Heavenly South, Star Palace Main Altar, atop Star-Magnetic Peak.
The Star Magnetic Sky Canopy flickered unsteadily as the ghastly white, bone-pillar-shaped Ten Thousand Ghosts World-Breaking Awl hammered it relentlessly. Cracks spread across the barrier like a spiderweb. Corpses littered the mountaintop battlefield, and battle cries shook the heavens as the stench of blood mingled with demonic qi. Though the Righteous Path Alliance held fast behind the remnants of its formations, it was already a spent arrow, facing a demonic coalition several times its size and commanded by several nascent soul middle stage demonic cultivators.
High above, the situation was even more precarious. Elder Shaking Light fought Venerable Bone Nether, the Ghost Spirit Sect's Grand Elder, alone. The sinister power of myriad ghosts within the White Bone Banner ruthlessly suppressed his sword light, forcing him back step by step. His defeat was clearly drawing near.
Nangong Wan, Lu Yun, Zhou Tong, Wu Jiuzhi, Tu Xiaoyi, Black Bear, Bamboo Viper, Shi Mang, and the others-nearly ten nascent soul early stage cultivators-were each pinned down by nascent soul cultivators from the Joyful Union Sect, Demonflame Sect, and Thousand Illusions Sect. Lu Yun and Nangong Wan, in particular, faced demonic opponents of the same nascent soul middle stage cultivation, enduring immense pressure and one peril after another.
Venerable Bone Nether let out a rasping, sinister laugh. His White Bone Banner swept out a hundred-zhang torrent of ghostly qi, shattering a swath of Elder Shaking Light's sword light. "Shaking Light, your Star Palace's foundations in Heavenly South will be destroyed here today! Once I capture you, I'll deal with that brat surnamed Han!"
Blood seeped from the corner of Elder Shaking Light's mouth. His eyes widened with fury as he prepared to stake his life on one final struggle.
Just then-
"BOOOOM!!!"
A thunderous explosion