The scene across the vast lands of the Evercrown Ceremony was chaos and death; the Evil Sentinels came with malicious momentum, but as the Ascendants took action, their tremendous slaughter slowly changed to a freakish escape.
"WHO IN THE HEAVENS ARE THESE MORTALS?! RUN! NO! MY ARM!!" An Evil Sentinel lost their arm to an inexplicable fragrant ray of sword light. They tumbled frantically through the sky trying to soar away. Their cultivation base at the Demi-Mortal Lord Phase, which was a great pride of theirs, was worthless as an icy sword light sliced into their neck, severing their head immediately after.
The Evil Sentinel's headless body didn't simply drop to its death but exuded a greater flash of light as it rocketed into the sky, ignoring the head that spiraled into a sea region. A plop was heard. Two lights followed, one fragrant and one icy followed after. The flagrantly delightful sword light blitzed through the sky after the body. The icy sword light dived into the sea without any hesitation.
"YOU TWO RUTHLESS BITC-" A spiritual roar carrying the most genuine feelings of grievance that the Evil Sentinel had ever experienced in their lifetime was cut off prematurely as their aura vanished.
The two lights soon returned, hovering above the sea region.
"It was in the head," Bei Weiwei's icy, deeply glacial, beautiful face revealed a hint of smug excitement. She held a Mystic Core in her hand.
Hong Chunhua's valiantly beautiful face, which seemed to carry traces of ancient heroes and legendary commanders, gave a stern, neutral expression. She lifted her right hand. Within was a circular sphere of radiant sword light. The scent it emitted was able to stir the soul. Within the sphere was a frenzied silvery image of a set of bestial teeth glinting a ravenous light.
Mystic Soul!
A Fang Metal Mystic Soul!
Bei Weiwei's icy expression broke slightly. She pouted very faintly, her lips tugged with dissatisfaction. "Conniving villain."
Hong Chunhua sent the Mystic Soul over. Bei Weiwei didn't hesitate to force it back into the Mystic Core, further sealing it with her Awakened Sword Intent and a sealing Spiritual Art.
Bei Weiwei sighed softly. "Almost all of these Evil Sentinels are gone," she commented as she glanced at various auras constantly being suppressed through various means by the other Ascendants or a few optimistic groups of Chosen from the World Beyond, all claiming the lives of these villains who practiced Evil Methods to an extreme, continuing: "Should we?"
Hong Chunhua firmly shook her head. "Not the right time," she glanced at the sky, her auburn hair fluttering with the rampant fluctuations of astral force and mystic power, noticing that it was nearing the end of the third alchemical light.
29:02. 29:01. 29:00. 28:59!
"One more minute," Hong Chunhua stated. There was not a single competent cultivator that wasn't holding a mental timer in their heart. They knew that Wei Wuyin wouldn't dare make this competition this easy.
"First wave?" Bei Weiwei asked softly. She was familiar with his Majesty's challenges, having overcome countless of them to reach her position as the Fourth Commander, and facing the ambitious eyes of those under her. If it wasn't for their fierce loyalty to the Ascendant's creed, she would be far too stressed to deal with things or cultivate in peace.
Hong Chunhua didn't respond to that question, her eyes glinting with sharp light as she observed the fiery battle unfolding between the false Earthly Saint that was tottering and fighting desperately against the charcoal-skinned Evil Sentinel who had long since gained an advantage. They were no longer just defending, unleashing probing attacks as he instantly pushed the false Earthly Saint into a passively defensive position, struggling to resist.
"Should we eliminate this Evil Sentinel before the second wave?" Bei Weiwei suggested.
"..." Hong Chunhua.
At that same time, almost as if by fate, Yao Huoyi and Shui Fengbao were talking as well.
"Brother Yao, should we take care of that guy before the next wave?" Shui Fengbao asked.
"..." Yao Huoyi.
At the same time, almost as if by fate, two sisters extracted the Mystic Core from a Venerable Evil Sentinel. They were An Biru(older) and An Feijin(younger)!
"Big Sis, there's only a minute left. That guy might become trouble if left be," she cutely pouted as she observed the intense fighting between Earthly Saint-level beings, albeit one was temporarily elevated to that condition.
"..." An Biru.
At the same time, almost as if by fate, Da Shan heated her bronze warhammer over her shoulder, her golden eyes watching the intense fighting between two entities of the highest cultivation bases in these vast lands with Lin Ziyan and Bo Kay to her left and right respectively.
Lin Ziyan's exquisitely thin and trimmed eyebrows furrowed, "I don't want Xiao Yanyue to die." Her words were firmly said, already rubbing her bracelet.
"You know that false Earthly Saint?" Bo Kay asked in shock. By now, the fragile and inconsistent unfathomable aura of the Earthly Saint facing the charcoal-skinned Evil Sentinel was easily seen through by almost everyone.
Lin Ziyan nodded, her eyes not leaving the ongoing battle for a single moment, "I met her earlier, and we traveled together for a while. Even shared a meal. She's a kind soul and doesn't deserve to be absorbed by that vile beast." During the first few days of the Evercrown, Lin Ziyan had her own adventures, leisurely exploring the vast lands as if it were a sightseeing trip. She was one of the few without any true desire to do anything more than see more of the world.
Bo Kay sighed. "I see. Well, she shouldn't die yet. But if she's going to die, you definitely can't stop it."
"Why?" Bo Kay shook his head, not responding. The Second Commander gave Da Shan a look, seeing her focused expression caused his heart to tense. Was it that serious?
"..." Da Shan.
At the same time, almost as if by...
The three Saintesses had already cleared the field of Evil Sentinels and Ascendants, leaving hundreds of miles of empty space with just them and their breathtaking appearances. Ernu was snoring softly as she peacefully slept in Xue Yifei's arms, using those legendary mounds of hers as pillows. She was digesting a few bodies in her gullet.
"No one's making a move?" Na Xinyi frowned slightly. She was keenly aware of Wei Wuyin's methods, so she knew that this was simply the first, easiest wave. Although hundreds of Chosen from World Beyond and a few dozen from the Sealed Region lost their lives, with more suffering various injuries, the Ascendants treated this first wave as a light warm-up.
"No one wants someone else to benefit," Xue Yifei replied. Her words enlightened Na Xinyi immediately; everyone was trying to collect the Mystic Souls, but what was likely to contribute more, these puny little Exalteds, Venerables, and Highlords, or an Earthly Saint?
The key to the Evercrown's might lay with that Earthly Saint. Xue Yifei was one half of an example of acting first. Yao Huoyi was the other half of that example. Zuhei was the sole reason it was an example!
Unlike the other Earthly Saints that were dealt with, almost all unaware, this charcoal-skinned Evil Sentinel was a Martial Cultivator with a terrifyingly powerful physical body. There was no reliable way to end the fight quickly unless the target was deeply caught off-guard. The false Earthly Saint had tried to wait for that moment, but for certain reasons, had failed.
Just the sight before them was evidence of that reality. Typically, fights and exchanges between cultivators rarely exceeded a few blows, deciding winner and loser within an extremely short period, but Martial Cultivators were typically one of the very rare exceptions to that rule...
The current exchange had already reached over a hundred blows, and the charcoal-skinned Evil Sentinel relied on their body and Mystic Heart Intent to resist two-fold with very little mystic power expenditure against the false Earthly Saint's Ascension Arts.
Only Spiritual Cultivators could reliably end Martial Cultivators swiftly, and the vice versa was equally as true. Those experts of their arts were extremely difficult to deal with without an opportunity.
"But it isn't so simple," Wu Baozhai added as her brows furrowed slightly. "This is clearly the first wave, and if the first wave has a Martial Cultivator at the Earthly Saint Phase with Mystic Heart Intent, what about the second one? Everyone wants to act to prevent a potential team-up."
The situation was becoming increasingly complex, and there were too many factors to consider. Wei Wuyin didn't make this easy for them at all!
"..." Na Xinyi.
"..." Wu Baozhai.
"..." Xue Yifei.
"Heh," Na Xinyi scoffed softly. She didn't hesitate to take a step forward, her Yin Aura flaring outward with a chilly, grey light. She kept her Sword of Yin, bringing out a pristinely white, three-foot-long sword from her Saint Ring, gripping its hilt that was adorned by a crescent moon sword guard, and at the end was a tussle of black that stood out.
The sword exuded an unfathomable aura that contained a world's intrinsically profound pressure, distorting the air around her. It was a sword forged from the Essence of War, infused with an extremely pure Yin Intent!
Xue Yifei smiled.
Wu Baozhai watched silently.
Na Xinyi didn't say anything else.
BOOSH!!
She explosively kicked off the ground, transforming into a yin light that exuded an ethereal grace that blitzed toward the two Earthly Saints.
Unlike the others, Na Xinyi's Heart of Cultivation didn't like all these considerations! Simplify the situation. Deal with what comes as it comes! Her heart was true to this logic, and she similarly handled the Imperial Clan like this, tackling the situation straightforwardly and if any challengers came-LET THEM!
Xiao Yanyue was teetering on the edge of collapse. Her body and Astral Soul were reaching their limits. She didn't have a refined Mystic Physique yet, nor did she have a Mystic Soul, so handling Earthly Saint-level Mystic Power was far too much for her.
"Miss Laolin, what can I do?" She asked urgently to the soul within her Dantian. Despite her situation, her mind was extremely calm. A true sign of a genius who faced countless challenges and overcame them through wit, will, and luck. She refused to allow panic to overwhelm her heart.
But the soul named Miss Laolin was panicking despite her years. The situation had developed far too suddenly in the wrong direction. The extent of her bestowed power was at its limits, and even the soul was having a difficult time supplying Xiao Yanyue with Mystic Power. All her experience told her one thing: "They were fucked."
She might even be devoured by this evil cretin. The thought sickened her to the soul! "Continue fighting! Don't let up on your offensive! Let me think." She tried to conceive a plan of action, but a thousand plans all had no tangible effects. As for running away? Where? The vast lands might be vast, but to escape from Mystic Heart Intent, even if it's incomplete, was far too difficult to do! Just his will could sense every iota of mystic energy. If Xiao Yanyue was a mortal, then perhaps she could escape with some special methods.
Think, Yao Laolin, think!
Xiao Yanyue firmly nodded in her heart, trusting in Miss Laolin with every fiber of her being. She gritted her teeth, accepted all the bone-deep pain, and violently roared as she brought forth greater power, once again igniting her strength to 100%!
"How courageous of you! Hahaha!" The charcoal-skinned Evil Sentinel laughed like a devil at the height of peak entertainment, thoroughly enjoying the struggle of this woman. She was going to taste really, really good. For sure. He licked his burnt lips as he kept up his own fierce offensive, matching blow for blow. But his powerful physical body and Mystic Heart Intent allowed him to expend the most minimal amount of mystic power to match her full might.
This was going to end soon.
"Huh?"
SWORD HOWL!
Suddenly, a sword howl erupted in the charcoal-skinned Evil Sentinel's Sea of Consciousness. He was instantly left dizzy. What terrifying Spiritual Strength was this?! He hadn't even sensed it before it struck him.
A white sword pierced through space itself, arriving behind the charcoal-skinned Evil Sentinel like a ghost of pure yin, ready to reap souls without remorse. The blade's chill touched his neck, and he felt death.
Every instinct of his was telling him that if that sword pierced his skin, his death would not be too far away!
Deadly crisis!
Fierce deadly crisis!
Xiao Yanyue was taken aback after seeing the charcoal-skinned Evil Sentinel distracted and the attack from behind. She was keenly aware of rare opportunities and roared, bursting with fiery light as if she were a goddess of fire! She summoned forth 120% of her strength and sent a fierce fist toward the charcoal-skinned Evil Sentinel's chest!
If either hit, the chances of either dealing severe injuries or outright killing this Evil Sentinel were possible!
Unfortunate...
Unfortunately!
The charcoal-skinned Evil Sentinel was not some under five-hundred-year-old Chosen but an experienced soul that had survived to reach this point while conducting all sorts of reprehensible acts!
BOOM!!!
He tapped into his reserved strength for this type of incident, roughly fifty percent of his total strength, and unfurled his Mystic Aura with great strength!
The white sword was blown away!
The fiery fist crumbled!
The charcoal-skinned Evil Sentinel used the remaining portion of his strength to execute an Ascension Movement Art! While he didn't belong to the World Beyond, he has claimed the lives of many geniuses, seized some low-level legacies, and received the benefits of colluding with that great figure, so he had some Ascension Arts! While it was only at the Second Way, the power infused with Mystic Heart Intent was far too strong! Not even Fifth Way Ascension Movement Arts unleashed by an average Earthly Saint could rival it.
A scorched black hand's finger pierced through Xiao Yanyue's Mystic Ward's defenses as if it was melted butter, breaching it in a fraction of a moment, and clutched around her soft little white neck.
"NO!" Xiao Yanyue could hear Miss Laolin's panicked voice in her mind. Her vision was slowly blackening as an oppressive mystic will bore down on her meridians, Sea of Consciousness, and Dantian. She was being sealed!
Held aloft by the neck, her life and death no longer left to her to decide, she couldn't help but think of her journey so far...
