382: retreat

After Qing Hui issued the clear instruction, she and Hong Yu displayed an extremely tacit cooperation.

In almost the same instant, the two of them utilized the full extent of their World Power, forming a powerful energy field that enveloped every single Yuan Ling Sect Disciple on the battlefield below without exception.

Immediately afterward, they vanished from the sight of the Phantom Poison Universe's forces with lightning speed via teleportation.

The four six-system Saint Kings from the Phantom Poison Universe on the opposite side witnessed this sudden change and couldn't help but freeze in place.

They had clearly not expected the Yuan Ling Sect to have such a rapid and well-coordinated retreat plan.

This retreat was not only fast but also completely decisive, to the point where it could be described as "seamless."

In fact, all of this had been meticulously planned and arranged back when the Yuan Ling Sect first built the Artifact Spirit Hall.

This was not only an important strategic deployment for the Yuan Ling Sect, but also the final defensive measure prepared by True Person Yuan Ling to deal with emergencies.

At the same time, Mortal World also clearly received the voice transmission command from Sect Master Qing Hui. Without hesitation, he waved his hand toward the Yuan Ling Sect Disciples below, releasing a powerful energy shield that covered all the Disciples before he too quickly vanished into the chaos of the battlefield.

Between every Fortress and the Artifact Spirit Hall, there existed a special spatial tunnel. These tunnels were usually hidden and inconspicuous, but they could play a vital role at critical moments.

It was clear that the Saint Kings of the Yuan Ling Sect were using these spatial tunnels to evacuate the battlefield so quickly.

Mortal World led the group through the spatial tunnel and arrived safely at the plaza outside the Artifact Spirit Hall. After setting the Disciples down safely, he turned to look at Qing Hui with a questioning look in his eyes.

Qing Hui's gaze was focused on the massive Titan in the center of the plaza. Her brow furrowed as she asked in a heavy voice, "Is he dead?"

Mortal World shook his head slightly, his tone indifferent. "Almost."

Relying on his own powerful physical advantage, the Titan had exerted all his strength to kill one Saint King, but was immediately struck by another Saint King's heavy blow, which blasted away half of his body and shattered the world within him.

However, surprisingly, the Titan did not die completely but was slowly recovering his vitality.

At this moment, he was lying on the ground, slowly healing his injuries.

Hearing Mortal World's answer, Qing Hui felt slightly relieved, knowing that the Titan's life was not currently in danger. She then turned her head and looked firmly toward the east, as if searching for something.

Meanwhile, Mortal World looked around the Artifact Spirit Hall with a puzzled expression and asked, "Wasn't it said that a World-Extinguishing Alarm sounded? Why is there still no sign of the enemy?"

Qing Hui was equally confused. Frowning, she turned back to the Artifact Spirit Hall and asked with a hint of urgency, "Lord Artifact Spirit, what exactly is going on? Why was the alarm triggered?"

The mechanical voice of the Artifact Spirit soon rang out, devoid of any emotion:

"A powerful six-system Saint King launched a sudden attack, successfully breaching the Fortress located to the east, and has already begun a fierce assault on the Hall's Barrier. To respond to this emergency, I immediately issued the World-Extinguishing Alarm."

After hearing this, Qing Hui's confusion deepened. She followed up, "Then where is that six-system Saint King now?"

The Artifact Spirit responded again with its mechanical voice, answering Qing Hui's second question: "During the attack, that Saint King was suddenly struck by Xun Xiuyuan with a thunderous blade strike and was cleaved directly into an unknown spatial dimension. Xun Xiuyuan followed him into that space."

This time, it wasn't just Qing Hui who was bewildered; even the usually calm Mortal World fell into deep confusion.

Even the Titan, who had been lying on the ground slowly recovering, struggled with the last of his strength to force his remaining half-body into a sitting position upon hearing Xun Xiuyuan's name.

Nearby, Feng Lin and Yang Xiaoyao, though also heavily injured and on the verge of death, couldn't help but feel a jolt of spirit upon hearing this shocking news, their eyes flashing with disbelief.

Qing Hui's brow was locked tight as clouds of doubt filled her mind. She asked again with great solemnity, "Lord Artifact Spirit, are you saying that a Disciple of the Yuan Ling Sect, that young man named Xun Xiuyuan, was actually able to cleave such a powerful existence as a six-system Saint King into another dimension with a single strike?"

Her tone was filled with ill-concealed shock and skepticism.

The Artifact Spirit's reply remained concise and clear, without the slightest hesitation: "Yes."

These two short words were like a heavy bomb, creating massive waves in everyone's hearts and filling them with endless speculation regarding Xun Xiuyuan's strength.

At this critical moment, Yuan Yi led a group of people hurriedly back to the Artifact Spirit Hall.

When he saw Qing Hui and the others present, he couldn't help but sigh helplessly and said in a heavy tone:

"Huan Xuan is dead; the Phantom Poison King personally moved to kill him. As for Huan You, he is also at death's door, with only one breath remaining."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yuan Yi carefully released Huan You from his Internal World.

Huan You's originally greenish-black face had turned as pale as paper, a clear sign of his severe injuries.

Despite this, the moment Huan You appeared, he forced a bitter smile and said in a weak but firm voice, "I did not betray the Phantom Poison Universe. Everything I did was merely for self-preservation."

In fact, although Huan You had chosen to defect to the Yuan Ling Universe, he had never committed any hostile acts against the Phantom Poison Universe.

The reason he chose to defect to the Yuan Ling Universe was entirely because he was coerced by the Phantom Poison King; it was truly a move of desperation with no other choice.

Qing Hui looked at Huan You with a solemn gaze and asked with concern, "How are your injuries now?"

A wretched smile barely squeezed onto the corners of Huan You's mouth as he answered weakly, "Though the injuries are not light, they aren't fatal. It's just that I truly have no strength left to continue fighting. However, I believe that Phantom Poison King is certainly not feeling well right now either."

After hearing this, Qing Hui's brow furrowed. She looked around, carefully observing the current state of the battle, and then issued a command in a deep voice:

"All of our people in the Great Saint Realm and True Saint Realm must immediately enter the Barrier to defend. Our Saint King Realm experts must do our utmost to stall the enemy's Saint Kings; we absolutely cannot give them the chance to smoothly attack our Barrier."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yi nodded helplessly, his tone revealing a hint of worry: "It seems this is the only way for now. However, whether this Barrier can withstand the prolonged and fierce attacks of the enemy's Great Saint Realm experts is truly an unknown."