Chapter 623: Team Power

Long Kun gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, embroiled in an unprecedented inner struggle.

Recalling his journey with Xu Yang, traveling far and wide and enduring countless hardships, every previous crisis had been easily resolved thanks to Xu Yang's presence as their leader. Long Kun knew that even though he often joked about dying, he had never truly felt such profound fear as he did now.

Yet, when faced with a real, life-threatening danger, Long Kun's first thought wasn't his own precious life. Instead, he thought of the safety of his leader, Xu Yang, and the two young women beside them, and even the future of all living beings across the continent.

"Damn it! I never thought I, Long Kun, would have such a noble moment. I'm supposed to be the most afraid of death!"

Hearing his absurd self-deprecating remark, Ling Yao immediately sensed something was wrong. "What are you doing? Get back and hide! This isn't the time for heroics!"

However, this time, Long Kun's gaze swept over Ling Yao and Shi Lingyun with unwavering resolve. "Although my strength isn't particularly great, nowhere near our leader's, I know very well that now is the time to fight with all we've got. If, at a critical juncture, we do nothing to stop this calamity, what's the point of cultivating immense power?"

Long Kun had always disdained playing the martyr and despised those who constantly spoke of saving humanity and grand righteousness. But at this moment, he understood why Xu Yang, their leader, had always been at the forefront, protecting everyone throughout their journey. It was the weighty responsibility a man carried on his shoulders.

Cultivators were the pride of humanity, endowed with exceptional talent. If a great disaster struck and they, as cultivators, couldn't lead the way for ordinary mortals, they would truly be unworthy of the title "cultivator."

"I, Long Kun, was always just a worthless life, but I understand what righteousness means. This time, I absolutely cannot let our leader bear this burden alone. Even if I'm utterly destroyed, I'll die alongside him."

Without any further hesitation, Long Kun ascended into the sky, his phoenix wings unfurling once more. What truly stunned Shi Lingyun and Ling Yao, however, was the unprecedented determination shining in Long Kun's eyes.

"Hahaha, I think I finally understand why our leader always kept this straggler by his side, no matter where we went. Long Kun truly is a man worthy of trust. At least as a brother and a comrade, he's more competent than anyone else."

Ling Yao's eyes welled up with tears of emotion. It was only in such moments of crisis that one could truly see a person's character.

The next instant, she too soared into the air. Following Long Kun's lead, and under the protection of the Heavenly Sword's immense sword aura, she unleashed her unprecedented peak power.

It was clear that, facing the ultimate power of the Six Paths of Demonic Gates, each resistor had unleashed their most astonishing full potential. It seemed Xu Yang wasn't the only one burning with conviction.

Shi Lingyun was the last to join this group of four, but the shock and emotion she experienced within the team were no less than anyone else's.

Seeing her three closest comrades charge to the front lines against the demonic power, Shi Lingyun naturally refused to be left behind. She rose into the air, steadily placed her Sacred Sound Heavenly Artifact before her, and with swift movements of her hands, slowly began to play a divine and awe-inspiring melody: the top-tier music of the Sacred Path Nine Departures Hymn.

Shi Lingyun had never before performed this "Nine Departures" piece in front of others. It was originally an incomplete melody, a fragmented scroll she had accidentally discovered deep within a mysterious underground palace when she inherited the Sacred Sound Heavenly Artifact. It was likely the unfinished regret of the Sacred Sound's founder.

In the time since, as Shi Lingyun's spiritual power continuously grew, she had secretly delved into studying this incomplete "Nine Songs" piece. She had even begun to try and compose the missing latter half based on her own understanding, though she herself couldn't be certain of the exact amplification effect this complete "Nine Songs" would yield.

Now, she had no other supreme powers to draw upon. Given her role, unlike Xu Yang and the other two, she couldn't unleash powerful divine offensive techniques. The only thing she could do was play the "Nine Songs" in what might be her final battle, perhaps fulfilling the lifelong regret of the ancient sage who created this line of cultivation.

In a flash, it was these three passionate young people, brought together by Xu Yang, who, just before the world-ending calamity descended, each shone their brightest, standing by Xu Yang's side to face the endless darkness with him.

Feeling the unique aura of each of his three companions, Xu Yang's heart swelled with immense comfort. He knew well that his companions couldn't bear to see him face the entire world alone. Their decision to stand with him at this moment of life and death revealed an inexpressible depth of emotion within them.

Little did he know, every member of Xu Yang's team had long regarded the group as their own family and Xu Yang as their closest kin, wishing not necessarily to live together, but to die together!

"Hahaha, do you see, Zi Kuang? This is the unparalleled value of humanity! Even if we four have no stronger means to stop you from bringing forth this catastrophe, we can still stand together, shoulder to shoulder, against the enemy, and walk together into the abyss of oblivion. This is the entire meaning of my struggle!"

Xu Yang's voice, deafening and resounding through the heavens, guided his three companions behind him to simultaneously unleash their most powerful ultimate profound techniques. Several bolts of lightning, released by Xu Yang as he commanded the laws of the heavens, struck the body of Sin, the location of the Six Demonic Gates.

Rumbling! From the edge of the heavens, ten thousand bolts of lightning poured down. This power was even capable of completely sealing off the entire Abyssal Maw. During this process, Sin's true form was repeatedly struck by immense force. Had it not been for the demonic soul released by Zi Kuang, which blocked most of the power, this powerful counterattack might truly have prevented the Six Paths Gates from fully opening.

Regrettably, Sin had prematurely unleashed its final life essence, essentially burning itself completely to help its master, Zi Kuang, fulfill his ultimate wish.

"Master, it was you who saved me when I was gravely wounded and helped me attain the status of a World Spirit. We have been companions for countless millennia. Today, our destined connection ends. Should there be a next life, I will still follow you!"