With the soft snap of the Archdemon Zhang Xuan’s voice echoing in everyone’s ears, the protective Grand Array of Mount Hua underwent a rapid transformation. In what felt like an instant, the cave entrance, previously guarded by Lu Yuan, suddenly widened and expanded, large enough for several thousand people to pass through simultaneously. Thus, the protective Grand Array of Mount Hua was finally breached by Zhang Xuan.

Let others engage others; Zhang Xuan’s sole task was to shatter the protective Grand Array of Mount Hua.

And now, the protective array was broken.

The forces of the 'Heaven’s Will Alliance' now stood directly facing the people of Mount Hua, with no obstruction between them. What had begun as skirmishes involving only a few, or perhaps a dozen people, now seemed unavoidable: a true battle involving tens of thousands.

“We are the invincible demons and fiends!” “We are the wandering Yao, the bloodthirsty Mo!” “Once we are restored to our rightful place, once we return to the Jin Kingdom, we shall slaughter in all directions!”

“Upon our return, we will flatten the Five Great Immortal Sects of the Jin Kingdom!”

“Mount Hua, Wudang, Kunlun, Qingcheng, and the South Sea—we will slaughter them one by one!”

“Now is the time to flatten the Jin Kingdom!” The demons roared. Their shouts merged into a single wave. Indeed, Lu Yuan was a formidable foe, but this was a clash of tens of thousands against tens of thousands—the total assault of the Heaven’s Will Alliance against Mount Hua. Lu Yuan himself was currently pinned down, besieged by the four Archdemons: Fang Xie, Jing Huanzhen, Qiao Feidu, and the Elder Tianchou.

Now is the time for us to display our true prowess.

We are the proud warriors who left the Jin Kingdom in those days, a formidable contingent praised even in the Great Yue Kingdom and the Great Ye Kingdom!” “After returning to Jin, we will shatter Mount Hua, sweep away Qingcheng, severely injure Kunlun, and suppress the South Sea. These mere proud warriors of Mount Hua—what are they to us?”

Kill! Kill! Kill!

The most critical battle for flattening the Jin Kingdom has arrived!

Every demon in the Heaven’s Will Alliance present understood that this was the pivotal battle for subjugating Jin. If they succeeded here, if they seized Mount Hua and showcased the imposing might of the demons, then sweeping away the severely wounded Wudang, Qingcheng, and Kunlun three great Immortal Sects would not be difficult. As for the South Sea, they were already suppressed to the point of not daring to venture beyond their own shores.

Battle! Battle! Battle!

Sweep Mount Hua clean!

The morale of these demons was sky-high. As they roared the vows of yesteryear, rolling waves of demonic intent condensed in the sky, seemingly transforming into a colossal Dragon of Evil. Black miasma coiled and churned, gathering and merging, surging toward Mount Hua. As this demonic incursion arrived, even the green mountains and clear waters of Mount Hua turned into black mountains and black waters.

Amidst the roars of tens of thousands of demons, this concentrated, steadfast demonic intent radiated outward.

Such demonic intent… could cause eminent monks to fall into worldly temptation.

The disciples of Mount Hua with lower cultivation could not withstand it; they were forced to sit cross-legged on the spot just to resist the invasion, and many who failed collapsed into bursts of blood and flesh. Even the Elders with higher cultivation could hold off the demonic intent, but under its influence, unleashing their full ten-tenths strength was impossible.

The demons seized the opportunity to attack. Mid-to-low tier demons like Asuras, Sand Demons, Earth Demons, Blood Mother Ji, multi-legged Spiderfolk, Yan Yaksha, and Ice Yaksha; higher-tier demons such as Snake Demons, Spider Demons, and Bat Demons; and even the royal lineages among the subterranean demons fiercely launched their most savage attacks against the esteemed figures, Elders, and disciples of Mount Hua.

These demons all realized that winning this current battle meant enjoying extremely high status, immense power, and vast resources. Thus, their fighting spirit soared straight to the heavens.

The top combatants on both sides were roughly equivalent. Before Lu Yuan arrived, most of Mount Hua’s peak fighting strength had been wounded; only the Elder Yuanyang and the Elder Zixia retained combat capability. On the demon side, only the Blood Sword Ancestor and the Purple Qilin Demon King had full fighting strength; the others were either killed by Lu Yuan or currently entangled by him.

But the problem was that this contingent of demons from the Heaven’s Will Alliance were all seasoned veterans whose inherent strength surpassed that of the Mount Hua cultivators. Furthermore, the condensed demonic intent was influencing the minds of the righteous path members, severely damaging Mount Hua’s fighting power.

Mount Hua Elders and disciples fell continuously under the swords and blades of the Heaven’s Will Alliance’s proud warriors. Blood stained the trees and vegetation of Mount Hua crimson.

The situation was exceedingly unfavorable for Mount Hua. Moreover, this was now a chaotic melee; if one side gained a decisive advantage, the final outcome could be the total annihilation of Mount Hua.

Lu Yuan fought so hard, tried so hard to protect them—could it be that Mount Hua would ultimately be destroyed by the Heaven’s Will Alliance? Unwilling! Absolutely unwilling!

Mount Hua cannot perish!

Ye Fang struggled desperately. Ye Fang’s current strength was only Qi Refining Stage Nine, which was not considered formidable. He skewered an Asura with one thrust, but his entire right side was covered in blood. However, Ye Fang paid no heed, surging toward his next opponent: “Mount Hua will not fall! I must protect Mount Hua!” As Ye Fang swung his sword, he forgot everything else, remembering only how he and his younger brother, Ye Yuan, nearly froze to death in the snow before their Master found them. If not for the Master’s rescue, if not for Mount Hua’s tutelage, he would not exist in this world.

Therefore, he must protect Mount Hua.

Even though his spiritual power was almost entirely depleted, he still had to swing his sword. Ye Fang’s swordsmanship was now incredibly chaotic, yet under these circumstances, a subtle dignity emerged from the disorder, somewhat aligning with the Dao of the Gentleman’s Sword. But Ye Fang didn't notice this; he only knew that he had to guard Mount Hua, and nothing else occupied his thoughts.

Not far from Ye Fang, Shi Chaoyang, the current foremost direct disciple of the Yuan Sword Sect, was vigorously channeling his One Breath Sun Sword Art. His blade shot like lightning into the body of a Sand Demon, driving his spiritual power into it, slaying a Body Tempering Stage Seven Sand Demon. The Sand Demon died in disbelief, unable to fathom being killed by a Mount Hua disciple whose spiritual power was significantly lower than its own, collapsing to the ground, its life extinguished.

Shi Chaoyang himself was only at Body Tempering Stage Five, yet this time he had performed beyond his limits, defeating an opponent two cultivation realms above him. Normally, his swordsmanship could barely overcome a minor realm difference; defeating an enemy two full realms higher was previously unimaginable, but this time, it was a miracle.

Shi Chaoyang’s origins were not as tragic as Ye Fang’s. Shi Chaoyang was born into Mount Hua. His childhood was not miserable. Shi Chaoyang’s mind was filled with scenes from his fifty-plus years on Mount Hua: a loving Master, kind Martial Uncles, mischievous Junior Brothers, adorable Junior Sisters—too many memories.

He recalled sparring with his Junior Brother, both using the Xiyi Sword Art; his Junior Brother was kicked square in the backside during a brief opening in his own technique, landing in the water right upon a King of Eight.

He recalled flying up to plant a beautiful red flower for his Junior Sister, the red bloom illuminating her delicate face.

He recalled…

Because there were too many beautiful memories, he could not bear to abandon them.

This Mount Hua, I must protect it.

Even if I die here, I must protect it.

What is death?

Song Shijun’s chest had been pierced by a bone saber. The Asura laughed heartily. Song Renjun was an Elder at the Longevity Stage One. Killing an Elder of the Longevity Stage was a great merit, and demons and Mount Hua had always been mortal enemies. With the bone saber piercing him, Song Shijun’s life force was severed; he was surely doomed.

The Asura laughed, intending to draw out its wing-thin bone saber to strike its next target. This Asura was at Longevity Stage Two; there were plenty here it could kill. This time, it would kill to its heart’s content.

But as the Asura tried to withdraw the bone saber, it found it could not move.

What was happening?

The Asura then realized that Song Shijun’s hand was gripping the bone saber tightly. What was going on? Wasn't his life force already gone, his death certain? How could he still possess the strength to grip the saber so fiercely? Where did this power come from? Moreover, this saber was incredibly sharp, capable of easily breaking bone and tearing flesh; how could his hands, covered in blood and experiencing unimaginable agony, still hold on?

A look of deep reminiscence flashed across Song Shijun’s face, followed by a fierce snarl: “Die with me!” The sharp flying sword, which had pierced Song Shijun’s chest, now slid into the Asura’s own breast.

The Asura froze!

It had never encountered such a ruthless person. On the brink of death, with life force already cut off, he could still grip the razor-sharp, cicada-wing-thin bone saber, enduring the intense pain, and use his own flying sword—which had pierced him—to injure his attacker.

Ugh… Too ruthless!

Song Shijun viciously twisted the hilt. The force required to twist a blade inside flesh, the pain he endured—the Asura’s heart was instantly churned into pulp. The Asura felt its own vitality draining away. Why? Why? Hadn't it always been said that demons were more ruthless than cultivators?

Why is this cultivator so ruthless!

Song Shijun was at Longevity Stage One, just entering the realm. Indeed, upon entering the Longevity Stage, one’s status and standing in the cultivation world change completely; one gains access to more and better resources. At this point, who wouldn't want to live? Anyone who didn't want to live would be a fool. Yes, he wanted to live, to live on, perhaps even pursue eternal longevity.

But he had to protect Mount Hua.

For the sake of protecting Mount Hua, he would willingly die.

Song Shijun came from a declining rogue cultivator family. When that family was wiped out by the demonic path, the people of Mount Hua saved him and brought him to the sect. The Masters and Elders of Mount Hua slowly taught him, allowing him to avenge his family’s feud against the demonic path.

Now that Mount Hua was in danger, how could he not step forward?

Even if he died, he would drag an Asura down with him, using the final reserves of his life force to guard Mount Hua.

The sword passed through both Song Shijun and the Asura. Song Shijun fell heavily to the ground.

Mount Hua, I have not failed you.

With a heavy thud, Song Shijun collapsed onto the earth, his life force extinguished.

What remained was a smile filled with lingering attachment.

If there is a next life, let me be a person of Mount Hua again, whether an Elder or a disciple.