68: The Shura Clan Returns

The periphery of the Star Palace reeked of blood, charred flesh, malevolent energy, and an indescribable stench of decay; a single breath would sting one's throat.

At the edge of the vast training ground, the light barrier of the Chaos Star Radiance Array flickered erratically, covered in spiderweb-like cracks, as Chu Xinghe led his group of infrastructure fanatics in a desperate effort to repair it.

The ground was a bloody mire, ankle-deep, mixed with shattered insect carapaces, fragments of Asura bones, and charred remains of limbs.

The disciples numbly cleared the battlefield, stripping off usable equipment, carefully collecting the remains of their companions, and dragging Asura materials and large insect corpses to the Chaos Furnace to queue up; these items were now hard currency, yielding substantial merit points.

The atmosphere was heavy, nobody spoke, only the sound of ragged breaths, the dull thud of heavy objects being moved, occasionally punctuated by the pained groans of the severely wounded.

The casualty list on the Blood Crystal Stele was disturbingly long, each name representing a person who had been alive and well just yesterday.

Lin Xuan stood at the main hall's entrance, gazing at the tragic scene, his face devoid of expression.

In his arms, the palm-sized Little Blue Bird slept soundly, even letting out soft snores, completely oblivious to the Asura hell outside.

Yun Qingyao hurried over, unconcerned about the mud splattering her skirt, her cool face etched with fatigue and solemnity: "Master, the preliminary statistics are in.

Over three thousand seven hundred disciples were killed, and more than ten thousand were severely wounded and lost their combat effectiveness.

Over forty percent of the outer defense array was damaged, and the Chaos War Fortress's energy core overloaded, requiring at least three days to repair.

Nearly thirty percent of our elixir and talisman reserves have been depleted."

She paused, her voice dropping even lower: "Moreover, according to the scattered information intercepted by Su Yuan and the reports from rogue cultivators who escaped from the front lines, Xuan Gu, Chi Xiao, and those other traitors leaked our situation to the Asura Clan.

The next wave will likely not just be cannon fodder.

There might be targeted elites, and even more Asura War Generals or even higher-ranking commanders could appear."

The pressure was immense!

This was only the first wave, merely a probing attack from the Asura Clan, yet it nearly breached the Star Palace's defenses.

The subsequent attacks would only be fiercer and more relentless!

"I understand," Lin Xuan's voice was a little hoarse, "Double the compensation.

For the injured, use the best medicine.

For the arrays, have Chu Xinghe prioritize repairing critical nodes, and if materials are insufficient, take them from my private stores."

He raised his hand and tossed a storage ring to Yun Qingyao, which contained some of the top-tier materials he had previously plundered, including parts of the Blood Hell King's remains.

"Additionally," Lin Xuan's gaze swept over the disciples who were silently licking their wounds, their eyes still burning with ferocity, "place all high-merit tasks on the Blood Crystal Stele—those related to hunting Asura War Generals, destroying insect nests, and repairing spatial rifts—at the top!

Mark them as urgent, high-risk! Double the rewards!"

Yun Qingyao was stunned: "Master, won't this be too risky?

The disciples have just gone through a major battle and need to rest..."

"Rest?" Lin Xuan interrupted her, his eyes sharpening, "Rest with what?

Will the enemy give you time?

Will Xuan Gu and those old schemers give you time?

Do you feel miserable? Do you feel pain? Then that's right!

Remember this pain! Then give me back this pain, twofold!"

He pointed at the bloody mire outside: "Do you think Asura War Generals are terrifying? Insect nests are terrifying? Then go kill them! Go destroy them!

If one person can't defeat them, then form a team!

Use your brains! Use arrays! Bombard them with talismans!

Double merit points are for you to buy your lives, to buy equipment!

Survive, and you'll be an elite! Die, and the Star Palace will support your entire family!"

These words were ruthless, yet they were like a powerful stimulant, sharply piercing the hearts of all the disciples who heard them!

Yes, what was the use of fear?

Could they survive by cowering?

If the Immortal World was occupied, they wouldn't survive either, and now the merit points were doubled!

They could exchange them for immortal artifacts! For Nirvana Grass Leaves! For top-tier cultivation techniques!

In an instant, those previously dispirited eyes reignited with a fierce and greedy flame!

The ferocity stimulated by pain and death was guided by Lin Xuan directly towards the enemy!

Soon, the high-reward, dangerous tasks prominently displayed on the Blood Crystal Stele were taken up by teams that had re-armed and whose eyes gleamed with savagery.

Leng Yuechan swallowed several elixirs, suppressing her internal injuries, and led the remaining elites of the Nirvana Sword Hall directly towards an abandoned mine rumored to have an Asura War General activity.

Their swords needed to drink blood to quell their rage.

Mo Sha's Ancient Demon Battle Group was even more like hungry wolves, specifically targeting isolated Asura squads and small insect swarms, striking with extreme ruthlessness, leaving almost no complete corpses, and harvesting materials at an astonishing speed.

Even Qing Xuan, leading the purification team, proactively took on a mission to purify a heavily polluted spiritual field.

Wherever the gentle light of life touched, malevolent energy receded, and a faint vitality was rekindled.

Her face remained pale, but her eyes were resolute.

The Star Palace, this war machine, after suffering heavy damage, did not shut down; instead, it began to operate again with a more frenzied and efficient rhythm!

Every disciple understood that if they didn't fight, they would die!

If they fought, they might even secure a future!

Lin Xuan no longer interfered with specific matters.

He returned to the depths of the main hall, carefully placing the blue bird, transformed from an Immortal Kun, at the edge of the Chaos Thunder Tribulation Pool where the spiritual energy was most concentrated, allowing it to absorb energy and recover on its own.

He then sat down cross-legged, his consciousness sinking into his body.

Having just broken through to the mid-stage Heaven Immortal realm and endured a fierce battle, his power still needed further refinement and stabilization.

More importantly, he needed to digest the Immortal Monarch-level origin and shattered destruction laws he had devoured from the Blood Hell King's remains.

The Chaos Nascent Soul was like a bottomless pit, slowly refining this immense power.

His aura steadily increased, and his understanding of chaos and destruction deepened.

The Law-Breaking Chaos Eyes operated on their own, revealing a complex scene of countless interwoven law threads.

Time flowed in a tense atmosphere.

Days passed, and teams on external missions returned one after another; some brought back abundant harvests and merit, while others remained outside forever.

The numbers on the Blood Crystal Stele constantly changed, and the Star Palace's strength, tempered in blood and fire, slowly but steadily recovered, becoming even more condensed than before.

During this period, Su Yuan's intelligence network again captured the movements of Xuan Gu and others.

They seemed surprised and displeased that the Star Palace had withstood the first wave of attacks and quickly recovered, and their covert actions became more frequent.

Several Star Palace external teams encountered unexpected incidents; either they were led into dead ends by erroneous intelligence or their logistical supplies were cut off at critical moments.

Although Lie Tian Divine Tiger provided emergency jumps for rescue, unnecessary losses still occurred.

"Master, the old thief Xuan Gu controls some channels of the Immortal Alliance's Heavenly Crafting Workshop and Elixir Cauldron Pavilion, and our supply of many special array materials and high-grade elixirs has been cut off," Su Yuan reported, his face grim.

"Let them cut it off," Lin Xuan didn't even open his eyes, "Let Chu Xinghe research alternatives himself!

Let Mu Ling Nannan and Qing Xuan increase the cultivation of spiritual herbs and the refining of elixirs!

If we're being choked, then we'll strengthen our own necks!"

He paused, a cold smile playing on his lips, "Additionally, put the specialty ores we obtained from Blackrock Mineral Star and Anvil World, as well as the first batch of Asura Steel refined from the Chaos Furnace, on the Blood Crystal Stele's exchange list, marked as internal special supply, exchangeable with merit points or equivalent rare materials."

Su Yuan's eyes lit up: "Master, are you planning..."

"The Immortal Alliance isn't a monolith.

If Xuan Gu can restrict us, we can use what they desperately need to open others' mouths," Lin Xuan said indifferently, "There will always be people willing to take risks for profit.

Have Huang Yan contact the families and merchant associations at odds with Xuan Gu, and do it discreetly."

"Yes!" Su Yuan excitedly took the order and left.

This was about dismantling the opponent's alliance from within!

A few more days passed, and as the Star Palace's defensive arrays were mostly repaired, and the disciples on external missions gradually adapted to this high-pressure rhythm, the second wave of attack arrived.

This time, it was no longer a chaotic, mixed force.

At the edge of the sky, a disciplined Asura army, radiating overwhelming malevolent energy, appeared!

A uniform force of tall Asura War Generals formed the vanguard, clad in heavy bone armor, wielding battle blades burning with eerie green flames.

In the middle were giant armored insects, like mobile fortresses, carrying twisted turrets that continuously sprayed corrosive spores.

In the air, countless swift flying scythe insects swarmed, like a dark cloud pressing down!

And at the very rear of the army, three terrifying Immortal Monarch-level pressures were unreservedly released, like three towering mountains, bearing down on the Star Palace!

These were none other than the other three Immortal Monarchs under Xuan Gu who had defected to the Asura Clan: Bone Corroder, Heart Rotter, and Soul Shatterer!

They had clearly received a death order to completely flatten this irritating thorn in their side in one fell swoop!

"They're here!" Yun Qingyao's voice echoed through the entire hall via the array, resolute yet cool, "Everyone! Prepare to meet the enemy! Activate the arrays! Preheat the Chaos Cannons!"

The great battle erupted once more!

This time, the intensity far surpassed the last!

The battle formation of Asura War Generals surged like a steel torrent, fearlessly crashing against the light barrier!

The giant armored insects' corrosive spore cannons bombarded the light barrier, causing it to twist violently!

Flying scythe insects crashed and self-destructed like raindrops!

The Star Palace's disciples also fought with all their might!

The battle array's light held firm!

Nirvana Sword Qi, Nirvana Fire, Ancient Demon Power, Purification Light Waves—all means were unleashed without reservation!

Chu Xinghe controlled the barely recovered Chaos Cannon, each shot capable of shattering a giant armored insect, but its cooldown time was too long.

The ferocity was even greater than before!

Disciples continuously fell in the fierce clashes, and the death toll on the Blood Crystal Stele once again began to soar.

The three Immortal Monarchs did not immediately act, merely hovering high in the sky with cold smiles, watching as if it were a show, exerting immense psychological pressure.

They were waiting, waiting for the Star Palace's defenses to be completely worn down, waiting for Lin Xuan to be unable to resist making the first move.

Inside the main hall, Lin Xuan slowly opened his eyes.

The Little Blue Bird in his arms seemed startled by the murderous aura outside, stirring uneasily.

He gently stroked its soft down, placing it into a specially made spiritual beast pouch that could block aura.

Then, he stood up.

His mid-stage Heaven Immortal aura erupted completely, mixed with the newly refined Blood Hell King's origin and the essence of destruction laws, making it even more profound and terrifying than before!

He stepped out of the main hall, appearing above the brutal battlefield, directly confronting the three Immortal Monarchs!

"Finally willing to come out, Lin Xuan, you brat!" Bone Corroder Immortal Monarch let out a sinister cackle, his voice like a bone-scraping steel knife.

"I thought you'd be a coward forever!" Heart Rotter Immortal Monarch echoed ominously.

Lin Xuan completely ignored their trash talk, his Law-Breaking Chaos Eyes instantly locking onto "Soul Shatterer Immortal Monarch," who seemed to be the weakest of the three and specialized in soul attacks.

"Lie Tian Divine Tiger!" Lin Xuan roared.

The Lie Tian Divine Tiger, which had been waiting for a long time, let out an earth-shattering roar, carrying Lin Xuan, its body surrounded by wildly twisting spatial energy!

It wasn't a linear charge, but an extremely bizarre, instant flicker that defied conventional spatial rules!

"Stop him!" Bone Corroder Immortal Monarch's face changed, and he waved his hand, unleashing a bone-corroding yin wind!

But it was too slow!

Lin Xuan's target wasn't the three of them at all!

Lie Tian Divine Tiger's void jump was incredibly cunning, narrowly dodging the attack, and the next moment, it appeared directly in the core area of the Asura army's battle formation below, right above the heads of the Asura War Generals who were frantically attacking the array's light barrier!

"Oh no! His target is..." Heart Rotter Immortal Monarch was utterly horrified!

"Only noticing now? Too late!" A fierce glint flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes, and he slammed his hands downwards!

Boom!

The power of the Chaos Thunder Tribulation Pool, which had been prepared for a long time, was completely detonated by him, using himself as a conduit!

This time, it was no longer a precise sniper attack, but an indiscriminate, widespread destructive thunderous storm!

Countless bolts of chaos lightning, as thick as buckets, poured down like torrential rain!

Instantly submerging hundreds of Asura War Generals gathered together below and the insectoids around them!

Sizzle! Rumble!

Blinding lightning swallowed everything!

Terrifying explosions merged into a continuous roar!

The screams of the Asura War Generals, the hissing of the insectoids, and the sound of cracking bones were completely drowned out by the thunder's roar!

With just one strike!

The Asura army's most elite vanguard formation was directly wiped out in a large section!

A massive empty area appeared!

The eyes of the three Immortal Monarchs turned red!

Their hearts bled!

How difficult was it to cultivate a True Immortal-level Asura War General!

Lin Xuan, this madman, didn't play by the rules at all!

Instead of confronting them, the leaders, he ran off to slaughter the foot soldiers?!

"You're courting death!" The three Immortal Monarchs roared in fury, attacking simultaneously!

Bone-corroding yin wind, heart-rotting poisonous fire, soul-shattering demonic sound—three terrifying Immortal Monarch-level attacks tore through space, fiercely blasting towards Lin Xuan, who had just unleashed a powerful move and seemed somewhat exhausted!

Lin Xuan, however, curved his lips into a cold smirk, a sign of a successful scheme.

Taking it head-on? He wouldn't do such a foolish thing!

"Lie Tian Divine Tiger! Go!"

Lie Tian Divine Tiger was already prepared, having begun to charge for the second jump the moment Lin Xuan made his move!

Space twisted again!

The three destructive attacks missed, blasting three bottomless giant pits into the ground below!

And Lin Xuan and Lie Tian Divine Tiger had already appeared in another direction on the battlefield, once again locking onto an area densely packed with Asura War Generals!

"Chaos Thunder Prison!" Lin Xuan showed no mercy, unleashing another widespread thunderous storm!

Slaughter!

Naked slaughter!

Lin Xuan gave the three Immortal Monarchs no chance for a direct confrontation, instead using Lie Tian Divine Tiger's spatial abilities and his own massively destructive Chaos Thunder Tribulation to pick on the weak, frantically reducing the Asura army's effective strength!

Bone Corroder, Heart Rotter, and Soul Shatterer were so enraged they almost spat blood; they couldn't catch him, couldn't stop him, and could only watch as Lin Xuan mowed down their elite subordinates like cutting leeks, wave after wave!

The Star Palace disciples below, witnessing this scene, were greatly invigorated!

"Palace Master is mighty!"

"Kill all these scoundrels!"

The counterattack became even fiercer!

High in the sky, the three Immortal Monarchs were so frustrated they almost suffered a qi deviation.

They finally understood that Lin Xuan, this bone, was a million times tougher to chew than they had imagined!

He didn't follow rules, didn't stick to routines, his methods were cunning and ruthless, and he was exceptionally good at running!

How was this a Sect Master?

This was simply a battlefield rogue with a mobile cannon and infinite flashes!

The Star Palace, this newly emerged tough bone, for the first time made the traitors and Asuras genuinely feel what it was like to be a pain in the teeth! What it was like to be miserable!