Bad News

The fierce battle had been going on for an unknown amount of time. The ground nearby was littered with the remains of corpses that had shed their darkness after death, as well as the broken parts of the Puppet that had been dismantled and destroyed.

The disciples of Heaven-Forging Stronghold were exhausted, their True Essence depleted, their bodies drenched in sweat, and they were panting heavily. Even Elder Liu, Spirit Severing Stage, felt somewhat powerless. Even though these Dark Monsters only had the lowest level of Golden Core Stage combat power, perhaps even weaker than those who had reached Golden Core stage through excessive drug use, they were still Golden Core Stage combatants no matter how weak they were.

Moreover, needless to say, the darkness that clung to them provided some resistance to True Essence. After dealing with hundreds of monsters back and forth, the group from Heaven-Forging Stronghold, who were not particularly skilled in combat, were finally nearing the edge of exhaustion.

It seems that getting in is no longer an option.

Elder Liu surveyed the surroundings. The disciples of Heaven-Forging Stronghold were basically no longer able to fight, but in the darkness, those strange monsters continued to emerge relentlessly.

A thought of retreat crossed his mind. He raised the Ever-Burning Lamp in his hand again and True Fire of the magical Magical Artifact with all his might. The flames twisted and turned, forming a sea of fire at the city gate of the Ancient City, blocking the path of those Dark Monsters.

"Let's go!"

Elder Liu shouted.

The disciples of Heaven-Forging Stronghold mustered their last remaining strength and rode their Flying Sword away from the ground. Meanwhile, the Golden Core Stage disciples providing support from the perimeter activated their Magic Incantation and unhesitatingly manipulated these expensive Puppet, rushing towards the sea of fire. Some Dark Monsters that charged out of the fire were pushed back by the Puppet, and then a series of huge explosions rang out, shaking the entire mountainside until it began to tremble.

Smoke and dust filled the air, but Elder Liu knew in his heart that the ancient Ancient City was absolutely unharmed.

He seized the opportunity to Heaven-Forging Stronghold, and led a group of Nascent Soul Stage disciples into the air.

Thump!

However, at that moment, the Bell Chime suddenly rang out again from within the Ancient City. The Bell Chime, carrying a mental attack, rolled in, and the Nascent Soul Stage disciples quickly raised their Spiritual Sense to defend themselves, slowing their steps.

After the first Bell Chime, the disciples felt dizzy and disoriented, but at that moment, the second Bell Chime suddenly followed. Then, a continuous series of Bell Chime, like waves, impacted the spirit and will of everyone in Heaven-Forging Stronghold, completely slowing down their progress.

Elder Liu gritted his teeth, raised the Ever-Burning Lamp in his hand, and threw it outwards. Immediately, cracks appeared on the lamp body, allowing light to leak out, and it exploded.

The True Fire inside the lamp spread out, forming a Fire Lotus that blotted out the sky, enveloping everyone in the Heaven-Forging Stronghold and temporarily isolating them from the mental attack. However, Elder Liu, who had self-destructed his Magical Artifact, was affected, spitting out a mouthful of blood and his aura weakened.

"Elder!"

Upon seeing this, the disciples of Heaven-Forging Stronghold exclaimed in surprise.

I'm fine!

Elder Liu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"Run! This isn't something we at Heaven-Forging Stronghold can handle alone. We must bring the information back to the Righteous Path Alliance."

Upon hearing this, all the disciples of Heaven-Forging Stronghold their magic Mana together, and under the protection of the Fire Lotus, they rose higher and higher.

But at that moment, the smoke and dust above the Ancient City dissipated, darkness surged within, and several Black Sword Light shot out again.

These Sword Light darted and zigzagged swiftly, drawing black straight lines across the sky. The lines intertwined to form intricate patterns, trapping the Fire Lotus of Heaven-Forging Stronghold in place.

"This is... Sword Array?"

Before the people of Heaven-Forging Stronghold could react, another whooshing sound rang out, and more than a dozen Dark Monsters Runes even more complex runes on their bodies, riding various black Flying Sword, rose into the sky and surrounded the people of Heaven-Forging Stronghold.

It seems these must be the group of missing Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators.

Judging from the aura they emitted, each of them possessed the abilities of the Nascent Soul Stage. Upon arriving beside the group from Heaven-Forging Stronghold, they roared and charged towards the Fire Lotus while riding their Flying Sword.

The disciples of Heaven-Forging Stronghold hurriedly retaliated, but one side was at the height of its power while the other was exhausted. Soon, the disciples of Heaven-Forging Stronghold were in a losing position. The Black Sword Light pierced through and were burned by the flames of the Fire Lotus, but the black Flying Sword immediately exploded, tearing apart the Fire Lotus that surrounded them, creating a gap in Heaven-Forging Stronghold's defenses.

The buzzing Bell Chime immediately seized the opportunity to penetrate, and several disciples with low cultivation levels were unable to withstand the Bell Chime, their Spiritual Sense defenses shattered, leaving them stunned on the spot.

"Punish..."

With their heads bowed, they murmured amidst the increasingly urgent and rapid Bell Chime: "Slay the Azure Emperor, and recreate the Holy Dynasty!"

"Wake up!"

Elder Liu shouted loudly, reaching out to grab the disciples, but the surrounding Dark Monsters rushed forward recklessly. He was forced back and could only watch helplessly as these Nascent Soul Stage disciples were lured by the Bell Chime and fell into the boundless darkness of the Ancient City.

The Bell Chime tolled even more urgently, and the Fire Lotus was completely torn apart. Elder Liu felt bitter. Not to mention protecting these disciples, even his own Spiritual Sense was being pushed to the brink of despair.

At that critical moment, a massive, Snow-White Blade Qi suddenly appeared from the horizon, traversing a hundred miles across the sky. It tore through the Sword Array Bell Chime, shattering everything surrounding the people of Heaven-Forging Stronghold. (And Book of Questions... )

Elder Liu!

A handsome middle-aged man dressed in a snow-white robe and carrying a long sword flew in, stepping on Bai Yun with his hands behind his back.

Are you alright?

"Senior Brother Yue!"

Upon seeing this person, Elder Liu's eyes lit up. The newcomer was none other than Yue Qianren, the eldest brother of Sect Master Yue Qianlian and the representative of martial prowess of Heaven-Forging Stronghold.

"What brings you here? Did the Sect Master send you?"

"Ah, I was searching for materials for the Thousand Refinements project when I heard about this on my way back, so I came to check it out."

Yue Qianren flew to the front of the group from Heaven-Forging Stronghold.

"Come quickly, I'll take you out!"

"Several disciples have been captured by the Ancient City."

Elder Liu said with some sorrow.

"There's nothing we can do right now, you should go outside first and talk later!"

Yue Qianren turned his head, his expression changed, and then his face darkened.

Two Dark Monsters with more complex runes on their bodies and horns on their heads, riding Magical Artifact Runes, blocked the way in front of the group, exuding a terrifying aura comparable to that of Spirit Severing Stage Cultivators. Behind them, thousands of Golden Core Stage Dark Monsters stood densely packed in the sky, forming a dark cloud that blocked the retreat of the group from Heaven-Forging Stronghold.

"It seems the city's inhabitants are unwilling to let us leave so easily."

Yue Qianren gripped the hilt of his sword behind his back and said in a deep voice, "Elder Liu, I'll clear the way for you. No matter what, you must get the news about this Ancient City to Qianlian!"

On the Seven Star Peak of Qingming Mountain, Bai Qiuran was pondering over the copied Recording Stone. Although he had already handed over the original Recording Stone and Blank Spirit Stone to the Profound Law Academy, he had also kept a copy for himself when making the copy, so that he could think about whether there was any opportunity to inspire him to break through to the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Sense.

Just as he was staring blankly at the Formation Diagram model on the Recording Stone from various angles, he suddenly heard his disciple's voice calling out.

"Master, something terrible has happened!"

Tang Ruowei, riding the Kun Ling Sword, hurriedly descended from the direction of Qingming Sect Main Peak and called out to him.

"What's the big deal? Why are you making such a fuss?"

Bai Qiuran glanced at her lazily and said, "Your breasts have gotten bigger?"

"I think it's a little too big... no!"

Tang Ruowei shook her head and stuffed a letter into Bai Qiuran's hand.

"See for yourself. This is what the Sect Master and Elder asked me to bring to you."

Bai Qiuran took the envelope, opened it, and checked its contents.

The letter bore the following words in black and white. "A mysterious Ancient City has appeared in Qingzhou. The Nascent Soul Golden Core disciples of Heaven-Forging Stronghold who went to investigate, as well as Yue Qianren of [Thousand-Forged Heavenly Blade] who went to the rescue, have all mysteriously disappeared. Only Elder Liu Yunchen returned severely injured and remains unconscious."