The enraged members of the Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion
Outside the Secret Realm, at the front of the Yao Race army Formation.
Besides the dense mass of Yao Beasts and Yao Cultivators radiating Evil Qi, there were also two Human Race Cultivators, bound by iron chains, covered in bloodstains, and kneeling weakly on the ground.
The man was named Zhao Feng, and the woman was named Liu Yun. They were originally Inner Sect Disciples of the Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion and a pair of Dao Companions.
When the Sect's city fell, they were unfortunately captured and subjected to severe torture.
The back mountain area was vast and filled with numerous illusion Formations. Without precise guidance, even knowing the Secret Realm was there, it would be difficult to find it quickly.
Demon Saint Golden Wing and Demon Saint Xuan Gui used every method possible, yet these two people gritted their teeth and refused to speak.
However, the Yao God Lord had given the order for them to mobilize the army and attack the Secret Realm in the back mountain, forcing the hidden person behind the scenes to act.
Just as the two Saints ran out of options, a cunning low-level Fox Demon offered a suggestion:
"My Lords, I noticed the male Cultivator constantly looks at the female Cultivator with concern. Why don't we... properly 'entertain' his Dao Companion right in front of her?"
Demon Saint Golden Wing's eyes lit up with a playful glint. What a good idea! He immediately adopted the suggestion.
It ordered the Yao Cultivators to drag Liu Yun out and publicly tear her clothes, intending to commit indecent acts.
"Beasts! Stop! Come at me instead!"
Zhao Feng's eyes were bloodshot, and he struggled frantically, causing the iron chains to clang loudly.
He could endure torture, and he could even face death, but he absolutely could not watch his beloved suffer humiliation!
Amidst Liu Yun's desperate cries, Zhao Feng's defenses finally collapsed.
Zhao Feng hoarsely roared out the location of the Secret Realm entrance.
Having obtained the exact information, Golden Wing and Xuan Gui immediately mobilized the great army. Just half an hour later, they found the hidden Secret Realm entrance and immediately launched an overwhelming general assault... Inside the Secret Realm, Chen Yuan comforted Xu Nuo, then intended to turn around and rush out alone to solve the trouble outside first.
However, the moment he took a step, his sleeve was tightly pulled from behind.
Chen Yuan turned his head and saw that Xu Nuo's cold, beautiful eyes were now filled with panic and pleading.
She pulled his sleeve hard, clenching her hand tightly. Her voice was trembling slightly, still in that cool tone, yet every word struck Chen Yuan's heart:
"Don't go."
Chen Yuan's heart softened, and he said gently, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Nothing will happen."
Xu Nuo shook her head vigorously, her delicate face filled with stubbornness. She was not good at expressing emotions, so she could only repeat the simplest plea: "No, you must not go."
She could not imagine Chen Yuan facing the tens of thousands of Yao Race members and the two great Demon Saints outside alone, even though he had previously slain Chi Tong—that was in a one-on-one fight.
Right now, the outside was a genuine vortex of war, and she was afraid he would leave and never return.
Seeing her like this, Chen Yuan sighed internally, knowing that forcing his way out now would only make her worry more.
He reached out and held her cool little hand, nodding, "Alright, I'll listen to you. I won't go out yet."
He decided to hold his forces for the time being and strike with the force of thunder once the Secret Realm was breached.
Time slowly passed under immense pressure.
The attacks from outside the Secret Realm intensified wave after wave, and the cracks on the light barrier spread like a spiderweb, growing more numerous.
Mu Yan and Dugu Jiu constantly spat blood from the corners of their mouths, their faces ashen white, clearly unable to hold on much longer.
The numerous Disciples were stumbling and swaying, their spiritual Qi exhausted, their faces etched with despair.
Finally, after half a day of persistence.
"CRACK—BOOM!!!"
Accompanied by an earth-shattering shattering sound, the ancient Restriction light barrier protecting the Secret Realm exploded!
Countless specks of light scattered and eventually vanished into nothingness.
Terrifying Demonic Qi and the aftershocks of the attack rushed into the Secret Realm like a burst dam!
"Pfft!"
"Pfft!"
Elder Mu Yan and Elder Dugu Jiu bore the brunt of the impact, spurting blood wildly. Their bodies flew backward, slamming heavily onto the ground. Their aura instantly became extremely weak; they didn't even have the strength to stand up.
The remaining Disciples were thrown head over heels, tossed around by the shockwave, their screams and startled cries merging into a cacophony.
The Secret Realm was breached!
This land of spiritual beauty was instantly exposed to savage Yao might. Countless Yao Beasts and Yao Cultivators poured in from the entrance, their ferocious faces and bloodthirsty eyes instantly surrounding the surviving Disciples of the Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion.
Despair, like an icy tide, drowned everyone present.
Soaring Heaven's face was bloodless, the hand holding his sword trembled violently, and as he looked at the swarming Yao Race, only terror remained in his eyes.
At this critical moment, Chen Yuan firmly wrapped his arm around Xu Nuo, who was stumbling due to the Formation's destruction, pulling her into his embrace and preventing her from falling.
He lowered his head to look at the pale but still stubborn face of the beauty in his arms, then raised his eyes toward the surging Yao Race army, his gaze instantly turning icy cold.
Just then, two immense Demon Saint pressures descended, feeling like two great mountains pressing down upon everyone's hearts.
Demon Saint Golden Wing and Demon Saint Xuan Gui stepped forward, hovering in mid-air, watching the deathly pale crowd below with mockery.
Demon Saint Xuan Gui casually tossed two figures onto the ground. They were barely breathing, like broken rag dolls—it was Zhao Feng and Liu Yun, who had been forced to reveal the Secret Realm's location earlier.
They were covered in wounds, and Liu Yun's eyes were dull and lifeless, as if her Soul had been extracted.
Soaring Heaven was the first to react. No wonder the Yao Beasts had found their location so quickly.
His eyes bloodshot, he roared, "Traitors! Zhao Feng! Liu Yun! You two worse-than-pigs-and-dogs pieces of trash!"
His voice twisted with rage, "How dare you betray the Sect! Betray your fellow Disciples! I curse you to die a horrible death! May your ancestors for eighteen generations never find peace!"
The other Disciples also cast glances of anger and contempt, and curses rang out incessantly.
In desperate situations, traitors are often hated more than the enemy.
Zhao Feng lay prone on the ground, listening to the furious curses of his former fellow Disciples. A miserable smile, uglier than a cry, appeared on his face.
On one side was the Sect that had nurtured him, and on the other was the Dao Companion he swore to protect with his life. How should he choose?
Choosing either side meant heart-wrenching pain.
He glanced at Liu Yun beside him, whose eyes were vacant, as if she had lost her spirit. The last trace of hesitation in his heart vanished.
Struggling, he used his last strength to kowtow heavily three times in the direction of Mu Yan, Dugu Jiu, and all his fellow Disciples, instantly smashing his forehead into a bloody mess.
His voice was hoarse, "Revered Master... Elder... Fellow Disciples... Zhao Feng... I have failed the Sect!"
After speaking, he abruptly turned his head and looked deeply at Liu Yun one last time, as if to engrave her appearance into the depths of his Soul.
Immediately afterward, a hidden Talisman in his sleeve suddenly lit up and shot toward Liu Yun.
"Yun'er... I'm sorry for making you suffer...!"
The Talisman's light instantly engulfed Liu Yun, who was right beside him. The scorching heat prevented her from even letting out a scream before she was reduced to ashes.
At the same time, Zhao Feng reversed the remaining spiritual Qi in his body, shattering his own heart meridian. Blood gushed from his seven orifices, and carrying boundless remorse and relief, he collapsed beside the ashes of Liu Yun.