63: Chaos Emerges 2

Xiao Yan froze, then nodded heavily, "I understand. Go, be careful."

Ling Xiao returned to Xiao Bing's side. Their hands clasped, a seven-colored light flashed, and their figures gradually blurred.

Xiao Bing took one last look at Xiao Yan, who was fighting fiercely, and her lips moved slightly, "See you in Source World, brother."

With a flash of light, the two disappeared.

......

Night fell, and the battlefield temporarily fell into an eerie calm.

The shadows stopped expanding, seemingly accumulating strength. The allied forces used this precious respite to reorganize their defenses and treat the wounded. By a bonfire in the center of the camp, Xiao Yan was healing Yao Lao.

"Teacher, you shouldn't have forced the 'Soul Ignition Technique'." Xiao Yan looked at the old man's withered face with heartache, "Your Soul is already..."

Yao Lao waved his hand to interrupt him, "This old man has lived long enough, it's worth it." He looked at the wriggling shadows in the distance, "But you, how do you plan to hold that thing back?"

Xiao Yan took out the yan emperor seal. The Jade Seal gleamed with a mysterious luster under the firelight, "Ling Xiao gave me an enlightenment before he left. The power of the plane of origin should not only be used for destruction, but also... creation."

He held the Jade Seal in both hands, and a wisp of Chaos power was injected into it. Fine lines appeared on the surface of the Jade Seal, gradually forming a peculiar Formation.

"This is...?" Yao Lao squinted his dim old eyes.

"A simplified version of the 'Creation Formation'." Xiao Yan explained, "A secret technique from the plane of origin's memory. It can temporarily reshape local rules. Although it doesn't last long, it should be able to restrict the Chaos Devourer's movements."

Yao Lao carefully examined the Formation patterns and suddenly widened his eyes, "Little Yanzi, this Formation will extract the caster's life Origin!"

Xiao Yan smiled noncommittally, "It's better than total annihilation."

A piercing shriek came from afar, and the shadows began to move again. This time, it changed its strategy, no longer expanding blindly, but condensing into dozens of concrete forms—some like giant beasts, some like humanoids, and even duplicates mimicking the allied forces' powerhouses!

"It's learning..." Yao Lao gasped, "This thing is adapting to the rules of Source World!"

Xiao Yan stood up abruptly, the yan emperor seal suspended in his palm, "Everyone listen up! All those below Spirit Grade retreat to the ancient Formation three hundred li away! Heavenly Supreme follow me to form the 'Zhou Tian Star Dou Great Formation'!"

The allied forces moved swiftly. Yao Lao struggled to stand up but was pressed back into his chair by Xiao Yan, "Teacher, your current task is to decipher the other information on the Jade Slip and find the Chaos Devourer's weakness."

Yao Lao still wanted to argue, but seeing Xiao Yan's gaze as firm as iron, he could only sigh and nod, "Be careful, child."

Xiao Yan turned and walked towards the front lines of the battlefield, his silhouette stretching long in the firelight. Yao Lao vaguely seemed to see the young man from Utan City many years ago, who made a three-year agreement with Nalan Yanran for his Family's dignity, just as stubborn and fearless.

Only this time, what he carried was no longer the honor and disgrace of a single Family, but the survival of the entire Source World.

The shadow army had approached the defense line, and the foremost monsters even began to tear at the protective Formation. Xiao Yan took a deep breath, raising the yan emperor seal high:

"Formation, rise!"

Three hundred and sixty Heavenly Supreme acted at the same time, starlight surging from their bodies, weaving into a brilliant star net in the air. Xiao Yan injected Chaos power into the star net, and immediately, a great light burst forth, illuminating half the sky.

The shadow army was blocked by the star net, letting out angry roars. They frantically attacked the starlight barrier, each impact causing the powerhouses controlling the Formation to spit blood, but no one retreated.

"Hold on!" Xiao Yan stood at the eye of the Formation, bearing the greatest pressure, "For Source World! For our home!"

The tug-of-war between the star net and the shadows lasted all night. When the eastern sky showed the first hint of dawn, nearly a hundred Heavenly Supreme had collapsed from exhaustion, and most of the remaining ones were also tottering. Xiao Yan bled from his seven orifices, but he still kept his back straight, continuously injecting Chaos power into the Formation.

Yao Lao walked over, leaning on his cane, his voice hoarse, "Little Yanzi... there's another passage on the back of the Jade Slip..."

Xiao Yan reluctantly Divided Soul to listen.

"The Heart of Chaos needs to be awakened with a true heart..." Yao Lao recited, "Only those who comprehend the true meaning of guardianship can wield its power..."

Xiao Yan pondered, "The true meaning of guardianship..."

Just then, the shadows suddenly retreated completely, re-merging into a single mass. It floated in mid-air, no longer attacking, but starting to... shrink?

"Not good!" Yao Lao's face changed drastically, "It's going to self-destruct! This attack is enough to destroy everything within a thousand li radius!"

Xiao Yan looked behind him—the retreating allied forces' Disciple hadn't gone far yet. If this explosion were to happen...

Without hesitation, he shoved the yan emperor seal to Yao Lao, "Teacher, control the Formation!"

Before Yao Lao could respond, Xiao Yan had already shot into the sky, rushing alone towards the continuously compressing shadow!

"Little Yanzi! Come back!" Yao Lao's shouts were left behind.

Xiao Yan activated all the remaining Chaos power in his body. Green fire and blue ice intertwined on his body, forming armor. He crashed into the shadow without hesitation, detonating all his power the moment of contact!

"Boom—!!!"

Heaven and earth lost their color, and the sun and moon became dim. The terrifying explosion's shockwave was mostly blocked by Xiao Yan's body, and the remaining part was weakened by the star net. When the smoke and dust cleared, the allied forces were horrified to discover—Xiao Yan's figure had disappeared!

"Xiao Yan!!" Yao Lao's old tears streamed down his face as he stumbled forward.

Just then, a faint blue light suddenly lit up in the center of the explosion. The light grew stronger and stronger, gradually forming a blurred human outline...