The Dawn Zone was shrouded by a faint layer of clouds, beyond which lay thick storm clouds and wisps of grey fog visible to the naked eye. It was vast and endless, engulfing the entire Dawn Zone.
The surging tide also struck the defensive line from several directions. However, upon closer inspection, the area west-northwest of Water Marsh Base City, around the giant cannon emplacements, was the most fiercely impacted. Not only was the scale of the tide here the largest, but the high-level诡邪 (guǐ xié – sinister entities) hidden within also abnormally exceeded that of other areas.
Although, Fang You had made arrangements in other locations as well. Hei Tong, Pei Hongjing, Qian Mian, and Roland, who had been the first among the sub-apostles to break through to the Four Awakening Non-Human level.
"But the main assault direction was indeed this one," he mused. "Based on current intelligence, it can be inferred that the evil god's lackeys cannot control such a massive tide. They can only influence it, push it limitedly, or control a small number of high-level 诡邪 within it?" He was unsure.
Xinhuo had also obtained a similar item—a scarlet horn. When blown, it could command 诡邪 with an invisible sound. However, it was a creation of an evil god. He had confirmed with Yi Yueluxi that it contained immense danger. Normal awakened individuals could not use the horn. If they could, it might signify that they had already been eroded by the evil god and branded.
"The tide is gradually thinning. The evil god's lackeys hidden within may also be unable to sit still."
"Will they show themselves?"
Fang You pondered that Xinhuo's current high-end combat power seemed insufficient. And he himself, with a terrifying presence watching from beyond the heavens, naturally preferred not to act if he could avoid it. It remained to be seen who would lose their patience first.
...
...
The super tide had been ongoing for an hour since its appearance. During this time, it had continuously assaulted the defensive line. The giant wooden vine wall standing at the forefront had already fractured in many places, with deep green vines falling to the ground, many of them withered.
The defenders at the front of the line were also exhausted. They rotated continuously, drinking one energy recovery potion and stamina potion after another. Even so, their condition continued to decline under the high-intensity combat.
The most severe decline was undoubtedly among the three non-humans who were doing their best to maintain the giant wooden vine wall. Their non-human forms had been deactivated, but traces of plant-like features could still be seen on them, clearly indicating a considerable degree of contamination.
Meidisha thought to herself. However, she looked into the distance. Although the defenders' condition and combat power had declined significantly, the tide had also waned. The boundless black tide had become sparse, and the overcast sky above was no longer as thick. Victory was in sight!
Meidisha wiped the sweat from her forehead. Only now did she have the leisure to look at the empty potion bottles in her hand, and she couldn't help but marvel. Energy recovery potions, stamina potions, strength potions, and so on—their Sword Flower City naturally had them. They weren't identical, but their effects were generally the same. But how long had their Sword Flower City been developing, and how long had Blue Star been around? Not only did they have these potions, but they could also produce hundreds or thousands of them. Clearly, Blue Star... no, the Xinhuo Organization had a very mature manufacturing process for these potions.
Over six Non-Human realm experts. Terrifying giant cannons and strange ritualistic crossbow bolts. And a system for equipment manufacturing and potion refining that seemed to be on the right track. What else did this Blue Star lack?
"If Blue Star can occupy a promising oasis and continue its legacy, then Blue Star's future is limitless!" It wasn't impossible for it to surpass their Sword Flower City. It was just that, faced with such an exaggerated fact, how was she supposed to report it to the Dean? Meidisha thought with distress.
Just as she was about to scratch her head, a sharp screech pierced her ears, so piercing it felt like it would shatter her skull.
"What is that..."
She suddenly looked up. The sky, which had begun to clear, suddenly turned gloomy again. A massive dark cloud drifted from afar. No, that wasn't a dark cloud! It was a colossal, black beast with two pairs of wings! Its two pairs of heavy wings spread open, spanning three to four hundred meters. From the tips of the wings, countless pupils suddenly opened, hundreds or thousands of them, staring towards the defensive line! On its back were several thick, ribbon-like appendages, which split open at their ends, revealing sharp, chilling teeth within, like countless ferocious mouths.
"This is... the Cataclysmic-level 诡邪 'Zai Nie Ju Xiao' (Disaster-Nirvana Giant Owl)!"
"Just one of them can cause a large-scale cataclysm. An extremely terrifying existence!" Even their Sword Flower City would find it troublesome to face, let alone a nascent Blue Star force. And now, this Zai Nie Ju Xiao had clearly set its sights on the Dawn Zone. It soared through the sky like a mobile floating island, exuding a terrifying pressure as it approached!
Even with the protection of the Dawn Lighthouse, the rational shock that swept over them pierced the minds of many defenders.
"What... what kind of monster is that!!" someone trembled, gazing into the distance.
Below the Cataclysmic-level 诡邪, a wave of monsters had actually gathered. It was the final monster tide, comprising numerous high-level 诡邪. More than ten or twenty Calamity-level 诡邪 appeared within sight. However, these Calamity-level 诡邪 were as insignificant as ants compared to the Zai Nie Ju Xiao. Even the Mountain Giant Beast, known for its size and which typically led the Calamity-level 诡邪, appeared small. This high-level 诡邪 tide was advancing towards the front line at a seemingly slow but actually fast pace, treading the earth and soaring through the sky, sowing fear and panic. Its sheer size alone instilled an irrepressible despair.
"Boom!" The giant cannons opened fire, unleashing brilliant azure beams of light that blasted towards the leading Mountain Giant Beast. Hope ignited in the defenders' eyes.
The next moment, it suddenly dimmed. The giant dark cloud in the sky let out a mournful cry, and the mouths floating above it also spewed out a crimson beam of light. The red and blue lights collided in mid-air, exploding into a tsunami-like shockwave. The ground was torn up layer by layer, and many two-star and three-star 诡邪 were sent flying, or annihilated on the spot in the core of the explosion. A fierce wind buffeted them, and blinding light filled their vision.
When the radiance dissipated, only a pockmarked earth remained. The Mountain Giant Beast continued to advance, unharmed. At this moment, inconspicuous bolts shot out from the wooden sprout towers. Hissing sounds filled the air as more than a dozen bolts were fired sequentially towards the Mountain Giant Beast that stood in front of many Calamity-level 诡邪. Round after round of volleys were unleashed. Most were destroyed mid-flight, but a few still hit. They produced crisp dinging sounds.
"Did it pierce the defense?"
"Can it pierce the defense?" On the defensive line, experts like Director Huang, Ice King, Katrina, and many Xinhuo elites, all with sweaty palms, stared tensely. Can it pierce the defense?
"It did!" A dual-level expert who had awakened remote vision abilities shouted. He saw the brownish crossbow bolts embed themselves slightly, and the next moment, small wooden sprouts began to grow from the giant beast, more and more of them. They showed joy. However, they soon discovered that compared to the Mountain Giant Beast's massive body, the growing wooden sprouts were as sparse as weeds on a mountain, very inconspicuous, only covering a small area. The growth rate was far slower than when planted on Calamity-level 诡邪, and its colossal body would require a long time to be fully covered.
Before that, "That giant beast can definitely trample our defensive line! And the Mountain Giant Beast is not the most terrifying. The most terrifying is that... that..."
"Zai Nie Ju Xiao!" Yan Xiao took up the conversation, his face pale. "That is a Cataclysmic-level 诡邪! Its appearance signifies a cataclysm. You cannot stop it. Flee! While the surrounding tide is sparse, save yourselves if you can. If you escape, at least you can continue your Blue Star's legacy. Continuing to defend this line will only doom everything Blue Star possesses!"
Envoy Yan Xiao was already packing his equipment. Confronting such a beast was impossible; it was despair-inducing just to look at it. Blue Star was indeed strong, unbelievably strong, but they had also provoked an enemy beyond imagination... Whether Blue Star's legacy could continue was still uncertain. Perhaps they also needed to reconsider their deep cooperation with Blue Star. They couldn't risk their Scorching Flame Great Oasis just to gain some resources.
"We must flee! Before that Zai Nie Ju Xiao reaches our city!"
"This is the last chance!"
Meidisha also urged them with anxiety. She looked at Shi Yunxi, who in turn looked into the distance. From her eyes, it was clear she was looking at the Xinhuo mentor. Could it be that the mentor could still create miracles? No, that was impossible! For a new world like Blue Star to have six or seven Non-Human experts, to kill dozens of Calamity-level 诡邪, and to break through a million-level super tide, this was already the ultimate miracle! But the enemy was too overpowered! There must be evil god lackeys among them, and very high-level ones at that! As expected, no matter how many miracles were born, humanity's faint spark in the face of the evil god was always on the verge of being swallowed by darkness. History had long proven that resistance only led to destruction. To escape, hide, and live in seclusion was the only way to find a sliver of survival.
"Retreat!"
"We will never leave until the mentor speaks. Moreover, behind us is the Dawn Base City with two to three hundred million people." Shi Yunxi looked into the distance, at the white-robed figure standing at the forefront, his hands clasped together, fingers interlaced. "I believe the mentor will definitely have a way."
"I believe it too!"
"Me too!"
Seeing the unwavering determination, or rather, adoration in their eyes, Meidisha was going mad. What kind of intoxicating potion had that man given them?
The wind howled, and dust flew. Dark clouds obscured the sun. Screams penetrated their minds. Meidisha clenched her sword hilt, hesitating, her face pale. She saw that on the Zai Nie Ju Xiao soaring in the sky in the distance, the ends of its ribbon-like appendages lit up with crimson light again, the light particles continuously gathering. She saw that on the back of the Mountain Giant Beast, the mountainside had turned red, spewing out streams of meteor-like fire rain. She saw the Calamity 诡邪 advancing steadily, like trained soldiers. She saw... she saw many scenes that represented despair. There was not a trace of hope, not even a miracle could bring hope.
Suddenly, she saw a monster appear not far in front of the defensive line. A black-haired girl stood atop the Hundred-Eyed Flying Fish, flying into the distance. "It's Miss An."
Miss An? The thought had barely formed when the wind suddenly stopped. The sky and the earth seemed to be covered by an inky shadow that spread rapidly, like a ring, like a black hole. In the center of the ink-blackness was reflected that slender, solitary figure, as if it were the center of the world. Deep blue patterns spread and intertwined rapidly within the ink-black area, outlining a profound ritualistic diagram in the blink of an eye. This massive ritual, covering the sky and earth and encompassing hundreds of meters around, descended with a thunderous roar!