Listening to the footsteps coming from nearby, Li Rui and Cheng Mingyue recognized it as that giant man wielding a halberd.

What must come will eventually come.

Once he searches this empty room where they’re hiding, a direct battle will be inevitable.

But now, unlike when the situation was chaotic before, even Zuo Qiutian has appeared, and the other world NPCs are not few either. If a fight breaks out, their situation is extremely dangerous.

Cheng Mingyue grasped Li Rui’s hand tightly, as if it could impart some confidence to each other.

At this moment, the footsteps were getting closer, and both of them held their breath, ready to strike.

Bang!

Just then, a loud noise came from the horizon, like hiding in an empty room but someone outside was banging on the security door with a hammer.

Meanwhile, the footsteps that were approaching suddenly stopped, followed by a thud, as if departing from here.

Bang bang!!

The loud noise continued.

"What’s happening?" Cheng Mingyue asked.

"I don’t know, sounds like a fight has started."

Li Rui replied, "Seems like someone’s dismantling the barrier from outside?!"

If that’s the case, then a turning point has come.

Anyone extraordinary would understand how formidable that barrier encompassing the Holy Mountain and the Forbidden Zone is. In such circumstances, whoever dares to make a move must belong to one of the powers of the three major countries.

"What should we do?"

"No rush, let’s observe the situation first, going out recklessly might lead to disaster."

Dozens of world NPCs are not to be trifled with. If they really strike, two level 50-something individuals could be obliterated in an instant.

Meanwhile, Zuo Qiutian and others outside seemed very serious.

"Brother Ou, can you recognize who that is?" Zuo Qiutian asked Oudira Gondor in the language of the Western Regions.

"Ah, I know him. In the real world, I’ve seen him, quite a formidable guy, goes by... Riem or Liam something."

Once the power is strong enough, one becomes well-known in whatever world, which is quite normal.

Of course, some abnormal cases exist, like Li Rui, who met Zuo Qiutian when he was only around level-ten.

"Are we ready?"

Zuo Qiutian tilted the urn, and the blood river began rushing towards the barrier, mending the injured parts.

"Almost there, just a little longer."

The language coming from the fog was rarely heard, neither from the Eastern Continent nor the Western Regions, but from the northern Great Snowfield of the Secret Realm World.

Yet even from such a remote place, Zuo Qiutian still mastered the language skillfully, chatting with ease to everyone.

"You better hurry, I don’t know how much longer I can hold on."

"Why so hurried!"

The person seemed a bit impatient.

Zuo Qiutian didn’t mind, continuously making seals with one hand to fend off the outside attacks.

At this point, the offensive outside the barrier intensified.

Zhuo Feilong and Liam personally made their move, causing the barrier to flicker violently before stopping, allowing the advisors from various countries to take turns launching attacks.

They needed to minimize consumption, preparing for the battle following the barrier’s shattering.

Though they didn’t know what’s inside, whoever could orchestrate such a spectacle must be quite formidable.

"What does the Polar Cathedral say?"

Zhuo Feilong asked, "Still can’t establish contact?"

"No, they’ve unilaterally cut communication channels."

"I have a bad feeling."

"Minister Zhuo, there’s no need for feelings here."

Liam coldly remarked, "It’s clear they’re aware of the inside story."

This topic hadn’t gone deeper when someone reported that masters from various forces in the Land of Chaos were sent for support.

People from the Field Clan, Bamboo Gang, Blood Blade Alliance, and various other groups had come to support.

After all, the Holy Judgment High Court is also in the Land of Chaos, and if an unmanageable situation arises, they’ll be the ones most affected.

The current situation became quite apparent, stakeholders might bear the brunt, while the Western Kingdom and Dragon Country, two of the three major countries, don’t want to be passive; the Polar Alliance began to close off, and southern countries were just watching.

The only commonality is that everyone’s focus attracted to this location.

Once the barrier is shattered, all answers will be revealed, and the world is about to face unforeseeable changes, everyone is waiting.

"It’s cracked!"

At that moment, someone in the assault team shouted.

"Prepare for battle!"

Liam suddenly shouted, and Zhuo Feilong immediately organized manpower.

A chilling atmosphere abruptly emerged outside the barrier.

Those qualified here undoubtedly must be of a strength equivalent to national advisors, what thirty or forty-level individuals wouldn’t dare to approach, and even if they did, they would be insignificant.

Nearly a hundred people were present, representing nearly half of the supreme powers in this world, all understanding that something unprecedented was unfolding, the disappearance of eternal entries, the changes in the Secret Realm’s imprints, might all relate to the blood-red barrier’s contents.

"Release!"

With an order, the final round of attacks hit the barrier.

However, just before their skills and spells struck, everyone saw that the light curtain isolating inside and outside had vanished.

It wasn’t shattered but had been actively withdrawn by the caster.

When the light curtain disappeared at that instant, Zhuo Feilong and Liam both looked serious, even a bit unable to conceal their surprise.

"Zuo Qiutian..." Zhuo Feilong seemed to complain like too much salt in a dish.

"Oudira Gondor! No, this is impossible." Liam, although claiming impossibility, maintained a calm tone.

Both exchanged a glance, then instantly leaped into action, reaching consensus swiftly.

Seize the initiative.

Clearly, regardless of why these reputedly notorious individuals in the Secret Realm appeared, it was certain they wouldn’t merely be passing by for a sightseeing tour.

If there’s anything to ask, it might be better to half-kill them first then slowly inquire.

When the two strongest figures acted, other strong NPCs on alert nearby, ready to move at any moment, also followed suit. In an instant, waves of powerful spell energy reverberated around.

Yet before they could make a move, more formidable auras emerged.

Many figures manifested through various teleportation and instant movement abilities, instantly joining Zuo Qiutian and Oudira, now surrounded by dozens more, all major figures from the Secret Realm World.

Zhuo Feilong squinted, recalling the information Li Rui had reported.

Many upright people from Eastern Continent of Secret Realm World had also joined Zuo Qiutian’s camp, recognizable ones including Gu Suixun from Mola Sect and Xue Can from Baiquan Sect, all who had interacted previously within the Secret Realm.

Even these two had once appeared as allies.

But a worse situation unfolded: before these world NPCs stood an evidently distinct individual, shrouded in a moon-white robe, with long beard and hair, holding a book of cathedral scriptures, none but the Immortal Pope of Polar Cathedral.

"Zhuo Feilong, Alte Riam, we need to talk."

"Hmph, talk? You were the ones that unilaterally cut off communication."

Despite saying so, he signaled his people to not act rashly.

Zhuo Feilong remained silent, wanting to hear what they had to say.

The Pope glanced back at Zuo Qiutian, who nodded.

"Apostles’ arrival will ascend us to the Divine Realm; hence, we should unite under the Holy Tree, setting aside grievances, without resorting to violence."

"What are you talking about?"

Liam and everyone shared a common question.

Yet the Pope merely smiled, as, behind him, the booming noise from the Forbidden Zone at the foot of the Holy Mountain intensified. A tender shoot sprouted from the ground, in no time surpassing dozens of meters, a hundred, five hundred, piercing the sky above.

Compared to it, the previously towering Holy Mountain seemed like a small mound, yet it continued to grow, finally breaching the clouds.