Chapter 489: Life is More Precious Than Heaven

The people at the banquet were also thrown into disarray by the violent impact. The force of the blast was so immense that houses collapsed, and the eaves of the palace behind them were entirely torn off and sent flying backward.

Along with the eaves, the entire banquet setting was swept away. Dishes, bowls, wine, and jade tables were all propelled into the air by the terrifying air current!

Whoosh—

A large tree was snapped in half, spinning as it flew into the sky. Then, several people outside the mansion were lifted by the hurricane, flailing their limbs. In their panic, they clung to the tree, only to be swept away without a trace by an even more terrifying wave of energy.

Qin Mu and the others, possessing considerable cultivation, managed to steady themselves.

Bai Qingfu raised his hand, and dragon pearls floated in the air. He sternly commanded, "Hold!"

Above the Bai Mansion, all the people and objects that had been swept into the air were frozen in place. However, outside the mansion, houses and trees were uprooted and surged towards them, immediately overwhelming Bai Qingfu.

Bai Qingfu's face flushed red, and he stomped his foot. His True Dragon Primordial Spirit emerged behind him, causing the many dragon pearls to glow brightly, but he still couldn't withstand the pressure.

"Qingfu!" a woman holding a child hurried over, leading many experts from the Bai family. As everyone activated their dragon pearls, Bai Qingfu's burden immediately lightened. He quickly asked, "Mother, uncles, aunts, and great-uncles, why are you all here?"

"I received news that Beiluo Shimen has been breached!" the woman said rapidly. "The attackers are the vanguard of outer-realm devils. Bailong City cannot hold; you must immediately leave the city and go to the Heavenly Court! We, the older generation, will hold the line here! You go with the city's common folk first; we will follow later!"

The other young men and women were stunned. They quickly said, "Beiluo Shimen has been breached? What should we do? Let's quickly return to our respective mansions and inform the adults!"

"No need!" the woman shouted loudly, calming the panicked crowd. She placed the little boy she was holding into Bai Qu'er's arms and handed her a dragon pearl. She sternly said, "Your family elders already know; you don't need to inform them! Leave the city immediately and go to the Heavenly Court! Don't bother packing anything; just go! The Dragon God Pearl in Qu'er's hand can help you repel the darkness!"

Bai Qingfu also knew the situation was critical and quickly looked at Qin Mu. "Brother Qin, you should come with us too!"

Qin Mu's heart stirred slightly. The Caretaker Box rattled and stood up. Ban Gongcuo quickly jumped onto the box, and the Dragon Qilin, full of spirit, also hopped on.

They headed straight for the back gate. As they reached it, they suddenly heard a deafening roar. Qin Mu looked back to see the colossal body of a Bailong City deity, guarding the South Gate, soaring high into the air and plummeting towards them.

As the deity was flung away, a bull-headed giant, wrapped in chains, appeared outside the city gate. Its massive body was taller than the city tower, and it tugged on the chains. At the end of the chains, a black iron ball, as large as a mountain, crashed down towards the deity!

Qin Mu felt a shiver run down his spine. If the black iron ball struck the deity, it would undoubtedly land right where they were. How could they possibly survive?

Just then, a resonant dragon roar echoed from the Bai Mansion. The woman and many Bai family experts revealed their true forms, transforming into giant dragons and soaring into the sky to intercept the falling iron ball.

At the same time, experts from other mansions in Bailong City also rushed out, surging towards the South Gate.

Outside the South City wall, incredibly massive half-human, half-beast giants were bombarding the ramparts. The towering city wall collapsed with a crash. Then, countless "outer-realm fiends" flooded into the city like a tide, quickly engulfing houses and clashing with the defending army!

"Hurry!" Qin Mu, Bai Qingfu, and the others rushed towards the North Gate. The North Gate was already crammed with fleeing people, completely choked, with people pressing against and stepping on each other, making it impossible to pass.

From the city tower, the defending deity used his divine power, forming giant hands that reached down and teleported the trapped people outside, shouting, "Stay in the light outside the city! Do not step out of the light!"

Qin Mu and the others flew out of the city. They saw many people who had been transported outside screaming and rushing into the darkness, instantly turning into skeletons, completely devoid of flesh.

The deity had teleported tens of thousands of people. Countless more were still surging towards the North Gate, their cries filling the air, and the army of "outer-realm fiends" had already arrived.

The deity gritted his teeth and flew out of the city. He shouted, "Gather around me! I will take you to the Heavenly Court! Follow me! Those who are young and strong, stay at the rear and fend off the attacking outer-realm fiends!"

As for the people still rushing within the city, he could no longer attend to them. He could only save those already with him.

Qin Mu and the others landed. Bai Qingfu quickly led his group to follow the deity into the darkness. Ban Gongcuo angrily shouted, "Come back! If you want to live, don't follow that deity!"

Bai Qingfu paused, looking at the legless man. Bai Qu'er, holding a child in one arm and the illuminated dragon pearl in the other, asked confusedly, "Why shouldn't we follow them?"

The child cried, and her sister-in-law took the child, quietly comforting them.

That was Bai Qingfu's son, still unweaned.

Qin Mu said gravely, "That deity is protecting tens of thousands of people. The target is too large; they will surely be attacked! Everyone, it's not wrong to listen to him. Grandmaster is the best at escaping I've ever seen; his escape skills are unparalleled! Grandmaster, you have the most experience; tell us how to proceed!"

Ban Gongcuo hastily asked, "Which way is the Heavenly Court?"

Bai Qingfu raised his hand, pointing to the west of Beiluo Shimen. Ban Gongcuo immediately said, "We go east! Quickly!"

The deity had already vanished into the darkness with the fleeing people. Qin Mu and his group, who had light around them, had gathered over a hundred fleeing people, and more were constantly drawn by the light.

Ban Gongcuo fiercely said, "Go quickly! Kill all these hindrances!"

"How can you kill our own people?" Everyone was furious. Bai Qu'er also stopped, preparing to lead more people away.

Cold sweat poured from Ban Gongcuo's forehead. He sternly said, "Do you all want to die here? Do you not want to live? With such foolish softheartedness, none of you will escape!"

Bai Qingfu gritted his teeth and said, "No need to wait for others, let's go!"

They hurriedly entered the darkness. The Caretaker Box also emitted a faint glow. This would normally cause surprise, but now no one had the mind to ask about it.

From behind, the outer-realm fiends, like sharks smelling blood, continuously surged towards them. Bai Qingfu and the others served as the rear guard, fighting as they retreated.

"With these burdens, we're too slow!" Ban Gongcuo gnashed his teeth, glaring ferociously at the Bailong City common folk around them. He sneered, "These commoners are a waste alive; better to kill them all so we might escape! Cult Master Qin, you agree with me, don't you?"

Qin Mu looked at Bai Qu'er and said gravely, "Qu'er, give the Dragon God Pearl to these people. The rest will follow my Caretaker Box; I will lead you away, and there's still a chance to live. Otherwise, we will truly be burdened by these common folk!"

Bai Qu'er shook her head. "How can we abandon the common folk for our own lives? The Bai family has no such people! Brother Mu, the High Emperor's Heavenly Court was established for the common people, and the gods serve the common people. The High Emperor said that human life is greater than heaven!"

Though her voice was soft, it was deafening in its clarity: "If we cannot protect the common folk, what good are the gods? The High Emperor said that in the face of human life, all gods must step aside."

Qin Mu's heart was greatly shaken: "Human life is greater than heaven?"

Ban Gongcuo laughed angrily. "Every man for himself, or heaven and earth will destroy him! Human life is greater than heaven? I think even the High Emperor would flee for his life first in such a situation!"

Bai Qu'er shook her head. "The High Emperor wouldn't do that, would he?"

More and more outer-realm fiends poured in from the rear. Qin Mu also moved to the rear of the group, engaging the outer-realm fiends and covering the retreat towards the east.

Qin Mu finally saw clearly that the "outer-realm fiends" were humans, just like them, with no difference. He couldn't help but wonder, "Are they also human?"

Neither side hesitated; upon meeting, they immediately unleashed their most lethal moves, fighting to the death. Qin Mu's vital qi erupted, and he propelled his Sword Pellet towards the surging "outer-realm fiends." Flying swords flew out of the Sword Pellet, their styles shifting unpredictably, slaying enemies one by one.

"Kill these rebellious traitors!" the "outer-realm fiends" shouted loudly, "Achieve great deeds and return to the Heavenly Court soon!"

Both sides engaged in a bloody battle. Bai Qingfu and the others killed relentlessly, yet more outer-realm fiends kept pouring in, and everyone sustained some injuries.

Suddenly, someone was thrown into the darkness, devoured by the monsters within, and instantly turned into a skeleton. Qin Mu felt a sudden pang of sadness; it was the girl he had sparred with at the Bai Mansion.

They fought and retreated, finally slaying the last outer-realm fiend. The surroundings suddenly fell silent, with only the whispers of monsters in the darkness remaining.

Qin Mu healed everyone's injuries. Bai Qingfu grinned and said, "Brother Qin also knows medical arts? Truly versatile."

His left arm had been severed, yet he could still smile, which was admirable.

"No need to heal me," Qin Mu said as he approached the young man who had voluntarily challenged him, the Overlord Body Qin. The young man had a large hole in his chest and was barely breathing. He looked up and smiled, "I can't be saved. I feel my soul is shattered. I was greedy for glory and wanted to kill my opponent, but I took one of his blows. Don't take my body with you. Just leave it here; don't burden you all..."

Qin Mu examined him, but before he finished, the young man had already passed away.

Qin Mu was stunned. He stood up to treat the others' injuries.

The group continued forward. This night was extremely long. From the surrounding darkness came the sounds of battle; other fleeing groups were being ambushed.

They also encountered pursuers in the darkness, who clung to their rear like a pack of wolves, launching attacks intermittently.

The people around them grew fewer and fewer. Ban Gongcuo also had to join the fight, and even the Dragon Qilin participated in the battle.

Qin Mu bandaged Bai Qingfu's severed arm. Bai Qingfu held his son with his right arm, lulling him to sleep, then handed him to his wife. He whispered, "Further ahead, there's a post station. Deities are enshrined there; they will protect you. Brother Qin, can I use the Caretaker Box?"

Shouts of battle came from behind; another group of pursuers was about to arrive.

Qin Mu said, "I'll go with you."

"No need." Bai Qingfu grinned, his expression relaxed. "You are only at the Six Directions realm; I am at the Celestial Being realm. I can make it back; you cannot escape back. Just wait for me here. Take care of my son..."

He turned around, leaving the Caretaker Box by his side.

Qin Mu embraced him, then turned and moved forward with the group. Bai Qu'er and her sister-in-law looked back, seeing Bai Qingfu and the Caretaker Box vanish into the darkness.

Soon after, the Caretaker Box raced to catch up with them, covered in bloodstains.

Bai Qingfu's wife lulled the awakened child, and soon, the child fell asleep again.

"Brother Qin, there aren't many left who can fight," Bai Qingfu's wife said as she handed the sleeping child to Bai Qu'er, smoothed her disheveled hair, and smiled. "Someone still needs to block the pursuers. I'll borrow your Caretaker Box for a bit; I might not be able to return it to you."

"Sister-in-law Bai, we'll go with you," several young men and women, missing limbs, stood up.

Qin Mu nodded, leaving the Caretaker Box. Bai Qu'er opened her mouth but said nothing.

The group continued forward.

Shortly after, the Caretaker Box caught up with them again, and shouts of battle once more came from behind.

Qin Mu smiled broadly, standing on the Caretaker Box, and laughed, "Fatty Dragon, come on, it's our turn now. Grandmaster, you go with them."

"You blithering idiot!" Ban Gongcuo supported himself with his hands on the ground, hobbled to the Caretaker Box, and cursed, "I came with you. If you die, how am I supposed to go back? I've never done a good deed in my life; consider this an exception... Damn it all!"

"No..." Bai Qu'er watched them, tears streaming down her face.