The forest fell silent.
It had not been blown down by the wind.
It had been bent, cracked, and crushed by a force so heavy it defied imagination.
Above Broken Cliff, the avian soul beasts that had just submitted cried out in terror again, but this time, they could not even flap their wings to flee.
That Hammer Intent was too heavy.
It was as though a mountain had fallen from beyond the heavens.
Hu Liena stood before Di Yao, gripping her short blade so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Her face was pale.
She had forcibly controlled the battlefield moments ago, spending a great deal of Soul Power. Even now, her breathing remained uneven.
But she did not retreat.
She stared fixedly into the forest ahead, her voice low but unmistakably tense.
"Di Yao, fall back."
Di Yao stood behind her, his Third Soul Ring still pulsing slowly beneath his feet.
Deep purple, nearly black.
The Corona Emperor Domain had only just taken shape, and neither his Soul Power nor his body had fully stabilized.
His shoulder was still bleeding.
The drops of blood fell to the ground and were swiftly evaporated by the remaining golden flames.
Yet his gaze was calm.
Too calm for someone who had just wrested his Third Soul Ring back from the brink of death.
He raised a hand and placed it on Hu Liena's shoulder.
Hu Liena's body stiffened.
The next instant, Di Yao pushed her aside.
The movement was not forceful, but it was decisive.
Hu Liena staggered half a step and sharply turned back, anger and urgency filling her eyes.
"Di Yao!"
Di Yao did not look at her.
His gaze remained fixed ahead.
"You can't stop it."
The words were cold.
And hurtful.
But Hu Liena knew they were