Chapter Sixty-Four: Unyielding

Within the borders of the ancient Red City, at a stronghold of the human race—

“Hold this ground! We must not let the demons break through the line!” Chen Daolin roared, unfurling a celestial diagram that blotted out the sun. He swept forward with unstoppable force, crushing countless demons beneath it into bloody pulp.

By now, he had reached the Meridian Condensing Realm, effortlessly wielding overwhelming power with every movement—indeed, he had already ascended to the second tier of that realm. He was not alone; the top ten inner disciples, along with some other formidable members, had also advanced to this stage.

Yet, reaching the Meridian Condensing Realm did not equate to becoming a core disciple. According to the rules of the Heavenly Capital Sect, there were only ever one hundred and eight core disciples. Achieving the realm was not enough; only by defeating a core disciple could one claim the title, and conversely, those defeated would forfeit all their honors.

“Slay them!”

Suddenly, a deafening cry of battle resounded from afar, shaking the very heavens. The demons surged in overwhelming numbers, and from within the human stronghold, streaks of divine light burst forth as the core disciples sprang into action. They clashed with the demon elites in a dazzling spectacle, the skies above threatening to shatter beneath their might.

A terrifying battle erupted; with every passing moment, lives were extinguished, blood flowed in rivers, and corpses littered the earth, transforming the field into a hellish purgatory.

The mighty had their own battlegrounds, yet disciples of the Body Refining Realm, along with those newly entering Meridian Condensing, also fought fiercely. They formed a defensive line, striving to halt the steel tide of the demon horde.

The human stronghold had split into two main factions. On one side stood the disciples of the Heavenly Capital Sect; on the other, a coalition of various powers led by the Ji family. In times of war, it was only natural for all to seek out their own trusted allies—disciples of the Heavenly Capital Sect would never join with the other factions.

Yet within the sect itself, the lines were sharply drawn. There were two distinct groups: one led by Chen Daolin and the Divine Court, the other by Jian Yi and his followers in the Divine Son Alliance.

“The Divine Court is weak—no match for the demon horde. I suggest some of you come over, else when the line breaks, those few won’t matter, but you’ll become cannon fodder.” Jian Yi sneered. He, too, had reached the second tier of Meridian Condensing; his sword swept through the demons, not a single foe able to withstand him.

More demons surged forward, their shrieks filling the air. The human disciples suffered heavy losses; the fallen were already numbered in the thousands.

“Hmph, the Divine Court can well defend itself, no need for your concern,” Chen Daolin retorted coldly. His gaze was icy as he mercilessly crushed a demon elite of the first tier in his grasp.

“Defend yourselves? Even your Divine Lord is now trapped, his doom imminent. What defense can you speak of? If not for this war, your Divine Lady Yunxi would have been implicated as well. How ignorant,” scoffed Cheng Wushuang, his hostility toward the Divine Court an unquenchable torrent.

“You think the Divine Lady was spared only because of the war? Your so-called Divine Son is like a mad dog, biting at all. If our Divine Lord had not chosen to sacrifice himself, the Divine Court would have been overthrown by now. I sense the Divine Son’s return is near—he shall reign supreme,” said Feng Yu, stepping forward. When it came to verbal sparring, none matched him; a transcendent soul like Chen Daolin could never outargue Cheng Wushuang and his ilk.

“How laughable. In a place like the Dark Demon Heaven, a mere Body Refining disciple is doomed—none have ever survived. Now that chaos reigns there, your Divine Lord has surely been devoured,” Cheng Wushuang spat, his face icy, his killing intent palpable.

“Our Divine Lord’s strength is beyond your comprehension—especially you, Cheng Wushuang! You were once crushed by him. Now you’ve only just reached Meridian Condensing, perhaps our Divine Lord has long since surpassed you,” Feng Yu answered, unperturbed, seeing through Cheng Wushuang’s attempt to shake their morale.

“Do ants dare defy the heavens? You overestimate Lin Fan. A mere menial, lucky enough to stumble upon opportunity, remains timid and short-sighted—unfit for greatness,” Cheng Wushuang’s eyes narrowed, his hatred unmasked.

At that moment, a mighty voice thundered across the sky. The void split apart, and a figure strode forth from the rift.

“Defeated warriors dare boast of bravery? I could slay ten like you,” Lin Fan declared, at last emerging from the Dark Demon Heaven. His hair streamed wildly, his presence like an ancient god-king crossing worlds. His gaze was imperious, his every step defiant.

“Divine Lord!” Feng Yu and the others cried out in joyous exaltation. Even Chen Daolin could not hide his delight. Lin Fan’s arrival was like a vital tonic to the Divine Court—after witnessing his power at the Orchid Heart Palace, their reverence for him was boundless.

“Arrogant fool! I am now at the second tier of Meridian Condensing. This time, I shall end you!” Cheng Wushuang bellowed, fury blazing in his eyes. Lin Fan’s arrogance stung him deeply, and with a single breath, he surged to his peak and struck.

“You—” Jiang Yun’s expression changed drastically. Unconsciously, he raised his halberd, intent on attacking. Lin Fan had become his heart’s devil; only Lin Fan’s death could free him from this obsession.

“You wish to strike at me too?” Lin Fan’s eyes flickered. A black spear appeared in his grip; a radiant arc tore through the sky, and Jiang Yun was pinned to the ground, helpless before him.

“How… how is this possible? I’m already at the second tier of Meridian Condensing!” Jiang Yun coughed blood, his whole body trembling in disbelief. He knew Lin Fan had shown mercy—otherwise, that strike would have ended his life.

“Perhaps this is the rise of another Divine Son-level genius. I am far inferior.” In that moment, Jiang Yun understood—Lin Fan’s monstrous talent was beyond imagining. His desire to compare himself faded; in this life, he would witness the ascent of a new star.

“No one has ever dared trample me underfoot! Lin Fan, die!” Cheng Wushuang unleashed a forbidden art. A small tower appeared in his hand, flying straight for Lin Fan’s descending foot.

“Sadly, your heart was long ago seeded with a demon by me. Today, wielding even forbidden weapons, you shall vanish from this world,” Lin Fan’s voice resounded across the stronghold. In the next instant, the onlookers saw an immense figure, like a true god awakening, launch a devastating assault. Each blow carried irresistible might.

In just a few exchanges, the small azure tower was completely shattered, its fragments scattering like meteors—each one slaying a demon elite.