SWOOSH!

The saber’s onslaught was ferocious, like a death by a thousand cuts, slicing and shredding the Evil Celestial Auk’s body.

Flesh and blood splattered as the sound of breaking bones rang out!

SCREECH!

The Evil Celestial Auk let out a bloodcurdling scream!

The shriek was so wretched that even Su Ye, several miles away, felt his scalp tingle.

’That must hurt so much...’

The avian Demon King was surrounded by a surge of cyan energy. It manipulated its Wind-Elemental Spiritual Qi in an attempt to escape.

At that moment...

SHING!

Amidst the saber’s onslaught, a brilliant, cold light flashed and vanished!

The Evil Celestial Auk’s right wing, as if made of paper, was instantly torn apart by the Sea-Breaking Dragon-Slaying Saber, spraying blood across the sky!

The Demon King screamed again, wrapping itself in Demon Power and retreating on the wind!

A moment later, it shrank to a small black dot and vanished over the horizon!

It had escaped!

The Evil Celestial Auk’s escape completely broke Navasen’s will to fight.

With a single step, its figure vanished in mid-air and rapidly retreated.

’That method...?’ Sikong Xin’s eyes narrowed.

Both the appearance of the Deer Demon that Navasen had transformed into and the way it vanished were remarkably similar to the monsters from the Reverse World!

A shadow of gloom couldn’t help but fall over his heart.

Then, Sikong Xin’s expression shifted. An unnatural flush crept onto his face, and he swallowed hard.

He frowned, increasing the brightness of the lightning around him to hide his abnormal condition.

Fortunately, thanks to the terrifying power of the Sea-Breaking Dragon-Slaying Saber, the Evil Celestial Auk had fled with grievous injuries, Navasen had retreated with minor wounds, and the Rock-Crowned Crocodile Dragon had submerged itself.

All three Tier 3 beings had withdrawn.

With them gone, no one noticed Sikong Xin’s abnormal condition.

「A few minutes later.」

On the immortal city’s walls, crimson Array patterns lit up.

Near the city gate, the mountain of beast corpses began to shrivel at a visible rate.

Within a few breaths, the Array drained the flesh and blood from the demon beast corpses, leaving behind nothing but empty husks.

This essence of flesh and blood was converted into a barrage of shooting blood arrows and a blood-red canopy that blotted out the sky!

The Sea of Blood Arrows activated!

The blood-red canopy unfurled!

The Nine Nether Blood Sea Array was fully repaired!

"Wonderful! The Array is repaired!"

The cultivators near the city gate beamed with joy.

Even the Foundation Establishment cultivators breathed a sigh of relief, their faces showing the calm that comes when the dust has finally settled.

Sikong Xin, holding the Sea-Breaking Dragon-Slaying Saber, casually returned.

With a flick of his Magical Power, he retrieved the Evil Celestial Auk’s severed wing and tossed it onto the city wall.

"Thank you all for your hard work in tonight’s defense. This Tier 3 Demon King’s wing will be made into a spirit meal to reward everyone!"

Sikong Xin’s voice echoed near the gate.

"Thank you, Master Tianqiong!"

"Our thanks to Master Tianqiong for the reward!"

A Tier 3 Demon King’s wing!

The eyes of the Qi Refining cultivators gleamed as they licked their lips, drooling uncontrollably!

’This is a Tier 3 great demon! Even a single sip of its broth would be incredible!’

The Foundation Establishment cultivators also showed a more subtle interest.

Only Su Ye, while feigning interest, discreetly glanced at Sikong Xin from the corner of his eye and frowned slightly.

’He...’

Sikong Xin’s expression was calm.

"You’ve all worked hard. Please, rest for now."

"Miss Bai, come with me."

Sikong Xin walked unhurriedly into a tower to oversee the wall.

The crowd of cultivators cheered, filled with the joy of victory, eagerly awaiting the Evil Celestial Auk soup.

But Su Ye’s Divine Sense stirred, and a dark glint flashed in his eyes.

’Sikong Xin’s condition doesn’t seem very good...’

...

「Inside the tower.」

Sikong Xin’s aura was magnificent as he walked steadily inside.

"All of you may leave." He waved his hand, dismissing the other cultivators who were finishing up in the tower.

Soon, only Bai Xiuying remained.

Once the Array was activated, sealing the tower from the outside, Sikong Xin let out a muffled groan. His face turned deathly pale, and he coughed up a large mouthful of blood.

His body swayed, and he collapsed into a chair, his aura instantly weakening and fading.

"Mr. Sikong... you?!"

Bai Xiuying rushed over, extremely anxious.

"It’s the backlash from activating the Dragon-slaying Saber and the Secret Technique I used earlier..."

Sikong Xin gave a bitter smile, unable to stop coughing up blood.

"I may need to enter seclusion to heal for a long time... In Canghai Mountain, can you take charge?"

"What... me? I don’t think I can, can I?"

Bai Xiuying was stunned. She pointed a finger at herself, her face a mask of disbelief.

"Mr. Deng and the others are more suitable..." Bai Xiuying tactfully declined.

"No, it has to be you!"

"Of course... the other senior brothers and sisters will serve as your deputies," Sikong Xin said with a serious expression.

’Bai Xiuying’s background is the cleanest, bearing only the mark of Canghai Mountain. Her temperament and loyalty are also trustworthy.’

’Most importantly...’

BUZZ.

An azure saber flew from Sikong Xin’s hand and hovered before Bai Xiuying.

The Sea-Breaking Dragon-Slaying Saber!

A top-tier magical treasure capable of severely wounding a Tier 3 Demon King!

"Miss Bai, do you remember the Sacrificial Refining Skill our master taught you long ago?" Sikong Xin asked.

"That skill... could it be..." Bai Xiuying froze.

Magical Power surged from her hands, and specks of blue light appeared.

The Sea-Breaking Dragon-Slaying Saber shimmered slightly, resonating with her!

BUZZ!

The next moment, the Sea-Breaking Dragon-Slaying Saber transformed into a ray of azure light and flew into Bai Xiuying’s Dantian.

"For a Foundation Establishment cultivator to wield a magical treasure, the conditions are quite demanding. They require an extremely high degree of compatibility with it."

"Among all the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the immortal city, you are the only one compatible with the Sea-Breaking Dragon-Slaying Saber."

"With this magical treasure, even if a Demon King attacks, you will be able to hold your own against it."

"Therefore, while I am in seclusion, you are the only one who can be in charge of the immortal city."

"I understand..." Bai Xiuying’s expression grew solemn. She nodded, accepting her new responsibility.

Sikong Xin smiled with satisfaction.

Then he coughed a few more times, the blood soaking his daoist robe.

"*Cough, cough...*"

"Before I enter seclusion, there are a few things I need to brief you on."

Sikong Xin’s expression was grave. "The threat of the Reverse World, and its connection to this Beast Tide, is likely far more serious than I imagined."

"I have received word that the explosion of Spiritual Power Pool No. 3, which crippled the Nine Nether Blood Sea Array, was caused by monsters from the Reverse World collectively manifesting and attacking the pool!"

"For the time being, regarding the external threat of the Beast Tide, you will wield the Dragon-slaying Saber and hold your position. Do not engage."

"Focus your efforts on purging the Reverse World!"

"You must remove this malignant tumor festering inside the immortal city!"

"Otherwise, the consequences will likely be... unimaginable..." Sikong Xin said, his face grim.

...

「On the city wall.」

Su Ye sat on the battlements, GULP, GULP, drinking his meat soup.

The fresh Evil Celestial Auk soup, prepared by the immortal city’s spirit chefs, was even more delicious and nutritious.

Given Su Ye’s status, his soup was full of meat and bones, and large chunks of Evil Celestial Auk flesh exuded a tempting aroma.

He gazed into the distance, seemingly lost in thought, his pupils slightly unfocused.

Su Ye was analyzing the situation, planning his next move.

’Sikong Xin is in bad shape, but the natives’ side seems to have another card up their sleeve...’

Su Ye hadn’t forgotten.

A long time ago, the natives had been collecting things related to the Nine Nether Blood Sea Array.

They had even made a move on his Ten Thousand Souls Blood Sail!

But this time, he hadn’t seen anything like that being used...

’They couldn’t have just forgotten about it, right?’

’This war is far from over...’

’Oh well...’

’Time to level up.’

After finishing the soup, Su Ye called up his status panel.

[Class: Pastor of the Sea Lv.3 (30,000/30,000) +]