Heroes from all over the world gather at the Milky Way
The brief tranquility deep within the Swamp of Ten Thousand Bones was like the last breath before a storm. Xie Yunzhi and Mo Xiaoyu both knew they had to leave this perilous place as soon as possible. Xie Yunzhi's injuries, thanks to the continuous nourishment from the pills and Mo Xiaoyu's spiritual energy, had barely stabilized and were no longer worsening, but he was still far from regaining his mobility. Meanwhile, the storm outside was sweeping towards them at an unprecedented speed.
The fragment of the Spirit Sealing Stele, tainted by Su Yan and radiating an ominous aura, was forcibly sealed and stored away by Xie Yunzhi using the remaining power of his Dragon Essence. Although its aura was unsettling, it was, after all, an indispensable part of the "guiding" formation.
Using the sturdy vines and tattered cloak she found, Mo Xiaoyu crafted a makeshift carrying frame and hoisted the unable-to-walk Xie Yunzhi onto her back. His weight pressed down on her frail shoulders, making each step through the swamp incredibly difficult. But she gritted her teeth, relying on the Soul-Stabilizing Pearl's connection to another pure fragment in the direction of Starfall Lake, and the unwavering belief in her heart, she trudged step by step toward the edge of the swamp.
The Soul-Stabilizing Pearl not only sensed fragments but also seemed to offer a vague warning of danger. Using this mysterious sensing ability, Mo Xiaoyu narrowly avoided several of the most dangerous poisonous miasma areas and swamps teeming with terrifying beasts. She no longer readily used the enormous power of her stars, relying solely on her agility and swordsmanship to resolve unavoidable troubles. Even so, when she finally carried Xie Yunzhi on her back and staggered out of the suffocating expanse of the Ten Thousand Bones Swamp, she was almost at her limit, her body soaked in sweat and mud, her face as pale as paper.
However, the outside world did not give them any chance to catch their breath.
Less than a hundred miles after leaving the swamp, they entered a relatively open hilly area, and the chilling atmosphere in the air made both of them feel a tightness in their chests.
In the distance, the sky was ablaze with colorful streaks of light, like flocks of migrating birds, densely packed together, rushing from all directions toward the same goal—the source of the Heavenly River! Sword light was sharp and clear, Buddhist treasures were serene and peaceful, demonic clouds rolled in, and demonic energy soared to the heavens… Righteous, demonic, and monster—almost every nameable force in the cultivation world was now being drawn together by invisible threads, converging on the region destined to become the eye of the storm.
They could even see the Azure Cloud Sect's iconic azure cloud boat, piloted by several elders, piercing through the clouds at incredible speed. The sword cultivators of the Heavenly Sword Sect formed formations with their swords, their sword energy flowing seamlessly, tearing through the sky. Disciples of the Profound Heart Sect rode on white jade whisks, their appearances solemn and dignified. In contrast, there were the black soul banners of the Myriad Souls Valley, formed from the wails of countless vengeful spirits; the Yin Sha Sect's skeletal chariots, reeking of decay; and various demon tribes, each with its own unique form and exuding a savage and ferocious aura, riding demonic winds or relying on their powerful physiques to traverse the land.
This magnificent scene, where all streams converge, is breathtaking, yet it sends chills down one's spine.
"They... they're all gone..." Mo Xiaoyu looked up at the suffocating scene, her voice hoarse. Although she had expected it, seeing the entire cultivation world's attention focused on this place still made her feel an invisible pressure that almost made her breathless.
Xie Yunzhi lay on her back, also gazing at the sky, his eyes cold and calm, as if he had long anticipated this scene. "The source of the Qingtian River is where the power of 'Guixu' first manifests and is also the strongest 'valve.' Su Yan's choice to act there back then was not without reason. Now, the three-hundred-year cycle is approaching, and strange phenomena have occurred in heaven and earth. Any power with a little foundation can calculate the approximate time and location. Su Qingqing must have already spread the news that 'restoring the seal requires the source'... Some of these people are doing it for 'eliminating demons and protecting the righteous path,' some want to take advantage of the chaos to seize the Sumeng Jade and the Ancestral Dragon's inheritance, and some... probably like Su Yan, want to fish in troubled waters and spy on the power of 'World Origin'."
His analysis was coldly almost cruel, yet it pinpointed the essence of the chaotic situation before them—a frenzied feast in a post-apocalyptic setting, with various forces harboring different motives. And he and Mo Xiaoyu were the central sacrifices of this feast, or... the targets of everyone's wrath.
Just then, several probe-like divine senses suddenly lit up on a mountaintop not far ahead, sweeping over them without any politeness!
"There it is!"
"It's Xie Yunzhi and that vixen!"
"They really didn't die in the swamp!"
Several shouts rang out, and more than a dozen figures leaped down from the mountaintop, blocking the way. Judging from their attire, they were disciples from several minor sects affiliated with the Qingyun Sect, with the highest cultivation level being no more than the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. They were clearly left here to be responsible for perimeter security and searching.
"Release Xie Yunzhi, and you will be captured, you demoness!" The leader, wielding a long sword, shouted fiercely, though his eyes involuntarily glanced at the powerful streaks of light flashing across the sky, as if trying to attract attention.
Mo Xiaoyu's eyes turned cold, and she was about to make a move.
"No need to get bogged down, let's finish this quickly. We don't have time to waste here," Xie Yunzhi's deep voice rang in her ear.
Mo Xiaoyu understood, and with a light step, she moved forward instead of retreating, cutting into the middle of the dozen or so people like a ghost! She didn't even draw her sword, but simply pointed her fingers like a sword, drawing out the purer spiritual power within her body that had been tempered by the Starfall Lake, with her fingertips emitting a barely perceptible starlight and cold light.
"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"
Fingertips moved like butterflies flitting among flowers, striking the cultivators' acupoints or joints with unparalleled precision! The speed was so fast that only afterimages remained! Those people only felt a blur before their eyes, their spiritual energy instantly became stagnant, or their joints throbbed with pain, their weapons slipped from their hands, and they fell to the ground screaming, instantly losing their fighting ability.
Without even glancing at the result, Mo Xiaoyu continued her journey without pause, carrying Xie Yunzhi on her back. She transformed into a pale blue shadow, swiftly rounding the mountaintop and continuing towards the source of the Qingtian River. She had to reach her destination before everyone else, or at least before most of the forces completed their encirclement, to make all the necessary arrangements.
However, their whereabouts had already been exposed.
Soon, more interceptors appeared. There were rogue cultivators who considered themselves righteous and wanted to capture and kill the "demon" to make a name for themselves, there were demonic cultivators who came to try their luck after hearing the news, and there were even some ferocious monsters with low intelligence who were attracted by the chaotic aura that suddenly gathered here.
With someone on her back, Mo Xiaoyu couldn't fight for long. She could only rely on her exquisite movements and sudden bursts of power to dodge attacks if possible, and swiftly defeat or escape if she couldn't. Her spiritual energy was rapidly depleting, and her wounds were multiplying. Xie Yunzhi, lying on her back, could clearly feel her increasingly heavy breathing and slightly trembling body, but he said nothing. He simply and silently channeled the little spiritual energy he had recovered into her body. At the same time, his deep eyes calmly observed their surroundings, like a lurking cheetah gathering its last strength.
The closer one gets to the source of the Heavenly River, the more chaotic the spiritual energy in the air becomes, carrying a sense of impending doom. The streams of light in the sky also become denser, like hundreds of rivers flowing into the sea, ultimately converging on that legendary place where the Heavenly River is said to begin.
In the distance, they could already see the outline of a vast mountain range shrouded in misty vapor and distorted spiritual light on the horizon. That was the source of the Heavenly River, their destination, and the final battlefield that would determine the fate of this land.
The road ahead is fraught with danger, a trap on all sides.
Mo Xiaoyu stopped, slightly out of breath, gazing at the mountain range locked in place by countless powerful auras. Her eyes held no fear, only an almost devout resolve. She turned her head and whispered to the person on her back:
"We're almost there."
Xie Yunzhi hummed in response, his voice low and calm. He raised his hand and gently wiped away the beads of sweat that had slid down her forehead and a smear of blood that had somehow appeared on her skin.
"Are you scared?" he asked.
Mo Xiaoyu shook her head, even managing to curve the corners of her mouth upwards, revealing a tired yet incredibly bright smile:
"I'm not afraid when I'm with you."
The two fell silent, took a deep breath, and resolutely stepped towards the final place that had gathered the world's attention and was about to determine their fate.
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