The collision between the black pillar of light and the defensive barrier unleashed energy ripples that made the entire All-Heavens Hub tremble. The light from the glazed dome flickered violently, and the law runes on the white jade plaza glowed and dimmed, as if they were about to collapse at any moment.
"Hold on!" The Grand Elder's voice echoed above the hub. The twelve Sovereign simultaneously ascended into the air, each unleashing their natal magic treasures and continuously pouring the power of the laws into the defensive barrier. In an instant, twelve beams of light of different colors of the laws intertwined with Xiao Yan's golden flames, and the cracks on the barrier were repaired at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"Boom--!"
The second Space Cannon followed immediately, even more violent than before. The defensive barrier dented violently, and countless runes were annihilated in the roar. Xiao Yan felt an immense force being transmitted through the flames, and the Heart of the Flame Realm within his body trembled wildly, almost Heaven Burning Sword to fly out of his hand.
"Cough..." He couldn't help but cough up a mouthful of blood, his vision blurring, but his grip on the sword hilt tightened even more. "I can't let it break through the barrier!"
Inside the Stargazing Platform, all the cultivators were channeling their spiritual energy to support the barrier. The faces of the lower-level Realm Lord were ashen, and even the higher-level Realm Lord were sweating profusely. No one had expected the first wave of attacks from the Void Mothership to be so terrifying.
"Young friend Xiao Yan, use the eighth move of the ' Heaven Burning Nine Forms '!" The Grand Elder's voice pierced through the chaotic energy flow, "Concentrate all the Law of Flame and detonate the purifying power of the outer barrier!"
Xiao Yan instantly understood. The eighth move, " Heaven Burning Meteor," was a killing move he had just mastered. It required burning a portion of the flame's essence to form a destructive fire meteor, specifically designed to break through thick defenses. Although it couldn't directly attack the mothership at this moment, it could amplify the flame's purifying properties by using the barrier's power.
" Heart of the Flame Realm, Ignite!"
Xiao Yan roared, and the illusory image of the Flaming Mountain in his sea of consciousness burned fiercely. The six-colored Heavenly Flames and the power of the Heart-Clearing Jade completely merged, condensing into a huge fire meteor on the outer layer of the defensive barrier. The surface of the meteor was covered with chaotic patterns, which was a perfect combination of purification and destruction power.
" Heaven Burning Nine Forms - Eighth Form: Heaven Burning Meteor!"
The fiery meteor, trailing a long tail of flame, charged towards the third Space Cannon.
This time, there was no earth-shattering collision, only silent annihilation. The moment the golden meteor touched the black pillar of light, the latter disintegrated rapidly like melting ice and snow, and the violent evil power was purified by the flames into the purest energy, which was then fed back to the defensive barrier.
"It works!" A cheer erupted from inside the Stargazing Platform.
Xiao Yan did not relax at all. He could feel that the evil power of the Void Mothership was still pouring into the pillar of light, and the light of the Flame Meteor was dimming at a visible speed.
"Everyone, activate the All-Heavens Defensive Array!" The Grand Elder's voice rang out again, carrying an unquestionable authority.
Upon hearing this, the twelve Sovereign swiftly changed formation, surrounding the All-Heavens Hub at its center. They formed hand seals and chanted ancient incantations, causing the earth beneath the Hub to tremble violently. Countless law crystals buried deep underground simultaneously lit up, forming a massive array covering the entire Hub.
The moment the formation was activated, an immense power far exceeding anything before surged from the earth and merged into the defensive barrier. Countless star patterns appeared on the surface of the barrier, each star representing a small world being protected. As the stars rotated, they exuded an aura that suppressed eternity.
"This is... an array based on the origin of all heavens?" Xiao Yan was shocked. He could feel that he had formed a strange connection with the Netherworld Realm, the Mystic Ice Realm, and other worlds he had once protected. The power of the laws of those worlds was continuously coming to support him through the array.
When the fourth Space Cannon struck, the All-Heavens Defensive Array was fully activated. The star pattern lit up, forming an indestructible light barrier. The beam of light struck the barrier, only creating a faint ripple before dissipating completely.
"Success!"
A deafening cheer erupted within the hub, and the cultivators embraced each other in excitement.
Xiao Yan let out a long sigh of relief, his tense nerves finally relaxing. He swayed and fell from the sky. Fortunately, the Blazing Sun Realm Lord caught him in time. Looking at his pale face, his eyes were full of praise, "Good lad, that last move at least bought crucial time for the formation to activate."
Xiao Yan smiled weakly, his gaze fixed on the All-Heavens Mirror. In the mirror, the Void Mothership still hovered in the distant Star Domain, its hull shimmering with eerie light, clearly preparing for the next attack. The Void Envoy stood at the bow, his face showing no surprise, as if he had already anticipated this scene.
"Don't be too happy yet," the Grand Elder said gravely. " The Void Mothership is just the vanguard; its purpose is to tear through the defenses. The real demonic army is still ahead."
He raised his hand and waved it, and a more distant void appeared in the All-Heavens Mirror. There, countless black dots were rapidly approaching, densely packed like locusts—these were countless demonic warships, smaller than the Void Mothership, but exuding the same evil aura.
"Notify all All-Heavens Guard to take their battle positions!" the Grand Elder commanded in a deep voice. " The Heaven Battalion will engage the Void Mothership with me, the Earth Battalion will reinforce the defensive array, and the Human Battalion will be responsible for evacuating the low-level cultivators within the hub!"
"Yes!"
The entire All-Heavens Hub instantly came to life. Figures in black outfits darted back and forth on the light bridge, various defensive devices rose from the depths of the hub, and law cannons were aimed at the void. The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder.
Xiao Yan was assigned to assist in command at the Stargazing Platform. Although he was physically weak, he did not slack off in the slightest. He mobilized all available power, inserting the Heaven Burning Sword into the core of the Stargazing Platform, connecting the Law of Flame with the All-Heavens Mirror, so as to more clearly capture the movements of the demons.
"Deputy Commander, we've spotted a large number of Soul-Devouring Beast and Law-Devouring Beast flanking us!" a team member shouted, pointing to a Star Domain in the mirror.
Looking over, Xiao Yan saw tens of thousands of demonic monsters circling the Void Mothership, attempting to break through the weak points of the defensive array. These monsters were extremely fast, and in the blink of an eye, they had arrived at the front of the array, frantically tearing at the star patterns on the light barrier.
"Notify the Earth Battalion's Third Team to intercept them with the ' Lightning Light Net '!" Xiao Yan immediately ordered. "Also, have the Heaven Battalion send a small team to flank them from the side. We absolutely cannot let them get close to the hub!"
The order was quickly relayed. The Earth Battalion's Lightning Light Net instantly unfolded, purple lightning intertwining into a giant net that turned most of the monsters into charred remains; the Heaven Battalion's squads, using spatial laws, circled around to the flanks, their flames and wind blades intertwining to clear out any remaining monsters.
But the number of demons was simply too great. As soon as one batch was cleared out, new monsters would pour out of the warships, like an endless tide.
"This can't go on," Xiao Yan frowned. "We must destroy the Void Mothership's 'Fel Core,' otherwise it will keep creating monsters."
He looked in the direction of the Grand Elder and saw that the twelve Sovereign Beings were engaged in a fierce battle with the Void Mothership. The Grand Elder's Law of Time could briefly freeze the ship's hull, and the Blazing Sun Realm Lord's flaming giant hammer kept smashing against the ship's hull, but he could not break through the thick layer of evil runes defense.
"Someone needs to infiltrate the mothership," Xiao Yan murmured, a bold idea taking shape in his mind.
He found the Blazing Sun Realm Lord and revealed his plan. "Commander, I want to lead a group to infiltrate the Void Mothership and destroy the Fel Energy Core."
The Blazing Sun Realm Lord's expression changed drastically. "No! The mothership is definitely riddled with traps, and the Void Envoy is inside. It's too dangerous!"
"There's no safer way now." Xiao Yan pointed to the ever-increasing number of monsters. "The defensive array's energy is being rapidly depleted. If this drags on any longer, we won't be able to hold out until the main army arrives." He paused, a resolute glint in his eyes. "My flames can suppress evil power; perhaps I can find the core's weakness."
Looking into his resolute eyes, and glancing at the fierce battle raging in the void, the Blazing Sun Realm Lord finally gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! I'll give you ten of my most elite team members, and also a ' Space-Breaking Boat '. Remember, if things become untenable, retreat immediately using the Realm-Breaking Talisman. Do not linger in battle!"
"Yes!"
Half an hour later, a small Space-Breaking Boat quietly sailed out of the All-Heavens Hub, using the spatial turbulence as cover, and flew towards the Void Mothership. Inside the airship, Xiao Yan checked his equipment, the flames on the Heaven Burning Sword burning quietly, reflecting his solemn and determined face.
Outside the window, the sky is filled with the roar of cannons; inside the submarine, the fate of the heavens is decided by stealth.
Xiao Yan knew that this might be the only way to break the deadlock. No matter how many traps lay ahead, he had to overcome them.
Because behind him are countless worlds that need to be protected.