Chapter 314 Leaving Homeland
Zhongzhou has been the center of the continent since ancient times. It not only has rich spiritual energy and countless ancient relics, but also gathers the continent's top cultivators and sects. Whether it is a sect of immortals, a martial arts family, or a hidden independent cultivator, they are all proud to be able to gain a foothold in Zhongzhou. In this land, the Huangji Dao Palace is like a dragon overlooking all living beings, and its prestige is unshakable.
However, this peaceful land is now filled with tension. As the demons gradually reveal themselves, the continent is surging, and forces from all sides are gathering in Zhongzhou. The prelude to an unprecedented catastrophe is quietly opening.
The Imperial Palace issued a call for action, and the news spread across the continent like a storm. After sensing the aura of the Demon Emperor in the Heavenly Secret Palace, the Imperial Palace realized the seriousness of the situation. They issued a warning to all top forces and invited strong men from all sides to come and discuss the plan.
This news quickly caused an uproar across Zhongzhou.
"The Demon Emperor? He is only an ancient legend. Is he really going to be resurrected?"
"The Imperial Palace would not do something without a purpose. They even used the Heavenly Secret Mirror. This is absolutely true!"
"If the Demon Emperor revives, the entire human race will face a catastrophe. All forces must unite!"
In just a few days, all major forces took action and sent strong men and representatives to the core area of Zhongzhou - Huangji Dao Palace.
The immortal sects in Zhongzhou have always been the core force of the cultivation world. After hearing the news about the Demon Emperor, these sects mobilized their most elite disciples and elders without hesitation.
Jian Wushuang from Tianhua Sect was the leader of this operation. He was the youngest sword master in Tianhua Sect, and his sword shone with cold light, which could shake mountains and rivers. He led dozens of core disciples across thousands of miles and headed straight for the Huangji Dao Palace.
On the other side, Miaoyin Sect also sent out their saint, Fairy Lingshuang. She came like a fairy, dressed in flowing green, holding an ancient zither in her hand. It is said that her zither sound can penetrate the soul and even suppress the consciousness of the demons.
"The crisis this time is by no means as simple as the emergence of an ordinary demon." Fairy Lingshuang said in a low voice on the way to the Huangji Taoist Palace, her brows full of solemnity.
The martial arts families in Zhongzhou also responded quickly to the call. Although these families did not pursue the Way of Heaven like the immortal sects, they were famous for their strong physiques and martial arts.
As the leader of the martial arts family, the Nie family sent the head of the family, Nie Cangqiong, to go out in person this time. Nie Cangqiong was over 60 years old, but his true energy was extremely strong, and his punches could split mountains and crack rocks. He led dozens of the family's top warriors to the Huangji Dao Palace.
At the same time, the Long family was not to be outdone. The young master of the Long family, Long Xiaotian, was a martial arts genius who had already entered the Dao of Transformation at the age of thirty. He rode a majestic lion-tiger with dragon patterns, and behind him were the elite guards of the Long family.
"Master Nie, this time it's probably a matter of life and death." Long Xiaotian rode a lion-tiger and walked side by side with Nie Cangqiong, looking deeply into the distant clouds.
"For the sake of the human race, what is there to fear even if I am torn to pieces?" Nie Cangqiong said in a deep voice, his fists clenched so hard that they made a creaking sound.
Unlike those sects and aristocratic families, the whereabouts of independent cultivators are usually erratic, but this crisis has attracted them all to Zhongzhou.
The famous independent cultivator, Blood Blade Master, was full of blood and energy, and the blood blade hanging on his waist frightened countless people. He fought his way out of the Southern Wasteland and headed straight for the Imperial Palace. His purpose of this trip was not only to deal with the Demon Emperor, but also to take this opportunity to become famous.
Another outstanding independent cultivator was the Nether Ghost Hand, whose methods were extremely vicious and good at controlling souls. Although many people were wary of him, his appearance still added some hope to the situation.
As time went by, representatives from various forces arrived at the Imperial Palace one after another. The elders, family heads, and independent cultivators who were usually high and mighty gathered together at this moment, and the atmosphere was extremely solemn.
Outside the Tianji Palace, thousands of cultivators gathered together. These cultivators were elite disciples and guards from various forces. Their arrival filled the entire Huangji Dao Palace with a murderous aura.
In the hall, Qing Xuanzi stood at the front with a solemn expression. Beside him was Yuan Tianzun, the master of the Huangji Dao Palace. The old man was dressed in a golden robe and looked extremely majestic, like an emperor who ruled the world.
"Everyone, thank you for taking the trouble to come here." Yuan Tianzun looked around the whole audience, his voice as deep as a bell, "The aura of the Demon Emperor has appeared. This is a battle for the survival of the human race, and we cannot let down our guard at all!"
There was silence in the arena, and everyone could feel the weight of the words of this top powerhouse.
However, with the arrival of various forces, hidden contradictions gradually emerged.
"Nie Cangqiong, has your Nie family ever traded spiritual minerals privately with the demons before?"
"Nonsense! Our Nie family will never go along with the demons!"
"Oh, then how do you explain the sudden increase in your family's spiritual ore?"
"Blood Blade, are you here to fight the demons, or do you have other intentions?"
"Hmph, stop stirring up trouble here! Why should I, the Blood Blade Master, be accountable to you for my actions?"
Facing the threat of the Demon Emperor, although the various forces have temporarily joined forces, the open and covert struggles have not stopped. While many people are wary of the demons, they are also wary of the "allies" around them.
In the Imperial Palace, the Heavenly Secret Mirror once again showed a demonic aura. The image on the mirror gradually became clearer. It was a sea of blood and corpses, and countless cultivators could be seen struggling in it. The Demon Emperor's figure was still blurry, but the overwhelming pressure shocked everyone present.
"The power of the Demon Emperor is recovering rapidly. We don't have much time." Qing Xuanzi said in a deep voice, "We must formulate a plan as soon as possible and defeat him completely before he fully recovers!"
Yuan Tianzun nodded, his eyes showing determination: "The demons are coming with great force, but we will never sit still and wait for death. This battle will surely go down in history!"
As his voice fell, the atmosphere in the hall reached its climax. Everyone knew that this was not just an ordinary battle, but a catastrophe that concerned the survival of the entire human race.
The sky outside was overcast and the wind was howling, as if foreshadowing the coming storm. In the Royal Palace, strong men from all sides were gathering together to plan and plot against the demons.
Ye Fan stood beside the teleportation array, surrounded by talented disciples from various powers. At this moment, their pride and spirit seemed to have been completely wiped out, leaving only confusion and helplessness. The teleportation array lit up the last ray of light, sending them from the war-torn area to Zhongzhou. The center of this continent was their only refuge, but the trauma deep in their hearts followed them like a shadow.
Ye Fan raised his head and looked at this strange land. The sky here was blue and the spiritual energy was rich, but for these young people who had experienced the tragic battlefield, all this seemed particularly unreal. He clenched his fists, but there was no anger in his eyes, only deep fatigue and loss.
These talented disciples sent to Zhongzhou were originally the most brilliant people in their respective sects and families. They were either sword masters, formation masters, or alchemy wizards. No matter where they went, they were the best among their peers, enjoying countless admiration and praise. However, all of this seemed so pale and powerless when facing the invasion of the demons.
"What kind of geniuses are we..." Not far away, a young man holding a spear whispered, his eyes full of bitterness. He was originally the chief disciple of the sect, and his spear skills were enough to sweep away the same level, but when facing the demons, he couldn't even match an ordinary demon soldier.
"Yeah, so what if he's a genius? He can't even protect the sect." Another girl said with a wry smile, her hands tightly grasping the spirit sword at her waist, her knuckles turning white from excessive force.
Listening to the whispers around him, Ye Fan felt a sharp pain in his heart. Although they had saved their lives, they had lost everything. Their sect, family, hometown, and even their beliefs seemed to have been destroyed overnight in that sudden disaster.
The guards of the teleportation array had already left, leaving only these disciples standing in an empty square. The atmosphere was so oppressive that it was suffocating. No one spoke, and everyone lowered their heads in silence. Their heads, which were originally held high, now drooped as if they had lost their strength.
Ye Fan looked around and saw some people crying silently, some covering their faces in confusion, and some simply collapsed on the ground with a dazed look. They all knew that Zhongzhou might be able to protect their lives, but it could not protect their dignity and pride.
"Why..." A voice suddenly broke the silence. It was a voice of a boy who looked a little younger. He fell to his knees, pounding his fists, his voice filled with helplessness and anger, "Why are we so weak? Why don't we even have a chance to fight back?"
"Yeah, why..." Someone whispered in agreement, but soon fell into silence.
Ye Fan watched all this in silence, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew that this kind of decadence and self-blame was a normal reaction, because he himself could not escape the erosion of this emotion. In that fallen land, he had seen countless predecessors fall down, and saw his master die in order to cover their evacuation. He wanted to resist, but the disparity in strength made his hand holding the sword tremble.
He wanted to say something to comfort these people, but found himself speechless. He knew that empty encouragement would be meaningless to them now.
"What should we do next?" Someone finally broke the silence, with a trembling voice.
"Can we... still go back?" another voice followed up, with a hint of uncertain hope.
However, everyone knew that the answer was no. Their homes had been completely destroyed, their clans or families had become ruins, or even no longer existed.
Ye Fan did not answer, he just looked into the distance in silence. His eyes penetrated through the layers of white fog, as if he saw his hometown shrouded in endless evil spirits. It was a place he was very familiar with, but now it has become a nightmare that he cannot touch.
Although everyone's faces were filled with despair, a faint hope still burned in a corner of their hearts. Perhaps Zhongzhou could be the place where they could stand up again. Perhaps they could find a way to fight against the demons here and avenge their homes and loved ones.
Ye Fan took a deep breath and suppressed the complex emotions in his heart. He knew that no matter how painful it was now, he had to keep moving forward. Because if he gave up, then what was the purpose of those predecessors who sacrificed themselves and those elders who protected them from evacuation?
"Let's go," Ye Fan finally spoke, his voice low but firm, "We are still alive, this is the greatest chance."
Although his voice was not loud, it was like a stone thrown into a lake, causing ripples in everyone's hearts.
A young girl raised her head and looked at Ye Fan, with a glimmer of struggle in her eyes. Others also looked up, and although their eyes were still full of confusion, they no longer had the previous despair.
They knew they had to pick themselves up again, because being alive meant there was still hope.
