Chapter 503: Force the Tide Back

Everything happened too quickly, too suddenly! No one had time to react or intervene! Staring intently, everyone's scalps tingled as they realized: it was a nine-headed giant python corpse puppet from the Nascent Soul realm! Its entire body exuded a world-ending aura of malevolence!

As it turned out, the army of corpses was merely the demon priest's overt attacking force. She had also secretly ordered this nine-headed giant python to bore through Boundary Mountain from underground, to catch the Boundary Mountain defenders by surprise!

Now, with the True Thunder Sect disciples all annihilated, no one could wield the Tribulation Thunder to decimate the corpse army! The hope of victory they had just glimpsed was utterly shattered!

Lei Zhenhai could not accept the instant annihilation of so many of his disciples. Ignoring his own injuries, he roared frantically, "I'll kill you!"

Pointing a single finger at the sky, he unleashed a subtle wave of energy. Instantly, a terrifying purple lightning bolt, as thick as a water dragon, descended and struck the nine-headed giant python before him.

But the moment he acted, an equally terrifying aura erupted behind him. It was Yaoyue, descending from the sky atop a skeletal bird. A cold sneer spread across her face: "You wish to wield Tribulation Thunder? You'll have no chance!"

Bang— She descended, sending Lei Zhenhai flying with a single palm strike. The nine-headed giant python cooperated, delivering another blow to Lei Zhenhai. Though Lei Zhenhai was a sect master, his abilities far surpassed those of ordinary Core Formation eighth-layer cultivators. However, he was now besieged by two Core Formation ninth-layer entities from both races. Simply surviving was incredibly difficult; how could he possibly summon heavenly thunder?

Yaoyue exhaled slowly. She scanned her surroundings with a cold gaze and bellowed, "Show no mercy!"

Roar— The army of corpses charged forward with renewed fervor. This caused the already precarious defensive line to utterly collapse! Several sects could no longer hold their ground and were overrun by the corpse puppets. Casualties mounted instantly.

"Junior Sister Chen!" Yi Lianxing let out a heart-wrenching cry of despair. From the neighboring Thousand Refinement Sect, Ouyang Jun also let out a roar of grief and fury. "Elder Zhou!!" "Argh! I'll fight you to the death!!" "Elder Ming! Don't worry about me!" From the Heavenly Sound Sect, Fu Chaojun's terrified shouts could also be heard.

Even on Boundary Mountain itself, the Grand Supremacy Sect, Myriad Sword Gate, and Giant Sect were suffering casualties. The situation had become completely one-sided. There was no room for recovery or retreat!

Despair, anger, and sorrow filled every heart. At this point in the great battle, they had several times glimpsed the hope of victory, only to face a devastating defeat in the end!

"Kill!!""Fight until the last person falls, we will still kill... Argh!""Help me up, I'll fight them to the death!"

Boom— A wounded elder, in a desperate act, ignited an explosive talisman, perishing alongside the surging corpse puppets. Disciples with mutilated bodies, like moths drawn to a flame, roared and charged into the horde. And elders and disciples, eyes red with fury, fought with a mix of sorrow and rage, roaring as they cut down their foes.

In that moment, blood splattered everywhere. The bodies of humans and the corpse army fell one after another. The mountain peak seemed to have become a meat grinder.

Towards the Azure Cloud Sect, Li Qingfeng let out a bitter laugh, clutching his severed arm from which blood gushed. His face covered in blood, he gritted his teeth and roared, "You beasts, I'll drag you all down with me!!!"

Even with Spirit Replenishment Pills and Rejuvenation Pills, their individual fates could not be altered in such a desperate situation. They could only fight to the death!

Wen Hongyao and Zhao Wuji, filled with extreme grief and indignation, roared despite their severe injuries: "Azure Cloud Sect disciples! Follow me! Kill!!"

The disciples' eyes were red. Some with tears, some with hatred. They collectively swallowed their last Spirit Replenishment Pills, using their very lives to embody the unwavering spirit of the Azure Cloud Sect!

Only Jiang Fan. He stood on higher ground, gazing at the sky. Lightning crackled around his palms. A corpse rushed at him, but he couldn't spare a hand, shouting, "Someone protect me!"

He was about to perform the Five Thunder True Heaven Technique, to summon the heavenly tribulation lightning. This process could not be interrupted!

"I'll do it!" From a distance, a graceful figure, bathed in blood and wielding a three-foot Qingfeng sword, came stepping over the scattered puppet corpses. It was Xia Chaoge.

She was injured. There were bone-deep wounds on her abdomen and back. Although she had taken a Rejuvenation Pill, recovery would not be immediate.

"Martial Uncle, Chaoge will protect you."

Jiang Fan glanced at the Grand Supremacy Sect elders and disciples in the distance, whose defensive line had been breached, and who were now entangled in chaotic battle with the corpse puppets. "The Grand Supremacy Sect..."

Xia Chaoge gently shook her head. "It's meaningless now." All the defensive lines had collapsed. At this moment, everyone was merely making their final, dying struggle.

Jiang Fan said, "Don't lose hope! Perhaps there's still a glimmer of heavenly opportunity! If that cultivation method is indeed correct!"

Xia Chaoge paused. She looked at the corpse army spread across the mountains and plains, and the continuously mounting casualties of the Nine Sects. She truly could not see where any heavenly opportunity lay.

Nevertheless, she nodded. "Alright! To be able to protect Martial Uncle with my remaining life, that's a good end." She then calmly raised her sword and cut down a pouncing corpse puppet.

With her protecting him, Jiang Fan could fully concentrate on performing the Five Thunder True Heaven Palm. Before his chest, lightning gradually gathered, quickly forming into a thundercloud.

Yaoyue, who was currently attacking Lei Zhenhai alongside the nine-headed giant python, seemed to sense something. She turned her head, her expression shifting slightly. "I almost forgot," she muttered. "There's still one more skilled in the lightning path!"

After a brief moment of deliberation, she said, "I had intended to kill you myself! But for the greater good... Kill him!"

Several corpse puppets immediately abandoned the Nine Sect disciples and rumbled towards Jiang Fan. Xia Chaoge took a deep breath, enduring the excruciating pain throughout her body. She raised her sword, swung it, then raised and swung it again. Corpse puppets crashed to the ground, one after another, not allowing them to disturb Jiang Fan in the slightest.

Mere moments passed. The thundercloud finally materialized before Jiang Fan's chest. As Jiang Fan pushed his palms forward, sending the thundercloud fiercely towards the sky, it intertwined into a clearly defined ten-zhang palm print that surged into the dark clouds above!

Immediately! Lightning flashed and thunder roared within the dark clouds! Hundreds of lightning bolts, each as thick as a human, erupted like a boiling cauldron, illuminating the sky and earth in a kaleidoscope of colors. A terrifying aura of lightning permeated and enveloped a vast expanse of land.

Lei Zhenhai was covered in blood, his aura weak. In ten moves at most, he would be tragically killed under the siege of the two Core Formation ninth-layer cultivators. But then, abruptly, he threw his head back, staring at the sky with a horrified expression. "How is this possible? My True Thunder Sect's lightning-wielding technique — how could you possess it?"

Only True Thunder Sect elders and elite disciples could learn this method. It was never to be taught to outsiders! Immediately afterward, he revealed an ecstatic expression. "We... we can still be saved! Everyone, hold on! The heavenly lightning is about to descend! Jiang Fan is about to annihilate the entire corpse army!!!"

Upon hearing this, the Nine Sect elders and disciples, who had been filled with despair, were greatly invigorated. Having resigned themselves to death, their fighting spirit was rekindled.

"Everyone, hold on!!!" The surviving elders roared. Exerting their last ounce of strength, they desperately tried to protect the disciples behind them, to secure a final glimmer of hope before the dawn.

Yaoyue's face changed dramatically. She shrieked, "Stop!" She abandoned Lei Zhenhai, whom she was on the verge of killing, and turned to rush towards Jiang Fan. Her powerful body smashed the puppets in her path directly into dust.

Lei Zhenhai's face also changed drastically, and he tried to rush forward, but was blocked by the nine-headed giant python. He could only shout, "Protect Jiang Fan!"

Elders and disciples from the various sects, those close by, rushed to try and stop Yaoyue. However, all were sent flying by her. They couldn't delay her even for a moment.

Xia Chaoge, having cut down the puppet before her, saw Yaoyue hurtling towards her with a murderous expression. Her brows furrowed sharply. She retrieved the crystal Jiang Fan had given her earlier. She crushed it in her hand and smeared it across her body. Her body surface instantly crystallized.

"Get out of my way!" Yaoyue roared furiously.

Xia Chaoge remained silent. Knowing she was outmatched, knowing she would die, she calmly drew her sword anyway. Crack— The three-foot Qingfeng sword struck Yaoyue's body and was instantly shattered.

Yaoyue raised a hand and struck. Her palm, imbued with terrifying immense strength, slammed into Xia Chaoge's arm. Crack, crack, crack— The crystals on her body shattered under the overwhelming force. Xia Chaoge was sent flying, accompanied by a shower of crystal fragments.

Fortunately, the crystal protection had shielded her. Otherwise, that single blow would have turned Xia Chaoge into a bloody mist.

Yaoyue lunged before Jiang Fan. Her eyes gleamed with lethal intent. "I truly didn't misjudge you! You are a threat to my demon race, and now that has proven true! I truly regret not killing you earlier! Otherwise, this battle wouldn't have been so difficult! Now, I'll rectify my previous mistake!"

She raised her palm, and swung it fiercely towards Jiang Fan. Just then! Crackle— A purple heavenly lightning bolt, as thick as a water barrel, descended from the dark clouds, imbued with world-ending power. It struck down with immense force.