Chapter 615: Swallowing the evil

Shen Shuibi's heart sank at the sight of the Void Realm battlefield.

Does Humanity still have reserves? Did Li Qi fail to hold back the main force? Or is Humanity's power truly that immense?

It shouldn't be... The gap in combat power between the two sides shouldn't be too large, otherwise, the vanguard battles would be meaningless, and the combat power would continuously escalate, eventually leading to a decisive battle.

This battle, affecting countless worlds, is essentially just a prelude to the Human-Shaman War, like a rock-paper-scissors game before a Go tournament, merely to decide who goes first.

Since it's a game, fairness is the top priority. Both sides will definitely cheat, but if everyone cheats, it's as good as no one cheating. So, the actual strength on the table and the hidden cards won't differ much.

If Li Qi couldn't expand the situation here well, it means... Li Qi is actually in a tough fight, and I must bear more pressure to achieve a draw.

Another Rank Five Cultivator, similar to me, has appeared...

Can I hold on?

Shen Shuibi looked over.

Even if I can't, I must.

I must hold out for one hour, until the detector scans the entire world cluster.

The benefits of the detector scanning the entire world cluster are truly immense.

Not only can it instantly detect Humanity's defenses, forcing Humanity to redeploy, but it can also locate The Axis of All Realms's base stations, preparing for the next surprise attack.

I hope there will be a next surprise attack... if the People of No Return aren't all dead, and if I can get out alive.

Moreover, the most crucial thing is that it might find the trapped Shaman Dao reinforcements.

This kind of detector has too many advantages, its only drawback is... it's too conspicuous.

Once activated, it forces both sides to fight desperately.

Humanity had the upper hand before and wasn't planning to fight desperately, so they could only let Shen Shuibi and Li Qi fight.

So... how to hold on? Shen Shuibi fell into deep thought.

The trump cards already prepared... there are none left.

Currently entangled with the Mohist Cultivator, it's impossible to determine a winner in a short while, and another Rank Five Cultivator, similar to me, is leading five Rank Fives and a hundred thousand Human armies on their way.

Oh, no, the combined self-detonation of the People of No Return just now should have caused them damage. At least two of the five Rank Fives should be dead, and it would be good if half of the hundred thousand army remained.

But it seems... the difficulty hasn't decreased much.

While Shen Shuibi was contemplating these things, the Mohist Cultivator opposite suddenly spoke.

"What courage, Moon Essence, to be distracted while fighting me like this," he said, as Spiritual Artifacts continuously formed around him and shot out.

The Mo Family is extremely skilled at manufacturing combat machinery, which is also their primary means of combat.

Of course, they are also very skilled in close-quarters combat, resembling Martial Artists, earning them the title 'Mo Xia', but this Mohist Cultivator just isn't using it now.

"Anyway, neither of us can do anything to the other, aren't you also too lazy for close combat? What's a bit strange is, where is your 'Non-Aggression'? Why are you, who advocate 'Non-Aggression', here now?" Shen Shuibi said, dodging the Spiritual Artifacts.

Yes, neither can do anything to the other, so it's better to save some energy.

It's like two fierce tigers, staring at each other, constantly circling, peering for weaknesses, constantly growling and probing, but never attacking head-on.

Because both sides are of similar skill, the one who initiates the attack will be at a disadvantage. It's better to maneuver and wait for the opponent to make a mistake.

But at the same time, no one dares to leave, because the act of 'leaving' itself is a huge flaw.

The two people are fixed here, neither can move. Whoever leaves first will suffer greatly, but if they don't leave, they can only use small tricks to harass the other, trying to make the opponent reveal a flaw, even though everyone knows it's futile.

Hearing Shen Shuibi's question, the Mohist Cultivator shook his head: "What this battle is for is precisely 'Universal Love'. On the day the Yellow Dao is forged, Humanity can stop plundering the outside world, and the debate about whether beings from outside the Domain count as 'humans' can also cease."

"Enough, there's no point discussing these things with you. I should go too," Shen Shuibi said, preparing to withdraw.

The Mohist Cultivator immediately said: "Afraid the people over there will be annihilated? Then you can't leave."

With that, he spread his hands, no longer fishing or probing.

In just a flash, a blue-green Domain suddenly unfolded around him!

Within this Domain, light traversed, drawing out lines that formed a blueprint-like illusory landscape.

Then, a war fortress appeared out of thin air from the illusion!

This was not a real war fortress, this was... his Dharma Idol!

As the Dharma Idol expanded, it revealed the fortress.

There were unified standard Spiritual Artifacts, six feet per piece, two materials combined to form a 'wen', the 'wen' was two feet long, with one every twenty paces.

Every two hundred paces, a pavilion stood, every hundred paces, a kiosk, every three hundred paces, a tower. The tower had four pillars, extending along a path. The gates were reinforced with gold, plated with iron, and sealed with an impression, making them incredibly strong.

The Emperor received the mandate, heaven and earth brought forth auspicious omens. Looking up, one saw a perfect alignment of sun and moon, pearls and jade. Looking down, one saw silver, yellow, and purple, the palace walls not enough to describe their forms.

The sun, moon, and stars were carefully depicted on the banners.

Furthermore, there were Dragons, Tigers, and mountains of fire, not exceeding ancient styles. Qilin, Phoenix, and the Four Spirits stood guard. The Mysterious Turtle bore the omen of a diagram, clouds bore the title of official records. Biyu, Eagles, Vultures, Bears, and Lotus, all unusual phenomena were present.

Clouds, the Qi of the Dragon's following.

Water, the auspicious sign of perceived virtue. These were all distinct omens of good fortune.

Biyu, a symbol of peace.

Eagles and Vultures, fierce birds, capable of discerning auspicious and inauspicious punishments.

Bears and Grizzly Bears, ferocious beasts, suitable for symbolizing the strength of military officials.

Lotus, for its beauty.

Many auspicious phenomena arose, and then wind and rain, darkness, thunder and lightning struck. The haze immediately cleared, the mountains and marshes connected with Qi, and heaven and earth became clear and bright!

The opponent's Dharma Idol was a massive square city! It perfectly trapped Shen Shuibi within it. If she wanted to go out and support, she would have to break through head-on.

Shen Shuibi frowned slightly.

This is difficult.

But outside—

Cha Xike and Gou Lou watched the approaching Human army in the distance.

They had counted them.

There were still three Rank Fives, and approximately forty thousand soldiers.

However, among these three Rank Fives, one was of the same Rank as Shen Shuibi—the newly arrived Human Rank Five. It was precisely he who directly ended the battle there.

All Rank Fives of the People of No Return, except for Gou Lou and Cha Xike, were annihilated.

Of course, this also eliminated about half of the enemy's effective strength.

But it no longer mattered. If the enemy arrived, they would lose.

Currently, Cha Xike and Gou Lou, along with these People of No Return, were entangled with the troops attempting to destroy the phased array. It would still take some time to annihilate the enemy...

"The two of us will go block them. Here... without us, it should be fine, just a bit slower," Cha Xike suggested.

Gou Lou's expression was grim: "The two of us go? Are you sure?"

The enemy had three Rank Fives, and two of them were no weaker than them, and one was much stronger. Plus, there was the 'Soldier Qi' formed by those tens of thousands of elite soldiers.

If the two of them went without corresponding 'Soldier Qi' support, they would definitely be instantly killed, unable to hold out for even a second.

Gou Lou's fighting will was very firm, and it was Gou Lou who had repeatedly sent Cha Xike on risky ventures. But this time, it was reversed, with Cha Xike sending Gou Lou on a risk.

Because even Gou Lou knew that this adventure could no longer be called an adventure; it was pure suicide, unable to even achieve a delaying effect.

However—

"There's a way. Look over there," Cha Xike pointed to the site of Shen Shuibi's Golden Core explosion. (See Chapters 608 and 609 for details)

There, the self-detonation of the Golden Core and the shattered Inner Worlds of the exploded Rank Fives mixed into a chaotic mass, becoming a pile of violent Origin Qi. Even a Rank Five would not fare well entering it.

This Origin Qi would not disappear into thin air. No matter disappears into thin air, so it would only transform into a place similar to an extraterrestrial wonder, becoming a 'strange sight' recorded in the history of other worlds, then gradually calm down over time, eventually becoming the prototype of a certain world.

"I have a way to make use of those things. With that... my combat power should be able to stop those people," Cha Xike said.

"You can do that? You won't blow yourself up?" Gou Lou knew Cha Xike's limits and asked with some surprise.

"I have to, even if I can't. Staying here is just a slow death. We took a risk earlier and opened up the situation. Now it's just one more time. Anyway, we're all going to die, so what if we don't fight?" Cha Xike said, gritting his teeth.

Gou Lou was speechless, then nodded: "Then you go. I'll speed things up here, using the 'Soldier Qi' to annihilate these Humans as much as possible, and then help you stop the people..."

"We can't win, but after Humanity arrives, it will take at least two or three quarters of an hour to kill all one million of us. You'll only have two or three quarters of an hour, I can't give you more," Gou Lou remained calm, quickly calculating and reaching a conclusion.

Since a conclusion had been reached, there was no need for further discussion. They were all Rank Fives; they all knew what to do.

Cha Xike immediately left the team.

Gou Lou then intensified the battle, hoping to eliminate as much of the enemy's effective strength as possible.

However, Humanity was too tenacious.

Even those people currently surrounded by over a million People of No Return, their gathered 'Soldier Qi' could barely resist, and could only be slowly worn down.

But Gou Lou couldn't wait that long. He had to... at least before the enemy arrived, completely annihilate these tens of thousands of people.

He had to find a way.

At such a time, determination and will couldn't accomplish things. Humanity's will was so firm, but didn't they still have to fight honestly?

So, what was the solution? There actually was one.

Gou Lou glanced at a distant dried corpse.

That dried corpse was the general who had been previously infiltrated by Shen Shuibi, leading to Evil Qi entering his body, and ultimately being controlled by the Evil Qi, unleashing all his cultivation in one strike.

All his vital energy, cultivation, the Inner World itself, Divine Intent, and Spirit Soul, were all unleashed in one strike, and his body turned into a dried corpse.

However, within the dried corpse, there was still that monstrous Evil Qi.

If it could be used for himself...

Thinking this, Gou Lou, while fighting, communicated through a Formation, drawing out a team of Rank Sevens, led by a Rank Six, twenty people in total, and sent them a message: "I have a task for you."

"What is it?" The Rank Sevens were apprehensive.

A task personally given by a Rank Five...

"I'm fighting here, so I can't break away. That dried corpse over there, help me drag it over. Remember not to look, not to listen, not to perceive. Just drag it over. This task is very dangerous, but it must be done," Gou Lou said.

"Understood, we'll set off now," the leading Rank Six said, then quickly drew his team and rushed towards the dried corpse.

Gou Lou continued to fight, continuing to destroy Humanity's front line.

Martial Dao Divine Intent continuously bombarded, while millions of People of No Return also weakened the opponent's 'Soldier Qi'. The 'Soldier Qi' was destroyed little by little, with thousands of Human soldiers perishing every minute.

If time wasn't pressing, they could completely destroy this army in just over ten minutes.

Unfortunately, they might not even have over ten minutes.

After about a minute, Gou Lou received a message.

The dispatched team was completely annihilated.

Contact with the Rank Five's Evil Qi was still too much for them. They only completed half the journey.

Gou Lou sighed slightly in his heart, but he didn't hesitate and immediately sent out a second team.

The second team was also very fast.

The dried corpse was quickly dragged before him.

However... only one person from the second team returned.

For them, that journey must have been agonizing. If Li Qi were to do this, his psychological activity could probably fill an entire essay.

At this very moment, in this war, everyone was like this, everyone had their own story, but their stories, under the grand and cruel war, ceased to be important.

"Mr. Gou Lou, we brought it back..." The Rank Six who brought back the dried corpse, with Evil Qi in his body, struggled to speak.

Then, almost without rest, he directly charged into Humanity's military Formation.

With Evil Qi in his body, his killing power doubled. He was already losing control. If he went mad, he would kill his own kind, so it was better to cause chaos in Humanity's military Formation.

Gou Lou saw this and chuckled, lowering his head.

Indeed, they thought alike. They were all People of No Return.

Gou Lou retreated behind the front line, grabbed the dried corpse, and blew a breath. A crisp 'pop' sound was heard.

A cloud of dust scattered, silently. From the hair to the shriveled skin, then to the flesh inside, and even the bones, in an instant, they turned into white sand.

What remained was still a faint Evil Qi, violently churning like boiling oil. This Evil Qi began to boil upon exposure to light, causing the dried corpse to move again. The eerie white bones and hanging internal organs below looked like a mummy.

After another half-second, these also vanished into thin air, the entire person transforming into white, yellow, and red sand. The gentle breeze exhaled by Gou Lou blew, stirring up plume after plume, flying down through the air, colliding with each other, making rustling sounds.

Then, Gou Lou suddenly took a deep breath and pressed his hands onto the dried corpse!

A sea of blood-like Evil Qi rushed into his body!

Gou Lou's muscles tensed, and his Martial Dao Divine Intent quickly turned red—

His Martial Dao Divine Intent was civilization itself, the persistence of civilization.

But at this moment, all of it was stained with the blood-red of war and slaughter.

Gou Lou's eyes were bloodshot. He broke away from the front line and charged towards General Zhou's front line in the distance.