They also sensed that something was amiss and looked at Xu Qing and the Palace Master.
The Palace Master's body quivered subtly, indicating that he had detected the message that Xu Qing had received through the authority of the magic treasures in the county capital.
The Palace Master of the Sword Holding Palace, who had always been steadfast like a boulder and served as a pillar of stability during Fenghai County's most perilous times, now wore a sorrowful expression for the first time in front of everyone.
He looked toward the north.
However, regardless of whether it was shuddering or sorrow, it was only for an instant. At the next instant, all these fragile emotions were gone from the Palace Master's face.
His body still stood tall and straight, his expression was still solemn, and his gaze was still firm.
"Palace Master…" The great elders of the Second and Third Corps hesitated.
"Xu Qing, read it!" The Palace Master calmly spoke. His voice was steady. Even now, he was still the stabilizing force.
Xu Qing took a deep breath.
"A battle report came from the northern front!"
"The net of Taboo in the north has collapsed and can't be restored. The alliance army of the various races has suffered a major defeat, with countless casualties."
"The Holy Wave Race's Heavenly Wind Dynasty and Earth Dynasty have invaded the Taihe province!"
"The Palace Master of the Law Palace has fallen in battle!"
"The Palace Master of the Observance Palace has fallen in battle!"
"All the clansmen of the Yao family who were advancing in the north have died in battle. Marquis Yao has gone missing on the battlefield, and his fate is unknown."
When Xu Qing's words landed in the ears of the Deputy Palace Master and everyone else, it was like a thunderclap had exploded in their ears. Their breathing paused and they all looked at the Palace Master.
However, the Palace Master laughed.
"I finally understand it… Don't be afraid, don't be afraid." The Palace Master looked at the battlefield as he spoke softly.
"The final battle is coming."
Almost at the instant the Palace Master's voice rang out, a huge change occurred on the battlefield. All the Holy Wave Race cultivators seemed to have received the same command, and a resounding cheer erupted from each of them. After that, the army actually retreated in unison.
Very soon, they withdrew from the battlefield and retreated to the Sky Ridge Mountain Range. All the rhombus-shaped magic artifacts in the sky also retreated.
Their departure caused the clouds in the sky to thin a lot, revealing the huge vortex high up.
Black snowflakes cascaded down from it. The iron chains that were grabbed by countless broken hands on the ground were being pulled crazily at this moment. A breath that contained death spread out from the vortex in the sky.
Just a trace of it caused the sky to be shrouded in the twilight of winter, enveloped in an intense darkness.
Green fog rose from the ground.
The iron chains that extended into the vortex frosted at a speed visible to the naked eye and turned into ice chains.
After the Holy Wave Race retreated from the battlefield, two earth-shattering huge figures stood up from both sides of the mountain range.
On the left was Red Spirit Monarch.
The person on the right also wore an emperor's robe and crown. Clearly, he was also a monarch of the four great dynasties of the Holy Wave Race!
Their tall figures seemed to be able to touch the sky as they stared at the large tent where the Palace Master was.
"Kong Liangxiu, the northern front has collapsed. Our army has already entered Fenghai County, and the Black Heaven's regional war artifact is descending. Everything is about to end."
"You know what a regional war artifact is, so you can try to stop it. We won't interfere, but… you can't stop it."
A vast voice echoed through the world. The expressions of all the Sword Holders outside the tent showed determination and killing intent. The Palace Master lifted his head and looked at the two monarchs standing in the Sky Ridge Mountain Range. His calm voice spread in all directions.
"Yes, everything is about to end."
With that, the Palace Master turned his head and looked at Fenghai County before speaking softly.
"Pass down the order. The Second and Third Corps will retreat by 5,000 kilometers immediately. You are not allowed to fight."
"All Fenghai County cultivators here are not allowed to fight."
"All the other eight corps who have retreated to the corresponding locations, stay there and guard the place. You can't participate in this fight."
"All the Sword Holders here shall retreat by 5,000 kilometers!"
As soon as the Palace Master spoke, the expressions of everyone in the surroundings changed. Xu Qing abruptly looked at the Palace Master.
The Sword Holding Palace's Deputy Palace Master took a step forward and his weathered face revealed a hint of weariness as he spoke in a deep, somber voice.
"You are permitting no one to fight, other than you yourself… Palace Master, I'm old. I'll accompany you."
"Palace Master, my cultivation level may not be high, but my blood still carries some warmth. I couldn't help but notice the chilling aura emanating from that regional treasure, and I have a strong desire to experience its cooling effect," Deacon Sima said with a smile on his face, despite the deathly intent in his eyes, as he took a step forward.
"Among the four deacons, Old Zhou and Old Song have left, leaving only Sima and me. Palace Master, you mustn't show favoritism. I must also follow you."
Deacon Sun, who had presided over the oath-taking of Xu Qing's batch, also smiled and took a step forward.
The others also spoke one after another. At that moment, the cold power from the vortex in the sky became increasingly intense.
The sky was completely rendered into a gloomy hue. As the vortex turned, chilling gusts of air swept through, shrouding the heavens and the earth, obscuring everything in a hazy veil.
As it passed by, clouds and mist seemed to freeze, and the rising green smoke from the earth was also frozen in mid-air, transforming into irregular pillars that chilled the heart at first sight.
The Palace Master calmly spoke.
"Am I still the Palace Master?"
Everyone fell silent.
"Do you want the end of the Sword Holding Palace?"
"Did those human soldiers die in vain?"
"All of you shall follow the orders!"
The Palace Master let out a cold voice and walked toward the battlefield. With a wave of his right hand, a vast storm surged into the sky and swept through the area, causing the bodies of countless cultivators in the defense line to tremble. They were forced to retreat until they were 100,000 feet away.
In the dim world, only a lonely figure who had never removed his armor was left on the entire fourth defense line.
Yellow sand rose in the wind and frost rose from the ground.
Everything was hazy.
Only that figure walked further and further away, his aura becoming stronger and stronger. With a wave of his hand, the Dao bell floating in the sky emitted a buzzing sound and left the circle of coffins. It flew out alone and headed straight for the vortex to suppress it.
After that, the Palace Master's hoarse voice spread in all directions.
"Red Spirit, Moon Fog, do the two of you dare to fight against me!"
