When the light from the teleportation array returning to the All-Heavens Hub faded, the Blazing Sun Realm Lord was deathly pale, black blood seeping from the claw marks on his chest, and even his breathing had become weak. The white-bearded elder immediately took out a pure white pill, placed it in his mouth, and then used his spiritual power to protect his heart meridian. "Quickly, send him to the Healing Hall!"
Several cultivators who were waiting nearby rushed forward and carefully carried the Blazing Sun Realm Lord towards the Healing Hall. Xiao Yan watched their hurried backs, gripped the Heaven Burning Sword tightly, and the flames on the sword trembled slightly due to suppressed anger.
"Follow me." The white-bearded elder's voice was weary as he turned and walked towards the council hall.
Inside the council chamber, the Grand Elder and several other Sovereign had been waiting for some time. Seeing the bloodstains on the two men and their solemn expressions, the Grand Elder had already guessed what was going on and asked in a deep voice, "What's the situation?"
Elder Baixu reported the fierce battle at Soul-Severing Cliff in detail. When he mentioned the sacrifice of the Earth Elder, the serious injury of Blazing Sun, and the Shadow Priest's escape into the Shadow Rift, the atmosphere in the hall instantly became extremely heavy.
"Shadow Priest..." A Sovereign being in purple robes frowned. "I didn't expect them to send someone of this caliber. It seems the previous Void Mothership was just a test."
"What is the Shadow Rift?" Xiao Yan asked. He could sense a hint of apprehension in the white-bearded elder's tone when he mentioned the name.
The Grand Elder sighed, "That's the passage connecting All Heavens and Myriad Realms to the ' Shadow Realm,' located in the deepest part of the Mist Star Domain. It's filled with pure Law of Shadow and is the Shadow Clan's home turf. Legend has it that the other side of the rift is the Shadow Clan's lair."
"Then can't we just seal off the rift?" Xiao Yan pressed.
"We've tried." The Grand Elder shook his head. "The spatial barrier of the Shadow Rift is extremely unique; ordinary laws simply cannot shake it. Forcing an attack will only widen the rift, allowing more Shadow Clan to pour in."
Silence fell over the hall, a gloomy look clouding over everyone's face. The appearance of the Shadow Priest and the existence of the Shadow Rift foreshadowed an even greater storm to come.
"We can't wait any longer." The white-bearded elder broke the silence, his tone firm. "We must immediately unite all forces that can be united to form the ' All-Heavens Alliance ' to fight against the Shadow Clan. We, the All-Heavens Guard, alone probably won't be able to hold out for long."
"I agree." The other Sovereign Being nodded. "I will immediately send someone to contact the ' Ten Thousand Buddhas Realm ' and the ' Sword Domain.' They also have old grudges with the Shadow Clan and will certainly lend a hand."
"And there's ' Medicine God Valley,' their healing pills can greatly reduce our casualties."
"The ' Mechanical Clan's' war machines might be able to counter the Shadow Clan's evil magic."
Several Sovereign spoke one after another, and the originally heavy atmosphere was gradually replaced by a resolute fighting spirit.
The Grand Elder looked at Xiao Yan: "Young friend Xiao Yan, you fought the Shadow Priest at Soul-Severing Cliff, so you should have some understanding of his power. What do you think is our biggest disadvantage right now?"
Xiao Yan pondered for a moment before replying, "The laws of the Shadow Clan are too bizarre. They can devour other laws and erode the soul. Moreover, they are extremely skilled in wielding their own power, clearly veterans who have experienced countless battles. Although we have a wide variety of laws, we lack effective coordination and often fight alone."
"Well said." The Grand Elder nodded approvingly. "That's exactly what I was worried about. The formation of the All-Heavens Alliance is not only to gather strength, but also to allow cultivators from different worlds to refine their tactics and find ways to counter the Shadow Clan."
He paused, then continued, "Young friend Xiao Yan, your application of the Law of Flame is remarkably effective against the Shadow Clan. I'd like you to take charge of the Alliance's ' Vanguard Battalion,' selecting cultivators from various worlds who excel in offensive laws to specifically train in surprise attack tactics against the Shadow Clan. Are you willing?"
Xiao Yan cupped his hands without hesitation. "This junior is willing!"
"Good." The Grand Elder smiled with satisfaction. " The Vanguard Battalion will be located in the ' Martial Training Star Domain ' on the west side of the hub, where there is ample space for training. You can directly mobilize the reserves of the All-Heavens Guard for the necessary resources and manpower."
In the following days, the All-Heavens Hub became exceptionally busy. Envoys dispatched by various Sovereign Beings shuttled back and forth between the teleportation arrays, carrying letters of alliance to various Great Worlds; in the Healing Hall, the Valley Master of Medicine God Valley personally took action to clear the Shadow Power from the body of the Blazing Sun Realm Lord, finally saving his life, but he would need at least half a year of rest to fully recover; while Xiao Yan devoted himself entirely to the preparation of the Vanguard Battalion.
He designated a vast area in the Martial Training Star Domain and constructed a training ground simulating the aura of the Shadow Clan using the Law of Flame. Based on lists sent from various worlds, he selected three hundred cultivators skilled in attack techniques—including golden-bodied Arhats from the Ten Thousand Buddhas Realm, sword cultivators from the Sword Domain, and even several cyborgs from the Mechanical Clan. Each of them possessed an aura at least at the Intermediate Realm Lord.
"From this day forward, you are all members of the Vanguard Battalion." In the center of the training ground, Xiao Yan, holding the Heaven Burning Sword, swept his gaze across the crowd. "We have only one goal—to find a way to counter the Shadow Clan and break through their formation on the battlefield!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!" Three hundred cultivators roared in unison, their divine light weaving into a dazzling sea of light.
The training that followed was extremely rigorous. Xiao Yan compiled his experience fighting against the Shadow Clan into a booklet and distributed it to everyone. He also simulated the Shadow Priest's attack patterns in the training ground, allowing the cultivators to take turns fighting against him.
Initially, many cultivators found the Shadow Clan's bizarre laws extremely difficult to adapt to. Some golden Arhats were entangled by shadow tentacles, their golden bodies instantly dimming; some sword cultivators had their sword energy devoured, nearly backfiring on themselves. However, as training progressed, everyone gradually figured out how to deal with it—the Buddhist light of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Realm combined with Xiao Yan's flames, multiplying the purification power; the sword cultivators' sword energy incorporated the Mechanical Clan's " Evil Breaking Rune," capable of tearing through shadow defenses.
On this day, Xiao Yan was instructing everyone on how to perform a combined attack when the white-bearded elder suddenly appeared at the edge of the training ground and beckoned to him with a solemn expression.
"Elder, is something the matter?" Xiao Yan walked over and asked.
The white-bearded elder handed Xiao Yan a black jade slip. "This is intelligence that just came from the Mist Star Domain. Our scouts photographed this near the Shadow Rift."
Xiao Yan infused his spiritual power, and a blurry image appeared in the jade slip—at the entrance of the Shadow Rift, countless black shadows wriggled in the mist, and a huge altar could be vaguely seen taking shape. Around the altar were nine figures whose auras were even more terrifying than those of the Shadow Priests. They were surrounding a floating black sphere of light, seemingly performing some kind of ritual.
"This is..." Xiao Yan's pupils contracted sharply, "What is the Shadow Clan summoning?"
"I don't know," the white-bearded elder said with concern, "But one thing is certain: it's definitely not good news. The scouts said that the aura of each of those nine figures is no weaker than that of the previous Shadow Priests; they are very likely the 'Nine Priests' of the Shadow Clan."
The nine priests were gathered and were still performing a mysterious ritual... Xiao Yan's heart sank. He could feel an unprecedented crisis approaching.
"How is the alliance progressing?" Xiao Yan asked.
"Reinforcements from the Ten Thousand Buddhas Realm and the Sword Domain are already on their way. The Medicine God Valley and the Mechanical Clan have also agreed to send personnel as soon as possible. It is expected that the first batch of alliance members will arrive in half a month," Elder White Beard replied.
"I'm afraid it's too late." Xiao Yan frowned as he stared at the image in the jade slip. "Notify all the Sovereign to convene the Alliance Conference ahead of schedule. We must take the initiative and attack before the ceremony is completed!"
The white-bearded elder nodded and turned to leave.
Xiao Yan gripped the jade slip in his hand and looked up towards the direction of the Mist Star Domain. There, the aura of the Shadow Rift was constantly strengthening, as if a sleeping behemoth was about to awaken.
He took a deep breath, turned to look at the cultivators training in the training ground, and shouted, "Everyone, intensify your training! In three days, we may have to go to the battlefield ahead of schedule!"
"Yes!" the crowd responded in unison, their eyes filled with no fear, only a burning desire to fight.
Xiao Yan gripped the Heaven Burning Sword tightly, the flames on its blade burning even more fiercely. He knew this battle would be incredibly difficult, and might even require greater sacrifices. But he had no other choice.
To thwart the Shadow Clan's plot and to safeguard the peace of All Heavens and Myriad Realms, he must lead the Vanguard Battalion and charge to the front lines.
Even if what lies ahead is a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, or an endless abyss.
Because he is Xiao Yan, the inheritor of the Flame God, and the guardian of all the heavens.
His sword never retreats.