74: Chapter 74 Bloodbath in the Canyon, One Against Ten

Night fell, but the battle within Black Wind Canyon had not ended.

After the Blood Fiend True Body was erased by [Chaos Return to Ruin], the remaining members of the Overlord Pavilion, Blood Fiend Alliance, and Zongheng Alliance completely lost their will to fight. They either knelt to beg for mercy or fled in all directions, but all exits of the canyon had been blocked by the four halls of the Heavenly Court, leaving them nowhere to run.

The mopping-up operation lasted only the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. When the last Blood Fiend Alliance Cultivator was pinned to the rock wall by an Azure Dragon Hall silver spear, the sounds of shouting and killing in the canyon finally quieted down.

However, the chilling aura in the air had not dissipated.

"Casualty report," Lin Ye said calmly, standing in the center of the battlefield.

Chen Hao walked over quickly, his armor covered in blood, but his expression was excited: "Our side has eight dead, fifteen seriously injured, and over thirty with minor injuries. The enemy... total annihilation. According to the preliminary count, all twenty-seven from the Overlord Pavilion were killed, all eighteen from the Blood Fiend Alliance were killed, and all twelve from the Zongheng Alliance were killed. Fifty-seven in total."

Fifty-seven people, completely wiped out.

While the Heavenly Court only paid the price of eight dead.

This was a complete victory.

But there was no joy on Lin Ye's face. He looked up toward the top of the canyon: "Has the team Pavilion Master Qin mentioned arrived?"

"They haven't entered the canyon yet." Su Qingyue held the Vast Cold Ice Mirror, its surface reflecting the scene outside the canyon. "They've stopped three miles away, seemingly observing. Additionally, the people from the War God Hall and Green Robe Tower are still watching from the sidelines, with no intention of leaving."

"They are waiting." Shi Potian stepped out from the shadows, his twin blades still dripping blood. "Waiting for us to suffer losses against the new team so they can reap the benefits."

Lin Ye nodded. This was the most reasonable deduction. Neither the War God Hall nor the Green Robe Tower were pushovers; since they appeared here, they couldn't just be here to watch the show.

"What's the background of that new team?" he asked.

Qin Ruoxue jumped down from the rock wall, her expression grave: "The sisters from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion just sent back intelligence. That team has forty-eight people, all dressed in black with malevolent ghost masks, moving with unified precision—clearly well-trained elites. More importantly... every one of them bears the mark of 'Nightfall'."

"Nightfall?" Lin Ye's pupils constricted.

He remembered Elder Xuanwei's warning—that mysterious organization hidden in the shadows, specializing in hunting geniuses and seizing Physique legacies!

"Are you sure it's Nightfall?" Lin Ye asked in a deep voice.

"Certain." Qin Ruoxue handed over a projection crystal. Inside was a blurry image: on the cuffs of the black-clad Cultivators, there was an almost invisible dark moon emblem with subtle blood-colored threads at the edges—the hallmark of the Nightfall organization.

"Why would Nightfall appear here?" Su Qingyue frowned. "Could it also be for the auction treasures?"

"More than that." Lin Ye shook his head. "If they were only after treasures, they should have acted within the Divine City or attacked us when we left the Treasure Gathering Pavilion. But they waited until now, until we finished fighting the Overlord Pavilion and the others..."

He paused, a cold light flashing in his eyes: "Their target is me."

To be precise, the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body.

The Nightfall organization loved hunting geniuses with special Physiques to seize their Physique Origins. The strength Lin Ye displayed at the auction, the phenomena of his Breakthrough during battle, and that terrifying Chaos Domain and Chaos Return to Ruin... all of this was enough for Nightfall to list him as a top-priority target.

"Prepare for battle," Lin Ye decided immediately. "Chen Hao, take the seriously injured and all the spoils of war to evacuate through the secret passage on the south side of the canyon and return directly to the Divine City stronghold. Qingyue, take the people from the Vermilion Bird Hall and Black Tortoise Hall to hold the canyon exit and set up an ice-based defensive line. Shi Potian, have the White Tiger Hall lie in ambush on both rock walls, ready for a sneak attack. Azure Dragon Hall... follow me to face the enemy head-on."

"Brother Lin, you're going to face them alone?" Qin Ruoxue said in shock. "There are forty-eight of them, and they're likely Nightfall's elites!"

"Not alone." Lin Ye looked beside him. "Azure Dragon Hall still has twenty-three people capable of fighting. Including me, that's twenty-four. That's enough."

He paused and added, "And... the Nightfall people won't all enter the canyon. They excel at assassination and sneak attacks, so they will surely split their forces."

Just as he finished speaking, a sharp whistle sounded from outside the canyon.

It was the warning signal from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion—the enemy was moving!

"Act according to plan!" Lin Ye shouted.

Everyone quickly took their positions.

Chen Hao took the fifteen seriously injured members and all the captured Storage Pouches, quickly retreating toward the south side of the canyon—where there was a hidden passage Shi Potian had scouted in advance.

Su Qingyue took thirty mages from the Vermilion Bird Hall and twenty defensive Cultivators from the Black Tortoise Hall to set up defenses at the canyon exit. She pressed her hands to the ground, her Vast Cold Spirit Body operating at full capacity. Cold air surged out like a tide, condensing into an ice wall three feet thick and five zhang high at the exit. The surface of the ice wall was covered in sharp ice spikes, glinting coldly under the moonlight.

[Vast Cold Ice Wall: Enhanced]

Quality: Rare (Spirit Body Skill)

Effect: A defensive barrier condensed from Vast Cold Spiritual Power. Its defensive strength is equivalent to a full-strength strike from a Dao Palace Third Layer Cultivator, and it has extra resistance against fire-based attacks.

Additional Effect: Ice Spike Reflection (Units attacking the ice wall will be hit by reflected ice spikes, taking ice damage equal to 30% of their attack power).

Duration: Continuously consumes spiritual power, lasting up to 1 hour.

Range: Covers the canyon exit (three zhang wide, five zhang high).

Shi Potian took fifteen assassins from the White Tiger Hall and vanished like ghosts into the shadows of the rock walls on both sides. Their mission was to lie in wait, waiting for the optimal moment to launch a fatal sneak attack.

Lin Ye led the remaining twenty-three members of the Azure Dragon Hall to form a battle array in the middle of the canyon.

The warriors of the Azure Dragon Hall were all injured, but their Battle Intent was high. Hall Master Xiao Zhan stood at the very front, his silver spear pointing diagonally at the ground, his eyes like a wolf's. They had just experienced a great victory, and their morale was at its Peak.

"Everyone." Lin Ye looked at these warriors who followed him. "The coming battle will be more dangerous than the last. The enemy is Nightfall, a mysterious organization that specializes in hunting geniuses. They are well-trained, ruthless, and... likely have ways to counter us."

He paused, his voice turning cold: "But what I want to tell you is—the Heavenly Court never fears any enemy. And the Chaos Body is not something they can covet."

"Tonight, let Nightfall know that the positions of hunter and prey can be swapped."

"Azure Dragon Hall, prepare for battle!"

"Fight! Fight! Fight!" the twenty-three people roared in unison, their voices shaking the canyon.

Almost simultaneously, the sound of rhythmic footsteps echoed at the canyon entrance.

It wasn't running or charging, but the sound of well-trained, unified marching. Every step fell on the same beat, like the beating of war drums, carrying a heart-palpitating pressure.

Under the moonlight, forty-eight black-clad figures appeared at the canyon entrance.

They were arranged in four columns of twelve. Their black clothes were like ink, and their masks were hideous. Each wore a long sword at their waist, carried a short crossbow on their back, and had a string of oddly shaped flying daggers hanging from their belt. More terrifyingly, their auras were identical—all were at the Dao Palace First Layer, but there was a strange resonance between them, as if the forty-eight were a single entity.

The leader of the black-clad men was a head taller than the others, and the ghost pattern on his mask was dark gold. He stood at the front of the team, his gaze sweeping coldly through the mask at the scene inside the canyon—the ground covered in corpses, the traces of battle, and the Heavenly Court members standing ready.

"Overlord Pavilion, Blood Fiend Alliance, Zongheng Alliance... all wiped out." The voice behind the Dark Gold Mask was raspy and cold. "The Heavenly Court indeed has some skill."

His gaze finally landed on Lin Ye: "Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body, Dao Palace Second Layer, combat power assessment... exceeds expectations. But still within controllable limits."

Lin Ye took a step forward, his bronze war spear pointing diagonally at the ground: "The people of Nightfall have learned to talk nonsense too?"

"Heh." The Dark Gold Mask chuckled. "Young man, it's good to be proud, but you must recognize reality. You just used Chaos Return to Ruin; your Divine Power is depleted by at least a third. And your subordinates are all injured, with less than seventy percent of their combat power remaining. On our side, forty-eight people are in Peak condition, and we have specific preparations against the Chaos Body."

He raised his right hand, and the forty-seven people behind him simultaneously took out a dark red Talisman and stuck it to their chests. The Talismans glowed with blood-red light, forming a translucent blood-colored shield.

[Law-Breaking Blood Talisman]

Quality: Rare

Effect: Generates a Law-Breaking Blood Shield, providing 50% resistance to Law-type and Domain-type skills, lasting for 30 minutes.

Side Effect: All attributes decrease by 10% for 1 hour after use.

Description: A Talisman specifically developed by the Nightfall organization to target special Physiques, effectively weakening the effects of innate Domains such as the Chaos Domain and Vast Cold Domain.

Lin Ye's pupils narrowed slightly.

A Talisman specifically targeting Domains? Nightfall's preparations were even more thorough than he had anticipated.

"Do you see?" the Dark Gold Mask said. "Your Chaos Domain's effect on us is halved. And our 'Nightfall Battle Array' can concentrate the power of forty-eight people. You have no chance of winning."

"So?" Lin Ye said calmly. "Are you here to demand a surrender?"

"No, we are here to hunt." The Dark Gold Mask's voice suddenly turned cold. "But we can give you a chance—voluntarily hand over the Chaos Body Origin, and we can spare your life, perhaps even let you join Nightfall. Otherwise..."

Behind him, forty-seven people drew their swords simultaneously.

The sound of blades leaving their sheaths was perfectly synchronized, echoing through the canyon with a soaring Killing Intent.

"Otherwise, we will let you experience what true despair is."

The moment the words fell, the Dark Gold Mask moved.

It wasn't a charge, but... a disappearance!

The next moment, he had already appeared three zhang in front of Lin Ye! His speed was incredibly fast, leaving no afterimage!

"So fast!" Lin Ye's heart tightened. He instinctively used the Yaoguang Footwork, his figure shifting sideways like starlight.

*Chiss!*

A black sword light brushed past the corner of his clothes, carving a three-foot-deep crack into the ground. The chilling Sword Qi contained within the light made Lin Ye's skin sting.

Dao Palace Third Layer Peak! And he practiced an extremely eerie assassination sword technique!

"Good reaction," the Dark Gold Mask's voice came from behind Lin Ye. "But how many times can you dodge?"

Before he finished speaking, six black sword lights suddenly appeared around Lin Ye, stabbing from six different angles! Every strike aimed at a vital point, and every strike was as fast as lightning!

This wasn't the attack of one person, but... a combined attack of seven!

The other six black-clad men had somehow sneaked around Lin Ye, forming a perfect encirclement with the Dark Gold Mask!

"Hall Master!" Xiao Zhan cried out, wanting to help, but the Azure Dragon Hall warriors were pinned down by the remaining forty-one black-clad men and could not break free.

In the spark of an instant, Lin Ye made the most correct choice.

Not dodging, not evading, but—tanking it!

Chaos Domain fully activated! Although weakened by 50% by the Law-Breaking Blood Talismans, it still had a 12.5% attribute suppression effect!

At the same time, the three big dipper star seals in his Dantian rotated frantically. The Big Dipper True Scripture operated at full power, fusing Star Power and Chaos Divine Power to form a grayish-white protective light film on his body's surface.

*Clang clang clang clang clang clang—!*

Six sword lights struck the protective light film simultaneously, producing an ear-piercing sound of clashing metal. The light film fluctuated violently, but it did not break in the end. Lin Ye felt his blood and Qi churning, but his injuries were not severe.

And he finally saw the positions of the attackers.

"Found you."

A cold light flashed in Lin Ye's eyes. He clenched his left hand as Chaos Fire condensed in his palm. But he did not attack the six black-clad men; instead—he stomped his foot!

*Boom!*

The ground exploded, and gravel flew everywhere. Using the recoil force, Lin Ye shot toward the Dark Gold Mask like a cannonball!

To capture the ringleader first!

"Come!" The Dark Gold Mask was not surprised but delighted, his long sword stabbing like a venomous snake toward Lin Ye's throat.

But this was the moment Lin Ye had been waiting for.

The instant the sword tip was about to touch his throat, his figure suddenly vanished.

Void Step!

Short-distance spatial teleportation!

The Dark Gold Mask's strike hit nothing, and his expression changed slightly. Meanwhile, Lin Ye had already appeared three zhang behind him, his bronze war spear carrying Chaos Fire as it stabbed directly toward his heart from behind!

"Courting death!"

The Dark Gold Mask reacted extremely quickly, swinging his sword back to parry. The sword and spear collided, erupting in blinding sparks. But Lin Ye's attack was only a feint; the real killing move was—

"Chaos Heaven Opening!"

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Lin Ye pressed his left hand fingers together like a sword, the grey-white Chaos Fire at his fingertips condensing to the extreme, and pointed a finger toward the center of Dark Gold Mask's brow!

This strike was fast, accurate, and ruthless! It contained all the insights Lin Ye had gained after his Breakthrough to the Dao Palace Second Layer. The prototype of Chaos Heaven Opening was nearing perfection, and its power was at least thirty percent greater than before!

Dark Gold Mask's expression finally changed. He could feel the threat of this finger strike; it was an attack sufficient to threaten his life!

"Night Veil - Ghost Shadows Everywhere!"

At the critical moment, Dark Gold Mask's body suddenly exploded, transforming into dozens of black ghost shadows that scattered and fled. The Chaos Heaven Opening finger strike pierced through three of the ghost shadows, but the remaining ones had already re-condensed into his physical form ten zhang away.

"Substitution Technique?" Lin Ye frowned.

"No, it is the Clone Technique." The re-condensed Dark Gold Mask looked pale; clearly, this move consumed a significant amount of energy. "Being able to force me to use this move is already enough for you to be proud of. But... the game ends here."

He raised his left hand, spreading his five fingers, and a dark moon pattern slowly rotated in his palm.

"Night Veil Battle Array - Moon Eclipse!"

As he spoke, the originally bright moonlight above the canyon suddenly dimmed! It was not obscured by clouds, but as if its light had been swallowed by some kind of power! The entire canyon fell into an eerie semi-dark state, with only the blood-red light of those spell-breaking blood Talismans flickering faintly.

Even more terrifying was that Lin Ye felt his Chaos Domain's effectiveness being weakened again under the influence of Moon Eclipse! It dropped from 12.5% to less than 10%!

Meanwhile, the members of Night Veil saw their auras surge under the Moon Eclipse state! Their speed, strength, and reaction times all increased by at least 20%!

"This is the true strength of Night Veil," Dark Gold Mask sneered. "Now, you can go to your death."

He swung his long sword, and the forty-one black-clad men launched a fierce attack simultaneously. The warriors of Azure Dragon Hall immediately faced increased pressure, and in the blink of an eye, three of them fell!

As for Dark Gold Mask himself, he led the six elite assassins to surround Lin Ye once again.

This time, their offensive was even more violent, and their coordination was even more tacit. Seven people, seven swords, formed a perfect killing formation, sealing off all of Lin Ye's room for evasion.

Lin Ye fell into a bitter struggle.

He pushed his Yaoguang Footwork to the limit and utilized Void Step from time to time, barely managing to weave through the web of swords. However, wounds began to appear on his body: a sword mark on his left shoulder, deep enough to see the bone; his right ribs were grazed by Sword Qi, breaking three ribs; and his back was slashed by a sneak-attack throwing knife, dripping with blood.

On his personal panel, his Health points were dropping rapidly: 80%... 70%... 60%...

"Lin Ye!" Su Qingyue watched from behind the ice wall, burning with anxiety, wanting to rush out to help, but was held back tightly by Qin Ruoxue.

"If you go out now, you will only distract him!" Qin Ruoxue gritted her teeth and said, "Trust him!"

Su Qingyue bit her lip, formed hand seals, and the cold air of the Vast Cold ice wall became even more biting. She was accumulating power, preparing to strike at the most critical moment.

At this moment, on the other side of the battlefield, Shi Potian finally moved.

Although the Moon Eclipse state enhanced the strength of the Night Veil members, it also made the shadows denser. For the assassins of White Tiger Hall, this was actually an advantage.

"White Tiger Hall, move out!"

Fifteen black shadows darted out from the shadows of the rock wall, pouncing like ghosts toward the rear ranks of Night Veil—those black-clad men who were maintaining the battle array.

Short blades, daggers, poison darts... various assassination weapons bloomed in the night.

"Puchi!" "Ah!" "Enemy attack!"

Screams rang out, and in the blink of an eye, seven black-clad men fell. The Night Veil battle array showed a trace of Chaos.

"Seeking death!" Dark Gold Mask was furious and diverted half of his manpower to deal with White Tiger Hall.

With the pressure slightly reduced, Lin Ye finally found a moment to catch his breath.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at Dark Gold Mask with cold eyes: "Your battle array is nothing more than this."

"Hmph, relying on sharp words." Dark Gold Mask snorted coldly, "Even with the assassins interfering, you cannot escape death. In the Moon Eclipse state, our recovery speed is three times yours, and your Divine Power... how much longer can it last?"

He was right. Lin Ye's Divine Power had already been more than half consumed; Chaos Domain and Void Step were both high-energy consumers. And the enemies had the support of the battle array, with extremely fast recovery speeds.

But this was exactly the moment Lin Ye was waiting for.

"Is that so?" He suddenly smiled, "Then have you counted how many people I have killed since the battle began?"

Dark Gold Mask was taken aback.

Lin Ye slowly raised his left hand, spread his five fingers, and then slowly clenched his fist.

"The first, the archer from Overlord Pavilion, throat pierced by a spear."

"The second, the third-in-command of Blood Fiend Alliance, struck to death by heavenly lightning."

"The third, the swordsman from Zongheng Alliance, his heart meridian shattered by me."

"The fourth..."

He began to count, taking a step forward with each number.

And as he counted, strands of grey-white aura began to rise from the corpses of the fallen enemies! Those auras surged toward Lin Ye like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, merging into his body!

[Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body - Trait Activated: Killing Absorption]

Effect: For every enemy killed whose cultivation is not lower than one major Realm of your own, you can absorb a portion of their life essence to restore your own Health and Divine Power, with a chance to gain a temporary attribute boost.

Current absorption count: 14 people. Cumulative restoration: 40% Health, 25% Divine Power. Temporary attribute boost: Attack +8%, Critical Hit Rate +3%.

"The fourteenth, the assassin who just sneak-attacked me." By the time Lin Ye finished counting, he had walked to within three zhang of Dark Gold Mask. "Now, you are the fifteenth."

His aura, supplemented by the Killing Absorption, actually began to rise! His Health recovered to 80%, and Divine Power recovered to 60%! And his Attack and Critical Hit Rate both had significant improvements!

"This... what kind of evil art is this?!" Dark Gold Mask finally showed a look of shock.

"Evil art?" Lin Ye sneered, "This is a trait inherent to the Chaos Body. Doesn't your Night Veil specialize in hunting special Physiques? You don't even know this?"

He stopped talking nonsense, shook his bronze war spear, and the Chaos Fire burned fiercely.

"Now, it's my turn."

Before the words faded, Lin Ye moved.

It was not Yaoguang Footwork, nor was it Void Step, but the purest burst of speed! Although the Chaos Domain was weakened, the temporary attribute boost brought by Killing Absorption allowed his speed to reach a terrifying level!

He thrust his spear out, like a meteor piercing the sun!

Dark Gold Mask hurriedly parried, but the speed of this spear thrust was too fast, and the power was too great! The moment the sword and spear met, the long sword in his hand was actually knocked out of his grip!

"What?!"

Dark Gold Mask retreated in horror, but Lin Ye followed like a shadow.

"Chaos Heaven Opening - Double Strike!"

He pressed his left fingers together and pointed twice in succession! The first finger broke through Dark Gold Mask's protective spiritual power, and the second finger pierced straight into his chest!

"Puchi!"

A bloody hole was pierced through Dark Gold Mask's chest, and blood sprayed wildly. He screamed and flew backward, crashing into the rock wall before falling heavily to the ground.

"President!" The surrounding Night Veil members exclaimed, wanting to rescue him.

But Lin Ye had already locked onto the next target.

That was one of the elite assassins who had been surrounding and killing him just moments ago, and he was currently distracted by his President's serious injury.

"Die."

Lin Ye's figure appeared beside him like a ghost, and the war spear swept across. The assassin hurriedly raised his sword to block, but the Chaos Fire attached to the spear instantly burned through his defense, the spear tip slashed across his neck, and his head flew off.

The sixteenth kill.

"The second."

Lin Ye turned and rushed toward another elite assassin. Seeing his companion die miserably, the assassin turned and fled in fear, but how could he be faster than Lin Ye? A spear thrust in from his back and pierced through his chest.

The seventeenth kill.

"The third."

The third elite assassin had already fled twenty zhang away, but Lin Ye utilized Void Step and caught up in one stride. A Chaos Heaven Opening finger strike hit the back of his head, and his skull shattered.

The eighteenth kill.

In the blink of an eye, he had beheaded three people in a row!

The remaining Night Veil members were completely terrified. They looked at the figure that was like a god of slaughter, looked at the President's corpse on the ground, and looked at the remains of the three elite assassins...

"Run! Run quickly!"

Not knowing who shouted, the remaining thirty-plus black-clad men scattered like frightened birds, crazily fleeing toward the canyon exit.

But at the exit, Su Qingyue had been waiting for a long time.

"Want to leave?" The ice-blue light in her eyes flared, and she pressed both hands onto the ice wall, "Vast Cold Spirit Body - Ultimate Ice Seal!"

"Boom——!!"

Cold air ten times stronger than before erupted from her body! The temperature at the entire canyon exit plummeted below freezing; the ground, rock walls, and air, everything was freezing! That five-zhang-high ice wall surged in thickness from three feet to one zhang, and its height climbed to ten zhang!

Even more terrifying was that the cold air spread into the canyon like a tide; those fleeing black-clad men were frozen as soon as their feet touched the ground, and then the cold air spread up their legs, turning them into ice sculptures in the blink of an eye!

Freezing the canyon exit, cutting off their retreat!

"No——!!"

Amidst desperate screams, the thirty-plus black-clad men were all frozen into ice sculptures. Only the three strongest ones managed to break through the ice layer, but their limbs were frostbitten, and their movements were sluggish.

Lin Ye did not let them go.

He unleashed Yaoguang Footwork, reaping lives like a grim reaper.

The nineteenth kill, the twentieth kill, the twenty-first kill...

When the last black-clad man fell, Lin Ye's personal kill count stopped at twenty-one.

Six more than the expected fifteen.

Inside the canyon, there was dead silence.

The moonlight shone down again, illuminating the corpses and ice sculptures all over the ground. The smell of blood mixed with the cold air, forming an eerie atmosphere.

The warriors of Heavenly Court stared blankly at Lin Ye, at that figure covered in blood, yet with eyes that remained cold.

One against ten? No, it was one against forty-eight, a complete victory!

"Clean up the battlefield," Lin Ye's voice broke the silence. "Prioritize treating the seriously injured, and collect all the spoils of war. Pavilion Master Qin, monitor the reactions of those two teams outside."

"Yes..." Pavilion Master Qin's voice trembled slightly. Even she was shocked by that battle just now.

Su Qingyue walked to Lin Ye's side, looking at the wounds all over his body, her eyes full of heartache: "You..."

"I'm fine," Lin Ye shook his head, but his footsteps staggered. Although Killing Absorption restored his state, the continuous high-intensity battle had pushed his spirit to its limit.

Su Qingyue quickly supported him.

And just at this moment, outside the canyon, applause suddenly rang out.

"Clap, clap, clap..."

The rhythm was slow, but incredibly clear.

Lin Ye looked up.

At the canyon entrance, two people had appeared at some point.

One wore golden battle armor, with a build as sturdy as a mountain; it was the captain of War God Hall.

The other was dressed in green, face covered with a light veil, holding a jade flute; it was Qingluan of Green Robe Tower.

They stood there, clapping.

"Wonderful, truly wonderful," the captain of War God Hall laughed. "With your own strength, you routed forty-eight members of Night Veil and beheaded twenty-one of them in succession. Lin Ye, you truly live up to your reputation."

Qingluan took a deep look at Lin Ye: "With a leader like this, Heavenly Court has a promising future."

Lin Ye pushed away Su Qingyue's support, stood straight, and looked at the two with a calm gaze: "You two, are you friends or foes?"

The captain of War God Hall and Qingluan looked at each other and smiled at the same time.

"For now... we are friends," the captain of War God Hall said. "At least tonight, we will not be enemies with Heavenly Court."

"That's good," Lin Ye nodded. "Since that's the case, please return. Heavenly Court needs to rest and reorganize."

"Naturally," Qingluan nodded slightly. "But before we leave, let me give Leader Lin a piece of news—the members Night Veil sent this time are just peripheral members. The true core is already on the way. Take care of yourself."

Having said that, the two turned and disappeared into the night.

Inside the canyon, only the members of Heavenly Court and the corpses all over the ground remained.

Lin Ye looked at the direction they had left, remaining silent for a long time.

The true core is already on the way, is it?

It seems this battle is far from over.