26: The only hope

The news of Lin Chen entering seclusion to prepare for battle swept through Qingyang City like a storm.

At the same time, the news that the Blood Slaughter Demon Empress was about to descend and seek revenge on Qingyang City also spread wildly like a plague to every corner of the city.

A female demon at the Mid Nascent Soul Stage!

This title, like an insurmountable Primordial Demonic Mountain, weighed heavily on everyone's hearts!

Initially, after witnessing Lin Chen's god-like methods, the residents and cultivators in the city still held a glimmer of hope for him.

But soon, various 'rational' analyses and 'inside information' began to circulate.

"Have you heard? The Guest Elder of the City Lord's Mansion said that the Nascent Soul Stage and Golden Core Stage are as different as heaven and earth! Let alone one Lin Chen, even ten more wouldn't be a match for a Nascent Soul Old Monster!"

"It's more than that! My second uncle's cousin works for the Lin family, and he personally saw that even City Lord Luo and Blood Moon Wolf Queen, those two Golden Core Experts, trembled and turned pale when they mentioned the Blood Slaughter Demon Empress!"

"A Late Foundation Establishment Stage challenging a Mid Nascent Soul Stage? This is no longer courage; this is ignorance! It's arrogance! He's going to drag everyone in our city down with him to their graves!"

Panic grew like weeds.

Doubt spread like a tide.

The admiration and trust in Lin Chen, which had just been established, seemed so fragile in the face of this apocalyptic pressure that could destroy everything.

A large-scale exodus began in the city.

Countless families, disregarding the City Lord's Mansion's ban, packed up their belongings overnight and fled in disarray from the city they believed was about to become a living hell.

Even within the Lin family, different voices emerged.

Some elders and clansmen privately discussed, believing that the Saint was too young and impetuous, acting on impulse, and had brought about a catastrophe for the entire family for the sake of a woman (Hua Qianmei).

"Alas, the Saint is still too young; he simply doesn't understand what a Nascent Soul Old Monster truly means!"

"Yes, what should we do now? Is our Lin family really going to be destroyed?"

The entire Qingyang City was in a state of alarm and precariousness... Inside a secret chamber in the City Lord's Mansion.

In front of Luo Bingli, an ancient bronze mirror floated.

On the mirror's surface, a beautiful woman's face, majestic yet with a hint of worry, appeared.

"Senior Sister, you're being foolish!" The woman in the mirror was an Inner Elder of the Purple Cloud Holy Land, one of the three top sects within the Tianfeng Kingdom to which Qingyang City belonged! She was also Luo Bingli's Senior Sister.

"The Blood Slaughter Demon Empress is an old demon at the Mid Nascent Soul Stage, infamous and formidable; even our Holy Land's Holy Lord is unwilling to easily provoke her! How can your mere Qingyang City resist?!"

"Senior Sister, I..." Luo Bingli's face was filled with struggle and bitterness.

"Say no more!" The elder in the mirror interrupted her, her tone unyielding, "I have already applied for a Holy Land Protection Order for you! You must immediately abandon Qingyang City, take your trusted subordinates, and come to the Holy Land for refuge! As for the mortals in the city... they can only resign themselves to fate! This is your only chance to survive!"

"But... my Master..." Lin Chen's calm and confident face appeared in Luo Bingli's mind.

"Master?!" The elder in the mirror's voice instantly rose eight octaves, full of disbelief, "Luo Bingli! Are you insane?! You, a dignified Golden Core Expert, an Outer Sect Disciple of the Purple Cloud Holy Land, actually recognized a Foundation Establishment Stage brat as your Master?! You... you've completely disgraced our Holy Land!"

"Senior Sister, you don't know, my Master he..."

"I don't care what kind of prodigy he is!" The elder in the mirror sharply retorted, "Before a Nascent Soul Old Monster, all geniuses are but illusions! I'll give you one last chance, immediately, right now, abandon everything and come to the Holy Land! Otherwise, when the Blood Slaughter Demon Empress descends, even I won't be able to save you!"

With that, the light in the mirror instantly dimmed.

Luo Bingli collapsed onto the chair, distraught.

On one side was her Master, whose chances of survival were slim, yet who had given her new life and hope.

On the other side was her sect Senior Sister, representing absolute authority and the only path to survival.

How should she choose?

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Black Wind Mountain, Demon King's Hall.

The Blood Moon Wolf Queen also contacted her 'backer' in the Myriad Demon Kingdom through a secret technique—a Heavenly Fox Queen at the Early Nascent Soul Stage.

However, when the other party finished listening to her narration, especially upon hearing the four words "Blood Slaughter Demon Empress," the Heavenly Fox Queen's attitude instantly changed.

"Blood Moon, you've gotten yourself into big trouble. I can't get involved with that madwoman's affairs. You're on your own."

The communication was mercilessly cut off.

The Blood Moon Wolf Queen held the now-darkened demon stone, her pretty face ashen.

All paths of retreat were blocked.

All hope seemed to have been shattered.

Now, in the entire Qingyang City, the only one who could still remain calm seemed to be the young man still in the secret chamber, questioned by everyone, not favored, and even considered the 'culprit'.

And their fates were all tied to this young man.

This was a gamble where everything was at stake.

Win, and ascend to heaven in one step.

Lose, and suffer eternal damnation.