing their fear and grief, and threw themselves into the treatment and cleanup efforts.

In an instant, the sky above Yunxian City echoed with cries of agony, sobs, and shouts, weaving together a tragic elegy for the aftermath of the battle.

Long Zhan watched all this, his eyes filled with heaviness.

They had won this battle, but the price of this victory was far too high.

He turned his head, looking towards the City Lord’s Mansion, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.

Kai…

you must pull through.

Deep within the City Lord’s Mansion, in a relatively intact secret chamber,

Kai lay quietly on the bed, his face ashen, his breath so weak it was almost imperceptible.

His body was wrapped in bandages, blood seeping through them, a horrifying sight.

The wounds left by the demonic fire were charred black; even though Yun Xi had used her ghostly energy to dispel most of the demonic poison, the wounds were still hideous and terrifying, deep enough to expose bone.

Chen Wanqing sat by the bedside, tightly holding Kai’s hand, her eyes reddening, tears silently streaming down her face.

She sat there, motionless, as if she would stay like that until the end of time.

After an unknown amount of time, Kai’s fingers twitched slightly.

Chen Wanqing looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with joy.

“Kai! Kai!”

she called softly, her voice trembling.

Kai’s eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was Chen Wanqing’s tear-streaked face, her eyes filled with intense worry and joy.

“Wanqing…”

Kai’s voice was hoarse and weak, as if squeezed from his throat.

“You’re awake! You’re finally awake!”

Chen Wanqing cried tears of joy, tightly gripping his hand. “Do you know, I… I almost thought you wouldn’t wake up…”

Kai looked at her, a weak smile appearing on his lips.

“I’m sorry to have worried you…”

Chen Wanqing shook her head, wiping away her tears, and said seriously, “Rest well, don’t move around. Yunxi said your injuries are too severe, you need at least a month of rest to recover.”

Kai nodded gently, his gaze involuntarily drifting to the window, to the empty sky.

Looking into his eyes, Chen Wanqing felt a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her.

She remained silent for a moment, then finally asked softly,

“Kai, who… is that woman?”

Kai’s body stiffened slightly.

Chen Wanqing continued, “It’s that woman in purple who injured you with the flaming sword. Who… is she to you?”

Kai remained silent for a long time, his eyes flashing with pain, longing, guilt, and deep love.

He slowly spoke, his voice hoarse,

“Her name is Su Yuqi… she’s my girlfriend.”

Chen Wanqing’s fingers tightened slightly.

Girlfriend.

Of course, she understood that word.

It was the worldly way of saying it, meaning… the woman he loved most.

“She…”

Chen Wanqing carefully chose her words, “Why did she hurt you? She seemed like she really didn’t know you…”

Kai closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly opened them.

“She has amnesia.”

His voice was filled with endless bitterness. “We came from the mortal world together, experiencing so much. But then, she disappeared, and I searched for her for a very, very long time… I never expected that when we met again, she would be under control, her memories sealed away.”

He paused, his eyes filled with heartache: “She doesn’t remember me, doesn’t remember anything between us. But I don’t blame her, I only blame myself… I lost her, I didn’t protect her.”

Chen Wanqing listened quietly, a surge of indescribable emotions welling up inside her.

Those emotions were bittersweet, envious, and a hint of… jealousy she herself didn’t want to admit.

She looked at the tenderness and heartache in Kai’s eyes when he spoke of Su Yuqi, at his uncomplaining demeanor even when he was utterly broken, and suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

She so wished that one day, someone could treat her like that.

But that person already had someone else in their heart.

Chen Wanqing lowered her head, remained silent for a moment, then raised her head again, forcing a smile.

“She… must be very happy.”

Kai looked at her, a hint of guilt flashing in his eyes.

“Wanqing, I’m sorry, I…”

Chen Wanqing shook her head, interrupting him.

“You don’t need to apologize. It’s perfectly normal for someone like you to have a few close female friends.”

She paused, then said softly, “I only hope you can recover well and get better soon. As for that Miss Su… I believe that one day, she will remember you.”

Kai looked at her, his eyes filled with gratitude.

“Wanqing, thank you.”

Chen Wanqing smiled and said nothing more.

She simply sat quietly by the bed, keeping him company and watching over him.

Even if he had someone else in his heart, she was willing to stay by his side.

That was enough.
Meanwhile, in another part of the City Lord’s Mansion,

Yunxi stood in the courtyard, surrounded by ghostly energy, healing her injuries.

She had also sustained some wounds in the battle with Ning Zhi; though not serious, they required rest.

She heard soft footsteps behind her.

Yunxi opened her eyes, turned around, and saw Mingli slowly approaching.

Mingli’s aura was also weak, and although his wounds were bandaged, blood still seeped through.

He stopped three steps in front of Yunxi, bowing slightly: “Princess Yunxi.”

Yunxi looked at him, a strange light flashing in her eyes.

“Mingli…right? One of Kai’s men?”

Mingli nodded: “Yes.”

Yunxi scrutinized him carefully, her brows furrowing slightly.

“You…how come you have the aura of the Gate of Reincarnation on you?”

Mingli was startled, then realized, “Princess, you have good eyesight. Indeed, I have used the Gate of Reincarnation before.”

A hint of surprise flashed in Yunxi’s eyes, “You used the Gate of Reincarnation? Where is it now?”

Mingli smiled bitterly and shook his head.

“To be honest, Princess, the Gate of Reincarnation was indeed in my possession before, and I even used it to control some forces. But later… it was taken away by a powerful figure named Mr. Shi.”

Yunxi frowned slightly: “Mr. Shi?”

Mingli nodded: “Mr. Shi is a friend of Kai, his strength is unfathomable, and his origins are even more mysterious. When he took the Gate of Reincarnation, he said that this thing was of great importance and could not be used casually.”

Yunxi was silent for a moment, then sighed softly.

“I see…”

Ming Li looked at her and tentatively asked, “Princess, if I may be so bold as to ask, why are you so concerned about the Gate of Reincarnation? Could it be… that something has happened to the Ghost Clan of the Fifteenth Heaven?”

Yun Xi gave him a deep look, remained silent for a moment, and slowly said, “You are also a member of the Ghost Clan, so it’s alright to tell you.”

She paused and continued, “The situation of the Ghost Clan in the Fifteenth Heaven… is not optimistic.”

Ming Li’s expression hardened: “Please speak plainly, Princess.”

Yun Xi looked up into the distance, a heavy look flashing in her eyes: “Do you know about the Reincarnation Bureau?”

“Of course I know, it’s the place where our Ghost Clan cultivators reincarnate,” Ming Li said.

“That’s right, that’s the place where our Ghost Clan cultivators reincarnate. Back then, our Ghost Clan suffered a massacre, and many cultivators were annihilated. But many others managed to reach the Reincarnation Bureau with just a wisp of their souls.”

“Over the years, many reincarnated Ghost Clan cultivators have been reborn. But just a few hundred years ago, the Reincarnation Bureau suddenly underwent a strange change, trapping countless Ghost Clan cultivators’ souls within, unable to escape or reincarnate.”

She paused, her voice low: “Those trapped cultivators were the elite of the Ghost Clan, the foundation of our Ghost Clan. If we cannot rescue them, the Ghost Clan’s survival in the Heavenly Realm will become increasingly difficult.”

Ming Li’s pupils contracted, his heart filled with shock.

“Is that so…”

Yunxi nodded. “I came to the Fourteenth Heaven this time to find the Gate of Reincarnation. The Gate of Reincarnation is a supreme treasure of reincarnation, sharing the same origin as the Reincarnation Bureau. Only by using the power of the Gate of Reincarnation can we enter the depths of the Reincarnation Bureau and rescue our trapped clansmen.”

She looked at Mingli, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. “I thought finding the Gate of Reincarnation would solve the problem, but I didn’t expect that it had already been taken away by that Mr. Shi.”

Mingli was silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice, “Princess, don’t be discouraged. Mr. Shi and Kai have a close relationship. As long as Kai recovers, we can ask him to contact Mr. Shi and see if we can borrow the Gate of Reincarnation back.”

A glimmer of light flashed in Yunxi’s eyes.

“You mean… Kai can contact that Mr. Shi?”

Mingli nodded. “He should be able to. Mr. Shi has helped Kai many times, and the two have a deep friendship. As long as Kai asks, Mr. Shi should give him the honor.”

Yunxi took a deep breath, hope igniting in her eyes.

“Alright, then I’ll wait for Kai to recover.”

She paused, looked at Ming Li, and said softly, “Ming Li, thank you for telling me all this.”

Ming Li shook his head: “You’re too kind, Princess. I am also a member of the Ghost Clan. How could I stand idly by when the Ghost Clan of the Fifteenth Heaven is in trouble? If I can help, I will do my duty.”

Yun Xi looked at him, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes.

“Although you are in the Fourteenth Heaven, you still care about the Ghost Clan. That’s rare.”

Ming Li smiled bitterly: “I am just a wandering soul. If I could return to the Ghost Clan and do my part for the clan, it would be my wish.”

Yun Xi nodded and said nothing more.

The two stood side by side in the courtyard, looking at the distant sky.

That sky, once shrouded in demonic energy, had now returned to its clear state.

In the secret chamber, Kai lay quietly, his gaze still fixed on the window.

Yu Qi…

where are you?

When…will you remember me?

He slowly closed his eyes, his consciousness gradually sinking into darkness.

On the distant horizon, a purple figure stood silently atop a mountain, gazing towards Yunxian City.

Su Yuqi clutched her chest, a dull ache throbbing so intense she could barely breathe.

Why?

Why did she feel so terrible?

Why was her mind filled with the image of the man, covered in blood, yet still looking at her with tender eyes?

She didn’t know.

She only knew she couldn’t forget those eyes.

Couldn’t forget that “Yuqi.”

Couldn’t forget… everything about him.

Tears silently streamed down her face, falling to the ground and glistening in the sunlight.

In the distance, Ning Zhi’s figure appeared, standing not far behind her, his eyes filled with malice and resentment.

He looked at Su Yuqi gazing towards Yunxian City, the hatred in his heart almost consuming him.

Kai…

you wait.

One day, I will kill you with my own hands. I

will annihilate your soul, condemning you to eternal damnation!

And Su Yuqi…

can only be mine!

He took a deep breath, suppressing the violence within him, and slowly stepped forward, a gentle smile returning to his face.

“Senior sister, it’s time to go back.”

Su Yuqi didn’t turn around, but simply nodded.

She glanced one last time in the direction of Yunxian City, then turned and followed Ning Zhi away.

But that blood-soaked figure, those gentle eyes, that cry of “Yuqi”…

were etched deep into her heart like a brand,

indelible .

Yunxian City, the City Lord’s Mansion.

Night deepened, moonlight bathed the ruins in a silvery glow.

Chen Wanqing remained by Kai’s bedside, holding his hand, quietly watching his sleeping face.

She murmured softly, her voice barely audible to herself:

“Kai… do you know, I also… like you a little.”

“But I know, you only have her in your heart.”

“It’s okay, I’ll wait. Until you’re healed, until she comes back, until you… occasionally look back at me.”

Tears streamed down her face, dripping onto the back of his hand.

Kai’s fingers seemed to twitch slightly.

But ultimately, he didn’t wake up. He didn’t know how to face Chen Wanqing.

In front of Su Yuqi, Chen Wanqing was nothing; among all these women, only Su Yuqi held the most important place in Kai’s heart.

Recalling his moments with Su Yuqi, Kai remembered that although they had never slept together and Su Yuqi had never truly become his woman

, no other woman could replace her.
…

The main hall of the temple!

Shen Tong sat on his throne, his face extremely grim.

The mere thought of Ning Zhi’s seemingly effortless attack, that terrifying, overwhelming power, sent shivers down his spine like a nightmare.

He had lived for ten thousand years, ruled the temple for millennia, and traversed the fourteen heavens, yet he had never seen such a terrifying being, and Ning Zhi looked so young.

“Ning Zhi…the Demon Dragon lineage…”

Shen Tong muttered through gritted teeth, his voice hoarse and dry, filled with boundless hatred, “This enmity is irreconcilable! If there is a future, I will tear you to pieces and make you pay for this blood debt!”

But this hatred was quickly suppressed by a deeper anxiety and fear.

He looked out of the hall at the dejected, wounded surviving disciples of the temple, his heart sinking deeper and deeper.

This expedition saw him mobilize the entire elite force of the Divine Palace—several thousand disciples and over a dozen True Immortal Realm elders. Of these, fewer than two hundred survived, and only four True Immortal Realm elders remained. The rest either perished in the demonic flames or were lost and killed in the rout.

The foundation the Divine Palace had built over tens of thousands of years in the Fourteenth Heaven had been almost entirely destroyed in this battle. The once mighty overlord of the divine race was now nothing but an empty shell, teetering on the brink of collapse.

What alarmed him even more was that once news of the Divine Palace’s crushing defeat spread, the various forces in the Fourteenth Heaven would undoubtedly stir with rage.

In its heyday, when the Divine Palace was at its peak, it acted with tyranny and brutality, using its overwhelming strength to oppress countless smaller forces, seizing opportunities, occupying secret realms, and slaughtering those who dared to defy it, thus forging countless grudges.

Especially under the guise of worshipping at the sacred mountain, using the pretext of praying for blessings and tribulation as bait, he secretly stole the souls and essence of tens of thousands of cultivators, attempting to resurrect the forbidden Ghost Clan Venerable. Although he tried his best to cover this up, some news still leaked out, causing countless cultivators to dare to be angry but not speak out.

Now that the temple is severely damaged and its strength has plummeted, those forces that were once oppressed will surely take the opportunity to kick it while it’s down and launch a group attack.

At that time, the temple will not only fail to avenge itself, but it will probably not even have a foothold. It will be completely devoured and swallowed up, and completely disappear from the map of the Fourteenth Heaven.

“Palace Master, how are your injuries? Your subordinate has prepared a healing elixir for you.”

A white-haired elder wearing a golden elder’s robe, with a solemn expression, slowly walked into the main control room, holding a radiant elixir in his hands, his tone full of worry.

Shen Tong accepted the elixir and swallowed it whole. The warm, nourishing power of the pill spread throughout his body. He slowly closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, “I will not die, but the Divine Temple… is utterly destroyed this time.”

Upon hearing this, the white-haired elder sighed deeply, his face filled with bitterness and despair: “Your subordinate understands. In this crushing defeat, we have suffered heavy losses, our foundation is completely destroyed. The news of the battle at Yunxian City will spread throughout the entire Fourteenth Heaven within half a day.

Those covetous forces will not let this opportunity pass. I’m afraid we can no longer defend our Divine Temple’s gates.”

Shen Tong opened his eyes, a ruthless glint in them: “We must defend it even if we can’t! The Divine Temple’s gates are the foundation of our divine race; how can we easily abandon them?”

“No, Lord Temple Master!”

The white-haired elder hurriedly bowed and advised, his tone urgent. “We have just suffered a crushing defeat, and our disciples are in a state of panic and morale is completely gone. Although the protective array is strong, it requires a massive amount of spiritual energy to support it. With our current strength, we simply cannot maintain the array at full power.

Moreover, once the various forces surround us, we will be trapped like turtles in a jar, unable to escape. Defending the mountain gate will only lead to the complete annihilation of the temple’s remaining power. At that time, we will not even be able to preserve the last bit of incense offerings!”

Shen Tong’s face turned pale and then red. The white-haired elder’s words hit the nail on the head, but he was extremely unwilling to abandon the temple that he had painstakingly built up over ten thousand years.

He slammed his hand on the edge of the bed and shouted sharply, “Then what do you suggest I do? Should I lead my remaining disciples to flee everywhere, becoming homeless dogs?”

The white-haired elder was silent for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes, and said in a deep voice, “Palace Master, the only plan now is to temporarily avoid the limelight and find a powerful backer to preserve the remaining strength of the Temple.

Looking across the entire Fourteenth Heaven, the only one who can protect us at this time, and who has the strength to resist the Demon Dragon lineage and deter all the villains, is the Temple of the Holy Light Domain!”

“The Divine Hall?”

Shen Tong frowned, his face showing resistance and disdain. “That group of hypocritical scoundrels has always disagreed with our Divine Hall’s ideals, and we’ve been enemies for millennia, vying for the rightful place of the divine race. They’ve been deceitful and treacherous, their hatred running deep.

Now that our Divine Hall has fallen so low, why would they take us in? They’ll probably only take advantage of our misfortune and devour our remaining strength!”

The white-haired elder shook his head, analyzing firmly, “Palace Master, times have changed. In the past, we fought against the Divine Hall for the hegemony of the divine race, but now the situation has drastically changed. The Demon Dragon lineage has emerged out of nowhere, and a terrifying being like Ning Zhi is in charge, having already broken through the fourteenth level…” “The overall situation is dire.

Although we have old grudges with the Divine Temple, we are ultimately of the same divine lineage, bound by blood, sharing both glory and ruin.”

He paused, then continued, “If we are destroyed, the Demon Dragon lineage’s next target will likely be the Divine Temple of the Holy Land of Light.

The Temple Master is a man of great talent and ambition; he will surely see the implications. Our voluntary surrender, offering the remaining troops, secret realm resources, and holy mountain secrets, is not an act of submission, but rather a search for an alliance with the divine race to fight against external enemies.

For the sake of the divine race’s greater good, the Temple Master will not exterminate us; instead, he will accept us and strengthen the overall power of the divine race.”