The Final Battle

Before dawn, Qingyun City lay shrouded in an eerie silence. Ning Xiaochuan stood atop the eastern gate tower, his fingertips brushing the cracks in the wall bricks—the claw marks left by the monster Ning Yuan had transformed into yesterday.

"Something's moving." Su Linger suddenly said in a low voice, pointing toward the northeastern sky.

Ning Xiaochuan narrowed his eyes. Sacred Source Power flowed through his pupils, allowing him to make out the distant anomaly—a mass of black clouds was moving toward Qingyun City at an unnatural speed, with blood-red lightning flickering within.

"That's not a cloud." The Sacred Spirit Dragon raised its scales and let out a warning growl.

Sure enough, as it drew closer, the "black cloud" revealed its true form—a vast flock of black crows! Eerie red light danced in every crow's eyes, while corrosive black mist scattered from their beating wings.

"All troops, stay on alert!" Ning Xiaochuan shouted sharply, his voice spreading across the city wall through Sacred Source Power.

The horns immediately sounded. The defenders, who had only just endured a fierce battle, forced themselves to regroup and redeploy. Ignoring his injuries, Ning Zhantian personally climbed the gate tower to direct the defense. Ning Yuan remained unconscious and had been placed in the safest underground chamber of the City Lord's Mansion.

"Is Dark Star leading them himself this time?" Su Linger gripped her sword hilt tightly, the Mysterious Ice Phoenix Source Soul flickering behind her.

Ning Xiaochuan nodded. "The crow flock is Dark Star's mark. He recovered much faster than expected."

The flock suddenly dispersed three miles outside the city, revealing a floating figure in black robes at its center—Dark Star! He no longer concealed himself, exposing his true appearance: skin pale as paper, blood-red eyes, and a Black Crystal embedded in his forehead, identical to the eye-shaped mark on Ning Yuan's chest.

"Son of Sacred Source!" Dark Star's voice screeched like grinding metal, carrying across the battlefield. "Hand over the Primal Fragment, or this city will be slaughtered to the last man and beast!"

Ning Xiaochuan answered with a cold sneer. "Dark Star—or should I call you Uncle? Are you really going to kill your own nephew?"

Dark Star visibly froze, then burst into wild laughter. "So you already know your origins! Then you should understand even more clearly how ridiculous the Sacred Origin Tribe's mission is!"

He suddenly waved his hand, and the flock split into three streams, swooping toward the city wall from different directions! Worse still, the ground began to shake as dozens of enormous black centipedes burst from beneath the earth. Each was as thick as a barrel and over a hundred feet long!

"Earth Devouring Demon Worms!" Su Linger's face went deathly pale. "Legendary monsters capable of devouring an entire city!"

Ning Xiaochuan immediately made his decision. "I'll leave the city and deal with Dark Star. You stay on the city wall and direct the defense!"

Before Su Linger could object, he had already leaped onto the Sacred Spirit Dragon's back. Little One let out a long roar, its body expanding to over fifty feet in length as it carried Ning Xiaochuan straight toward Dark Star!

"Perfect timing!" Dark Star met him with a vicious grin. Forming seals with his hands, he fired dozens of Black Lights like venomous snakes!

The Sacred Spirit Dragon nimbly evaded them while Ning Xiaochuan guided Sacred Source Power into arrows of light and fired back. The two clashed fiercely in the sky, moving too quickly for the naked eye to follow. Only golden and black trails of energy intertwined into a net.

On the ground, the Earth Devouring Demon Worms had already reached the city wall. Su Linger remained calm under pressure, directing the defenders to pour boiling oil and hurl torches down upon them. The demon worms feared fire and were temporarily stopped outside the moat.

"Your struggle is useless!" Dark Star laughed wildly in the air. "The Eye of the Deep Sea has granted me an immortal body!"

Ning Xiaochuan did not answer, focusing entirely on finding Dark Star's weakness. After several exchanges, he noticed that the Black Crystal on Dark Star's forehead flickered faintly before every attack—that was the weak point!

"Little One, cover me!" Ning Xiaochuan said quietly.

The Sacred Spirit Dragon understood at once. It suddenly banked and dove, blasting Dragon Breath at Dark Star's face. Dark Star hastily dodged, leaving himself exposed. Ning Xiaochuan seized the opportunity, condensing Sacred Source Power into a golden spear aimed directly at the Black Crystal!

"Naive!" Dark Star sneered, and a blood-red barrier suddenly appeared before him.

But Ning Xiaochuan's attack had only been a feint! His true killing move was the Sacred Spirit Dragon—Little One abruptly changed direction and bit down on Dark Star's left arm, pouring Dragon Breath into the wound!

"Aah!" Dark Star let out a pained howl as his left arm instantly carbonized. "Damn beast!"

His right hand formed a claw and violently plunged into the Sacred Spirit Dragon's abdomen! Little One let out a pained shriek, released him, and fell. Ning Xiaochuan hurriedly leaped from its back, catching the Sacred Spirit Dragon in midair while hurling a Sacred Source Light Blade at Dark Star.

Dark Star could not evade in time, and his right shoulder was pierced through. Yet the Black Crystal immediately released Black Qi that repaired the wound. He laughed madly as he gave chase. "Let's see which one you can save!"

Holding the badly wounded Sacred Spirit Dragon, Ning Xiaochuan landed on a rooftop and hastily examined its injuries. A huge gash had been torn open in its abdomen, and Black Qi was corroding its internal organs.

"Hold on..." Ning Xiaochuan poured Sacred Source Power into the wound, but the effect was minimal. Dark Star's attacks carried the primordial corrosion of the Eye of the Deep Sea, making ordinary purification ineffective.

At that critical moment, an icy-blue figure swept over—Su Linger! She landed beside Ning Xiaochuan, unleashing the full chill of her Mysterious Ice Phoenix Source Soul and temporarily freezing the pursuing Dark Star.

"The city wall can't hold any longer!" she said urgently. "The Earth Devouring Demon Worms have already broken through the defenses. Father has retreated into the inner city with the wounded!"

Ning Xiaochuan looked toward the city wall and indeed saw the enormous demon worms tearing apart the defensive works. Worse still, Dark Star had already broken free from the ice and lunged at them again!

"Take Little One somewhere safe." Ning Xiaochuan handed the Sacred Spirit Dragon to Su Linger. "I'll hold Dark Star off."

"No!" Su Linger firmly objected. "We'll fight him together!"

Ning Xiaochuan shook his head. "His target is me and the Primal Fragment. You get out first. I have my own plan."

Su Linger still wanted to say something, but Dark Star had already reached them! Ning Xiaochuan shoved her away and faced Dark Star alone. The two clashed fiercely, and their shockwaves reduced the surrounding houses to rubble.

Gritting her teeth, Su Linger carried the Sacred Spirit Dragon toward the City Lord's Mansion. Along the way, she saw Ning Zhantian organizing the final line of defense, while Ning Yuan had also been moved somewhere safe.

"Where is Ning Xiaochuan?" Ning Zhantian asked anxiously.

"He..." Su Linger had barely begun to answer when a deafening blast suddenly sounded in the sky!

Everyone looked up to see that the battle high above had reached its fiercest point. Ning Xiaochuan was covered in blood, his Sacred Source Power nearly exhausted. Dark Star, though riddled with injuries, was still being constantly healed by the Black Crystal.

"Give up, Nephew." Dark Star's voice was full of mockery. "Even your mother couldn't kill me back then. You certainly can't!"

Ning Xiaochuan panted heavily, then suddenly smiled. "Mother didn't want to kill you. She believed that, deep down, you were still one of the Sacred Origin Tribe."

"Foolish mercy!" Dark Star roared. "It was exactly this weakness that led the Sacred Origin Tribe to ruin!"

He charged at Ning Xiaochuan, the Black Crystal erupting with unprecedented brilliance. "Let's end this!"

At the critical moment, Ning Xiaochuan suddenly pulled the Primal Beacon from his robes and activated a portal to the Sacred Source Land! A flash of golden light swept over them, and he and Dark Star vanished at the same time!

"Ning Xiaochuan!" Su Linger cried out in alarm, but it was already too late to stop him.

Sacred Source Land, deep within the forbidden ground.

As the golden light faded, Ning Xiaochuan and Dark Star appeared before the Primal Gate. The seal remained stable, but there were even more black spots around it than before.

"Why did you bring me here?" Dark Star warily scanned the surroundings. "Are you planning to use the seal against me?"

Ning Xiaochuan did not answer. He simply walked toward the altar. Dark Star tried to stop him, only to find that he could not move—the Sacred Source Land was suppressing his dark power!

"It's useless, Uncle." Ning Xiaochuan spoke tiredly. "Here, the Eye of the Deep Sea can't help you."

He took out the Primal Fragment and placed it on the altar. "Mother was right. Deep down, you're still one of the Sacred Origin Tribe. Look at this."

The fragment projected an image—Dark Star in his youth, when he was still called Bai Chen, teaching the young Bai Li how to cultivate. The scene was warm and harmonious, with no sign of the bitter enmity that would come later.

A trace of confusion appeared on Dark Star—Bai Chen's face. "Those things... are long gone..."

"No. They have always remained in your heart." Ning Xiaochuan pointed to the Black Crystal on his forehead. "The Eye of the Deep Sea only magnified your ambition and hatred. It could not erase who you truly are."

Bai Chen suddenly clutched his head and fell painfully to his knees. "Shut up! What do you know? I watched the Sacred Origin Tribe stagnate and stand by while other worlds were devoured! We could have become rulers!"

"And then what?" Ning Xiaochuan countered. "Survive by destroying others like the World Devourers? That isn't power. It's a curse."

He walked before Bai Chen and pressed a hand against the Black Crystal. "Let me free you."

"No!" Bai Chen struggled wildly. "This is power bestowed by the gods!"

Ning Xiaochuan said nothing more and unleashed Sacred Source Power with all his strength. Golden light clashed violently with the Black Crystal, shaking the entire forbidden ground! Bai Chen screamed in agony as his forehead split open and cracks began spreading across the Black Crystal!

"Aah! Stop!" Bai Chen pleaded. "It will take all my power away!"

"That was never real power." Ning Xiaochuan remained unmoved. "Look around you, Uncle. This is our homeland, the place you once swore to protect with your life."

With one final sharp crack, the Black Crystal shattered completely! Dense Black Qi poured out and transformed into a miniature Eye of the Deep Sea, which shrieked as it tried to escape. But the purifying power of the Sacred Source Land immediately enveloped it, reducing it to nothing in the blink of an eye.

Bai Chen collapsed weakly to the ground. Only a hollow wound remained on his forehead. He stared blankly at his hands as color visibly returned to his skin.

"What... have I done..." His voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with remorse.

Ning Xiaochuan had also exhausted his strength and sat kneeling nearby. "You were deceived, but now it's all over."

Bai Chen suddenly grabbed his hand. "No... it's not over... The Eye of the Deep Sea was only the vanguard... the true army of Dark Devourers is still beyond the seal..."

Struggling, he pointed toward the Primal Gate. "They have already found a weak point... soon they will..."

Before he could finish, the seal suddenly shook violently! The cracks on the gate expanded at a visible speed, and Black Qi gushed out like spring water!

"Not good!" Ning Xiaochuan forced himself to stand. "We must reinforce the seal immediately!"

But Bai Chen grabbed him. "There's no time... only one way remains..."

He painfully crawled to the altar and took out a small bottle filled with golden liquid. "My... Sacred Origin Essence Blood... combined with yours... can temporarily repair it..."

Ning Xiaochuan immediately understood. "But you'll die!"

"I should have died long ago..." Bai Chen gave a bitter smile. "Let me... atone..."

He poured the essence blood onto the altar, then gestured for Ning Xiaochuan to do the same. Ning Xiaochuan gritted his teeth and cut open his palm, letting golden blood drip onto the altar. The two bloodlines merged, erupting with unprecedented light!

The cracks on the Primal Gate began to slowly heal, but the speed was far from enough. Bai Chen suddenly gathered the last of his strength and threw himself toward the crack!

"Bai Chen!" Ning Xiaochuan tried to pull him back, but he was too late.

The moment Bai Chen's body touched the Black Qi, it transformed into golden light and merged with the seal. The cracks immediately stopped spreading and began closing faster.

"Remember... the Heart of Protection..." Bai Chen's final voice echoed in Ning Xiaochuan's mind. "The Sacred Origin Tribe... depends on you..."

When the final crack vanished, the forbidden ground returned to silence. Ning Xiaochuan knelt before the altar, tears silently running down his face.

Outside Qingyun City, with the avatar of the Eye of the Deep Sea destroyed, the black tide army instantly collapsed. The Earth Devouring Demon Worms burrowed back underground, and the crow flock scattered in all directions. The defenders stared at one another, unable to believe the crisis had ended just like that.

Su Linger stood atop the city wall, anxiously gazing at the sky as she waited for Ning Xiaochuan's return.

Suddenly, a flash of golden light appeared, and Ning Xiaochuan stood before her. He was covered in wounds and held Bai Chen's body in his arms, his expression solemn and sorrowful.

"Is it over?" Su Linger asked softly.

Ning Xiaochuan nodded. "Yes. It's all over."

He handed Bai Chen's body to the approaching Ning Zhantian. "Give him a proper burial. In the end, he found himself again."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon flew out from Su Linger's arms. Though weak, it still affectionately rubbed its face against Ning Xiaochuan's cheek. Ning Xiaochuan gently stroked its scales. "You did well, Little One."

As the sun set, the three stood upon the city wall, watching the land gradually return to peace. In the distance, the surviving citizens began emerging from their shelters to rebuild their homes.

"Where do we go next?" Su Linger asked.

Ning Xiaochuan looked into the distance. "First, we return to the Sacred Source Land and formally inherit the throne. Then..." He took Su Linger's hand. "I want to take you all to see the places Mother mentioned in her diary."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon happily let out a chirp, flew between them, and placed its little claws over their clasped hands.

The setting sun stretched the three of their shadows long, but the road ahead was longer still.