318: Chapter 316 The Choice is Made, Sword Points Towards the Western Sea

Outside the Formation, the offensive of the Yao Race army had never ceased.

Spells, Demonic Qi, sharp claws, and bone spikes covered the sky and earth, dense as rain.

The Formation's light shield trembled violently under the attacks, flickering unsteadily, with formation patterns swirling madly and spiritual light splashing everywhere. Yet, the Formation never shattered.

The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect and the Master of Xuanhuang Alchemy Mansion personally guarded the Formation Eye. The Nascent Soul Cultivators of both Sects took turns channeling spiritual power, while Golden Core and Foundation Establishment Cultivators cast Spells from within the Formation, slaughtering the Yao Race Cultivators approaching the Formation in batches. Both sides had been deadlocked for a long time.

The Cultivators within the Formation did not know how much longer they could hold out, but no one retreated.

Just then, amidst the group of Yao Race Cultivators outside the Formation, a burst of golden lightning suddenly exploded.

The lightning ignited from the outermost periphery of the Yao Race Cultivators, not just a single bolt, but a vast expanse, like a gigantic golden electric net spreading from the periphery toward the center.

Wherever the electric net passed, Yao Race Cultivators exploded one after another, flesh and blood flying, leaving no corpses behind.

Those Golden Core Stage Yao Race Cultivators could not even withstand a single breath before the golden lightning; to touch it was death. Those at the Foundation Establishment Stage were directly reduced to flying ash.

The Cultivators inside the Formation were stunned.

Some pressed against the light shield to look out, some stood on tiptoes, and some flew into mid-air. Everyone saw that five-colored Escape Light galloping across the Yao Race Cultivator group.

The Escape Light was too fast, so fast that even Divine Sense could not capture it. One could only see a five-colored stream of light weaving through the black tide of Yao, and with every flicker, a group of Yao Race Cultivators fell.

"Who is that?"

"Is it one of our own? Is it reinforcements?"

"Impossible, reinforcements have long since vanished. The Zifu Immortal Dynasty is finished; where would reinforcements come from?"

"Then who else could it be? It couldn't be the Yao Race having an internal conflict, could it?"

Discussions arose one after another. No one knew who that Escape Light belonged to.

Ye Chen stood at the entrance of the main hall, his gaze passing through the Formation's light shield and landing on that five-colored Escape Light. His pupils contracted sharply.

"Is it him?" Ye Chen murmured, his voice kept very low, heard only by Su Mubai beside him.

Su Mubai followed his gaze and looked over, his eyes suddenly lighting up. "It's Yun Ming!"

Jiang Yueling also walked over, her gaze instantly fixed. Waves crashed in her heart, and she suppressed the excitement deep within; her eyelids trembled slightly, her sight tightly locked onto that person.

The Ancestor of Qingxuan Sect leaned on his cane, trembling as he walked to the light shield, his cloudy old eyes staring at that stream of light for a long time. He suddenly laughed, his laughter hoarse but carrying an indescribable sense of relief.

"It's that kid, Yun Ming. I knew it, he didn't die."

Several Elders at the Great Circle of Nascent Soul looked at each other. The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect heard the commotion behind him and turned his head.

"Do you know that person?"

Ye Chen stepped forward and cupped his hands. "Sect Master, his name is Yun Ming. He is my friend. Back in the Qingxuan Sect, he fought side-by-side with me against the Heavenly Demon Hall. I can vouch for his character."

Su Mubai also stepped forward. "I know him too. He was the Fourth-Rank Alchemist of Qingyao City back then, his Alchemy skills were divine. He is not a bad person, and certainly not a spy for the Yao Race."

Jiang Yueling did not speak, but she walked to Ye Chen's side and stood still. Her gaze landed on the face of the Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect. She did not say a word, but her stance already said everything.

The Ancestor of Qingxuan Sect also walked up, did not speak, but just nodded.

The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect's gaze swept from Ye Chen's face to Su Mubai's, from Su Mubai's to Jiang Yueling's, and finally landed on the face of the Ancestor of Qingxuan Sect. He was silent for a moment, then turned around, watching that Escape Light still fighting fiercely outside the Formation.

"Open the Formation. Let him in," the Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect said in a deep voice.

He raised his hand and tore an opening in the Formation's light shield. The opening was not large, only allowing one person to pass through.

The five-colored Escape Light rushed out from the Yao Race Cultivator group, passed through that opening, and landed inside the Formation. The light shield closed, and the attacks of the Yao Race Cultivators were blocked outside once again.

The Escape Light dissipated, and a person stood inside the Formation.

In moon-white robes, long hair tied up, with a young face. His robes were stained with the blood of the Yao Race.

Yun Ming raised his head and saw those familiar faces at the entrance of the main hall. Ye Chen, Su Mubai, Jiang Yueling, the Ancestor of Qingxuan Sect. The corners of his mouth moved slightly, but he did not speak.

Ye Chen was the first to walk up. He didn't offer pleasantries, didn't embrace, and didn't even speak. He just walked up to Yun Ming, reached out, and patted Yun Ming's shoulder firmly. Then he stepped back, clearing the way.

Su Mubai and Jiang Yueling walked up. She looked at Yun Ming, the corners of her mouth moving as if wanting to say something, but in the end, she only nodded slightly. "It's good that you're back."

Yun Ming's throat moved, but he did not speak.

The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect and the Master of Xuanhuang Alchemy Mansion walked out of the main hall. Their gazes landed on Yun Ming, carrying scrutiny but no hostility.

"Come in," the Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect said.

Yun Ming stepped into the main hall.

The main hall was filled with people. Elders, deacons, and Core Disciples of both Sects lined up on both sides, and everyone's gaze was fixed on Yun Ming. Yun Ming stood in the center of the main hall, looked around, and then looked at the Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect.

And the first sentence Yun Ming spoke made their expressions change drastically.

"The Nine Nether Roc is going to attack you. Three Great Soul Transformation Yao will strike simultaneously. Daoist Lord Fuhun, Daoist Lord Zhenshan, plus the Nine Nether Roc himself. The time is within these few days."

The main hall instantly went quiet. Everyone's expression changed. Three Great Soul Transformation Yao striking simultaneously—this Formation could not hold. This was not a guess; it was a fact. The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect's face darkened, and the Master of Xuanhuang Alchemy Mansion's brows furrowed even tighter. Several Elders at the Great Circle of Nascent Soul exchanged glances, all seeing gravity in each other's eyes.

"Are you sure?" the Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect asked.

"I heard it with my own ears," Yun Ming said. "The Nine Nether Roc said it to his subordinates himself. I infiltrated his nest, hid in his sleeping quarters, and heard him discussing the attack with his subordinates."

The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect did not ask how he infiltrated, nor did he ask how he got out alive. He only needed to know that this news was true; that was enough.

The Master of Xuanhuang Alchemy Mansion spoke up. "On your way here, did you see any mobilization of the Yao Race?"

"I did," Yun Ming said. "Large groups of Yao Race are gathering here, far more than those outside."

The main hall was quiet again.

The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect was silent for a moment, then turned around to look at the Master of Xuanhuang Alchemy Mansion. The two exchanged a glance and nodded slightly. Then the Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect looked back at Yun Ming.

"The news you brought is very important. In exchange, we also have something to tell you."

Yun Ming looked at him.

"The Demon Cultivators of Ximing Continent are going to flee," the Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect's voice was not loud, but every word was clearly audible. "They have built a teleportation Formation that can leave the Xuanhuang Small World and enter the Endless Chaos. The Formation is nearing completion. If they succeed in escaping, the Xuanhuang Small World will lose one path of retreat. If they are intercepted by the Yao Race and the Formation falls into the hands of the Yao Race, the consequences will be even more severe."

Yun Ming's brows furrowed. "Demon Cultivators? Why are they fleeing?"

"Because the Yao Race intends to devour the Origin of the Xuanhuang Small World," the Master of Xuanhuang Alchemy Mansion took over. "Although the Demon Cultivators have defected to the Yao Race, they know in their hearts that once the Yao Race succeeds, they will die along with them. So they want to flee. Flee to the Endless Chaos and search for a new world. They knew the news in advance and had long since begun preparations. That teleportation Formation is the crystallization of their many years of hard work."

Yun Ming was silent for a moment. He had not expected that the Demon Cultivators knew this news earlier than everyone imagined and had started preparing even sooner.

"So, what do you plan to do?" Yun Ming asked.

The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect turned around, looking at the crowd gathered behind him.

"We have two choices," his voice was not loud, but everyone heard him. "First, continue to hold out. The Formations of the two Sects merged into one can hold out long enough. Our Xuanhuang Small World is not without Void Refinement Divine Lords; His Majesty of the Zifu Immortal Dynasty is still alive. As long as he strikes, the outcome is still unknown."

He paused for a moment, his voice lowering a little.

"Second, take a gamble. Launch a surprise attack on Ximing Continent and seize the Demon Cultivators' teleportation Formation. Before they can escape, seize this Formation for ourselves."

The main hall went quiet. All gazes fell upon the Sect Master.

Ye Chen stepped out. "I choose a surprise attack," his voice was not loud, but very firm. "Rather than waiting here, it is better to take a gamble. If we seize the Demon Cultivators' teleportation Formation, we can use it too."

Su Mubai also stepped out. "I also choose a surprise attack. The Zifu Immortal Dynasty is gone, and Tianyuan City is gone. We cannot lose the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion as well."

Jiang Yueling stepped out. "Surprise attack," she only said two words.

The Ancestor of Qingxuan Sect also stepped out, did not speak, but just nodded. Several Elders at the Great Circle of Nascent Soul also stepped out, did not speak, but their gazes were firm. More and more people stepped out.

The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect looked at those who stood out and was silent for a moment. Then he turned around, looking at Yun Ming.

"What about you?"

Yun Ming thought for a moment. "I came here initially intending to inform you of the news that the Yao Race was going to attack, and then find a place to hide. But since the Demon Cultivators have a teleportation Formation..." He paused, "Count me in."

The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect nodded, raised his hand, and issued the order.

"Pass down the order: the entire army is to assemble. Target—Ximing Continent. Launch a surprise attack on the Demon Cultivators, seize the teleportation Formation."